“We have to keep moving Pidgey!” Rattata scrambled over a downed branch and turned to pull Pidgey over by the offered wing.
“Don’t you think I know that, you didn’t see it I did.” Screeched Pidgey as she hopped down and the two began to scamper through the forest brush. “I can’t fly in this weather and these claws weren’t built for running.”
Pidgey and Rattata pushed on berated every step by the harsh winds and rain, terror in their eyes as they glanced into the shadows of the forest. Darkness that was brought to terrifying life with every flash of lightning.
“Which way was it going before you were forced to land!?!”
“I lost track of it, I don’t know. It was a monstrosity Rattata I’ve never seen a Pokémon like it!” Pidgey sputtered as her mind flashed to the horrifying image she glimpsed below in the trees before she was forced to land near a Rattata whose burrow had been flooded by the storm.
*crunch
“It’s found us, quick hide behind the fallen tree!” Rattata screamed as he leapt for the cover. Pidgey attempting to catch up slipped in some mud and falling short of the tree’s safety, their foot getting stuck in the mud. “Pidgey!”
*crunch, crunch
Rattata raced out to reach Pidgey as the sounds of the monster came closer from the far side of the tree.
“Theres no time, leave me Rattata!” screeched the bird as she tried to push her new friend away with her wings.
“Never.” Rattata whimpered as he pushed into Pidgey and embraced her in a hug, feeling her wings enclose around him. “If it comes for one of us, it will face both of us.” The newfound friends let shameless tears of fear and affection fall as they heard the beast make its final approach.
*Crunch, crunch, hiss
*Crash
The branches of the trees behind their potential sanctuary were splintered apart as a lightning flash behind the monster lit up its silhouette. A hunched humanoid form reaching a claw onto the tree pulled itself over, its crimson eyes locking with that of the terrified duos. It placed a foot onto the tree and launched itself at the pair.
“Nooo!” they screamed together as the monster sailed towards them in slow motion as the flashes of light distorted their vision further, it’s growl shaking the earth, and then it was gone its serpentine tail whipping past them as it disappeared over their heads and into the shadows beyond.
***
“Pidgey!”
“Rattata!”
I heard the Pokémon yell out their species names as I leapt over a log and Ekans hot on my heels followed. The pair were holding each other for some reason not that I had time to reason why. Probably a strong Pokémon about best move on quickly. I groaned out as I put extra effort into my jump off the log so I wouldn’t squash the little dudes and tried not to lose my balance as a tree fell nearby shaking the earth around us.
We raced on quickly in search of a place to wait out the storm, trees and branches falling from the sky at regular enough intervals made it clear staying out in the open wasn’t an option. I lost track of time as we crashed through the forest seeking shelter. There was very little light to work by as the storm clouds blocked out the sky and any hint of sun or moon. Brief glimpses of our surroundings assaulted us with each angry flash of lightning striking nearby.
Another tree tried to flatten me from the left forcing a quick juke to the right. Unfortunately, the ground didn’t have the courtesy to be there as my feet landed, I was quickly reminded gravity is a thing as I slid and scraped down a muddy embankment. I really need to get some kind of health insurance this is getting ridiculous. When I finished my tumble at the bottom of the embankment, I was flung yet again from the safety of mother earth as the mean bitch was hiding an overhang. I splashed down into a small stream running through a hidden ravine.
“EKANS!” My worried companion called out as I watched his head poke out from the earth above as I stood shakily. Apparently gravity is friendlier to those without legs. The fall wasn’t that high about eight feet, the stream that I imagine is normally a lot calmer was up to my knees trying to pull me along, the storm whipping it up into a tiny torrent. I swear this world is out to get me.
I splash my way towards the edge of the stream after spotting a small cave entrance, finally some good news. I hear Ekans splash down behind me and the weight of his body as he catches up to my side pressing against my leg as we move towards the entrance. The stream was fortunately bypassing the cave allowing me to get on my knees and crawl inside.
The entrance tunnel wasn’t very long. I was able to crawl through guided by a yellow light flickering from further into a wider cavern. Not a huge one, I could stand all the way up but with only a little headroom. There was apparently enough room for more than a few Pokémon. As much as the rumbling outside scared me, I froze up as I saw the occupants of our shared sanctuary. Our eyes locked and I watched the Pokémon’s eyes squint in challenge, muscles tensing.
“There’s a good Heracross, don’t mind us just looking for a nice place to wait out the storm” I said as I reigned in the poké dollar signs flashing in my eyes. Not the time to try and make an extra buck I suppose. As I looked behind the titanic bug, I could see a collection of other Pokémon clearly seeking shelter from the elements. There were two butterfree, with a large group of caterpie. The former letting of a spore move continuously but lightly that was producing the little glow of yellow light allowing us all to see. A pair of rattata and even a pikachu were clustered near the entrance.
Ekans let out a few pointed hisses from over my shoulder, probably due to some of his long body still being outside in the rain. The heracross must not have considered me much of a threat or Ekans has a silver tongue, because he moved to the side allowing me to squeeze by. I decided to go as far back in the cavern as I could to get some room from the wild Pokémon. I gave the pikachu a wide berth, having had quite enough lightning for one day.
