Chapter 8
“Where are we?” Kitsu asked as he rode on Zetsu’s back. Zetsu was still running tiredlessly, with Kimi at his heels with Alix on her back. Around them were still tall, dark trees, waving creepily at the wind. The sky was growing dark, and Kitsu could feel the cold air beginning to swirl around them. Akika just stared at the trees, her head resting against Kitsu’s. Zetsu didn’t bother to answer Kitsu’s question as he continued to run deeper into the forest. Instead, Kimi answered for the electric pokemon.
“We’re heading for our sheltered area.” The Glaceon said in her soft voice, lifting her head slightly to sniff the air that passed by her. Alix blinked a few times as the beautiful pokemon finally lowered her head again and continued running. “We’re close.”
“It’s safe?” Akika asked uncertainly. Glaceon nodded slightly as a response.
“Of course. It’s the safest area in the forest, for my opinion.” Picking up her speed a little, the Glaceon managed to run beside Zetsu, who was still silent, his red eyes beginning to glow in the darkening forest. She looked up to the Pichu and barked a few times. “Don’t worry, little one. We’ll keep you safe.”
Akika blinked a few times and nodded, finally relaxing fully against Kitsu. Despite the hold that was on her and him, holding her really close to the Minun, the Pichu felt necessary to grip onto Kitsu’s short fur, making him wince slightly. However, he said nothing to complain.
“We’re here.” The Umbreon said, slowing his speed to a trot, then stopping. Glaceon also did the same. She flicked her tail towards a huge cave-like bundle of leaves and twigs. Alix gasped slightly in amazement as she climbed down the ice pokemon. Running over to the large pile, she looked into the slightest hole which was kept open by the help of hard twigs entangled together. Inside was dark, but also very warm.
“The leaves make sure no wind enters the pile.” Kimi said as she approached the amazed Chimchar. Alix nodded, showing she understood, as Kitsu climbed off of Zetsu and approached them.
“Is it big enough to fit us all?” Kitsu asked worriedly. Zetsu followed after the two electric pokemon, his muzzle wrinkling.
“No.” He said, digging his claws into the ground. “Kimi and I usually take turns at night sharing it.”
A worried look crossed Kitsu’s face at that. He bounced Akika slightly, making sure she stayed awake, so she wouldn’t have to lose body heat from sleeping already. Seeing so, Alix stopped her friend, shaking her head. “I can keep her warm.” She said, looking around. She then began to collect a few twigs together.
Zetsu walked to the sheltered pile of leaves and twigs and snorted. Obviously, he was in no mood to share with any other but Kimi. That made Kimi flatten her ears slightly, but she lowered her head and nuzzled Akika gently. Akika giggled lightly, not catching on to the problem they were already facing. Instead, she only cared that she was kept safe, and as Kimi promised, no pokemon yet has attacked them in this clearing.
“There.” Alix said as she put the pile of twigs in the middle of the clearing. She then lightly blew fire on it, making a small camp-fire-like warmth-source in the camp. Kitsu smiled brightly. Of course! The fire could keep them warm!
Racing over to the warmth, Kitsu finally allowed Akika to slide off his body. When the weight was taken off of him, Kitsu felt himself slump fully to the ground. His shoulders felt light. Akika blinked as she plumped to the ground behind Kitsu, only to push herself up on her feet and begin to look around the safe areas under Kimi’s watch.
“You two should sleep.” The Glaceon said gently. “The little one can sleep on your back, Kitsu, but you’ll have to walk endlessly again tomorrow.”
“…What about her?” Kitsu asked, looking worriedly to the curious Pichu who was poking at random bushes.
“I’ll watch her.” Kimi said, giving him a comforting nod. Kitsu smiled and nodded. It was the first sleep he was going to earn after turning into a pokemon. Curling up next to the fire, he closed his eyes and easily fell asleep. Alix too closed her eyes after she leaned against a tree, falling asleep right after as well.
Kimi sighed and walked over to the Pichu, who was giggling as she poked the bushes, disturbing some of the sleeping pokemon in the forest. She easily lifted the baby pokemon. “Hun, it’s night time.”
