CHAPTER 10: THE LAWS OF THE ONES WHO WATCH

The mountain path melted away beneath their feet, harsh stone giving way to soft grass that cushioned Eleanor's tired steps. The biting wind that had plagued their journey had vanished, replaced by air so sweet it made her dizzy.

Eleanor's legs wobbled.

She sank to her knees in the grass, drawing in deep breaths of the perfumed air. With each inhale, the aches in her muscles began to fade. Her raw, chapped skin tingled in the warm sun, and she closed her eyes, imagining she could feel the scrapes and cuts healing as she rested.

"Eleanor, look!" Puck zipped around her head, his usual pink glow shifting to brilliant gold. "The trees! They're like the sky scrapers from your Seattle City!"

Down below them, ancient trunks stretched toward the sky, their canopy creating natural archways that filtered the sunlight into dancing patterns. Luminescent flowers dotted the ground nearby, their petals seeming to pulse in the wake of Puck's excited movements.

"Puck, we're here. We did it."

Eleanor looked out between the towering trunks and felt like she could see for miles. The ground gently sloped away from them, undulating in verdant rises that suggested further marvels waiting past the horizon. Turquoise pools of crystal clear water dotted the landscape. Eleanor pointed to one in the distance, wonder clear in her voice. "It's so blue! I bet you can see straight to the bottom."

Rolling meadows stretched between the forest groves, tall grass swaying in a breeze they couldn't feel. Strange fruits hung from branches, their colors unlike anything Eleanor had seen before. A flock of unfamiliar bird Pokémon wheeled overhead, their calls musical and pleasant.

"My wings feel stronger here." Puck performed a series of loop-de-loops that would have exhausted him minutes ago. "Everything feels... lighter?"

Eleanor nodded, understanding exactly what he meant. The bone-deep weariness from their journey had lifted, replaced by a vitality that made her want to run and dance.

"It's perfect." She reached up to touch Puck's glowing form.

Puck landed on her shoulder, his tiny body trembling. All at once the victory seemed to overwhelm him.

"We made it. We really made it." His voice was shaking with wonder, all traces of fear and exhaustion fully gone.

Eleanor wrapped her arms around herself, still hardly believing they'd survived the journey. The valley stretched before them, an impossible paradise that felt strangely familiar, even though she knew she'd never seen anything like it before.

A gentle burbling drew Eleanor's attention.

"Do you hear that?"

"Water!" Puck darted ahead through a gap in the ancient trees.

They followed the sound to a brook that curved through the forest floor like liquid crystal. Eleanor had never seen water so pure. She leaned over the surface of the gentle brook and was able to count the colored stones at the bottom.

She knelt at the edge, cupping her hands. The water felt bitingly cold, and she lifted a mouthful, bringing it to her lips to drink. It tasted sweet and clean, washing away days of dust and thirst.

"It's like drinking pure light," Puck chimed, dipping his tiny form into the flow.

Eleanor splashed her face, sighing as the cool water washed away layers of mountain grime. Her reflection showed streaks of dirt dissolving, revealing the copper tone of her skin beneath.

"Eleanor look!" Puck zipped across the brook, his glow reflecting off the surface. "Berries!"

Just beyond the water's edge, bushes heavy with fruit stretched in uncrowded groups, a natural garden full of food. Deep purple berries hung in clusters, plump pink ones, lush green ones that grew in odd twists, and still more with colors and shapes not found on Earth, their surfaces ripe with a healthy sheen. Eleanor recognized many of them from Bellanotta's lessons as safe to eat.

She picked handful after handful, passing some to Puck while adding others to her empty satchel. The berries burst with flavor, tart sweetness mixing with the lingering taste of the brook's water.

"These are better than the ones in the weald," Puck declared, juice staining his yellow and white stripes as he ate.

Eleanor nodded, already reaching for more. After days of rationed travel food, the fresh berries felt like a feast.

She gorged herself while she worked, until hunger faded and her motions lost all sense of urgency. The sweetness of the meal burst across Eleanor's tongue, and pure joy bubbled up from her chest, escaping as breathless laughter. She popped another berry into her mouth with stained fingers.

"They're magical!" Puck zoomed in circles around her head, his pink glow pulsing brighter with each loop. "Try the green long ones!"

Eleanor reached for a cluster of vibrant, green berries. As she ate them, warmth spread through her limbs. Her feet began to move of their own accord, stepping in rhythm to a drum she couldn't hear but somehow felt in her bones.

Her body swayed, arms lifting skyward. The movements felt ancient, yet familiar — like memories living in her muscles. She spun, loose hair whipping around her face as she danced. These weren't the steps she'd learned at powwows with her mother. These were older, deeper, passed down through countless generations of humans before her.

Puck's glow shifted, synchronizing with her movements. His light pulsed gold-pink-gold as Eleanor's feet traced patterns in the grass. She twirled and leapt, her heart soaring with each step. The valley itself seemed to hum in harmony with her dance.

"Eleanor!" Puck said in delight, trailing streams of light as he spiraled around her. "You're glowing too!"

She looked down at her hands, seeing a faint shimmer across her skin. The ancient rhythm pounded stronger in her blood. She threw her head back and howled, pure euphoria echoing through the trees as she danced faster, faster, faster.

Her mother's voice whispered in her memory. People have always known how to speak to the Earth through dance.

Now Eleanor understood.

Each step was a word, each gesture a phrase in a language her body had always known how to speak.

Eleanor's dance slowed as the energy of the moment began to ebb. Her feet grew heavy, each step more languid than the last. The valley's warmth wrapped around her like a blanket, and the brook's gentle song called her to rest.

