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Chapter 9 - Tender Yet Terrifying - Part 1

"Well, another day, another odd miles put behind us." Chris smirked, looking up at the remnants of daylight dimly lighting the sky as stars gradually came into view. "Should probably set up a spot for camp before we lose what little light we've got left..." he added, pausing his steps and looking around. Slowly stretching her neck out from his hood, Sliggoo twitched and redirected her feelers as her face hovered just beyond Chris's, making him sweat slightly and his color fade. "I-I don't think I'll get used to that trick..." he thought to himself, rubbing his neck. "We're still in the woods at the moment. I figured we'd stop here for the night instead of setting up camp right in the open." he explained, making the Pokemon turn her head as her feelers picked up where his voice came from, causing her to smile and let out a chipper noise while Chris's eye twitched from the stretchy flexibility she now had, watching as her head retracted itself back within his hood to the rest of her body, stuck firmly to his back under his cape. "Yeesh..." he thought to himself, shaking off the sensation as he rubbed his neck again. "At least she doesn't produce acid... Under normal conditions she'd be melting through all my stuff. Guess in this form it's not such a bad thing she doesn't let off goo." he added in his mind, glancing back. "Well... Beyond enough to stick to things..." he muttered, thinking about how her underside started to produce a thin covering shortly after her evolution. Hearing his quiet voice, Bounsweet woke with a yawn in response, blinking slightly and squinting her tiny eyes with her cheek squished against the side of his hood she rest against. "Ahh, good nap?" Chris asked as she straightened on his shoulder.

Smacking her lips, as some commonly do after waking, she let out a tiny grunt of sorts as she returned to reality, realizing how much of the day had passed and showing a look of surprise. "Feels weird to wake up during the opposite time of day, huh?" Chris chuckled. "It'll be completely dark soon, gonna set up a place to stay for the night." he explained, getting an "mm" and a nod from the Pokemon as she continued looking surprised from waking up as night set in. "So, you plan to drop everything here?" Zorua asked from behind, causing him to jolt from her sudden telepathy. "...What?" she scowled as he looked back where she sat nearby. "You talk so little... With it getting dark and all, you caught me off guard." Chris point out. "I'm not much for conversation." she affirmed, putting her nose up while facing away. "Yes... I know." he scowled from her haughty behavior before sighing and looking around again, letting it go. "I'll set up nearby. Don't need to be in folks way by being in the middle of the path." he affirmed. "How considerate." Zorua pushed, showing a slight smirk. "Right... That's me." Chris grumbled, twitching an eye again, albeit in agitation this time. Making his way off the trail before them, he found a decently sized clearing and began setting his rucksack on the ground, causing Sera to stir and let out a groggy groan as she slipped from on top of it and slumped onto the grass beside it. "You were sleepin' too huh? I guess everyone's feeling lazy today." Chris laughed, causing the small fox to scowl, only for her tiny lips to quiver before a yawn escaped her as well. "Uh huh, see?" he teased, making Sera blush slightly and glance away in an innocent "shuddup..." manner from his picking. "Aw..." Chris smirked, ruffling her head.

Limping up nearby, Zorua looked around and sniffed at the air, keeping alert before finding a place to sit. "What has you on guard so much? You're with us, so there's nothing to worry about." Chris assured. Looking at him for a moment, she raised an eyebrow while judging his appearance. "I don't see you as the reliable type. You're too laid back." she point out. "Why do you always have to do that?" Chris asked, scowling at the Pokemon from her repeated skepticism. "What? You've never been criticized before?" she replied. "I have but da...!!" he was about to say, cutting himself off while looking at Sera and clearing his throat. "You don't need to do it ALL the time." he corrected, watching his speech in front of the small fox before him. "I'm just warning you. The way you travel so casually and just stop where you please will come back to bite you. Being more wary of what's around you would suit you well." Zorua cautioned as Bounsweet jumped off his shoulder next to Sera, the two looking up at him curiously while Sliggoo crawled her way over his shoulder, letting him pick her up and place her next to the two before him. "I can take care of myself." Chris assured. "And of all of you." he affirmed, looking back at Zorua. "I've been through fights you couldn't imagine, and through those fights I've learned all I need to know when it comes to how to deal with anyone, or anything, willing to step up to me." he explained before looking back at the girls before him. "And how to deal with anyone dumb enough to hurt those I take care of." he added with a look of confidence, scratching Sera and Sliggoo under the chin before rubbing Bounsweet on the head. "Trust in me, got it? Ain't nobody gonna do anything to any of you under my watch." he smirked, getting a nod from the three.

"Pretty words." Zorua smirked. "I took care of the guy who hurt you, didn't I?" he asked, looking back at the haughty creature. "Would have been nice if you'd shown up sooner." she point out, waving her stub causing a small pulse of agitation to show on Chris's forehead. "I took care of that too." he reminded. "You really are thankless, aren't you?" he asked, only for Zorua to look around once more before facing him and asking "So when you gonna feed us?" causing his eye to twitch. "S-Soon..." he scowled as the girls looked between the two while he turned his focus to his rucksack. "I'll go ahead and use the last of our stuff tonight. We'll be in another town by the afternoon tomorrow so we can stock back up then." he point out as he started pulling out the supplies he had left. Looking around, he started gathering rocks and placing them in a circle before gathering wood and debris for a fire, tossing an occasional twig Sera's way to munch on. Leaping and dashing about to catch each treat, she eagerly wagged her tail before pulling off a trick with the final twig he tossed, making a high leap and flipping back as she caught it. "Oh ho!! Nice!" Chris grinned, getting a muffled bark from the fox as she sat with the treat in her mouth. "Alright, get this set up here..." he muttered, setting branches down and covering them with easily sparked debris. Taking two of the rocks he'd found, Chris began scraping them together close to the pile as the girls gathered, save for Zorua who watched from nearby. "Maybe it'd be better to use a stick..." Chris muttered, only to be caught off guard when Sera suddenly belched from the snacks she'd quickly devoured, sending a burst of fire flying toward the pile and lighting it for him.

