Cherubi's Story - Chapter Two
#14 of Sara's Story
The first warning we had that something was wrong was a sudden chill. The day had started out so nice - the sun was shining, there were a few clouds in the sky to offer some pleasant shade, and a gentle breeze kept the temperature from getting too hot. I was working with Twirls and Kirii on one of our berry trees when the wind suddenly shifted. Kirii noticed it first and rose her head to look into the distance, squinting at something. I was about to ask her what was wrong when I felt the chill too - the wind from the new direction was freezing. It was a harsh change from the warm weather, and I couldn't understand why it was so cold. The wind was coming from the far side of the mountain, but it had always been warm air that came from there - Kirii had told me there was a vast desert on that side of the mountain, and nothing but warm air came from that way.
But this air was a type of cold I had never felt before. I was still trying to understand it when the chattering of teeth distracted me. I looked over and saw Twirls shivering beside the berry tree. "W-why did i-it get s-so cold-d-d?"
"I don't know... Kirii, what's happening?" I looked back to the Milotic, but she was frowning and didn't seem to hear my question. "Kirii? Is everythi-"
"Look out!"
The Milotic's warning was only a bare instant before something struck my side. I heard a crackling sound, and the world turned white... then Kirii was there, coiling her body around both myself and Twirls. The sharp crack rose to a low roar of high winds, but we were protected from most of the chill by the serpent's body. Above us was still nothing but a blanket of white that I couldn't see through. I tried to understand what I was seeing but couldn't make anything out. I was just about to ask Kirii what it was when Twirls spoke up.
"Snow! It's snowing!" Twirls started to hop up the Milotic's side, but as soon as she poked her head above Kirii's side I heard a sharp 'thunk'. Something bright fell to the ground next to me as Twirls cried out and fell back into the protection of Kirii's curls.
"Not snow. Hail." Kirii's voice was barely audible over the wind roaring above us. I looked at Twirls to make sure she was okay, but got distracted by the glittering on the ground between us. It was what had hit the Hoppip earlier - a large chunk of ice, with jagged edges. I winced at the sight of it and waddled closer to Twirls to make sure she wasn't too badly injured.
Other than a slight bruise it looked like she was okay, but I could tell the chill was getting to her. It was getting to me, too, but it seemed to be even worse for her. I pushed her a little closer to Kirii, then leaned against her, trying to keep her between our body heat.
The storm raged above us for what felt like forever... then it stopped. There was no lessening of the roaring - it was just all we could hear one moment, loud as ever, and then it was silent. Kirii shifted, rising upwards and revealing the world around us.
Everywhere I looked there was nothing but ice. It wasn't a blanket of snow, like I had imagined from stories I had heard; it was just jagged chunks of ice covering everything. The berry tree we had been working on was frozen over, with green leaves draped with icicles and branches straining under the extra weight. The river was flowing sluggishly, and large chunks of ice were noticeable floating along it. And Kirii...
I gasped when I saw what had happened to Kirii. The Milotic had kept us safe from the hailstorm, but had clearly suffered from it. A thin layer of frost covered her scales, but I could spot scales dented and broken underneath it, along with a few tinges of red where the ice must have pierced her skin. Kirii noticed I was watching her and shook her head, giving a significant glance at Twirls. It was clear that she didn't want to talk about her own injuries in front of the Hoppip, so I just nodded and turned back to the other grass type. I was about to ask how she felt when I heard a sound like bugs skittering across the ground near me. It started out quiet, barely noticeable, but in seconds it was almost as loud as the roaring hail.
I started to hide behind Kirii again, fearing another flurry of hailstones... but this time the world went brown. Sand was suddenly everywhere, all around me. I could feel it hitting me and bouncing off my skin, but it didn't hurt nearly as much as the ice I had been hit with. I managed to curl enough of my leaves around to keep the sand from striking my eyes, and my skin was tough enough to handle the constant pinpricks of sand. It wasn't pleasant, but I could deal with it, at least for now.
Kirii started to coil up around us again... but I remembered how the hailstorm seemed to have hurt her. "No! Get in the water!"
The Milotic seemed confused at first, looking from Twirls back to me and yelling to reach me over the hissing sand. "You can't stay out in this!"
"It's not as bad as the hail - I'll be okay! I'll get Twirls to one of our berry stashes; she'll be out of it then." Another thought suddenly occurred to me, and I felt a chill almost as bad as the earlier hailstorm. "And the rest of the Hoppips will need help too, if they were caught out in the hail! I can help them!"
Kirii hesitated a little longer... then she nodded and turned back to the river. "Good luck! I'll see if I can do something to help!"
I wasn't sure what the Milotic meant, but before I could ask she started slithering back towards the river. The sandstorm must have been worse than I had thought - despite her size, she was completely invisible in the storm in mere seconds.
