32 – The Watch

Enigma had spent most of the night clambering through the treetops, not paying much attention to where he was going. He hadn't made much progress, making a wide circle around that large tree. He was distracted.

He hated being distracted.

When the sun reached its highest point, he stopped on the bough of a sturdy aspear tree looking out at the forest. It all looked the same. Green and brown and dull. His stomach growled and he painfully remembered that piece of meat Harlequin had given him, discarded on the cell floor. He tutted and looked up at the tree and its sparse aspear berries, then reached up and grabbed the nearest one. They were usually ridiculously sour and the juice from the over-ripe fruit trickled over his fur but he barely tasted it. Right now, it was more a necessity than an enjoyment.

Alone.

He had no reason to head back to the Shadow Lands. No reason to quickly finish his task.

But he wanted to find out what the Heretics were doing. He couldn't shake the curiosity that had aroused when he'd seen that tyranitar. The same curiosity that had followed him after he'd been the target of that crazed whimsicott's attack.

He had to forget about Harlequin. He had to go back to that lab. There was a chance Rio was still there, and he wanted answers.

He had to admit, he was fearing an all-out war. Whatever it was the Heretics were doing with that new type, news would reach Hydreigon sooner or later and he wouldn't be impressed. One way or another he'd end up involved in that war, be it fighting against Heretics and Outcasts or being one of the targets of Hydreigon's vicious attempt to wipe out anything that wasn't dark or dragon.

Right now, his survival was unpredictable.

He felt all strength leave his body and he flopped back against the trunk of the tree, staring up at the rust-coloured canopy. Dry leaves were slowly floating to the ground, removed from their place in the branches by a gentle, wintry breeze.

Why had things become so complicated?

...

"Any idea where we are?" Spark flopped forward on Cleo's shoulder, as glum as she sounded.

"No," answered Cleo. "Unfortunately, without the river to go by, I'm not entirely sure if we're even heading in the right direction any more."

They'd been walking since morning and from what they could see of the sun through the mottled canopy it had moved over them now, and would likely be setting soon. Even with the trees shedding their leaves, it wasn't easy to gauge direction from the sun either. So as to what direction they were heading in, they had no idea.

"I wouldn't be too disheartened," Faith told them. "Either way, we'll make it out of the forest eventually."

Spark glanced back at her. "Yes, but that may mean we end up miles away from the next town."

"I'd sooner be out of these trees," said Mischief. "I'm worried we'll end up running into those Heretics again."

"Then be prepared," Cleo told him. "We're not even sure how close to the lab we are."

"Do you think they'll even still be using it?" asked Spark.

Cleo shrugged. "Who knows? Either way, I doubt they'll have left the forest and moved on elsewhere."

Mischief made a thoughtful noise but said nothing. He shuffled along beside her, keeping a watchful eye on the passing shadows.

Harlequin had been oddly quiet. No arguments or snide remarks, not even a snarl when Cleo had ventured to ask her if there was anything wrong. What had struck her as very odd was that she'd willingly followed them from the cells without so much as a retort when Cleo had activated the collar again. No struggle, keeping a steady pace behind them as they moved on.

Well, it made things easier and they had less to worry about without an assassin screaming for help and snapping at them.

They pressed on, their paws crunching over the thick blanket of dry leaves on the forest floor. The sound triggered Cleo's memory of Spark's comment during breakfast – it hadn't rained for a while. She found herself wondering when it had last rained. It hadn't in days. That was odd for this time of year. Wind and rain normally helped the trees shed their leaves as they went dormant in time for the cold season to hit. A spurt of dry weather like this normally foreshadowed a harsh storm. If that was anything to go by, then it was going to be a bitter, cold winter.

She shook off that thought and picked up her pace. The sooner they were out of this forest, the sooner they could find shelter should that actually happen.

Spark yawned widely. "I'm worried we're going to have to sleep in this forest."

"That was always the case," said Cleo. "Besides, there are more of us this time."

Faith chuckled. "Don't worry. We'll be fine."

Spark looked back at her. "How often do you leave the Fairy Garden?"

The mawile didn't answer, but Cleo could guess she likely chuckled or gave a nonchalant shrug. Regardless, she did feel safer with Faith on their side. It did increase their numbers and their strength significantly. An extra fairy pokemon gave them a solid advantage, plus Cleo and Spark could now use a fairy type attack each.

She had to keep reminding herself that. She'd not learned a new attack in a long time so it was still alien to her.

The canopy above them dimmed and she looked up. So the sun was setting now... it was time to find somewhere to spend the night before the forest was plunged into the dark of night.

She scrambled over a large tree root and moved off their path, looking for a wide enough space to set up their little tent.