She sank into the soft grass within hearing distance of the water's edge. The blades cushioned her body perfectly, as if they had grown specifically to cradle her tired form. A gentle breeze carried the sweet scent of unknown flowers, making her eyelids droop.

"I can't remember ever being this comfortable," Eleanor murmured, curling onto her side. The grass shifted with her movement, forming a natural pillow beneath her head.

Puck's glow dimmed to a soft pink as he settled into her loose hair, his tiny form radiating contentment.

"It feels like I'm home," he whispered, small voice growing drowsy.

The brook's burbling mixed with the rustle of leaves overhead in nature's timeless lullaby. Eleanor felt the last traces of tension melt from her muscles as the Valley's peace enveloped them both.

Her breathing deepened, matching the rhythm of the water. Puck's gentle warmth against her scalp and the soft grass beneath her created a cocoon of safety.

There was only serenity.

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Morning crept into the glade with gentle fingers. Dew caught the first rays of dawn, turning each blade of grass into a work of crystalline art. The brook's song had softened overnight to a whisper, blending with the subtle rustling of leaves above.

Eleanor stirred first, her consciousness returning in layers. The grass still cradled her perfectly, though morning dampness had settled into her clothes. Puck's warmth remained constant against her scalp, his glow dim in sleep.

She blinked slowly, taking in the transformed landscape. Dawn painted everything in soft gold, making the Valley seem even more ethereal than the day before. The berry bushes sparkled with moisture.

She blinked once, twice. Her eyes weren't fooling her. The bushes that they'd picked clean just yesterday were once again bursting with food, their fruits replenished as if they'd never been touched.

"Puck," she whispered, not wanting to startle him. "Wake up."

"Already?" His glow brightened gradually as he shifted in her hair.

A flash of movement caught Eleanor's eye. She froze, her breath catching.

Perched on a low branch above them sat a kind of creature Eleanor had seen a few times before in the weald, but it wasn't one of the ones that Bellanotta had given her a name for. She remembered only that it was one of the mammals that the birds seemed oddly fearful of.

The creature's body was distinctly squirrel-like, but its coloring and proportions were alien to Eleanor's Earth-trained eyes. Its fur was a striking pattern of white and electric blue, with a large, fluffy tail wrapped twice around the branch for balance.

The creature's whiskers twitched as it noticed their attention. Its tail unwound slightly from the branch, but its entire body remained tense. Dark eyes widened in clear shock, paws gripping the bark tightly.

For a long moment, they stared at each other in mutual surprise. The creature's chest rose and fell rapidly, its gaze darting between Eleanor and Puck with increasing intensity.

"Oh!" The word burst from the creature in a high, clear voice. "You're — you're real! I thought I was imagining— But how? This isn't possible!" Its speech pattern was so rapid Eleanor could barely follow along. It seemed to leave out words, rushing to get thoughts out until they smooshed together in one long barely understandable gush. Its voice was high, like Puck's, but it sounded distinctly feminine.

"Oh dear, oh dear! I can't believe— Well, what I mean is— How should I put this? Who are you? No, what? What are you? No! No! Certainly who first!"

Eleanor sat up slowly, unsure how to respond.

It didn't seem as if she was about to attack them, but Eleanor couldn't rule it out. When Eleanor and Puck had first ventured around the forest all those weeks ago, hungry and lost and confused, they'd tried approaching the local Pokemon. They'd been rebuffed, and a slow mistrust of strangers had grown.

You weren't meant to speak with others, Eleanor had come to understand. It was only once she had become one of their own that the Pokemon of the weald had opened up, had taken her to their secret glades and told her their names.

Eleanor stood slowly, trying to maintain a polite expression without scaring the Pokemon away. She had far too many questions to begin this adventure bumbling about. This time she intended to have a much better start to things.

"I'm Eleanor," she answered as clearly as possible, "and I'm a human girl from Earth. Sorry, but what's your name?"

The squirrel startled so badly she almost fell from her branch. Managing to catch herself, she readjusted her grip and began to twitch and chatter with excitement.

"You can talk— I mean understand— No, I mean talk after all! What madness! I've gone round the bend, I have! Too many nuts, too much work, not enough sleep! Mama said I was too busy for my own good! Now I've done it. I'm starkers. Oh, a human! Oh my whiskers, a human in the Valley! Oh dear!"

Puck drifted down from Eleanor's hair, positioning himself between her and the agitated creature. His pink glow steadied as he tried to placate the poor creature.

"We mean no harm," Puck said, his little voice carrying clearly. "This is Eleanor. I'm Puck. We're friends of the weald and Children of the Valley, now."

The creature's tail unwound completely from the branch, now twitching in sharp, jerky movements.

"A human? A Child of the Valley?" Her words tumbled out faster. "But the barriers— The Sisters— How did you—"

"We passed the tests," came Eleanor's measured response. "All three of them."

The creature's fur bristled along her spine, making her appear twice her size. Her paws gripped and released the bark in rapid succession.

"Impossible. No human has ever—" She cut herself off, whiskers quivering as she studied Eleanor more closely.

Eleanor remained still, keeping her hands visible by her sides. She'd learned from her time in the forest that sudden movements only bred mistrust.

"The Sisters would never allow—" The creature's tail stopped mid-twitch. Her posture shifted subtly as she noted Eleanor's mud-stained clothes and the leaves tangled in her hair. "You really did climb the mountain?"

"Lets show her," Eleanor whispered to Puck.

