Ryker's struggle

Chapter 5 The River

Ryker's P.O.V.

Ryker was sleeping alone in his bed whimpering as he was having a bad dream. He was running through a forest one he had never seen before. He suddenly froze at the sound of a Pokemon screaming in agony. "AHHH!!" He froze in his paw steps. "Hello?" He called out then he heard a few twigs snap as something was approaching him. Ryker felt his heart sink whatever this Pokemon was he could sense that they were not friendly he turned tail and ran. He was being chased by an evil Pokemon. "Hehe, I've got you now!" He mocked as Ryker came to a dead end at a rock wall. He turned around anxiously. He tried to make out the shape of the Pokemon but all he could see were the blood-red gleaming eyes that glowed maliciously. "What do you want?" He whimpered. Then in a flash, the Pokemon lunged at him too fast for Ryker to react in time. He felt claws slashing his throat open. Terror gripped Ryker as he fell to the forest floor unable to move as the Mon that did this left already. Ryker closed his eyes shaking as his body felt cold.
Is this what it feels like to die? Am I dying?

***

"RYKER WAKE UP!!" Ryker jolted awake in his bed he was breathing hard while Ruth stood a few paw steps in front of him. "What are you doing still in bed at this hour? Have you any idea how late it is?" once he caught his breath he gave a sigh. "I had a bad dream.." She raised an eyebrow at him. "Yes, that's what happens when you oversleep." Now Ryker felt annoyed. This was his den what was she doing here anyway? Ruth nudged him. "Well come on don't just stand there you have a lot of training to do. Ryker's fins drooped at the thought of having to climb trees again. 'I need to do what benefits me as a Vaporeon! When they stepped outside Ryker felt relieved to see Maverick and Rusty waiting there. Maverick had some flowers in his mouth. He smiled at Ruth. "Good morning beautiful." He placed them at her paws. "I got these for you." The Liepard's ears pinned back a bit. He smiled "You're turning out to become a brilliant Hunter you know pretty soon you won't need my help." She smiled at that. "Why thank you Maverick." Rusty gave her a long look. "You mean you don't know how to hunt for yourself?" Ruth hissed. "I used to be part of a pack I'll have you know! Hunting Solo is a different technique!" Maverick gave a reassuring nod. "Oh, I understand that Ruth." Ryker couldn't help asking the question. "Why did your sister exile you?" Ruth's ears pinned back and Ryker could see pain flash in her green eyes. Maverick looked shocked. "Your sister was the leader? Oh Ruth I'm sorry to hear that. That must have been hard on you." She sat there quietly. "Ruth?" She hissed. "I don't want to talk about it!" she snapped and Ryker realized that he may have hit a sensitive spot by asking the question but he also couldn't help it. His curiosity is getting the better of him. "Ok, then you don't have to say anything about it now," Maverick said moving closer to her. Ruth let out an annoyed hiss. "No, I won't talk about it ever!" Ryker felt disappointed. "Mother?... have you ever talked to anyone about it?" She shook her head. "It's all in the past. Now enough rambling on about it. Let's get to training." Ryker frowned. Maverick nodded. "Why don't we let Ryker and Rusty practice together while we go hunting? You're very close at getting it." Ruth nodded. "I suppose that's fine." She turned to Ryker. "I'll catch you later. Make sure you stay out of mischief." Ryker felt relieved watching her go knowing this meant he didn't have to climb trees. Rusty giggled. "Hehe So, Ryker do you know how to hunt?" He felt slightly embarrassed as he never really learned himself. "Ahh, heh of course I do." Rusty just held his gaze. "You don't have to lie, Ryker, I mean how could you know if Ruth can't teach you?" Ryker frowned. "Ok, I suppose your right." He gave him a friendly nuged. "Come on it's not hard I'll teach you." Ryker felt excited but at the same time, he wanted to try swimming today. "First off you'll want to pick up a sent to track." Ryker sniffed the air but couldn't sent anything. Rusty sniffed the air himself. "Let's keep going until we pick up something." as they were walking Ryker picked up a sent. He wrinkled his nose the sent. It didn't seem as appealing as it had when he was an Eevee. Rusty giggled. "Hehe, Right you're a Vaporeon now, you might be more interested in seafood rather than land prey." Ryker let out a sigh. "OK, But who can help me learn to catch fish?"
