Sounds of the ocean crashed against the rocks.
My body felt numb. Cold. Dehydrated and starving. I felt so weak. Laying there, I could barely move while thinking in a daze of how long I've been lost at sea.
Unknown Date
5:10 PM
Unknown Location
The sun shined down on me. My fur completely drenched. Lifting my head up, I looked down at the golden sand. Then I noticed my right arm which was covered in red. Just seeing this dried blood caused my arm to start hurting again. Staring down, I stood quiet as tears silently fell. I dug my claws into the sand.
Sky: T- this… Can't be… R- real… It… Wasn't a nightmare… N- no…
The days at sea was real. The slash I received was real.
Clenching my teeth, I closed my eyes tightly and shook.
Sky: Azu… Why…? W- we could've escaped together… I… Couldn't do anything… You forced me into a boat… A- and stood back to buy me time… I- I wanted to stay… But you were attacked by so many and all I could do is watch…
Opening my eyes, I wiped the tears from my eyes and tried to stand. A sudden jolt of pain shot through me and I ended up falling flat on my stomach, causing me to gag. The pain was so intense but quickly numbed again. I tried to endure it as I got to my feet. The pain spiked once more as I bit my tongue. I only took a few steps before falling onto my side.
Sky: A- Arceus, this pain…
Looking around in a slight daze, I only saw what was left of my boat, broken into pieces of wood that scattered the beach. Sighing softly, I rested there. I laid on my back inhaled.
Sky: Sorry I couldn't help Azu…
Shaking gently, I tried getting up again and with quivering legs, I started to stumble forward towards a few trees in the distance. When I reached the trees, I leaned against one as I panted. I could barely feel anything. My body felt so weak and I could barely keep myself up. But I couldn't stop. The sun was already lowering. My body was still soaked and getting stuck in the night would surely freeze me to death if hunger doesn't kill me first.
So biting my lip, I pushed onward. Holding my arm, I inhaled deeply. The memory of what happened to me. Staring at the masked figure who stabbed at me. Trying to escape only to get a good slice down my arm. I felt tears forming again. That night would forever haunt me.
Sky: N- no… I can't… Think of it…
Shaking my head, I continued to stumble in a random direction. My wings hung limply as I pushed more. My body felt so heavy.
An hour passed. Than another. And another. Before I knew it, night had fallen. But after a while, I reached a hill and looking across the lands, I noticed a few houses in the distant. It looked like a small village. A farm.
Everyone hated Absol's. I knew this. I was afraid to interact with this village. I knew Absol's were killed in the war. And everyone hated us. I hesitated at first. But the gust of wind sending a chill through my body. The hunger and how injured I was. Inhaling deeply, I started to walk down to the village.
Sky: I… H- have to take the chance…
Afraid of being attacked again filled my mind, but I had no other choice. It was a quiet place as I walked down the path. I walked by many plots of land filled with vegetables before reaching the nearest house. Reaching out, I knocked weakly. My legs shook more and after a few seconds, I saw the door open. I looked up but my vision was too blurred to make out who it was. This is when I felt myself lose consciousness. I tried to speak but all I remember was fainting right where I stood.
Darkness surrounded me as I opened my eyes.
Sky: Where… Am I…?
Thankfully being an Absol, I could see in the dark after a moment. This is when I noticed that I was in a room. I looked towards the door which was opened a crack. Light shined lightly inside as I tried getting out of this bed. I had such an intense headache as I stumbled towards the door. Leaning against the wall, I reached out and opened the door lightly.
Almost falling into the hallway, I let out a groan and looked down the hall. Leaning against the wall once more, I slowly moved forward. After getting to the end of the hall, I noticed a figure in a coat who was checking over some pictures.
Sky: H- hello…?
This figure tensed and whipped around to see me. This figure was an Alolan Vulpix.
"Oh! You're awake. I was starting to worry… You looked really beat up when you shown up at my door." He said.
