Wanders-with-Joy harrumphed as she watched the two aging fools beat each other senseless. She could sense the carapace of Owns-Many-Trees crack from the heavy blows as he argued with Harder-than-Rock. The two bugs were vicious with their attacks, recklessly breaking through the trees around them.

The two would be lucky if they could make it through winter without some soft shelled upstart challenging them for leadership. The last thing this forest needed was some rash young Pokémon disrupting things. The was enough disturbances in the area as it was.

Wanders shivered as she curled protectively around the egg peeking out of her pouch.

She could still remember the ancient cold that swept through the forest only a few light cycles ago. There was no reason for a monster such as that to visit this land.

Not yet at least.

Still, Wanders knew that she would be needed, as she always was. Sometimes, she regretted her decision to leave the Grove Above.

The ending battle quickly distracted Wanders-with-Joy and she leapt into action. The victor was undecided, as it ever was, but her self-imposed duty still remained. Few in the area could heal as her kind were able to and even less ventured beyond the safety provided by the Grove Above.

Owns-Many-Trees required the more immediate attention. His carapace was cracked and leaking in several places. She would have to seal them carefully to ensure that none of his vital liquids leaked out. While his body could better endure the aftershocks of his blows, it left him weak to strikes that managed to break his protection.

The overlapping blue shells were tough but Harder-than-Rock did not bear that name without reason. The Bug earned its red metal carapace through fortune and power.

The blue Pokémon's exoskeleton was covered with scars, some fresher than others. Wanders' sharp eyes noted that the newer ones were barely healed. The forest would be poorer if he fell.

"Careful." Owns-Many-Trees snapped at her rough ministrations.

"You're not the healer, I am." she replied dismissively. If he wanted to complain, then he should think twice about committing to foolish battles.

"I was healing just fine long before you came about, welp." he grumbled back. Still, Owns-Many-Trees quieted until she was finished. He knew better by now than to talk while she was tending his injuries

Behind her she could hear Harder-than-Rock's muffled chirps of amusement.

She was sure that the Pokémon would not be laughing when she tended to the bug's internal injuries. A metal shell did nothing to stop the force that was transmitted through. It was merely a harder form than the its opponent.

Once Wanders-With-Joy was done sealing the cracked carapace, she handed the elder Pokémon a healing egg. He immediately cracked it with a claw and began to eagerly slurp it up. The nutritious food would help the weakened Heracross recover further. Perhaps enough that by the time it returned to its nest, the others would leave him alone.

Bouncing over to the other Bug, she tapped delicately across the Pokémon's hard body. Dull thuds could be heard and Wanders-With-Joy nodded in satisfaction. It did not sound as if there were any voids under the metal carapace. Afterwards, she guided the Pokémon through several forms to ensure nothing within was lethally damaged. The Scizor winced several times but endured.

To be sure, Wanders-With-Joy passed an egg to Harder-than-Rock. She had it ready, anticipating that both Pokémon would need one.

"Many thanks, Grove Healer." Harder-than-Rock said gratefully.

"Health and Joy to you." she responded.

Having been tended to, the two Pokémon began complimenting each other or needling the other for mistakes in the battle. Wanders-With-Joy listened but watched for any interlopers that may seek to take advantage of those under her care.

It would not be the first time that she had to slap around a wannabe predator.

Wanders-With-Joy spent time waiting for the two to recover gathering plants of healing that grew nearby. While she was generally free to move through the forest as she wished, due to the healing she offered, it was rare for her to collect such powerful ingredients. Territorial leaders did not often allow her to do so considering how useful the herbs were should they ever become injured.

She carefully placed the plucked leaves in her pouch before replacing it with another egg. Fortunately, most of the healing was provided by the actual nutrients within rather than the energy she channeled into it. Time would have to pass for the egg to gain the same healing abilities of those she offered to the elder Pokémon.

When the taunting of the Owns-Many-Trees and Harder-than-Rock started to move further than she like, Wanders-With-Joy prepared to move away. However, before she could escape, a weight descended.

Wanders-With-Joy froze in apprehension. Even the two elder Pokémon, each capable of dominating the lower forest, stilled entirely. She could feel their aura's retract as they instinctually sought to hide themselves. She could only do the same even though she knew it would have no effect. The weight was as familiar as it was unnerving and she knew how far the one who exerted it could reach.

The air became charged as the presence made itself known. The aura slowly manifested, lifting off the nearby plants and reaching out to Wanders-With-Joy. She could not help but shudder as she sensed the twisted nature within. The normally white flowers were bleeding into black as the shadows hiding in the roots threatened madness like poison.

There was a reason she left the Grove Above.

As the aura began to interact with her own, Wanders-With-Joy felt another shudder run through her. The poison hiding in the shadows was antithetical to her, one she could not heal. Even now, it wanted to reach out and burrow into her. Fortunately, the great one was still able to hold the madness at bay.

An image appeared inside her mind, communicating the intent of the Guardian Above.

