FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Jenna sat on the living room couch and held her face in her palms. Tonight wasn't successful. She was stressed for multiple reasons and had no idea what to do about any of it.

She lived a mile east from the western wall and had a modest two-bedroom home a few blocks from her older brother by five years-- or where he used to live. He was sick, came down with the rapids days ago, and no one knew how he caught it. He was quarantined and under care in another building and wouldn't allow Jenna to visit him, understandably.

She'd gone out tonight to search for painkillers and other meds since the local Pokémon Center and Mart were out and was on her way to Oreburgh when she came across Ray and Crystal. Jenna didn't regret bringing them here but knew her brother would disapprove. Perhaps he'd want to talk to her as a result; then, she could see his condition. A part of Jenna was afraid to, but she didn't want to live in the dark and wanted to see her brother before he worsened.

She heard light steps and lowered her hands, seeing her buizel standing ahead in the dark. He must've heard her come through the door. "Hey, Bizzy."

"Uiz," he replied. Bizzy was happy to see Jenna back. He never felt at ease when she left the grounds, and she refused to take him along for safety reasons. Bizzy felt her demeanor and knew what it was from, so he went to her and set his paw on her knee, eyeing her.

"I'm good. I just did something stupid, is all. Rescued a boy and his espeon. Chris might get them kicked out." Jenna rested back against the couch.

With no cure for the rapids, her brother was guaranteed to die, and she had no idea what the base would become without his lead. She helped build it with him, friends, and citizens willing to help the moment the pandemic spiraled out of control. It was likely the only of its kind in Sinnoh, which is why over a hundred people resided here.

The base wouldn't last forever, especially with word getting around as more desperate people showed up, but it'd been standing strong for months, and there was enough weapons and ammo stockpiled to take on a small army.

Bizzy climbed onto the couch using Jenna's legs and nudged her stomach while in her lap. He couldn't help the situation but was here to show that he cared.

"Ah, don't touch me, Bizzy. I shouldn't even be on the couch with this outfit." Jenna was cautious not to touch anything outside the wall, but she couldn't be too safe. She nudged Bizzy beside her. "Let me go shower. I'm all sticky and sweaty." Jenna went to the restroom and stripped to her bra and panties, tossing everything but her utility belt and glove on the shower floor, which she hung on the shower rack. Her glove heated up via a switch connected to wiring.

She washed her hands and went to her bedroom nearby, sifting through her dresser and grabbing a red tee and pajama shorts.

Bizzy watched her then enter the restroom and close the door. He sat for a minute but had the idea to wait for her in bed, so he hopped off the couch and padded to the bedroom, climbing onto the mattress.

Bizzy had belonged to Jenna for two years so far. Before the outbreak, his owner was timid and not the type to take action alone-- dependent, even. Bizzy saw a slight transformation in character within weeks, and it became more pronounced after her brother fell ill recently. Chris was smart enough to pull himself and his sister out of Eterna, where they'd resided initially, to Celestic when there was a strong outbreak in Eterna. Jenna had to help build on double time.

Bizzy rested his chin on the blanket. It was a change he wished he'd never have had to see in her. She used to be happy, and her life was just beginning. He remembered Jenna applying for jobs and finding out how she wanted to start life while going out frequently with her group of friends. She also took ballet and practiced it often, which not even Bizzy could believe anymore.

At least she was no different toward him.

He hadn't had to change yet, but that could be due to Jenna trying her best to shield him during the past months. Bizzy had a few acquaintances but wasn't close to them in the slightest. It was just nice to have pokémon to talk to sometimes since he spent all his time confined to this base.

Meanwhile, Jenna was washing her hair and had let her tears join the water hitting her face. She was an emotional wreck with no one to show it to. Life had been a painful drag, and she couldn't catch a break. It was like that for everyone still unlucky enough to live in this region-- or what was left of it.

After rinsing, she turned off the shower and grabbed a towel off the rack, drying herself and getting dressed. After Jenna finished, she made a beeline to her room and shut the door, grinning at Bizzy upon seeing him in bed. "Sleepy?" She hoped to keep him safe. He was her last pokémon. She used to own three, but her buneary and absol passed during the outbreak, which she tried never to think about.

He nodded. Bizzy couldn't have slept while she was off the grounds. He only imagined all that could happen to her while he sat safely in the base, and if she never returned after a night, he'd have no closure or guidance.

Jenna crawled into bed. "Let's get some, then." She lay her head on the pillow and reached her hand toward him.

Bizzy got up and walked to her, feeling Jenna pull him into a warm hug as she turned onto her side. She hadn't held him for a while, so this brought him joy. Bizzy closed his eyes and pressed his back to her chest, his paw over her arm.

Jenna knew she would be lucky to get merely an hour of sleep tonight, but she needed it since she had to go out tomorrow and search for more meds to help Chris.

Jenna stared into the dark. It wasn't fair. Where did this virus come from, and why did it have to take everyone it touched without relent? Why was no region stepping in to help?

Jenna clutched the blanket and shut her eyes. She'd continue holding on but knew it'd only get more difficult.