Having fallen aside from the startle, Chris blinked at the fire in surprise while Bounsweet rocked herself back on her feet, having stumbled back from her own surprise while Sliggoo sensed the heat and backed away warily. Blinking in a bit of surprise herself, Sera showed another blush as she sat and slumped her ears, groaning from the act as Chris looked at her. "W-Well... Thanks?" he smiled nervously, the fox quickly shaking her head, not wanting to be thanked for such an act. "Hey, it worked didn't it?" he chuckled, rubbing her head as she groaned again. "I used to be the same way when I had powers like that. Being honest, there was a time I accidentally shot stuff from my nose!" he revealed reassuringly. Unfortunately, this didn't quite go as intended as Bounsweet let out a sickened noise, quickly backing away from him with her face in a twist. "Oh, that's a GREAT image. You could have fed us BEFORE saying that." Zorua sneered in disgust while Sliggoo merely tilt her head, trying to follow what was coming from who. "I-I'm trying to teach the kid!" Chris argued before showing another scowl. "Ah geez... Whatever." he sighed before returning to his rucksack and digging for more supplies. Looking at her father-figure's back for a moment, Sera finally tried to picture the image herself. Thinking of it as fire coming from his nose, her eyes widened before snickering from the idea, picturing him stomping about with a face like that of an Emboar she'd spotted on a poster in a previous town. This image in mind, with him donning a pig-like nose, made her cheeks swell until he heard her and turned, blinking at her with an "eh?" as her imagination put the face in her mind over his, in turn making her eyes water before the small fox began laughing.

"Wh-What? What's so funny?" Chris asked, watching as she carried on with her paw pointing toward his face before tilting his own head, puzzled while Zorua silently looked at the two. Having heard the commotion as well, Midna finally began to stir beneath Chris, it's irritated scowl showing in his shadow as it let out a growl from being disturbed. "Ah, you were asleep too huh? Haven't seen or heard from you in a while." Chris point out, watching the imp retract itself from his shadow and take form as it crawled up from the ground. Looking around in a curious manner, it made its way up his body and sat atop his head, legs crossed while looking down at what he was taking out of his bag. "I'm getting ready to make dinner, you've joined us just in time." he point out, holding up a frying pan making the imp grin and cackle. "Food changes your mood every time." Chris sighed, showing a nervous smile with slight sweat showing. "At least you're easy to read." he added before looking at Zorua with a scowl. "Unlike SOME people." he added, causing her to scowl in turn and put her nose up once more. Finally relaxing and taking a breath, Sera sighed in relief as her imagination finally settled, and likewise her laughter while Chris took his supplies to the fire. "Alright, should be just enough for a good stew... I'm thinkin' gumbo. I can use the leftover meat from the other night too..." he grinned, looking over his spices and the like. "I'll go the mild route of course, just enough to warm the insides. Only want it spicy when it's cold, otherwise it can really make ya' sweat." he added as Sera approached and looked over his supplies. Looking down at her, the fox's curiosity gave Chris an idea, albeit a devious one as he grinned mischievously.

Taking a bottle of pepper in hand, he asked the fox to see what she thought of it, holding it down and allowing her to take several sniffs. As soon as she did however, her eyes shot open and watered up once more before quickly backing away, rapidly shaking her head before reeling her head back and letting out a sneeze, a burst of sparks escaping her ears. Doing the same several times, Chris couldn't help but turn his head and let out his own snicker, glancing at Sera as her sneezes and ear bursts went off time and again. Quickly covering his mouth as a laugh nearly escaped, he turned away again while listening to the fox's fit. Scowling from the act, Bounsweet gave Chris a "shame on you" look while Midna grinned atop his head, getting its own enjoyment from the act until Sera was finally able to fight off the sensation, noticing the way he was acting and realizing he'd tricked her on purpose. Letting out a sudden growl, she jumped toward Chris and gave him a sudden chomp in the arm, turning his laughter in panic as he lift his arm and apologized to the dangling fox, looking as though a fish on a hook as she growled and wiggled about. With sweat showing on her face, Zorua's ears slumped as she let out a sigh from watching their behavior. After several apologies, Sera finally released Chris and backed away, sitting with an angry and teary look on her face as she pout from being teased. "I'm sorry... Forgive me?" Chris asked with a smile, only for Sera to look away and shut her eyes with a "hmph!" noise in response. Seeing this, he decided to push the fox for her forgiveness, leaning in closer as he quietly repeat her name. When she finally did look, Sera was greeted by the close sight of him making a fish-looking kissy face, saying "fowgive yo popo?" in a silly manner.

