A Late Start

Injuries

"Hey, boys, how you holding up?" I found the two pokemon curled up on my bed together as I came back into the room. Silas' ears perked up as he heard my voice.
"Ee va?" He trilled before hopping across the bed to meet me.
"Zorua's asleep huh?" I gently ran my hand across the Eevees head. "I'm guessing you were in on his little scheme today?" Silas dipped his head in mild embarrassment. "C'mon bud, you should have known better. He could've gotten seriously hurt."
"Vuuh," His voice carried a guilty tone.
"You guys could have at least told me," I sat down on the end of the bed. "How am I supposed to get you guys home now, everyone thinks you're injured and I'm supposed to be keeping him a secret." I placed a hand on Zoruas' back. "Hey, we've gotta get going soon, you going to be alright to travel?"
"Zorrr." He groaned, rolling away from my hand.
"I know it hurts, but we can't stay here for much longer, we only had the room for two nights." I gave the bandage around his chest a check over to make sure it was holding firm and the tape was still in place. "You going to want to ride in my pack again?" A grunt escaped his lips accompanying a shake of his head. "I could carry you, but then people would be able to see you and I'd have to explain where I found you. At least to mom. And I don't want that any more than you do."
"Why don't you just leave me here, I'll figure out my own way." Even his projected voice carried a sense of pain.
"I'm not going to just, leave you here. Especially while you're hurt."
"If I hadn't asked for your help I wouldn't have gotten hurt in the first place!" I bit my tongue, processing his response.
"Eeva, Eh Voi!" Silas scolded him, though he sounded more defensive than angry.
"Silas, It's okay. He's right. If I hadn't taken him in and introduced him to battling and life around trainers he never would have had the chance to get curious. Or try to battle in the first place." The Eevee looked over at me, a hint of confusion and sadness behind his eyes. "Listen, Zorua. I can't undo what's already happened. I know you only came to me out of desperation. I should never have tried to bring you into our little group. But you're in no shape to look after yourself, what if you run into those poachers again? At the very least let me keep taking care of you until you're healed." I had begun packing the few scattered belongings I had strewn about the room.
"How do I know you're not just trying to keep me here, force me to stay?"
"If I wanted to capture you, don't you think I would have done it by now? It's much easier when a pokemon is already weakened you know? I promise I won't keep you here any longer than you want to stay."
"Mmnn. Fine, but you HAVE to help me get back home. Back to Entra. I think I've about had my fill of the human world."
"I thought you couldn't go back there?" I asked, quietly.
"Whatever they're going to do to me when I get back can't be worse than staying here," he sounded angry
"Well, I can't say I know where that is. But I'll do whatever I can to get you back there." I flopped back onto the bed. "For now can we just focus on getting back to MY home?"
"Mn, what's the problem there anyway?" The Zorua stood up, flinching slightly as he stretched out his back.
"Well, since everyone thinks Silas is the one that got hurt. And nobody is supposed to know about you, I'm not really sure how I can get you both home. Since Silas is very obviously fine, people would ask questions about how he recovered so fast." As my mind wandered my hand idly made its way to the metal spheres on my hip, Erah's energy tickling my fingertips.
"Hey, don't even think about it. I'm not getting in one of those things." I looked across at Silas and had an idea.
"Do you think you can hold a disguise?" I asked as I sat up.
"Probably as long as I don't have to move much."
"What if you disguised yourself as Silas again, I can carry you home like I would for him."
"Alright, I guess I can do that." I noticed him wince as he slowly walked over to me.
"Silas, you can either ride in my bag or your ball. it's your choice. just until we get home." Without hesitation, Silas clambered into my backpack. I lifted the pack over my shoulders, making a final check that I grabbed everything. I carefully picked Zorua up off the bed, cradling him in my arms. "Alright, remember. Blue eyes, Purple scarf." With a grunt a purple light shimmered over the pokemon, giving way to the smaller, silver fox I was all too familiar with.