Puck's glow intensified, and a shimmer of light passed between him and Eleanor. The creature's fur slowly settled back against her body, her tail losing its nervous energy.

"A true bond," she breathed, her rapid speech finally slowing. "This changes... well, everything really." Her paws relaxed their death grip on the bark. "I'm Lyrii. And I believe we have a lot to discuss."

"Yes, please. I have so many questions." Eleanor quivered with excitement.

This was already a much better start than they'd had in the weald. She calmed herself by smoothing down her dress and approaching the squirrel's tree with steady steps. She couldn't scare it off by seeming too eager, but she felt positively bursting with curiosity.

What is this place? Who was in charge? Where could she and Puck begin to build a home? What things should they be careful of in the Valley?

And still other questions, even larger and more imposing.

How did those strange pokeballs work? What magic let them compress animals as big as hounds into something no larger than a tennis ball? Who were the men that were chasing her father?

Where was her Dad?

Where was she?

Lyrii hopped nimbly from branch to branch until she landed on one eye level with Eleanor's diminutive form. She stroked her whiskers in a nervous gesture, fluffed her tail and seemed to settle in with an air of sobriety.

"Now then," she said, voice a good deal calmer, "why don't you start from the beginning. Did you say you were friends of the weald?"

Puck and Eleanor began to share their tale. They started from the first incredible moments of waking up together in the house. By the time they had reached the night of the flood, Lyrii had crept close enough to place a tiny paw against Eleanor's cheek.

"You brave darlings!" she murmured, eyes swimming with sympathetic tears.

Eleanor was forced to let Puck take over the story. She took several deep breaths, desperate to collect herself.

It caught her by surprise how affected she was by the simple gesture. When Lyrii's tiny, squirrel paw had pressed against her cheek, for one incredible second Eleanor had felt like her Mom was there, comforting her the way she'd desperately wanted. Bellanotta and all the other Pokemon of the weald had been kind, but Lyrii was talking to her like family.

Eleanor blinked against a powerful wave of homesickness and swallowed roughly. Puck finished his recounting of the labyrinth, and Lyrii looked properly amazed.

"Incredible! Just incredible! By the Highhoof, I've never heard such a tale in all my days. And you say that your father brought you over, from this far away place called Earth?"

Eleanor nodded miserably.

"I think so? I'm…I'm not sure how I got here, but…" How did she explain this properly? It was more than a mere hunch but she didn't understand any of the details about how it had been done. She tried her best to explain anyway, desperate to be heard and understood.

"I grew up around Mom's family, but I always wondered about my Dad's side. He never talked about them, not once. I knew he wasn't C'ulquim like me and mom." She ran a finger across the length of her arm, and its warm brown skin. "He was white in a way that made it seem like he'd never been in the sun before. I made up explanations, stories I used to tell myself about where he'd come from, especially when I was little. I guess at some point I just decided he was from Europe. It made the most sense to me."

"You-rrup?"

"…Its a continent on Earth, Puck."

"What's a continen-"

"Puck."

"Sorry."

"Anyway, Dad had a funny accent. He was always mixing up his English. I knew he spoke another language because he talked to himself in it, sometimes. I thought he was just from a country far away, and that he couldn't go back and didn't want to talk about it.

"I remember getting old enough to learn about the wars that happened in some of those far away places. I used to imagine my Dad was a refugee, fleeing one of those wars. I convinced myself that was why he never talked about it, never told me stories about who he was or where he grew up. I used to feel sorry for him." Eleanor looked down at her hands, that confession feeling particularly bitter on her tongue. "But when I woke up in that house, there were paintings of him with other people. People that looked like him. I think…"

Lyrii leaned forward, enraptured. "Yes?"

"I think maybe Dad was from here."

Silence reigned over their party, each one of them lost in thought. Lyrii clapped her hands together with a sound that made Eleanor and Puck jump.

"Well! Yes, yes. I believe you. Your story rings of truth. The truth as you know it, in any case. I can tell you that we haven't had any human visitors in the Valley before, not ever, so we know that your lost father isn't here." Her voice brightened and she flashed them a smile full of large front teeth. "But he'll know how to find you the moment he returns home and receives your note! In the mean time, we can't have you living out here on the edge of things."

She gestured dismissively at the lush glade with its overladen fruit bushes.

"If you're going to live in the Valley you should have one of the good spots. A human! Why, you're the first human ever! I daresay you should have one of the best spots! What an occasion! Oh my whiskers, what an occasion indeed."

"But this glade is so lovely! And that brook is so clean and refreshing and the grass here is so soft. Surely nobody would mind if we stayed?" Eleanor felt obligated to protest, even if it made her seem spoiled or selfish. A glade with clean water and magically replenishing food? What spot in the Valley could possibly be better than this one?

Lyrii tossed her head back with a twittering chirp. It took Eleanor a moment to realize Lyrii was laughing.

"Here? On the drafty mountain road? Phaw! You must really think little of us Valley dwellers if you think this is the best we have to offer." She bounded back into the tree in a flash of movement.

For a moment, Eleanor worried she'd caused offense. Then Lyrii poked her bushy head down from the canopy to chatter once more.

"Follow me, darlings!"

She darted off, scampering from branch to branch and Eleanor was forced to break into a run or lose sight of her. Lyrii's tail swished in wide, looping patterns as she guided them along a narrow path.

The Valley deepened as they traveled, rolling hills and clear streams blending together until the cold, mountain road was a distant memory far behind. Eleanor skipped over teeming puddles, dotted with elegant lotus flowers and lily pads the size of small cars.