Flushing from the sight, Sera let out a frustrated shout and started rapidly swatting at his face, smacking him relentlessly with her paws until he finally backed away laughing. "I win! You reacted!" he teased, reaching out and ruffling the fur on her head again. "You know you love me kiddo." he added, giving Sera a playful wink before returning his focus to making dinner. Remaining flushed, the fox kept her ears back as she continued to pout, her head lowered as she grumbled from the pepper and subsequent taunting. "Alright... Little of... Put that... And uh... Right, we had this..." Chris began muttering as he filled his pan, adding water among his ingredients while holding it over the fire. Stirring everything together, he began asking Midna to hand him things as well, the imp stretching its arms like lassos to snatch and offer what he requested. "You've really gotten the hang of that, nice." he praised, causing Midna to cackle in response and grin. With the scent of food caught by her feelers, Sliggoo carefully approached and took a place by Chris's side as they twitch and adjusted to the sound and wafts from the pan. "It's good, huh?" he asked, smirking at the snail-like creature as she began swooning from the scent. "Once you've had it once, nothing else can compare to this guy's grub." he added confidently, continuing to stir and shift the meal. "Usually it's done in a pot, but since we're low on stuff, this will do." he point out as Bounsweet sat by him as well, smelling the stew and showing a tiny speck of drool on the side of her mouth. "Why don't you join us for a change?" he called out, looking toward Zorua as she remained nearby, albeit now in the shadows of the night as the light from the fire kept her dimly in view.

"We've traveled together for a while now... Don't you think you could be a LITTLE closer? I'm not saying you gotta' be friends really but sitting together can't hurt anyone. At least let yourself feel like you're part of the group for once?" he asked. "I'm fine where I am." she affirmed, causing him to scowl before returning his focus to his cooking. "You know, we really are low on stuff... We might not have enough after all for everyone..." he began, glancing toward Zorua, causing her to raise an eyebrow. "It might have to be first come, first serve... All the way over there, you'll be last so..." he added, causing her ears to pull back. "Are you serious?" she replied, bearing her teeth slightly. "It's really good stuff, and these girls are hungry too." Chris point out, looking at them. "Isn't that right?" he asked, causing them to look at one another. Clearing his throat, he quietly murmured for them to "work with me!" in a hushed tone, causing them to jolt before quickly nodding in response. "You see? And they're a lot closer, so they'll be easier to dish out food to... I'll just have to get to you, if I can." Chris shrugged, causing Zorua to slump all the more and groan. "You're annoying..." she complained. "Just common sense. Considering the way you seem to think and act all the time, wouldn't this be common sense to you? Those who want to eat should take it first, right?" he asked, using her character to his advantage. "If you wanna be a stone cold loner, fine. I'll try and have something left for you." he finished, continuing to cook as Zorua looked at the group in agitation. Wanting to remain an observer more-so than legitimately involved with them, she focused elsewhere as Chris apologized to Sera again for pulling a trick on her, offering to let the fox be the first to taste test the food to make up for it.

Taking his spoon and lightly blowing on its contents, Chris held it down for Sera, instructing her to open her mouth before pouring the food. Once it began touching her tongue, her eyes suddenly lit up before snatching the spoon in her mouth, eagerly taking its contents while Chris panicked with an "E-Easy there!" comment and took the spoon back. "I know it's good but this ain't part of the grub." he smiled nervously as Sera let out a sigh and wagged her tail, giving a chipper bark. "Turning out good so far, eh?" he asked, getting a nod followed by a second bark. Looking at Bounsweet and Sliggoo, both were showing sulky expressions as they waited, causing Chris to sweat slightly as he stirred the contents of the pan. "...Anyone else want a taste?" he asked, both Pokemon suddenly shooting up and letting out eager noises. Watching as he gave each a spoonful of food, Zorua twitched an eye as the scent continued wafting her way, eventually causing her stomach to growl causing Chris to pause his stirring and glance at her. "...You could try it too if you were closer." he pushed before resuming his task, making sure not to burn the contents of the pan. Remaining firm in her stance, Zorua sat where she'd chosen as Chris gave out another round of tests, with Midna suddenly zipping down along his arm and devouring the contents of his spoon as he held it out to Sera, making the fox jolt and bark at the imp. "Ha ha, it gotcha." Chris teased as Midna returned to his head. "Alright, one more for you, then let Sera have hers, got it?" he instructed, taking out another spoonful of food and letting Midna enjoy it, licking its mouth once it was done before he fed Sera again. "Okay, that's all for the taste tests. The rest is for..." Chris affirmed, only to pause when he noticed movement from the darkness beside him.

