Ch. 39
Imported from SF2 with no description.
Tempest nodded, licking her fingers from the sticky sweetness of the berry tart she'd taken. “It's a good idea. I have to hand it to her, the girl might not be quick on the uptake, but she can be clever." She said with a quiet approval as she looked toward me.
“That solves one problem and creates two more." I said, quietly. “First, it means splitting up the group. We don't know if those guys are still around." I shook my head. “We got lucky last time, but what happens if they want a second tangle? How things went before, they'd be looking to get even."
“And if we're split up," Tempest nodded, catching on. “And they're ready for us?"
“Damned if we do, damned if we don't." I finished, nodding. “It's bad news any way I look at it. The other problem is of course just… it could take a very long time to find Claire's mother here. I'm okay with foraging and making do, but..."
Wendy sighed at that, realization dawning on her. “Right. You're used to it. A lot more than I am, at any rate. Days, maybe. It'd take a lot of luck to find her that quickly. It'd take a lot more luck to go much further."
I shook my head, my hands clutching each other tightly. “I'm not ready to give up. Not by a long shot. What do you think, Tempest?" I asked, with a glance her direction. “I know you've done fine on your own, but this is a hard ask, isn't it?"
Whatever answer she had, was interrupted by a sigh and a growl, motion from across the table drawing our eyes and stifling the conversation. Annabelle stood up, and stared hard at me. “I don't like you." She said firmly, as she interrupted me. “Everything about you stinks." She waited a moment, glancing at Gwen, who shrugged, passively. “But I know you're not out to hurt anyone. Even if I can't figure out the rest. I'll help. Nobody knows this place better than I do. Not even Gwen."
Tempest began to speak up in my defense, but I hushed her after the first two angry words, stilling her before she could stand up. “I appreciate your candor." I said, nodding. “There's no point fighting. You don't like me, that's fine. Look after Wendy. If you can just help Claire find her mother, then… I'll trust the rest to her. I don't have much choice."
Gwen smiled at that, and nodded. “Such willful children these days." She said, with a mirthful look. “But I suppose it can't be helped. When you're young, everything is an emergency, isn't it?" She asked in gentle rhetoric. “Annabelle won't miss the mark, and as for you, why don't you head up to the campground, and get settled in? I'll be along a while later to check in on you two. Come along, Annabelle. We still need to clean up the kitchen, don't we dear?"
There really wasn't any way around that dismissal, and whatever misgivings I might have had, honestly I wanted to be away from Annabelle's piercing gaze. With a polite nod, I lead us back outside, and up the slow, rolling hills, following the markers to an open ground.
It was a beautiful place, to be honest. The hill we were atop gave us a view of the picturesque area, the woodlands had been pushed back a little bit, the treeline thick and vibrant. There were large, standing stones, and nearby there were tables around a concrete and metal grill, which had not been tended to in some time.
In truth, the whole thing, in terms of public access was as bare bones as possible Likely the only reason the campsite existed was because it was legally required. But I appreciated it, in its own way. At the very least I knew we would have considerable privacy, despite the public nature. Nobody came here. Not in a long time, and likely not for a long time after us.
Tempest sighed, and tried to shake the tension out of her hands as I saw to setting up the tent. It was still a pain to handle without my mallet, but despite the troublesome task, I found myself too relieved to be away from that stifling pressure to worry over the details.
“Wendy," I said, as I hammered away at the stakes with a chunk of stone. “Be sure to flag this spot on your map. You know. In case you get lost. Don't use too much of the battery if you can help it."
“I have a backup, and I'm letting it charge now." She replied, as she settled in next to me. “You're sending Tempest with me, quit worrying. She'll keep me safe." She added, as she let Penance out. “I'm leaving her with you."
Penance took a look around, before settling in more or less between us while I worked, lashing down the tent as Wendy brought her up to speed. She sighed, as she understood what was going on, and for a moment I watched her fur bristle, a protest dying on her tongue before she looked away, resolutely, and willed herself still.
“So it could be a few days, maybe longer." Wendy said, as she glanced around. “Big place. But Tempest will go with me, and the ranger's pokemon offered to be a guide. I'm not quite sure I trust her, but it might be our best shot."
“Message me at sunset." I said, as I checked the work. “And when you get up in the morning. If you get into any trouble... “ I shrugged helplessly. “I'll come as quick as I can, but you'll have to hold out as best as you can."
“Way to fill a girl with confidence." She said, with a playful punch on my arm. “But I understand. Staccato, Tempest, and I will be fine." She said, as she tapped the pokeball on her hip. “He might complain about things, but he's the first one ready to pull our boots out of the fire."
I nodded at that. “Then I guess… all there is to it is to rest and get a good meal." I said, as I set to building a campfire. “I'll see what I can make that you can pack for the road. Why don't you…" I paused, as I let Cocoa out. “Give my sweetie a hand and help her fill up some bottles to take with you?" I asked, as I gave the miltank a pat on her head.
“A little early in the day to be setting up camp?" She asked, as she looked around. “Not that this is a bad spot." She added, as she stretched, her arms extended towards the bright blue sky.
“I'll fill you in later." I replied, with a nod, ruffling the fur atop her head as I pulled Claire's pokeball off my belt, and handed it to Tempest. Her hands wrapping around it made it seem small, for just a moment. Small, and fragile.
I was grateful when Wendy led Cocoa a little ways away, and settled in to refill bottles and chat to her. Cocoa must have picked up on my mood, because she did her best to keep Wendy occupied while I talked with Tempest.
She stared, for a long moment, and then looked to me. Her crimson tinged eyes held my gaze, and she nodded. “I'll make sure she's safe. You can count on me." She said, as she sat near me while I started on lunch.
