ã€ŠPok&#xE9;mon Warriorã€‹


 Prologue

    "Kenji! Enough lazing around. It''s time to wake up." His mother''s strident voice easily pierced the paper walls dividing his room from the rest of the house.

    "Ugh." Kenji groaned into his pillow.

    His mother and father were early risers and believed that one should greet the rays of dawn. Never mind that the two of them stayed up late waiting for his father to come home only to be disappointed when he did not show.

    Likely lost again, Kenji thought to himself as he huddled under the blanket for warmth. At some point in the night, the hibachi must have gone out or more likely his mother put it out. She worried needlessly, Kenji often thought as she was typically fearful of a fire breaking out in the night from the house warming braziers. Instead of risking a fire, as she saw it, his mother instead preferred to use heavier blankets for warmth.

    Kenji was beginning to relax back into slumber when he heard the thumps of his mother''s foot striking the wood floor. They grew closer and he realized that she was coming to wake him herself.

    Throwing the wool blanket off, Kenji leapt up and scrambled to make it appear as if he were already awake. He snatched up the nearest clothing, a simple tunic and pants, and yanked them on. Even as he pulled on the clothes, he knew that he would have to change. Not only were they wrinkled and worn but the clothes were ones he typically wore to sleep when the night was cold.

    He was in the middle of donning his tunic when he heard the shoji slide open. Pushing his head through he gave his mother a scandalized look.

    "MaMa, what if I was nude?" He asked with false indignation.

    "Oh, come now Kenji. It''s not anything I haven''t seen before. I cleaned you up when you were just a babe." She said with a raised brow. " Besides, I could hear you jump up in your rush to pretend that you were awake."

    "Even more reason to wait before blindly entering, mother." He returned with exasperation.

    His mother waved aside his complaints as she crossed the room. She gave pointed looks to the mess strewn about that Kenji pointedly ignored. He was always careful to have the space cleaned and tidy before his father returned. Though the man always found something wrong or incorrect every time. His father acted as though a Warlord would visit at any moment and not one of the nearby Warriors that served under him.

    "You need to get out more Kenji." She said as she opened the wood shutters to the garden outside. "You will wilt like a shaded flower if you do not soak in the sun."

    Kenji scowled at his mother''s back in response before smoothing his face. He knew that she was aware of some of the difficulties he faced regarding his different looks but she was not to blame. Unlike the fair skin and delicate features of the other women in the village, his mother was strong of body with darker skin and long black hair. While his larger body was often a boon, his exotic features left him separate from those around him.

    "Why not come out and help me care for the garden?" She asked. "You are already wearing the proper clothes, after all." Kenji could hear the smile in her voice.

    "Yes, Mother." he grumbled.

    Despite his apparent displeasure, Kenji was eager to help her care for the gardens surrounding their home. The work was rewarding in its own way, but more importantly it would give him another chance to form a link. The beasts occupying the land were powerful and dangerous, leading his father to forbid him from wandering too far without one of them or another Warrior present.

    He followed her outside to the sturdy shed containing the landscaping supplies. The shed was close to the house for ease of access, as it contained most of the tools, fertilizer, and more to care for the land and all the creatures under the family''s care. Kenji followed his mother in donning the necessary leathers that would protect him the thorns and spines decorating the plants. Not only were some of the plants painful or dangerous to handle but the gardens occupants could attack if they took umbrage with them.

    He knew his mother disliked the restrictive protection and claimed that it interfered with her care for the garden''s inhabitants but his father was unmoved by her arguments.

    Afterwards, she grabbed the tools hanging from the walls, handing to him to carry. It would be his job to clean them afterwards. Along with the tools, he carried a basket to collect the trimmings. Together, they walked towards the nearest bed of greens.

    While there was a variety of plants that served more decorative purposes, the majority of the garden grew food. Kenji''s duty revolved around pruning the plants, mulching, and watering them. If any of the fruits or vegetables looked to overripe, then he could pick it. Otherwise, they food was left alone until they decided to eat it. While he was sweating from the labor, his mother cared for the more delicate aspects of the garden.

    The Pok¨¦mon.

    Kenji could not help but stop several times to watch his mother interact with the powerful creatures that wandered onto their land It was nearly impossible to keep the beasts from doing so, with most attempts often resulting in a battle that only a Warrior could fight. Fortunately, most of the more powerful beasts kept to themselves deep in the forest or in the ravine, far from the villages.

    She plucked puffs of Cottonee free from where they clung after being blown by the wind. Their light bodies and growths of fiber allowed them to be easily lifted into the air. After carefully freeing their puffy bodies from the tangling plants, she carried them over to specially prepared beds where the beasts would dry before being harvested for their cotton. Their green and white forms where a stark contrast to her darker skin.

    "Aww. Who''s a cute little ball of fluff." She cooed to a small Cottonee in her hands. "Oh, don''t cry little one." She said when the small Pok¨¦mon began to whimper. "I''m just moving you over here to dry and then wind will come and blow you all away."

    As his mother spoke to the cotton puff, she gently lifted it up and blew on it so that it was pushed forward. Like this, she walked the now cheery Pok¨¦mon to the others and nestled it in amongst the other Cottonee that were too small to harvest. They needed the fiber more to help them escape or to protect them from predators as they were too weak to battle.

    When his mother turned around, Kenji returned to cutting the errant leaves off a thorny bush of flowers. He pretended not to care but he envied his mother''s easy interaction with the Grass Type Beasts. The small Pok¨¦mon were usually too fearful of him to allow Kenji to move them while the larger ones became aggressive or were scared off entirely. Meanwhile, his Warrior mother could calm a terrified Pok¨¦mon and even get it to favor her, thereby encouraging the Pok¨¦mon to visit again. Without her soothing aura the house would not be half as successful as they were now and his father would be forced to defend their home from the more aggressive Pok¨¦mon.

    Kenji finished caring for the garden bed and started to move to the next but halted while his mother struggled with a particularly churlish Cottonee. The creature was larger than normal and its thick cotton was tangled with the plant''s sturdy stems.

    "Kenji, could you come over and lend me a hand?" His mother asked after leaning back with a huff. "Someone''s being grouchy." She added with a mock glare at the large cotton puff.

    "Really?" He said, excitement tinging his voice.

    Kenji could practically hear his mother roll her eyes.

    "I know what your father says but you aren''t going to learn if you don''t actually interact with the Pok¨¦mon." She said in response. "Besides, how are you going to find your link if you don''t actually handle any of them."

    Instead of responding, Kenji rushed over and waited for his mother''s instructions. While he partly agreed with her, there was no use pointing out how his father would answer. He heard the two argue enough that he was sure all three of them could repeat each other''s points. Not that they knew how often he listened in, silently cheering his mother on.

    At least he thought they knew. The two Warriors were highly perceptive and that did not even include his mother''s Pok¨¦mon.

    "Now, you see how his cotton has begun to tuft and curl wildly?" She asked as she pointed out the tangles caught on the large plant.

    Kenji nodded silently. He did not want to disturb the wary Pok¨¦mon more than it already was. To help, he kept his aura restrained and his spirit calm.

    "I''m going to need your help freeing him. While you focus on that, I''ll do my best to calm the poor thing down. If I tell you to leave, do so quietly and slowly. Do you understand?" She said firmly.

    "I do." Kenji said softly.

    Inside his was giddy with excitement but kept it from showing or affecting his movements. It was not often that his mother needed help with a Pok¨¦mon but when she did, she would happily call him over to assist. If father were home, she would have used one of her bonds or called for him instead.

    Kenji waited for his mother to distract the large Cottonee before reaching out and slowly untangling the fiber. As he did so, he paid close attention to the curled leaves sprouting from the creatures body. The Pok¨¦mon had more control over them than it did the cotton and would flex them if it felt threatened. Their bladed edges were sharp enough to cut tree bark. As he worked to free the Pok¨¦mon, he watched his mother out of the corner of his eye and listened as she spoke.

    "Do you see how his leaves are growing wildly and the cotton is forming dense tufts." She asked softly while staring at the creatures gleaming orange eyes and scratched the gray body hidden under the aforementioned material.

    "It''s a sign that this one has not been cared for in some time. It was likely blown in by a strong wind and drifted until it reached our land, otherwise someone else would have been harvesting the cotton on it."

    Despite how she was paying attention and cooing to the Pok¨¦mon, Kenji knew that she was really speaking to him. Still, he kept silent as he listen attentively to her teach.

    "If it were not for the species'' need for a stone, a natural treasure, to evolve, I would have said that he was nearing evolution." she said casually.

    Kenji''s hands fumbled as he mother spoke of evolution. That the Cottonee was close despite the need for a natural treasure spoke of the creatures power and age. The Cottonee that blew in were usually younger and used to having their puffs trimmed. If this one took offense to their actions, then it would most likely attack.

    However more surprising was how easily she spoke of it. The phenomena of evolutions were closely guarded secrets no matter how well known some species were. That this one required a natural treasure only made the knowledge more valuable.

    To stop the sudden trembling his hands, Kenji closed his eyes and breathed deeply. His mother said nothing as he centered himself. When he felt more in control of himself, with his spirit calmed, Kenji opened his eyes to resume extracting the beast from the foliage.

    Soon there were only a few strands left holding the Pok¨¦mon in place. Instead of the untangling them, Kenji stepped back and allowed his mother to free the Cottonee. If the Pok¨¦mon was going to attack, it would do so when it was no longer trapped.

    She moved, unconcerned, and delicately removed the remaining cotton threads from the surrounding plants. When the Pok¨¦mon was finally free, it undulated its leaves as if debating what to do.

    Kenji tensed when he saw the beast twitch its leaves. He would have to lunge aside in order to avoid the attack. Meanwhile, his mother waited patiently unconcerned with the Pok¨¦mon preparing to attack. Envying her calm, Kenji trusted her and was rewarded when the creature settled back into her hands.

    Still, he could not help the sigh of relief that escaped him.

    His mother smiled down at the cotton puff as she stood up and walked over to the drying Cottonee. Instead of placing it with the Pok¨¦mon to be sheared, his mother settled it over the younger, smaller Pok¨¦mon. The older Cottonee spun in place as if inspecting the younger beasts before settling down on its higher perch. Kenji''s mother backed away and turned only after she was several paces away from the drying Pok¨¦mon.

    "Why did you not place him with the others?" Kenji gave her an inquisitive look as he asked.

    "Why do you think?" She turned the question around.

    Kenji glanced at the Pok¨¦mon and studied it as he thought over his mother''s previous words.

    "Is it because the Cottonee would not be used to being sheared?" He said.

    "In part." She nodded. "Also, he would be more combative with the other, more subdued Cottonee while with the younger ones, his more aggressive nature will work to guard them."

    Kenji looked back at the Cottonee and saw how it was closely monitoring the garden while flexing its serrated leaves.

    "Plus, it would interesting to see how the Cottonee develops." She added thoughtfully.

    Kenji sighed and shook his head. She was always creating teaching moments which could be fun but when it came to learning something herself, she often threw caution to the wind.

    After removing the remaining handful of Cottonee from the garden, she returned helped him care for the remaining flowers herbs that grew near the house. When they were done, Kenji rolled the wheelbarrow back to the shed and dumped it in the compost bin.

    Grabbing several baskets, he returned to his mother''s side. They quickly joined by one of his mother''s bond partners, a flowering Liligant that sported large leaves in the shape of a bulbous dress. Atop her head grew a delicate flower shaped much like a crown.

    "Good morning Li-Li." Kenji greeted the Pok¨¦mon with a bow. "How does her highness fare this day."

    "Li. Gant." The green Pok¨¦mon raised it''d leafy arm as if bidding him to rise. "Liligant."

    Kenji straightened, the ritual one that the two engaged in ever since he was old enough to walk. When he was a young boy, he mistakenly thought the Pok¨¦mon to be a queen sheltering in their home and treated her as such for several weeks before his parents laughingly corrected him. Still, the Pok¨¦mon enjoyed the attention and he continued to treat her as if she were nobility.

    "Ah, if only I could receive half the treatment you offer her." His mom sighed dramatically. "Perhaps we could build a palanquin so that we can carry her around" she offered.

    "Li. Li." The stately Pok¨¦mon squealed imperiously.

    "I am but a poor commoner, unfit to carrying one such as yourself around." Kenji had to smother a grin at their antics and begged off carrying the Pok¨¦mon around.

    "Gan." The Flowering Pok¨¦mon playfully turned away.

    "Well then about we rid ourselves of some bugs then?" His mother offered. She gestured towards the fields. "Li, if you would."

    The Liligant turned to face the rest of the garden and raised both of her leaf petal arms. The Pok¨¦mon took a step forward and gestured as she began to spin between the plants. Every couple of steps, a seed would shoot out and be guided by her lustrous green limbs into the plants. Each time squeal of surprise would sound out as the seeds struck their target.

    Kenji watched the Pok¨¦mon with envy. Even though she did not have a deep bond with the Liligant, his mother''s link with the Flowering Pok¨¦mon meant that they could communicate easier and granted both a measure of power. With Liligant''s help, she was able to subdue everything else in the garden with ease. Once he formed his Link, Kenji was sure that he would one day be able to care for entire fields as easily as this.

    It was a mindless daydream, but a pleasant one to distract him as he held the baskets. Even his father, a powerful warrior sworn to the Warlord, often spent his free time amongst the green fields working with his hands. While others might rely on their bonds or servants to labor, his father was adamant that they tend to the land with their own hands.

    The elegant lily came to a stop facing Kenji and his mother. She did not bow but held her arms up and leaned backwards slightly.

    The two applauded the Pok¨¦mon''s performance and congratulated her on a job well done. She presented under their praise and adjusted her flowering crown before skipping away to resume patrolling the garden.

    Kenji moved to begin collecting the captured creatures but stopped when he noticed his mother not following. Instead, she was looking around and he could see her eyes crinkled in worry.

    He tensed and followed her wandering gaze. "MaMa, is something wrong?" Kenji asked.

    "Mmmh? What? No, nothing''s wrong." She said absently. "There was just a lot of bugs today, don''t you think?"

    Kenji looked around the garden and thought over how many leech seeds Liligant used.

    "I suppose?" He offered. "There did seem to be more than usual but maybe there was just a storm last night."

    His mother gave the sky and surroundings one last look before turning to him. "Perhaps you''re right. Just an old mother worrying, I suppose." She replied with a soft smile.

    "Old? You''re not old." Kenji rejected.

    "Maybe not. But what about you, mmh?" She said with a laugh as she approached him. "Maybe you''re getting too old. Too old for a hug?" She finished as she quickly wrapped her arms around him and squeezed.

    "Mom!" Kenji complained as he squirmed under her grip.

    Despite her appearance and joyful attitude, she was a Warrior. He had no chance in escaping unless she wanted him to and they both knew it. Kenji eventually gave in and hugged her back, even going so far as to use his measly bit of cultivation to strengthen his muscles.

    "My little boy, all grown up." She mumbled in his ears. "Back home, you would be leaving for your trials and with the blessings of the village."

    Kenji paused as he heard his mother''s words. She did not speak of her homeland often, claiming that it made her sick for people she left behind. He suspected that there was more to it, as his father grew agitated if she spoke too deeply on her past.

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    "But enough of that." His mother pulled away and stepped up to the nearest garden bed. This one was full of lettuce and a favorite of the bugs that came to collect the large leaves for their cocoons.

    "Mother," Kenji hesitated before pushing on. "Why do you not speak of your home?" As soon as he asked, he knew it was a mistake.

    He saw his mother tense and her hands stop as kneeled to reach into the bed of vegetables.

    "I''m sorry, I shouldn''t have asked." He rushed out. Kenji turned away and sought to bury his embarrassment and frustration into his work.

    "No, you should have. Its only right." She said with a sigh.

    Kenji looked over his shoulder at his mother and saw her sitting while petting a large yellow bug wrapped in vines. It was struggling in her grip but under her ministrations, it calmed and she started to unravel the vines trapping it.

    "Your father knows, he was there in the beginning after all. He found me washed up on shore, clinging to my- to driftwood." her voice quivered at the end as she abruptly changed what she was about to say. He wanted to ask but knew that neither of them would like to hear the answer.

    When Kenji realized that she was finally telling him, he quietly spun around and sat on the ground. He could not help but lean forwards eagerly and listen so as not to miss a word.

    "I was barely alive. Only through the help of my Pok¨¦mon was I able to survive the rough days at sea, but even their help was a danger all its own." He saw her hand lift to touch the pendant hidden under her clothes. Kenji had never seen her without the red and white orb but whenever they left the house she was careful to conceal it. "Eventually I washed up nearby and your father rescued me. He waded into the sea and risked his life to save my own."

    "He was always a proud fool." She said with a soft chuckle. Kenji wanted to deny her words but was scared to interrupt her lest she never tell the story again. The man was proud of their home and the work they put into but never a fool, he thought. "At first, he thought I was just someone from one of the other kingdoms that was washed out to sea but when I awoke he discovered the truth. I did not understand the language and your father only knew a few words of the trade tongue back then. I was hardly any better, as young as I was. We had to communicate in mimes and with the help of our Pok¨¦mon.

    "Your father brought me before the Warlord''s attention and asked for his protection. Your father knew that of word got out about my presence in the kingdom, the others would start a war. Word did get out, of course, but that''s a story for another time."

    Kenji saw his mother pat the pale yellow worm in her hands after she removed the last of the clinging vines. The Pok¨¦mon had ceased its struggles by now and lay in her lap as she continued to pet it.

    "One of the agreements for Warlord Motonari to keep custody of me was that I would not speak of my past and work to integrate myself with the people. This was after I told them everything they wanted to know, but the Warlords did not want it disrupting the kingdoms as a whole. Fortunately, some of what I knew was already known and rejected by the Warlords and people alike. Some . . . came as an unwanted surprise." She said quietly.

    Kenji did not understand at first but as she continued, he remembered his lessons on history. A few decades ago, a multi-kingdom war had nearly embroiled the continent. There were multiple sides but no one could pinpoint the exact reason for the sudden escalation in tensions. The threat of war disappeared as quickly as it appeared, however, and many put it out of mind.

    Tensions were rising once more but people said that it would blow over just as easily. Greenleaf was stronger than it was back then, with the head clans fighting amongst each other for control of the kingdom. However Warlord Motonari was smart and managed to subdue or ally the rebels to the M¨­ri clan. Fleetingly, he wondered what it was like, to have your father come home and announced your wedding or adoption to another family. His mother resumed speaking and he hurriedly shoved the errant thoughts aside to focus on her words.

    "To help soothe things over, a marriage was agreed upon and I was placed in your father''s care under Warlord Motonari." She finished. "I took a new name, Hajime, for my new beginning here. And then you came along."

    Kenji stared at his mother''s back as she stood up and placed the now sleeping bug in a large basket. It was swaddled in leaves and curled up into a tight ball. He was sure that the beast did not have quite so many wrappings when his mother pulled it free.

    "Now help me collect the rest of these cuties and when can call it a day. How does that sound?" His mother said brightly.

    Kenji was confused by her sudden change in tone but moved to help her. She walked around the garden and soothed the Pok¨¦mon to sleep before handing them off to him where he would carefully set them down in the large basket. There was a terrifying moment where one of them awoke and bit at him. He nearly screamed in fright but fortunately he had enough cultivation in his aura to reinforce his arm and the leather prevented upset bug from biting too deeply. The yellow creature still drew blood but it was not enough to fall sick, though it did hurt.

    Gripping the small Pok¨¦mon Kenji was ready to shake it off but fortunately his mother intervened before he could do so. She reached over and tapped the creature roughly on its carapace. When it released his hand and rose up to bite at her, she quickly snatched it up.

    His mother played roughly with the Pok¨¦mon for several minutes to wear it out before the giant caterpillar grew too tired to continue. Kenji''s mother still placed the Sewaddle in a separate basket and covered it with a cloth to keep it from disturbing the other Pok¨¦mon.

    It took some time to clear the rest of the garden of Sewaddle and then he had to water the plants. His mother carried the baskets of bug Pok¨¦mon and placed them in large shed to house them. Later she would offer them to the neighbors, bring them to square to trade, or release them deep into the forest.

    Afterwards, Kenji brought out the baskets and shears to the drying Cottonee. He would not be trimming them himself but he would collect the harvested cotton and assist in spinning the fiber into thread. Liligant returned to guard his mother as she worked but the light Pok¨¦mon were familiar with her actions and the shearing passed quickly.

    While she worked, he practiced controlling his aura. He carefully extended it towards the cotton beasts in an attempt to sense them without overly disturbing the beasts. There was no feeling of connection or familiarity that his parents and older Warriors spoke of. All he felt was the vibrant Energy of life and nature, seeking to grow and grow.

    His rough manipulation aggravated the Cottonee and his mother had to use her skills to soothe them before she could resuming shearing. After the second time, he gave up and merely practiced containing his spirit while occasionally taking the fiber his mother handed him.

    Without the cotton weighing them down, the Cottonee risked being carried off by the slightest breeze. To prevent that, she attached them to a green stalk to free later. They easily attached themselves and raised their leaves to the sun, soaking up the warm rays. Some families would release them as they finished shearing the Pok¨¦mon but his mother believed that it was more healthy for the Cottonee to be released altogether on a strong wind.

    Spinning the cotton fiber into thread took some time but it passed quickly as his mother spoke of the various Pok¨¦mon in the garden.

    "Did you feel connected to any of the Cottonee or Sewaddle?" She asked leadingly.

    "No," Kenji shook his head. "None of them." He said with a sigh.

    "Well, I''m sure you will find your link soon." His mother told him. "Perhaps, we just need to expand your search a little."

    Kenji scowled at his mother''s words as he worked the spinner.

    "I want my first bond to be of nature." He retorted. "You and father bear the Specialty of Grass along with other Warriors in Greenleaf. It is only proper that I do the same."

    "Sometimes what is proper is not always right. Or true." She responded gently. "Sometimes you must make your own way."

    Kenji had nothing to say in response and thought over her words as he worked.

    While Warriors could be born outside of noble families, most of the time it followed the clan blood. While uncommon it was not unheard of for a cultivator to emerge from the lower classes. More rare were children were born within the ruling clans without the power to link. However, with two Warrior parents, and powerful ones at that, he was nearly guaranteed to be able to form a link of his own.

    It was only logical that he would follow them down the path of nature. Not only that, but to seek a path outside of Greenleaf would only leave him more isolated than he already was.

    Kenji looked up to say this to his mother but paused when he saw a red wisp flicker in the forest.

    His hands slowed on the spinner and his mouth opened to call to out in warning. Before he could, strips of fabric emerged and began to take shape. The blue and gray fabric formed a bulging chest with long sleeved limbs ringed in gold. A strange popped up collar surrounded a cylindrical head topped by a gold, flat metal circle. A singular ominous red eye stared out with a large face stitched onto the chest.

    "MaMa." Kenji croaked out.

    Along with the Pok¨¦mon''s appearance blew a chill wind that ruffled his aura. The ethereal sensation did not touch the plants or even his hair but he felt it nevertheless. It was a heavy weight upon his spirit, slowing his body as though he were underwater fighting the oncoming waves.

    His mother felt the wave of power and snapped her head around. The movement was faster than he could see, his reactions further dulled by the strength of the Type Beast.

    "No," She moaned in fear. "No!" She grasped at the pendant hanging from her chest but it was covered by layers of clothes. "Not again."

    After appearing, the blue-gray and gold stripped Pok¨¦mon floated in place. The fabric tail extending underneath flowed in a nonexistent wind as it gazed out.

    "MaMa. What''s wrong. What''s happening." Kenji trembled in fear. Even when enemy Warriors were threatening her, she never lost herself. To see her openly panicking at the sight of the strange and terrifying Pok¨¦mon was a horror all its own.

    "Dusknoir." She whispered. Despite her obvious fear, she calmed herself and suddenly stilled her trembling. Her sharp eyes studied the eerie Pok¨¦mon before snapping around the garden.

    He was still shaking uncontrollably but Kenji saw the moment she realized something. Her eyes pale green eyes widened in shock and her dark skin paled even further.

    Leaping to her feet, Kenji''s mother reached for his arm and held it in a tight grip. He cried out as her greater strength risked breaking his bones. Ignoring his obvious pain, she forcefully pulled him behind her as she raced to a darkened shed standing apart from the house and gardens.

    Kenji knew it hosted his mother''s primary bond partner but he was never allowed inside and the Pok¨¦mon only came out at night to patrol. He would occasionally stay up late to play with the beast but as the years passed and his duties around the garden grew, he saw the large Pok¨¦mon less and less.

    "Mother," he whimpered as their rush to the isolated shed jerked to sudden stop. "Please. What''s happening."

    "The Pok¨¦mon, Kenji. The elder Cottonee, the more numerous Sewaddle." She snapped out as she threw aside the door to the shed. She used enough force to tear the thick door off completely but paid the damage no mind. Barely stopping to shake the splinters out of her hand, his mother called into the shed. "Hallow! Emergency." She then turned towards him and explained further.

    "The wild Pok¨¦mon were likely driven forward by something approaching. Dusknoir," her eyes flickered with barely concealed fear as she glanced at the eerie Pok¨¦mon. It was still ignoring the their actions as its glowing red eye flickered to look at something they could not see. "They escort the souls of the dead but for one to arrive before there are any dead implies that there will be enough to risk overwhelming it."

    "What?" Kenji cried out. "What are you saying? But what about father? Wasn''t he on his way?"

    The combination of his mother''s terror and the spiritual waves suppressing combined to leave Kenji unbalanced. He could barely react to what was happening, let alone think about it.

    His mother did not respond immediately and looked away. She had her eyes clenched shut but opened them to meet his gaze. Her silence said more than words ever could.

    He swallowed thickly and felt tear form but was distracted by the piercing shriek from inside the shadowed shed.

    "Gooooour." A echoing wail filled the air as a large, black pumpkin burst out the side of the shed walls. Like the chill wind that fell from the Dusknoir, the wail struck at his weak aura and would have left him collapsing if his mother''s tight grip did not hold him up.

    The Dusknoir''s red wisp of an eye flickered over to inspect the large, shining Pok¨¦mon. When it did so, he felt the ethereal brush of air strengthen into a hard pressure that crushed him to the ground. Even his mother had to grit her teeth and fight to remain standing. It felt as though he could not breathe and Kenji gasped silently as he fought for air.

    His mother''s bond shrieked a challenge but the Dusknoir returned to watching whatever it was before and ignored the Gourgeist''s cry.

    "Hallow," She called out. "To me."

    The Pok¨¦mon drifted backwards while still facing the larger ghost. It had two faces, one on its pumpkin body and the main form sitting atop it. The upper body rose from the pumpkin stem to reveal slender head with bright pink arm-like tendrils. The orange glow blazing out the pumpkin''s face was weakened by the sunlight as it carefully watched the Dusknoir.

    "MaMa. Please." Kenji begged fearfully. Without his cultivation, his aura was weakened and exposed him to the debilitating pressure emitted by the two powerful Pok¨¦mon. His spirit was not strong enough to withstand the high ranking beast.

    Instead of comforting him, his mother spun around and gripped him by his shoulders. She moved one hand to his jaw and forced him to look her in the eye. The white in her eyes contrasted with her pale green iris and her dark skin, serving to make her appear more scared than he wanted her to be.

    "Kenji, do you trust me?" She demanded. "I need you to trust me!" Her grip was painfully tight and he let out a small whimper as he felt his bones creak.

    "Yes, Mother. I trust you." Kenji cried out. "Please, what''s going on!" He shouted at her.

    "There''s no time!" She shouted back. "Do exactly as I tell you, do you understand?"

    Her raised voice shocked him into silence. He tried to shy away from her but was held fast by her grip nor could he turn his head. His parents rarely raised their voice at him, only doing so when training or ordering him away from a dangerous Pok¨¦mon.

    "Do you understand?" She repeated with a snap.

    "Yes, yes I understand." Kenji tried to nod his head but could not.

    "Good." His mother turned to face the floating pumpkin gourd but still held him close to her. "Hallow, do you remember how you saved me all those years ago? Out in the ocean?" She desperately asked.

    "Geeeeist." The Pok¨¦mon wailed. It twisted its upper body to look at his mother but kept its pumpkin head focused of the distant Dusknoir.

    "Please. I need you to do it again." She begged the ghost. "Save him. Save my son."

    "Eeeeist." The creature cried out. It seemed to fight against her words, denying what she was asking.

    "It¡¯s the only way." She answered softly.

    The large Pok¨¦mon turned to fully face Kenji''s mother and moved to wrap its pink tendrils around her. She fully released Kenji to embrace the Pok¨¦mon back.

    "I''m sorry." Kenji heard his mother whisper to her bond. "One last thing and then we can go."

    "MaMa," Kenji started.

    His mother pulled away from her bond and turned back around. She pulled him into a tight hug and they clung to each before she pulled away.

    "Whatever happens, Kenji, know that I love you and always will." She said in a voice that shook with emotion.

    "I, I love you too, MaMa." Kenji''s eyes dripped tears and he felt snot clog his nose. It was undignified for a Warrior but he did not care.

    "I''m sorry, my son." She said. "But you are going to need to be strong. For me. And for yourself."

    Off in the distance, the clanging of the town alarms could be heard as they began to ring. The guards stationed there were members of the Warlord''s army and would only ring the large bells in the event of an attack.

    "We are out of time." His mother shoved him away. "Wait. Here." She tugged at her protective leathers and underclothes to reveal her pendant. Pulling it off, she slipped it over his head and tucked it under the leathers. "Hallow, its time." His mother stepped away to stand by the large Gourgeist.

    Kenji stared confusedly at her.

    Instead of screeching, the Pok¨¦mon''s orange light turned on him. A white sphere formed of spectral flames grew behind the pumpkin''s cruel grin and joined in the orange light bathing him.

    "MaMa," Kenji began to ask with worry.

    "Hush Kenji. This is the only way." She interrupted him. "Now listen to me carefully."

    He tore his gaze away from the distressing scene in front of him and looked at his mother.

    "You need to discard your cultivation." She said seriously.

    Kenji''s mouth dropped open and he gaped at her in shock.

    "If you do not, then you will die." She continued as if she did not just tell him to throw away years of mind numbing effort. "Once you have collapsed your cultivation, you need to withdraw your aura and pact it as tightly as you can. Tighter even, until it feels like you will break."

    If her first instruction was shocking, then her next one was stupefying. To collapse one''s foundation and compact one''s aura went against everything he was taught. Let alone the strong risk of permanently crippling him.

    "Do it, Kenji. Now!" She urged him. Her eyes roved between her bond''s actions, the Dusknoir, and the distant clanging of the town''s bells.

    He hesitated but the clear desperation in her eyes pushed him on. To better help himself focus, he closed his eyes and delved deep into his inner garden. The simple plants and raised beds were a mental representation of his cultivation. The plants were wilted and soil dry, indicating the lack of energy in his body.

    Staring morosely at them, he felt the ghostly energy from Gourgeist grow stronger. It was a roiling, shifting mass that pressed in at the edge of his construct''s walls threatened to consume him. With his turned towards his spirit, he was more aware of the power the beast at the edge of the clearing held. It was a choking mist that silenced one''s last cries with the weight of patience. Shuddering, Kenji could not help but compare the presence to Warlord Motonari''s. He only met the Kingdom''s ruler a few times but for lengthy ceremonies, the man kept his power on display.

    Despairingly, it felt as though even the Warlord''s strength fell short of the monstrous ghost.

    Shuddering at the unearthly sensation, he raised his hand and slowly lowered it. At the same time, he pressed down on the entire garden with his will and slowly increased the pressure as it flattened the plants. By the time the crushing weight reached the raised beds, he was struggling to evenly apply his will to the entire garden. Too much or too little would result in a lopsided foundation that would crack and cripple him later on. Fortunately, his weak cultivation and lack of a link greatly eased the process.

    The plants were dissolved into the garden soil and the now empty plant beds spread into the ground. Mounds still remained so he hurriedly but carefully spread the soil around the ground around him was even.

    Soon, all that remained his years of struggling for the scraps of energy his body decided to absorb was gone. Years of meditating under the baking sun amongst thorns and powerful storms that threatened to throw him across the land. Even his father was pleased at the progress Kenji had made without a link to aid in his growth.

    The plain ground morphed to create a rough outline of his body. He imagined it in the broadest terms possible, as there was no time for detail work nor did it matter in the long run. This was just another thought exercise to help Warrior children become accustomed to manipulating their spirit. His manifested as a faded green shroud that flickered over the dirt body in thin waves. The green represented his desire to join his father and mother as powerful Warriors of Greenleaf but it could just as easily been another color.

    Without the little cultivation sustaining his aura, he risked it being torn away. Acting quickly, he pulled his spirit in. As he did so, the mental image melted away. Kenji used the changing statue to adjust how he withdrew his aura. Doing so unevenly would have the same side effects that destroying his cultivation did but was far more damaging in the long run.

    When the statue was turned into a lumpy ball the size of his head, he began to feel the first hints of pain. At the same time, he could feel the spectral flames from Gourgeist licking at his body. The white fire burned with cold, chilling him where it touched.

    With desperation born of panic, he rushed to compact the ball further. He grunted and fell to his knees as he forcefully crushed the ball of spirit with his will and aura. This caused the sphere to deform even more and he had to fight to smooth it over. Eventually, he managed to squeeze his spirit to size of his fist and focused on evening it out.

    Kenji managed to force another smaller reduction in size but by that point he was losing control of dense ball of spirit. He fought to keep his spirit compacted as his mother told him and slitted his eyes open for more instruction.

    What he saw cause his control to slip before he frantically caught himself and tightened his will.

    Their home, the house that his father''s ancestors had built and lovingly cared for was in flames. Heavenly fire was raining from the sky, burning their expansive garden and all within it. He could hear the screams of human and Pok¨¦mon alike as they fought, fled, or burned. The bells were no longer ringing, either the guards fighting or no longer able to call the alarm.

    His mother had freed the Cottonee from their perches but their delicate forms were easily lit by the searing heat and few managed to escape unscathed. The young group was protected by the elder Pok¨¦mon whose dense cotton coating refused to fully ignite. Swarms of leaves, puffs of cotton, and more sprayed from its large from to strike debris and more from the sky before it could reach the retreating group.

    Jerking his head around, Kenji searched for his mother but was too afraid to move. Not only was he struggling to contain his spirit as she ordered but Hallow, her Gourgeist, was floating ominously in front of him. Against the forest, he caught a glimpse of the strange Dusknoir silently witnessing the destruction. He finally spotted her handing baskets off to Li-Li the Liligant before he was blinded by the shifting light flowing out of Hallow.

    The Pok¨¦mon''s pink arms were reaching inside it''s lower body and seized the flickering orb of spectral fire. As she did so, specters around the grinning pumpkin and flew towards him. It looked as though they were trapped within the flame, using the tendrils of fire to reach out. Pulling out the glowing orb, Hallow gently tossed it towards him.

    Kenji opened his mouth in a silent scream but was quickly swarmed by the ghosts. They layered themselves over his mortal body and sunk under his skin. With each specter that touched, he felt colder and colder. It was as if he sitting on a mountain peak in the depths of winter instead of standing before his burning home.

    Kenji could feel the unmoored spirits tearing at his body as they sought his own. He instinctively pressed down on his aura, reducing it further with his terror fueled willpower. The shift seemed to enrage or excite the swarming specters. The grew and grew until he lost sight of his surroundings as they furiously searched for his compressed aura. Kenji did not know what would happen if they found it but he was certain it could be nothing good.

    The pervasive cold paralyzed his body and with all of his focus placed in hiding his spirit, he collapsed to the ground. Pale, formless specters were still flowing out of the Gourgeist but they halted in their flight as a deep, bellowing roar echoed through the garden. The sound seemed to affect the frees spirits physically and Kenji could feel how it struck at his spirit own.

    Slowly at first, then more quickly, the spirits reversed their movement towards his prone form even as they attempted to claw their way to him. The pull was irresistible, however, and all the specters not hiding in his body were pulled towards a yawning void.

    Kenji could not physically see the source but he could feel it as the pull tugged on his anchored spirit. He was able to resist long enough for the void''s pull to weaken and he risked a glimpse in the spiritual direction.

    A massive red wisp met it gaze as it stared directly as his body. A gold lipped mouth was slowly sewing shut on spectral hands that fought to escape.

    His mind flashed back to his mother''s words.

    They escort the spirits of the dead. She said. Not consumed them!

    Panicking, Kenji could only watch through his unresponsive body''s eyes as the powerful ghost drifted forward. There was nothing he could do to fight the beast and even if he could run away, Kenji doubted that he would be able to escape.

    The Dusknoir''s actions drove the spirits hiding in his body to a frenzy and they tore through with renewed violence. The call of the void must have done more to distract him than he realized or somehow exposed his core of aura to them for they quickly located it.

    Screaming internally, he fended himself off against the brutal specters. They tour maliciously at his spirit and he could feel how their talons shredded him. The density and size of his aura defended him against their attacks but he was rapidly losing.

    Distracted as he was, Kenji did not see the Dusknoir carelessly bat aside Hallow and draw closer. Only when he felt the all-consuming void swallow him did he realize what was happening. Looking through his body''s eyes, the last thing he saw was his mother screaming as she reached towards him.

 Chapter 1

    When the Dusknoir emerged from the forest it did so with an ethereal wind. The powerful Type Beast had a presence to it that demanded attention. Its aura was strong and stripped away the scant protection that he had. To his senses, the power was an endless fog that silenced all thought and action. The ghost brought with it a chill that dug into his bones to touch something deeper. Standing before the beast was the cold of the night, when mystics emerged to cast their spells and ward off ill spirits.

    The sensation was entirely unlike Hallow, his mother''s Gourgeist. When playing with the Pok¨¦mon he could feel a faint chill that raised his skin like a bird, the bumps and straighten hair making him shiver. Instead of alarm, he remembered feeling invigorated by the sensation. As if he were witnessing something he should not deep in the night.

    When emerged and, at his mother''s insistence, summoning specter''s flame, the chill brought on by the Dusknoir turned to ice in his blood. No longer was he enjoying the cool night, full of forbidden rituals. Now it was the depths of winter, where an uncovered breath allowed the cold to steal its way inside.

    The specters swarmed him at the Pok¨¦mon''s direction, layering over his body like clothes of ice. The phantoms searched for his spirit, burrowing their way through his body. Each one another stone of water caving him in.

    The exposed wraiths were too attractive of a target to ignore. His mother said it was a Dusknoir''s path to escort the souls of the dead. The ghostly beast approached, stitching open the void inside itself, swallowed the specters.

    And Kenji.

    The screams of the village, people crying out for the homes and family. The bellows and cries of beasts fighting, whether to escape or defend themselves. It was all silenced, for there was nothing for him to hear.

    The heat of the flames, distant though they were through the spiritual ice of the powerful ghosts was left behind completely. The caress of the grass, still wet from the morning water, as it tickled his skin. The sensations no longer touched his skin, for there was nothing to feel.

    His mother''s outstretched hand no longer reached for him, for he was no longer there.

    The void was not black or cold as he expected it to be, at least not physically. For there to be dark, there had to be something. A space devoid of light or even just shadowed from the sun. Kenji could not even feel his body, so he did not know if it was shaking from cold or still from the absence of temperature. There was just.

    Nothing.

    Physically, at least.

    Spiritually, Kenji was bombarded by screams of pain, wailing terror, and even sobs of relief. He was not sure how he could hear the desperate sounds. Some were deafening, more akin to the shaking of the earth, while others were a bare whisper at the nape of his neck.

    Layered throughout the spiritual noise was another, more insidious sound. A stream of whispers that branched and flowed like the roots of a tree. The voices clung to the edge of understanding but fell too short to be truly comprehensible. The whispers begged, cajoled, and threatened, calling out for him to join them.

    The spiritual cacophony struck at his condensed aura and threatened his focus on keeping it compacted. Kenji understood that if he had not crushed his aura as he did, then the strength of the spirits surrounding him would have torn it completely. Previously he was far too weak to fight. Now, he at least had a chance to endure.

    The specters that invaded his body worked to both shield and smother his aura with their numbers. He suspected that they also disguised him from the surrounding spirits and the river of whispers. He was scared to think of what would happen if they discovered him.

    Clinging to the remnants of his aura, he struggled to use it to suppress his spirit. Like a hibachi holding a flame, he had to contain the light and heat of his soul. Energy still leaked out, his level of control and weak aura preventing him from repressing it fully. Some Warriors could harness their spirit and aura separately, following the path of mystics.

    He was not one of them.

    Searching for the hints of presence, Hallow''s specters covered him like a blanket trying to smother its owner. While some were still clawing around wildly others were being pulled away the soft muttering. They released their grip on him and followed the whispered promises to be swept away.

    Seeing as he could do nothing, as any action he took risked unfolding his spirit, Kenji fell into a mindless state. It was easy in this place, where there was no physical feeling or distraction. The pangs of hunger never bothered him nor did he ever feel the urge to relieve himself. All that existed was the core of his being and the waves that sought to erode it away.

    Using the shadow of aura and his will to compress his spirit became second nature, perhaps even first. He did not even breathe so there was nothing to do but tighten his existence.

    Kenji did not know how time passed in the void. His hopes of rescue died, drained by the all-encompassing nothing. It seemed as though days crawled by in heartbeats while the bells flew by in seasons.

    It was easier to judge the passage of time by sensing the spirits around him. He quickly realized that there was something different about him compared to the other spirits held within the void. The deranged specters took no notice of the others around them but those drifting along the trail of whispers slowed when they neared him. He felt the weight of their expansive forms on his soul but they were unable to locate his small spirit amongst the others smothering him. Soon they would give up and continue to flow away.

    At times, there would be a sudden change as the whispers grew stronger and forcefully pulled the souls along. At first, the violent specters smothering his aura resisted the call of the indecipherable voices and the void would quiet once more. It was as though the energy filtering out sustained them enough that they could resist.

    Then time would pass immeasurably.

    More souls appeared and the pressure threatening his spirit of aura increased as his lethal protection peeled away. He grew better at containing himself, weakening the strength of his spirit and holding in the energy that fed the specters. Only those closest to him were able to sustain themselves while the more distance ghosts weakened.

    When whispers rose to wild roars, their promises and suggestions turning to threats and rage, the weakened phantoms could no longer resist. They were dragged away with the other aimless souls and the void emptied. Leaving only Kenji and those clinging to him.

    And the cycle continued.

    All too quickly, or slowly, Kenji''s shield against the whispers and the void was stripped down to nothing. While he was far better at controlling his spirit, he was not perfect. His aura, gone without the Type Energy to maintain it, bared his soul. He was exposed to the devouring void and subtle whispers.

    They took notice.

    The slivers of sound split, stopped for the first time. In shock, in pleasure, or in greed he did not know. Sound exploded around him as the river shifted in sudden turbulence. Waves rose to shattering screams of fury and dropped to low moans of greed.

    Kenji felt the discordant noise rush towards him. The river flooded and he knew that there was no avoiding its pull any longer. Unable, or uncaring, to act he waited for the end to take him.

    NO

    The void shielded him from the madness.

    Kenji could feel its hunger, its desire to join the screams and moans. To tear at his soul and consume him completely. As the specters fed off him to survive and grow, so too could the spiritual beast. It could leave him here, gathering others to leech their souls to fuel its own.

    Kenji could also feel the void''s rejection, its steel control of the hunger that pervaded the emptiness. This was not a path the beast would follow, no matter the power it could obtain. The maddening insanity of the spiritual waves struck the barrier of the void. Their strength was nothing compared to the beast''s own and it easily diverted the river away.

    BEGONE

    In front of Kenji, a glowing thread appeared. The golden fabric, as bright as the first rays of dawn, stitched a jagged crack in the nothing before him. The crooked mouth widened, leaving threads of bright gold to form a cage in the wide smile. The void wrapped around him, cradling his body. The opening approached and Kenji was passed through the thin beams of light. The agonizing cacophony behind him was kept from escaping by the golden stitching holding the mouth closed. It pressed at the fabric in its attempts to follow, stretching out the threads.

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    After so long in the empty dark, devoid of all his senses, the return to a world of light, sound, and feeling was overwhelming. The darkest shadow was blinding and the brushing wind was agony on his skin and ears. Consumed by the sensations bombarding him, Kenji was blinded and deafened. The shock was enough to still his mind. When he recovered enough to recognize that he could feel his body, Kenji jerkily curled up into a ball to better shield his eyes and ears. His knees were pressing into his eyes as his arms held them together while hands covered his ears.

    Wheezing sobs shook his body as his mind focused on crushing his aura. It was unnecessary as his aura was long since remolded to form a perfectly smooth sphere slightly larger than a seed. Instead, the automatic action was Kenji''s sole method of coping with his paralyzing sensitivity. His lungs burned as he forgot to breathe, gasping out and choking, as he focused only on hiding himself.

    Time passed, and his soul refamiliarized itself with his body. Like a Warrior fresh to ranking up, his spirit moved expecting the body to follow. Slowly, he found himself able to breathe easier and he no longer choked on saliva. His mind was able to process and register what his senses were telling him but, after so long in the empty void, it continued to put him off balance.

    Like this, Kenji finally fell into a slumber and slept for the first time in forever. It was not the sleep of the exhausted or the living, one looking to wake to the next time. It was the slumber of one dead to the world who no longer cared for what came next.

    No dream or nightmare disturbed him until a painful growl made its displeasure known. Kenji jerked awake as another snarl of rage sounded out. Clenching his eyes shut, he curled up into a tighter ball and pressed down on his spirit. If he could force his presence smaller, then perhaps the attacking spirit would lose track of him and disappear.

    The growl came again and Kenji flinched in alarm.

    Rocking on the ground, Kenji came to realize that he was the source of the painful snarling. Wheezing softly, he tried to force the hunger pains to silence but his body refused to listen. His stomach continued to rumble intermittently but oddly the ache worked to comfort him.

    If he could feel hunger, then he could feel his body.

    If he could feel his body, then he was no longer trapped in the endless nothing that was the void containing mad specters that sought to consume him.

    Kenji''s mind shied away from the debilitating memories and focused on the hunger paining him. Twitching his limbs, he slowly opened his eyes but kept a tight grip on his spirit. His vision was blurry at first but it slowly adjusted.

    The first thing he saw was his legs, still covered by protective leathers. The apron was worn by use and covered in soil. The sight of them threatened to send him spiraling as tears blurred his vision. He remembered his mother helping him don them as she quietly grumbled complaints.

    The rumble from his stomach brought him back and Kenji jerked his head up to inspect his surroundings.

    His eyes were greeted by the rough bark of a towering tree with roots that clawed their way into the soil. Ferns and other small plants grew out of the soil with wild abandon. He followed the thick trunk upwards where a wide canopy intermingled with the surrounding trees.

    As Kenji studied his surroundings, his awe with the powerful trees allowed him to temporarily forget his experience. Such specimens were only found on his kingdom''s most protected lands, belonging to the noble clans and the Warlord himself.

    They would not kindly forgive his trespass.

    Kenji started to shake once more and clamped down on his spirit to reassure himself that he was as hidden as he could be. Glancing around nervously, as if expecting an angry Warrior to attack, he registered the calls of the creatures filling the forest.

    Few of them were familiar to him. He only recognized the piercing cries of the predator birds found in Aurora. They were a constant nuisance but helped the younger members of their species were useful for clearing out pests.

    The only issue is that it was highly unlikely they would be found in the protected forests of Greenleaf.

    There were other stranger calls, chittering squeaks as some beast raced through the tree tops. Melodic buzzes as if one were playing some unfamiliar instrument. The sounds were far off, as if the beasts were fearful of coming near.

    He did not recognize the beastly cries but that was not overly surprising. Kenji did not often travel to other lands and the few times he did so was under his father''s strict supervision. The Warrior would never allow his only son to wander too far without a bond to protect him.

    Now Kenji wished his father would step out from behind the wide trunks and scold him for his carelessness.

    He uncurled on the ground floor and struggled to sit up. His body was weak without his aura supporting him and the time spent in non-existence only served to weaken him further. Whether it was the lack of food or something stranger, his body was slow to move.

    Kenji grunted as he managed to sit up. His muscles were sore and unresponsive but managed to transition to a wobbling stand with the help of a nearby stick. The fallen branch was rotting and threatened to break but it supported him enough.

    The uneven forest floor was filled with fallen leaves, tripping roots, and rotting detritus. Kenji stumbled to the nearest tree and caught himself against the rough bark. Breathing deeply, he flexed his legs and tried to stretch as his father taught him. To his dismay he found that his limbs were barely able to fully extend let alone do even a quarter of the sweat inducing stretches he did nearly every day. This more than anything proved to him how bad of a condition his body was in.

    Wincing from the pain, Kenji stumbled from tree to tree. Inspecting his surroundings, he searched for anything to eat. After the seventh tree, he spotted a large bush that was spotted with fruit. The pink orbs stuck out against the green of the plant and caught his attention as he looked around.

    Approaching the plant, he snatched one off the stem and bit into the firm fruit without bothering to peel it. Most berries were edible, skin and all, and a short glance revealed none of the signs he was accustomed to that would indicate poison or danger.

    The sweet juice flooded his mouth and he hungrily chewed on the tough skin. Kenji felt hard seeds crack and hurriedly spat them out before he swallowed the tough shards. After taking another bite, he fumbled at the fruit in his hands to pick out the seeds. Spitting them out was wasting time that could be spent chewing.

    Stuffing his face with the berry, Kenji tore another from the plant and began to rip it apart to pull out the hard seeds. The berry was sweet and left a slight sour aftertaste that kept it from being overpowering. Altogether it only served to encourage Kenji to eat more until his stomach was no longer terrorizing him.

    Only after eating several of the fruits did he slow enough to come back to his senses. His rough movements had broken several of the plants fruit bearing branches and left them dangling. He felt shame curl in his stomach but ultimately, he did not have the energy to truly care.

    He hesitated only a moment, but after eating as much as he could, Kenji reached out and broke off the branches containing several of the fruits each. By keeping them on the stem, they would hopefully last longer and he would be able to carry more at a time.

    He had to drop the long branch serving as a walking stick but he considered it a worthwhile trade. The added weight forced him take stop more often but he used the breaks to inspect the forest around him.

    The cries still bounced off the trees but he had yet to see any of the creatures that created them. It was not overly surprising considering that a powerful ghost had recently appeared and released him. Standing up, from his latest break Kenji paused as he was tossing aside the remains of his snack.

    "wur"

    Jerking his head around, he searched for the source of the noise. For him to hear it clearly, the creature had to be nearby.

    "Wur"

    When the cry came again, it was accompanied by a series of small pops. Expecting the noise this time, Kenji was able to locate the beast with ease. The only problem was where it was coming from.

    Raising his eyes upwards, Kenji felt them widen as saw the crawling Pok¨¦mon.

    Crawling down the tree with small pops was a large worm. Its body was a ridged red with bright yellow spike protruding from between its eyes. There were two more poking out from the opposite end.

    Kenji scrambled away from the bug, dragging the berry laden branches behind him. The creature''s bright colors were a reasonable indicator of poison and the defensive spike confirmed it. He would not be surprised if they were able to detach to fire at perceived threats.

    Threats such as a young man stumbling away from it in fear.

    Only when he had several trees between him and the large worm, did Kenji remember the thick leathers covering his body. They would not protect him completely but they would blunt the sting of the Pok¨¦mon''s spikes. It would do nothing for the poison but there was likely some berries that he could forage to create a simple poultice. It would be weaker than anything he could buy the village shop but it would be better than nothing.

    Kenji briefly considered returning to catch the worm but discarded the thought. He was in no shape to fight a Pok¨¦mon, even a weak one, not to mention to risk of the poison contaminating the Pok¨¦mon''s meat should he not harvest it properly.

    He continued to stumble through the forest before discovering a small hollow formed by twisting roots that had risen above the soil. Hiding behind a tree, he inspected the hollow from afar.

    The small hovel reminded him of how some Pok¨¦mon use their power to manipulate the world and create small dens. The skill was energy intensive so it was not often done, but such shelters were more durable and hidden than naturally formed ones.

    When Kenji did not see any movement, he slowly approached to study the root den closer.

    The roots bent and twisted unnaturally, encouraging his theory that it was formed by some beast, but there was no hint of the energy used to do so. Small marks inside showed where the Pok¨¦mon''s claws tore at the roots. It was possible that creating the wooden den drained the creature enough that it was unable to mark its territory with its aura. The floor of the small shelter was covered in leaves and dirt. There was some grass struggling to grow  that further indicated the den was abandoned.

    He leaned back and looked around the forest once more. When he was reassured there was nothing around, he set his foraged berries inside and crawled in after. The hovel was tight and uncomfortable to lay in but it felt familiar to Kenji in a dark and twisted way.

    After the immeasurably time spent devoid of his senses and continuously collapsing his spirit, the small root den was practically paradise.

    Only when night fell and the dark grow to hide the forest did Kenji feel the first flickers of terror. The moon was large enough to offer the smallest hints of light and he was able to stop his slide into memory.

    He would not return to the void.

    Never again.

    No matter the cost.

 Chapter 2

    Kenji awoke with a start. At some point during the night, he had begun to suppress his aura and his body developed a strange form of ache from the effort. It was a tightness in his skull as body mimicked the strain his spirit was suffering. His father warned him of the signs to watch for.

    He was not used to feeling the effects of a strained will. He was always careful to stop before his body reached this point. Something about the void must have protected him straining his spirit. Or at the very least, prevented him from feeling it. Souls were far more resilient than the mortal form. It was the body that could not keep up rather than the other way around.

    As Kenji crawled out of the root den, he heard the various calls of the forest''s inhabitants as they greeted the day. It sounded as if there were more than yesterday. Now that he was more aware, the forest was only more impressive. Beams of light shined through the  upper branches, illuminating the forest floor.

    Standing upright, he took some time to make another attempt at stretching his body. The stretches were meant to be a warmup for practicing the katas of only a Warrior could perform. He practiced them but could only perform a small portion of the length exercises. Now he could barely move his body let alone practice his Art. Kenji stopped when his muscles started to cramp and sweat coated his body. At some point he remembered that he was still wearing the gardening leathers but did not bother discarding them.

    The pain felt good, familiar, as it distracted him from the reality he now lived in.

    Lost. Alone.

    His family dead.

    Fighting back tears, Kenji felt his throat close up. He had to catch himself on the root hovel to keep from collapsing to the ground. Breathing quickly, he forced emotions down and regained control. This was no time to be sorry for himself. He could mourn his loss later, after he was safe and not at risk of starvation.

    At the thought of food, he belatedly realized that he was starving. The hungers of pain were distant compared to the spiritual strain and cramped muscles.

    Kenji reached into the root den for the remaining berries foraged the day before. There was not many left and Kenji chose to walk while munching on the tough fruits. He was not quite hungry enough to freely chew on the tough skin but he forced himself to eat it nonetheless. Perhaps if he was able to cook the skins somehow or use them as part of another meal, they would go down easier. Instead, the tough skin was chewy and fibrous but fortunately, it was only slightly less sweet than the fruit inside.

    More importantly the skin filled his stomach more than the softer inside. The juicy berries helped to stave off his thirst but Kenji knew that he was going to have to find water and soon. It was possible to go weeks without food, more if with the right preparations and training, but the lack of water would kill him sooner.

    With his mind clearer after a night of rest and some food in his stomach, Kenji''s steps were less hesitant. With a goal in mind, he felt less lost in the ancient forest. An objective with failure meaning death did a lot to focus his mind. Rather than focusing on the recent past and the weakness consuming him with the loss of his cultivation, he turned his mind to the search for water.

    Listening attentively to the ambient sound of the forest, he attempted to filter out the monstrous cries. He was largely unsuccessful, as all he could hear beyond the calls was the sound of wind as it rustled the tree tops.

    Sighing, he looked up. Listening and hoping to hear the rushing water of a river was unlikely to reveal anything but it was worth an attempt. The other option he was left with was more dangerous and risky.

    Tree climbing.

    The most dangerous risk was the lack of lower branches that would ease the climb up. He would have to figure out an alternate method of climbing but he was confident that he could braid a simple rope strong enough to support him.

    The other major risk was the Pok¨¦mon that called the canopy home.

    The canopy above shifted more than the wind could explain and some of the loudest shrieks came from above. The Pok¨¦mon must have recovered from his arrival and he was sure that he would begin to encounter more the forest''s creatures soon.

    As Kenji foraged his way through the forest, he sought out thick yet flexible vines that he could braid together. There were plenty of small tangles crawling around but none were suitable to making a rope.

    He did come across a smaller tree with several lower hanging branches. Kenji eyed the distance critically. It was several paces above his head but for a Warrior, the distance would be a simple step away.

    Inhaling, Kenji turned his mind inwards.

    Even when he was not focusing on it, he constantly found himself condensing his spirit. If he had any cultivation remaining and a normal aura, then it was possible that he could have flared it to reinforce his legs and jump. It risked damaging his body but it could have resulted in an easy climb. Instead he was left with a rigid spirit that was constantly trying to collapse in on itself. With the lack of Energy in his body, his aura was nonexistent and would not form without precious time spent cultivating.

    He opened his eyes with a sigh. Even if it was likely to fail, it was better to try than simply give up.

    Jogging back, Kenji positioned himself in front of the branch. His body was still stiff and unfamiliar but he would have to make it work. Setting himself in position, he sprinted towards the low hanging limb and leaped up at it when he drew close.

    Even with his arms stretching towards the sky, he was still several paces short. Due to putting all his effort into leaping upwards, Kenji was not able to catch himself as he fell back to the ground. He landed awkwardly and let out a groan of pain as the force rattled its way through his body. The thick leathers helped to soften the blow but it was still a rough landing. Most of the material was spent covering his front in a tough apron with sleeves to protect his arms.

    He took several breaths to recover himself before crawling to a stand with a grunt. He glared up at the tree but he knew it was not responsible for his short comings. Kenji limped into a slow walk as he resumed searching the forest.

    As he wandered through the forest, Kenji discovered evidence of wildlife within. There were light gouges on the tree trunks along with sections of bark that was clearly torn off. A few unfortunate individuals featured a hole along the trunk as if something had torn into the wood before becoming a home for other wildlife. They were too high up for him to investigate but once saw a black feathered head poking out of one. Its feathers formed a strange shape on its crown but after seeing him the creature quickly withdrew.

    Finally, Kenji came across a large bush that was slowly being claimed by a tangle of vines. Unlike the previous creeping tendrils he has seen so far, these were thick and already trying to climb their way up a nearby tree.

    He rushed towards the large thicket before jerking to a stop. Backing up several steps, he inspected the vines closer. Without an aura, he was blind to the energy inherent to Pok¨¦mon. It was entirely possible that there was one hiding within and even more likely that it would not be pleased with his approach.

    Grabbing a nearby stick, he hid behind a tree while he tossed it at the vines.

    When nothing emerged or cried out, Kenji chose to noisily approach. He tried to make as much sound as possible by dragging his feet and stepping on twigs along the way. After determining it was safe, he set aside the remaining berries and began to tug upon the vines.

    As Kenji pulled on them, he sorted through the green tendrils for several lengths that could be easily braided together. Most were too thin to act as a rope while a few were too thick. However after combing through the tangle he found some that where long enough to twist together. He kept several coils of the thinner vines as believed he could use them later on.

    Once he had several lengths of vine, Kenji stretched them out side by side. He knotted one end tightly and secured it with a strip of thin vine he set aside earlier. Working carefully, he braided the flexible plants together. As an only child he was used to helping his mother work the cotton she harvested. It was only after he felt the tears wet his hands that he realized he was crying.

    There were days where he did nothing but help her repair clothing or create entirely new outfits. She rarely wore them, claiming that they were too non-traditional to be seen in public. His father would show him on to use the thread to create quick repairs to torn armor or even use the natural fibers to stitch a wound.

    Kenji let the tears flow and used the emotional release to clear his mind while he worked. There was no one around to witness his shame but he did not have the time or space to grieve properly. Only once he was safe would he be able to truly mourn his family.

    After the unexpected crying session, he felt lighter and more centered. With a start, he realized how uncomfortable he truly was. Even though the air was not sweltering hot, he was wearing thick leathers that served to trap the heat and grate at his skin. Yet at the same time, he could not rid himself of the chill clinging to his spirit.

    It left him feeling disconnected from his body and more a lost soul shoved into an unfamiliar form. Perhaps the time spent- Kenji''s mind and soul twisted away from his memories of the horrifying ordeal.

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    Instead, he forced himself to focus on twisting the vines around one around in a simple yet strong braid. Dwelling on the past would only bring pain and torment.

    He quickly finished the makeshift rope and inspected it closely. The vines twisted around each other and still bore leaves along its length. Knotted at both ends, a smaller vine helped to ensure that his creation would not unravel unexpectedly. It was not pretty but function trumped form in this case. He tugged on the rope several times and judged it strong enough for now. As long as he was not overly rough with it or put too much weight on the green vines it should at least endure for what he needed.

    Kenji stood up and walked to the tree slowly being consumed by vines. His hope was that the clinging tendrils would provide additional support as he climbed. With the vine rope in one hand, he threw it around the thick truck and grabbed it with the other. He stepped back to give himself some space before planting one foot against the trunk. The rough scrapped at his leather foot covers and he was worried that they would tear completely.

    Taking several quick breaths, Kenji suddenly jerked the rope up and tried to walk up the trunk but the vines caught on the bark. Instead of walking up the tree as he wanted, he fell backwards and lost his breath. Fortunately, the fall was not very far and he was able to recover quickly.

    Scowling to himself, Kenji silently scolded his failure. Walking up the tree again, he looped the vine rope around the trunk and practiced whipping it up with one foot placed against the wood. He never practiced this but his father told stories of how the non-warrior soldiers had to use the method to climb trees to hidden stands. Since he trained for having a link, his father never thought it necessary for him to learn.

    Kenji regretted not insisting on lessons, both for the skill and to spend more time with his father.

    When he thought himself ready, he made another attempt to scale the tree. With one foot planted on the trunk and the other on the ground, he whipped the rope up and stepped with his left.

    "Hah!" he grunted as he caught himself. Already he could feel his muscles protesting the strange exercise. His legs were especially pained from the awkward position. Kenji stepped up with his right before yanking the rope up again and stepping with his left foot.

    "Come on." he grunted out.

    Kenjin leaned in once more to yank the vine rope up but he pressed in too far and his foot began to slip. He scrambled against the bark but as he lost his purchase, Kenji only had a split moment to let go of the rope and fall. Luckily, he was able to catch himself better to avoid landing on his back.

    Hitting the ground feet first, he still ended up collapsing but kept the breath from being knocked out of him. He groaned as he stared up at the tree before standing.

    "Alright, that was still pretty good." Kenji said to himself. "Better than the first time at least." He stood up and grabbed the rope once more.

    Wrapping it around the tree, he took several deep breaths before placing his foot against the tree. With another inhale, Kenji began to walk his way up the tree. He focused on keeping his breathing in tune with his movements as it helped him maintain his pace.

    Step.

    Breathe.

    Rope.

    Repeat.

    Kenji''s arms and legs were beginning to burn from the exertion but he ignored it to focus on his movement. A short glance up revealed that he was still several paces away from the nearest tree limb. With only a couple more vertical steps, he found that he was only two more paces away from his goal.

    "You can do this." he panted. His arms felt like they were about to fall off while a cramp was developing in his lower legs. "Only two more steps."

    Acting quickly, he was able to take two short steps before catching himself from slipping. With another deep breath, he forced the pain aside and whipped the vine up to take another step.

    By now the tree limb was even with his head, presenting him with two options. He could either lean in and grab at the branch as he left go of the rope or he could move up further to put himself in a better position. Panting, Kenji did not have long to consider. A dread-filled glance down to the forest floor far below was all he needed to walk up more.

    With a quick flick of the vines, Kenji whipped the rope up again and stepped. This placed the tree branch even with his upper chest though he had to shuffle to place himself in the proper position.

    Kenji took several quick breaths and mentally prepared himself for what he had to do. When he felt that he was ready, he started to move.

    Carefully leaning over, Kenji placed his elbow on the branch and moved his left foot higher. He twisted it so that it was angled towards the right and pointing at the tree limb. One more breath in, and Kenji released the vine rope with his right hand. At the same time he pushed off his feet and wrapped his right arm around the tree branch while bringing his left around.

    "Aaaah!" Kenji screamed in fear.

    He was still holding onto the vine rope with his left hand so it scrapped at the tree but he was still able to throw his arms around the thick limb. His legs were swinging in the air and Kenji could feel his grip begin to slip. The leather sleeves protected his arms from the scraping of the bark as he scrambled to lift himself up.

    While his body was still weak it was strong enough to lift himself up onto the branch where he straddled it. He pulled the rope up after him and lay it over the limb while he caught his breath. The small leap was more terror inducing than he expected and his breaths were coming in short, rapid pants.

    When he breathing slowed and he was able to think more clearly, Kenji inspected the rest of the tree. The branches above this one were close enough that he would not have to repeat the dangerous climb. Tossing the braided vines up, Kenji followed after it and climbed the rest of the tree. The process grew easier as the limbs became closer together but he was forced to inspect later branches to ensure that they could support his weight.

    When he could go no further, Kenji straddled the branch and placed his back to the narrowed trunk as he took in the view.

    Flocks of birds crossed the sky under the sun''s rays while clouds drifted through the blue expanse. A short mountain range with low slopes dominated part of the landscape. Several peaks were dusted with snow. Off the side, the mountains were mirrored by a large plateau covered with green. Steep cliffs isolated it from the surrounding forest as if Warlord watching over his lands. A strip of sparse forest ran between the two.

    Looking around, all Kenji could see of the forest was the top of the green canopy. There were several gaps where canopy fell through but it was quickly picked back up as the trees grew into one another. He could see the rustle of green as the wind or wild beasts moved it. In one direction, entire trees seemed to shake as if to threaten him.

    Looking away, he turned his gaze back to the landscape. On the other side, away from the mountain and plateau, Kenji spotted a distant shimmer. Focusing on it, he judged it to be either a massive lake or maybe even the sea.

    Despite his mother''s near death at the hands on the blue waters, she still spoke fondly of the ocean. When the weather was warm, they often took family trips to the nearby beaches. She often stayed late into the night watching the waves and playing in the sand.

    Kenji stared the distant sea for a while longer before turning his head away.

    He returned to studying the landscape but nothing struck him as familiar. Greenleaf had claim to several peaks but those were more large grassy hills than the bare rock of the slopes before him. The greater possibility was that he was instead in some distant kingdom. The question was, which one?

    His greatest worry was that this land belong to the Warlord of Ignis. The people were violent and proud with tempers to match. They would not take his intrusion into their lands kindly, no matter how he ended up here.

    However, there were none of the active volcanoes that their mountainous nation cultivated. Nor did he feel the sweltering heat or the Type Energy that tried to burn one alive with each breath. That normal humans could survive in such a region constantly amazed him.

    Not to mention, the fact that his village was ablaze when he was taken away. He still remembered the heat of the flames as his home burned. Even lost and alone, at risk of death by starvation or dehydration, Kenji would not seek out his people''s enemy.

    On the other hand, this was not the land of their allies or trading partners. There were no large rivers or cascading waterfalls, the simple yet large farms maintained by the people of Aurora, or the sparking towers of Violight. His father spoke of nations beyond those but he only heard them spoken about in stories or from traveling merchants. A foreign Warrior sworn to a Warlord would never be allowed in another kingdom without a compelling reason.

    Kenji continued to search for any sign to indicate where he was or even a simple village to call upon. He did catch a thin river that sloughed down from the mountain and disappear into the forest. He was able to make a break in the tree cover near where the river disappeared and followed it as best he could. If he traveled at an angle to the left of the rocky slopes, he would eventually reach flowing water. He could only hope that he found it before dehydration made him too weak to move.

    Satisfied with his next course of action, Kenji took the time to watch the forest and study the swaying trees. Anytime he saw green swaying against the wind he was sure to memorize its location so that he could avoid it while he traveled. Pok¨¦mon were often territorial beasts and none would appreciate his presence threatening them.

    Fortunately, without an aura he would appear as weak as a child to anything that inspected him. Most beasts hunted not only for food but also for the strength they could obtain from consuming other Type Beasts. The aura suffused the flesh as well as the spirit, making it an ideal path to grow. It was the few that did not hunt this way that concerned him.

    Some creatures delighted in causing pain and spreading misery, growing in power as they followed their path. Such beasts found greater sustenance in the power of spirits than they did from flesh.

    Turning away from his morbid thoughts, Kenji debated on his next moves. His goal for now was to reach the river but once he did that, then what? He could not camp by the riverside and hope a friendly, or at least non-hostile, Warrior rescued him. This forest was massive and he saw no signs of civilization as far as he could see. There were no massive clearings or trails of smoke rising into the sky.

    One could only guess how long he might stay there before someone found him.

    No, the best course of action was to follow the river upstream until he reached the mountain. There, he would be able to climb the slope a gain a better view of the surroundings and easily circle around to the other side. Much of the landscape beyond was blocked by the plateau and the rocky peaks.

    From there he would seek out a village and investigate which kingdom he currently resided in. Depending on what he discovered, Kenji could either petition the Warlord or his Warriors for assistance or escape if they were hostile. Maybe he would raise an army of his own to lead and takeover the kingdom in honor of his people.

    Fantasies aside, that was for later. For now, Kenji had to survive.

    Standing up, Kenji took one last glance around the forest before he climbed down. The extensive shaking of the trees had finally stilled and now only the occasional mass of green would jostle. Birds continued to traverse the sky. Occasionally, a small flock or individual would split off or join from the forest below. They danced through the sky much like a river of their own, flowing in circular paths or spiraling upwards. There was something strange about the paths they flew but Kenji could figure out what.

    As he continued to watch the birds, he noticed a few smaller groups staying close to the tree tops. However, instead of the flat, thin wings of a bird, theirs were more round. His mind cast back to the large red and yellow worm from earlier.

    Butterflies. Kenji thought with fascination. He was familiar with the small insects as they visited the flowers in his families garden but these were far larger than those tiny insects. From here, he could see how their wings sparkled in the sun''s rays.

    Kenji was highly interested in seeing the Pok¨¦mon up close. His Warlord, Motonari, was vocal in his interest of new Pok¨¦mon and advocated studying the beasts further. As far as he knew, there was no butterfly Pok¨¦mon in Greenleaf or beyond.

    Taking one last look at the potential new Pok¨¦mon, Kenji turned his mind to a more immediate issue.

    "How do I get down from here?"

 Chapter 3

    Climbing down was easier than climbing up, even if it was fraught with the same peril of a long fall. By looping the vine rope around branches he was able to provide himself an additional handhold instead of simply leaping from branch to branch. He did have to jump down several times but they were more long steps than true leaps. Here, Kenji was the grateful for the leather apron and guards on his arms it kept the rough bark from tearing his skin open.

    There was a moment when he slipped climbing down and was left dangling. His heart stopped in his chest as he kicked his legs out in open air. He scrabbled desperately at the wood, terrified that he was falling. The fear seemed to give him strength and his was able to pull himself up onto the thick branches.

    After taking a moment to recover and still his racing heart, he resumed his climb down at a more careful pace.

    When he reached the lowest branch where he started, Kenji looked down. Straddling the branch, he felt a wave of vertigo and jerked his head up. Breathing deeply, he clamped down on the tree limb while he waited for the dizziness to pass. He suddenly realized that he was so worried with climbing the tree that he never thought about how to descend. While falling from branch to branch worked in the beginning, the lowest tree limb was far too high for him to do so safely. Even if he landed properly, it was a near certainty that he would roll an ankle or worse.

    Staring at the trees, he thought of a solution. He could knot the rope on the branch and hoped it held long for him to descend. However then he would be forced to leave behind the useful tool he just made.

    His other idea involved wrapping the rope around the branch several times and hoping that it did not slip out of his hands while he lowered himself. There was a chance that the vines would catch on the wood and prevent him from collecting the rope but at least he had a chance.

    Sighing, Kenji started to wrap the braid of vines around the branch. It was not very difficult and after the third wrapping, he believed that he was ready. He tried to make both sides as even as possible and it ended up dangling above the ground slightly.

    Turning onto his stomach, he held onto one end of the vine rope while his legs fumbled to grab onto the other. The leather sandals protecting his feet were covered in dirt and had difficulty in gripping the vines.

    Eventually he found it easier to use the braids of the rope to catch himself. Taking a deep breath, he steadied his nerves and lowered himself down. He swayed freely in the air and he had to force himself focus to avoid panicking. Loosening the grip his hands had around the rope, he slide them down as he bent over. He could feel his feet struggling to hold him up and he quickly tightened his grip.

    Before the awkward position could be become painful, Kenji released the hold his feet had and hurriedly lowered them. His arms burned from the strain and he prayed that he would make it before he fell. Moving faster, Kenji felt himself beginning to slide and he clamp down with his hands and feet, curling himself around the braided vine.

    Panting, he forced himself to let go and continue sliding down. When felt that he was low enough, he tried to slow down but his hands were slick with sweat. Screaming he felt his feet strike the ground and he tried to throw himself into a roll.

    However, his feet caught in the vines and turned his tumble into a fall. Slamming into the ground, he grunted as the air was knocked out of him. Wheezing into the dirt, he lay there until he accidentally inhaled some dirt and started to choke.

    Coughing, Kenji spat out the soil and checked himself over.

    Surprisingly he managed to avoid turning his ankle despite the failed attempt at rolling. Indeed he was barely even scratched, the greatest wound to his pride. If only there was someone to see it, then he would be rescued.

    Standing, Kenji brushed himself off as he shook off the pain. His chest bore a dull ache from hitting the ground but it felt as though it would ease as the day passed. At worst he might have a minor bruise.

    Grabbing the rope, he shook it to free the vines from the tree branch. The roughly made rope was resistant to his efforts and he grew more wild with his motions as he tried to whip it free. Pausing for a moment, he realized that he was going about it all wrong.

    Peering upwards, Kenji could see that it was loosening slightly and started to gather one end of the rope in his hands before a soft sound alerted him. Snapping his head around, he searched for whatever made the noise. He was not quite sure what he heard but it was different to the other cries he was accustomed to. It sounded less like a chirp and more a warble or low squeal.

    Freezing in place, he moved nothing but his head and searched the woods around him. When he saw nothing, he waited a beat more to see if the sound would repeat itself. After no other noise was made, Kenji resumed gathering the rope. He tossed it up and managed to throw it around the branch where it caught.

    Groaning, Kenji froze when another cry warbled out. Jerking around, he searched for the beast making the noise and prepared himself to run. Staring at the trees, he felt foolish before he thought to look down.

    Trembling in fear, stood a small four limbed creature. The beast was lower than his knee with most of the height gained from the considerable head too large to fit into its shell. It''s body blended into the surroundings and, with its small stature, encouraged him to miss it.

    Kenji stared back at the small turtle in surprise. As he met the creature''s eyes, it squealed and dropped to the ground. The beast tried to withdraw its stubby limbs and large head into its shell but was unable to fully do so. The hard coating was too small to fit all of its limbs while its head was far too big for the small opening.

    The wail startled him and he hesitated, surprised by the appearance an unfamiliar beast so close to him. He took a moment to look it over before searching the woods once more. The small beast was obviously young and scared but that was a danger all its own. A Type Beast as young as this one was almost always protected by a mother or even a herd. That it was alone instead was unusual. He half-expected the Pok¨¦mon''s parent to pop out and attack him for dare closing with its young.

    Much like before, there was no indication of any other beasts nearby. Kenji even listened closely to the calls bouncing out in the forest but heard nothing strange. Or at least stranger than what he''s heard before.

    Only once he was satisfied that no other beast was going to attack did Kenji turn his eyes back towards the terrified Pok¨¦mon before him.

    Studying the creature closer only served to make Kenji more conflicted. Scratches tore through the creatures thin shell covering and sores could be seen on the beast''s limbs. There was a faint hint of dirt on its back but it was flaky and dry, leaving parts of it bare.

    While it was likely for a mother to be nearby to safeguard her young, it was equally unlikely for such a protective parent to allow their young to be as malnourished as this one appeared. Instead, a darker, more depressing thought occurred to him.

    The beast was young, far too young, and obviously sick. Perhaps it was the weakest of its hatch group, or something similar. Or simply it was its species nature to leave their young to fend for themselves. Whatever the reason the herd or parent decided to abandon it. It was not an uncommon occurrence in the wild.

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    Pity burned in his chest and, despite the risk, the beast called to him. Here was another being suffering as he was. Lost and alone, scared of what it may encounter in this unfamiliar land. Sick and scared from what they endured.

    He remembered how his mother would do her best to care for any beast that she encountered, no matter the danger it put her in. While there were times she was hurt or attacked, she never regretted at least making the attempt.

    Giving in, Kenji crouched and sat on the forest floor. He kept his body language as non-threatening as possible by keeping his limbs relaxed and leaning away from the beast. He tried to sense the innate energy of the creature but either his spirit was too damaged to feel it or the creature had none. Type Beasts often released their aura when they were very young or very old, either due to lack of control or a desire to warn aware others.

    "Hey, hey." Kenji said softly.

    His mother taught him that one should be calm and quiet with Pok¨¦mon, especially when they were anxious. People did not like it when a stranger moved unexpectedly or abruptly. That went doubly so for wild beasts.

    "It''s ok. I''m not going to hurt you." he continued to murmur.

    As he spoke, he tried to mimic his mother''s form whenever she tended to Pok¨¦mon. While her aura allowed her to communicate more openly with Pok¨¦mon, she was able to befriend one even without it. She kept her body relaxed as she spoke lightly to a beast.

    At first, the young Pok¨¦mon trembled harder but as Kenji continued to whisper the shaking slowed. After several more minutes the reptile''s shaking stopped completely and it haltingly looked up.

    When it saw him looking at it, the beast quickly ducked back down and resumed shaking. Undaunted, Kenji kept whispering soft platitudes to the Pok¨¦mon until it looked up again. This time, Kenji made sure not to make eye contact. It seemed to encourage the creature as it continued to look up at him. He saw its eyes dart over to the berries laying on the ground nearby.

    Looking over, Kenji held back a wince as he saw the chunks missing from the sweet, pink fruit. It was only natural that a hungry Pok¨¦mon eat but he was a hungry person that also needed to eat. Not only that but the food had to be rationed carefully for when times he was unable to forage anything. Sighing internally, he slowly gestured to the damaged fruits.

    "Go on. You can eat it. I don''t mind." Kenji lied. Even as he spoke his stomach released a light growl of complaint. The unexpected noise scare the turtle-like beast and he was forced to comfort it again.

    When the creature finally lifted up its head, Kenji slowly worked to make eye contact. The creature trembled in fear and retreated but it did not turn away. Only after he was sure that he would not scare the Pok¨¦mon did he carefully lift his arm and gesture at the half-eaten fruit.

    At first, the turtle beast lowered its head but he could see the Pok¨¦mon make the connection between his words, gesture, and the fruit. It''s small eyes widened and the stubby limbs twitched.

    It warbled lowly as if in question.

    Kenji continued to lightly gesture at the berries and even looked away to further encourage it.

    Only after several minutes of this did the shelled beast seem to trust him enough to stretch out its limbs. Keeping its small eyes on the him, the tiny Pok¨¦mon rushed over and began to hurriedly eat the rest of the fruit.

    Kenji frowned before smoothing his face. "Hey, hey, hey." he called out softly.

    The beast flinched and lowered itself as if to retreat inside its shell.

    "Slowly, little one. Slowly." he quietly urged.

    When the Pok¨¦mon resumed eating, he continued to call out whenever it ate too fast and urge the small creature to slow down. Eventually, the beast seemed to understand as the last few pieces of the fruit were taken in small bites that it did not leave it struggling to swallow. From what he could see, the turtle beast was unable to chew and instead tore off chunks with its beak to swallow whole.

    After it took the last bite, the creature nosed around searching for anything it missed. Only juice soaked soil remained off his precious food.

    Grinning at him, Kenji chuckled.

    "Sorry, sprout, that''s all I got." He told the small Pok¨¦mon, his father''s nickname for Kenji slipping out.

    He felt his gut clench when he realized that he would never hear it said to him again. His father rarely used it anymore ever since he began his training to become a Warrior but there were times he dropped it show that Kenji was acting a child. To help distract himself painful memories, Kenji returned his attention back to the Pok¨¦mon.

    It had turned to face him when he spoke and Kenji noticed that he still had his hand outstretched. Unfortunately, the moment was interrupted by another growl form his stomach. He leaned back with a sigh and rubbed at his temples.

    The side effects of going over a day and a half without water was starting to be felt. The only thing keeping him from being completely dehydrated was the juicy fruits and berries he managed to forage so far. Even then, it was only staving off the inevitable.

    When he looked up, Kenji was surprised to see the sad and weak looking turtle had moved closer. Raising an eyebrow Kenji''s voice took on an amused tone as he smiled.

    "Oh, now that you''re all filled up you want a bite of me?" he asked playfully. While the creature''s hard beak would likely hurt if it bit him, the chances of it breaking his leathers was low.

    The turtle warbled softly and took another several steps forwards. Its large head was stretched out and its body low to the ground.

    Kenji tilted his head at the new behavior. The Pok¨¦mon was still obviously scared yet it was approaching him.

    Thinking quickly, he wondered how his mother would respond. His father was likely to point out the battle capabilities and approach with confidence but that was not what this creature needed. Not to mention how it would react. While he was sure that he could outrun the beast, weak did not necessarily mean defenseless.

    In the end, he decided to answer like with like and half-bowed while extending his head. Kenji felt somewhat foolish staring at the ground and holding the awkward pose. He could feel a cramp twisting his neck and he wondered who would be the first to move.

    They both held the position for several moments before the young beast let out another warble.

    Kenji was pleased to find that he managed to hold himself bent over without breaking the pose. At the very least the Pok¨¦mon did not run away and he considered his attempt at communication a success. Wiping away some sweat, he thought over the Pok¨¦mon''s actions.

    "Do," he started. "Do you want to follow me?"

    Of course the small creature did not respond but he suspected that it was likely the case. Few species left their young to grow alone, even those with reptilian traits. The light, mossy green skin and thin, dirt covered shell suggested that the Pok¨¦mon was of the Grass Type. If his suspicions were correct, and Kenji had no reason to believe they were not, then that made its abandonment all the stranger.

    Grass-Type Pok¨¦mon typically formed close bonds with other members of their species. This was due to their natural inclination to spread and grow, much like a plant. They could be combative with other species but if other plant Pok¨¦mon fit into the environmental theme, they would even accept Pok¨¦mon from outside their Type.

    Regardless, Kenji now had to consider the consequences of allowing the young Pok¨¦mon to follow him.

    The most glaring issue was if the kingdom discovered it and accused him of theft. It would quickly turn any request for assistance into a trial that would likely end with him severely punished. No kingdom tolerated a Warrior linking without approval from the clan heads or Warlord themselves. Even more heinous were the hunters who sought out beasts to sell or harvest.

    If the kingdom captured him, they would take the Pok¨¦mon and either release it deep into the kingdom or worse. Beasts forcibly separated from their partners were often difficult to link with and not worth the risks of the Pok¨¦mon turning on its would-be partner. Many simply preferred to silence the creature permanently lest it return for vengeance.

    That was not even mentioning the risk of the creature''s herd or family returning and finding their young taken. Even a Warlord would think twice before tangling with a full herd of monstrous beasts bent on recovering their young.

    On the other hand, if Kenji did not allow the Pok¨¦mon to travel with him, and the turtle like beast was truly cast out of its herd, then he was likely condemning the creature to death. It was far too young to survive on its own, evidenced by its hurried eating. Even if the turtle managed to survive, it was sick and its wounds not healing properly.

    Plus, there was one more reason, one that he did not want to ponder on too long, lest it consume him.

    He was so terribly alone.

    Not only was he lost and at risk of dying but, even if by some miracle of the Original One he made it home, there was nothing there for him. His family was gone, his father almost certainly killed by the army that attacked. He had no link with any of his family''s Pok¨¦mon, so most would have been taken in by survivors if they did not flee into the wilds.

    It would be easier to fight to continue if he had a companion relying on him. It would help smother the cold, dark pit lying at the center of his being. Even in the sun, he could feel the chill clinging to his skin. It seeped through his chest like a poisoned root in its search of his spirit.

    Just because he left the void, did not mean the void had left him.

    Clenching his jaw, Kenji forcefully turned his mind away from the memories of the dark and focused on the now.

    He forced a smile down at the Pok¨¦mon slowly shuffling its way forward. He held out a hand and allowed the creature to inspect it warily before placing its large head against his palm. Kenji felt something inside him loosen, and the smile soon became genuine.

    "Hey there Sprout, I''m Kenji." he said. "And everything is going to alright.

 Chapter 4

    Kenji played with the small turtle beast for a while before standing.

    The time was largely spent helping the Pok¨¦mon familiarize itself with him and vice versa. The creature quickly became less fearful and even went so far as to nimble on his leather apron before Kenji lightly scolded him. He remembered his father''s lessons, and it was important for him to establish boundaries early. It would make later training easier and hopefully engender a link to form. The small creature was currently far too young and lacked the necessary amount of Energy to sustain such a bond but it would make forming one easier.

    He also spent the time studying the Pok¨¦mon. While he was unfamiliar with the species, his parents'' teachings were extensive. As the son of not one but two Warriors, his education revolved around Type Beasts, from how to identify various beasts to proper care. Even creatures of the same Type often varied wildly, and his mother was insistent that he learn about the other Types that existed beyond Greenleaf''s borders. She was surprisingly knowledgeable and, when she spoke, even his father sat down to listen.

    Looking closely at the timid beast, it was clear at the first glance that it was reptile. There was soft, scaly skin that suffered from sores and open scratches where scales were peeling off. Its shell was thin and soft to the touch. A light powder covered it, as if soil left too long in the sun. The skin exposed to the sky was a faded green while the underbelly and stumpy legs were a rough yellow.

    It was likely that the green skin would allow it absorb sunlight much like a plant. His mother''s lessons taught that plants and Grass-Type Pok¨¦mon were more alike than most believed. Green was not just an indication of its Type but a sign that it''s body could process nutrients much like a leaf would. Kenji theorized that the shell would harden over time and perhaps eventually allow it to host plant life upon its back.

    The edge of the shell was raised slightly and supported his theory. The only issue was the state of the turtle''s back. He doubted that even a weed would be able to grow in the handful of powdery dirt. Perhaps when he had time to spare, he could help the beast heal.

    When the Pok¨¦mon was familiar enough with him, Kenji scooped the small creature up. It tensed at first but as he started to scratch its head, the beast slowly relaxed. He was surprised at how dense the creature was. Instead of picking up a small turtle, it felt more like he was hefting a log. Pok¨¦mon were far tougher than people and had the body to prove it. Blows that break a man''s body would leave a only bruise that quickly faded.

    Only when he was sure that it would not fight him, did Kenji stand up. The scared Pok¨¦mon was alarmed at the movement but he helped it relax as he started walking. He made a short stop to coil up the vine rope and collect the loops of smaller vines before continuing on.

    The additional weight slowed him down when he needed to move quickly but there was no other choice. The turtle was far too slow to keep up with the pace he needed if he wanted to reach the river before he grew too weak to move. Not only that but he was going to have to make wide arcs to avoid the potential territories that he spotted earlier.

    Nor did it escape his attention how easily the Pok¨¦mon seemed to tire. After less than half a bell, the turtle could barely remain standing despite the meal it just ate. Perhaps lulled by the rocking set by his pace, the beast fell asleep in his arms.

    Constantly adjusting his course, Kenji foraged for food along the forest floor. There was a wild vine growing berries that bore a strong resemblance to strawberries and he sat his new companion down as he ate his fill of the fruit.

    The movement awoke it and the turtle joined in him feasting. The red fruit marred their faces, making the both of them appear as if they spat blood. Kenji''s finger''s where likewise tinged red while his new companion escaped with only a splattered beak.

    Only after he was full to bursting did he gather the remaining ripe fruit. Since they grew from a sprawling vine, Kenji was able to collect nearly all the remaining berries and hang it from his shoulder. He had to scold the young turtle several times before it learned not to snap at the swaying fruit.