They passed earthen caves and loamy soil, exposed through someone's efforts at digging, until the tilled dirt wafted up in a muddy aroma, painting the morning air with the rich smell of things that were green and growing.

They passed stately trees that towered and clung to each other, branches bowed toward the ground under the weight of tens of thousands of blooming flowers. A castle of flora, blanketing the land in a spicy scent so enticing Eleanor could have wept for how it lifted her spirits and cleansed her soul.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

The sun played games with her as she ran. Hopscotch and tag, little pools and eddies of light that kissed her skin sweetly and warmed her breath.

On and on they traveled, and Eleanor felt less tired the more she ran. There was no way to explain the powerful feeling the Valley had, only that she felt drunk on it. She turned, laughing breathlessly, to watch as Puck pinwheeled through the air in giddy delight. The golden bond that joined them thrummed with a type of happiness too profound for words. Eleanor didn't know any language that would have described it.

After they'd traveled minutes, or perhaps hours, Lyrii slowed to a leisurely pace and called down to them cheerfully.

"The meadow's just ahead — oh, you'll love it! Perfect spot for newcomers, really. Plenty of space, lovely view of the mountains, and the sweetest berry patches you've ever tasted."

Morning light filtered through ancient branches, casting dappled shadows that danced across their path. Each step brought new scents — wild herbs, morning dew, and something else Eleanor couldn't quite name but made her feel oddly energized.

"The grass there grows so soft you could sleep on it for days," Lyrii continued, her paws tapping out an excited rhythm on the arching branches above. "And the springs! Crystal clear, sweet as honey."

Puck drifted closer to Eleanor's ear. "She talks even more than I do."

Eleanor stifled a giggle, watching Lyrii bound and tumble like a trapeze artist. The squirrel-like Pokémon practically vibrated with enthusiasm, her blue and white fur catching the sunlight like scattered gems.

"Well," Lyrii said, pausing at a fork in the path, "this is where I leave you. Follow this trail and it ends at your meadow. Can't miss it, really. I've got to be the first to spread the news. People will want to know! A human, my goodness, a real live human. But don't you fret! The meadow welcomes all who pass the Sisters' tests." Her round, little ears twitched with something like pride. "And you did pass them, after all."

"Thank you for your kindness." Eleanor bowed slightly, remembering how the forest elders had appreciated the gesture.

"Oh!" Lyrii's tail curled in delight. "Such manners! Do come visit once you're settled. I'd love to hear more about your Earth."

As they parted ways, the path opened onto a sweeping vista. Ancient trees stood like the pillars of a natural cathedral, their canopy filtering the morning light into rays of liquid gold. The air felt alive with possibility, carrying the sweet perfume of unknown flowers and the distant song of strange Pokemon.

Eleanor breathed deeply, feeling the Valley's magic settle into her bones. Beside her, Puck's glow shifted to a warm, content pink, and together they ventured further down the trail

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Sweet grass stretched before Eleanor and Puck in rolling waves, each blade catching sunlight like liquid fire. The meadow sprawled on a natural slope, cradled by ancient oaks that stood sentinel along three sides. Their weathered trunks twisted skyward, branches spread wide in welcome, creating walls of living wood and rustling leaves. The meadow stretched before them, a field of great proportions. Its stalks of green grass bent silver in the wind, rolling before them like gentle waves on a green sea.

A crystal stream marked the fourth boundary, its clear waters dancing over smooth stones. The gentle burble of water played a constant melody, mixing with birdsong from the canopy above. Eleanor waded into the knee-high grass, her fingers trailing through the tops of the swaying stalks.

Wildflowers dotted the landscape in splashes of color — purple coneflowers nodding in the breeze, patches of white star shapes like daisies, and clusters of yellow black-eyed susans. Each step released sweet perfume from crushed stems and hidden blooms that bent and shifted underfoot. It was too inviting to resist and Eleanor cast her sandals aside, closing her eyes at the cool brush of grass between her toes.

Near the far end of the meadow, a massive boulder rose from the field like an island in a green ocean. Its surface sparkled with flecks of crystal embedded in dark stone, catching and throwing back fragments of sunlight. The top of the boulder spread flat and wide, smooth as polished glass. It was large enough to serve as a natural platform overlooking the entire space.

Eleanor approached slowly, drawn by something she couldn't name. The stone radiated warmth beneath her palm as she touched its surface, smooth and alive under her fingers. It hummed with an energy that seemed to pulse in time with her heartbeat. Around the base of the natural table, strange carvings created a patchwork of swirls and shapes.

Eleanor climbed up onto the stone and beheld the field in all its beauty.

"It's perfect," she whispered, voice thick with wonder.

The meadow embraced them, wrapping them in a sense of belonging that brought tears to Eleanor's eyes. After weeks of running and hiding, of fear and uncertainty, they had found more than a simple shelter. They had found a paradise.

They explored their new home in reverent silence.

Everything about today had a dreamlike quality to it, the edges of each moment blurring into smudges of joy; brief impressions of peace all that remained. Eleanor hummed as she walked, exploring the boundary of the fields with unhurried steps while Puck floated beside her.

They'd walk about two thirds of the tree line when they came upon a shadowed patch of underbrush overflowing with fruit bearing bushes. Eleanor knelt beside a cluster, examining the berries with newfound expertise.

"These are just like the ones Snubb showed us. See the star pattern on the bottom?" She plucked one and held it up for Puck to inspect.

"The sour ones that last forever?" Puck hovered closer, his pink glow brightening with interest.