“Just try not to beat the lucario senseless. She's welcome to hate me, if that's what makes her happy. Doesn't matter. I'm not here to impress them." I said, as I poured water into the stew pot, letting it heat over the open fire. “All that matters is getting Claire the help she needs. Everything else is the distraction."
Tempest nodded. “If those idiots find their way to you, fuck them up for me, will you?" She asked, with a smile, flashing her claws at me with a playful gesture. “Make them regret having crossed us."
“I'd just as soon not see them again. You, on the other hand… just make sure you get back safe to me. I'd rather we picked our fights together." I said, with a grin. “But if you get in a bind?" My hand reached out for hers, and she gripped it tightly. “Tear someone's fucking head off."
It was Annabelle's voice that spoke up next, startling both of us. “As touching as that is, I'll ask you both to refrain from tearing anyone's head off around here. If they're stupid enough to try anything here, Gwen needs them alive. You're welcome to stay out of her way. She doesn't need your help. Neither do I."
Tempest bristled, but my hand took hers before she could lash out, and I firmly yanked her to my side. “Enough." I said, as I wrapped my arms around her. “Enough, Tempest. Don't let her distract you. Claire needs you to focus."
She growled, and sighed with resignation, nuzzling into my neck. “When this is done, can we please just … all of us go somewhere quiet for a while?" She shook, crying as the tension left her. “I'm tired, master. We're all tired."
Annabelle stared for a moment, then turned and walked away, passing by Gwen on her way up. The matronly ranger didn't interrupt, just stood by while I held Tempest, and let her cry it out.
Tempest trembled, bitter, heavy tears falling against my shoulder. Her hands clutched at me, claws pricking my skin, drawing blood as she clung tightly to me. My arms wrapped around her, held her tightly to me in silence as she sobbed. Her head came to rest on my shoulder as she stopped shaking, and she tried to apologize for the outburst, but fell silent as I nuzzled against her cheek, and finally just met my eyes and leaned into my hand at her cheek.
I was grateful that Gwen didn't interrupt, as I pulled Tempest close again, and ran my hands down her back. Slow affection, again and again until she steadied. Until I could no longer feel her heart, thundering in her chest. Until she could breathe again.
Finally, I spoke up, over Tempest's shoulder. “It's not Annabelle's fault. We're all a little on edge, and… and it's not your partner's fault." I repeated, as I nuzzled into Tempest's fur. “It's been hard for Tempest, especially. She's had to be so strong, this whole time. She's been so brave for me. I wouldn't have made it without her."
Gwen nodded quietly, and sat down by the fire. “Annabelle is a good girl." She sighed as she looked up to the sky. “I know she can be a bit brusque, don't misunderstand, I know she can be rude. She's just seen a lot. Been through a lot. It's why she's here, she's not … She's nobody's partner. She's just my friend." She smiled as Tempest sat down beside me, leaning on my shoulder. “She's the kind of pokemon this sanctuary was made for."
“I'm not sure I understand." I said, as I glanced towards the cabin down the hill. “What do you mean by that?"
“You didn't know?" Gwen asked, incredulous. A moment passed before she smiled wanly. “This is a sanctuary for abused pokemon." She sighed, and shook her head. “Most of the pokemon that get brought here… this is a chance for them to start over. To start to heal. Annabelle… she means well. She's very honest, and if she says she's going to help you? She'll give you her all. That's how she is. But…" She paused thoughtfully. “It's not for me to tell you what she's been through, I can only say it would have broken me."
I nodded. “She'd have a thousand and one reasons to not trust me, at all." I replied, with a nod. “I don't blame her for suspicion or poor regard. She's welcome to hate me on principle, if that's what she wants to do. We don't have to be friends. But I really need her help." I paused, and gestured to Tempest, and Claire's pokeball. “They need her help."
“And despite what she said quite well within my hearing, you are welcome to help me, and no, I don't actually need pokemon thieves alive. I'd only prefer it." She said, with a nod. “Now, it looks like you've settled in just fine. I know I don't need to warn you, your pokeballs are inert in the sanctuary. Geotagged and locked. I'm sure I don't need to tell you to clean up after yourself, and judging by how quickly you've set up camp, I see you don't need to borrow my matches. I'll not be far if you need anything, or just want to stop by for a chat. I'd rather enjoy the company, if Annabelle is to be away for some time."
Tempest laughed at that, and waved goodbye as Gwen made her way back down the hill. “Okay. Her? I like her. Try not to get in trouble while we're gone." She said, as she moved to pick up Wendy's pack. A motion I stopped with one gentle hand on her shoulder.
“I understand you want to get moving, but we're exhausted. We've been travelling since the middle of the night." I said, kissing the tip of her nose. “Besides, this might be the last time I see you for a few days, don't you…" I didn't get to finish the sentence as she took my hand and pulled me toward the tent, to Mira's playful catcall.
It was early in the afternoon when I asked Wendy to take over at the fire, and I was grateful for the extra set of hands to make sure that things were okay… and that in the event of an unexpected visitor, we'd have adequate time to make ourselves decent.
For her part, she just rolled her eyes, and gave me a push to the tent as I began to explain, scolding me gently for “things a woman doesn't need to be instructed in."
“Twist my arm, you horny bastard…" Tempest teased with a wink as she firmly zipped the tent shut, making show of bending at the waist, and raising her tail high as the zipper reached the ground. “Or don't, rather…" She paused, thoughtfully as she looked me over. “We should probably keep the noise down. Wouldn't want to have to explain to anyone later."
Nobody objected to it when we emerged, hours later, famished, thirsty, and marked heavily with the scent of our lovemaking. I'd need a wash before I went anywhere near Gwen or Annabelle, but Tempest just smirked, and kissed me, asking me to bear it for now, that she wanted to have that scent fresh in her memory in the morning.