The river, rushing by, higher than decades before. A tree fallen upon a great boulder. Beneath. A child. Sick. Human.

The mental sending was violently disrupted as the poisoned shadows surged. They reached for her and Wanders-With-Joy's fear morphed into terror. Before they could touch her, the aura retreated. The weight holding down the three of the them lifted and they all could breathe freely.

She glanced at the other two Pokémon, the mood entirely ruined. Instead, Wanders-With-Joy turned and sprint away without a word of leaving. When the Guardian Above spoke, one listened.

Whether they wished to or not.

Moving as quickly as she could, Wanders-With-Joy felt her long feet break the ground. Her run was more a long series of leaps than true running. Few were capable of outrunning a Chansey.

As she moved through the forest, towards the river, Wanders-With-Joy tried to remember the mental image of her new ward.

He was slight, overly thin to her eyes. The Guardian said he was sick and she searched for the signs. She was unsure of what the human was supposed to look like, having never cared for a species before. Something that was soon to be rectified, she supposed.

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Soon, Wanders-With-Joy reached the river. In the vision, the child was closer to the mountain so she followed it upstream. The water flowed by faster than before the storm. She scowled at the reminder of the interlopers hunting in the forest. Shoving aside the irritation and worry, Wanders focused on the navigating her way forward.

The stream curved and blocked the view upriver. This was not a normal path for her as the riverside was too open for her liking. Still, she raced ahead almost recklessly. Her strides shattered the rocks beneath her and scattered more in her wake.

Bouncing around a curve, Wanders-With-Joy spotted the shelter protecting the human child. Only her skill prevented her from skidding as she transitioned to an abrupt stop. Through her aura, she could sense the sickness festering underneath the still growing tree.

Surprisingly, there was more than she expected.

Another life, severely weakened, was inside the shelter. Moving forward, Wanders-With-Joy peered into the shadows.

A warbling chirp, meant to be threatening, greeted her.

Underneath the shade of the growing tree and large boulder, a young Turtwig stood trembling before her. Behind the Pokémon lay her ward. It was obvious that the little beast was protecting the human yet it even more clear that it could barely stand. His stumpy limbs trembled and his large head hung bobbed as the Turtwig tried to hold it high.

Beautifly silk clung to its limbs and shell, covering wounds that burned warm to her senses. While she wanted to help the young beast, she had a duty to follow through first.

Behind the small turtle Pokémon, the human lay moaning and thrashing. He was covered in dirt and filth from tossing and turning on the ground.

"Worry not, little one." Wanders-With-Joy started. "I am a Grove Healer and I've come to help."

The small turtle whimpered and shrank back as she moved to approach. Pausing, she looked over the young Pokémon once more. To her surprise, the Turtwig was younger than she first assumed. The shell appeared to still be soft and the sapling its species was known for had yet to sprout. The Pokémon was recently hatched, she realized.

"I will care for the human behind you and cure him of his sickness." she stated kindly. The Turtwig was too young to understand but hopefully it would react to a gentle voice. As she spoke, Wanders-With-Joy allowed her energy to flow into her words. Not enough to truly charm it, just a enough to encourage the well-meaning Pokémon to step aside and let her work.

The Pokémon was too young and inexperienced to resist. He took a few unsteady steps to the side where he collapsed to the hard soil. He struggled to plant himself, achieving only enough to scrap aside the top layer before stilling.

Wanders-With-Joy allowed her aura to spread, touching both the Turtwig and the human.

The child was warm, with an infection spreading up from his hand. Her energy instinctively sought to battle the raging fever the child suffered. It soothed him slightly but did little more against the infection. Her energy brushed against something darker and recoiled.

Wanders-With-Joy stared down at the boy with wariness. It seems he was protected, even if the spirit was currently weakened. However, such protection came with consequences. There was little she would be able to do to help the child recover from hosting such an entity.

Stepping closer, she channeled her energy into a paw. It collected slowly, leading her paw to glow until the dew of life formed. A recently mastered technique, it took most of her energy and concentration to create. With her other paw, she held the child still. She was able to easily overpower him and allowed a droplet to fall into his mouth.

Once the human swallowed, she gave the remaining bit of dew to the Turtwig. Too much for either would extract more than their bodies could handle in an effort to heal them. Both human and Pokémon relaxed, with the Turtwig falling into a light sleep as the healing energy began to flow through him. The human's thrashing slowed, allowing her to better inspect him.

A simple wrapping of leaf and paste badly covered the wound on his paw. Around it, she could see that the flesh was swollen and discolored, pus leaking from beneath the long dried paste. It mixed with the sweat the human was releasing. Sighing, Wanders-With-Joy turned and walked back towards the river. Pulling out her egg and collected herbs, she filled her pouch with water.

