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The next morning felt like a ton of Tinkaton had stomped on Zane's head as he felt a massive headache awaken him. He groaned in pain as he stood up and hopped off the sofa, stumbling a bit from his headache making him a bit dizzy. He walked over to the berry pile and picked up a persim berry before eating it down.

After a bit he felt his dizziness and headache lighten up fairly quickly. He was grateful to Severus for grabbing a wide variety of food even if it may have endangered his life even more as Zane took this moment to eat his new favorite combination of berries, feeling his heart droop knowing he couldn't enjoy this meal with the one who changed his views on not just the berries.

Once he was finished eating, he was about to go check on Severus but just as he reached the bedroom door and began opening, a sudden chirping caught his attention. His ears perked up at this as he then realized something else. He heard no pattering of rain against the cabin walls and ceiling, no claps of thunder, and light leaking through the red and purple patterned curtains. Zane slowly left the bedroom door to the front door and carefully opened it to see a clearing in the skies as the storm was nowhere to be seen.

The aftermath of glistening grass drenched in rainwater with small puddles strewn about and blown down tree branches were the only signs of the storm left in its wake. The young Zangoose beamed as he stepped out and took in the beauty of the fresh air and a flower bed planted on the outskirts of the cabin with purple hydrangeas and white tulips all aglow having somehow survived the terrible weather for two days straight.

Zane was beaming as he could now take in the beauty of the entire area, he was unable to appreciate the first time due to the storm driving him inside. As he leaned down to smell the tulips, his ears picked up faint sounds of splashing water that remained seemingly consistent. Curious about this, he straightened himself up and began walking in the direction of the sound.

It was a short while as he traveled with the water splashes getting louder as he closed the distance but stopped when he noticed it was just the same river that nearly washed him away. But just before he could turn and leave, not wanting to think back on his near-death experience with the river, he heard a shout and a splash.

He jerked his attention back and immediately took notice of a young Ralts in the river, his arms flailing as he could barely keep his head above the rapids!

Zane took action and ran alongside the river's edge to try and grab the child but just before he could dive in, a sudden strike froze his whole body as he couldn't move as his eyes blankly widened at the river. What was happening? Why couldn't he jump in? Did something attack him and caused paralysis in him? But he could feel like muscles not contracting from paralysis, so he figured that wasn't the case. So then why?

But he heard the young Ralts as he looked over to see him pass by and felt his heart drop at the sight of a cliff edge where the river flowed directly over! He shot off again as he tripped over some uneven ground but managed to keep enough balance to keep most of his momentum going as he dove for the edge just as the child was going over! He skidded to a stop at the edge of the cliff, his top half hanging as he swiped to catch the Ralts! But he barely missed the child as he plummeted down the now waterfall with a loud cry of, "WHEEEE!"

Zane was caught off guard by this as his peripheral vision immediately took notice of multiple Pokémon, floating and playing in the shining, crystalline lake below with a Gardevoir and Gallade playing with a giggling Kirlia as the Ralts hit the water surface, effectively splashing his entire family as the three laughed and the Ralts swan up into the Gardevoir's arms and the mother and her son laughed while the father and daughter continued the splash fight. Zane couldn't help but smile at them as he noted the other Pokémon relaxing or playing.

There was a small flock of Taillow bathing themselves, Marills and Azurills splashing and playing together, and a Slaking lazily floating along on the water's surface, unsurprisingly. His attention was pulled back to the Ralts as he heard his giggling and saw the feeling Pokémon pointing up at him with the Gardevoir following his son's hand to see Zane above her.

"Oh! Why hello up there! I don't believe I've seen any Zangoose around here before! Are you new to the forest?" She called up to him, gaining the attention of a few Pokémon in the area who cared to look including the rest of the Gardevoir's family and the Taillow, Marill, and Azurill.

"Uh no, actually. I've lived in this forest all my life. I'm just from a different part further west of here," He hollered back.

The Gardevoir smiled as the Gallade approached her with a smile as he began yelling up to him. "Well, it is a pleasure to meet you! I've heard great things about the Zangoose species! Why are you not with your pack?"

