Jay Wolfe

I glanced around once more for Litten before looking over at Soren as he waited and helped search around our camp as well. He should've been asleep while I took over the watch but after I noticed Litten was missing he had insisted on helping me look, which I was thankful for despite feeling bad for making him lose sleep. I sighed and checked the inside of my bag in case he had crawled inside, though I found nothing but my normal supplies.

"Jay, can you help find Litten?" Soren asked and I glanced back over to him.

"What do you think I'm doing?" I asked and crossed my arms.

He looked away from his kirlia before laughing slightly. "Sorry, I was talking to my kirlia not you... I thought you knew I named her Jay, after you."

"Um... no. I didn't." I shifted in embarrassment, surely I should've heard him say that name before... maybe I just hadn't been paying attention.

He seemed to feel the need to explain, though I didn't blame him, my reaction was probably not the smoothest. "It's just she reminded me of you and when I realized she was a girl..."

I nodded before changing the subject before I made this conversation any awkwarder. "Come on, we should spread out. Litten isn't in the camp and I don't think the others would want us waking them up with our racket."

"Okay." He nodded and we set out.

I let Ralts out of his ball and motioned for him to stay put. "Guard the others for us okay? We'll be back soon, just come find us if something happens."

"Ra." Ralts nodded confidently and I turned away to continue following Soren.

The mud began to soak my shoes again the farther away from camp we walked but we both stayed silent about it as we searched for Litten, not bothering to complain in case there was something worse than mud in the still dark world. I was about to suggest splitting up and spreading out in a circle to cover the ground faster when a panicked noise came from up ahead.

"Hurry." Soren motioned for me to follow him in that direction.

I followed him, falling behind slightly as I picked Curse up before she got left behind, and continued running. "I'm coming."

"Really?" Soren glanced back before becoming serious again as he came to a sudden halt. "Jay get Litten quickly!"

Fear went through me for a moment at the worry in his voice but as I caught up and moved around him I realized it wasn't for Litten but for the small owl like pokémon Litten was batting at with his paw. "Litten no!"

I grabbed him while releasing Curse back onto the ground, considering she wasn't going to try eating the poor flying and grass type. Litten squirmed slightly while staring at the rowlet before giving up and keeping his eyes on Soren, seemingly in accusation. "Is it okay?"

Soren knelt down on the ground, hesitating to pick up the badly injured pokémon. "We should get to a Pokémon Center as soon as we can."

"Rooo..." Rowlet trembled slightly and opened its eyes to look up at us.

I shifted Litten to the side and grabbed his pokéball before returning him. "It's okay, we're here to help you."

"I don't think Litten did all of this, thankfully, but that means it was probably left here after some other battle." Soren sighed and shook his head. "Trainers who do this are terrible."

"But it happens." I responded, remembering how my parents had taken in rescues before.

Soren reached out and picked up the pokémon, which flinched and fluffed its feathers in fear before shivering and giving up. It was worrying that it was too weak to try attacking, even if it was a good thing Soren hadn't gotten injured. I pulled out a spare pokéball but Soren turned away.

"Wait, I want to use my own pokéball. No offense, but I want to catch it in case using yours would make it your pokémon even if I used it. Besides, if you caught rowlet Litten might have a better chance of trying to eat him." Soren said before pulling out his own spare ball and looking down at the rowlet. "I'm going to catch you, you'll be safe in the ball until we can get you to a Pokémon Center, okay?"

"Ro... Rowlet..." The rowlet blinked and fluttered his beaten wings in response before Soren tapped the pokéball on his head.

I started walking quickly back into the direction of camp. "A pokéball won't take the pain away, we should get our stuff and get moving again. We still have to get through a valley before we reach Sandhill and even then... it's a small town; they might not have a Pokémon Center."

I saw my words clearly worried him as he followed and looked down at the pokéball in his hand. I nudged him gently. "Don't worry, I'll get some healing supplies out when we get back. That should be better than nothing until we get to Sandhill."

"I see. But hopefully we can reach the next town quickly." He started moving faster. "Hoodini needs professional help, not just health potions and berries, as helpful as they are."

He already had a nickname for rowlet? I was impressed, and a bit envious. I could never come up with a name on the spot, not often at least. But none of that was important right now, getting Hoodini help was what they needed to focus on. I continued rushing through the bog with Soren hot on my trail before coming to a halt outside camp where Ralts hurried over to greet us, seeming to sense our worry and impatience.

"Thanks, Ralts." I took out his ball and returned him. "Curse, go show Soren where the healing supplies are, I'll get the others."

"Vee." She gave a serious cry before bounding off to the tent.