This Vulpix rushed up to me.
"How is your arm? I… Did the best I could. I hadn't needed to do some stitching work for a good while." He continued.
Sky: H- huh?
Looking to my arm, I noticed that it was wrapped in bandages.
"Sorry, I shouldn't bother you with a lot of questions I have. You looked like you were on the edge of death. Here, I prepared this for when you woke up." He said and rushed off to bring me some food.
"It's uh, soup with lots of herbs and vegetables. I also mixed in some medicine to help since you really do look badly hurt…" He said, placing the food on the table.
I didn't really pay much attention to him at this point as I nearly drooled as I eyed the food and the moment he placed it down, I took no time shoving most of it into my face. This food vanished within seconds as the Vulpix looked a bit surprised.
"J- jeez. Guess you were starving, huh? Well, I have an entire pot full of it, so I guess enjoy." The Vulpix said with a small smile.
Taking him up on this offer, I went ahead and ate around half of this massive pot of soup before I stopped. When the Vulpix noticed this, he walked up to me and started to speak.
"Guess you feel much better after eating, huh? Anyway, um…" The Vulpix took a moment before speaking.
"I… Hadn't seen an Absol in so long. What's more, a mega Absol. Like… That is an impossible sight, but here we are. But… I don't want to ask too many questions of why one had wandered up here. But if you don't mind… What happened? You showed up in the middle of the night looking dead." He said, looking at me.
Sighing gently, I looked to the side and shook my head.
Sky: I- I… Rather not say… Only that I was lost at sea for a few days and woke up on a beach a few miles back…
"Huh? Lost in the ocean? That's strange… But I won't push further. I actually know that place. If you didn't move until tomorrow, I would most likely had found you. But glad you managed to get here sooner…" He said.
The Vulpix smiled and walked towards the front door.
"You should get some more rest. I was about to head out to check on some stuff before you came walking out, so…" He said, opening the door.
Nodding, he spoke again.
"Well, I'm Kuvo. Glad I was able to help."
And with that, he left. I felt a bit better after eating, but I still felt exhausted and pained, so I decided to head back into the room and collapsed onto the bed. Closing my eyes, I fell into a deep sleep.
The next week or two went okay. It took a bit for my wound to heal, but I managed to handle it. But each passing minute had me constantly remembering what happened to my only home. I would just sit in this room most days, just feeling sorry that I lost everything and I couldn't defend the few I bonded with. Azu especially. She was the only one other than Zaki who actually cared for me. Every time I close my eyes, all I can see is her being surrounded by the ones who attacked our home. It was rough for me and Kuvo noticed I was dealing with some heavy stuff, so he let me be.
After feeling completely awful for these past weeks, I decided to move on. I wanted to find a place I could call home and defend. It pained me greatly, knowing I may be the last Absol alive. Azu and I were so close after Zaki left and I couldn't react to save her.
So during a storm, I walked to Kuvo and told him I would be leaving. He seemed a little concerned, but he let me go without much thinking. But before I left, Kuvo stopped me.
Kuvo: R- right, I completely forgot… A few days ago, I was down at the beach that you said you woke up on. And… I found this.
Kuvo pulled a black bag from under the table and held it up.
Kuvo: This is… Yours I assume?
I was surprised to see this bag. I thought I lost it and I wasn't thinking clearly back then to try looking for it. I took it and smiled weakly. He then sent me off as I walked into the pouring rain to try and find my own home. While walking down the path after leaving the village, I looked at my bag and opened it. A few random objects were inside. The only things I could grab before the raid. But the things that caught my eyes were two medallions which I took out. One was Zaki's medallion that he gave me before leaving. The other was Azu's medallion.
Sky: I- I… Don't remember packing these… Azu… Must've done it… A- and gave me hers…
Holding the medallions close, I inhaled deeply.
Sky: Azu told me I'll be with her even if it's just this medallion…
Looking down, I held these two tightly.