I waddled closer to Twirls and yelled over the sandstorm. "Come on! Let's get you to one of our berry stashes - they're deep enough to keep you out of the storm!"
Twirls was huddling down towards the ground, but she looked up enough to nod back at me. "I can't see! Which way is it?"
"This way! Follow my voice!" I took a few steps away from the Hoppip, headed towards the closest stash I could remember, and shouted again. "Can you hear me?"
"I can! Coming!" Twirls gave a half-hop towards me, and I shouted back in encouragement.
It took a while, but I finally managed to get Twirls out of the sandstorm. The stash was half buried by sand, and a Skiploom was already there - he had made it during the hailstorm, but was still in bad shape - but the two huddled close together to keep warm.
I went back out into the sandstorm. I shouted at the top of my lungs every few steps, trying to find anyone else that was still stuck in the storm. It was painful and slow - I could barely see anything, and the sand kept pelting me. I did manage to find Hoppips that had been caught out in the open, though. It felt like hours, but I guided three freezing Hoppips back to the stash to huddle next to Twirls and the Skiploom. Even though the sand was hurting, I felt better each time I went out to look for another Hoppip.
But it was while I was searching for a fourth Hoppip that the sandstorm stopped. It was just the way the hailstorm had ended - one moment, the loud hissing was everywhere; the next, it was gone. The sand stopped pelting me and I could see again. I thought I would have a few minutes at least, like before, and I started to look around in case I could spot anyone that might be hurt...
The chill came back immediately, and I barely managed to huddle next to a tree before the air was filled with flying ice. The hail hurt, and without Kirii there was nothing to stop the shards from striking me. The tree offered protection from the worst of it, but I wasn't sure how long I could handle being pummeled by the freezing...
Just as quickly as it started, the hail stopped. I looked around the tree nervously, expecting the sandstorm to begin once more... but instead, a cool rain began to fall from the sky.
Something had gone very wrong with the weather.
I couldn't worry about that right now though. The rain was the best chance to find any other hurt Hoppips or Skiplooms, and I had to help them get to safety before the sandstorm came back - or even worse, the hail.
"What do you mean, you can't find them? There should be two rooms for us; we had them called in before we left!" Sara brought her bag up to the counter and started digging through it to find the papers with her notes on them. "Everything was supposed to be taken care of; we walked all the way here from the train station because of those reservations!"
On the other side of the counter the hotel clerk grimaced and looked back at his computer screen. "I'm sorry, miss, but they just aren't in here. They may have expired; we did have two rooms booked that were never claimed, but that was for last weekend."
Sara paused with her hand buried in her purse and glared back up at the clerk. "But it took us all week to get here! The trains were all cancelled, and the only explanation we had was for snow - snow, at this time of year! We only just managed to get in on the train with the relief supplies, and had to go through that to make it here." Sara turned back to the doors of the hotel to gesture at the deluge of rain just outside. "My clothes are soaked, and my Umbreon is going to catch cold - we called and told you we would need the reservations moved, and were told everything would be okay!"
The clerk looked apologetic again as he looked away from his screen. "I understand, but I don't have a record of a call, and there aren't any rooms reserved for you. We do have rooms available, and I can get you one, but they aren't paid for..."
"Ugh." Sara shot the clerk another angry look before digging in her purse again, finding her wallet and pulling out her trainer card. It had money on it - her parents and Flen had both given her money for the journey - but it didn't have that much, and she didn't want to use it all up at the first town with a gym. A hotel would be a decent chunk of her money... but it would be better than the basic rooms at the PokeCenter, if it was even open, and it would mean not having to go back out into the pouring rain.
The clerk smiled and took her card, looking over the details before punching some numbers in his computer.
Sara tapped her foot impatiently, ignoring the squelch sound made by the waterlogged sandals... until she heard the sound of rain grow suddenly louder.
"Lithe!"
The Growlithe's bark was the only warning Sara had. She was still glancing back at the doors to see what was going on when she spotted Kenth - John's Growlithe - start shaking off on the welcome mat. Water went flying everywhere, and just added to the drenched mess that was Sara's clothes and hair. Even Opal, who had just been sitting politely on the floor by the counter before then, shot a glare back at the fire puppy after being splashed by him and replied with an unamused "bre."
"Kenth, no! Wait there; I'll dry you off with a towel when we get to the room." John stepped around the Growlithe and walked up to Sara. "Sorry about that. You know he hates being wet."
"We all do." Sara turned back to the clerk, who was still typing numbers into the keyboard. "I can't believe it's been like this for over a week here. The streets were flooded; how was the gym? You're back fast; did you beat the leader?"
John sighed and shook his head. "The gym was mostly dry, but no - he wouldn't fight me! Said I didn't have enough Pokemon to even start the match; this gym only does double battles, so unless you have two Pokemon you can't even bring a challenge!"