"Well, not forever." Eleanor popped the berry in her mouth, juice staining her lips red. "But they'll keep for weeks if we dry them right."

They gathered more berries in Eleanor's worn satchel, working their way along the stream bank. Eleanor paused occasionally to drink from the crystal-clear water, marveling at how it tasted sweeter than any they'd found in the mountains.

"Look what I found!" Puck zipped between two ancient oaks, leading Eleanor to a hollow where fallen leaves had collected in deep drifts. "Perfect sleeping spot, right?"

Eleanor sifted through the leaves, testing their depth.

"These are so dry! They might make good bedding. And look, there's moss underneath." She gathered an armful, breathing in the loamy scent. "Help me carry some to that spot near the big rock?"

Together they transported leaves and moss to a sheltered alcove near the boulder. Eleanor wove grass stems into a loose mat, just as she'd done during their journey, but this time with careful attention to detail rather than desperate haste.

She passed the day in comfort and ease, unbothered by the furious work of survival. They had food, and she slowly formed a bed to sleep on. The sun traveled lazily across the sky, warming her skin and heating the grass around her until it released a fragrant aroma.

"We're really staying," she said softly, smoothing the bedding out. "No more running."

Puck landed on her shoulder, his glow shifting to match the golden light of sunset streaming through the trees.

"Yes," he agreed, his tiny voice full of contentment. "Its safe here. Perfect place to make a home."

Above them, the first stars winked into view, brilliant in the deepening purple sky. Eleanor lay back on her fresh-made bed, watching them appear one by one until the meadow was bathed in starlight.

"On Earth, they rate the brightness of the sky." Eleanor gazed up into the unfamiliar galaxies, untold millions of stars above. "They use a scale from zero to five, with five being the most polluted of skies and zero being the clearest."

"Polluted?"

"It means…" Eleanor shifted on her soft bed of leaves, pulling the wool blanket tighter as she thought how best to explain. "Pollution is a word we use to describe all the different kinds of messes the humans make on Earth. Sometimes it's trash, but sometimes it's things other than trash. Do you remember how I said the cities are so bright that you can't see the stars at night?"

"Yes."

"Well, that's a kind of pollution called 'light pollution'." She wriggled a hand out from under the wool blanket and pointed to a bright cluster of nebulas painting the cosmos in shades of violet and velvet blue. "Most places people lived were rated a 'five', which means you could never see stars or details in the sky like that."

Puck's eyes reflected the night sky as he silently contemplated that for a time.

"That must be so sad," he whispered. "It's so beautiful. I can't imagine never seeing them."

"Mmhmm. This sky would be rated a 'zero'." She held her hand in front of her face, marveling at how the starlight illuminated every whorl on the finger-pads, every chip and crack of her nails, every callous on her palms.

"I remember reading a book about elves who could 'see by starlight', and I always thought the man who wrote those books had a funny imagination. I didn't realize that it was true. When the sky is clear and perfect like this, you can see by starlight."

"Is that good?" Puck shifted from his perch to look at her, sounding faintly concerned.

"Yes. It's amazing, Puck. This place…it's incredible. Like a dream."

There was nothing left to say after that. The two drifted off in the quiet of the night, minds dwelling on the beauty of the heavens above.

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Dawn crept across the meadow in ribbons of rose-gold light. Eleanor blinked awake to find their leaf-bed draped in sparkling dew, a decorative network of moist beads that made her shiver slightly under the wool blanket. Puck dozed nearby, his pink glow pulsing softly with each breath.

A fawn sporting plants in it's antlers stepped delicately through the tall grass at the meadow's edge, its spring-pink coat almost luminous in the early light. It paused to watch them with open curiosity before continuing its morning browse.

Eleanor stretched, muscles surprisingly fresh after their long journey. The valley's air felt different— lighter, cleaner, filling her lungs with renewed strength. She gathered fresh berries for breakfast, licking her fingers as she picked the ripest ones.

"Look how far the valley stretches," Puck called from above, having woken to perform his morning flight. "There are mountains beyond mountains, and I think I see smoke rising from somewhere far off."

Eleanor shielded her eyes against the brightening sky. Through gaps in the ancient oaks, she glimpsed distant peaks wrapped in morning mist. Closer by, a waterfall's distant thunder echoed off canyon walls.

They spent the morning mapping their meadow.

Eleanor noted all the promising berry patches while Puck investigated hollow trees that might serve as shelter during storms, or storage places for their things. A family of Wooloo grazed peacefully nearby, their fluffy forms dotting the landscape like clouds brought to earth. At the sight of Eleanor murmurs broke out, but they still bleated a chorus of friendly hellos before returning to their grazing.

"The stream gets deeper over there," Eleanor noted, pointing to a widening in the crystal water of their brook. "Maybe good for fishing later?"

Puck dipped close to the surface, sending ripples across the water's mirror-like surface.

"And look, water plants! Some of them might be good to eat."

The sun climbed higher, warming the damp grass. Eleanor found a patch of sweet clover and lay back, watching wispy clouds drift overhead. The peaceful routine felt natural, as if they'd lived here forever instead of just one night.

A Butterfree floated past, trailing sparkles that caught the light. It paused to greet Puck with polite interest before continuing its lazy path across their meadow. Luckily it didn't notice Eleanor laying on the grass and the moment passed without incident.

They'd already had several conversations that followed the same pattern and Eleanor was beginning to suspect they'd have many more.

Yes, she was a human.

Yes, she was a Child of the Valley.

No, she didn't trick the Sisters.

Yes, they lived here now.