Soren glanced at me. "Going on our own would be faster, that way there's only two of us to worry about."

He was right. The others would take forever to pack and actually wake up. "Alright, go help Hoodini, I'll let them know we're leaving and get your things ready."

I decided against telling Freya we were leaving, she would insist on coming, and Josef seemed like the person who might forget, which meant I had to wake up Ivan. I walked over to his tent before crouching down and entering slowly, not wanting to step on him or scare him awake in case he screamed and woke up the others. It took a few shakes but eventually Ivan woke up enough to sit up and look around tiredly.

"What's going on?" He asked.

"I need to go somewhere with Soren and we need to travel quickly. Can you tell the others we're going to wait for them in Sandhill?"

"Why can't we just go there together like we planned?" He smiled a bit. "Unless you're just trying to be alone with him."

I scowled at him and smacked him in the back of the head. "That isn't the reason. Now, will you let Freya and Josef know that?"

"Yeah." Ivan yawned again and rubbed the back of his head where I had hit him. "If you tell me why you're sneaking off in the middle of the night with Soren."

"We found an injured rowlet and need a Pokémon Center now." I explained quickly, impatient to get moving again and feeling cramped inside the small tent with Ivan. "We'll contact you if something comes up alright?"

"Okay." He agreed.

"Great." I started to leave when he grabbed my wrist; I glanced back.

"Be careful." Ivan sat up straighter and let go. "You said there were people who might come after you, don't do anything rash."

I gave a quiet laugh. "I might be a bit rash at times but no where close to Freya, don't worry, we'll be fine."

I left and quickly went to work getting Soren's things around before going back to my tent to see him putting away the extra supplies and getting up. "How's he doing?"

"A bit better." Soren said, though concern was still in his eyes. "But we still need to hurry."

I nodded and switched bags with him. "Let's go then."

"What about your tent?"

"Only one of us will be sleeping at a time, and the extra weight will just slow us down if we need to pack up two tents when we stop... If we stop." I corrected myself at the end, though I doubted we could make it all the way to Sandhill without stopping at least once.

Ivan stumbled out of his tent as we left to take our place as a guard and we waved at him before hurrying off again. I started running once the ground became more solid, the marsh finally giving away to tall dry grass as we began entering the outskirts of Sacred Valley but considering the morning light was still too dim to actually see very well our progress was hindered and we were forced to slow down before one of us ended up tripping in a hole or some knotted grass. Curse was in my arms once more so she didn't get lost in the grass, which also slowed me down, but searching for a lost pokémon would take even longer than moving with the added weight.

"How much farther?" Soren asked as he came to a stop to catch his breath.

I was relieved for the break and pulled up the map as I caught my own breath. "...Still a few miles... south west. We should get there by tomorrow."

He nodded and started moving again while I trudged along behind to keep up and being the ungraceful person who doesn't look where she's going, nearly tripped on some flattened down grass as my shoe got caught. I felt heat rush to my cheeks slightly in embarrassment but Soren hadn't turned around as I hadn't made any sound that something had happened. I sighed with relief before pulling my foot free only to see a thin cord wrapped around it like a trip wire... unease rushed through me.

"Soren?" I called to him and continued to look around.

He walked back over. "What?"

"I think someone planted traps here." I showed him the trip wire.

"I see." He began scanning the area as well before walking again. "Well, we shouldn't stay here."

I followed him again, this time double checking every step I took and trying to listen for anything over the sounds of our own footsteps. Curse twitched her ears around as she copied me in searching for any sign of danger and cautiously moving forward in case there was another trap we couldn't see. Nothing happened though and the more minutes that passed by the less cautious we became as we picked up our pace once more in our rush to get to the next town.

"How far now?" Soren asked as noon started rolling around without any incident.

I checked the map again and came to a stop so I could catch my breath. "Uh, about... the same it was a few minutes ago."

He gave a frustrated sigh. "I wish it was closer... We need to get there today!"

"Well that's highly unlikely." I rasped before taking a drink of water and glancing around again as if in search of a faster mode of transport in the middle of nowhere.

"Let's get going then, we need to at least get closer." Soren looked tired but started moving again.

I started to follow him, wish we could stop and rest but not speaking up due to the emergency at hand, but Curse gave a cry of alarm and ran in front of both of us in time for a blur to slam into her side. I immediately turned to face to direction the blur had erupted from and reached for Ralts' ball in preparation for a battle.

"Curse, sand attack on it!" I ordered before watching a mightyena burst out with a growl followed by two people dressed in white and gold.

"Furret, quick attack again!" The male shouted, identifying the pokémon that had attacked Curse.