    Kenji found several more fruits and berries along the way. All too soon, he was forced to eat his freshly foraged food or abandon it. He broke off several branches to drag behind him with one hand as he walked but, while carrying the turtle, his previous pace was reduced to a crawl.

    Looking ahead, he spied at large tree collapsed and laying on the dirt ground. The upturned soil was still fresh to air, appearing damp and rough. The surrounding trees were damaged by the fall with cracked or broken branches hanging loosely. Suddenly wary, Kenji hid behind a nearby trunk.

    Unlike the other fallen trees he came across, this one was still green with the exposed inner bark untouched by rot. Most of the damage was hidden from him but from what Kenji could see, the thick wood had indentions up and down its length as if something had stuck it repeatedly. The bark was caved inwards and cracked. Eventually, the damage grew too great and must have caused the tree to fall.

    Either that or whatever monster hitting it grew strong enough to break it down.

    Kenji was worried that whatever had destroyed the tree was still nearby but he convinced himself that it was unlikely. It was more probable that he stumbled across a Pok¨¦mon''s training ground after it had moved on. Since the powerful beast was already capable of felling these trees, it would most likely move on in search of something sturdier. Perhaps this was a merely a warm up or test of its power.

    There was a chance that the felling of the tree served as territory marker but he Kenji deemed it unlikely. While Type Beasts were destructive in their fights, rarely did they purposely seek to destroy their surroundings. Afterall, the beast had to live there as well.

    Still, it would not hurt to be careful. Scrounging around for a rock, Kenji tossed it at the tree. A dull thump could be heard but after several minutes of waiting, nothing happened. Reassured by the lack of response, he looked the small beast in his arms.

    "Sense anything, Sprout?" he whispered to the Pok¨¦mon. "Think it''s safe?"

    The creature chirped in question at his words and Kenji took it to be a sign that it was safe. The small turtle was easily frightened and if it had heard or smelled anything then it would have tried to hide. Instead, it was looking at him in curiosity, unconcerned with the fallen tree before them.

    "Of course I''m not scared." Kenji responded in mock indignation as he stood up. "I''m just thinking of you."

    Dragging the foraged goods behind him, he approached the tree. He dropped the berries and set his new companion down before walking the length of the trunk. While he did so, Sprout dug a shallow hole in the dirt before planting its stubby legs into the soil and settling in. The turtle took a moment to munch on some of the fruit but Kenji did not mind.

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    He inspected the wood with a critical eye and thought of the sleds used by the merchants and nomads. The wide ranging caravans mostly used durable wagons and sleighs that were capable of withstanding the rigors of travel. However, a few individual travelers used a simple sled that they were able to craft in less than a day.

    The wandering people were especially fond of using an angled sled that could also double as tent with only some slight modifications. Rumor had it that Warlord Motonari heard of the design and was immediately taken with the idea. He ordered a part of his army to switch to use the sled tents only to discover that they functioned better on the plains than they did the in thick forests of Greenleaf.

    His father was laughing for days at the poor fools who had to test out the new sleds until he discovered that his Warrior group was to be the fools. Then the only one laughing was his mother whenever she found Kenji''s father struggling to set up the tent.

    Regardless of their success, Kenji still remembered the basics of how to craft one. Or he at least remembered what they were supposed to look like. A simple triangular frame joined by expanding rungs to hold it together. A Warrior''s sled could extend to be over twice their height, both to hold more materials and offer a larger tent to sleep in while the regulars were stuck with smaller tents but did not have to carry as much.

    His would have to be short, both due to his lesser strength and the limit of wood available. There were long branches lower on the tree but they were far too wide for him to carry. Instead, he broke off the smaller, more supple limbs found at the top of the trunk. He had to walk up the tree to reach them as the trunk was not fully horizontal. The tough limbs served as useful handholds to prop himself up while he broke off the other branches.

    After collecting several armfuls of the fresh wood, Kenji set them down and sorted through wood. He was able to easily pick out what would become the main frame of the sled but it was larger than he would have liked. None of the branches were naturally straight and only a few fit what he needed.

    He stripped the leaves and offshoots of before laying them on the ground and tying them together with vines. Kenji had to search the surrounding forest for more as he quickly ran out when putting the support rungs in place. Once he had the basic sled created, Kenji made a small nest for Sprout to lay in. It was mostly extra sticks for the Pok¨¦mon to rest on with some leaves for cushioning.

    When Kenji felt he was done, he picked up Sprout and placed the turtle in the makeshift nest. The beast inspected it and munched on the leaves but attempted to return to the depression in the earth it made.

    "No, Sprout." Kenji said. "This is your nest." He placed the Pok¨¦mon back on the sled where it warbled in complaint.

    "What?" he asked the turtle. "Do you not like the leaves? We can get rid of them."

    He brushed the leaves off the sled but it seemed to only agitate the beast more. Kenji scowled at the Pok¨¦mon in aggravation but when it started trembling from his stare, he forced himself to calm down. With a deep breath, he took a mental step back and thought through the problem aloud.

    "You don''t hate the leaves but you don''t like them either." He glanced over at the simple depression Sprout had made himself. "You want dirt instead? No," he immediately shook his head. "You want to be planted in dirt!" Kenji said excitedly. He turned back to the small Pok¨¦mon and grinned at it. "Of course! You''re a Grass-Type, you want to be in the soil not out of it."

    Kenji snatched up a stick and dug at the small hole until he had a small pile of rich, dark soil. Tearing up some leaves in his hand, he mixed them with the soil. Kenji scooped up the soil in his hands and packed it on the branches of the sled. He had to insert some sticks to act as wall and keep the dirt from falling off but soon the sled bore a tiny planter.

    He picked up Sprout once more and placed the turtle in the upgraded nest. The Pok¨¦mon chirped with interest as it played in the soil until it eventually settled down. Kenji grinned at Sprout and was pleased that he was able to correctly intuit the problem.

    When he was sure the Pok¨¦mon was comfortable, Kenji picked up the foraged goods and set them on the sled. He looped the vine rope around Sprout''s box and set the few loose vines left next to it. When he had time, he would craft a true planter box for the Pok¨¦mon to rest in.

    Grabbing the sled handles, Kenji dragged it behind him. It was awkward holding the sled as he was but he had no other way to drag it. Due to the frame, the section of the branches that acted as handles angled away from each other. Already, he could feel how the strain in his wrists as they twisted. At the very least, he was now able to carry everything he foraged and more.

    With how long he spent crafting his sled, the day was already growing late. Yet, driven on by his thirst, Kenji continued to travel until he could no longer see the roots catching his feet. Not bothering to search for a den or outcropping, he trudged over to the widest tree nearby and dropped the sled. Sprout tumbled his way out of the dirt box and pawed at the surroundings while Kenji worked the tightness out his arms.

    Dragging the sled behind him at such an angle pulled at his shoulders. When the rough wood caught on an exposed root or large rock, it felt out though his arm was about to rip off. To make matters worse, he could feel the blisters beginning to bubble up on his hands and, judging by the pain, in his feet as well.

    Rolling his shoulders, Kenji let out a low groan as he stretched them.  He quickly followed it by stripping off his leathers and choked on the stench that radiated off him. The thick material trapped a lot of his sweat, resulting in it fermenting on his body.

    Even Sprout warbled in complaint and retreated when he caught a whiff of Kenji''s odor.

    "You try dragging a sled loaded with food and an ungrateful turtle around all day and see how you smell." he muttered back.

    When he finally pulled off the heavy apron, his mind stuttered in shock at what he found.

    His mother''s pendant.

    It was a simple chain necklace bearing a red and white sphere. The ball was scratched and dented but she treasured it above everything else she owned. He never saw her without it.

    Kenji clutched warm yet oddly cold metal in his hands as a sob started to close his throat. Terrified as he was at the time, he completely forgot her placing it around his neck. Only now did he remember his mother taking it off and tucking it under his shirt. He let the silent sobs shake his body as he remembered his parents. The tears were unbecoming of him as a future Warrior but the scolding only served to tighten his chest.

    When he was finally able stop crying, Kenji found himself on the ground holding the large pendant. Sprout was warbling in worry from its hole in the ground. The fear was present in its eyes and Kenji forced himself to shakingly smiled at the young Pok¨¦mon.

    "It''s," he hiccupped out. "It''s ok. I''m fine."

    The small turtle like beast settled down but continued to watch him as he stood up and wiped his face clean. The tears and snot clung to his hands. Sniffling, Kenji wiped them on the tree trunk and struggled to control his breathing. When he felt that he recovered enough, he stepped back to the sled. The various fruits and berries he collected along the trek were carefully set aside before he picked it up.

    He shuffled over to the tree and leaned the frame against the trunk to create a simple lean-to that he could sleep under. It was still easily visible to any beast that wandered by, so he disguised it as best he could with the vines and fruit laden plants. The berries were placed so that they were hidden from a casual glance but a second look would easily reveal them. It was difficult for him to see in the dark but the wood frame was obviously out of place.

    He could only hope that any beasts close by were not hungry enough to investigate a bundle of plants and wood against a tree.

    When he was satisfied with his work, Kenji crawled under his new shelter and took a moment to relax. He undid the straps holding his sandals on and tugged the socks covering his lower legs off. They stuck to his feet and he winced as he felt the skin peel off. He did not have to look to know that the cloth was cake with dried blood.

    Left only in his pants and tunic, he laid down. He plucked a berry free from the lean-to sled and munched on it as he held his mother''s necklace. Rolling it between his fingers, he was reminded of happier times. When life was easier and he did not have to wake up before dawn to train with his father. The nights spent as a child playing in the sand under the glow of the stars.

    Staring up at the wood lean-to, he felt Sprout at his side. The beast was already asleep and he could feel himself begin to join it.

    Unfortunately the call of sleep was interrupted by the stench of his leathers filling his nostrils. Gagging again, he tossed them outside the shelter. Strangely, the hard smell served to draw his mind away from his mother''s pendant.

    Perhaps the smell would ward off any curious beast as well.

 Chapter 5

    Kenji''s third night in the forest was the most uncomfortable so far. Without the sun, the nights were cold. Enough that he shifted and used his leather apron as a blanket to insulate himself for the little good it did. The sled helped protect him from the wind with the vines and leaves blocking it further. Yet the chill still seeped through until he could see the fog clouding his breath.

    His first two nights were more long periods of unconsciousness than true sleep. Both the physical and emotional trauma of his experience served to put him into a deep slumber. However, now that he had time to come to terms with his situation, his body was beginning to make its complaints known. His arms and shoulders were sore from pulling the sled, his feet were blistering, and he had a tight headache from dehydration.

    Perhaps the worst part was the knowledge that if he had kept even a trickle of cultivation, then the aches would have been nothing to him. He tried to gather the necessary energy to begin cultivating once more but it was as if there was a shroud surrounding his aura. The energy of the world was faint to his senses and he could not spend the hours necessary to fully capture it. Perhaps once he was safer, he would have time to gather himself for another attempt.

    For now, Kenji was stuck with nothing but his damaged spirit. With it as condensed and unresponsive as it was he could not even act as though a mystic might. With the skill that they were able to manipulate their spirit, this trek would be nothing to them even if they would suffer the same troubles he did.

    When the sun fell, he forest came to life with monstrous and terrifying hunting calls.

    Several times, it sounded as there was someone calling out and Kenji awoke with a start. He did not know what startled him awake and he sat up to hear. The call repeated, a light thrum that echoed itself through the trees. Recognizing the noise as one of a beast, he fell back in disappointment. Rolling over, he pulled his leathers closer and shut his eyes.

    What felt like moments later Kenji jerked awake. He could feel his heart pumping and his mind was instantly cleared of dregs of sleep. Frozen into stillness, he listened closely and waited to hear what woke him. At his side, the small Pok¨¦mon shivered in fear. Kenji put his hand atop Sprout''s head, partly to comfort it and partly to keep the beast from making a sound and alerting whatever was near.

    All of a sudden, a harsh cry screamed out into the night.

    Kenji shuddered as the sound grew long and rasped into silence. If the first call that he heard was wind whistling through the trees then this was a dead woman screaming into a cave. The fury in the voice made him want to claw at the ground in effort to hide himself. Before he could so much as move, the forest erupted in noise.

    The wind howled and Kenji lunged forward to grasp his sled. It shook slightly but he refused to look past it. If he could see whatever was out there, then it was entirely likely that it could see him. Some monsters knew when they were being watched and even fewer tolerated it.

    Clenching his eyes shut, Kenji instinctively tried to make himself smaller. He instinctively clenched down on his spirit, smothering it and compressing his presence tighter and tighter. The strain was almost soothing in its familiarity. Panting, he could feel the night grow colder as it wrapped around him.

    Screams of rasping laughter filled the dark. They were dark and cruel, promising pain for attracting their attention. Kenji shivered at the thought of whatever made it finding him. The haunting cries grew vicious and overlapped each other, until it was nothing but a horrid cacophony.

    He could feel Sprout shaking violently at his side but fortunately the Pok¨¦mon remained silent. He did not know what would happen if the creatures outside discovered them. Releasing one hand, he rested it on the beast to let it know he was there. The other still held onto the sled lest it fall and expose them.

    With another rasping screech, the forest fell silent. It was as if the world itself was holding its breath. In clear silence, Kenji was able to make out another cry before it was quickly cut short. The woods remained silent, unwilling to bear the ire of the attacking beasts.

    Shivering, he held onto the sled as the forest slowly came back to life. Beasts called out lowly at first, as if questioning if they were allowed to come out. After several heartbeats longer, others shrieked their displeasure at the torturous hunt as though daring the beasts to attack.

    Releasing the wood frame, Kenji fell back against the trunk and held Sprout close. Eventually he felt it safe enough to lay back down, the leather apron covering him. The ambient noise of the woods seemed to blend into a harmony and he soon fell asleep.

    He awoke for the final time clutching the necklace his mother left him. Tears threatened to fall once more but he managed to contain himself and set about his morning stretches. They were more important than ever, now that his body was recovering. Not only did they prepare him for the day long trek through the forest but movements were a reassuring lifeline that he could cling to. When he was done, a light sheen on sweat dampened his forehead from his exertions but the cool, morning air helped to whisk it away.

    Stepping back to the lean-to, he reluctantly grabbed his socks and sandals. After the long night, he was more than aware of the opened blisters decorating his feet. Sitting down, he forced himself to slide the split toed socks on, ignoring the stiffness of the cotton. Grabbing the sandals, he wove the straw strings up his leg to hold the socks in place.

    Kenji grabbed some berries to munch on while he rearranged the plants on the sled. Between the vines and the fruit laden branches, here was enough that he to make sure so that nothing would crushed as he pulled it along. When he was done, he took a final bite of his fruity meal before creating Sprout''s nest of dirt and crushed leaves. Once the small turtle was dug in and comfortable, Kenji picked up his leathers with a wrinkled nose.

    After the past night using it as bedding, the stench clinging to his gardening protection was far too familiar. Not to mention the dirt clinging to them after laying on the ground. However, he was too weak to forgo their protection. Hesitating only briefly, Kenji donned them with a sigh that was quickly cut off when the stench hit his tongue.

    Several days of sweat, dirt, and an unwashed body was enough to set him coughing. He struggled to ignore his sense of smell as he picked up the sled and set off.

    The juicy berry helped with his parched throat but did little to ease his pounding head. There were several plants with large leaves that collected the morning dew and Kenji took every chance he could to drink the little water that collected on them. The sunlight glittered on the droplets of water, reminding him of his desperate thirst.

    As he walked, the sun burned away the morning fog to leave the forest clear. He wished he had something to catch the low clouds and store the water but even if he had the materials, it be rendered unnecessary once he reached the river. Still, he kept an eye out for something he could hollow out to hold water as he walked.

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    Oddly, there were no bamboo shoots that he could find. Patches of the thin stalks could typically be found everywhere as they reached for the sky. Their naturally hollow cores collected water and would be perfect for him. Their absence was another worrying sign of how far from home he was.

    With the sled dragging behind, Kenji found that foraging became far more difficult than before. He could no long wander to-and-fro as plants caught his eye nor was he willing to deviate too far from his set path. When he was scouting the land, he was sure to memorize the general direction the river according to the rising sun. As long as he walked toward the dawn, he would reach the mountains but walking slightly north meant arriving at the river sooner.

    Trudging through the morning, he could feel the sweat begin to dampen his hair as the sun rose. The pain in his shoulders was now a constant presence that pleaded for him to stop but he refused. Behind him, a set of parallel lines followed as he traced a path between the trees. Occasionally the long branches would catch on a root or stone and jerk him back, threatening to tip him over.

    Taking a moment to wipe the sweat from his eyes, Kenji looked up when he heard his companion warble. At first he did not see what Sprout was complaining about but when he looked up, he saw a large red and pale worm inching along the trunk of a tree. With each step of its multiple stubby limbs, a faint pop could be heard.

    He watched the bug warily but fortunately it seemed to either be unaware or unconcerned of their presence. Neither end of the beast, bearing the vibrant yellow stingers, was directed at him. Choosing to ignore giant bug as well, he circled widely around the tree and continued on.

    However, he only walked for several more minutes before the Pok¨¦mon let out another fearful chirp from behind him. Looking around, Kenji was able to quickly locate the slow moving worms, their rigid red bodies making them stand out against the brown and green of the forest. Now that there were more of them, he was able to better hear the strange sound of the feet unsticking from the trees. Alone, the soft pop of their suction feet was odd. With a swarm walking around him, he found the sound to be as off putting as it was menacing

    He snaked his way through them, leaving as much room as possible between himself and the overly large bugs. They were moving slow enough that he was able to easily outpace them but it seemed that every time he escaped two more appeared. Soon, no matter which direction he walked he could hear the faint, overlapping pops of the moving Pok¨¦mon. The soft sounds reminded him of the burbling of a slow moving stream.

    Too late, Kenji realized that he was walking into a Pok¨¦mon Nest.

    They were a rare occurrence, mainly found when Warrior scouts traveled deep into enemy territory ahead of marching armies. Not many species swarmed in such quantities for long enough to be considered a true Pok¨¦mon Nest. Most often it was Bug Pok¨¦mon that infested an area for breeding season whereas the more mobile herds moved too often.

    Depending on what the moving army found and the commanders decided, the nest would be harvested, linked with, or driven off. Only when a force was attempting to sneak through for a surprise attack were they avoided entirely. War stories talked about a distant kingdom that used such nests to their advantage, either as early warning systems or to hinder an army''s movement through their land. Kenji was unsure of how such a method would work, as the nests would hinder the kingdom''s Warriors as much as their opponents.

    By now, Sprout''s fearful warbles had died off for fear of alerting the surrounding Pok¨¦mon to their presence. While the ones around them most likely considered them a threat, it was despairingly easy for a alerting cry to turn into an all-out attack.

    Kenji only wished he had heeded the turtle''s warning sooner.

    Slowing, he debated on whether to retreat or attempt to circle the swarm of beasts. A more dangerous option was to continue straight through and hopefully reach the other side quickly. The first two were time consuming and would leave him weaker as he took longer to reach the river. The latter risked awakening the Nest and earing the beasts'' ire. Without a poultice to heal himself, even a simple scratch by one of the Pok¨¦mon''s stingers could put him down.

    Studying the trees with indecision, Kenji spotted a large silken orb and understood that the decision was already made for him. For the worm Pok¨¦mon to begin forming cocoons here meant that he was already near the center of the nest.

    Going around from this close meant that he would be likelier to come across a worm mid-transformation. It would most likely attack to drive him off, as very few beasts were willing to leave an unknown entity nearby while they were completely defenseless. Until the bugs surrounded themselves with the silk, they were vulnerable to a predator seeking an easy meal.

    Conversely, retreating and finding another path around the nest would waste too much time. His throat was parched and his lips dry from the lack of water. His arms and shoulders were aching. Even the thought of turning around to unravel his progress made him want to break down.

    The only path left was forward.

    Kenji looked over his shoulder and lifted a finger to his lips. He silently urged his companion to stay silent but he doubted the young turtle understood. The infantile beast was trembling in its makeshift planter with its beady eyes flickering about fearfully. Here, the turtle''s instincts would serve them well for the beast fell silent before he even understood the danger Kenji put them in.

    He turned back around and began to drag the sled behind as quietly as possible. Soon, the pop of worms moving across the trees faded until all that was left was silence. Even the cries of the surrounding forest disappeared.

    As he dragged the sled behind him, silk cocoons joined the large worms in decorating the trees. They ranged from as small as his head to a large one that he could likely stand in. The bulbs mainly rested in the crooks of tree branches or high up the trunk. Occasionally, Kenji would find one on the ground, cracked and oozing. Others sported cracks and scratches while some even had chunks missing entirely as if something had bitten through the cocoon.

    He could hear Sprout''s shaking increase but fortunately the small beast stayed silent in his fear.

    With the more numerous cocoons Kenji began pick out small differences between them. There appeared to be two major types of the silken orbs. One appeared soft and glistened slightly as dew still clung to the threads. Several times he saw them rock or move, a few even falling to the ground as he walked by.

    The several times he happened, he froze completely. He dared not even breathe for fear of awakening the evolving Pok¨¦mon. Only when the cocoons'' rocking stilled did he resume moving.

    With his attention drawn by the falling silk orbs, he noticed that the fallen and damaged cocoons that differed greatly from the others. Their outer shell was appeared hard to the touch with cracks, scratches, and more marring their surface. He noted that the more exposed the cocoons were, the likelier they were to be damaged.

    Studying the different cocoons, Kenji reasoned the transforming creature within must be able to control the silk directly. It allowed them a small amount of movement and the power to harden the skill to defend against attacks or otherwise survive when they would have died.

    It was strange to see the completely encased Pok¨¦mon compared to how the Sewaddle of his home evolved. The pale yellow bugs chose to wrap themselves in leaves while still leaving their heads visible. As they grew, the Swadloon steadily added more leaves and used it sculpt their changing form.

    Kenji slowed as more of the cocoons appeared to be empty. Not only that but the nearby silk orbs were starting to visibly steam. He looked to the trees spotted with cocoons and saw that they were wobbling in agitation.

    He gripped the wood of the sled tighter as he heard the turtle behind him whimper in fear. Craning his head, Kenji looked over his shoulder. The young beast was shaking like a tree in a storm and its beady eyes were darting around in terror.

    Seeing Sprout''s obvious fear, Kenji picked up his pace and avoided the more active cocoons that he could see. No longer was he watching where he placed his feet, the sound of breaking branches and the crunch of leaves filling the forest. It joined the hissing sound as powerful mist was released from the transforming bugs.

    Behind him, Sprout was becoming more vocal with his fear as scared warbles joined his heavy panting.

    Unfortunately, it seemed he was too late as the silk spheres began to glow with energy. His presence must not have been as unnoticed as he first thought. The cocoons began to crack and tear as whatever was growing within broke free.

 Chapter 6

    The light of evolution was blinding to his senses. Inside the nest, the cocoons were liberally scattered throughout the trees. While the majority resided in the crooks of branches looking at the ground did little to shield his eyes. The silk orbs doted the ground as well and seemed to reflect the rising glow.

    Heat generated by the rapidly changing beast added to white light. To Kenji, it was as if some great Guardian of the Flame was announcing itself as the forest started to steam. He could hear the cocoons crack and hiss, snarling at him for intruding upon their domain.

    However, greater than the rays of light shining through the silk was the release of energy caused by such a sudden change in the Pok¨¦mon''s physiology. The Pok¨¦mon were using their reserves of Type Energy to fuel their physiological change. While it might make them weaker, they would be better prepared to meet a threat in battle.

    Alone, the power would be a boost to one''s own cultivation but as a swarm evolved Kenji found himself bombarded by the leaking waves of energy. Not only that, but he could tell that the Type Energy was wrong for him. Instead of the soothing growth he was accustomed to, Kenji felt sharp blades and buzzing snarls threaten him.

    Here, his damaged spirit helped more than it hindered. As compressed as it was, his spirit was small enough to avoid the brunt of energy being released into the surroundings. The cold still lingering in his bones further insulated him from the rampaging power. The little that managed to touch his body was too weak to inflict any true harm. Still, Kenji shielded his eyes and curled in on himself as he automatically started to compress his spirit. He would have collapsed fully if not for the sled gripped in his hands.

    When he was finally able to see, Kenji looked around frantically. His eyes barely registered the hardened silk shells around him, except as a threat. Right now, he was standing out in the open with nothing to act as cover or hide him from the emerging Pok¨¦mon. On the sled, Sprout was beginning to wail in terror and Kenji knew he had to act quick before they were discovered. While it was difficult to believe that his presence alone was the cause of an entire swarm''s evolution, whatever emerged would still see him as a threat.

    Twisting his head around in a panic, a warped tree off to the side caught his attention. The trunk''s abnormal growth created a small overhang with enough room to lay underneath. It was currently being taken up by a large cocoon but from a quick glance, Kenji believed it to be old. The silk was sagging places and it was split open slightly as if something had emerged from it. More telling, there was no residual light shining from it.

    Jerking the sled behind him, Kenji raced over to the opening and fell to his knees. He reached in quickly, without regard to what else may be hiding inside, to grasp the pale ball of silk. His fingers easily gripped the cocoon and as he pulled, the silk came apart in his hands. He did not have enough time to remove the entire cocoon as it dissolved but he was able to pull out most of the sticky material. The silk clung to his hands as he turned around to snatch up the young Pok¨¦mon and roughly shove him into the open space.

    Spinning back around, he picked up the sled and backed into the tree until it was leaning against the trunk. Dirt fell out of Sprouts planter and most of the contents of the sled fell to the ground. Kenji silently cursed their loss, for it exposed the frame of the sled more, but there was nothing he could do. Already, the evolved beasts were emerging with loud cracks and cries of freedom as the transformed creatures emerged.

    Crawling backwards, Kenji huddled against Sprout as he watched the forest through the openings in the sled. He gathered enough plants that several were still clinging to the branches making up the frame and helped to disguise the sled. Later, he would have to take time later to better secure the valuable food to the wood frame.

    If he survived that is.

    Shoving aside the despairing thought, Kenji took several breaths to force himself to regain control of his breathing and inspected the surroundings. Crouched on the dirt ground and with most of his view blocked by the wood frame, he was only able to see a small portion of the Pok¨¦mon Nest. The evolutionary light had died down during his mad dash and now he could see a rough outline of the beasts inside the cocoons. They were visibly fighting to break out as the shadowed forms twisted around.

    Peering at the closest silk orb, it was the size of his chest. Not the largest cocoon he has seen so far but larger than average. The cracking of the hard silk filled the forest and Kenji spotted a pair of long black antennae poke out of the cocoon. Quickly following those was a large bulb of chitin with bright blue eyes. As the beast unfurled its wings, Kenji was struck by the beauty of the Pok¨¦mon.

    The clear eyes, so unlike the usual insectile compound ones, were a sharp contrast to the prominent colors on the bug''s wings. The thin membranes were a blend of yellow, red, and blue panels, all bordered in black. They glistened in the sunlight, dazzling him further. As the large butterfly grew accustomed to its new form, it gently flapped its wings and lifted off to bob through the air.

    The scene was replicated as far as Kenji could see. As the delicate seeming Pok¨¦mon gathered into a swarm, they chirped and squealed in an overlapping cry. Instead of the harsh and atonal buzzing that many bugs favored, the butterflies sounded soft and delicate.

    While most Type Beasts were known and recognized by their powerful calls, a beast fresh from an evolution had difficulty in findings its voice. For their earlier stages, a Pok¨¦mon''s first full cry was one of celebration and a sign that they were ready to begin training.

    Now was no different, as the beast''s squealed, chirped, and trilled to the world of their emergence.

    As the swarm grew larger, Kenji pressed himself against the trunk. Distracted by their beauty, he was forcibly reminded of their numbers as more of the beasts broke free of their cocoons. Gripping the frame of the sled, he ensured that it would not accidentally fall over. The last thing he needed was to accidentally knock over the lean-to or otherwise attract the gathering butterflies attention. While they could be dazzling to see, a swarm of Type Beasts could easily turn on him.

    One of the larger butterfly Pok¨¦mon rose above the swarm with gentle beats of it iridescent wings. The butterfly''s colors were vibrant and stuck out from the majority of the swarm, making the others appear more muted and dull in comparison. While the creature was not the largest, the control it exhibited over its new form was apparent.

    Even from here, Kenji could see tell that the creature was using its newfound affinity for the sky to manipulate the air around it. Each flap of its large wings moved it further that it should. More than that, however, was how easily the butterfly maneuvered around its brethren. While others were occasionally bumping into each other as they bobbed up and down or side to side, this one barely touched the others with its wings.

    He was impressed with the skill that the Pok¨¦mon was employing and leaned in to watch what it would do. It was possible that he could learn from the Type Beast, even if the energy it cultivated was entirely anathema to his own specialty.

    As the Pok¨¦mon continue to fly up, he grew confused at the beast''s actions. The tree canopy was thick enough to catch the broad wings should it try to escape upwards, yet the butterfly was still rising as though it would make the attempt regardless.

    The large bug let out a piercing trill that cut through the collective noise of the swarm.

    Kenji winced at the and he could feel Sprout shudder behind him. The beast had imbued the cry with a trickle of energy to make itself heard. While not enough to harm anything, the cry was made unpleasant and it pricked at his ears like thorns.

    When the Pok¨¦mon had the attention of the swarm, it started to rapidly beat its wings. Unlike the gentle waves of before, the harsh flapping of its wings threatened to blow it away. The butterfly quickly recovered and directed the wind away from it. A light breeze transformed into a powerful gust that tore at the surrounding trees. Loose leaves, branches, and even cocoons were picked up by the powerful wind.

    The other flying insects were shoved aside by the wind. However instead of growing angry and fighting to stay in place, they joined in with excited trills of their own. The beasts started to beat their wings, throwing their strength behind the leading Pok¨¦mon. Together, the swarm empowered the gust into a storm of wind.

    Eyes wide in fear, Kenji watched as the storm cut into the wooden trunks. Branches were shorn free and tossed about. He noticed older, healed cuts along the bark and realized that this must be a usual occurrence every nesting season.

    Not even the Pok¨¦mon escaped unscathed. An unlucky few were unprepared for the strength of the wind and thrown aside by the gusts of wind. They wings frayed and tore as they were thrown into nearby trees before escaping. Others struggled but managed to hold themselves in place, likely using their reserves to do so.

    Kenji was likewise affect as the air threatened to pull the sled out of his hands. Fighting against the wind, he dug his heels into the ground and held on. As the creatures'' energy whipped up the air into a frenzy, it began to tear at his body. Small scratches opened up on his exposed skin but fortunately his leather was thick enough to endure the worst of their swarm''s power. He would likely be bruised tomorrow but it was better than being ripped apart by wind.

    Clenching his jaw, he kept the whimpers of pain from escaping. With his affinity for nature and after years of cultivating its energy, he was especially vulnerable to power that anathema to it. While plants reached for the sky, it was not their domain. Storms dominated, tearing up the land and ripping apart even ancient trees. While the rain that fell could be nourishing, the wind was a blade testing the will to endure.

    With no aura and a damaged spirit, all he could do was ride out the storm and hope that he would not be amongst the trees to be felled.

    Through the pain, Kenji forced himself to watch the swarm of butterfly Pok¨¦mon work. Only in a battle of war would he have been able to see so many Pok¨¦mon combine their aura and strength towards a common goal. While not every beast was as powerful or skilled as the leading butterfly, their collective effort combined to form a greater whole.

    "Beauti!" the leading Pok¨¦mon cried out as it angled its body and wings towards the sky. The beast showed off its skill once more as it directed the storm of wind upwards to the canopy

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Wide tree limbs were forced aside as weaker ones were torn free completely. The trees leaned aside for the swarm as it rode the storm of air through the opening in the forest cover. The beasts rushed to escape into the open sky before the wind died and cut off their exit. Kenji caught a short glimpse of the blue expanse before the tree branches settled back into place.

    Now that he knew what to look for, he saw scars on the surrounding forest that showed were previous swarm had used a similar method to leave. The wounds were healing over but Kenji was experienced enough to pick out the damage. Discolored bark and erratic offshoots decorated the upper levels of the nearby trees

    As he pressed his face against the bottom of the sled, Kenji glimpsed the insectile Pok¨¦mon that were either too slow or too weak to join the swarm. Some sought to repeat the skilled butterfly''s performance but, alone, they were far too weak. Instead, they trilled sadly as they drifted away, confined to the forest floor.

    His eyes followed their movements and he noticed that there were still butterflies struggling to emerge from their cocoons. An unfortunate few seemed to stuck, as he could see their cocoons rock and hear their trills of fear. The loud swarm must have drowned them out and the others were either unable or unwilling to assist.

    Watching the struggling beasts, Kenji felt pity rise up in him. It was a sticky sap of an emotion that urged him to help. Even without the emotional appeal, he wanted to walk out and help remove the threads trapping them. His mother raised him to offer a helping hand and he knew how she would react in this situation.

    Seizing hold of the emotion, he curled it into a ball and buried it.

    While his mother raised him to be kind, his father taught him to be a Warrior.

    Pok¨¦mon were not kind creatures when scared. Most often they reacted with violence, even if was just to enable their escape. Others would perceive the one helping as the cause of their pain and seek vengeance. A minor few were the kind to inflict their own suffering upon others.

    Waiting, Kenji heard a chittering sound from a rocking cocoon. The sound was a marked difference from the scared trills of before. Instead of a shuddering cry, this was more akin to a grinding buzz.

    He squinted at the stuck Pok¨¦mon, trying to perceive what the creature was doing. His spirit was too damaged and worn from his ordeal to reach beyond his body. Typically only mystics and trained Warriors were capable of extending their spirits from their bodies. Without an aura to greatly aid the process, he was confined to using his more mundane mortal senses.

    Poking out of the silk was a black needle. It blended well into the background and was thin enough that he had trouble seeing the tip of it. Staring at the cocoon, it seemed as if the beast was using its probiscis to shred the cocoon. It was odd to see the silk part as if sliced open instead of pierced.

    Looking around, Kenji saw several others break out of their trappings with a squeal of triumph. They crawled free with silk threads hanging from their small bodies and wings but, after a few flaps of their wings, were able to discard the cocoon remains.

    Soon, another small swarm of butterfly beasts gathered but instead of attempting to escape to the sky they drifted off until all that remained were cracked and empty cocoons. Kenji waited longer in case there were any more late hatchers but no more Pok¨¦mon emerged. Several cocoons were still wriggling as the beasts inside struggled to free themselves, but he could see their movements slow.

    He debated on whether or not to act but he already knew what he would do. Hesitating now was only going to delay him further.

    Lifting aside the sled, Kenji sprinted over to the nearest still moving cocoon and began tearing at the threads. The silk was wet and sticky, clinging to my hands as he reached out. The butterfly beast must have felt him ripping at the cocoon for its struggles took on a newfound strength. When Kenji saw the probiscis spearing through the silk, he jumped back to avoid being struck and rushed over to the next cocoon.

    For all that he moved as fast as he could, Kenji was only able to save three more of the trapped butterflies. He still ran to the over cocoons he had seen shake but no matter how much he tore at them, nothing emerged.

    Kenji pulled away from the last orb with a heavy heart. As he did his best to wipe off the silk clinging to him, he silently scolded himself for the feeling. There was no reason for him to be so emotionally attached to beasts that he was not linked to or even familiar with. Despite what he told himself, Kenji found it difficult to stop.

    He trudged back to Sprout but paused when he felt something brush his back. Turning around, he was greeted with close up view of a chitinous body and large scaly wings. A long probiscis was curled near its round body where stubby limbs stretched out as if searching for something to grasp. The wings were a vibrant hue dominated by yellow featuring specks of red and blue. However, the most eye catching were the large clear eyes. They were a bright blue with a black pupil, resembling a human iris, and shined in the light.

    Kenji jerked back with yelp and shouted once more when his head struck the trunk of the tree behind him. The bark was rough and unforgiving, dazing him for a heartbeat.

    The large butterfly flapped away at his sudden scream of surprise before drifting forward curiously while he recovered.

    Kenji rubbed his bruised skull as he eyed the flying bug Pok¨¦mon. He briefly debated trying to scare away the creature but quickly dismissed it. The insectile beast was clearly acting with curiosity, with its antennae wildly waving towards him and seemingly gesturing with its stubby limbs. There was no indication that it perceived him as a threat or as something to eat.

    Besides, scaring Pok¨¦mon was an easy way to end up on the wrong end of its claws.

    Or wings in this case.

    He glanced at Sprout to gauge his companion''s reaction to the new Pok¨¦mon. The turtle beast was trembling but not excessively so nor was it warbling in fear. Perhaps some of the butterfly''s intention was leaking into its aura. Kenji could of course sense nothing. Satisfied that the turtle did not think the other beast a danger, he turned his attention back to the curious butterfly.

    It continued to bob in the air while inspecting him so he slowly lifted his arm towards it. Bug Pok¨¦mon were not known for their forgiveness of abrupt movements. Few beasts were, in fact.

    The creature''s large head twitched back and forth in order to better see him move. When Kenji''s arm was near its flailing limbs, the beast quickly latched on. As the Pok¨¦mon crawled over his arm, he stifled a giggle at the tickling sensation from the tiny hairs brushing his skin. It form was hard yet soft as the sensitive hairs coating it were delicate but covered a chitinous shell. The creature''s wings gently opened and closed as the Pok¨¦mon inspected him.

    "A Greenleaf''s greetings to you, great butterfly." Kenji said formally with a nod of his head. "I am Sato Kenji, son of the Warrior Sato Isamu, of Warlord Motonari."

    The Pok¨¦mon mimicked his nod with a bob before continuing to crawled up his arm. Upon reaching his shoulder it performed a hopping maneuver that, combined with the beat of its wings, allowed it to reach his head.

    He tilted his head up to try and obtain a look of the butterfly but he could only make out the creature''s spread wings. He felt it move around slightly before settling down.

    "Ah, another companion perhaps." Kenji wondered aloud. "Unfortunately, there is another you must ask before me."

    He looked down at the turtle who had its stubby feet planted in the dirt. The beast was quivering in place, staring at the larger Pok¨¦mon in obvious fear.

    Carefully kneeling, he kept his head even before slowly tilting it to look at Sprout. The beast had its beady eyes squeezed shut. Kenji reached out and gently started to pet it to help the scared turtle beast relax.

    "Hey, it''s ok." he comforted the Pok¨¦mon. "It''s just a new friend."

    The scared beast warbled at his words but refused to open its eyes. The butterfly Pok¨¦mon joined with trills of its own as it sought to comfort the younger beast. Despite the softened voice, the turtle only started to shake harder.

    "Come now, they don''t mean any harm." Kenji added.

    He continued to pet the Pok¨¦mon as the Beautifly''s trills died down. As his hands ran over the Pok¨¦mon''s scales and felt the scars, he sadly surmised that this was a similar position for the young beast. Cowering in the soil while a predator attacked from above with no other way to defend itself.

    Kenji''s throat started to close up but he fought it with deep, steady breaths as he continued to murmur to the fearful Pok¨¦mon.

    "Shhh. It''s ok. I won''t let anything harm you." he whispered.

    After another minute of comfort, Sprout relaxed enough to crack open its eyes and peer at the large butterfly. This seemed to be enough for the other Pok¨¦mon as it fluttered down from his head to trundle back and forth in front of Sprout.

    It seemed to Kenji''s eyes that the beast was strutting as it crawled back and forth. The delicate wings were carefully positioned to always be on display and each limb was placed with purpose. The Pok¨¦mon squealed and chirped, flexing its probiscis without extending it.

    The young turtle warbled in fear but did not retreat. The large butterfly did not move closer but it continued to chirp and trill to the other beast.

    When Sprout started to pull away, Kenji leaned down and encouraged it to crawl up his arm until it bounced back onto his head.

    "How about this, you two." he spoke aloud. "You Flutter, can stay up there or fly around and you, Sprout, can stay on the sled."

    Standing up, he let the young beast stay in the dirt while he put the sled back together. Most of the fruits were torn free and thrown about the woods until they burst. Kenji scowled and cursed the loss of his food but it was better that the food was destroyed than him. As he righted the sled and refilled the planter, his eyes landed on the cocoons around him.

    The empty, silk cocoons.

    Striding over to nearest cocoon, Kenji inspected it closely.

    The threads comprising it were rather thick, instead the familiar thin threads of Sewaddle or the soft fibers of Cottonee. He reached out and experimentally tugged on a loose thread. When he helped free the Pok¨¦mon, he was not focused on the cocoon beyond tearing it apart. Even then, the silk was already damaged by evolution and he was able to separate it. Grinning at the cocoon, his eyes passed around the woods once more and took in the abandoned silk. Moving around the forest, he picked up several cocoons and stuffed them inside the largest one before placing it on the sled.

    The silk was firm yet pliable. He was sure that he would be able to soften the silk further to braid into a proper rope or even fabric. If not, the cocoons were still strong enough to hold any berries that he foraged along the way. He would just have to be careful not to stuff them too full or the bottom fruits would burst.

    Kenji grabbed another large cocoon and began to fill it but froze when he spotted a shadow within the silk orb he was going to grab. Stepping forward slowly, he peered through one of the cracks splitting the large orb. He was able to make out a form that decidedly did not match the delicate butterfly that was currently flying around the trunks.

    Instead of long, thin antennae these were short and stubby knobs colored in yellow stripes. The wings appeared ragged and torn while the body was a long oval colored in lurid purple.

    Paling at the sight, he slowly back away from the cocoons until he was by the sled. Kenji remembered the swarm of butterfly beasts that emerged and realized that there were far more cocoons present than there were butterflies in the swarm.

    He returned his attention back to the silk orb containing the strange creature. While the ones in his hand was pale and soft, the other was of the variety that hardened in a light violet hue. Kenji lifted his head to re-examine the woods and despaired at the sight. A little more than half of the cocoons he could see were of a darker hue and bore damage similar to what he observed so far.

    Looking back at Sprout, he understood why the Pok¨¦mon was still fearful and refused to move from the minimal cover gained from the warped trunk. It also explained his terror when they emerged all at once as well as the fear he exhibited their path through the forest. If one version of the worms grew to be butterflies, then it was likely that the other evolved into a more hostile form. Perhaps some sort of defense mechanism to produce defenders for the still transforming worms.

    Kenji set the second cocoon on the sled and picked up Sprout. He placed the young Pok¨¦mon into the planter box before picking the sled up by the handles. Studying the placement of the cocoons and the trees, he searched for a path that would keep him from nearing the violet silk orbs. With the sled dragging behind him, he was forced to take a more winding and circuitous route through the cocoons to avoid the darker ones. Anytime he neared a normal pale cocoon, Kenji would pick it up and stuff it inside another to add to the sled. Despite their large size, they were quite light and folded easily.

    Fortunately, it seemed that the other Pok¨¦mon were deep asleep or still awaiting to finish their transformation for none stirred. There were several heart-stopping moments when the large butterfly Pok¨¦mon carelessly flew near the occupied silk but it did not seem to disturb them.

    Weaving between the trees, Kenji kept a careful eye on the upper branches and forest floor. It seemed that he was nearing the edge of the hatching grounds, as the once numerous cocoons appeared less and less. When he began to see the pale, red worms Kenji grew more reassured and stepped faster in his eagerness to leave the Pok¨¦mon Nest behind.

 Chapter 7

    Dragging the sled through the forest, Kenji thought through the various uses for the silk cocoons. Without any work he could simply use them as bags and pack the fruit inside but keeping them on the vine was working well to slow their spoiling. If he managed to break them down into the bundles of silk, then it was possible he could weave a simple blanket or cloak. He was also hoping to create a bandage for Sprout''s wounds. The sores were filthy with dirt and he was sure that keeping them clean would go a long way towards the Pok¨¦mon''s recovery.

    As he thought of different weaves and the easiest method for him to cobble together using literal sticks, Kenji was constantly reminded of the days he would spend with his parents. His mother was no great seamstress, she was able to create simple repairs and mainly harvested cotton to sell at the market. However, his father was linked with a Leavanny. The species renowned for their skill with creating clothes out of leaves, though they could use other materials as well. He used to wear such green clothes and pretend to be a wild child, raised by beasts only to be caught by his parents.

    The memories were cruel and bittersweet. It helped stay distracted by the long trek but it tortured his spirit to relive what would never be again. His new companion helped to distract him as it often returned from its wanderings with a trill of joy.

    The Pok¨¦mon easily kept pace with Kenji and was often flying off to explore the forest. He caught glimpses of it dancing up in the canopy in the thin rays of sunlight. The sun caused its gossamer wings to light up with vibrant color and it helped to pull him from the darkness weighing him down.

    The sun began to set into the afternoon and he stopped to take a short lunch. He was forced to keep it light as he had lost most of his foraged food in the hatching grounds. He was able to find some fruit during his walk but he kept himself from searching further in the hopes that he would reach the river soon. As he chewed on the berries and fed the softer ones to Sprout, he even imagined that he could hear the gurgling of water. The fruit helped to wet his dry throat but it did nothing to silence the sound.

    Kenji stood with a sigh and picked up the sled. If his mind was going to torment him with hopes of the river then the least he could do was use it to keep himself moving.

    Eventually the running water faded and he forced himself to put one foot in front of the other. However, only a few minutes later the sound of the river returned and Kenji looked up with a frown. Cocking his head, he closed his eyes and listened closely. The ambient noise of the forest filled his mind, from the rustling of leaves to the cries of animals and beasts moving through the woods. Underneath it all, hidden by the louder sounds, was the murmur of moving water.

    His eyes snapped open and he moved into a light jog. If he could have gone faster, he would have but this pace was already threatening to jostle Sprout free. For he was not going crazy. His mind was not delirious with dehydration, though he was painfully thirsty.

    Water.

    The river was close enough for to hear, no matter how faint, and with it, the next step of his survival. Kenji raced through the trees, heedless of how rough he was treating the sled. As the river grew louder, his steps came faster. His mind was filling with thoughts of the cool water, slurping it down with wild abandon. A bath, a real bath not a simple rub with a with his arm to wipe away the sweat.

    At some point, the large butterfly had returned to his side and was squealing, caught up in his excitement. He put the loud trills out of his mind, ignoring the beast except for the times it passed in front of him and he had to wave the creature aside.

    Not soon enough, Kenji broke through the trees and arrived at the riverside.

    He immediately dropped the sled, not hearing Sprout''s confused and terrified warbles, to run towards the flowing water. The rocks decorating the riverside threatened to trip him but he stumbled on, heedless of their attempts to slow him. His feet were the first to feel the cold bite of the water but he welcomed the sensation. He continued to throw himself forward, wading in until his leather apron was soaked. When he was finally able to, Kenji fell into the water and greedily lapped at the cool waters, uncaring of how shameful he may have looked.

    Coming up for air, Kenji immediately coughed and spluttered. His desperate drinking had threatened to drown him but he returned for more. The cold water was running down his arms and face as he cupped it to sip more measuredly from his palms.

    Only after several more mouthfuls did he remember himself. He struggled to stand, his work leathers soaked and heavy from the river. He was forced to half crawl to the shallows and collapsed on a large rock sticking out of the water.

    Hearing a delighted warble, Kenji turned to locate the small turtle. The young beast was not by the sled- he winced when saw how he had carelessly dropped it and felt shame creep up his neck. No matter how desperate he was, it was wrong of him to treat the Pok¨¦mon so poorly.

    Neither was the creature planted in the dirt like it preferred. Instead the Pok¨¦mon was navigating the rocks with its slow stride until it reached the water. Once there the beast inspected the river before lowering its beak to bite at the moving liquid. When it was satisfied, the turtle slipped into the river and used its stumpy legs to trundle through the water.

    Laughing that the small turtle happily swimming, if somewhat awkwardly, Kenji stood up and stripped out of his leathers. Since they were already wet, he opted to rinse them as best he could before laying them out to dry. The cleaning mostly resolved around scrubbing free the dirt that clung to it. After squeezing out the water, he dunked it once more before laying it out to dry.

    Next he stripped out of his clothes, making sure that his mother''s pendant was secure. Submerging them in the water, Kenji began to clean his clothes as he studied the river.

    The stream was not too wide to cross but the center appeared deceptively deep. It likely hid a strong current that could carry him away. Even from the shallows he could feel the water tugging at his legs and he kept a close eye on Sprout as the Pok¨¦mon paddled. The water was clear but the rocks caused it to froth in places while his movements stirred up the riverbed.

    He looked up and down the river in an attempt to see further but it bent and was blocked by the tree line.

    After laying out the last of his clothes, Kenji joined the small turtle in the cool water. Flutter was hovering over the surface, avoiding the other Pok¨¦mon, and extending its proboscis. It carefully dipped its narrow appendage into the river before lifting up and flying away.

    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    Reassured that the flying bug was fine, he used his hands to wipe the sweat from his body. The bed was not sandy and none of the rocks that he could see would be useful for scraping his skin clean. As he wiped the stink from his body, Kenji paused and mentally slapped himself with a sigh. Remembering the stench from his leathers, he turned the mental slap into a physical one.

    Walking out of the river, he shivered as the wind cooled him further. Stepping up to the sled, the young man sniffed the different leaves present and even went so far as to taste them. None of them were what he was looking for so he turned his eyes to the riverside.

    All this time, days of enduring his odor, and all he had to do was search the forest for the right plant. His father extoled the virtues and necessity of soap, saying that not even a Ronin, honor-less as they were, would move without it. His lessons in the way of the Warrior included maintaining one''s body as well as their bonds. Then his mother would harp in, saying that no woman or man liked their partner to smell. Tears pricked at Kenji''s eyes as he imagined the scolding his parents would give him for not taking care of his body.

    "Oh, father, if only you were here to scold me," Kenji whispered as he searched the nearby woods. "I would gladly accept it and more."

    Eventually, he found several plants that he was sure would work for what he had in mind. It was difficult to identify them, as none of the plants were familiar to him but he recognized the harsh, bitter taste. Collecting several varieties, Kenji went so far as to dig them up by the roots before returning to the river.

    Dropping the plants on the sled, he pulled it closer to the river and searched for his companions. He could not see Flutter but he was not surprised. The butterfly was adventurous and often disappeared to search for flowers or simply explore. He could not help but worry about the Pok¨¦mon but they did not share a link so he could not claim the creature as his bond. Nor did he feel that the beast would join him in his goal of escaping the forest. Rather, their companionship felt more one of convenience and curiosity than friendship.

    Turning his eyes to the water, Kenji frowned when he did not immediately see the turtle.

    "Sprout," he called out. "Come on out."

    When a second search did not reveal the turtle, he grew concerned. He waded into the river to search for the Pok¨¦mon but he could not see anything through the frothy water.

    "Sprout!" he shouted. "Sprout!"

    Kenji stumbled on the rocks and felt something brush his legs. It prodded as his feet and slipped off the smooth rocks lining the river. With a yelp, he fell into the water.

    He slipped under the surface and the water rushed into his mouth. Panicking, he flailed in river and felt his limbs strike the hard stones. The sharp pain helped him to snap out of his panic, if only for a moment. He opened his eyes and the cold water stung as he searched the water wildly.

    He was near the river bottom and he could see the rocks passing him by as he drifted down the river, pulled by the strong current. Frantically reaching out with his hands, he clutched at the rounded rocks to in an effort to stop his movement but his fingers could find no purchase on the smooth, slimy stone. After realizing that he would not be able to catch himself on the riverbed, Kenji sought to plant his feet. He could feel the urge to choke on the water still in his chest but he had the sense of mind not to, even as his lungs burned with fire.

    After struggling several times, he managed to plant his feet long enough to surge to the surface. He broke through the surface surprisingly fast and he used his arms to slap at the water.

    Choking and wheezing, Kenji spat out the water in his lungs as he struggled to keep himself afloat.

    As he flailed in the water he felt something touch his leg once more.

    "Ahhhh!" he screamed.

    The surprise nearly sent him under the surface once more. Looking around wildly, something popped out of the water.

    Staring at the creature, Kenji briefly considered drowning it.

    Sprout, his companion that he cared for and carried through the forest, warbled at him in greeting.

    "I nearly drowned," he shouted. "I should make some turtle soup for dinner." he added with a mutter as he glared at the Pok¨¦mon.

    The murderous beast merely chirped and waddled closer to him.

    Kenji grumbled back but pulled the turtle close to him as he started to swim back to the shore. The river current was not strong enough to wash them away but they floated down enough that he had to walk back to the sled. Carrying the Pok¨¦mon in his arms, the creature chirped happily.

    "You know, one of these days you''re going to the one carrying me around." he told it.

    The turtle warbled back as if in denial.

    "Yes you will." he fired back. "Maybe I''ll even tie together a couple trees for you to make it extra difficult."

    The Pok¨¦mon chirped at him as they arrived back at the sled.

    Holding the beast, he was reminded of how dirty and injured it was.

    "Well, let''s get you cleaned up before I wash myself." he said as he stepped back into the river. This time, he kept the Pok¨¦mon in the shallow water as he rubbed it down. After brushing down the scaly skin with his hands, Kenji grabbed some moss from nearby and used it clean the young beast further. It seemed to enjoy the touch of the moss and snacked on slimy plant. Anytime his hand approached the sores on the Pok¨¦mon''s body, the turtle would flinch and pull away.

    The first time it happened, Kenji let it go and the creature retreated under the water. He watched it carefully but Sprout merely settled onto the riverbed and walked around. When he thought the Pok¨¦mon was ready, he reached down and pulled it from the water to resume cleaning. After that, he started to talk to the young creature in an effort to help it relax.

    "You know," he started thoughtfully. "I''ve been wondering. Are you a boy or a girl?" he asked as he studied the Pok¨¦mon''s form.

    Reptiles were notoriously difficult to determine the sex of, especially when they were young. He turned the turtle around and even held him up to the light but he still could not tell.

    "How about I just say that you¡¯re a boy?" he said.

    The beast had no response and he continued to ramble to it.

    He lightly brushed the shell as he did not want to remove anything vital but it was mostly bare already. Soon he had the Pok¨¦mon as clean as he could without aggravating its wounds. Picking the Pok¨¦mon up out of the water, he set Sprout on a large rock to dry and surrounded it with moss. The turtle enjoyed the soft, wet green and buried himself in it.

    With the young Pok¨¦mon cleaned, Kenji walked out to the plants he collected earlier. Entire shoots, leaves, and roots were casually dropped on the sled and he collected them before returning to the river.

    He separated the plants by species first before testing each one by breaking a root, stem, or leaf and rubbing it in the still water. He had to repeat the process with 4 of the plants before he finally discovered one that caused the water to froth slightly. Another had a similar reaction but it was weak and caused by the leaves. Kenji picked out the two plants and set them aside before checking the rest. None created the reaction he was looking for but he was pleased nonetheless.

    Grabbing the two plants, Kenji studied them carefully and made sure to commit them to memory. Only once he was sure that he would be able to recognize the leaves once more did he wade into the river and begin to bathe.

    Breaking off the roots and leaves, he rubbed them on his skin until he had a light foam. Once he was satisfied, Kenji brushed the natural soap across his body to clean off the filth from his travels. The process was not perfect but it was far better than simply using water. When he was done, he ducked into the river and let the current wash away the soap.

    After cleaning himself, Kenji felt more whole. He was not okay and he may never be. But regardless, he had to keep moving. He could not let his father''s Warrior lessons go to waste nor would he allow himself to forget his mother''s teachings.

    He gripped his mother''s cold red and white pendant in his fist. It was all he had left to remember his family. Before, he was adrift, only focused on putting one foot in front of another until he arrived here. But that ended now.

    If he stayed as he was, then he would never make it out of the forest alive.

 Chapter 8

    Sitting down by the sled, Kenji went through his supplies. He had the vine rope from several days ago but he would have to be careful next time he relied on it for the plant would weakened with rot. Most of his food was gone, lost or destroyed by the windstorm summoned by the swarm of butterflies. He had three cocoons stuffed with more that he was hoping to turn into a blanket, bandages, and a better rope. The sled itself was in good condition, though he could do with a larger one. Its use for creating a quick and easy lean made it perhaps the most valuable item he had. With a fabric to throw over it and perhaps a second frame, he had a portable shelter that would allow him to stay on the move.

    Grabbing one of the smaller cocoons, Kenji held it up. He was familiar with spinning yarn and fabric from cotton but he had none of the machinery needed for the process. The silk was thicker than he expected and he picked at the loose threads. Searching around for a stick, he wrapped one of the longest piece around the wood. The extra leverage helped to pull the cocoon apart but the silk was too tangled.

    Glaring at the orb in frustration, he lifted his head and let his eyes roam as he thought. The soap would perhaps be able to help but he doubted rubbing it with cold water would work. If he had a leather bag, he could boil it with hot stones but he had no leather. He did not even have a weapon to hunt or defend himself, Kenji suddenly realized.

    His mouth twisted as he thought of the lesson his father would have no doubt made of that.

    "No," he said aloud with a shake of his head. "Focus. I need to focus."

    His eyes landed on the butterfly that joined their group and followed the beast as it explored the riverside. It discovered a new patch of flowers and he could hear it trill with joy as it excitedly flitted around inspecting each individual flower. Eventually it calmed down enough to sample the nectar and pollen within.

    . . .

    "Oh," he uttered.

    Kenji stood up and searched along the river for several long sticks. This time he made sure to keep an eye on Sprout in case he decided to go for another swim but the Pok¨¦mon remained hidden in his pile of moss.

    When he found what he was looking for, Kenji returned to the sled and called out to flying bug.

    "Flutter," he said with a raised voice.

    The creature would not recognize the nickname he gave it but perhaps he could catch its attention by calling out to it. It took several more tries but eventually he was able to pull the Pok¨¦mon away from the flowers and over to his side of the stream. The beast was reluctant to leave but he was glad it did.

    As the bug flew over, he wondered how he was going to communicate what he wanted. Pok¨¦mon typically grew smarter as they evolved but that did not mean they would learn how to understand people. It took time, training, and linking for the beasts to be able to communicate with humans.

    "Flutter, can you make one of these?" he asked as he dropped the branches he was carrying and held up the cocoon. He grabbed one of the loose threads and mimed what he thought a worm would look like as it sprayed out the string.

    The Pok¨¦mon trilled at him lowly.

    The butterfly moved closer and seemed to inspect the cocoon before looking up to Kenji. Its large, clear eyes looked between the silk, the thread, and him. Strangely, he got the sense that the beast was uncertain or concerned.

    "It''s ok." he soothed. He smiled reassuringly at the butterfly Pok¨¦mon. "I just need a little bit."

    The flying bug trilled once more and Kenji took it for an agreement. Crouching, he set down the cocoon and moved to pick up the branches. Squatting as he was, he could not see the large butterfly but he heard it trill again before something struck him on the back. He stumbled from the force of it and as he recovered he felt the cool substance spread on his bare skin.

    "What the," he yelped.

    He attempted to stand up but found that he was unable to. Jerking his head around, Kenji saw white string spreading across his body. He tried to struggle against the string but the threads were far more sticky than the ones from the cocoon.

    Flailing against the silk, he suddenly grasped the butterfly''s hesitation.

    "Wait, no!" he shouted. "Flutter, stop! Stop!" he screamed.

    Kenji knew how strong silk could be and he knew that stuck as he was he would not be able to tear his way out. He could hear Sprout begin to warble in fear and concern from the riverside but his mind was panicking. The silk was covering too much and it was only growing thicker.

    "Stop!" he screamed again.

    Finally understanding his distress, Kenji could hear the beast wail. It was a piercing cry that cut through the fear clouding his mind.

    The tightening string suddenly grew slack and Kenji found that he was able to stretch his arms a little further. The Pok¨¦mon must have severed its connection to string and stopped reinforcing it with energy for the threads seemed to lose their inflexibility.

    Tugging at the silk, Kenji was unable to rip it off but managed to move it enough to stand. Shuddering, he lost himself for a moment as he frantically tugged at the threads but could not remove them. With a snarl on his face, he managed to force himself to stop and take several deep breaths to reassert control over himself. Panting, he managed to calm his shaking and recover from nearly being cocooned alive.

    When he was no longer breathing wildly, he pulled at the silk at a more measured pace until he was able to slip through. It was difficult with how adhesive the material was but eventually he was no longer entangled by the threads.

    Looking around, he saw no sign of the large butterfly and Sprout was standing up from his pile of moss trembling. When he saw Kenji stand, the young creature warbled in concern.

    "It''s ok, little one," he chuckled nervously. His hands were still shaking from the close call. "Just, uh, a misunderstanding." Kenji let out a shuddering breath as he fought to control his limbs. Looking around, he wondered where the large butterfly flew off to.

    Peering up and down the river he did not see the colorful Pok¨¦mon. As he looked, he thought through where he believed the creature would retreat to. The field of flowers across the stream was empty and the tree cover prevented him from seeing too far into the forest. He briefly debated crossing to search but he had an easier idea to try first.

    "Flutter," he called out. "Flutter!"

    Movement by the flower patch drew his attention. At first, they appeared to be moving from the wind but a closer look revealed that there was no wind disturbing the surrounding plants.

    "Flutter," he shout again. "I apologize. I should not have shouted at you."

    He could faintly hear a soft trill over the gurgling of water but he still did not see the butterfly.

    "Forgive me, oh great beast of flower and sky," he continued with a bow towards where he suspected the creature to be hiding. He heard an answering trill but he remained bowed lest he scare the Pok¨¦mon. The powerful beasts, sent by the Original One, should always be treated with careful respect.

    He felt a wind brush at his skin as the Pok¨¦mon emerged from the flowers and he risked a glance up.

    It was rising into the air with a soft squeal and waggle of its stubby rounded limbs. It rested into a hover with its antennae twitching slowly as it stayed half-turned away. The bug still seemed hesitant to cross the river, so Kenji encouraged it by lifting his arm in invitation.

    The action was similar to how he first introduced himself to the beast and he hoped it was enough. The butterfly must have recognized the gesture for what it was, for it released a wail and rapidly flapped its wings. Flying through the air, the Pok¨¦mon sped across the river and rapidly approached him. As it raced across, the beast wailed with fear and distress.

    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Kenji braced himself as the bug approached without slowing.

    The bug slammed into his arm and latched on with its round limbs, squealing all the while. With each trill of anguish, the beast''s probiscis flexed and uncurled.

    He refused to wince from the sound but he could do nothing for the goosebumps that lifted on his skin as the creature crawled over his arm. The hairs lining the bug''s carapace tickled him but his mind kept flashing back to moments ago.

    "It''s ok," he said to it. "I should have understood what you were trying to say." He brushed the hard carapace and the sensitive hairs that coated it. As he drifted his hand over the hairs, Kenji found that if he held his palm close but not quite touching the hard shell it seemed to have a greater affect.

    "See, its ok." he murmured to the worried Pok¨¦mon. "Nothing''s wrong." It continued to walk over his arm before climbing up to his shoulder and bouncing to his head.

    When the Pokemon settled down he walked over to the dropped sticks and cocoon. He picked the silk orb up and rolled it around in his hands. On his head he could feel the butterfly shift and trill lightly when he picked it up. When he felt that the beast had calmed down, Kenji picked up one of the branches and wrapped a thread around it.

    "See, just like this," He murmured to the Pok¨¦mon. "Wrap the string around the sticks, not me." He added with a nervous chuckle.

    He twisted the branch and wrapped the silk around it in an effort to show the bug what he wanted it to do. As he continued to twist the branch, a stream of white string shot and anchored itself on the woods. Surprised, he nearly dropped the stick but caught himself and continued to spin it.

    "Good job, Flutter." He complimented the butterfly. "Now just keep that up."

    The creatures response caused the string to vibrate slightly.

    Kenji moved the branch so that silk covered the entire length of it. When the wood of covered, he quickly picked up another stick and laid against the first. Kenji continued like this until eventually the stream of silk ran out with a sad trill. Grinning, he set the bundle atop dome rocks to prevent it from getting dirty before reaching up and grabbing the bug.

    "That was excellent, Flutter." Kenji declared. "No other beast could have done half as well as you." He brushed his hand across the butterfly''s hard covering.

    The creature squealed as he pet it and eventually rose in the air to return searching for flowers.

    Smiling, he stood up and collecting the silk before moving over to sit by the pile of moss hiding Sprout. He was glad that the young Pok¨¦mon had stayed instead of leaving to dirty himself in the soil. He reached out and combed through the damp plant until he felt the turtle''s soft scales.

    The Pok¨¦mon chirped at the disturbance and tried retreating but Kenji did not let him.

    Moving slowly, he finally revealed the small beast. Sprout warbled in complaint.

    "Now, now," He soothed the upset Pok¨¦mon. "I wanted to check on you and see how you were doing." He ran his eyes over the beast.

    The small turtle''s shell was still damp and soft. The large, harder scales making it up were visible after the river washed away the soil coating it but some still clung to the recesses. The wounds on his limbs were clean but looked raw with surrounding scales lifting up as they peeled off.

    "You''re not looking so good, little one," Kenji said as he frowned down at the unhealthy Pok¨¦mon.

    Sprout must have sensed that something was wrong for he started to shake and tried to retreat within his shell.

    "No, no," Kenji rushed to say as he hurriedly changed his frown into a smile. "It''s ok. I have just the thing to help you get better."

    The turtle still shook but as he soothed it, the beast calmed enough to open his eyes.

    "How about a bath to start, yes?" He asked the scared Pokemon.

    Kenji collected some of the remaining soap plants before returning to the water. He used his hands to lightly splash Sprout until he was wet. Grabbing a stone, he dunked it into the water before picking up a root and roughly scrubbing it across the rock. When he had a light lather, Kenji scooped up what he could and ran it across the turtle''s body. He avoided washing the shell and head but paid close attention to cleaning the area around the reptile''s wounds.

    Sprout of course squealed when the bubbly liquid ran across the sores and stung but Kenji was expecting it.

    "Shhhh. It''s ok," He murmured. "You''re going to be all right. Just a little bit and then it''s over."

    He had to rush the cleaning as the Pok¨¦mon continued to struggle in his grip. Still, he made sure to free most of the dirt and filth clinging to the Pok¨¦mon''s scales.

    "See, and we''re all done." He said as he finished washing the last of the soap from the Pok¨¦mon. "Now that wasn''t so bad now was it?" He playfully asked.

    Sprout warbled in fear and annoyance. The turtle was clearly upset with him but Kenji took it in stride.

    "I know but now that it''s over we can get you all bandaged up," he responded. He set the turtle down to grab the bundle of thread but when he returned to the Sprout''s side, the beast shied away from Kenji.

    "I''m just trying to help you," Kenji said. Unspooling some thread, he unwound from the sticks and held it up for Sprout to see. "I''m just going to take this and wrap it around your wounds. It will help you heal," He explained.

    Seeing that the Pok¨¦mon was still scared , he wrapped it around the hand and tied it off before tearing the silk with his teeth. He had a difficult time with only one hand but the threads were thicker than the thinner ones produced by Sewaddle and he soon managed to form a simple knot.

    "See?" Kenji asked as he showed the Pok¨¦mon his hand. He even opened and close it to demonstrate that he could still move it. "Nothing to be scared of."

    The turtle inspected the wrapping closely, even going so far as to nip it. When he was satisfied, the creature stepped back and chirped.

    Kenji took the sound as one of consent and started to peel silk off for a bandage. Here the adhesive properties of the string were a benefit as it stuck in place despite the struggles the beast put up. He worked through the flailing, allowing Sprout to pull away and rest after he finished with the first one.

    "That was not so hard now was it?" he asked casually. He waited as the young Pok¨¦mon looked over the bandage, though the action was hampered by how inflexible his limbs were. "Nothing to be scared of."

    Sprout walked around several times and tried biting at it but fortunately the string was able to endure his tough beak. While it was silk, the threads were produced by an evolved beast capable of fighting. If Kenji had difficulty in breaking the thread, then Sprout had little to no chance.

    When the Pok¨¦mon started to settle down, Kenji pulled the turtle close and resumed wrapping him once more. It took some time as the Pok¨¦mon wanted to inspect each bandage when he was done. Kenji allowed it, knowing that the act helped calm the beast, until finally he tied off the last of the threads. When he knotted the last piece of silk and stuck it to the rest of the string, Kenji pulled back and looked over his work critically.

    Each of Sprout''s stumpy legs bore several wraps with one nearly covered by the white silk. The shell was relatively free of string expect for a few threads that were run across to hold the bandages on the stomach in place. He left the yellow bottom of the limbs free as the Pokemon grew frantic when he covered them too much. Several minutes of thinking and remembering how the turtle favored planting himself in the soil left Kenji feeling like a fool.

    "You favor Grass energy. Your legs most likely act as literal roots to absorb nutrients from the land and cultivate," he realized with a shake of his head. "I''m such an idiot," he added with a groan. Sitting back, he watched the water flow by.

    Such a valuable resource and he was watching it all drift away. So necessary to his survival that he would be forced to follow it, either upstream or down, staying within at least a half-day''s march of it.

    Unless he managed to carry it with him.

    Kenji hopped to his feet and walked along the riverside in thought. His eyes studied the river''s edge. He was searching for perhaps the second most valuable resource to be found along the water, third if he included food on the list.

    Clay.

    With clay, he could craft pots and containers to hold water for long treks through the forest. He would have to bake it in a fire, and it would be a time consuming process to mold properly, but he was confident that he could do it. There was only one issue.

    Kenji had no idea how to find the earthy material.

    He knew about it, of course. A wet, brown earth that could be easily molded to a shape before being baked. It''s just that, well, his family never had to use the clay themselves, nor did his father''s Warrior training include identifying it. If they wanted a pot, all they had to do was go to the village market and buy one. Shaking his head, Kenji gave up on the search and returned to the sled.

    Squatting next to the wooden frame, he debated on what to do next. He still wanted to keep moving in the hopes of finding a town or even just a single person, but being forced to stay near the river limited him. If he was more confident and had the proper tools, perhaps he could fell a tree and carve a simple boat out of the trunk. Instead, all he had was his hands and two Pok¨¦mon he was not even linked to. One was too young to care for itself and the other was unsuited to work as he would need it to.

    Checking on his clothes, Kenji found them still damp but dry enough to wear. His leathers were weighed down by water and he squeezed as much water out as he could before hanging them up on a branch. There was still enough daylight to walk but he was not eager to do so in the heavy material.

    Instead, Kenji spent the remaining hours of sunlight foraging for food. He found a few shrubs weighed down with berries and brutally dismembered the plants as he tore the branches off. He returned to set them down on the sled before venturing out again. This time, he was joined by the Flutter who was always eager to explore. Kenji was worried about Sprout but the Pok¨¦mon seemed content to rest in the bed of moss and sleep. Their day by the river was the most activity he has seen out the beast in their few days together.

    At first, Kenji wandered randomly but soon he found himself following the large butterfly. While he was lucky to come across a fruit-laden plant, the bug seemed to know where they all were. At least, the ones with flowers on them. Kenji was sure to congratulate the beast each time they found a berry in the hopes of training it to help him search for food. He was not quite sure how well it worked as more often than not they came across blooming petals rather than the berries he was hoping for.

    He returned often to the river to check on the young turtle and found it dozing in the dirt surrounded by moss. The beast must have moved as some, likely seeking to bury itself rather than bathe in the sun. He left the young Pok¨¦mon alone until the shadows were growing long and he was forced to stop his foraging. Grabbing the sled, he propped it up against a trunk and spread his bounty out to disguise the wooden frame. When he was satisfied, Kenji approached the small beast and woke him up.

    Sprout complained with a low warble but he ignored it as he scooped up the Pok¨¦mon and brought him over to the lean-to. He took off his socks and sandals before crawling under the leaning sled to lay down. The beast chirped happily as it snuggled into his side and quickly fell asleep. Kenji took longer as he listened to the nocturnal creatures wake up and begin to roam.

 Chapter 9

    That night he dreamt of the endless void. Whispering voices pleading, begging, ordering. They called out to Kenji, wrapped him in their river of cacophony. He was pulled along, away from everything he had known. He could not resist, did not bothering resisting. He flowed along, until even the voices died.

    And all that was left was the void.

    Kenji jerked awake with a cry of fear. His body was covered in a cold sweat and breathing in ragged pants. He clutched his chest and felt his mother''s amulet, still cool to the touch. Closing his eyes, he let out a shuddering breath.

    Just a dream. He thought to himself. Just a dream.

    When he felt that he had control of himself, Kenji opened his eyes. The sled was still leaning against the tree to provide a simple shelter from the day. His shout and flailing must have awoken Sprout for the small Pok¨¦mon was looking around with a scared warble.

    "It''s ok, young one," He murmured to the beast as he scratched the scaly hide. "Just a bad dream. Just, nothing," Kenji shuddered and shied away from the nightmare and memories.

    "All right," He said suddenly, and perhaps a little too loudly. "It''s morning which means . . . breakfast!"

    He crawled out from under the lean-to and stood with a stretch. The little turtle followed him with a chirp. Letting out a groan, he walked past several trees to relieve himself. Returning to the sled, he started the day with his father''s Warrior stretches. Sprout watched him curiously as he bent and wiggled his way through them until he had a light sheen of sweat on his skin. Already he felt that his body was recovering enough to he would be soon back to full health.

    Physically at least.

    The small beast warbled as he was finishing his stretches.

    "Interested in joining me, oh great beast?" he asked the Pok¨¦mon playfully.

    Sprout chirped and trundled up to him.

    Laughing, Kenji fell from his stretch and scooped up the heavy turtle. Tickling the creature under his beak, walked back to the sled and plucked a small berry free to feed to the small Pok¨¦mon.

    "You will be big and strong, a mighty turtle of the land, powerful enough to rival even the Warlords," he told the beast as it munched his way through several berries. "But first you must grow to reach such heights. Eat well."

    When the Pok¨¦mon was satisfied, Kenji set him on the ground. He stomped around until he discovered the largest patch of sunlight where the beast proceeded to dig a hole before settling down.

    Kenji observed it all carefully, remembering his thoughts from yesterday.

    "Nutrients and cultivation, all in one," he said softly so as not to disturb the Pok¨¦mon.

    Sighing, he decided it was time to confront something he had been avoiding for too long.

    His cultivation.

    His compressed aura, his very spirit, was condensed until it was no larger than a berry or even a seed. Even days later he still found himself instinctively compressing his spirit, the action instinctive by now. It was a constant ache at the back of his mind and, if spent too long sitting still, the pain made itself known. The sensation was almost akin to wearing clothes several sizes too small, if said clothes were as ungiving as iron.

    Brought low by the turn in his thoughts, Kenji trudged his way back to his meager camp. When he arrived, Sprout was still buried in the dirt under the warm sunlight but Flutter was nowhere to be seen. The butterfly was fond of disappearing for hours at a time. Putting the Pok¨¦mon out of his mind, Kenji pulled his shirt and pants off to hang them from the leaning sled, leaving himself bare but for his underclothes.

    Breathing deep, he started to relax his body and mind. His worries were tangling vines that constantly reached to disturb him. He carefully trimmed the idle thoughts so that he could focus on the now. The tightness in his muscles was easily let go as the morning stretches warmed and loosened them. Kenji dug his feet into the soil and felt it press in between his toes. The sun''s rays were warm on his skin, encouraging him to further relax and open up to the day.

    Kenji kneeled and bowed his head with his hands pressed together palm to palm. Pulling his right hand away slightly, he clapped it on his left softly before stilling once more.

    "I give thanks to guardians, sent by the Almighty One to guide our path." Kenji said with the formality of the First Tongue. "May we never stray."

    Offering another bow, he shifted with the ease of repeated practice so that his legs were laid over one another. Kenji dug his fingers into the forest floor before setting his hands on his knees. He chose to clench one into a fist to symbolize his constrained aura but let the other splay open to show his desire to release it.

    With another measured breath, he turned his mind inwards.

    Before Kenji''s cultivation was portrayed by a carefully tended garden, with beds raised from the earth to hold plants that were reaching ever upwards. He would spend hours gathering drops of energy to water his aura so that it could grow. The green leaves, not vibrant with a riot of colors but neither yellowed with neglect, would have soaked in the ambient energy of the world to nourish both his foundation and aura.

    Now, though?

    Now it was but packed dirt, not even a bit of soil remaining to remember the climbing shoots from before. As he took in his spirit, his perspective changed further as he remembered destroying it. The final moments with his mother, spent razing everything he worked years for. The screams of beast and man as they fought and fell.

    The barren rock shifted slowly, his eyes picking out faint shapes to what was previously flat ground. A shadow grew to display an arm clutching at the ground, curled around a face twisted by despair. The darkness spread to create a torso laying down. Legs were pulled up in fear and pain as his spirit sought to hide itself.

    Tearing his eyes open, Kenji gasped and jerked his head around wildly. His eyes were wide with fear, afraid that he would find himself surrounded by nothing. Jumping to his feet, he paced around and reassured himself what he saw was real.

    "I''m out, I escaped," he muttered desperately to himself. "I''m free," he prayed.

    "I''m free," he whispered.

    Only after he calmed his racing heart and the pounding in his head faded did he hear the worried warble. Looking up, Kenji smiled shakily at the small Pok¨¦mon.

    "It''s ok, little one. Just a bad memory," he forced out. "Just a memory."

    Making another attempt, he fell into a his meditation pose. He closed his eyes but quickly reopened them when he was confronted with the dark. Giving up, he decided to jump to his feet. Kenji paced back and forth in front of the sled as he thought.

    Obviously his spirit was scarred by his time in the captivity of the powerful ghost. The shadows, non-existent before, gave shape to his inner self, the foundation of who he was. It was only natural that the past and what one experienced defined who they were.

    More than that though, was how the dark worked to hide his meager spirit even further. As fresh as his wounds were, it was nearly impossible to ignore them. They were a shroud clinging to his body even as it molded him. He could feel his spirit being smothered underneath, permanently forced into a dense ball.

    In the form it was now, he was crippled as a Warrior. His aura was drained of all Energy, leaving him a mortal. Even if he were to cultivate and recover some of his power, he would be unable to do anything with it. Aura followed the spirit and his was unresponsive.

    The most he could do with the energy he cultivated was merely reinforce his spirit as it was now or strengthen his foundation, slowly empowering his body as it better attuned to Type Energy. Neither would provide a quick solution to his current problems, though it may offer one later on as his gains accumulated.

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    Either way, without a link he would grasping individual grains of sand to build a beach. And in order to forge a link he would need to repair his spirit or reforge it anew.

    Sighing, Kenji sat down and resumed his stance. Breathing deep, he inhaled the taste of the world around him. The earthy smell of soil and decaying leaves blended with the scent of new growth. The land beneath him was cool but digging his fingers into the ground he could feel the warmth lying below. Sunlight dappled across his body and he imagined his body soaking it up as a tree would. The wind tried to turn him over but he would not bend.

    With each breath, Kenji felt for the energy of the world around him. His senses were dull, nearly nonexistent but hopefully by opening himself up he could still cultivate. He did not feel the invigorating rush as it joined his aura but he continued his meditation nevertheless.

    When he began to feel the mental strain of cultivating, he opened his eyes and stood up. Only a master or a dullard could stay motionless for hours with a clear mind, and he was neither. Kenji walked around to help shift his mind out of the slow beat of meditation.

    Looking around, he noticed that that Flutter had yet to return. Sprout was still resting in the sun buried up to his shell but unfortunately, it was time to move. He whistled to alert the Pok¨¦mon as he took the sled down and rearranged the contents. The berries were still fresh and the vine rope helped to keep the larger ones from falling off as he walked. He refilled Sprout''s planter with fresh soil and leaves. It left his hands filthy but perhaps the dirt would better protect his skin from blistering.

    Sprout blearily looked up and chirped when he saw Kenji moving around.

    "Come on, Sprout, it''s time to go." he told the Pok¨¦mon.

    The creature was slow pulling himself out of the shallow hole he dug. When the turtle was finally free, Kenji grabbed the small beast and together they moved to the river where he cleaned the sweat and dirt from his body. The cold water was a shock to his system and served to focus him further.

    After the quick bath, he threw his clothes on and checked on the state of his leathers. They were still damp with water but dry enough that he could wear them for now. Later, as he trekked through the forest, his sweat would soak into it again so it did not truly matter.

    He secured the straps holding his gear and returned to sled with Sprout walking by his side. The Pok¨¦mon warbled in complaint but Kenji largely ignored it.

    "If I carry you around all day, you won''t have a chance to grow yourself," he told the Pok¨¦mon. "A tree sheltered from the wind is the first to fall in the storm."

    The Pok¨¦mon trundled up to the sled with a tired chirp and looked up at him imploringly.

    "You did a good job, little one," he encouraged.

    Kenji chuckled at the expression on turtle''s face. He picked the turtle up and set him in the sled where the Pok¨¦mon quickly dug in and fell to sleep. He plucked free several small berries and placed them next to the beast. It did not escape his attention that the turtle was fond of stealing a snack from the bounty surrounding him.

    Kenji squatted down and grabbed the sled handles before standing up. He whistled lowly to call for the butterfly Pok¨¦mon but did not wait for it to show. The bug was free spirited but rarely wandered too far so he was not overly worried. Weaving through the trees, he focused on identifying the sounds filtering through the forest.

    The various bugs and smaller insects were clear in their buzzing and tonal chirps. He worked to remember the sounds. Occasionally he would hear the soft pop of the red worm beasts as they crawled along the tree trunks. Despite their relatively passive nature he still avoided them on the off chance they shot him with their poisoned needles.

    After walking for a little bit, Flutter appeared with an excited trill and greeted him briefly by settling on his head. Behind him, he could hear Sprout grumble. Grinning at the Pok¨¦mon''s antics nodded at the butterfly beast.

    "Good morning, Flutter," he greeted it. "Your wings are as brilliant as the sunrise," Kenji complimented the Pok¨¦mon.

    The Pok¨¦mon trilled at him happily and beat its wings softly in his face before disappearing once more. Shaking his head at the carefree bug, he tried to keep it in sight with the hopes of finding more food. The Pok¨¦mon was skilled in finding flowers and fruits. He could only hope that his simple encouragement would be enough to train the beast to find more berries than flowers. While edible, they did little to sustain him.

    The undergrowth near the water was more wild and difficult to move through compared to the ground beneath the deeper forest. It was a boon to the flying bug as the butterfly did not have to travel far to find flowers but Kenji found it a hindrance. He quickly gave up on following the river so closely in favor of moving amongst the trees.

    While he walked Kenji kept an eye out for empty dens or shelters he could use. While he preferred to keep moving, only a fool would ignore a suitable shelter. Even if he did not find one that was worth staying at for several days, it would be good to know where he could retreat to if necessary.

    He had yet to come across anything truly dangerous but it was only a matter of time. The broken and shattered tree, beaten until it fell, was still fresh in his memories.

    Here, his lacking aura and the clinging remnants of the otherworld worked in his favor. Most Pok¨¦mon found ghosts still clinging to the world disquieting and avoided them at all costs. As long as nothing encountered him directly, he would hopefully past through ignored.

    To be truthful, it was a more than a little odd that his two companions stuck as close to him as they did. Sprout seemed scared of everything, which was only natural considering the beast''s age. The turtle''s aura had yet to fully develop so it was more likely that he was simply unaware of Kenji''s situation. On the other hand, Flutter was a third stage species. It should be able to easily sense how strange Kenji was.

    Frowning, Kenji looked up to search the for the Pok¨¦mon in question. He suddenly realized that it had been quite some time since he last saw the creature. While the butterfly liked to wander, it usually returned to rest or follow for a bit. Slowing to a stop, Kenji turned his head to look through the forest. He could barely hear the trickle of flowing water over the ambient noise.

    He heard nothing of the Pok¨¦mon''s usual trills nor did he see the bright colors of its wings. Twisting around, he wondered if he should be worried. There was no link bonding them but the beast was a companion nonetheless. Pulling the sled, he turned towards the river. He would be able to see further without all the trees blocking his view and he would feel foolish if he searched the woods only to find the butterfly in a small field by the water.

    Breaking through the trees, he arrived at the river after only a quick walk. The water was bubbling through the rocks but he saw no sign of Flutter.

    "Flutter," he called out lowly. He wanted to be loud enough to be heard but so loud as to attract any other nearby beasts. "Flutter."

    No matter how much he shouted or walked along the riverside, he could not find the bug. Kenji turned around and walked back into the forest. Behind him, he heard Sprout warble.

    Looking over his shoulder, he saw the small turtle lifting his head and tilting it at him curiously.

    "Good, you''re awake," he nodded. "Can you help search for Flutter?" he asked seriously. Pok¨¦mon had far more acute senses and even one as young as the turtle could potentially locate the butterfly where he could not.

    The beast chirped at him and he hoped that the Pok¨¦mon understood. Curiously, Sprout was not acting scared or nervous so Kenji was not fearing the worst. It was likely that the bug was distracted by a bounty of nectar or something similar.

    Kenji returned his attention back to the surrounding forest. He followed his path back down river but still saw no sign of the Pok¨¦mon. He stopped several times to listen and search for any evidence of the beast. There were a few flowers to be found but none of them were disturbed as if they were harvested for their nectar. However, as he continued to move without any sign of the beast, he began to grow worried.

    After walking long enough to near where he last saw the Pok¨¦mon, Kenji slowed and searched once more. He set the sled down as he searched for the butterfly beast.

    "Flutter," he called again. "Come here, Flutter."

    Still, he could not find any sign of the large bug. He found small patches of flowers that looked strangely wilted with petals blown off. Instead of retreading the same path, he walked in a half-circle away from the river upstream. Kenji paid close attention to the slightest buzz or chirp. The smaller noises quieted when he called out for Flutter. After his third attempt shouting for the missing Pok¨¦mon, he heard the faintest trill at the edge of his hearing.

    Turning his head slowly, Kenji tried to locate the direction the beastly cry came from. As he moved, the cries came more clearly and his worry morphed into fear.

    The normally excited sound was higher pitched and quavered slightly as if in pain.

    Instead of speeding up, Kenji slowed further. Sprout was starting to shake but was not outright terrified, which was the only reason he was not debating running away. Two Pok¨¦mon fighting was something only a Warrior could hope to escape from unscathed. If something was actively hunting Flutter and not simply fighting the bug, then there was little he could do. Despite being an evolved beast, it was still a Bug Pok¨¦mon. Their Type had a tendency to be prey species, traveled in swarms to both better defend themselves and enable an individual''s escape.

    He dragged the sled behind him carefully as moved from tree to tree. He used the wide trunks as cover in case a stray attack flew towards him. When the calls became clear and he could hear the distress in the Pok¨¦mon''s squeals, Kenji ducked behind a large trunk and gently set the sled down.

    He crouched down and turned to Sprout.

    "Quiet," he hushed the Pok¨¦mon as it began to warble fearfully.

    Kenji turned around and looked around the trunk to search for his endangered companion. He was close enough to make out a break in the trees where a small clearing stood. There was a clearing up ahead full of sunlight and he saw a field of flowers filling it. Their artful arrangement distracted him momentarily before the pained trill of the butterfly sounded out again.

    He had to crane his neck to spot the Pok¨¦mon around the trees blocking his vision but he soon spied the beast''s glistening wings. It was bobbing through the air and swinging its bulbous body around as it dodged. The beast was somewhat graceful, though it was clear that the butterfly was still adapting to its new form.

    Turning his head slowly, Kenji searched for any sign of the other creature. There was no indication to him of another beast nearby nor any reason for Flutter to be jerking around in the air.

    Kenji swallowed and debated on what to do. He wanted to help but to do so he would have to get closer. If he was spotted then it was likely that he would be recognized as a threat and treated as such.

 Chapter 10

    An irregular glade stood several trees ahead of Kenji and was blooming with color. The magnificent display of flowers, shrubs, and other plants distracted him as he studied the clearing. His companion, Flutter, was bouncing through the air as it dodged a near invisible attack from the defending beast.

    And it was defending, Kenji was sure. A second glance around the clearing was enough to help him understand how Flutter arrived here and why the Pok¨¦mon did not simply retreat. The butterfly was almost certainly attracted by the sheer number of blooming flowers. Whatever beast cared for the glade likely took offense to Flutter''s presence and attacked to protect its lovingly cared for field.

    As Kenji looked around, he searched for the attacking creature. He was certain that the Pok¨¦mon had to be Grass aligned for no other energy was able to encourage such growth so thoroughly. Unfortunately, he could make out nothing besides an array of flowers and plants from this distantance. The colorful and vibrant field was the perfect cover for a Grass Pok¨¦mon.

