Amber awakened some time later, but she had no idea how much later. It wasn't morning yet and Amber didn't know what time it was. The waning moon was setting and she couldn't see very well. Lulu was fast asleep, her arms drawn across her knees. She'd fallen asleep mid-watch. Amber almost giggled, but bit her lip. She didn't want to wake Leo and Flare.
Apparently, she didn't need to worry about waking Leo up; he was tending the campfire. Flare was curled up surprisingly close to the fire, puffing smoke as she breathed. Amber smiled. She must really like the fire to be that close.
Leo noticed Amber just now. "You can't sleep either?"
Amber shook her head, "I slept a little bit, I think. It's hard to do on the ground." Amber noticed his gaze linger on her for several seconds. She tilted her head at this, which made him abruptly turn away and start poking at the fire again. Amber grinned a bit and chuckled softly. His awkwardness was so unlike him in a cute way!
"How's your leg, Amber?" he asked without taking his eyes from the campfire.
Amber flexed her leg experimentally, "Lots better. It isn't all nasty looking anymore and it almost doesn't hurt."
"Almost?" Leo narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Leo, I'm fine," Amber chided feeling rather coddled, "I'm tougher than I look you know!"
That made Leo smile. "Good. Glad you're better. Can I talk to you for a bit? There's something I need to get off my chest."
"Of course!" Amber got up out of the sleeping bag, whose rustling woke up Lulu. The puppy followed Amber as she sat down across from Leo. "What did you wanna talk about?"
"Well…" Leo faltered, fidgeting. Amber tilted her head, and then he continued, "I think I owe you an apology."
Amber furrowed her brow. "Why? You didn't do anything!"
"That's part of the problem." Leo took a deep breath and set the stick down. "I'm really sorry I didn't protect you from that bug earlier. I should've told you to stay away from the grass and let Lulu take point. I-"
Amber cut him off, "Was that what you've been acting all funny for?"
Leo broke eye contact again, nodding once as he stared into the campfire. "Yeah. When I saw you were hurt, I was so pissed I saw red. I wasn't even thinking straight. I should've had Flare fry that thing to a crisp." He stood up, balling his hands. "She had the type-advantage for Arceus' sake! Not only did I screw up the battle, you got hurt. All because of me!" He kicked a rock into the fire with surprising anger.
"Yip!" Embers from the fire landed on Flare, who shook her head in surprise and looked accusingly at Leo.
Amber just stared, her mouth wide open. He really thought he was responsible? No way! If anything, it was his guidance that kept her from gawking like a fool the whole time. She didn't know what to say or do for Leo, so she froze up.
Leo sighed, staring down at his feet. "I'm sorry Amber. Can you forgive me?"
She finally knew what to say, "Depends on what you're sorry for. If you're sorry for scaring me earlier, then I forgive you. But the battle…" She stood up and came to Leo's side putting a hand on his shoulder, "You didn't poison me, it was a wild Pokèmon! I was the one who messed up. How can I forgive you for something you didn't do?"
"Amber…" Leo lifted his head and met Amber's eyes. He was trying to play stoic again, but his shining eyes gave away the truth. "T-thank you. You have no idea what that means to me."
"Actually, I don't think I thanked you. You reacted so quickly while I looked like a gaping fish! And then you took care of me too. Thanks, you're my hero!" She playfully flopped her head on his shoulder and gave him a silly smile. Lulu wasn't the only one who knew being cute made people grin!
"Lu! Riolu!" Lulu started pawing at Amber. She looked down to find her anxiously pointing to where Flare was earlier. Flare was no longer there. Amber wondered where Flare went.
"Lulu, did you see where Flare went?" Amber asked as she got off Leo's shoulder.
"Lu…" Lulu shook her head, making a worried expression at Leo and Amber.
Just then, Amber heard some barking and snarling coming from somewhere nearby. She recognized Flare, but there was another voice she didn't recognize at all. It sounded like a fight was going on! Leo had to have noticed it too, he'd pulled a flashlight from his pocket and shined it into the nearby grass. Amber's eyes went wide. Flare was tussling with a Pokèmon that really shouldn't be here: a Houndour! Amber turned to tell Leo, but he was already taking off.
