FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The very thing Brooke hoped to avoid happened. She was awake and dressed at 7 a.m. to leave in thirty minutes after Parker had woken her with a call and a message.

She had no idea why he'd chosen one of the earliest times he could to catch a vulpix, but Brooke wouldn't chew him out for his excitement. It was something she'd been trying to tone down on doing except for when he really deserved it.

"Mmn, fuck you, Vix," she grumbled. She stared into her restroom mirror and rubbed concealer over the marks on her neck that had no intention of giving her a damn break. The makeup she'd applied did well enough at hiding it. It was barely visible; Brooke would have to rely on it.

She pulled her hair into a ponytatail, slipped into running shoes, then put on a tee but kept on the jeans and sweater she'd worn yesterday since it would be cool out. She grabbed her phone off her bed afterward and messaged Parker that she'd be at his house in a few minutes, then was out the door after downing a pill.

Malie had begun its waking hours, and quite a bit of the population was out. People did their morning shopping or jogged and whatnot.

Managers and accompanying pokémon or family members pulled up gates that had guarded shops overnight.

Children walked to the local school up north with backpacks, some with friends and siblings, but many walked alone. Brooke had rarely seen that growing up, but Malie was twice safer.

Wild pokémon roamed with the population who paid them no mind, such as litten, who scurried down the pavement. Some lay on the floor in marts or slept on their shelves. Stray litten and torracat were abundant around Malie; store owners usually housed and cared for one or two in return that they took care of the rattata and spinarak who tried to nest in the walls.

Yungoos peeked from under vehicles and hung around marts for food. Those vicious creatures ate anything and had massive appetites geared toward meat. The species wasn't native to Alola, either. They'd originated from Ferrum but had been imported unintentionally after enough sneaked onto cargo ships transporting berries. They caused little to no issues within the ecosystem, so the government didn't make a big deal out of it.

"There you are..." Brooke spotted Parker and Pyro from down the sidewalk five minutes in.

"Hey, Brookey!" Parker greeted with a grin as she approached, tossing a pokéball up in his hand.

"You know I don't like that nickname." She put her hand on her hip as he took a step forward and hugged her, which forced a subtle smile out of her, and she returned his hug. "We're guaranteed to catch this thing today, ya?" she asked as they walked.

"Well, I wouldn't... say..."

She eyed him expectantly.

Parker dropped the pokéball inside the pouch on his waist and zipped it closed. "...Of course we will."

"So, west through eleven, twelve, and thirteen." Brooke's legs would be dead after that.

"It's scenic. It'll be fun. Bay didn't discover it for us not to embrace it, right?"

"Did you even see a vulpix yesterday?"

Parker sighed. "Not exactly. They're hiding from being lunch or sticking to their parents most of the time, but we've got this."

Route 11, the first they entered, was one of Brooke's favorites. She came here whenever she was bored of the Malie Garden, although it didn't hold a candle in comparison. Its surroundings were prolific in nature. Tall grass that swayed against breezes like oceanic waves, trees, and flower shrubs were in every direction she looked. The air smelled fresh and faintly sweet.

"The calm before the storm." Parker watched Pyro trot ahead to sniff and bite at the grass.

Parker referred to Route 12, the one following 11. It was a rugged pathway full of rocky boulders, rough dirt trails, and tall, dry grass hugging the towering and ominous Blush Mountain. One had to cross it with caution.

Blush Mountain was home to the island's Geothermal Power Plant, which employees reached via a carved dirt trail leading to the top. The plant's output was powerful enough to support most of Ula'ula's electrical requirements. As a result, over twenty workers were on duty at all times to ensure its systems were well-maintained and functioning. There had only been two major outages in the plant's history.

The plant was also open to pokémon trainers so long as they were officially registered under its management as having an electric type. They could then use an extensive designated open training area by hundreds of rows of gated transformers.

Electric type pokémon fed off the transformers' energy, temporarily increasing stamina and strength that held the possibility to stick with the pokémon after repeated sessions. However, battling was prohibited, as it could end in a horrific accident.

"You owe me if I get scraped up." Route 12 was Brooke's least favorite route because of its jagged boulders.

"Sure thing, but you know what you're doing." Parker chuckled.

"Whatever." The entrance ahead looked like one to another dimension, transitioning abruptly from rich soil and greenery to dry yellow patches, rust-colored dirt, and barren black rocks.

They started the walk along the trail edged with the tall, grouped grass rustling against breezes. Ahead was the first half a mile filled with threatening rocks of all sizes.

"Here we go..." Brooke mumbled. She watched Pyro trot eagerly ahead and hop onto one of the rocks with grace.

