Chapter 4: Danger at every turn.
The movement was making me feel nauseous. Head back and forth, rigorous movement of my shoulders, no strength in my neck.
A sharp pain was shooting up my left leg; my knee was burning as if it was on fire.
The movement in my head was hurting my shoulders now – though my left arm was also throbbing and spasming as I continued to be tossed about.
"Akari!"
I wanted to blink – wanted to open my eyes. But everything hurt – so much.
"Akari, please!"
Oh – it was Mai. Of course, it was; she'd been with me when I climbed the ravine.
With a dramatic groan, I forced my eyelids to open. Mai was kneeling over me, shaking both my shoulders as if the raise me from deep slumber. There were tears in her eyes, and her voice rang shrill with panic. Her dark hair was loose, wet, and tumbled forward towards me – dripping onto my face.
Umbreon and Espeon skittered about nearby, in obvious distress.
"Ouch…" I grumbled. "Mai, let go!"
"Oh!" she let out a small sob and pulled me into a hug. "I thought you'd died! You're all mangled up-," she gestured at the rest of my body, laid out in front of her.
I winced as I looked down at my arm and my leg. My knee was stuck out at an awkward angle – probably dislocated – and my arm had a large gash on it and was in a similar state.
"Can you relocate my leg?" I asked Mai, who turned pale and shook her head determinedly.
"Are you mad?" she hissed. "Not a chance! I'll go and get help. Stay here – there should be some security corps members nearby."
We were beside the river. I was sceptical; normally a large troupe of Buizel enjoyed sunning themselves on the nearby beaches – but if I remained out of their way there was the potential that they could ignore me.
Though, given my poor mobility and the pain, it was unlikely I'd be able to clamber onto Wyrdeer or back onto Basculegion. I had no choice.
"Fine," I eyed up the setting sun warily. "But don't take too long."
Mai smiled gently, hearing the pleading note in my voice. She squeezed my hand.
"You've got your Pokémon with you, they'll protect you" she said it quietly, as if convincing herself rather than me.
I nodded in agreement, and she picked herself up and gestured to Munchlax – who was chomping on some oran berries. He stuffed in the last mouthfuls of fruit and bounced over to her side, looking very pleased with himself.
Watching them hike into the distance, I surveyed my surroundings. Mai had picked a good spot – shade from the sun under a large tree, a high vantage point of the riverbanks and the high cliffs of the ravine behind us. The likelihood of being ambushed was low.
Espeon curled up next to my twisted leg, her warm body a source of comfort and her gentle purring putting me at ease. Umbreon was less helpful; darting about, occasionally barking or grunting at potential dangers. I tried to reassure him the nearby Bidoof were perfectly happy chomping on the long grass.
I ripped a strip from my tunic and tied it tightly around the gash on my arm; I must have hit a rock under the surface of the water – if I tried, I could remember the hard impact of the water and the shock of the cold that drove the air from my lungs. I shuddered – maybe it was better to forget.
The setting sun turned the sky a plethora of colours – peach, lilac, pink, mauve, orange. I marvelled at the surrounding beauty of the fieldlands – the large plains of waving grass dotted with wildflowers, the clusters of silver trees that were the homes for many bug-type or flying-type Pokémon. I breathed through the pain, trying to manage my discomfort with an improvised sort of meditation.
A small troupe of Buizel emerged from the calm, clear waters of the river and began to groom each other on the sandy banks. Their happy chatters filled the air, accompanied by the delicate cooing of nearby Starlys.
Umbreon bristled at them, baring his teeth.
"Umbreon, will you calm down?" I groaned at him, trying to reposition myself gingerly against the tree. "I swear, there's nothing over th-!"
I choked on my words. The surface of the water bulged as a tall, muscular Pokémon pulled itself out of the river. The Floatzel shook the liquid from its rust-coloured fur and let out a triumphant call. The surrounding Buizel responded in kind, before continuing with their preening.
I held my breath – the Buizel may tolerate my presence, but a Floatzel definitely wouldn't be happy with a human and two strange Pokémon next to its home. I felt myself tense, and almost cried with horror as the wind changed direction, blowing my alien scent straight towards the new arrival.
"Mai's only been gone for 30 minutes," I grumbled, believing myself to be the unluckiest person alive.
I grit my teeth, and prepared to heave myself onto my feet, or to achieve some semblance of standing upright. I let out a small cry as I wrenched myself onto my good knee, letting the other flop about dramatically. Tears of pain and frustration poured down my face – I let them flow, knowing the worst was yet to come.
A guttural yell followed my initial exclamation as I pulled myself up using the tree – my hands were already cut to pieces from climbing rocks, now claiming some splinters to join them. My knee screamed with pain, and I felt myself go dizzy as I tried to position my leg under me.
