[ episode seven ]
Her phone chimed.
Clair smiled, reaching into her pocket and eagerly reading the message. Lance had been sending her what he called "memes" since yesterday, the most recent being the so-called "murder hornets." She couldn't help but laugh. While she had none to share with him—she was naïve to the whole Internet thing—she instead responded,
Murder hornet? It's just a Beedrill. That's what they do.
LANCE: LOL! People are saying they're not just any Beedrill, but MEGA BEEDRILL!
After their conversation yesterday, Lance seemed appeased despite her caginess. He accepted her word for what it was, though a small part of her wondered if he knew more than he let on—like the fact that he knew that Alexa was an investigative journalist. Lance was a thinker, a planner. He'd wonder why, and why she would want to interview Clair. Clair couldn't just tell him that oh, Alexa's concerned that yet another terrorist group is going to rise up and spread chaos across the region. So she'd lied.
After shooting her cousin a reply, Clair placed her phone in her back pocket and readjusted the bag across her shoulders. Overhead, the sun shone merrily across the hills, and the breeze coming from the city was cool across her face. Leading away from Lumiose City, Versant Road led toward Camphrier Town, a place supposedly rich in history. She cared less about that and more about the fact that she was leaving Lumiose. Stifled in the prison of concrete and glass, her senses were dulled and her head pounded with a constant migraine. Away from its horrid noise and terrible smells, Clair could finally be again.
Jude seemed happier, too. Throughout their time in the city, he'd remained tense, alert. He allowed himself to relax once they passed the city gates. Windie, however, seemed unphased. She ran ahead of them and frolicked in the tall grass without a care, seemingly belonging wherever she stood. A feeling of jealousy came over Clair. How did she have so much energy all the time? Some days it took all she had just to get out of bed. It must be nice being a Pokémon—no chastising elders to tell her what to do or what to say or that she did this wrong for the umpteenth time.
Road was surprisingly barren of the city's hustle and bustle. Clair thought that, on this side of the city, people would be pleased to enjoy some fresh air, but instead found only a few people out playing on a run-down, but well-loved skate park. She continued up the countryside without seeing more then three cars zip past. Lance said the road to Camphrier was short, so Clair wasted no time in ushering her Pokémon toward the next town. The road was worn and cracked, transitioning from a manicured cobblestone to one of dirt and gravel as they came nearer to Camphrier.
Up ahead, tall stone walls encompassed what she assumed was a small town. A laughable excuse for a castle stood on a hill overlooking it. While Clair's clan hid their treasures within the mountains, the elders had told her stories of other dragon tamers and their immense castles, lined with turrets guarded around the clock by dragons. This castle held one sad, crumbling tower and torn, faded banners across its patched walls.
As they neared, Clair passed a patch of tall grass when she heard a girl's voice calling for her Pokémon.
"Sonny! Cher! Wait up!"
Clair rolled her eyes. Let out an annoyed sigh. Cue a stranger asking for help in 3… 2… 1…
Jude let out an alarmed bark. Clair stopped and wheeled around, watching Jude from the corner of her eye. Hackles raised and ears flat on his head, he inched closer to his Trainer, tail tucked. Windie, as usual, perked up, and bounded out of the flowers.
A pair of Lucario rushed toward them. While one had blue, the other's was golden. Clair stood in front of her young Pokémon. While she wasn't afraid for herself, her team couldn't compete with fully-evolved Lucario. If only she had her dragons!
Chasing after the two Lucario was a girl with blonde hair. "I'm so sorry!" she shouted. "They won't hurt you!"
Frowning, Clair took a step forward. "Stop," she commanded.
The Lucario nearly toppled over each other as they skidded to a halt. They bickered for a moment before coming to attention before Clair. It didn't last long, however: they'd spotted Jude hiding behind her legs. The gold one came over and began sniffing him as he cowered. Clair swatted it away.
The girl arrived on roller blades, surprising Clair. She must have followed her from the skate park. The girl's helmet was white with red stripes and matched the athletic dress she wore.
"I'm—so—sorry!" she panted. "Did my Pokémon scare you?"