Eleanor was tolerant of the routine, just glad for the fact that these Pokemon seemed willing to talk in the first place. No need to risk her life in flood waters rescuing babies; the locals here seemed ready to make friends with new faces. It was a relief that made Eleanor relax with each introduction.

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Days passed in peaceful routine.

The Valley stayed locked in a perpetual spring. Every day the same warm sun, and each night the same chilly dew. No weather visited the valley except for soft, fluffy clouds that sometimes blocked the sun in their unhurried journey across the sky.

It was so mild that Eleanor passed the first week sleeping under the stars before she even realized it. She began to build a wood and cloth home out of principle. Building some kind of shelter was probably important and so she did it, not because she felt they needed it but because she thought it was what she ought to do.

It just felt unnecessary, somehow.

She couldn't put it into words, but something about the Valley seemed inherently safe. In the weald she'd needed somewhere to store her things so others wouldn't steal them.

But here in the meadow, what did she own that wasn't of the land?

She owned the clothes she wore, and the rags from her home on Earth. But no Pokemon wore clothes and so it seemed unlikely anyone would be interested in them.

She owned her blanket and her pouch, but she rarely parted from either. Food? It was everywhere in the valley. Eleanor had to force herself to go through the process of picking extra and drying it to save for later.

Hunger teaches a very permanent kind of lesson, and no matter how many times she woke up to bushes that were teeming with ripe fruit after having been picked clean the night before, she couldn't bring herself to skip the chore of saving extra. Just in case.

But the longer she stayed the more she began to trust that just maybe, the Valley would continue to provide.

When she was hungry she ate.

When she was tired she dozed.

When she grew bored, her and Puck played.

How swiftly their life of struggling transformed into a life of plenty.

Eleanor tugged at her woolen dress, now hanging loose where it once fit snug. Her shoulders had grown lean and strong from gathering wood, while endless walking had transformed her legs into wirework muscle. The clothes that once protected her from mountain winds now draped in loose waves, worn soft through use.

"We should make new ones," Puck suggested, watching her adjust the dress again. "Your old ones look like they need a break."

Eleanor grinned, remembering how they'd struggled to piece together her first rough garments.

"Remember when we couldn't even figure out how to tie knots in your silk?"

Now their hollow tree storage burst with drying berries and preserved fruits. Neat bundles of herbs hung from carefully placed branches, their sweet scent mixing with fresh grass and clean air.

She'd even found perfect washing spots — shallow, sun-warmed pools where she could clean herself without fear.

"Watch this!" Eleanor waded ankle-deep into their favorite pool, sunlight dancing on crystal water. She cupped her hands, splashing Puck playfully. His startled squeak sent her into peals of laughter.

"Remember when you wouldn't even touch the water?" Puck shook droplets from his wings, his glow shifting to match her joy.

"Remember when we thought we'd starve?" Eleanor flopped back onto sweet grass, still giggling. "Now look at us — we've got more food than we can eat!"

The meadow slowly changed them.

Eleanor's hands, once soft and uncertain, now moved with quiet confidence through daily tasks. Puck's silk grew stronger each day, his threads lasting longer and holding firmer than ever before.

Gone were the desperate days of counting berries and rationing hope. Their world had expanded from mere survival into something rich and full, measured in moments of discovery rather than careful portions of food.

Eleanor stretched in the warm sun, feeling the gentle brush of grass against her bare arms. Her laughter came easier now, bubbling up like the clear spring water that fed their stream. Each day brought new abundance, washing away the memories of mountain fears and empty bellies, shivering in their hollow log home.

Nights in the valley brought peaceful sleep, free from the terrors that once plagued Eleanor's dreams. No more did she wake gasping from visions of rushing water or pursuing shadows. Instead, her dreams filled with gentle things — starlight on grass, butterfly wings, the sound of Puck's tinkling laughter.

Each morning followed the same quiet rhythm. Eleanor would wake to find fresh dew pearling on her blanket, the wool somehow never damp beneath. Puck's gentle glow would guide her first steps into dawn-lit grass as they checked their berry stores and gathered breakfast.

A Skwovet family had taken to watching their morning routine from a nearby oak, chittering quietly among themselves. At first, they'd scatter when Eleanor looked their way, but lately they'd stayed, tiny paws clutching acorns as they observed with bright, curious eyes.

Mid-mornings brought the Wooloo herd, grazing their way across the meadow's far edge. Their presence became so familiar that Eleanor could tell time by their appearance, marking the hours by their slow progress across the underbrush.

In the afternoons Eleanor practiced weaving grass into new sleeping mats. A pair of elderly Nuzleaf would settle on the nearby boulder to enjoy the sun. They never approached, but their constant presence felt like a blessing — as if they approved of the careful way Eleanor and Puck tended the meadow.

Evenings found them sharing meals under the stars, trading stories about their day's discoveries. Sometimes Eleanor would catch glimpses of glowing eyes in the forest edge — Lyrii perhaps, or other curious valley residents checking on their newest neighbors.

Though direct interactions remained rare, their quiet acceptance wrapped Eleanor and Puck in a sense of belonging deeper than any walls could provide.

"I don't have the dreams anymore," Eleanor mentioned one evening, as they prepared for sleep. "The scary ones, about the water and the men."

Puck's glow softened to match the emerging starlight.

"The Valley keeps us safe."

Eleanor nodded, settling into her bed of sweet grass. Above, the first stars winked into view, familiar now as old friends. Around them, the meadow hummed with cricket song and the soft rustling of nocturnal Pokemon going about their evening routines.

