A Natural Occurrence [Pokemon]

Chapter 3: Messages, Names

Chapter 3: Messages, Names

My father was busy talking to the receptionist of his gym when I found him.

“. . . day off tomorrow. Can you close the gym for me? Thanks. No challengers tomorrow. Make sure they know that.”

My father turned away and almost stepped on me. “Oh, sorry, son. Didn’t see you there!” I opened my mouth to reply, but he began striding past me, out of the gym. I hastened to follow him.

I had to almost jog to keep up with his long strides. “Hey, Dad? Guess what?”

My father glanced at me sidelong. “What, Hamish?”

“I, uh, caught a Pokémon.”

“Oh really?” One of my father’s eyebrows moved upwards. “Good for you.”

“It’s really cool, Dad! I don’t know why, but I just have this feeling that it’s gonna help me get better! It’s so –“ I trailed off as I realized my father wasn’t listening. Instead of paying attention to his son, he was gazing off into the distance as he strolled.

“Never mind. You’re not listening.”

“Sorry, what?” My father seemed to jerk back into reality. “Oh yes. Good job. I’m sorry, but I have matters to attend to, Hamish. I’ll check up on your new addition another time.” I watched forlornly as he strode away, mixing into the bustle of the town in a matter of seconds.

I sighed. I pulled through the throng of people, making my way to the edge of the square. It was the middle of the evening. Most people would be heading home from whatever job they had.

I ducked into an alley, checked that no one was in it, then slumped against a wall. I really had felt like this Absol would change everything for me. Not that Spike wasn’t a good Pokémon or anything. I just had a good feeling about my new catch. But my father didn’t care. Or at least, not at the moment.

I pushed myself off the wall, standing straight. I’ll make him care! I’ll train up this Absol, and we’ll show him! Reaching down into my pocket, I shuffled around until I found Absol’s pokéball. Pressing the button in the centre, I flung it into the air, shouting a “Come on out, Absol!”

With a flash of red light, my new Absol materialized in the alley in front of me. She hadn’t looked scared when I tried to catch her, but now, she looked incredibly agitated about something. She stared into my eyes with her own, and gestured into the town square with her head. She was still trying to tell me the same thing from the mountain.

“What is it?” I asked. The Absol whined and looked around, fidgeting on her feet. She looked like she wanted to take off again. I repeated the question, but she just shook her head, knowing I didn’t understand. She glanced at me one more time, then took off into the bustling square of people, weaving in and out of the crowd.

“Hey, wait!” I called after her, following her into the throng of people. The Absol tried to dodge around the majority of the people, but couldn’t help bumping into a few as she made her way past. The onlookers scoffed at her and stepped out of the way, watching me with annoyance.

I almost caught up to her when she randomly switched course, jumping at a perpendicular angle to her previous path. She took a few bounds forward, and the crowd began to dissipate around us, forming a circle that surrounded us on all angles. I stopped, looking at all of them, and watched with horror as various expressions of annoyance passed across each of their faces.

“Uh, easy,” I said, side-stepping towards my Absol. She looked at me and whined again as I patted the fur on her neck. I glanced at her and shook my head softly.