Pokemon Heroes: Sinnoh Saga [Book 1]

Chapter 43: The Pokemon Poachers

"Some people in this world will stop at nothing to achieve wealth and fame. They will abuse others; they will abuse Pokémon. They will lie, they will cheat, they will steal, they will kill. The Black Claw Gang is an example of such people. They're not around anymore, but in my youth, they were one of the most notorious group of criminals known for stealing people's Pokémon and poaching rare and wild Pokémon for profit. The Black Claw Gang were one the world's largest traders of illegal Pokémon, second only to Team Rocket. It would be many years before we finally brought them to their knees, and we clashed several times on our adventures. Every time we met, their tactics grew eviler and more wretched. The unfortunate part of it all is that so long as greed exists, there will always be people like the Black Claw Gang in this world."

It was noon when Sam saw the smoke crest over the tree line a half a kilometre away. Sam tugged on the reins of his Rapidash, Grey Flame, named so for the plumes of majestic grey flame that billowed from his mane and tail.

As he pulled on the Pokémon's reins, he slowed himself down to a light canter, then, to a full stop.

The Pokémon let out a snort, blowing smoke and small jets of grey flame from his nostrils, then tossed his head, and began to breath heavily.

Sam's friends, Niya, Jeremy and Alyssandra, followed suit, slowing their Rapidash down before stopping.

Sam yanked the reins a bit and turned Grey Flame around so that they both faced the others.

"What's wrong?" asked Niya, taking a drink of water from her canteen before offering some to her Rapidash.

"The smoke," Sam said, as if that explained everything. When he realized it didn't, he continued, "There's too much of it to be a regular traveller's camp. Most travelling groups use a single fire, one smokestack, right? Look there; three of them. Three fires."

"So?" asked Alyssandra as she gave her Rapidash, Chestnut, a gentle pat down the side of his neck, "They could be a really large group, or maybe some loggers or miners, or hikers even."

"That's not all that throws me off about that smoke though," added Sam, "The last few kilometres; have you noticed there's no Pokémon or animals, at all? Not even birds or Bird Pokémon flying in the sky overhead or singing in the trees. No bugs or Bug Pokémon either; and they're usually everywhere, whether humans pass by them or not."

"I...well, I suppose the loggers or whoever they are could've scared off the others. But you've got a point about the Bug Pokémon," admitted Jeremy, who stroked a bloated and sickly-looking Pikachu, the Pokémon laying across the saddle like a U-shaped mattress, looking like he was ready to vomit.

"How is he by the way?" asked Sam, nodding towards Pikachu.

Jeremy shrugged, still petting his Pokémon. "He's still sick. He was up all-night munching on the berries Valentina and Cynthia gave us. The glutton," Jeremy let out a sigh and gave a small smile to his Pikachu, "He's like a child sometimes—then again Professor Rowan did say that training a wild Pokémon would be different."

Alyssandra chuckled, walking up beside Jeremy's Rapidash and scratching Pikachu between the ears. "Yeah, different is exactly what Pikachu is. Still I hope he gets better."

"Give him something for his stomach while we're gone. I feel bad for him, riding on a saddle like that while he's sick. It must make the pain worse," said Sam as he rummaged through his bag for some herbs for Pikachu.

"I will, thanks. But you know I'd put him the in a Poké Ball if hadn't lost it. He's so stubborn about it you know."

Sam laughed and handed Jeremy some herbs. "Crush them down as fine as you can, put the powder in boiled water until it turns dark green and make him drink it all," explained Sam, "And if he's still sick after give him some of the ginger root in Lyss' bag. She should also have the pestle and mortar my uncle gave me."