Four Paws: Deliverance

Cringe

Lavendar coughed and spluttered. Just a moment ago she'd been screaming at Tertle, desperate for him to run. Then, Jacob had tossed her through the portal. Now, sand whipped across the desert. Carried on harsh winds, the sand became like bullets. Lavender choked as sand caught inside her mouth, cutting off her cry.

Shrinking away from it all, she pressed herself to the ground, eyes shut tight. Above the winds, she could hear the temple collapsing. Loud booms sounded across the empty desert as large chunks of stone fell.

Lavendar thought she could hear voices, but they were distant and garbled. Then, jaws clamped down on the scruff of her neck. She pinned her ears back and curled her tails tightly inwards as she was lifted from the sand and carried away.

She couldn't bring herself to open her eyes. Lavendar had tried, but she hadn't been enough. She couldn't save Tertle. One by one, they would all die and she would be alone again. She may as well say her goodbyes now and enjoy what little time they had left. Despair enveloping her, Lavendar whimpered quietly and hoped that everyone else would be alright, despite the monstrous sandstorm.

So many thoughts and emotions, battling, running circles around her head, drove Lavendar to exhaustion. Eventually, her mind slipped into silence as she fell asleep.

When Lavendar finally woke, several hours later, the storm had passed, the sun was disappearing on the horizon, and she was desperately thirsty. With a groan, she rose unsteadily and looked about. She was on the edge of the desert, at the base of a cliff. A small creek flowed from a crack in the cliff face. Lavendar drank greedily, never had water tasted so good.

When she'd had her fill, Lavendar glanced about, noticing Jacob's still form curled beside the cliff, a little further on. Fear gripping her heart, she raced over. A breath of relief escaped as she noticed he was breathing and seemed alright.

"You're standing on my paw."

Glancing down, Lavendar saw it was true and sprang backwards. "S-sorry."

Jacob groaned and slowly opened his eyes; they were bloodshot and droopy. His fur was mattered with grit. Lavendar noticed that he didn't stand, simply lay there, watching her.

After some time, Jacob sighed and shook his head. "You should go."

"What?"

"We can take it from here." Jacob stretched his forelegs, flexing his paws. "You should go home."

Lavendar's ears fell. "No, I can't."

His eyes narrowing, Jacob hardened his gaze. "You'll just get hurt. Worse, you'll get my family hurt."

Stepping backwards, Lavendar's head whipped about. "Where is everyone?"

"We got separated in the storm, but I'm certain they're alright. They're tough."

Maybe he's right. The thought slipped into Lavendar's mind. Maybe she had done more harm than good. This whole thing had been selfish, and the entire world could suffer for it. Maybe her family was better off without her?

"What, what will you do?"

With a grunt, Jacob stood and shook out his weary limbs. Sand jumped from his coat. His paws scratching at the dirt, Jacob simply said. "I'll save whoever I have to."

"But not me," she had whispered it under her breath, hadn't even meant to say it.

"Haven't I saved you?" Demanded Jacob. "You led us straight to Cresselia. We came back for you and now Tertle is dead!"

Blood trickled from Lavendar's mouth as she bit harshly upon her tongue. "I was trying to help. I just, I don't want to be alone, anymore."

"Then go!" His voice soft and urging, Jacob looked imploringly at her. "You can walk away right now. Go, find friends, live your life. No excuses."

"Argh! I'm so sick of hearing that! What does it even mean?" screamed Lavendar.

Taken aback, Jacob's ears dropped. "It, it means we do what it takes. No matter the cost."

"The cost was me!"

Jacob took a half-step backwards, his eyes wide. "Who are you?"

Blinking back tears, Lavendar shrugged. "The first few years weren't so bad. We, we were happy, I think. You tried to be strong for us, but I could tell how much you missed her. At least you got to know her, right?"

The pieces sliding into place, Jacob finally began to understand. His hindquarters dropped and he sat unmoving in the dirt. "Lavendar?"

"You'd tell us stories about it all. It made you come alive, but every time the story ended you just remembered," Lavendar trailed off, a heavy breath escaping her lips, "you didn't get a happy ending."

Jacob shook his head, his voice breaking. "How, how did you?"

"I just, I miss my Dad. Please, I, I need my Dad."

Slowly, Jacob stood. One paw after the other, he moved closer. Brushing a tear from her cheek, he looked hard at the strange little Vulpix and felt love erupt inside his chest.

"You look just like your Mother."

Throwing her forelegs around his neck, Lavendar hugged him tightly. Her shoulders heaved as tears burst forth, her chest lurching with each gasping breath.

Returning the hug, Jacob held her tight. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Between sobs, Lavendar choked out a few words. "Please, don't go."

Eventually, Jacob broke the hug and guided Lavendar back to the stream. She drank and the tears slowed. For a moment, everything seemed so still, and her mind was at peace.

"What now?"

Sighing, Jacob shook his head. "Honestly, I'm still missing so much information."

"Just roll with it, homie."

Lavendar jumped at the voice. Standing beside her was a tall man with silver hair, slicked back. Dark aviators covered his narrow eyes and sharp nose. A pristine beard jutted from his chin. He wore a white dress-shirt, grey blazer hanging from his shoulders. Navy skinny jeans clung to his lanky frame. Fluffy black ugg boots covered his feet.

Backpedalling, Lavendar scurried close to Jacob. He stepped protectively in front of his daughter and eyed the stranger curiously. "Who are you?"

The man plucked the sunglasses from his face and cocked an eyebrow. "I'm a bad bitch."

"That doesn't tell me anything."

"Ah, right." Sighing, the man folded the sunglasses and tucked them inside his breast pocket. "I'm Arceus. I was chilling in your world for a bit, but those people have no sense of humour. Did you know capital punishment is still allowed in some places? Anyways, things were totes yeet, but then my boys snitched. My wig was snatched, I thought the cops were straight capping. They were based though. So, I left to get the milk."

Jacob took a long slow breath but didn't say anything. After a moment, Arceus continued. "Anyways, Giratina told me wassup. Thanks for freeing Meloetta, that was lit. Now, I gotta go smack Palkia and Dialga. You want another shot at Cresselia?"

His brows furrowing, Jacob shook his head. "No, no, Cresselia's dead." His ears fell, already fearing what Arceus would say next.

"Nah, bro, Cresselia is straight alive. Not dope, I know. It be like that sometimes."

Jacob glanced at Lavendar, standing beside him. "Arceus, when does this end?"

"When Cresselia is six feet under. Giratina and I will take Palkia and Dialga. I just need someone to keep Cresselia busy."

Jacob bumped against Lavendar and met her gaze. "You're not gonna lose me."

Gritting her teeth, Lavendar nodded. "I know, I'm going with you."

Jacob smiled and knew Lavendar wouldn't be deterred; she was too much like her mother.

"By the way," Arceus said, picking at his nails. "Cresselia has your fam."

"Oh, give me a break!"

"People don't think it be like it be, but it do."