Chapter 5: Frustrating Convalescence
The Diamond Clan's settlement sat in a peaceful corner of the Crimson Mirelands. I ad always enjoyed the avid heat of the vast plains and the complex maze of swamps and old temple ruins – though confinement to the Chief's hut did stir restlessness within me.
Umbreon and Espeon had recovered from their ordeal easier than I had – the clan had some of Nurse Pesselle's Pokémon potions to hand on our arrival, and any bruising or concussion soon became no more than a memory for them. I couldn't say the same; stitches in my upper arm and a relocated knee – I shuddered to remember the intense pain and stress of biting down on some leather and holding onto bedposts as two medicine women twisted and clicked my knee back into place. Despite the bit I had howled with anger and agony, panting and sweating as Adaman kissed my forehead comfortingly. The women had exchanged looks at that – which made me uncertain.
Still, it was nice to finally feel safe, and comfortable. I laid there peacefully in bed, with Espeon tucked under one arm, and Umbreon under the other. I jumped when the door grated open.
"Akari!" a girl bombed her way across the room, slamming into my side and throwing her arms around my shoulders. "I'm so glad to see you're alright! Who else would I play with if you were gone? Gone as in dead, I mean."
I laughed with delight as someone pulled Sabi off of me. She'd grown tall – slender legs and arms attached to a young woman's body. Her dark green hair reached her knees now, in a single plait that was being pulled by larger hands.
"Hey!" she complained, reaching backwards to stop her assailant.
"She's just woken up," Adaman clarified, wearing the tired look of a man who'd been asked to babysit. "Calm down or you can go home."
Sabi pouted and I could see her childish expressions emerge through her teenage features. She stuck her tongue out at him and promptly invited herself for a seat on my futon. Umbreon purred at her fondly, and she scratched his head.
"Sorry about her," Adaman knelt on the tatami beside the bed. "But she was single-minded."
I knew Sabi's determination had helped her to achieve so much already; as a child she was driven and strong-willed. I could only imagine what she'd managed to accomplish since I left.
"I thought you might want some company," she clarified, not breaking her attention from Umbreon. "It's been a long time since we've seen you."
"It has," I smiled at her. "I suppose you've been up to all sorts?"
She grinned at me, before resuming Umbreon's fussing. "In a way… though I can't say too much with the Chief here…"
Adaman frowned at her and rolled his eyes.
"Fair enough," I chuckled, as Espeon climbed onto my lap, upset her brother was garnering all the attention. "How is Braviary?"
Sabi sighed dramatically. "She's grown so much! Her wingspan is huge now; she can carry two people."
It was impressive – for a Pokémon to be nurtured above its usual capacity and ability was a feat to Sabi's nurturing as a Pokémon Warden. She had raised the Pokémon from an egg, evolving her from a particularly feisty Rufflet. It seemed they suited each other well.
"Sabi," Adaman interrupted, his voice measured but his tone betraying some underlying annoyance. "Did you not have to visit Jubilife village to visit Captain Rei today?"
Sabi's eyes lit up with recollection. "Ah, yeah." She turned to me again, wriggling with glee. "I'm joining the Survey Corps! Part-time, obviously; I have responsibilities to Braviary. But I can learn and explore in the meantime. I'm going to go travelling, Akari, just like you. I think Braviary will want to see new things as well."
I had no doubt that Sabi would persuade her Pokémon friend to come with her, wherever she planned to go. She gave me another squeeze, and kissed Umbreon on the head before scrambling out of the house. I giggled as the two Pokémon skipped outside after her, ready to play in the grass. The quiet that followed them was pleasant but enveloping.
Adaman let out a long sigh and relaxed his posture. He had been kneeling formally until this point, and now swung his legs out from under him and leant back onto his hands. He winked at me.
"She was determined to see you," he clarified again. "I'm sorry, because I wanted to visit you alone."
Since my arrival there was normally a healer or a clan member around to keep an eye on me or recheck my wounds. It had been a long time since we'd been alone together.
He was looking at me again with those playful brown eyes. He moved closer, reaching forward towards my face. He took my chin in his fingers, turning my head gently to examine the bruising around my left eye socket. He moved forward, his expression a small frown of concern.
As he did so his lips passed over mine, a coincidence. I felt my own part as a strange breath escaped me. I flushed scarlet.
Adaman wasn't anything if not observant, and his frown turning into an enticing smile. He complied, resting his lips gently on mine.
"What are we doing?" I asked quietly, half of me desperate for answers and the other frightened to know. "Adaman..."
He paused then; his face unnervingly close to mine.
"How's your knee?" he asked.
I blinked stupidly. Had he misunderstood? "Fine? It's much better. But Adaman, I asked-" another kiss stopped my words, this time more forceful. I accepted willingly, though a building frustration was beginning to damage the experience. He released my lips and I gasped for air – I'd forgotten to breathe whilst we were attached.
That cheeky grin was back. Like a man who had won a bet on a Pokémon match.
"Does that explain it to you?" he asked, his eyes beginning to look me up and down.
"No!" I grumbled, crossing my arms. "You've given me no clarity!"
He paused this time, sensing my frustration and resentment. He sat back on his heels, mirroring my body language as he began to order his thoughts regarding how to respond to my exasperated statement. I grit my teeth, trying to be patient.
As he finally opened his mouth, two of the village ladies bundled in with fresh bandages and poultices. Thankfully they didn't notice Adaman spring off the futon and flee to the other side of the room; Umbreon and Espeon were skipping around their ankles, mewling playfully and distracting their gaze.
"We've come to change your bandages, Miss," one clarified cheerfully, though she balked at Adaman's presence. "Chief! We're sorry, we would not have interrupted-!"
Adaman shook his head and waved a distracted hand. "No no, please continue. Akari, I will see you tomorrow."
I felt myself blush with anger but nodded in agreement. The two women exchanged a glance as Adaman strode out of the tent, the curtain flapping closed behind him. They began to work swiftly and nodded with pleasure at my healing wounds. They placed oran berry poultices on the surface of my broken skin and wrapped gently with fresh linen bandages. Soon I was clean and smelled delightful.
"Thank you," I bowed my head reverently.
They smiled cheerfully, and as one was packing up the old dressings, the other sat on the edge of my futon. Both women seemed pleased how the wounds were healing, and I praised their excellent skills with medicine. Perhaps they could aid Nurse Pesselle in her search to find a cure for this mysterious disease.
They excused themselves and I was alone again, drifting in and out of medicated sleep. Sometimes when I work Umbreon and Espeon would be there, pattering around the tent, or playing in the corner.
I couldn't remember my dreams, but each time I woke I felt a strange sense of longing.