Ch. 45
Imported from SF2 with no description.
--Trainer--
Gwen didn’t say a word as I outlined what I understood. She nodded, and sighed, her hands clasped in front of her as she sat in front of me. She frowned at me as I told her what I was planning to do, and interrupted me.
“I understand you’re trying to help, but don’t.” Gwen said, shaking her head. “Those damned poachers are getting more and more bold, but what you’re asking to do... “ She shook her head. “No. Don’t you dare ask these pokemon to hurt them. They’ve been through enough.”
“They’ll go through worse to lose you. Especially the way Helena thinks it’s going to happen. How do you think Annabelle is going to feel, coming back to find out her best friend is gone, and we could have stopped it, could have tried, and didn’t?” I replied, my eyes locked to hers.
She had no answer ready, so I pressed the point. “I’m not asking anyone to do anything against their will. You want to work on their behalf, then you have to trust that they’re capable of choosing things, too. Even if it’s just Helena and I, we aren’t going to sit and watch.”
She sighed at that, and reached for the delicate tea cup in front of her. “You know, I’ll say this much… I’ve never, in all my years, seen Helena ask anyone for help. Maybe you’re right. What can I do to help?”
I sighed, and shook my head. “There was mention of a radio before. Get help. As much as you can. If we’re lucky, Helena won’t have to do anything. None of them will. If we aren’t… at least someone knows to come looking.” I paused, and shrugged. “Oh, and be ready to not be here. Our main goal is to keep you safe. Understand? Beyond that, you wouldn’t happen to have a hatchet handy, would you ”
She stared at me for a moment, her jaw tense as she processed what I had just said. “A hatchet? I know I said I didn’t need them alive, but don’t you think that’s a little much?”
“Not what I had in mind. Though… maybe not much worse.” I admitted, with a nod. “So?”
-- Penance--
Trouble had found us. Of course it did. Why wouldn’t it? He’d told Wendy to stay away. She wouldn’t listen, of course. She never did. But she was days away, right? Too busy? Who knew? At the least she wasn’t there. He wouldn’t have to defend her, and try to keep himself safe.
Cocoa and I set to the task he’d asked of us, digging out pits and setting up little campfires around the cabin. It was rough work, but it felt good to be doing something. Cocoa brought the tinder and wood, and I worked my paws through the soil, tearing out clumps of grass and weeds and trying to push past the dirt and clay.
It was well into the day, and we’d had no word from Helena. I wanted to believe she wasn’t the type to bait us and run. But it was hard to tell. Nothing about her exactly screamed trustworthy, despite what anyone else seemed to think.
I wanted to tell him he was too forgiving. Too quick to trust. But Mira convinced me not to, before he took her into the woods. Better to be wrong for acting than wrong for not. It was a good argument.
I couldn’t say exactly how long we’d been at it, we were about half done and Gwen called us over to take a break. She’d made up a soup and served us both. It smelled divine, and we were grateful for the food and the rest.
I had to give it to him, as he explained to us what he wanted, what he was going to do, it made sense. It was probably the best way to keep everyone safe. If nothing else, it was a lot better than doing nothing, or doing something stupid alone.
But that didn’t necessarily mean I enjoyed it. I knew him well enough. He’d be putting himself in harm’s way before he let any of us do it. Cocoa agreed with my grumbling, but all she could do was shrug, and get back to work, gathering more tinder, and doing everything she could to set the stage.
It was hard to argue with that. As tiring as it was, all we could do was keep working and hope.
---Helena---
“So that’s it?” I was livid. I couldn’t even see straight. “That’s the measure of your care? You’re all just going to let it happen?” I didn’t know what I had been expecting, but it wasn’t that.
Pokemon after pokemon, refusal after refusal, finally I managed to round up a fair handful for one last try. So far all I’d managed to get were a few eyes in the sky to help keep a lookout. At the very least, I knew the noctowls wouldn’t fall asleep waiting.
“What, we’re all going to go stick our necks out to help some human you just met, and that ranger they forced us to put up with? No thanks, sugar lips.” The sneering nidoking was the first to leave, followed by his sons.
“Honestly,” a diglett spoke up, looking up at me from the soil. “What do you expect us to even be able to do?”
“I don’t know. Not exactly. I know that the only person helping me so far swears he has a plan, and I know that any help I can bring him will count. Wouldn’t you please just go hear him out?”
The diglett stared for a moment, and sighed. “And what do I get out of it besides a big headache? Look, I ... “ He paused, but then smiled. “Tell you what, I’ll go listen, okay? No promises, but I can at least do that.”
From the back, a towering ursaring spoke up, her claws splintering a branch idly. “I remember you helped me, Helena. Don’t think I’ve forgotten. But the favor you’re asking is worth more than the one you gave. You know that.”
I hated knowing she was right, but I also knew the look in her eyes. “Then we’ll file it under my owing you another favor and leave it at that. Just go listen, do what you can. Please.”
She sighed heavily, chest heaving as she stalked off towards Gwen’s cabin. “Fine.” She growled. “But don’t think for a minute I won’t call that favor in. And no complaints when I do.”
A scyther came forward from the brush, and extended a claw. “He’d better have a good plan. I’d miss her tarts. Not like I have anything better to do.” I recognized him vaguely, but all I knew about him was he’d always seemed lazy and unreliable.
