FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

I woke several times during the day, and finally gave up trying to sleep closer towards the afternoon. It was early for me to be up, but I was feeling too annoyed and guilty to really rest. Hunger was starting to become more noticeable too - I had planned on eating my last berry for breakfast today, but with it gone I would just have to go hungry.

Well. Unless I was willing to burn some poor family's house down. Which I was not.

I felt my anger at the Raticate grow stronger at remembering what he had asked me to do... followed by a growing sense of guilt at the knowledge I had done it to other families already. The thought that I hadn't known what I was doing at the time didn't bring me much comfort - it didn't change that those families had lost their homes.

I stared out at the street, but it was still much too bright out to go outside. Somebody was likely to see me, and I didn't want to have to deal with that even on a good day, not to mention while I was hungry and guilt ridden. So instead I just watched from the shadows while bikes rolled by, or people and Pokemon went on their way, and thought more and more about what to do while guilt continued to gnaw at me.

The sun finally began to set, washing the sky in lovely shades of darker blues and oranges that I watched in appreciation... then it became dark enough to slip out unseen. I thought about going to face the Raticate - burn through his door, interrupt whatever meeting he was in, demand the berry I knew he had taken - but I knew that would get me nowhere. He would just deny what we both knew, throw in some barb about how I could go to the Growlithe if I had been robbed, even though we both knew how they would treat me, and remind me that there would be two more berries waiting if I did a certain job for him.

Or he would get mad and beat me up for interrupting his meeting and lower the pay down to one berry to cover the cost of a new door. It wouldn't be the first time he had attacked me directly, and I knew he would win any physical fight with me.

Either way, direct confrontation would get me nowhere.

No, I had to come up with some other way to get through the next few days. After that the situation would resolve itself, or some other job would pop up, and I could go back to life as usual. I needed to find something to do with the bag that Raticate had given me, too - I didn't want to get caught with it, since it would give the cops whatever excuse they needed to drag me off to never be seen again. But it was hard to think of anything other than food with an empty stomach.

I wandered through the city for a few hours. There were some interesting smelling garbage cans, but none of the ones I dug through had anything I could eat. There was a promising one outside a restaurant, but it had been swarmed by Zigzagoon who shot me dirty looks when I got near and made it clear it was _their_food, not mine.

I looked for a Murkrow I had seen around a few times in the past - I had a feeling it might like the bag of shiny rocks, and could be willing to trade me a berry for them, since I had seen him taking shiny things when he got the chance - but he wasn't at any of the usual alleys or streetlamps I checked. I eventually grew too weak from hunger to keep walking all over the place, so I headed back to my den to rest.

I stopped as I turned the last corner and caught sight of the entrance to my home. There was a Pokemon sitting on the sidewalk right above it, one I hadn't seen before. It was larger than I was and had pitch black fur and a pair of creepy red eyes that I could only just barely make out in the darkness when he glanced my way. Something glinted at his neck - a bell of some kind? - but the Pokemon blended into the darkness too well to make out any other details. If it hadn't been for the soft yellow rings glowing through its dark fur, I might not have known it was there at all. I wasn't sure what type it was, but I couldn't imagine how it could be anything but a dark type with such an ominous appearance.

I started to turn and duck away, but a sweet scent in the air stopped me. The Pokemon was holding something in its mouth - a small sack of some kind, hanging half open - and there was a _wonderful_smell of food coming from it. My stomach growled at me, demanding some of whatever was making that scent, and I swayed uncertainly. It would be safer to retreat and wait for the stranger to leave, but... the possibility of food was too important to pass up.

I crouched down close to the ground and dashed quietly across the street. I ducked out of sight behind one of the nearby trees - this was one of the few parts of the city that had space for flowers and trees, which had been one of the reasons I had picked it for my home - and I checked to make sure the other Pokemon hadn't spotted me. The stranger was still just sitting there, looking off at something in the other direction, then lazily tilting his head to look at something else closer in my direction. He seemed oblivious that he was being watched.

I wondered what he might have been doing for a second - waiting to meet somebody? Delivering the food somewhere? - but my hungry stomach suddenly growled. The sound was too loud to have been missed and I knew the stranger had to be aware of me, so I panicked and sprang into action - I didn't want to risk losing the opportunity to finally eat something. I dashed the short distance to the other Pokemon and coughed out a quick flame, which sailed past him and landed on the cold sidewalk to sputter for a second or two. It had the effect I had hoped for - the Pokemon stiffened in shock, and what I hoped was fear. I leapt behind him and growled as menacingly as I could manage. "Drop it! I want the food, not a fight, but if you try something I won't think twice about burning you." I focused hard and coughed out another burst of flame, but formed this one into a wisp, urging it to float in the air by the Pokemon's neck and make sure it could feel the heat.

The Pokemon turned slowly to look at me... and he dropped the bag to the ground. I felt my heart leap - had it actually worked? It had; I was going to get the bag of food!

That hope lasted for all of half a second before he opened his mouth and... laughed.