    Realizing that he would have to move closer, Kenji nervously checked the surroundings trees. The only movement he saw was caused by the wind stirred up by Flutter''s wingbeats. He could not make out any shapes or shaking branches that normally indicated something moving. When he was sure that the territorial Pok¨¦mon, or any other beast, was not residing amongst the tree limbs, Kenji quickly darted to the nearest trunk.

    He hid behind the large tree and listened intently for a response.

    All he could hear was the pained trills of the butterfly Pok¨¦mon and the rustle of the wind. The cries urged him to action but he restrained himself. Not only would a rash response endanger him, Flutter was the one responsible for its current predicament. Perhaps this would help the ranging butterfly think before acting next time.

    Kenji breathed deeply before readying himself once more. Like this, he moved from tree to tree, stopping to recover and listen in case the hostile beast noticed his presence.

    Flutter''s squeals of pain drove him on. He could faintly hear Sprout warble in fear as the butterfly''s cries grew louder.

    Kenji prayed to whatever Guardian or Holy Beast watching that nothing would happen to young Pok¨¦mon. He worried about leaving the small turtle behind. The beast was easily frightened and he could only hope that it stated on the sled where he left it.

    Now that he was closer, Kenji was able to better see the battle. Flutter was swinging its round, segmented body around to evade an attack. While the movement was keeping its main body free from damage he could see that its wings were fraying, with small holes tearing through the delicate scales. At first he had trouble seeing what the large bug was dodging but his eyes caught the sunlight as it briefly glinted off something flying through the air.

    After seeing it, Kenji was better able to pick out the strange reflections. Narrowing his eyes, he studied them intently. It appeared as if there was a short spray of thorns that flew at the persistent butterfly. As he suspected the shot thorns originated from the flowering glade. However, when Kenji understood what he was seeing he regretted moving so close.

    Thorns were often used for melee as beasts tore at their prey or defended themselves from attackers. However, some species found another use for their sharp growths in the form of a delivery mechanism. More than that though, it put his certainty in the Type of creature he was facing in question.

    Poison was a tool used by ninjas, ronin, and other dishonorable Warriors. As a cultivator of Grass energy his father rarely had to worry about such underhanded methods harming him. For mortals, however, a simple sting was enough to leave one bedridden for days, or worse. It was partly why he avoided the worm Pok¨¦mon that crawled along the trees. In the wild, bright colors were often an indication of potential poison or other dangers.

    Unfortunately for Kenji and Flutter, the spray of thorns flying through the air was not a single needle or even several. Instead short bursts flew through the air in an effort to strike the dodging butterfly.

    He followed the spray of needles back to their source and was frustrated when he only found flowers spinning in the wind. His eyes struggled to see past the plants blocking his vision. However, he found his gaze returning to the oddly spinning flower petals. They were a bright red and blue, with ruffled edges that caught the air. Peering closer, he realized that the large flowers were not actually being affected by the wind at all.

    Cursing his lack of awareness, Kenji debated on how to help Flutter. With the potential of poison infecting his body, he was entirely unwilling to physically intervene. He had no aura to defend himself against the foreign Energy that would infest him. Perhaps if he shared a link with the bug it would be different.

    Though maybe there was another way he could assist.

    Kenji took one more look at the needles harrying Flutter before he turned and dashed back to the sled. While he made sure to keep a tree between himself and the clearing, he focused more on speed than stealth.

    He quickly arrived back at the ladder edge frame to find Sprout standing up. The small turtle was trembling in fear and warbled at him when he neared. Kenji stayed only long enough to hush the young beast and pat it on the head before snatching up a cocoon. He spun around and ran back to the edge of the clearing where he once more hid behind a wide trunk.

    He was breathing quickly from the short but frantic run back to the sled. However, instead of controlling his breathing, he used the hurried breaths to spur himself on. Clutching the large cocoon in his hands he stepped out from his cover to hold it in the air.

    "Flutter!" He shouted. "Your string, use your string!"

    Both the flying Pok¨¦mon and the spray of thorns paused momentarily as he revealed his presence. The butterfly beast trilled happily with a beat of its wings while it waved its stubby limbs. Kenji was too distracted to respond further as a he saw the flowers spin in his direction.

    Eyes wide in panic, he dove behind the tree with a yelp.

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    Cowering behind the thick trunk, he was still able to the hear the soft thuds as the poisonous thorns struck the bark. Paling slightly, Kenji waited for another attack to come. He gripped the silk orb with shaking hands, nearly crushing it, as he struggled to control his fear.

    He could hear an angry trill from around the trunk. Standing up in a crouch he peeked around the tree.

    The large butterfly was still bobbing in the air but instead of evading it was furiously waving its arms. The beast''s proboscis was extended to a needle point that it pointedly jabbed as it squealed.

    Kenji frowned in confusion. If he were not mistaken then it appeared as if Flutter was scolding the flowery beast still in hiding. He wanted to giggle hysterically at the sight before a spray of poisonous thorns was used as a rebuttal. Fortunately, the butterfly was able to dodge in time to save its fragile body. Instead it took the damage on its scaly wings. The delicate membranes tore further from the assault. Kenji winced at the harsh reminder of their current situation.

    Looking down at the cocoon in his hands, he grabbed a loose string of silk and roughly pulled on it. When he had enough length, Kenji jumped out from behind the tree once more. With the cocoon held up in one hand, used the other to bring the piece of silk to his mouth.

    "String, Flutter, string!" He shouted. To help the Pok¨¦mon understand, he mimed shooting the silk from his mouth the orb in his hand. "Cover the field!"

    This time, Kenji''s actions seemed to have the desired affect, for the flying beast flapped its wings and pointed its proboscis forward. The bug did not create an elaborate web, focusing instead of shooting out a continuous string to entangle the field.

    Kenji had never felt more like a Warrior than when the Pok¨¦mon followed his commands. Though they did not share a link, the creature was still able to effectively understand him and, more importantly, listen. After all, not every Warrior was so respected or authorative for their bonds to obey so freely.

    The flying thorns quickly petered off as the disguised beast attempted to evade the sticky silk.

    Kenji held his breath in anticipation as Flutter drifted down to inspect the flowers. Thick threads of silk weighed down the plants, some breaking entirely from the additional weight. He felt a bang of regret as the beautiful field was ruined but he was quickly reminded of the danger.

    A swarm of leaves, rippling with color, flew out of the flowers. They cut apart the silk with ease, not even slowly as they sliced through the air.

    Flutter was too close to avoid the attack, its segmented body taking a strike for the first time. The leaves easily cut through its carapace and wings, leaving a thick ichor to drip free. Several of the colored petals rounded in the air after not having struck the Pok¨¦mon. They rushed through the sky to strike at the bug in a second, noticeably smaller swarm.

    The butterfly squealed in pain and surprise as the sudden attack tore at its body. Its round limbs flailed from the shock and it had to rapidly beat at the air. The colorful leaves inflicted enough damage that Flutter was having difficulty staying in the sky. Small holes were torn wider and the edges of its wings split further.

    Kenji jerked back in shock. He knew intellectually that Pok¨¦mon battles were brutal affairs, often ending with one triumphing while the other suffered from lethal wounds or shattered links. However, knowing about it and experiencing a serious fight, even from the sidelines, was an entirely different thing. He was sweating from the nerves and he wanted to do nothing more than run away.

    He forced himself to work past his shock. If he did not help, and quickly, then it was likely Flutter would be the one to suffer in defeat. His eyes landed on the quickly moving wings and he remembered the sight of the swarming butterflies.

    "Your wings, Flutter!" He cried out. "Use your wings." He spread his arms and waved them up and down in imitation of flight. "Flap harder!"

    As Kenji pleaded with the Pok¨¦mon he saw a pair of flowers begin to move. The thick web of silk was torn apart by the sharp leaves. The creature damaged the plants further in exchange for freeing the trapped beast.

    The red and blue flowers danced, summoning another swarm of deadly petals. The leaves were reinforced by the Pok¨¦mon''s aura in a wrathful display of color.

    At the display, Kenji waved his arms frantically.

    "Flap your wings! Fly!" He shouted desperately.

    The leaves, no longer still as the beast focused on gathering them, pointed toward the flying bug and shot through the air.

    Flutter, now expecting the attack, rapidly beat its wings. The effort pushed the butterfly back through the air.

    Wind gathered around the Pok¨¦mon, disproportionate to movement of its delicate wings. It was not strong enough to rip free the plants filling the glade but the gust was powerful enough to disrupt the colorful leaves. They were blown aside to strike the ground and surrounding trees. Several managed to avoid destruction and reorientated on the bug to cut at it.

    Meanwhile the gust of wind continued on through swarm of leaves to rip at the delicate plants. The power was diminished from having to disrupt the opposing aura coating the petals. However, enough remained to harm the disguised beast.

    A high pitched squeal of pain pierced the air as the red and blue flowers shook.

    Kenji was encouraged by the sight and went to order Flutter to attack again. However when his eyes took in the state of the flying bug, the command died on his lips. The once iridescent appendages were now ragged and pale. The Pok¨¦mon struggled to stay in the air as its damaged wings were unable to fully support it. Generating the gust of wind must have torn its wounds open further as it was dropping in the air and forced to quickly flap to regain height.

    "Flutter, string again. Use your string." He instructed instead. Kenji held up the cocoon in case the beast did not understand.

    Fortunately the bug grasped what he was saying and directed a stream of silk at the moving flowers. Kenji could not help but notice that the silk seemed thinner and slower than before. Still, it was enough to entangle the plants once more.

    With the silk holding down the hostile Pok¨¦mon, Kenji used the time to think. The battle only served to show how vulnerable he would be were he to involve himself physically. Turtwig was still far too young and weak to fight not to mention its near constant state of fear. Looking up at the flying bug, Kenji felt guilty for having to rely on it to fight. Though the guilt only lasted until he remembered why they were here in the first place.

    "Flutter, attack." He said. "Get in close and fight." Kenji held one hand up to his face and extended a finger. With the other, he raised the cocoon to jab at it with his face and finger. He could only hope that the creature understood his meaning.

    The butterfly trilled in confusion at his words but as he demonstrated what he wanted it to do, the beast acted.

    It jerked back slightly before using its wings to fly forward. The Pok¨¦mon let out a determined squeal as it did so. When it neared the sticky silk, a faint halo seemed to surround its body.

    Flutter struck the flowers with force and Kenji heard another high pitched squeal of pain.

    "Yes," Kenji cheered. "Again!"

    The large butterfly leaned back to extend its probiscis. The beast then speared forward with its shape appendage to wildly strike at the plants. With each jab, the bug released a short but fierce trill.

    "Ti. Ti. Ti." It squealed.

    Eventually, another cry rung out from the enemy Pok¨¦mon and Flutter halted its attack. Kenji was confused slightly but quickly understood.

    Two flower bulbs tugged at the silk and seemed to present themselves to the butterfly. The bug Pok¨¦mon trilled eagerly, and perhaps a bit smugly, Kenji thought, before carefully dipping its probiscis into each flower. It spent several minutes enjoying the nectar and pollen from the flowers before slowly pulling away.

    Satisfied with the outcome, Flutter lifted off the ground with several beats of its wings. The Pok¨¦mon was still able to navigate through the air, even if its flight resembled a clumsy series of stutters and bounces rather than its previous graceful drifting. Regardless, the butterfly moved on to eagerly explore the clearing before it.

 Chapter 11

    Now that he was no longer focused on the battle and avoiding any incoming attacks, Kenji was able to better study the other Pok¨¦mon as it extracted itself from the silk string.

    The beast was surprisingly small, close in height to Flutter''s main body without the wings and antennae. Two flowers, one red and the other blue, were either held in the small creature''s hands. Or perhaps growing from them, it was difficult to tell. Atop its head grew a crown of green thorns.

    Kenji received a clear view of its expression as the flowered creature looked around the glade. Despite being unfamiliar with the species, he could clearing see its face as it fell.

    "Roooooose," It released a mournful cry and slumped its flowered limbs to the ground.

    Flinching in surprise, Kenji followed its gaze around the clearing.

    Before, the glade was blanketed in flowers and blooming shrubs. The colorful petals were arranged in carefully with similar species and colors growing together. However, the battle between the two Pok¨¦mon destroyed all that.

    Or rather, Flutter''s uncaring gusts of wind ruined it.

    Now, entire plants torn apart and broken. Leaves were scattered around the clearing along with a few sticks that were picked up by the butterfly''s strong wind. The area surrounding the poisonous Pok¨¦mon was particularly devastated. Silk covered a large portion of the nearby plants and created an entangled mess.

    As he watched the creature mourn the damage to its territory, Kenji could not help but feel pity for it. This battle was tame in comparison to other fights, ones that decided whether one side lived or died. Neither the butterfly nor the thorny Pok¨¦mon suffered lethal wounds. While it was true that Flutter was preying upon the flowers grown by the beast''s body, draining its nectar would not leave it crippled.

    However, Kenji could not help but remember the gardens decorating the family grounds. His father would return home and work for hours in the soil tending to his favorite plants. Meanwhile his mother would care for each Pok¨¦mon that visited or grew in the gardens. Together the three of the would care for a field just like this.

    It was likely that this glade functioned in a similar, wilder fashion. Most likely, other wild beasts would visit for the vibrant nature aligned energy in the air and earth. Flutter found the clearing and, in its eagerness, immediately began to fight over the nectar. Fortunately, battles between those that cultivated Grass energy were rarely as deadly as ones conducted with other Energy Types. Grass Pok¨¦mon had a tendency to work together to create a wider, more energetic ecosystem.

    Still, Kenji could not help but recognize the part he played in destroying the beast''s clearing. Without his intervention, Flutter would not have used its affinity for the air to attack. Nor would it have sprayed the glade with silk. Instead, the butterfly would have been driven off by the poisonous thorns or strange, colorful leaves.

    Turning his head, Kenji searched for the sled he left behind. It was difficult to see from here but he could see Sprout''s large head as the turtle looked from around the tree trunk. The beast was gazing at the sun filled glade with longing and envy clear in its large eyes.

    Sighing, Kenji gave up on trying to stay hidden. He slowly stepped out from behind the trunk.

    "Flutter," he called out softly.

    The butterfly Pok¨¦mon was wobbling through the air to inspect the undamaged flowers. At the sound of his voice, the beast awkwardly spun around.

    At the same time, the other Pok¨¦mon in the clearing jerked around in alarm. It raised its flowered hands in clear threat while bowing its thorny head warily.

    "Ro," it cried out.

    Kenji raised my hands to show that he was no threat but hastily dropped them when the green creature visibly tensed. It twirled its petals slightly and he crouched further, making sure to keep his head straight.

    "Flutter," he called again, panic creeping into his voice. Kenji watched the bug move in his peripheral as he was unwilling to take his eyes off the scared Pok¨¦mon.

    "Beau. Ti, ti." the butterfly cried out. The bug bobbed through the air as it flapped its wings. It appeared to be adapting to the state of its tattered wings, though it was clear it still had difficulty moving through the air.

    The thorny Pok¨¦mon lowered its flowers morosely when it saw the other Pok¨¦mon fly towards him. Kenji winced at the stricken expression on the beast''s face as its flowers wilted further.

    When his trouble making companion neared, Kenji took a moment to inspect the wounds the beast was suffering from. As he feared, the wings were in a dreadful state with small holes and large tears breaking the colorful panels making up its delicate scales. A thick ichor dripped from its segmented body, clotting already to seal the broken carapace.

    Fortunately, the Pok¨¦mon appeared unbothered by the injuries. Kenji had little experience in caring for beasts and he was unsure of how to tend to it. He knew enough to know that he should clean the cuts on its main body and seal them with silk but he would not be able to do the same for the delicate wings. Water and silk would only weigh the light scales down, leaving the butterfly unable to move.

    Kenji shook his head as he recognized there was little he could do. However, while he could do nothing for one Pok¨¦mon, perhaps he could help the other. He used his hands to gently maneuver the butterfly away as he turned his attention back to the flowered Pok¨¦mon. Kenji was careful to keep his arms lowered and head turned away from the beast for fear of appearing threatening.

    "Greetings, tender of the glade." he said formally. "I apologize for my companion''s reckless battle and the state it has left your territory in. Perhaps I could earn a small respite for the two traveling with me and assist in repairs?" he offered.

    While the Pok¨¦mon would not be able to understand his words, it was still polite and safer to speak as though it could. If he had a healthy and more developed sprit with an aura to match, it would be easier to communicate his intentions.

    Kenji waited a moment for a response.

    The creature stared at him uncertainly, its tiny eyes flickering between Flutter and Kenji.

    Seeing that it did not understand, he slowly began to move. He was careful not to appear as a threat while he crouched and began cleaning up the surroundings.

    At first the beast was alarmed, raising its limbs in a clear threat, so Kenji paused slightly after each action until the thorny Pok¨¦mon lowered them. The process repeated several times before he believed the creature understood.

    The hours spent with his parents tending to their fields was put to use, the experience working with delicate plants having him taught how to care for them. Sticks were gathered and tossed into the forest along with plants that were far too damaged to be regrown. Only a few times did the flowered beast have to chirp in warning for Kenji to realize that his assumptions regarding the state of a particular plant were wrong. Or perhaps the Pok¨¦mon was able to restore it where Kenji could not.

    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Either way, he eventually made a full circuit of the clearing. When he was done, the green beast was less hostile but still wary of his presence. Kenji took it as a good sign and retreated back to the sled to retrieve wooden frame and Sprout.

    The young beast had quieted and stilled its trembling, though the fact that it did not feel comfortable enough to dig into the ground betrayed its fear.

    Kenji quickly returned to the clearing and lifted the small turtle for the Pok¨¦mon to see.

    "This is my other companion, Sprout," he began. "The beast is still young and injured. Could he spend some time under the sun to regain his strength?" Kenji asked.

    "Lia," it chirped. Kenji could tell that beast was surprised at Sprout''s presence and it held its flowers up towards the sky.

    The creature inspected Sprout carefully. The turtle was scared, of course, but the other Pok¨¦mon did not move threateningly.

    Observing it as the thorny beast studied the turtle, Kenji saw what he believed to be a flicker of disgust cross its face. The tense form relaxed, and it was clear to his eyes that the Pok¨¦mon believed that Sprout could not be considered a threat to it.

    Kenji felt that he should be insulted on Sprout''s part, though he had little justification for the feeling. Yes, the turtle was young and weak yet that was no reason to be so annoyed or indifferently hostile.

    Soon the glade tender lowered its limbs and Kenji relaxed. He knelt and set the small turtle on the ground. The beast immediately rushed to cower behind his legs. Seeing the terror afflicting the young Pok¨¦mon, Kenji sighed before starting a low hum as he whispered to it. He did not want to risk disturbing the poisonous beast but unless he managed to calm Sprout down, their time in the glade would be wasted.

    After all, there was more to gain from the open clearing than just sunlight. Even with his spirit compressed as it was and no aura growing from it, Kenji could sense the vibrant energy filling the glade. It was not overbearing as only holy land could be but the difference was noticeable when compared to the greater forest. It was perfect for a young beast coming into their aura to visit. Even a short time in the clearing would hopefully be enough to set him on the path to recovery.

    Or at least lead him to it.

    Focused as he was on Sprout, Kenji missed the other Pok¨¦mon''s reaction to his soft humming. When he glanced over to assure himself that the beast was not going to attack, he was surprised to see it swaying to the simple melody. The petaled limbs drifted back and forth as it rocked.

    Comforted that the Pok¨¦mon was enjoying his admittedly off tune humming, Kenji raised the volume. He wanted to be loud enough to be heard yet still soft enough he could maintain the gentle sound.

    As he increased the soft music, the creature''s movements became more exaggerated. The flowers lifted up in a twirl and the beast spun in a slow circle. Kenji continued humming as the green and thorny Pok¨¦mon started to dance. Despite his intention to soothe the scared turtle he quickly grew entranced by the Pok¨¦mon''s movements.

    At a first glance the twirling petals and swaying of the body seemed a simple dance to a simple song.

    A second look revealed something deeper.

    The flicks of its limbs followed the unfurling of a flower as it sought the morning sun. The twisting of its body mimicked the growing stem lifting the leaves to greater heights as it reached for the sky.

    Not only was the dance both beautiful and smooth, it was in tune with the Energy of nature in a way that humans would have to take years to perfect.

    Kenji followed the flow of the Grass Pok¨¦mon''s body as he committed it''s movements to memory. If he could understand and replicate it, then it was entirely possible for him to reach a deeper understanding of his path.

    He ached to repeat the beast''s moves but at the same time he was scared of disturbing the wary creature. So instead, Kenji relegated himself to merely studying the thorny Pok¨¦mon.

    All too soon the beast remembered his presence and it hurriedly spun around to glare at him.

    Kenji tensed in preparation to dodge. The beastly plant''s flowers were twitching in warning but they stilled and pulled back. He relaxed slightly in response and had to hold himself back from bowing.

    "Thank you for the performance, one of flowers and thorn," Kenji said. "My obligation only grows, which I wish to repay."

    He crouched down carefully after his words to begin tidying up the surrounding area. The Pok¨¦mon was wary at first but as he continued to repair the clearing it quickly relaxed. Sprout calmed as well, especially when Kenji and the other beast moved away from the turtle. As he hoped, the young Pok¨¦mon settled into the ground to cultivate in the sun and natural Energy blooming in the glade.

    Meanwhile, Kenji stepped carefully around the flowers as he was followed closely by the petaled beast. Scattered twigs and larger branches were gathered to be tossed into the forest along with piles of torn leaves. Occasionally he came across a broken or uprooted plant that he avoided touching for fear of ruining it.

    After a section of the clearing was cleaned, the thorny beast gracefully stepped up. The Pok¨¦mon inspected each plant, bush, and flower. It''s flowered limb delicately caressed the plants to rearrange the placement of leaves and petals so that they were orientated on the rays of sunlight.

    Kenji watched on with open envy at the apparent ease with which the beast cultivated its territory. Even his mother and father would have difficulty matching the Pok¨¦mon''s skill. Part of it was due to the sheer size difference, with the green creature standing only lower than his knee. However, more than size was the Pok¨¦mon''s knowledge of each species within its domain.

    Stems were carefully positioned to support the full weight of the plant while at the same time avoiding a unresolvable tangle. Most of the leaves followed the sun while flowers were partially turned to avoid burning. Where the beast passed, the plant life became revitalized. Faded colors grew bright again and bent stems smoothed into the more natural lines found in nature.

    As the beast used its energy to heal the plant life, Kenji let himself fall into a half-meditative state. It allowed him to retain awareness of his surroundings at the cost of risking a distraction disturbing him.

    The first thing he felt was the ethereal shroud clinging to his spirit and separating him from the world. Yet as the moments passed, it felt as the shroud grew shear and he was able to more strongly sense the Energy in the glade.

    The Grass Energy bloomed in the clearing as it soaked into the plants and soil. The Pok¨¦mon tending to the clearing was bright with it yet the beast freely offered its power to even the most meager of flowers, all so that the petals could recover.

    It was vibrant and alive, almost painfully so when felt through the ghostly veil. Part of his mind wanted to shift to study the thinning power but he refused. Not only would it dredge up memories he ached to forget, he had no desire to seek an affinity with the more mystical power.

    Instead, Kenji forced himself to focus upon the vibrant power misting the bright clearing. Inhaling deeply, Kenji imagined the Grass attuned energy moving towards him. Not in a rush, as water would falling off a cliff but more as was absorbed by fibrous wood soaking up the rain water.

    His will was but the first root of a seed not yet sprouted, testing the soil. Only when he found the perfect land would he begin to grow.

    The change from pulling on the energy to instead seeking it out and absorbing it was sudden. The exercise was entirely mental, for every Warrior cultivated differently yet it was even more vitally crucial. No two Warriors cultivated the same, even those specialized in the same Energy.

    The mental shift was as startling as it was stimulating. The image of his cultivation method felt right in a way that he could not explain. Kenji felt his brow begin to furrow as he tried to further understand his interpretation. The effort risked breaking his concentration so he forced himself to refocus once more.

    He felt the moment Energy flowed through this new style. It moved smoothly, with little of the turbulence he was used to. Without his spirit fighting the power and the Energy fighting itself, he could cultivate far more than before. The strength of nature flowed with his will, ignoring the shroud clinging to him, and joined with his compressed spirit.

    The Energy was invigorating, almost like a splash of cold water or a bitter tea in the morning. It was a shock to his system, drained as it was, and he felt like a mortal stepping onto the path of Warrior once more.

    At first Kenji was elated at his success in cultivating the ambient Energy of the glade. The power suffused his spirit, swirling around it in the barest hints of an aura. He easily envisioned resting here, visiting it regularly to regain his strength.

    However, that elation quickly morphed to horror and then despair when he realized what was truly occurring.

    Instead of healing his spirit and regrowing his aura, the mist of Energy suffused the seed and worked to compress it further.  The change was miniscule yet obvious to his senses. After so long sensing only his spirit, he was more familiar with it than his own body. If that was not evidence enough, the pain, as much as he wanted to forget, was a familiar companion as his soul began to ache once more. It faded quickly yet the brief resurgence was enough to bring a cold sweat to his skin.

    It appeared that his sudden change in his style of cultivation did more harm than good. Rather than a dense orb he could not help but view his aura as a seed.

    A seed that would not sprout until it found the perfect land.

    Shaking, Kenji broke off from his meditation. Continuing would only reinforce the style he found, ensuring that he could no longer follow the path of the Warrior.

    Energy fed the Spirit, enriching the Body and giving birth to Aura. It was a race to keep the Spirit or the Body stronger, never allowing them to equalize. For that spelled the end of a Warrior''s path.

    He clenched his hands until they ached and he could feel his nails digging into his palms. Tears pricked at the corner of his eyes as he remembered the warning his father gave him.

 Interlude: Lessons

    The sun was warm on his skin, nourishing him with its light and energy. Kenji imagined the heat soaking into his body and shining down upon his inner self. With the Grass Energy that he absorbed from the private garden, it nourished him, encouraging growth and strength.

    The sensation brought to mind the tangling growths, always blooming and reaching ever higher. However, before he could follow the thought, his father''s voice interrupted him.

    "Kenji, come sit with me a moment," the older man called out from the direction of the house.

    Suppressing a sigh of irritation, Kenji answered him when he was sure it would not leak through his voice. He was a man now, a Warrior-in-training and he should act as such.

    "Yes, father." Kenji responded respectfully.

    He could faintly hear the man grunt at his words and Kenji imagined the eyeroll that likely accompanied it.

    Kenji opened his eyes and blinked at the sudden brightness. He was sitting in his father''s garden, surrounded by valuable natural treasures that the Warrior had collected or earned over the years. As a vassal of Warlord Motonari, he earned contribution on campaign when the kingdom went to war. This was where his greatest treasure were sourced from, though a few were won in duels and spoils of battle.

    The garden was artfully arranged so that Energy was gathered and focused. It had to effect of making the area appear natural in its growth despite being entirely intentional. The formation had to be set up and planted by masters from the higher clans, bought with more hard-earned contribution.

    The plants and stones were more alive in a way that their common counterparts could not match. They managed to soak up and emanate the Type Energy of the world, must like Warriors and Type Beasts were able to. Their colors were brighter and deeper, making the rest of the world seem dull by comparison. As if he were the painting and the garden the reality.

    His father said that he was sensing the spirit of things while his mother told him that it was merely energy gathered and molded to a different form.

    Kenji was not entirely sure who was more correct, though he favored his father''s view. The idea of a world alive beyond the mere physical was appealing to him, as though there was more to explore and understand. Strangely his mother found the belief amusing as she released a fearsome cackle when she overheard their discussion on the topic while his father scowled at her reaction.

    Standing up from his seated position, he carefully brushed the loose dirt clinging to him. He was largely bare, so that he could better feel the sun on his skin and the soil beneath his legs, or so his father claimed. Still, the rich soil clung to him and stained his underclothes. Only once he was sure that no dirt would fall off him did Kenji begin move.

    The last thing he needed was for his father''s bond to take umbrage with him over a speck of dirt that landed on a spiritual herb''s leaf. Once was enough for him. Sometimes it was to forget that the Leavanny that helped sew his clothes held a Warrior''s link and was experienced in battle.

    Kenji carefully navigated through the small but populated garden. He was forced to follow a circuitous path in a series of exacting steps. He had to move with short strides, crouch, shuffle, and more lest he accidentally ruin the carefully maintained formation. Only his father and the elder bonds were allowed to care for the natural treasures. A single touch was enough to hurt the plants or himself.

    After taking the final step, a high lunge to avoid a branch with long thorns extending upwards, Kenji sighed in relief. The entire path involved taking similarly odd or uncomfortable moves to avoid delicate and dangerous growths in the way. He was almost certain that some of them were only placed so that his father could laugh at him. Except that the older Warrior was forced to take the same route, contorting himself further due to his greater size.

    Looking up, Kenji found his father sitting on the edge of a room with the walls pulled aside. The room was often reserved for mediation or private meetings. It was sign of respect that he was now being welcomed into it. The man had a stern face that was grizzled from years of battle and harder trials yet Kenji could still see the humor in his eyes.

    In an effort to return the favor, Kenji maintained his placid expression and bowed deeply.

    "This one thanks you for the opportunity to cultivate in your private garden." he intoned. The bow helped to hide the smirk that tugged at Kenji''s face.

    A slight cough had him quickly standing upright. Kenji had to clench to jaw in order to keep from grinning as he saw his father struggling to recover face. However, the older man gave in with a guffaw.

    "Ha!" his father snorted. "You''re too smart for your own good boy. One day it''s going to get you in trouble." he said with a shake of his. "The guardians know it did me."

    Kenji allowed the smile to bloom on his face only after his father gave in.

    "And so the apprentice surpasses the master." he mocked with a laugh.

    "Surpassed?" the man snorted. "The only passing you''re doing is gas."

    Kenji opened his mouth to respond but closed it sullenly when nothing immediately popped to mind. However, his father quickly reminded him why he was called away from cultivating.

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    "Enough about that." he said sternly. "Make yourself comfortable. There is something you must learn, and learn well."

    Kenji was not surprised at the sudden shift in tone and quickly sat down on the porch. While his father was often humorous, the man was a firm believer in being able to put the humor away when necessary. Before taking on his new name, his father would have rarely spoken to him like such.

    "I believe it is time for your to learn more about your Insight." he started. When Kenji immediately sat straighter, he hastily added "Not your, mmh, perhaps a better word would be your will. How you see yourself and interpret your spirit."

    Kenji sagged slightly but stilled before it could construed as disrespect. Before this, his father merely said that he would know when he was ready for his Insight and nothing more.

    He heard his father grumble something under his breath as he searched for the words to explain what he meant.

    "Ah, screw it." his father sighed.

    Kenji hid a grin at the exasperated expression on his father''s face. While Sato Isamu was a great Warrior and a good leader to his men, he was not a good teacher. Often his mother had to intervene to better explain something his father was trying to teach.

    "Listen, I could feel you begin to understand something. I could tell that it would potentially affect your view of yourself, so to speak, so I stopped you." his father said frankly. "I have not told you my Insight, and nor will I. Not yet at least," he added with a pointed look. "But, I can tell you a bit of how finding one can be dangerous. How it can break you, even as it makes you whole."

    Kenji furrowed his brow in confusion but did not interrupt. From everything he had heard, a better understanding of one''s self was supposed to make them stronger, not weaker let alone crippled. His father commonly referred to it as Insight but there was a variety of terms he heard from others, ranging from a Concept to a manifesting of one''s understanding. Ancient Sages even called it the Dao, a Heavenly understanding of the Original One.

    Though he was far from being able to call himself a master, let alone a Sage.

    "To me, I am a hardy plant." his father began, gesturing to the carefully raised plants sprouting from their fields. "Not a beautiful flower to be cared for with daily love and sweet words nor a tree unbowed from the harsh winds and fury of nature.

    "I am a weed." His father declared proudly.

    Kenji''s mouth fell open at the unexpected announcement.

    "Oh, don''t look so shocked," he admonished lightly. "Weeds are tenacious, able to survive and persevere. Above all else, I am a survivor, Kenji."

    His father lifted his gaze to stare at the distant forest that bordered their land. Kenji stayed silent and waited for him to continue.

    The man did not. His eyes were clouded, with a slight frown pulling his mouth down. Without the sun on his skin, the wind was cool and raised the hairs on his body. Unlike his father, Kenji did not have a kimono to keep himself warm. He had to fight the urge to shiver and disturb the Warrior from his thoughts.

    The two of them sat like this for several minutes before his father suddenly turned to look at him.

    "You must first discover yourself and what you want to be before applying it to your cultivation. Otherwise, you will find yourself crafting a box where you intend a house," he father said. "It is possible to recover, of course, but it is difficult. For you will always see the box."

    Kenji nodded in understanding. Even if he was not sure how it related to cultivation. After all, how does one accidentally see themselves as a box?

    "Do not think of the color green." his father suddenly said.

    Kenji blinked in surprise and opened his mouth to ask why not.

    "Now, what color did you think of?" the man asked with a smirk.

    "Green." Kenji said sullenly after a pause.

    "It is similar with the spirit. Your willpower and energy reinforce your Insight, which is why it is crucial that you know who you are and what you want to be," his father instructed. "Do not attempt to cultivate for the next several days. Instead, meditate upon yourself. Ponder upon your past, present, and future."

    "I will." Kenji said as he nodded slowly. He waited for his father to add anything more but, when he said nothing more, Kenji stood and bowed lightly. "Thank you for your words."

    "Bah, enough of that." his father grunted.

    Kenji hesitated before turning away.

    "What of mother?" he asked uncertainly. "What is her spirit like?"

    "I''m sure you''re already aware of what her spirit is like," his father snorted. "But to answer your question, it''s complicated," he finished with a sigh.

    Kenji looked at the Warrior in askance.

    The man waved at the seat Kenji recently vacated and he hurriedly sat down. It was rare for them to discuss such things.

    "Her people are not like ours," he started. "They do not cultivate the way we do, or even battle as our kingdoms do. It was not until she arrived in this land that she formally established her first link."

    Outwardly Kenji was calm but inside he was ecstatic. Not only was he learning more about Insights but, more importantly, he was gaining information about his mother''s homeland. The two never talked about it, but it was clear to him and everyone who met their family that his mother was foreigner. Yet, to not discuss it was akin to a starving man being forced to watch someone else eat.

    His father did not even approve of his mother teaching Kenji her native tongue let alone the bedtime stories that were so common to him in his younger years. So much so that he was forbidden to speaking the language or telling others about what she told him. The worry and fear that colored their faces at the time of the warning was enough to keep him silent.

    Instead, he threw himself into learning the trade tongue used heavily in Fontaine. It was an acceptable alternative and would be useful when it came time for him to join the Warlord''s army. His father began to speak again, pulling Kenji''s focus.

    "Not to say that she was weak, quite the opposite in fact," he said. "Where we fight with a handful of bonds by our side, they gather large teams." The distaste was clear in his voice, telling Kenji what his father thought of the foreign methods. "Their bonds are a false imitation of ours, where the people only take without ever giving anything in return."

    It took Kenji a moment to understand but when he did, he was as disgusted as his father.

    The link between Warrior and Type Beast was more than a simple bond of friendship, purpose, or even allyship. It was a connection that carved to the very spirit of the individuals linked together. Through that link, the two could share emotion, Energy, and sometimes even thoughts.

    To make that link only one way was something even a Ronin would have second thoughts about.

    "Your mother was quick to understand and worked to properly develop her bonds," he continued. "However, her Insight is her own to tell. It is just," his father searched for the words to say. "Just not the same foundation we have."

    "What do you mean?" Kenji cocked his head in confusion.

    "It''s difficult to explain. And it would only ruin your own cultivation," his father shook his head. "Enough. I merely wanted you to be careful as you continue. If you''re not, it could ruin everything you are trying to achieve. Remember what I said, and meditate before attempting to cultivate once more."

    Recognizing the dismissal for what it was, Kenji stood and bowed once more. He stepped outside to clean himself. His mother would send him back into the gardens to work if he dared to walk inside as filthy as he was.

 Chapter 12

    Angry with himself, Kenji clenched his hands at his side. His eyes were screwed shut as he struggled to contain himself and tears of frustration leaked out. Alarmed chirps from nearby helped him clamp down on his rampaging emotions. He could not afford unnerving the tiny, poisonous Pok¨¦mon any more than it already was. Not only that, but his rash actions had already harmed him, there was no reason to complicate his situation further.

    Kenji forced his eyes open and he sucked in a shuddering breath before letting it out in a rush. After several more, he managed to relax his muscles enough to loosen his fingers. Blinking he offered the green Pok¨¦mon a fake smile.

    "My apologies, grove tender. I let myself get carried away," he said weakly. "I am ready to resume when you are."

    Despite his words, all Kenji wanted to do was fall to ground and rage. However, as that would result in nothing more beyond a sharp, poisonous end to his struggles so far, he allowed himself to slip into the numbing aura clinging to him. It was surprisingly easily, like slipping beneath the surface of a still lake into the cool, dark depths.

    Before, the icy tendrils of aura clinging to him were a hated memory of his experience. Yet now he welcomed the cold, as it smothered his emotions. While he could still think, there was no reason to feel, nothing to affect him.

    The world became dull and inconsequential.

    What was, is.

    At his feet, Kenji could see the thorny beast grow uneasy but it did not matter. He had promised restitution for the damage suffered by his involvement in the battle and he would keep his word. Not only was it honorable, it simply . . .

    Was.

    Maintaining a respectful distance, Kenji moved about the rest of the clearing with practiced experience. His time spent caring for his family''s gardens allowed him to step easily through the various plants without overly disturbing them. Helping the beast tending to them only helped him adjust to its preferences as it showed him how to properly care for the glade. The numbing, cold let him move uncaring of how the beast might respond to his actions and left him free to resume his work.

    Combined, it was only a short while before all that remained was the sticky, silk threads that clung to a patch of land.

    Kenji stared at the mess for a long moment before turning away. The strange beast shied away from him even as if mourned the damage to its territory. Ignoring the creature, Kenji trudged towards his resting companion. The other was too energetic, flitting around the clearing. The butterfly would follow or it would not.

    Sprout opened his large eyes as he approached. The beast yawned and looked around blearily before stiffening suddenly. The turtle jerked his head towards Kenji in alarmed and whimpered in fear. The turtle''s limbs withdrew into its shell as he huddled away.

    Kenji stopped, cocking his head. Sprout''s actions tickled at the back of Kenji''s mind but he could not bother chasing down the feeling.

    Kenji took another step only to pause once more as Sprout''s cries grew more fearful.

    Kenji stared at Sprout.

    Something was wrong.

    Sprout was acting as if danger was approaching yet it was only him. he was just so cold Kenji and the Pok¨¦mon traveled together for days, sleeping under the same cover, and benefited from the scant safety he provided. Kenji inched closer, causing Sprout''s warbles to rise in terror.

    They could not travel together if one was constantly screaming. The noise would attract greater beasts that he was not able to handle. he needed to wake up Not to mention the energy that would be wasted chasing down the Pok¨¦mon should the young turtle try to run away. It was weak and tired from hiding the two for so long.

    Yet.

    Kenji and Sprout were companions, having traveled together for days ever since they arrived in this strange land.

    They should not stop now.

    They could not.

    Kenji moved closer, his mindless slouch straightening. His cold fingers reached out to grab the turtle by his shell. stop Perhaps there was a way to ensure that the beast would not leave. That it would never abandon Kenji. Ever.

    The Pok¨¦mon wailed in fear. The other, the thorny and prickly one, added with trills of its own. The butterfly was quieter but confused, not understanding the other''s terror. The screams were annoying but the sound would not stop it. Kenji''s hand neared the small Pok¨¦mon. Stop!

    The young turtle bit Kenji''s hand, its beak hard enough to break the skin.

    Kenji jerked back in surprise before the pain registered through the numbness engulfing him. The crushing bite warred with the icy cold, overpowering the emptiness with pain and alarm.

    It was only when he saw the red blood, bright against the dull surroundings, did Kenji cry out. Jerking his hand back, he tore it out of the Pok¨¦mon''s mouth. The wound opened further and drew another shout from his mouth.

    He cradled the bleeding hand to his chest and clenched his jaw against the pain. Stumbling away, he whimpered as he applied pressure to stop the bleeding. Kenji closed his eyes and breathed strongly through his nostrils. At the same time, he felt the cold recede and the warmth of the sun touch his skin.

    Panting, Kenji shuddered as he reviewed the past few minutes. His actions, while seemingly normal, were wrong. The thoughts that came were not his. The numbing cold, the lifeless world. He heard stories and rumors, tales told by the elders to warn both children and adults alike.

    A Haunting.

    A relatively rare occurrence, as kingdoms religiously cleansed fields of battle to keep lingering spirits from coalescing. However, some ghosts were strong enough to endure with grudges that could last decades.

    Or at least, that¡¯s what the clan stories claimed. Previously, Kenji took them for fanciful tales to scare children. Tales that he thought had long grew out of. As for the clearing of the battlefield, they were nothing more than religious ceremonies conducted by mortals to give the fallen their last rights.

    But perhaps there was more to them than he originally believed.

    Kenji struggled to remember anything that could help but the pain of his bleeding hand distracted him. Glancing down, he snuck a look to inspect the severity. It was difficult to determine through the blood but he did not believe it was crippling. The flesh around his thumb was torn, with a clear chunk missing. Ragged stripes hung loose and dripped crimson liquid to the grass below.

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    Despite the gut turning appearance, Kenji held hope. It was possible he could recover with a thick poultice to seal the wound and protect it from infection. It would leave a horrid scar, yet he would making an offering to whatever guardian watching if that was all. At worst, he could lose the hand entirely.

    Looking up, he caught Sprout''s eye and forced a smile on his face. Despite the pain, he was thankful for the Pok¨¦mon''s intervention. If it were not for the young beast he would still be under the control of whatever ghost was haunting him.

    The young turtle watched him warily and flecks of blood marred its beak. He watched him warily but did not cry out when Kenji stood up. Still, he huddled closer to his shell than usual.

    Looking around, Kenji searched for the other Pok¨¦mon hiding in the clearing. It was difficult to find, with its tiny green body blending into the field. He only spotted it when the creature trilled sadly once more and moved its large, flowered limbs.

    Gripping his hand tightly to keep the blood from leaking out, Kenji slowly stepped towards the small Pok¨¦mon. However, before he move too close the thorny beast waved it''s petaled limbs threateningly.

    "I apologize for my actions and the fear they caused you," Kenji uttered after he came to a stop.

    He had to keep himself from bowing, lest it provoke the thorny beast into attacking. It appeared that it considered any presentation of the head or limbs a threat, which made sense considering that was how the creature attacked.

    Likewise, Kenji forced his expression to remain bland despite the sharp pain pulsing from his hand. To help distract himself, he glanced to the tangled mess of silk and plants.

    He tilted his head slightly as he remembered the glowing leaves that easily sliced through the web earlier. His palm pulsed with heat and arrows of pain, pulling him from his thoughts. Focusing back on the scene in front of him, Kenji shoved the agony aside as he spoke to the small beast before him.

    "Thorned One," he started. "Could you perhaps use the leaves from before to cut the threads?" he asked politely. He attempted to mime the leaves slicing through the air to cut the silk but blood began to flow from his hand and he had to stop lest he inadvertently drain himself.

    Having to hold his wound closed stymied his efforts to communicate with the rose petaled beast, but eventually he managed to get his message across to the Pok¨¦mon. It took several more attempts and ideas, until he resorted to blows a handful of grass through the air.

    The beast turned away from him to face the sky and twirled its petaled limbs. As it did so, the creature''s aura coated a swarm of leaves and pulled them into the air. A shimmering gradient of light covered each individual leaf as they floated in the air. After only a moment, the leaves shot towards the sky before they lost energy and fell back to the forest.

    "Yes!" he cheered. "That''s it, good job."

    His words surprised the Pok¨¦mon and it shied away from him before recovering. It twirled once and presented its petals as if it were smelling them, disguising its soft green face.

    Keeping his expression amicable, Kenji reviewed the details of the beast''s technique. To start, the Pok¨¦mon''s skill seemed far more powerful than before. There were far more leaves and the mystical light rippling around them were brighter. Kenji suspected that without the distraction of an ongoing battle, along with a time to recover its energy reserves, the creature was able to achieve a greater effect.

    The main issue that the apparent lack of control that thorny Pok¨¦mon had over the leaves. It seemed to lose any ability to guide them after releasing the technique, yet Kenji remembered how several swerved through the air to re-orientate on Flutter for another strike. Not to mention, the leaves still cut through the air as a group instead of flying wildly in every direction.

    Kenji returned his attention to the thorny Pok¨¦mon. He forced a smile on his face as he crouched and gently plucked a leaf from a small plant. The Pok¨¦mon took offense and he spoke quickly before it could act.

    "Vibrant one, could perhaps summon another swarm of leaves and cut through the webbing?" he asked hurriedly in order to better distract it from his minor destruction of its small glade. As Kenji spoke he mimed cutting apart the silk threads with the green blade in his fingers, one hand clenched around the other.

    The Pok¨¦mon scowled at him before pondering his request. Fortunately, the beast appeared to catch on much quicker to his intentions and summoned another magical swarm of leaves. However, instead of freeing them to tear through the air, it held them in place. The strange mystical light coating them made it appear as if the technique quivered in anticipation.

    The beast''s limbs trembled form the effort as it took a small step forward.

    The glowing leaves moved with the small Pok¨¦mon as it did so. Several more steps brought it close enough for the leading pieces of the technique to begin slicing through the sticky threads.

    Kenji grinned as he saw his idea work. It fell just as easily when he when he saw as the technique cut through the plants. The Pok¨¦mon saw the damage as well, and wailed in distress. He winced at the high pitched cry and rushed to soothe the creature.

    "It''s ok, little flowers." he said softly. "Sometimes to grow, one must trim the excess."

    The beast quickly calmed and they were able to resume clearing the silk. He could see how it hurt the Pok¨¦mon to slice away parts of its garden, yet he could see no other way around it. To help the flowered creature, Kenji collected several long branches from the forest. With them, he was able to collect the separated silk and remove it from the clearing.

    The heat of the sun pressed down on him as he worked, warming his body. He welcomed it gladly, wishing it could burn away the dark spirit that he now knew was haunting him. However, it would take far more than sunlight to purify his body.

    If only he knew what.

    There were plenty of stories told at night and at town festivals, speaking of ghosts and spirits. They spoke of people defending themselves through wards, mystics, and Pok¨¦mon, protecting their homes from the restless dead. As Kenji struggled to remember the folktales, they slowly removed the rest of the webbing that trapped the bright flowers. He elected to scatter the silk instead of simply piling it together. It would help the material degrade faster and prevent unwanted creatures from nesting in it.

    Returning to the clearing, it was obvious that the flowered Pok¨¦mon was ready for them to leave. It stood across from Sprout, watching him and Flutter warily, as he walked back. The butterfly was resting on a tree, full from the bounty of nectar it won. He took a moment to stop by the sled and remove one of the cocoons piled there.

    Stopping near the young turtle, Kenji clasped his arms to his chest. The green beast often presented its arms and thorny head when threatened. He quickly discovered that do something similar, bowing or showing his empty hands, came off as hostile and further scared the Pok¨¦mon.

    Instead, he decided on a different method to show his thanks.

    He spun in a tight circle, splaying one arm up towards the sky, and leaned backwards.

    "Many thanks, great beast of flowers and thorn," he said, speaking in the First Tongue as a sign of respect.

    The words were thick and unfamiliar in his mouth as the language was only used in the most formal of ceremonies and by the highest of the clan members. Still, Warriors were required to learn it as was tradition, though few actually achieved fluency.

    "Your grove has sheltered us, even though we harmed it." he could not help shooting a glare at Flutter that he quickly smoothed away. "I freely offer bounty of my own, to join your garden."

    With his final words, Kenji opened the silk cocoon he grabbed from his sled. Acting carefully, he removed seeds, flowers, and food that he gathered during his trek through the forest. It hurt to lose the goods he foraged but it would shame him to leave without offering restitution.

    Kenji gently set the contents of the cocoon on the ground for the flowered Pok¨¦mon to survey. It trilled at him curiously, wary of what he was doing. When he was done, Kenji stepped back behind Sprout.

    The Pok¨¦mon danced forward, inspecting his goods carefully. It seemed to understand that he was offering them to it, and brushed its petaled limbs over each item. Nearly all of the seeds were brushed to the side, piled together away from Sprout. On the other hand, nearly all of the flowers were rejected and left alone.

    As he feared, the Pok¨¦mon lingered over the fruits longest. Those were his true source of food as he currently had no way to reliably hunt. Hunting Type Beasts was a death sentence for those too close to mortality.

    The thorny creature brushed aside the fruits that he found on the largest of plants, keeping the smaller berries for itself. It debated its choices for several beats longer before stepping back with a twirl.

    The Pok¨¦mon trilled at Kenji for several moments, dancing in place.

    He could not help but smile at the small creature and nodded at it. He collected the rejected food and flowers, stuffing them back into his cocoon. Picking up Sprout, he called out for Flutter and walked back to the edge of the Pok¨¦mon''s territory. Turning around, he displayed his arms once more in thanks.

    Placing the turtle and cocoon on his sled, Kenji picked up the sled and strode away from the Pok¨¦mon''s glade.

 Chapter 13

    The sun was fading fast as Kenji trudged on, wanting to be as far from the Pok¨¦mon''s territory as possible. Not only did they overstay their welcome, but there were other dangers as well. He was surprised that they were not interrupted while repairing the cultivated garden. Beasts were often opportunistic, hunting those that exhibited weakness or were exhausted from a battle.

    Such hunters would not pass him or his companions if their paths crossed. To say nothing of those that would be successfully driven off by the thorny grove tender. He had to move quickly before the full of night fell.

    His blood chilled as he imagined the monster from only a few nights ago deciding to hunt him. The memory of its horrendous wail already made sleeping difficult. The chill did not last long as the heat pulsing from his hand pulled at his attention.

    The agony from Sprout''s bite made pulling the sled all the harder and reopened the wound. Stopping for a moment, Kenji rifled through the plants on his sled. There were several that he believed to have medicinal properties. Or at least hoped they did.

    While many plant species were different than what he was used to, there were plenty of similarities. His parents were no mystics or vaulted herbalists, able to brew a rejuvenating potion with nothing but a pot and stick. What they were, however, were gardeners who supplied the mystics and herbalists with their stock.

    Having been trained by them, Kenji knew enough to keep from poisoning himself.

    At least he hope he did.

    Plucking several leaves free, Kenji shoved them into his mouth. He chewed thoroughly, gagging at the horrible taste. The plants were thick and released a harsh taste that slightly numbed the tongue. After the leaves were pulped into a thick paste he eagerly spat it out on his injured hand. With his other, he carefully spread the pasted herb over his wound. He was more concerned about covering it for now than truly binding it.

    Even a drop of the nourishing Energy of Grass would be able to seal the wound and set it on the path to healing. The simple herbalism that he knew would have to suffice without it.

    In order to hold the simple mixture of leaves and saliva in place, Kenji further wrapped his hand in broad leaves. He had to use some of his smaller strands of rope to secure it but soon he had a rough bandage covering his hand.

    Picking up the sled again, Kenji forced himself to walk further away from the Pok¨¦mon''s territory. The harsh screams of animals and beasts fighting, hunting, and communicating filled his ears. Even after only several days, he was starting to recognize several varieties that he believed belonged to the same Pok¨¦mon. However, despite the repetitive indications of such beasts, Kenji had yet to see them.

    Oh, the trees rustled above and he could see the fresh tracks and more that indicated creatures having passed by. Still, there was no more than that. The absence of beasts only grew more pronounced as night fell. The forest grew quiet as the shadows grew. With silence, the hunters emerged and Kenji was forced to find shelter. Fortunate, as he was growing tired and the pain in his hand was a constant dull ache.

    He stumbled to a stop and Sprout chirped tiredly, jostled awake.

    "Hush." Kenji groaned quietly. "It''s my turn to sleep you lazy turtle." The aggressive pain made him irritable and rude where he had no reason to be so.

    Flutter was already sleeping, having landed nearby. Seeing the normally energetic beast slow down encouraged him to stop.

    Kenji picked up Sprout, and tucked him close to the base of the trunk before he roughly pulled the sled up. The berries and cocoons were largely secure. Vines and threads held them down well enough to keep the contents from tumbling free. He had to force himself to yank off his leathers and shoes when all he wanted to do was collapse. Only once he was finally free of the heavy clothing did he collapse under the simply protection of the lean-to.

    Sweat clung to him as the heat burning his body continued to rise. Panting lightly, Kenji struggled to keep his eyes open. He did know why he should as his thoughts grew clouded. Giving in to his body''s demands, he quickly fell into a restless sleep.

    The night passed slowly, in stuttering skips of wakefulness and dream. Kenji awoke several times, warm and coated in sweat. He moved around blearily in search of a more comfortable position on the rough dirt floor only to awaken later to shift back. By the time he awoke for the final time, the sun was high in the sky and his skin was sticky with dry sweat. Soil clung to him as a result and he could feel his muscled knotting.

    Breathing heavily, Kenji forced himself to crawl out from under the sled. He was still too close, and he needed to move. He grabbed onto the tree to help pull himself upright, taking a moment to pant and focus himself. He realized that the arduous task of donning the thick leathers would be too much. Even if he managed the feat, Kenji doubted that he would be able to last long wearing them. It was hot enough as it was and he could not bear to suffocate himself further.

    Instead, he tossed the heavy material on his sled, carelessly crushing some of his preciously foraged food.

    He knew he should care but he did not. Everything was hazy and blurred to his mind. He only knew what he should do next but not why.

    Glancing down at his hand, Kenji winced at the inflamed hand. At some point in the night, the silk tied leaves had slipped off and revealed the dried paste beneath. His skin was bruised and raised, spreading beyond the simple poultice he made. What he could see of the wound was jagged, with the flesh beneath exposed. There was no doubt to even his addled mind.

    The wound was infected.

    Not only that but he was sick with fever.

    To make matters worse, the nearest shelter he could remember was downriver. It would be a long trek, undoing much of his progress, and only serve to leave him weaker.

    Yet he had no choice. Not if he wanted a real shelter. A simple lean-to that could not keep out the rain nor was not the place to ride out a fever.

    "Come on, Sprout." he mumbled somewhat coherently.

    The turtle beast chirped at him happily. It seemed to have forgotten the day before when he nearly attacked it under the influence of the spirit haunting him.

    Which he was also going to have to deal with.

    Later. When he had the time and presence of mind to do so.

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    Wincing, Kenji stretched only enough so that he could begin moving before bending over to scoop up the small waiting for him. He set the beast on the sled, unmindful of how the planter for the Pok¨¦mon was partially empty. Flutter was nowhere to be seen and he could only hope the beast found him later.

    Picking up the sled, he was quickly reminded of his torn hand with a shout of pain. Cradling the limb to his chest, he failed to bite back the whimper that escaped.

    Wincing, Kenji started to chew another poultice to cover it. He was not entirely sure that the leaves were the same as yesterday, and still he could barely bring himself to care. After smearing the masticated leaves on, he wrapped the hand with several large leaves. A string of silk torn from one of the cocoons was enough to hold the greenery in place.

    Kenji grabbed the handles of the sled with a grunt of pain and pushed himself to start walking. The fever drained his energy but, if he wanted to reach the shelter before nightfall, he was going to have to move. It was not too far downriver but it would be well into the afternoon before he reached it. If he had woken earlier then he may have reached it by midday. Alas, the sun was already well into the morning.

    Trudging through the forest, it seemed as if every root was seeking to trip him. It slowed his progress further and encouraged him to simply lay down. However, he knew that if he did so, he would not stand up again. The bone deep weariness pulled at him, making him believe that it would go away. If only he allowed it to do so.

    Yet, in some ways it was easier for him to put one foot in front of the other. Stopping and sitting down would take more effort than a single step. And if he could take that step, then why not another? To make camp here, or there, he would have to stop and prop up the sled.

    Whereas continuing on only required a single step.

    The bubbling of the river grew in the background, helping to cover the wild cries in the forest. It also helped him fall into a walking trance, one that maintained him for however long he was forced to walk. As the sun reached its zenith and began to lower, he felt a slight chill as his feverish skin was brushed by the air. He did not bother stopping for lunch as hunger did not pain him.

    There was only one foot in front of the other.

    At some point, Flutter returned.

    The giant butterfly landed upon his head, the large wings providing shade and a gentle wind as it beat its wings.

    Kenji murmured a soft thanks, missing the beast when the Pok¨¦mon left to resume its search for nectar.

    Without the shade offered by the butterfly''s wings, Kenji felt flashes of cold and heat as he followed the river downstream. A cold sweat poured down his skin. The ground, already uneven from roots, grew more disrupted as he neared too close to the water. Rocks and fallen trees blocked his path.

    Eventually, a stumble proved too much and Kenji collapsed onto the forest floor.

    His knees struck the hard soil and he fell forwards onto his chest. Still holding the sled, it fell onto him to land on his legs. Grunting from shock, he weakly scrambled on the ground. The effort quickly wore him out and he let his arms fall.

    Tired, Kenji rested his head on the ground. It felt good to take a break. He would only close his eyes for a moment and then get up. It would help him recover, then he could continue onto rocky cave. Closing his eyes, he felt the exhaustion begin to carry him away before a sudden chill caused him to shiver.

    Blinking wearily, he saw a soft fog puff out with his breath. Instead of becoming alarmed, Kenji only felt tired.

    Yet he had to move.

    Kenji felt something brush against the remnants of his aura. It was cold yet rough, like a porous rock pulled from the deep sea or sand beneath the surface. Behind him, Sprout let out a chirping whine as the Pok¨¦mon sensed something was wrong.

    He needed to stand up.

    The cold invaded him, chilling Kenji''s spirit. He could see a soft fog puff out with his breath as the ghost cooled the surroundings. He felt his mind ease, the weariness fade from his body enough that he was able to move.

    It felt as if he were watching through a window as his hands were placed on the ground to push his body up. The sled clattered to the ground behind him, disturbing Sprout further. The young Type Beast''s complaints were ignored as Kenji''s hands wrapped around the handles of the sled.

    He needed to move.

    At first Kenji was slow, only taking a step every few heartbeats. The halting movement helped prevent stumbles from turning into falls. Once Kenji started moving, it was easy to keep going. All Kenji had to do was put one foot in front of the other.

    Like this, he fell into a dazed trance as he walked beneath the shade of the forest.

    Sprout''s chirps and an occasional whine threatened to break him free but he resisted. It would be all too easy to stop. Flutter did not return, leaving only the shade and breeze to help cool his fever.

    Rather abruptly, Kenji found himself near his goal. The would-be refuge was rather memorable and hard to miss, even in his current state.

    A large rock, more a boulder yet not nearly so round. It protruded out of the uplifted, rocky ground towards the river. A tree had fallen over it at one point, extending the cover further. However that was not what struck Kenji the first time he saw it.

    The tree was still alive.

    Despite being partially uprooted, leaves grew from the upper limbs. Branches reached for the sky, curving to give the tree an odd appearance. A few limbs appeared dead but the trunk was still strong and healthy.

    It was time to rest.

    Stumbling forward, Kenji could not be bothered to drag the sled any more. His hands released the wood after only a step. Sprout chirped in alarm at the rough movement as the frame and beast fell to ground. Fortunately, the nest crafted for the small Pok¨¦mon so long ago was sturdy enough that the turtle did not tumble out.

    Kenji did not notice, lost in a haze as he stumbled towards the rough shelter. Once more, he fell to the rough earth and started to weakly crawl. As he moved into the shade cast by the tree, he felt the cold lingering within him begin to recede. It was weak and needed to recover.

    The need to reach safety faded with it.

    Enough of the unnatural urge lasted long enough for Kenji to crawl deeper until he was against the stone wall. There, he collapsed fully and fell into an exhausted sleep.

    The dreams began almost immediately.

    Warped by his fever, he was haunted by memories of his mother and father. Together, his family would care for their garden. The plants grew wild despite the attention they lavished on the green. Vines, stems, and more reached for the sky, only to lash out when they could not touch the blue expanse. His parents smiled at him as he screamed, unmindful of the thorn teeth ripping at their flesh. As they were torn asunder, shadows crept in to consume their spirits as he watched, frozen in terror.

    Then, the largest ghost of all, Dusknoir, would rise and swallow him whole.

    Rolling around in his sleep, Kenji cried out as his fever grew nightmares. His arms struck the stone around him. The pain was mimicked across into his dreams, manifesting as wild attacks or cruel beatings.

    The fire that burned his family home consumed him, burning his skin until he sweat enough to muddy the ground. He could hear Sprout wailing with him, in fear and worry. Running through his kingdom''s forest, Kenji screamed for the young beast. The cries only intensified but no matter how far he ran he could never find the Pok¨¦mon.

    His dreams shifted again.

    A cave surrounded him with rough, wet ground underneath him. Standing over him was a large soft pink egg. The being had the wings of a guardian flowing from its crown. An aura of healing and joy flowed from its shell, collecting in a pale orb within its center.

    He panted weakly beneath the strange creature, mumbling incoherently. Perhaps it was his time to join his mother and father. The only thing holding him back was the soft whining Sprout emitted. He quieted slightly when the egg-like creature brushed one of its stubby arms across his head.

    "Cha, chan. Sey." The being''s voice was that of a bell ringing a gentle song as it crooned to him.

    A frown tore at the pink being''s delicate features, making Kenji want to weep from shame for putting it there. He twisted, unable to bear the sight of the downturned face. The limb moved further as it reached for his infected hand, veins crawling up his arm. It felt as if the fever was eating Kenji alive. Only a weak touch of cold against his aura kept the fire from consuming him.

    "Chans, Chan." With another croon, the winged guardian reached within itself. Grasping the orb of happiness in the center of its being, the guardian pulled it free. With one limb, the pink creature lifted Kenji with a surprising strength while the other brought the egg to his mouth.

    The guardian was relentless as it forced Kenji to consume the orb. He was forced to weakly swallow lest he choke. As he drank from the strange egg orb, Kenji felt an odd warmth suffuse his chest.

    The warmth rushed through him as he swallowed the last of the warm liquid. Unlike the raging fever that burned him, this new warmth swept the burning heat aside. As the fires warred within him, he drawn back into a another dream. The winged guardian blurred away and the soft chirps of Sprout faded with it.

 Interlude: A Chanse Encounter

    Wanders-with-Joy harrumphed as she watched the two aging fools beat each other senseless. She could sense the carapace of Owns-Many-Trees crack from the heavy blows as he argued with Harder-than-Rock. The two bugs were vicious with their attacks, recklessly breaking through the trees around them.

    The two would be lucky if they could make it through winter without some soft shelled upstart challenging them for leadership. The last thing this forest needed was some rash young Pok¨¦mon disrupting things. The was enough disturbances in the area as it was.

    Wanders shivered as she curled protectively around the egg peeking out of her pouch.

    She could still remember the ancient cold that swept through the forest only a few light cycles ago. There was no reason for a monster such as that to visit this land.

    Not yet at least.

    Still, Wanders knew that she would be needed, as she always was. Sometimes, she regretted her decision to leave the Grove Above.

    The ending battle quickly distracted Wanders-with-Joy and she leapt into action. The victor was undecided, as it ever was, but her self-imposed duty still remained. Few in the area could heal as her kind were able to and even less ventured beyond the safety provided by the Grove Above.

    Owns-Many-Trees required the more immediate attention. His carapace was cracked and leaking in several places. She would have to seal them carefully to ensure that none of his vital liquids leaked out. While his body could better endure the aftershocks of his blows, it left him weak to strikes that managed to break his protection.

    The overlapping blue shells were tough but Harder-than-Rock did not bear that name without reason. The Bug earned its red metal carapace through fortune and power.

    The blue Pok¨¦mon''s exoskeleton was covered with scars, some fresher than others. Wanders'' sharp eyes noted that the newer ones were barely healed. The forest would be poorer if he fell.

    "Careful." Owns-Many-Trees snapped at her rough ministrations.

    "You''re not the healer, I am." she replied dismissively. If he wanted to complain, then he should think twice about committing to foolish battles.

    "I was healing just fine long before you came about, welp." he grumbled back. Still, Owns-Many-Trees quieted until she was finished. He knew better by now than to talk while she was tending his injuries

    Behind her she could hear Harder-than-Rock''s muffled chirps of amusement.

    She was sure that the Pok¨¦mon would not be laughing when she tended to the bug''s internal injuries. A metal shell did nothing to stop the force that was transmitted through. It was merely a harder form than the its opponent.

    Once Wanders-With-Joy was done sealing the cracked carapace, she handed the elder Pok¨¦mon a healing egg. He immediately cracked it with a claw and began to eagerly slurp it up. The nutritious food would help the weakened Heracross recover further. Perhaps enough that by the time it returned to its nest, the others would leave him alone.

    Bouncing over to the other Bug, she tapped delicately across the Pok¨¦mon''s hard body. Dull thuds could be heard and Wanders-With-Joy nodded in satisfaction. It did not sound as if there were any voids under the metal carapace. Afterwards, she guided the Pok¨¦mon through several forms to ensure nothing within was lethally damaged. The Scizor winced several times but endured.

    To be sure, Wanders-With-Joy passed an egg to Harder-than-Rock. She had it ready, anticipating that both Pok¨¦mon would need one.

    "Many thanks, Grove Healer." Harder-than-Rock said gratefully.

    "Health and Joy to you." she responded.

    Having been tended to, the two Pok¨¦mon began complimenting each other or needling the other for mistakes in the battle. Wanders-With-Joy listened but watched for any interlopers that may seek to take advantage of those under her care.

    It would not be the first time that she had to slap around a wannabe predator.

    Wanders-With-Joy spent time waiting for the two to recover gathering plants of healing that grew nearby. While she was generally free to move through the forest as she wished, due to the healing she offered, it was rare for her to collect such powerful ingredients. Territorial leaders did not often allow her to do so considering how useful the herbs were should they ever become injured.

    She carefully placed the plucked leaves in her pouch before replacing it with another egg. Fortunately, most of the healing was provided by the actual nutrients within rather than the energy she channeled into it. Time would have to pass for the egg to gain the same healing abilities of those she offered to the elder Pok¨¦mon.

    When the taunting of the Owns-Many-Trees and Harder-than-Rock started to move further than she like, Wanders-With-Joy prepared to move away. However, before she could escape, a weight descended.

    Wanders-With-Joy froze in apprehension. Even the two elder Pok¨¦mon, each capable of dominating the lower forest, stilled entirely. She could feel their aura''s retract as they instinctually sought to hide themselves. She could only do the same even though she knew it would have no effect. The weight was as familiar as it was unnerving and she knew how far the one who exerted it could reach.

    The air became charged as the presence made itself known. The aura slowly manifested, lifting off the nearby plants and reaching out to Wanders-With-Joy. She could not help but shudder as she sensed the twisted nature within. The normally white flowers were bleeding into black as the shadows hiding in the roots threatened madness like poison.

    There was a reason she left the Grove Above.

    As the aura began to interact with her own, Wanders-With-Joy felt another shudder run through her. The poison hiding in the shadows was antithetical to her, one she could not heal. Even now, it wanted to reach out and burrow into her. Fortunately, the great one was still able to hold the madness at bay.

    An image appeared inside her mind, communicating the intent of the Guardian Above.

    The river, rushing by, higher than decades before. A tree fallen upon a great boulder. Beneath. A child. Sick. Human.

    The mental sending was violently disrupted as the poisoned shadows surged. They reached for her and Wanders-With-Joy''s fear morphed into terror. Before they could touch her, the aura retreated. The weight holding down the three of the them lifted and they all could breathe freely.

    She glanced at the other two Pok¨¦mon, the mood entirely ruined. Instead, Wanders-With-Joy turned and sprint away without a word of leaving. When the Guardian Above spoke, one listened.

    Whether they wished to or not.

    Moving as quickly as she could, Wanders-With-Joy felt her long feet break the ground. Her run was more a long series of leaps than true running. Few were capable of outrunning a Chansey.

    As she moved through the forest, towards the river, Wanders-With-Joy tried to remember the mental image of her new ward.

    He was slight, overly thin to her eyes. The Guardian said he was sick and she searched for the signs. She was unsure of what the human was supposed to look like, having never cared for a species before. Something that was soon to be rectified, she supposed.

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    Soon, Wanders-With-Joy reached the river. In the vision, the child was closer to the mountain so she followed it upstream. The water flowed by faster than before the storm. She scowled at the reminder of the interlopers hunting in the forest. Shoving aside the irritation and worry, Wanders focused on the navigating her way forward.

    The stream curved and blocked the view upriver. This was not a normal path for her as the riverside was too open for her liking. Still, she raced ahead almost recklessly. Her strides shattered the rocks beneath her and scattered more in her wake.

    Bouncing around a curve, Wanders-With-Joy spotted the shelter protecting the human child. Only her skill prevented her from skidding as she transitioned to an abrupt stop. Through her aura, she could sense the sickness festering underneath the still growing tree.

    Surprisingly, there was more than she expected.

    Another life, severely weakened, was inside the shelter. Moving forward, Wanders-With-Joy peered into the shadows.

    A warbling chirp, meant to be threatening, greeted her.

    Underneath the shade of the growing tree and large boulder, a young Turtwig stood trembling before her. Behind the Pok¨¦mon lay her ward. It was obvious that the little beast was protecting the human yet it even more clear that it could barely stand. His stumpy limbs trembled and his large head hung bobbed as the Turtwig tried to hold it high.

    Beautifly silk clung to its limbs and shell, covering wounds that burned warm to her senses. While she wanted to help the young beast, she had a duty to follow through first.

    Behind the small turtle Pok¨¦mon, the human lay moaning and thrashing. He was covered in dirt and filth from tossing and turning on the ground.

    "Worry not, little one." Wanders-With-Joy started. "I am a Grove Healer and I''ve come to help."

    The small turtle whimpered and shrank back as she moved to approach. Pausing, she looked over the young Pok¨¦mon once more. To her surprise, the Turtwig was younger than she first assumed. The shell appeared to still be soft and the sapling its species was known for had yet to sprout. The Pok¨¦mon was recently hatched, she realized.

    "I will care for the human behind you and cure him of his sickness." she stated kindly. The Turtwig was too young to understand but hopefully it would react to a gentle voice. As she spoke, Wanders-With-Joy allowed her energy to flow into her words. Not enough to truly charm it, just a enough to encourage the well-meaning Pok¨¦mon to step aside and let her work.

    The Pok¨¦mon was too young and inexperienced to resist. He took a few unsteady steps to the side where he collapsed to the hard soil. He struggled to plant himself, achieving only enough to scrap aside the top layer before stilling.

    Wanders-With-Joy allowed her aura to spread, touching both the Turtwig and the human.

    The child was warm, with an infection spreading up from his hand. Her energy instinctively sought to battle the raging fever the child suffered. It soothed him slightly but did little more against the infection. Her energy brushed against something darker and recoiled.

    Wanders-With-Joy stared down at the boy with wariness. It seems he was protected, even if the spirit was currently weakened. However, such protection came with consequences. There was little she would be able to do to help the child recover from hosting such an entity.

    Stepping closer, she channeled her energy into a paw. It collected slowly, leading her paw to glow until the dew of life formed. A recently mastered technique, it took most of her energy and concentration to create. With her other paw, she held the child still. She was able to easily overpower him and allowed a droplet to fall into his mouth.

    Once the human swallowed, she gave the remaining bit of dew to the Turtwig. Too much for either would extract more than their bodies could handle in an effort to heal them. Both human and Pok¨¦mon relaxed, with the Turtwig falling into a light sleep as the healing energy began to flow through him. The human''s thrashing slowed, allowing her to better inspect him.

    A simple wrapping of leaf and paste badly covered the wound on his paw. Around it, she could see that the flesh was swollen and discolored, pus leaking from beneath the long dried paste. It mixed with the sweat the human was releasing. Sighing, Wanders-With-Joy turned and walked back towards the river. Pulling out her egg and collected herbs, she filled her pouch with water.

    Returning to the den, she started to carefully clean the human''s wound. Wanders-With-Joy had to refill her pouch several times before the she was able to see the gash clearly. She could not help but notice the similarities between the injury and Turtwig''s beak. The bite was rough and she wondered at what could drive the young beast to attack his seeming companion. Especially when the turtle so strongly sought to defend the grievously weakened human.

    With the wound clean, Wanders-With-Joy wrapped it with one of the herbs she recently gathered. The leaves were small but they stuck to his skin well enough to protect the wound from the dirt. Having done what she could, Wanders-With-Joy gently propped him up. The human stirred and she spoke to him gently.

    "Wake little one. You must eat." she murmured gently. She tapped his head, channeling some of her energy through the paw briefly.

    The human blearily opened his eyes and his hand twitched. The spirit connected with him woke and tried to fight back. However, the ghost was too weak to affect the human, let alone her. Its power was drained, leaving it unable to manifest its aura from wherever it lurked.

    Nevertheless, she rebuffed it gently lest it affect ward further.

    Next to them, the young Turtwig woke up with a warble. It seemed he was familiar with the spirit and tried to warn it off as he attempted with her.

    "It''s all right, its ok." she said to them.

    Pulling her egg free, Wanders-With-Joy cracked it and slowly dribbled the nutritious liquid within into the child''s mouth. He reflexively started to swallow and she encouraged him to consume it all. The soft shell was fed to the young Turtwig as she did not trust the human to chew properly. The small beast eagerly snapped them up and warbled at her in thanks.

    She kept an eye on the Pok¨¦mon as he munched down the remaining pieces of the egg. The small meal seemed to energize him as he stood up and trundled closer to them.

    Seeing that he was feeling better, Wanders-With-Joy proceeded to inspect him as well. The little Pok¨¦mon was resistant but it would need to grow far larger before it could resist her.

    His warbles of complaint were amusing rather than fear inducing as his later life stages could be. His shell was soft and powdery, quite unlike the dense stone it should be. Even more concerning was the lack of a sapling growing from it. Even a newly hatched Turtwig would have a leaf or two sprouting from its head.

    She delicately unwrapped the silk covering its limbs and Wanders frowned internally. It was important to keep a happy and positive appearance when in front of her wards. The wounds were healing slowly, far too slowly for a growing Pok¨¦mon. Inspecting them, she suspected that they were the result of being hunted rather than some internal sickness.

    After channeling her power to heal the shallow wounds, she studied the Pok¨¦mon further. Yet Wanders could find nothing wrong with it. There were issues, a weak shell and the lack of growing sapling, but there was no other injury to cure. She set the Pok¨¦mon down and watched as he grumpily trundled out into the sun. There, he burrowed himself in soil to absorb the sunlight.

    Returning her attention to the one she could help, Wander-With-Joy proceeded to clean the rest of him. With the human, she stepped outside and discovered that another Pok¨¦mon had joined them.

    "Finally done, healer?" a Beautifly trilled at her.

    Staring at the Pok¨¦mon, Wanders-With-Joy narrowed her eyes. The two others were young and weak. If the Beautifly was traveling with them, then it should not have left them alone.

    "And you are?" she asked flatly. She was not above teaching others some responsibility.

    "The human calls me Flutter." she trilled back.

    "Where were you with the two hatchlings unable to help themselves?" she huffed. Even a freshly transformed Beautifly was enough of a deterrent to keep the sick human safe.

    "Ha!" the Bug exclaimed. "As if that nasty old ghost would let anyone harm him. He''s kept the human safe."

    "Not for much longer." Wanders-With-Joy frowned at the large butterfly. "He cannot suffer this much longer. His body is failing."

    "You should have seen him when I found him." the Beautifly flapped her wings dismissively.

    "Even more reason for it to stop." she snapped back. "The boy will die at this rate."

    "Tell the spirit that." she squealed. "It is possessive, as all their kind are."

    Wanders-With-Joy merely huffed in response. The Bug knew as well as she did how impossible that was. Such beings were set in their ways, finding power in the repetitive.

    "Why do you travel with them?" Wanders-With-Joy asked curiously. She heard tales of Pok¨¦mon joining with humans and fighting. It sounded painful to her but she supposed that there would be plenty to heal.

    "Can''t you tell?" Flutter asked back. "He smells great!"

    She stared back in disbelief. To travel with a human simply because of their scent was madness. The Beautifly might as well join the Grove Above if that was how it wished to live. Not only that but . . .

    "He smells three days dead." Wanders said.

    "I know," the Pok¨¦mon trilled. "Absolutely divine!"

    Sighing, she collected herself and stored the remainder herbs in her pouch. For now, a simple river stone would suffice to hold them down until she produced another egg. It was not her path to correct others in their journey. She was there to heal them and ensure that they were healthy enough to continue.

    Having done what she could heal the two hatchlings, Wanders-With-Joy stayed near the shelter for the rest of the day. When night fell, she kept the small group safe. Only a few scavengers approached but she easily warned them off.

    When the sun rose she could hear the human begin to wake. Taking a moment to gather some fruit, Wanders-With-Joy left them by his side. His infection was cleared and his hand nearly healed. There was nothing more she could do to help them. With only a few strides she disappeared into the forest in search of another ward.

 Chapter 14

    Waking up was a slow experience for Kenji. He vaguely remembered tossing and turning in effort to find a comfortable position before falling back asleep. The fever dreams were a vivid blur in his mind, ranging from terror to despair. Eventually, he woke for the final time.

    He looked around blearily from the dirt floor he found himself on. There were strange shapes nearby that slowly resolved into a small pile of berries. Sunlight cast the shelter in shadow, the large tree and rock providing him cover from the heat.

    Pulling himself up, he groaned with the expectation of the cramps and aches that plagued him for the past several days. To his surprise, not only did he not feel such pains but, he felt far better than he had since his arrival in this unfamiliar forest. His muscles were loose and limber, with the strength to use them.

    Grabbing a fruit, Kenji started to eat slowly and then with an increasing vigor as his appetite returned. The first several bites were small until he started dig into the food. Only after he was halfway through did he stop to wonder where it came from. His memories of the time after the glade were hazy and descended into a thick fog that he could not pierce. Still, he was sure that did not stop to forage for food let alone pile it up before falling to sleep.

    Taking stock of himself, Kenji quickly discovered the plant wrapping around his hand. Despite what he expected, there was no pain originating from the limb nor any pain from the rest of his body. The blisters forming on his feet where well on their way to being healed. The only fatigue he felt was a weakness of spirit. As if he wanted to simply lay down and stay there. Even so, it was weakness that Kenji found he could push through.

    Having finished his late morning meal, he stood up into a crouch and left the confines of his shelter.

    Immediately, Kenji was greeted by Sprout''s excited chirps. The young Pok¨¦mon was buried in the soil as he soaked up the sun''s rays. The beast wiggled in obvious pleasure at seeing him, lightly shifting the dirt around his shell.

    Unable to help himself, Kenji found a smile take shape. One that he did not have to force or struggle to maintain. A smile that came easily and naturally.

    Like a dark cloud crossing the sun, the same smile fell away and Kenji felt guilt curl in his chest. How could he be happy after everything he went through? After everything that he lost?

    Shamed, he turned away from the turtle. The memories, and darker thoughts, threatened to overwhelm him. It felt as though he were on the edge of pit and he forced himself to move.

    To help distract himself, he began to push himself through the Warrior stretches that he conducted since he was a child. Not only was he able to perform more than the few that he found himself restricted to these past few days, Kenji was pleased to discover that he was nearly able to finish the exercises. To further test himself, he conducted a simple kata that was aimed at preparing the body for the special techniques exclusive to Warriors.

    The movements strained his bones and pulled at his muscles as he worked up a sweat through the rest of the morning. Excited by his progress, Kenji remembered the faint fever dreams that plagued him.

    Particularly the winged orb that cared for him.

    The thought of some being or creature caring for him without his knowledge or even awareness of the act unnerved him. It proved to him that he was defenseless and completely at the mercy of others, beast or otherwise.

    Wiping the sweat from his face, Kenji turned to face his companions.

    At some point, Flutter had returned and was currently resting on a nearby branch. However, it was Sprout that intrigued him most. For during the course of his exercise, Kenji could not help but notice that the young Pok¨¦mon was attentive in following his actions.

    "Would you like to join?" he asked seriously.

    The Pok¨¦mon cocked his head with a small warble. It was clear he did not understand what Kenji was saying.

    "Well come on." he said with a gesture, waving the young beast forwards.

    Sprout climbed out of the divot he dug in the ground and trundled towards him. As he did so, Kenji ruminated over how to actually train the Pok¨¦mon.

    The beast was too young to perform the more arduous training exercises he remembered his father''s Pok¨¦mon conducting. Not to mention, even if he was, Sprout was an entirely different beast. The Pok¨¦mon would be completely unable to move as his father''s partners did.

    Meaning that Kenji would have construct his own training regime.

    The though excited him almost as much as it depressed him. It was his father''s duty to pass down methods and techniques honed over generations. As it would be his duty to pass down to his son and so on. Even his mother, despite not being an official Warrior in the kingdom''s army, would have special techniques to give to him.

    Tears pricked at the corner of Kenji''s eyes. He furiously rubbed them away before they could fall. Inhaling deeply, he shook his head and stared at Sprout as the Pok¨¦mon stopped in front of him.

    The beast had a shell that promised to become as sturdy as a stone and perhaps a bite to match. Sprout already had an inclination to pull into his shell, even if it was too small to do so properly.

    That would be a good start, he decided.

    "Sprout, pull into your shell." Kenji ordered.

    Instead of doing so, the Pok¨¦mon stumbled closer with an excited chirp.

    Kenji sighed. Perhaps this was going to be harder than he thought.

    The sun passed slowly in the sky as he continued in his attempts to train the young beast. Kenji managed to convince the turtle Pok¨¦mon to withdraw into his shell several times. The only issue was that it was not guaranteed. Still, it was progress.

    "All right, Sprout. That''s enough for now." Kenji told the Pok¨¦mon.

    The Pok¨¦mon warbled at him tiredly. The simple practice of pulling into his shell was more exercise than he has seen Sprout do in the entire time they have traveled together. If it was not for the beast''s size then he would assume that the Pok¨¦mon had recently hatched.

    Sitting down in the dirt, Kenji patted the ground in front of him. When the little beast started to weakly paw at the dirt, Kenji helped him dig up a hole deep enough to plant himself in. When he was settled in, Kenji lay his legs over each other and settled his hands atop them.

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    "To begin, you must clear your mind." he started.

    Kenji followed his own instruction. He took all the thoughts and worries that plagued him, his doubts for his survival, the memories haunting him, and let them drift free. Sprout stayed silent and Kenji did not open his eyes to see how the Pok¨¦mon was faring.

    "With the mind clear, allow yourself to focus on what you''re feeling. The sun on your skin-scales- as it warms your body. The soil beneath your limbs. The wind as it blows through the trees."

    He paused as he spoke, taking a moment to feel the world around him.

    "Within each aspect of the natural world exists a powerful energy. One that you can draw into yourself."

    Turning his focus inwards, Kenji felt the despair more clearly. The shadows clinging to him rushed to forefront as he sensed for his spirit. Where before he beheld a small garden, now nothing but dark, stamped ground remained. His aura was nonexistent, as there was no Energy to bring it to life. His spirit was crushed and buried, a seed unable to sprout.

    Turning his mind aside, he instead reached for the world around him.

    In his homeland, the energy would be specially cultivated in quiet gardens and expansive groves. There, the Type Energy would be a near physical thing. Back in the rose Pok¨¦mon''s glade, he could sense it in the vibrant plants the thorny beast grew.

    Here, it was so faint it might as well be nonexistent. Nevertheless, he endeavored to open himself to the nature-aligned energy. He was but a seed waiting for the right moment to sprout. Right now was not that moment but he could still strengthen himself, nourish the land that was his body and feed his spirit until it was ready.

    When he began to feel the strain of cultivating, the difficulty in focusing and the call of sleep, Kenji slowly pulled out of his meditation. He did not abruptly close his spirit like one would a door. Instead he imagined a flower folding into is petals until the next sunrise.

    When he was ready, Kenji opened his eyes and looked at the Pok¨¦mon in front of him. He was surprised to see that Flutter had drifted closer at some point. The giant butterfly was slowly flapping its wings, perhaps feeling the wind as it blew. He was glad that the creature was joining him, for the Pok¨¦mon felt all too distant during their journey together so far.

    He was not sure he would offer the beast a link if the chance arose, or if the butterfly would accept it. A link was a bond deeper that ran deeper than blood. That the Pok¨¦mon was a beast of the skies and a bug would make it all the more difficult and limited.

    Meanwhile, Sprout was seemingly asleep. The turtle''s breathing was breathing so low, with great pauses in between, that he might as well have been a plant.

    Shaking his head, Kenji remembered when he began meditating. The quiet garden with a pleasant breeze was enough lull anyone to a nap, let alone a young boy. He stood up quietly so as to avoid disturbing the two Pok¨¦mon.

    Flutter''s antennae twitched at his movement but the beast did not move further.

    Moving away, Kenji circled the shelter. He inspected the rock and living tree critically before turning his eyes to the forest around them. While it was not the best shelter he could think of, it was one of the better ones he has encountered so far. They were near the river and none of the trees bore any significant territorial markings that he could find.

    Some time to recover would be nice, instead of trudging on day after day. Not to mention, having a base to return to would be important if he was going to be stuck in the forest longer than he feared. He would be able to store food, craft a better sled and maybe a weapon or two in order to defend himself. Take time to prepare for a long trek instead of simply surviving as he''s been doing.

    The more Kenji thought about it, the more he found himself favoring the idea of creating a permanent shelter. It would allow him to better scout the forest around him and perhaps even create others that he could escape to if necessary.

    Humming softly, Kenji returned to the shelter and found that Sprout had shifted to follow the sun. Flutter was nowhere to be seen, likely having left to seek out more nectar. He would have to join the Pok¨¦mon in foraging soon as his food supply was getting low.

    "Now what to do first? A door?" Kenji muttered to himself. "A door."

    Grabbing his sled, Kenji carefully removed his remaining food and gather supplies. The fruit, wrapped in the stems that still carried them, were placed in the back of the shelter and on top of a thick piece of wood he found nearby. Maybe later he could take them down to stream and wash them but for now simply keeping the berries off the ground would have to do.

    The vine ropes and coils of silk were placed closer to the large opening, more so that he could have room to lay down at night. The cocoons he decided to hang from the tree growing above. If he squinted, Kenji could imagine that he was surrounded by paper lanterns. Already, his newfound refuge was beginning to feel like a home.

    A home that he desperately wanted to escape from.

    Kenji shook his head to dispel the negative thoughts. He would grow, he was growing to overcome this challenge. He would emerge from this unfamiliar forest a changed person.

    "A Warrior." he whispered to himself.

    "I will become a Warrior." Kenji promised.

    With his sled cleared off, Kenji dragged it to the river. The walk was longer than he would have liked but soon he was wading into the water. The riverbank was mostly lined with rocks but it was the bottom was where his concerns lay. While the moving water kept most of the river clear and free of dirt, it was slow enough only the riverbanks were rocky. Diving beneath the surface, he anchored himself to the rocks on the riverbed as he scooped handfuls of mud free.

    Breaking through to the surface, Kenji swam to the shore and lifted the mud out of the water. To his dismay, he found his hand was barely filthy let alone filled with the mud he was seeking. Kenji stared at his hand, looking from his dripping palm with dirt encrusted fingernails to the river and back.

    "Fool." he called himself with a sigh.

    Pulling on his trousers, Kenji left his shirt behind on the sled while he jogged back to the shelter. There, he quickly grabbed one of the smaller cocoons and quickly returned to the river. He doffed his trousers once before diving down to the riverbed. Kenji found that it was difficult to hold onto the cocoon and scoop mud without being carried away by the current.

    Using his feet to hold onto the rocks, Kenji labored to fill the cocoon with mud. His lungs burned before was able to fill it even halfway. Hefting it underwater, he struggled to swim to the surface. His breath nearly escaped him and Kenji saw black creeping in at the edges of vision. He felt his chest strain and before he could open his mouth, Kenji broke through the surface.