Sara blinked as she looked back out at the storm. "You're kidding. You mean we came all the way out here, got absolutely soaked, and we can't even try to get the badges from here?" Opal shifted nervously and stepped a little closer to his trainer, picking up on the anger coming from her. "That... this..."
"Miss, you're all set - room 215 and 216." The clerk finished typing on the computer and held up two packets with key cards in them, along with Sara's trainer card.
"Ugh! Come on, Opal, let's go." Sara glared and grabbed the cards, then stomped off towards the elevators, wet sandals squeaking with every step on the tile floor.
I don't know how long the rain lasted. It's hard to keep track of time without being able to see the sun. When all you can see in the sky are dark clouds dumping rain on you, it's easy to lose track of if it's day or night. You might have an idea of how long you've been doing something while you're awake, but that ends when you go to sleep. When you wake up you have no idea how long it's been - it could still be the same day, or the next night, or just a few minutes later. It's not so bad when there's somebody else there with you, and for a while the company of the Hoppips and Skiplooms helped a lot.
But by what we thought was the fifth day of constant rain, the Hoppips and Skiplooms couldn't handle any more. They had all been injured in the blizzard, and the complete lack of sunlight was taking its toll. The rain did let up occasionally, after many long stretches of time... but it was only replaced by either the blizzard or the sandstorm. Those were always brief, as if the rain was stopping just to let us know there was something even worse waiting, and any ice or sand was quickly washed away by the renewed downpour. The berries we had stored up helped with some of the worst injuries, and helped us keep some of our energy even without light... but with the entire colony relying on nothing but them, the berries went fast. The Skiplooms realized the danger first and started skipping meals, but it didn't make much of a difference. We stayed huddled together in the burrows to save energy and keep warm despite the rain, but the Hoppips started showing signs of distress despite that. When they moved they were less coordinated, often bumping into each other, and their leaves drooped more and more. And no matter how much we all wished for it to stop, the rain kept falling, and the clouds blotted out the sun. The ground around us began flooding, and wherever we looked the plants were wilting and drowning.
It was impossible to tell through the rain covering them... but I was certain Twirls' father was crying on the fifth day when he told me they had to leave. He left to tell Kirii, too... but he came back much later to tell us he had been unable to find the Milotic.
I knew the Hoppip couldn't stay. I knew they were starving without sunlight. And I knew every one of them felt horrible about the decision. But watching them fly into the distance and leave me behind felt as painful as when my cherry had been ripped from my head.
The Skiplooms had said they would try and come back if the weather cleared... but with the constant rainfall and the dreary sky, it was very hard to feel hopeful.
So after the fifth day time passed. But I wasn't sure how much. I had three berries left... then two... then only one... and then there was nothing to do but grow weaker as the floods and rain continued. My leaves wanted, needed light so badly that it was a physical hurt inside them. But the sun remained hidden - when the rain stopped, it was just replaced by the blizzard. Even the sandstorms seemed to have stopped, which meant there was nothing but the constant cold. And without anybody else to huddle next to for warmth, the chill soaked me just as thoroughly as the rain. I slept and waited in the relatively warmer shade of a dying tree with nothing but the formless clouds above me to stare at as the hours and days continued to blend together...
I drifted out of a strange half-sleep as I felt something unfamiliar on my face. It took me a moment to wake up enough and realize what it was... and then my eyes flew open with sudden surprise. Light!
The clouds above me were still dark and gloomy, and rain was still falling all around me... but a tiny gap in the clouds directly above me was letting sunlight reach me.
I relaxed and closed my eyes, spreading my leaves and eagerly soaking up the warm sunlight. The light filled me with energy and hope. This was a good sign - the strange weather must finally be ending, which would mean the sunlight would soon be back in full. The clouds would go away, the ground would dry up, the grass and berries would start growing once more, the Hoppips and Skiplooms would come back, and this stretch of weird weather would just be a bad memory...
The darkness and rain crept back over me while I was still thinking, as if it had felt my hope and had rushed to drown it. I opened my eyes back up to see what had happened, though I knew in the back of my mind the clouds had just come back together. Up above me the unending stream of rain fell downwards, just as I had expected... but the break in the clouds was still there. I looked downwards and saw it had just moved to my left, past several drooping trees. The bright spot stayed where it was as I stared at it, and though it wavered a little around the edges it stayed right where it was. Several long moments passed before I decided it was worth moving after it instead of staying in the rain.
I tried to get up... and it was then that I realized just how weak I really was. I managed a half-wobble that only managed to tip me forward and land me face first in the mud. I lay there for another long minute before finally pulling together the strength to roll on my side and get back up on my feet. The pouring water quickly washed away any mud that had gotten on me while I rested. I sat there in the cold rain and gathered my strength, staring at the patch of sunlight that seemed so far away, until I finally felt safe moving.