"We won't lose this path will we?" Mischief asked.

"No. We'll find it again in the morning," Cleo told him. "I just want to make sure we're away from where any patrolling pokemon might look." She paused and looked around at a small clearing shielded from sight by some thick brambles and nettles. "Here will do."

"Do they normally patrol the forest?" Faith asked.

"It's not been recorded before that noivern showed up." Cleo pulled the yellow sheet out of her bag. "And we've recently discovered Heretics in the mountains. As for that lab, I don't even know how close we are too it either."

"And now we're going to set up a tent right in their garden," said Spark.

Cleo looked up sharply and stared through the trees. She then looked down at the dedenne.

Spark blinked. "I'm joking."

"Don't do that," said Cleo.

Spark shrugged. "Just trying to lighten the mood."

Faith laughed and took the other half of the sheet from Cleo. "Where are we hanging this?"

"Over this low bough." Cleo looked up at a spindly tree branch. "It's a little high up but I think it'll do."

They flicked the large sheet up at the branch and it fell in place. Cleo handed Faith two iron thorns and they both secured the four corners into the dry ground.

"It's going to be cosy in here," said Spark.

Faith chuckled. "It certainly is!"

"Well," Spark turned away from the tent to look at Cleo. "Let's have supper and decide when we'll take watch."

"How good is your night vision?" Cleo asked Faith.

"It's okay. Why do you ask?"

"Just to see if you prefer early night or early morning. You'll need to be able to see well if you're helping with the watch."

"Oh!" Faith smiled. "I can see in the dark. Mawile are used to living in caves after all."

"Then I'll take first watch," said Cleo. "Which inevitably means Harlequin will be with me."

"Huh?" Harlequin looked up at her with surprise then shrugged. "Fair enough."

"I'll go second then," said Faith.

Mischief raised a paw. "I'll go after Faith."

Spark snorted. "Guess I'm last then. Oh well." She shrugged. "That means I don't have to have a broken sleep."

"Oh no." Faith grinned. "No one wants a grumpy Spark."

Spark shook her head. "They do not."

Cleo flopped onto the grass and pulled out several berries and various dried meat.

"Let's get ourselves fed then," she said. "We'll need our energy."

...

Enigma had watched all this with great interest. He'd spotted the little group of Outcasts as he warped through the forest and had been tracking them from a distance. He knew they'd have to rest at some point and like any sensible pokemon should, they'd have at least one of them keep watch while the others slept.

It was that mawile that interested him.

There was something about her. She'd not been with them before, and Harlequin had mentioned her. She must have had some influence over the zorua's decision to turn against him.

He had to be patient now and wait for her turn to keep watch.

He made himself comfortable in the canopy and watched the boring spectacle of the meowstic sitting silently beside Harlequin, occasionally glancing around at any slight noise. Even the wind rustling the dry leaves seemed to set her on edge.

He chuckled, considering briefly throwing something just to watch her jump. But that would be foolish. If either of them spotted him, his entire plan would be blown to bits.

Harlequin was much more relaxed, curled up next to the meowstic keeping an eye on his surroundings. It was a striking difference between the two pokemon. The world didn't frighten Harlequin like it did the meowstic. He was sensible. He knew what made those noises. He wasn't jumpy.

Enigma snorted and closed his eyes, leaning back against the tree. This was going to take forever. He couldn't wait for them to switch their shifts, then he could get his plan into action and find out as much as he could from that meddling mawile.

The night seemed to drag by, the wind stirring the branches of the trees and causing them to drop their lingering leaves to the forest floor. The rustle it created sounded oddly loud in the silent forest. He was growing bored of watching the pathetic meowstic glance up every time the wind stirred the debris.

Finally, she looked back into the tent as the mawile came out. They spoke in hushed voices that Enigma couldn't pick up from his position. The mawile gave a little wave to Harlequin and the meowstic as they went into the tent, then sat herself down in the opening. She seemed a lot more relaxed than the previous pokemon, leaning back on her paws and looking up at the night sky through the canopy.

Enigma followed her gaze. A scattering of stars were visible, which meant there were few clouds in the sky. It was almost peaceful... he shook it off and looked back down at the mawile.

She was completely oblivious to his presence. He was going to wait a little though, since he'd need to get close enough to get at her. He didn't want to risk waking any of the other pokemon, nor did he want to risk the meowstic or Harlequin still being awake.

So he waited... remaining in the shadows cast by the tree's branches, out of sight from the unsuspecting pokemon.

After what felt like an eternity, the time finally felt right. He warped down from the trees, reappearing a few feet from the tent. This was going to be tricky. If he got too close, she would hear him and she'd likely wake the others up. He needed to do this tactfully, to draw her attention and see if he could lure her out.