"I'm on a mission for my pack!"

"Oh really? What kind of mission?"

But before Zane could think of how he would answer, he heard his name being called behind him as he quickly looked back and saw Severus approaching.

"There you are, Zane. I was wondering where you wandered off to."

"Oh, Severus. Listen, you shouldn't get too close to the edge..."

But Severus heard the waterfall hitting water below and beamed, cutting Zane off. "Is the lake I've heard so much about down there?!"

"Well yeah but Severus you should really know..."

"You may usually call this a swan dive, but I call it a snake dive!" Severus began charging forward to the cliff's edge as Zane stood up to block him.

"Wait Severus! Don't!"

But Severus suddenly leaped high above Zane as the Zangoose watched helplessly as he saw the Fang Snake Pokémon shouting with glee and his eyes closed as he fell towards the lake but more specifically the Ralts and Kirlia kids below him. The two looked up and saw the Seviper careening down towards them with his mouth agape and both instantly screamed in terror, thinking they were about to be eaten.

By the time Severus heard this and opened his eyes to look and have his smile quickly replaced with a realization of regret, he was suddenly blasted midair to the side with a psychic blast.

"Stay away from my babies, you monster!" The Gardevoir shouted angrily at him before her power surrounded his body in a blue, psychic energy before launching him up and into the rocky cliff face as Severus cringed in pain as the smaller Pokémon that were there at the lake flew and swam away in a panic, assuming the worst.

Zane was in horror as this happened in front of him and he couldn't feel himself able to move as Severus crumpled up and plummeted into the lake's waves.

Gallade used his psychic powers to lift his family and levitate them out of the lake towards the shore. Gardevoir looked to her husband in worry. "What about you?!"

"Your fairy-typing puts you three in more danger than it does me! Getting you to safety is in your best interest!" He told her as he looked at Zane. "You! You're a Zangoose, right!? Get down here and kill the thing!"

Zane wanted to jump off and into the water for a completely different reason, but he felt his claws burrow themselves into the earth as he could only stare down at them.

Gallade looked mad at Zabe for not immediately reacting but then panicked when he saw Severus groggily resurface as he desperately hurried to get his family out of harm's way. But then a dark, looming shadow towered over the Gallade as he looked up beside him. He blinked in surprise to see the loafing Slaking was now standing with his eyes shaded in shadows.

"You leave. Me take care of evil snake," spoke the Slaking in a booming and menacing voice as the Gallade nodded as he began slowly making his way out of the lake, splashing wakes of water as he rushed to catch up with his family. Once on shore, the parents each took a child and bolted together into the forest, but not before the Gallade glared back at the despised Seviper.

Zane took notice of Severus, dazed from his crash into the cliff and water, but felt his heart leap into his throat at the sight of the Slaking slowly making his way towards the Seviper. Then he began picking up speed as he took a ramming position before his body was coated in a white energy of power!

Zane looked down at Severus and screamed out, "Look out! Giga Impact!"

Severus' double vision began to settle as did the throbbing in his hearing as he heard the warning in the nick of time before he saw the Slaking careening at him. He used his advantage of the water to swiftly swim out of the path of the charge, cutting through the water like a knife in butter, as he effectively dodged the attack as the Slaking smashed into the base of the cliff, making it quake and break into shards as Severus kept swimming to dodge the flying debris.

However, Zane wasn't prepared for the ground beneath him to give way as he scrambled to stop his fall but didn't react quick enough as he began falling. The moment he saw the water's surface fast approaching, Zane screamed in terror as he heard his name being shouted out as he whipped his body around midair to stab his left claw into the cliff face and limply dangle off the rock wall. His breathing got more raggedy as he saw Severus staring up at him with worry clear in the snake's eyes.

But then a roar resonated loudly as the Slaking sneered at his enemy, making Severus book it, swimming fast along the water's surface to try and reach the shore of the lake. The Slaking braced his hands to the side while energy gathered in his palms as an orb formed between them. He jabbed the orb forward as the fully formed Focus Blast sped off after the Seviper.