Umbreon and Espeon began to grumble, and I knew why before I turned around.
The Floatzel had sniffed the air, its sharp sense of smell keen and precise. It let out a dangerous warble and began to turn its head, searching for the source of these new smells.
"No, no, no…" I groaned, gritting my teeth as I looked around for some sort of escape. I was stuck, surrounded by grassland on one side and the steep, rocky cliffs of the gorge behind me.
Umbreon's quick footsteps caught my eye – he grumbled at me, pointing his nose towards a dark spot in the craggy rocks. Peering around the tree precariously, I could see what he'd had the foresight to look for. "A cave!" a hopeful whisper escaped my lips. "Good one, Umbreon."
Espeon hovered by me anxiously as Umbreon looked at me determinedly with his red eyes. Pokémon were amazing.
I began to limp and lumber my way towards what I hoped would be my sanctuary. The Floatzel had started to edge closer, following our scents on the breeze. The blustery weather didn't help my precarious balance either.
Tears blurred my vision as desperation caused me to increase my speed, which caused my foot to twist excruciatingly with each impeded step. The cave was just the right size – I didn't think the Floatzel would want to squish itself into a tight space.
It was gaining on us – I didn't dare to look over my shoulder and slow my progress, but Espeon's nervous chittering confirmed any fears I had. Umbreon's growls began to get louder – he obviously thought that as the Floatzel could likely see us, it may as well hear us too.
I grit my teeth and dragged myself forward – the crack in the rocks getting closer with each agonising step, and the crunching footsteps of the Floatzel getting louder and louder behind. I lurched forward, my heart beating fast with adrenaline – whether it was due to fear or pain I couldn't tell. Espeon skittered around my feet, but I didn't have the will to un-grit my teeth to ask her to move. Her mauve eyes darted between the spot for our safety and the large Pokémon advancing behind us. The grass expanse seemed almost endless, but I had to find safety – my Pokémon were counting on me.
My hands hit the rocky surface of the sheer cliff-face; the same gritty, tactile rock that I had been climbing earlier on. The small opening by the ground was dark inside, shadowed due to the position of the sun. Hanging onto a small ledge of rock, I lowered my body to the ground as delicately as possible whilst trying to maintain some speed – I was sure I'd practically ruined my leg rushing from grassland to mountain.
"In, in!" the words burst out of me, as I dragged my hips along the dusty floor and into the small tunnel. Umbreon was there in a flash, with his sister by his side. Espeon hadn't removed her gaze from the Floatzel, who was so close I could see the sun shine off of the rubbery hide of its floatation glands, and the dampness of its auburn fur. Its nose sniffed again, though its dark eyes were fixed straight onto me – I had been found.
It turned its head to scream into the sky – a screech that made me jolt in panic and surprise. I grabbed Umbreon with one hand, and reached for Espeon with the other—
"Espeon, no!" I called after her, my fingers missing her lilac fur by a hair's breadth. "Come back!"
Umbreon squirmed in my grasp, hurting my mutilated arm, but I held onto him tightly – a mixture of anxiety and the need to keep him close. Somehow try and keep him safe.
Espeon stood in front of us, her little paws spread wide in a defensive stance on the grass in front of our not-so-effective hiding hole. She growled at the intruder, her high-pitched voice sounding less that threatening. Although, the meaning wasn't lost on the Floatzel, who reared up with another shrill cry.
Espeon responded in kind with her musical trill, and the scarlet jewel in her forehead glowed threateningly. The Floatzel appeared to accept the challenge, opening his maw to reveal a swirling ball of frothing water, ready to attack.
As the water beam shot towards my psychic Pokémon, she cemented her position and lifted her own delicate nose. The sharp pulse of liquid hit a shimmering wall of energy, splashing around us and crashing into our surroundings. Espeon held her ground well, her brow furrowed with concentration.
The Floatzel let out a frustrated cry and repeated its move. The shimmering barrier held fast again, though Espeon's little paws grated backwards in the dirt as the force pushed her backwards. She squared her shoulders; a small grumble of effort came from her jowls.
Now the Floatzel looked angry – its moves countered and its attempts to protect its territory from intruders undone. It progressed forward, its large paws flattening grass and kicking up dust. Espeon mewed nervously, taking a few steps backwards. Her red orb glowed again, and she lifted her head with a small cry.
Psychic energy rippled forward in the air, centring on the Floatzel's head. It screamed, and pawed at the confusing and painful ripples that would have been pounding at its temples. It turned from left to right frantically, trying to push away the distracting and disturbing aura. Espeon was rooted fast, maintaining her concentration to prolong the effect of the move.