"Curse, dodge it and use tackle!" I backed away alongside Soren to make more space for the battle.

Soren took out his own pókeball and Finn came out ready to fight. "Use water gun on Mightyena!"

The woman grinned as if she had some secret joke. "Bite it."

I searched for a way out for at least one of us so we could continue taking Hoodini to a Pokémon Center but Curse gave another cry of pain as she received several blows from Furret, which made me focus back on the battle at hand. "Curse, get back!"

"Eev..." She obeyed and rolled out of the way of another fury swipes before flopping down at my side.

"Ralts, come out and use disarming voice." I threw out Ralts' pókeball and was satisfied to see he easily dodge the faster pokémon before attacking.

"Wait, fairy moves are good against dark types." Soren spoke up. "Switch me?"

"Alright." I nodded.

"Don't let them trick you! Mightyena, bite that mudkip again!"

The man scowled. "Furret, quick attack on both of them!"

Ralts fell to the ground, the ferret like pokémon striking him down quickly before he could move. Finn managed to however and I was relieved he blocked the next attacks by sending Furret into Mightyena with his water gun. Once Ralts was back on his feet I gave the next command. "Disarming voice again on Mightyena."

The canine pokémon was stronger but obviously not as fast as its battle partner especially after being unbalanced. Needless to say Mightyena wasn't doing too well after Ralts attacked it, though it was still on its feet and looking pretty angry.

"Double team Mightyena and then we can deal with Furret." I said quickly before dodging to the side as Furret went past Finn and landed between us, spinning around to face its opponent once more. "Disarming voice"

"Finn, use water gun on Mightyena." Soren ordered.

Mightyena was trapped between us with nowhere to dodge and this time it stayed down after our attacks hit it. I would've been happy about that fact if I hadn't noticed the lack of its trainer calling it back, or the lack of the female in general. I turned away from the fight, Soren would be able to keep Furret distracted, and looked for the other trainer... Why would they just disappear? Unease filled me, surely they hadn't just abandoned their pokémon and ran off... right?

"Finn, get up!" Soren's plea drew my attention away from trying to search for the other trainer and I saw his mudkip take another quick attack Furret had used to avoid Ralts' disarming voice.

"Ralts, focus on where it will be and use confusion." I commanded. "Distract it from Finn."

"I can hear your plan kid!" The man laughed. "Furret, use fury swipes on that mudkip, don't let up!"

"Ret!" Its claws sharpened once more but Ralts raised his hands up and the enemy's attack never touched Finn as it was thrown across the ground.

"Great, now use disarming voice again."

"Finn, can you get one more water gun?"

"Kip!" I had to hand it to Soren's pokémon as Finn got back up: it was a tough little mudkip.

"Fur!" Furret fell to the ground unconscious and soaked to the skin with Finn's water gun at the man's feet.

His eyes widened and I glared at him. "Who are you?"

He smirked as he returned his pokémon and nudged Mightyena to its feet with his boot. "Oh, I'm not the one to worry about."

"What does that mean?" Soren took a step forward as if to attack the man.

He laughed before running off, his partner's mightyena at his heels. I returned Ralts to his ball and picked up Curse. "We should hurry... there could be more coming."

I started running again with Soren at my side but only managed to go a few feet before the ground violently shook and broke under us, sending me crashing to the ground with Soren and Curse. I winced and shook my head to clear it before looking over to see my pokémon shaking the dust off her fur while Soren started rising off the ground as well. Considering the timing of that earthquake something told me it wasn't just random.

"Too late." A female's voice came from the tall grass.

"Not another one..." Soren muttered.

I grabbed Curse once more as I stood up and watched as the female came into sight above the grass as her torterra rose to its feet, well, at least we knew what we were fighting now. Not that it helped much. "I'll try to distract them while you get a head start to Sandhill okay?"

"No, we'll fight them together." Soren responded.

The woman rolled her eyes impatiently. "Don't tell me you are the ones who were stupid enough to get in our way? Well, I might as well tell you who I am... not that it should matter considering what I'm going to do to you. I am Alice, the Deputy of Earth."

"I see..." Soren edged to the side. "Um, should we be impressed?"

Alice glared at him and I reached out to pull Soren back as I saw her reaching for a pair of golden throwing knives. "Yes! I am one of the strongest trainers in Valhalla!"

I could believe it considering that earthquake attack and I started backing away, hoping to try running to safety. "Soren, come on, we need to try running."

"Terra, use earthquake again." Alice sighed and waved her hand in our direction. "Kill them if possible."