Severus was only focused on escaping the rampaging Slaking as he neared the edge of the shoreline with hope of his retreat filling him to his core. However, the Slaking smirked as the Focus Blast neared its target as Severus could only witness the attack it whizzed past him, the power of the Focus Blast sending a shiver down his spine, before it connected with the water directly in front of the fang snake Pokémon as it exploded upon impact and launched him away from safety and back from where he ran from. He also hurtled towards the patient hand of the Slaking who held it up, awaiting his moment.

As Severus sailed through the air, he was now falling at the perfect angle with no way to stop himself as he fell right into the grasp of the Slaking as he locked his grip on Severus' head and began squeezing, making the snake scream in agony.

Zane felt something in his mind snap as Severus cried out in pain as he felt a snarl form on his lips before looking at the cliff and he pulled on his arm to free himself. Zane quickly realized his claw was embedded deep and could not be pulled out, so he took his free hand as his claw glowed orange before he began savagely pounding the area around his trapped claw, using Rock Smash over and over to desperately chip away at the wall.

Severus whimpered as he felt the Slaking's vice grip tighten in an attempt to crush his head with the insane strength the normal type possessed. "P-Please... stop..." His pleas wheezed through slightly parted lips as he felt the grasp on his head only tighter more.

"You attack childs of friends. Monster like you no deserve life," growled the Slaking as Severus felt tears leak out of his eyes as he accepted his death.

Just in the nick of time, Zane gave one final thrashing against the wall as it shattered and freed Zane as he continued to fall but this time planting his feet against the cliff and pouncing off it with such power it made an indent against it. Zane's claw began to shine a luminescent violet before he began to scream in a fury as he fast approached his target.

Slaking glanced over but was too slow to react as the Crush Claw attack slammed into his face. This dazed the Lazy Pokémon enough as he stumbled and lost his grip on Severus, dropping him in the lake as he gasped and coughed heavily. Zane began unleashing a furious barrage of rapid-fire attacks on the Slaking making him struggle to stand as he was pelted with Rock Smashes and Crush Claws.

However, as Zane was blinded by his anger, he failed to notice the Slaking subtly forming a Focus Blast in his one hand as he used his other hand to try and block the Zangoose's assault. Once it was fully formed, he swung it around and smashed it into Zane's body. The sheer might of the Fighting-type attack hurt Zane immensely as he was flung away into the center of the lake before his limp body began to sink.

The Slaking was confused why he was attacked like that and then took notice of the Seviper speeding towards him. Despite his larger physique and experience, the Zangoose had hit him enough times for him to be considerably weakened and dizzy as he prepared himself to fight a hopeless battle. But he was once again caught off guard as Severus swam past him, ignoring him completely as he dived into the water after Zane. The Slaking assumed the Seviper's bloodlust towards the Zangoose was too strong and went for the easy kill he had set up. He would feel bad if the Zangoose didn't attack him for whatever reason as he took this chance to crawl out of the lake and get away while he could.

When Zane hit the water, his mind flashed with lightning in his eyes as he was reliving his struggle in the river during the storm as he flailed around trying to get out. But he couldn't seem to remember how to swim! His mind could recall what to do as the images of him in the river were the only thing there as he only began to panic even more. He felt his body become lax and his mind was numb as he felt the air forced out of his lungs as bubbles. His eyes fluttered as darkness consumed him but there was a light ahead of him in which he saw a skinny silhouette fast approaching him as he fell into unconsciousness.

Severus swam faster when he saw Zane wasn't moving at all. He quickly swam around the Zangoose and tightened his midsection to wrap and hold Zane as he then torpedoed back up to the surface of the lake, gasping for air as he hastily made his way over to the lake shore with Zane in tow.

Severus heaved and pulled Zane out as he uncoiled himself and looked down at the Zangoose. "Kid! Wake up! You can't be dead! Your pack still needs you!"

Zane gave no response as Severus observed him and realized he was not breathing either. Fear struck the Seviper as he recalled what his father said to handle this situation. He just hoped no practice and no hands wouldn't be the reason Zane dies here.

