Coro, the Trumbeak
Domino isn’t here. She’s left the room with Ying and for a moment, I’m glad that neither of them can look after me. Only the thought of my trainer standing next to me and asking things I would never answer honestly ruffles my feathers.
Looking into the distance, I listen to the silence. Part of me longs for the wondrous whistling that has reached me before. The rest of me wants to forget it all. It’s a conflict I don’t want to indulge in because the only thing that should matter is my love for my trainer. Yet it seems impossible to suppress the strange feeling of distant affection towards a being I don’t know.
With a sigh, I tuck my beak into the white inside of my wings and try to close my eyes, but sleep won’t come. Before I know it, my gaze is once again glued to the now dark horizon, and the melody plays ceaselessly in my head.
“Looking out of the window won’t bring you closer to the sky.”
A contemptuous snort reaches me and when I look down, it’s Lum looking at me as if I’m nothing more than a sad sight in the middle of endless hours.
“I’m not too interested in the sky. Not that a hothead like you would know the first thing about it.” My neck puffs up. “Or are you, silly as you are, going to get into another fight you can’t win? Like against Umbreon?”
His ears flatten and we both know I’ve hit a sore spot. Not that I’m sorry to put this four-legged problem in its place. Ever since Eevee joined the team, the wheat has been separated from the chaff - or rather, it’s clear that everyone except Lum is supporting Domino. That ‘thing’ down there doesn’t give a damn about our trainer.
“I only lost because I wasn’t given the right commands at the right time,” counters Lum.
“And you’re not able to think for yourself? Or do you want to refer to the fact that you still have to be held by the paw because you’re practically still wearing your eggshell on your head?”
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“I’m an excellent fighter!” Eevee’s hiss makes Raya’s ears twitch and forces us both to hold our breath for a moment. “You’re just angry because I’m being honest with myself and making it perfectly clear Domino isn’t my trainer. She’s a stepping stone! I’m learning everything I can from her until I naturally evolve into a Leafeon and we part ways. She knew from the beginning I wanted to use her for my benefit, and she agreed.”
“You really think you’re going to evolve when you can’t even get it together to follow orders and take over because you think you’re the king of the world?” My wing stretches in Lum’s direction. “Do you really think anyone out there will be interested in you if you behave so despicably? People like Pokémon who stand behind their trainers, and even if you don’t plan to stay, you should work things out. You decided to go on this journey with Domino, so behave yourself. Nobody here is interested in your decision to leave one day. We care about Domino and her safety.”
“Do you, or are you just trying to tell yourself that so you don’t think about what else is going through your head?” Ears flat, Eevee stands up from his sitting position and makes his way back to the bed. “I may be silly in my behaviour, but at least I’m not lying.”
I’d love to show this brown ball of fur with my beak that there’s a line you just don’t cross. But my seat is far too comfortable and I’m sure that no matter how much I peck at him, he won’t understand. So I take a breath and ignore Eevee. He’s not worth my nerves.
But his words stick to my mind like tar. I’m not lying, I know that for a fact. I love Domino, and I’m ready to follow her to the end of the world. Our journey has only just begun! But I can’t deny that I want to follow the song as well. I want to solve the mystery behind it and enjoy the whistling up close. The heaviness in my heart doesn’t want to leave.
Whenever I try to recreate the melody, the whistling and the singing, I am flooded with calm; the feeling of simply wanting to sit down and let the world go by. Somewhere between a few plants and tall trees. Strangely enough, in those thoughts, I am no longer travelling, although I love getting to know new parts of the world.
Once again, I turn my gaze to the firmament. There are only a few stars here, very different from Alola. Above Castelia City, the clouds are more dominant than the otherworldly splendour. Somewhere out there, something is waiting for me, I’m sure of it. Maybe it’s somewhere in this region and once I’ve solved the riddle, I can leave all this behind and live by Domino’s side once more with full commitment.
It’s a wish that tightens my chest. A thought that ruffles my feathers because I can’t stand uncertain things, and yet I don’t know what options are open to solve the problem.
The only thing I know is that I can’t sleep.