Red Wings 1

My name is Nightshade.

I stood atop a roof, overlooking the city. I always loved a great view. It was nice to get away from the boys once in a while, even if only for a moment, and get some peace.

My breath became vapor in the chill winter night, but I didn't mind. Because I am a Weavile, I always had preferred this season over others.

Night was our domain.

I sprinted down the roof and leapt over to the next one, silently landing. I repeated the process, quickly making my way around the city's network until I reached the berry farm.

It was on the edge of the settlement with about three of each berry tree. Obviously some were missing, but it contained enough necessary for our needs. I looked around the rows and made sure there wasn't anyone watching and grabbed some Oran and Sitrus berries. I raced across the field and heard a bark.

"Stop! Thief!" A man's voice cried. "Houndoom, get that Weavile!"

I gasped. Houndoom, the Dark Pokemon. Dark and Fire type. I was weak to fire.

The Houndoom spotted me, his red eyes glimmering in the night. It ran towards me, but I was faster. I reached the brick wall surrounding the field and jumped. My hooked claws on one hand scraped the top and I swung myself up. I heard the Houndoom growl and he used Flamethrower. I rolled myself to the side, barely avoiding the attack. My back felt the heat.

Standing up, I lunged myself towards the edge but stopped just in time. I had forgotten that the farm was on a cliff corner and I just had nearly fallen down a 200-foot drop.

The Houndoom leapt up and down, trying to reach me. His jaws snapped the air by my leg. I scanned the area. The only two sides not facing the cliff were the house next to me and the wall across. I sighed. The house's roof was too far up for me to reach. I had to go to the side across me.

I ran along the wall, hoping the Houndoom would chase me. But to my dismay, he was smarter than that. He ran over and waited at the corner of the safe wall. I prayed my idea would work. As I reached the corner, I jumped. His fangs barely avoided me as I soared past. I breathed a sigh of relief and landed on the streets.

I walked through the empty roads, abandoned at night. Sales men's carts were shut. I heard a Furfrou bark in the distance.

Finally I reached the ally. I heard Zap laughing and Sparky barking. I saw a lucario asleep in his hammock while an absol rested in a sideways garbage can, padded with some old pillows. A luxray and zoroark were talking to each other.

I threw an Oran berry at the zoroark. It burst and got juice all over his face. He looked menacingly in my direction but then his expression melted into a smile. "Nightshade! Hey, you're back! I heard the berry farmer got a Houndoom. Did it give you any trouble?"

I nodded. "Wasn't too smart, though. It was a little trained."

"Nice."

Zap flicked his tail. "Shadow and I were just talking about that stupid cat that keeps on snooping in the alley."

"The purugly?"

"Yeah." Shadow nodded, petting Sparky the growlithe who was on his lap. "We gave the fat thing a proper injury."

"What?!" I yelled. "It's owned by the humans, you moron! Do you want to get captured by Pokémon Control?!" I started pacing back and forth.

"Relax." Zap said, glaring at Shadow. "He meant to say a small injury, just a few scratches. It still ran away like a coward."

"Be more precise next time."

The absol kicked against his can, sleeping restlessly.

"Is Void having those nightmares again?" I asked, my voice softening.

"Yeah. He doesn't talk about it much." Zap said.

"He doesn't talk much." Shadow said jokingly. His face became serious again. "Poor guy won't tell us much about himself."

I nodded. We had found him about a month ago, beat up and lying on the street. We'd taken him back to our alley and nursed him back to physical health, but he still seemed pretty banged up mentally and emotionally.

I put the berries in our stash, a small empty trash can with a lid (so the Bird pokemon don't steal them). When I was done, I walked back to Zap and Shadow. "So did anything else happen while I got the berries?"

"Well, after we scared off the fat cat, Shadow reinforced the illusion outside the alley." Zap said. Zoroark have the ability to protect their homes with an illusion. Anyone who didn't know better would've thought our alley was nonexistent, they see two buildings connected. "But that's pretty much it."

"Hmm." I grunted halfheartedly. I looked at Sparta, the lucario, named after the Greek city-state of warriors. He was out cold, fidgeting a little in his hammock. So much for being a brave soldier, ready for battle at any moment. Oh well. He was pretty good at battles anyway.

I decided to go to bed. It had been a long day. "'Night." I said wearily, walking to my area.

I moved the blanket-curtain aside and climbed on the worn, small trampoline that was now my bed. Pulling a tattered blanket over myself, I fell into a peaceful rest.