Pokemon: Swirling Shadows

°•2: Down by the River•°

Melodi coughed up water, her eyes immediately opening. She noticed that her legs ached, as well as her lungs. She laid on green grass, much greener than by the river.

She also saw a familiar shape, a smile forming on her face. Joy filled her heart.

He must have saved me from the river!

Snowball!" she rasped. She attempted to stand to her paws to nuzzle her brother, but her trembling legs agreed otherwise and made her fall.

"Melodi, are you okay?" he asked. He was a silver eevee, just like her. Mother and Father had been quite lucky to have not one, but two children that were shinies. The only one of the three siblings that wasn't a shiny was Puddle, but he never seemed to mind.
A weak but warm smile grew on Melodi's face.

"I'm better now, Snowball," she chirped, though her voice was still weak.

Snowball's only response was a nod. He took off the red scarf that wrapped around his neck and gave it to Melodi. "Keep this to stay warm while we get home."

Melodi nodded at her brother, a feeling of warmth spreading through her pelt. Wow, this scarf really works! She thought, hopping in excitement.

Snowball smiled and then started walking. Melodi got up and followed him, staring at Snowball. She was suddenly curious why Snowball was venturing away from home in the first place. Where was Puddle? Usually Puddle followed Snowball everywhere.

"Snowball?"

Snowball flicked his ears. "Hm?"

"Why were you away from home?"

Snowball's silver ears drooped. "I, uh. . . " he trailed off, then for some reason, he sped up his voice. "I went to collect berries and I told Puddle to stay home with father." Anxiety laced his voice.

"You know, you're a terrible liar," Melodi stated. Snowball's pelt seemed to bristle.

"I'm not lying," he said. "I'm not a liar."

Melodi rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, big bro."

They padded down the path, a slight breeze kicking in the air. The sun glittered through the leaves, giving an illusion of gold. A pond trickled nearby, a family of dewpiders gathered around. They sang little songs, displaying the bubbles on their heads.
Melodi smiled at them. Their positivity is so sweet, she thought. She almost wanted to go up to them and say hi. She wanted to know what they were singing about.

But then she remembered something dark. She remembered her father, and she remembered someone else that crossed her mind. But she didn't want to think about him. She suddenly felt deflated, though she forced herself to smile.

"Melodi, pay attention to the path," Snowball said. "You're about to walk into a tree."

"But the dewpiders. . ." They're so friendly! I want to make friends. She frowned. Those would have been her thoughts a while ago, before she developed a huge lack of trust in pokemon. . .

Snowball let out a sigh. "Melodi . . . Mind your own business, those dewpiders will just bash into your legs because they think you're a predator."

Melodi puffed out her cheeks, though her thoughts echoed in her head. Of course they would. I can't trust nobody. "I'm no predator! I'm a friend."

"Mhm, they don't think so," he replied. "They think all the eevees and their evolutions will eat them."

Melodi's frown deepened. "Well, I'm a vegetarian, so. . ."

"Just leave them alone. For your own good."

"Okay. . . fiiine."

She continued to walk and avoided the tree she almost ran into. She still looked at the dewpiders . . .