Returning to the den, she started to carefully clean the human's wound. Wanders-With-Joy had to refill her pouch several times before the she was able to see the gash clearly. She could not help but notice the similarities between the injury and Turtwig's beak. The bite was rough and she wondered at what could drive the young beast to attack his seeming companion. Especially when the turtle so strongly sought to defend the grievously weakened human.

With the wound clean, Wanders-With-Joy wrapped it with one of the herbs she recently gathered. The leaves were small but they stuck to his skin well enough to protect the wound from the dirt. Having done what she could, Wanders-With-Joy gently propped him up. The human stirred and she spoke to him gently.

"Wake little one. You must eat." she murmured gently. She tapped his head, channeling some of her energy through the paw briefly.

The human blearily opened his eyes and his hand twitched. The spirit connected with him woke and tried to fight back. However, the ghost was too weak to affect the human, let alone her. Its power was drained, leaving it unable to manifest its aura from wherever it lurked.

Nevertheless, she rebuffed it gently lest it affect ward further.

Next to them, the young Turtwig woke up with a warble. It seemed he was familiar with the spirit and tried to warn it off as he attempted with her.

"It's all right, its ok." she said to them.

Pulling her egg free, Wanders-With-Joy cracked it and slowly dribbled the nutritious liquid within into the child's mouth. He reflexively started to swallow and she encouraged him to consume it all. The soft shell was fed to the young Turtwig as she did not trust the human to chew properly. The small beast eagerly snapped them up and warbled at her in thanks.

She kept an eye on the Pokémon as he munched down the remaining pieces of the egg. The small meal seemed to energize him as he stood up and trundled closer to them.

Seeing that he was feeling better, Wanders-With-Joy proceeded to inspect him as well. The little Pokémon was resistant but it would need to grow far larger before it could resist her.

His warbles of complaint were amusing rather than fear inducing as his later life stages could be. His shell was soft and powdery, quite unlike the dense stone it should be. Even more concerning was the lack of a sapling growing from it. Even a newly hatched Turtwig would have a leaf or two sprouting from its head.

She delicately unwrapped the silk covering its limbs and Wanders frowned internally. It was important to keep a happy and positive appearance when in front of her wards. The wounds were healing slowly, far too slowly for a growing Pokémon. Inspecting them, she suspected that they were the result of being hunted rather than some internal sickness.

After channeling her power to heal the shallow wounds, she studied the Pokémon further. Yet Wanders could find nothing wrong with it. There were issues, a weak shell and the lack of growing sapling, but there was no other injury to cure. She set the Pokémon down and watched as he grumpily trundled out into the sun. There, he burrowed himself in soil to absorb the sunlight.

Returning her attention to the one she could help, Wander-With-Joy proceeded to clean the rest of him. With the human, she stepped outside and discovered that another Pokémon had joined them.

"Finally done, healer?" a Beautifly trilled at her.

Staring at the Pokémon, Wanders-With-Joy narrowed her eyes. The two others were young and weak. If the Beautifly was traveling with them, then it should not have left them alone.

"And you are?" she asked flatly. She was not above teaching others some responsibility.

"The human calls me Flutter." she trilled back.

"Where were you with the two hatchlings unable to help themselves?" she huffed. Even a freshly transformed Beautifly was enough of a deterrent to keep the sick human safe.

"Ha!" the Bug exclaimed. "As if that nasty old ghost would let anyone harm him. He's kept the human safe."

"Not for much longer." Wanders-With-Joy frowned at the large butterfly. "He cannot suffer this much longer. His body is failing."

"You should have seen him when I found him." the Beautifly flapped her wings dismissively.

"Even more reason for it to stop." she snapped back. "The boy will die at this rate."

"Tell the spirit that." she squealed. "It is possessive, as all their kind are."

Wanders-With-Joy merely huffed in response. The Bug knew as well as she did how impossible that was. Such beings were set in their ways, finding power in the repetitive.

"Why do you travel with them?" Wanders-With-Joy asked curiously. She heard tales of Pokémon joining with humans and fighting. It sounded painful to her but she supposed that there would be plenty to heal.

"Can't you tell?" Flutter asked back. "He smells great!"

She stared back in disbelief. To travel with a human simply because of their scent was madness. The Beautifly might as well join the Grove Above if that was how it wished to live. Not only that but . . .

"He smells three days dead." Wanders said.

"I know," the Pokémon trilled. "Absolutely divine!"

Sighing, she collected herself and stored the remainder herbs in her pouch. For now, a simple river stone would suffice to hold them down until she produced another egg. It was not her path to correct others in their journey. She was there to heal them and ensure that they were healthy enough to continue.

Having done what she could heal the two hatchlings, Wanders-With-Joy stayed near the shelter for the rest of the day. When night fell, she kept the small group safe. Only a few scavengers approached but she easily warned them off.

When the sun rose she could hear the human begin to wake. Taking a moment to gather some fruit, Wanders-With-Joy left them by his side. His infection was cleared and his hand nearly healed. There was nothing more she could do to help them. With only a few strides she disappeared into the forest in search of another ward.