Optional track to LWR - Listen While Reading - Gumbo by the Fire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o231fOo8cNg Recommended - Right Click On Video - Select Loop

Looking down, he saw Zorua limping up, keeping her gaze averted as she sat at the fire. "...Yeah?" Chris asked, raising an eyebrow. Getting silence and avoidance in return from the Pokemon, he was about to hover the pan over the fire once more when he suddenly heard growling again, glancing back at Zorua as her ears pulled back. Peeking at her from behind Chris, Sera and Bounsweet gave curious looks as he remained still, merely looking at Zorua himself for a moment before taking a bowl and setting it in front of her. Getting another spoonful of food, he poured the contents into the bowl and left it for her to eat on her own, doing so without a word as he resumed cooking over the fire, keeping his focus on the contents. Keeping her focus away, after a moment Zorua finally glanced at Chris, turning her face toward him before spotting the others watching from his back, causing them to jolt and return to their places on his opposite side. Smelling the food coming from the bowl, Zorua's nose twitched before looking down at it. Glancing back up at Chris, she finally lowered her head and started munching on what was available. "...Good huh?" he asked, his sudden voice now causing her to jolt instead, accidentally choking on the food that was half way down her throat causing him to blink with an "oops" as she finally swallowed and caught her breath. "S-Stupid!!" she snapped furiously. "Sorry..." he apologized, sweating slightly. "Just finish cooking." Zorua growled, limping off and returning to her previous spot. Watching her put distance between them again, Chris let it go as he finished up their meal, Sera poking her head out from behind him and drooping her ears while Bounsweet looked as well, looking dissatisfied.

Once it was finally ready, Chris let out a hearty "order up!" remark, causing the girls to shoot up while Midna got on its hands and knees atop his head, licking its lips again eagerly. Filling up a bowl for Sera, he set it down before the fox and cautioned her that it was hot before filling a glass for Bounsweet and Sliggoo each, picking out chunks of food before placing a straw in each glass. "You two go ahead and sip out what's in these. Once you're done, I'll feed you some stuff by hand." he instructed, letting them enjoy the soup portion of the stew first. Glancing back toward Zorua, he filled the bowl she'd eaten from before filling one for Midna, telling the imp to help itself as he set its bowl down. Standing atop his head, Midna made a leap as if diving and landed in the stew, making Chris blink in surprise as the imp rose and relaxed against the side of its bowl with its arms spread along the rim, sighing as though bathing in a hot spring. "...Doesn't that hurt or, burn or... Anything?" he asked, pointing out he'd just taken it from the pan only for the imp to point at the straws Bounsweet and Sliggoo were using, motioning "gimme" with its hand. "O-Okay then..." Chris nodded, giving the imp one as well and watching as it sank the straw into the stew before it and relaxed while casually sipping away. "Three years... And I still don't get you." Chris smiled nervously, Midna raising its hand and showing an O-K symbol, approving the meal. "Glad you like." he nodded before turning his focus to Zorua, her bowl in his hand. "Filled and ready to eat." he offered. "I already choked once. Bring it here." the Pokemon ordered. Knowing he'd caused the incident, Chris sighed with a nod and brought her food, setting it down before returning to the others.

Filling up his own bowl, Chris covered his portion as he focused on Bounsweet and Sliggoo, letting the two enjoy the soup in their glasses while offering the chunks of food he'd taken out. Watching him do this, Zorua munched on her own food, her cheeks sticking out as she stuffed herself the same as the others. "What about you?" she asked after swallowing. "What about me?" Chris asked, offering another bite-sized chunk of meat to Bounsweet with a smirk. "I'll eat on my own time." he affirmed, rubbing the berry-like Pokemon on her head before offering another chunk of meat to Sliggoo as well, a smile spread across her face as he rubbed her head as well. Taking a sudden long slurp of stew through its straw, Midna let out a loud belch that made Sere shoot her head up from her bowl, scowling at the imp. Looking at the fox, it showed a "wadja' want?" type of sneer, waving its hand in a "shoo shoo!" manner as though telling Sera to look at someone else, causing her further agitation as she turned so her back was to the imp as it reached under the surface of its stew and pulled up a chunk of meat, its maw suddenly enlarging before it took the chunk whole and munched with its face appearing swollen. By changing her position however, Sera was now facing Chris, watching as he fed the girls with a smile of contentment on his face, enjoying the bonding between them. Seeing his expression and watching the way he treated the two, Sera showed a content smile of her own as she munched, nodding approvingly before continuing to eat. Once everyone was done, Chris took out several bottles of water, pouring one of them into the pan and boiling it with soap to clean it out, adding more wood to the fire in the process.

Once that was done, he boiled more water in the pan and used it to wash the groups dishes as well, affirming there wasn't any point in carrying around crusty kitchenware in a rucksack full of their other necessities. Afterward, he went ahead and took care of Sliggoo and Zorua, as even though their need for treatment had dwindled given the former's evolution and the later's gradual recovery, it was a necessity nonetheless as Sliggoo still needed an occasional moisturizer coating her skin to keep it healthy and Chris wanted to play it safe to keep Zorua away from any potential infection, though she still begrudgingly accepted the aid and much more-so now that she felt it was no longer required. After he asked her days prior why she was still sticking around if she felt this way however, she quit giving verbal objection and merely ignored him whenever he treated her, keeping both on the same terms as when they'd first met despite most of Chris's attempts to close the gap. Finally finished with what needed to be done for the others, he was finally able to sit with his own portion of food, choosing a nearby tree to sit against that Midna had chosen to relax at as well, lounging about atop a branch above him as it picked its teeth with a shadowy claw. Joining at his sides, Sliggoo and Bounsweet relaxed with satisfied sighs while Sera took her place on his lap, circling in place before curling with a yawn. "Everyone happy?" he asked, getting chipper noises from the group. "You okay?" he asked. "Fine." Zorua answered, circling her stub as a means of stretching it about before lying at her spot by herself. "Alright then... My turn." he smirked, taking the covering off his bowl before taking his spoon in hand.