Parker passed her and jumped onto one as well, holding out his palm. "Slow and steady. I'll keep close."

She took his hand with a slight grin and stepped up. "Whatever." She sighed at the long obstacle course that Pyro crossed with precision and agility, sometimes stopping and taking a moment to study which was the best to advance to next before priming himself and pouncing.

---

The journey through Route 12 had been most enjoyable for Pyro. He'd finished the course intact and had touched up on his speed and accuracy; however, it was the least enjoyable for Brooke.

She had been moving along well enough until she slipped and scuffed her knee before Parker could grab her since she'd gotten overconfident and had gone ahead of him.

The route following 12 was a gold mine after enduring an arduous journey—a rest area to save one's progress.

"Tapu is next, hun. Sorry about your knee." Parker placed a hand on her upper back. "I guess I owe you."

Brooke sucked her teeth. "It's fine. I'd be more equipped if I did it more, and I guess I got a bit too eager back there." She focused on the sights Route 13 held while they strolled its smooth dirty terrain.

People rested with their pokémon or conversed with others. A male teen sat on dirt with his zorua and fed it berries while it lay sprawled; a scraggy and mienfoo sat beside each other and chatted while their owners did the same nearby.

Some people slept on the ground. They'd likely traveled all the way here and were burnt.

A female pyroar was lying beside her napping male owner in short grass while his backpack sat beside her over a blanket. She seemed to be on alert in case anyone attempted to harm him or steal his bag, so Brooke didn't glance in that direction.

The grass was greener and more abundant as they neared the mini oasis at the route's center. It was a small, clear blue pond shielded by mini palm trees and other nature. Brooke stopped by it and crouched to rest.

Pyro lay in the oasis' short grass in front of her and rolled onto his back.

While on his back, he saw a natu nesting in the cradle of one of the trees, asleep in cozy straw. He swayed his tail and feigned pawing at it.

"We can stay as long as you'd like." Parker kneeled beside her and embraced her with his arm.

"Just a few minutes." She leaned against him, her head on his chest. Brooke wouldn't leave Malie City for weeks after today, although getting away was a huge breath of fresh air.

"You aren't mad, right?"

"'A'ole (no), I'm good. We're good." Brooke sighed. "I'm tired, but we aren't turning back without a vulpix."

---

They'd spent around three hours away from Malie so far and now walked north along Tapu Village's dirt paths surrounded by more grass and trees, a generic forest swaying in sultry winds. Brooke had given Parker her sweater to hold since all that walking had made her hot. She looked around at scattered and charred remains of structures that greenery had grown in and around.

This had to be the most boring place in Alola by no fault of its own. Tapu Bulu, the deity of Ula'ula, had destroyed all that this village had been to rubble due to the government's ambition. They had ordered a massive Thrifty Megamart and parking lot to be built over Bulu's sacred natural area. It was now abandoned and home to many wild pokémon around Tapu.

Shortly after its completion, Bulu punished the people and turned most modern marts and businesses in the village to rubble with stone edge and superpower, two of many attacks showcasing the legendary's wrath; however, it didn't harm any citizens.

After the ordeal, the government abandoned all structural projects to avoid further angering Bulu and advised the public not to live in the village, although it was now a popular tourist spot due to its history. It was why the remains were kept as they were. All that was left was a functioning Pokémon Center and a couple of restaurants built far from the sacred grounds.

There was a small pond off to the left that Brooke watched a stufful drink from as they ventured deeper into the village, where more nature was present. Few trainers were on the route besides a few natives and a family of tourists, so they heard ambiance and often rustling from wild pokémon in nearby grass, stopping frequently to see if anything would pop out. A rattata and growlithe had so far.

Pyro twitched his ears whenever he heard a sound and trotted far ahead, spotting some more wild pokémon in bushes.

"This could take a while. Pyro was doing this for hours yesterday." Parker looked ahead while Pyro walked through patches of grass, ready to pounce.

She stuck her hand in her pocket. "Could be worse. At least it's quiet." She was starving, her legs ached, her knee still burned, and the rainforest's air was sticky, but she wouldn't complain.

"Torr!"

Brooke and Parker stopped in their tracks, setting their eyes on Pyro ahead.

The torracat had spotted a fluffy, snowy tail peeking from a patch of grass, primed with a determined glower and ready to pounce—until the pokémon emerged, making him ease his eyes considerably.

It froze and cowered upon seeing two humans. Its tail lowered, and its eyes dilated.

"That's it! Pyro, ember!" Parker blurted.

Pyro glanced back at Parker, then ahead at the vulpix.