He grabbed a twig from the floor and tossed it towards the mawile. It landed just on the edge of her vision, disturbing the bed of still leaves. She looked up at the spot then looked behind her, squinting into the shadows. She'd noticed... but she didn't look like she was going to get up and investigate.

Enigma cursed silently. If he tried another stunt like that, she'd probably be more inclined to wake up the others than come and seek him out solo. He'd probably blown his chance. His only other option was to creep towards her and snatch her aside, and that might cause her to scream.

Oh well. He'd have to try and avoid that.

He kept his breath low and crept towards her, his bell making nothing more than a gentle grating sound. Barely audible. Those in the tent shouldn't hear it, and neither should the mawile until it was too late.

Closer... closer...

Her head snapped round, her violet eyes wide. She'd heard him.

He grit his teeth, planning a swift get-away, but she didn't go into the tent. No... she stood up and ventured away from it, searching for the source of the sound.

He grinned. So she was curious. That was foolish. What if he'd brought an army? She'd be defenceless.

Using the shadows of the trees to his advantage, he watched as she crept towards him, her eyes scanning the trees and shrubberies carefully. As she ventured close enough, he shot out of the shadows and grabbed her, whisking her off the path. She let out a surprised gasp and he pressed his paw over her mouth and rammed her hard against a tree.

A look of realisation crossed her face but what he thought was fear reflected in her eyes was nothing more than surprise. So she wasn't scared? Did she even know who he was?

Keeping his left paw securely around her arm, he carefully removed his other paw from her mouth and brushed a ribbon of soft fur back from her face. A smirk played across his lips and he scanned her with his eyes.

"Well, aren't you a pretty one."

She raised an eyebrow. "Enigma, isn't it?"

"I'm surprised you know me." He chuckled then fixed her with a venomous glare. "Because you're not acting like you know me."

"I think addressing you by name is enough evidence that I know you," she said. "Not to mention your bell gives you away. There aren't many assassins who are so confident in their ability that they use a bell to shock fear into the hearts of their targets."

He grinned. "You flatter me."

"So... why did you lure me out?"

Enigma felt his face twist with confusion. Was this mawile serious?

"You knew someone was luring you out yet you came alone?" he snorted.

"Well it was clearly not an ambush." She stared at him. "You threw a stick. If someone wanted to ambush me, or my friends, they would have stormed us. You, however, were clearly working alone."

"And you've left your friends completely unprotected."

Her violet eyes widened and she glanced sideways. Hah. She'd not considered that.

He laughed. "You're foolish."

She fixed him with an exasperated stare. "What do you want with me?"

"I want to know what you've done to Harlequin," he said flatly. "Why has he become all soft, turning his back on the Shadow Lands to pal around with Outcasts?"

"He?" She seemed surprised. "I've not done anything to Harlequin. She entered the Fairy Garden and the change went from there. As far as I know, she's not with the Outcasts willingly."

Enigma frowned. "He told me he's not going back, and you tell me he's not staying with you willingly?"

The mawile shook her head. "She wants to go and look for her friend. Xerneas told her he's alive."

Xerneas? There was that name again. He clenched his teeth and glanced away from her. A friend? That absol?

"Is that everything you want to know?" she asked. "Are you going to let me go back now?"

He snapped his attention back to her and a massive grin spread across his face.

"Oh, not quite yet," he purred. "You see, I was going to see the Heretics... but I think I'd much rather play with you."

He slid his paw up her arm to press against her chest. This would be too easy.

A bored expression crossed her face and she sighed. Then her body jerked and her massive horn connected with his left ribcage, knocking the wind out of him. He was launched sideways, landing painfully on the ground.

He coughed and rolled onto his back, clutching his right side. The impact with the floor had sent a shock wave of pain through his wounded ribs. That stupid whimsicott.

"Oh my!" The mawile covered her mouth with a paw and trotted over to him. "Are you injured? I'm so sorry, I had no idea!"

He growled and pushed himself up, wincing with the effort. "You'd better get out of here before I slaughter you."

"Are you sure I can't help you?"

He looked up at her, fury filling his crimson eyes. "You really don't know how to save your own life do you? You're pathetic."

She stared down at him for a moment, then let out a small sigh and turned away.

"You should recognise who your friends are," she said. "Because the Darkness is no one's friend. It just destroys." She glanced back at him. "And that can make someone feel very lonely."

She marched away from him, leaving him sitting in the foliage coughing into his paw. He took in a painful breath and dragged himself to his feet.

That hadn't been as insightful or as fun as he thought it would be.

It had just left him feeling sore and bitter.