This time things went a little better. I slipped a little when I hopped, but I landed upright and kept my leaves out of the muck. The sight of the sunlight ahead of me filled me with more energy and I hopped forward again, then another time, then another...
Each hop grew more and more difficult, and I slipped three more times on the way, but eventually I landed in the beam of sunlight. Warmth flowed through me, every part of my body feeling alive again. I lifted my leaves and spread them, soaking up the delicious sun...
I let out a sound somewhere between a yell and a sob when the sunlight vanished and I was caught in the downpour again. "No!" I started to look up at the sky in search of more light but stopped when I saw another bright patch of ground just a few dying trees away. I felt weak, soweak, but the light was right there...
This time felt like it took forever, but I finally broke through the curtain of rain and felt the sun dance over me...
...only to just as quickly be replaced by the rain. I was watching for it this time and saw the light move. It flowed across the muddy ground, weaving and dancing away from me. I grimaced but jumped forward again, chasing after it.
The light paused a bit away from me while I gathered myself for another hop... but before I could land again it started moving once more, drifting almost as far away as I had jumped. I growled lightly and hopped again, half-slipping as I landed and immediately lept once more. I was so tired, so cold, so drained, and I needed that light!
I slipped on the next landing and skidded into a tree. The bark was wet and moldy but was still plenty hard enough to knock the wind out of me. I lay there in the mud, too hurt and tired to move, and certain some of the water beneath me was my own tears. The rain continued on without concern, and the sunlight waited just beyond my reach, mocking me.
I wasn't sure what I expected when I sobbed to the sky and begged to it. "Please... please, stay still, I need that light..."
The sound of the falling rain continued just as loud as ever. Thunder bellowed in the distance. I didn't expect to hear anything else... but I thought I heard something whispering under the rain, a melodic sound that could have almost been the wind.
"I'm so sorry Sonata... but it's just a little bit further, and then you can rest in the sun for as long as you need."
I looked around, but all I could see was rain and the patch of light. Maybe it had just been the wind, and my tired imagination... I didn't know a 'Sonata' anyways, so it must have just been my mind playing tricks on me.
The light before me was real, though. I gathered myself back up and jumped again, wobbling when I landed but springing off the muddy ground anyways. The light was closer... and then it moved again. I grit my teeth and jumped again, following the light, and again, and again, through the trees, through the rain, through the cold, through the darkness, closing my eyes and jumping, jumping, jumping...
I felt something hit me on the head... then everything went dark. A different darkness, somehow even darker than the cloud covered world before. It was dry, and warmer, and... pink?
Something was wrong... but it was dry, and warm. After so much time in the rain, even if there wasn't any sunlight, this was so much better. I collapsed, just letting go and stopping the struggle, relaxing as much as I could.
It was dark for another long moment... then I felt a chime resonate through my body.
Light was suddenly all around me. The sky was bright, without a cloud anywhere. The grass was healthy and green, the trees were strong and tall, the flowers were in full bloom.
I didn't understand any of this. Where the rain had gone, why everything was healthy again, why there was so much sun...
But.. I didn't care. I fell face first into the warm, soft soil and spread my leaves to take in all the warm sun as I slowly drifted off to sleep...
"This still feels wrong." Sara shook her head, the umbrella tilting as she did so, rain pouring off it.
"Oh, come on, it'll just take an hour, maybe two at the most."
"That's not the point! I don't feel right just getting some random Pokemon for no other reason than a single fight. Pokemon aren't just tools to pick up and throw away when you need one; I'm a better trainer than that. We're better trainers than that."
John sighed. "You're being ridiculous. You can't do the entire gym challenge with just Opal; you'll need to get another Pokemon. And that means going out and catching some. How do you think Flen got his team? You think he just held out a Pokeball and asked them to hop in?"
Sara rolled her eyes. "I'm not stupid, I know I'll have to get more Pokemon. But I'm not going to just grab whatever random 'mon jumps out at me and drag it along. My team is going to mean more to me than that; they're going to be my friends, too." Sara grabbed an empty Pokeball from her bag and held it out to her side, away from the umbrella. "If that means I don't go running around beating up wild Pokemon, but instead 'hold out a Pokeball and ask them to hop in', then that's fine by..." Sara trailed off as the sound of rain on her umbrella suddenly cut off.
"Breee!" Sara looked down at Opal's cry, and the world around her lit up with sunlight, a tiny ring of light surrounding her and John. Opal was looking around in surprise, and she tried to find what he was looking for... when she heard a thunk, click, and finally a chime come from the Pokeball.
"No way." John stared at Sara in surprise. "That... no way."
"What?! What just happened?" Sara looked around, confused, then at the Pokeball she had been holding out to her side. There was a red light fading from it- the sign it had just captured a Pokemon.