Safe Haven

A New Face

"NO WAY!!!" Reina exclaimed as she started to run, stones and dirt beneath her paws ignored as she set her sights on the town ahead of her.

Her running gained a steady rhythm as she approached the town, paw steps gradually slowing. A smile appeared on her muzzle, she couldn't contain it!

She kept running--or speed walking at this point--and kept going, and--

*CRASH*

Reina stumbled, slowing down as she collapsed to the ground, paws under her stomach. She groaned, obviously annoyed. As a way of resigning to the ground, she stared at the dirt below her, not getting up.

And she stayed there. And stayed.

"Hey, are you okay?" A voice asked her. She was unsure who it could be, with her face still in the dirt, but it was safe to assume her father caught up with her. Slowly she raised her head from the ground, and she replied.

"Yeuhh, 'm okay da-" Reiina paused. Vision cleared, aside from some dirt on her cheek, she saw that the Pokémon in question was in fact, not her dad.

"I mean! Uhmm, you," she paused, utterly embarrassed. She shifted her paws awkwardly as she positioned herself, still sitting in the dirt.

How could this happen? She couldn't believe it, she almost called a total stranger her dad! It was embarrassing, completely and utterly embarrassing.

"What's your name?" The stranger asked her. Now that she looked at him straight, he looked about her age. He was a caramel brown eevee with soft fluffy fur, particularly on his tail and face. His tail was like a cotton ball of fluff, mostly brown with off-white fur on the end. His head carried thick bangs that slightly covered his eyes and spiked up near the back. On either side of his head, ears poked out of the abundance of fluff. He had a much thicker chest ruff than Reina's, the same color as his end tail fur.

"I--uhmm..." Reina stuttered, unable to find the words.

"Oh! Excuse me, the name's Erin." He explained, introducing himself. He stepped forward,  "Now, you must be?" He asked, looking into her eyes.

"I'm..." Reina thought, her thoughts wandering off as she searched for the confidence to finish her sentence.

"Reina!" A voice called from behind her, and she knew for sure now--it was her dad. His electric yellow pelt came into view, suitcase dragging behind. "Who's this with you?" Her father asked. Reina looked back to Erin, and then back to her father.

"Erin." She answered, surprised by her ability to talk in front of a stranger. However, she supposed her father being there helped. Her father smiled at this.

"Well, I assume you can take your suitcase now?" He asked, smiling devilishly.

"Ahh, so that's what this is about..." Reina said, faking her tone to jokingly argue with her father.

"Yes! I remembered, the brilliant guy I am, that I have a meeting at work in an hour and I have to speed back home..." He said looking regretful, but he still needed to leave. 

"I understand, let me take the suitcase," Reina said before walking over the dirt ground to grab the suitcase handle with her teeth, dragging it back.

"Well, I love you y'know. And I'll visit you!" Her father reassured her. She felt warmed by his words, glad that he told her--pleased that he could find the time to visit her.

"I love you, too" Reina replied, pushing aside her suitcase to rush over and embrace her dad in a hug. He accepted, hugging her back.

"I'll see you soon, okay? You take care!" He said finally, leaving the embrace before darting off, disappearing into the plains they had just walked through. 

Reina watched him leave. It was only hitting her now that she would no longer have him around like she was used to. In the house, she could talk to him at any time--but not any longer. It was weird, and a bit sad. Well, maybe more than a bit sad...

"So your name is Reina?" A voice suddenly asked. It was then Reina was reminded she was not alone, and that Erin had been waiting for her this whole time.

"AH! Sorry! I got so distracted..." She explained, feeling a little guilty for leaving him hanging like that. He tilted his head a bit and smiled fondly.

"Hey! No worries. Y'know..." Erin started, looking at Reina intently, "I was trying to figure it out, and I think I did! You remind me a lot of my sister--in the way you socialize, I mean." She cocked her head, curious as to what he meant. What exactly about the way she socializes?

"What about it?" Reina asked, curious and distracted by his observations.

"Well, not so much now, but earlier when you struggled to find your words I guess? My sister's the same way." He explained, "Nothing wrong with it! I just thought I'd let you know you're not alone, my sister struggles with that and all." He clarified quickly, trying to patch up his words. Reina found this boy very curious, his careful wording and thoughtfulness stuck out to her. Suddenly though, her awareness of her words alarmed her again.

"I er, I uhm..." she tried to say, but the words wouldn't come out. She just looked to the ground, disappointed in herself.

"Hey! No worries. I probably shouldn't have mentioned it and thrown you off, anyway." He said, understanding and kind. Reina could feel her face warm, and her stomach did little twists like butterflies were there. He's so considerate...

"Yeah! Um... yup." She internally cringes at her words, embarrassed. He, however, seemed unbothered.

"How about I show you around, then? If you don't already know the place, of course. I grew up around here y'know!" He says, delighted at the idea of showing her around. Reina was quite happy with it too.

"Mhm!" She murmured. It's all she could get out. Judging by the smile on his face, however, she could assume that it was good enough for him.