Living in the Shadows

CHAPTER 6 REMEMBER THE DAY WE MET

(Third)

Jenna and King Darkrai were in the top branches of a thousand-year-old tree. It was still raining, and she was still crying.

She was in a daze when Zorua, Elgyem, and General Shiftry arrived after that lightning bolt struck Darkrai. The gist of what happened was that there was a Rockruff among the other Lycanroc. After they had gathered their fallen leader and took him away, little Rockruff, who was no more than three or four years old, called one of King Darkrai's generals. That general was Shiftry and he, with the help of Zorua and Elgyem, brought them to the tree he'd been using as a secret base while he gathered supplies and information. She later learned that this tree is where King Darkrai had shadow-jumped Zorua and Elgyem.

"I'm not as good as Healer is when it comes to treating the sick or injured," General Shiftry began. He had just given King Darkrai some freshly made Antidote for his poison and a salve for his battle injuries. "But over the last month and a half, I've learned how to do a fair job." He paused before adding without boasting; "In my own way."

Jenna said nothing, she just sat on her legs beside King Darkrai and cried.

"Not that I'm nitpicking, General Shiftry," Zorua began. "But why couldn't we have used Jenna's flower nectar?"

Jenna was too upset to speak, so Cresselia answered Zorua's question. "Zorua, do you remember what you were told regarding me, Darkrai and Jenna, and the flower nectar?"

"Yes, ma'am," she nodded. "You used every flower except one to heal both of them."

"Well, that much nectar all at once will make anyone who receives it immune to its healing effects later on in life."

"You mean it's not going to work on the King!" Both Zorua and General Shiftry exclaimed.

"That is correct," she replied solemnly.

And you're telling me this now? Jenna had finally stopped crying, but a few tears were still trailing down her eyes. She thought about the time she made that medicine for King Darkrai when he finally woke up from his coma.

You only added one or two drops to that medicine, Cresselia reminded her. All the nectar did was make it stronger.

"Wait a minute!" Zorua shouted. "That means it'll be useless on Jenna too if she gets sick or hurt!"

"All the more reason to be careful and stock up on medicinal supplies," Cresselia replied patiently.

After that, Elgyem began to leave the room.

"Hey, where are you going?" Zorua asked.

"To get some Lum berries!" He answered snippily without turning or stopping. "Or at least some Revival Herbs! I remember seeing a patch of them growing somewhere near here . . . What are you doing?" He added that last sentence when he saw General Shiftry and Zorua following him.

Their voices were fading and Jenna couldn't hear what they said to each other. Nor did she care. She just stayed where she was and watched over King Darkrai; tears still escaping from her eyes.

"What are you doing?" Elgyem demanded.

"Uh, we're going with you," Zorua replied as she and General Shiftry hurried to catch up with him.

"Zorua's right. The more hands we have, the more berries and herbs we can carry!" General Shiftry added. He knows that Elgyem is one of Malamar's spies, thanks to Captain Zoroark after she broke free from Malamar's spell, and he was not going to let the little Space Pokemon out of his sight.