Severus places the flat end of his tail on Zane's chest and begins pressing down before lifting it up and pressing down again. He did this a few times before pulling his tail up to Zane's face, using the tip to gently open his mouth, before leaning in and blowing air into his body.

He kept blowing as his lips felt a warmth against them and Severus soon felt his cheeks heating up before he realized what he was doing. But then water spat into his mouth, making his pupils dilate as he pulled away gagging and coughing out the water that shot into his throat. More coughing was heard as Severus felt his body lighten up as he looked back to see Zane on his knees and elbows bent over, hurling up more water against the soggy ground beneath him as he gasped heavily for air to refill his lungs.

Zane blinked as he looked up at the Seviper as he put two and two together. "Did... Did you just save me?"

"My father's teachings of human ways taught me CPR though I've never had the chance to put that human technique into practice before. I was worried I would forget a step and you would die because I..."

Severus was cut off as he suddenly felt Zane jump onto him and wrap his arms around his neck. He felt the Zangoose whimper as he silently cried into his neck, further surprising him seeing Zane showing his vulnerability and how scared this was for him. He then heard Zane whispers of gratitude and apologies as Severus felt his heart weep at the sight of Zane being so sad.

He felt his lower body twitch as he went to wrap his coil around Zane to return the hug but hesitated, thinking the Zangoose who was weary of him all this time would think he was trying to harm him. But ultimately his heart won out the inner battle as he gently hugged Zane who seemed to calm down a bit as his crying turned into a light sniffling. The two stayed like that in each other's comforting embrace, unaware of the Slaking spying on them from afar and utterly baffled by the display of affection the two were showing as opposed to them shredding each other apart like he was expecting. He looked away in thought before he quietly left the area without a sound.

Many hours passed as the two were now sitting on the ground beside the lake, unable to find the right words to say to the other after what just transpired. They both shifted about feeling uncomfortable yet not from sitting on the ground but from how they both did things they felt awkward about. Zane didn't know why he hugged and cried into Severus' neck like he did when his father was there to comfort him and Severus didn't know why he did what he did when saving Zane on the shore. The tension between them was thick and both seemed nervous to even look at the other.

Severus was the first to break the silence between them. "Listen... I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble. I haven't gone for a swim in a long time and it's something I enjoy greatly. That doesn't excuse how I let my excitement prevent you from warning me of the forest Pokémon that were down there. For that, I must ask for your forgiveness. I..."

"Why did you save me?" Zane suddenly asked.

Severus looked towards him in surprise. "What do you mean?"

Zane glared back at him. "You know damn well what I mean! You know my intentions being out here and away from my pack is to kill an isolated Seviper by myself! And I've been with one for the last two days and you know my plans! So why did you save me when letting me die back there was your way out of my plan?!"

Severus deadpanned at the Zangoose. "Then I can ask the same of you. Why did you save me?"

"Because you would have died from the storm and I wouldn't be able to carry out my goal as easily!"

"I meant just now. When that Slaking was about to crush my head, you jumped off the cliff and attacked him."

"It's the same as I said before! I intend to kill you myself to prove I am capable of leading my pack and I'd be damned if I let a Slaking steal that away from me."

Severus eyed him in disbelief. "Yet you seemed awfully vicious when you attacked him. I thought you were about to kill him with how aggressive you were."

"Well, it's like I said. I didn't want someone to take my kill away from me. I had no other ulterior motive for saving you."

"Really?"

"Must I repeat myself?"

Severus let a frustrated breath out as he uncoiled himself to stand up. "Fine. Then let's just get this done."

Zane blinked as he saw Severus slither alongside the riverbank and approached a chunk of rock that had landed nearby from their scuffle with the Slaking when he rammed into the cliff. The Fang Snake Pokémon then got on the opposite side of the rock and faced Zane before placing his head on top of it.

Zane soon stood himself up as he gestured to what was now in front of him. "What is this?"

"What does it look like? I'm waiting for you to claim your kill. Go ahead. Kill me." Severus answered, his voice monotone as he simply gave up and awaited Zane to complete his task.