Optional track to LWR - Listen While Reading - Give and Take https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFWv1xNzOvM Recommended - Right Click On Video - Select Loop

"Bon appetit!" Chris exclaimed, scooping up his first bite and raising his spoon in a toasting manner. Hovering it toward his mouth, before he could take a bite he found himself pausing when noticing Sera had perked up, her ears twitching about while Sliggoo had raised her head as well, her feelers twitching and adjusting the same as the fox. Hearing a growl from above, he noticed Midna had risen in a cat-like manner of agitation, making him lower his spoon back into his bowl. "What is it...?" he asked as the group went on alert. "Something's over there." Zorua spoke up, pointing out bushes nearby. Looking toward where she'd mentioned, he squint his eyes at the darkness until rustling was heard, the bushes twitching about as something made their way through. Suddenly turning wary, Bounsweet and Sera hid by Chris's side next to Sliggoo, with the fox's ears pulled back. Slowly reaching toward his rucksack, Chris took his staff from the straps and called for Midna, causing the imp to jolt before scurrying down to him. "Scythe." he instructed, causing it to leap to his staff and reshape itself like a long blade at the end, its form turning sharp as steel as its glowing red eyes and maw appeared along the blade while the length of the staff was shrouded in its darkness. Setting his bowl aside, Chris slowly stood and instructed the girls behind the tree before readying himself, gripping his staff with the intent to do the necessary shown in his expression. Seeing this look on his face, Sera's eyes widened as she thought back to how he'd looked fighting the man who'd hurt Zorua, and was now showing the same look for their sake. "Stay, got it?" he ordered, noticing she was watching causing her to jolt and nod before pulling her face back behind the tree.

Hearing the rustling growing louder, Chris focused ahead and gripped his staff all the tighter, Zorua watching closely from where she remained lying. "You need to hide too." Chris affirmed, only to be ignored as the Pokemon merely watched him. "...Seriously? Even now?" he asked before focusing on the bushes as something finally came out. Squinting his eyes again, Chris let out a "...wha...?" of confusion, noticing it was something tiny before two other tiny figures followed, the trio of shadows huddling together. Raising an eyebrow, Chris lowered his staff and ordered "retreat" to the imp, causing it to let out an "eh?" in response before retracting itself and pulling away from his staff, returning to his shoulder albeit while remaining wary. Reaching for one of the branches sticking out from the fire, Chris took it in hand and pulled it out, giving him a torch of sorts before he approached the creatures before him. Doing so carefully, he slowly held out the fire, pushing the darkness further back and exposing a trio of Rockruff pups, the three of them trembling and squeezing all the closer together from the fire and his looming stance over them. Now surprised in a different way, Chris blinked at the group before backing away. "What's a group as small as you doing out here?" he asked, looking them over. "You're not just Rockruff's, you don't look like you should even be on your own yet... How old ARE you...?" he muttered. "Do you need help AGAIN?" Zorua asked, limping up to him causing the pups to stumble back together. "Oh please..." she muttered, rolling her eyes. Looking down at her, Chris raised an eyebrow before she started speaking to the pups in her native tongue while the girls nearby inched out from behind the tree.

Hearing them move, Chris looked back and motioned for them to come over, with Sera and Bounsweet explaining to Sliggoo to follow as they approached. "So what's the deal?" he asked. "Hard to understand them, they speak so infantile..." Zorua sighed, shaking her head. "From what I understand, it sounds like they were separated from their mother earlier and have tried to sniff her out ever since." she explained, looking back. "They smelled the food along the way and came crawling here, basically." she point out toward his bowl. "Ahh... Hunger pains." Chris nodded as they girls arrived at his feet and looked at the pups themselves, making Bounsweet swoon while Sliggoo adjusted her feelers and tilt her head curiously and Sera blinked out of intrigue. "How long has it been since they ate?" Chris asked, causing Zorua to translate. "Sounds like... Two days ago... Their mother must have gone on the hunt from what I gather. It seems like they didn't listen to her and wandered." she revealed. "Uh huh..." Chris scowled, looking down at Sera. "You hear that? They didn't listen to their parent and got lost, now they're hungry AND in trouble... You remember this, got it?" he instructed, causing her to lower her ears and nod with a wary whimper. Looking back down at the pups, they looked up at him in turn, their own ears back with tears in their eyes. "Oy oy... Don't look at me like that..." Chris sighed. "Tell them not to worry, I'll help." he instructed while walking off. "A please with that?" Zorua asked. "Can't you just do it?" he replied, glancing back as she raised an eyebrow before speaking to the pups, causing them to relax slightly and nod collectively. Turning to see what he would do, the girls watched as he stopped at his bowl, looking down before taking it in hand.