    He only managed to gasp a few breaths before the weight of the mud dragged him down and along the river. He kicked himself forward until he was in the shallows enough to walk back to the river bank. The water drained out of the cocoon as he hefted it out of the river.

    Once he reached the sled, Kenji dropped the load on the rocks. The water continued to drain, returning back to the river. Sitting on the flattest stone he could find, Kenji scooped the mud out with his hands and slathered it on the sled. He had to return to the river several times before the he had enough mud to completely cover the wood.

    While Kenji waited for his new door to dry, he cleaned himself off in the river. Glancing up, he inspected the sky. It was rare for him to gain such a clear view of the world above. On the far edges of the sky, away from the mountains towards where he believe a great sea lay, clouds were gathering. It appeared the land was due for a rough storm in the days to come.

    Turning his attention back to the changed sled, he judged that it would stay together long enough to reach his shelter. Kenji lifted it by the handles and grunted at the weight. He should have known that it would be far heavier and difficult to drag through the forest.

    By the time he arrived back, he was sweaty enough to need another dunk in the river. He dropped the sled, the loud thud waking Sprout temporarily before the beast fell back to sleep. If only he could sleep so easily or freely. The monstrous roars, hunting calls, and screams often awoke him at night.

    After positioning the changed sled in front of the shelter, Kenji squatted down and grabbed the edges. Grunting from exertion, he lifted it up and nearly dropped it when was time to push it above his head. He could feel his muscles burn from the effort but with a shout he shoved forwards to lay it against boulder.

    It covered one entire side of the large entrance and offered better protection from the elements. The clouds were gathering on the horizon and promised a fierce storm to come. He would need to hurry to be ready to meet the winds and deluge of rain. Despite the oncoming weather, severely lacking supplies, and sense of loss, Kenji felt a flicker of hope.

 Chapter 15

    The storm rolled in two short days later. The clouds covered the sky and blotted out the sun, turning day to night. Once, on a trek to the river before the storm, Kenji could see the lightning crawling through the dark clouds. They towered far into the sky and created a bulbous wall that spread across the horizon.

    The sight of the powerful storm sent Kenji into a panicked frenzy as he sought to prepare for the onslaught of wind, rain, and lightning.

    His mornings were spent gathering stones from the river. The exercise was surprisingly invigorating as it worked the muscles in his body. During his breaks from carrying the heavy rocks, he foraged in the surrounding forest while collecting every piece of wood he could find. Enough, that branches lined the floor of his simple shelter and protected him from the slurry of mud that was soon to develop. More wood was piled against the far wall to keep it from soaking up the moisture and turning too wet to burn when the storm finally passed.

    Flutter was taking refuge with him under the protection of the boulder. The giant butterfly was careful to keep its delicate wings dry but was still perilously close to the sheet of rain falling from the sky. While the storm blew in, the beast was braving the strong winds.

    Kenji watched only briefly as it fought to fly against the oncoming storm only to be blown away by a strong gust. It had to maneuver quickly to avoid striking the trees around it. Then, the butterfly was almost racing the wind as it dodged around the trunks and low branches. It was impressive to see such a fragile creature weave through the forest in effort to grow stronger.

    The sight of the Pok¨¦mon pushing itself encouraged Kenji to work harder. He focused largely on gathering and foraging, opting to pile the collected food instead of crafting a proper storage for it. Rocks were haphazardly piled in front of his wooden walls to better anchor them against the wind. When the storm was over he would be able to easily move them to create a fire pit outside the shelter.

    In preparation for the coming storm, he created a smaller one inside the wood and mud walls. A ring of stones were piled around a hollow in the dirt floor. Worried about a stray ember igniting the wood, Kenji built the pit deep with a several layers of stone surrounding it. For now, it was pile with dry leaves and kindling that he found in the forest.

    When Kenji first built the firepit, he made a brief attempt at starting it but quickly gave up. Without a proper flint, he was unsure of how to start a fire. Typically a Warrior would have a bond create a small spark or flame. More powerful beasts were even capable of creating a small orb of sunlight to provide heat and light. Otherwise, a simple flint and striker were enough for most people.

    As he shivered from the wind, Kenji pulled clumps of mud out of several silk cocoons to further seal the walls. It would not dry well without a source of heat but it worked well enough for now. It left his hands slick with mud but a few moments of holding them outside in the rain washed them clean. When he was finally done packing the walls, Kenji sat back and comforted the shaking Pok¨¦mon by his side.

    Sprout was resistant at first in staying under the shelter but when the thunder started to boom he quickly gave in. The turtle was young enough that it was possibly the beast''s first major storm. What worried Kenji more was how long the Pok¨¦mon could go without the sun.

    The young beast was barely mobile at the best of times, only moving to find the sun''s rays. He was more energetic after eating a few berries but quickly settled down. For plant Pok¨¦mon, the sun was more than just warmth and light. They drew nourishment from the rays and could not subsist off berries alone.

    Keeping the Pok¨¦mon close, Kenji spent some time simply relaxing. No longer did he have to rush or work past sunset to prepare. Now, all he could do was ride out the storm and wait for it to pass. The food would last days and water was falling from the sky. After the past frantic days, a moment to sit down was welcome.

    Still, there was always work to be done, so he did not sit still for long.

    Grabbing some branches, Kenji started to snap off the offshoots that grew along them. The removed leaves and twigs were set aside into another pile as fire kindling. When he grew bored and his hands began to hurt, he used cocoon silk to tie the cleaned limbs together. He continued to rope the branches together until he had several large but rough crates. With a few wider pieces of wood or on top, he would be able to easily stack them atop each other.

    When he judged that he had enough, Kenji began to sort through everything he foraged so far. There was a small variety, some that he was sure he recognized from Greenleaf. The ones that grew in thick bunches made the most of his supply as they were easier to spot while moving through the forest. The purple fruits were somewhat dry but had a sweet aftertaste and went down smoothly.

    More exciting was a discovery he made while collecting nuts from a nearby tree. There was a prickly fruit that looked remarkably hairy that he had noticed while traveling. The sight of it was off-putting enough that he did not believe it was edible. However, when he found one while foraging for the storm he could not help but inspect it closer.

    The skin was broken as it something had crushed it or attempted to bite through the coarse hairs covering it. Underneath the spiny fur was a green skin covering a pale pink fruit flesh. The sight of it made Kenji realize that there may be more food around him than he could have thought. Previously inedible berries were now changed in his eyes. All he had to do was a bit of work to uncover the fleshy fruit inside.

    With that, Kenji started gathering everything growing from the surrounding trees and shrubs. If all of the berries were truly edible and not poisonous, then he had enough food for over a week. Once the fruits were organized, Kenji picked up one of the hairy green berries.

    He rolled the fruit around in his hand briefly before grabbing a pointed rock and digging it into the skin. The spiny hairs were rough but not to the point of drawing blood. They worked to protect the berry but not enough to keep him from peeling it open.

    Like before, the fruit flesh was a pale pink. Nearly enough pale enough to white. He sniffed it warily but the smell was not nearly as off putting as its appearance. If anything, it reminded Kenji of the berry bunches he collected.

    Squeezing out some of the juice, Kenji rubbed it onto a small part of his arm. He waited several minutes to see if his skin grew irritated or raised but nothing happened. Next he peeled off a strip of the fruit and, hesitating briefly, dropped it into his mouth.

    His lips twisted at the unexpected bitter taste but he forced himself to chew it thoroughly before swallowing. The flesh was surprisingly smooth and only after a few bites he was able to easily swallow it.

    While Kenji waited for a reaction, he made an attempt at cleaning up his shelter. Stray branches were moved aside or pressed further into the dirt to provide a flatter ground. Already some of the water was soaking into the dirt beneath the wood and creaking a slick mud.

    Outside, lighting crackled across the sky and lit up the forest. The thunder deafened his ears when he briefly poked his head out. The storm clouds blanketed the stars and covered the forest in shadow. Combined with the pouring rain, Kenji could barely see the surroundings. That was, until a light began to rise above the forest.

    Above the tree line, it almost appeared as if a branch of electricity reached up to the sky. It crawled slowly towards the clouds, seeming as if it were probing the open air before beginning to retreat. Flickering to life in the storm clouds, another streak of lightning appeared. Where the first branch was slow and ponderous, this was not. It raced through the dark, branching only lightly. As the river of lighting neared the opposing steam, the air grew still and even the rain seemed to pause.

    Then they struck and the world went white.

    Kenji opened his mouth in a silent scream, drowned out by the overwhelming boom of thunder. When he could finally see and hear again, he found himself on the ground inside the shelter. The rain was stinging as it fell on his body and scrambled in the muddy ground to right himself. Crawling back to the shelter, he fell inside.

    Wiping the rain from his face, he saw Sprout violently shaking against the wall, warbling in terror. The Pok¨¦mon was curled into its shell, only the head extended to voice his fear. Even Flutter was disturbed and moved to the back of the small cave to avoid the crash of lightning and thunder.

    Righting himself, Kenji approached the terrified beast and comforted him. The act of soothing Sprout helped to calm his nerves as well. It was nearly impossible for him to determine what species of beast caused the explosion of lightning but the Type was easy to identify.

    The Electric Pok¨¦mon was clearly using the power of the storm to strengthen itself, as any proper Warrior would. His main concern was that such an act would not be allowed to go unprovoked. While the storm would allow the electric beast to reach new heights, the territorial leaders could not miss such a clear display. If it survived the heavens'' tribulations, then it would soon have others coming for it.

    If it did not happen soon, then the Pok¨¦mon landscape was due for an upheaval. Powerful beasts laid claim to large swathes of land, even in Ransei where Warlords ruled. Anytime a new Pok¨¦mon rose to such heights, entire villages were devastated as they sought to establish themselves. Depending on how the ensuing battles went, the entire region could be affected. Sometimes it even extended across the kingdom borders, an ill omen that signaled the prelude of war.

    Sighing to himself, Kenji forced his worries to the side. All he could do was prepare. Perhaps, if he was lucky, an army would march by and rescue him. Though he would not keep his hopes up.

    What happened, happened.

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Returning to the strange, hairy fruit Kenji peeled the rest of the pale berry free and forced it down. He was not a fan of the bitter and sour taste but it was food. Besides, maybe he could grow to like the flavor after he ate enough of them. The seed was offered to Sprout but the beast was too scared of the storm to eat. Instead, Kenji tossed it to the side in an empty crate.

    Staring at the now organized fruit, Kenji turned away. The spiny fruit put off his desire to try any more of the untested berries. Instead he would work on something that he''s been wishing for ever since arrived. Before, even.

    A way to defend himself.

    There was little that a regular person could do against a Type Beast wishing them harm but sometimes the threat of an attack could be enough to ward one away. Not only that but the right weapon could be so much more. While he was trained in the b¨­, a wood staff would be of little use cutting down branches. Besides, constructing a proper b¨­ would require something to carve with. No, for now he would need something sharper, more varied in its usefulness. With even a small knife he could better harvest and work wood into more useful forms.

    With a proper weapon, he would be able to hunt for an actual meal instead of subsisting on nothing but berries. To grow as a Warrior, he would need more than a minor variety of fruit. Even those who disparaged eating the meat of beasts had to be careful in their diet lest they starve on a feast of berries.

    To that end, Kenji picked up two rocks that he gathered from the river. One was large enough that it barely fit in his hand while the other was rounded and slightly oblong. Hold them tightly, Kenji brought the smaller rock down upon the edge of the other. The sound of the two stones striking each other was sharp but faded quickly.

    The large stone bore only a small chip and Kenji struck it again with force. With the second strike, a flake the length of his finger and half as wide broke free. He let it fall to the ground and inspected the new edge of the stone closely. Where the stone broke off appeared sharp and he tested it by digging the large rock into a nearby branch.

    With only a minor amount of pressure the stone easily cut into the tough wood and Kenji grinned in excitement. He could already see how his survival would change with a stone knife or even an axe.

    Turning the stone slightly, he began to roughly tap the two rocks together. However, after only a few more breaks the large rock broke too freely and was rendered into a pile of sharp flakes. Holding the stones in his hands, Kenji looked at the chips at first with dismay.

    Closing his eyes, he thought over what he did wrong. Instead of losing himself to the frustration of a failed attempt, Kenji worked through it.

    Metal was rare in Greenleaf. Enough that not even the status of Warrior could guarantee one a metal weapon. Most of their metal weaponry and tools were won through battle or trade. Still, the people of his kingdom persevered. Type Beasts were incredibly resilient and with their help, Greenleaf was able to craft elaborate structures and tools.

    If his ancestors could build a kingdom with nothing but their hands, then surely he would be able to make a simple axe.

    Opening his eyes, Kenji released his held breath. Picking up another large rock, he struck it with the smaller one still in his hand. Like before, a flake of stone fell free to reveal a sharp edge. Not pausing to inspect it, he turned the chipped rock and hit it again. Another flake broke free and Kenji flipped the rock over to strike it from the other side. Like this, he slowly and carefully broke the stone.

    Forced to wait for brief flashes of lightning, the form he envisioned slowly took shape in his hand. The leather guards he sweat in while trekking through the forest now served to protect him from the sharp edges of stone. Still, he could feel the pinching heat when his hand slipped and he struck his finger instead of the stone. At the same time a spray of bright orange sparks lit the darkness of his shelter and blinded him.

    Shouting from the pain and surprised by the sudden light, the rocks fell from his grip and he cradled his hand close. Holding his limb, he glared at the stone. However, when Kenji registered the sparks of light, he soon forgot the pain in his fingers and scrambled on the ground. With the help of a flash of lightning, he was able to find the dropped stones among the chipped off flakes. Unmindful of the cut he received, Kenji snatched up the precious rocks in the following thunder.

    Holding the two stones protectively, he felt a smile creep on his face. Unable to help himself, Kenji felt a laugh bubble out and he started to giggle uncontrollably. He was sure that if anyone saw him, then they would consider him mentally unwell. On the other hand, if anyone saw him then he would no longer be struggling to survive in a beast ridden forest.

    "Ha," Kenji barked in laughter as he stood up.

    Shuffling over the firepit, he crouched near the short wall protecting it. Holding the two rocks in hand, he scrapped them together in a quick strike across the revealed stone. Lifting off the rock, a spray of light showered the leaves and kindling. Instead of the fire he imagined blazing to life, the shadows smothered the sparks to keep the shelter dark and cold.

    Desperately trying again, Kenji scrapped the stone across the face of the flint to elicit another shower of sparks. Like before, they quickly died on the leaves. Glaring at the would be firepit, Kenji felt the frustration rise and he tightened his grip over the stones in his hands. He could feel the rock digging into his palms as he silently snarled. Air pulsed through his nostrils as he fought to regain control of himself.

    Seizing hold of his anger, Kenji forced it down. If he lost himself to his emotions then he would never survive. Just as easily as he could to rage then so too could he fall to despair. A deep pit that he would never want to climb out of.

    Kenji closed his eyes and breathed deeply. He intentionally relaxed his grip, not allowing the stones to fall but no longer clenching them until his hand paled from the effort. His mouth opened and closed as he worked his jaw loose. With a final deep exhale, he opened his eyes and focused on the firepit before him.

    If the sparks were not lighting then he was doing something wrong. Leaves burned easily and fast when lit from a flame but they obviously served as poor kindling. If the thin leaves would not catch then neither would the twigs and small branches he threw in.

    With the rain beating down on the tree and boulder sheltering him, he cleaned out the firepit. Everything was removed and piled separately until there was nothing but bare dirt surrounded by a ring of stones.

    Grabbing a handful of leaves, he shredded them with his fingers. Fistfuls were crumbled into a ball, torn apart, and crumbled again. Powder fell from his hands as he held them over the firepit until he ran out of leaves. Looking over the small pile torn leaves, Kenji did not believe it would be enough. They might catch fire but he doubted the thin plant material would burn hot enough to light a log.

    Picking up the twigs, he broke them as small as he could with his hand and added them to the firepit. As dark as it was, he struggled to see the small offshoots and yelped in pain when something pierced his skin. Dropping the small branch in his hand, Kenji jerked his arm up to his eyes in an attempt to see what happened.

    Embedded in his finger was a sliver of stone that he missed when cleaning out the pit.

    With a wince of pain, he pulled the shard out. Blood well from the small cut and he moved to toss the stone piece away. Before he could release it, however, he froze. The broken piece of stone was sharp enough to cut him and he knew it was sharp enough to carve wood.

    If that was the case, then why was he not using it to shave off proper tinder?

    Turning around, he returned to his pile of broken off flakes. Most were thin with sharp edges while the rest were merely shards too small to hold properly. Lifting the edge of leather apron, he wrapped it around the edge of stone flake to keep from cutting himself.

    With the stone knife in hand, he grabbed a piece of wood and placed the edge at angle to the branch. With one hand hold the wood still, he used the other to scrap the stone flake down. The simple knife cut into the wood and he had to angle to keep from ripping too thick a strip free.

    Snatching up the wood strip, he set it carefully inside the firepit. Right now, to him, the sliver of wood was the most valuable object in his entire shelter. Picking up the branch again, he painstakingly started the process of shaving it down. Time passed slowly and he had to take a break several times to eat or comfort Sprout after a loud burst of thunder. However, with nothing else to do and the thought of a fire waiting for him, he pushed on.

    Kenji carved his way through several sticks until he had a pile of wood shavings inside his firepit. It rivaled the mound of shredded leaves in size. In order to better create a chance of a spark igniting, he packed the leaves into the center of the shavings. He debated separating them into a several piles but if this failed then he would have to simply wait out the storm to try again.

    With one hand gripping the flint, he used the other to scrap the river stone down its smooth surface. In one short and quick motion, sparks flew.

    His proximity to the pit meant that most of the fire-giving sparks landed inside but the pile of tinder was small enough that only a few hit. Kenji held his breath as the tinder seemed to glow before the light faded. Undeterred, he tried again and again, creating a rain of sparks to rival the downpour outside.

    So consumed with striking the flint, Kenji missed the first flickers of flame. With sparks still falling he dropped to the ground to blow on the tinder.

    In the dark of the shelter, the lines of heat crawling across wood and leaves were clear to his eyes. It looked like lightning reaching through the sky, searching for something to strike.

    Sucking in a deep breath, Kenji pinched his lips and gently breathed out. He encouraged the fire to take, to give him warmth and light.

    The red and orange light flickered as if threatening to go out and he frantically breathed on it again. With a burst of air from his lungs, the light swelled and bloomed. Catching on the leaves, a flame consumed them quickly before leaping to the wood shavings. There it seemed to struggle to burn but, as more and more of the leaves caught fire, the shavings started to darken and crack.

    "I did it!" Kenji jumped up and cheered loudly. "I made fire!" he laughed.

    The loud noise and sudden movements startled his two companions. Flutter lifted off briefly in agitation before settling down with a scolding trill of complaint. Sprout started to warble in fear, withdrawing into his shell until all Kenji could hear was the shaky notes echoing out.

    Ignoring the two beasts, he rushed to his pile of sticks and snatched up a handful. He moved back to the firepit in only a few quick steps and dropped to the ground. Letting the wood fall, he hurriedly picked up them up one by one as he started to place them over his growing flame.

    Already, the fire lit up the shelter and turned it from a dark, damp hole into a dim, damp hole.

    Still, it was kingdoms better than what he had before.

    Kenji leaned the largest branches against each other before placing the smaller ones inside. He had to a few into the dirt to hold them in place, unmindful of the growing heat as he rushed. The flame was done consuming the leaves and was now burning through the wood shavings. Small twigs he tossed in earlier were smoldering and he threw what else he could find in.

    The flame grew into a steady burning fire as he cared for it. Sprout''s growing warbles shifted to croaks of fear, drowning out the crackle of burning wood. Even Flutter was starting to whine, the butterfly''s trills of complaint piercing his ears as it rebounded of the stone walls. Only once he was satisfied that the fire would not go out, did Kenji stand up to comfort the two beasts.

    "Come on, you-" he broke off in the middle of his own complaining with a light cough that grew harsher as he struggled to breath. Tears blurred his vision and he ducked back down. Still coughing, Kenji crawled to the wood walls and tugged the wood free.

    In his effort to keep out the wind, he also worked to trap the smoke inside with him. If it were not for the mud sealing the walls to the boulder above then the dark smog would easily follow the slanting roof out.

    Water poured in, shocking him with its cold as he worked to tear a hole in the wall. The dried mud broke free in chunks and showered his face as he coughed. He spat out the dirt as he continued to work until the smoke started to clear. He opened the hole further before falling back and sitting next to Sprout.

    Flutter trilled angrily at him as the butterfly''s wings were now slightly stained by the smoke. She flapped them to push the smoke out, incidentally sending some towards him.

    "Sorry," Kenji coughed as he waved the smoke out of his face. "I know, I know. I should''ve been more careful."

    The butterfly continued to squeal angrily and Kenji nodded along as the beast rebuked him.

    Still, it did little to remove the smile from his face as he warmed his hands on the fire.

 Chapter 16

    Two days.

    That¡¯s how long the rain lasted for Kenji. There were brief periods of light, were sky grew brighter, as though the sun was trying to pierce the dark clouds and burn away the storm. The endless rain fell lightly during these small moments but never fully stopped. The wind blew in great bursts, shoving around the clouds above while the trees swayed until he feared they would fall. Then all of a sudden lightning flickered across the sky, drowning out the world as it screamed, and the storm would return in force.

    To Kenji, it was almost as if the storm was raging against itself. Refusing to die yet unable to go on.

    While he waited for the storm to pass, Kenji continued to work in his shelter. Most of it was spent crafting his new stone knifes so that he could use them without cutting himself. He had to destroy some of his leather apron to do so but he considered the trade worthwhile. The leather still covered his arms and chest with his stomach now exposed.

    In between making knifes, he warily tested the foraged berries. Most of them were fine, with only a two raising his skin when he rubbed the juice on his arm. When he saw his forearm turn red and pebbled, he immediately threw the entire crate of berries outside. Throwing the berries past the trees helped break the boredom he was suffering cramped inside the small cave.

    He especially enjoyed the sound of the fruits splattering against the wood trunks.

    While Flutter was confined inside, refusing to let so much as a drop of water touch the delicate wings, Kenji managed to lure Sprout outside for a brief time. The clouds had thinned enough for the forest to lighten, while the rain was more of a heavy mist soaking the trees. There was no lightning or thunder to scare the small beast who, still fearful of the loud booms, was now somewhat accustomed to the barrage of sound.

    When Sprout discovered the scant light and wet soil, he turned ecstatic. The beast came alive as he played in the ground and splattered himself with mud. He rolled around it, coating his shell and scales with the loamy earth before settling down into an easily dug hole.

    Kenji had to race to the river to clean himself of the dirt he was covered in from playing with the young Pok¨¦mon. The water had swelled to nearly double in size, reaching far beyond the rocky shore he remembered. To be safe, he kept from wading in and cleaned himself by cupping his hands to pour water over his muddy limbs.

    By the time he returned, the thunder began again and the two of them retreated to the small cave. With little else to do, Kenji started on another project he was looking forward to.

    A blanket.

    Or at the very least a canvas. He had access to plenty of silk from the remaining cocoons to however much Flutter could make. Here, the butterfly proved surprisingly capable as the beast assisted with threading the silk around the carved wood branches he was using to weave. If it were not for the time spent with his mother, repairing clothes and spinning Cottonee thread, then Kenji would have been at loss for what to do.

    At first, Flutter''s silk was too sticky and he had to rush outside to hurriedly pluck leaves from the shaking trees. While wet, they still helped keep the threads from turning into a tangled clump.

    Yet as Kenji worked with the butterfly, the beast seemed to find the process a form of training. While the thread remained tacky, a layer of leaves was enough to keep it from sticking to him or anything else. Where the Pok¨¦mon excelled was its improved control in directing the thread to move and controlling how tightly it clung.

    By the time the storm finally passed, Kenji felt changed. He was better prepared for the struggles of survival that were sure to come. With a knife and flint, he could easily start a fire wherever he went, though he was sure to always have embers burning in his original pit.

    Not only was it easier to prod embers to a blaze than start a whole new flame, Kenji found himself strangely reluctant to let the fire go. Almost as if it were a new companion, one he would fail by allowing to disappear.

    That was not the only reason he was so unwilling to part from the warm light, however. There was another, an apprehension of what was to come should he stray too far. He ignored it for as long as he could, reasoning that confronting it in the night of the storm would give it too much power. Now, with the day growing lighter as the sun burned away the last of the storm, he knew he could put it off no longer.

    Well, not too much longer.

    There were preparations he could take, rituals that might give him a greater chance. For the rest of the day, he would settle his mind and let the two Pok¨¦mon free themselves from the shelter they were trapped him.

    Sprout was the first out of the shelter, having emerged before the rain stopped and long after the last of the thunder. He played merrily in the thick soil and Kenji helped him dig for the richer earth beneath. His hands were caked in dirt by the time he was done.

    Only afterwards did he realize that he could have simply carved a small spade instead of digging with his hands. Still, he did not mind and left the young turtle beast to bask in the growing sunlight while he cleaned himself off.

    The river had calmed from its previous raging swell but was still higher than he remembered. More comfortable with the calmed water, he hung his clothes on a nearby branch before diving into the cold waters. The current was stronger than he expected and he quickly surfaced before turning back to shore.

    He struggled against the river''s strength until he was able to claw at the rocks. When he reached the shallows, Kenji turned around so that he was facing the sky.

    With one arm holding onto a rock he luxuriated in the flowing water while the rain softly fell.

    Idly, Kenji imagined a small alcove formed by the river stones that he could use as a small pool to submerge himself in. The rocks would keep him from being pulled away by the current while still allowing enough water to flow to keep it from becoming stagnant. He could even carve a ledge or a frame to sit on.

    Part of him was worried at how easy it was for him to imagine doing this, working for days to create a rocky outlet simply for him to bathe in. The other part was happy to be able to imagine any future at all, even if it was one where he was stuck here forever.

    However, the thoughts could not distract him for long and Kenji allowed himself to fall under the surface. The sound of the forest faded away, muffled by the water and drowned out by the sound of the flowing river. With his eyes shut, it was dark and cold. An emptiness threatening to pull him away.

    But not for long.

    With a kick of his legs, he pushed off the riverbed and surged towards the surface. He found two companions to keep him company. He created fire to stay warm and light the night. The shelter was a reprieve, a place to keep out of the storm. It was not home and he would not let it be.

    When he broke through the surface, Kenji shook the water off and wipe it from his eyes. He stared at the sun through the cover of the clouds.

    "I will go home." he promised.

    He waded for a moment longer, carving his promise into his mind as he remembered this moment. Even if everyone he loved or knew was dead and his home was nothing but ashes, he would return.

    The rain had stopped by the time Kenji emerged from the river. His clothes were damp so he merely pulled on his underclothes, carrying his tunic and pants back to the shelter. When he arrived, Flutter was nowhere to be seen and Sprout was still basking under the growing sun.

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    He was slightly worried, the butterfly was impatient and irritated by its forced confinement in the stone and mud walls. The beast was able to eat the berries by piercing the fruit with is needle mouth and draining the juice but he could tell that it far preferred flower nectar. Hopefully it would not do anything rash, or at the very least not bring what beast it angered to the shelter.

    Kenji hung his clothes from a branch that reached down from the tree growing upon the boulder he stayed in. Despite the days long storm, the tree was looking strong and only a free small branches were torn free. He cleared up the ones blown into area around his temporary home and stacked the wood around the boulder. After the storm, everything was too wet for him to burn, leaving him with what he had until the sticks dried out.

    To keep from wearing himself out, Kenji did little beyond setting stones down for a larger firepit. He needed to be strong and ready for tomorrow. Circling the camp, he muttered to himself as he struggled to remember the stories, tales, and warnings told about ghosts. Most of them were simply ones his parents and friends told at night in an effort to scare each other.

    Kenji''s throat closed briefly, choking him off as he remembered those he left behind. Satou and Mori were destined to become Warriors of their own, their fathers serving under his. He did not have many friends, his father''s status and his mother''s foreignness too off putting for other families. But the few he did have were steadfast, ones he was sure would weather time and battle.

    If they survived that was.

    Heaving in an effort to control his emotions, Kenji propped himself up on a nearby tree. The bark was rough against his bare skin but he did not mind. He welcomed the discomfort as a distraction from the tortuous thoughts.

    Closing his eyes, he focused on the world around him. The wind blowing through the trees, remnants of the past storm. The bark was damp and uncomfortable, nothing compared to the pain of his memories.

    To further distract himself, he remember the tales spoken by the village elders. The legends were a history passed down from elder to elder, a tradition to preserve their past. To serve as reminders for the future. It was where most drew inspiration for their own ghost stories. That and the few war stories Kenji and his friends heard their fathers speak about.

    In the elder''s telling, it was the purity of the land and the strength of their ancestors that kept Greenleaf free of spirits. Only on the battlefields between kingdoms did they have to worry about the dead clinging to life. While some could stay on as protectors, bound by oaths that persevered through death itself, most ghosts were not nearly so pure in their purpose. Vengeful spirits, they sought to inflict the pain and death they suffered onto others. Whether it was an attempt to find solace or to merely spread misery, Kenji did not know.

    The elders claimed that one kingdom was even debased enough to use such restless spirits for their own gain. That great Type Beasts could rise from harnessing the ghosts, though it was never clear how they did so. Ordinarily, Kenji would dismiss the story as that, fictions told to scare them. The only issue was the reactions of those around him.

    When such legends were spoken of, the Warriors grew silent. A few even went so far as to ward themselves with their hands, flicking their fingers over their chest in the sign of the Alpha. Even his father tensed slightly, clenching his swords as if to draw them.

    For Warriors to grow so apprehensive, there must be some truth to the legends. If there was, then perhaps there was truth to the rest of it. Cleansing tags hung and sigils carved on nights when the moon faded from sight. Salt across the doors and prayers offered in the twilight.

    The darkness was absolute and even the few grass beasts that favored the night hunkered down. Nothing ever happened at his home but his friends mentioned strange noises outside that their Warrior fathers refused to investigate.

    The tags were often made by the elders or purchased from the few that spent days making the intricate designs. He could carve a few of the sigils himself but the cleansing tags were beyond him.

    Not only were they crafted from washi specially treated to help the already tough paper stronger against the energies it warded against, but the actual tracing of lines on the tag was an Art in and of itself. Even if he had the proper ink and brush, his attempt at writing out the delicate words was more likely to earn the ire of the spirit than encourage it away. To soil the words of The Original One was to earn the fury of the Guardians themselves.

    There was another issue, one he was despairingly loathe to think about.

    His aura.

    What truly made the symbols work, if they did indeed work, was the Energy his father supplied to the symbols. There was just a touch of power sealed in, yet it was far more than he could achieve in his current state.

    Perhaps he did not need the Energy, Kenji hoped. Afterall, plenty of families without Warriors used the same tags.

    Returning to the center of his camp, Kenji kneeled and bowed his head. He clapped twice, softly so as to not disturbed Sprout, by moving his right hand away from left. Holding his palms together, he offered a short prayer to whatever local guardian may be watching. His hand, twisted by the healed scar twinged slightly.

    Ignoring the flinch of pain, he shifted positions.

    His legs were laid over one another while his fingers dug through the soil for nourishment. His father always sought the swaying stillness of their garden when he cultivated. He claimed that the soft swish of the wind as it rubbed the plants against each other was their desire to grow strong and tall. The tangling green was fighting for claim to the sun.

    For Kenji, the soil was enough. It was where all plants derived their life, so why could it not be the same for him? Even on the hardest of stones, one could find a plant clinging to life as it struggled to live on the barest of dirt.

    Holding the land, Kenji searched for the strength to endure what was to come. He did not know how the spirit would test him, considering he has never had to drive off one before. For now, all he could do was prepare.

    Digging his fingers through the soil, Kenji lost himself in meditation. There, his worries were nothing but disquiet rumblings threatening to break his concentration. Hunger, a constant fear even with his bounty of fruit, was smoothed away. The terror of crossing the path of a rampaging beast or angering one into a fury as he traveled the forest.

    What will happen, will happen.

    Breathing deep, he focused on the world around. He felt the damp soil clinging to his fingers. The wind caressed his skin, even as it threatened a gale. Wood creaked and whispered around him, telling a story just beyond his understanding.

    Threaded through it all was a power he would always seek to understand. It was in the cutting air, as the wind roared through the sky. The shifting earth, slow to rouse but devasting when awoken. Even the growth of nature could be destructive as it tore apart the world around it, all in effort to grow.

    Opening himself up, Kenji sought the green Energy around him. His body was a garden bed and his aura the seed laying within.

    Energy fed the Spirit, enriching the Body and giving birth to Aura.

    While he could not control the power, he could soak it in as a leaf did the sun. The seed that was his spirit would feed, strengthening itself. The Energy, passing through the barren ground that was his body would slowly transform him. Enriching him until his body was a dark, loamy earth fit for a Legend.

    Kenji was not sure how long he stayed like that before he felt something nudge his hand. Cracking open an eye, he saw Sprout laying down next to him. The beast was using its hard beak to prod at his fingers. Obliging the Pok¨¦mon, Kenji felt a smile tug on his lips.

    When he first encountered the young beast, it was full of terror at the world it found itself alone in. Even when Kenji fed and cared for him, the turtle would shy away or curl up into his shell. Now, the beast was approaching him simply to feel his hand on his shell.

    That, or Sprout was attracted to Kenji cultivating. Not entirely improbable but the beast had yet to display any indication of the innate Energy that Pok¨¦mon possessed.

    Only the youngest or weakest of beasts were completely bare of the Type Energy that empowered them. He could only hope that his companion was of the former category, though his size did not suggest it.

    Of course, the damage Kenji suffered to his spirit rendered him unable to sense Energy of any Type.

    Sighing, Kenji gave up on resuming his meditation.

    The day was already growing short and he was going to need a full night of rest. Looking around, he was surprised to see Flutter resting on a rock nearby. After being trapped inside the shelter, the beast seemed almost loathe to stay at camp. Instead, the butterfly preferred to fly away for most of the day, returning only to rest and recuperate.

    Staring at the Pok¨¦mon, he noted a few more scratches on its carapace body than he remembered. The delicate wings likewise appeared frayed and worn. Shaking his head, Kenji decided to ignore the matter away for now. If the butterfly wished to test itself, then he was not one to speak.

    Kenji only hoped that the bug would be careful.

    He stood up and passed through the mud walls that enclosed the boulder sheltering him. He grabbed several berries and savored the few berries he allowed himself to eat. Already his supply was running low, especially after discarding so many that he deemed inedible.

    With the stone flakes, he found peeling the fruits a far cleaner task than simply pulling it apart with his fingers. He fed the peel and seeds to Sprout who swallowed them easily with a chirp of pleasure.

    Smiling back at the Pok¨¦mon, Kenji called for Flutter who tiredly flapped its way inside before crawling up on the wall. Absently, Kenji noted that he should put together a perch for beast to use instead of the smoother stone.

    With the embers in the firepit warming the shelter, Kenji pulled his leaf covered silk blanket over himself. With the leather gear to lay his head on, he could almost imagine himself at home instead of being lost and alone.

 Chapter 17

    ~Beau!~

    Blinking open his eyes, Kenji yawned as Flutter''s morning trills woke him. With the mud covered wood blocking the sunlight, he found himself waking later in the day. The beast was quick to complain if he slept too long and missed the dew covered flowers in the morning.

    "Bea. Ti, ti." the butterfly chirped insistently. Wings beat with eagerness to escape the confines of the shelter, stirring a small wind.

    "I''m up, I''m up." he grumbled back.

    Tossing aside the silk cover, Kenji stretched with a small groan. A bundle of leaves and a pillow of leather did not make for a good soft bed. When the beast trilled again, Kenji begrudgingly picked himself up.

    He stepped over Sprout and lifted aside the wall serving as his door. The morning sun blinded him for a moment but he could feel the Pok¨¦mon''s wings as the butterfly darted through the opening. By the time his eyes adjusted the beast was already lost amongst the trees. He could faintly hear it''s squeals of excitement as it tasted its first nectar of the day.

    Pausing, Kenji cocked his head.

    Now that he was more awake, he recognized a cadence to the noise the Pok¨¦mon was making. He missed it upon waking but, listening now, he remembered the trills it made. Smiling, Kenji prodded the embers of his firepit to life with a generous helping of tinder.

    "''A leaf first to unfurl captures the greatest sun.''" he quoted. The words were a common phrase from his father, the memories now tinged with loss.

    Young Pok¨¦mon, and those fresh from a quick evolution, often had difficulty finding their voice. In the same way a boy''s cracked as he grew older, so too did beasts.

    Kenji shuddered as he remembered a particularly embarrassing moment when he was announced as a Warrior only for his tone to abruptly break. Even his father teased him for days.

    Pok¨¦mon adapted quicker, of course, though it could be as long as a season for late bloomers. It seemed that Flutter was to be one of the faster ones, though that did not surprise him. The beast was driven to improve itself. So much so that Kenji was sometimes ashamed at the lack of effort he put into working with the butterfly so far.

    With a few logs to fuel the flame, Kenji ensured that the wood was smoldering turning away. Picking up his blanket, he carefully hung it from a vine to keep it off the floor. With the green leaves clinging to it, the shelter was turned almost homely.

    Pausing briefly, he shoved aside the line of thought before turning away. This was only a stop on his path home, nothing more.

    Crouching, he began the process to wake Sprout. The turtle was slow to wake without the sun and Kenji found himself carrying the beast out from under the stone outcropping more often than not. It seemed that today would be no different.

    "Come on, little one." he said softly as he reached out.

    Grabbing the beast by the edge of its shell, Kenji pried him out of the ground. Sprout warbled weakly as he was disturbed but Kenji ignored his complaints. The beast would be more upset if it missed the sun than if he left the turtle here in the dark. Much like a plant, the Pok¨¦mon needed the sun to survive and after days spent sheltering from the rain, the turtle was weaker than ever.

    Grunting from the weight, Kenji found that Sprout was heavier than he remembered. While the added weight was good and showed that the beast was growing, Kenji worried. The Pok¨¦mon did not move often, typically only shuffling around camp in search of sunlight or moving to eat a handful of berries and seeds.

    If the beast grew heavier or larger, then he would be unable to carry him on the sled. Not only were the branches unable to hold such a heavy load, Kenji himself would be unable to drag the sled behind him.

    Shaking his head, Kenji forced the worries aside. Outside the shelter, he set Sprout down where he knew the sun would reach as it climbed in the sky. Already, he could see the turtle begin to stir. Returning to the makeshift cave, he grabbed a single berry and a rock he set aside. On his way out of camp, he set the berry down by Sprout''s head for the beast to eat when he finally awoke.

    Moving towards the river at an angle, Kenji passed several trees before stopping. Crouching down, he dug through soil with the flat rock. Once the hole was deep enough, he relieved himself before covering it up. Jogging to the river, he cleaned himself up before returning.

    A few steps beyond his camp, Kenji started his morning with stretches. The exercises were meant to warm up his body and keep him limber for any potential battles he may face. As a Warrior, he was expected to know and be able to perform a variety of kata until he was considered proficient in an entire school of martial combat.

    In reality, Kenji was completely unable to perform the majority of the techniques simply because his body could not handle it. Afterall, how was he supposed to balance a boulder atop his spine without being crushed?

    Nevertheless, his father made sure that even if he could not complete a form then he was at least knowledgeable of it. When he first started training, Kenji spent entire days flowing from one movement into the next while his father corrected him. A few touches of the wooden staff they trained with was enough to motivate Kenji to memorize the forms. While he was an excellent parent, and Kenji could wish for no other, when it came to raising a Warrior, the man was as unyielding as a centuries old tree.

    Extending his arms, Kenji could feel sweat form on his skin as he sought to clear his mind. Where before, he sought anything to distract him from what he was forced to endure as he followed along with his father, now he only wished he could do so even one more time. His skin stung with phantom strikes as he imagined his father using his b¨­ to forcefully correct Kenji''s form.

    As he transitioned through the exercises, Kenji struggled to breathe smoothly. His throat threatened to close even as he heard his father berating him for such a lackluster effort. Closing his eyes, Kenji pictured mat floors and the paper walls. Coming to a standstill, he bowed to his father before straightening.

    When he opened his eyes Kenji had to wipe away the sweat as it mixed with his tears.

    While the kata was not as cleansing as he wished, Kenji felt lighter when he was done. He still yearned for home but his heart was firm. He could not change the past, only the future.

    Setting off in a jog, he raced to the river and back to camp several times. The sight of him running scared the young Pok¨¦mon in camp and he had to stop momentarily to comfort Sprout. After returning to the river for the fifth time, Kenji stripped out of his underclothes and wadded into the water. The cold bit and raised the skin along his arms but he forced himself to ignore the sting of the river.

    The river had risen after the storm and seemed to be maintaining its higher level as the days passed. While he was wary at first, he eventually felt it safe enough to dive beneath the surface. He wondered what could change to introduce so much water continuously yet put it out of his mind. There was nothing he could do to affect the rushing waters so there was no point worrying about it.

    The cold water washed the sweat from his body as he swam against the current. Throwing his arms forward and kicking his legs, Kenji fought his way upstream. Despite swimming until his arms burned as much as his legs, the river was still cool on his body.

    Focused as he was on swimming, Kenji missed the first scaly flash of red that flickered by. The second surprised him more directly by slamming into his face. Stunned, he caught a mouth full of water and spluttered as his steady strokes changed into wild flails. He felt something brush his leg and Kenji let out an undignified scream.

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    The panic sharpened his mind enough that he was able to recover and locked his eyes onto the rocky shore. Swimming towards the riverbank, he jerked as he felt something else collided with him underwater. Since there was no bite of pain or the feel of something latching on, Kenji continued to swim away.

    Soon after, he felt the stones under his feet and Kenji stumbled out of the water panting. Turning around, he readied himself to be attacked.

    When nothing greeted him, he narrowed his eyes and inspected the water carefully.

    The sun reflected off the surface and helped to disguise what lay below. However, after several heartbeats Kenji spotted another flicker of red in water. Jumping back in alarm, he was startled when the fish jumped out of the river with a splash.

    "Ma, magi." it bubbled before falling back into the water with a splash.

    Staring at the river in shock, he abruptly felt a rumble of hunger. Licking his lips, he swallowed the saliva drooling out his mouth.

    In the brief glimpse he had, the fish looked to be plump and healthy with vibrant red scales coating its body. Two yellow fins spiked out of its top and body while larger white ones flailed in the air from the sides and back.

    Baring his teeth in a smile, Kenji jumped back into the water. He waded in until the water reached his thighs and stared at the river in hunger. Already the fish he spotted was down the river, the current pulling the beast away. His stomach rumbled again as he pictured the fish roasting over a nice fire. In fact, it did not even have to be cooked. Sushi was a delicacy when properly prepared. Having helped his mother, he was sure that he would have no problem doing so himself.

    Kenji was so involved imagining his future meal that he missed the next fish that swam by. He only spotted it when he heard a splash downriver. Glaring at where the beast disappeared, he turned his eyes back onto the river around him. Between the shine of the sun and the rushing water, it was difficult for him to spot the creatures beneath the surface. Only their red and white bodies gave the beasts away.

    Lunging into the water, he dove after one that passed by within arm''s reach but only received a face full of water instead. The cold shocked him out of his hunger driven mindset and Kenji took a moment to reconsider his actions.

    With nothing but his hands there was little chance of him actually catching one of the fish swimming by. In the event that he did manage to grab onto the beast, there was little chance of him holding on.

    Already, his face was beginning to ache from the blow he took. That alone gave him pause. There was no indication that the fish struck with force, yet he was sure that come tomorrow he might bear a bruise from the encounter.

    In the water, with nothing to defend himself, he was at risk of being hurt or worse, drowning.

    Standing up, Kenji turned away from the river with a sigh. Perhaps if he had one his stone knifes in hand he might risk it but without the protection afforded by the sharp weapon he could not.

    Cursing his forgetfulness, he swam to the other side of the river and waded out. In his rush to escape, he ended up on the wrong side and only the position of the sun alerted him. He walked away from the riverside until the rocks no longer threatened to twist his ankle. There was still much for him to do today, too much to allow a minor injury slow him down.

    Despite his attempts to forget about it, Kenji could not put the matter aside for long.

    If he was to take advantage of the sun''s zenith the he was going to have to hurry. It was good that he failed to catch a beast, anyways. Slaying a creature before confronting a restless spirit spelled dark omens and might even give the ghost some measure of power over him.

    He was no mystic, trained to ward off ghosts and battle with one''s spirit.

    Jogging downstream, Kenji purposefully ignored the few splashes he heard from the water as he searched for his underclothes. Pulling them on, he attempted to figure out how to hook his future fishing rod. A piece of stone would be too heavy, not to mention how would he attach it to the silk string. With his new knifes, he could carve out a piece of wood as a hook or even maybe a floater.

    Returning to camp, Kenji forced the river''s temptations from his mind. Distractions would only hinder him and encourage mistakes.

    Mistakes that he could not afford.

    Walking into the shelter, Kenji grabbed several stones that were piled in a corner. Most of the space was organized with rough wooden crates he was able to make. They held the various berries he managed to gather so far and were stacked several boxes high. A few others stored the vine ropes he braided and cocoons he managed to collect from the Pok¨¦mon Nest.

    He stepped over to the firepit and sat next to it facing the door. Dropping the stones next to him, he picked up one and studied it. The rock was wide and flat, with one side curving to a rounded point. Kenji had originally grabbed it, thinking its shape would help him during his attempts to make an axe.

    A mound of sharp stone flakes filled a wood box from his struggles in creating axe. Fortunately, his attempts at crafting knifes were more successfully and carefully placed near where he lay.

    Flipping the river stone in his hand, Kenji visualized the carved sigils of his home. The most familiar was one that even a child fresh from the womb should recognize. The most widely used symbol of the Alpha, it could be found in every home, shop, and shrine. Many used different terms to describe it, often leading to vicious battles as one tried to prove their version superior.

    Scholars attempted to describe it plainly as a crossed wheel divided in two and bejeweled by four. What each of the lines and studs meant was discussed by monks, scholars, and priests. For some, unity and connection. Others, power, and all that came with it.

    Kenji favored the idea that The Original One''s sign was that of a crossed eclipse studded with the stars themselves. The symbol was a representation of both the majesty and danger of the Alpha above all others, just as the moon crossing the sun was as great as it was blinding.

    Reaching towards the edge of the fire pit, he snatched up a piece of cool charcoal in his fingers. He was careful to keep the dark ash from coating his hands as much as possible. Not only would it be annoying to have on him, but the black charcoal would easily dirty the rock and ruin his tracing.

    Holding the stone and stick of burnt wood carefully, Kenji slowly drew out the separate half circles. They followed the edge of the stone and he had to be careful not to make lines lopsided. Inside the partial circle, he drew two more smaller half-moons parallel to the larger ones. Branching out from those were four lines, two per a half-circle, that extended past the limits imposed by the larger curved lines.

    Lifting the charred stick, he studied the decorated stone critically. His lines were sloppy, as a result of both the nature of the brush he used and his obvious lack of skill. One half-moon was thicker than the other which itself wavered like a river flowing unsure of its path. Setting the stone down, Kenji made several more attempts before giving in.

    One stone was entirely ruined as the stick broke halfway through and coated the rock in ash. The others were ''passable if he were blind and dead'' as he remembered one elder telling him when he was first learning how to draw the symbol. Chuckling, Kenji wondered if Old Man Naoari was winning his shoji matches before he abruptly remembered.

    After that, his attempts were made with a flat face and a mind focused only on the charcoal and stone.

    Picking up the four best attempts at symbolizing the Original One, Kenji stepped outside the shelter. This area was the most familiar to him, so here he would confront the spirit haunting him. With a firm branch, he traced out the same symbol in the dirt. He made it large enough that he would be able to stand in the center without breaking the lines. Where the straight lines crossed the large half-moon, he placed the decorated stones.

    Sprout was awoken by his movement around the camp and warbled at him.

    "I''m just preparing for a battle of my own, little one." he told him.

    The beast''s large head tilted slightly to cock at him in question.

    "Yes, I know it''s dangerous." Kenji said. "But it''s more risky to go on as if nothing is happening."

    The young turtle chirped at him and moved to pull itself up out the hole it dug itself into. Dirt clung to his scales and covered the half healed patches that revealed the softer flesh underneath..

    "What if it takes over again?" he asked lowly as he concentrated on scraping the branch along the ground.

    Kenji briefly wondered if he was losing his mind as he carried on an imaginary conversation with a Pok¨¦mon too young to understand anything he said. Deciding that really did not matter, he met the beast as it trundled towards him. Squatting down, he grunted softly as he picked up the turtle.

    "You''re my companion as much as I am yours." he told the Type Beast, meeting its large clear eyes. "This is my battle to fight. When you''re big and strong, you will have conquests of your own."

    Walking over to the large firepit, he gently set the Pok¨¦mon down inside the protective stone circle. It would do nothing to protect the beast from the ghost but he hoped that the spirit would be too concentrated him to notice the young turtle. Furthermore, the stones would keep Sprout from interfering. Grabbing the failed drawings he added them to the circle on the off chance that it helped shield the beast.

    "For now, you cannot fight with me." he continued when he returned.

    Sprout whined and pawed the stones. The rocks were piled too high for him to cross, trapping the turtle inside.

    "Withdraw into your shell." Kenji said firmly, ignoring the Pok¨¦mon''s pleas.

    The beast continued to warble and cry.

    "Sprout," he stared in the beast''s eyes until it quieted. "Withdraw."

    The Pok¨¦mon stared back with uncertainty. Kenji kept his face clear of emotion, watching as it stepped back and slowly pulled into its shell. The turtle''s head was the last limb to disappear.

    "Good," he said with a sigh before turning away.

    Walking back into the mystic''s circle, he kneeled in the center. He had no idea how a true mystic would go about dispelling the specters that clung to the mortal world. He knew that the clan specialists manipulated their spirits to coerce and communicate with the ghosts yet knowing the what did little to help him understand the how.

    If he had any strength to his slumbering aura then he might fight as even a sorcerer would, with skills and techniques enhanced by Type Energy. However, the little he managed to gather was constantly being used to enhance the seed that was his spirit and the readying the land that was his body.

    "Original One give me strength and Guardians bless me." he murmured.

    All Kenji could do was his best and pray that it was enough.

 Chapter 18 - Mysticism and Memory

    The child kneeled there, in the center of a symbol of his own making, though not one of his own power. He was no longer a boy in the ways of his people, though not yet a man in the land he had only just found. Though, perhaps, he was Journeying to find that man, in a manner most unusual.

    Etched in the soil around him with wood and will, as though a novice in the ways of mysticism, or a great master bent with age, lay symbols of power and belief. All writings contained such a measure of strength, for belief and will imbues it with such, yet these lines, writ in the loamy earth, contained a touch more than simple belief, for some truths were greater than others.

    Yet that remains a story for another time.

    The uneven markings, unalike in their depth, width, and power, revealed the truth as to their marker. A novice, not master, using knowledge beyond his grasp, in the manner a leaf yearns for the sun, unknowing of the all-consuming fire above.

    Alone but for his companions three, the child kneeled: a friend as old as his childhood when he bore another name, a turtle weak for now but promising great strength should it dare survive, and a beauty that rashly dove ahead ever onwards.

    He was watched, for little could pass through a forest as ancient as this without being seen, though few eyes bore the spark of a greater mind. They observed with disinterest or minor curiosity, merely hoping that the young human continued his journey without the disruptions that the others caused. For now, he traveled unchallenged, for the child respected the law of the land and was sheltered by the will of a love long nurtured.

    He tread no Route, patrolled and cultured so that even a child could walk unharmed. This was the wilds of old, where monsters dwelled and trespass was harshly rebuked, by fang or by claw.

    Greatest among them all was the one who bore sickness and madness like a great forest battling an infection of rot. Even as it helped, it hindered, and the urge to raze and destroy, to do unto others as was done to it, rose within the powerful beast. It was spelled to quiet for a time, but like the waves that struck the store, it was unending, with highs and lows as the seasons passed. Yet the pains of the past were renewed and the arrival of the distorted surged its fury as it was forced to observe lest it hinder where it intended to help.

    And so it watched, through root and leaf, by sky and by thought, the child kneel amongst symbols that would pause even him.

    For some powers remained above all others.

    Still, a story for another time.

    Believing himself safe amongst the markings of the original power, devoid of physical protection and clothed only in the fibers bloodlessly harvested, the human, no longer a child-but-not-yet-a-man began to speak.

    He spoke not in the common tongue of his people nor in the noble dialect, used only by Warriors and the noble clans of his homeland. The speech was not one of trade nor even of the secret language given lovingly from mother to son, in an effort to pass down culture long since sworn against.

    The words the youth used were older, dating back to when humans battled with nothing but wit and stone, hunting like some common animal struggling to survive. A language long thought forgotten and left behind.

    His words were stilted and rough, for even the great scholars struggled to hold history. Yet still, the sound tugged at those who watched and the great beasts grew wary. For though the words did not have power, they bore a weight that was undeniable.

    A threat of presence and attention that could be as wonderous as it was ruinous.

    He cried out to world, asking for the strength and blessing of will to confront the shadows that clung to him. Yearning for a protection that no longer shielded him, as to leave boyhood was to leave behind the safety of home.

    He invoked, speaking words of summoning and greeting, demanding an audience with that which would bind itself to him. Refusing the path of a warlock, stealing power wrongly granted, pressing for negotiation or better, release.

    He spoke in the ways of pacts and ceremony, as one would when greeting a guest in their home. As the tethered spirit of distortion had power over his body, so too did he have power over it. Though his path was not one of Ceremony and Tea, custom still dictated the acknowledgement of hearth and home.

    Ancient words, forgotten bonds, and strong tradition shook the spirit with power of belief and will. It touched that which was now buried in barren ground, echoing deep into the salt sands below.

    Ghosts lie on the path of rituals and curses, righting wrongs and wronging rights. Stronger are those who gather together, begrudged to a larger purpose and bound by the Energy once had in life. Here, knowledge is a power of its own and no strength of might or body can avail one who seeks to confront such a spirit.

    Only through the strength of will, enforced by mysticism and wisdom, can mortal to do battle with spirits, be they evil or worse, good.

    Stirred to wakefulness, the distorted answered. It knew not why it was called to like such, as a Master would an unruly servant or as a man would a thief who sneaks into one''s home. Collecting its sparse energies, drained as they were from the efforts of this season, the sandy heap of a spirit arose.

    Trapped as it ever was, the spirit of grudges could only answer will with will, forcing its aura beyond the metal shell that contained the physical form it inhabited. To do so only served to drain it further, yet for a friend and spawn of the same again it would do far more.

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    Its presence was that of a cold salty wind on endless sand, chilled by the nightly waters that consumed the land, with each wave that lapped at the earth. As eternal was the sand, so was the spirit, until grudges were fulfilled and the land devoured.

    Across the child''s skin, hairs rose as he sensed the spirit''s attention manifest upon him. His voice lowered, shaken by the sensation and knowledge of what he was doing, but he continued to speak. To stop now was to invite enmity and wrath. As wrong as it was to interrupt a Master of the house, so too was it for the Master that spoke dishonorably.

    Kenji finished speaking, his novice ritual, made from half remembered words and bonded by childish beliefs, coming to a close.

    Still the spirit waited for its part in this dance of mysticism and belief for, while childish, it was of the ways of childhood. When young boys and girls played in sand and waves. It longed for the twilight nights when it played with a young boy under a different name in the cool sands. Remembered like a dream was the young girl who watched, now aged in the way of mortals, ever wary though the begrudged spirit would never harm her kin. Distant still were the memories of times long consumed by the waves, lost to the land beneath the sea.

    With the dredges of its power, the spirit greeted the boy who was now becoming a man. The Gast of Sand and Grudge, it greeted the friend as it ever did. The spirit called upon his memories of sun and sand, the cool wind bearing salt and promises of a storm blown from the sea.

    Through aura and suggestion, the boy-becoming-a-man was reminded of the nights with the friend-now-mother on the beaches of his kingdom. The father, foreign and distant to the spirit, watched, guarding from both man and beast, as the three played with sand.

    Eyes misted and breath came quicker as the youth was forced to relive innocent days. Memories shifted, like the shape of a shell as the water passed over and frothed.

    The spirit waited, knowing the boy wished to remember the mother as it wished to remember the girl. Together, they reminisced, experiencing the past from the present.

    Prepared as he was, the youth did not fall sway to the illusion of mind for long. His will firmed, held strong by his core of spirit. He breathed in a mighty breath to both recover from what he saw as trickery and to settle the disquiet in his mind. The words he spoke next were not the ancient language still held close by his people in ceremony and tradition but the common tongue.

    "Great Spirit!" he cried out. "I have called to you, you who take my body for your own, to both beseech and warn you. Leave me. There is naught to gain from haunting for I am but lost and alone. Word of you will not spread nor will you grow in power."

    The words of the child shook the spirit. How could he wish to discard it? It who stayed by his side, played with him and him with it. They were inexorably linked, bonded together closer than even the girl it wished to remember. A connection that still held strong even after the countless seasons separated from each other. Did the boy not feel it? The strength he borrowed yet never returned, the Energy to yield yet remained unchanging, renewed the waves that ate at the land.

    Fury threatened to rise in the begrudged spirit, a rage at the rejection offered so easily to it. The spirit was one of grudges and the fallen, formed of the will to press on when even the mortal limits held firm. The hate rose and rose, like a wave threatening to consume all.

    Yet.

    Yet it remembered the girl.

    The child it played with so painfully long ago, on beaches far different than the sand it played in with the boy. She was different from the others, seeking only to play rather than fight and grow. Oh, they castles they would build and build.

    Together they raced, playing, never fighting.

    And so it promised the girl, now a mother, to protect her boy as it once protected her. The wave of fury crested and crashed against cliffs of that promise, denying the grudges their desire for violence and hate. A promise was a promise was now a bond linking the spirit and the boy together. It could not hurt the child any more than it could turn back the waves.

    The child sensed its confusion and rage, wisely holding his tongue. The youth could understand the rage, for even children could hate as only children could. Yet, why the confusion? Did the spirit not know what it was doing was wrong? Confused himself, the youth held still, though he could not resist reaching out with senses beyond mortal in an effort to understand.

    Unknowing of what he was doing or even how, the Warrior sensed the interactions of foreign aura upon his spirit. The illusion was revealed for what is was, memories reaching for memories, though he could do little to resist it. Around him the spirit''s aura billowed, nebulous yet contained within the ancient symbols in the ground. He did not know if the ghost was truly contained by such but he prayed that it was.

    Still, he sensed an oddity, a strangeness to the foreign aura. It was diffuse and weak yet there was a hardness to it, as though the more he sensed the more compacted it became. The strength, the density of the spirit''s aura, grew the closer it was to his body.

    As the fury of the ghost crested and crashed, he was able to discover where the power originated from. Not from his body or own spirit as he first assumed but from the pendant that he wore, the necklace that his mother passed to him in their final moments together.

    Then anger of boy''s own rose, like a tar that stained wood, for how dare the spirit inhabit the last token he had of his family. His will swirled, driven by hate, and focused upon the pendant of his mother, now his.

    The spirit''s confusion grew and like air escaping the sand, fear bubbled within it. Once more it attempted to connect with the boy, the friend that it bonded with closer than any other. In the past, its efforts were always stymied by the metal containing it and silencing the link it shared with the child.

    However, never before had the boy attempted to connect with the spirit while it reached out.

    Fueled by emotion and driven to share their rage or confusion, the link between Warrior and Pok¨¦mon sparked.

    It did not blaze as a dry forest did, with so much tinder and wood to ignite it, nor did it burn as even a campfire might. The link connecting the two, smoldered with a dull hibachi flame. It was dampened by the pendant separating the two, for the creation was old and worn, by trials and by years it was not meant to endure.

    The emotions echoed through the sparse bond linking the two.

    The spirit held fast against the hate easily, for it was formed from grudges far greater than the misguided fury of a child. The youth was not so strong, for the confusion and desire to understand and connect was both unexpected and overpowering. His fury drained, blunted by the opposing current of emotion, leaving behind only puzzlement.

    "What is this?" the boy, long a Warrior, asked of the world and the spirit. He grew wary, seeking to parse the deception that the ghost was attempting this time.

    However, as before, the link was no manner of trickery, only one of connection. With the last of its power, the distorted being passed along a measure of its power and intent. It only wished for the boy to survive and for them play together in the sand once more. Tired and weary from disguising him from the world surrounding them, the spirit withdrew the last of its aura.

 Chapter 19

    With the abrupt departure of the ghost, the air quickly warmed and the surrounding forest grew livelier. Yet Kenji''s mind remained in turmoil. His apprehension with the ritual, the anger at the spirit''s possession of his mother''s pendant, and the unexpected reveal that the two of them were linked left him reeling. With this new knowledge, the illusion that the spirit beguiled him with took on a new light. It was not an attempt of sorcery or some nefarious trick.

    It was a reminder of their time together.

    Looking back on his memories of his time on the beaches of Greenleaf, he found that the details shifted to reveal how it actually was. He remembered playing in the sand with his mother but what he rationalized away as the fantasies of a child, was how the sand would play back. The mounds they built grew and took shape of their own accord, forming spires and ramparts. His father was not watching for beasts or from a lack of a desire to play with, he was looking out for people who might come across the three of them with an unknown Pok¨¦mon.

    Or perhaps he did not want to associate with such a foreign, ghostly beast.

    His mother carried with her another Pok¨¦mon foreign to Ransei, one that stayed by her side when she was separated from her homeland. Why she hid it, Kenji did not know. Their land was large and private, as was benefitting a Warrior of Greenleaf.

    How she hid it was even more unclear. There should have been signs, a detectable aura that any trained Warrior should have detected. Lingering energies from the beast that clung to the amulet.

    Yet there was nothing.

    However, more than that, Kenji was confused by the ghost''s binding to his mother''s necklace.

    If it was simply a specter, then he could understand how it was anchored to the pendant. Such spirits held no true body, only possessing objects and people to interact with the world. But it was not a specter. It was a spiritual beast, a Pok¨¦mon with a physical form.

    Taking off the necklace, Kenji held up the small pendant to the light. The red and white sphere was split in two by a black band. On one side, the band circled around a white dot. Scratches marred the surface, with the paint chipping away. Small dents furthered the weathered and worn appearance, speaking of a history fraught with danger and hardship.

    The grooves around the sphere suggested that it would open, yet when he attempted to pull it apart it refused to budge.

    Holding the pendant with his fingers, he tentatively touched the white dot on the sphere but nothing happened. Staring at it, Kenji wondered how his mother stored the Pok¨¦mon inside.

    More, he wondered why she would do so. As far as he knew, no one else in Greenleaf or Ransei used such objects to hold Pok¨¦mon. The only explanation was that the pendant was a holdover from her homeland.

    What kind of land would force a beast to stay within a metal sphere? Cut off from their linked partners and dulled to a quiet stasis. It was almost nauseating to think about.

    Placing the necklace around his neck, Kenji reached up to the pendant holding the spirit. The sphere was small enough that he could easily wrap his hand around it. Breathing deeply, he closed his eyes and reached for the faint connection. The bond that he shared with the ghost Pok¨¦mon.

    Now that he knew what to look for, he wondered how he missed it for all those years. The link was not a simple line or trail leading away from his spirit.

    It was the ground itself.

    Previously, Kenji imagined his cultivation as a series of garden beds that he raised from the land and watered with the Energy he gathered. Never once did he think to question the ground from which the bed grew from. Feeling for the connection, he could now recognize the foreign power that suffused the moldable earth. So long was he accustomed to it that he did not recognize the Energy.

    Reaching for the link that bonded him since before began cultivating, Kenji was surprised to find it dull and unresponsive. There was no life to the connection, no indication that he bore a link at all beyond the trickle of energy that flowed from it. Reaching for it felt more like picking up sand, feeling it disappear from in between his fingers.

    Making another attempt, he reached for the power being granted to him yet there was no sign that he was successful. He could barely tell that he was linked at all.

    Sighing, Kenji opened his eyes and released the pendant. It dropped to his chest as he considered the problem.

    The sphere could not block aura, at least not completely. Otherwise he would not have been able to summon the beast as he did. However, it clearly interfered with the link between Warrior and Pok¨¦mon. That was the only explanation for why he never realized that he was bonded as such.

    Nor his parents, for surely they would have recognized the signs. Warriors naturally grew stronger and more powerful in concert with their linked companions. With his bond seemingly formed early, then Kenji would have been noticeably different from other children his age.

    Except, the pendant blocked the natural exchange of Energy.

    He was brought out of his thoughts by Sprout''s warbling cry. The beast was no longer quieted by the mystical ritual and the spirit summoned by it. If it were not for the markings upon the ground, Kenji would not have known anything of note had occurred.

    Blinking in surprise, Kenji let out a sudden laugh.

    "I," he started with a small grin. "I have a link."

    Smiling he met the eyes of the young Pok¨¦mon complaining in the large, as of yet unused, firepit.

    "I''m a Warrior." he breathed. Jumping up, Kenji let out a shout. "I am a Warrior!"

    Rushing forward, he snatched up Sprout, nearly toppling over from the weight.

    "I have a link!" he shouted again.

    The turtle groaned another complaint as Kenji spun him around.

    Kenji ignored the Pok¨¦mon, still consumed by his elation at both surviving the ritual and discovering his, admittedly dormant, link. Still, the simple presence of a connection with the Pok¨¦mon boded well for his continued survival. It was likely the only reason he had survived thus far. The amount of Energy he cultivated from the link was incredibly small, but considering that it was a constant source for over half his life, it was more than he ever managed on his own.

    After a few spins, Sprout finally understood that they were celebrating and grew more exuberant. The beast started to wave its stubby limbs and warble more cheerfully. Kenji laughed along with him before setting the turtle down.

    Striding into the shelter, he snatched up a stem-full of berries before stepping back outside. Plucking several free, he placed them in front of the small Pok¨¦mon.

    "To celebrate," Kenji said with a smile. With his other hand, he absentmindedly started to eat the snack.

    Chewing, he thought over how this new information might affect his plans. For while Kenji was now aware of his link, unless he managed to free his bond from the pendant, he could not use it. Another beast, one he would be able to easier communicate with, would be a powerful boon in continuing his journey through the forest.

    Slowing, Kenji was struck by a sudden thought.

    Was the ghost responsible for my journey so far? he wondered silently.

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    For the past several days, ever since he made camp at the rock shelter, Kenji felt lighter. Moreso, it was as if the world was brighter, livelier around him. Beasts called out, whether for mating, in challenge, or to simply cry out at the world. The sun was warm on his skin and he found himself better able to think and focus.

    Not only that but his trek through the forest up until now was relatively free of any roaming creatures. Not counting the Pok¨¦mon Nest, which he walked straight into, and the small rose petaled creature that Flutter fought with, Kenji considered himself lucky for not encountering any territorial beasts. Suspiciously so.

    "It used its aura to hide me?" he questioned aloud, swallowing the last of his celebratory snack. "If so, then why didn''t I notice?"

    Sprout chirped at him, the turtle''s beak stained with berry juice.

    Kenji stared at the beast in thought. He remembered the days forcing himself to continue despite the desire to do nothing but lay down. The cold that seemed to hug him close and never let go.

    "Because it never stopped until now," he realized.

    What he took to be side effects of his experience-his mind continued to shy away with a spiritual shudder-was in actuality his bond protecting him. The ghost was using its aura to shield him from the perceptions of the other beasts, or at the very least ward them off. When he fell into despair and fever in the thorned Pok¨¦mon''s grove, the ghostly beast took over to keep him moving. The effort must have exhausted the creature''s power, leaving it slumbering ever since.

    "Thank you," he murmured quietly as he touched the pendant once more. "It must have been difficult, and tiring," Kenji bowed his head.

    Standing abruptly, he started to pace around the small camp. Kenji was worried that this small section of the woods was becoming too homely. He was spending more time creating and building up the camp than he was preparing to continue his trek through the forest. To that end, it was time to start working.

    "A new sled to start," he muttered. His original one was small and roughly made. With the stone knives he managed to create, Kenji was sure that he could craft a better one. A sled that could truly double as a tent for the night. Especially with his new silk and leaf blanket to act as both a cover from the elements and to disguise it.

    "What about a boat?" he asked rhetorically. Slowing in his pacing, he thought it over before dismissing the idea. He had little familiarity with building a boat to travel the waters. None, in fact. Such crafts were the domain of Fontaine and the far traveled sailors that braved the tumultuous oceans.

    To make matters worse, he would eventually be forced to leave it behind, ensuring that the time and effort carving it was a waste. No, he would be better spent dedicating his time to other ways of improving his chances of survival.

    "Food, always more food," he continued. "Stay by the river and I don¡¯t have to worry about water. What else?"

    Kenji moved around the camp, his eyes roving over the mud and wood walls, the crates of food, and the firepit. After circling it several more times, his eyes landed on Sprout.

    The beast had calmed from Kenji''s excitement and buried itself in the soil once more. The young turtle was bathing in the sun and soaking up the heat while absorbing the nutrients from the soil. Idly, he wondered if, with his newly discovered specialty for the earth, he would be able to assist with the Pok¨¦mon''s growth.

    "Ah," he said, remembering his prior plans. "Training."

    Focusing his mind back on the beast, Kenji thought over how to train the young turtle. The beast was able to withdraw fully into its own shell now, boosting its defense considerably should danger appear.

    However, there was a considerable downside.

    The Pok¨¦mon was quickly growing too heavy for Kenji to continue carrying. Worse, despite the growth and food, the turtle remained inactive for most of the day. He would have to be careful not wear out the beast too much lest he risk the young Pok¨¦mon becoming injured or weary. Compounding that was the accelerated growth the turtle would experience if he started to truly train the beast and help it cultivate.

    On the other hand, a powerful beast would be a boon companion.

    Taking in the stained beak, Kenji frowned briefly. It was going to be hard to motivate the turtle to move when he was recently fed.

    "If not the body," Kenji started. "Then the mind."

    It was a common phrase his father uttered whenever he complained that he was too tired to move. If Kenji could not continue to train his body, then he would train his mind. He smiled as he remembered groaning through the lectures his father gave while he struggled to pay attention.

    Striding over to Sprout, he sat down by the small Pok¨¦mon. The beast stirred slightly but otherwise remained still.

    Joining him, Kenji took a moment to feel the heat of the sun on his skin and the soil beneath. His body was still cool from the summoning and the sun brought shivers as his skin warmed.

    Ghosts were immaterial and came from beyond. It easily could have been him left haunting an artifact, unable to move on. It was easy to forget amongst the trials of survival. He was fortunate to be alive. Only through the sacrifice of his mother and the work of her bond did he manage to escape. The encounter with his linked companion only reinforced that knowledge.

    He just wished it was not a ghost.

    Scolding the thought and putting it away, Kenji re-centered himself. To reject a link was to bring shame upon both Warrior and clan, especially after it was already formed.

    Kenji breathed in and out, clearing his mind.

    It was easy, he thought. Too easy.

    For when he began to dwell on the death and void, he could feel the shadows stretching towards him. The Energy merely a shift away. It was patient. The Energy was present at the birth of the world and it would be there long after he disappeared from it.

    Now that Kenji was aware of his bond, he could sense the connection he had to it. His past experience-he shuddered as he remembered the whispers calling for him-reinforced the affinity brought on by his link.

    "No wonder the shadows lie within," he said softly. Opening his eyes, Kenji welcomed the blinding sunlight.

    When they adjusted, he was surprised to see Flutter resting on the rocks making up the firepit. The beast was staring at him intently with its wings folded together. The clear eyes were startling as the beast stared intently at him.

    "Hello, Flutter," he greeted the butterfly.

    "Beau," the beast trilled back.

    "Was there something you wanted?" he asked leadingly. The beast rarely stayed around while he did little that it found interesting. That it returned and watched him while he cultivated was telling. Especially when combined with the Pok¨¦mon''s previous attempts at growing its strength.

    "Ti," the butterfly squealed.

    Kenji chuckled at the beast''s eager response. It was encouraging to see it respond so easily to his words, though he suspected it had little idea of what he was saying.

    "Out of your cocoon and ready to fight," he murmured with a small grin.

    A rumble from his stomach interrupted him as he opened his mouth. Kenji frowned briefly as he glanced up at the sky. He must have spent longer meditating than he realized, for the sun was well into the afternoon. Turning his eyes back to the butterfly, he considered the beast for a moment.

    Its wings were healing nicely, with only a few discolored patches where the scaly membrane healed. Likewise, the bug''s carapace bore a thick scar where the shell was broken. There were a few other scratches, newer ones that healed quickly. It seemed that gathering nectar was not as easily done as before.

    Or now you''ve got a taste and can''t get enough, he thought to himself.

    Kenji nudged Sprout awake before turning back to the butterfly.

    "Well, how about it?" he asked. "Up for another fight?"

    The Pok¨¦mon cocked its head, the clear eyes communicating its lack of understanding.

    Kenji smiled back, baring his teeth slightly from excitement. While dangerous, and potentially life threatening, the battle with the thorny glade tender was invigorating. The Energy released by the Pok¨¦mon''s techniques awoke an itch under his skin, one he never realized he had. He worried for a moment, wondering if it was a result of the empty shadows urging him forwards.

    Even if it was, he reasoned. Should I resist?

    Some of his intent must have leaked through, for the Pok¨¦mon squealed. With a single downward flap of its wings, the butterfly leapt into the air and spun around. The sun caught its wings and they sparkled in the light.

    The sound helped wake Sprout fully and the turtle warbled with complaint. The beast let out another grumble when it saw the other Pok¨¦mon but did not withdraw. Over a day in the cramped shelter with the butterfly quite literally helped Sprout come out of his shell.

    "Enough of that," Kenji chided the young Pok¨¦mon gently. "It''s time to train."

    He stood up, eliciting another cry of eagerness from Flutter as the beast continued to bounce around in the air. When Sprout remained buried in the dirt, Kenji looked down at the turtle expectantly.

    "Come on now," he told him. "You and I have sat around enough today, don''t you think?"

    His father and mother both had very different approaches to how they treated Pok¨¦mon. From raising them to training them to simply interacting with the wild ones that drifted through. However, they both agreed that one had to be firm if they wanted to grow into a strong Warrior.

    The turtle looked at him with a chirp, so Kenji stared back, gesturing for the beast to follow. He moved over to the rocky shelter and collected a cocoon of stone flakes before returning to Sprout''s side.

    The beast warbled again in complaint, but when Kenji began to walk away, with Flutter eagerly fitting ahead, the turtle hurriedly pulled itself out of the ground. Kenji slowed to allow his young companion to catch up, yet not stopping completely. The beast chirped, expecting to be picked up.

    To the turtle''s misfortune, Kenji did not. This was the perfect first step to training the young Pok¨¦mon. Seeing Flutter fight would a good second one. Well, fight again that is. Sprout already experienced first-hand the results that a successful fight can get.

    Hopefully, it would help with his fear as well.

    It was only natural that a young Pok¨¦mon be scared, he did not blame the turtle for that. Especially when he was alone, hunted, and sick.

    Yet the beast could not live that way, not forever. If he wanted to be strong, if Kenji wanted to be strong, then he would have to reach for it. Fight for it.

    Moving with that belief, Kenji followed the Pok¨¦mon towards the river. Sprout complained, though as the beast was forced to walk, it soon had to focus its energy on moving. Meanwhile, Flutter realized the direction they were moving. The butterfly squealed and darted forward, maneuvering between the trees with ease.

 Chapter 20

    Striding through the woods, Kenji prepared himself for the fights to come. He felt nervous, yet strangely excited. In their last, and first, battle together, he finally felt in control of his path. He was able to strike back against the world, and it felt good to finally be the one acting instead of reacting.

    Flutter seemed to be as eager as him, as the butterfly flew ahead. The beast was chittering as it wove through the trunks, bobbing up and down. The evening sun dabbled the forest floor, reflecting off the Beautifly''s wings.

    The shadows were growing, but he still had time before night fell.

    Behind him, Sprout complained with a panting chirp. The poor turtle was struggling to keep up, even with the reduced pace that Kenji set.

    "Just a little further," Kenji called over his shoulder. "You can do it," he added encouragingly.

    The single glance was enough for him to see the beast''s clear eyes begging him to pick the turtle up.

    Kenji jerked his head forward lest the appeal in Sprout''s eyes force him to pick up the heavy turtle. The thought of continuing to carry the beast through the forest was enough to harden his heart.

    Eventually, there would be a point that he was simply not capable of dragging Sprout on the sled. And then the beast would be forced to walk whether he wanted to or not.

    The sound of the gurgling river reached his ears, helping distract him from the whining turtle behind him.

    "Listen, Sprout," he said loudly. "You can hear the river already." He wanted to run ahead with Flutter, who was already darting beyond his sight, but he knew better.

    "Just a little further," he encouraged again.

    Sprout''s footsteps came a little faster and Kenji slowed so that they could walk beside each other. It seemed to encourage the turtle more than his words did, though only after he continued to refuse to pick up the beast.

    Looking out of the corner of his eye, Kenji studied the beast.

    Sprout was moving slower than before, but seemingly with purpose. The Pok¨¦mon was determined to keep up, or at the very least too scared to be left behind. Fear could be a good motivator, if tightly controlled and not done overtly.

    However, that was a path that he would like to avoid. It was a false foundation for a healthy relationship and a link.

    Lifting his eyes, he spied the break in the trees that revealed the river ahead.

    The river was loud, and he could see Flutter bouncing over the water. The new, higher levels turned the lazy waters into a race downstream. With Sprout trundling next to him, Kenji approached it slowly.

    However, the turtle picked up speed upon sighting the river, ready to leap into the rushing waters.

    "Sprout," Kenji shouted in alarm. "Stop!"

    The turtle jerked at his loud voice, losing his feet. He was clumsy at the best of times, which this was not. Wailing in surprise and fear, the beast started to tumble.

    Kenji cried out wordlessly as he dove, lunging for the Pok¨¦mon before the turtle could fall into the river. The stones blunted his fall, enough that neither of them rolled into the quickly moving waters. He grunted from the pain and rolled onto his side, sure to keep the young beast away from the riverbank.

    "Beau?"

    To the side he heard Flutter call out, a curious lilt to its cry as it drifted over. Only this morning did the bug find its voice, early enough that Kenji took the event as good omens.

    At his side, he felt Sprout start to shake. Suppressing a sigh, he comforted the young turtle. The large butterfly joined him, trilling some of its impatience as it settled on a branch nearby.

    "I hear you," Kenji said with another sigh, this one filled with pain as his body started to make its complaints known.

    The stones were sure to leave his body spotted with light bruises. Fortunately, nothing seemed to be broken, other than his pride.

    Groaning, he pulled himself upright, placing a reassuring hand on Sprout''s beak. The hard bone pressed against his skin as the turtle nuzzled him back.

    "Now," he started with a firm expression. "Stay here, out of the water."

    Sprout warbled at him, the sound slightly muffled by his hand.

    "No, it''s not safe in the water for you," Kenji told the beast.

    "Ti, bea," Flutter trilled at the turtle.

    "See, even Flutter agrees," he added. "Stay." Kenji said once more before turning towards the water.

    Sprout chirped back, somewhat grumpily, Kenji thought.

    Meanwhile, Flutter took to the air when he stepped towards the riverbank. The Beautifly was clearly excited, understanding that Kenji was looking for another fight. The bug bounced from side to side, giving a spin as it did so.

    He only wished that he was as ready as the Pok¨¦mon was.

    Looking into the river, Kenji searched for the flash of red and yellow that he witnessed this morning. With the river frothing in places, it was difficult for him to see, and he did not want to move too far from Sprout. Not only would it unnerve the beast to be left alone, the turtle would not be able to properly witness the battle.

    The young Pok¨¦mon was inexperienced and far too fearful. While a little fear could work to temper bravery, too much could be debilitating.

    Kenji hoped that by easing the turtle into violence he could help the beast overcome his fear. Sprout already enjoyed the bounty of the glade, where the Pok¨¦mon of thorn and rose laid claim.

    While he looked for their first opponent, Flutter was growing impatient. The beast was still unsure of what he intended to fight and was bobbing through the air searching as well..

    Though Kenji was unsure of what the butterfly was actually looking for as it turned its head around inquisitively.

    Pacing along the river, he finally managed to spot the telltale flicker of red in the water.

    "Flutter!" he shouted, attracting the beast''s attention. "Spit your thread there." Kenji pointed at the section of river where he saw the fish.

    It took a moment for the beast to understand what he intended, but it quickly remembered their previous battle together and sprayed out a string of silk.

    Focused as he was on the water, Kenji noted how the silk flew farther and faster than it did mere days ago. Their training together and the butterfly''s lone hunting was already proving its worth.

    Perhaps now he should become more involved with the hunting aspect, as the beast was still unfamiliar with the commands he gave.

    Still, Flutter was a fully evolved Pok¨¦mon, having survived seasons as a simple worm and more as a vulnerable cocoon.

    The string of silk struck the water, missing the fish, as it was long gone by the time the butterfly had attacked.

    "Fly, ti," the Pok¨¦mon wailed.

    "It''s ok, we''ll get the next one," he called out, encouraging the beast to forget the missed shot.

    Kenji could feel his blood pump as he grew excited at once more directing a Type Beast in battle. Yet, as the heartbeats turned into minutes, he found himself despairing of another attempt. Whether it was the time of day or something else, he spotted no more fish.

    When he half turned to pick up Sprout and move upriver, a flicker in the water caught his eye. Without pausing to inspect it closer, Kenji shouted once more.

    "Flutter, there!" he said hurriedly.

    Now understanding what he wanted, the beast sprayed thread at the water with a furious squeal. No doubt it was upset at having to wait around for its opponent. Like before, the stream of thread struck the water.

    However, while it appeared that the butterfly aimed correctly, Kenji saw that the water itself worked to protect the fish. The silk was slowed and the force blunted as the thread entered the river.

    Cursing his lack of foresight, Kenji considered how to attack a beast under the surface. He did not think to factor in how fighting in the river would affect their chances.

    Staring at the water, Kenji saw the red and yellow carp swim away, unaware of the failed attack. When the fish turned around and started to nibble at the silk, Kenji wanted to slap himself.

    He watched it for a heartbeat before his eyes widened in realization.

    "Flutter, up!" he shouted. "Fly upwards." At the same time, he gestured with arms to the sky, praying that the bug understood what he was telling it to do.

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    The butterfly jerked its wings down and, with a burst of air, bounced upwards. The string tightened and stretched as the beast flew into the sky.

    At the other end, the carp was still chewing on silk. When the thread tightened and moved to follow, the fish was jerked out of the river with a spray of water. Its body twisted and flailed in the air, the red scales vibrant in the sunlight.

    "Yes!" Kenji yelled, leaping into the air with his fist raised. "Now hit it with your body, blow it this way." He lowered his hands in preparation to catch the large fish.

    The red carp twisted as the butterfly flew towards it. As a result, the bug only clipped the fish, sending it back towards the water, hitting the river with a splash.

    The water sprayed towards Flutter and the butterfly jerked out of the way with a squeal, not wanting its delicate wings to be weighed down.

    Kenji groaned as the fish swam away, scared off by the attack. Flutter settled down when the water fell back to the river and winged around searching for another fish.

    Fortunately for the two of them, Kenji had an idea.

    "Flutter, spit thread into the water again," he called out.

    The Pok¨¦mon trilled at him but did as he said, a silk string spraying out of its proboscis. The thread shot into the water, trailing much like a line from a fishing rod.

    When he returned to camp, he would have to remember to select a proper branch for a rod. For now, Flutter would hopefully be enough to pull in another fish.

    The two of them only had to wait a short time before he spotted another flash of red and yellow nibbling on the thread.

    "Reel it in, Flutter!" he shouted once more.

    The white string vibrated from the butterfly''s squeal as it flew upwards. The silk stretched and snapped back, yanking the carp out of the river.

    "karp, karp," the fish gurgled as it flailed in the air.

    "Body blow," he said quickly, not wanting to give the large fish time to react.

    Flutter did not bother releasing the string as the butterfly surged forward with a flap of its wings. A light burst of water sprayed out from around the yellow fins as the scaly fish twisted. The beast was too close and it squealed as it was forced to dive through the water.

    The water glistened on the butterfly''s wings as its chitinous body collided with the red carp. The two creatures wailed, the fish gurgling while Flutter squealed. This time, the carp was unable to flail and rebound off the Pok¨¦mon.

    The strike roughly shoved the red carp forward, sending the fish flying to the riverbank.

    "Get in close, Flutter, and finish it off," Kenji cheered.

    The butterfly raced forward before the fish could jump back into the river. Flutter jabbed several times with its proboscis in quick succession and the battle was over.

    Kenji grinned as the butterfly rose with a trill of victory. At his side, Sprout was shaking slightly but he did not move to comfort the turtle. This was something that Sprout would have to push through on his own.

    The smile faded when he realized that the fish was on the other side of the river.

    "Flutter, grab the carp and bring it here," he called out to the butterfly.

    The beast spun around with a cry, ready to attack. Kenji had to repeat his instructions before the butterfly wrapped the fish in silk and carried it across the river. While he hung it from a branch, the flying bug returned to bobbing over the river. Thread trailed from the butterfly and Kenji nodded, impressed.

    The evolved Pok¨¦mon was learning quickly, already recognizing that it could use its silk as a fishing rod.

    He only had to intervene a few more times, once when a fish managed to splash a large amount of water towards Flutter. The beast nearly fell towards the river, the wings drenched. Fortunately, the bug managed to generate enough wind to hold itself aloft while they dried.

    Several times the butterfly pulled out a horrible appearing fish and Kenji had to order it to let the nasty looking creature go. Its scales were a dull, faded brown with ragged fins and bulging pink lips.

    That one of them had the scales of a rotted cherry blossom only made creatures all the more gag worthy.

    The monotony of battling was broken rather unexpectedly. A surge in the waters was their first sign, strangely coming from downriver instead of up.

    Peering into the water, he tried to search the frothing waters for the cause of the disturbance.

    Flutter dropped nearer the surface, perhaps in an attempt to see better.

    Unfortunately, that seemed to be what the beast was waiting for.

    The surface frothed violently, before erupting a harsh, pitched screech. The water sprayed upwards, droplets visibility shaking from the grating sound.

    Covering his ears, Kenji could only watch as Flutter was thrown backwards, its squeals overpowered by the other beast''s attack.

    Before the butterfly could recover, the opposing Pok¨¦mon leapt out of the water. Glistening white, its billowing fins were hued with orange, transforming its round body into a delicate beauty. Most prominent of all was the ivory horn sprouting from its head.

    Which was glowing rather threateningly.

    Eyes widening in alarm, Kenji tried to shout a warning. However, before he could, the large goldfish struck.

    The elongated horn easily pierced the butterfly''s chitin.

    This time Kenji could clearly hear Flutter''s wails of pain. The agonized trills dug at his ears and spirit. The attack was the worst he''s seen the beast take so far, exceeding even that of the thorned Pok¨¦mon.

    Still, Flutter was not an evolved beast. Not only that, the beast was experienced in battle, with a will to match.

    With the fish so close, the butterfly pulled its large head back to properly extend its proboscis. Even as they fell, the narrow pierced the Pok¨¦mon''s scaly body.

    "Beauti," it trilled in fury, as a shimmer of green aura coated the elongated proboscis.

    Before the two touched the water, Flutter winged upwards, managing to stir up at decent wind as it did so. The move, while weak, drove the fish forcefully into the river.

    The delicate fins waved in the water as the Pok¨¦mon shook, having to both fight the current and Flutter.

    Seeing the water begin to bubble, Kenji shouted to the butterfly.

    "Flutter, up," he ordered, gesturing to the sky.

    The bug obeyed not a moment too soon as another pulse of water sprayed out of the river in an ultrasonic scream.

    Flutter slowed in the air, and Kenji worried that the flying beast was harmed by the attack.

    However, his worries were proven unfounded as a green glow of aura rose from the bug''s chitinous body. The energy took shape, forming a bright round orb that flew towards the fish.

    Belatedly, Kenji recognized the move as absorb, though in a form he did not recognize. Typically, Grass Type Beasts used their plant-like limbs or growths to latch on and drain their prey directly.

