Chapter 3: A Whisper of Shadows
This took much too long... As always, please spare a few seconds to vote if you like it and comment if you have ways for me to improve my writing. And, of course, enjoy.
The greying blanket of indecisive clouds rumbled as sodden dirt clung unpleasantly to my paws. Heavy with moisture, the brooding air was stifling as I trotted alongside Aislin and Katsumi down the narrow dirt path. Overhanging trees shaded the trail in a perpetual gloom like specters haunting the overcast sky. The morose track itself was walled by hostile thorned undergrowth, creating a dark, dank corridor of dirt and vegetation. It was, all in all, a rather awful day.
Aislin seemed undeterred by the dreary climate, determination showing in her strides through the cold and damp. Her eyes scanned the tree line as we walked, seeming to search for something in the brush. Worn over her usual shorts and shirt for warmth and protection, her new clothes blended disconcertingly with the treacherous vegetation. Katsumi padded alongside, gazing around with subdued curiosity, ears twitching at every noise.
There was something disturbing about the dark and menacingly overgrown forest. Perhaps it was the enmity that seemed to radiate from the clawing thorns of the vegetation, or the unnerving silence, but I couldn't keep my fur from bristling defensively. Of course, it could just be my discomfort with a new land, but Katsumi's uncharacteristic caginess and Aislin's wary glances seemed to suggest that something was out of order.
"Is it supposed to be like this here?" I asked Katsumi in a low voice. Aislin spared a glance down at the two of us before returning to surveying our surroundings. Katsumi sighed quietly, laying her ears back.
"We've only been through here before once ..." Katsumi said mentally, as if to maintain the suppressive silence of the forest. A slight hesitance in her cadence belied some uneasiness. "Everything seems the same as before..." She trailed off with a faint note of uncertainty, glancing around in apprehension. Suddenly, a sharp cry echoed through the trees, causing us all to jerk and search for its source as the sound faded with a lingering sense of foreboding. Aislin's steps perceptibly slowed for a moment, before speeding up again.
"But?" I asked, hurrying to catch up with Aislin, whose restless eyes were still cautiously surveying. Katsumi came up alongside me, her fur slowly rising as she eyed the wavering edges of the path, encroached upon by ragged shadows.
"But something's not right this time. There aren't enough Pokémon... there aren't any Pokémon." I suddenly felt cold, as if the temperature had dropped, and felt faintly disturbed. Katsumi glanced at me out of the corner of her eyes, displaying her eerie white pupils. We both sped up, keeping close to Aislin. "The last time we came through here didn't end well either." Katsumi confided. "I was still an Eevee at the time. The Pokémon here were much more powerful than I was and Aislin nearly didn't make it to the Pokémon center in time." She shuddered.
"It shouldn't be a problem this time around", she said as if trying to reassure me despite her own disquiet. "I'm much stronger than I was last time. And you're here." I nodded, comforted that we'd at least hold our own against the local Pokémon. Katsumi sighed shakily. "But something's not right."
I felt my already diminished confidence drain out of my chest like a twisting thorn slowly removed, apprehension replacing it in a restless tide. The more I considered the unnatural silence and sinister intrusion of the trees on the path, the more uneasy I became. It was as if we were being herded toward an involuntary fate. I noticed that the three of us had unconsciously slowed our pace during the time Katsumi and I were talking, even though something deep inside me was insisting we run out of the forest.
As we walked together in a tightly bunched trio, the malicious darkness seemed to loom out of the trees, like claws of shadow threatening to envelop and devour us. It was unreasonably gloomy for the time of day, not even long past noon, and the unnatural stillness of the air only contributed to the peculiar silence while breeding a soft stench of slow decay. Even the pitiless earth beneath my feet, cold and slightly damp, seemed to leech my vitality. It was as if the land itself had an animosity for life.
After a few more steps, Aislin stopped and looked down at us. "Look, you two, I know that something doesn't feel right", she said in her characteristically clear voice. There was a nearly imperceptible tremble in it, though impressively well hidden. Clearly she was feeling the same apprehension that we were. "But until we actually have proof that there's trouble out for us, we might as well keep going. Worrying about a gut feeling won't help us get out of this place any faster."
She glanced at Katsumi. "Do you sense anybody near us?" she asked, as if seeking to reassure us by the obvious lack of enemies. Katsumi closed her eyes momentarily in concentration, before shaking her head in negation. "No, I don't sense anyone around us. But that doesn't rule out any dark Pokémon... For all I know, there could be one watching us right now..." she trailed off uncertainly while glancing around surreptitiously. But the undergrowth was still, if too still.
