7.
Blue Feathers
Liko had grabbed Sprigatito and ran clumsily deeper into the forest before the Charizard could spot them; a man is riding with the Charizard, a Pikachu by his side.
The girl and her Pokemon watch from the shadows as the trio get closer and closer, until finally, the fire type flies past them, never noticing the hiding pair.
It was them…
…wasn't it?
Liko didn't know what to think.
The girl knew that she was jumping the Sharpedo here, assuming that everyone was out to get her but how could she not? A guy had literally cornered her on the roof of her school and hurt her not too long ago, and now, there's a stranger flying around on his Charizard with an airship she's sure wasn't there months ago when she arrived in Viridian City to take the bus to Indigo Academy.
It's all too suspicious to ignore.
The pair decide to stay hidden deep in Viridian forest for the time being; Liko's studies remind her what berries to eat and which can cure Weedle's poison.
Staying in the forest doesn't sound like a good plan but Liko feels she doesn't have much of a choice. She doesn't want to risk Sprigatito getting hurt in a fight they both know they'll lose if that man and his Charizard are friends with that jerk that attacked them back at school.
Sprigatito seems to sense her fear, and he constantly picks fights with any Pokemon that get too close, scratching them away and sending leafage attacks their way.
No bug Pokemon bother them for the rest of the night.
Two days pass, and Liko, feeling brave, decides to take the path to Viridian City. The airship is still there, hiding behind the gym, no Charizard in sight. Liko doesn't take any chances and goes back, away from the path, deeper into the forest.
The girl knows they can't stay hidden forever.
Berries are healthy up to a certain point, and Liko can't afford to get sick. Sprigatito is fine with the Oran berry diet but if he gets hurt, Liko wouldn't know what to do but run to the city and lose much more.
On the third day, a fight breaks out above them in the trees.
Liko stays still, Sprigatito stays ready. There's a squawk, and a buzzing noise, before leaves fall all around them, and they see it, the bird falling, falling. Liko reacts, and despite her slow gait, catches the falling Pokemon. The girl gasps, almost drops her bundle in shock.
A Squawkabilly.
For a moment, Liko thinks her mother is hidden somewhere around, watching. Liko doesn't understand why she's scared that her mother has found her. Yet the panic subsides when the girl takes note of the feathers on the bird. They're blue.
But there's no time to think anymore as a Beedrill, bigger than any Liko has seen before, buzzes towards them, stingers raised, ready to finish the job.