    The attack slipped beneath the surface of the water unhindered, sinking into the goldfish''s scaly body. Only a moment later, the same orb emerged and flew back to the floating butterfly.

    "Ti," the bug trilled, its voice stronger than before.

    The other Pok¨¦mon did not take the attack without response. Leaping out of the water, the fish aimed its horn towards the giant butterfly.

    "Gol, gol," the goldfish gurgled.

    "Watch out!" Kenji shouted, somewhat unnecessarily as the bug was already watching closely. "Blow it away, towards the riverbank," he urged. With the fish out of water, Flutter would have a far better time attacking.

    The flying bug complied, more used to his commands with similar battles with previous fish. It furiously flapped its wings, the stirred up wind catching on the fish''s long fins.

    Flutter struggled to dash forwards, the gust of wind pushing it backwards as well as it''s opponent. As it did so, the fish twisted frantically on the ground, splashes of water spraying the rocks around it.

    "Fly," Kenji called out in encouragement. "Quickly, before it gets back into the water."

    The Beautifly winged towards the fish, its proboscis extending to pierce the Pok¨¦mon''s scales once more.

    "Use absorb when you attack," Kenji ordered. "You''ll grow stronger from doing so."

    However, before Flutter could land its attack, the fish splashed back into the river. Its fins splayed outwards, flowing with the water in a manner Kenji found odd.

    Wary of another attack, Kenji instructed the butterfly once more.

    "Pull back, its preparing to attack."

    Flutter trilled, upset, slowing instead of fully retreating as he said. More for them to work on, he noted in the back of his mind.

    Against his expectations, the beautiful goldfish did not attack.

    Instead, the horned fish practically disappeared. Both the current and its own strength propelled the Pok¨¦mon downstream, a powerful wake the only indication of its direction.

    Staring after it in surprise, Kenji jerked his head around when Flutter released a piercing trill. Worried that another beast was attacking, he was relieved to see that the Beautifly was only celebrating its victory.

    "Yes," Kenji shouted with the bug. "You did it!"

    Warbling at their excitement, Sprout joined in celebration. The turtle slowly grew used to their battles with the weaker carp, until he was able to watch without cowering. The fight with the horned goldfish changed that, causing the beast to withdraw into his shell in fear.

    Laughing, Kenji held out his arms, catching the bug as it fell towards him. The butterfly was practically light as air compared to Sprout, and he spun the beast in a circle.

    Flutter trilled along with him, tired from the exertion but still in high spirits.

    Calming slightly, Kenji winced as he took in the Pok¨¦mon''s wound. The horn pierced the carapace, digging deep into the butterfly''s body. Combined with the ultrasonic pulse of water and the earlier battles, the beast was barely strong enough to fly.

    Searching for a nearby branch, Kenji crouched to snatch up the piece of wood. He held it to the butterfly, offering a smile of encouragement.

    "Here, spray some silk so I may bandage your wounds, then you can rest."

    The Pok¨¦mon trilled weakly, only managing a scant bundle of thread. It was enough for him to wrap the butterfly''s wound, at least until it grew strong enough for a proper bandage.

    With such a powerful opponent for the end of their battles, Kenji decided that it was time to prepare for the rapidly approaching evening. They had enough of a bounty for the night, even when split between him and Sprout.

    Moving upriver, he located the small alcove that he worked to establish. At some point after the storm, a thick tree trunk lodged on the rocks and helped blunt the water slightly. The wood had odd teeth marks on it, as if something had purposefully chewed the trunk until it fell.

    Every time he visited the river, Kenji was sure to add a large rock or several in the hopes of creating a small pool that was shielded from the stronger current. Today was not different and, wanting to match Flutter''s exertions, he moved the largest rocks he could manage.

    A quick dip in the river washed the forming sweat away and he started to clean their catch. Flutter rested on a nearby stone, idly watching him. The beast''s wings were splayed out, drying in the fading sun and resting from a series of victories.

    Meanwhile, Sprout trundled about in the shallows under Kenji''s watchful eye. There was a moment of panic when he turned and could not see the turtle, but the beast popped up out of the water with a squeal of excitement.

    Kenji was still unsure how the heavy beast managed to sink and swim so easily but set it aside. He offered the turtle a piece of fish to keep him from straying too far and Sprout bite at it curiously.

    "Oh? Now you want some?" he said when the young Pok¨¦mon chirped for more. "After Flutter was the one to brave the fight need?" he teased.

    Sprout chirped in insistence and Kenji chuckled. He gave in a tossed a piece to the turtle.

    A piercing shriek cried out and, in a flash of black feathers, the treat was rudely intercepted.

    Kenji jerked back in surprise and Sprout dove underwater with a gurgle. Flutter was even slower to react, having drifted into a nap while it rested.

    The blur of feathers resolved itself into a ball of a bird. It had gray and black feathers, with splotches of white decorating it. The bird had to audacity to toss the treat up and swallow it in front of them. Afterwards, the beast screeched and glared at him.

    Kenji glared back. He faintly recognized the beast from his studies of the Type Beasts found in other kingdoms.

    A Starly.

    "Hey, that wasn''t for you," he snapped.

    Flutter trilled in support, tired yet clearly ready to help.

    The bird screeched again and Kenji was alarmed to feel Energy infused into the cry. Turning towards the beast fully, he held the stone flake in his silk wrapped hand.

    Size was not always an indication of strength. If the bird was willing to expend its strength on a mere cry then it showed that the beast was serious about its potential meal.

    His mind flashed back to the view from the top of the tree he climbed forever ago. Swarms of butterflies hugged the tree line while larger, faster shapes dove through them. Tensing, Kenji quickly realized that the bird could be after more than just fish.

    Flutter was worn from its multiple battles, the goldfish Pok¨¦mon inflicting too much damage with its powerful horn.

    Sprout was young and sick, barely able to care for himself let alone fight one of Type''s natural enemies.

    His bonded partner, the ghost that haunted his mother''s amulet was still weak from hiding them. Even if it was not, Kenji was not sure how it would be able to help in a direct confrontation, trapped as it was in the necklace.

    It was only Kenji, with his two companions relying on him for protection.

 Chapter 21

    Kenji glared at the bird staring him down from across the river.

    The beast was perched on a rock by the water, gray and black feathers puffed up in clear threat. Its round body was nearly a perfect sphere, as it attempted to scare him. Many creatures performed similar actions when trying to ward off predators, though they had widely different effects. Some threat displays could easily harm him, if he were not strong enough to withstand the warning.

    Fortunately, he recognized the beast.

    A Starly.

    Swarms of them would migrate to Greenleaf to hunt the Grass Types that called the kingdom home. Once, after forming his link, he would have participated in the efforts to drive them off and protect the kingdom''s fields.

    A rite of passage that was no longer destined to happen.

    That this Starly was alone was strange, for the birds were known to travel in small flocks overseen by their older, stronger evolutions. Even without such a beast to watch over them, the birds tended to stay together.

    More likely, the bird''s presence was a sign that such a flock was nearby. Already, the protection granted by the spirit he was linked with was fading, Kenji recognized sadly.

    Touching the orb, Kenji firmed his resolve. This was a beast that young Warriors were expected to battle on their own.

    Still, he was at a disadvantage. Flutter was weak from the powerful river beast that pierced the butterfly''s carapace. Sprout was still too young, barely able to fend for itself. His bond was trapped inside the amulet and weak from the past days spent warding off any watching beasts.

    Now, Kenji stood alone. With his feet still submerged, he held a stone flake in his hand while he faced down the flying beast.

    "Go!" he shouted, waving the primitive blade. "Get out of here."

    The bird ruffled its feathers and screeched at him once more.

    Again, he felt the Energy infusing the sound and Kenji''s worry grew. There was no reason for the beast to do so unless it was serious about a battle. However, after only two cries, the beast settled into glaring.

    Kenji waited for the beast to attack, but, as the heartbeats turned into minutes, he could not help relaxing. Sprout was cowering behind his legs and Flutter was prepared to lift off to defend them.

    Still the beast stared him down. Its feather''s remained puffed, attempting to intimidate him.

    Narrowing his eyes, Kenji tried to figure out how far the bird was willing to go for a meal. He knew little about the species beyond the fact that they migrated to Greenleaf to hunt and terrorize the local Pok¨¦mon. Some considered it a rite of passage for new Warriors to face down the flocks without knowledge provided beforehand.

    He was now hating the tradition.

    When the bird made no other move, he turned to resume cleaning the fish. As soon as he placed the stone flake to begin descaling it, the bird cried out.

    Twitching, Kenji jerked back to face the bird.

    The gray feathered creature was staring him down in affront. The bird ruffled its feathers when it noticed him looking, as if to further indicate its displeasure.

    Kenji returned its glare with one of annoyance. Did the bird truly think that it could so easily steal from him. While the first morsel may have been one taken from luck, the next would not. Nor would be bullied into surrendering any more of his meal.

    Mustering another glare, Kenji purposely turned back to cleaning the fish.

    This time, when the Starly screeched at him, he was prepared. He refused to look at the beastly bird and continued to prepare the meal. The sun was settling low in the sky and he had little time to spend entertaining some bird too lazy to hunt for itself.

    The bird screeched for a third time and Kenji studiously ignored it. Sprout was still shaking and Flutter had settled down, leading him to believe that the beast did not truly intend him harm.

    That belief did not last long as a shadow flickered over him.

    Throwing himself aside, Kenji stumbled over Sprout and landed splayed out in the water. The shallow river did little to break his fall as felt the harsh stones underneath.

    With water soaking him, he looked up to see the bird land on the stone bearing their catch. Its body was shedding aura light, clear fog, showing him how the bird arrived so quickly. The black and orange beak lanced out, plucking up a piece of the carp and swallowing it whole.

    "Hey!" Kenji spluttered.

    He stood up in time for the bird to swallow another piece. Lunging at the beast, it flashed out with its wings and took off. Catching himself on the rock, he hovered over the remaining food. He stared up at the sky and watched the bird wing away.

    With a whole fish clasped in its talons.

    The beast let out a final screech of triumph before it disappeared.

    Kenji glared after it and snarled in frustration. It was an insult to both him and Flutter that the bird would steal so much of their catch.

    Worse, it showed that the creature was smart.

    Smart enough that it would be back for more.

    While beasts often grew in intelligence after a period of time linked with a Warrior, there were always those smart enough beforehand. He was unsure what the screech it infused with Energy was meant to do, as he did not feel any different after hearing it.

    Or, perhaps it was because the cry was not meant for him.

    Kenji turned to peer at Flutter. The butterfly was still laying down on the rock, drying its wings in the fading sunlight. When the bird first appeared, it was ready to battle, despite being weary from previous fights.

    Then, after a few cries from the bird, it settled down. The beast likely did not think Kenji a threat so, once Flutter was relaxed, it struck.

    Not only that but, after stealing the first morsel, the bird waited for him to feed it again. When he did not, the beast took action. It ensured that he was not looking, that he would not react to it, it moved to steal more.

    Kenji released his breath with a sigh and leaned back into a squat.

    "It will be back," he murmured quietly.

    A beast smart enough to trick him like such would be smart enough to return for more. And it would bring friends.

    Picking up Sprout, he fed the turtle a piece of the fish to help the beast calm down. He snapped down the treat with eagerness while Kenji thought. It seems that he would have to accelerate his plans.

    Already, after several days in one spot, he was growing too relaxed and easy. Kenji recognized that he was delaying, perhaps not intentionally at first. However, now that he realized it, he could not allow the procrastination to continue.

    In his arms, Sprout warbled for more, breaking Kenji out of his thoughts.

    "Alright, alright," he chuckled lightly. "I hear you." He reached forward and gather up the less desirable pieces and offered them to the turtle.

    The beast chirped in happiness and voraciously swallowed the proffered meat. He quickly grew content and Kenji could tell that if he did not return to camp soon, then he would be carrying the turtle.

    "Not yet," he chided as the large eyes started to drift close.

    Setting the beast in the water, he allowed the cool river to wake Sprout up while he collected the remaining pieces of fish.

    "Come along, Sprout, Flutter," Kenji called out as he stepped out of the river.

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Both were reluctant to move, but as he started to walk away, Sprout hurried out of the water to follow.

    "Beau," Flutter cried out in indignation.

    "Ah, you are right," Kenji paused and turned towards the large butterfly. "This one thanks you for your hard work, and apologizes for not speaking earlier." He bowed lowly to the hovering Pok¨¦mon.

    "Ti," the beast trilled shortly. Apparently satisfied, the Pok¨¦mon winged its way ahead of them.

    Not wanting to be left alone after having already been accosted, Kenji snatched up Sprout and stepped quickly. They arrived back at camp to find the fire in embers and providing little to light the surroundings.

    He threw several thin branches in the pit and stirred it back to life.

    While the fire warmed him, he held up a piece of the fish to inspect closely. It did not look wrong or diseased to his eyes. The flesh was a soft pink fading to white. Slicing a piece free with a stone flake, he gingerly tried it. The meat was firm and had a wet taste, not entirely what he expected.

    Kenji blinked in surprise as he swallowed and tasted it further.

    The meat practically fell apart and left behind a rather mild aftertaste. While not entirely favorable, the fish was exquisite compared to some of the berries he tasted in his foraging efforts.

    Cooked, the fish gained a smokey flavor and lost some of the river taste. He finished the remainder of Flutter''s hunt, tossing some of the more burnt pieces to Sprout.

    The Pok¨¦mon was practically drooling as he watched Kenji eat. The large, clear eyes were rather persuasive and could not be resisted for long.

    After only a few mouthfuls, the meal was gone and Kenji stared forlornly at the smoldering ends of the sticks he used to cook.

    Sighing, he fell back and tugged the silk blanket down. The leaves clinging to it largely kept it from doing the same to him. Curling up underneath it, he rested his head on his bundled up leathers. He fell asleep quickly, the efforts of the day encouraging him into a slumber.

    That night he dreamed of sand bordering the sea. Wood, shells, and more dotted the grainy surface or lay buried beneath, waiting for him to reach for it. He dug into the ground, piling the sand high and forming a castle fit for a Warlord. Phantom hands helped him and Kenji smiled as he drifted further, the waves carrying him into dreamless sleep.

    The night passed and Kenji awoke to a piercing trill. Sprout''s warbling cry complained at the harsh call to wakefulness. Kenji sat up with a stretch, feeling relaxed for the first time since his arrival in the unfamiliar land.

    Until now, every time he awoke, there was always a brief moment of confusion. In between the lull of sleep and consciousness, he would wonder at the odd warmth. The strange feeling of his bed and why it was so uncomfortable. Then he would open his eyes and reality would fall upon him.

    Until today.

    He was not at peace or worry free, far from it, but this time he just . . . was.

    Kenji took a moment to stare at the ceiling of his small shelter.

    Sticks, rough crates of fruit and berries, stone, and mud surrounded him. The leaf-and-silk blanket helped to keep him warm at night, and provided a further sense of safety. Sprout was by his side, the Pok¨¦mon trembling, while Flutter was trilling angrily at the blue and white creature scrabbling through his supply of berries.

    The fire had died down during the night and there was a slight chill to air, though he was unsure if it was warning of oncoming winter or simply a sign that the day would be cool.

    "Hopefully the latter," he murmured quietly. "Let the seasons be-"

    Kenji froze into silence, his body stiffening in surprise and fear.

    Slowly rotating his head, he kept the rest of his body still while he looked at the invader stealing his food. The beast was a bulbous mass of blue and white fur that quickly revealed itself to be a large bushy tail. Thick blue spikes jutted out, shifting as the tail flickered and curled.

    Now that he was more aware, Kenji could hear the soft sounds the beast chirped. Likely in excitement at its discovery of Kenji''s hoard.

    "Pa, Pa," it squealed softly.

    Flutter was expressing indignation from the safety of the corner of his meager shelter, out of range of the squirrel''s harsh looking tail.

    As Kenji took in the scene, he felt his shock morph into anger and he glared at the Pok¨¦mon from behind. He flexed his abdomen, pulling himself up with a minimal amount of movement. The leaks stuck to the silk blanket crinkled as it fell, alerting the beast despite his attempts at silence.

    The colored squirrel froze and twitched its head, looking around at Kenji. Cheeks bulged with stolen goods and made prominent the yellow spots decorating the beast''s face. Eyes widened and the tail flicked, nearly fast enough that it blurred.

    "Chi!" the Pok¨¦mon wailed.

    Kenji dove without thinking, flattening himself onto the ground. He heard a crackle and felt the hair on his skin lift up. The air began to smell sharp and sweet, burning his nostrils. Before he could pull himself up, he heard Flutter trill with fury, overshadowing the sound of the beast furiously rummaging through his berries.

    He shoved himself upwards in time to see the squirrel flying at his face. The furry body muffled his shout of surprise as the beast struck him hard enough to push backwards.

    However, before he could react, the squirrel had already leapt away. By the time he opened his eyes, the last he saw of it was the spiked tail disappearing through the chimney hole at the top his wood and mud walls.

    All Kenji could do was stare in disbelief. First, the Starly and now the strange squirrel.

    "At least the bird had the honor to confront me." Kenji snapped at the walls, righteous anger curling within him. He ignored the more reasonable argument that this was the wild, where Ronin ruled and monsters took as they pleased.

    Moving over to his now reduced supplies, he grumbled further when he saw what the large squirrel took. Despite his fears, it was not too much but still enough that would have lasted him nearly a day.

    Recognizing that there was little he could do for now, Kenji stirred the fire back to life. Hopefully the flame and smoke would keep the beast from sneaking in with his back turned.

    Though he had little intention of leaving the camp too long. When the fresh log began to char and provide a soft light, he started to carefully inspect his stacks of wood.

    While he stocked the shelter full of branches in preparation for the storm several days ago, he was using it quickly. It was merely another indication of how lax he was growing. Just because he was comfortable for now did not mean that he would remain so.

    Either way, none of the wood held the qualities that he was searching for. All of the branches he gathered were dry and firm, easy to break over his knee. There were a few thicker branches, nothing unwieldy, but they served his purposes even less.

    In order to build a proper sled, the wood needed to be firm enough to not break yet supple enough to bend. Especially when he began to load the sled down and travel through the forest. The ground was rough, with plenty of low spots and rocks that could break a dry branch.

    "Well, it looks like I''ll be foraging sooner than I thought," he said lowly.

    Sighing, he gathered a few of his remaining stone flakes and the one successful attempt at an axe. While he was wary to put it to use, he could not help but feel a small bit of excitement. A large flake of stone was held in the crook of a thick branch with a not-insignificant amount of silk. This would be the first time he put the axe to use and he could only hope that it remained that.

    A tool.

    Sprout chirped at him, breaking Kenji out of the dark turn in his thoughts. Kenji offered the turtle a small smile of thanks.

    The turtle was calming now that the foreign beast was gone.

    Flutter had already drifted out, either in search of nectar or to chase the squirrel now that it was no longer confined with it. Creatures of the sky did not fare well in battles that limited their maneuverability. Honestly, Kenji was faintly surprised that it spent any time in the shelter at all.

    He rolled a fruit towards Sprout and stepped beyond the mud and wood wall shielding him from the elements. While he waited for the turtle to eat, Kenji conducted several simple stretches. He had too much to do today to spend time cultivating or exercising his body. When the young Pok¨¦mon trundled out of the shelter, he quickly stood upright.

    Before the beast could begin to dig into the soil, Kenji started to move, calling out to the turtle as he did so.

    "Come along, Sprout," he said. "We have much to do today."

    The beast whined in response, eliciting an expectant stare from Kenji. After a few heartbeats, he purposefully turned away and started to walk into the forest, away from the river.

    Kenji could practically hear the beast''s hesitation before it chirped loudly and started to race after him. Hiding a pleased smile, he slowed until Sprout caught up.

    "Today, we are going to be building a sled," he told the turtle. "Or is it crafting? Constructing?" he asked thoughtfully, cocking his head upwards in question.

    "It matters not," he decided with a shrug. "What is important is that you will have a new nest and I will have a new sled. Far superior to our previous one," Kenji declared.

    "Hopefully," he added with a mutter.

    While he spoke to the young turtle, he kept his voice low. That he came within striking distance of a beast, not once, but twice, was a warning. And not one he was keen to forget.

    While he circled the camp, he kept an eye out for any beast that may be nearby. While he was sure that some were hiding, it was the ones unafraid of his presence that he had to be careful of. To do so told of a confidence in one''s strength or a nature that led one to be uncaring of unfamiliar creatures.

    Fortunately, he saw little evidence of any Pok¨¦mon nearby. The upper boughs shook little and he heard strident calls echoing through the forest. He had to travel further than he wished, however he managed to gather enough fresh wood to build a sled with plenty leftover.

    His stone axe saw plenty of use as the branches were reluctant to break free. While his father was skilled and powerful enough to part a limb without harming the tree, Kenji had to resort to brutally chopping at the branches. By the time he was done, he found that the stone flake was dull enough that it could be used as a club and little else.

    Returning to camp for the final time, he dropped the wood in the camp with the rest. Picking up a handful of berries, he eagerly bit into one and offered another to Sprout.

    "You did good today, little one," he told the small Pok¨¦mon.

    And indeed he did. The young beast kept up with Kenji, despite the long, meandering path that circled back to the shelter several times. The time spent cutting down branches allowed the beast to recover. Twice, they journeyed to the river to slack their thirst.

    Finishing the small meal, Kenji began laying out the branches. When Flutter returned, they would wrap silk around the overlapping limbs and secure it fully. The process went quickly, and by the time he was done, Flutter had yet to make an appearance.

    Shaking his head, Kenji looked over the remaining pieces of wood. They were either too small or too long for the sled, and he stared at them in consideration. The branches were too green to burn and he hated to simply toss them aside after putting the effort into collecting them. Not to mention the damage he inflicted on the forest.

    His disrespect for the land was approaching the limits of what a major clan would consider forgivable. It would bring shame, and perhaps worse, to so casually throw away the broken tree limbs.

    Instead, he had another idea.

    Positioning the branches, he envisioned a sturdy pack supported by wood and woven of silk. He would not be able to carry much, but every little bit helped. Plus, if he kept enough food and necessary items in the pack, he could potentially abandon the sled should the need arise. He would have to carry Sprout in his hands but it would still be faster than struggling to run while dragging the laden frame.

    Taken with the idea, Kenji continued to craft and plan well after Flutter returned until he found himself doing it by fire light.

 Chapter 22

    The preparations for leaving took longer than Kenji wished.

    Instead of waking early the next day ready to leave, he awoke to a list of items that he found needed to be done. Constructing the sled took up the majority his evening yesterday, leaving him little time to prepare. The idle time spent framing a pack carry on his back was better spent than he realized.

    Kenji believed that as long as he used smaller branches, he would be able to build a suitable pack. It was far from the stiff, water-resistant, leather rucksacks carried by the kingdom''s soldiers and Warriors. A simple frame of pliable wood kept it from pressing too hard into his back while a thin box extended outwards. Beautifly silk held the frame together, with thick braids forming straps to slip his arms through.

    It was roughly the size of Sprout''s shell, though nowhere near durable enough to carry the heavy turtle. Still, it was strong enough to carry some fruit, his stone knives, and axe that were too valuable to leave on the sled.

    After relieving himself and fetching a drink from the river, he finished the pack and sled. He loaded the two with as much as he believed he could carry, the fruits held in place by wooden crates and stuffed with herbs and other plants. Cleaning out the shelter took some time and only after he started to move the sticks and river stones did Kenji realize that he was procrastinating.

    Shaking his head, Kenji stepped outside the shelter. Sprout was alert, having dug only lightly into the soil and followed Kenji with a watchful eye. Similarly, Flutter was resting on the fallen tree above. The beast had returned after only a short foray in the forest.

    "You two look more ready than I do," Kenji said to the Pok¨¦mon with a chuckle. "Then let us go," he sighed.

    Sprout warbled at him as Kenji pulled the turtle out of the ground.

    "None of that," Kenji scolded. "I''ve carried you through these woods enough, you should be able to walk for a while," he mock-glared.

    The turtle shook slightly, taking the scolding harder than he wanted the beast to, but met Kenji''s eyes nonetheless.

    "Oh, growing up are we?" Kenji grinned. "Further proof that you are able to walk on your own," he declared.

    Picking up the wooden sack, Kenji wrapped the braided straps around himself. He shifted side to side, pacing several times to ensure that it settled on his back comfortably. Looking around one final time, he rolled his mother''s pendant between his fingers.

    While he felt strange to leave, as the camp represented a sense of stability and safety that he was sorely missing, it was time.

    "I will go home," he murmured softly, remembering the promise he made to himself.

    Stepping up to the sled, he checked it over one final time. The berries were as secure as he could manage, without becoming a burden. The cocoons would be left behind, his need for the silk orbs having long passed. Flutter''s string was far more resilient and malleable, especially as the butterfly was capable of altering the stickiness of the material.

    The leaf and silk blanket covered the sled, with his hopes that it would keep scavengers and predators from spotting the hidden food. His gardening leather added an additional layer of protection underneath.

    There was no way to be sure which plants repelled the creatures and which ones attracted them, so he kept disguising it further. He could only pray to the guardians that his scent from the leathers further kept the wild beasts from discovering the store of berries.

    As he grabbed the handles and lifted the sled, Flutter bounced into the air.

    "Beau!" it trilled loudly.

    "Very well then," Kenji called back as the beast flapped away from camp. "Lead the way and I shall follow."

    With the thickness of the surrounding tree, he quickly lost sight of his temporary dwelling. The sled slowed him down enough that Sprout was able to keep up with ease, though Kenji could go without the whining chirps.

    "No," he told the young Pok¨¦mon yet again. "If you wish to grow great and strong, you must push yourself. A tree sheltered is uprooted come the first storm."

    Sprout grumbled back and Kenji resumed focusing on marching through the forest. While foraged in the surrounding area, he was loath to journey too far lest he get lost. As such, it was not long before they crossed the invisible boundary that separated what he perceived as the edges of camp and the wilds.

    Like before, he was following the river upstream, with the goal of reaching the far off mountains. Kenji was not sure how long it would take. Perhaps if he walked straight towards them with little to hinder him, it would only be a ten-day. However, to do so would mean abandoning food, water, and his companions.

    So, Kenji kept to the river, following it as the stream wound its way towards the distant mountains.

    It was different, he thought to himself as he trekked. When he first woke up in the forest-even now his mind shuddered-the woods were silent. Moving through the trees, the beastly calls were distant and echoed, with little indication that they were there. The experience was dull and colorless, a chore that Kenji had to work through when all he wanted to do was lay down.

    This time, though, the forest was alive to his senses. Above, the tree limbs shook as creatures moved just beyond his sight. The leaves were greener, spotted with flowers that Flutter squealed to see. Scents were stronger, with some pungent enough to make his noise curl.

    Kenji widely circled around a particularly foul odor, not wanting to meet the source of such a foul odor.

    He stopped only once before midday, plucking a brief snack from a plentiful bush. Sprout''s complaints had eased and Kenji decided it was time for the turtle to take his well-earned rest. After filling himself with the red fruit, he packed the beast''s nest with soil and leaves. Sprout warbled with tired eagerness when he lifted his head to witness Kenji doing so.

    "You''ve earned it, little one." he told the young Pok¨¦mon. "I shall carry you for a time, but remember," he picked up the heavy turtle and helped cover the stumpy limbs with dirt. "Someday, I''ll be the one you drag around like so."

    The beast chirped in happiness and quickly fell to sleep.

    Kenji moved the blanket around, positioning it so that the turtle could still soak in the sun without leaving the sled overly exposed.

    Above, Flutter trilled, either ready to move on or upset the butterfly did not get the same treatment.

    "If you wish to rest, you only need to say so," Kenji answered, picking up the sled.

    Of course, the bug refused. It flapped with more force than necessary at his response, spinning around a trunk.

    "You have the spirit of a Warrior''s bond," he said with approval and a bit of envy. He had one bond, but Warlords were said to bear dozens. Of course, those monsters were outliers, with most Warriors only able to support a handful of links.

    Though he was not sure how to form another, he knew it would require the manipulation of his spirit and aura. Right now his single link was a buried seed, sealed until his spirit recovered and his bond was released from the amulet.

    If only he knew how.

    Shaking his head, he forced the thoughts aside. Nothing good would come from treading that path.

    Standing up, he tossed aside the remains of his meal and picked up the sled. He could not help but grunt at the weight. Every day, it seemed the turtle grew more and more. While he joked with the Pok¨¦mon, he was truly worried about the rapidly approaching day where he went to lift the sled and found himself unable to.

    Fortunately, today was not that day.

    Leaning forward, he felt as though he were moving underwater. The additional weight slowed his progress significantly but he pressed on undeterred.

    As midday passed, Flutter settled upon his pack with a trill. While the beast was light, he did not appreciate the additional weight. That was, until the beats of wings started to fan him. Sighing with appreciation, he luxuriated in the gentle wind that the butterfly created.

    The river was a constant trickle in the background, helping him keep from wandering too far. However, the flowing water also served as a constant reminder of his thirst. He was sure to drink his fill early in the morning but he had long since sweat it out. The salt stung his eyes but the pain was a minor annoyance compared to what he was already feeling.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    His tongue felt swollen and dry in his mouth, with the taste of water taunting him from memory. Eventually, he could no longer stand it.

    Turning towards the river, Kenji managed to keep from heading directly towards it. By angling himself slightly, he could still convince himself that he was making progress.

    His entire body ached, from his legs to his back to his shoulders.

    With the thought of a dip into the cool waters, Kenji found himself stepping faster. Focused as he was on putting one foot in front of the other, he found himself nearly falling into the stream as the forest abruptly ended. He jerked to a halt, leaning back to help recover his balance.

    Instead of dropping the sled, he gently set it down and took a moment to wipe the sweat from his eyes. The motion jostled Flutter and the butterfly took flight with a trill of complaint.

    "Apologies," he said with a tired sigh. "Come on, Sprout," he continued as he turned around. "It''s time for a short rest."

    Flutter beat its wings several times, as if to make a point, before darting away. The creature was always eager to explore and, after recovering, seemed well enough to resume.

    Sprout, meanwhile, was slumbering deep enough that Kenji despaired of waking the turtle up. No matter how much he cajoled the Pok¨¦mon, the beast merely chirped or grumbled lightly without fully opening his eyes. Sighing, he leaned back and decided to try again after slaking his thirst.

    Before doing so, he carefully took off the wood pack. Kenji gave the construction a quick once over to ensure that none of the silk braids were coming apart and that everything was still settled. After ensuring the pack was fine, he stripped out of his sandals and split toe socks.

    The pairs were quickly fraying and Kenji worried over how much longer they would last. While he could likely replace the sandals by scavenging it from his gardening leathers, the same could not be said for the other pair. Likewise, his clothes were becoming rip from the small branches and plants that tugged at the material as he walked.

    Much longer and Kenji would find himself traveling in the nude.

    Kenji snorted at the image of some poor soul spying him through the trees, likely thinking him a deranged individual.

    Taking care with his clothing, he draped his tunic and pants over his sled along with his socks.

    "Perhaps the stench will wake you, mmh?" he said with a huff towards the sleeping turtle.

    When the beast failed to respond, Kenji shook his head and finally waded into the cool waters. Cupping his hands, he ducked his head and greedily drank from the river. It was cold and refreshing.

    Ducking under the water, he let the flowing water whisk away the sweat and filth from travel. While it was not silent underneath the surface, it was perhaps more peaceful. The wild, monstrous calls were quieted and all he could hear was the rushing of the river.

    When he could hold his breath no longer, Kenji stood with a splash and shook his head. Wiping the water from his eyes, he idly glanced around.

    The river was wider and more shallow, with plenty of evidence that the late storm had washed away the riverbanks. Though it appeared that this part of the forest had borne the brunt of the storm more heavily. Several trunks clung banks or were hung up on rocks, broken and water logged. The scene continued up and downstream until the river bent out of sight.

    Looking at the wood curiously, Kenji paused as he noticed low stumps hidden on the tree line.

    Sucking in a breath, he quickly splashed forward, racing to the tree stump he spotted. He had to climb over several trunks, the wood slick and unyielding. Still, Kenji did not care.

    A stump indicated that there was once a tree. And no beast that he knew of would purposefully cut down trees like so.

    Kenji stumbled to a halt and peered at the wide stub of wood intently.

    His shoulders quickly fell as he noticed the deep furrows that marred the remaining trunk. Like a cloud covering the sun, he felt it all so forlorn.

    "Why do I even get my hopes up," Kenji murmured to himself.

    Collapsing onto the fallen, waterlogged trees behind him, Kenji dropped his head into his hands. His breaths came quick and heavy as he fought to control his emotions. Coughing out a sob, he kept himself from retreating. Giving in to despair would solve nothing.

    Kenji forced himself to stand, and messily wiped away the sweat and water that still clung to his face.

    Or at least that is what told himself it was.

    To help focus himself, he lightly slapped his palms to his cheeks.

    "Look closer," Kenji said aloud. "What do you see?"

    Following his own instructions, he inspected the stump again.

    The wood was marred by wide furrows that easily carved through the bark. It looked nothing like the damage he expected talons to make, leading Kenji to believe that the tree was chewed down.

    "Why, though?" he asked himself quietly.

    Standing up, he looked around, letting his mind work as he took in the details.

    There were more stumps along with evidence that trees were chewed on randomly until they were felled. The inner wood was fresh, showing that the chewing occurred relatively recently. The scene continued both upstream and down.

    Yet the trees in the river were old and rotting, clearly not felled at the same time. Kenji splashed through the water as he climbed over the trunks as he studied them.

    These were the key to the puzzle, he felt.

    The wood was worn, both by water and time, disguising much of the more purposeful damage that he was searching for. The teeth marks were light indentations, trimming the trunk of branches and leaving the harvested end slightly pointed.

    More glaringly were the cracks and splits that broke the wood. The damage appeared fresh, with the sharp edges having yet to be dulled by time. Looking at the other felled trees, Kenji saw similar breaks splitting the thick wood.

    Wading through the water, he returned to the sled, voicing his thoughts.

    "Something chewed down the trees, moved them, and then broke them?" Kenji finished with uncertainty. His eyes bounced from the forest to the waterlogged trunks in the river as he spoke, trying to tease forth an understanding of what occurred.

    Back home, such damage would prompt a thorough investigation of the beast responsible, along with efforts to drive it away. Forests were the pride and lifeblood of Greenleaf. Only a few select clans were allowed to harvest the forests. If the problem were serious or widespread, the Warlord might have even sent a junior to investigate.

    Here, though, his worries were more personal.

    There was no telling how fearsome or territorial such a beast might be. For it to so brazenly harm the land and simply let the wood drift downstream only informed Kenji as to the beast''s power.

    He simply hoped that he managed to escape the Pok¨¦mon''s territory before they crossed paths.

    To that end, Kenji drank his fill before climbing the slope back up to his sled and pack. Sprout was still sleeping in his planter and Flutter had returned.

    Another indication that beasts are nearby? he wondered.

    Chewing his lip nervously, Kenji debated on what to do.

    While not exactly the same, it was similar to his journey into the Beautifly Nest. Then, he did not know where he was or how deep into their territory he had traveled until it was too late. Unlike last time, though, to leave the beast''s territory would mean abandoning the river for at least a day or more.

    Which would be a more than acceptable alternative if it were not for Sprout and the sled. Even with just the sled, it was possible he could move fast enough before growing dehydrated.

    Sprout changed all that.

    The beast was too weak to travel far on his own.

    That the turtle was still recovering after a morning of travel proved that to Kenji more than wished it to.

    If the young Pok¨¦mon could not walk, then Kenji had to carry him. And if Kenji had to carry him, then it would take too long before he was forced to return to the river for water.

    Either way he would be returning to the river.

    There was no other choice, he realized grimly.

    He refused to abandon Sprout and no matter what path he chose would have him returning to the river.

    Decision made, Kenji pulled on his clothes with a sigh. The water was still drying on his skin, causing the cloth to cling to him. After slipping on the wood pack, he picked up the sled and whistled for Flutter.

    "Ti," the butterfly trilled back with a short, piercing note.

    Together, they followed the river upstream, with Flutter leading the way. This time, Kenji kept a sharp lookout, refusing to be surprised should the territory''s Pok¨¦mon appear. Being on constant alert caused him to jump at every shadow and rustle of the trees, stressing him further.

    So much so that, at first, he missed the growing roar in the background. The rushing of the river was a constant companion, one that he filtered out. The sound became an unconscious guide that changed with the forest.

    So, when the river started to grow to a roar, he did not recognize it.

    Pausing, Kenji tilted his head and listened. Intellectually, he understood that the river was the source of the noise yet he could not understand why. There was no sharp incline or cliff that would create a waterfall.

    Staring in the direction of the river, he felt both curious and apprehensive. Change was dangerous, especially when it involved him directly. If he knew what was changing then he would be better prepared.

    Turning, Kenji approached the river slowly. He was prepared to drop the sled and snatch up Sprout if anything threatening appeared. Several times, he stopped behind a tree to listen closer. However, the thundering river drowned out any other potential noise.

    As he neared, his apprehension grew. Tree stumps grew more numerous, along with the teeth markings from the beasts chewing them down. Overshadowing those were the more worrying signs.

    Broken trees and violently overturned earth. Shattered wood strewn across the ground. Crushed and ruined plants, with deep furrows marring the forest floor. Trees were hanging, only supported by their neighbors who themselves were charred black. The river was a constant rush in the background, louder with every step.

    Flutter let loose several worried trills, either sensing his own fear or also recognizing the signs of a fierce battle. More likely, there may have been remnants of aura clinging to the wood and earth, scaring away other Pok¨¦mon.

    Whatever Kenji expected to find, this was not it. The damage to the forest was prohibitive, and clearly recent. The rain from several days ago washed away the details but could not erase everything. Nor did the forest have enough time to recover and hide the damage.

    Stepping somberly, Kenji ducked behind a wide trunk when he grew near the tree line. He set the sled down slowly and stood up. This one bore evidence of the battle and long healed scars from chewed furrows, yet it still remained standing.

    Peering out from behind his cover, he gazed at the river.

    The water rumbled and flowed but that was not what grabbed his attention. A great construction of wood forded the river, blocking the flow of water. Trunks, branches, and mud stretched from bank to bank.

    Or at least it would have, were the dam not broken and destroyed.

    While most of the wooden wall held, it was clear that the majority of the battle must have occurred here. Or at least where it started. The wood was blackened, with jagged streaks that hinted at lightning. Scars spotted the dam, as though one took a giant axe or sword and tried to cut through.

    Kenji even spotted a few boulders at the base of the dam, with matching indentations marking where they were thrown. They rested below the markings of a waterline, the small lake having emptied to a muddy pond.

    Distracted as he was by the scene of devastation, it took Kenji a moment to spot the small beasts scurrying around. Their brown forms allowed the creatures to easily blend into their surroundings, with their small size further hiding them.

    Now that he knew what to look for, he could see more of them climbing over and through the dam. In the shallow, muddy waters, Kenji could further movement as other beasts splashed or swam in the river.

    "So this is where they came from," Kenji murmured softly.

    Before the storm, Kenji never spotted any beasts in the river. Admittedly, he was not at the shelter long before the storm hit and much of his time was spent foraging. Still, after the heavy rains, he saw plenty of fish in the river. Enough that Beautifly grew tired of battling and a Starly poached his dinner.

    "What happened here?" he wondered.

 Interlude: Inter-Lopers

    "It''s time to get up," Jared growled.

    Well, he always growls, Henry thought as he stretched with a grunt. His hands brushed the tent fabric and stretched as he pressed against it. Not like he can help it.

    "I''m up, I''m up," he told his partner with a yawn.

    He tugged his sleeping mask down and rubbed at his eyes. When he could finally see, he jerked back in surprise.

    "Cynthia''s Tits!" Henry shouted. "Why are you so close, man?" he snapped with irritation.

    Jared moved away, his scarred face retreating to a more comfortable distance outside Henry''s personal space.

    "Get up," he grumbled. "Time to move."

    "We have plenty of time," Henry complained. "We just set the traps, there''s no way we caught anything yet."

    Jared merely grunted and pulled out the tent, letting flap fall back into place.

    Alone again, Henry fell back with a yawn.

    Despite his words, Henry crawled out his sleeping bag and started to pull on his clothes. He knew better than to press too hard, and the two of them already took several hours to relax last night. Or at least he did.

    A short but well deserved field shower after stomping through the forest all day. Some actual food, pan fried with a side of fresh berries. He even managed to finish a book he started a while ago but never finished.

    Henry just wished Jared would indulge as well. The other man was more wound up than his Hitmonlee''s coiled legs. And the Pok¨¦mon kicked boulders for fun.

    When Henry felt that he was ready, he grabbed the rest of his gear and left the confines of the tent. He broke camp, or at least his portion seeing as Jared was already set to go. The small pop up shelter was folded and packed with the ease of long repetition. Bundled up, he tied it to his canvas pack.

    Much like his traveling gear, the synthetic fibers were mottled dull to keep from reflecting any light. The camouflage helped him to further blend into the surroundings and break up his silhouette. While the forestry colors would not fool any truly dangerous monster, there were plenty of Pok¨¦mon that could give them trouble.

    All it would take was one little beast throwing a fit and they would have half the forest descending on them.

    Henry double checked to make sure his Pok¨¦ Balls were secured, with the other tools of their trade tied down to keep from making too much noise. His primary concern was for the small bag of the minimized spheres that allowed them to quickly capture a beast while on the move without having to rummage through their packs. If not properly contained, they were liable to bang together or even spill out.

    Only once he was finished with his preparations did Henry greet his partner. The man was standing, ready to go, and intently watching the forest with shadowed eyes while occasionally turning to glare at him.

    "Well good morning to you," he said to Jared as he peeled open a breakfast bar.

    The protective wrapping was a biodegradable paper, the oats and berries carefully selected for maximized nutrition, and could sustain even a Journeying teenager.

    It was a pity that the dense meals tasted worse than they sounded.

    "Another glorious breakfast fit for a Champion, eh?" he asked

    Jared of course ignored him, but Henry was used to the man''s silent treatment.

    Crunching through the rest of his breakfast bar, he continued with a stream of words. The conversation remained one-sided with only the occasional grunt from Jared to warn him when he was too much.

    "Think we should expect anything?" Henry asked as he crumbled up his second wrapper. He shoved it inside his bag with the other trash from their isolated posting.

    Disposable did not mean untraceable.

    "It was great last night, it seemed like half the Wilds were laying low." Henry said around a mouthful of grain. "No idea why, but it was great. Best sleep I''ve had out here in ages," he rambled.

    Jared growled.

    Henry snapped his jaw shut. Flickering his eyes over, he watched the other man without alerting him.

    Hopefully.

    Still, he could not help resting his hand atop the clasp holding his Pok¨¦ balls.

    When nothing else occurred, he slowly relaxed and continued on. The rest of their morning ritual was conducted in silence.

    The few remaining items were stored into his large pack and the indications of their presence carefully erased. Despite what one would expect, they had access to some of the latest technology in camping and Journeying gear.

    While it made the job all the more bearable, the advanced equipment''s true value lay elsewhere. Not only did they save time setting up and tearing down, but with their skills, they left no trace of their presence. Electric grills meant no ash and no smoke. Quality camouflage kept them hidden with expert repels that completely eliminated their scent instead of simply warding away Pok¨¦mon.

    Completely different to my time Journeying as a youngster, Henry thought to himself with a silent chuckle. Long gone were the days of struggling to light a fire and sleeping in a leaky tent. Though he did enjoy fending off the curious Pok¨¦mon, battling the wild creatures with his team.

    When Henry finally slipped on his pack, Jared set off without a word. The man was long ready, always prepared to leave at a moment''s notice.

    "Think we''ll find anything?" Henry called ahead softly.

    The other man grunted in response.

    "Yeah, I didn''t think so either," Henry said, taking Jared''s grunt as a no. "Far too early. And whatever spooked the forest likely caused all the good beasties to hide," he added as an afterthought.

    Jared paused, considering Henry''s words.

    Henry held his breath, wondering if the man would speak. Anything beyond a snarled instruction or grunt of acknowledgement was worth a Dragon''s Scale, and just as hard to pry free.

    When his partner started to move without responding, Henry sighed. If he did not already know that others were just as unnerved by the man, he would have that Jared was playing some cruel joke. But no, the man truly avoided discussion.

    Leaving it all up to Henry to carry a conversation. Fortunately, he was gifted with a Chatot''s tongue, as his mother used to say.

    "Since we''re likely not to find anything, where do you want to camp?" he asked rhetorically. "Personally, I''m favoring the river. Sure a camp shower is great, but it''s nothing compared to a dip in the water, cold as it is."

    Henry hesitated briefly before committing. "Pity there''s no one to swim with, eh?" he leered at Jared with exaggeration, hoping to get a rise out of him.

    Jared stopped, his feet slamming into the ground with a harsh finality.

    Henry stopped as well, alarmed at the sudden change. He glanced around warily, expecting a Pok¨¦mon nearby but he saw nothing. Turning his eyes back forward, he flinched backwards. Dropping his hand to his pocket, he fingered the latch, ready to release Lee at a moment''s notice.

    The other man''s face was stone flat. If it were not for his eyes, Henry could almost believe that nothing was wrong. Well, that and the burns. His cracked and charred skin pulsed with heat, seeming to glow with lingering Houndoom flame.

    Yet it was Jared''s eyes that froze Henry. The dark orbs burned with rage and fury, revealing scars deeper than any flesh wound could reach.

    Inwardly, Henry was surprised at his partner''s state. Usually it was not until late into their assignment did the man begin to unravel. Having served several long term postings with him before this, and a multitude of briefer patrols, Henry felt that he had a reliable sense of Jared''s temperament.

    For the man to be so disturbed, so early into their posting was a warning. Perhaps last night did not leave them untouched after all.

    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    "Apologies," Henry murmured, dropping his eyes. "I spoke without thinking."

    He did not lift his head until the crunch of leaves alerted him to Jared''s movement. Flickering his eyes up, he watched the man turn and begin to walk ahead. Only when there were several trees between them, did he let his breath out in a rush.

    Shaking his head, stared after his partner in dismay.

    "It''s going to be a rough couple of months." he grumbled.

    Tapping his finger against his Pok¨¦ ball, he whispered to his team.

    "Stay on guard, there''s something strange going on," he instructed. "No telling what''s awoken to cause such a stir."

    One of the two red and white orbs shook weakly in response, too secured for much movement. Satisfied that his companion was watching, he followed after Jared. With a comfortable distance separating the two of them, of course.

    They passed the first trap with barely a stop, only long enough to ensure it remained hidden and undisturbed. It was difficult designing something that could trap any manner of powerful Pok¨¦mon without permanently harming them, or worse. Not that doing so was an easy task in the first place. Fortunately, it was not their responsibility to craft such things, only place them.

    The rest of the day passed with thankfully less fanfare than the morning. Of course, Henry returned to his running commentary, though with suitable periods of quiet. With a better understanding of Jared''s mood, he knew how to modulate himself.

    There was a bit of excitement with some Wurmple evolving, but, well. Houndoom burns had a way of hardening the skin, even as it inflicted decades long pain.

    Blocking out the sounds behind him, Henry surveyed the surrounding forest. There were few monsters out and about. None of the traps looked to have been triggered, let alone need servicing. As a result, they were on track to finish their regular checks early.

    "We might even get recalled," he mused with false hope. "Yeah, and maybe a Torterra will grow wings and fly," Henry answered himself with a snort.

    When Jared was blessedly finished, they resumed their trek through the forest. Henry was eager for the end of the day and he led the two of them to the river. He purposefully set a hard pace, with the hopes that it would keep his partner from engaging in his excesses.

    They arrived well upstream of the Bibarel dam, close to the sloping Shallow Mountains. They had to be careful when near the mountains as the forest started to thin out and they risked some flying Pok¨¦mon or Ranger spotting them. Still, they were far enough into the Wilds that they should be outside the Ranger''s normal patrols.

    With only a short glance around to ensure that there no Pok¨¦mon about, Henry started to strip. He hung the clothes from a nearby branch and strode into the river. The round stones threatened to trip him as he walked, but soon the cold water was flowing over his feet. The ice-melt made the river uncomfortably cold, though as spring passed, it would warm slightly.

    He yelped at the sensation and forced himself forward until the water reached his thighs. Breathing deep, he prepared to dive into the water. Behind him he could hear Jared moving around, with the rustle of clothing to hint at the other man preparing for his own swim.

    "Thank the ancestors," Henry muttered. He swore his partner would never clean himself unless forced to.

    Keeping his head forward, Henry dove into the water. The cold shocked him awake and he could feel his mind sharpen from the bite. He let the water carry him away slightly, giving Jared time to enter the river.

    The man was body shy at the best of times, wearing loose clothes that covered his form. He often even went so far as to wear a mask, giving others another reason be fearful of the man. Only on their isolated patrols did Jared let his scars show.

    When Henry''s lungs started to burn, he rose to the surface with a few swings of his arms. The river was relatively shallow, allowing him to stand comfortably in some places. He took advantage of it as he started to rub lightly at skin, helping the water whisk away the sweat from their travels. He was sure to keep his back to Jared as he did so, not wanting to aggravate the man.

    Perhaps when they set up camp, he could take the time to release his Pok¨¦mon and train. They were on edge, as was he, and they deserved some time to stretch their limbs as well. Hopefully, he would be able to convince his companion to do the same.

    Though it was not as if the Hitmonchan was any different from its master.

    Henry let himself fall backwards against the current, submerging himself in the water. The river was refreshing and as it poured over him, he imagined the cool waters washing away his worries.

    This was simply another job, one with a sizable payout at the end.

    He opened his eyes and watched bubbles stream away as he emptied his lungs. When they began to burn and he was fighting the urge to breathe in, Henry stood up out of the river. He swiped a hand across his buzzed hair and cleaned the water from his eyes.

    Listening, he could not hear the sounds of his partner splashing about so he turned and waded his way upstream. The man was nowhere to be seen and Henry shrugged.

    "Not like I''m his babysitter," he muttered as he pulled on his underwear. Grabbing the rest of his clothes, he walked into the forest to find a place to camp for the night.

    After finding a suitable spot he pulled out the hot plate and started cooking. His skin dried slowly, leaving a chill as the wind whisked away the water. Giving in, Henry pulled on the rest of his clothes while he waited for the food. When the potatoes and berries started to crisp, he pulled them off the heat and started to eat them from the pan.

    A whisper of air from behind alerted him, and Henry froze for a moment.

    Forcing himself to resume chewing, he swallowed and speared another fork-full of food.

    "Got a nice pan of potatoes and fresh fruit." he started conversationally. "The wild stock seemed to be growing nicely, though we''ll have to be careful to keep it from growing out of control."

    A short grunt finally answered and Henry relaxed. Not the best response but certainly better than he feared.

    "Can''t have some Ranger growing suspicious and sticking their Aipom''s where they shouldn''t," he continued.

    Jared finally walked around into his line of sight, clothes still damp from the water. His skin was long dry, the cracked scars keeping it so. He refused a silent proffering of food and Henry spied new stains on the man''s clothes.

    "Maybe tomorrow will present some excitement," he suggested as Jared pulled off his pack and lay on the ground.

    When the other man started to lightly snore, Henry finally relaxed.

    Grabbing the hot plate and skillet, he silently carried them to the river, careful to avoid making any noise. He quickly cleaned the pan and fork, putting the supplies away.

    Grabbing his Pok¨¦ ball, he released Lee with a quiet click and beam of red light. The red and white orb was scratched, marked, and dented, but it would take far more than some surface damage to break the electronics sheltered within. The beam shaped itself into his longtime companion, red transitioning into a tough leather.

    "Hi, Hit," it whispered, the Pok¨¦mon''s legs flexing with the sound. His almond eyes darted around as he twisted his body, searching the area. The scars decorating his round torso flexed, pulling at the taunt skin.

    "We''re good, kicker," Henry told the fighter. "Jared''s asleep."

    "Monlee," The Pok¨¦mon sprang up, the banded leg muscles rubbing lightly against each other. It leaned back and snapped a leg out, the spring limb extending out over the river before snapping back.

    "I know, I know," Henry soothed the energetic Pok¨¦mon. "I don''t know what happened. "He must have felt something. I swear, the man''s got better senses than a psychic."

    At his word, the Hitmonlee paused and hunkered down, as though prepared for a blow.

    Henry frowned at the action and considered it for a moment.

    "That bad, huh?" he muttered with a wince.

    "Hit," the Pok¨¦mon bobbed in place, once sharply.

    "Well, whatever it is put Jared into a mood, so we''ll have to be careful until he''s settled down some," Henry stated. "For now, the plan remains the same as it''s been. Check the traps, catch anything good, and avoid the territorial Alphas."

    "Mo," the Hitmonlee vibrated slightly at the mention of the powerful Pok¨¦mon.

    "No," Henry shook his head. "At least, not until it''s time to leave," he amended as the Fighting-Type deflated. "We can''t afford their attention or the Ranger''s."

    The Pok¨¦mon rebounded at the hopes of a potential battle and Henry grinned with him. The part of the trip that the two of them looked forward to the most was the chance to fight other Pok¨¦mon, even if they were considerably stronger.

    It got them in trouble with the Pok¨¦mon Center and the Team healers plenty of times when they managed to escape a fight, suffering grievous wounds in the process. It was part of the reason his Journey ended so early.

    Henry shook the memories away and focused back on his remaining childhood companion.

    "How about some training before dark, and then we can work with Golbat for a bit., he said.

    Lee jumped up at the mention of training and started searching the area.

    "No fighting," Henry said. "Training only. We don''t want to wake Jared," he added, blaming it on his partner.

    Truthfully, Henry was itching for a battle as well. However, he was still able to control himself, at least somewhat, and forced them not to.

    The Hitmonlee sagged at the lost prospect but soon bounced back.

    "How about we start with some stretches?" Henry suggested.

    Following his words, he started with his upper body. The Pok¨¦mon was constantly pulling a muscle as he was too often jumping into the fray without properly readying himself.

    Lee grumbled but followed along. Soon, they were done and the kicking Pok¨¦mon started his training by leaping across the river.

    Henry was of course unable to follow, so he copied the Pok¨¦mon by jumping from rock to rock. Used to the routine, he barely had to think as he stepped across the stones. He was forced to call it quits long before Lee, with the Pok¨¦mon jumping further and further while he took a short break. While Henry liked to push himself as hard as his companion did, the last thing he wanted to do was slip and break his head on a rock.

    When he was ready to resume, the Hitmonlee landed next to him, trying to surprise Henry. He merely grinned at the Pok¨¦mon''s antics and stepped up to a nearby tree.

    Settling into form, he lashed out at the tree with his legs, feeling the muscle and bone strike the rough bark. Lee decided to show off by doing the same without moving, from several feet away.

    Their training continued as such until night began to fall. When the evening turned to twilight, Henry sat down and pulled out his second Pok¨¦ ball. This one was in far better condition than Lee''s, though to him it was far more detached. While he knew the origin of each scratch and chipped paint on his partner''s ball, this one was foreign to him.

    Rolling the shrunken Pok¨¦ ball between his fingers, Henry hesitated only briefly before enlarging it. He released the Golbat within and quickly pocketed the ball.

    The Pok¨¦mon''s wings were wrapped around itself, holding the giant bat in a blue orb. It took a moment for the beast to realize it was free. When it finally did so, the Pok¨¦mon snapped its wings open and yawned, revealing a black pit for a mouth with ivory fangs poking out.

    Her, Henry reminded himself. It¡¯s a she.

    Unlike Lee, the Golbat was a relatively new companion. It-She was assigned to him by the Team to help improve upon their night capabilities. A Murkrow was deemed too vulnerable to the local Honchkrow to be of use while few Hoothoot had the inclination to work with the Team. Henry finally caved to the pressure from the team leaders, recognizing their need for a nocturnal Pok¨¦mon between him and Jared.

    Not to mention the unspoken suggestion for the Golbat should Jared become too much of a liability.

    "Hello, girl," he said politely to the large, carnivorous bat.

    The Golbat yawned again, this time wider. Her fangs practically reflected the light, and a drop of saliva-or more likely, poison-dripped free.

    Henry''s eyebrow twitched, wondering if the Pok¨¦mon was trying to intimidate him on purpose.

    "Lee and I were training," he gestured to the Hitmonlee at his side. "Would you like to join us?"

    The bat stared at him, blinking slowly as she switched her slitted eyes between him and Lee. The Golbat seemed almost surprised, or perhaps stupefied, by the question. Finally, she glanced down, taking in her short legs and long wings.

    "Oh," Henry said dumbly. "Yes, I suppose that make''s things a bit more difficult than I anticipated.

 Interlude: A Daming Fight

    The days passed slowly for Henry while they trekked a winding path through the forest. Avoiding the territories of powerful Pok¨¦mon was difficult, especially when capturing them led to a bigger payout. However, attempts to do so were not slated until the end of their patrol, when the fallout of the Pok¨¦mon disappearances would not affect them.

    For now, the two of them were forced to rely upon traps. The devices were necessarily simple, as too many Pok¨¦mon were capable of sensing or even disrupting basic electronics. At the same time, anything hardened against them was costly and closely monitored by both the League and regional governments.

    As such, the traps had to be checked periodically to ensure that they were still in place and to capture any Pok¨¦mon that triggered them.

    Which meant being constantly on the move.

    Not that Henry minded. Unlike others who despised camping or merely walking the Routes, he enjoyed it. Wild Pok¨¦mon, a foraged meal, and a campfire to warm his battle-weary body. Not to the extent that others did, of course, just enough to get the blood flowing.

    "This is the life," Henry declared, earning a blank stare from Jared. He merely grinned, soaking up the fading sun.

    The storm rolling in did little to damper his mood. While some Pok¨¦mon hid from the rages of nature, others flourished. If he was lucky, they might even come across some old monster. Then he and Lee would be able to really stretch their muscles.

    More likely, however, he would have to settle for some scuffles at the dam. Some of the stronger Pok¨¦mon were likely to resist, though they should know by now to expect them.

    "But no one ever accused a Bibarel of thinking too hard," Henry muttered with a snort.

    Fortunately for the beavers, the admins decided that they were better used maintaining the dam than capturing.

    "Jared," he called out. The other man was likely nearby, though Henry was not entirely sure he would be. "Time for a break. I''m not walking through this soaked."

    His partner did not respond, but Henry was not expecting him to. Stopping against a tree, he tugged off his pack and pulled out the tightly rolled rain cloak. Much like the gear they were currently wearing, the cloak was heavily camouflaged with scent eliminators woven throughout.

    Slipping it on, he tightened several straps to hold it close to his body. It was important to keep the rain from leeching his body heat as much as possible. Beyond a simple sickness that could render them immobile until they recovered, there were far too many Pok¨¦mon that used other methods of detection.

    With the rain and surrounding terrain, Jared and Henry would quickly find themselves the hunted instead of the hunters.

    Before he was finished donning the cloak, a light drizzle began. Henry rushed to clasp his bag closed, and protect his belongings from the soaking rain.

    Meanwhile, Jared appeared, emerging from the surroundings like a ghost. Henry refused to be alarmed and only acknowledged the man after he was ready.

    The storm quickly grew heavier as they stalked the forest. The trees helped block the wind, though there were moments where they had to steady themselves from a strong gust. There were few Pok¨¦mon braving the weather, mainly small pods of Woopers splashing in the forming mud. Their evolved forms were rare too far from the river, as the amphibious Pok¨¦mon preferred clean water.

    Occasionally, they spotted the bright yellow form of a Psyduck. They hurriedly circled around such sightings, not wanting to be near the migraine afflicted ducks when thunder sounded.

    With the rain falling, Henry was forced to keep his commentary to a minimum. While he was sure that his partner enjoyed the relative silence, Henry could not say the same. The hours passed slowly until they were eventually forced to make camp by flashlight.

    With the muddy ground, Henry was loath to sleep on the forest floor.

    Clipping free one of his Pok¨¦ Balls, he enlarged it with a press of the button. Jared''s face curled deeper into his natural grimace, but Henry ignored it. If the man wanted to sleep in the mud, he was free to do so.

    Releasing the Golbat, she coalesced with a shriek. The water quickly soaked through her fur and weighed down her leathery wings.

    "It''s just some rain, Gol," Henry said encouragingly. "Think of it as training. You''re learning to fly with the additional weight!" he continued brightly, the idea popping into his head as he talked.

    "Actually," he hummed distractedly. "Not a bad idea," he muttered.

    Oddly, the Golbat did not display the eagerness for training that he expected the Pok¨¦mon to. Shrugging, he figured the large bat would come to enjoy the exercise after enough sessions.

    Tugging a rope free, Henry held it out to the Golbat.

    "Grab this, Gol, and loop it around a thick branch," he instructed, making sure that his words were clear enough to be heard over the storm.

    The Pok¨¦mon screeched, eliciting a snarl from Jared. Struggling to stay aloft, the bat grabbed the rope with her claws. Henry saw that the Pok¨¦mon was barely able to grip the round material and noted it for the bat''s training plan.

    "The faster you get this done, the faster you can return and dry off," Henry said to the Golbat.

    She shrieked once more, as harshly flapped her wings. The action sent a spray of water into his face, a gleam in her eyes appearing before he lost sight of her eyes.

    It took several minutes for the bat to do as he instructed, the rope jerking in front of him from the motions. Soon after, she dropped down and shrieked at him.

    Henry ensured that the rope would hold them before returning the bat, much to her annoyance.

    "Not much reason to return you, only to send you back out if the rope was too loose," he said with a roll of his eyes as he clicked the Pok¨¦ball''s button.

    The red beam of light struck the Golbat, quickly returning her. Henry minimized the ball and clipped it at his side before grabbing the rope. The braided fibers were turning slick from the rain, but there were irregular knots along it to provide a grip. Hauling himself up the tree, he set about stringing his hammock from the branches.

    Not bothering to strip, Henry climbed into the hanging tent with water dripping from him. Despite the heavy rain, his body was still dry. Openings in the bottom of the hammock would ensure that the water drained instead of pooling inside. While not comfortable, per se, it was suitable.

    With the wind rocking him to sleep, he slept peacefully until a loud crash of thunder awoke him. Grumbling, he shifted, still half asleep.

    Unfortunately, he could hear Jared begin to wake as well. The man''s tent hammock rustled as the other man moved about and Henry sighed. Leaning forward, he pulled out a protein bar from his pack and slowly ate it.

    While the meal was meager, he appreciated the escape from the wet cold. It would be a long hike to the river, without the time for another break. Enough time had passed for the river to swell and the wild Pok¨¦mon to gather at the dam.

    If they were too late, then many of the Pok¨¦mon would escape from the small lake to head downriver. This was a prime opportunity for a mass capture, one that they had planned for.

    Chewing the tough bar, Henry envisioned fighting one of the territorial leaders in the forest. His skin was itching and he felt the need to stretch his muscles, something he was sure his Pok¨¦mon felt as well considering he felt the Hitmonlee''s ball shake.

    The Vespiquen were the worst, with an entire swarm of Combee to defend them. The small bugs made the fight a nuisance more than a challenge, a battle of attrition rather than sheer strength.

    A pack of Heracross laid claim to a large section of the forest, though far from their current location. They were led by a vicious fighter that he was particularly excited to meet. Unless the old monster was overtaken by another, it should be getting on in age, leaving Henry few remaining chances for a proper fight.

    There were a few powerful birds flying around, with flocks to command. However, only Staraptor put up a fight alone, too proud to rely on others. It was the Honchkrow that he had to watch out for, the powerful bird, a nocturnal predator that used Murkrow as Vespiquen used Combee.

    Finishing his meager meal, Henry tucked the wrapper away and began the arduous process of putting away the hammock. Jared mimicked him, the two of them straddling the tree branches as they rolled up the canvas. Proper packing would have to wait until after the storm.

    Lightning and thunder accompanied the two of them as they traveled. The rain fell in heavy bursts or a drizzling fog, seemingly without end. Jared led the way, the man''s keen senses able to track a Buneary through a sandstorm.

    Eventually, the sound of the flowing river could be heard over the storm and Henry hurried after his companion.

    "How much further?" he called ahead, water soaking his face.

    A near inaudible grunt was his only response and Henry dropped back to a more comfortable distance. Henry took the answer to mean that they still had a ways to go before stopping.

    "Champion''s balls," he swore under his breath. "You''re an ass."

    He eyed the river through the tree break. The water was flowing high and fast, with scattered boulders giving rise to body breaking rapids. Swimming through them with nothing but ''Lee for company was a rush, offering excellent training for a reactive mindset under adverse conditions. Still, even he recognized that doing so in a multi-day storm was foolish.

    "Maybe another time," Henry muttered with an excited grin.

    If he could ignore Jared''s excess, then it was only right the man returned the favor.

    Forcing his eyes away from the frothing waters, Henry focused on following his partner. Not soon enough, at least in his mind, Jared came to a stop. He gestured to a rocky overhang, the two taking shelter from the rain.

    Taking off his bag, Jared removed an ungainly contraption. A large net, made of thin fibers and dotted with miniaturized Pok¨¦ Balls.

    However, instead of normal Pok¨¦ Balls, the net was fitted with ones specially crafted for catching schools or swarms of Pok¨¦mon, aptly earning them the name of Net Balls.

    Pulling out his own Pok¨¦ Ball, Henry released ''Lee. Golbat would have too much difficulty flying in the downpour to be much use. Not to mention, it was ''Lee''s time to shine.

    The Pok¨¦mon vibrated angrily, upset at not having been released since the rain started.

    "Hi, Hit."

    "I know, tough guy," he began. "But you need your strength. We''re at the dam and I need you on guard."

    The Fighting Type grudgingly bobbed in acceptance, but emphasized himself by dodging side to side.

    "Absolutely," Henry answered excitedly. "Hopefully, after this we''ll have a break where we can go wild," he said with a fierce grin.

    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    "Monlee," the Hitmonlee vibrated, kicking out with a leg from eagerness.

    Henry turned to face Jared, having noted that the man stilled upon the release of ''Lee. Eyeing him carefully, Henry hesitated briefly before speaking.

    "You should release your Hitmonchan," he advised. "We''ll need the extra guard with all the rain."

    The words were reductive, as they both knew what he should do. Still, the man was loath to release his Pok¨¦mon unless absolutely necessary, even going so far as to returning the Pok¨¦ Ball to the Team when not patrolling.

    Jared grunted with a grimace, pulling out his loaned Pok¨¦ Ball to release the Hitmonchan without fanfare.

    The humanoid Pok¨¦mon appeared with a silent shout, its fists immediately punching out as it began to warm up. A crown of hide covered-bone rose from its skull, protecting the back and sides of the puncher''s head. A similar protrusion''s shielded the Pok¨¦mon''s shoulders, while its arms ended in swollen fists of pure muscle.

    Badly healed scars decorated the Pok¨¦mon''s dark hide, flexing as the Pok¨¦mon stretched. Hitmonlee glared at the other fighter balefully while the Hitmonchan seemed to ignore him. However, neither Henry nor his companion were fooled.

    Afterall, there was a reason the other man and Pok¨¦mon were paired with each by the Team.

    Ensuring that one of them was facing the punching Pok¨¦mon at all times, Henry helped Jared carry the net outside. Upon contact with the falling rain, the Net Balls expanded, making the device that much more cumbersome.

    Striding downstream, they kept close to the riverbanks. While they were forced to watch their feet, the two Fighting Types had an easier time navigating the rain. The Hitmonchan passed the time striking out at raindrops. Not to be outdone, Hitmonlee kicked out forcefully, until Henry ordered him to stop.

    The Hitmonchan smirked and ''Lee bristled.

    "Enough," Jared growled, his voice audible despite the storm.

    Instantly, the Hitmonchan retreated, dropping his swollen fists to his side. The two Pok¨¦mon returned to watching their surroundings, ready to intervene in the event of an ambush.

    Fortunately, they continued onto the dam without interruption. The river quickly grew wide as it transformed into a small lake. Fish Pok¨¦mon and other Water Types were known to congregate in the ample waters as the dam hindered their travel downstream.

    Despite the downpour, the colony of Bidoof and Bibarel continued to build the structure holding back the river. The swelling waters helped the beavers transport the trees easier, making storms ideal times to build the dam up further.

    Their Pok¨¦mon partners were instantly on alert, watching for any potential hostiles. Not that they expected any. Despite the collection of Pok¨¦mon, few were strong enough to put up a fight.

    Still, that was exactly what he was hoping for.

    "Come on, ''Lee," Henry called out. Dropping his end of the net, he stepped forward excitedly. "It''s time for us to shine."

    Punching a fist forward, he pointed at one of the biggest Pok¨¦mon in the lake. A Kingler, it was far from the largest he''s ever seen. The giant crab scuttled on the rocks, snapping at prey in the water. Intent as it was on feeding, the Pok¨¦mon had yet to notice them.

    "Let''s start off with a Bulk Up," he ordered.

    The kicking Pok¨¦mon paused, compressing its coiled limbs tightly. As he did so he concentrated on the giant crab, finally gaining the Water Type''s attention.

    The wild Pok¨¦mon snapped angrily, brandishing its large claw in their direction. A crown of hard spikes grew upwards from its vibrant red shell, protecting the crustacean from attacks originating from above. The red and white shell hardened further, gleaming slightly despite the rain.

    When the crab was finally ready, Henry decided to make the first move.

    "Low Kick," he snapped out, following his own words by kicking out with his leg.

    "Lee!" His partner mimicked Henry, except his kick extended across the water to where the large crab perched.

    The Pok¨¦mon was unprepared for the move, not expecting the Fighting Type to attack from so far away. The advantage of his partner''s extendable legs won them many a fight, at least until his opponents wizened up.

    Unfortunately for the crab and other Pok¨¦mon in Sinnoh, Hitmonlee was not native to these lands and Henry gave few second chances.

    The kick landed neatly, the crab''s colors making it an easy target. Despite that, the distance lessened the force somewhat, pushing the Kingler back only slightly.

    Not that Henry minded, fighting from a distance was excellent training in his mind.

    "Yes!" he shouted, practically vibrating in place as Hitmonlee''s leg retracted.

    The Kingler retaliated with a Water Gun, the directed spray launching out its larger claw.

    Henry did not bother to move, and neither did ''Lee. The attack struck squarely on his partner''s leather body, splashing Henry in the process. While Henry grunted from the forceful water, his Hitmonlee was barely swayed.

    "That''s nothing for us," Henry shouted. "Right, ''Lee."

    "Hi, Hit," his partner agreed, flexing his coiled limbs.

    "Let''s double it!" Henry snapped, his leg snapping up to kick in two quick motions. He nearly fell, forgetting about the slick rocks, but managed to catch himself in time.

    ''Lee lashed out his one leg, landing another strike on the Kingler''s shell. Forced to wait until his limb returned, he kicked out with the other as soon as he was able.

    In the extended time between Double Kick, the crab''s claw gleamed metallic and suddenly snapped out. The unwieldy pincer moved deceptively fast and clenched around ''Lee''s spring leg before he could retract it.

    "Mon," his companion cried out from the pain.

    Despite being trapped by the claw, Henry bared his teeth in a grin.

    "That''s alright, ''Lee," he said. "Let your leg pull you to the crab." he instructed.

    The Hitmonlee paused only briefly, dropping to his free limbs and using them to propel himself forward.

    Not expecting the unorthodox move, Kingler was surprised when the full force of ''Lee''s body struck. His partner converted the motion into an impromptu tackle, earning a cheer from Henry.

    The giant crab hissed, a Bubblebeam spraying out to strike the Fighting Type from up close. Unable to dodge, Hitmonlee took the full force of the exploding bubbles.

    "Time to go all out, ''Lee," Henry shouted. "Close Combat."

    His partner did not hesitate, lashing out suddenly with his coiled limbs. The Kingler could barely react as the arms and free leg rapidly extended and retracted. Several blows did not land, but ultimately it did not matter.

    Performed so close to the body, Hitmonlee was able to strike with the full force of his coiled muscles, the springs amplifying his already considerable strength. Even from here, Henry could hear the crab''s shell crack ominously from the repeated blows.

    When the Kingler collapsed and weakly tried to retreat into the water, Henry cheered.

    "Absolutely!" he shouted. "Great job, ''Lee. Show that crab who''s king of the rock!"

    His partner bounced in place from the excitement, recovering from the intensive move.

    The duo''s celebration was interrupted by a beam of light that lanced out to strike the Kingler before it could escape.

    "C''mon" Henry complained, his celebration cut short. "I bet the crab still had some fight left in him."

    Jared ignored him with a simple grunt, putting out the Pok¨¦ Ball in one of their transport bags. They were bulky and a pain to carry around. Fortunately, they only had to carry the bags until the time for a pickup neared.

    The other man hefted the ungainly net, waiting for Henry to grab the other end.

    "Fine," he grumbled. "But that better not be the last battle for today," he said with warning.

    Picking up his side of the capture net, Henry counted to three as they swung it back and forth. On three, the two tossed it into the lake. It took several days of training before they were able to do it in tandem, properly spreading the net as it was meant to. A leading string was held in Jared''s grip and he waited a minute for the heavy material to sink beneath the surface.

    Soon after, red lights began to flare beneath the water. The surface roiled as Pok¨¦mon were suddenly captured and others tried to flee. Pulling on the rope, Henry helped Jared drag the net to the riverbank.

    When the Pok¨¦mon trapped by the net, but uncaptured by the Pok¨¦ Balls, were revealed, Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee struck out. They knocked the flailing Pok¨¦mon out, swollen fists and clawed feet forcefully subduing the Water Types.

    "Good haul," Henry grunted out as he pulled the net closer.

    While Jared held onto the material, Henry pulled out a bag of loose Net Balls and quickly captured the Pok¨¦mon stuck by the net fibers. When he was done, the two of them moved further away from the shore to free the balls that indicated a successful capture.

    Both were sure to check the other''s work, as any Net Ball that lost to the waters was heavily deducted from their pay. Not only were the special Pok¨¦ Balls expensive, there was always the chance of some Ranger coming across the evidence.

    Something none of them wanted.

    There were too many stories from grunts successfully escaping encounters with the multiregional organization. It was hard to believe that the same concerned, well-meaning Rangers could be just as ruthless when operating outside the bounds of the Routes.

    Henry caught Jared''s eye, indicating that he was finished. The man''s burned face was shadowed by his water-proof cloak, though his eyes still burned clearly despite the dark.

    Not all scars were a result of Pok¨¦mon.

    Grabbing the net, Henry looked up to see Hitmonchan bullying the few Pok¨¦mon to foolishly remain near the surface. Hitmonlee vibrated in place uneasily, relaxing slightly when the two men moved to toss the net again.

    They moved away from the first location, hoping for another bounty. With the count of three, they tossed the net into the water again.

    "Don''t see any of the Buizel," Henry commented while waiting to haul in the net. "Hoped to fight a Floatzel, but there''s not even a single weasel here."

    Jared paused and turned his head, inspecting the lake. Henry could see the man thinking, and it suddenly put him on edge. While his partner was relatively unconcerned at the best of times, it was when he became focused that Henry grew alarmed.

    He relaxed slightly when Jared began to reel in the net. That was, until he saw how careful the man was moving. Instead of pulling on the rope bound to the net in harsh tugs, he was using slow, smooth motions.

    Jerking his head up, Henry caught Hitmonlee''s eyes. He jerked his head to his side, silently indicating for the Pok¨¦mon to be on alert.

    The Pok¨¦mon''s oblong body froze before spinning to peer at the surroundings. He was tensed, prepared to move at the slightest hint of trouble.

    When Hitmonchan noticed the other Fighting Type''s action, he crouched slightly and lifted his muscled fists. Together, the two Pok¨¦mon stayed on guard while Henry and Jared hurried to pull in their catch.

    Before they could remove the net from the water, the lake surface began to roil violently. A frothing disturbance rose, clouding the water. The few Pok¨¦mon in view ran away, escaping to the edges of the lake or into the forest.

    "Faster," Henry snapped, pulling harder on the rope.

    Jared grunted, reaching out for the net when it was finally revealed. Together they dragged it to the shore as the lake waters turned violent and the sky darkened.

    "What in Cynthia''s pearly white tits is that!" Henry spat.

    There were no reports, or even rumors, of changes in the Alphas across this area of the wilds. Such an event would not have gone unnoticed, even this far from the Ranger outposts.

    The lake water bulged before abruptly exploding in the sky. Rising from the violent spray, a serpentine form curled into the air. Large blue and yellow scales adorned the giant Pok¨¦mon, with dangerous spiking fins running down its back.

    Henry looked on in horrified excitement as the Gyarados opened its fanged jaw to roar. The angry bellow from the atrocious Pok¨¦mon caused the very air to vibrate, repelling the rain around it.

    Henry''s eyes gleamed with wild abandonment as he took in the enraged Pok¨¦mon. The monsters were heavily regulated by the League, the Ranger Union, and the regional governments. Seen as Pok¨¦mon of uncontrollable destruction, few Trainers were approved to carry a Gyarados. Even less used them outside of the well-regulated Gym Battles.

    As such, this was a rare opportunity to fight such a beast.

    Laughing, Henry waved to gain Hitmonlee''s attention. As he expected, his partner was as eager as he was, already buffing himself with Focus Energy and Bulk Up.

    The Gyarados was looked to be smaller than average, likely an early evolution. It either showed great promise or adverse conditions to push a wild Magikarp to evolve in such a way. The evolution must have happened recently, certainly less than a month ago.

    The dragon-like Pok¨¦mon twisted, writhing in the air until it found something to inflict its ire upon.

    Henry bared in teeth in the proximity of a smile.

    He barely noticed Jared retreating into the trees, dragging the net with Hitmonchan''s help.

    "Feint into Sucker Punch," Henry shouted, voice rough from the effort to be heard over the bellows of the angry Pok¨¦mon.

    Hitmonlee bobbed, lashing out with one of his weaker upper limbs. The Gyarados followed the approaching limb, only for Hitmonlee''s leg to kick out and catch it on the side of the Pok¨¦mon''s face.

    The flying serpent howled in fury, more angry than hurt.

    Reacting as it was, the Pok¨¦mon missed when Hitmonlee bounced forwards to position in its blind spot. There, the Fighting Type lashed out with his other foot, planting it solidly on the other Pok¨¦mon''s softer yellow scales.

    The monster''s cry cut short, but it recovered quickly. Turning its large, finned head in Hitmonlee''s general direction, the Pok¨¦mon bared its fangs. Steam hissed out, quickly followed by a powerful stream of water.

    The attack partially missed, instead striking the Hitmonlee''s coiled limbs. His partner screeched in pain as the force of the water stretched out his right arm and leg.

    "Fight through it, ''Lee! This is what we trained for." Henry shouted. "Now, Brick Break! Try to interrupt it."

    Hitmonlee spun to the side, using the strength of the Brine to aid his rotation. With the extra force provided by the spin, he kept his limbs extended as he crashed his clawed foot and hand against Gyarados''s side.

    The flying fish bellowed, once more angered by the attack. Henry knew that ''Lee was at a disadvantage, with Gyarados being a Flying Type. Worse, his partner was fighting from the ground, giving time for the Gyarados to recover and retaliate. Hitmonlee''s spring extremities could stretch only so far, and doing so strained him more than fighting up close did.

    "It''s all just training," he grinned widely, adrenaline rushing through him. "Blaze Kick, aim for the underside." he shouted.

    Still new to its ability to fly, the Gyarados was struggling to remain in the air while fighting. Only its instincts and rage kept it aloft so far.

    Fire bloomed to life around one foot, even as he retracted the other. The flames hissed and steamed in the rain. As the blue and yellow large Pok¨¦mon fell towards the water, Hitmonlee landed a powerful uppercut with his burning foot.

    The attack snapped Gyarados''s jaw shut, and Henry could see a large fang break loose. The serpentine fish landed in the small lake with a thunderous splash, spraying water and creating choppy waves.

    "Move around," Henry urged. "Try to kick it when you can."

    The water and darkness hid the Pok¨¦mon from view, despite its size. Hitmonlee leapt from boulder to boulder, repositioning.

    The battle was causing the riverbanks to flood, nearly displacing Henry. He ignored the waters tugging at his legs, watching the lake intently.

    Focused as he was searching for the Gyarados, he missed the forming Whirpool. Hitmonlee was caught by surprise as well, easily swept off his feet by the fast moving water.

    "''Lee!" Henry shouted.

    Before he say anything else, the Gyarados rose from the center of the small lake. The beast''s mouth was opened in a silent roar as sparks danced around its head.

    Eyes wide, Henry fought against the pull of the lake to retreat out of the water. However, instead of the Thunderbolt he expected, lighting was discharged into the sky above.

    The Gyarados seemed as surprised as him, tilting its head in a moment of confusion despite its rage.

    Together they watched the lightning crawl across the sky. It painted the dark storm clouds, turning night into day.

    The uncontrolled Thunderbolt seemed to ignite the storm, as more natural lightning reached out to meet it.

    Henry was immediately blinded by the explosion of light, and deafened by the thunderous boom that followed.

 Chapter 23

    Kenji found himself in the ruins of a large dam, spreading from riverbank to riverbank. Broken trees and branches scattered the area. More were pressed against wood wall that previously held the river back as large, brown furry beasts crawled over and around it.

    He could see them repairing the wall with fresh wood, dragged through the water. Their chewing was barely audible over the rush of the water as it flowed through the shattered dam, a quick chittering tap as they chewed on the branches. The larger of their species featured a broad flat tail that he could see patting down mud in an effort to seal the dam.

    Where before there was a small lake, now only muddy banks and a slow river trickled through the forest. The water built up as it neared the dam, rising higher, until it easily passed through the broken walls.

    Gouges and indentations in the wood marked evidence of a fierce battle. Several boulders and small rocks lay against the dam, with scorch marks decorating the forest.

    In the broad, shallow river, Kenji could see beasts of Water struggling to survive. They were likely used to far higher levels, as he could see the previous water line along the trees and stones. To make matters worse, the lower levels allowed filth to muddy the water, turning what was likely a clear lake into a dark stream.

    He could see flickers of red and yellow as carp splashed in the water. Small schools took the opportunity to escape down river by flailing their up through the broken dam. Occasionally, one of the dull, sickly looking fish joined them and Kenji curled his lips in disgust.

    Perhaps the damage to the lake caused the carps to evolve in order to better adapt themselves, Kenji mused.

    However, the majority of his attention was upon the blue and gray loaches that squirmed through the mud. While not nearly as appetizing as the carps, they appeared far healthier than the shabby fish.

    A hoarse, barking whine pulled Kenji from his inspection of the waters. Glancing upwards, he noticed one of the large furry beasts staring in his direction. The Pok¨¦mon cracked its tail against the wood, eliciting a loud slap that echoed up the river.

    The other beasts looked up in alarm, though a few appeared too intent on their chewing of the wood to take notice. They twisted their bodies around searching for the threat as they took up the hoarse whine.

    Combined, the Pok¨¦mon created a cacophony that grated on his ears. When one slipped into the water with barely a splash, Kenji decided that perhaps it was time to move on. Even as he spun around, several more waded into the water and he quickly lost sight of the dark furred beasts.

    "Beau!" Flutter squealed in excitement.

    "No, Flutter," he urged his companion. "There are too many, and they are already on edge from the recent battle."

    "Ti," the large butterfly shortly trilled back.

    "They merely wish to defend their home and recover," he answered. "Let us leave them be."

    "Fly, ti," the bug trilled as it swung its chitinous body around.

    Kenji stepped quickly back to the sled, not quite jogging as he did not want to risk dislodging anything on his pack. When he roughly picked up the sled in a hurry, Sprout stirred with a warble of complaint.

    "Hush, little one," he told the young turtle. "We must move quickly and quietly."

    Fortunately, the beast was still tired and quickly fell back to sleep.

    Kenji moved as fast as he dared, though slower than he preferred. The weight of the sled and Sprout, along with the awkward position he was forced to drag it with, slowed him considerably. Moving so quickly strained his body, yet Kenji forced himself to continue onwards.

    Only after the damage to the forest and the sound of the rushing river had faded did he begin to relax. More encouragingly, the gnaw marks on the trees grew sparser until he failed to see one for nearly a bell.

    Giving in to the tightness in his shoulder and legs, Kenji set the sled down and collapsed at the base of tree. He wiped the sweat from his face and faintly considered drinking it, he was so thirsty. The salt was sweet on his tongue and only served to make crave the water more. His worry over encountering more of the beasts fought with his desire for a drink, quickly losing ground.

    Kenji stood with a groan and squatted to grab the handles of the sled. His thighs protested and he could feel a slight tremor in his legs.

    "Only a little longer," he told himself with a grunt as he stood up. "Just keep walking."

    He focused on putting one foot in front of the other, letting the sound of the river and Flutter''s trills of encouragement push him forward. Kenji vaguely imagined himself as a butterfly struggling to weave between the trees as Flutter goaded his lack of commitment.

    For some reason, it worked.

    Snarling, at the false slights, Kenji pushed himself onwards. Between one step and the next, the soft earth transitioned into hard pebbles of stone. He stumbled to a stop and dropped the sled behind him, taking a moment to lean on his knees and pant. The pack weighed on Kenji, threatening to topple him forward.

    Heaving in breaths, sweat clung to his hair and dripped from his face. He could hear Sprout warbling, but it was a distant concern as there was no sense of fear in the tone, only one of complaint.

    "Ugh," Kenji ignored the young Pok¨¦mon as he stood with a groan,  his back protesting the slight movement. Slipping out of the straps, he was more considerate of the wood frame as he set it down on the rocky riverside.

    Moving stiffly towards the water, Kenji did not bother removing his clothes before falling into the river. They were already soaked with sweat and would need to cleaned anyways. After surfacing, he greedily drank from the river.

    The water was flowing faster than it did at the dam, the river having narrowed considerably since he last saw it. Fortunately, it was not strong enough to wash him away as he doubted he would be able to put up much of a fight if it did so.

    He waded by to the riverbank and pulled off his clothes, dunking them in the water several times before hanging them up to dry.

    Looking up from his washing, he spied the young beast poking his large head up from the sled. Flutter was nowhere to be seen, likely of in search of a meal or excitement.

    Grinning, Kenji cupped a handful of water and threw his arm to the side. The motion sent a spray towards the sled, droplets misting as it neared the turtle.

    Sprout squealed, withdrawing in fright.

    "Just a bit of water, Sprout," Kenji called out, his voice gentle. "Nothing to be worried for."

    To prove his words, he sent another spray forward, weaker than the first, so that the water misted well before it could touch the young Pok¨¦mon.

    "I thought you enjoyed the water, little one," he teased. "Come on out."

    The beast tentatively poked out his head, wary of another splash. He warbled, searching for the source of his fear.

    "Come in to the river," Kenji encouraged.

    Sprout grumbled but seemed to be persuaded by the sound of his voice. The Pok¨¦mon awkwardly crawled out of his planter, tumbling free with soil clinging to his legs. He warbled in surprise, rolling forward.

    "Easy, Sprout," Kenji warned.

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    The young beast trundled towards the river, having difficult navigating the river''s stones. When he neared the water, Sprout picked up his pace and leaped into the river with a small jump.

    "There you go," Kenji congratulated with a small laugh. "Now that wasn''t so difficult was it?" he asked as he waded towards the turtle.

    Sprout chirped in response, dunking his head under the water to drink. The river washed away the soil clinging to him, revealing the soft skin underneath. The missing scales and half healed scars were a constant reminder of the Pok¨¦mon''s state. Combined with his physical weakness and constant desire for sleep, Kenji worried for his companion''s health.

    When they finally contacted a town, or better yet a city, he would have to search for a mystic specialized in the art of healing beasts.

    Kenji could only hope that the turtle managed to hold on long enough for him to do so.

    He lightly splashed water in Sprout''s direction, scaring the beast enough to cause him to duck underwater. Kenji sighed at the turtle''s fear and looked beneath the surface for the Pok¨¦mon. He was still surprised at creature''s seeming ease in swimming in the river, finding the turtle walking along the riverbed.

    Wary of the current carrying the young turtle away, Kenji kept himself between Sprout and depths. He continued to play with the beast until the turtle retreated to the riverside and crawled out. Kenji joined him, grabbing his clothes and tossing them onto the sled.