But Zane felt his anger spike at this. "Do you really think I'm going to just go through all I've been through just to kill you with no resistance on your end?! If I wanted that, I would have killed you back at the cabin when we first met! I need you to fight back! That way I can prove to my pack I can lead them into a future they will be proud of!"

"But why not just do it? I'm not resisting my inevitable death so just do it. Save yourself the trouble and end me here and now."

Zane's boiling point was now overcome by this give up attitude Severus was displaying as Zane lifted his claw, readying a Rock Smash, before striking down.

Severus smiled as he awaited the claw to smash his head open but gasped in shock when his head suddenly shot down as debris surrounded his head. He lifted himself up in a coughing fit as dust had filled his lungs and he shook his head to see through his slight disoriented vision to see what caused his tumble. Zane had used Rock Smash on the rock itself!

"Enough of your games! You need to fight me! Fight for your life dammit!"

Zane sneered at him. "Then I hate to be the bearer of news but I don't fight."

"Bullshit! You're a fucking Seviper! All your kind knows is how to fight! Now stop this cowardice and fight back!"

Zane ran at him as he aimed to slash at Severus to which the purple snake expertly dodged with a bored expression as he looked like he wasn't even trying that hard. "That the best you can do?" Severus mocked him, making the Zangoose scream in pure rage before he began swiping with a flurry of slashes. But the snake weaved his body around every strike, easily predicting where and how fast the next swipe would be.

Zane then lifted both arms up before striking down in an X formation, performing an X-Scissor which Severus smirked as he laid down flat against the ground to dodge it before he slithered with extreme speed in between Zane's legs. This maneuver caught Zane off guard as he stumbled a bit to keep his balance as Severus took this chance to slip into the lake's waves and swim a good distance away before looking back at Zane.

Zane huffed as he shook an angry fist at him. "You get back here! Come back here and fight!"

"Why don't you come out here and get me then?" Severus began doing that hissing laughter that he knew would set off Zane even more than he already was. Sure enough, he could see Zane's fury turn up at his mocking laugh before he grabbed a piece of the destroyed rock from earlier and threw it out at Severus.

However, he could only manage to get about half the distance Severus had created between them as the rock uselessly splashed into the lake and the ripple wave created from it slowly moved and gently nudged the deadpanning Seviper who stared blankly at the whole endeavor from the rock that was thrown to the ripple that grazed him. "Geez, I almost felt that. Too bad you can't learn Rock Throw like a rock-type can otherwise I'd be worried."

The taunting was getting to Zane but all he could do was lash out by throwing more rocks at Severus but every one was not even close to connecting to him. "Are you done throwing your tantrum yet? Look, I'm not even moving so just come on out here and kill me yourself. It's obvious you won't be able to get me from the shore."

Zane growled as he stepped forward but a flashback came back and he froze up before he could step in the shallow water. He looked panicked as he tried to keep a composed look but Severus noticed his falter.

"B-Because you are in the water! I can't move as swiftly in the water as I can on land so I'm not going out there where you have the clear advantage!"

"Oh please! I don't buy that for a second. I've seen your kind excel in fighting in many terrain including bodies of water! Even the snow during the winter season doesn't slow your species down! So stop pretending and just come get me!"

"Fine!" Zane finished his step forward as he slammed his foot into the lake before he looked down at the harsh ripples he made and saw them only grow in size as he looked in horror as it was about to consume him. Just like it almost did that night.

"N?NO!" Zane screamed out in horror as he recoiled away from the lake water and fell back as his breathing grew short and rapid. He couldn't hide his hyperventilating from Severus as his mind went blank with fear overwhelming his normally calm and strategic mind.

Zane felt his eyes welling up as his heart yearned to cry. However a shadow soon overlapped onto his body as he looked up at the looming figure but unable to see with the light of the sun beating him down. That was until the figure moved up a bit as his head now blocked the sun from Zane's eyes as his gaze was now fixated on a worried Severus loomed over him.

Zane wiped away at his eyes with an arm, letting his fur soak up whatever was about to spill out as he pouted and looked away from the snake. Severus felt a guilt weighing down his heart as he stared at the clear suffering the Zangoose was going through.