"They lack discipline," Clair said, crossing her arms over her chest. She glared at each Lucario. Ignoring both Clair and their Trainer, the Lucario attempted to inch closer to Jude. They sniffed and let out small yips, their tails wagging stiffly.
The girl laughed. "I see now! You have a Riolu! Cher absolutely adores Riolu. Sonny, too!" She walked closer to Clair and stuck her hand out for a shake. "I'm Korrina! It's nice to see someone else with these wonderful Pokémon. He's absolutely precious!"
Instead of shaking hands, Clair unfolded her arms and placed her hands on her hips. "All right, you've met Jude. Now leave us."
Korrina's smile faltered only just. "Jude? Gosh that's perfect! Hey, little guy!" She kneeled in the dirt and reached out to him.
Does no-one listen anymore?!
Clair stood in her way. "What do you want?"
The Lucario returned to their Trainer's side. Looking up at Clair, Korrina said sheepishly, "I'm sorry! I forgot my place again." She stood and brushed the dirt off her knees. "My family specializes in Lucario. I'm uh, actually considered the heir of Mega Evolution." She let out a nervous laugh. "N-not that it's anything special! It's just mega cool!"
Really looking at Korrina for the first time, Clair's eyes narrowed. Tall and thin with long legs, the girl had an air of athleticism about her. Her skates, pads, and helmet fit as if they were custom-made. So this was the heir of Mega Evolution? Some airheaded teen with zero control over her Pokémon? Clair's grandfather would be ashamed.
But Korrina seemed nervous, and humble, so Clair couldn't dislike her as much as she wanted.
"Okay," Clair said, letting out a sigh. She looked at Jude and cupped a hand on the back of his head. Stroked his ear affectionately. "This is Jude," she told Korrina, stepping aside so she could fully see him. "He's a skilled fighter already."
Korrina's smiled broadened. "He's so cute," she exclaimed. She crouched and gave a hand for the Riolu to sniff, to which Jude obliged, albeit nervously. Greeting accepted, Korrina stroked his cheek. Both of Korrina's Lucario inched forward and began to sniff vigorously at Jude.
Behind Clair, Windie fumed. She waved her stick, dancing forward and back, but no-one paid her any mind. Bounding over to Korrina, she got into the girl's face, pleading for attention. The young woman laughed and petted her before inspecting every inch of Jude. Windie finally came over to Clair, defeated.
"That's what you get," she chastised, tousling the Braixen's fur.
If he had been nervous before, Jude wasn't now. Encouraged by Clair and the newcomers before him, he stood to his tallest height and tried to be as prideful as his ancestors. He sniffed the Lucario as eagerly as they sniffed him, and showed them the technique he'd recently learned. Running a few steps away from everyone, Jude's paw glowed bright blue. A mild puff of aura erupted from his paw as he punched the air.
The Lucario barked excitedly. The went to the Riolu and began showing them their own techniques, punching and kicking the air with ease. Some of the moves were advanced: Sonny—or Cher, Clair couldn't tell which was which—ran and took a flying leap, twisting into a roundhouse kick and blasting the air with a burst of energy. As the Lucario landed, it spread its arms wide and sent Aura in opposite directions.
Balling his paws into tiny fists, Jude attempted to copy the maneuver, taking a few steps before running forward. But when he jumped, his legs weren't near straight enough, causing his kick to be off-center. Jude fell to the ground in a heap. He quickly got to his feet and brushed himself off, turning his back on the group. His ears betrayed him, however: flat against his head, Clair knew he must be embarrassed.
Korrina laughed. "Your Riolu sure is persistent! Sonny and Cher really like him." Turning to Clair, the girl grinned. "I don't know what you've been doing, but you've done well for him to be so tenacious. How's his Aura training going?"
Clair's smile faded. "I don't know what you mean."