    His muscles still complained, the short break and cool waters not enough to refresh him fully. With Sprout by his side, they traveled only a short way from the river before settling down for the night.

    He double-checked and triple-checked his supplies, ensuring that they would stayed secured to the sled. The leaf and silk blanket was left in place, disguising the goods and hopefully his presence. Flutter returned, settling onto the trunk above.

    "Good feeding and successful battles?" he asked quietly.

    "Beaut," the butterfly trilled lowly, lightly fanning its wings before closing its eyes.

    Kenji bowed to the beast, recognizing its self-appointed duty as a guard. Crawling into the shelter, he curled up with nothing but he leathers for a pillow and his clothes to keep him warm. Sprout was partially withdrawn into his shell next to him and Kenji quickly joined his companions in sleep.

    The day''s exertion pulled him into a deep slumber and if Kenji had any dreams, he did not remember them. The night passed uninterrupted and he awoke with a yawn. It was shortly halted by a grunt of pain as a twist of his body result in harsh knot of pain making itself known.

    Gasping, Kenji carefully turned the twist into a stretch, the effort of relaxing his muscles leaving him rolling in the dirt. Groaning, he felt the pain pass far too slowly. When it was finally gone, Kenji levered himself up and crawled out of the simple lean-to. Standing was an arduous process, easing as he began his daily stretches.

    "Ti, ti," Flutter greeted Kenji with a short trill before lifting off and flying away through the trees.

    "Morning, Flutter," Kenji groaned. "Thank you for watching out for us. Have success in your search for nectar." He lost sight of the beast before he finished speaking.

    Dull aches faded as he transitioned through the positions, extending his arms and working his body. Once he felt awake and able to move, Kenji pulled down the sled and righted it on the ground.

    Sprout stirred at the noise and sudden brightness. The beast tried to curl up in effort to continue sleeping, but Kenji would have none of it.

    "Morning shines brightest," he said to the turtle, doing little to quiet the noise his actions created. "Today will be a long day for us both, I suspect, so it is best that we get started."

    The words and light of the sun helped the beast awaken fully, though not very happily. The turtle chirped with a whine when Kenji started to empty his planter.

    "None of that," he chided the beast. "You will be walking again today, for I do not have the strength to carry you from sunup to sundown. Besides, I''m sure the soil was getting a little old?" he asked rhetorically.

    Left unsaid was how emptying the Pok¨¦mon''s resting spot on the sled helped with the weight considerably. Until it was time for Sprout to rest, the planter would remain empty. Then, fresh soil would fill it, allowing Sprout to, in part, continue absorbing nutrients from the earth. Keeping the planter full of the same dirt would quickly deplete the nutrients and leave Sprout unable to recover.

    With the sled prepared, Kenji ducked a shallow hole to relieve himself in before filling it in. The nearby leaves were rough on his skin, but the best that he could do until he cleaned himself at the river. He grew slightly spoiled with the silk cocoons, tearing off hard yet supple chunks to wipe with.

    Unfortunately, the bundles would be another burden for him to carry, no matter how wonderful they were.

    Feeling lighter, Kenji slung the pack over his shoulders and dragged the sled to the river. Sprout complained at being forced to walk, though he stopped earlier than the day before.

    "Perhaps, you are beginning to understand," he said the turtle when the beast had finally quieted. "To rely on others is to never grow into your own. To never understand your own strength."

    The walk to the river was short and Kenji took a moment for a short bath before drinking his fill. He munched on a feast of berries, the previous days travel leaving his stomach growling louder than Sprout. He fed the beast the berry seeds and his own breakfast, the turtle greedily biting into the food with his beak.

    "If you can walk ''til our next break, then I shall reward you with some of your favorite." he said.

    The turtle liked the sweeter fruits, leaving the two of them competing for the limited food. Unfortunately, the turtle disdained anything with a hint of spice, leaving Kenji to consume it all.

    Once they had their fill, Kenji donned his clothes, uncaring of the water still clinging to him. In less than a bell''s time the cloth would be soaked with sweat, so he saw little reason to wait for his skin to dry. Strapping on his pack, he ensured that everything was settled before resuming his march upstream.

    He tried to keep note of any markings or unfamiliar calls, but it was difficult to do so when combined with the effort of dragging the sled. Even with Sprout''s dense form walking alongside him, the weight was still enough to leave him grunting when it stuck against a root or stone. The sweat stinging his eyes served to blind him as well.

    Eventually, he could take it no longer and dropped the sled to stumble up against a tree. Panting against the trunk, he worked his shoulders to ease the strained muscles.

    Sprout was just as weary and chirped at Kenji weakly before dropping to the ground.

    "Not yet, friend," Kenji muttered with a sigh. "Let us move to the river before we rest."

    Matching his words with action, Kenji grabbed the sled and trudged towards the sound of flowing water. It did not take long to reach the river, and dropped the sled upon sighting it. Slipping off the pack, he was too exhausted to care as he dropped it the ground.

    Stumbling towards the river, he gratefully slipped into the cold waters with a groan. Sprout joined him, content to merely rest on a half submerged rock while Kenji massaged his legs.

    "This does not bode well for our continued march," Kenji said to the young Pok¨¦mon. "It is barely midday and already my body is tired."

    Kenji looked upriver, towards the mountains and forested mesa. As he slowly neared, the gap between the two grew and details emerged. Not enough for him to speak with any sense of definition, just enough to make him wonder.

    The mountains were ranging and low, with not a speck of green upon them. It was as though the earth merely rose up in affront to the forest surrounding it, discarding the trees and shrubs. Snow and ice spotted the peaks, enough to melt and keep the river flowing. The low rise kept waterfalls from forming, channeling the water towards the forest.

    Standing aside the mountains was the mesa, a forest separated from the greater whole. It was incongruous with the rest of the landscape, a marked difference. Sharp cliffs rose up, forcefully dividing the higher land as a noble clan compared to commoners. The trees were wide and plentiful, the distance belaying their size.

    It drew his eyes like Flutter to a flower, an awareness in the back of his mind always drawing him to look for it.

    Omens, ill or good, Kenji could not tell.

    To be safe, symbolled the Original One across his chest, his fists overlapping to direct fingers outwards.

    Deciding that the break was enough, Kenji stood and stripped out of his clothes. He wrung them out carefully before donning them again. The material was wearing quickly.  Already several patches were beginning to show as the cloth tore and thinned. Much longer and he would walking in the nude.

    Kenji grinned at the image of some poor stranger spying him in such a state.

    "Ah, but then we would be rescued, eh?" he playfully said the Sprout as the two waded out of the river. "Now, do you think you''re up for a bit more walking?" he asked.

    Sprout warbled at his words. The beast was damp from the water, leaving his shell streaked with mud. It was difficult to judge his health as the beast always looked pitiful.

    "Just a little bit," he encouraged, silently pleading to put off having to carry the turtle for as long as possible.

    The young Pok¨¦mon chirped, and Kenji smiled.

    "Thank you, little one." he said gratefully. "Here, for your troubles."

    Kenji dug through his supplies, selecting the turtle''s favorite berries. He fed them to the beast slowly, as the turtle was prone to biting off more than he could swallow.

    Once the Pok¨¦mon had its fill, Kenji ate as well. The fruit left his hands sticky with juice, so he returned to the river to clean himself.

    As he was shaking the cold waters from his hand, he heard Flutter returned with a trill.

    "Beauti!"

    Looking up with a smile, he greeted the large butterfly.

    "How were the flowers?" he asked as he stood up from the riverside.

    However, his smile slowly faded as he took in the Pok¨¦mon''s state. The wings were ragged, with small tears at the edges. Cuts along its carapace indicated a hard battle, perhaps one that was not a total success. The proboscis shined with a clear liquid, thick and tinged with yellow.

    More than the butterfly''s appearance, though, was how the Pok¨¦mon was acting. It''s wings beat quickly and the large eyes darted around as though on watch for predators.

    "Flutter, what happened?" Kenji said with a frown.

    "Ti, ti, fly!" the butterfly squealed. It flew towards him, swirling around Kenji with several flaps of his wings. The air stirred at him, bringing on a shiver of cold as it whisked at the water clinging to him.

    "Flutter?" he said, worry blooming within him. "What did you do?"

    In response, the beast retreated to the sled and pack, bobbing over the supplies with agitation.

    "Be, beau." the bug trilled insistently.

    Staring at the beast, Kenji felt his worry morph into dread. From the direction Flutter appeared, a small buzz grew at the edges of his hearing.

    "Flutter," he asked again. "What did you do?"

 Chapter 24

    "Flutter," Kenji asked, dread curling inside. "What did you do?"

    The beast in question appeared nervous and scared, bobbing over his supplies with insistent trills. The butterfly had returned, wounded and frantic, after only a short stint in the forest.

    "Ti, ti," the butterfly squealed.

    Almost as if in answer, a buzz grew from the direction the Pok¨¦mon flew in from.

    "Sprout!" Kenji shouted, "Into the sled," he ordered.

    Racing up to the supplies, he snatched up his pack and hurriedly pulled it on. There was no time to ensure everything sat nice and perfect, leaving several of the silk straps twisted.

    Nearby, the young turtle warbled in fear, sensing Kenji''s distress.

    Unfortunately, Kenji had no time to comfort the beast.

    Finding that the turtle had yet to do as he told it, Kenji took matters into his own hands.

    "Withdraw," he snapped as he moved to pick up the beast.

    Whether from fear or his command, the Pok¨¦mon did so with a cry. His limbs disappeared into his shell, his large head the last thing Kenji saw before he picked up the turtle.

    With the beast protected by his hard exterior, Kenji could afford to be more rough in his handling as he shoved the young turtle into his spot on the sled. Picking up the handles, he grunted from the effort as he started to move.

    As he feared, the short break to relax in the river and recover was not enough. His muscles ached, protesting his awkward run. The sled was too close to his legs for him to pump them properly, with the handles keeping him from moving his arms.

    Still, he had no choice, not with a swarm of angry beasts seeking vengeance for whatever slight Flutter gave.

    Settling into an awkward jog, Kenji cursed the sled as it tried to trip him. He did not want to abandon the supplies, not yet, not only into their second day from the camp. It represented failure in his mind, a severe lack of ability that destined failure.

    Biting back the dark thoughts, he forced his mind to focus on the dilemma at hand.

    Perhaps he would be able to return for his goods, especially if he found a proper place to quickly hide the bulky sled. The angry swarm had little reason to stop and raid his supplies, so they were sure to be safer than him.

    To that end, he struggled to keep an eye out for a spot to temporarily abandon his supplies. Unfortunately, it was difficult for him to do so while running for his life.

    Behind him, the buzzing swarm grew louder as the beasts neared.

    Cursing the giant butterfly for bring this situation down upon them, Kenji paused behind a tree. He kept the other side of the trunk facing the swarm and roughly dropped the sled to the ground.

    Sprout warbled in fear, still withdrawn into his shell, as he was rudely jostled.

    "Beau!" Flutter trilled with worry, its voice filled with insistence.

    "Quiet," Kenji hushed the two, scared that their cries would attract the attention of the angry beasts.

    Not wasting any time, Kenji snatched up the young Pok¨¦mon, grimacing at the cumbersome weight. However, carrying the dense turtle was far better than dragging an entire sled.

    With Sprout in his arms and the wooden pack strapped to his back, Kenji raced onwards. He made far better progress without having to drag the mass of wood and food. The turtle''s weight left him hunched over, but he still managed to move.

    Still, the swarm grew louder behind them.

    Huffing, from both panic and exertion, Kenji desperately tried to think of what to do. He dashed around the trees and leapt over roots, barely able to clear the tangles with Sprout in his arms. Sweat dripped into his eyes, causing him to blink furiously lest he run face first into a trunk.

    Flutter was easily keeping pace and he soon focused on following the Pok¨¦mon''s iridescent wings instead of searching for a path. The butterfly caught on, and quietly trilled encouragement.

    The water from the river was soon washed away by sweat, causing his clothes to cling tighter to his body. He could taste the loamy scent of the forest on his tongue as he desperately panted for breath. Kenji could feel himself slowing down despite the fear and his companions urging him on.

    There was nowhere for him to hide, no empty hovel or carved out tree that he could see. Climbing in an attempt to escape would take far too long and only serve to leave him exposed. He had foolishly abandoned the sled, thinking that without the supplies slowing him down he would be able to outrun the swarm.

    A decision he quickly regretted.

    For there was a small chance that with the frame propped against a tree, he could disguise three of them long enough for the Pok¨¦mon to pass.

    In the background, the monstrous buzz grew clearer, a deadly ''ohm'' bouncing off the trees. The angry noise easily drowned out the sound of the river.

    That''s it, Kenji thought desperately. The river!

    With a destination, and potential safety in mind, he took a sharp turn towards the river.

    As he placed his foot down, Kenji felt a dreadful twist. Recovering quickly, he did not register the pain until he placed his full weight on the limb again.

    Letting out a strangled scream, he crashed into a trunk. The rough bark bit into his skin and helped to hold him up. Tears of pain blended with sweat as he bit back another howl of agony. The slightest movement jostled his ankle, sending him into a fit of whimpers.

    Sprout tumbled out of his arms, the young Pok¨¦mon still withdrawn and rolling several paces before a bundle of roots stopped him. Flutter trilled wildly, fearful of the approaching swarm.

    Gripping the trunk, Kenji snarled, fighting to turn the pain into anger. Hobbling forward with a single step, he collapsed to the forest floor with a shout.

    Gasping, Kenji rolled on the ground, trying to right himself as fire crawled up his ankle. In front of him, Sprout poked his head out, warbling in fear. Above, Flutter''s trills grew quieter, as though hoping the swarm would not notice them.

    His prayers were quickly dashed.

    The disharmonious buzz peaked into an all-consuming roar that shook the forest around him. Leaves tore free and floated downwards, only for a storm of wind to send them into a flurry.

    Emerging from around the trees were large, hexagonal beasts flying above the ground. Their vibrant yellow bodies were striped with black, sporting small wings that flickered quickly to keep them aloft. Honey dripped from their angular forms in thick, viscous drops as they furiously swarmed.

    Sprout''s head quickly disappeared in a flash of Energy as he empowered his shell to defend himself. The detail was noted but dismissed as Kenji''s attention was overtaken by the monstrous bugs swarming around them.

    With their appearance, Flutter dropped to the forest floor, huddling in fear. While half of him wanted to help the butterfly, the other was furious at the Pok¨¦mon for putting them in this situation.

    The bugs easily took notice of their presence, individuals linking together into floating walls. Fury was evident on their multiple faces as the Pok¨¦mon bore down on him and his companions.

    Kenji did not know who was more surprised, him or the furious insects, when a giant net fell from the tree''s canopy to land upon the swarm.

    Focused as they were on him, none were looking up and the creatures were caught by surprise.

    The edges of the swarm were trapped first, as the reaches of the net were weighted. Their wings were trapped by the material, dragging them to the ground. When the bugs'' ominous buzzing was abruptly cut short, alerting the rest of the swarm.

    Still, it was too late.

    The forest turned quiet as the bugs were forced into a temporary silence. Stranger yet, what Kenji took to be weights emitted a red light that disappeared one of the large bees upon contact. The net collapsed further as result, entangling the beasts even more.

    Kenji held his breath, as shocked as the swarm by the turn of events. It was a momentary distraction from the pain of his turned ankle, at least until he shifted. The it flared up, causing him to grit his teeth.

    Several conjoined blocks of the bugs attempted to rise, but they were unable to do so with the net weighing down their wings and bodies. The honey dripping from their forms only served to cling the material tighter to their bodies. Entangled as they were, the bees were barely able to move, let alone fly.

    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    The Pok¨¦mon wailed in distress and anger, attempting to rise or bite at the netting. The multiple faces sported by the large bugs created a strange, echoing cacophony.

    However, the trap was braided from something stronger than simple thread. Odd orbs were wrapped in the net, lancing out with red light to disappear the unfortunate bee that touched it.

    The bugs were unable to bite through the net and, without the ability to maneuver or spread their wings, they were left unable to break out.

    His parents'' lessons rung in the back of his mind, his mother urging him to be considerate and gentle with the Type Beasts. He knew, without a doubt, what she would do if presented with such a dilemma.

    Yet a single glace at the angry faces glaring in his direction reminded him of his father''s warnings. Pok¨¦mon were powerful creatures, and not ones to be treated lightly.

    No, freeing the beasts would only allow them to vent their anger on him. And there was no question as to how the encounter would go for the three of them.

    Kenji clawed at the bark of the trunk, pulling himself to his feet. He grit his teeth from the painful heat radiating from his ankle, but there was no choice.

    He hobbled towards Sprout, calling lowly for Flutter to join him. The butterfly lifted off and followed closely behind him with barely a trill. When he reached the young Pok¨¦mon, Kenji had to brace himself against a tree to avoid toppling over.

    Grabbing the turtle by the edge of his shell, Kenji grunted as he lifted the beast up to cradle in his free arm. While he debated on how to move forward, a strange noise alerted him, one quite different from the swarm of Pok¨¦mon.

    Pausing, he tilted his head.

    Behind him, the honey soaked bugs wailed as they attempted to free themselves. Their cacophony was not nearly as loud as their furious buzzing, and allowed him to hear more of the surrounding forest.

    There was a murmur, if Kenji could call it that. A soft sound, as though someone were speaking at a distance.

    Crouching, Kenji prepared to flee, twisted ankle or no. He was lucky once, a trap falling to stop a swarm before they could attack him. He highly doubted that there would be a second.

    Wary, he rotated his head, taking in the surrounding forest. The strange noise grew, slowly becoming clearer.

    Wait, Kenji thought suddenly. A trap!

    He snapped his head back around, focusing on the captured beasts. Kenji wanted to slap himself for being so foolish, as he stared, open mouthed, at the net.

    The man-made net.

    The fibers were not natural, instead they appeared to be a dull grey metal. The weight of the metal and the large round attachments prevented the creatures from lifting off. Fortunately, none of the beasts appeared to be seriously harmed, looking frustrated and scared.

    Equally excited and horrified, Kenji realized what the trap signified.

    People.

    But not just any people, Pok¨¦mon Hunters.

    It was among a Warlord''s many duties to ensure the protection of a kingdom''s Pok¨¦mon. Only a select few Warriors were given permission to hunt on the kingdom''s land, and they did so with extreme care. They had to be careful not to attract the anger of the powerful Alphas, nor drive off the kingdom''s prized beasts.

    However, there were always those that did not care for the Warlord''s responsibility or kingdom''s prosperity. Ronin, unrestrained Warriors beholden to no Warlord. A rough and cruel lot, they hunted Pok¨¦mon for pleasure, sport, or worse.

    Type Beasts were valued as much for their alchemical properties as they were for their strength.

    Thinking quickly, and with more than a bit of desperation, Kenji ducked down. On his hands and knees, he clenched his teeth and crawled around the tree trunk. He drug Sprout with him, whispering for the young turtle to remain quiet.

    Meeting Flutter''s large eyes, he hushed the Pok¨¦mon before it could chirp. Kenji silently waved for the butterfly to crawl towards him, physically stopping the beast from opening its wings. The iridescent pattern easily reflected the light and would give away their position.

    Holding his companions close, Kenji prayed to the guardians that they would remain unnoticed.

    He heard crashing behind him, a few branches falling to the ground as they were shorn free by a fierce battle. Kenji could not spot the fighting creatures, but he could hear their violent screeches and pained cries.

    Grim thuds signified the approaching end of the fight as the giant bees were taken out by the opposing Pok¨¦mon. Soon, the forest turned silent as the Pok¨¦mon were forcibly quieted and subdued.

    Kenji covered his mouth to quiet his panting. Sprout was still hidden within his shell, so he settled for resting a hand on the turtle. He was too scared to poke his head out, worried that the hunters would see him.

    Nevertheless, he could still hear the men rustling around. The net was the loudest as they moved it around, covering much of their movement. It sounded as though they were talking, but the words were garbled and he could not make them out.

    Kenji did not know how long he sat there, waiting for the hunters to leave. It felt like forever, listening to the strangers rummage through the net. After the first spate of talking, the two remained silent. Eventually, the sounds quieted and his breath froze in his lungs.

    He listened intently for the sound of approaching footsteps.

    When the strangers moved, Kenji nearly leapt to his feet to run away. Fortunately, before he could, he realized that the sounds were fading. The hunters made little noise, and they quickly disappeared from his senses.

    Kenji tensed, ready for the Pok¨¦mon Hunters to appear before him. Such Ronin were at home in the wilds, far from civilization. This was their home territory, and he would not see them unless they wanted him to.

    He waited as long as he could, eyes darting around as he listened closely. It felt as though his skin was itching. All he wanted to do was leave and never encounter the men again.

    Pok¨¦mon Hunters were a jealous lot, not to mention the judgement that fell upon them should they be captured.

    Once Kenji could not wait any longer, he attempted to stand, only to be quickly reminded of his twisted ankle. He fell back with a yelp of pain, hurriedly clamping his hand back over his mouth. Breathing heavily, he groaned through gritted teeth.

    It was difficult thinking with the throbbing in his foot, so Kenji focused on controlling his breathing. When he could finally think, he carefully walked himself through the problem.

    "Twisted ankle," he muttered. "Need something to straighten it out, help support it."

    Kenji looked around, searching for any sticks he could use. Unfortunately, none were within easy reach. He was forced to hobble until he found one that suited his purposes.

    Breaking it over his knee, he aligned it to his leg and eyed his swollen ankle. The skin was already starting to bruise and swell.

    "Flutter, come here," he called out. "I need your help."

    The beast chirped, unnerved by the race through the forest and the disappearance of the swarm. Still, the butterfly flew towards him, bobbing in their air.

    "It''s ok," he said to the Pok¨¦mon. "I just need some silk to wrap my leg."

    "Beau," the beast trilled when Kenji gestured to the sticks framing his leg. The sound was anxious, trying to look anywhere but him.

    "Come on, Flutter," he said insistently. "We''ve done this before."

    "Ti?" the butterfly chirped with uncertainty.

    The beast retreated slightly, aggravating him further. The pain in his ankle and the presence of Pok¨¦mon Hunters nearby was driving his temper short. A scowl formed on his face, despite his intention.

    "It''s just some silk," Kenji snapped, his anger flaring. "I don''t know why you''re so reluctant now. You were fine doing it when you tried to bundle me up in a cocoon!"

    Kenji huffed, the short tirade helping to release his pent up emotions. Still, that did little to assuage his guilt when the butterfly wailed with distress.

    The beast fled, spinning in place and flapping its wings to put on a burst of speed. The Pok¨¦mon weaved around the trees, its hurt trills lingering behind as it fled.

    "Wait! No!" Kenji shouted desperately, "Flutter. Flutter!"

    The beast either ignored his yells or could not hear them over its own cries. Despite the brightly colored wings, Kenji quickly lost sight of the large butterfly.

    A heavy sigh escaped him, as Kenji fell back to the ground. All of it sudden, he felt drained of both energy and emotion. Not only was it foolish of him to focus his anger on the Pok¨¦mon, it was wrong.

    It was unlikely that a single bug could earn the ire of an entire swarm. Wild Type Beasts often engaged in battles of strength and dominance, competing for territory, food, or even resources. Rare were the times that doing so led to a rampage or persistent hunt.

    "The Hunters," Kenji swore as he stared at the disturbed section of forest. Fallen branches, broken plants, and overturned earth was all that was left behind by their successful hunt. He was certain the Ronin Warriors were responsible for the swarm''s agitation.

    He glared at the woods darkly, his mind churning as he thought over how their presence would affect his search for civilization. Already, their disruption resulted in an injury, one that would significantly hinder his progress. There was no telling what else they were responsible for or what they would do.

    "The dam, of course," he realized suddenly. "There must have been a strong beast claiming the river for its own," he muttered.

    Certainly not an Alpha, for even the most foolish of Warriors knew better than to tangle with such monstrous beasts. No, more likely the Pok¨¦mon that ruled the dam was simply a powerful evolution that would be valued for its strength or alchemical properties.

    Kenji thought back to the thorny guardian that carefully tended to the glade, a ''Roselia'' if he remembered correctly. His chest grew tight at the thought of the Hunters stumbling upon her field.

    "Hopefully the caretaker can fend them off," he said with a sigh.

    Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do to help the beast. Even if he was strong enough, he had little idea on how to find the creature again. Not to mention his two companions that he would be putting at risk as well.

    Kenji looked up at the thought of the Pok¨¦mon that traveled with him for the past, well, he was not sure how long. There were days where it felt as though he arrived in the forest only recently-his mind shuddered in memory-while other times it was as though seasons had passed since he saw another human.

    Instead of standing and chasing after his flying companion, Kenji closed his eyes and breathed deeply. He fought to clear his mind, seeking the separation between himself and the strange feeling of being wronged.

    Wisps clung to his form, smothering him as they tried to burrow within. Kenji could feel his body shiver, fighting his will to absorb the energy.

    Kenji scowled, reinforcing his control. The Energy was weak, but for his body to open itself up to the uncultivated power was strange. He worked to uproot the Ghostly Energy that sought to merge with his spiritual seed and expelled it into the surrounding spiritual earth instead.

    "I control me," he intoned, rejecting the influence of the foreign power.

    The wisps did not rebel, not exactly. Instead, it was as though they rejected his rejection, desiring only to be one with him. His body yearned for the Energy, wanting to soak it up like parched soil.

    In response, Kenji wrapped his hand around his mother''s pendant, the orb rough against his palm. He sought the strength of his bond, the ghost of sand and sea. The castle that was erased by the tides, only to return again and again.

    The link was still and silent, suppressed by the binding of the necklace. Nevertheless, the link existed.

    Unable to forcibly expel the wisps of ghostly Energy, Kenji funneled the power to his longest companion. The link binding him and the earthly spirit shivered as the eerie power flowed along it.

    For a moment, Kenji felt the warm sun on his skin and breathed in a salty breeze.

    However, too soon, the Energy was spent and the connection lost.

    Still, Kenji felt better. With his mind cleared, he forced himself to his feet with a grunt of pain.

    "Come along, Sprout," he called out softly. The turtle was still wary and chirped fearfully from the safety of his shell.

    "I know, and I''m sorry for scaring you," he apologized. "But it''s safe to come out now."

    The young Pok¨¦mon extended his head slowly, the beak nosing the air as the turtle inspected the surroundings carefully.

    "Don''t think I missed your Withdraw into your shell," he commented encouragingly. "It was a true technique, with a proper application of Type Energy."

    The beast tilted its head with a warble and Kenji chuckled. Hobbling after his erstwhile butterfly, he kept up a running commentary on the beast''s skill and possible enhancements. In the back of his mind, he crafted an apology for his other companion.

 Interlude: A Honey Surprise

    Urged on by their

    successful capture of the Gyarados, Henry managed to convince Jared into

    another daring endeavor. The rain had passed, albeit slowly, and wild Pok¨¦mon

    were beginning to leave the safety of their nests.

    "You owe

    me," he told the silent man. "That was my fight, and you had no

    business interfering." Henry wanted to snap more, but he held himself

    back. For one, doing so would amount to little. For another, well, the man

    could be terrifying at times.

    Jared paused

    considering his words before begrudgingly nodding in agreement.

    During the fight

    with the wild Gyarados, Henry and the battling Pok¨¦mon were shocked into

    inaction. The overwhelming light and noise kept them from reacting properly.

    However, while they were blinded and deafened by the powerful Thunderstrike,

    the Hitmonchan was not. While the explosion of lightning from Gyarados''s

    unexpected Thunderbolt caught them by surprise, the two were quicker to

    recover.

    Before the giant

    serpent realized what was happening, Hitmonchan was standing atop it. Henry

    regained his sight in time to see the boxing Pok¨¦mon landing a rapid series of

    Thunder Punches on the hard scales. The swollen fists struck with crackling

    booms, the Gyarados jerking with each strike.

    After a series of

    highly super effective attacks, the Gyarados was twitching into

    unconsciousness. Lingering muscle spasms from electricity caused the Pok¨¦mon''s

    to jerk randomly, until Jared lazily captured it.

    An anti-climactic

    end to a fight that he was waiting for over the years.

    It took Henry a

    while to calm down, ending in them moving away from the Bibarel dam. The

    structure was too damaged to hold the river back as it did before. There was no

    point staying, the wild Pok¨¦mon already having run away.

    However, he was still high off the adrenaline from the battle, and pushed for

    another raid. Even over a day later, after the storm had passed, his blood was

    singing. He was itching for another fight, even though he knew it was far too

    likely there would be anything near as exciting.

    The nearest Pok¨¦mon

    of note were the local hives, and none of the Vespiquen were recorded as

    burgeoning Alphas. Not that Henry was foolish enough to fight a Pok¨¦mon as

    monstrous as the rulers of the wilds.

    Rather, it was the

    highly protective Combee that made battling the queens a difficult endeavor.

    The swarms surrounded their matriarchs jealously, often going so far as to

    prevent their evolved counterparts from leaving the hive. While individually

    weak, a swarm of Combee was not a threat to take lightly.

    Which was why the

    two men were traveling in the direction of a newly settled hive instead.

    Reports indicated that this one was established before the primary matriarch

    was ready. The scouts noted the young Vespiquen as showing signs of an early

    evolution.

    With the

    introduction of another queen, a small hive was forced to split off lest the

    two begin to clash.

    While it was a prime

    opportunity to claim an evolved Vespiquen, even the Team''s administrators

    recognized a failed attempt could ruin their long term operation. A single

    escaping Combee would rile the other hives, drawing the attention of the

    Rangers as the bees zealously hunted for their missing queen.

    Instead, Henry was

    aiming for female Combee.

    The honey producing

    Pok¨¦mon were easier to train and raise from a Combee, rather than its more

    imperious evolution. More importantly, females were often among the first grubs

    to be born in a newly formed hive. The few that survived would remain as Combee

    due to the presence of the Vespiquen''s pheromones.

    Henry looked up when

    his companion grunted lowly. Looking around, he was surprised to see how far

    they traveled. Already, he could see signs that they were nearing the hive''s

    territory.

    Dots of honey clung

    to trees, likely from the bumbling Combee running into the trunks. Plants and

    flowers were abundant, the pollination that the bugs engaged in bringing the

    forest into bloom.

    Moving slower, Henry

    kept a hand near his slot of Pok¨¦ Balls. If they were not too close to the

    hive, then there was little risk of being assaulted early.

    "You

    ready?" Henry asked his companion in a low voice.

    The man nodded in one sharp movement.

    "Ok, remember,

    we want the females," Henry said. "Alive," he added in warning.

    Jared''s hand curled

    into a fist and Henry sighed internally. It seemed the event at the river was

    stirring up the other man as well. Nevertheless, they could not afford him to

    run off the Route, especially so close to the hive.

    "After this,

    we''ll move to a drop off point and take a break," he offered.

    Henry recognized

    that they both needed it, albeit it irked from having to do so. Fortunately,

    with the capture of a freshly evolved Gyarados and hopefully a few Combee, the

    payout from this patrol would more than make up for the lost time.

    Jared grunted,

    likely feeling the same as him, though for different reasons.

    "We already set

    up the net and, after you catch the bugs, we''ll race towards it," he said,

    restating their plan to help refocus his partner. "We''ll have to be quick

    in loosing the net, or we''ll be forced to abandon entirely if the swarm shows

    up."

    Jared nodded

    silently, staring in the direction of the hive.

    Henry eyed him

    silently, trying to gauge his companion''s state. It was already normally

    difficult to do so, the burn scars and his intense demeanor serving to hide

    much of his disposition. Shrugging his shoulders, Henry continued.

    "All right, if

    you''re ready, then I''ll wait for you to circle around," he said. "You

    should hear me start to battle, then that''s your cue."

    Instead of

    responding, Jared set off. He easily disappeared into the forest with the help

    of his camouflage and natural skill.

    "Scary,"

    Henry muttered with an exaggerated shiver, hoping the man was still close

    enough to see him. He snickered when a twig snapped, the other man not careless

    enough to make such a simple mistake. Instead, it was simply his partner

    telling him that the other man was still close enough to catch his words.

    Henry crouched in

    place, pressing against a trunk to wait. He kept a close eye on his watch, the

    matte color ensuring that it would not reflect the light while it blended in

    with his gear. The device was entirely mechanical, so as to avoid the curiosity

    of the forest''s Pachirisu. The electric squirrels had a habit of investigating

    electronics, often giving away their position or being a general nuisance.

    When he judged that

    enough time had passed, Henry stood up into a crouch and started to move. He

    was careful to avoid any sign of the bees or the few individuals he saw flying

    around. The female Combee would stay closer to the hive. Not to mention the additional

    difficulty in battling so close to the hive.

    However, against his

    intentions, he did not manage to make it much further before he was challenged.

    A small collection

    of Combee, gathering pollen and patrolling their territory, spotted him. Their

    hexagonal bodies contained three faces each, granting the giant bees excellent

    perception.

    This close to their

    hive, the group did not hesitate to attack. It released a Gust, crying out to

    warn the others of the small swarm. Before Henry could release his Hitmonlee,

    the other Combee added their own power.

    "Combee!"

    What was originally

    a strong breeze quickly grew into a storm of air. It slammed into him, shoving

    Henry backwards. Errant leaves and branches were picked up by the wind and

    thrown towards him.

    "Ha!"

    Henry barked out a short laugh and threw up his arms, leaning into the combined

    Gust.

    "This is

    ju-" he was abruptly cut off when a leaf flew into his mouth, causing him

    to choke. When he finally managed to spit it out, Henry continued as though

    nothing occurred. "This is just training!" he shouted.

    Nevertheless, Henry

    could feel the air begin to bruise his arms and body. While the swarm of Combee

    were not enough to blow him away completely, they could definitely hurt him.

    Giving in, he reached for his Pok¨¦ Balls and unclipped one.

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    Pointing it away

    from him, he released Golbat out of the brunt of the combined Gust. He had to

    hold the sphere tight, lest it be blown out of his hand. Not wanting to risk

    losing it, he kept hold of the loaned Pok¨¦ Ball instead of attempting to clip

    it back in place.

    The giant bat

    emerged with a near-inaudible screech, pushed back by the wind before she

    managed to recover. Unlike Hitmonlee, the Golbat was fully rested. So far,

    Henry only used the Pok¨¦mon to ward away others, or released it to feed at

    night.

    This would be the

    first test of the bat''s abilities. His Hitmonlee was still recovering from the

    battle with the Gyarados, not to mention the Type disadvantage against the

    flying bugs.

    The Pok¨¦mon flapped

    her leathery wings quickly, struggling to hold itself in place. The giant bat

    looked disgruntled at being forced into a serious battle. Up to this point, the

    Pok¨¦mon was primarily used to scare off undesirables or released to feed at night.

    "It''s time to

    see what you got," Henry shouted at the Golbat. "Interrupt them with

    a Supersonic." he ordered.

    The giant bat

    screeched her displeasure before directing the vocals to the swarm of Combee.

    The sound disappeared beyond Henry''s hearing, but not the bug''s. Several

    faltered, the painful noise their enough to disrupt the attack.

    Henry had to catch

    himself from the sudden loss of wind, lest he fall on his face. Meanwhile,

    Golbat ended up shooting forwards, her efforts to stay aloft in the tunnel of

    wind propelling her closer.

    "Channel your

    energy into a Payback," he called out as the Pok¨¦mon faltered. "Aim

    for the ones still fighting."

    The bat screeched,

    shadows seeming to gather in her large mouth. The Golbat singled out a Combee,

    flapping to rise above the bug. She dropped towards the Pok¨¦mon, wrapping her

    wings around the beast to hold on.

    Dark shadows lashed

    out as the giant bat bit into her prey, using an impromptu Poison Fang as she

    rode the bee towards the ground.

    "Bee!" the

    faces wailed, the bug''s honey filled carapace cracking from the force of the

    bite. The clear, yellow fluid turned discolored as poison seeped through its

    body.

    Despite the success

    of the attack, Henry frowned at the loaned Pok¨¦mon. While it was excellent she

    followed through with another attack, he would have preferred that the giant

    bat use her wings to bash the bug instead.

    Now she was on the

    ground, with enemies in the air around her. Worse, the Pok¨¦mon''s innate poison

    was spoiling the Combee-honey. The bees would not be worth capturing if he was

    not careful.

    "Gol'', get back

    in the air," Henry shouted with authority. He had to act quickly before

    the bat''s instincts overpowered her, admittedly little, training. "You''re

    exposed. They''re going to attack you."

    Indeed, the Combee

    were recovering from the sudden assault and turning to face their downed

    member. Her prey was trying to fight back, weakly struggling against the bat. A

    low hum started to build, causing the back of Henry''s teeth to ache.

    "Golbat, get

    out of there!" he shouted. "Use Double Team."

    The giant bat looked

    up, dazed by the feeding. Fortunately, she still had the presence of mind to

    listen to his commands and lifted into the air. Her body started to blur as she

    tried to evade the attack.

    For all that, the

    Golbat was still too close and the Combee too wide spread. The rapidly

    vibrating wings shifted into a harsh buzz that shook her body. Golbat screeched

    in pain and surprise, dropping back to the ground as the beating of her wings

    faltered.

    "Fight through

    it, Gol''," Henry shouted encouragingly. "Shake it off."

    While his choice of

    words was probably not the best, Henry could tell that the Bug Buzz was not

    nearly as strong as it should have been. Especially if all of the Combee were

    making use of the move. Likely, one of the bugs figured out the move and the

    others were merely mimicking it.

    At least, he hoped

    so.

    Golbat struggled

    back into the air, the vibrations still shaking her body.

    "Good

    girl," he said. "Take them out with an Air Cutter."

    The Pok¨¦mon bobbed

    in place before lashing out with her wings. With the training Henry was putting

    the bat through, her musculature was improving. As such, the slices of wind

    emerged easier and faster than they did when he was first assigned the Pok¨¦mon.

    While accuracy was

    still an issue, quantity was not. Henry dodged the few that were sent his way

    with a smile, recognizing a new training regimen for the three of them. The

    blades of air carved into the bees, interrupting their tooth-grinding buzz.

    Eventually, Golbat

    had an easier time staying aloft and rose into the air. From above the small

    swarm, she kept up a steady stream of Air Cutter until the remaining Combee

    fell to the ground.

    "Excellent,"

    Henry said with a clap of his hands. Pulling free a sack of Net Balls, he

    captured the bugs worth doing so. "Now, feed and heal up. We''ve still got

    some fights ahead of us," he instructed.

    The Pok¨¦mon

    screeched with eagerness, only registering the instruction to feed. The giant

    bat latched onto the remaining Combee and settled into a Roost.

    Putting her Pok¨¦

    Ball away, Henry released his Hitmonlee with a grin.

    "Alright buddy,

    we''re going to need your help," he told the fighter.

    The Pok¨¦mon was

    still not fully healed, with discolored bruises across his body. Several of his

    muscular coils were misshapen, the sprains from the battle with Gyarados

    keeping them from compressing properly.

    Nevertheless, the

    Pok¨¦mon was eager to battle.

    "Hit, hi,"

    he vibrated, wincing slightly from the lingering pain.

    "Don''t worry,

    we just need to support Golbat," he said.

    Henry could hear a

    growing buzz in the forest, as the other Combee flew to investigate. He roused

    the Golbat with a smile, and readied an ambush.

    Together, the three

    of them fended off waves of Combee. Golbat was liberal with Air Cutters and

    Henry''s skull ached from the multiple Supersonics she used to disorientate the

    bugs. Hitmonlee jumped around, never staying in one spot too long. He only landed

    a few blows, but the ones he did were debilitating.

    Even Henry managed to get in on the action, distracting the bees or fighting

    with his own body and baton. A simple stick of wood, the weapon was more for

    self-defense as most Pok¨¦mon able to battle would only be annoyed, or at most

    distracted, by being hit.

    When there was

    enough of a lull, he instructed Golbat to rest and recover while Hitmonlee did

    the same. He captured Combee and put their balls away. The female Combee would

    have an easier time evolving and settling into a new hive with familiar members

    to assist.

    Eventually, they

    were interrupted mid-fight by Jared running through the trees.

    "Time to

    go," he barked shortly, his voice rough from disuse and scars. The man did

    not bother to slow as he bulldozed through the battle, lashing out violently to

    any Combee unfortunate enough to be in his way.

    "Hitmonlee,

    return," Henry said as he snatched up the Pok¨¦mon''s ball and returned the

    fighter. He did so with a noise of complaint, wanting to finish his opponents

    off. "Next time, buddy."

    Chasing after Jared,

    he called after Golbat over his shoulder.

    "Gol'', cover

    our retreat with Supersonic." he shouted, not bothering to lower his

    voice. "Then Double Team towards us."

    Huffing after his

    companion, Henry heard the bees wail as they were bombarded by the high-pitch

    sound waves.

    Racing through the

    forest, the two barreled through obstructions and dodged around those they

    could not push through. There was no point trying to hide as the Combee''s

    pheromones clung to his body, and likely Jared''s as well. While the chemical

    signals were nearly undetectable to most, any Combee or Vespiquen would be able

    to track them for days.

    Fortunately, they

    already had a plan for that. Sprinting through

    the forest, Henry was pleased to see Golbat catch up, the illusionary doubles

    lingering behind her. He did not bother returning her, both due to the

    difficulty doing so while in a sprint and so she could deal with any Combee

    that evaded their trap.

    As the one in the

    lead, Jared was the first to see the tag they wrapped around a tree to denote

    the location of the trap. Slowly, he carefully navigated through and hid behind

    a tree. Henry followed, making sure to touch plants and trees in an effort to spread

    the clinging pheromones.

    Golbat settled on an upper branch while Henry and Jared panted from the long

    sprint. They were past the trap, with the manual trigger close to hand.

    Well, I''m panting, Henry thought as he eyed

    his partner.

    The man barely

    looked out of breath. The only indication of the run was his expanding and

    contracting chest, moving in a controlled, regular rhythm. The sight was enough

    to make Henry frown and think himself out of shape.

    It took a surprising

    amount of time for the angry buzz of the Combee to be heard. A strange noise

    heralded the swarm, light thumps and rustling of bushes, that he attributed to

    a Pok¨¦mon fleeing. Unable to contain his curiosity, Henry leaned around to spy

    the creature in question.

    His eyes widened

    when he spotted the figure racing through.

    A child, a boy if he

    was not mistaken, was dodging behind trees and looking back at the rapidly

    approaching swarm. The Combee bore expressions of fury, humming violently as

    they chased him. There was an odd bundle in his arms, slowing him

    significantly. More eye catching was the colorful Beautifly that flew just

    ahead, crying out to lead to the kid.

    Henry clenched his

    jaw, realizing the outcome if the swarm were to catch the boy. He heard Jared

    shift beside him as the other man spotted the kid as well. Cursing internally,

    Henry eyed the swarm''s distance to the trap.

    Suddenly, the boy

    screamed in pain and Henry snapped his head around. The kid was on the ground,

    his only indication the desperate Beautifly whining as it bobbed over him

    anxiously.

    Lunging at the

    trigger for the net, Henry started to cut it free. Jared watched him work with

    a blank face, the eyes painfully unexpressive.

    "I know,"

    he snarled at the man.

    Not a moment too

    soon, as the Combee were readying to bombard the fallen kid, the capture net

    fell.

    It dropped from the

    forest ceiling, catching the swarm by surprise. The expanded Net Balls

    immediately started to capture the bugs, dematerializing them in flashes of

    light. As the Combee struggled, they continued to disappear and the net bound

    them tighter.

    Henry waited, his

    chest tight, until he saw the kid stand up. The boy stumbled, shouting

    something intelligible to the concerned butterfly. As he stumbled away, limping

    heavily, several Combee rose into the air. He seemed unaware of their presence,

    but the same could not be said for the bugs.

    "Golbat,"

    he shouted up to the Pok¨¦mon. "Take out the rest of them." A few

    managed to avoid the net by virtue of the swarm''s size and the bat eagerly

    attacked with Air Cutter.

    Henry stepped up the

    net and used free Net Balls to catch the Combee still stuck. They wailed with a

    buzz, their multiple faces creating a migraine inducing cacophony. He spotted

    the boy jerk around in surprise with wild eyes before he ducked behind a tree.

    Jared stood and

    watched, his face still blank. His eyes moved from where the kid was hiding to

    Henry and back.

    "Don''t even

    think about it," Henry warned quietly.

    "Dangerous,"

    the man said lowly.

    Henry leapt up and

    strode towards the man. Standing in front of him, he ignored the charred skin

    and permanent grimace to stare into his partner''s empty eyes.

    "I know,"

    he snarled. Placing a hand on Hitmonlee''s Pok¨¦ Ball, he continued. "But

    I''m a poacher, not a killer."

    Jared met his glare

    evenly, unfazed by Henry''s clear threat. After a beat, he bowed his head once

    and brushed past Henry to begin removing the Net Balls.

    Henry released a

    shuddering breath, cold sweat dripping down his face. Swiping it away, he

    cleared his throat and moved to quietly help his partner. Working with ease

    born of long repetition, they packed away the Pok¨¦ Balls and wrapped up the

    capture net.

    With only a

    lingering glance at the hidden kid, Henry followed Jared into the forest.

    "We''re

    definitely taking that break," he muttered.

 Chapter 25

    The days passed

    slowly while Kenji waited for his twisted ankle to heal. With Pok¨¦mon Hunters

    in the area, he found himself unwilling to return to the safety of his camp.

    The chances of the unsworn Warriors stumbling upon him were too high.

    No, it was better

    that he continue his progress towards escape from the wild lands, slow as it

    was. He found Flutter resting on the sled after he shouted at the Pok¨¦mon.

    After apologizing to the butterfly, they worked together to bind his ankle with

    silk and wood.

    The beast was still hesitant, especially after his earlier outburst, but Kenji

    encouraged the Pok¨¦mon with soft words.

    Moving the sled, on

    the other hand, was a far more aggravating experience. After a few painful

    attempts, particularly one failure that left him on the ground with teeth

    clenched against a scream, Kenji reevaluated how to move the sled.

    His first thought

    was to move in half steps, only placing weight on his injured foot when

    switching to the other. The method, while suitable, was painfully slow and saw

    him move only a span in half a bell''s time. At such a rate, he was better off

    camping in place until he recovered.

    Kenji''s other

    thought was to find a set of branches he could use as crutches. Only, not for

    himself.

    Searching for

    branches that formed a natural crook consumed much of his remaining daylight.

    With wraps of silk, Kenji secured the tree branches to the handles of the sled.

    The sun was setting by the time he was able to test the construction.

    He was pleased to

    discover that he was able to move faster with the sled crutches. While it was

    still a heavily reduced speed, perhaps half of what he was able to travel

    before his injury, Kenji still viewed it as progress.

    At night, he rested

    by the river after a wash in the cool waters. The cold helped numb his ankle,

    especially when he rested in the flowing river. Of course, in the morning, the

    painful heat made itself known once more.

    For all that, Kenji

    discovered one benefit to his slowed trek.

    Sprout.

    Or rather, the

    turtle''s ability to keep pace with him. While the young beast still required

    frequent breaks to recover, they were able to travel all day without him having

    to rest upon the sled. Fortunate, considering that he was unsure if he could

    even drag carry all their supplies and

    the heavy turtle in his condition.

    While they traveled,

    Kenji maintained a close eye on their surroundings. Similarly, Flutter seemed

    reluctant to stray too far. A development he approved of. Especially when

    escape was no longer possible for Sprout or Kenji.

    To encourage the two

    Pok¨¦mon, Kenji dedicated effort to training the two.

    "Flutter, Stir

    Up Wind," he called out to the butterfly as the beast wove between the

    trees.

    "Beauti!"

    the beast trilled.

    Immediately, the bug

    started to flap its wings, creating a strong gust to blow through the forest.

    "Keep it

    up," he encouraged. Turning his attention to Sprout he said, "Your

    turn. Withdraw into your Shell."

    The turtle chirped

    eagerly, merely happy to be included, Kenji suspected. Nevertheless, the beast

    did as he instructed, a glimmer of blue Energy coating its hard scales.

    "Come on,

    Sprout, you can do it," he said while keeping an eye on the Beautifly as

    the flying bug continued to use its technique. "And don''t let him beat

    you, Flutter," he said louder to be heard over the wind.

    "Tifly,"

    the bug squealed with determination.

    While he was wary of

    putting them into conflict with each other, Kenji discovered that the two were

    slightly competitive. At least, when a snack was involved. At first, the more

    evolved Pok¨¦mon was winning the simple competition he placed them in. However,

    as Sprout familiarized himself more with his Type Energy, the turtle quickly

    began to outpace the older Pok¨¦mon.

    "Come on,

    Flutter, you can do it!" he called as he continued to move forward.

    "Sprout, since you''re able to beat Flutter, try making your shell stronger

    and more durable. Enhance your technique instead of simply using it."

    Surprisingly, Kenji

    felt himself drawn into the competition between the two as well. Rather than

    giving in to exhaustion or pain, he forced himself to take one more step. Reach

    the next tree or even one beyond that, repeating the process until he could go

    no more.

    Occasionally, during

    their short breaks or nightly stops for rest, the three of them gathered

    together for a short period of cultivation.

    While Sprout

    continued to familiarize himself with Type Energy and Flutter sought to enhance

    its reserves, Kenji practiced falling in and out of meditation. He wished to

    reach a state where it was still possible for him to cultivate while moving.

    The skill was an advanced one, typically only achieved by mystics or gifted

    Warriors.

    Nevertheless, Kenji

    thought it was one that he could obtain. Especially when true cultivation was

    largely useless for him. The little energy that his body managed to absorb was

    constantly drawn into his spirit. It naturally enhanced his body as it was drawn

    in, but the worry was that his spiritual seed outpaced the cultivation of his

    physical body.

    Periodically, he

    discovered a wisp of Ghostly Energy clinging to him and he carefully guided it

    down the connection to his bond. The Energy''s attraction to him was unnerving,

    and not a thought that he wished to dwell on.

    In the distance, the

    mountains loomed larger with each step. The forested plateau fell off to the

    wayside as the river flowed from the snow touched peaks. As he traveled,

    details slowly emerged on the mountain face.

    Enormous boulders

    and shear drops decorated the mountains. The surface appeared largely free of

    any plant life, a stark contrast to the lively forest he found himself in.

    Kenji only hoped that the imposing height would grant him a wider view of the

    lands he found himself in.

    Turning his gaze

    away from the mountains, Kenji tiredly pulled himself out of the river. While

    the foot was still tender, he was pleased to find that the discolored bruises

    were already fading. The swelling was down significantly as well, leaving only

    a sense of lingering weakness.

    Honestly, he was

    surprised that the injury was so quick to heal, especially with the strain he

    was putting on the foot.

    "As long as I

    can finally rid myself of those accursed crutches," Kenji muttered with a

    yawn.

    After a series of

    stretches to relax his body from the day''s efforts, Kenji picked up his most

    recent project and a cocoon of stone flakes from his pack. The length of wood

    was among the straightest that he could find, with an interesting knurl tipping

    the branch.

    Sitting down next to

    Sprout and the propped up sled, he settled the future staff across his lap.

    Flutter was off, searching for flowers or a beast to fight, though hopefully

    not one so easily riled.

    "Not that it

    influenced my decision," he told the wood and turtle. The Pok¨¦mon only

    grumbled at his words, used to his commentary, while the staff remained

    blessedly silent.

    For should it ever

    begin to respond, would be the day Kenji feared for his mind. Seeing as today

    was not that day, he placed the sharp flake of stone against the wood and

    started to slice through the wood.

    "Only once did

    I allow beauty to influence my selection," he continued, "And it was

    a mistake my father corrected thoroughly."

    In truth, the

    mistake was made more than once. However, the incident he spoke of was his

    first staff carving.

    "For you see,

    while many a Warrior relied upon another for their weapons, my father was of a

    different mind."

    After extensive

    lessons from both his father and several woodcarvers, Sato Isamu finally deemed

    his son passable in the Art of Woodcarving. As such, he was handed a length of

    oak wood and told to carve a b¨­.

    "It was a work

    of beauty," he said dreamily. "For father allowed me the freedom to

    work on it as I wished."

    Delicate flowers and

    strong vines curled along the length of it, with fierce beasts glaring intently

    at any who lay their eyes upon the staff.

    "Even my mother

    commented on it, saying that it was feat worthy of her people," he said,

    "Not that she ever talked about them," he added somewhat bitterly.

    The dark skinned

    woman was tight lipped about her history, with even his father forbidding

    Kenji''s persistent questions about her foreign appearance. She was so unlike

    the other people of Greenleaf, and as her son, he appeared differently as well.

    It was a contentious topic, especially when others commented upon it.

    Now, all that

    remained of her was the pendant she placed around his neck and the face that

    separated him from the rest of the village.

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    Rubbing at his eyes,

    Kenji continued his story as though nothing had occurred. He was forced to

    replace his stone, the first already too dull to whittle away at the strong

    wood. Tossing the used flake into the river, he resumed speaking.

    "My father said

    little of the work, only grunting when I showed it to him. Then came the day

    that I declared the staff finished," Kenji said with a sigh. "I

    presented it to him, proudly thinking that he would congratulate me on the

    excellent craftsmanship. Instead, he looked at it with disgust!" Kenji

    chortled. "''Art is not in the weapon but how it is wielded'' he said to

    me," Kenji intoned seriously, trying to mimic his father''s voice.

    "He handed me

    back the staff and told me to attack him with it. In that instant, I understood

    my mistake. I was told to carve a staff, not a piece of art." Kenji

    explained. "Of course, my father was not so willing to leave it there.

    Instead, he forced me to battle him, my staff against his bare hands."

    Within two strikes,

    the beautifully carved staff, whittled away at for nearly a quarter of a

    season, was broken in two. His father did not hesitate, striking at Kenji until

    he defended himself with the split pieces. Their fight continued until the

    useless weapon was splinters in his hand.

    "I was fighting

    back tears, with wood piercing my hands, when the old man gave me another piece

    of wood and told me to try again."

    Kenji held the

    half-finished staff up to the fading sunlight. He was most familiar with the

    b¨­, though his father trained him in a few more styles of battle, namely his

    body. Regardless, b¨­jutsu remained his first great passion.

    There was just

    something about using the trimmings of a tree, rightfully given, that resonated

    with Kenji.

    "But enough

    about me," he said as he set down the length of wood. Turning his gaze

    upon Sprout, he asked the Pok¨¦mon, "Perhaps one day, we''ll learn the story

    of you, yes? How does a young turtle like you end up all alone in this great

    big forest."

    The beast in

    question was, of course, asleep already. After a long day of walking and

    training, the young Pok¨¦mon was exhausted. Tomorrow the turtle would be wide

    awake with the energy to match.

    Petting the hard

    shell, Kenji wondered at the beast''s origins before giving in to the pull of

    sleep. Climbing underneath the lean-to, he slept easily until the piercing

    trill of Flutter awoke him. Yawning widely, he traveled to the river to splash

    the cold water upon his face. The chill woke him fully, leaving his skin

    stinging.

    Stumbling back to

    his sled, he plucked free several fruits to munch on. The simple breakfast left

    his fingers sticky and he grumbled at the mess.

    "One would

    think I would have learned by now," he sighed as he woke Sprout with a

    nudge. The turtle whined and Kenji set his breakfast down to help wake the

    Pok¨¦mon.

    "Good morning,

    Flutter," he greeted the butterfly. "Thank you for waking me."

    "Ti, ti,"

    the Beautifly trilled.

    While he waited for

    the younger beast to uproot himself, Kenji pulled down the sled and placed it

    on the ground with a grunt. New territory meant new opportunities for foraging,

    and he was sure to keep the frame as loaded as he could bear to carry.

    After tying the

    unfinished staff to the sled, he pulled on the pack. As he did so, he noted

    that the straps were beginning to fray and would need replacing soon.

    He was distracted from his inspection by Sprout''s warbles of complaint. The

    little turtle was not a morning Pok¨¦mon, and often voiced his displeasure at

    being woken so early.

    "Another day,

    another hike," Kenji said, trying to be positive. "And hopefully as

    uneventfully as the past few days."

    The most exciting

    moment was when an unfamiliar bug suddenly attacked Flutter. Strangely, the

    beast was easily warded off, his companion only having to use a simple gust to

    blow the other Pok¨¦mon away before Kenji could inspect it closer.

    After Sprout climbed

    free of the shallow hole, he escorted the turtle to the river. There, the beast

    splashed merrily in the water, until Kenji finally called for him to return. He

    did so reluctantly, and then the three set off.

    Moving through the

    forest, Kenji felt energized. It took him longer than he cared to admit to

    realize that he was stepping without a twinge of complaint from his ankle. Upon

    discovering so, he let out a cheer and decided to test the foot. Jumping in

    place and sprinting between the trees, he was thrilled to find that there was

    not the slightest hint of his injury. He tossed the aggravating sled crutches

    into the forest with a shout of joy.

    With a smile on his

    face, he continued to hike through the forest. Sprout kept apace easily,

    chirping in interest at the odd plant or snapping up a flower to chew upon.

    Flutter was excited by the growing number of vibrant plants they discovered.

    To Kenji''s surprise, there was a notable number of blooming bushes. More were

    heavy with fruit and berries, the soil barely spotted with overly ripened

    selections.

    Similarly, the

    forest grew livelier, with the strangely colored squirrels appearing

    momentarily before racing away. While his one-time nemesis brought a small

    frown to his face, it did not stay there for long. Small flocks fluttered to

    the forest floor, eyeing him warily as they feasted upon the available

    vegetation.

    Kenji stared back at

    them freely, the large black and white Pok¨¦mon leading the flock watching him

    intently. A small tuft rose atop its head, the feathers seemingly curled

    intentionally. He passed the beasts with a small wave, leaving the Staravia and

    its flock behind.

    It was only when

    soft, bumbling music started to drift through the forest that Kenji realized

    something was off. Freezing in place, he tilted his head in confusion.

    The noise sounded

    unlike anything he ever heard. It was as though a group of bells were being

    rung together. While there did not seem to be an intention behind the music, he

    was intrigued. Kenji lost himself to the sound for a moment, simply enjoying

    the soft ping of noise.

    It was then that Kenji realized his insides were itching.

    Broken out of the

    reverie, he immediately called for his companions.

    "Sprout,

    Flutter," he snapped, "To me."

    The two Pok¨¦mon

    cried out in confusion and worry, retreating towards him. Sprout cowered at his

    feet, the blue film of Energy signifying that the beast was protected and ready

    to be picked up at a moment''s notice.

    Meanwhile, Flutter

    peered into the forest with its large, clear eyes. They were narrowed

    watchfully as the bug guard against the oncoming threat.

    Kenji stared into

    the forest as well, before returning his attention inward.

    Now that he was

    aware of it, he could sense the Type Energy coating his skin. Unlike the

    ethereal wisps that did not seem wholly present, this was a burrowing thread

    that wanted to plant itself deep.

    The sensation was as

    familiar to him as the voice of his father, as the Warrior lectured him on the

    art of cultivation.

    Breathing deep,

    Kenji welcomed the Grass Energy into his body and spirit. The green power

    soaked through his skin and muscle, deep into his bones and beyond. His spirit

    absorbed the energy readily, the seed glowing with health.

    For a brief moment,

    Kenji felt revitalized. His aura expanded to touch his companions and the

    surrounding forest. His link flared to life, the spirit within his mother''s

    amulet rejoicing. Power flooded his limbs and Kenji felt as though he could

    conquer a kingdom.

    Then it was gone.

    Staggering in place,

    Kenji was struck by the sudden absence of strength and connection. The world

    dulled, and his spirit sequestered itself once more. Feeling more isolated than

    before, he let out a shuddering breath.

    "Beau?"

    his flying companions trilled in concern.

    Kenji looked up to

    see that Pok¨¦mon looking at him, worry evident in its eyes.

    "I''m

    fine," he struggled to say. "Really, nothing to be concerned

    with."

    "Ti?" the

    butterfly chirped with doubt.

    To escape the

    beast''s gaze, Kenji turned his towards Sprout.

    "It''s all clear, little one," he told the turtle. "You can come

    on out."

    The young Pok¨¦mon

    did so with a speed Kenji was not expecting, and he blinked in surprise.

    "Of

    course," he laughed, "You both knew long before I did. Foolish of

    me."

    Dropping the sled,

    he leaned down to rub Sprout''s leathery hide.

    "This is an

    excellent environment for you, little one," he said. "Feel the Energy

    in the air and earth. Reach for it with your spirit and let it be consumed by

    your aura."

    The young turtle

    warbled uncertainly at his words. Kenji merely sighed and let the Pok¨¦mon

    resume its energetic stride. Grabbing the sled, Flutter and Kenji found

    themselves following the turtle as it meandered through the forest.

    At first Kenji was

    confused, not wanting to stray from the river. However, Sprout was insistent

    and he soon discovered why.

    The Type Energy grew

    stronger as they traveled, the trees rising even higher as they transitioned

    into a truly ancient forest. The air was heavy with age and importance,

    quieting even Flutter in silence. Roots grew thick along the ground, badly

    disguised by the thick underbrush.

    More often than not,

    Kenji found himself scrambling under or over the exposed wood. Several of the

    typically hidden roots were large enough to be considered full trees in their

    own right.

    With the Energy

    crawling beneath his skin, Kenji finally gave thought to what sort of beasts

    would reside in such a mystical realm.

    His imagination

    turned wild and, when he was finally ready to retreat, Sprout chirped with

    abandon.

    Kenji dropped his

    sled, racing forward to the turtle that had wandered beyond his sight.

    Spotting the young

    Pok¨¦mon, he raced upon with concern, understanding too late that the beast was

    only excited. Stumbling into a slow walk, he nearly fell as the pack on his

    shoulder unbalanced him.

    "Sprout, you

    should know better than to scare me like that," he scolded.

    The turtle looked at

    him, its beak opening wide to warble at him.

    Kenji crouched to

    pat his head, the scales soft under his palm.

    "Honestly,"

    he sighed. "What has gotten into you," Kenji''s voice trailed off as

    he casually glanced upwards.

    A giant boulder,

    worn by time and marked with age, dominated a large clearing between the elder

    trees. A thick coating of moss grew freely on the stone, droplets of morning

    dew still clinging to the green. Small plants and flowers dotted the surface,

    with rays of sunlight shining upon them.

    Small Pok¨¦mon raced

    along the forest floor, their bodies camouflaged by the vibrant flowers and

    shrubs that grew freely. The sound of overlapping bells was emitted by bumbling

    bugs, their formal exoskeletons waddling back and forth. Large, black antennae

    chimed as they struck each other.

    Other Beautifly

    wandered the glade, their wings refracting the light and only serving to add

    more color. Rabbits leapt about, their noses wrinkling his direction, and they

    cowered behind a larger, decidedly more feminine form.

    Kenji blinked in

    surprise at the sight, thinking for a moment that he encountered a strangely

    furred individual before his eyes landed on the raised limbs. Fists were

    directed in his direction and a leg half lifted, ready to lash out should he

    present a threat.

    All of a sudden,

    Kenji''s mind shifted as he viewed the clearing through a new light. Details

    emerged and were made clearer as he better understood what he was seeing.

    The animals were not

    flitting about eagerly or making joyful noise to fill the glade. Flowers were

    not bent towards him by an absent wind nor were beasts eyeing him with

    interest.

    His skin paled at

    the implications as he suddenly understood what he was witnessing.

    They were terrified

    of him and, more alarming, a wrong movement away from preemptively defending

    themselves.

    Kenji stuttered and

    felt his stomach drop as his heart skipped a bit. For a moment, he thought he

    felt a stir from his bond before it stilled.

    From the massive,

    moss-covered boulder, a pulse leapt through the ambient Grass Energy. The

    Pok¨¦mon took notice immediately, relaxing slightly in reaction.

    Kenji did not.

    If anything, he felt

    as though his heart was clawing its way up his throat.

    Swallowing thickly,

    he watched as a figure glided through the plants. The beast moved with a grace

    that brought memories drifting to the front of his mind. Of another clearing

    where he found himself the trespasser.

    It was difficult for

    him to make out as the creature''s body at first as it was draped in shades of

    green. White petals bloomed upwards from a verdant mask. Bouquets of red and

    blue roses grew from its limbs, uplifted towards the sun as the beast swayed forwards.

    A leafy cape followed, further serving to signify the majesty of the Pok¨¦mon.

    The beast only stood

    half his height, yet the aura it released nearly drove him to his knees.

    Panting through his nose, Kenji clenched his teeth in determination. Despite

    the difference in size, it felt like the boulder itself was bearing down upon

    him. Though, judging by the resolute expression on the Pok¨¦mon''s face, the

    boulder would be more welcome.

 Chapter 26

    The mystical realm Kenji found himself in was a Warrior''s paradise. A large mossy boulder dominated the clearing, making even the elder trees surrounding him seem normal. Grass Energy spread from the enormous rock, filling the air and enriching the earth. It nourished the spiritual plants in the glade, likely giving them unique properties that even a Warlord would appreciate.

    Pok¨¦mon abounded, from musical bugs to flying Beautifly to fluffy brown rabbits.

    It was one such rabbit, a decidedly feminine evolution, glaring him down that broke Kenji out of his captivation with the mystical glade. She shielded her fluffle with pawed fists and a powerful leg raised to strike at him. Ears larger than a shield covered her sides, protecting the beast.

    Staring at the beast nervously, he realized that the other Pok¨¦mon in the glade were either fleeing from his presence or preparing to attack.

    The impression of trespass grew when a ripple passed through the verdant Grass Energy. Stepping from beyond the mossy boulder, a small, colorful Pok¨¦mon swayed towards him. Bouquets of red and blue roses grew from its arms while a large white rose bloomed from atop the beast''s head.

    The creature''s aura was thick in the air, merging with the ambient Energy as it weighed down on Kenji. Despite the difference in size, he felt himself cowering. It felt as though one of the ancient trees was bearing down upon him. The Pok¨¦mon''s white petaled head, gave the beast a matronly appearance and enhanced the sense of disapproval.

    Kenji shuddered as a measure of the beast''s killing intent bled through. The Grass Energy filtered into a haze of red, and threatened to carve through him. Kenji held still, fearful that a wrong movement would enrage the clearing''s denizens.

    The similarities to the Pok¨¦mon from his first intrusion into a similar glade, a ''Roselia'', were clear to his eyes. A part of him wondered if the thorny beasts was a seedling of this one. The other was dedicated to its glade as well and he furiously tried to recall his interactions with the Roselia.

    If he remembered correctly, the beast took a bow or lifting of arms as a threat. Likely as a result of the attacks it could spray from the. The plant Pok¨¦mon was also incredibly concerned with the state of its field, spending time to position leaves or flowers just so.

    As a result, Kenji kept his arms by his side and forced himself to remain unbent by the Pok¨¦mon''s substantial aura.

    While he struggled against the beast''s power, the Pok¨¦mon slowly glided its way towards him. Root colored limbs strode across the forest floor, easily avoiding even the smallest blade of grass. However, looking closer, it was as though the plants themselves bent out of the creature''s path.

    The life around the beast made way for its path.

    "Rose," it cooed lightly, sparing a glance for the other beasts in the clearing.

    The humanoid rabbit relaxed slightly, dropping its leg and standing straighter. The fluffle of bunnies peeked around its powerful lower limbs in curiosity, still afraid but confident in their more evolved form.

    Similarly, plants lifted their petals upwards, with leaves tilting back towards the sun. What Kenji took to be hanging flowers or drooping branches were revealed to be strange bugs, their spindly limbs interwoven with the plants.

    The sight caused Kenji to falter slightly, as more and more Pok¨¦mon were revealed. Familiar worms trailed down the trunks, their popping feet heralding the appearance of silk orbs. Bright pink fruits turned and opened their eyes, staring at him with concern.

    There was even a small swarm of hexagonal bees, their several faces bent towards him with a glare while the rest carefully surveyed the surroundings. Much like the large rabbit, they seemed to be guarding each other, circling as a swarm constantly.

    Mouth falling open in surprise and awe, he was unsettled by a sudden thought.

    What if this was not just a mystic glade? he wondered with even greater wariness. What if it is a sanctuary?

    The more he thought it over, the more sense it made. Unlike other Pok¨¦mon he interacted with in the forest, these were clearly wary of him.

    Which meant they were familiar with humans.

    Humans such as the Pok¨¦mon Hunters.

    Kenji''s mouth dried and his eyes bulged as he suddenly understood their response to his arrival.

    While he wanted to do nothing more than fall to his knees and proclaim his innocence, doing so would achieve little. Instead, Kenji forced himself to watch as the powerful Pok¨¦mon approached.

    The flowery beast stopped several spans away, though well within range of an offensive technique he was sure. Kenji suppressed a shudder at the thought of the creature''s petaled blades slicing through him. Focusing back on the glade''s protector, he met the beast''s steady gaze. The rose tipped head was upturned towards him, with thick pollen drifting free.

    The Pok¨¦mon''s eyes dug through his own, searching his spirit for any hint of ill will. Flower petals furled and twisted, reacting to the guardian''s mood. Glistening thorns were revealed, no doubt poisoned.

    A cold sweat broke out on his brow. The beast''s inspection was lasting longer than he anticipated, the aura probing for his own. Unable to respond in kind, he stood straighter, hoping that by doing so he would appear more respectable and trustworthy.

    The Pok¨¦mon broke the stare first, dropping its eyes towards his mother''s pendant. The red orbs narrowed and the Grass Beast''s mouth turned down in distaste. A matching frown threatened to break out on his own face, but he quickly smoothed it away.

    The evaluating gaze was turned on Flutter, who was quickly dismissed. The butterfly released a subdued trill, mimicked by the other Beautifly in the glade.

    It was Sprout who appeared to consume the majority of the Pok¨¦mon''s attention. The beast stared the turtle down, the aged eyes taking in his flaking scales and dusty shell. Despite Kenji''s efforts, the beast''s appearance changed little. While the young Pok¨¦mon was able to travel further before tiring and mastered the technique of withdrawing into his shell, the beast continued to appear sickly.

    Part of Kenji was starting to believe that the turtle was meant to appear in such a state while the other dreaded the future.

    Sprout warbled at the elder Pok¨¦mon, tired from the race to the clearing.

    "Roo," the beast cooed back. "Ade."

    The turtle chirped happily and trundled forwards.

    Kenji tensed, worried for the young Pok¨¦mon.

    Faster than he could see, the guardian twirled around the turtle, shielding the younger Pok¨¦mon even as it readied to attack. The red and blue bouquets were raised towards him, the rose petals unfurling to clear the way for the hidden thorns.

    Paling, Kenji forced his muscles to relax and retreated slightly. The evolved Pok¨¦mon was incredibly fast and far more powerful. Before he even understood what it was doing, the beast was ready to attack.

    Flutter bobbed in place, trilling at the protective Pok¨¦mon. The butterfly dropped in front of him when the flowered beast did not relent, squealing at the creature.

    Sprout joined in with an upset warble, trying to shove the Pok¨¦mon from behind. When that did nothing to move the Grass Pok¨¦mon, he started to bite at the guardian''s leafy cape.

    Kenji was not sure what the turtle was hoping to achieve by doing so, as he doubted that even a full strike from his half-carved staff would so much as ruffle the Pok¨¦mon''s petals.

    The guardian seemed surprised at his companions coming to his defense. The elderly looking Pok¨¦mon looked over its shoulder with a raised eye, the yellow lids crooking in an amused stare.

    While he was partially mortified, Kenji found the turtle''s attempt at dissuading the powerful beast touching. The beast was often fearful, and to see him attempting to help Kenji was stirring.

    The Pok¨¦mon turned its eyes back to Flutter and him.

    "Rose," it cried. The beasts gestured with a bouquet, and a cloud of glimmering pollen was released. The cloud blew forwards, with a stream enveloping Sprout as well.

    Alarmed by the sudden technique, Kenji was still too slow to react. The dust spread over his body, quickly absorbed by his skin even as he inhaled it.

    Immediately, Kenji felt more relaxed, as his muscles loosened. The technique soothed his body further, aches fading quickly. The soreness in his arms and legs disappeared, causing Kenji to sigh with gratification as a constant strain was eased.

    Flutter drifted to the ground, enjoying the sensation as well. The butterfly was still recovering from the battles it was forced to engage in while searching for nectar.

    Equally, Sprout sagged to the ground with comforted warbles, his beak still gripping the evolved Pok¨¦mon''s leaf cape.

    "Serade," the beast cried, beckoning towards the clearing.

    Instantly, the clearing felt less hostile. The Energy in the air calmed, flooding towards him while the other beasts settled. While not prepared to attack, the protector''s invitation shifted their wariness to curiosity.

    Kenji did not feel welcomed, not entirely, but he at least felt safe.

    Remembering how the Roselia reacted, Kenji leaned backwards keeping his head and limbs from presenting a threat. He whistled low and soft, trying to make the sound as pleasing as he could manage.

    "This one thanks the guardian of the mossy boulder," he said after the whistle. "This one and his companions will not disturb the protector for long," he assured.

    While time within the mystical realm was highly beneficial, both to health and cultivation, too long would see the opposite made true. The foreign Energy needed to be made his own, and his body given time to adjust. Only a high rank Warrior would find such a clearing pleasant, as even now Kenji felt as though his skin was crawling.

    Despite the discomfort and danger, he forced himself to remain.

    Sprout had the most to gain from the abundance of Grass Energy, with even Flutter able to the changes the power brought to the sanctuary. The soil was richer, loamy from both the power of nature and the presence of the numerous Pok¨¦mon. Plants were more vibrant, shades brighter as they closed with the dominating boulder. As a result the pollen and fruits were more nutritious, likely with additional properties that did not require a chef''s skills to draw out.

    "Roser," the protective Pok¨¦mon croon in response. "Rade, serade."

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    Having said its piece, the beast danced around Sprout, easily freeing the leafy cape from the young Pok¨¦mon''s beak.

    The turtle was too distracted by burrowing into the soil to notice. He warbled happily, nudging the dirt into place around him.

    Kenji grinned, approaching to help the young beast plant himself. He piled dirt onto the turtle''s soft shell, patting it down thickly. His companion chirped contentedly, nearly disappearing into the environment.

    He was sure to keep the guardian within eyesight, with the humanoid rabbit a close second. While he was sure that there were other Pok¨¦mon in the clearing that posed a danger to him, those two appeared to be the most likely to attack.

    Many of the other Pok¨¦mon seemed to be younger, or unevolved. Not only were they smaller, but few stood their ground to make eye contact with him as he peered around the clearing.

    "A tree sheltered is the first to fall come storm," he murmured quietly, his father''s words echoing in his mind.

    For the wild beasts, the Energy-laden glade was both a blessing and curse. Without adversity, they would not grow, remaining unevolved and at the mercy of their protector.

    While he was inspecting the clearing, Flutter bounced into the air. The bug flew towards the other Beautifly and started to chirp eagerly with them. Together the small swarm moved around the glade, with Flutter eagerly tasting the nectar and pollen. Several times, other Pok¨¦mon took umbrage with the butterfly''s approach by crying out.

    The Roserade kept the peace, whistling at the loud beasts. They all quieted and Flutter retreated, keeping to the regular plants scattered throughout. Nevertheless, Kenji could tell that the flying bug wanted to taste the other flowers and he was sure a fight would break out if they overstayed their welcome.

    With his two companions settled, Kenji dropped the pack from his shoulders. Rolling the joints, he stretched lightly before jogging back to the abandoned sled. It was not far, with the only difficulty in retrieving it the arduous process of dragging it back to the sanctuary.

    The sight of the unfamiliar frame attracted the wild beasts'' interest. Several Starly and a trio of familiar white and blue squirrels bounded forward, their beaks and noses investigating the silk blanket. Watching the thieving Pok¨¦mon carefully, he scolded them when they attempted to snatch bunches of berries.

    The leader of the trio chittered back, sparks dancing around the spikes on its bushy tail. Kenji simply glared back, refusing to rise to the squirrel''s bait, especially with the guardian watching so closely. The wiry Pok¨¦mon was the first to stand down, and Kenji nodded in recognition.

    Both as thanks and to help the others warm up to him, Kenji plucked a handful of fruits free and offered them to the gathered Pok¨¦mon.

    "It''s not much," he admitted, staring at the bounty growing in the glade. "But it is all I have to offer."

    The large rodents squealed, urging their suddenly reluctant leader forwards. The beast hesitated before dashing towards him to snatch up a berry. Stuffing the misshapen orb inside its mouth, the squirrel ferreted away two more before retreating back to its friends.

    Eying the Starly, Kenji rolled a few others to them when they refused to approach. They pecked curiously at the fruit before, in a flurry of activity, they consumed the lot. Their juice soaked beaks were more than a bit off-putting and he was glad when the birds returned to their flock.

    While many beasts kept their distance, he was intrigued by the ones that did not. The soundful bugs, whose antennae chimed like overlapping bells, were loud but polite. They emitted their strange chimes in harmony upon receiving a small bunch of berries. After consuming the food, they began to coordinate their music better.

    Though there were a few moments where Kenji had to plug his ears.

    Bundles of leaves scuttled forwards, spindly black limbs the only view he had of their disguised bodies, before fleeing back to the safety of hanging shrubs. Small eyes peered at him, and he was startled to realize that the flowering bushes were Pok¨¦mon.

    It was while staring at the disguised beasts that Kenji saw a flicker above. Tilting his head upwards, he saw flashes of purple furred beasts, with exposed beige skin peered down at him. Mouths were upturned and eyes crinkled in obvious mischief. Behind them, long tails ended in a broad palm, the appendage waving.

    "Hello, up there!" Grinning back, Kenji waved with a fruit still closed in his fist. "You''re welcome to partake," he offered.

    Several of the brightly colored Pok¨¦mon chittered eagerly as he raised his arm, bouncing up and down. Their tails twitched, the three-fingered palms opening and closing.

    "Ai, ai, pom," their screeches overlapping.

    Kenji paused, staring up at the beasts in thought. To test it, he dropped his arm and lifted it up once more.

    "Do," he started hesitantly. "Would you like me to throw it?"

    The troop of monkeys squealed, leaping around each other. Their tails waved at him, ready to catch. At least, to his eyes.

    "Pom!"

    Before tossing up the fruit, he flickered his eyes back to the glade''s protector. The bouquet beast was watching in amusement, completely at ease.

    Taking the smile as consent, Kenji plucked free a round berry. Moving backwards, he pulled his arm.

    "Ready?" he asked, receiving squeals and chitters in response. "Then here we go."

    Jerking his arm forward, Kenji threw the fruit as hard as he could. The troop of beasts resided high off the forest floor, where the branches from the massive trees grew. He was scared that he was going to miss, and it seemed that he was right.

    The berry flew through the branches, further than he anticipated, completely passing by the purple monkeys. Instead of being upset by the turn of events, the beasts were overjoyed. They screeched widely, lunging over each other as they raced after the fruit.

    Unconcerned with the long fall, the beasts leapt from branch to branch, going so far as to even slap each other away.

    "I have more!" he shouted up after them, concerned that they would hurt each other. His calls were ignored in favor of the falling berry.

    Right when one of the beasts seemed about to catch the fruit, a tail reached out and high-threed the lead monkey''s own. In a flicker of light, the leader was replaced by another who eagerly caught the berry with a screech of victory.

    Eyes lifted in surprise, Kenji could not help but laugh and throw up another. Tossing up the fruits, he played with the Pok¨¦mon troop, giving away far more of his supplies than he should have.

    "Sorry, guys," he shouted up at them, sweat dripping from his brow. "That''s all I can afford to give you," he explained.

    The Pok¨¦mon howled back, wanting to continue playing. Kenji merely waved, turning the motion into a stretch for his shoulders. While the monkeys seemed able to flex their limbs in nearly any direction without worry, the same could not be the same for him.

    After the interaction with the high-living Pok¨¦mon, Kenji noticed that the others were more at ease. The upright rabbit was no longer keeping its fluffle close and the hexagonal bees were busy gathering pollen from flowers. The swarm stayed separate from the Beautifly, forming a wall when Flutter attempted to steal a taste of their honey.

    "Leave them alone, you greedy bug," he chided lightly. "They''ve suffered enough."

    Barely a five-day had passed since he witnessed the Pok¨¦mon Hunters capture an entire swarm. Their strange tools, capable of disappearing Pok¨¦mon in a beam of light, were disquieting. He feared to think of what would happen should the Ronin find the mossy boulder.

    Flutter''s attempts at tasting the bee''s honey forced the small swarm closer to him. It appeared that they were more wary of the butterflies than they were of a single human. In order not to further disturb them, Kenji sat next to Sprout and kept silent.

    He briefly considered cultivating before deciding otherwise. His spirit itched to absorb the Grass Energy directly, and he struggled to ignore the feeling. While his body absorbed the Energy passively, he could increase the rate considerably with simple meditation. However, to do so would strengthen his spirit and make repairing it all the more difficult.

    Kenji no longer believed that he was irreparably limited. Instead, his spirit was a seed, one that needed to be ''planted'' before it could truly grow, blooming into aura. The discovery of his link, and the earth that was his body, gave rise to the idea that his body was the earth that needed to receive the spirit.

    Meditating and thinking upon the issue gave him the sense that he was missing something from his physical body. Either it was not ''rich'' enough, lacking the Energy and nutrients needed to support the spiritual seed, or something else.

    In the hope it was the former, Kenji was careful to avoid cultivating his spirit, forcing the seed to absorb the Energy through his body. The process was slow but steady, strengthening his muscles and bones.

    He fell into a light meditation, remaining aware of his surroundings while he assisted with the passive absorption of Energy. Doing so allowed him to keep watch over Sprout and observe the angular bugs near.

    "Bee, be, bee," they buzzed with annoyance, as the Beautifly continued to move freely around the glade. "Commmm," the swarm hummed lowly.

    There was a purpose to the small swarm''s movements. He counted less than two dozen individual bees. They moved around each other, constantly watching the glade despite the protective Roserade.

    You''re protecting something, Kenji thought silently. Or some-bee.

    For he finally spotted a difference among the numerous bugs.

    They all bore three faces, one for each hexagon that formed their bodies. Interestingly, the back of their flat faces was round like a sphere. Two antennae, two wings, and a single thickly striped insectoid abdomen. Their bodies were yellow, rimmed with orange, with the only other color darkening their abdomen.

    All except for one.

    A single Combee, near the center of the swarm, rarely partook of the pollen and nectar. Instead, the other bees brought pollen to it. The few flowers it interacted with were ones that even Kenji could tell were special. Decorating the lower face was a simple red stripe, marking the Combee as different from the others.

    The swarm flew closer and one finally took notice of him and Sprout.

    "Be, Bee!" it wailed in warning, turning to face Kenji with fierce expressions. The rest of the bugs took up the cry, regarding him with furious expressions.

    Kenji tensed, worried that the overprotective beasts were going to attack him. He had no idea what was causing the bugs to act as they were, and there was nothing he could do to protect himself.

    Almost in response, Kenji felt his mother''s amulet shiver. Blinking in surprise, he grasped in a fist and held it close. At the same time, there was a shudder from the link connecting him to his bond.

    Before anything more could happen, the Energy in the clearing roiled, as a shout pierced the air.

    "Rade!" the protector of the clearing cried out.

    Approaching, it planted itself at an angle between Kenji and the swarm.

    "Ro, rose," it crooned, anger tinging its voice.

    "Com, co," the bees buzzed back.

    The sound awoke Sprout, who warbled tiredly, annoying the Roserade further. A sickly sweet smell emerged, as nectar began to drip from the Pok¨¦mon''s flowers. The beast directed a bouquet of roses at the bees, who locked together into a small wall to protect the red-striped Combee.

    Kenji watched bewildered, as they continued to argue. Flutter joined his side, the butterfly''s proximity not helping matters. He was confused, as he never interacted the swarm of bees, not this group nor the ones captured by the Pok¨¦mon Hunters.

    An ultimatum seemed to be reached, and the clearing fell silent. The Roserade approached him, the Pok¨¦mon''s expression marred with sad eyes.

    "It''s ok, I understand," Kenji smiled at the protector, grasping at what was happening. "Well, not really, but I will leave nonetheless," he amended.

    He nudged Sprout, cleaning the young beast of soil as he slowly crawled out of the ground. The elder Pok¨¦mon cooed softly to his companion while Kenji pulled on his pack. The bees followed his movements carefully, anger still clear on their triplicate faces.

    Ignoring the bugs, Kenji faced the powerful Pok¨¦mon. The beast was stronger, more so than even his father''s Leavanny. Yet, despite that, the Grass Beast was just as gentle. It allowed them to rest in its mystical territory, where other Pok¨¦mon hid from the Pok¨¦mon Hunters.

    Leaning back, Kenji had catch himself before the weight of his pack toppled him over. Quickly sliding it off, he returned to his attempt at thanks.

    Leaning backwards, he managed to keep his eyes facing the bouquet Pok¨¦mon. Whistling lowly, he extended an arm and spun slowly in place, trying to copy a measure of the beast''s gracefulness.

    The Roserade giggled at his attempt, joining in with a twirl of its own. Chuckling at his clumsy movements, Kenji gave up and spoke to the beast directly.

    "This one thanks the guardian of the boulder of moss for allowing him to stay and rest," he said seriously. Kenji had to fight the urge to bow, instead leaning further back. "May the sun shine upon your petals, and rain water your roots."

    Kenji finished and the beast regarded him silently. He stared back, feeling the Energy of the glade move. Smiling at the Pok¨¦mon, he grabbed his pack and pulled it on. Turning to leave, he paused when the Roserade cried out.

    Facing the creature again, he watched as it danced to the mossy boulder in a few quick steps. The Grass Pok¨¦mon spun around it, disappearing.

    Kenji stared after it, unsure if he should leave or wait. Before the moment could grow too long, the bouquet beast reemerged.

    Cradled with its roses was a large seed. The Pok¨¦mon walked back, offering the item towards Kenji with a croon.

    "Ro," it cooed.

    Kenji peered at the strange object. It was unlike any seed he had ever seen, striped in shades of green and large enough to fill his palm.

    "You want me to take it?" he asked uncertainly.

    "Ade," the guardian agreed.

    "Be-" One of the Combee took umbrage with the Roserade''s offering and shouted at the beast. However, before it finish its complaint, the bug was dropping to the forest floor.

    Kenji stared at the Pok¨¦mon, one of its wings shredded. Behind it, a large thorn dug into the trunk of a tree. With a suddenly dry mouth, he turned his attention back to the powerful beast offering him the seed.

    A single limb was lifted upwards, the bouquet of flowers pointed at the swarm. A harsh frown was directed to the bees, and the others retreated.

    I didn''t even see it move, he thought uneasily.

    Offering the Pok¨¦mon a weak smile, he thanked it as he reached for the item. When he touched it, he could not help his inhalation of surprise.

    The item was dense with Grass Energy, on a level similar to, or even exceeding, the glade. All contained within a seed that could fit into his palm.

    "Are you sure?" he asked hesitantly. The discovery of Energy-rich items often led to viscous battles where only the victor emerged. Should it prove valuable enough, skirmishes and even wars broke out for possession of the powerful object.

    When the Roserade turned its flat expression on Kenji, he hastily snatched up the item.

    "I don''t know if I can repay your generosity," he said honestly. "If there is anything I can do to help you, I will." To emphasize his words, he marked the sign of the Original One across his chest.

    Kenji called for Flutter to spit out some thread, using the silk to wrap around the seed and fashion a harness. Instead of placing it around himself, he secured the item to Sprout. The turtle needed the Energy far more than he did.

    The guardian nodded, pleased that he passed it the young Pok¨¦mon.

    Waving goodbye to the troop above, Kenji picked up the sled and left to the chorus of screeches, bells, and croons.

 Chapter 27

    Traveling away from the clearing was just as arduous as approaching it. Roots crawled out of the ground, some thicker than Kenji''s body. Plants and vines coated the forest floor as they fought for the scant sunlight that managed to pass through the heavy canopy.

    As a result, Kenji spent mu<del></del>ch of his remaining day crawling over and under the large roots. Doing so with a pack on his shoulders and dragging a sled behind him only made doing it that much more exhausting. Sprout and Flutter were of little help, as one was far too young and the other not strong enough. Still, they offered warbles and trills of encouragement.

    It was as though the forest purposefully grew to make the terrain as difficult to traverse as possible.