"Hey, don't worry about it, I'm sure you can figure it out. Besides doesn't Vaporeon have the ability to Melt in with the water? If you can do that then I'm sure you can have whatever you want when your fishing." Ryker felt excited his tail waged he was eager to try that. "But I think you should still learn to hunt on land as well." Now getting more serious Ryker sniffed the air and followed the sent then paused as they spotted a Minccino picking berries from a bush. "Now it's important to make sure you stay downwind you don't want the wind blowing towords the prey ever because then they'll smell you and run away. Got it?" He nodded his head and watched as Rusty got into a low crouch. Ryker copied his position. "Keep in mind when your stalk your prey you want to move as low and silently as possible and don't drag your tail." Ryker slowly made his way towords it keeping his eyes locked on the Minccino. As he was stalking towords it he was unaware of a thornbush he staggered across. He let out a painful yell as thorns poked his skin. "OWW!!" The Minccino shot its head up and darted away into its hollow for coverage. Ryker whimpered as he licked his paw where he had stepped on one. Rusty padded up to him. "Well, you almost had it. I guess next time you might want to watch where you're going through." he finished with a giggle. Suddenly there was a loud yell. "HEY THATS MINE!!" They both padded towords where it came from and saw Maverick holding a Trumbeak. He put it down. "Yes, and it was a fine catch dear, I'm just carrying it for you." Ruth looked annoyed. "I don't need your help!" She grabbed it from him and stormed past him. Rusty let out a frustrated growl. "You know If I didn't know any better I'm pretty sure Ruth is just using Maverick to learn how to hunt." Ryker let out a sigh he knew Rusty was right. She didn't even try to hide it whenever he was around her. Maverick just watched her go looking disappointed his ears drooped. Rusty padded over to him. "Uh, is everything ok?" Maverick suddenly straighten up. "Yeah, everything is fine. Ruth just needs a break I think." Ryker frowned. He knew it was more than that. He hastily ran after his foster mother. "Mother!" He saw her but she was too fast. Than he slowed to a halt as she leaped for a tree trunk and swiftly climbed her way up. Ryker let out a grunt as he scrambled up after her struggling his way up. She let out a purr as he reached her. "Ryker I'm so proud of you. Not a lot of Vaporeons can do what you can."
He frowned. "Some Vaporeon I turned out to be I can't even swim." She tilted her head. "Have you ever tried?" He shook his head and she laughed. "Hehe, don't worry Ryker, it will come, naturally I mean you have fins and the ability to breathe underwater. It's not like you can drown." He now felt silly for having his droughts. "So what happened? I think Maverick is waiting for you." She looked annoyed. "Don't ever ask me about Maverick again. It doesn't concern you." She replied. Ryker let out a sigh. "Ah, ok..." They sat quietly for a bit until she broke the silence. "Why don't you go learn how to swim or hang out with your friends?" He nodded then climbed back down landing on the soft grass. As he was strolling through the woodland making his way toword the river he couldn't help thinking of the world outside the rainforest. He paused as he neared the edge of the forest. He gazed out into the distance staring at what appeared to be ice mountains.
Is there really chaos going on out there? Would I really be in danger if I head that way?
He didn't plan on going to the ice mountains but he wasn't planning to stay in the rainforest his whole life either. "Hey, Ryker what are you staring at?" Came the familiar voice of Izzy's. He turned to look at her now feeling embarrassed. "Oh, nothing I was just thinking of what it would be like to leave." She frowned. "Oh, you weren't planning on moving out of the rainforest, were you?" He shook his head and the Sylveon looked relieved. "Ah, that's good to hear." Ryker felt a little awkward as she placed a feeler on him. "I'd miss you a lot if you did." She said and he noticed she was blushing.
