Venipede and Froakie

Hungry. Need meat. Leaves and berries are nice, but not enough. Venipede needs meat. Feel the air around, fore and back. Feel…

Kurrr croak.

Ahead, near bush bearing flowers. Amphibian, female, small. Venipede opens eyes carefully. Blue and white, stretching up to sniff flower, giving it a tentative lick. Kurrr kurru kuroak. Froakie must be pleased with flower. Does not eat flower, only sniffs and looks. Strange creature. Good meat. Closing eyes, Venipede crawls carefully. Quietly. Do not want to startle, nor let her get away.

Froakie brushes paw along head, finds something unsatisfactory. Putting her paws to her mouth, she blows a bubble. She places it into her mane of bubbles, shifting it aside until it hits bothersome spot. Good, she is busy cleaning. Will make it easier to catch her.

Pause. Fallen leaves on ground head. Dry? Touch carefully with feeler. Not dry, freshly fallen. Not dry, not dry… dry. That will crinkle when walked over. These bushes are regular, not good cover on the other side of the trunks. Froakie is still busy making new bubbles. Checking ahead… mostly new fallen leaves. Venipede crawls along them, avoids dry leaves.

Closer, closer… good, this is good. Froakie has not yet noticed Venipede. She is blowing harmless bubbles. Now, move quick! Lunge out to grab and immobilize.

Venipede gets a mouthful of bubbles that pop weirdly. Landing from the hop, Froakie turns and observes her. No fear. Strange creature. Croak croak!

No good. She doesn't want to lose this meal. She fires a stinger to poison the Froakie, wear her down bit by bit. Unlike usual, the Froakie hops out of the way.

Shoes on the ground, human scent coming close. Not good? Human yells something at Froakie. Venipede is not happy with giving up meal. No, won't do! She fires another stinger. Misses again. Kurru. Froakie hops around, licks her with strange bubbles. Wearing her down? Venipede shakes, wants to get bubbles off. They stick, especially near legs. It is hard to move. Something pulls at her.

No, not going! Will have meat today, will get that strange Froakie. Breaks the hold. Prey is close, Venipede bites. Froakie does not worry, licks again. Then, hops away, leaving a cloud of smoke. Where is she?!

There! The pull comes again, this time clearly from round object trying to collide with her. Venipede smacks round object with her tail, sends it flying back to him. She throws a stinger at Human. This time, Froakie jumps into the attack, not letting Human get hurt. Why? Must be stupid. Another pull, another break. Will not let them win, will get meat today.

Another pull… but immensely stronger. It grips and muddles the mind with an invitation. No, don't want! Venipede is proud Pokemon, lives on her own and survives by her own power. She does not need Human. She fights.

The grip lets go. Venipede is back under the bushes, on the same road. Still home? But Froakie and Human are not there. Strange. Where are they? It is quiet. Where is everyone else? Strange.

Then, her mind grows fuzzy. Waking from a dream, perhaps. It is disappointing, to dream of a fight but not get the meal. Then she senses them again, the Froakie and the Human. The Froakie is back to blowing bubbles and putting them in her mane. Venipede could get her now.

No. Some thought comes into her mind, no. The Froakie is not to eat. But, she smells like good meat, would be a good meal. No. she is not to eat.

Human crouches down near her. Says things, but this time, Venipede understands. "Man, you took a lot of effort. But it should be worth it. Here, you hungry? I got some beef snack sticks." Unknown material crinkles, letting loose the smell of salty meat. Human offers it freely. Strange creature.

Venipede takes what he says is a stick and chews on it. Not stick, not fresh meat. But, very good meat. Not like any other meat. And she didn't have to hunt for it? Strange, that is too easy. If he gives her this, then she will have to fight for him. She will have to protect him just the same as Froakie did.

But, perhaps it is worth it. Good food. Venipede finishes off the beef stick; she thinks of how this new life will work.

...

Venipede B2/W2 entry: Using the feelers on its head and tail, it picks up vibrations in the air to determine its prey's location and state.

Froakie Y entry: It protects its skin by covering its body in delicate bubbles. Beneath its happy-go-lucky air, it keeps a watchful eye on its surroundings.