Whisper

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

135 hours remaining

(Amalric's POV)

I trudged through the cold powder in Dad's old clothes. They weren't exactly made for snow; hopefully it was warmer in the city. I was halfway down the mountain by now. Cold air chilled my lungs and made me cough.

I glanced back up the mountain. Am I really doing this? A slight breeze pierced through Dad's slightly baggy clothes. I yelped and held myself tighter.

I put one foot forward, or tried to. I tripped over a small, snowy mound. I sat up and frowned at the snow mound, until it began moving.

A Cubchoo shook the snow off and growled at me. This Cubchoo was at least twice the size of Purrloin. I gulped.

The bear Pokémon sneezed and took one step towards me, growling fiercely. I let out a shaky laugh. "H-hey there, I, um, I didn't mean to trip over you. I really mean it. I'm sorry, Cubchoo." The Cubchoo snorted and flashed its teeth.

I scooted back and tried again. "Cubchoo, don't you have family nearby? They may be missing you. Why don't you ignore harmless me and go back to them?"

The blue Pokémon opened his mouth, emitted an ear-splitting roar and charged me. I screamed in panic and fumbled to my feet. The Cubchoo pounced. I watched in frozen panic.

"Tackle!"

Purrloin launched herself into the Cubchoo's side, knocking it away. Amaria ran up to me in Mom's old clothes. "You idiot! How far did you think you'd get without a Pokémon!?" She huffed in frustration and turned back to the battle.

The Cubchoo was back on its feet and was charging Purrloin.

"False Swipes!" Amaria shouted.

Purrloin jumped forward, readying a swipe before faking the Cubchoo out and rolling behind it where she performed her swipes. The scratches left bloody trails down the opponent's back.

The Cubchoo performed a Slash that missed its target.

"Bite its ear and don't let go!" Amaria commanded. Purrloin leaped up and grabbed ahold of the attacker's ear with her mouth. The Cubchoo reared back angrily and attempted to smack Purrloin off.

Its attempts failed.

"Now Scratch its nose!" Purrloin, while still hanging onto the attackers ear, raked her claws across its nose, letting loose a crimson flood.

The Cubchoo howled in pain and tried to buck Purrloin off. It turned and began to run away.

"Purrloin, release!" Amaria called. Purrloin did as told and jumped off of the defeated Cubchoo's head. She bounded back to us with a cocky expression.

She climbed up onto my shoulder and looked at Ria. I followed her gaze and found Ria giving me the 'You crazy idiot, what were you thinking?!' look.

I smiled sheepishly and shrugged. She looked up at the sky with a stern expression. "It's almost morning. Let's get back before Mama and Daddy notice we're gone." I too looked up. The moon wasn't even halfway across the sky, signaling that Ria was lying.

I shook my head and turned downhill, continuing on my way. Amaria jogged after me. "Where are you going!? We have to get home!"

"I'm not going home. Not yet." I stated. Amaria ran in front of me and pointed a finger in my face. "Where are you going then?" I shoved her finger away. "Go back home. You promised me you'd stay with Mom and Dad. It's too dangerous for you where I'm going."

She wouldn't let me move past her. "Too dangerous!? I just saved you sorry butt and your saying it's too dangerous for ME!?" She scoffed. "I may only be nine, bit I am more cunning, smarter, faster, and more resourceful than you think! You need me. Plus," She held up her hand, middle and index finger wrapped together, "Crossies."

I huffed in annoyance. As much as I didn't like to admit it, she was right. I would most likely need her help.

We stared each other down before I crumpled. "Fine! You can come with me." I trudged past her and moved on down the mountain. Soon she was beside me again, smiling brightly.

"So where are we going?" She won't leave me be until I answer. "To find Cress. I wanna know if he feels bad for what he did to dad to." If he does, then maybe we can bring him back and Dad can have a real family.

"What did Uncle Cress and Uncle Chili do to Daddy anyways?" That's right, Mom and Dad haven't told Amaria about their past and escape yet.

"I'll...tell you some other time." Surprisingly, Ria took this answer and didn't push it. I looked down the mountain, and then up at the sky.

I sighed; this was going to take a while.

X

Dawn was just beginning to creep up over the horizon by the time we had taken our first step off of the mountain.

Rocky ground and icy snow disappeared from underfoot, replaced by soft moist dirt and spring-scented grass. I sucked in a breath and let out a sigh of ecstasy. For once ice didn't freeze my lungs when I breathed.

Amaria was having the same reaction. She turned to me and smiled.

Purrloin jumped out of Amaria's coat, where she had hid away into a while ago, and played with the springy grass.

I sat down next to her and rubbed my fingers against the cool blades.

We took a small break there, feasting on some dried fruits I had taken from the storage, and enjoying the area.

A small striped Pokémon scurried up to Ria, sniffing her fruit. Mom and Dad had made us study their complete Pokémon encyclopedia of the Unova region. I mentally flipped through the pages until I came upon a Pokémon very similar.

Amaria giggled and handed the baby Patrat a dried peach.

It gulped down the peach and reached for more. Ria gently placed her hand over her fruit and shook her head. "No more. Your Mamas waiting for you. Why don't you scamper back home now?"

I looked to where Ria was pointing and saw, in the shadow of a bush, a Watchog and a small horde of baby Patrats.

The Patrat by us looked at its mom, then at us, and then it raced back to its family.

Purrloin had been watching the Patrat intently, but I know that she's too well-behaved to do anything.

I put away our things and stood up. "Time to get a move on." Amaria nodded and stood next to me. Purrloin got up and padded along with us.

We continued on our way.