    An entirely likely possibility, Kenji thought to himself, considering the strength of the Pok¨¦mon safeguarding the Energy dense clearing. While the growth would have taken decades, the beast certainly had the time to do so. Especially if those that took sanctuary in the glade assisted with its efforts.

    Putting the guardian Pok¨¦mon out of his mind, Kenji focused on freeing his sled from a particularly stubborn root. A crook in the wood managed to hold part of the frame tight. He had to be careful freeing the sled lest he break one of his only means of carrying his meager supplies.

    "Finally," he grumbled with relief when the leg the finally tore the frame loose. Strips of wood were left behind as he continued his trek.

    While he marched, Kenji was sure to forage for any available food he could find. Bunches of berries and handfuls of fruit were slowly added to the sled, weighing it down once more. Too much of his store was gone as he freely gave it to the beasts in the clearing.

    The further they traveled, the smaller the forest around him became. Close to the glade, the trees grew to unbelievable heights, with massive trunks that were wide enough to pace around. Kenji felt like a bug walking amongst giants, humbled and in awe.

    When he arrived back in my familiar terrain, Kenji felt more at ease. While there was no sense of hostility, there was a distinct feeling of being watched. He felt unwelcome, with only Sprout''s eagerness in the Energy rich environment encouraging him forward.

    So, despite the cultivation haven he discovered, Kenji was glad to leave it behind.

    Unfortunately, they did not make the river before nightfall.

    Recognizing that the evening was growing short, Kenji made camp with his sled propped up against a tree and his leathers working as a pillow. Originally intended for gardening, he was forced to cut strips free to make handles for his stone axe and knives. There was still enough remaining to cover his chest and arms, though with the warm days and hard travels he primarily left it on the sled.

    Pulling free the half-finished staff, he spent the remaining sunlight carving strips from the length of wood. With Pok¨¦mon Hunters wandering the forest with him, he was loath to travel without a more familiar weapon at hand.

    The axe was suitable but Kenji felt more comfortable with a b¨­. It was the weapon that his father trained him in since was old enough to hold one. It would do little against the Hunter''s Pok¨¦mon, but if he managed to close with one of the Ronin then it was possible he could finish the fight without the need to battle them.

    Dreams of being chased by the Hunters plagued his sleep, causing him to wake in cold sweat at every errant call of a beast. Sprout grumbled as his tossing and turning disturbed the young turtle. The rising of the sun did little to help and Kenji finally gave up on trying to fall back to sleep.

    Crawling out from under the propped up sled, Kenji rubbed blearily at his eyes. Yawning widely, he forced himself to at least attempt his morning stretches. The only reason being that he knew he would be regretting it later if he did not.

    "Beau," Flutter greeted him with a trill. Nectar clung to the butterfly''s proboscis, with a dusting of pollen on its limbs.

    "Goo-" Kenji broke off his greeting to yawn before trying again. "Good morning, Flutter."

    Sprout soon appeared as well, pawing at the sled for breakfast.

    Kenji took a break to feed the young turtle, and eat as well. He greedily sucked on the juice, trying to slack his thirst. The tightness in his head barely eased, and suppressed worries at not finding the river in time.

    He chose the fruits that he knew to be the juiciest, as he did not know when he would arrive back at the river. Only the mountains and forested plateau kept him from being hopelessly lost.

    With a craving for water, Kenji pulled on his pack and grabbed the sled. He set a hard pace for himself and Sprout, Flutter easily able to stay with them.

    The younger Pok¨¦mon warbled in complaint, earning a raised brow from Kenji.

    "You carry a source of Energy," he said. "If anything, you should be moving faster than me."

    To help distract the turtle, and himself, Kenji resumed their training.

    Sprout''s main issue was primarily the Pok¨¦mon''s young age, with his weak health a close second. There were few techniques that young beasts were capable of performing, often simple actions that were imbued with a modicum of Type Energy.

    Withdraw into Shell was a prime example. As a turtle, it was natural for the Pok¨¦mon to use the hard scales for defense. However, it only became a proper technique when the Pok¨¦mon used Energy to reinforce its shell. The turtle''s constant fear likely aided him in learning the move, while making more offensive techniques difficult to achieve naturally.

    Here, the Pok¨¦mon''s age hindered him further.

    The turtle was simply too young and weak to attempt other techniques. Only recently did he start to imbue his Withdraw into Shell with Type Energy. As the Pok¨¦mon aged, he would naturally learn more techniques and be capable of learning those that did not come naturally.

    As a result, Kenji focused on helping the Pok¨¦mon feel out the Energy. The gift of the large seed from the glade''s guardian was a huge benefit in this.

    "Don''t reach for it," he advised the turtle as they hiked. "Let it soak into you, as the sun does the ground."

    Sprout warbled at him, and Kenji wondered, not for the first time, how much the beast truly understood.

    "Once you feel what it''s like when absorbed naturally, then you will be able to reach for it intentionally," he continued, "The seed is chock full of Energy, it wants to grow with you."

    Flutter trilled at his words, the sound soft and encouraging. As an evolved Type Beast, the butterfly understood what he wanted Sprout to do.

    Sprout chirped back and Kenji sighed.

    "You have no idea what I''m saying, do you?" he said to the turtle. Without a link to bond them, communication would always be hindered, and that was before factoring in the turtle''s age.

    The Pok¨¦mon chirped again at his words, eliciting an eye roll from Kenji.

    "At least I have you to understand me," he said as he turned towards Flutter.

    The beast in question squealed eagerly, ready to train. The Pok¨¦mon was determined to grow strong, though Kenji was sure that it was simply so it could claim the best flowers for itself.

    "Like Sprout," Kenji eyed the turtle as it trundled alongside him, "The problem with you is your techniques. That is, I don¡¯t know what you can do."

    The butterfly trilled, bobbing in the air as it spun around.

    "You''ve mastered Spit Thread," he started, listing what he knew the Pok¨¦mon was capable of. "You can use Body Blow to tackle others and Stir Up the Wind into a flurry."

    Two were familiar to him, the former one that many of the Pok¨¦mon on his family''s property were capable of. Spitting Thread was one of the techniques that nearly every Bug Type learned early on. Used to tangle predators or prey, the technique had many uses both in and out of a fight. The second, Body Blow, was a simple move that nearly every beast could learn and it was the one he hoped to teach Sprout next.

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    "You can work on creating a stronger gust," he said, earning a huffed "Ti," from the beast that he ignored. "And I''m sure that there were other moves that I''ve seen you use."

    Kenji thought back to the times he witnessed the butterfly fight. He remembered a piercing attack, where the bug used its long proboscis to strike at the other Pok¨¦mon. The other notable technique was more familiar, though he only saw it when the butterfly fought the horned fish back at the river.

    "Absorb," he said suddenly, recalling the proper name for the technique. While odd, as the move was one often used by Grass Types to better absorb nutrients, it was useful for the flying bug to know. "Those on what you need to practice," he told the Beautifly. "Especially Absorb," he added.

    With those techniques in mind, Kenji coached the Pok¨¦mon through training. He encouraged the butterfly to race through the trees to stretch its wings before Stirring Up Wind, as powerfully as the beast could manage.

    "You don''t want to blow away a few leaves," he told the Pok¨¦mon. "You want to blow away a forest."

    Truthfully, Kenji was not quite sure how to help the Pok¨¦mon train techniques that used Flying Energy. The kingdom of Greenleaf specialized in Grass Type Beasts, as the forests and grassland was a haven for the Pok¨¦mon. Few Warriors wanted to use their limited links to bond with a beast that they had little familiarity with. Especially when doing so could earn the ire of their friends and family.

    On the other hand, Kenji bore several insights into the butterfly''s use of Absorb.

    "Use it like you would when sucking up nectar, but instead of taking the nectar from a single flower you steal it from the entire plant. " he instructed as the Pok¨¦mon landed on a flowering bush.

    "Ti?" The butterfly looked confused, perhaps not understanding how to steal nectar from a flower it was not touching.

    "The entire plant is connected," Kenji explained. "Each flower is bonded intricately with the shrub, and is a sign of the bush''s health and prosperity."

    The Pok¨¦mon flapped its wings, considering Kenji''s words. It probed one of the flowers in question and closed its large, clear eyes.

    Pausing his steps to watch, Kenji saw a flicker of green travel down its proboscis and spread through the plant. The green energy caused the bush to shake briefly and flex before the wave of green rebounded. As it traveled back towards the Beautifly, the plant wilted.

    Petals dropped, leaves faded in color, and bush collapsed.

    The change shocked the butterfly who hurriedly flapped to avoid falling to the ground. The beast looked both happy at its success and horrified at the state of the bush, bobbing frantically around the dead shrub.

    While the Pok¨¦mon did not know whether to be happy or upset, Kenji was pleased. While the ruination of the shrub was wrong, he was glad to see that the bug shared a similar reaction to its loss.

    "Absorb is a useful move, allowing you to regain health and power from your enemies," he said seriously, meeting the butterfly''s eyes. "However, while Pok¨¦mon can recover, the same cannot be said for plants."

    Having said his piece, Kenji moved on, leaving Flutter to consider its use of the technique. A Pok¨¦mon could grow strong by using similar moves on their surroundings and leave devastation in their wake.

    Fortunately, the technique was weak for now, and would return little of a plant''s life force. Judging by what he saw, Kenji estimated that the butterfly received less than a quarter of the bush''s total vitality, and likely even less than that.

    The flying bug caught up quickly and they traveled in silence after that. Sprout was unnerved by witnessing the technique, no doubt recognizing how it could be used on him. Meanwhile, Flutter was despondent at the loss of the flowers it so clearly wanted to taste.

    Before midday, Kenji heard the burbling of the river in the distance. With the thought of slaking his thirst and cleaning the dirt and sweat from his body, he stepped faster. Sprout heard the sound as well and warbled happily, no doubt looking forward to a swim in the river.

    "Traitor," he muttered when Flutter bobbed ahead, leaving the two of them behind. "Come on, buddy. We won''t be left behind," he said to Sprout.

    Not soon enough Kenji finally sighted the rushing waters and he dropped the sled close to the riverbank along the pack. Wading in, he did not bother stripping before jumping into the cold river. He drank greedily, filling his stomach until he started coughing.

    Rising out of the water, he started to clean his clothes and body. The river was refreshing, even cold as it was. Climbing out of the water, he wrung out his clothes before hanging them up. Sprout was splashing about in the shallows and Kenji joined the turtle. They played until his clothes dried enough to pull back on.

    "I think that''s enough for now," he told the beast as he dressed.

    Sprout warbled back at him from the river, refusing to leave.

    "Come on, little one." Kenji told him from the sled. "We''ve spent long enough playing around. It''s time we get on the move again."

    The Pok¨¦mon begrudgingly crawled out of the water. His shell was muddy, and his lower body picked up more dirt as he walked. After a short meal, they followed the river upstream.

    The days passed slowly, blending into each as Kenji hiked towards the mountains. Details emerged, cliffs and boulders decorating the mountain sides. As he feared, there was no sign of vegetation growing, at least nothing that could feed him, let alone Sprout.

    Meanwhile, the plateau continued to pull his gaze, the isolated forest a weight that continued to tug at him.

    The forest around them grew sparser as they tread closer to the mountain range. The trees gradually became smaller and more spread out as the ancient forest grew younger. Boulders and rocks became plentiful, likely tumbling far from mountainside.

    Kenji estimated that he was only a few days'' travel from the low lying slopes when he was awoken by the horrendous bellow in the night.

    Snapping his eyes open, Kenji was instantly awake, breaking out into a cold sweat. His eyes darted around, instinctively searching for the source of the roar. However, it was pitch black with not even the light of the moon to offer him sight.

    The howl continued, an echoing rasp that bounced off the stones and trees.

    Kenji shuddered in fear as a cold claw trailed its way down his spine. Despite being hidden by the propped up sled, it felt as though the reaper was coming for him once more. His mind contorted and rebelled as memories surfaced. Snarling against the feeling of being hunted, Kenji twisted on the ground.

    He forced himself to his hands and knees, crawling up the sled frame. Vines, berries, and other fruit were covered by the silk and leaf tarp, blocking his view of the surrounding forest. Panting, he pulled aside the draping sheet, and fearfully peered out.

    The smaller trees no longer created a tangled canopy that blocked the sky. That, combined with the pitch black night, allowed him a clear view of the lights dancing far above. Eerie and cruel, the purple and red wisps danced across the sky.

    The gruesome, bellowing roar finally died off, granting Kenji a measure of peace.

    He took a shuddering inhalation of air, feeling the sense of death faded. However, before he could fully relax, the roar picked up again.

    This time, it was joined by others.

    While weaker, the howls were no less terrifying. They filled the night, blending together into a fear inducing musical of demise.

    Even Flutter was shaken, flapping down hurriedly to join Sprout and him under the lean-to. The butterfly was motionless except for its antennae and proboscis. The appendages were twitching wildly as the bug''s eyes rolled in fear.

    The younger Pok¨¦mon was beside himself, burrowing into the soil in an effort to hide. Kenji wished he could join the turtle as the terrified beast disappeared into his shell with a glimmer of Energy.

    Kenji moved to join the Pok¨¦mon, hopefully to seek comfort together, but was stopped by a change in the evil wisps above. The ethereal lights slowly descended towards the forest. The lights faded, leaving behind distinct afterimages as they danced amongst the trees.

    Cloth wrapped figures, glowing shadows, and wailing women rejoiced in the black of the night. A gray fog fell with them, further distorting the terrifying sight and hiding the forest from his gaze.

    Deep within, Kenji felt an inexplicable urge to join them.

    His spirit shivered, phantom tendrils crawling free to burrow through the soil. A mockery of root and wood, the tendrils crawled towards the surface of his soul.

    At the same time, the link with his bond partner flared into a semblance of awakening. The air grew heavy with salt and humidity, his skin gritty with sand.

    Kenji fell to the ground, his body writhing from the competing sensations.

    Ghost Energy was thick in the air, rising from the soil and wood with the fog. His spirit and body were reacting with the familiar power, automatically reaching out for it. His bond followed suit, as the Energy was nourishing to it as rain was to a plant.

    Instead of allowing deathly Energy to afflict his spirit, Kenji fought to channel it to his bond. The spectral beast accepted the offering greedily, inadvertently helping Kenji cleanse his body. Waves of ice flushed through his skin and bones.

    Clenching his jaw, Kenji whimpered in pain as he curled into a ball. The fetal position was a familiar one, made more so as he started to clench down on his spirit. He exerted his control, the thin shell of aura mimicking him as he compressed his spirit.

    Kenji fought through the night, listening to the wails of ghosts and monsters as he rejected the spectral power. Shuddering breaths and cramps wracked his body, leaving him twitching and sore. His muscles were cramped, and he struggled to stand as the morning sun rose to burn away the fog.

    The Ghostly Energy faded with the thick mist and Kenji felt his muscles loosen. Groaning, he felt one hundred years older as he hobbled around. He shielded his eyes from the light and slowly tried to stretch his limbs. His body refused to comply, wanting to do nothing more than curl back into a ball.

    Recognizing the futility, he gave up and shuffled to the river. His finished staff made for a useful walking stick, supporting his body to keep him from falling.

    Sprout followed close behind, warbling in concern. The beast spent most of the morning nudging Kenji and even trying to offer his breakfast in the hopes it would help. Unfortunately, a small meal only enhanced his nausea.

    Flutter was ahead, on guard against any of the ghostly beasts from last night. While appreciated the butterfly''s concern, he doubted any of the spectral Pok¨¦mon lingered behind.

    Kenji hobbled into the water with a splash, the cold water making shiver all the more. He soaked until his fingers pruned, finally crawling out to attempt another set of stretches. While he was more successful, it still fell far short of what Kenji knew he was able to achieve.

    In spite of his body''s extensive complaints, Kenji forced himself to move. His progress was slow, extremely slow, but it was progress nonetheless. As a result, it took longer than he originally estimated to reach the base of the mountains.

    Four more days passed, his body slowly recovering as he moved. He still was not sure why the mass of specters and Ghost Energy prompted such a reaction and refused to dwell upon it for long.

    Instead, he filled his days with imagining what was on the other side. Kenji wanted to hope that it was his home of Greenleaf, but reality was far crueler. He knew that there was no mountain or forest such as this within their borders, especially not one with such a varied array of unfamiliar beasts.

    Afternoon was fast approaching by the time he reached the edge of the forest. Finding a largest tree in the area, Kenji dropped the sled at the base and free himself from his wooden pack with a groan.

    Collapsing next to his supplies, Kenji smiled at the mountain range.

 Chapter 28

    Little was left of the day by the time Kenji reached the base of the mountains. The forest ended abruptly, dumping him out into a grassy field. Rocks were liberally strewn about, the plants struggling to grow past the stones. The light of the sun was slowly fading, drawing up to leave the ground in shadow.

    With the setting sun, Kenji studied the mountain faces closer.

    The range was one continuous mountain, with a series of rounded peaks. Cliffs, boulders, and dusty earth were the only inhabitants that he could see. Eyeing the terrain, Kenji recognized that any forays up the slopes would be short. Dragging the sled behind him was difficult enough. Doing so uphill with rocks and loose earth underfoot was a recipe for disaster.

    If that were not all, there were other considerations. Deep shadows were scattered throughout and Kenji stared at them with a frown.

    "Caves," he murmured. Or at the very least, deep overhangs could be used as such.

    His mind cast back to only days ago when rasping, deathly roars echoed throughout the forest. He has not heard them since, and he tried to forget the terrifying hunt altogether.

    Now, he could help but wonder if that was a mistake.

    The valleys between, if they could be called that, were as bare of life as the rest of the slopes. Only sparse, thin clumps of grass managed to survive in the lifeless soil. However, it was the water that concerned him the most.

    It was filthy.

    The river flowed down from the snow touched peaks, only to spray out over the various cliffs. As it neared the base of the mountain range, the water was dark with soil and filth that the river carried along.

    The contamination quickly settled as it flowed across the plain separating the forest and mountains. He estimated that it was several bells since he last visited the river, but remembered a distinctive taste of minerals. Still, the state of the filthy water was beyond his expectation.

    In the distance, sticking out at the end of the range, was the forest plateau. It appeared closer than he originally thought, perhaps only a hard couple of days'' travel. Compared to the rest of the area, the green mesa was striking.

    Sprout warbled curiously, breaking Kenji out of his inspection. The turtle was staring around, uneasy at the sight of the treeless plain.

    "Mmh?" he said absently before blinking in sudden realization. "Oh, that''s right. You''ve probably never left the forest," he said to the young beast.

    "People live out here, somewhere, coming to the forest for wood and food," he explained. Flutter perked up at his words, though the butterfly''s eyes remained on the mountain. "Hopefully, by scaling the mountain, I can get an unparalleled view of the region."

    The Pok¨¦mon chirped, his large head moving from the mountains to Kenji.

    "You don¡¯t have to come," he told the beast. "You can stay here, if you''d like."

    A trill from Flutter distracted him, pulling his focus towards the butterfly.

    "Oh, you want to come with?" he teased, the Beautifly always eager to explore. "Unfortunately, it looks like there are no flowers out there," he pointed out.

    The butterfly trilled again, its proboscis flexing as it bobbed in the air. Instead of looking towards him, the Pok¨¦mon''s large eyes were focused on the mountain.

    Following the creature''s gaze, Kenji searched the slopes for whatever was attracting the butterfly''s attention.

    A flicker in the rocky earth caught his attention and he squinted his eyes. It was difficult to see, but there appeared to be something moving amongst the stones. Leaning forward, Kenji studied it closely, trying to tease out the details.

    To his eyes, it looked like small rocks were moving around on the face of the mountain. However, try as he might, he could not spot what caused the stones to move.

    "What do you see, Flutter?" he asked the beast, trying to find where the butterfly was looking.

    "Ti, ti," the Beautifly squealed, jabbing forward with its proboscis.

    Kenji look again, only spotting the moving rocks and not what caused them to fall.

    "Wait," he muttered, staring closer. "Shouldn''t they have stopped by now?" he wondered aloud.

    For the stones were still moving. In fact, it appeared as though a few were rolling uphill not down. Following the moving rocks, Kenji felt his mouth dry.

    "Type Beasts," he breathed.

    Searching the rest of the mountain, Kenji struggled to find evidence of more. The rocky Pok¨¦mon blended in far too well with the rest of the mountain. If it were not for their movement, he would not have seen them at all. The distance hindered him further, leaving the beasts mere outcroppings of mobile rocks.

    "Perhaps we should retreat for now," he told his companions, turning around to lead them back into the forest.

    "Bea," Flutter trilled out a denial, wanting to inspect the mountain closer.

    "No, the sun is close to setting and I would like to make camp farther away." Kenji said to the flying bug. "We are too exposed out here," he added.

    "Tifly," the Pok¨¦mon answered, waving its stubby limbs.

    "By the time we get there, we''ll only have to turn around," he said with a sigh. "Besides, the Pok¨¦mon out there are liable to hold an advantage over you."

    "Ti?" the butterfly chirped in confusion. It sank in the air to be closer to eye level with him.

    "Their techniques will hurt you far more than you will hurt them," Kenji explained with exasperation. "If you want to test it out, then go ahead," he waved to the mountain. "But don''t expect me to come to your rescue."

    The Pok¨¦mon looked between the distant beasts and Kenji several times before returning to the forest.

    Taking the lead, Kenji wandered closer to the river as he search for a suitable spot for camp. With the mountains and unfamiliar beasts so close, he wanted something that would offer a better chance of staying hidden. While leaning the sled up against a tree was simple and quick, inconspicuous it was not.

    Several times, he stopped to inspect the water. As he suspected the river was cloudy with filth. Fortunately, there were plenty of small pools and cascades that helped to settle the dirt and filter out what did not.

    When the water only tasted strongly of minerals instead of dust, Kenji focused on finding shelter. Outcroppings of stone were plentiful and he propped his sled up against two large boulders. They were cracked, with moss and vines working to split the stone farther apart.

    His dunk in the river was short as, this close to the mountains, the water was biting. For the first time in a long while, he donned his leather to help ward off the shivering as he waited to dry. The protective gear was painfully nostalgic, offering a memory of comfort.

    Kenji chose to keep them on until he lay down to sleep, pulling off the cut apart chest piece to rest his head upon. By now he was used to the heavy scent clinging to the leather, and he quickly fell to sleep.

    It felt like he just closed his eyes when he was awoken by coughing howls. Snapping his eyes open, Kenji did not move.

    He listened to the sounds closely in an effort to judge how close the beasts were. Strangely, while he felt a shiver of fear as a result of the roars, it was not the paralysis inducing terror of last time. Instead, the howls sound less predatory and more . . .

    Alarmed.

    The raspy bellows reached a crescendo before silence abruptly fell.

    Kenji waited, his heart pounding in his ears. Right when he thought to move to investigate, a thunderous crash filled the night.

    A continuous stream of noise, he shouted in alarm and swore that the earth was shaking. Covering his ears did little to block out the sound and listened to the rolling bombardment of sound.

    As quickly as the crash of sound started, it stopped. Clatters followed, along with the grating slide of stone on stone.

    Kenji fell back with a sigh, finally able to relax. He jumped up again shortly when the crashing began again, though fortunately softer than before. Realizing that there was no sudden danger, he forced himself to lay down again.

    The loud noises occasionally resumed, lasting only a few minutes at most and shorter as night passed. To help block out the sound, Kenji covered his ears and felt Sprout trembling against him. Resting an arm around the turtle, they fitfully slept until morning.

    Flutter''s soft squeals awoke him and Kenji groaned with complaint. Rolling over, he rubbed at his face.

    "Ugh, why so early," he moaned. Despite his words, he was grateful to the Beautifly for waking him.

    The early start allowed him to waken fully and stretch before starting the long hike.

    Pausing, Kenji suddenly remembered yesterday and the strange sounds last night.

    "The mountain," he said loudly as he sat up. "We made it!"

    Grabbing Sprout, Kenji lifted the half-awake turtle up into the air. The Pok¨¦mon complaints were easily ignored. The beast enjoyed sleeping in more than he did, and would pass the day buried up to his shell in the soil if it were up to him.

    Fortunately, the young turtle had Kenji to keep him going.

    After his usual morning stretches, Kenji dunked himself in the river and leapt out shortly after.

    "Cold," he shivered. "Too, too cold."

    Shaking off the water, he hurriedly pulled on his clothes and even donned his leathers. Pulling on his pack, Kenji scratched his jaw in thought. He would move faster without the larger frame slowing him down. There were enough smaller fruits in his wooden pack to feed him for several days, perhaps longer if he was more meager with his rationing.

    If he switched out fruits for the water-laden varieties, Kenji was sure that he could go just as long without returning to the river.

    "All right, that''s it then." he said aloud. Turning to his two companions, he said "We''ll leave the sled here for now and continue without it."

    Sprout chirped, not understanding Kenji''s words while Flutter was more responsive.

    "Ti? Beauti," the butterfly trilled, glancing at the sled.

    "Yes, I''m sure," he responded. "Let''s investigate the mountains, see what we find, and then we can come back for the supplies."

    Striding away, Kenji enjoyed the sense of freedom. He could swing his arms and move faster, easily slipping around any obstacle in his path. The staff, now finished, was planted in the dirt as he walked, offering him support as he moved. His shoulders still ached, but no longer would he have to torment his limbs further.

    For a few days at least.

    As he neared the edge of the forest, he spied the mountains beyond. Frowning, there noticed a difference in the shape of the range. Dread curled in his stomach as the sounds of last night echoed in his ears.

    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    Rushing forwards, Kenji broke out the tree cover.

    "No, no, no," he moaned in despair.

    Rubble and collapsed cliffs spread out before him. The remains of a massive rockslide extended towards the forest, dust still settling bells later. New boulders and fresh stone covered the plain, crushing the plant life beneath.

    With the state of the mountain, it was far too risky to climb. There was no way of telling when the land would give way beneath him.

    Even as he watched, another rockslide rolled down the mountain. Stones bounced off the earth, taking flight before quickly crashing back to the ground. As the rocks shattered to pieces, so too did his dreams of a way home.

    Consumed as he was by the crushed hopes of civilization, Kenji did not notice the shifting of the rubble until Flutter squealed.

    Looking up with wet eyes, he was forced to rub away his tears in order to see.

    Floating above the ground were groups of large rocks, each bearing two, long stony arms. Their wide fists dug through the rubble, pulling free fistfuls of rock. Several fights broke out as the strange beasts fought over a piece of stone.

    With each pack, or even several to a group, a boulder waddled with them. The larger Pok¨¦mon bore several arms each, with rough, craggy faces. When a fight became too aggressive, the boulders intervened with casual blows that forced the competing beasts apart.

    Kenji felt his mouth fall open as stared at the strange Pok¨¦mon. They were unlike anything he had ever seen or heard of. Greenleaf was the land of grassland and forests, not the bare stone environment that these creatures obviously favored.

    As he watched, a fight broke out between two packs of the rocky Pok¨¦mon. It appeared centered around a pile of stone that both groups desired.

    The two limbed, floating rocks were the primary antagonists as the curled into balls and slammed into each other. Others threw rocks with enough force to shatter stone while some shook the earth around them. The violence only grew when the larger boulders stepped in, grab round stone in their large fists to throw at their opposing pack.

    Except the stone they grabbed was their fellow beasts.

    Against his expectations, the packs cheered on the larger evolutions.

    "Geo, geo," they chanted.

    Meanwhile, the thrown Pok¨¦mon started to fight more directly with their fists as they rose up from landing in their enemies ranks.

    Kenji did not know how long he watched, the sight distinctly odd to his mind.

    Interrupting the fight was an upheaval of rubble as something stood up beneath the fallen pieces of the mountain. Loose rock and dust sloughed off as the beast shook itself, slowly revealing the creature beneath.

    Dull spikes jutted out of stone armor, overlapping sheets of rock protecting the body beneath. The Pok¨¦mon stood low to the ground, shorter than Kenji himself. However, the beast was nearly as wide as it was tall, making its short stature deceptive. Through the cloud of dust lingering in the air, he could spy dull ivory fangs and a wide flat horn decorating the beast''s face.

    The surrounding Pok¨¦mon seemed as surprised at the creature''s appearance as Kenji. They eyed the powerful looking body carefully, and Kenji could tell that they were debating on fighting the new beast or not.

    Before they could decide, the Pok¨¦mon huffed shortly, powerful breaths clearing the air of dust.

    A surprisingly small jaw fell open and the beast bellowed.

    "Rhy," the Pok¨¦mon snorted. "Rhyhorn."

    The sound easily traveled over the rubble, the stone doing little to dampen the call. As the beast called out, the earth started to shake and rise. Rocks lifted up, and even boulders were casually tossed aside to reveal more of the spiked Pok¨¦mon.

    Dozens lifted themselves up, an entire herd of beasts. The levitating rocks and mobile boulders realized that they were outnumbered and started to retreat. Kenji moved to follow before he was interrupted by the arrival of yet another Pok¨¦mon.

    Two, in fact, one quickly following the other in a sprint.

    In several, leaping strides, a large ovoid shape approached the collection of beasts. Strange, coiled limbs extended out from its body, allowing the Pok¨¦mon to easily cross the distance. Clawed paws jutted forward, launched by the coiled muscles to strike at the rocky Pok¨¦mon.

    Joining it was a more humanoid beast, with thin legs and arms that ended in powerful looking fists. The skin was bruised red from the swollen paws. Despite being several strides away from the other beasts, the Pok¨¦mon punched out. A shimmer formed in the air and stone sprayed out from one of the distant boulders as it cried out in a rough shout.

    "Grav," the rocky beast groaned in pain.

    Kenji jerked back, surprised by the sudden violence. His companions trilled and warbled, snapping him out of his shock. He hurried to hush the two Pok¨¦mon, not wanting to be pulled into the battle.

    The other beasts were just as surprised, allowing the two hostile Pok¨¦mon to land several more strikes. They moved amongst the herd, landing only a few attacks before turning their attentions onto another beast.

    The duo''s actions left him confused, as there seemed little reason for them to suddenly begin fighting. Especially when they were so broadly outnumbered. That was, until he heard a shout from down the tree line.

    Turning his head, Kenji watched as two men stepped out from the cover of the trees. They were covered in leaves and dirt, which easily allowed them to blend in the surroundings. Even from several spans away, he had difficulty focusing on the two.

    The shout was from one of the strangers, who waved his arms excitedly and kicked at the air. While he was gesticulating, his companion jogged forward with a bag in his hand. Upon closing with the herd, he pulled something out of the bag and pointed it at a nearby beast.

    It was one of the injured ones, the Pok¨¦mon''s spiky plates cracked by repeated blows. The strikes drove it to the ground where it struggled to stand.

    A beam of light speared out from the man''s fist and struck the Pok¨¦mon. The red light covered the beast and it disappeared in a flash.

    Kenji stared at the man in horror and he put the item away and pulled out another.

    By now the wild Pok¨¦mon were starting to fight back. They rolled about in dizzying balls of speed, trying to catch their attacks. Stones were picked up and thrown, sometimes including other rock beasts. The spiked beast bellowed, using their horns to lash out as they shook their bodies in an effort to spear the assaulting Pok¨¦mon.

    However, few of the attacks landed, and those that did only seemed to encourage the fighters further.

    "Pok¨¦mon Hunters," Kenji snarled. He slid the straps from his shoulders, letting his pack fall to the ground. Glaring at the men, he gripped the b¨­ tighter. "Flutter," he looked up at the butterfly.

    The beast trilled with fury, flapping its wings angrily. Glad to see his companion''s fury, Kenji pointed his staff at the attacking Pok¨¦mon.

    "Stir up the wind around them," he ordered. "Keep those beasts from attacking the others. And stop that Hunter!"

    Flutter squealed, bounding forward through the air. The butterfly flapped harder and harder, gathering the wind around itself.

    "Sprout, stay here," he snapped.

    While the Beautifly went for the two Pok¨¦mon and one of the Ronin, Kenji raced for the other. He did not need to defeat them, only delay the two until the other Pok¨¦mon could get away.

    Racing along the tree line, he was quickly spotted by the energetic man. The Hunter faced him with a cocked head, waving at Kenji.

    Flickering an eye over to his companion, he saw it arrive with a powerful gust that picked up the rocks and threw them around. The Hunter fought to remain standing, lifting an arm to shield his face from the wind. The two Pok¨¦mon turned to face Flutter, raising their limbs to attack.

    Turning to confront his own opponent, Kenji lifted his staff with both hands.

    The man laughed, faint scars rippling on his face. It was hard to make out his form with the leaves, branches, and dirt draped across his body. He faced Kenji, raising his fists to guard himself.

    Slamming his foot down, Kenji spun, drawing his staff down and then up over his head. He focused all his momentum on the end of the wood, directing slam down overhead. He missed the Hunter''s reaction, only seeing the taller man''s arms shifting the staff to the side and avoiding his body entirely.

    Kenji jerked the staff sideways, attempting to catch the man in the legs and throw him off balance with a shout.

    The man recovered incredibly quickly, jumping upwards to allow the weapon to pass underneath. He laughed as he did so, shouting something that Kenji missed. The words were garbled and strange, the dialect too rough for him to catch in the middle of their fight.

    Instead of trying to understand the stranger, Kenji surged forward before he could land. Not bothering to pull his staff back, Kenji slammed his body into the larger man''s.

    The glimpse he caught of the Hunter''s face was one full of surprise as Kenji managed to shoved him backwards. The man rolled further, tumbling until he leapt to his feet with a grin.

    {Not bad, kid,} he said loudly. He barely looked ruffled by the fall, simply raising his hands once more. {If I''d known you''d put up a fight, I wouldn''t have let you go last time.}

    Kenji glared back, not understanding the man''s words and not bothering to respond. Instead, he used the moment to pull the staff close to his body and reassert his grip.

    "Hrah," he shouted, twisting with his body to lash out with the length of wood and strike at the man''s side.

    The stranger blocked it with a grunt, taking the full force of his arm instead of redirecting it.

    Using the rebound, Kenji brough the other end of the staff up to strike at the Hunter''s head. He twisted, bringing the weapon closer to his body as he did to enhance the strength he brought to bear. The man''s block helped, giving him the push to bring the weapon around.

    His arms were too low to block the blunt end from the behind and left the man staggering. He stumbled to forwards, instinctively trying to shield himself.

    Kenji stepped backwards, keeping the Hunter at a distance. He risked a glance towards the rubble, seeing Flutter struggling to keep up the technique. The two beasts were circling around, unwilling to take the gust of wind head on.

    The rocky beasts around them were unconcerned by the rampant air, shaking off the attack. They were recovering, Kenji noted, but not as fast he would have liked. The spiky, armored beasts were still trying to free themselves from the rubble covering them while the rocky Pok¨¦mon looked confused and lashing out at everything around them.

    Meanwhile, the other Hunter was staring in their direction, a twisted grimace on his dark face. In spite of the distance, he felt the violence flowing off the man in waves.

    Suppressing a shudder, he turned back to his opponent. Kenji raised his voice and shouted at the bug.

    "Flutter!" he yelled. "Spit Thread, make it sticky as possible to slow them down."

    His words must have jarred the Hunter in front of him for he stood up straight. Instead of the snarl of anger or grimace of pain, a wide smile bared his teeth at Kenji.

    {I don''t like beating up kids, but seeing as you started it,} the man said, his language unfamiliar to Kenji. Not a surprise considering the numerous kingdoms across Ransei, though he was worried what it meant for him. {Don''t worry though, I''ll make Jared won''t get a hold of you.}

    He suddenly kicked out and Kenji frantically spun his staff. Suddenly put on the defensive, he struggled to keep the man at a distance. The Hunter was clearing trained in some form of kicking-based martial arts, as his legs cracked against the wood. Fortunately, the staff was long enough that neither his feet or legs touched Kenji, though his hands were left stinging.

    Dancing around, he tried to catch a glimpse of Flutter and the wild beasts. The aggressive Pok¨¦mon seemed to have made the mistake of trying to block the spray of string. Their limbs quickly stuck to the silk and the Beautifly was slowly trying to cover them.

    The wild Pok¨¦mon made the process difficult as they decided to simply focus their pain on all the intruders in their territory. The only saving grace was that the other Hunter was forced to defend himself as well.

    Turning his eyes back to the man in front of him, Kenji was in time to see a foot plant itself in his gut. The force was enough to throw him back several paces and rolled, struggling to hold onto his staff.

    Gagging, Kenji felt the urge to retch even as the air was forced out his lungs. He scrambled on the ground, forcing himself to his feet. His own father did not hold back in their training, often leaving bruises that took days to heal. Looking for the other man, Kenji brought his staff to bear, ready to defend himself.

    The Hunter was staring at him with a toothy grin, not bothering to press his advantage. His stance was relaxed, arms held loosely in front of himself.

    {Not bad. You from one of those old-time clans?}

    The man spoke again, the lack of understanding nearly as aggravating as his opponent''s intent to not take him seriously.

    Part of him wanted to follow his father''s teachings, advising Kenji to take whatever advantage he could grasp. ''There is no honor in War'' the man said when asked about the rules of battle.

    The other part spent Guardians'' above knows how long in a forest struggling to survive. To say that he wanted to vent was an understatement.

    Glaring at the Hunter, Kenji felt anger bubble up in him. Of all the people he could have encountered, from allies to enemy Warriors to simple strangers. He just had to run into Pok¨¦mon Hunters.

    Screaming in frustration, Kenji ran forwards, jabbing out with his staff. His opponent avoided it of course, the move openly telegraphed. Instead of growing more frustrated, however, Kenji bared his teeth in a grin of his own.

    Spinning around, he lashed out with his staff once more. This time, he used every strike, whether block or otherwise, to fuel another attack.

    The wood blurred, moving faster than he could see. Only long hours of practice kept him moving, responding before he could consciously register how his opponent responded.

    The man retreated, his grin turning into a frown of annoyance. Arms redirected the side, body twisting to avoid blows he couldn''t push aside, and legs moved him side to side. He retreated, moving back towards the mountain as Kenji continued to step towards him.

    {Sinnoh''s Nuts, kid,} the unknown language once more spilling from the stranger''s mouth. {What''s gotten into you!} the man shouted. Whether he knew Kenji could understand or not was of no consequence to either of them.

    When Kenji felt himself start to slow, he jabbed forward harshly. He extended his arms and staff as much as he dared, putting himself off balance.

    Instead of punishing him, the Hunter stepped backwards. The small kick to the ground placed him several paces away from Kenji.

    Breathing heavily, they locked eyes. Kenji was breathing heavily, the frantic pace wearing him out.

    Fortunately, hiking through a forest for nearly half a season gave him plenty of stamina.

    {Had enough?} the man said as gestured. The smile was back on his face and the man barely looked out of breath.

    Kenji scowled back at the Hunter. While the words were unclear, the message was not. Focusing on the background, he smirked and shouted at his companion.

    "Flutter!" he yelled at the Pok¨¦mon. "Spit Thread, cocoon him up."

    The butterfly, only paces away after Kenji''s series of attacks, let loose a piercing trill. The man stiffened in surprise, turning to see what was happening. However, he was too late as the beast sprayed out a stream of adhesive silk.

    The thread easily clung to the man''s foliaged outfit, wrapping around him as the Beautifly directed. The man shouted wordlessly, his struggles only serving to trap him further.

    Instead of sticking around to watch, Kenji dashed over to Sprout. The young turtle was trembling by his pack, not yet withdrawn. Despite himself, Kenji smiled at the sight. When he first encountered the turtle, the beast was liable to retreat from a harsh look.

    "Sprout, Withdraw," he said authoritatively as he raced up to the Pok¨¦mon. The shortened command was one they practiced well enough, and the turtle quickly did as instructed.

    Barely pausing to strap on his pack, Kenji snatched up the turtle by his shell. Turning to survey the base of the mountain, he saw the wild Pok¨¦mon finally directing their anger towards the silk coated Hunters and their beasts. Flutter joined them with more sprays of string, even as the butterfly was forced to dodge the occasional thrown stone.

    "That''s enough Flutter," he shouted to his companion. "Let''s go,"

    The Pok¨¦mon trilled loudly, a glittering dust stirred up by its angry wingbeats. Kenji grinned, recognizing the beginning of a new technique. While weak, the spore attack would slow the Hunters down further and give them time to escape.

    With Flutter catching up to him, Kenji disappeared into the forest. He raced through the trees, the wood frame bouncing on his back. Instead of returning to his sled and many of the supplies he managed to gather so far, his eyes landed on his new objective.

    With the mountains no longer viable, he could not avoid it any longer. The forested plateau had long weighed heavy in his sight. It was time he paid the isolated woods a visit.

 Chapter 29

    Racing through the forest, Kenji barely slowed as he crossed the river. The water was bitingly cold, but he used the discomfort to drive himself onwards. The water soaked into his clothes and leathers, weighing him down.

    Sprout stayed partially withdrawn into his shell, with only his large head protruding out. The turtle was frightened but nevertheless determined to help keep watch. Kenji appreciated the gesture, even though there was little the beast could do to help.

    "Tifly," Flutter trilled, encouraging his race through the forest. The butterfly helped guide him through the woods, avoiding fallen trees and fields of stone.

    The cold water chilled him to the bone and Kenji finally slowed to a steady jog. He did not want to stop running completely, not yet. Not only would the motion help warm him up, but a faster pace moved him further and further away from the Hunters.

    He wanted the duo and their Pok¨¦mon to be far behind him by the time they managed to extract themselves. Flutter wrapped the four in silk after Kenji and the Beautifly fought a short battle against them. He had little expectation of defeating the Pok¨¦mon Hunters, and instead focused his efforts on slowing them down.

    Doing so allowed time for the wild Type Beasts that the strangers attacked to recover and direct their fury. If the men managed to free themselves, they were going to have to contend with a herd of spikey armored beasts and boulder-like Pok¨¦mon.

    Not bothering to stop for lunch, Kenji set down Sprout and pulled free a fistful of fruit. He urged the turtle to move, settling into a fast walk while he ate. The young Pok¨¦mon dutifully followed, settling into a quick trot. The powerful seed from the mystical glade continued to prove useful. Without it, he was sure that Sprout would have not been able to keep up.

    When he finished with his meal, Kenji allowed his arms to reset until Sprout could no longer keep up.

    Picking up the Pok¨¦mon again, he traveled well into the afternoon, walking while he ate. Only when the day was turning to night and the shadows threatened to trip him did Kenji finally give in.

    "Be, beau," Flutter squealed, finally happy for the time to rest. The butterfly was forced to stay aloft the entire run as Kenji had little energy to spare.

    "You did well, my gusty fighter," he said, finally congratulating the Pok¨¦mon. "I certainly would not have managed to face them without you."

    "Ti, ti," the bug trilled shortly. It rested on a low branch, gently moving its wings.

    "Yes, the other beasts would have most certainly been captured if we did not intervene," he said. Turning his attention to Sprout, Kenji stroked the turtle''s leathery skin. "You did good as well, not every battle is one that must be fought."

    The beast warbled, tired and stressed from the fast pace.

    "I know," he soothed. "We can rest now."

    Following his own words, Kenji lay down with his back to a tree. None were as large as he was used to, with trunks paces wide. This close to the edge of the forest, the rock slides from the mountain destroyed the trees before they could grow too large. Additionally, after being forced to leave his sled behind, he no longer had a lean-to that he could use. Worse, most of the supplies and food that he foraged were lost.

    This close to the edge of the forest there were few bushes that sported any mature berries. Those that did, he greedily devoured or added to his provisions. To make room and lighten his load, Kenji left behind the stone flakes he broke so long ago.

    All he had remaining were a few days of fruit and berries, his stone axe, and his staff.

    With his head on the pack and the staff in hand, Kenji quickly fell to sleep. The exertions of the day dragged him into a dreamless slumber. The night passed quickly and without interruption for him.

    Without the sled to shield his face, he was awoken by the light of dawn.

    Rolling over with a groan, he rubbed at his eyes. Shielding them, he wondered why it was so bright before suddenly remembering.

    Snapping his eyes open, Kenji looked around frantically. Rocks, stunted trees, and scraggly grass surrounded him. He relaxed after a moment, realizing that he was safe and alone except for his companions.

    Sitting up, he searched through his pack for food. He chose the juiciest fruits, as his mouth was dry and sticky from the night. With no water nearby, he savored the flavored liquid as he greedily juiced the berries. Right now, they were his only source of water and he was going to have to ration them carefully.

    Plucking several free, he woke Sprout and offered him some. The turtle sleepily chewed upon the fruit, chirping as he crunched the seeds. He finished the meager amount of food quickly and warbled for more.

    "No," Kenji told him firmly. "We need to make the food last as long as we can."

    The young beast did not understand and warbled again.

    Kenji sighed in response and stood. Flutter was already awake, and likely fed already. The butterfly was always the first to rise, often returning from its morning meal of flowers to waken him.

    "You ready?" he asked as he pulled on his pack.

    "Ti," the Pok¨¦mon trilled shortly, jumping into the air with a flap of its wings.

    "Then let''s go," Kenji said as he started walking.

    He kept his pace quick, limited only by how fast the turtle trundled after him. When the beast started to slow, he picked the turtle up and walked faster.

    The forested plateau grew larger before him as he closed with it. The cliffs were nearly sheer, with only small ledges and outcroppings marring the surface. In spite of the green both above and below, nothing dared reach up from the lower forest. No vines, weeds, or even nest could be seen.

    At the same time, the pull of the mesa grew heavier. It was a perceptible weight that pulled at his spirit, drawing him forward even as it tried to slow him down. The sensation was familiar, though one of the strongest Kenji had ever experienced.

    Not that it means much, he thought to himself.

    A visit to one of the few mystical realms in the kingdom were only awarded to those who gained the attention of the noble families. Only a handful of Warriors were granted access, often due to great deeds performed in battle. When not at war, tournaments were hosted to recognize notable Warriors and lift them even further.

    His father''s garden was one such environment, though to a far lesser extent. The glade of the mossy boulder easily exceeded his family''s cultivation site and was one of the only reasons he recognized the feeling exuded by the forested plateau.

    The cliffs grew before him as he neared. His neck was starting to cramp from looking up. It was hard for him to estimate how tall the plateau was, only knowing it was shorter than the rest of the mountain range.

    Fortunate, considering that he intended to climb it.

    There was a short break in the forest as he closed with the wall of staff, as though the trees dared not to grow too close. Craning his head, Kenji spied several ledges to rest at. Setting down Sprout, he thought over how to scale the face of the plateau.

    "Ti," Flutter chirped at him.

    Kenji stared at the bug in consideration. The beast could be of great assistance, though not without risk. Above the forest, the butterfly would be exposed to any predator with a set of functioning eyes. Even now, the Beautifly looked uneasy to be out in the open.

    In order to give himself time to think, Kenji had the Pok¨¦mon spit out some thread. Tying the silk around himself, Kenji secured the pack with several more straps. The supplies were all he had left and he did not want to risk them falling or even consider leaving the food behind.

    His staff was tied to his back as well, underneath the pack.

    Calling for more silk, Kenji crafted a harness for Sprout. He used as much silk as he could, nearly cocooning the turtle to his stomach. The last thing he wanted was for the beast to slip out and fall. Even with Withdrawn into his Shell, the fall would be lethal.

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    Sprout warbled at him with uncertainty, confused and scared by the silk wrappings.

    "It''s to hold you in place," Kenji told the young beast. "Just until we reach the peak."

    "Ti," Flutter trilled at his words. "Beauti?"

    "Yes. I''ll be joining you in the skies," Kenji said as he looked up. "Somewhat," he added.

    "Beau," the butterfly trilled.

    Closing his eyes, Kenji breathed in deeply. He cleared his mind, setting aside his worries and fear. His path was decided, all he needed to do was walk it.

    Opening his eyes, Kenji did not see the Beautifly, but refused to allow the Pok¨¦mon''s disappearance to disturb him. Instead, he strode up to the rocky cliff face with strong steps. Not giving himself time to hesitate, Kenji wrapped his hands around the stony protrusions and began to climb.

    Having lived for nearly half a season in the untamed forest, and walked for much of it, Kenji considered himself in fine shape. Not that he was unfit before, but there was a difference between training and putting said training to use. His first few days were rough, with sore limbs and hunger teasing at his stomach.

    Now, his hands and feet were calloused, with muscles taunt under his skin. Instead of suffering hunger pains, he was simply aware of the need to eat, gathering sustenance in whatever form the forest offered.

    As such, Kenji fared far better than he expected.

    The wind was soon tugging at his back and a familiar burn was starting to be felt in his arms and legs. He passed the first ledge without pausing, not feeling the need to rest yet. The sky loomed clear behind him, but all he had eyes for was the stone wall he desperately clung to.

    Handholds were plenty, holding firm no matter how much weight he put on the protruding rocks. He moved deceptively fast, his pace slow and steady. Eventually, his limbs began to burn more than he was willing to ignore. Crawling his way to the nearest ledge, Kenji pulled himself atop it to rest his arms and legs.

    There was enough room to stand, as long as he pressed tight to the face of the plateau. Sprout was surprisingly quiet, considering how high they were. Kenji risked a glimpse down to his stomach and saw the beast was actually sleeping.

    He huffed with a roll of his eyes. Likely, the closeness of the stone was comforting. Especially when Kenji''s body shielded the young turtle from much of the wind.

    "Tifly,"

    A soft trill pulled him from his thoughts and Kenji looked over his shoulder. The forest spread out behind him, the trees gathering together in a green mass. He was surprisingly high, leaving little detail that he could make out.

    The sky was blue and filled with fluffy white clouds. Dark shapes, mere suggestions, danced in the air.

    However, most of the view was blocked by the close shape of his flying companion. The bug was gently flapping its wings, a thick string of silk trailing from its proboscis. Large, clear blue eyes met his own, filled with excitement.

    "Flutter?" he asked uncertainly. "What''re you doing?"

    "Ti, ti," the beast trilled with short, insistent squeals. Its round limbs wagged, gesturing to the silk emerging from its proboscis.

    Kenji followed the thread upwards, seeing it disappear far above and over the lip of the plateau.

    "Of course," he said with a laugh. "I should''ve thought of that, you smart little butterfly." Kenji carefully twisted his arm backwards, struggling to reach for the silk rope.

    "To think you''re both a fighter and a sage," he complimented as he wrapped the thread around himself. The silk was extremely adhesive, making the process difficult and all the more appreciated.

    "Beaut," the butterfly trilled in happiness.

    Wrapping the strands several times around his waist, Kenji scrubbed his hands against the rock to clean his hands of the silk. With Futter as his back, Kenji resumed his climb.

    As the rope shortened, he wrapped it around his body with each break.

    There were several heart stopping moments when his handhold or the rock supporting his feet broke free. He screamed with the first instance, awakening Sprout who added his own warbles of fear, and scrambled at the stone face.

    Flutter trilled as well before a powerful wind shoved against his body. It pressed him closer to the cliff face, supporting him as he regained his footing.

    When he recovered, he glimpsed over his shoulder to see Flutter furiously beating its wings.

    "You smart, beautiful creature," he shouted in thanks.

    "Fly," his companion trilled back, slowing its wings and releasing the weak technique it was holding.

    Smiling Kenji thanked the Beautifly and took a moment to calm his racing heart. When he felt ready to continue, he resumed his climb, immediately taking a break on the next ledge.

    The butterfly''s help made the ascent all the safer, and Kenji moved with confidence. Anytime he slipped, the beast was there to catch him with a strong gust, holding the technique until he recovered. As a result, he practically flew up the plateau.

    Part of him daydreamed about using a swarm of Beautifly to lift himself up as though he rested upon a cloud. Kenji laughed at the mental image and the foolishness of such a method.

    Eventually, he reached up and found nothing to grab. Looking up in surprise, Kenji saw the edge of the plateau just above him. The other end of the silk rope was off to the side and he eagerly crawled over the edge of the lip.

    Finally on the top, Kenji crawled on his hands and knees until he was several paces away from the long drop. Standing up, he lifted his arms to the sky and shouted to the forest below.

    "Yes!" he screamed, no longer burdened by the risk of a long fall. "We made it!" he yelled, his throat scraping from the noise.

    "Beau, ti, ti," Flutter squealed with him as the butterfly danced in the air. The sun sparkled off its iridescent wings, the panels of yellow, blue, and yellow shining in the light.

    Unfortunately, the shouting disturbed his other companion, who warbled in fear. Unable to help himself, Kenji laughed and patted the turtle gently until he calmed. When the young beast understood that the noise was one of celebration, he joined in with chirps and warbles of his own.

    When Kenji finally started to calm down, he began the arduous process of untangling himself the wrappings of silk. The sticky nature of the threads made it all the more difficult and Kenji struggled to free himself fully. He was forced to dig through his pack for his axe to cut himself free.

    The young turtle was ecstatic and began to explore the dirt eagerly. The sun was brighter without the tree canopy to block it, and the beast was enjoying the strong light. He dug through the soil and covered his shell happily.

    Kenji chewed on his food as he inspected the land below. The forest was massive, reaching far into the horizon. In the distance, he could see a glimmering expanse that reminded him of the sea. It brought back memories that were as pleasant as they were painful.

    The sloping mountains rose high, forming a wall that closed in the wild forest and blocked his view of the terrain beyond.

    Turning around, Kenji stared into the forest only paces away.

    The woods were vibrant, flowers blooming with colors that put even Flutter''s wings to shame. The trees grew healthy, with little detritus on the floor or broken trunks. There were no dead or broken limbs, fallen trunks propped up by their neighbors. The soil was a deep, rich brown with grass and plants sprouting in the ample sunlight.

    Everything grew wildly, yet all in harmony.

    The entire climb, he could feel the weight of the mountain grow. It was a constant pressure on his spirit, a growing mass that sought to push him back. It was not as difficult as he thought to push through and continue climbing.

    What helped were the wisps of Energy that flowed from the plateau. The power was revitalizing, giving him the strength to continue. Now that he was upon the plateau, he could feel how the Grass Energy was contained within the forest.

    Far more than the mossy boulder.

    It was rooted in the ground, flowing through every plant and tree within the isolated forest. The Energy wanted to burrow within him as well, bringing him strength and bountiful growth.

    Still, as with the glade, he refused to cultivate the power.

    Frowning, Kenji stared deeper into the forest.

    "What," he muttered.

    There was something . . . odd about the plateau''s Energy. It shifted, a twist as though the entire forest was turning.

    Turning to look at him.

    Before he could process the realization, a powerful tendril of Energy reached out towards him. The weight doubled, and doubled again, bending Kenji over and driving him to his knees.

    "Wait," he wheezed. "Please,"

    Gasping from the pressure, Kenji curled his fingers in the ground. The damp soil dug into his fingernails as he kept himself falling flat. The Guardian, far greater than the Roserade of the mossy boulder, made itself known

    The Energy twisted around him, blooming with intention. It curled around, seeking to constrain and invade him. The connection was a mental blow, burrowing tendrils that easily overpowered him to connect to his mind. It was not so much a request as a demand.

    Groaning, Kenji was bombarded by images, scents, and emotion. Poison and flames burning through his skin, innocent curiosity, and a forest drenched in the blood of those who trespassed.

    <<i>Human, why are you in my land?</i>>

    Worse was the being on the other end of the sending. Angry, dark fury surged like the flexing of leaves soaking in the sun. Black flowers grew along poisoned trees, their thorns piercing the hard wood.

    <<i>Answer me, Human.</i>>

    The aura grew domineering and harsh as a shadowy figure stood over clear glass.

    "This-" Kenji struggled to answer. "This one apologizes for his intrusion." The aura fought him even as he tried to speak. "This one is lost, and only seeks to return home."

    Memory of a powerful shadow-<i>Kenji shuddered, his mind rebelling as his own memories were stirred</i>,-one that would threaten even the forest flickered through his mind.

    <<i>I know of your arrival, Human. Why are you</i> here.>

    "For a view of the land," Kenji bared his teeth, keeping his response short. He could feel his spirit rising, trying to throw off the other being''s aura. The effort was futile, of course, a mere bush trying to outgrow a mighty oak.

    <<i>And the children?</i>> The being asked, a view of Kenji''s companions communicating the message. The emotions tangled with his, bleeding with suspicion and ever-present anger.

    "Companions," Kenji ground out, feeling as though his spirit was cracking under the being''s pressure. "Bonds that I will carry to the end."

    The aura roiled around him, the pressure pulsing as it strengthened and eased. Disgust and derision could be felt. He could feel his spirit crack further and he groaned from the sensation. Heartbeats passed as the being considered his words.

    <<i>Leave, and do not return.</i>> A strange city full of metal and glass spears that reached for sky.

    "Where," Kenji gasped, the mental image of civilization shocking him. "Please," he added desperately. The Guardian''s hatred of humans was clear to his mind. "How do I get there?"

    <<i>Follow the rising sun.</i>> A dawn breaking the horizon, transforming the glass and metal towers into pillars of reflected light. <<i>Leave.</i>>

    The connection faded as the aura withdrew, the piercing thorns peeling free to retreat back within the forest. The Energy of the forest stilled once more, but this time the woods grew darker to his mind. Dangers hidden within and barely restrained fury.

    With the Guardian''s withdrawal, Kenji collapsed to the ground, shuddering. His spirit was still cracking, the pressure it endured too much. Baring his teeth, Kenji tried to hold the seed of his spirit together using the hold method he knew how.

    Instinctively, he tried to compress, using both will and aura to hold his spirit together. However, the damage was already done and he dropped his head to the ground as darkness crawled across his vision.

 Chapter 30

    Seeds represent both the beginning and end. Every plant, no matter if it towered over the land as an ancestral oak or crawled along the ground as vine, began as a seed. The infantile plant then cracked its shell and grew, blooming to produce seeds of its own. The cycle continued, as the seeds grew and produced more of their own.

    Kenji dreamed of this cycle as his spirit split. He was first the seed, enduring all that sought to crush him. Then his shell split and tiny tendrils reached out to the soil, slowly sprouting to gather nutrients. Growth was fast, slowing upon reaching the source and soaking in the Energy.

    Then he matured, sprouting seeds to spread and claim the earth surrounding him. First a vine, then an oak, bamboo, and even a common weed, he grew

    Further dreams plagued him, lessons and memories from his parents. Written teaching from his mother, her knowledge expansive and recorded in depth on bamboo paper and painstakingly written by hand. Time spent with his father in their gardens, covered in soil and scratches from Pok¨¦mon that took offense to their work.

    The ache in his spirit grew as his mind shifted to that of a barren landscape. His body was carved into the ground, with shadows and scars decorating his inner self.

    It was different, he realized as he studied the warped shape. The shadows, while still clinging, now gave his body form instead of simply trying to smother it. Arms were no longer twisted around the body and the legs were more relaxed instead of curling towards his chest. No longer was his spirit curled into a fetal shape, but instead a relaxed contentment.

    Over the course of his desperate survival in the wild woods, there was not much chance for proper reflection and cultivation. As a result, his inner self developed on its own, free from his conscious guidance. The representation was one that naturally formed after he destroyed the original garden that existed here. Lovely cared for and grown from wisdom gifted by his parents, the previous raised beds were fed Energy that he cultivated over the course of years.

    The same green Energy pulsed from the earthen body''s torso, in time with the splintering of his spirit. The pain was not so much an agony as it was the rough aches of growth. The pains of growing bone, splintering shells, and the fight for life.

    Kenji forced himself to breathe evenly. At some point he shifted from unconsciousness to dreams to meditation. Now that he knew what was happening, he could better guide the process. Kenji lifted his hand and reached out with his will to smother the unwanted inner self. His power hung over the inner body as a Leavanny''s scythe and hesitated.

    Shadows reached out towards his will and scars shifted, the markings evoking the memories that gave them permanence.

    Lowering his hand, Kenji sighed and allowed his will to fade.

    "Accept oneself, in your entirety, and grow," he murmured.

    The words of his father''s manuscripts returned to him. The papers were faded with age and full of cryptic instructions for proper cultivation. His father was of little help, only repeating similar phrases when Kenji asked for clarification.

    Now, he understood.

    Kenji walked forwards, his steps weak at first, but growing with strength as he closed with his inner self.

    "I will go home," he whispered to himself. Pausing, Kenji narrowed his eyes and firmed his will.

    The shadows reached out to welcome him, their darkness no longer absolute. Grass Energy highlighted his scars, promising growth and change. Dirt clung to his bare feet, growing richer as he stepped up to the pulsing chest of the earthen form.

    "I will go home," Kenji repeated louder.

    Kenji walked forwards, allowing the representation to envelope him. As he did so, he forced himself to release the iron control he maintained over his spirit. The pain he was feeling was not born of growth but resistance. The urge to compress his spirit and hide was ingrained into him, a necessity to survive.

    There were still some nights when Kenji awoke to find himself squeezing his spirit even tighter. The effort was more familiar than breathing. In some ways, it was the only comfort he carried, a broken memory of family.

    Finally released, Kenji felt his spirit splinter.

    Blinking the sunlight out his eyes, Kenji breathed deeply and started to cough. His face was laying on the ground and he inadvertently inhaled a breath of dirt. Hacking, he worked spit in his mouth to spit out the soil that stuck to his tongue.

    Looking around, Kenji wiped his face as he took in his surroundings. He was not sure how long he was out nor could he see his companions nearby. The sun was lower in the sky, giving him a rough estimation of several bells having passed. The forest was growing dark as the shadows stretched with the movement of the sun.

    Sitting up, he was startled at how light he felt. Looking himself over, there was nothing different that he could see. More than that he felt . . .

    Relaxed.

    Muscles that were tight with anxiety and the constant need to move, were now loose and free to move. Not only that, the constant ache in his limbs was gone.

    Grinning, Kenji jumped to his feet with ease, not even a grunt of exertion escaping his lips. He marveled at how light his body felt, as if he could lift away. Yet at the same time, he knew that when the wind blew, he would not be the one that yielded.

    His pack was nearby, laying where he dropped earlier. The silk wrap held the contents close, keeping his precious food from rolling free. Snatching it up, he pulled out a handful of berries before shouldering it onto his back. Walking into the forest, he chewed on the berries, savoring the rich flavors. The juice helped with his dry mouth and he quickly finished the meal.

    Continuing to walk, he studied the trees and plants he passed by. The forest was alive with color. Flowers were abundant, as were ripening fruits. The plants were in various shades of green, with several more exotic colors mixed in.

    He wanted to stay and study the landscape more, but he knew that he was only here at the Guardian''s sufferance. The powerful Type Beast made its displeasure known, freely offering its hatred of humans and feelings on Kenji''s trespass.

    No, it would be best not to risk angering the beast any more than his presence already had. After only a short while, he broke into a clearing full of blooming flowers. Flutter was dancing through the air, eagerly tasting each flower and squealing in happiness after. A small trail led through the field, ending near the center at a familiar mound in the overturned soil.

    Kenji blinked in surprise to see his companions before him.

    It was highly unlikely that he simply stumbled upon the duo. There were several times that he turned or moved around a tree. His path changed as a result, leaving him to follow a wandering path through the mystical woods. In all consideration, Kenji should have been hopelessly lost.

    Frowning, he briefly considered the Guardian interfering, whether mentally or otherwise, before dismissing the thought. The beast clearly despised humans and he did not believe it would assist him in such a manner.

    There was a more likely possibility, however.

    Closing his eyes, Kenji felt for his spirit. It responded easily, and he stumbled as he was blinded by the Energy surrounding him. Where before he could only perceive the Energy in contact with his body, now he could feel it beyond the reach of his skin.

    The entire plateau was coated in Grass Energy, a deep well as wide as the uplifted forest. Every root, flower, shrub, and tree was on par with a spiritual herb of his father''s cultivation garden, with many more surpassing the hard-earned plants. The mystical realm pressed in his skin, threatening to crush his spirit under its weight. Despite the overbearing sensation, where one may have felt threat or even pain, Kenji only felt comforted.

    As distracting as the over-abundance of Energy was, he could still sense his companions. Their presence was a familiar balm, one that he recognized even though this was the first time he was conscious of it.

    Flutter drifted on a sparkling wind, the Bug and Flying Energy causing some of his own aura to shy away. The interactions were strange, not painful exactly, but more a retreat in the face of the diffuse wind that the trilling bug contained. It was only natural considering the enmity the two had for his specialty.

    Meanwhile, Sprout was empty of Energy, nearly devoid of the power that Type Beasts used to function. Instead, Kenji perceived a dense orb of Grass Energy. It seemed that the seed from the guardian of the mossy boulder was slowly cultivated by the young turtle. Grass Energy was slowly cycling through the Pok¨¦mon''s system, helping the beast recover and grow.

    Stepping out into the small meadow, Kenji laughed. With his aura and spirit returned, he felt whole once more.

    The sound alerted Flutter, who swung around it surprised. The beast squealed and bounced towards him through the air.

    "Tifly!" the Pok¨¦mon trilled.

    Sprout awoke with a start at the butterfly''s piercing cry and warbled in concern. Searching around for the source of the alarm, he saw Kenji and chirped happily.

    Kenji lifted his arm for the butterfly to rest upon, carefully rubbing the Beautifly''s sensitive hairs. He walked up to the small turtle and grinned down at him.

    "I see that the two of you made yourselves at home," he said with mock disapproval. Relaxing his aura, he slowly spread it towards the two Pok¨¦mon.

    "Ti?" the butterfly chirped with a tilt of its large head.

    "You can feel that?" he asked in slight surprise.

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    "Fly," the beast trilled.

    Kenji felt the Energies within the butterfly shift. Staring into Flutter''s eyes he saw curiosity and determination, the emotions mimicked in the Pok¨¦mon''s aura. While his Energies conflicted with the Type Beast''s own, Kenji nevertheless felt comforted by the Pok¨¦mon''s presence. Holding his arm aloft, he gently encouraged the butterfly to lift into the air.

    Stepping back, he bowed to the Pok¨¦mon.

    "Flutter, my companion of battle and sky, we have traveled together for days upon days," he began, "You have protected and guided me through this great forest, helping with both food and health. I hope that I can say the same as I offered shelter and companionship."

    Flutter remained silent as he spoke, perhaps sensing the weight of the moment. The butterfly''s clear blue eyes remained steady upon him as he remained bowed towards the bug.

    "You have been my companion nearly my entire time in the wilds of this land," Kenji continued, "I wish to extend a link towards you, formalizing our bond and making it a true link that binds us together." he finished.

    As he spoke, Kenji opened his aura to the flying bug. He wanted the beast to believe his words and intention, allowing the beast to sense the truth of his words from his spirit.

    Doing so left him exposed, a distinctly uncomfortable feeling. It was akin to the brush of cold wind on bare skin, with the knowledge that a capable Warrior could take advantage of his exposed spirit.

    However, it was necessary if he wanted the butterfly to understand his intentions.

    Kenji felt Flutter study him for several moments. The beast''s aura fluctuated with its emotions, allowing him a glimpse into the bug''s thoughts.

    <i>Curiosity</i>. <i>Uncertainty</i>.

    Tentatively, the Pok¨¦mon started to respond in kind, its aura opening to expose its spirit. Then the butterfly bobbed closer and butted heads with him.

    "Ti," <i>Acceptance</i>.

    Gently, Kenji reached out with his will, allowing his aura to blend with the Pok¨¦mon''s. He kept his spirit exposed, forming a corridor with their power. With physical contact, it was relatively easy for him to reach out with his spirit.

    Flutter copied him, the beast unsure but still following along with what he was doing. The Pok¨¦mon''s control was fumbling and he noted it for later training in the back of his mind. Unlike humans, every Type Beast was capable of controlling their aura. However, actually doing so was typically only seen in older, more evolved Pok¨¦mon.

    They combined their Energies, forming a spiritual link to bond them together.

    With it, Kenji''s awareness of the Beautifly grew. Emotions were clearer, with a better understanding of their complexity. He could feel the butterfly''s presence as if it were his own. Their aura''s recognized each other and no longer kept the other at a distance.

    Unable to help himself, Kenji laughed and wrapped his arms around the Pok¨¦mon. He nuzzled the soft hairs coating the butterfly''s carapace.

    "Ti, beau, ti," the beast trilled eagerly. He could feel the Pok¨¦mon exploring their connection. The attempts were clumsy and fumbling, but the Beautifly''s natural curiosity helped her.

    "Yes, Flutter," he murmured to the beast. "We will be companions until the end."

    Already he could feel Energy flow between them, only a minor amount as the link was still new. That they were incompatible with each other only served to hinder the process further.

    Eventually, the tight hug turned too constraining for the butterfly and she squealed for freedom. Kenji released her with a grin, feeling her elation through their link as the Beautifly returned to exploring the flowers throughout the glade. Each time the Pok¨¦mon dipped her proboscis into the petals, she trilled with happiness with the emotion mimicked across their bond.

    Leaving the bug to feed, Kenji turned his attention to the other link. Within his spirit, he could feel his first bond, the specter of sand and sea, stirring. Instinctively, he reached out to comfort and still the Type Beast.

    Now that he was aware of the bond and his spirit was no longer compressed into an unfeeling orb, Kenji could feel his bond more clearly. He still did not know how the Pok¨¦mon was bound to the pendant and how or why the sphere dampened their link. Still, with his aura, Kenji was able to at least communicate somewhat to his bond.

    Like Flutter, the communication was limited to simple emotion and little else. The ghost was elated by the contact, the scent of sea salt lifting into the air for a moment before the Pok¨¦mon settled down.

    Smiling, Kenji turned his attention to Sprout. The young turtle was warbling as he trundled up to Kenji. While the beast was unconcerned with the damage he inflicted upon the meadow. Flowers were crushed under his stumpy limbs, with the beast even snapping idly at the petals as he passed.

    Kenji winced from the breaking of stems. The mental encounter with the Guardian of the plateau was still sharp in his memory. Crouching down, he was far more careful than his youngest companion.

    Sprout nuzzled his outstretched hand, with a muffled chirp. The turtle was covered in soil from planting himself in the ground. Closer, Kenji could better perceive the Energetic seed carefully strapped within the Pok¨¦mons shell. The beast was slowly starting to look healthier. Fresh scales were growing to fill in the bare patches and his shell was even retaining some soil.

    Better yet, he could feel Energy begin to pool within the Pok¨¦mon''s body. It was slight, as most of the power was spent healing the beast. Still, it was far better than before.

    Like with Flutter, Kenji reached out with his aura. However, where he attempted to meet the Beautifly halfway, with Sprout he surrounded the turtle with his will. It was ideal for a Warrior to form a link with a young Type Beast, as the effects of the bond would accumulate over time and be amplified by any evolution the beast underwent.

    For all that, though, the actual formation of the link was more difficult. Such young beasts did not have a grasp of their spirit or aura. As a result, the Warrior had to be more of a guide for the young Pok¨¦mon.

    The lessons of his father flashed through his mind as he reached out to the Pok¨¦mon before him. They mostly focused on forging a bond with an unfamiliar Pok¨¦mon, ones nearly too young to do so on its own without forcing the link upon the beast.

    With Flutter, the action was more instinctive than learned. Their bond was already present, it merely needed to be brought into existence. The same could be said for his connection with Sprout, except the turtle did not have the Energy to actually complete the bond.

    It would all have to come from Kenji.

    Typically, multiple links would form over time. Often, seasons passed before a Warrior bonded with another Pok¨¦mon. The time allowed a Warrior to recover the necessary Energy to support the new link and form the hints of connection.

    Be that as it may, the rule was for linking with multiple young Pok¨¦mon.

    Flutter was neither young nor unevolved. The butterfly was in the final stages of her evolution and fully matured. As such, the beast had more than enough Energy to assist with the formation of the link.

    Greater than the Beautifly''s maturity, however, was the seed from the mossy boulder. The item was packed with Grass Energy and Sprout was easily cycling it through his system.

    Keeping the beast surrounded by his aura, Kenji felt for the turtle''s forming power. It was weak and diffuse, the Pok¨¦mon''s poor health hampering proper development. Nevertheless, Kenji slowly teased out Sprout''s spirit.

    The abundant Grass Energy, from the mystical realm and the seed, clouded the turtle''s signature aura. Strangely, it was his first bond that assisted with the progress. Sprout''s weak health was like a miasma that pervaded the Pok¨¦mon like a poisoned root. Kenji followed it back, offering his own Energy to help the turtle heal.

    In doing so, his Energy was incorporated into the Pok¨¦mon''s body and allowed Kenji to discover his young companion''s spirit. Instead of forcing a connection, Kenji continued to offer up his own strength. He could feel himself growing weak and lethargic from doing so, yet refused to stop.

    Little changed about the Pok¨¦mon''s appearance, but Kenji sensed how the turtle''s spirit strengthened from his efforts. Unlike with Flutter, their Energies were entirely compatible. As such, the loss of Energy was nearly nonexistent as he worked to link their spirits.

    Only when Kenji felt ready to faint from the drain he was forcing upon himself did the link start to manifest. Awareness of the beast bloomed within his mind, their auras mingling together like old friends. Kenji''s grin turned to a frown of worry as he sensed the state of his young companion.

    The turtle was far weaker than he originally expected. It felt as though the only thing holding the Pok¨¦mon upright was the infusion of Energy that he and the seed were providing.

    "I should have not forced you to walk so long," he murmured to the turtle. "I thought I was helping," he sighed with guilt.

    The young Pok¨¦mon was able to move, and he believed that the beast was growing stronger. Now, he saw it for the false premise that it was. Yet all he could do was continue to support the young Pok¨¦mon. It would take a powerful mystic healer for the beast to recover.

    Feeling his new bond''s weariness only emphasized his own. Already, his body was starting to ache with new phantom pains as his spirit continued to develop the two new links. Unable to help himself, Kenji drifted off to sleep in the afternoon sun. His dreams were plagued by conflicting sensations and vague emotions.

    He was woken by a shiver of happiness running through his spirit, jolting him from a nightmare of cowering from shadowy predators. Jerking his head around, Kenji searched for what awoke him only to drop his head when he spotted Flutter resuming her taste of the surrounding flowers.

    Despite remaining asleep until past dawn, Kenji felt as though he only just closed his eyes. Nevertheless, a smile tugged at his lips as he turned his attention inwards to explore his new links. His first was dull and shaded into stillness while his unsealed companions were alive with awareness.

    Excitement and pleasure flowed into him from the butterfly, balanced by the sense of exhaustion he received from Sprout. Checking the turtle over, he was concerned as the Pok¨¦mon started to waken with a chirp. The sensations he was receiving from the beast were conflicting with how the Pok¨¦mon was trundling around. The turtle chewed on the surrounding plants, eliciting another wince from Kenji.

    Climbing to his feet as well, a yawn cracked his jaw. Digging through his pack, he pulled out a handful of fruit and joined his bonds in eating. The Energy in the air was invigorating and he was soon wide awake.

    "Come along, Flutter," he called with a soft whistle. "Time to move on."

    "Ti," the butterfly cried with a trill. He could feel the beast''s desire to stay.

    "No, the Guardian has made its will known," he answered firmly. "We will leave," he emphasized.

    The Beautifly trilled its disappointment as she flew to his side. Picking up Sprout, Kenji tried to push a sense of rest towards the bond.

    "As for you," he said, "Rest and let me be your legs."

    The turtle chirped and partially withdrew into his shell, keeping his head out to watch the environment.

    Leaving the meadow behind, Kenji strode into the trees. Unlike the forest below, sunlight easily reached the ground to illuminate the plants below. He was once more struck by how perfectly everything appeared to be growing. Thick stems lifted flowers and small plants high while grass below.

    While the soft plants made for a comfortable walk, he felt terrible for the marks his passage left behind. Trampled grass and broken plants were unavoidable as he walked. Fruits and berries were abundant, leaving his mouth watering, especially as he could sense the potent Energy within. Still, he resisted the urge, lest he anger the powerful Guardian.

    Without the sled, travel was far easier. He was forced to set Sprout down at times to rest his arms and take a break to eat. There was a constant need for water drying his mouth, driving him to eat more of the juicy berries than originally wished.

    As the day passed, Kenji realized that there was little evidence of any other beasts on the plateau. It was eerily quiet, with even the wind seeming to avoid rustling the trees. Eventually there was not enough light to see and he was forced to stop for the night.

    Despite the Grass Energy suffusing the plateau, Kenji still felt drained. The links were still settling and much of his strength was used up by Sprout in an effort to heal the turle. It was a strange feeling as his body absorbed Energy, only for it to quickly drain away through his links.

    Not only that, but the entire day his spirit was bombarded by foreign sensations and emotions. Flutter was easily excited, especially with the numerous flowers throughout the higher forest. Meanwhile, Sprout managed to rouse a curiosity that flowed through their bond along with the turtle''s near-constant state of exhaustion.

    Dropping his pack, Kenji collapsed to the ground with a sigh. He was not sure how far he managed to travel, as he took a winding path to avoid any large fields of or other delicate seeming plants. Flutter was less thoughtful and flew around merrily to taste the beautiful plants.

    More concerning was the state of the plateau''s Energy.

    There was a restlessness, at least to his mind, to how the ambient Type Energy behaved. The longer he stayed and the further he traveled, the Grass Energy seemed to almost reject his presence.

    Before his body readily absorbed the power drifting in the air and earth but now the Energy resisted. Worse was the fact that he needed to regain the power was losing to his new bonds.

    Between the fresh links and the constant tug of war with the Grass Energy, Kenji''s mind and body were exhausted. Unfortunately, his sleep was as fitful as the night before. To make it even more restless, a strange tone quickly began to pervade his dreams. The gentle ping of bells created a soft lullaby that tugged at his consciousness.

    Eventually, he could take it no longer and sat up to investigate.

 Chapter 31

    After a tiring day hiking through the isolated forest that rose from the plateau, Kenji was looking forward to a night of sleep. While he was sure it would be as restless as the night before, his mind and body were exhausted. Laying down, he found the grass softer than he imagined, practically cradling his body. Sliding off his leathers, he luxuriated in the soft ground, a massive difference from the usual dirt floor he had long slept upon. The setting sun turned the forest into a dark labyrinth with the moon shining down from above.

    However, when he was finally dragged off to sleep, a strange sound teased at the edge of his hearing, keeping Kenji from fully falling asleep.

    An odd music, like overlapping chimes or bells pervaded his dreams and pulled him awake. Giving in to the pull of the music, he gave up on his attempts to rest and stood up. He yawned widely, his jaw nearly cracking from the effort as he stretched out his arms. There was a surprising lack of soreness, which he was grateful for as he climbed to his feet.

    Leaving his pack behind, Kenji followed the strange sound through the trees. The noise was oddly familiar, though he could not place it. Flutter tried to gather his attention, the Beautifly''s emotions sent through the link. However, the connection was muted and the Pok¨¦mon''s cries easily ignored. Sprout was less vocal, his warbles already softer than the butterfly''s piercing trills, and barely registered to Kenji.

    Unable to stop him, the two beasts followed close behind as Kenji led them on a circuitous route through the forest. The moon lit the way, its scant light reflecting off the flowers decorating the forest.

    As he followed the alluring notes, the Energy gradually increased and became more active. His body continued to absorb the power, helping bolster his aura in order to resist the foreign influence. Clashing together, the conflicting Energies eventually lifted the fog from his mind. The ethereal music continued but he found himself able to ignore now that he was aware of the beguiling sounds. Paling slightly, Kenji realized how close he had come to being consumed entirely.

    All the same, by the time he managed to break free of the mystical trance it was too late.

    In the scant light of the waxing moon, a massive field divided the plateau into two. A strange Energy thrummed through air, rising to blend with the ambient Grass Energy. The power granted the space a sense of unreality and continued to tug at his mind, attempting to lure him forwards.

    Staring out into the field, even Flutter refused to trespass and sample the flowers beyond. A variety of colors trailed to form a pattern, he belatedly realized, one that he could not understand. At least not without the proper tools to trace the plants path.

    As Kenji studied the scene, searching for what pulled him here, the music shifted. Joining the tapping of bells was an unfamiliar sound, a vibrant hum that rose high and sharp. It hung in the air in a manner that Kenji envisioned to be as delicate as a hair and sharp as a katana.

    A heartbeat passed and shadowed figures stepped out of the tree''s domain.

    They were short, less than halfway to Kenji''s knee at the most. An odd cut to their hair hid the figure''s faces while a trailing dress caused several to trip as they moved. The forms stumbled forwards, following the path laid out by the flowers.

    A soft glow could be seen underneath their dome heads, emitting shades of color.

    The strange creatures kept to the edges of the field, stumbling and occasionally falling. When they did, the figures merely brushed at their rumpled dresses and hurried to catch up with the others. Despite the falls, the entire scene appeared perfectly in pace. Almost as though their falls were practiced and purposeful, their mistakes worked into the performance.

    Their eerie similarity to young children made the scene all the more unnerving.

    The musical tempo increased, the plucking of raindrops filling the plateau as more figures stepped out of the trees.

    The new forms were taller, and far more graceful. Their mannerisms and movements were human, yet bore a distinct sense of other that made Kenji''s skin crawl.

    Limbs were too narrow to bear the weight that they should. What passed for the creature''s hair did not shake or move as natural fiber should. More glaring were the softly glowing horns that rose from the harsh curtain that decorated the Type Beasts skulls.

    The creatures danced forwards, twirling down the paths. Figures spun throughout the clearing, never pausing, even when it seemed that they may collide.

    Kenji watched, entranced by the scene.

    Yet, his mind prodded at him, noticing something off about the way the figures spun about with each other. There were gaps in the dance that was performed, noticeable for the fact that some individuals were dancing as though they were partnered despite no other figure was close.

    Peering closer, he sensed a change in the Energy gathering in the massive field. Energy roiled, the Grass Type supplanted by the alien power. The other Energy that sought to evade his attention rose to the forefront, bringing with it a visible shimmer in the air.

    Like a mirage on a boiling day, more forms slowly took shape.

    They bled into the world, fading into reality. New forms appeared, joining the complex interweaving of Type Beasts without interruption. Missing partners were revealed and seeming holes within the dance were filled.

    The music started to reach a crescendo, and with it the Energy in the field gathered. A larger mirage took shape in the center of the split in the forest. Soft, unusual light shined from nothing as a more evolved figure formed itself.

    Easily taller than Kenji, the new Pok¨¦mon was dressed in a long, flowing white dress that hid its lower body. The few paces it moved, made the creature appear to glide. Spindly, green arms spread outwards to gesture at the field as if directing the younger creatures. How the Type Beast moved them was distinctly wrong, making Kenji''s own joints ache. It was as though the Pok¨¦mon could move its limbs in nearly any direction. He could see no joints, only long spindly limbs.

    With the creature''s appearance, the music halted as did the others in the clearing. The world seemed to hold its breath, whether in fear or awe, he could not tell.

    The moment passed as the sharp notes resumed, a melody that grew faster with every heartbeat. Kenji''s own blood quickened as he heard it, and he clenched his hands into fists. It was harsh and unforgiving, promising resolution.

    The unearthly figures resumed their dance, nearly frantic when compared to their early pace. Attention was directed to a section of the forest''s edge and Kenji followed it.

    Stepping out of the woods emerged another figure, with a passing similarity to those dancing through the large field. Straight forelimbs gleamed in the moonlight, appearing sharp as a blade. Pale legs stood firm and wide, giving the Type Beast a stride that made it stand out from its brethren. Rising from its skull was a horn that glowed softly as it faced down the field of figures.

    The Pok¨¦mon studied each other, one against a constantly moving army.

    For a moment, Kenji felt its attention upon him and he paled at the blank gaze that met him. The creature dismissed him quickly, returning its focus to the ritualistic dance.

    After the brief pause, the beast stepped forward. It lashed out, arms flickering to lightly touch its lesser evolutions before moving on. The bladed creature moved unhindered, even as others placed themselves in his path.

    Kenji had to clench his jaw to keep back a shout as he witnessed the Pok¨¦mon perform near perfect katas in a rare performance of its Art. He strove to memorize each movement, from how the beast positioned its arms to its gliding steps as the swords-Pok¨¦mon lashed out. Few Masters were willing to take on apprentices to pass down their secrets to, with Sages a lifetime and a dream even further away. When in public, they were careful to hide their secrets and only exhibit as few of their skills as possible, lest an enemy take note.

    Deceptively fast, the aggressive Pok¨¦mon reached the center of the field.

    The taller Type Beast was waiting for it, power glowing brightly from the horn protruding from its chest. Power shimmered around it, twisting the air even further. As the other Pok¨¦mon neared, Energy started to warp the air above, bending the light of the moon around it.

    The distortion grew, eclipsing the moon and drawing all towards it until the bladed Type Beast raced forwards. The music sung fast and sharp, racing to beat the quickly moving Pok¨¦mon.

    With a leap, the creature swung its arms downward, carving through the distortion. It landed into an honorable kneel before the other Pok¨¦mon. Two pairs of eyes held each other as the Energy in the air grew.

    Released from the distortion, moonlight bloomed outwards, blinding Kenji and causing the clearing to disappear.

    Kenji fell back with a startle yelp of surprise, furiously rubbing at his eyes to clear his vision. Spots continued to blind him, slowly fading until he was able to see again. By the time he could, there was nothing remaining in the clearing. In fact, as he searched, Kenji saw that there was little evidence that the ritualistic dance had occurred at all.

    "Beau!" Flutter trilled loudly, aggravated by the blinding of the light by equally as humbled as him. The butterfly always moved artfully, a product of her brightly colored wings, yet the performance they witnessed was on another level entirely.

    Sprout was more confused than in awe, warbling his complaint at being up in the middle of the night.

    "Apologies little one," he murmured to the young turtle as he looked to the other side of the field.

    The flowers were undisturbed, with the underlying grass unbowed from the thin limbs of the beasts. The Energy in the air was still and completely of the Grass Type as far as he could tell. There was no hint of the beguiling Energy that rose to the forefront during the gathering.

    Frowning warily, Kenji retreated from the split in the forest. While both sides were in bloom and full of light, the other half of the plateau seemed to be . . .

    Waiting.

    There was an odd air of patience, as though a Sage watching a flower grow or a sleeping beast ready to wake.

    Shaking his head to clear the lingering vestiges of the entrancing music, Kenji turned around. Envisioning the movements of the sword master, Kenji wandered back to his pack. He struggled to copy the Pok¨¦mon''s graceful movements, especially without a sword or even his b¨­.

    While he was by no means skilled with the weapon, he at least had passing knowledge and several lessons in wielding a blade. While it was potentially useful to memorize the positioning of the Type Beast''s arm, Kenji was more focused on how the Pok¨¦mon moved. The placement of its feet and how it turned its body to add force or just barely avoid another attack.

    Flutter bobbed along, often performing strange and awkward seeming maneuvers in the air. He could sense that his bond was filled with determination, though he was not quite sure what she was determined to do. Still, he offered advice when able or critiques that he thought could help the butterfly.

    As a result, it took some time before Kenji found his pack again. The haze from the music and Energy was his guide and he remembered little of the path he took to the middle of the plateau. While he did not truly mind, as it gave him time to ruminate over what he saw, his stomach was starting to complain. The ethereal dance consumed much of the night, more than he expected, and by the time he found his pack again, it was nearly dawn.

    As a result, Sprout was deeply tired and Kenji had to carry the heavy turtle when the beast could no longer trundle along. Despite all the excitement of the night and day before, Kenji did not feel nearly as exhausted.

    Arriving back at the tree he rested at, Kenji was startled to see three large, pink flowers resting upon his pack. The colors were a rich gradient that lightened in color as it lightened towards the stem. While Kenji paused to inspect them warily, Flutter held no such reservations.

    "Fly." The butterfly rushed forwards with a squeal of excitement and extended its proboscis into one of the open flowers.

    "Ti, ti," she squealed once more as she tasted the pollen and nectar, bobbing in place happily.

    However, when the Beautifly moved to taste the other two flowers, Kenji objected.

    "Flutter, no," he said firmly. Along with his words, he sent a feeling of disapproval through their link. "Those are not for you."

    "Beau," she whined back, surprised at his refusal.

    "There are three flowers and three of us," he said, before reaching up to touch his mother''s pendant. "Well, four," he amended, sending a wave of apology to the subdued bond. "There is no way they simply fell there."

    Indeed, the flowers were artfully arranged on his pack and deliberately tucked in place. Frowning, he craned his head around to search the nearby area for any trace of who, or what, left them behind. There was nothing he could see and Kenji stepped forward from pausing with a small smile as he remembered that he was no longer limited to just his mortal senses.