"Parker, I don't think he wants to injure it... It's not even putting up a fight," Brooke said.

"Ah, I guess you're right. I just don't want it to run." He took an empty pokéball out of his pouch, pressed its release, and threw it at the petrified vulpix. The ball hit the side of its body, causing it to stumble, and consumed it in a split-second white flash. The ball hit the ground and rolled on the ground before stopping.

There was a beat of silence; the ball didn't show many signs of struggle, but it shook enough that the vulpix popped back out in another fit of bright light and cowered in place, trembling.

"Shit..." he mumbled. Parker fumbled through his bag and pulled out an ultra ball, eyeing it. He sighed and glanced at Brooke with a slight squint. "This is my only ultra ball, by the way." He drew his arm up and back, preparing to throw it. "Last try, then Pyro's setting it on fire."

"Parker!"

He tossed the ultra ball ahead of the vulpix since it had started running back into the grass. It hit the back of its head, making the vulpix wince and fall forward before sucking it into the ball for a second time. It landed just before the grass and bounced before coming to a standstill.

Parker held his breath.

They watched the ball tremble, wiggle, and wiggle again. It clicked audibly after the third time and stopped moving.

"Yes!" Parker threw a fist up and smiled.

"See? It's still young. Give it a break." Brooke walked to the ball and patted Pyro's head on the way. "Proud of you." She picked up the ultra ball and tossed it up, catching it in her other hand while walking back to Parker.

"I mean, I'm out of an ultra ball..."

Brooke stopped before him and stared.

"But we're also one vulpix richer."

She put a hand on her hip.

"You're right."

After it was in the pouch, they sauntered down the village's designated dirt paths toward the Pokémon Center, a few palm trees and trainers littering the area.

"I'm glad we caught it today. I guess we can skip the Pokémon Center," Parker said. "We can stop to eat before walking back, though."

"Try (Please). I was hoping you'd say that." She'd need the energy, and her legs were jelly.

---

They ate at a small restaurant serving local dishes, took the trip home with Brooke holding his hand along Route 12 the entire time, and were back on Route 11 in several more hours. Parker had returned Pyro to his pokéball so he could rest.

"What are you gonna name it?" Brooke questioned.

"I'm not sure. Maybe I'll name it after you."

"What, why?"

"Did you see how cute it was?"

"No... Parker, that'd be weird. We don't even know if it's female. I am flattered, though," she said with a giggle, then turned her gaze ahead as they neared Malie. "Finally. My legs are going to diee." Brooke lifted them between steps.

"You can lie in my bed for as long as you'd like... if you want," Parker offered.

They arrived in roughly ten minutes, and he unlocked the front door, letting Brooke inside first and tossing her sweater on the couch.

"Ugh, mahalo and thanks." She entered and washed off in his restroom, putting some ointment and a band-aid on her wound. She exited afterward and closed the curtains on his window, then threw herself overtop his blanket, falling limp and groaning. She adjusted her shirt and dragged herself up to rest her head on one of the cool pillows.

Brooke's feet were numb, and her calves throbbed. She didn't know how Parker walked to Tapu twice in a week, but she admired the willpower.

After drinking water that he brought her, she ended up falling straight into a nap.

She opened her eyes a while later and sat up slightly while yawning. She saw Parker resting a small distance from her on his phone. "What time is it?" Brooke rubbed her eyes.

He looked at the time on his notification bar before setting it down. "It's after four. You were out for a while."

"Mh." She sat up more and stretched her arms, turning that action into her positioning them forward to request a hug.

Parker grinned and sat up, giving Brooke her much-needed embrace and holding her close while pressing his digits into her slim waist. "You're warm. How's my good luck charm feeling?"

She looked into his eyes. "A lot better and very touchy." She kissed his lips while holding his sides; he returned it, which led to him setting her onto her back while he continued kissing her tenderly. He ran his hand under her shirt and over her slim stomach with a silver belly button piercing.

"Uhn, babe..." Brooke rested her hand on the bed, her other holding his arm while he explored her and brought her chills. She spread her legs under him and exhaled.

Parker moved his face down, though, which may as well have stopped her heart as he kissed her neck. Her throat tightened.

He brushed over the swelling with his lips. "You didn't tell me you got hurt. What happened?" He pulled away and eyed her.

The concealer she had put on earlier, combined with only a sliver of light seeping into the room from through the window, made the marks resemble a few bruises.

Brooke swallowed with rapid blinks. "It's nothing. I'll tell you later... Don't worry about it," she told him and finished with a slight grin.

"You sure?"

"Yeah, babe. I'm sure."