Ekans followed close behind and we reached the back of the cavern, I noticed there was a boulder hiding the end of our sanctuary. I poked my head around to catch a glimpse of purple fur and a small stream of water that was dripping from somewhere above but disappeared into cracks in the back wall and floor.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
As I saw the form of Venonat I realised it must have been the same one as earlier today as I could see some injuries that hadn’t healed yet from our earlier fight. Nothing too serious just a few scratches here and there from Ekans poison stings. Venonat clearly wasn’t happy at the reunion as they glared daggers at us. Wait why are your eyes glowing?
I was forced back away from Venonat as my body felt like it was being smacked by an invisible flyswatter. Ekans shot past me and made to strike out at Venonat until Heracross let their presence be known with a roar louder than the thunder above. Both Pokémon froze and I felt the pressure building in my skull pass. Was that confusion, why didn’t they use that in our fight? I wish it hadn’t taken having my faculties briefly scrambled to remember Venonat had psychic abilities but like I said, never really used them much in the past.
I took Venonats warning at face value and decided not to push my luck, since I clearly don’t have any of the good kind to spare. I backed up with Ekans leaving Venonat the space at the end of the cavern. Ekans and I cuddled up near the mound of caterpie and their parents, and there our menagerie waited listening to the sounds of Zapdos having a hissy fit outside. Okay, I don’t know if Big Bird is out there, but they could use a chill pill if they are.
Our peace wasn’t to last though. Who would have thought it, me thrust forth into yet another dangerous situation, a ridiculous thought. It started with the earth above us shaking. A great skyscraper of a tree had uprooted from the top of the embankment crashing down the hill, such a copycat. There is only one Cain in this world tree… sort of. It shook our hideaway below with each thump against the ground and starting a mud slide. The earth and tree clogged up the ravine and redirected the water into our cave.
I didn’t know that at the time of course, no we were taken by surprise as the entrance spewed the stream at us like a firehose. The cavern flooded quickly before any of the Pokémon or I could react as the smaller Pokémon struggled to keep their heads above water. I grabbed the rattaats and pikachu and flung them atop a begrudging heracross but even he was starting to have trouble staying above the water. I had to think fast as Ekans head kept bobbing below. The caterpie had managed to wriggle up the walls and were hanging from the ceiling with their parents but that would only last so long.
I felt what was happening next before I saw it. The water which should have been lifting me up towards the ceiling was pulling me back towards the back of the cave. The force increasing a little bit at a time.
“Ekans” I sputtered out. “I need a light!” I shoved my head under the water as Ekans tail began to glow with the silver sheen of Iron Tail. I peered past the boulder which Venonat was clinging to the top of to stay above the water. Oh, you have got to be shitting me, the cracks that were draining the water where splitting open further, the ground crumbling away being swallowed up into darkness. If I knew the ground of this cavern was the ceiling to another, I never would have trusted it.
I got my head above water and called out to our resident family.
“Butterfree, Caterpies create a web of string shot for us to hold onto! The cave end is collapsing, we will be washed away!” Cain isn’t getting flushed like a turd by this blasted forest, no sir.
Fortunately, it seemed even wild Pokémon could understand humans or they had the same idea. The bugs quickly got to work creating a lattice of webs. I grabbed a passing rattata as I pushed my way against the current and grabbed onto the sticky webbing the little guy hopping onto the web followed by his brethren and the pikachu.
Ekans was still struggling to keep from drowning, so I returned him to his ball. I’m sure I’ll get an earful for that later but at least he is safe. Latching it to my belt I decided to put the rest of our companions to work.
“Listen up, I have a plan!” I managed to garble out between lungsful of water that seemed never-ending. The Pokémon gave me their attention as I nodded towards one of the walls the webbing had attached to thankfully much of it was the dirt from the hill rather than solid rock.
“Rattatas and Pikachu, I need you to dig a whole big enough for Heracross to crawl out.” Yeah, unlikely I’m going to be able to climb out with the rain coming down any tunnel they dig out, but he should manage.
“Hera?” Sorry, I only speak ekans champ.
“Heracross, something must be damning up the stream, you need to go break it apart to change the flow of water.”
“HERACROSS!” He pronounced proudly, which I really hope meant, I got this bro.
The little critters jumped into action then, running across the web and working together to dig a hole diagonally out to the surface, whilst we heard the earth continue to fall away behind Venonats boulder. At least there is no blazing inferno or little girl I have to risk my ass to save this time.
As the first blast of fresh air came down the tunnel for the briefest moments, I had hope. Hope that Heracross now ascending said tunnel would reach the blockage and shift the path of the stream saving mine and Venonats lives. After all the butterfrees and their offspring weren’t waiting, following Heracross bulk out the opening. Traitors, you will be hanged and quartered. Walk the plank you little shi…
“Caterpie!” *Whoosh
I had to dodge as a string shot flew down the tunnel.
Or I could climb this like a rope you clever little Pokémon. I scrambled for the string shot only to feel the current increase as I heard venonat call out from behind me.
“Venoooooooo!” It was like I saw it in slow motion, the earth around their boulder shattered and fell away into the darkness beyond. Venonat leapt off the boulder into the water, but their little arms were not designed to swim. The last thing I could see as they went over was two large red orbs full of fear.
“Fuuuuuuuuuu!” My scream was drowned out as I stupidly let go of the string shot, crossing my arms over my body the water immediately claiming my unresisting form. I felt my back scrape against the rocks on the ground until I went vertical, and my stomach lurched as I was swallowed into the deep of the earth.
I’m coming you poisonous furball.