"You know! Aura! The spiritual energy that's the essence of every living thing, and the reason why Mega—I mean, certain kinds of evolution are possible!" Seeing Clair's confusion, Korrina went on. "So, Aura is something Lucario are adept at! Riolu can learn it, too, if they get the training for it! Being able to use Aura gives Pokémon the ability to sense other Auras, as well as being able to view the environment without seeing it! In fact, Lucario can use their Aura to create barriers or attacks, and even allows them to form stronger bonds with their Trainer. These bonds make the line between Pokémon and Trainer blurred, to the point where the two are so in sync that they often mirror each other!"
Korrina blushed. "Sorry, I got off on a tangent! I'm still learning Aura myself. Sonny and Cher and I have a long way to go before we're able to do any expert training." She grabbed Clair's hand and squeezed it. "Oh, I know! You should come visit us at the Tower of Mastery! Grandfather can teach you about Aura! He can do things that I can only dream of!"
Clair withdrew her hand. Mega Evolution, Aura, all of this was nearly over her head. She looked to her Pokémon, eyebrows furrowed. Building a bond so deep that the Pokémon and Trainer move nearly in sync with one another? Was such a thing possible? Her cousin and his Dragonite, as well as Clair and her own, were attuned to each other, but they were very much separate identities. What made Aura so special?
"I'll think about it," Clair said. "I am currently challenging the Gyms here and do not wish to stray from that path."
Korrina vibrated where she stood. "Oh my gosh, that means we're rivals! Oh, oh, oh! Fiddlesticks, I totally forgot to ask your name!"
This girl was too much. Her energy and enthusiasm were on par with Windie's.
"I am Clair," she said simply.
"Okay!" Korrina beamed. She leaned forward on her blades. "I forgot to mention that I'm also the new Gym Leader in Shalour, so I'll see you there! The Tower of Mastery is also there, so I really hope you'll go! I'll tell my grandfather about you and everything. He loves helping people connect with their latent abilities! I'm sure he'll help with Jude!"
Wait. This girl—this girl was also a Gym Leader? Not only that, but the heir of Mega Evolution and the granddaughter of some Aura wizard. She probably has other titles I don't know about, Clair thought, pursing her lips. Resentment boiled in her stomach and jealousy stirred in her heart. Looking at Korrina was like looking at a younger Lance. Young, proud, successful. Able to go anywhere and do what she wanted to do.
Clair frowned. Averted her eyes. "I will be there," she muttered.
"Woohoo!" Korrina exclaimed, wheeling around her in excitement. She stopped, leaned forward, and smiled broadly. "I'm so happy to meet you, Claire!" Clair's eye twitched as Korrina pronounced her name with an 'E.' The girl checked her watch. Gasped. "Shoot! I'm late! I have to go, but I hope to see you soon! Ciao!"
She skated away at an alarming speed, whistling for her Lucario to hurry. Sonny and Cher stopped playing with Jude and bounded off. The poor Riolu tried to follow. Jude ran after them, barking, but tripped on a crack in the dirt and fell on his knees. Ignoring Windie's attempts at helping him up, Jude brushed himself off. His tail drooped as the Lucario faded from sight.
How could a girl several years younger than her be so… accomplished? Everything in Clair's life was a struggle—just becoming Gym Leader involved jumping through unnecessary hurdles her grandfather put her through. It wasn't enough that she was physically strong, or that the Oracle gave her a blessing, or that the former Gym Leader specifically chose her for the position. Oh, no. Clair had to perform task after task and recite mundane literature and law just for her grandfather to agree. Clair thought he'd be thrilled—after all, she'd stay in Blackthorn and be out of everyone else's way. And forget about becoming heir—at best she was the spare. What would it be like to have everything handed to you? If life was easy for once? If she didn't have to fight and yell and beg and plead to just let her do this.
I'm sick and tired of it.
No more. Clair would not sit idly by and let anyone, least of all her grandfather, control her life. And Jude—She saw how he struggled to perform in front of the Lucario as they kicked agilely in the air. His ankle still held him back. But he kept trying. The spark in his eyes told everything. His thoughts, his fears, his future.
Going over to where Jude stood, Clair pressed a hand on the back of his head. Brushed the dirt from his ears. "We'll get there," she told him. Mega Evolution. Aura training. None of it mattered so long as they did it together.