Turning and returning to the group, their eyes widened, save for Zorua who merely sat and watched in a casual manner. Stopping in front of the pups, Chris slowly lowered himself so they wouldn't wind up startled, telling the trio "here" as he set the bowl before them. "It's not what you're probably used to eating, but it should do the trick. Take it." he instructed, the pups suddenly showing excitement in their eyes and drool from their mouths, only to jolt and look back up at him. Seeing this, Zorua looked between the pups and Chris before speaking to them once more, causing them to look at her then back at Chris with a nod. Approaching the bowl together, they gathered around it, sniffing at the contents before licking their chops and digging in together. "Least it's not too spicy for em... Seems like it'll work enough." he sighed. Grasping half of what was going on, Sliggoo poked Bounsweet and seemingly asked for details while Sera continued looking at Chris, her eyes lit up from his deed. Finally understanding the scenario, Sliggoo's expression changed to one similar as the others. "You did say that was the last of the food, right?" Zorua asked. "I'll be fine... We reach another town tomorrow like I said." Chris reminded. Despite this, as the pups chomped away, his own stomach let out a growl, causing him to blush slightly with an "Ignore that" comment. Letting out a sigh, Zorua shook her head while the girls let out quiet "aw..." sounds of sympathy. "Q-Quit that." Chris scowled, embarrassed enough. "Me going a day or two is one thing, but these are just tiny kids." he added, looking back down as they worked on emptying the bowl. "Bleeding hearts kill the best of them." Zorua warned. "Having no heart kills way more than that." Chris emphasized.

"If you didn't have one, all the Pokemon that guy had would still be in cages. Before you talk about mine, consider the one you have." he added, glancing at her. "You gave up an arm to help them, don't talk down to me for giving a little food to kids when you're the same as me, somewhere deep down." he added, his remarks causing the girls to look up at him with respect while Zorua merely looked at him in her own skeptical way until limping back toward her spot. Watching her leave, Chris shook his head before returning his focus to the pups, who were now licking the bowl clean until finally raising their heads and sitting with collective plops and sighs, now full and satisfied. "Pretty good?" he asked, causing them to jolt and look up. Showing a smile, he assured it was alright before taking the bowl back, returning to the fire and setting up a last bit of water to clean it with. "Thanks for the help there Midna, appreciate the response." Chris affirmed, giving the imp a rub on its head and getting a cackle in turn. "You really learned your command words well... I'll have to get you something in town." he added with a smirk, causing the imp to grin widely in anticipation as he scrubbed the bowl. "Hey girls! Come back by the fire! See if you can get the pups to follow!" he instructed, waving back at them. Doing as asked, they did their best to coax the trio along, giving reassuring noises as they inched their way along. Eventually reaching the glowing warmth of the flame, the pups kept a wary watch on Chris as he sat in silence, looking at the fire himself as he sat, his posture leaning back on his hand with his other arm atop his knee comfortably. Gathering around him, the girls looked up at his face as the light of the fire glowed against it, his eyes appearing suddenly deep and full of thought.

Showing a collective blush, Bounsweet and Sera's eyes were glowing in their own ways as his expression and his deed had an affect on the two, causing both to lean against his sides in a somewhat swooning manner. Sliggoo however was looking up at him in both, an inspired, yet somewhat somber manner, her feelers adjusting toward him as her current state prevented her from being able to fully see what had occurred. Nonetheless, she let out a noise, drawing his attention as he looked down at the Pokemon in turn, showing a smile and rubbing her head. "C'mere." he coaxed, lifting her while crossing his legs and setting her in the middle of his lap before further petting along her form. "You don't rely so much on fluids anymore... That's good... Your skin's staying in way better shape now too... I'm glad." he chuckled as she rest her chin along his leg. "I know not being able to see is rough but... I'll take care of you, promise." he assured, finally causing a blush of her own to show as her eyes took on a heavy look. "You're gonna be just fine... I bet once you get past this, you're gonna be the most amazing Pokemon the world's ever seen. Just gotta be patient... And I'll be here for ya' every step of the way." he chuckled. "You've made it past the first test... You make it past this second one, and nothing, nobody will be able to keep you down anymore. You'll overcome even your own body's limits, and everything about you will be so much greater because of it. Just you wait." he finished as her eyes began to close, his soft speech and touch lulling the Pokemon into slumber. Hearing this, Bounsweet and Sera both jumped into his lap, looking up at him wanting the same type of speech with smiles on their faces.

"Ha ha, you too huh?" he asked while Midna climbed on his head and lowered itself so it's face was upside down in front of his with a grin. "Geez, you too?" he laughed. "I really do spoil everyone I meet..." he sighed, shaking his head. "Okay, okay... What to say about you...?" he began to think. Giving each of them speeches about their positive traits and their potentials to come, his constant talking and reassuring tone began lulling even the nearby pups to sleep, the trio looking at one another, then at Chris as they took notice of how he treated the girls and the imp, along with thinking about what he'd done for them. Eventually, his talking put everyone in a state of satisfied bliss, with the girls snoozing on his lap while Midna snored on his head, resting on its back and its arm and head hanging from his forehead. Smiling in silence, Chris looked at his followers in an endearing manner, giving them his thanks for traveling with him. Having watched the group and listened the entire time, Zorua rest her chin on her remaining front paw, only to be caught off guard when Chris gave an "That goes for you too" comment, causing her to look up as he faced her. "I admit, you've got a snarky way of talking to me but... In its own way, it can be refreshing... Kind of fun butting heads with you." he smirked. "There's someone close to me who's pretty haughty herself but... I can't say we exactly went out of our way to challenge each other too often. You're a different sort... I like that." he praised. "They asked for that mush, I didn't. Leave me out of it." Zorua scowled. "Eh, just trying to be constructive. Take it or leave it." Chris shrugged. Rolling her eyes with a "Yeah..." remark, Zorua rest her chin once more with a yawn.