Aislin shook her head definitively. "There's no use getting jumpy about it," she stated. "Come on, let's keep moving." Aislin resumed walking down the path. We quickly followed, and I caught her muttering to herself, "The sooner we get out of here, the better..." I didn't think Katsumi heard it, as she seemed to recoup her morale. I wasn't going to undermine her confidence by telling her, but I resolved to keep my eyes open.
It wasn't the most inspiring speech, I supposed, but Aislin didn't seem to be the type liable to false assurance. There was strong logic beneath her words, and both Aislin and Katsumi seemed to take it to heart as we all hurried down the path.
For the first time, I wondered what our destination was.
Turning my head to Katsumi I asked, "So, where are we headed?" While it seemed like a simple question, I realized that I had very little knowledge of the world outside my valley, and even trying to comprehend our destination might be difficult. At least it would keep Katsumi's mind off of our surroundings. There was no need for both of us to be worried.
Katsumi seemed to understand my ignorance, and started her explanation simply, in a slightly more cheerful tone of voice. "We're headed south west, in the general direction of a small town called New Bark. Your valley's in the lower southern foothills of Mount Silver. From New Bark, we'll be headed west to Cherrygrove city to pick up supplies, then north to Violet City."
My mind buzzed from the onslaught of information, before I shook myself mentally. By the end of her short speech, it was as if Katsumi had forgotten about our bleak surroundings, even perking up her ears. I hadn't, though, and noticed that a light breeze had started blowing down the path. Considering the ambience, it felt as the wind was biding its time and reserving its strength. The looming clouds were also closing in on the remaining clear sky while thickening into thunderheads, slowly immersing us in a sullen darkness. Ignoring my intimidating surroundings I asked, "What's Aislin going to do in Violet City?"
Katsumi blinked. "She's probably going to report to her superiors." I thought I saw a flash of distorted movement in the undergrowth, but when I turned my head to look slowly, there was nothing but fallen leaves. "Superiors?" I asked rather distractedly.
Katsumi looked at me, unconsciously relaxing as the conversation progressed. "Aislin's a member of the Indigo League's regional security arm", she said in a prideful voice. She gave me a thoughtful look and asked, "Do you know of the League? It's an organization that loosely governs the Kanto and Johto regions. Aislin's branch is responsible for keeping the peace.
I shook my head. It seemed like there was a lot for me to learn about humans. I sighed and stared up at the sky. For a moment, my mind couldn't comprehend the sight I observed. The sky was tainted purple, as if powerful psychic powers were at play upon the clouds. I shook myself and looked back down, sensing a blur at the edge of my vision again. I was about to ask another question, when an overwhelming roaring filled my head and the world suddenly blacked out.
Vision returned slowly. Through the bleariness clouding my eyes I could just make out Katsumi and Aislin, still unconscious next to me. I groaned as the insistent pounding in my head slowly subsided. As soon as my sight cleared and my surroundings were revealed to me... I almost wished that I hadn't woken up.
The sky was now darker than a moonless night, a featureless background of pitch on which the shadows, previously retreated to the tree branches, danced like tentacles reaching to embrace the sky. Their writhing arms crossed the tree line like a canopy of living snakes as walls of shifting obscurity lined the path and creeping roots of tainted shade extended their dark influence towards us along the ground.
I got up carefully, testing my limbs as I surveyed the daunting display of dark energy that distorted the world around us. Turning slowly, I noticed the ground's color was leeched, leaving it a lifeless grey. The barriers linking the trees lining the track were Ghastly like in their hazy fluidity. I knew that we were in the presence of an extremely powerful dark Pokémon. One that had the power to distort the world into this living nightmare, one that could momentarily silence even the latent and miniscule psychic power that was my sentience with its mere presence. As I completed my turn, I saw the source of the power.
A Liepard stood on the path in front of me. Her slender purple and tan form immediately marked her as a female. Grace flowed like liquid power through her limbs, the lines of her form revealing an aerodynamic and sleek body imbued with a definite sense of lethality. Her easy stance belied the speed and balance that she could bring into play in battle and her sharp claws glinted dully in the darkness.
Quiescent darkness pooled around her paws as she glided towards me. In the slightly depleted rational part of my mind, I wondered why she had even bothered to show herself. A creature of her power could have killed me before I even knew she was there. But the rest of my mind, awed by her sheer power, just kept me rooted to the spot, until she was much too close for comfort.
I instinctively fell into a defensive stance, my fur bristling and a warning growl rumbling through my body. I knew that it was pointless. I was clearly so outmatched that I'd be dead at a swipe of those bladed claws. Despite the bleakness of the situation, my subconscious mind couldn't help admiring the flow of her muscles as she moved towards me, revealing perfect balance and poise in those precise yet graceful movements.