The way he looked up at her with such compassion made her heart melt.
Whimpering softly, Windie sidled up to Clair, her red eyes liquid. Dragging her stick in the dirt and shuffling her feet, wholly unused to being ignored. A pang surged through Clair's heart. She'd been so focused on Jude and her own thoughts that she forgot about her other Pokémon. Clair kneeled and took each of Jude and Windie's paws.
"No matter what happens," she said, looking each of them in the eye, "we're in this together. We have a long way to go if we want to become Champion." Clair stopped. Bit her lip. Becoming Champion was a stupid idea, an impossible idea. But was it really? She was the strongest Gym Leader of Tohjo, and could hold her own against the Elite Four. She only lost against Lance and his greatest rival. She could do this.
Besides, it'd wipe the contempt right off her grandfather's face.
Clair grinned a lopsided grin. "Let's go," she said, tugging her Pokémon along. "We've got a Gym to conquer."
【-】
Camphrier Town's moat separated a once-prestigious castle from the peasants, but even that didn't stop the reek of abandonment from permeating the it. She'd heard that the citizens were generous, and the lord of the manor even more so, but all Clair saw was poverty. The town's cobblestone paths and tall, enclosing stone walls only aged it further. Even the local hotel—if it could be called that—advertised cheap fare for tourists.
Once famous for housing a noble family, but known now as Shabboneau (How appropriate, Clair thought), the castle no longer held interest for Clair. And from what Clair overheard at the Pokémon Center, the lord of the nearby Parfum Palace raised taxes to further his lavish lifestyle. Uninterested in Kalos' politics, she ushered her Pokémon along through the town square and to the main road leading out of the town.
Leaving the run-down town behind, Clair stepped on a road that locals called Rivière Walk and breathed a sigh of relief. No-one called for help, no-one recognized her (not that they ever did), no nothing. She could continue along her journey and find her way to the next Gym and then perhaps see the Tower of Mastery that Korrina spoke so highly of. Berry fields as far as the eye could see sprinkled the hilly countryside, a much-needed respite from the bustle of the city. Foragers harvested the fields, and those that were close waved to Clair as she passed. When they weren't looking, she scooped handfuls of berries into her pouch.
The road to Ambrette Town was the longest straight distance in Kalos, and boasted a winding, gentle river that crackled merrily across the rocky riverbed. Away from all distractions, Windie and Jude could be as playful as they wished: toppling over each other and barking as they ran through the tall grass. They grew tired of playing around midday. As she saw them stagger over, there were contented grins on their face. Jude, ever resilient, remained by Clair's side while they walked, while Windie slumped along behind them, whining and dragging her stick through the gravel. Clair supposed it was as good a time as any for a break and some lunch, so she allowed her small team to rest. They had the rest of the day ahead of them, and besides, everyone trained best on a full stomach, including herself.
Clair awoke with a start.
Shit! The sun had begun its nightly descent from the sky. Though it was still bright, midday had come and gone. "Come on, come on, let's get moving," she said, gathering her backpack around her shoulders. Groggy and eyes full of sleep, her young Pokémon slowly gathered to their feet. Soon they were back on the road, though sluggish and half-awake. Deciding now was the perfect time to train, Clair had Windie and Jude perform wellness exercises along the path. Windie zig-zagged across the path with a flourish as Clair performed high knee steps with Jude. He struggled to keep up. It was probably his ankle again—he'd overused it when practicing with Korrina's Lucario. Clair encouraged with him by proposing an easier substitute by way of the reverse lunge, promising strength through a longer range of motion. They'd overcome this together. With a fierce nod, Jude doubled down, moving into the new pace of the alternative exercise.
They'd finished training for the day (strength followed agility) an hour before they reached a small cave. As they'd walked, the rolling fields transformed into rocky roads, and the river abruptly changed course. This far away from Camphrier, Clair could count the number of travelers they'd seen on one hand.
It seemed that, same as Tohjo, traveling by foot through caves was not the preferred method of getting around.