I gave a yelp of pain as I crashed back to the ground and landed on a previously upturned rock, the fact Soren landed on and twisted my leg to an uncomfortable position didn't help either but it wasn't permanently damaged from what I could tell. Curse stood up, her ears drooping in worry, and I gave her a reassuring smile before scratching her behind the ear and dragging my leg out from under Soren so I could sit up.

"Sorry, are you okay?" Soren asked as he started getting up as well, some blood running out of a cut on his face.

"I'm fine." I responded. "Curse, get them!"

"Vee!" She launched forward and sent out a swift attack right into the torterra's face.

"Nice, she has a new move." Soren commented and sent out Slash. "But now it's my turn. Slash, use quick attack and fury cutter!"

Both moves hit their target but Terra was still standing as though the battle hadn't even started yet. Alice slid off her pokémon's back and laughed but it wasn't in joy or cruelty, it was just dead. Cold dead laughter. "Terra show them what real power is. Use leech seed and then bite."

Vines erupted from the ground and wrapped around our pokémon, glowing slightly as their energy was drained. I took out my two other pókeballs and threw them out, releasing Litten and Ralts to help. "Litten use ember, Ralts get close and use confusion."

"Oh, cheating now are we?" Alice twirled one of her knives. "Ganging up on one pokémon in the middle of a battle... How unethical. Maybe I should put you in your place."

There was a flash of gold in the air moving towards Ralts but the blade never made contact as Soren's kirlia,used her own confusion to stop it. Soren gave a relieved sigh. "Great job Jay, now use double team and then confusion."

"Follow its lead, Ralts." I gave Soren a grateful nod and looked back at the battle. "Curse, use swift again, Litten, keep up the embers."

"Slash use fury cutter again." Soren threw out Finn. "Finn, use tackle!"

"Mega drain and earthquake!" Alice looked impatient now and was twirling her remaining knife faster as if planning on using it again.

Once again the ground rumbled violently and I watched as our pokémon fell, Curse was limp on the ground along with Ralts, who hadn't recovered from his previous battle. Finn was next after being hit with mega drain and I knew this was going to end horribly. Beside me Soren took out his pókeballs and returned his pokémon as they continued to take damage and I fumbled for my own before they all ended up in critical condition.

"Run!" I shoved Soren back into the grass, hoping we could escape and hide in there before Alice could flatten it out with her large pokémon.

We ran, easily outrunning the heavy pokémon behind us, and didn't stop even after looking back to check for someone following us. By the time we actually stopped we were both gasping for air and off the half beaten path through Sacred Valley while the moon shone down above us. I took out Curse's pókeball and released her, deciding to start healing my pokémon in case we did have to fight again.

"Eev..." Curse whimpered and trembled on the ground, clearly in pain.

I held out a berry. "Eat this, it'll help."

She gave me a dull glance before rolling off her side and onto her stomach to eat it and I moved onto my other pokémon, repeating the same thing over again until they all had a bit more energy... Clearly not enough though; they were all still weak and Ralts was refusing to stop clinging to my jacket in fear. Soren flopped onto the ground, probably back from checking the area, and let Hoodini out.

"Ro?" Hoodini ruffled his wings and glanced around warily.

"How you feeling?" Soren asked.

"Et, Row..." The small owl like pokémon shuddered and pressed its feathers close to its body before closing its eyes.

He sighed and looked over at me. "We have to get to Sandhill now."

I nodded, dead tired and really wanting to sleep, but he was right. And it wasn't just his rowlet who need attention now... all of our pokémon did. "Right..."

"Hey, Jay... Jay!" I jumped as I felt someone shake me before looking up at Soren.

"What?" I mumbled before looking around enough to piece together what had happened: I hadn't even gotten up. I just passed out right after talking, some traveling companion I was in an emergency. "Sorry..."

"You can apologize?" He almost sounded amused.

I started to get back up again. "Shut up. Let's go..."

"No, we- We should stay here and rest." He responded. "Passing out somewhere in the grass without much light guiding us- We could get lost."

He was nearly as ready to collapse as I was, though he did have a good point. Looked like we wouldn't be having a guard to keep an eye out for danger, though considering how beaten we were I doubted anyone would be looking for us... We were no longer a threat without pokémon we could fight with. I curled back up slightly, too tired to bother getting out my blanket and not even bothering to ask Soren if he wanted to waste ten minutes putting up a tent. Even if I had the energy to help put it up... its shape would be a beacon for anyone around to see it, day or night.

I yawned and barely registered Ralts clinging to me as he fell asleep or Curse moving to curl up beside her teammate. Soren probably moved to lay down too but if he did I was already passed out.