Chapter 1 - Fuelling Fire

Quote of the day: Words may cut deeper than you think.

Meaning: Watch what you say to others, as your words may harm them more than you originally realised.

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Edited (9/8/18)

Slash.

Smack.

Plop.

A flash of red and white darted around town, carelessly tipping over crates and getting stuck within thick rows of cloth. The figure paused at an empty alley, sighing with relief. He raised his horn proudly, closing his emerald green eyes as he let his surroundings fill him with a rush of exhilaration.

"What a strange human settlement," he muttered under his breath, opening his eyes to scan the area. "There are so many obstacles in my way; I wonder how humans get around so quickly."

Crimson had chosen to travel to human settlements in search of other Absol after he pulled himself together. He had spent many sleepless moons drowning himself in deep sorrow after the loss of his parents. He had decided that if his parents wanted to protect the humans even till their deaths, he would respect their wishes and not seek vengeance. However, he could not deny the piercing anguish and loneliness he felt when his parents were killed.

"Retaliation breeds regret. Morality is virtue. Help the weak, support the strong. Never greed more than justice, for the balance will tip over to injustice. Only then, will there be balance," Crimson recited, steadying his rough breathing.

Whenever he felt a rush of anger or hatred, he would recite the words his parents used to raise him. It usually worked its charm, keeping his head calm and clear.

His green gaze rested on a group of humans gathering together with their pungent weapons - guns. They must be going hunting. I should follow them and help out whatever Pokémon they're trying to catch.

A brief, unpleasant feeling of spite surfaced within Crimson, but he shook his head to clear more nasty thoughts. He followed the humans carefully, choosing to hide behind huge mountains of cloth instead of wooden crates. My fur will blend in better with cloth than wooden crates.

The humans headed towards the forest beside the town, walking in a single file. The red Absol tensed when one of the humans whipped his head around cautiously, scanning his surroundings. Crimson swiftly his himself deeper inside the bushes.

The human turned back to speak to the person in front of him. "Hey, boss. Do you think we're being watched?"

"Shut up or the Pokémon will notice us before we can get to them," the larger man grumbled, clearly in a bad mood.

The man backed off apologetically. "Sorry, boss!"

After looking around suspiciously once more, he faced forward and continued walking. Crimson breathed a sigh of relief. That was close. Too close for comfort, I'd say. That human looks mouse-brained, but he has good instincts.

Taking note to keep an eye on that particular human, Crimson continued following the humans, hidden by the abundance of greenery.

He watched them sharply with his green gaze as they started chattering energetically amongst themselves. The "boss" silenced them with a glare and signalled them to get into position.

They're getting ready. But who are they targeting? Crimson tried to follow their gazes and figure out their objective, but they were so scattered, he failed to grasp their goal. Frustrated, the red Absol decided to sit and wait. No use trying to figure it out now. I'll have to be patient and offer my help when the Pokémon needs it.

A rustle of leaves triggered the humans' reactions as everything in Crimson's point of view slowed down painfully. Almost all at once, they jumped into more organised positions, each focused on their own task.

Crimson yelped in surprise when he saw their deadly accuracy and organised teamwork in capturing their target - a Whismurr.

A Whismurr? Whatever do they need a Whismurr for? Crimson thought, dumbfounded. In any case, their coordination with one another is dangerous to me. I'll have to thread more carefully from now on.

"Boss, are you sure the client will be pleased with this tiny Whismurr? I thought he wanted a Whismurr that was at least average in size," the human who spoke up earlier asked his leader, scratching his head.

His question earned him a smack on his head. "Ow!"

The larger man glared at his subordinate. "Of course, I'm sure! Our orders were to capture a Whismurr as small as possible, not average in size!"

"I'm sorry, boss!" The smaller man stuttered and bowed apologetically.

"Your brain is smaller than this Whismurr, no doubt," the leader grumbled to himself. "All right, boys! Load him into the crate."

Crimson, who had been watching their exchange, immediately sprung into action. I've got no time to waste! That Whismurr needs help now.

Darting out of his hiding spot, the red Absol first attacked the leader of the group, baring his fangs menacingly.

"We're under attack! Seize the Absol, immediately!" The leader barked, brandishing a wooden staff to hit Absol.

At once, the humans took out their own weapons and pointed it at Crimson. They formed a protective circle around their leader, ready to attack. Growling lowly, Crimson dodged their attempts at hitting him. There!

Crimson swiftly freed the Whismurr from the hunting net and grabbed it between his teeth. "Don't struggle, or I'll drop you."

"Ugh! He's getting away!" One of the humans exclaimed. "We've been tricked! The creature of destruction was not aiming to attack us, it was plotting to ruin us by stealing our catch!"

"Give chase!" The leader ordered.

And that was the last Crimson ever heard his voice.

When he was sure he had lost the humans, he set Whismurr down gently. "You're safe now."

"Whismurr?" Whismurr glanced up at Crimson, tilting its head slightly.

"Still a baby, huh? It must mean you can't talk yet," Crimson mused.

"W-Wh..." Whismurr started tearing up, alarming Crimson.

Crimson widened his eyes when he realised it was about to cry. "Oh no."

"Wahh!" Whismurr cried, tears flowing as freely as the red Absol's horror.

"Ugh! Whismurr, please calm down, you're killing my ears!" Crimson yelped. "Who knew Whismurr's cries were so painful?"

Shoving down his own horror at the situation, he gave Whismurr a small pat on its head with his paw before taking off. "Never will I ever want to deal with a Whismurr ever again!"

When he returned to the town, he spotted a crowd of people gathering in front of a shop. Curious, he hid in the alley to listen in on their conversation.

"Have you heard of a mysterious red Absol appearing around human towns?" A man asked a woman.

"I have! It's said that that particularly Absol is very intelligent and brings bad luck to whoever it encounters," the woman replied with distaste, as if the thought of seeing an Absol irked her. "Then again, Absol were never really good luck charms. What a bunch of nasty Pokémon!"

Crimson widened his eyes in shock, feeling the temperature of his blood rising swiftly. His mood immediately took a deep dive to pure spitefulness towards the humans as he continued to listen to their conversation that shunned the Absol. Those pesky humans...

Growling and hissing, Crimson retreated back into the shadows of the alley. He was seething in anger now, his eyes burning with fierce hatred. "Retaliation breeds regret. Morality is-"

"Have you heard that the hunters have been killing those Absol? I'd say those demons got what they deserve!" A loud laughter reached Crimson's ears, freezing him where he stood.

Desperate to escape from the mocking voices, Crimson dashed out of the alley and ran blindly across the streets. He ignored the horrified stares of people as he darted past them, and skidded to a halt when he realised he was facing a white wall.

He raised his head slowly, his eyes widening as he did. It was not a white wall he was facing - it was a row of white pelts that the dead Absol once wore with dignity and pride.

Rage surpassed the horror he felt, his emotions spiralling out of control. Crimson stumbled back in shock and felt tears welling up in his eyes as he let out an ear-splitting yowl of hatred and anguish.

Once he was silent, his iridescent green eyes narrowed into slits as he retreated deeper into the shadows of the town, away from human eyes.

His remaining tolerance for humans vanished in a split second. Constantly alone and fearful for himself and other Absol, Crimson could stand the taunts of humans no longer. "They will pay for murdering my kind in cold blood. That, I swear."