I felt my ears heat up in embarrassment. I started to push the wisp of flame towards him, but his yellow rings began to glow before I could. A flicker of light appeared in the air between us, a cool sphere of gentle, steady light... and while I was still trying to make out what it was, it zipped through my wisp, scattering the flame into nothingness. To add further insult the light suddenly flared with unbelievable brightness, nearly blinding me.

I blinked and tried to get my night vision back, but all I could see was a bright afterimage against the darkness. I panicked, suddenly worried about the strange Pokemon I had tried to mug. I couldn't make out where he was or what he was doing...

His voice came from the same place he had laughed from, not having moved at all. A teasing sense of amusement lingered in his words. "You can have my stash, but first you know I've got to ask; what made you want to live this kind of life?"

I blinked again, more from confusion than to clear my vision, though I was still trying to do that. "Uhhh... what?"

"It's from a song. You haven't heard that one?"

I shook my head, but the spot was still there. "What's a song?" I hadn't heard that word before, and I didn't really care... but maybe if I kept him talking long enough then my eyes would clear. I didn't even care about the food anymore; I just wanted to get away without getting hurt.

"A song! You know. With music and singing. Like flying types make. My trainer likes that song and listens to it on long train rides; we got to hear it a few times on the way here." He paused for a moment, then his voice changed when he spoke - singed? - again. "'There ain't no rest for the wicked, money don't grow on trees'. You've really never heard songs before?" I heard some shuffling near me, but my vision was still barely back; I could only make out dim shapes.

"No, I haven't..." I was still worried, but... it had sounded pretty. I wasn't sure what else to say, so I just said that. "It... sounded nice."

"You should hear the whole song; I don't really do it justice. Though it's still fun to sing along, especially when my trainer is singing too. Here, sit down; eat these."

I blinked some more until I could finally see again. The Pokemon had opened the bag he had been carrying, and...

Two_of the most delicious looking pastries rested on the cloth. I had seen food like that before, in the windows of some stores, but I had never _dreamed of ever eating one. They smelled wonderful, a sweet smell that was painfully vivid without the bag trapping them anymore. My mouth began watering and my stomach reminded me of how empty it was... but I forced myself to look away from them. I focused on the other Pokemon instead, narrowing my eyes warily. "Is something wrong with them? What game are you playing; what do you want from me, if you're just giving me these?"

More laughter gleamed in the red eyes, but he kept his voice steady. "Worried 'there ain't nothing in this life for free'?" Something about how he said it made me think he was referring back to the song again, but... he was right. Nobody ever just gave me anything, especially not something as valuable as these pastries. What was it that stores called them? PokePomfs? PokePoofs?

"Don't worry, there's nothing wrong with them. And I don't want anything from you for them. Do you know anything about Dark types? Or Umbreons?" The Umbreon - so that's what he was - looked down at me curiously before taking a half step away from the food.

"I know a little... psychics can't pick up on what they're thinking, so they aren't liked very much in this town." I glanced down at the pastry again, wondering if I believed him. It certainly didn't smell like anything was wrong with them...

The Umbreon glanced away from me, towards one of the buildings on the far side of the street. "Heh... yeah, I haven't exactly been warmly welcomed here." He glanced back at me with a grin. "Dark types can feel emotions the same way psychic types can read thoughts. I think that's part of why they can't read our minds; we're too associated with fear and things that scare and confuse them, stuff that isn't 'logical' and orderly but emotional and chaotic. I think that's why bugs have an edge against them too - we both 'creep them out', I guess. But... that aside, strong emotions like anger and stuff are things I can feel." He glanced back down the street and made a motion with his head towards one of the buildings. "We've been staying there while we're here, and I've been feeling your hunger and... inner turmoil, I think? It's been a little distracting, so I brought over some leftover PokePuffs my trainer got for us to try and help."

Oh. So... he was bringing me food so I wouldn't be hungry, and so my emotions wouldn't distract him? I blinked down at the pastry and couldn't help but giggle. "Wait... so... you're feeding me so I'll 'shut up'?"

The Umbreon looked a little sheepish before grinning. "Well... I guess you could say that I am, yeah."

I grinned back up at him. "Well, that makes sense, at least." I sat down and bit into the pastry.

I almost cried. The food was exquisite, like nothing I had ever tasted. It was so soft that my teeth felt like they were passing through air, but my tongue exploded with delight at the amazing flavor. I had never in my life tasted such a delicious treat.

And the Umbreon was just giving these away?!

I realized that the Umbreon was smiling broadly at me and I blinked at him, feeling my cheeks start to heat up in a blush. "What are you smirking at?"

"You ate that in a bite and a half! You must have really been starving, but there's no rush! You can take your time and enjoy it." The dark Pokemon leaned away from me and stretched in place. He looked back towards the building across the street, then looked back at me. "Have you been having trouble getting food? Is everything okay?"