Here, under stars that never dimmed, surrounded by Pokemon who watched over them with gentle curiosity, they thrived.

As if in the blink of an eye, three weeks slipped away, bringing the very first change to their peaceful routine.

----------------------------------------

Eleanor and Puck both turned towards a familiar voice ringing throughout the canopy.

Lyrii lived nearby, just on the other side of their babbling stream, and she was a frequent guest of their meadow home. She had a habit of bringing round a 'friend' and that friend always seemed 'so curious about the rumors of a human girl in the valley, and would Eleanor mind very much if they all sat down for tea'?

In this way, Lyrii had subtly introduced nearly every Pokemon in their little corner of the Valley to Eleanor and Puck, until it felt as if they'd always lived there.

"Good morning! Just thought I'd pop in and say hello. And since I'm here—"

"Here we go," Puck muttered with a put upon sigh.

Eleanor giggled, shushing him.

"—I thought I might make sure you'll be at the Skystone for the New Moon's meeting."

Eleanor and Puck glanced at each other in confusion. Puck spoke for the both of them.

"The what?"

Lyrii threw her head back in chittering laughter and hopped onto a lower branch, tail twitching spasmodically with her mirth.

"Oh you. You're such a comedian. The Skystone? Come now, you can drop the act you two." Her eyes darted between their blank stares until she pulled back, disbelief melting into shock. "I thought for sure you would have put it together by now. Why else do you think they call it Skystone Meadow?" She put her tiny paws on her hips as she said this, tone exasperated.

"Wait, the meadow has a name?" Eleanor asked in confusion.

Lyrii made a tiny noise of frustration and dropped to the ground with a mutter.

"'Children' of the Valley, indeed. You're certainly living up to the 'children' bit. Hup, hup! Come on, you two! Its time for a quick history lesson." She dashed across the open field before leaping to the top of the flat boulder in one great bound. She tapped her foot against the massive rock's surface. "This is the Skystone." She threw her paws wide, indicating the clearing around them. "This is Skystone Meadow."

Eleanor and Puck waited politely, but Lyrii dusted her hands together.

"Lesson over. Now! About the meeting."

"Wait, why is it called the Skyst—"

"Tonight as you might know is the New Moon, and the elders of our portion of the Valley have elected to hold their meeting here, so as to teach you the Laws."

"What's a 'Laws'?" Puck looked like he was about to be sick with the rapid pace of all this information. Eleanor reached out to cradle him instinctively.

"I'll explain later, Puck." She stroked his fuzz with a finger, gesturing for Lyrii to continue.

"As I was saying, it's been nearly a full moon cycle that you've been here and while you've gotten on famously so far, we really shouldn't have waited this long. Its not the proper way to bring new Children in. After all, you two intend to stay and make a life here." She rubbed her paws together fretfully, and hesitated before continuing. "No offense meant to you, Eleanor, you're a very sweet girl. But there's really no precedent for a human arriving here. The Elders had a beast of a time figuring out what to do about you."

"What do you mean?" Eleanor felt a twinge of alarm run down her spine.

Lyrii held her paws out in a pacifying gesture, her voice taking on a gentle coo.

"Now, now, don't get your whiskers in a twist. I simply meant to say that the Elders would have taught a young Pokemon like Puck about the Laws the very first night he arrived. But seeing as how you're…not a Pokemon, they had to take some time to consider if all the Laws might apply to you."

"I didn't know there were Laws," Eleanor said, feeling queasy at the thought. What if she and Puck had already broken them? What if the elders were coming because Eleanor needed to be punished? What if Eleanor or Puck would be asked to leave?

"Eleanor," Lyrii barked, snapping her little fingers.

Eleanor looked down with a start at the Pachirisu's stern face.

"You are safe in the Valley. Do you understand? This is only a talk. No one is in trouble." Lyrii's voice was forceful, but her eyes were soft with concern.

Eleanor breathed out her anxiety with each word, feeling a fair bit calmer. She nodded firmly at Lyrii.

"Okay."

"Okay?" Lyrii perked up, smiling.

"We'll be there, Lyrii."

----------------------------------------

The sun slipped behind the ancient oaks, casting long shadows across Skystone Meadow. Eleanor clutched Puck closer as they followed Lyrii toward the gathering. Pokemon of all sizes lined the path to the great stone, their forms backlit by the dying light.

The Skystone seemed to pulse with its own inner radiance. Its weathered surface caught the last golden rays, transforming ordinary rock into something otherworldly. Deeper shadows pooled in its worn hollows and crevices, like ink settling into ancient script.

"Stay close," Lyrii whispered, leading them through the assembled crowd.

Eleanor's bare feet pressed against cool grass as she walked. The gathered Pokemon parted silently, creating a path that wound toward the stone's base. Some nodded in solemn greeting. Others remained still as statues, their eyes following her progress.

A breeze stirred the meadow grasses, carrying the sweet scent of evening blooms. The rustle of leaves overhead mingled with the soft shuffling of feet and wings as more Pokemon arrived, filling in the spaces behind them.

Puck's warmth against her chest steadied Eleanor's racing heart. His glow shifted from its usual pink to a deeper purple, reflecting his own nervous energy. She felt the weight of countless eyes upon them both.

An elderly Noctowl perched atop the Skystone, its feathers catching the last rays of sunset. As Eleanor and Puck reached the base of the rock, the great owl's head swiveled toward them with deliberate slowness. The crowd fell completely silent.