Clair rolled her eyes. As if she had any other choice. Riding dragonback was always her go-to, but since she's a tourist, she might as well do the damn thing. Besides, a little exercise would do her good. All this hoity-toity Kalosian food was too rich for her liking: boeuf bourguignon, coq au vin, croque monsieur, profiteroles…
The cave boasted a small sign that read in Kalosian and Common that it was a shortcut (a "connection," the sign joked) to Ambrette Town. The cave, though small by Clair's standards, was winding, and therefore a straight path had been dug to avoid any mishaps by travelers. Clair frowned. The Ice Path near her home was not only meant to deter travelers, but to train them for the challenges ahead. Tch. Kalosians always took the easy way out. Jude nudged her hand with his head. With a sigh, Clair rubbed between his ears. What would Lance say? She thought bitterly. There's a difference between easy and efficient.
Whatever.
Clair checked her phone for the time: 6:05pm. It would be dark before too long, so she had a choice: continue through this cave and hope she made it to the other side by the time it got dark, traverse the cave and see what wonders it could possibly hold, or camp out here for the night. The sign said it was at least another day's walk to Ambrette, so hurrying would get her nowhere. Clair glanced at her Pokemon. Windie and Jude seemed raring to go, eager to explore this new thing ahead of them. Well, who was she to deny them? Adjusting the bag on her shoulders, Clair told her team that yes, they would be going.
Connecting Cave was well-lit along the main path. Rope handrails hung to the walls, leading wannabe spelunkers through and out of the main tunnel. Entrances deeper into the cave were roped off with loud yellow WARNING! tape, leading Clair to believe that something neat must be hidden within those chambers. And with no-one around, who'd stop her? With a sly grin, Clair lifted a piece of caution tape and ushered her Pokémon inside. They were going spelunking.
Clair's eyes adjusted easily to the near-pitch darkness, but she took out her flashlight regardless. It was always an anomaly for others that Clair and her clan could see in the dark—or nearly, anyway. Her grandfather often exaggerated their clan's history: he'd said their ancestors possessed the gift of fire breathing, immense strength, and immunity against magic back when the clan was first founded, but through time, all darkvisionhad since faded away. When Clair was small, the elders held high hopes for her. After all, her hair was a gift from the spirits, blessing her as the Original One had been blessed. But just as the clan's powers had waned, so too did their faith in her. And here she was, in a cave all the way in Kalos because her grandfather wanted to punish her.
Clair muttered curses under her breath. Windie and Jude, meanwhile, swiveled their heads, their ears pricked. Shrill cries from Zubat and Woobat echoed around them. At a particularly close cry, Windie barked in alarm, rushing close to Clair, her fur standing on end. She took out her stick, lit the end, and feigned braveness, but her arm wavered. Jude's hackles raised. He looked this way and that, surveying for signs of attack. None came. Clair's frown faded, and she rubbed her Pokémon's heads softly.
"It's all right," she said, her voice as soothing as she could manage. "They won't harm you. Annoying, sure, but you're much stronger than they are." She grinned. "Trust me."
Emboldened by her lack of fear, Windie and Jude tried to calm themselves down. Though their fur remained on end, they traveled by Clair's side with much less trepidation than earlier. The cave, it seemed, was a lot more bark than it was bite. Clair found nothing of interest save a few sinkholes and cave-ins. There wasn't even a Pokémon that dared to challenge them! In Johto, the Pokémon were much more feral, Seems even the Pokémon in Kalos were as tame as the rest of the populace, Clair thought. Disappointed, Clair made her way back to the entrance, deciding to take another path than the one used previously.
A noise unlike any she'd heard in the cave seemed to flow from within.
Clair flicked her flashlight left to right. Nothing but stone and a deep hole before them. As they approached, the sound grew louder. There was no mistaking it: it was a man's voice, and it was coming from ahead of them. But it was muttering, and nigh-unintelligible.
There was no way that there was a person stuck in that hole. None.
Jude was the first to approach, leaning over the edge with his little paws dug into the dirt for support. The muttering continued. Frowning, Clair grew nearer until she too was on the cliff's edge and shone her flashlight to the depths below. Windie stayed behind.