"Why didn't you tell me you were afraid of the water?"

Zane had a look of disdain as he scowled at Severus. "I have no idea what you're referring to."

"Zane..."

The Zangoose glared his eyes up at Severus seeing the seriousness in him, showing he wasn't messing with him like he was before. He showed genuine concern for Zane which made Zane look away as embarrassment prevented him from responding.

Severus' keen eyes spotted this as he slithered behind Zane and laid next to him. Skin brushed against fur as Zane, out of necessity of the awkwardness, scooched away from him so they were not as close to one another. Severus didn't mind however.

"I didn't mean to trigger whatever fear you have. I was unaware of it and had I known I would not have done what I did. I truly am sorry for hurting you like that." Severus apologized.

"Believe me, I wish I knew too." Zane admitted not long after.

"What do you mean?" questioned Severus.

Without turning himself around to look at the Seviper, Zane recounted the night when the storm first hit. How the wind broke off a thick branch and knocked him into the river. How he tried to fight his way through the river current with the heavy storm making it more powerful. How he barely managed to use a sturdy tree root to help get him out of danger. It all led up to him finding the cabin and how he left the door open in his haste to find a way to dry off his fur before he died from hypothermia.

Severus soaked in every word as Zane seemed to look less tense despite his back still being turned towards the Seviper. He hoped he could help Zane calm down more with the knowledge he now had.

"So then did you never learn how to swim?" Severus interrogated.

"No, I've always been able to swim before. But I've never had to swim in a current as strong as that. I've never attempted to swim in the river when there was a storm. Father told me of the dangers that can come from it and yet I found myself in it regardless. Ever since today, my mind keeps flashing back to that experience. When I... when I almost drowned that night."

"And being here at the lake is what made you realize this?"

"Before I knew the river and waterfall was being used by the forest Pokémon as a way of having fun, I thought that small Ralts was drowning like I was. Yet despite my desire to save him, I felt myself unable to jump in after him and wasn't able to go after him when he went down the waterfall. Granted it worked out when I realized he wasn't even in danger and might have thought I was attacking him if I did yank him out of the river or his family would think that if I grabbed him when he fell down the waterfall."

"But then I came out and made everything worse. When the Slaking hit the cliff and you fell, you weren't in terror because of the fall. It was because the trauma from nearly drowning resurfaced which is why you caught yourself on the cliff wall with your claws rather than just allowing yourself to dive into the water as most would have."

Zane nodded, confirming Severus' deduction for him. "And while I was dazed when hit by that Slaking's Focus Blast, I don't think that was the main cause of me not being able to swim back up."

"It was the overwhelming fear and irrationality that made you panic and not swim properly which nearly caused you to drown right then and there. Am I right?"

Once again, a silent nod confirmed this again as Severus felt the guilt even worse than before.

"I truly am sorry for causing you to go through your PTSD in such a horrific way."

For the first time in this conversation, Zane finally turned his head towards Severus, revealing a look of utter confusion. "PTSD?"

"Oh, that means post traumatic stress disorder. My father told me about his human having it after serving in a war where bombs exploded on him and nearly killed him years before he caught my father. Father learned that these exploding lights called fireworks that humans set off in times of celebration would constantly send him into a panic, thinking he was reliving that moment. I guess humans always had a reason to celebrate because my father had to help his human through his PTSD so many times while living with him. He was triggered by these fireworks, just as any water seems to set off this new fear of drowning you've developed because of the storm," Severus explained as Zane nodded his understanding.

"I see. I wouldn't have expected something like that to develop so fast. I wasn't even aware Pokémon could experience this."

"I'm not surprised. I feel like we have a lot in common with humans as well as other Pokémon. We just don't realize it until someone opens our eyes to the similarities we all share."

Zane contemplated everything that was said as he looked at Severus before asking the question that came to mind as they spoke. "Is that why you refused to fight me? Do you have PTSD yourself?"

Severus seemed unsurprised by this question as he smiled. "I knew you had a brilliant mind but I never would have thought you'd be smart enough to figure something like that out after just barely learning about this subject."