    To aid in his search, Kenji closed his eyes and gathered his will. Extending his aura outwards, he searched the surroundings. The ambient Energy both helped and hindered his efforts as it blinded him, but at the same time also caused anything that was not a part of it to stick out.

    As such, he was able to catch the hint of foreign Energy that hid behind a tree several paces away. Instead of alerting the beast as to his knowledge of its presence, Kenji approached his pack while keeping part of his mind focused upon it.

    He made a show of inspecting the flowers closer. While he loudly commented on the color and thoughtfulness of someone leaving behind flowers, he paid close attention to the creature. Its aura was open and not nearly as controlled as it should have been, leading Kenji to believe that the beast was young. As such, he was able to somewhat grasp at the creature''s emotions and possible intentions.

    There was no ill will or anger that he could sense, merely an innocent curiosity, reaffirming his belief as to the age of the Pok¨¦mon. It reacted to his investigation of the flowers, though Kenji could not tell if it understood him or not.

    Only once Kenji was sure of his safety, did he turn towards the Pok¨¦mon and call out to it.

    "I know you''re there," he said softly. "Thank you for the flowers." he continued with a slight bow. "I am lost and could use your assistance."

    Alarm overrode the curiosity, but it was still innocent to his mind. Fear of being caught, a child sneaking off with desert before dinner, rather than the terror of expecting an attack.

    "It''s ok," he soothed, "I will not hurt you, I''m just looking for some help."

    Fear was still present, then something he could not grasp. A shift in the Energy around him had Kenji spinning around in shock.

    Standing behind him was the tall, thin creature with the flowing gown from earlier. There was indication of its presence from his aura, the beast perfectly hiding itself from his perception. A single arm was upraised and held Flutter still in a shimmer of power. More alarming, there was no indication of his bond''s state from their link.

    "Wait, wait," he rushed to say, putting up his hands. "I did not approach them or intend anything untoward. Please, release her," he added desperately.

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    Now that he was aware of it, he could feel a faint slipperiness to his link with the butterfly. It was the same with Sprout, except the turtle was merely hiding within his shell rather than held in the Pok¨¦mon''s grasp. Even knowing about it, Kenji found it difficult to sense the disguise covering links.

    A flat gaze met his scared eyes and assessed him without care. The red eyes sported a narrowed iris, much like a predator, and started him down. Kenji felt exposed under the creature''s piercing gaze yet forced himself to stand strong.

    The other limb lifted up and Kenji flinched. Instead of assaulting him with the same colorful power that held Flutter, the hand beckoned towards the tree hiding the beast that left him flowers.

    "Ral," a dismayed cry was let loose and a small shape stumbled out from its cover.

    Similarly colored to the tall form next to him, the younger Type Beast was white and green. A helmet bob of hair covered much of its eyes, with a strange white gown clinging to its body.

    Now that the creatures were closer, Kenji was unable to tell exactly what their ''skin'' was. It did not move like fiber or feathers, nor did it have the inflexibility of leather. The strange material was a part of its body, in a way that Kenji found to be alien.

    More surprising was the appearance of another beast.

    This was more natural looking, with soft, fluffy fur in shades of brown. Colorful leaves were arranged in the beast''s mane and tail, much like the flowers that decorated his pack. This one did not wilt under the hard stare of the older Pok¨¦mon, but its bushy tail was tucked underneath it in a clear display of fear and submission.

    Kenji turned his head back to the powerful Type Beast and stiffened in fear. The creature''s mouth was bared in a sharp smile, pointed teeth revealed to make its human-like face decidedly less so.

    Its point made, the Pok¨¦mon closed its lips and hid the sharp teeth behind a more polite smile. The unnaturally thin arm beckoned again and the young beasts grudgingly approached.

    The horns of the child-like Type Beast glowed briefly while it tugged on the pale dress of the elder creature. It was seemingly ignored, and pouted as the bundle of fur bumped into it. Kenji could not help but notice that the four-legged beast kept its companion between it and the evolved Pok¨¦mon.

    Kenji''s aura was withdrawn, at first to keep the wild creatures at ease. Once his aura was close, he found himself forcibly suppressed. It felt like a blanket wrapped around his body, only the fibers were made of iron and refused to budge.

    He eyed the tall Type Beast with wariness, still unsure as to its presence. The flowers were mostly undisturbed, as Kenji was reluctant to touch them despite Flutter already having done so.

    The horn sprouting from the creature''s chest and back glowed lightly before Kenji felt a brush across his mind. Like the Pok¨¦mon, the sensation was distinctly other and a shade too uncomfortable to ever be considered normal. Much like the Guardian, the beast communicated with emotions and images that he had to translate into words.

    <Human, here?> <i>A vague distorted figure, different from her kind. Loud, dark emotions. Confusion, and more than a hint of fear. </i>

    The connection to the other mind remained open, and Kenji tried to respond in kind. He likened mental link to a spiritual, though temporary, one.

    <Lost, seeking Home.> <i>Days spent wandering, searching for food. Camp and the desire to stay. A massive garden surrounding a home built by hand. </i>Fire<i> consuming it all</i>.

    Kenji hurried to stop the sending, but it was too late. The Pok¨¦mon clearly received his memories and sensed his despair. It stepped back, shielding the younger beasts within its voluminous skirt.

    "Garde," it warned verbally, the mental link narrowing.

    <Danger, where?> <strike></strike><i>Humans, darker emotions that stabbed at the mind and body. A desperate search, looking for the predators. A need to protect. </i>

    He was quick to respond, as Kenji could feel the creature''s urge to rip the answers from his mind. He added his knowledge of the lower forest and what he knew of the Pok¨¦mon Hunters.

    <Home, not here.> <i>A rough map of his homeland, uncertain borders and landmarks. Certainty that he was not Home.</i> <Danger, Hunters below.> <i>Two Humans, dressed with the forest. Humanoid Pok¨¦mon that fought with fists and feet. A swarm captured and a foiled hunt. </i>

    Kenji received a series of conflicting emotions as the Pok¨¦mon processed his memories. The large horn glowed brighter as fury grew within, barely eased by the temporary satisfaction when he showed how he interfered in the hunt and left the Ronin behind wrapped in silk. The emotion was twisted and dark, causing Kenji to shudder as he imagined it turned towards him.

    However, the stream of images was interrupted as her skirt twitched and Kenji felt another touch against his mind. This one far more untrained, a painful fumble that was more an uneven staccato than an invitation. Jerking backwards, he nearly tripped over himself and barely recovered before he fell.

    The Gardevoir was more controlled with its movement as it glided backwards, the strange dress parting to reveal too-thin legs and the young Pok¨¦mon.

    The brown, furry one wilted at the glare of the evolved Type Beast while the child-like creature glared back.

    "Ralts," <i>Danger. Fear. Determination. </i>

    The sending from the young beast was weak and uncontrolled, less thoughts and more emotion. The older Pok¨¦mon did nothing to shield Kenji from the foreign feelings, leaving Kenji off balance as he was forced to separate the other mind from his own. Worse, the older Pok¨¦mon decided to respond in kind.

    <i>Negation. Desire to stay. Need to protect. </i>

    Unfortunately, the sending did not provoke the response that it must have been seeking. The humanoid Type Beast stood straighter while even the scared four-legged one stood up and lightly bared its teeth.

    While sharp, they did not have the ferocious affect the beast likely intended.

    "Ee, eev," it barked out, only shaking a little as the red eyes turned on it. "Vee."

    The Pok¨¦mon considered the younger beasts carefully, calculating eyes shifting between the two. When the smile opened once more to reveal the painfully sharp teeth behind its lips, Kenji shuddered along with the two small Pok¨¦mon.

    "Gar, voir, garde," the powerful beast stated. <i>Trees scared by blades. Seasons passing. The scene repeated, both Pok¨¦mon more evolved and battle hardened.</i>

    The two young beasts glanced at each other, murmuring too quietly for Kenji to hear. When they finished, the two looked to their elder.

    "Ral," the child-like Pok¨¦mon said firmly.

    "Vee," the furry beast yipped.

    The tall, thin creature regarded them seriously. She lowered her arm, freeing Flutter from the technique as she did so. However, the unnatural suppression of his links continued.

    The butterfly squealed angrily and swung around to regard her attacker, only to pause when she saw the larger Pok¨¦mon. The Beautifly retreated back towards Kenji, but not without another begrudging chirp.

    "It''s ok, girl," he said lowly to the flying bug. "I don''t think she means us harm."

    <Agreement. Leave.>

    Kenji received a sense of amused confirmation from the beast, as though a Leavanny watching a Starly try to fight. Much like the Guardian, it was clear that the thin Pok¨¦mon disliked his presence on their plateau and wanted him gone.

    "Help?" he asked tentatively. "How do I get down?" As he asked the Pok¨¦mon, he sent a feeling of confusion and fear, along with the long fall to the ground below.

    The beast stared at him for several heartbeats, making Kenji want to fidget. He resisted the urge and met the creature''s eyes as steadily as he could.

    "Arde," the Pok¨¦mon almost seemed to sigh.

    She turned and walked into the forest. The only indication Kenji was given to follow was the continued connection to her mind. He hurried to pick up his pack and withdrawn bond, the turtle still hidden within his shell, before striding after the Gardevoir.

    The young beasts did not move until he did, the child-like one scrambling onto its companion''s back.

    Surprisingly, Kenji found himself suppressing a smile at the sight. Though he was not sure how successful he was at hiding his amusement considering the glares and sense of indignation that the two sent his way.

    His guide led him on a convoluted path through the forest, circling trees or pausing for several beats before continuing. Kenji tried to mimic the Type Beast as closely as possible. When he did not at first, the creature sent him a wave of harsh disapproval and a flat stare, her slitted pupils contracting in a clear threat.

    Afterwards, he meekly followed along with even Flutter copying the powerful Pok¨¦mon''s actions.

    At one point, the trees became viciously scarred as though by long blades. It was the only section of the lifted forest that he stumbled across to be damaged so, and he was wary of trespassing into the beast''s territory. The Gardevoir was considerably less concerned as she glided through without hesitation.

    The scars grew more numerous and fresh, some oozing sap, and the evolved beast skirted a large clearing. The open space was full of trampled grass and patches of dirt. In the middle of the clear was a mound of earth, out of place with the rest of the area. Large leaves and strange green tendrils reminiscent of fur sprout from the mound.

    When they were on the other side, Kenji craned his head backwards and skipped a step when he met the dark brown orbs peering out of the mound. They were as cold and calculating as the Gardevoir''s, and a massive leaf swayed through the air ominously.

    Kenji swallowed as he picked out the form that he took for ground. Dark amusement flowed from his guide as she sensed his apprehension.

    Tense muscles and limbs were positioned to pounce after him. Only their avoidance in entering the clearing and the two young Pok¨¦mon stayed its attack. The small fluffy beast pranced forward, the younger evolution of Gardevoir clinging to its back.

    Kenji could hear the growling and yipping to the leaf-bladed beast, the sounds fading as they continued.

    Eventually, they reached the edge of the plateau.

    The forest ended several passes away from the edge, this side as sharp of a cliff as the one climbed. The lower forest spread out before them, with the sloping mountain range to their right. However, as he stepped up to stand by the Pok¨¦mon, Kenji''s eyes caught a glimmer in the distance.

    Into the horizon, nearly a straight shot from where he stood, was a massive city.

    Towers that reminded him of stories of Violight gleamed, reflecting the lowering sun. It straddled a split in the earth, the sea separating the two halves of the city. Even from here, Kenji could tell that it was large, perhaps even greater than his kingdom''s capital. Islands dotted the ocean around it, with great constructs connecting them.

    Kenji felt his mouth fall open and a glimmer of tears obscured his sight, until he quickly rubbed them away. Looking up again, he confirmed that he was not hallucinating.

    Unable to help himself, he started to laugh.

    Soft chuckles at first, then more hysterically, Kenji cried and cheered.

    "I made it," he shouted, lifting Sprout up into the air. "We made it!"

    He jumped up and down, his flying bond joining in the celebration. The jostling roused the turtle as well, his curiosity and annoyance at the hard movements causing the young Pok¨¦mon to emerge from his shell.

    "Tur?" he cried.

    "Yes!" Kenji shouted in response. Throwing a hand forward, he continued to shout. "We''re finally free!"

    A harsh sending from the Gardevoir silenced his loud words with a strangled yelp. Anger tinged by fear flowed through the mental connection and he turned to face the Type Beast with a flinch.

    Her red eyes glared at him yet she retreated back to the safety of the woods.

    "De," she growled shortly.

    "What''s wrong, great one," he asked anxiously, glancing from civilization back to the Pok¨¦mon. "Danger?"

    She answered him with a repeat sending of humans, along with the need to protect.

    It took him a moment to understand, but when he did Kenji relaxed. The Pok¨¦mon was scared of humans hunting her, despite the distance from the city and the protection of the Guardian.

    Nevertheless, he followed her lead and stepped backwards into the forest.

    "Keeper of the Plateau," he started with a bow towards the Pok¨¦mon. "This one would be overjoyed if you could return him to the land below. Or even the city?" he added with a hopeful glance upwards.

    The Gardevoir caught his eye and looked up towards the distant civilization. He could sense her considering his emotions and thoughts, but not without a distinct sense of wariness. Her emotions made him hopeful, as it indicated that the act was within her power.

    Finally, she turned towards him fully.

    the Pok¨¦mon sent. <i>A shimmering array of color surrounding the city, waves of dense Energy to alert the makers. Frantic Humans spreading outwards from the place of cold metal. </i><Distant.> she added as an afterthought.

    Kenji''s shoulders dropped and he despaired at the thought of civilization so close yet so far away. Next to him, the Pok¨¦mon flinched and retreated away from him, both physically and mentally. Consumed as he was by the sudden depression, Kenji did not notice.

    He was wrenched free of his overpowering emotion as a violent surge swept through the connection with the Gardevoir.

    "Voir!"

    Staggering, Kenji heard her cry out and he lifted his eyes towards the powerful Type Beast.

    The rounded horn protruding from the Pok¨¦mon''s chest and back were glowing brightly, and she was cradling her head. Her three fingers dug through hair-like growth from her head as the Gardevoir''s eyes squeezed shut.

    Violently separated from the dark emotions swirling inside, Kenji felt abruptly clear minded. Standing straight, he bowed his head to the beast.

    "Many thanks, great one," he said, "I meant no harm towards you and apologize for any offense that I may have caused."

    The Pok¨¦mon took a moment to recover before meeting his eyes. Her''s burned red with the iris expanded and the pupil dilated. Bared teeth gave her a terrifyingly inhuman expression before she smoothed it away.

    Through it all, Kenji felt composed and relatively uncaring of the fear that the harsh expression should have brought on. Cocking his head, he recognized the forced suppression of his emotions as one similar to the slippery sensation currently afflicting his links.

    <You leave,> she sent to him forcefully, <There,> the Gardevoir continued as she sent him an image of a section of the lower forest away from the city and closer to the base of the plateau.

    The mental sending was one of the clearest so far, with little foreign emotions and images clouding the communication.

    "If that is agreeable with you, then I shall accept," Kenji said with a nod of thanks.

    "Garde," she said, the mental connection beginning to withdraw. Before she broke the link completely, he received another image.

    <i>Kenji, different in appearance and more firm in emotion striding towards the plateau. A climb, one easier than the first.</i>

    "You wish for me to return?" he asked with a blink of mild surprise.

    <Agreement,> she sent faintly. The connection was too weak to receive much more before it broke completely.

    "If the Guardian of the Grove allows it, then I shall return when we are stronger," he answered.

    The Pok¨¦mon smiled lightly, exposing a flicker of white teeth before her expression smoothed away. Lifting one arm, she spread her three fingers to point at Kenji and his bonds. The digits twisted too much to ever be mistaken for a human''s, as she unerringly pointed. With the other, the Gardevoir directed her arm towards the mountain.

    The Gardevoir''s aura reached out and encompassed Kenji and his bonds. Much like the strange Energy from the ritual, it was elusive and difficult for him to grasp. Rippling waves emanated both around them, before a flash of light consumed his vision. Kenji twisted and molded, feeling like he was turned inside out and upside right.

    Falling to his knees, he immediately started to throw up. Gagging and choking, he spewed the scant fruit and berries that he ate along with whatever remained in his stomach from the day before. When there was nothing left but bile, he could still feel his stomach trying to pump itself clean.

    Coughing, he wiped his mouth clean and wanted to resume vomiting when he tasted the remains in his mouth. Finally able to focus, he saw his companions fallen around him.

    Sprout was warbling weakly on the ground, limbs splayed out and eyes nearly rolling. Flutter bobbing in the air, unable to hold herself in place for long as she fought to regain control of her wings.

    The slippery sensation coating their links was gone, allowing Kenji to feel their alarm and the nauseating sensations of the teleport. The links shared their emotions and feelings, allowing the vertigo to affect them all the more.

    Eventually, the three of them recovered and Kenji was finally able to stand without tilting over.

    "That was," Kenji coughed roughly, "Was certainly an experience to remember."

    Flutter and Sprout agreed with him faintly while he started to peer at the surrounding forest. Kenji joined them as he remembered where the beast teleported them to.

    The mountains rose high behind them, its shadow beginning to stretch forwards as the sun started to set. The forest was thick, with trees that grew wide and tall. Looking up, he could make out faint rivulets that indicated a possible river on this side. However, they were too disparate for him to properly determine where the water would for a large stream.

    Turning his head forwards, Kenji tried to gauge the direction where the city would stand. With the size of it, he was sure that as long as he moved in its rough direction, he would come across it or a road that led towards the it.

    "Violight," he muttered. The kingdom was not an outright enemy of his own nation, but to call it a true ally was disingenuous. For all that, it was far better than being stuck in the kingdom of Ignis, with the fiery people constantly ready to fight.

    Kenji was broken from his considerations by an all too familiar howl. It caused an instinctive hunch to form as he tried to make himself smaller and search for the source of the terrifying sound. The roar was picked up by others, only a few able to match the coughing bellow of the first.

    "No," he moaned. "Not now, I''m so close."

    Forcing himself to move, Kenji snatched up Sprout and called for Flutter to follow him. It was difficult to gauge where the predatory howls originated from, but they did not start until he neared the mountain. As such, he raced forwards, picking up speed as he ran.

    With the gleaming city somewhere in front of him, the choice was clear.

    Kenji did not bother trying to conserve his energy as he ran. There was no point. Even Warriors had difficulty in outracing Type Beasts. His only chance was taking the lead he had now and hoping that some other prey became the focus of their hunt.

    "Flutter," he called out, "Lead the way and keep watch for the beasts," he instructed.

    The butterfly flew ahead, using a hint of Energy to speed itself along. The days carrying Sprout were already showing, as he was able to move quicker with the heavy turtle in his arms.

    The howls followed after him, the weaker roars closest.

    As he dodged around trees, a flicker in the shadows gained his attention. Turning his head, Kenji saw a four-legged beast with black fur and demonic mask of bone lunge at him.

    The beast missed, as Kenji managed to duck in time to avoid the sharp fangs poised to grab him.

    Not pausing further, Kenji felt heat bloom at his back. Turning his head, he saw a blaze of fire emerge from the beast''s mouth and spray towards him.

    Shouting wordlessly, Kenji dove sideways. He struck the ground roughly and scrambled to right himself. He spared what little thought he could to thank his past self for keeping the leather on. While there was none left to protect his arms, it was his torso that he was concerned with.

    The flame died off and left behind a lingering noxious gas that left him coughing as he resumed his frantic pace. Ash clung to his skin, uncomfortably warm.

    Instead of chasing after him, the beast unleashed an unearthly howl that drove him onwards. It was quickly picked up by others, the forest working to disguise the beasts'' locations as they echoed around him.

    Kenji found himself panting, fighting to breathe as the gas and ash burned in his lungs. His links were equally terrified, their emotions fueling each other''s fear. Flutter''s wings were singed, leaving the beast unable to move as fast as before, while Sprout whined from within his shell. The hard scales did little to protect the turtle from the gas, and he was suffering as Kenji did.

    Only one link was unaffected, the seal affecting the Pok¨¦mon shielding it from their overwhelming emotions. Kenji was momentarily distracted as he felt it flare to life, a soft sea breeze brushing against his skin for a moment and whisking away the heat burning at him.

    Darkness was closing across his vision as Kenji found it harder and harder to breathe. It was difficult to <sup>He needed to keep running</sup> move, but he forced himself forwards. His lungs ached and his skin was starting to burn as flames flared up around him. Sweat ran underneath his leathers and stuck to the ash, turning it to a light mud on his skin.

    His first bond''s aura surrounded him, helping to shield Kenji from the techniques of the Pok¨¦mon hunting him. <sup>Run, Run, Run, </sup>Several times, he was forced to leap through a wall of flames as the beasts tried to catch him. The canines were unmindful of the flames, the bones shielding their backs reflecting the bright fire.

    Flutter managed to fly over the fire, the heat creating wind that buffeted the bug. She cried out in pain and fear as embers touched her delicate wings, burning through the panels.

    Still, as fast he ran, it was impossible to avoid inhaling the bitter gas that beasts sprayed out. His vision grew dark and <i>Kenji needed to run, run as fast as he can, until there was nothing left and then run further and faster than before.</i>

    With an empty mind and a ghostly aura supporting him, Kenji fled the pack hunting him.

 Interlude: PokèŒ…mon Ranger

    Racing through the

    air, Staraptor luxuriated in the wind flowing through his feathers. The

    off-Route wilds spread out below him, the Pok¨¦mon living below recognizing his

    superiority in the air. There were only a few flocks of Starly and Staravia

    about, the younger birds avoiding his presence.

    The rocky mountains

    generated thermals that lifted him high into the sky as he patrolled. He barely

    had to flap his wings to keep them aloft, returning to the vicinity of the

    mountain range only to rise back into the sky.

    It had been some

    time since he was able to fly so far. As one of the older ranger partners, he

    did not often get the chance to truly fly wild and free. Longer patrols were

    often given to the young Ranger Pok¨¦mon and their partners. It was seen as a

    testing ground for the young Rangers while the older ones fought fiercely for

    the few slots remaining.

    Not all saw the

    multi-day patrols as a punishment.

    Besides, it was good

    to show some of the young upstarts strutting around that the old guard was

    still strong.

    Clacking his beak to

    dispel the dark thoughts disturbing his good mood, Staraptor shrieked out to

    the wilds. He dared some hatchling to challenge him and warned others of his

    dominance of the sky.

    "Star!"

    his shriek pierced the skies and filled the air.

    He could hear it

    echo down below, the warning cry doing much to lift his mood. There was nothing

    outside the city that could contest his superiority in the air. Within the

    shining towers of metal and glass, the rules were different and more

    constraining. He disdained the mock battles that consumed much of the other

    Pok¨¦mon in the city, though he begrudgingly recognized the strength that they

    obtained.

    Nevertheless, there

    was nothing compared to the power gained in the Wilds.

    "You tell ''em,

    Staraptor," his partner called out.

    She had to shout to

    be heard, the moving air and her flying gear blocking much of her voice. On his

    back, he could feel her dig her fingers into his neck to scratch just the way

    he liked.

    Flapping, he could

    not help the rumble of pleasure that escaped. While he was used to a more

    seasoned Ranger, even he could admit that his current partner knew how to care

    for his feathers. She was diligent like that, often too diligent.

    His latest charge,

    Staraptor suspected that the Commander paired them for both their sakes. She

    was studious and rule bound in a way that made his tail feathers twitch. The

    old monster''s methods were not as subtle as he thought.

    At the same time he

    was meant to help her, she was supposed to rein him in.

    Twitching his head

    to indicate that she could stop, Staraptor returned his attention back to the

    late patrol. This was as much a test as it was a mission for his partner and he

    would not allow her to fail. While there was little chance of any excitement,

    neither of them could afford to miss the slightest detail.

    Otherwise, they

    would be forced to wait a while before they could take another long-ranging

    mission.

    Below, Staraptor

    could hear the deathly hunting calls of the Houndoom pack as they awoke. The

    howls spread far and wide, as it was picked up by outlying packs. The numerous

    roars of the earthbound Pok¨¦mon indicated that the hunt would be a lasting one,

    meant to feed them for many cycles.

    Banking slightly, he

    shifted his feathers to cast a wider patrol. Lately, the pack has been riled up

    over something and the fiery canines would be further aggravated if they

    thought he was going to steal their prey.

    "Tor," he

    huffed with a chirp.

    As if he would

    debase himself to eat the char they called food.

    "Odd, it''s

    rather early for the Houndoom to be hunting," his partner commented from

    atop his back.

    She was the one to

    keep notes of such observations and report them to command. While useful, he

    often overhead other Ranger''s complaints about her pages of detailed analysis.

    Ruffling his

    feathers in an imitation of a human shrug, Staraptor turned his gaze to forest

    below in effort to spy the pack''s chosen prey. They would have to be preying

    upon a particularly vicious or large Pok¨¦mon to need such numbers. Such would

    be a bad hunt.

    More likely, one of

    the pack''s mutts was preyed upon during their celebratory hunt on the past

    darkest night. The canines were fiercely protective of their pack mates, and

    were now likely taking out their rage on the surroundings. It was a harsh

    reminder that the canines were not the top predators in the area.

    Still, even

    Staraptor could admit that the past moonless night was . . .

    Eventful.

    Staraptor grinded

    his beak at the memory of a Haunter daring to trespass upon his nest.

    A few swipes of his

    Steel Energy coated wings was all it took to disabuse the foolish ghost of its

    conceptions regarding Staraptor''s fragility. Even if he did accidentally carve

    apart a wall or two, it was worth it to see the cruel jester''s face.

    Others, however,

    were not so fortunate as him.

    The Rangers were

    overwhelmed by the sheer amount of Red Priority missions and were forced to

    contract Ace Trainers for assistance. The Commander hated to do it, yet all

    recognized that there was no other option. Just like the Houndoom, something

    had the Ghosts all riled up. They merely had different methods of expressing

    it.

    Smoothing his raised

    feathers, Staraptor twined Energy towards his eyes. The evening shadows were

    beginning to grow, and it was often around the twilight that the patrols became

    exciting.

    He winged his way

    around the forest below, keeping from straying past the mountains. The wilds

    between the range and the coast were dangerous, even for him. With his partner

    on his back, the risk was far too high.

    Once more, the raspy

    howls of the Houndoom pack rang out. Their deep-throated roars were scared by

    the gas and flame they breathed out, giving the Pok¨¦mon their signature howl.

    The canines were warning others to not interfere. Fire and smoke blazed beneath

    him as they started to guide their prey.

    Cocking his head,

    Staraptor felt both insulted and amused by the warning given by the hunting

    Pok¨¦mon. It was far too early in the evening for the hatchlings to be

    threatening one such as him.

    "Raptor!"

    he shrieked back.

    Staraptor circled

    over the area they claimed as their own several times before tilting a wing to

    soar away. It would not do for the Dark-Types to assume that he easily gave

    into their demands. Even if this was off-Route, it was important for Rangers to

    maintain a certain level of hierarchy.

    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Swerving away from

    the city, Staraptor idly wondered how far he could push before his partner

    turned them back.

    Of the two of them,

    she was most certainly the more abiding of the Ranger''s Guide than him. He was

    aware of the rules of course, considering his history and training. But more

    importantly, one needed to know how they could stretch and bend.

    Staraptor was

    violently torn from his thoughts as he felt a powerful presence brush across

    his mind. The rough touch heralded with it the sickly-sweet scent of rotting

    decay and blooming life.

    Jerking in alarm, he

    let out an undignified squawk as he instinctively tucked in his wings and

    dropped in the air. He heard his partner cry out in surprise at the unexpected

    fall. Fortunately, being a stickler for rules, she was fully strapped in unlike

    some of the other young Rangers.

    He recovered

    quickly, spreading out his wings as he agitated the pool of Energy within his

    body. It would do little to completely prevent a psychic attack, but it would

    help him resist the attacker''s mental effects.

    To alert his

    partner, Staraptor purposefully puffed up the feathers along his skull to

    indicate to her an approaching hostile. Only when he felt her acknowledgement

    with a quick series of taps did he respond to the mental touch.

    Easing on the Energy

    protecting his mind, he forced his thoughts to the forefront, where the other

    Pok¨¦mon could easily pick them up.

    <Who soars the

    hidden skies?> he questioned with authority.

    Pok¨¦mon capable of

    touching the minds of others were few and far between. Those that could

    typically knew better than to do so with a Ranger. If this was one that

    remained unaware of such rules, then he would gladly assist with its

    instruction.

    In response to his

    thoughts, Staraptor felt the connection form again. The scent of rot and growth

    returned, making him want to hack up a bile of pellets. Worse, he was better

    able to sense the strength of the other Pok¨¦mon. Before he could grasp at the implications,

    the Vengeful Warden overwhelmed his mind with foreign senses.

    <i>Barks and whines of Houndoom and their lesser

    brethren. A pup struck low before it could first breathe flame. A forbidden

    hunt, with the promise of restoration.</i>

    The scene abruptly

    shifted, causing Staraptor''s flight to become more uneven. Only his spread

    wings and affinity for the skies kept the two of the aloft as he struggled to

    comprehend the sendings of the powerful Pok¨¦mon.

    <i>A Human, lost and touched by death. Energy filled the

    seedling-child. Smoke and embers clung to the boy''s form as he fled hunting

    predators. </i>

    The other mind

    withdrew, allowing Staraptor to regain control of himself. He beat his wings to

    regain the height he lost, using the time to formulate a response. The Vengeful

    Warden''s intentions were clear, even if the Ranger was not already duty bound to

    rescue the human child.

    However, it was more

    than a little odd for the Warden to be interested in a human trespassing in its

    territory, hatchling or not.

    Smoothing his raised

    crest, Staraptor pumped his wings to better angle his body. As he did so, he

    screeched a low warning to his Ranger partner, alerting her to prepare for

    harsh maneuvers. While he waited for her to follow protocol, Staraptor

    communicated with the Warden still connected to his mind.

    As a longtime

    companion to humans, he was better able to communicate as they did. Only wild

    and untrained Pok¨¦mon used pure emotion and senses when psychically

    communicating. It was testament to the Vengeful Warden''s skill and strength

    that it was able to be understood at such a distance from its nest.

    <Warden, it is

    not often you intervene on the behalf of human trespassers,> he sent in an

    open question. The Warden''s hostility to humans was known even in the city,

    with Command ordering a no-fly perimeter around its known territory.

    A mental chuff

    preceded the powerful Pok¨¦mon''s reply. For Staraptor, it was a near physical

    sensation, one he was physically incapable of making.

    <Interest,>

    the Warden sent simply before showing Staraptor scenes of the human hatchling.

    <i>An alarming arrival, a Ghost powerful enough to make

    even him wary. Care freely given to a seedling destined to become one with the

    forest. Acknowledgment of wrongs inflicted on the land. Assistance offered and

    received in healing a Roselia''s glade. </i>

    <i>Energy that pervaded the human''s body in a

    not-unfamiliar manner</i>.

    The mental sending

    broke off quickly, but not before Staraptor sensed the Warden''s increased

    interest in the hatchling. There was no threat, not yet at least, but the

    powerful Pok¨¦mon clearly had a reason for the human''s eventual safety.

    Nevertheless, rescue

    was one of a Ranger''s many duties. Turning his mind away from the mental

    connection, he felt it fade slowly as the Warden''s power left him. The sense of

    fury and rage left with it, leaving Staraptor feeling the need to groom

    himself.

    Setting aside the

    sensation, Staraptor gathered his Energy as he waited for his partner to signal

    her readiness. She tapped quickly on his crest and he could faintly feel her

    grip the harness tighter.

    Performing a tight

    spin, he re-orientated himself on the rising smoke. Flames licked at the forest

    below, struggling to burn the green wood without the canine''s assistance. With

    Energy channeled into his keen eyes, he was able to pick out the ruffling of

    the trees as creatures moved beneath. The desperate howls of the Houndoom pack

    further guided him as he searched for their prey.

    Staraptor pulled on

    his affinity for the skies, gathering the air underneath his wings. Energy

    flooded his body, reinforcing muscle and bone. When he was ready, Staraptor

    burst forward with a stream of wind speeding him along.

    His partner leaned

    forward, smoothing their passage through the air and forcing him to add minute

    corrections. He could sense her confusion at his actions but, like a good

    partner, she did not question him. She would understand either way when they

    found the endangered human hatchling and respond appropriately.

    Even with the Energy

    reinforcing his body, each beat of Staraptor''s wings strained his joints as he

    propelled the two of them across the sky. An expertly controlled Tailwind was

    throwing them forwards, moving the two as fast as safely possible. If the situation

    grew dire enough, he would be able to speed them along further, but not without

    lasting injury.

    Already, he knew

    that he would be confined to several cycles of rest to recover.

    Arriving near the

    edge of the hunt, Staraptor angled his feathers to turn their forward flight

    into a harsh spiral with minimal loss of momentum. If they had more time, he

    would have avoided subjecting his partner to such forces. However, they needed

    to rapidly search the area to find the hatchling before the pack did.

    Circling the area,

    his sharp eyes picked out movement below, dismissing any that he deemed

    unlikely to be from the human. To help aid his search, Staraptor flicked his

    impressive crest of feathers out of his eye to keep it from impeding his view.

    No matter how much he detested the careless rearrangement of his crown, losing

    the human, and a hatchling at that, would be just as severe, if not more so.

    Houndoom were not

    known for their mercy.

    "Staraptor,

    there!" his partner shouted, the screaming wind tearing away at her words.

    She risked herself to point and arm towards a section of the forest.

    "Right wing!"

    Grumbling internally

    at his partner having spotted their quarry first, he directed his gaze along

    her outstretched limb.

    Below, flickers of

    fire bloomed as dark shapes moved between the trees. Flashes of sparkling gold

    captured his attention, leading his eyes to spot the fast moving human. A

    construction of wood and silk was strapped to the boy''s back, hunching the

    hatchling over as he desperately ran.

    Chirping to indicate

    that he saw, Staraptor tucked in his wings and dove. He gathered Energy around

    his body to shield himself as they fell, preparing to transform the Tailwind.

    While he did so, his

    mind quickly processed the details.

    The smoke was thin

    and the fire faint, indicating that the forerunners were younger Houndour

    instead of their more aggressive evolved forms. While Staraptor was confident

    that he could deal with the weaker canines, the enraged howls that picked up

    told him he would not be given the time to do so. That the pack was so intent

    on hunting a human, prey that they have long learned to avoid, was worrying.

    Close to the

    treetops, enough that his feather brushed the upper leaves, Staraptor spread

    his wings to slow their descent. At the same time, he channeled the powerful

    wind behind him into a strong Whirlwind that blew apart the tree limbs blocking

    their path. Smoke and noxious gas was dispersed, as were the faint embers that

    still clung to life.

    The young human was

    left exposed and Staraptor quickly dropped to the forest floor with his Ranger

    partner.

    As they neared the

    ground, she freed herself with the ease of long practice and leapt the

    remaining distance. Her strong body absorbed the force of landing, not even

    stumbling in place. With one hand, she whipped out her Ranger styler while the

    other splayed outwards to shield the hatchling behind her.

    Staraptor flapped to

    the ground in front of her, hiding the aches brought on by their rough arrival.

    He lifted his head to glare down at the young Houndour that leapt out of the

    forest to surround them.

    The small canines

    were sooty and covered in straps of bone to protect their bodies while a mask

    of it covered their skull.

    Staraptor wanted to

    snap his beak with annoyance, knowing that the ash from the young Pok¨¦mon were

    going to stain his feathers.

 32: Ranger Sherry

    Sherry peered down at the forest below, reinforced goggles shielding her eyes from the cold wind. The harness was tight, digging into her legs, but the regulations stated to do so for Ranger and Pok¨¦mon safety. This was her longest Mission yet, ranging all the way to the mountains, with dispensation to camp as necessary.

    Three days into her patrol and she already had several pages of notes and documentation for Command to review. Beautifly and Dustox were abundant in the area, nearly half a month earlier than some of their most extreme cases. Her handwritten records and verbal analysis of the event covered nearly a page and tens of minutes.

    The Ranger''s Guide was lax when it came to proper documentation of anomalies, a note that she added to the many already sent to the Union for correction.

    Returning her focus to the area below, Sherry chided herself for the inattention. Other Rangers often spoke about the difficulty in maintaining focus over such a long period of time away from civilization. The Guide and other manuals were dedicated to training Rangers for such events, but the best training was experience.

    Merely another sign that it was time for their patrol to come to an end.

    "Star!" her partner Pok¨¦mon cried.

    The Staraptor''s screech pierced the skies, punctuating Sherry''s thoughts about the end of their mission. While she knew it was time to head back to base, part of her was going to miss the brief return to isolation that she experienced.

    She smiled at her partner''s cry, the old bird likely recognizing her falling mood. While not one of her original team from her Journey days, Sherry found the Staraptor to be an excellent companion.

    "You tell ''em, Staraptor," she called out.

    The bird Pok¨¦mon was prone to flights of fancy, and she often found herself supporting them despite recommendations not to. Reaching underneath his feathery mane, she scratched the skin beneath.

    The other Rangers liked to talk about how he was headstrong and a difficult partner to be paired with, yet the two of them simply clicked in a way she had not felt since her Journey.

    When Staraptor twitched his head, she removed her hand and settled it back onto the harness. The leather straps were bending his feathers and she knew that they would be spending several hours straightening his coat. His species was well known for their prideful appearance, and while the Pok¨¦mon enjoyed the roaming patrols, he loathed how the flying harness disrupted his feathers.

    From below, the chilling howls of the Houndoom and their pups filled the air as they woke. The rough bellows were picked up by others, indicating that they were beginning to hunt.

    "Tor," her partner chirped lightly. Staraptor was already responding, moving away from the hunting grounds.

    "Odd," she said aloud, "It''s rather early for the Houndoom to be hunting."

    Sherry frowned as she looked down at the forest. The unusual time of the hunt was only another indication of something strange about the wilds. There was no single, major event, simply a small series of oddities. It would be something for her to point out to Command, though the Rangers were already overwhelmed by the events of the last full moon.

    If it were not for some of the more traditional families and the Ace Trainers that they were able to call in, then things could have turned out far worse.

    Ghosts swarming the city, some playing harmless pranks while many more were cruel and outright predatory. Dark Types were likewise riled up, fighting each other and any that crossed their path. Even one of the station''s was targeted, forcing Staraptor to defend the building and its residents, destroying several walls in the process.

    While the locals merely regarded it as merely part of the monthly Lunar Festival, Sherry knew better.

    A quiet report, handed down by the Commander and originating from the Gym Leader himself, said as much. There were no details, at least not any available to a Ranger of her rank, only a word to everyone to be on guard.

    Of course, the report was made nearly two months ago, but that meant little to the Canalave''s Gym Leader. Byron''s Pok¨¦mon were well known and it was not uncommon for Psychic Types to have premonitions of current or future events.

    For all that, Sherry could only do as she was instructed. She kept a close eye on the city and its surroundings, her reports becoming far more detailed. She believed it was one of the reasons that she was assigned this mission in the first place, as her attention to regulation had not gone unnoticed by others.

    Though ''aggravating'' and ''overwhelming'' were not how she would have described it.

    Regardless, she noted her fellow Ranger''s sensitive and agitated mental states.

    As Staraptor circled back around to the hunting perimeter, their strident howls picked up. The canine''s fervent urging for them to leave elicited another frown from her. And, judging by his cocked head, Staraptor as well.

    "Raptor!" her partner shrieked.

    If it were not for her earplugs, Sherry was sure that she would have been deafened by the bird''s returning call. The bird flew in a tight circle several times, purposefully aggravating the Houndoom pack below.

    She lightly sighed with relief when he swerved away from the fire breathing Pok¨¦mon. Even if they were too far to be attacked, there was still plenty that the canines could do that would make her, and other Rangers, lives difficult.

    Or worse.

    Besides, the smoke and gas from the demonic fire was starting to filter through her scarf and make her choke.

    As such, when Staraptor suddenly dropped in the sky, she nearly screamed.

    Fortunately, her straps held strong, keeping her from sliding out of the harness. Gripping tight to the straps, she kept her body loose as Staraptor regained control of himself with a squawk of alarm. If that was not enough to alert her, then his raised crest feathers did.

    Something spooked the veteran Pok¨¦mon Ranger, badly enough that he wanted her alert Command.

    Sherry tapped out a quick acknowledgement on the bird''s back, using a simple system known by all Rangers. After doing so, she carefully released one hand to grab at her Capture Styler. The device was strapped to her side, with only a few buttons to press. It connected to her earpiece and goggles, connecting the three for easier communication.

    Touching one of the buttons, she called Canalave Command. Protocol dictated an alert for every encounter, or possible encounter, that a Ranger was involved.

    Through the earpiece, Sherry heard the Ranger on duty respond along with translucent captions appearing on her heads-up display.

    {CC: Canalave Command. Report. Over.} The voice was professional and even, though difficult to hear over the moving air. The words were short and terse, a necessity when speed and limited distraction was of the essence.

    {Staraptor, possible hostile. Over.} Unable to be heard clearly, Sherry subvocalized her response. As a result, the message was short and, without more information, unspecific.

    {CC: Confirm Hostile. Over.} This time a sense of worry could be heard in the other Ranger''s voice, a sign that they were either new or there was a reason to be worried.

    Sherry''s mind flashed back to the Gym Leader''s report.

    {CC: Negative. Over.} Sherry sent back, annoyed at herself for the lack of specifics. As someone who often worked the Command call room, she knew full well the aggravation that came with empty responses.

    Sherry was distracted from whatever Command responded with as Staraptor smoothed his feathers and harshly flapped his wings with another screech. The bird angled his body, forcing her to respond in kind. She could not help but notice that they were quickly pointing towards the active Houndoom hunt and Koda Grove beyond.

    More importantly, she recognized the specific cry he used.

    Quickly, she communicated back with Command.

    {Staraptor engaging. Hostile Unknown. Over and Out.}

    Message sent, Sherry double checked her straps and laid low against her partner''s feathered body. She tapped low on his feathery mane, signaling her readiness and hurriedly grabbed the handholds. She could feel her knuckles ache as she tightened her fists.

    The bird performed a tight spin, wind gathering beneath his wings. It tugged at her body as well, encouraging her to fall into its embrace. Sherry refused and left her stomach behind as Staraptor suddenly lanced forwards. A powerful Tailwind fueled their flight, allowing them to cross kilometers in mere moments.

    Air screamed past, and Sherry forced herself closer to the Pok¨¦mon''s body. They were reaching speeds that could break a limb and tear her free, harness or not.

    Sherry wondered at what had her partner so spooked. While the bird enjoyed long flights in an open sky, it was not often that he pushed his body so. Despite the attitude of a freshly evolved Pok¨¦mon, they both knew he was nearing retirement age for his kind.

    Forced to follow along, Sherry felt it when her partner started to quickly circle the area. The rough movement was jerking her body around, with the tight circles causing black to creep in at the edge of her vision. She bared her teeth against the pain and forced herself to remain conscious, tensing her legs to keep the blood from pooling.

    Turning her head, she searched for whatever galvanized Staraptor to such a state. Smoke obscured her vision, but the Union issued goggles were able to pick out heat signatures. The fire still proved to be a hindrance, but she was able to quickly pick out several fast moving shapes below.

    One led the others, the smaller forms burning hotter and narrowing their lead.

    "Staraptor," Sherry shouted for her partner''s attention. Ripping an arm free of the straps, she fought against the strong wind to point it forward of his wing. "There! Right wing!" she added in case the bird could not see her outstretched arm.

    She saw his head twitch in response. Sherry felt, more than heard, Staraptor chirp. The bird had far better eyes than her, and now that he knew where to look he could likely see the target.

    Once more, her stomach was left behind as the large bird tucked in his wings and dove. She could feel the wind gather around them as they neared the trees. In a flick of motion, Staraptor snapped out his wings, halting their rapid fall with a strained cry.

    The Tailwind blew past, transforming into a Whirlwind that blew away the surrounding branches and smoke.

    They quickly dropped further, following the wind, and Sherry hurried to release herself. The harness was meant to allow for such a quick action, allowing her to slip free and fall the rest of the dozen or so feet to the ground. As an added benefit, the fall allowed her time to take in the scene.

    A kid with some kind of hand-made pack was pressed up against a tree. He looked to be carrying something heavy in his hands, though she could not make it out in time. There was a Beautifly bobbing around him, squealing in fear.

    Sherry landed with a grunt, absorbing the shock with her knees. In the same motion, she ripped free her Capture Styler and threw her other arm just in time for several Houndour to leap out to surround them.

    Staraptor landed in front of her, wings close to his body and head lifted up to peer down at the younger Pok¨¦mon.

    The Houndoom were no longer bellowing their rage and the forest was silent except for the crackling of the flames. The unevolved canines were snarling, leaking a weak smog that would have left her choking if it were not for the scarf shielding her mouth.

    Tensing her arm, she was prepared to launch the Capture Disc from her styler. The device would help soothe the wild Pok¨¦mon and keep them from attacking.

    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    However, before she could, Staraptor interrupted her. The large bird flickered a wing out, blocking her arm, just in time for three Houndoom to burst out of the undergrowth in quick succession.

    Sherry cursed her lapse in focus. Had she been paying attention to her surroundings, she would have noticed the larger heat signatures closing in. Instead, she was consumed by the Pok¨¦mon in front of her.

    If it were not for her partner''s quick thinking, she would have left herself vulnerable to the Houndoom. Seeing her attempt to capture their packmates would have enraged the Dark Types even further. Subduing an entire pack against their will was far beyond her capabilities.

    Grimacing at the situation, Sherry was quickly thinking through her options when a shriek from Staraptor interrupted her. She could not see her partner''s face, but the large bird''s feathers ruffled as he took time to tuck his wing back in.

    The Houndoom loomed behind their younger packmates, encouraging each other as they inched forward. However, at Staraptor''s screech they stopped. The older Pok¨¦mon growled and stepped forward of the Houndour, recognizing that the younger canines would be of little help should a fight break out. Their species was highly protective of each other, entire packs rallying in defense of a single pup.

    Sherry narrowed her eyes in sudden suspicion. There was little reason for a Trainer to be this far off-Route, and she did not recall any recent authorizations. And surrounded by Dark-Types, it was not like she could radio in to check, or even update Command.

    If the kid tried taking one of their pups, then there was little chance any of them were going to escape unscathed.

    The Houndoom spread out, trying to circle out her and Staraptor. However, her partner was having none of it.

    The large bird snapped his break with a crack of noise.

    "Tor," he chirped harshly.

    "Hou, hou," One of the Houndoom stepped forward and snarled at her Ranger partner.

    Sherry noted that it was female, and fought to keep herself from tensing. While males could be more aggressive at the onset, a matriarch would fight to the death in defense of one her pups.

    The Houndour yipped and whined with the pack leader before they were silenced by one of the other Houndoom.

    The sudden approach and growls of the wild Pok¨¦mon must have alarmed the young man as he started to move around. Gesturing with her arm, she hoped he understood what she was trying to communicate. The pack was clearly agitated and could attack at the slightest provocation.

    Sherry watched Staraptor and the Houndoom closely, which was why she caught her partner twitch his head to look at the Houndour. She followed suit, inspecting the younger Pok¨¦mon closer.

    At a first glance, they appeared healthy, with dark fur and gray, ivory shielding their backs and skulls. The fur on their undersides was a healthy orange, with plenty of fat and muscle on their bones. Their bodies and the dark smoke they emitted seemed to absorb the light around them as the hounds huddled together.

    She frowned at their actions. The Houndour should have been more confident, almost arrogantly so, in the presence of their pack elders. Looking closer, Sherry noticed that one of the young Pok¨¦mon was crouched behind its packmates.

    The hounds were shielding it with their bodies, she realized.

    From what Sherry could see of the small Pok¨¦mon, its fur was lighter than others, instead of the healthy black it should have been. Similarly, the protective ivory was scratched and marred. Unlike its packmates, the Houndour was visibly weaker, panting and hanging its head low to the ground.

    Sherry returned her eyes to the pack leader standing proudly before them. If Houndour were obsessive in protecting their packmates, then their more evolved form was outright aggressive.

    Still, there was little chance that the child was responsible for the Pok¨¦mon''s condition. Which made their hunt all the more confusing. While they were off-Route, it was not as if they were in the true Wilds. Pok¨¦mon were aware of the Rangers and knew better than to pursue humans or Trainers to such a degree.

    She was pulled out of her thoughts when Staraptor chirped.

    "Rap," her partner clacked out, raising himself up to look down upon the other Pok¨¦mon.

    "Und. Oom," the Houndoom leader growled, with an eye towards the other hounds. The Pok¨¦mon retreated, the evolved Pok¨¦mon shielding the pups as they backed away to a more comfortable distance.

    Staraptor dismissed the hounds with a flick of his crest and glared down the canine for another moment. With another clack of his beak, the large bird arrogantly dismissed the other Pok¨¦mon and turned around. He strutted past her towards the child.

    Sherry wanted to follow her partner, but knew that it would be a mistake. The hound''s Dark Type nature and wild upbringing would encourage her to take advantage if none were watching. Unable to see what he was doing, Sherry saw something fly by as the bird blew it forward on a gust of wind.

    A small flower drifted to the Houndoom''s paws before it was carefully snatched up with her jaws. Sherry managed to catch a glimpse of bright pink petals before the canine hid the flower. The Pok¨¦mon growled lightly, and slowly backed away.

    The rest of the pack were the first to go, quickly disappearing into the surrounding undergrowth. Just before the matriarch disappeared, Staraptor stopped her with a shriek.

    "Raptor," the bird cried out.

    Sherry jumped in surprise, shocked as the Houndoom who tensed with narrowed eyes.

    "Tor, star," her partner snapped. To her ears, the large bird sounded . . . admonishing?

    The female Houndoom stared Staraptor down before turning her red eyes on Sherry. She met the Pok¨¦mon''s gaze evenly, showing neither fear nor aggression. The hound growled in assent before quickly backing away and disappearing into the forest.

    As soon as the Pok¨¦mon was out of eyesight, Sherry spun around. She was ready to begin berating the Trainer for rousing the fury of a wild Houndoom pack, not to mention interrogate him about why he was so far off-Route without authorization.

    Her words stuck in her throat, however, as her eyes landed on the young man.

    Dark ash, likely still hot from Houndour mouths, covered nearly every centimeter of the boy. What little she could make out beneath the ash appeared to be severely burned. The mound in his arms was resolved to be a shell vaguely reminiscent of a Turtwig, though one covered in ash and bare of soil.

    What was truly worried her, though, was his eyes.

    They were shadowed and dull, unseeing of the world around him. As she moved towards him, he did not follow her actions as a normal person would.

    Sherry was momentarily distracted as her goggles flashed, indicating a restored connection and waiting message from Command. The Dark-Type Energy interfered with the instruments signals, not to the point of damage thankfully, and with their departure she could now contact the base.

    Ignoring the message for now, Sherry stepped up to the teenager.

    The Beautifly fluttering behind him squealed loudly, trying to impose herself between them. Staraptor intervened with a soft cry, jumping forward to clack to the butterfly Pok¨¦mon. Focusing on the Trainer, Sherry tried to speak soothingly to him. Fortunately for her, such interactions were covered by the Ranger Guide, with additional manuals for first-aid in the field.

    "Remain calm," she gently ordered. "Everything is going to be okay, sir. Can you tell me what happened?" she asked.

    As she suspected, the Trainer remained oblivious to her words, not reacting in the slightest.

    "Sir, I can take this from you. Is it your partner?" she said, reaching for the shell grasped to his chest. Her goal was to simply offer soft words in an effort to keep him delving further into shock.

    When Sherry touched the turtle shell, one that she suspected was  an unhealthy Turtwig, the boy reacted.

    He did not lash out, merely curled tighter around the shell Pok¨¦mon and held onto the withdrawn turtle protectively. Likewise, the Beautifly squealed loudly and tried to rush Sherry. Only Staraptor''s intervention kept the large butterfly from assaulting her.

    "Ok, ok," she said, immediately removing her hands. "If you want to hold onto your Pok¨¦mon, that is fine."

    Carefully and slowly, Sherry moved her hands to his back and tried to guide him into laying down.

    "Sir, please lay down, and I will be able to better assist you. Everything is going to be fine," she repeated.

    The teenager was not resistant to her efforts, but neither was he helpful. After some physical urging, she managed to ease him onto his back. The heavy shell unbalanced and nearly sent him tumbling forcing her to catch him before he fell.

    Quickly, she assessed the Trainer''s condition. Despite the urgency, she moved steadily. The manuals and lessons emphasized the importance of a calm mind while administering first aid.

    His pulse was low, worryingly so after what must have been an exhausting and terrifying chase. Inspecting his wounds garnered as much response as her words did, leaving her unsure as to the severity of his wounds. Rudimentary leathers covered his chest and forearms, protecting his vital organs from the worst of the flames.

    At the very least, the young Trainer was suffering from second- and third-degree burns. Houndour flame did not burn as hot or long as Houndoom fire, leaving recovery possible.

    If he was treated soon.

    Once Sherry was sure that the teenager was not at risk of death, she checked the message from Command. As she suspected, it was simply a request for an update. Pressing the call button on her Styler, she replaced it with a diagnostic cuff. While she waited for the operator to answer, she wrapped it around the boy''s healthiest limb. It automatically connected to her Styler and goggles, recording the Trainer''s vitals.

    They flashed an ominous red that left her jaw clenching.

    "Canalave Command. Report. Over."

    The operator''s voice was bored and flat, Sherry noted even as she started to speak over him. Like before, the word appeared in the heads-up display built into her goggles but were easily ignored.

    As soon as Sherry heard the click indicating that her call was picked up, she began to speak, not waiting for the other Ranger to finish. As she did so, she stood up and pulled out a special Pok¨¦ Ball.

    "Emergency, emergency, emergency," she chanted quickly and clearly. "This is Ranger Sherry, with an injured Trainer. He is unresponsive and suffering moderate to severe Houndour burns across his body. With him is one Turtwig, withdrawn and unresponsive, and a Beautifly lightly burned.

    "Emergency, emergency, emergency," Sherry started again. "I repeat: This is Ranger Sherry, with one injured Trainer. He is unresponsive and suffering Houndour burns. One Turtwig, withdrawn and unresponsive. One Beautifly, lightly wounded."

    Through the earpiece, Sherry could hear scrambling on the other end as the operator processed her words. The other Ranger cursed as clattering sounded out, and Sherry mentally noted the lack of professionalism for the report she was going to have to file later.

    As she spoke, Sherry pointed the black and red Pok¨¦ Ball away from her. It was decorated with the simplified image of harness, the red beam resolving into a sturdy stretcher crossed with straps.

    The Beautifly trilled in surprise, bobbing in surprise from Sherry''s actions. Staraptor cooed, trying to soothe the upset Pok¨¦mon.

    Leaping into action, she heard the call operator finally begin to respond as she prepared the stretcher for transport. It was folded up, a requirement for storage within the capsule. Being constructed from ethically sourced Pok¨¦mon materials, it was still aggravating to properly store according to regulation.

    "Emergency acknowledged. One Trainer, unresponsive and burned. One Turtwig, withdrawn. One Beautifly." the other Ranger unsteadily answered. His voice was reedy and unsure, bringing a small frown to Sherry''s mouth. "Prepare for Teleport!" he practically shouted, panic creeping in.

    "Negative!" Sherry snapped. She was forced to pause in her actions as she forcefully explained herself. "Subject is suffering Houndour burns and is contaminated with Dark-Type Energy."

    Sherry took a breath before continuing. Her next words were the real reason she deemed an emergency Teleport non-viable. However, the words would be a black mark against the Trainer, even if she was proven wrong.

    "Additionally, subject is exhibiting characteristics of possession by a Ghost-Type."

    At her words, silence fell on the other line. It was shortly broken by another voice, one that she recognized.

    "Sherry, are you sure?" the watch captain asked. "You can''t take this back if you''re wrong."

    Sherry internally flinched at the rough sound of her superior''s voice. That he was on the line told her more than she wanted to know. While the other Ranger was likely in-training, supervisors were not the ones who trained them. That duty was left to other low-ranking Area Rangers.

    No, Ranger Richard was likely monitoring her.

    Despite her nerves, Sherry kept her voice steady and controlled.

    "Affirmative, sir. Subject appears conscious but eyes are shadowed and he is unresponsive to most stimuli."

    The words brought her back to the present and she quickly double checked the stretcher. The straps were splayed out, ready to be wrapped around the Trainer and hold him tight. It would aggravate his wounds, but there was no other choice. He needed treatment that could only be found in a hospital, and not out in the field.

    "Understood, Ranger." the captain said authoritatively. "Bring him in and I''ll ensure the hospital is ready for you."

    "Yes, sir." she said. Leaving the line open, she turned her attention to the anxious Beautifly with her partner. Pulling out a Safari Ball, she spoke to the Pok¨¦mon.

    "I need to transport your Trainer for medical attention. This," Sherry held out the half-camouflaged ball. The Ranger''s Insignia for Sinnoh, a crossed sphere flanked by two crescents and upheld by a triangle base, was stickered onto the sphere. "Is a Safari Ball. It will temporarily capture you, lasting hours at the most," she explained.

    The Beautifly considered the ball, shying away from her. While Sherry was pressed by the urgency of the situation, attempting a forceful capture would only serve to delay them further.

    "Sta," Staraptor chirped, his beak clacking lightly.

    "Beau?" the butterfly trilled back.

    "Tor," With his response, Staraptor made eye contact with her and ruffled his wing feathers.

    Taking the large bird''s hint, Sherry clicked the Safari Ball and captured the Beautifly.

    "Only until we can get him to the hospital," she murmured to the ball before tucking it away. She quickly pulled out another, holding it out to capture the withdrawn Turtwig. To her relief, the capture was successful, proving that the Pok¨¦mon was still alive.

    The boy jerked as the turtle disappeared, moaning and scrabbling at the air.

    Snatching up the stretcher, Sherry hurried to place it by his side.

    "Don''t worry, sir," she told him, lightly holding his hands to gently move them to his stomach. "You''re Pok¨¦mon are alright, there is nothing to be worried about."

    Her words did nothing to calm the boy. Instead, they only seemed to cause him more alarm, as he started to struggle against her.

    "Sir, please stay calm. I am going to move you to a stretcher and strap you in." Sherry waited a moment for her words to register, only for the boy continued to weakly flail.

    Grabbing his body as gently as she could, she overpowered him as she slid him onto the stretcher. He whimpered lightly, his head turning blindly.

    "Everything is going to be ok. My partner and I are going to fly you to a hospital for emergency medical attention." Sherry explained.

    As she talked, Sherry quickly strapped him onto the stretcher. The reinforced cloth straps dug into his wounds, forcing his arms to his side. The Trainer tried to move but was completely unable to.

    Once she was sure that he would not slide free did Sherry grab the metal fiber lines attached to the stretcher.

    Staraptor was waiting for her and hopped forward. He spread his wings, revealing the leather harness surrounding his torso.

    "I''m sorry to put this on you, Staraptor," she told the bird as she clipped the lines in place. "But we are going to have to move fast. I''m not sure how much longer he can hold on."

    "Rap, tor," The predatory bird huffed, ruffling his feathers and flicking his head crest.

    "I know you can handle it," she told him as she double- and triple-checked the various straps and lines. "Which is why I''m trusting this to you."

    "Star," her partner cried, spreading his wings and hopping as though eager to get into the air.

    "Alright, we''re good to go," she said, leaping onto the bird''s back and securing herself.

    "Ranger Sherry to Canalave Command, come in. Over." she said loudly. The call was still ongoing, with the operators only waiting for her.

    "We''re listening, Sherry," Richard answered quickly.

    While the response did not abide by regulation, she was forced to set it aside for later.

    "Staraptor and I are ready to Fly." she told him. "Red Priority MedEvac to Canalave Hospital by air."

    With her words, Staraptor flapped his wings and gathered the wind around him. He easily lifted into the air, long accustomed to the weight of another upon his back. It was only when he grasped the stretcher in his talons and lifted the additional burden that the bird had to strain. Still, that only lasted until he was above the trees and could bring more of his power to bear.

    "We hear you loud and clear, Ranger," he acknowledged. "May Legends speed your flight."

    With only a few beats of the predator''s wings, they were speeding through the air with the words of Ranger Command lingering in her ears.

 33: Ranger Sherry

    Air roared past Sherry''s ears as Staraptor blazed through the sky. The speed of his flight was pressing the goggles against her eyes and tearing at her riding leathers. The digital overlay on the glass was flashing dark red, glaring translucent numbers that indicated the teenager''s vitals.

    Her partner''s wings pumped beside her, propelling them quickly through the air. The forest blurred below , with the city glimmering in the distance. A powerful Tailwind was quickly raised to speed their flight, but she worried that it was not enough.

    Yet, it would have to be.

    There was no flock of Starly or Staravia for her to capture to enlist their aid. Even if there was, they did not have time to stop for her to do so.

    Sherry clenched her jaw as she watched his vitals continue to fall. Silently, she urged Staraptor to fly faster. The flight was immediately proving to be harder on the teenager than she anticipated.

    The stretcher was made to be as aerodynamic as possible, focusing on speed over patient comfort. It was clasped in the Staraptor''s large talons, with several safety ropes to connect it further to the bird''s riding harness. Straps held the boy tight but dug into his wounds all the same, with the speed of their flight affecting him further. As it was, the nature of the injury kept her from worrying about blood loss, as the wounds were cauterized.

    Right now, the greatest threat was the young Trainer''s body going into shock and potential organ failure. That the burns were caused by Houndour, only made the risk that much greater. The species were well known for the difficulties their attacks inflicted, from long lasting pain to contaminated injuries.

    Flicking her eyes and subvocalizing, Sherry shared the information streaming from the diagnostic cuff to Command. She should have done so immediately, but was more concerned with preparing the boy for travel. She received a basic response acknowledging that they received the information.

    Turning her eyes back to the forest flashing by, she was frustrated that there was nothing more she could do. Her Pok¨¦mon partner was flying as fast as he could, enough that she felt his muscles straining beneath her body. The old bird was pushing his body to the limits and she worried that the teenager was not going to be the only one in a hospital room.

    To help distract herself, Sherry turned her mind to reviewing the Ranger Guidebook and various manuals released by the organization. There was comfort to be found with the rules of the Union, especially when they were followed.

    However, she was quickly distracted when her communicator buzzed. Instead of a message from Command, she was surprised to hear the harsh, drawn out tone indicating a subregion, area wide alert. She felt Staraptor rumble slightly, indicating that the bird heard it as well.

    When Sherry heard the message, she wanted to bare her teeth in a grin.

    "All flyers, all flyers." the stern voice of Ranger Dave snapped out. "By order of Ranger Command, all flyers in Districts Two and Three are to ground immediately to make way for an emergency medical flight."

    The on-duty Ranger repeated his order twice more. Sherry grinned and patted her partner''s feathers encouragingly. She wanted to shout, but worried that moving would only upset the large bird''s flight. Every moment counted, and she had to be careful to not increase their air resistance.

    Her pierce crackled to life, the sound nearly drowned out by the rushing wind.

    "Don''t bother responding Sherry," Dave spoke firmly into her ear. "We''ve got you on approach, estimate fifteen minutes before you reach the outskirts of the city. You''ll have to start slowing down then or you''ll be coming in too hot."

    She heard him breath in and out, before continuing.

    "We''ve called ahead to the hospital and they''ll be expecting you. The pad is lit up," he added briefly before continuing. "There''ll be a nurse from the Pok¨¦mon Center as well to assess Staraptor and transport the Trainer''s Pok¨¦mon. All you need to do is land safely and then everything will be handled from there. You''ve trained for this. Not to mention I know that you know the regulations by heart."

    Sherry''s grin flickered at the other Ranger''s mention of her dedication to the rules. She knew it was a sore topic for others. Nevertheless, she appreciated her superior''s recognition.

    "We''ll keep the line open, but silent on our end. If anything happens, you''ll be the first to know. If you need something to happen, let me know and we''ll take care of it. Command over."

    Her communicator hummed softly, letting her know that they were listening. The sentiment was nice, but Sherry was following regulations and knew that as long as she continued to do so, everything would turn out fine.

    The minutes crawled by for her as the land raced below. There was little for her to do, leaving her mind open to review the simple steps. Well, step, singular.

    Land.

    Even then, the matter was entirely in her partner''s wings. The bird knew the city like the back of his tail feathers and needed no help from her in finding the hospital''s landing pad.

    Instead, she could only watch as the boy''s vitals continued to fluctuate.

    As the higher ranked Ranger said, they soon reached the outskirts of the city. Small towns flickered by, missed within the blink of an eye while the land transitioned from forests to plains. Not soon enough, they were flying above the large buildings making up the city. The wind was blowing in from the sea beyond, fighting their forward progress and slowing them down.

    Staraptor shrieked, his cry piercing the air and sounding throughout the city. While ordinarily Sherry would have scolded him for the powerful noise, she now patted his feathers in understanding. He was one of the only flyers in the air, many following the Ranger''s alert to ground despite only two districts being affected.

    Answering calls had Sherry tilting her head to peer down to the city below.

    From this high up, the buildings all looked the same, with only a vague hint of color as they flew by. Many, she knew, were warehouses or industrial spaces, especially so close to the canal dividing the city. Some of the largest buildings held Trainers looking up expectantly, their flying Pok¨¦mon by their side.

    Their arms were uplifted and waved as she soared by, likely seeing the stretcher grasped in her partner''s talons. Their Pok¨¦mon cried out with them, offering encouragement to Staraptor''s flight. Some of the more disorderly ones had to be suddenly grappled or recalled by their Trainers as they sought to join her partner in the air.

    Brightest amongst the lights of the city were the rarely lit beams of the subregion''s hospital. Normally, they were turned off, as the bright lights were often disruptive to both wild and trained Pok¨¦mon. Right now, however, the large green lights were outshining the surrounding ones. Staraptor aimed for the bright square denoting the boundaries of the landing pad.

    His wings were still flapping harshly, though she could physically feel him fighting for every wingbeat. As the hospital became clearer, Sherry could see a group of staff near the large elevator doors. With them was a gurney ready to transfer the Trainer, the white cloth reflecting the surrounding green light.

    Staraptor was flying in faster than she thought the boy could handle, so she urgently tapped on his back to slow further. To her surprise, the bird ignored her warnings and sped closer. When they were only moments away from crashing into the roof of the hospital, her partner snapped out his wings to catch the air.

    A pained screech heralded a rough twist in the Pok¨¦mon''s left wing as it was overpowered by the speed of their flight and the strength of the wind.

    Despite the pain, the bird forced his wing to remain spread outwards. Their flight jerked to a sudden stop, the stretcher swinging forward and carrying them along with it.

    Instead of fighting against the momentum of the stretcher, Staraptor chose to let it lead. His body was starting to be jerked around and Sherry hurried to unstrap herself.

    Higher than she would have liked, Sherry leapt from her partner''s back and tumbled to the concrete roof below. Her landing was hard, and she fought to roll herself forward instead of simply landing straight on. Fortunately, her riding leathers protected her against the rough surface of the building.

    Tumbling as she was, Sherry only caught a glimpse of her partner''s own disastrous landing.

    The large bird tucked his wings in, allowing the stretcher to slide as it lost momentum. He was dragged behind for several meters, leaving feathers and blood in his wake. With the straps connecting the Pok¨¦mon to the stretcher, the large bird was unable to roll as she did and suffered for it.

    By the time Sherry found her feet, the medical staff were already assessing their new patient while the Pok¨¦mon Nurse and a Ranger quickly unstrapped her partner from the stretcher. A wood pack that she did not remember grabbing was shoved aside as they started to cut him from his clothing. Sherry heard shouted words from the nurses and doctors as they transferred the burned Trainer to the gurney.

    "O2 79%, BP 90/55," one nurse was saying as she watched the diagnostic cuff intently.

    "Coarse breath, soot in mouth," another said as he inspected the boy''s mouth and airways.

    "Oxygen, then let''s move him," the doctor, she assumed, a woman with green scrubs and a coat, ordered. "And start a drip."

    The overwhelming flow of words stopped as the medical staff counted down and moved him to the gurney. It quickly resumed with the nurses rushing the gurney to the elevator and the doctor barking out orders.

    Sherry forced the group out her mind, as the burned Trainer was now in better hands. Turning her eyes to her partner, she winced as she saw his unnaturally bent wing. The Pok¨¦mon Nurse was helping the large bird right himself, Staraptor letting out short, pained chirps as he was forced to move his injured limbs.

    "Ranger Sherry," the other Ranger on the roof called out. He finished gathering the straps of the stretcher together and jogged up to her. "You took a hard fall there, you ok?" he asked with concern.

    Sherry stood up straight and shook her limbs, feeling none of the pain that would indicate broken bones or torn flesh. Taking off her goggles, she rubbed lightly at the pressed skin. Satisfied that she was unharmed, Sherry turned her eyes to her fellow Union member.

    "I am fine, Ranger Tom," she said calmly. "No injuries to report. If you will excuse me, I wish to check on my partner," she continued. Her foot was lifted, ready to do so yet she still hesitated. If the man had instructions for her, then they came straight from Command and superseded her worries.

    "Of course, of course," he answered hurriedly, stepping out of her way and gesturing to Staraptor. "I will clean up here, don''t you worry. If you''d like I can chuck the stretcher and take it to Command," he offered with a lifted hand.

    Sherry eyed him for a heartbeat.

    "Transferring possession of Union equipment requires written authorization and approval," she said flatly, quoting the Guide.

    The other Ranger sighed and opened his mouth to speak before her communicator crackled. Sherry lifted her hand, indicating for him to hold while the other touched her earpiece. With the excitement of the landing, she forgot that the line to Command was still open.

    "Just give him the damn ball, Sherry," Ranger Dave snapped with exasperation. "Then check on your partner and yourself," he continued more firmly.

    "Understood, sir. Over." she said, waiting for the Command to add anything more. When the line remained dead, she added, "Ranger Sherry out," before closing the connection with the Command call center.

    Dropping her hands, Sherry grabbed the Pok¨¦Device Ball and silently dropped into Ranger Tom''s outstretched hand. Stepping past him, she waited for the Pok¨¦mon Nurse to finish her assessment. Pulling free Staraptor''s Pok¨¦ Ball, she waited patiently.

    Behind her, she could hear the man collecting the stretcher as the Device Ball clicked. He moved around in her peripheral, hefting the pack left behind in his hands and looking at it curiously.

    The nurse was quick, focusing only on life-threatening wounds before meeting Sherry''s eyes.

    "Please withdraw your Pok¨¦mon, Ranger," the nurse asked with a voice as soft as it was authoritative.

    Her partner rejected the professional''s words with a chirp that cut short as he accidentally shifted his wing. His red eyes narrowed in her direction, pleading with her to keep him out.

    "Are his injuries life-threatening?" Sherry asked, worry creeping into her voice as she hesitated.

    "Not as of yet, but his pain will be eased by the Pok¨¦ Ball''s stasis effect and help prevent his injuries from worsening," the nurse answered before her voice hardened. "Please withdraw him."

    Recognizing the command for what it was, Sherry offered her partner a murmured apology before clicking his Pok¨¦ Ball. The predatory bird shrieked, but did not otherwise fight the return.

    "Thank you, Nurse Joy," she said with a small bow in the woman''s direction.

    While the woman did not appear to be a member of the Joy clan at first glance, there was a subtle shade of pink to her blonde hair.

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    "Of course," she answered brightly, a smile decorating her face now that Staraptor was withdrawn. "Your partner seems to be suffering a broken wing, a torn ligament, and several muscle tears," she rattled off. "Would you like me to take him with the other Pok¨¦mon to the Pok¨¦mon Center?" the nurse asked with a slightly lifted eyebrow.

    Sherry met the woman''s gaze flatly. They both knew what her answer was likely to be, as few Trainers were willingly to hand their Pok¨¦mon over to another unless absolutely necessary. Still, the nurse was present to rush the other Pok¨¦mon Sherry rescued to Pok¨¦mon Center, so it was sensible of her to offer to do the same for Staraptor.

    "I will go with you," Sherry allowed. "My other Pok¨¦mon needs to be looked over as well. We were out on patrol for nearly three days," she added by way of explanation.

    "Do you not need to be checked over?" Her eyes sharpened as she looked Sherry over.

    "I do not," she answered with a shake of her head.

    "Very well," the nurse said with a slight shrug.

    The Joy relation lead the way to the staircase located by the elevator. It was for emergencies only, leaving them to walk down several flights before they reached the ground floor. Tom filled the silence, telling her what she expected to hear.

    "Command''s waiting for your report," he started. "When your partner''s with the Center, they want you to make it in person and write one up later. They''re mostly concerned about the possession you," he searched for the proper word, "Said over the radio."

    Tom eyed her, perhaps waiting for Sherry to say anything. When she did not, he continued.

    "They also want to know what a Houndoom pack was doing, hunting a human," he said. "Also, are we keeping this?" he asked as he hefted the wooden backpack. Sherry noticed that it was covered in silk and decorated with two bright pink flowers.

    Ones that bore a marked similarity to the one Staraptor gave to the Houndoom.

    "Yes," she answered shortly, "It belongs to the Trainer. For now, it will remain as evidence for the hunting investigation."

    Sherry paused as she felt Staraptor''s ball shake slightly. Frowning, she patted the pocket containing her partner.

    "I''ll take it for now and bring it to headquarters." she decided, taking the pack from the other Ranger.

    When they finally reached the lobby, Sherry requested that they wait while she spoke to the staff. After a short discussion with the front desk, she returned.

    "I told them to alert Ranger Command if there are any changes," she said to Tom. "They will likely want his side of the story as well once he wakes. For now, he''s in emergency surgery for the next couple of hours."

    "Understood. I''ll let Command know," he said, standing straighter and offering a small nod. "And Sherry," he added, nodding his head to the side with a flicker of his eyes.

    She looked up sharply at the secretive air he took on. She walked several feet away with him, leaving the Pok¨¦mon Nurse to stand alone impatiently.

    "Word is that the Commander is watching this closely," he said lowly, his eyes offering a hint of warning. "No one knows why, so just be careful."

    Sherry searched the other Ranger''s face. It was strange that he offered her the information, taking her aside to do so. There was no need, as Nurse Joy would not care.

    "There is nothing more to be done," Sherry said slowly. "I followed regulation."

    "Yes, you did," Tom nodded. "Just passing on a head''s up."

    Having said his piece, the man waved goodbye to Nurse Joy and strode ahead. Sherry returned to the other woman''s side and together they walked to the Pok¨¦mon Center. While the hospital could offer basic care for Pok¨¦mon, Staraptor would need the attention of a specialist.

    They walked in relative silence, only discussing the traffic or observing some of the Pok¨¦mon passing through the city. With the Nurse at her side, Sherry took some time to inspect some of the wild Buizel and other Pok¨¦mon maintained by the city. While they were not captured or otherwise owned by a single Trainer, the wild Pok¨¦mon helped keep the area thriving and healthy.

    The sea weasels, in particular, were especially cared for as they helped rescue any wayward children that fell into the canal bisecting the city.

    "They''re looking quite healthy," the nurse commented as they left the wild Pok¨¦mon behind. "The establishment of the reefs is giving them the nutrition and exercise they need."

    "Yes," Sherry responded. "Though the Union has been on alert for an increased aggression and rising population."

    "The Trainers are not looking to capture any?" Nurse Joy commented with an upraised brow.

    "Canalave City is of the opinion that a Trainer should find their starters outside of the city," Sherry explained.

    The Pok¨¦mon Nurse nodded in agreement, familiar with the rules of capturing Pok¨¦mon. Afterall, any unapproved captures would be noticed by the Pok¨¦mon Center when a Trainer showed up with a Pok¨¦mon bearing the city''s mark.

    "As for the aggressive individuals, they are fiercely independent with a strong desire to hunt," she continued. "Command is reluctant to allow an inexperienced Trainer capture one. Do not let their friendly demeanor fool you, they are predators in the wild."

    "Oh, I''m aware," the other woman with a short, dismissive wave. "Many such Pok¨¦mon tend to resort to their primal instincts when visiting the Center."

    Sherry nodded and said little else until they arrived at the stereotypical red and white building. Like the surrounding structures, it was only a few stories tall, but large enough to fit the massive Pok¨¦mon that were treated by the Center''s nurses.

    Nurse Joy escorted her through the glass doors and up to the front desk. After registering her Pok¨¦mon and transferring over the burned Trainer''s own, Sherry stood decisive. While she wanted to wait for her partner to be treated and released back into her care, Ranger Tom informed her that the Command wanted her report directly.

    Her obedience to the chain of command won over and she strode out of the Center. Unfortunately, without Staraptor to carry her, it was going to be a long walk. While Union held a small office in the city, it was operated as a depot for citizens to request missions, acquire information, or otherwise contact the Union.

    Instead, the Ranger Base was a fortified establishment on the edge of the city. A small field kept it visible from the city, with the forest closing in on it from behind. The base sometimes cooperated with the Center to rehabilitate wild Pok¨¦mon, putting to use the surrounding land.

    Walking through the small pillars marking the end of the base''s property, Sherry walked up to the sturdy doors. Inside, the building was largely utilitarian, with plants and pictures to help the space become more lively.

    The attendant on duty, a low ranking Ranger, looked up from reading a magazine. His eyes widened in alarm and he scrambled to sit up properly. The action nearly sent the Ranger to the floor before he recovered and sat upright.

    Stomping up to the desk, Sherry glared down at the man.

    "A Pok¨¦mon Ranger is to remain vigilant and watchful of their surroundings at all times," she quoted the Ranger Guide. "From the lowest rank to the most seasoned veteran, danger can come at any moment."

    The man tried to speak, but Sherry continued without pausing.

    "Your lack of diligence and perception regarding your surroundings is a failure, Ranger Phillip," she said, "One that can result in the injury of yourself or those you are meant to protect."

    "I understand, Ranger Sherry," he said with a sigh. Phillip put away the magazine and gestured to the siding steel door next to the counter. "Dave told me to let him know when you arrived."

    Sherry eyed him for another moment before passing without another comment. He buzzed her through as she approached, the noise harsh and loud. The metal door slid open smoothly, revealing the rooms beyond.

    The Base was meant to be fully self-sufficient, with a kitchen and sleeping rooms, all connected by a multipurpose living area. The furniture was mismatched, each acquired as funds allowed or as the need and desire rose for them. Past another desk, one unoccupied yet full of papers and reports waiting to be processed, was another door.

    "Ranger Sherry reporting for the post-Mission debrief," she said loudly. The door was not as firm as the others, leaving it easy for her voice to be heard from the other side.

    She heard a muffled call to enter and stepped through the door.

    The office was operated by the watch captain of the day, high ranking Rangers that took shifts to manage the area under the Commander.

    The same Commander who was occupying a chair off to the side.

    Despite the warning from Tom, she was surprised to see the older man present. Stiffening, she slammed her fist to her chest, sharply saluting him.

    "Commander Davis," she greeted him.

    The high ranking Ranger did not acknowledge her salute at first, studying her with an inscrutable expression. His clear blue eyes and sun touched skin gave the man a weathered appearance, but one that continued to endure. He noticed the pack in her hands, staring at it for a moment before moving on.

    Sherry refused to let her nerves show and held her salute, back straight and eyes staring at the wall.

    "At ease, Ranger," he said finally, turning his eyes to look at the watch captain. "This is your ship, Richard." Having said his piece, the Commander leaned back and made it clear that he had no intention of interfering.

    The captain cleared his throat, regaining her attention. A simple recorder was sitting on the desk, along with several reams of paper.

    Like her, Ranger Richard was dressed in black clothes with burnished red leathers, though of a more official variety. The ones Sherry was still wearing were geared towards Rangers on active patrols, where one needed to be protected from the cold winds, rough riding, or angry Pok¨¦mon.

    After waving for her to take a seat, Sherry refused the offer and remained standing. Richard suppressed a sigh and reached for the button on the recorder.

    "Watch Captain Alex Richard, with Ranger Commander Davis attending," he said formally before looking at Sherry directly. "Report, Ranger."

    "Ranger Sherry, reporting from a routine mission off-Route west and south of Canalave Command," she began for the record. "Conditions were largely normal, with a recorded early migration of Beautifly and Dustox. I made camp twice, in separate locations. The patrol was largely aerial in nature, landing to allow my Staraptor partner time to rest and to closer patrol the forest floor. It was on my third day of patrol that the incident occurred."

    "Please describe the incident," he said, an emotionless tilt to his voice. The words were rote, as he said them with every such report. Despite that, he looked more attentive, with a pen held at the ready.

    "Though I was not aware of it at the time, the local pack of Houndoom left their dens early to hunt. They howled to alert us and the wild Pok¨¦mon," Sherry frowned at the memory. It was the first indication that she should have investigated closer. "So as not to disturb them, Staraptor and I left the area. It was as we were flying away that Staraptor jerked in mid-air, signaling to me of an emergency."

    The captain opened his mouth to make a comment, but the Commander spoke first.

    "You said Staraptor signaled you?" he asked with a slight frown.

    "Yes, sir," she responded without shifting to look at him. "He raised his crest feathers, his usual method of signaling alarm."

    "And that''s when you called it in?" Commander Davis said.

    "Yes, sir," she answered.

    "Hmph." he grunted quietly. "The old bird''s always been perceptive."

    Ranger Richard waited for the Commander to speak again before looking back to Sherry.

    "Continue," he said with a wave, when Davis remained silent.

    "After I called in a general alert, Staraptor moved to engage. He used a Tailwind to speed our passage and flew towards the Houndoom hunting grounds." Sherry explained. "He started circling, hard, and I helped him search. I spotted the flames leading the Trainer first and pointed it out.

    "Staraptor dove and we landed in time to catch several Houndour surrounding the Trainer." Sherry unconsciously tightened her fist. Facing down a pack of Houndoom and their pups was not an experience she was wanting to relive. "The Houndoom pack leaders showed up shortly after, presenting themselves aggressively.

    "A matriarch moved forwards, and Staraptor met her. The two interacted before my partner moved behind me towards the Trainer. I was unable to see what he was doing, but a moment later a flower blew past me towards the Houndoom."

    Sherry took a moment to lift the wooden and silk pack in her hands. She avoided looking within it, knowing that there was a chance Command wanted to inspect it. If not, the handmade pack belonged to the Trainer and she had no authority to rummage through his belongings.

    "It looked similar to these," Sherry rotated the bag to present the two flowers clinging to the silk covering. "I am not sure why the Houndoom was hunting the teenager, but she handled the flower given to her very delicately."

    The two men leaned forward to look at the blooming plant closer. The flower''s petals were a bright pink, holding their color well despite being plucked. Davis gestured for her to set the pack on the desk, moving his papers aside.

    "Was there any indication of ill intent on the kid''s part?" Richard asked as he looked the flowers over. "A reason for the Houndoom to be hunting him? Besides these flowers that is," he added.

    "No, sir. The only thing of note with the pack was a young Houndour," she answered with a small shake of her head. "The pup looked sick and possibly injured."

    "What about his Pok¨¦mon?"

    "A Turtwig and a Beautifly. The Beautifly appeared largely uninjured, and I was unable to assess the Turtwig at the time."

    "Still," the Ranger muttered, "Why would a pack hunt a human?"

    His hand reached forward to pluck one of the flowers from the Trainer''s pack. However, before he could touch the bright petals, the Commander''s hand wrapped the other man''s wrist.

    "Don¡¯t touch it, Richard," he warned, before releasing the watch captain. "We don''t know why the pack was so interested in these flowers and, until we do, it''s best to not disturb them unless absolutely necessary."

    Commander Davis was staring at the flowers as well, though his expression gave away little of what he was thinking.

    Despite that, Sherry was of the feeling that Ranger was on guard. Against what, she was not sure. Nevertheless, there was an air of wariness around him.

    "Do you recognize them, sir?" Richard asked as moved away to make room for the higher ranked Ranger.

    "Possibly," he grunted. "Their shape reminds me of a Graciedia flower, only those are white. Not pink."

    "But what does a Houndoom want with a flower?" he asked in confusion. "Their species is primarily carnivorous, with a Fire-Typing that makes most medicinal herbs ineffective."

    "That, Richard, is the question that I would pay a gold nugget to learn," the Commander responded. "If the pack is starting to hunt humans, then we need to know why and fast."

    Opening the bag, he avoided disturbing the flowers as he emptied it. A variety of fruits, berries, and seeds rolled out on the table. Nothing looked to be impressive or unusual, leaving only the pink flowers.

    "Notice anything?" Commander Davis asked as he glanced between Sherry and Richard.

    Frowning they both inspected the contents of the pack closer yet there she was not seeing whatever the higher ranked Ranger was. The watch captain must not either, as he silently shook his head.

    "No Pok¨¦ Balls," the Commander said simply.

    Sherry''s eyes widened as the implication struck her.

    "You think he was a Poacher?" she asked with a scowl.

    "He''s just a kid, there''s no way he was poaching. At least not by himself." Richard protested.

    "I don''t know what to think," Davis said to them with a shake of his head. "Was that the end of your report, Ranger?" he asked with hard stare.

    "No, sir," Sherry carefully blanked her face. "As I said over communications, I suspected the boy was suffering from possession, if not something similar."

    At her words, Richard stiffened and looked at her. His face was flat, but she could read the warning in his eyes.

    "He presented several of the characteristics that the Ranger Guide and Ghost-Type field manuals warned of," she said, looking straight ahead. "Shadowed eyes, no response to words and touch, and unaware of his surroundings." she recited.

    "Were there any other signs or indications?" Richard asked.

    At his words, Sherry hesitated. Before she could recover, Commander Davis spoke.

    "Don''t worry about how it will sound, Ranger," he said. "Ghost-Types are odd, and not one many are equipped to handle. Trained or not."

    "There was just," she struggled to find the words. "Just a feeling," she said lamely. "Something was off, and he looked empty?" she offered with a glance to the Commander.

    The man''s sharp blue eyes were appraising and he nodded lowly.

    "Richard," The man stood up straighter as the Commander looked at him. "I want a guard on the boy, and I want to know when he wakes up. Update me on his condition." Davis turned his eyes on her. "Sherry, get some rest. After that, I want you on watch over him in the hospital."

    Sherry resisted the urge to frown. A hospital guard was unusual, and would be filled with nothing but sitting in a room. A marked difference from her previous Mission."You''ll be a familiar face, and we need to find out what he was doing out there and why a pack of Houndoom was so interested in hunting him."

    "Yes, sir," Sherry and Richard said as they saluted.

    The Commander nodded at them both and strode of the room. Davis dismissed her as well, shutting off the recorder and stuffing the pack''s contents back inside.

    "Take this with you tomorrow," he said as he handed her the handcrafted bag. "Without any proof of poaching, we can''t confiscate the Trainer''s property."

    "Yes, sir," she said with a short nod.

    Turning around she passed through the door frame, pausing as she heard Ranger Richard call after her.

    "And Sherry, if you need time, take it," he said quietly.

    Staring at the distant wall, Sherry decided against responding and continued on to her quarters. The Union provided a small room for free, and she had no other reason to pay for space in the city. Pulling out her keys, she unlocked the door and set the pack on the small table just inside the door, careful not to crush the flowers.

    There was a large nest for Staraptor, though it was barely used. The bird preferred to roam and sleep where he wanted to. Behind the small couch was a large series of perches for her other Pok¨¦mon to hang from. Pink fibers clung to the false tree, making the room seem all that more dull by comparison.

    Sighing, she stripped off her outer leathers and sat down in front of her computer. One of the few luxuries she afforded herself, it contained digital manuals and guides, matching the worn ones that lined her bookcase.

    Opening the computer, she started to write her report. Afterwards, she moved to reading up on Houndoom hunting patterns, diet, and the damage their burns inflicted. If she was to be watching over the Trainer in the hospital, then it was best she familiarize herself with the nature of his injuries.

    Before she could start to research about Ghost-Types and the Union''s records on possession, she found herself struggling to stay awake. Her eyes were long past bleary and she could barely focus on the screen in front of her. Giving in, she took a short shower and climbed into bed, falling asleep quickly.