Chapter sixty-nine: A Moment of Respite
All around us, there were the remnants of the XCRM-872…patches of fire lit up the dark and cold wintry forest. Our group had gathered around a small patch of fire slowly dying due to the wind and freezing ground.
That wasn't on our minds, however…our minds were fixated on the group that had saved Jen and me from doom: Rigel and his Pokémon. I was relieved and equally excited to see them. Jennifer dusted her red jacket and jeans off and readjusted her red baseball cap on her head before approaching Rigel.
"Boy, I'm so glad to see you guys!" Jennifer heaved a sigh of relief.
Rigel smiled, nodding with glee…he kind of felt smug…liking the idea of being a 'white knight in shining' armor as if we were his damsels, "it's good we came to help when we did." The teen set down his black messenger bag and dusted snow off his gray patterned shirt.
Orion jumped in like a rabbit, climbing up his trainer's back and landing gracefully on his shoulder…soon throwing a fist out into the sky, "that robot got what it deserved!"
Jen, obviously, couldn't understand Orion. She held her hand to her face to hide her giggles at how adorable the Pikachu presented himself.
"You gotta teach me that move" I suddenly quipped before she asked, "what move?"
"Iron Tail. The move Gabite used back on the train."
She chuckled, Jen was about to disappoint me, "I don't have a TM with me…"
"Of course you don't" I rolled my eyes playfully in response.
Soon, however, Jennifer composed herself and stepped toward the human teen, "how did you guys find us?"
"Yeah…how DID you guys find us?" I added with perfect human-speak.
"We followed the tracks" Rigel began to explain, soon pulling out a device, "my Pokédex showed the fastest route to Verdigris. We took the same road Team Rocket used to get through the Viridian Forest. Charizard followed your scents the rest of the way."
"That Pokédex must be a new model…huh?" The only girl in our group retorted, putting her hands on her hips.
"Yeah…I upgraded when we were in that mall in Saffron."
"Figures" she flipped her bangs in response, "well, I guess it's good that you keep up with the newest technology then…"
"Of course I do! You and Lucas probably still listen to cassettes!"
Both Jennifer and I took this personality, and we glared at the teen…putting our hands on our hips…mirroring each other's expressions, "we do not! We're still young, you know!"
"I will admit that we didn't have CD's when I was his age…" Jen had to giggle at that upon hearing that from me, "but I'm willing to bet Rigel probably doesn't know how to put a cassette in for the life of him…" the girl next to me had to hide her laughter again as Rigel stomped his foot down in the snow, "I DO!"
Silence filled the air for a few minutes until Rigel smiled softly toward us, "I'm so glad to see you two are safe" he had said. Orion mirrored his human brother's look, nodding furiously to support his statement.
I put an arm behind my back in embarrassment, looking away for a brief moment in response, "I thought we would be captured again, we should keep a tally every time it happens from now on…" Orion held in a chuckle with his small yellow paw.
I gave a brief look toward Charizard (who was revived shortly after the battle) as if to greet him/thank him and he quietly acknowledged. He looked towards the tunnel which got me thinking, "I suppose the authorities will be able to follow the train now thanks to your tracking device" I gave a weary sigh. Jen groaned in retaliation, right after she tried using her PDA.
"I'm getting interference…" she said with frustration.
"What do you mean?" Rigel and I said at the same time. The boy looked down at me with shock running down his face, wow…Lucas is speaking perfectly now! He's talking like that Meowth back in Cerulean!
She brandished her device with a hand and shook her head, "the storm must be causing problems, the authorities might not find us here."
"I suggest we wait…they HAVE to know we're here…right?" I raised an eyebrow, walking up to her.
"I don't like this idea…" Rigel sighed, kicking at the snow beneath him lightly.
Jennifer and I looked at him with raised eyebrows in confusion, "I…ah…wasn't sent here…I came here on my own…" he admitted as Orion rested on his back, shrugging in response.
I would have been angry or even disappointed with Rigel (as if I were his father) but we had more pressing matters to attend to: it's getting colder, and the fires are dying out! Night will soon arrive and it's already below freezing…
My heart sank, for Jen or Rigel weren't equipped for this weather. And, even if they were…with no source of heat they'll freeze! To add more stress to an already tense situation: a snowstorm is brewing all around us! Our only lifeline in such a place was Charizard (yet he wouldn't last long either…I could tell he was succumbing to the cold too…his tail was starting to weaken!)
The only human adult in our group walked ahead…looking towards the tunnel before turning to us with a nod, "we can't stay here."
Yup, I saw that coming from her.
"About time" Orion chittered as he folded his arms, teeth rattling from the intense cold.
"Okay, come on, everyone" I sighed softly, gesturing for the group to follow us.
It was definitely warmer in the tunnel than the outside, but now the others were inspired to keep pressing on instead of just staying by the entrance…
Jen, Rigel, Orion, Charizard, and I began making our way deeper into the dark and damp area. The two humans used flashlights to guide them while the "dragon" behind us used his tail to light up our flanks.
I realized then that this wasn't simply a train tunnel…but an entrance to an extensive cave system within Viridian Forest…great…
We had to stop and make sure we had everything ready for what was to come. Jen healed her Pokémon and Rigel did the same.
Who knows where this cave will lead and what awaits us at the exit, but I must be strong…now that we are all here at least we can face whatever is thrown our way…
Together.