"So then you do? You don't seem to freak out about it like you make it seem with your father's human or with me."

"I've had time to learn how to cope and deal with it. This is new to you so you don't know how to calm yourself down. Or at the very least learn how to disguise it so it's not seen on the surface."

"Is that why you made it seem like a game while you dodged my attacks? To keep yourself from being scared by your PTSD?"

"That's one way I deal with it. If I laugh and trick my mind into thinking this isn't scary, I can convince myself it isn't as bad as I want to believe it is."

"What caused you to be scared of fighting?"

Severus felt his smile waver as he looked away in what Zane could only deduce as shame. But what could Severus be shameful about?

"I'd... rather not say. I'm not ready to share that story."

In one way, Zane could understand that he probably doesn't want to think about his past trauma but on the other hand, he couldn't help but feel how unfair it was that Zane told him about his new trauma yet Severus couldn't return the favor. It hurt Zane but he kept this to himself. Instead he simply muttered, "I get it."

Severus felt like there was a bit of venom in Zane's words but he didn't want to press his luck and upset him again so he didn't ask.

Zane did however ask him something else about it that bothered him. "I'm just confused how you've managed to go for however long it's been since you last fought and not been killed by another Zangoose or anything for that matter?"

"I've prepared myself to be able to know any potential enemy that may attack me, mainly the Zangoose, and my surroundings so I can hatch a plan that will help me escape the scuffle without the need of fighting back. I learn the attack patterns of my enemies and either wait for an opening in their attacks to find a chance of escape or use their own strength and attacks to my advantage. Usually the latter ends with them getting tangled in a bunch of vines they cut with their attacks when I dodged them or making them cause a large pile of snow and slush to crash down on them in which I can slither away fast enough while they try to dig themselves out."

"That explains how you dodged me and made me lose balance after you slipped underneath me after my X-Scissor didn't connect. But this strategy of yours doesn't always work out in your favor, does it? What about if a group fought you? Surely they would overwhelm you and give you no openings to escape since this strategy seems to rely on outwitting one enemy and not multiple."

"It has been challenging at times but since I have no one I have to rely on my strategy alone."

"That can't be true. Surely the rest of your colony is there to help you whenever you're in a bind. They wouldn't do that to you."

The sudden drop in Severus' face made Zane blink at him as he looked away. "Yes, they would."

Zane was worried about asking his next question but found himself speaking before he realized it. "Why do you think that?"

"I don't think that, I know it."

"But your colony is like my pack, right? You're all like one family made up of multiple families and you all care for one another to ensure you thrive together as a unit. R-Right?"

Severus was quiet for a moment before speaking. "Not in the way you'd expect. At least my colony wasn't as wonderful as your pack sounds. As I mentioned, my father wasn't exactly welcomed back to the colony by anyone other than me. His new and adapted lifestyle living with his human put his views in a vastly different position than what the colony expected of him. Even my own mother tried to keep me from him.

But I believed in Father's words and teachings more than anything I was taught by any other Seviper. Then after he died, the abuse my father had directed at himself got pushed onto me because I tried to live life the way he did. I live this way to keep Father's memories alive with me but because of this I was ridiculed by my entire colony. Mother didn't show any hesitation in siding against me.

My way of living was constantly called upon by my elders and they reprimanded me to try and get me to live a life they wanted me to live. But I could see what that would have led me to. A merciless and hateful lifestyle where we cared for no other creature other than ourselves. I didn't want that. I wanted the peaceful life my father had with his human and the other Pokémon. I wanted to live a life where a Seviper could be seen as something more than a bloodthirsty beast or carnivorous monster like he was before he was reunited with me. So when I refused to change my ways, they did something I did not think would happen. Something not even my father had to experience. Exile."

Zane was horrified by this revelation as he had to cover his mouth to stop the gasp that nearly escaped his lips. "His colony... banished him? How long has he been exiled? How long have they made him live out here alone without anyone to support him or be there for him?"