Unfortunately, the Floatzel had come too close, I yelled out as its eyes opened in a fury, misted between psychic pain and increasing rage. It screeched its high-pitched war cry and lurched forward at my small Pokémon. Her concentration broke, as it caught her with a powerful strike across her flanks.
She flew – her delicate, lilac form thrown to the side, where she made a small attempt to stand. Her energy was depleted from so much psychic activity and the injury caused by the Floatzel's physical attack.
With a deep growl, Umbreon squirmed his way out of my arms and ran to his sister. He gently licked her muzzle before turning back to the advancing water-type Pokémon. He opened his maw, and a beam of pulsing, dark energy hit the Floatzel in the chest, pushing it backwards and causing it to cry out in pain.
At this point the creature was hurt and antagonised. It began to chatter, making a percussive clicking noise at the back of its throat, as its jaw clenched repeatedly. I tried to crawl forward to get a better look and noticed a thin film of frothing saliva around its lips.
"Umbreon, go!" I screamed. "Run!"
But there was no way I'd be able to separate my dark and psychic types. I watched in horror as dark beams met water beams, the two Pokémon facing off head-to-head. But the rabid Floatzel exceeded my small Pokémon in stamina and strength, fuelled by rage and insanity. Slowly the intense force of liquid pushed Umbreon backwards, and the larger Pokémon loomed over him. His large paw swiped at Umbreon, who fell to the side like a stuffed toy.
I frantically scrabbled around the floor, looking for any sort of projectile I could find. My fingers closed around a large stone, and I fumbled to untie the makeshift bandage around my arm. Praying my aim would be accurate despite my mangled limbs, I launched the rock using the crude sling towards the Floatzel – and froze as it hit square on the temple.
It screeched with fury and pain, reeling backwards from where it was preparing the final blow for the two small Pokémon. Its dark eyes focussed on me, foam coating its lips, teeth bared. I scrabbled backwards to hide deeper in the small cave, but it moved with alarming speed. I screamed as its head entered my sanctuary, strong jaw clenching down on my damaged and booted foot. Sharp and intense pain shot up my leg and into my hip, my body grating along the floor as it dragged me out of my hiding spot.
My voice caught in my throat as it loomed over me, open fangs bearing down towards my neck — I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for pain and the end.
"Use Razor Leaf!"
A slice of green sharpness caught the Floatzel on its flank and knocked it off balance – its muzzle crashing into the dirt beside me.
I turned my head, trying to tear myself away from immediate danger, and almost sobbed with relief.
Adaman was striding across the grasslands, flushed and furious. His royal blue coat swayed with the momentum of his arrival, his brown eyes flashing angrily at the scene in front of him. He gestured wordlessly to Mai, who was hot on his heels. She nodded, heading for Umbreon and Espeon. She scooped them into her arms and backed away quickly – her eyes wide at the sight of the rabid Floatzel.
"Leafeon," Adaman's voice was steely and cold. "Bind this mad Pokémon up – he's coming with us."
Leafeon was growling impressively, her stance mirroring Espeon from only a few moments ago. Her pale yellow and green fur stood on end as her hackles raised. She let out a shrill cry, her eyes fixed on the Floatzel, who was once again roaring with anger and psychosis. With intense concentration, Leafeon summoned several vines that burst from the ground, twisting and wrapping their way up the crazed Pokémon at a rapid pace.
"Giga drain," Adaman remain calm, approaching me, despite being within range of frenzied water attacks and stomping paws.
Leafeon grunted at the effort of sapping the frantic energy from the Floatzel. An orb of glowing light transferred from the unwilling host to its attacker, and on completion the Floatzel was almost limp with exhaustion. It cried pitifully, still straining against its bonds.
Adaman knelt beside me now – his eyes searching my body for the reported breaks and damage that Mai must have reported on reaching him.
"Let's get you home," his tone was quieter, softer.
I nodded, as tears ran from my eyes and I began to shake – adrenaline wearing off, more pain beginning to set in with deep, throbbing aches. Adaman gently wove his hands under me, lifting me up against his chest. He smelled of a strangely pleasant mixture of grass and sweat.
"Leafeon," Adaman addressed the little yellow and green furred Pokémon. "I leave it to you."
Leafeon purred encouragingly, before glaring down at the numbed Floatzel, who was breathing heavily but remained laid down in apparent submission. Adaman began to leave the scene, pulling me close to him.
"Mai!" he called over his shoulder, not looking back. "Put that creature in a ball. It can stay there until we get home."
He looked down at me, his dark gaze kinder now. "You're coming home with me."