Rigorous Relationships

Cold Karma

Cal munched happily on his second sandwich as they walked further from the lodge. "So where should we look first?" He asked in between mouthfuls.

"Any source of clean water would be a good place to start." Dena replied as she munched down a sandwich. "These are really good, Ash!"

Ash smiled proudly, "Thanks." He then abruptly pointed to his right. "I think there's a lake over there. If we're looking for water it might be a good a place to start."

"What makes you think there's a lake over there?" Serena asked as she took a bite of her sandwich.

"Well... I've been here before, with some other friends of mine, and I'm fairly certain there was a river there."

Dena stopped mid bite and stared peculiarly at Ash. "I thought you said it was a lake."

Ash smiled uncertainty, "Well it might've been a lake. Or a river or pond, stream, waterfall..."
His friends looked at him doubtfully. "Look it was nearly six years ago, but I'm certain there's some source of water over there!"

Serena shrugged, "Alright then lead on to the: lake, river, waterfall, pond-"

"Wave pool, slip an slide, water slide, log flume." Dena and Cal added with playful smiles.

"Alright I get it." Ash said, "Now come on, Splish Splash is this way."

They walked on for nearly an hour, of which Cal and Dena spent the first quarter teasing Ash with a list of other water related things. But they eventually got bored with the act and began to talk to each other about unimportant nothings. The two quickly became engrossed in their talk and started to trail behind their friends, leaving Ash and Serena ample opportunity to have a conversation of their own.

"So," Serena began, "who were the friends you were with last time?"

"Let's see. There was Brock, you've met him right?" Serena nodded. "Alright, then you probably know a bit about him." Again she nodded. "Good. Next was Max. He was a somewhat of a know it all and was rather stubborn about some things. But all in all a good kid. I promised him we'd have a battle once he became a trainer."

"Wait he wasn't a trainer, how old was he?" Serena asked.

Ash shrugged, "Probably around eight or nine."

"And his parents let him travel across the continent with you two?" Serena said cynically.

"Well not just us, his sister May was there too." Ash replied.

"Oh? What was she like?" Serena asked with growing interest and anxiety.

Ash frowned and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Very disagreeable, stubborn as a sleeping Snorlax, and tough as nails." He then smiled fondly. "But she always came through when it counted and treated us like we were all part of her family."

Serena smiled a bit enviously, "Sounds like you guys had some good times."

Ash smiled as he remembered his friends. "Yeah, we had some great times together. I don't think I'll ever forget them."

Serena nodded absentmindedly, her thoughts stuck on Ash's former female companion. What kind of relationship did they have? Had he been thinking of this May during her adventures with him? Would he ever forget about her? All these thoughts churning in Serena's head were abruptly interrupted when a shadow dropped out of the bushes and leaped past her face. Her eyes followed the figure as it arced down from her left and into the foliage on her right.