Noticing the Rockruff pups begin to move however, Zorua raised an eyebrow as they inched closer to Chris, stepping their way along with their heads lowered to the ground, only to jolt with their hair on end when he let out a sudden yawn and stretched before he noticed them as well. Looking at the trio silently, he merely showed a smile and pat his leg, causing them to look at one another before continuing to approach. Inching up to his leg, the pups sniffed at him in a wary sense, keeping an alert eye on him before they raised their heads enough to look at the girls huddled together, dozing comfortably. Looking back up at him together, the trio pulled themselves up using their front paws and sniffed at the girls, taking their time before finally crawling over his legs and into his lap one by one. Positioning themselves among the girls, they looked up at Chris repeatedly before each curled and began to relax. Remaining silent and still, he watched as they gradually lowered their chins, letting themselves trust him little by little until they finally shut their eyes, yawning innocently before dozing off as well. "There we go..." Chris smirked, his tone hushed as he reached toward their heads and pet the pups. Having watched the whole thing, Zorua looked at the Pokemon now spilling from his lap before watching as he reached up and took Midna from his head, waking the imp and telling it to go to bed while lowering it to the ground where it melt into his shadow. "Alright then..." he sighed, looking down at the bundle before him. Nodding approvingly, after a moment his stomach suddenly growled again, causing him to groan slightly. "Should have eaten." Zorua point out. "I already responded to that." Chris reminded.

Optional track to LWR - Listen While Reading - To Give Thanks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LtHw4EWxjg Recommended - Right Click On Video - Select Loop

Shrugging in response, she rest her chin on her paw once more and shut her eyes, minding herself as Chris leaned back on his hands and looked at the sky above, cinders from the fire floating in the air as the stars glistened. "A nice view tonight..." he muttered, watching the trees sway as a breeze waft by, making the wood crackle within the flames before him. Raising himself up, Chris kept a watchful eye on the Pokemon resting in his care, looking around on occasion with his arms crossed until his own eyes grew heavy. "...Might rest a bit tonight..." he muttered, still remaining awake for some time until his eyes finally shut, causing his head to bob before slowly lowering as he dozed off. Opening an eye, Zorua took notice of the way he sat in his sleep, his posture as if still proudly looking over the life resting in his lap. Opening her other eye, she raised her head and judged him once more, looking between him and the Pokemon, particularly the Rockruff as the sound of Chris's stomach growling returned, causing his expression to sour before slowly returning to one of peace as he dozed. Looking down, Zorua glanced toward her stub before resting her chin and shutting her eyes. Following this, the night naturally went on, in turn causing their fire to dwindle until all that was left was thin smoke wafting from the ashes by the time the morning dawned. Having sat in the same position throughout the night, by the time Chris finally opened his eyes he had an astonishing crick in both his neck and back, with his spine having stiffened from being in such a posture for such an extended period. Wincing and doing his best to lift his head, he groaned slightly before noticing an unfamiliar pair of feet before him.

Covered in what appeared to be white fur and lengthy claws of black, he let out a puzzled and half-conscious "eh?" to the sight before pushing himself to raise his head further, hovering his gaze along the pair of white legs that transitioned to red and white combined. Finally looking at the being before him in the face, Chris was greeted by a pair of red eyes, staring at him as they glow in the dimness of the morning light and the fog. Hearing a low growl, he blinked groggily until finally snapping to, his body jolting straight as he let out a quick gasp from the startle. Noticing the creature baring its fangs and looming in a threatening manner, its lanky arms nearly caused its hands, and likewise the massive claws attached to them, to touch the ground as it kept a stern focus on his face. Keeping still, the two merely stared at one another until the Pokemon looked down at his lap, causing him to do the same as the two looked at the Rockruff's now sprawled on their backs, stomachs exposed as they soundly slept with the girls. Looking back up, Chris was greeted by the menacing gaze of the looming creature once more, taking a step toward him with its claws ready as one slowly began to raise. "Easy now... I didn't do anything wrong..." he quietly assured, only to be ignored as the Pokemon took another step. Turning out to be the midnight form of a Lycanroc, it had seemingly appeared after trailing the pups in his lap, considering him a threat as its claw raised all the more, readying what appeared to be its Crush Claw ability. Remaining still, Chris asked "Really?" with an eyebrow raised, looking back at the Pokemon in his lap. "You're going to attack me, with all of them right here?" he asked, looking back at it.

Being a naturally aggressive Pokemon, it pulled its hand back as one of the pups began to stir, letting out a yawn and rubbing its eyes as Lycanroc suddenly sent its claw toward Chris's face. Seeing this as an attack on it instead, the pup let out a terrified yelps and thrashed it's arms about, stuck on its back causing Lycanroc to freeze as it's claw hovered barely an inch from Chris, its eyes wide before looking down at the pup. Seeing it tearing up and its lips trembling, Lycanroc showed a bit of sweat on its face as it retracted its arm and took a step back, beginning to growl and grumble at the pup. Blinking at the Lycanroc, it suddenly had a look of surprise before its eyes lit up and a wide smile appeared on its face, rocking itself until it could stand and jump from Chris's lap, hurrying up to the Pokemon before rubbing against its leg. "Yours?" Chris asked, his arms crossed once more as Lycanroc turned its attention to him. "Nice job losing your own kids... What right do you have to attack the guy who took care of them for you?" he asked, causing the Pokemon to bare its fangs once more. "Please, I've dealt with tougher than you... Be mad at yourself, not me." he point out as the rest of the group in his lap began to stir from the commotion. "Bah, now look what you did..." he lectured as the girls raised their heads and yawned, the remaining two Rockruff's in his lap doing the same as they rubbed their own eyes. Looking around, as soon as Bounsweet and Sera caught sight of Lycanroc's ominous eyes the two lost their color in shock, jolting and freezing stiffly while the pups tilt their heads, twitching their noses as they realized who the Pokemon was and hurried from his lap the same as their sibling, joining Lycanroc as they circled it and rubbed against it.