does she like me?
He stared at her for just a few more seconds then felt ridiculous for thinking that.
Nah, of course not she'd just miss me as a friend.
He began heading towords the river. "Well, I'm gonna learn how to swim today." He said as they were walking. She smiled. "Oh, that should be easy considering you have fins now." He dipped his head and Izzy kept following. "Mind if I watch? Then maybe if you are up for it we could have a battle?" He smiled and dipped his head. "Yeah, sounds great I do want to learn more water moves." once they got to the river Ryker couldn't help but feel nervous. "Ok, deep breath." He was surprised as Izzy suddenly pushed him into the water. He gave a shocked yell as he plummeted in. Ryker felt his heart racing in a panic as he was sinking to the bottom of the river watching the surface getting further and further away.
Oh, Arceus am I gonna drown? I've never done this before!
He began trying to reach forword with his front paws but he hardly moved at all as he was now sitting on the sandy floor at the bottom. He couldn't hold his breath anymore and gasped desperately for air. To his surprise, he didn't get any air but he was breathing just fine through the water. He felt ridiculous as he remembered he was a Vaporeon and had gills. He felt amazed seeing all the smaller fish Pokemon swimming by they all had pretty unique colours. Then there was one that stood out the most as a really long Mon that was tan coloured started swimming his way it had a Beautiful blue tail that reflected in the water as the sun had shone on it. Ryker couldn't take his eyes off of the Beautiful Mon. He kicked off the sandy floor trying to swim higher but to his disappointment trashing out with his front paws was getting him nowhere. Now he was starting to panic as he realized he was stuck. "Help!" He cired out then a few heart-shaped fish started laughing at him as they swam by. Ryker gritted his teeth with annoyance as he tried again. "Try using your tail." A voice suddenly said. Ryker jumped in surprise seeing it was that beautiful Mon again. He had been looking at. She smiled polity at him. "Oh, don't worry about it I'm used to being stared at I guess a lot of Pokemon just think Milotics are pretty." Ryker blushed now feeling embarrassed. She giggled. "You know you have a few options here. You could either use your tail or just melt in." Ryker tilted his head to one side. "Ok, grab onto me I'll help you since you seem clueless." Ryker's face turns red from embarrassment. He warped his paws around her and she swam up to the surface with him but before they reached it she suddenly did a Twirle that caused Ryker to go. He watched as she broke the surface and did a flid before diving back in. "Use your tail!" She called as she swam past him. Ryker had a rush of excitement as he realized how easily he could move in the water once he started using his fins. Wow, maybe being a Vaporeon isn't so bad after all!
He swam past a bunch of smaller fish Mons. He was fighting the urge not to laugh seeing how they scattered away from him. "Hey come back!" he called out. "I'm not going to eat you! I just wanna swim with you!" But they ignored him. He swam for the surface and dived out landing on dry land. Izzy ran over to him. "You were down there for a while are you alright?" She asked. He nodded. "I was learning how to swim. I think I've got it now." She smiled. "Great! So how about that battle?"
"You're on!" He replied filled with excitement. He followed her to an empty clearing and got to it.

***

It was getting late now the sun had begun to go down and Ryker was on his way home. Izzy had won the battle she seemed to be learning how to muster her moves pretty quickly.
I'll get there eventually. It must have been easier for her because she knew she wanted to be Sylveon for a while before she evolved while I was clueless about what I wanted to be.
As he got closer to home he paused seeing Ruth talking to Maverick. He let out a sigh as he walked by he could tell by their angry tones that they were having an argument. He went inside his den and curled up in his bedding for the night he knew it was only a matter of time before they broke up.