I spared a glance behind me, but I knew that it was pointless. Katsumi would be helpless against such an onslaught of dark energy, her psychic defenses crumbling at the first wave of the Liepard's powers. Aislin would be less vulnerable, but as a human still weak against the Liepard's energies. I was the only one who could lift a paw to defend them, and I knew I wouldn't last a heartbeat.
The Liepard was only a few body-lengths away from me when she stopped, analyzing me with her cold gaze, watching my low defensive stance, burners seething with flames ready to leap forward at my command. I tensed, waiting for the inevitable blow, but instead of a lethal blur heralding my death, a twisting appendage separated from the pool of darkness beneath her and moved towards me. I braced myself for some form of attack as the tendril touched my forepaws, but all I felt was sophoric numbness moving through my body as the Liepard met my eyes.
"I would tell you to turn back, but it is too late." Her mental voice was cold and emotionless, yet laced with a subtle pride. Clearly she was communicating with me through the... her darkness. With a smoldering of anger, I considered that she was taunting me for falling into her trap.
Yet I stood still, watching her warily without even considering moving into an aggressive stance. There was no point in antagonizing her. She had the power to destroy me, and it was unlikely that anything that I said or did would persuade her otherwise. If she was talking to me, then at least she wasn't ripping me to shreds. In the back of my mind, I wondered whether I would die, so soon after leaving my home.
A cold glint of amusement showed in her eyes as she regarded me, perhaps even with a glimmer of respect. She almost seemed to smile as she spoke. "You don't understand. I am the guardian of this region, from the pass to where the dark forest ends in the plains. As travelers through my jurisdiction, you should be under my protection."
She sat down elegantly, in an unthreatening position. So it seemed that she was a protector of her land, like my mentor in the higher reaches of the mountains... and like me, I realized, during the short stay in my valley after returning. The Liepard continued. "You are all in great danger, though not from me. I apologize for the harm caused to your companions." She indicated Katsumi and Aislin with a movement of her head.
I glared at her seemingly uncaring tone. "This is an unfortunate side-effect of my power, and is unavoidable if I am to contact you", she said with a definite hint of pride in her voice. I idly wondered at her true power if her mere presence was enough to cause the nightmarish landscape that surrounded us. Somehow, I suspected the show was just an affectation.
"However, what is important is that you know that a great storm is coming, an unnatural storm of imbued power that threatens to destroy any creature in this area. I have evacuated all the residents of my land before the storm will hit; however, there is no time for you to do so."
She gestured for me to look skywards with a sharp motion of her tapered muzzle. For a short moment, the dark blanket parted and I could see the sky. The purple shade that had earlier outlined the clouds now permeated the sky like a psychic omen, and the thunderheads were roiling turbulently. The previously soft breeze was now intensified, howling as it ripped down the mountain. The tempest stilled suddenly as the Liepard extended her power again, the sky becoming the pitch black surface once again. I was almost relieved.
She gazed at me for a moment. I was disinclined to interrupt her. "Again, I apologize for my inability to guarantee your safety. I had only just finished informing the last of my charges. They have the speed to escape in time, but your companion," she said, indicating Aislin, "doesn't. I can only give you my warning and this advice. Head down the path as quickly as you and your companions can. You will find a clearing overshadowed by a tree. Make shelter as close to the trunk as you can, and do not leave your shelter for anything until the storm subsides."
The darkness that had previously lay dormant at my paws surged through my body, briefly covering me in a cloak of darkness before sinking into me and disappearing. Looking back, I could see Aislin's body being enclosed by the same darkness, but Katsumi remained untouched by the shadows. A tap on my head by the Liepard's paw brought my attention back to her.
"This is my mark to shield you and your trainer from the psychic eyes of the storm. I believe you will require the Espeon's powers to communicate my message to your trainer, and my mark would disable her powers. Thus it is imperative that you ensure your trainer recalls her after the message is relayed."
She stood back up and looked at me straight in the eye. "You must follow my instructions swiftly if you are to survive. I will be watching over you, as well as I can. Go now. Your companions will awaken when I leave." As abruptly as she appeared, the Liepard disappeared, dispelling the unnatural darkness and shadowy effects.
The agitated wind hit me full force as soon as the enigmatic Liepard disappeared. I staggered as I was buffeted by its ruthless strength, the screaming of the gale force winds filling my head. It was as if Lugia had descended upon me with all its wrathful power. Feeling the icy wind, I worked my way towards them against the tempest's battering. Sparing a quick look at the sky, I could see the purple hued clouds twisting in a disturbingly lifelike manner.