“Aki not sweepy.” Akika frowned up to the Glaceon. Kimi shrugged and placed her on the ground in front of herself and laid down. The grass felt soft to her exhausted body.
“But other pokemon are. At least try to stay quiet.” Kimi said as she sighed. Akika blinked a few times and gave a small nod finally, sitting down fully in spot. She didn’t like being woken up while she was asleep either, so she totally understood. Now however she was playing with the dirt, pushing her yellow finger against it and drawing random pictures. Kimi felt a smile come on her face finally at the sight. It was so childish and innocent!
“What are you drawing?” Kimi asked curiously, still smiling to the Pichu as she continued to draw. Akika looked up to the Glaceon and mumbled.
“Aki dwawing famiwy.”
“Family?” Kimi blinked. “Oh… You must really miss them.”
Akika blinked a few times and shook her head. “No. Aki still see them.”
“Around here?” Kimi asked, confused. She looked around her surroundings in wonder. All she saw was Zetsu, who was curled up in the twig-nest, and Kitsu and Alix, near the warm fire. She couldn’t see any humans around, which made her both relieved and confused.
“Mhm.” Akika responded. She finished her scribble-of-a-drawing and pointed to it. “This Kitsu.”
“Kitsu’s your family?”
“Mhm. An this Alix. An… This Zetsu, and this chu, Kimi!” The Pichu said happily as she pointed to each scribble ball on the ground. She then looked up to Kimi proudly, waiting for her opinion. Kimi however said nothing as she just looked to the picture.
After a small moment, Kimi finally asked, “Don’t you miss your real family?”
“Huh?” Akika asked, tilting her head. Her ears lowered slightly in confusion as Kimi too tilted her head to the side.
“Your mom and dad. Don’t you miss them?”
“…” There was another moment of silence between the two pokemon. Akika hesitantly searched for an answer as Kimi narrowed her eyes a bit. An hour or two seemed to past by, though the wind told Kimi that only few minutes did in reality, as Akika frowned and continued to struggle for an answer to give back to Kimi.
“Well?” The Ice pokemon urged, confused.
“…Mommy always watching Aki.” Akika replied finally, looking up at the sky in which the tall trees blocked of view. Kimi sweatdropped, feeling guilty.
“Oh…” Was all the Glaceon could manage out. Suddenly she feared of what the child thought of her father. Was he dead too?
“And… Daddy always no wanna see Aki. He no wike Aki.” The girl said, following after her confession of her mother’s death. She frowned deeply in thought and looked over to Alix and Kitsu.
Kimi didn’t know what to say. She just turned her head away in silence, looking to where Akika was looking. The two pokemon were sound asleep, letting out small snores as they dreamed.
Finally she spoke, “…Do you want to turn back into a human?”
Akika’s ears twitched, showing Kimi that she indeed heard her, but she said nothing. Instead, she just looked back down to the ground to her own drawing. Her brows furrowed and her ears flattened at the thought of going back to her father. She was quite happy, feeling loved around Kitsu and Alix.
“…No.” Akika finally said, answering Kimi’s question, and running off towards Alix. The small electric pokemon snuggled up to the monkey pokemon and whimpered, waking Alix up easily.
Alix blinked sleepily, still slowly coming out from her slumberland, only to feel Akika pressing against her chest. Alix easily took Akika into a hug and looked to Kimi, glaring at the fact that Akika was whining and suspecting the Glaceon had done something. Kimi blinked and got back on her paws, turning away from Alix and Akika, heading towards Zetsu. Alix watched carefully as Kimi laid beside the twig-nest and curled up into a ball, snuggling into her own fur and falling asleep. Seeing so, she turned her back to Kimi while still hugging Akika and kissed Akika’s head lightly.
“Bed time, Aki.” Alix said gently, patting the mouse pokemon’s back. Akika nodded and closed her eyes after she pressed her face into Alix’s warm figure. After making sure Akika was asleep, Alix too drifted back to sleep as well.
