What struck me as most interesting was how loud the cave was. Water echoed across the rocks, making a sort of weird cave music. Bronze waited at the entrance. "You have to come too!" I exclaimed.
"It's so dark though!"
"That's sort of the point of a cave!" My voice echoes for a bit and is silent.
After what seems like an hour of awkward staring, Bronze finally comes in after me. His fire acts like a torch as we wander through. Suddenly, I hear a tapping noise.
"What was that?"
"I have no idea."
We stand there as it gets louder. "RUUUN!" Chompers yells, although no one follows him.
A Sandshrew comes up to us, looking us innocently in the eyes.
"AWW it's so adorable! Oh, we have to catch it!" I say. "You try, Chompers!"
"How about no."
The Sandshrew does a small scratch at Chompers, whimpering. "Uh.. I can't really fight..."
Chompers scratches him hard and the Sandshrew whimpers.
"Oh, don't cry... you're doing great! Just keep fighting." I say.
Chompers hits him again. Sandshrew doesn't flinch, just looks at Chompers, determined.
He hits Chompers a bit harder, but Chompers just looks up at me, "Is it over yet?" I stare at him intently and he shrugs and moves back into battle stance.
I throw a Pokeball. It wiggles twice and pops out.
"Oh, was I supposed to go in? Sorry..."
"It's okay." I say, my teeth gritted with a mock smile.
Dusty turns to Chompers. "Just one more time..."
He hits Chompers with the claws, and to my surprise, blood wells.
It's a critical hit!
"Ow." Chompers complains. "Do we really, really have to catch this thing?!"
I throw another Pokeball and this time, the click reverberates throughout the cave.
"I told you so!"
Chompers rolls his eyes. Suddenly, the cave shakes with a loud, resounding roar.
I look up at the ceiling, and a huge stalactite falls, and Bronze pushes me out of the way.
"BRONZE?!"
I see him knock it off his back, assisted by Gaia's raw strength and Khrys's confusion.
That's three...
Ferro's holding my leg, his fur as straight as a scared cat's.
The egg is an egg.
So... where's Chompers?
That's when I see it. A giant rock snake, tall enough to reach the roof of the cave. In it's mouth are the bloody remains of a Ratatta. A familiar Ratatta.
Tears lace my eyes, and that's when I pick up Gaia and run like hell, Bronze and Khrys behind me.
I place a small stick by where his grave would be, and write in the ground- R.I.P Chompers. Lv.4-9.
Gaia pats me on the back. "It'll be okay. We have to keep going."
I return to the Pokemon Center, and in the morning, as the sun rises, I enter the PC and withdraw Dusty. New Pokeball in hand, I walk back towards the cave, hopefully ready to take it on again. I can't let another one of them die.
No one will know how scared I am if I try again now.