Just as I reached the two of them, the temperature dropped alarmingly. Between the sudden cold and the wind chill, even I shivered. Aislin was still disorientated from the Liepard's effects, kneeling on her hands and knees and shaking her head. Katsumi was twitching, as if suffering from the dark energy. Despite my pity, there was no time for subtlety or kindness; I needed her to translate. I bat at her with one of my paws until, grumbling weakly, she got on her feet.
"My head..." she groaned out loud, looking as if she wanted to collapse and sleep for a week. Her condition was concerning. She had held out well against me during our fight. For her to be this debilitated probably meant that she was on her last legs.
"Don't think," I said a bit tersely. "Just translate real quickly for me and I'll have Aislin recall you." Katsumi painfully turned to stare at me with bleary eyes and then nodded. Aislin managed to regain her errant feet, stooping over and resting her hands on her knees to fight off a dizzy spell. I took a moment to gather my thoughts as the wind rushed through my fur, then swiftly told Katsumi to relay the Liepard's instructions to Aislin.
When she was finished, Katsumi turned to me, concerned. Broadcasting to both of us, she declared pointedly, if in a faint voice, "I don't like it. It's a Liepard, a dark type. You know that they thrive on tricking others." She shivered, perhaps from a combination of the cold and her memory of the dark "attack". It was clear though, that despite her mental injuries, she was still trying to help us.
I nodded. She had a valid point. Dark types, especially Liepards, thrived on deceit and trickery. But we didn't have time to argue. "Look," I stated, "I know what you mean, but do we really have a choice but to listen to her? Anyways, with the sheer power that she had, I doubted we'd be satisfactory prey for her. We're as threatening to her as a newborn would be to us."
As soon as Katsumi finished translating my sentence for Aislin, she looked as if she was about to argue. But Aislin spoke up before the still-dazed Espeon could begin to debate.
"Plus," Aislin interjected in a weak voice, "it wouldn't make sense not to follow her directions. I mean, what are we going to do instead of finding shelter, stand around in a storm and argue?" she asked in a voice that would have been caustic if it didn't sound so insignificant compared to the tormented cries of the wind.
She pulled out Katsumi's ball. "And the Liepard's right, you're too weak to walk. I'll get you to a Pokémon center as soon as I can."
Looking rebellious, Katsumi muttered, "I wouldn't be so weak if she hadn't appeared in the first place..." as she faded into the ball.
Aislin ignored her, stowing the ball in her backpack before strapping it on and standing up tiredly. "Let's go. If your Liepard is right, we'll need to make good time." She started jogging down the path, wincing on each footfall. I followed, observing our surroundings as we went.
The sentinel trees that were overshadowing the path were now thrashing in the violent wind tearing down the mountain, as if forsaking their eternal watch in the chaos. Light slowly faded as predatory clouds closed on the ragged remnants of sunlight, enclosing the two of us in a perilous, obscuring twilight. The wind ripped at my fur and leeched the warmth from my body as I pounded down the path, hoping that the promised clearing would appear soon.
Just as Aislin's breaths were becoming ragged, we burst into a small clearing sheltered by the arms of a forest ancient. The clearing was thickly walled by tree trunks that provided a natural windbreak, though it only slightly diminished the fierce gusts. Though those trees were littered with rocks and sticks, the ground around the ancient was clear of debris and made of packed dirt. Through the pseudo-ceiling provided by the great tree, I could see the unnerving purple hue deepening within the clouds.
Aislin didn't stop until she reached a level space between two gnarled roots, instantly throwing off her backpack and unstrapping the collapsible tent poles. She began to work with fierce intensity, assembling the tent with a practiced, if hurried ease. Her eyes didn't leave the subjects of her labor as she told me, "Find me a rock that I can pound in the tent stakes with."
I ran to the clearing's edge, where I had spotted several stones upon our arrival. It was surprising that Aislin had assumed I would know what a tent stake was. Of course, having seen countless trainers pass through my valley, some on their first fumbling trials with a tent, I had learnt the parts and processes of one a long time ago. But her assumption of my knowledge seemed to indicate that she credited me more intelligence than most trainers would a wild Pokémon.
Carrying the rock in my jaws, I ran back to Aislin. She had already gotten most of the tent pitched, a small single person dome shaped affair. As I skidded to a stop beside her, she finished inserting a pole into its socket. Aislin turned briskly to me and nodded in thanks, taking the rock from me and using it to pound in the stakes.
Yet another chill wind blew through the clearing, and Aislin shivered violently for a moment before resuming her pounding. Turning away, I looked out into the chaos that had erupted from a normal day. I hadn't had a chance to think about the strange events that had unfolded, but something highly unusual was happening. Howling shrilly, the wind whipped the treetops into a frenzy as the temperature plunged again. I wondered what I had gotten myself into. I turned around to see Aislin giving the last tent stake a final pound before she suddenly grabbed me and pulled me into the tent.