Eleanor stood transfixed as the Noctowl spread its wings, the gesture somehow both welcoming and intimidating. Its movement cast shifting shadows across the stone's face, like ripples across still water. Time seemed to pause in that moment, suspended between day and night, as the elder prepared to speak.

"The Valley of Annwn exists in perfect balance." The Noctowl's voice carried across the gathering, deep and resonant. "To maintain this harmony, we live by three sacred laws."

Eleanor shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Puck's glow dimmed slightly, sensing the gravity of the moment.

"First: No blood shall be spilled within these lands. We take only what the Valley freely provides. To hunt the flesh of fellow beings is forbidden."

Eleanor's hand shot up immediately. "But what about fishing? We need—"

"Eleanor," Puck whispered, his glow flickering to an anxious yellow.

The Noctowl's eyes fixed upon her.

"The fields and waters teem with enough plant life to sustain us all. Those who require meat will find the fruits grow different here. The Valley sates all appetites and feeds all needs."

Eleanor's shoulders slumped. She'd grown skilled at fishing and preserving dried fish. Starting over with new food sources meant more effort. Puck pressed closer to her ear, his warmth reassuring.

"Second: All who dwell here shall respect the boundaries of others. No space may be claimed through force, and no person shall be compelled to act against their own true desires. Annwn is free, and all those who dwell here shall know only freedom."

The crowd rustled with murmurs of agreement. Eleanor noticed several Pokemon nodding firmly, particularly those who lived alone.

"Third: Knowledge of the valley's location must never be shared with the outside world. Those who enter must choose: Stay and protect our sanctuary, or leave and never name the secret that once sheltered them."

Puck's glow shifted to deep purple. Eleanor felt him trembling slightly against her shoulder.

"These laws have preserved our paradise since the time of Arceus's blessing. Break them, and you will answer to the Ones Who Watch." The Noctowl's gaze swept across the gathering. "Do you, Eleanor and Puck, swear to uphold these laws?"

Eleanor swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. The weight of the choice pressed down on her. She'd promised herself she would return to search for her father. The longer she stayed here, the further away that goal felt.

The Noctowl hadn't said she'd be compelled to stay, though. He'd only said that the Valley must be kept a secret if— when she left it. The silence stretched as she considered the responsibility of this choice. She glanced at Puck who was watching her with baited breath. Puck, who had been struggling to survive alongside her since the moment they'd woken up in this strange world.

She nodded, mind made up.

Eleanor stepped forward, placing her palm against the Skystone. The surface felt warm despite the cooling evening air, thrumming with an energy that made her fingertips tingle.

"I swear," she said. Her voice was stronger than she expected.

A murmur swept across the Pokemon before dying down as Puck moved next. He fluttered down beside her, pressing one tiny hand to the stone, his glow casting shifting patterns across its weathered face.

"I swear too."

The Noctowl's eyes gleamed.

"The stone accepts your oath. But know that others watch beyond our gathering here — ancient ones who guard this Valley's sanctity."

A chill wind swept through the crowded meadow. The assembled Pokemon drew back, creating a wider circle around the stone. Eleanor felt the hair on her neck rise as shadows seemed to deepen between the ancient oaks.

"The Ones Who Watch," several Pokemon murmured in unison, their voices hushed with reverence and awe.

The Skystone's warmth faded beneath Eleanor's palm, replaced by an otherworldly coolness that spread up her arm. Puck's glow flickered rapidly between colors, his wings beating faster.

"It's done," the Noctowl declared, breaking the heavy silence.

Lyrii bounded forward, her usual cheer dispelling some of the ceremony's weight.

"Welcome home! Come on, I'll go fetch my best nuts for your first proper Valley dinner."

Eleanor withdrew her hand from the stone, flexing her fingers to shake off the lingering sensation. Puck settled back on her shoulder, his glow returning to its usual soft pink.

"The best ones grow near my tree," Lyrii continued, already leading them away from the gathering. "And wait until you taste the soup they make. It's like kissing a tree!"

They spent a quiet dinner with Lyrii, both friends subdued after the events of the night. Back in their meadow, Eleanor and Puck huddled close in their makeshift grass nest. Night pressed against them, darker than they'd known in the forest. The ancient oaks creaked overhead, their shadows dancing across the ground.

"The Watchers," Eleanor whispered, pulling her knees to her chest. "What do you think they are?"

"I don't know." Puck's glow dimmed to match the darkness. "Did you feel it too? When we touched the stone?"

"Like ice crawling up my arm." Eleanor rubbed her palm where it had pressed against the rock. "But not normal ice. More like..."

"Like being seen through." Puck shuddered, his light flickering between pink and yellow. "Right down to your core."

The meadow grass rustled though no wind stirred. Eleanor drew closer to Puck's warmth.

"Maybe we shouldn't have sworn." Her voice barely carried above the night sounds. "What if we need to leave? To find Dad?"

Puck's glow steadied to a gentle purple.

"The Elder said we'd be forced to keep this place a secret. But Eleanor, what if that's not all they'd force us to do?"

The question hung heavy between them. Eleanor reached for their bond, feeling its familiar warmth pulse beneath her breastbone. Its presence immediately eased some of the fear she had about all the unknowns.

"I'll protect us," she said. "Whatever the Watchers are, they can't break what we have. We'll just keep each other safe, and if anyone tries to make us do anything we don't like, we'll leave."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Silence settled over them like a blanket. The darkness felt heavier now, as if the night itself listened to their whispers. Sleep tugged at Eleanor's mind despite her unease.

"Puck?"

"Mm?"

"Stay close?"

His answering glow was soft and pink. "Always."