"Wait!" Amber's call fell on deaf ears; Leo was well ahead of her. She glanced at Lulu, who barked and slapped a hand into a fist. She seemed ready for a fight. Amber raced after Leo, and what she saw next shocked her.
She was right about one thing, Flare was fighting a Houndour all by herself! Blood dribbled from her mouth as she snarled at her foe. Several gashes and burns ran across her body. She was wounded pretty badly! Amber then noticed Flare had torn into the opponent's ear. It was dripping down its owner's face. This made the feral sneer on its face all that much more sinister looking as its own blood dripped across its teeth. Amber gasped and back-stepped away, placing a hand on her mouth. Flare barked at the other dog, sending something flying out of her mouth.
It was a piece of ear.
Amber shook her head at the gruesome scene. She wasn't about to freeze up like a Sawsbuck in the headlights again! She tore her eyes from the sight and instead looked at Lulu.
Leo shouted, "Flare, come back girl!" he brandished his Pokèball at the Pokèmon, recalling her. Amber tried not to notice the fearful look on Leo's face. She decided to act this time, and not let her emotions get in the way again.
"Go get 'em, Lulu!" Amber called.
"Ri! Lu!" Lulu happily charged forth.
Lulu's first attack was meeting the Houndour with a flying high-kick. Houndour retaliated with a plume of fire. Lulu's kick continued through the flames, striking Houndour directly in the jaw. It yipped and fell backwards a few steps. It sat back on its rump and howled up at the sky. Another howl answered, much deeper than Houndour's. Lulu provided her own answer: another high-kick, followed by a roundhouse. The crack of bone echoed like a bell through the field, or so it sounded to Amber. The double attack hit Houndour hard. It wobbled on its feet, whining pitifully. It growled, shaking its head and making blood fly in all directions. It leaped at Lulu, biting her hard on the torso. Without letting go, it shook its head viciously, then threw Lulu into the grass some distance away.
Amber fell back on her heels, her eyes wide. With Lulu nowhere in sight and Flare critically injured, now Amber and Leo were sitting Duckletts. Amber gasped again, spun on her heel, and ran back towards the campsite in a fright. Houndour's paws crunched in the dirt behind her, getting closer and closer still. Her injured leg still hurt, and the distraction sent her tripping over a twig. Amber landed face-down in the grass. She spun around and started Krabby-walking away in sheer panic. Houndour licked its chops at her menacingly. It crouched low, readying itself to strike. Amber shut her eyes; she didn't want to watch this part. A cacophony of snarls and yipping met her ears as Amber held her breath and braced herself.
Amber heard a familiar, victorious howl next. She started to shake in terror. A wet tongue slurped across her face, surprising Amber. She reluctantly opened her eyes, astonished that she was still unharmed. Flare was at her side. The concerned pup was licking her face enthusiastically, and behind Flare was the defeated Houndour. Leo stood a few yards away, a snarl pasted on his face. Amber sighed and hugged the Growlithe, who responded by licking her ear.
"Amber!" Leo recalled Flare for a second time. "Thank Arceus you're okay!"
Amber sat up straighter and nodded. "I'm not hurt, thanks to you and Flare. But have you seen-?"
Lulu came stumbling out of the grass just then. She had a nasty bite across her chest. She bounded over to Amber, sniffing her and examining her all over. Satisfied, she climbed up into Amber's lap and flexed victoriously. That made Amber laugh, and she ruffled Lulu's fur.
The brief lull went bleak in a second. A huge shape suddenly came up behind Leo. Or rather, it leaped on him blindsiding him! The large dog Pokèmon held its horned head low, embers erupting from its nostrils. Amber couldn't hold back a scream this time.
The new foe was a female Houndoom. Amber knew she was in extreme danger. And now Leo was struggling beneath her. He shoved his flashlight between the mother Pokèmon's jaws and kicked wildly. Leo just managed to get free as Houndoom spat the flashlight out, sending crazy shadows across the camp. Leo dashed to Amber, yanking her up rather roughly.
"We're in some deep shit," Leo growled, "Flare's too hurt to fight. What're we gonna-?"
Lu-lu! Rio!" Lulu broke free from Amber and squared her stance at Houndoom as they exchanged growls.
"You gotta be kidding me! How the hell does she think she's gonna fight in her condition?!" Leo barked. Amber had no words. All she could do was hope Lulu could help them escape this mother's wrath.