There was a man sitting in the dark, in a hole in some cave, far away where anyone would find him, muttering to himself. There were several Zubat roosting in his long, unkempt hair.
Fuck me.
"What are you doing down there?" Clair asked in Common.
The man stopped speaking. It was several moments before he turned his head to face her. When he finally did—his movements were slow—Clair thought that he didn't even register that she was standing there.
This time Clair raised her voice. Maybe he couldn't hear her. "What are you doing? Can you get out?"
The man raised his hand to cover his eyes. He spoke to her, but not in a language Clair could understand.
A moment passed, and then it hit her. He wasn't speaking Kalosian—it was Latin.
Just how long had he been down there? Jeez—didn't he know better than to go places alone when you're not competent enough to actually get yourself out of trouble? Clair was different, she had the experience, she had the training, and she certainly had the physical prowess to climb just about anything. Mt. Silver was no match for her when she wanted a rough day's climbing. But this man—this man looked as if a stiff breeze would knock him over.
Clair spoke back to him in broken Latin. "Do you need—help?" she asked. Though she could read the ancient language just fine, speaking it was another matter. Her thick Johtonese accent punctuated the flowing syllables like a knife through ice. But at least the man seemed to understand.
"Yes. No. Help is… No. Beyond this one."
Another weirdo. Just what she needed. And speaking in this language… it made her cringe. Clair remembered all the lessons she'd taken, all the strikes she'd endured, all the ridicule as she tried to keep pace with her cousin. Blessed by the ancients or not, she always lagged behind him, the prodigy. Latin was something the elders forced them to learn, not like anyone with any sense used it these days. So who was this guy?
And she couldn't just leave him, as much as she wanted to—she wasn't that heartless. Not when he appeared stuck down there for whoever knows how long. Clair set her pack on the ground and rummaged through it until she found her coil of rope. 50 feet long and strong as a Tauros, this rope had gotten her through many attempts at ascending Mt Silver. Clair doubted the man was strong enough to pull himself up, so she'd have to think of something else. She leaned over the cliff's edge once more.
"Can you climb?"
The man simply stared. Then he turned away, as if Clair had gone from his mind like a fleeting thought. The murmuring continued.
Sweet baby spirits, she was going to have to go down there, wasn't she? Clair frowned and looked at her Pokémon. "You're going to have to stay here," she told them. "Don't follow me." Windie and Jude looked at her with large eyes. She kneeled and held them both close. "I'll be right back. Just going to hop into this hole and help this guy, then we can leave. Got it?"
Her Pokémon nodded halfheartedly. Right. Gotta get moving. Clair found a nearby boulder and tied a knot around it, pulling on it so the knot held snug. Then she reached into her pack for the harness she'd brought—who knew she'd use it for a rescue mission? Clair stepped into the harness and, after making sure everything was secure, rappelled down the side of the hole. She'd guessed it to be about fifteen feet drop, and beamed when her guess was correct. A difficult climb, to be sure. But the edges of the hole had several pockmarks, perfect for footholds. She'd be able to get out just fine.
The strange man was a lot taller than she'd originally thought. Though he was sitting cross-legged on the ground and hunched over, he was still nearly as tall as her shoulders. Long white hair lay in tangled bunches around his shoulders and down his back, and an actual Zubat's nest lay on the disheveled backpack at his feet. But the smell was the worst part—the man reeked of mildew and decay. Filthy long-sleeved clothes hung in tattered layers about his thin frame, and long bangs hid most of his lined face. Impossibly old, or just young and unkempt? Clair couldn't tell, nor did she really care. She had to get him out or else they'd be stuck here, and she wasn't going to be responsible for the death of a traveler.
"Right, so, you need to grab a hold of the rope," she told the man. He didn't move. Clair frowned. Raised her voice. "Grab a hold of the ROPE."
When the man still wouldn't move, Clair stomped her foot. It was as if he was trying to stay here for the rest of his miserable life! So she did what any reasonable woman would do: grab him by the armpits, forcibly lift him up, and push him toward the wall. "Grab the rope!" she commanded, forcing the thing into his hand.
