1.Ash's Story (Part 2: Johto)

Chapter 79: First Steps

Route 45 did not become easier after the Ursaring cave. If anything, the mountain seemed determined to remind us that Blackthorn was still above us and New Bark was still far below. The path dropped through ledges, narrow ridges, and turns that looked safe until the wind struck sideways.

The morning after Teddiursa became Ursaring, the whole route felt sharper. One side of the path fell into a rocky ravine, while the other rose into cliffs where roots gripped stone instead of soil. Every few steps, East made us stop so he could check whether the ledge ahead would let us turn back or force us down another one-way drop.

Gligar glided ahead with far too much confidence for a Pokémon that had crashed into me twice yesterday. It caught one gust beautifully, spun around a cliff, and then nearly smacked into a pine tree because it celebrated before landing.

Pikachu's meaning came through dryly from my shoulder: "Still learning. Still dangerous to Ash."

"I heard that," I muttered.

Lillie laughed while keeping one hand on the case holding the Special Egg. "At least Gligar is happy."

East walked ahead of us, reading the ridges with the kind of focus that made even Ethan quiet down. After yesterday, East seemed more certain that Route 45 still had something waiting for him. He had watched Gligar choose me without complaint, but his eyes kept returning to the sky.

Reisa noticed too. "You are listening for wings again."

East nodded without looking back. "The wind here is too sharp for only Gligar. Something heavier cuts through it."

Kris looked toward the cliff walls. "There are metallic marks in the stone."

She was right. Thin scratches shone along the rocks, and several silver feathers were stuck in branches, tree trunks, and even one old wooden sign. The feathers looked beautiful until I saw how deeply they had cut into the wood.

Lillie reached toward one, then stopped herself. "Those feathers are sharp."

East's voice tightened. "Do not pull it out barehanded."

A metallic cry rang above us.

Several Skarmory dropped from the ridge, wings flashing like blades in the sunlight. One swept low enough to slice leaves from the branches over our heads. Another struck the ground in front of us, throwing sparks where its talons scraped stone.

"Everyone down!" I shouted as wings flashed above us.

The Skarmory were not attacking wildly. They were trying to drive us away from the ridge. Their movements formed a pattern: dive, warn, cut the path, force us back. East saw it faster than anyone.

That mattered because their wings were not only wings. Every sweep carried the sound of metal cutting air, and every feather along their bodies looked sharp enough to hurt someone who reached without thinking. If we treated them like ordinary angry birds, someone would get slashed before we learned why.

"They are guarding something uphill," he said. "They are not chasing us down the route. They want us away from that cliff."

A Skarmory swooped toward Lillie. Togetic darted in front of her, wings glowing, but I lifted a hand before it attacked.

"Wait!" I called. "Do not hit them unless they force it."

Pikachu sparked, ready but holding back. The leading Skarmory landed on a rock above us, glaring. Its meaning came through jagged and sharp: "Feathers stolen. Nest threatened. Humans carry hands."

Lillie's expression shifted from alarm to sympathy. "Someone has been taking their feathers."

Kris pointed farther along the ridge. "There are footprints near the nests, and some look human."