Sky: Thanks, Azu… I'll never forget you…
Reaching up, I tied both of them onto my horn. My own hanging around my neck. And with that, I started to head into the wilderness, unsure what these lands had to offer.
The rain fell heavily as I made my way through the trees and brush. This was my experience for a few days as I attempted to find my own place.
During a bright and sunny afternoon, I was traveling through the forest like I've been doing for a while. I was exhausted, but determined to not stop. But then my body tensed up as I heard a loud boom that echoed for what felt like miles. I wasn't sure what it was. A fallen tree perhaps. But then three more booms sounded, sending a chill down my spine. Unsure what was going on, I rushed towards where the noise was. When I reached the treeline, I noticed a town with most of it on fire. Flames spread rapidly as a large smoke cloud formed. I was surprised to see a group appearing to attack this place.
I saw a few on the town's side trying to defend it but the attackers had heavy weapons. I felt conflicted, but seeing them taking down the town. It pained me. It reminded me of my own home being burned to the ground. Unknown figures killing whatever moves. Tearing up, I started to flap my wings. I wasn't able to fly since the last time, so I tried hard and to my surprise, I started to lift from the ground.
Sky: Azu… I promise I'll defend others… I won't let anyone else be harmed…
Inhaling, I flew high up and with a burst of speed, I darted towards the town. With a powerful impact as I struck the ground, I looked at these attackers. With one powerful strike, I sent half of them flying back. Using my wings, I launched forward and slammed into the others. They were caught off guard for sure as I dashed towards each of them, attacking them with swift kicks and clawing.
This lasted for only a minute and after taking down the threat, I stopped and felt chills. Looking back slowly, I noticed a lot of defenders from the town staring at me. Tensing, I took no time launching into the sky and towards the nearest place which was a mountain. After I landed, I began to shake, feeling somewhat tired from the amount of energy used to use my wings.
I looked back and walked towards the cliff, looking down at the town.
Sky: I… Did it…?
Falling into a sitting position, I sighed and held my head.
Sky: Azu… I did it…
Shivering, I closed my eyes and laid back. It really exhausted me, especially after wandering the forest so much. Because of this, I fell asleep.
I woke up around midnight as I sat up. Rubbing my head, I looked towards the town and saw that the fire was gone and things looked okay. But that's when I heard walking. Tensing, I scattered into a nearby bush. That's when I noticed a Boltund. It was a female as she looked around. She checked the area and she just walked back without saying anything. I wasn't sure what she was doing.
But once she left, I sighed gently.
Sky: M- maybe I can rest here for a few days… I feel so tired…
Finding a good spot to rest, I laid down and closed my eyes to get some more sleep.
The next month went by and I sorta stood around this mountain. I would often leave a few days in between to fetch food and everything. So after being away for a week, I returned and was confused to see a statue.
Sky: Huh…?
Dropping my bag of food, I walked up to the statue and for some reason it resembled me. Tilting my head, I looked at it and noticed text at the base of the statue.
Sky: Guardian of Hexa…?
I looked a bit surprised after reading that. They couldn't be talking about me. But the statue resembled me. Wings and all.
Sky: I'm… Considered the guardian of this town…? Did I… Really help that much?
Smiling softly, I felt many emotions as I reached up to touch Azu's medallion.
Sky: A- Azu… If only you were here to see this…
Touching the statue, I looked back and to the town.
Sky: I think I found my home…
Sitting against the statue, I closed my eyes and smiled. I felt happy even after what happened to my home. So I sat against the statue, enjoying the warm sun and feeling glad I could help instead of watching helplessly.
Current Day
9:52 PM
Somewhere In Kuri City's Outskirts
Holding onto Zaki's and Azu's medallions, I sat under a tree overlooking the city. Sighing, I looked around.
Sky: Guess I should get some rest… Got a lot of traveling in the morning...
So holding them close, I got ready to get some sleep...