The man looked at her and blinked. "Rope…? Yes."
Finally
he gets it. "See those holes? Put your feet in them. You're going to have to climb out." She stared at him, hard. "Understand?"
Clair didn't hesitate. The only way people could get saved is if they saved themselves, and this guy sure was doing a good job of not doing that. But he did try, surprisingly, and though it took longer than Clair would have liked for him to escape, escape he did. He slipped and fell a few times, causing her to shift her balance—the rope was still attached to her—but he did it all the same.
Except that he left his backpack. Clair slapped a hand over her face. Good grief. She hitched the nasty thing over her shoulders—spirits, it was heavy—and began her own ascent. She had more trouble than she would have liked to admit thanks to the added weight. When she finally reached the top, Clair shrugged the thing off and made a face. She'd need a shower after this. Windie and Jude collided into her for a hug. Clair petted them once each before turning her eyes to the stranger.
Hunched over with his back facing her, the man appeared to be messing with… something. Clair stormed over to him and thumped him on the shoulder. Rescuing him was one thing, but not thanking her was quite another. "If you're quite done," she seethed, crossing her arms over her chest.
Slowly he turned. In his arms was the gray-green Pokémon known as Axew. Clair's jaw dropped—how in the world? Where did this little dragon come from? Its short tusks curved outward only just, and its eyes were alight with glee. It squirmed in the man's oversized hands until the stranger let go. Windie bounded over to it, barking.
"Where did you get that?" she whispered in her native tongue.
After his trip to Unova, Lance had been excited to show Clair all the dragon's he'd come across. Druddigon, Haxorus, Hydreigon, he had them all. She hated to admit that she'd been extremely jealous—after all, not only were they strong, but they were adorable, too. Their scales glinted in the autumn sun and gloated as if they were fresh from a fight. Lance offered to catch her one, but she declined. She wouldn't accept charity. Besides, a dragon's trust was earned. You couldn't expect to catch one and think it'd obey you.
This was her chance for her very own dragon. Seeing it in the flashlight's dim glow barely did it any justice. The short, curving horn and the stumpy tail… gosh, it was just the cutest. So how did this tall, smelly stranger get his hands on one?
Clair pointed sternly at the man. "I'm not through with you. Stay there."
The stranger merely stared.
Jude stood between Clair and the dragon, but Windie was making friends with it. They barked excitedly at one another, conversing about who knew what. It was times like these that Clair wished she could speak with Pokémon—she'd heard stories of people who could, and she'd always been jealous of them. Instead, she had to deal with learning about them through blood, sweat, and tears.
Clair dropped to her knees and extended a hand, eyes averted. "Come here, little one," she whispered.
The small dragon stopped barking. Stared at her for a brief moment before coming forward ever-so-hesitantly. It sniffed her outstretched hand and recoiled. A pang shot through Clair's heart. How could that man of all people hold it? "Hey, sweetie," she said softly. "Hey, baby." The Axew came near again and let Clair rub her fingers along its scales.
Jude barked and rushed over to Clair's side. The Axew flinched and ran, vanishing into darkness.
"Jude!"
He barked, indignant. Clair slid a hand over her face. She was so close, damn it! Stifling a sigh, she brushed a hand along her Pokémon's ears. "I know you were trying to help," she told him, "but please trust me. I can handle myself, okay?" She kissed his forehead. Windie bounded over, ears drooped. Clair kissed her head, too. "Maybe your friend will come back. Keep a lookout for me, won't you?"
She hoped it would come back. Wild dragons were shy and untrusting creatures, often keeping to themselves and hardly ever being seen by humans. This one must be real young for it to venture so closely to their group. To even be held by one was a sign of great trust. And speaking of which… Clair turned to face the man and placed her hands on her hips. He was picking through his backpack at a snail's pace.
"Don't you have something to say? How about a 'thank you'?" she asked, her voice harsh.
The man still didn't speak. Didn't acknowledge her. It was if she didn't exist.
Clair stomped over to where the man sat and placed a hand on his shoulder, pushing him back and forcing him to stare at her in the eyes. "Didn't you hear what I said? I saved your life!"