With a sigh, I looked to the nidoqueen, who had stayed behind as the nidoking left. Neither had looked at each other, but she met my gaze and nodded firmly. “If we don’t stop them there, it puts my children at risk. I’ll do what I have to.”
It was as good as we were going to get, in the time we had. I hated knowing I was coming back with so meager a response, but something had definitely changed. Pain, yes. Suffering. But no joy. No joy. I didn’t feel joy. That, at least, was different.
I wished on my horn that I could have said what that meant.
---Trainer---
It was better than I’d hoped. A fresh optimism met me as I greeted them, each in turn. “Forgive me,” I said, after the barest hello. “I’ll dispense with the niceties, time escapes us.” It was a real plan now. An honest one. The scyther looked like he would enjoy what he was doing, and the ursaring and the nidoqueen both got to work just as quickly.
Gwen had been on the radio for much of the day, but somehow found time to make a big meal. I couldn’t eat a bite, but I didn’t mind the company, we had all gathered up in front of her cabin. I’d kept checking for a response from Wendy, but it didn’t seem to be happening. I tried to ignore the feeling in my stomach at that, as I watched the sun sink lower.
“Well, the good news is anyone within radio range knows, and is telling everyone beyond our range. The bad news is radio range is a pretty long way, so it’s all going to take time.” Gwen said, as she sat beside me, watching the sun sink toward the horizon.
“I figured.” I said, with a sigh. “Time for you to go. Follow Penance. She'll take you to the others. With any luck it won't take too long."
Gwen stared at me for a moment, and began to speak, but Penance already understood, and gave her a look that accepted no argument. “You’re sure about this?” Penance asked me, tilting her head. “I’d rather stay and fight.”
“I know. But if this plan has any chance of working, I need to be able to give it everything." I told her, reaching down to run my hands through her fur. "You know I can’t do that with her here, and you’re the only one who can really track down Wendy. You have to go, and you have to lead her as quickly as is safe.” I said, with a nod. “Besides… I’d rather Gwen didn’t have to watch this. I know her heart isn’t in it like the rest of us.”
Gwen sighed at that, and stood up. “I see I’ve been outvoted. I’ll get my lantern, but don’t think for a moment I’m happy about this. The nerve of people these days. Honestly!” She grumbled to herself, as she went back inside.
I smiled as I reached down to run my hand over Penance’s head. “I don’t know where they are. She never responded. She should have by now, so I’m worried. I didn’t want to say it in front of everyone else, but you should know. Please go make sure they’re safe. I … I’ll do what I can, here.”
Penance stared, silent for a moment, then jumped up, her paws on my chest, nose to my neck. “Don’t you dare do anything stupid. I know you have a plan to fight. Please tell me you also have a plan to get out.”
I nodded at that. “It was my first consideration. Trust me on that. You’ll be following her scent, I have an idea of the path she took for the first day. She mentioned a lake. If things… go sideways, stay hidden, but look for me there, okay? If things get bad, take her and go. Claire and Tempest can find me. If we get separated tell Claire I said ‘light in the darkness’. She’ll understand. She’ll be able to find me. I know it.”
Penance nuzzled against me, and sighed. “I can hear her coming down. Just… stay safe. Please stay safe. I’ll come back for you when I can.”
I nodded at that, didn’t argue, but in my heart I hoped she’d stay distant this time. What was about to happen needed to happen, but that didn’t make it weigh any less on my heart. As Gwen left the cabin, following Penance, she didn’t spare me a backwards glance, but I could tell by the set of her jaw that she wanted to tell me off before she left.
Helena came as Gwen was leaving, and sat by my side as I stared out over what would soon be our battlefield. Her white fur shimmered in hues of gold in the last evening rays, and she spoke without looking up at me. “Thank you. I… I’m sorry, that it’s to be you, instead.”
“Don’t be. I trained for this. Thank you for standing by me.” I replied, as I waved over the scyther lurking in the brush.
“Heavy wood.” He said, handing me the branch, long and straight, a wicked point on one end where he’d cut it from the trunk. He was right. It was dense, weighty. I needed that. I had no intention of holding back.
“You understand what I’m asking.” I said, with a sigh. “What I’ve asked. How are things below?” I inquired, as I met his eyes.
“Ready. The diglett worked quickly, but I think had help, too. Mind your step.” He replied, before looking to the roof. “Is it time?”
“It is. I’m sorry to ask it of you, I hope it won’t be necessary. I hope we all get bored of waiting, and nothing happens.” I replied. He didn’t respond to it, except to leap his way up the building, to conceal himself in the shadows and wait.
“It’s a good plan.” Helena said from beside me. “Better than good.” She said, before pulling me away, to the other side of the cabin, speaking quietly, words only for us. “But you know how this ends, don’t you? I don’t even need to say it.” She sighed, and nuzzled against me. “Don’t ask me to leave. This was my fight before it was yours.”
“Yeah. I know.” I replied, as I slung the makeshift spear the scyther had brought me across my shoulders, my arms draped over it as I stared out across the meadow. “If … things get bad, you need to leave. You understand? If I tell you to go, I’m not asking. My plan depends on your leaving.”
“Fuck, I hope it doesn’t come to that.” She answered, staring towards the tree line.
“Me too.”