Pokemon: Book One: The Dark Hearted

Chapter Fifteen ~ Memories

??? POV

The ground below my feet was cold and hard. The snowstorm was getting stronger, minuscule icy flecks hitting my head. Whimpering, I wrapped my paws around myself, struggling with each step.

I was fearing the worst, that I wouldn't be able to find a cave or burrow quick enough. A bush, at the least! But there was nothing but white snow in every direction, and every one of my light blue furs were turning into icicles. The cold gripped my lungs and froze my feet.

Through my aura sense I could detect someone out here with me. I was a distance away, but it was slowly moving closer. Fear took over my body like the ice.

I stopped moving and crouched down in the snow, but the form was still approaching. Not wanting to see any more, I turned my aura sense off and shut my eyes.

I held my breath.

And then it spoke.

"A-A-Are you o-o-okay?"

I silently peeked open my eyes. Standing near me, but not too close, was a young Absol, who was perhaps a teenager. His blue eyes were wide, and his teeth were chattering from the cold. Icicles hung from his small horn, which was almost whiter than his fur.

Shivering, I tried to stand up, but stumbled and fell. Before I hit the ground, though, the Absol darted forward and caught me with his horn. He helped me stand up and asked, "C-Can y-y-you talk?"

I exhaled, and a cloud of white appeared in front of my face. Then I whispered, "I-I-I-I c-can t-t-talk."

The Absol allowed me to lean on his shoulder, and began to walk forward. "I-I-I know where w-we can g-g-go," he rasped.

"Y-You- You d-do?" I coughed.

He nodded, gritting his teeth as the snow hit his face. "S-S-Save your breath."

On and on we walked, shivering and wheezing, stumbling and coughing, until we arrived at a dip in the ground. Caves were set into the walls, providing shelter from the snow. The Absol led me down the side and staggered into the nearest cave. The second we were inside, I pressed myself against the wall and crumpled to the ground.

The Absol stepped near me and laid down, his blue eyes gazing outside into the whirling snow. I noticed that he was very close, but didn't touch me.

"M-My name is Asha," I said quietly.

His head lifted slightly as he turned to look at me, the Riolu with nearly white fur, the one that would have frozen without him. He blinked slowly and spoke.

"My name is Hex," he responded heavily. He forced a weak smile. "I think we're going to be friends."

Hex POV

Asha was one weird Riolu.

The only thing she'd said to me since we entered the cave was her name, and that was the last time I heard her talk that night.

And the next.

And the next.

For three days she said absolutely nothing as she resided with me. I had wondered many times if the storm had somehow affected her vocal cords, but I suppose not, because she more or less seemed to choose not to talk. I tried to talk to her several times, but she mostly just blinked at me.

She also faked sleeping a lot. At first I thought it was because she was so exhausted, but in the second day I caught her staring at me from the corner, and when I glanced at her she shut her eyes and lowered her head.

By the third day I had become pretty impatient. This silent, staring Pokemon living in my cave was really getting on my nerves.

"Do you like it here?" I asked her testily on the fourth day.

Asha lifted her head to give me a blank look. I exhaled.

"Why don't you ever talk?" I inquired, sitting down. "Can you talk?"

Still, she said nothing.

"Just nod or shake your head," I pressed. Slowly, Asha gave a small nod and glanced at her feet. I continued to talk. "So, why don't you?" I asked. "I mean, It would make things a lot easier."

Asha continued to stare at her feet. Then she said in a hoarse voice, "I don't really like to talk."

I sighed, relieved that Asha finally spoke. "Well... Me neither. But it's good to talk to people so they can get to know you better."

The Riolo shifted her gaze to the ceiling. "I'm sorry."

I blinked. "For what?"

"For- For being here. I can leave, if you want."

"If I wanted you to leave I would've told you that by now," I said, slightly annoyed. "Are you always so meek and quiet?"

    Asha looked startled. "Well- no. I'm not." She smiled, which surprised me. "I actually like to consider myself a rebel."

    "A rebel?" I echoed. "Why?" When Asha hesitated, I raised my eyebrows and asked, "do you even know what a rebel is?"

    Asha grinned. "Uh... A talkative Pokemon?"

    I laughed. "Okay. You don't know what it is." I stood up, glancing around. "So... So can you tell me where you're from?"

    Slowly, Asha nodded.