Zane's thoughts went to his pack and his father. Just the mere idea of not having them with him, to live such a lonely life without any of them, sent chills down his spine. He didn't know how he could live if he didn't have them to help him through times of grief or rejoice with him during the high points in his life. How could Severus have gone all this time with no one being there for him? Zane's mind couldn't comprehend this.

"You... don't have anyone? No colony, no friends, not even your mother?"

Severus shook his head. "It is lonely being by myself for so long now. But even though I hate what they did to me, at the same time I'm relieved they exiled me too."

"How can you be happy?"

"Well, I'm free to live my life as I see fit without the restraints of my colony holding me back. I'm not ridiculed and belittled for my beliefs every day and because I am living my Father's lifestyle to the fullest, I feel like he is still with me so I don't truly feel alone."

Zane felt his heart swell at the sentiment but was still heavily weighted. "But even if you don't feel lonely, you still are. Haven't you made any friends during your time out of your colony with other Pokémon?"

"You saw firsthand how attempting to make friends with others tends to go. How can I get anything said when they instantly assume I'm going to attack them? I can't even announce my presence and slowly approach them. They just think I'm luring them into a trap and bolt. I've just come to accept there's no one open-minded enough to try to make conversation with me. Well, no one other than you."

Zane felt bad for Severus. Not even the guilt for attacking him could outdo the sorrow of his story.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize kid. I've accepted my role in this world. If anything I'm sorry I can't be of actual use for you. You have an actual cause for life by taking on this mission for your pack. You won't just take my life without a fight and I can't give you the fight you want thanks to my flight being stronger than my fight."

A thought soon popped into his head as Zane looked over to him. "What if I trained you?"

The Seviper seemed perplexed by this as he looked over at Zane.

"What do you mean?"

"What do you think I mean? I think my point was made clear. I can train you on how to fight. I've studied how Sevipers battle and I can help give you the chance to finally defend yourself."

"But my species usually fights with lethal intent and my father wasn't able to train me the way his human trained him to not battle as savagely."

"That's where I can help. I may not be your father's human but I have been taught to battle for the sake of others, with and without the resort to kill depending on the severity of the situation. Obviously the killing aspect was for your kind in mind but we can overlook that part. Besides, you could utilize your flight strategy and make it into something to battle with."

"I can?"

"My father always says the best offense can also be the best defense. What do you say?"

Severus looked skeptical at first but after his eyes seemed to jump up from his thoughts, he smiled and looked back again. "Alright. I'll give it a try but under one condition. I need to return the favor and help you with something afterwards."

"Help me with what exactly?"

"Let's not worry about that for now. We should keep focus on one task at a time and I think this training will be interesting. A Zangoose mentoring a Seviper. Ha! Kid, you sure are something to even suggest such an idea!"

"Will you knock it off with the kid thing? It's irritating when I'm not one! What if I start calling you old? Would you like that?"

"What if I am?"

"But you're not!"

"How can you be sure?"

"Because you told me you're twenty-eight!"

"Really? I don't recall that. Must be that old memory trope where I'm forgetting things."

"Oh shut up!" Zane laughed as he playfully punched Severus in his side as the two began to laugh together. The infectiousness of Zane's laughter made Severus laugh more which did the same for Zane with Severus. After a bit, the two calmed themselves down enough as Zane stood himself up. "Alright, then shall we get something to eat and then get started?"

"I think that would be for the best. I don't know about you but I still need to recover from that Slaking's attack. A few oran and sitrus berries and I'll be rejuvenated enough to try this training of yours," replied Severus as he also got up.

Zane nodded in agreement before the two began making their way back to the cabin, both intrigued by the offers they had made to each other. Severus was curious about this training regiment that Zane was planning for him and Zane could only ponder on what Severus was concocting for him in return.

Some time passed and the two quickly made their way inside and closed the door before delving into their food stash to replenish themselves after what transpired that morning. The two didn't bother with breaking the silence with chatter, keeping their focus on resting back up to full strength. They knew there would be plenty of banter to come with what they were going to do with themselves today. Actually, the two welcomed the silence between them. Usually there was a tense air that was felt but it may have since lifted up after everything they've been through together. That's how one of them wanted to interpret it.