The man blinked. For the first time since she'd met the man, his eyes appeared clear. "Apologies…" he said, his words slow and unsure. He made no effort to remove her hand. "This one… doesn't know."
Unable to stand the smell any longer, Clair withdrew her hand and took a large step back. She crossed her arms under her chest. She still felt the grunge on her palm. "Yeah? And who are you? What brought you here?"
Silence. The man simply stared at her, face unreadable. After a few minutes he spoke, his Latin slow but like that of a native speaker's. "This one… travels." His eyes slid from Clair's. "The Pokémon… the flower Pokémon. This one… find it. Must."
In the light of the flashlight, a gleaming tear fell from his eye. Clair had zero idea what he was going on about, but it apparently brought him sadness. Something stirred in Clair's heart that felt a little bit like empathy, but she shoved that feeling deep inside until it was quashed. She didn't need to feel sorry for a man who literally went to die in a hole.
After a moment, Clair packed her bag, re-coiling the rope and harness and tucking them away in a designated pocket. The man went rummaging through his own backpack. Satisfied everything seemed all right, the man heaved a sigh of relief. She looked at him sharply. Frowned. She didn't expect to have company on this trek of her journey, and it appeared as if she'd have to babysit.
"All right, let's go," she said, shouldering her pack. "Windie, Jude, stop messing around." The young Pokémon were in the middle of a slapping contest, as Windie had apparently grown bored of waiting. Jude's ears drooped, but Windie giggled. Clair turned to the stranger, switching to his language. "You, too. Come with me."
The man lifted his head. Stared at her, face solemn. He reached for his bag and placed it upon his shoulders, standing to his fullest height. He had to stoop to avoid the sharp stalactites. Clair frowned. Turning her back on the man, she shone her flashlight down the path and led them to the main trail.
They'd reached the main tunnel of Connective Cave without trouble. Twice Clair thought she noticed the Axew following them, but every time she looked, the dragon was gone. Had she the time, she'd spend a week trying to coax the creature to come near, to trust her. If it was to grow into a strong Haxorus, it needed a patient trainer. But she didn't have the time. She had Windie, Jude, and this stranger who was relying on her to get them through this cave. Windie and Jude would be fine, but this man? Spirits, Clair only hoped she could pawn him off on some Ranger.
Hunger gnawed at her stomach.
It was bad enough that she and her party were a walking circus. She hadn't been expecting to feed a literal 8-foot-something man. Clair'd brought enough food for her and her Pokémon to get to the next checkpoint—meat jerky, nuts, and dried fruit, along with the berries she'd picked earlier. Truth be told, the food was more for her Pokémon than herself; she needed a lot more calories than that to keep up her buff physique. But her Pokémon were young, and they needed the nutrients more than her.
They walked an hour more before they came upon the exit of the cave. To Clair's dismay, there was a storm brewing on the other side. Strong winds buffeted rain ten feet into the mouth, misting them with fresh water. Lightning struck the darkness nearby, lighting the night with electricity. When thunder rolled not a second after, Clair heaved a sigh. Okay, so they wouldn't be heading out in this weather. The storm was upon them.
Clair set to work setting up a makeshift camp twenty feet from the cave's exit. Close enough to see outside, but far enough to be safe from the storm. She unrolled her sleeping bag and sat on it. Stared at the stranger long enough for him to get the picture that he needed to do the same. Except his bedroll was a ragged blanket of mismatched proportions, stitched together—poorly—to create something that would almost cover him if he needed warmth.
It was enough to make her groan. She was feeling sorry for the guy. Turning away, Clair searched through her bag, found the food, and distributed it to her Pokémon. Jude took it politely, while Windie tried to snatch it from her hands. Clair tutted and forced her to wait patiently before she relinquished the jerky and fruit. If she distributed everything evenly, she still wouldn't have enough.
"Here," Clair said, offering a bit of jerky and dried nuts to the stranger. She refused to look at him. "Take it."
She withdrew her hand after calloused fingers grazed hers. The slow sounds of her Pokémon and the man chewing filled the silence.
Clair turned away.