"They showed up last night. Only thing I did was give them food and let them sleep here." Chris explained, Lycanroc looking at him once more before looking down at the pups and speaking to them the same as before, causing them to bark excitedly in return. "You're just as annoying in the morning as you are at night..." Zorua suddenly complained, limping up before sitting and rubbing her eye with her remaining paw with a groan. "Not my fault, I didn't even plan for anyone to be up early. This one showed up for the kids." Chris point out as Zorua looked at the looming Pokemon, tilting her head as she looked at its lanky, almost Quasimodo in nature form. "I gave them food like I said, they should be okay now, for a little while at least." Chris went on. "Before you attack me, let them tell you on their own." he suggested, letting the Pokemon converse with its offspring. Hearing the unfamiliar sounds and sensing strange scents, Sliggoo twitched and adjusted her feelers toward Lycanroc, tilting her own head in a curious manner. "Just the parent of the kids, don't worry." Chris assured, rubbing her head. "You can take them of course, but as a parent myself, you need to do a better job. You're in the wild out here, if you don't set ground rules, and firm ones, this is just gonna happen again, and next time they might wind up running into the wrong sort... They got lucky this time, and so did you." he lectured, agitating Lycanroc as it snarled at him only for the pups to call its attention, drooping their ears and letting out apologetic noises. Continuing to speak among themselves, eventually Lycanroc turned toward nearby bushes and extended its arm, grumbling at the pups in a commanding manner to go while pointing insistently.

Doing as told, the trio nodded and scurried off, with Chris and the group watching only to have their attention returned to Lycanroc as it snarled once more, looking at them before walking off as well. Taking a breath, Chris's chest was puffed like that of an agitated rooster, his feathers having been ruffled by the attitude of the careless parent as it disappeared past the foliage. "You're welcome..." he grumbled. Coaxing the girls off his lap, he worked to push himself up and started stretching off the stiffness in his body, and as he raised his arms high above his head, he found something smashing against the back of it, causing him to stumble forward with a startled shout. Turning back, he looked around before spotting a feather floating about, swaying toward the ground where he saw a Farfetch'd lying deceased. Blinking at it in surprise, Bounsweet's response was one of horror as her eyes widened in shock, trembling and letting out panicked noises while Sera's eyes were full of bewilderment, having never seen a dead Pokemon before and still lacking in understanding of such a subject as she poked it with her paw. "Huh... That's rare..." Zorua muttered. Looking around, Chris spotted Lycanroc's eyes glaring at him from the bushes, with each of the pups poking their heads out near the ground with a smile before they all disappeared once more, this time for good. "Seems that would be your reward..." Zorua point out, looking at the duck before turning her attention toward him. "Guess it is..." Chris muttered, continuing to look at the bushes. Looking down at the offering, he closed his eyes before looking at the bushes once more, shouting "Make sure they don't wander again!!" so the Pokemon would hear with his hand by his mouth.

"Do you want her to kill you?" Zorua asked. "...Her?" Chris answered, raising an eyebrow. "You couldn't tell?" she sighed, shaking her head. "Oh whatever." he scowled before squatting down and lifting the Farfetch'd by its legs, causing the rest of it to dangle limply. "Guess we've got breakfast after all everyone." he smirked, looking at the group with a wink. Looking bewildered, Sera tilt her head, looking at the Pokemon before focusing on him with uncertainty, Bounsweet turning all the whiter before suddenly rolling on her back. "E-Eh...?" Chris muttered, blinking at her and giving the berry-like fainter a poke. "...Oops..." he added, showing a nervous smile. "I didn't take into account your sensibilities... Sorry about that..." he apologized. "I'm so used to being with the others, it's kinda normal for the rest of us..." he added, subconsciously talking about Serenity and the rest of his family back home. "What others? Rest of who?" Zorua asked, causing him to pause and scratch his cheek. "My family... Last time I traveled like this, I was with them, and eating off the land got to be pretty normal, expected even... I'm still not completely used to the changes with all of you yet so I kinda have to, uh... Re-sensitize...? Myself..." Chris explained, trying to make up a word to do so as he looked at Sera as she continued focusing on the duck. "...You are gonna be tricky to explain this to..." he added, causing her to look at him with an "eh?" type of noise.

Standing up with breakfast in one hand and an unconscious Bounsweet in the other, he rest her against a nearby tree along with Sliggoo, instructing the later to stay and keep her company when she wakes up before going elsewhere with supplies to prepare the bird for cooking, instructing Sera to follow as he began to explain to her the basics of survival, a grim topic perhaps but a necessity in the world she'd grow in...