His gaze was gentle and patient, and for an instant I had an irrational urge to talk with the stranger and explain the situation with the Raticate and the families... but my brain managed to kick back in before my mouth blurted anything out, and I remembered that I didn't know anything about this other Pokemon, or what he might do with whatever I told him. I had heard of Growlithe bribing Pokemon for information - and chasing them out of the town after, if not doing even worse to them - and there was every possibility that was what was happening here. If I had been as involved in people losing their homes as the Raticate had said, then the police would be very angry with me... and while I didn't intend to help him with his scheme any further, that didn't mean I was going to be stupid and turn myself in, either.

"I'm fine. Just had some of my berries go bad and haven't restocked yet." I looked away from the Umbreon, not feeling like I could meet his eyes and evade his question convincingly enough... and my eyes landed on the second pastry he had brought. I was reminded of the taste of the first, and my mouth began watering at the memory.

I held my breath and hoped as hard as I could that the Umbreon wouldn't demand an answer before letting me have it, and I kicked myself for not having started in on it as soon as I finished the first.

The Umbreon just nodded though. He didn't seem fooled by my answer... but he didn't seem to want to pry, either. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I had been holding as he just got to his feet and stepped away from me - and the pastry. "I see. Well, bad luck can happen to anybody. I'm glad I could help you out - we'll probably be in town for a few more days if you run into any other problems... but I think it's best I get back now. I was waiting for you for a bit, and my trainer might get worried if she wakes up and I'm not there."

I still could barely believe my luck - had I really just gotten a free meal from this stranger? - but I managed to nod quickly. "Okay. Um... thank you." The words sounded a little strange to me, and I wasn't sure why at first... until a half second later when I realized why. The words held actual gratitude in them, something I couldn't remember doing before.

The Umbreon smiled again and gave a short wag of his tail. "No problem! Have a good night, Vulpix." With that he turned and walked away, limping a little as he did. I noticed he was favoring his left hindleg, as if it hurt him, but before long he disappeared out of sight into the darkness between streetlights.

I glanced around, suddenly feeling very vulnerable out in the open, and scooped up the bag with the remaining pastry. I dashed back into the hole in the sidewalk and squeezed into my den, and back in the safety of my home I ate the second pastry.

It was just as delicious as the first. I remembered the advice to eat it slowly and enjoy it this time, and took smaller bites to savor every bit of the treat that...

I blinked and stopped mid-bite. Had I not even asked him his name? No, I must have; what had he said it was?...

I frowned and swallowed guiltily. I _hadn't_asked his name, and he hadn't told me.

I kicked myself internally for being so rude, especially when he had been so nice - though I still suspected there might be some hidden motive beyond 'shutting me up'. I made a mental note to make certain to ask his name first if I met him again.

My belly informed me it was nice and full, and my body suddenly wanted nothing more than to fall asleep and enjoy the relief from hunger. It had been a stressful pair of days, so I happily obliged it and drifted peacefully off to sleep.

Sara flinched as the doctor opened the door to the room and revealed the Cherubi inside. The poor thing looked just the way she had when Sara had stumbled over her out in the rain - dark purple skin, eyes closed in sleep, slow breaths that barely moved it, leaves brittle and dark. Most of the Cherubi had been wrapped in what looked to be warm, dry towels, but enough was still peeking out for Sara to see how badly off it looked.

The doctor stepped into the room and pointed at a part of the Cherubi's stem, where it looked torn and shriveled. "This is the complication. Cherubi have a bit of a strange evolution - professors have found they have a sort of second evolution that occurs at the same time, and when they're out in heavy sunlight their leaves can open and reveal that second form. But it takes a lot of energy for that - that's why they have to be out in the heavy sun to even be able to reveal it; it's just too draining otherwise. So before they evolve Cherubi grow a berry here, one that they pack full of nutrients and energy that they use to do the second evolution."

Sara eyed the sleeping Cherubi just to make certain it was still asleep, then glanced back at the stem. It looked horribly mangled, and had turned brown and brittle around the edges. "She doesn't have one."

"Right. Cherubi protect it, but it's not uncommon for another Pokemon to steal and eat it. That usually just means a Cherubi will spend a year or so growing a new one, and then evolve after, but in this case... with all the rain it looks like the new growth has started dying. It's not healthy at all; we're going to have to prune it to help her get back on her feet, so as to avoid infections and such. There's just no other option. But... there's no telling how that will affect future growth with all the trauma she's already seen."

Sara frowned. "What do you mean?"

The doctor shrugged. "We don't know exactly, but in regular plants a stem damaged this badly is just given up on and ignored by the plant afterwards. That normally wouldn't matter, except that Cherubi only grow their berries off that one unique stem, at least that we know of, so... she might never grow a berry back. If that happens, she'll never be able to evolve."

Sara grimaced at the doctor's words. That didn't sound good at all. But... "You're sure her life is in danger if you don't?"

The doctor nodded solemnly. "Yeah. It's going to be a challenge as it is to help her recover; hypothermia had already started setting in. She'll probably pull through now that we can give her proper attention... but she won't have any chance at all if she catches a disease or a fungus in that stem. And if we leave it..." The words trailed off into a heavy silence.

Sara bit her lip but nodded. "Okay. Just... let me know what I need to do. I'll do what I can to take care of her after."