Four Paws and A Tale

Chapter 3: Jacob

Suddenly we were out of the forest and on the edge of cliff, I don't know how long we just ran for, but my aching body told me that it wasn't a short distance. I think we lost our pursuers a while back but the Vulpix still seemed to be in a rush.

She didn't stop running until she reached a tree by the edge of the cliff, she dug around in the bushes before beckoning me to her. The thought occurs to me that she could be leading me to my death, but I saved her back there, didn't I? Surely that's got to count for something.

A small tunnel had been dug out between the tree roots and bushes, it was an awkward space, but I made it work, going down into the tunnel, it was dark for a moment before I noticed a light. I cautiously made my way towards it and found myself in a large cavern which overlooked the ocean. I couldn't keep the awe out of my voice.

"Where are we?"

"We're inside Sharpedo bluff."

The Vulpix was sitting by the edge of the cavern looking out at the sea below, I looked around some more before joining her. She breathed out a sad sigh before she began talking.

"Thank-you for saving me, who are you?"

"Name's Jacob, nice to meet ya."

She cocked her curiously at that.

"Jacob? Weird name for an Eevee."

Gee, thanks.

"And you are?"

"I'm Pixie."

"Pixie, seriously?"

That name seems generic for a Vulpix, I mean come on, it's not original in the slightest, if this was a fanfic or something I'd get it but a real Vulpix named Pixie? And I'm strange because my name is Jacob?

"What, you don't like my name?"

Okay she didn't sound happy about that, she sounded huffy, and that means she's on route to becoming angry and if there is one mistake I've made in life and do not want to make again it's this, never anger a female.

"Uh, no, it's a nice name."

Now that I'm saying this I'm realising its true, guess generic names aren't that bad after all, hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I thought that would make her happier, but now she just seemed annoyed.

"I told you already, I'm out of your league."

Damn, I can't win.

"Yea sorry, I don't know why you think I'm interested but I'm not so..."

"But earlier you said I was cute, were you lying? I don't like liars."

Warning bells went off in my head, abort! Abort the mission! Change the Subject, do something, it's a trap!

"Right, yeah... Um, you found me unconscious right? Yeah, my head was pretty sore, and I wasn't thinking straight, I mistook you for someone else."

Man, the silence was deafening.

She looked at me with a doubtful face and an arched eyebrow.

"Fine, sure, whatever you say."

Oh, thank goodness.

"At least now I don't have to worry about a love crazed Eevee following me everywhere."

...

Right, sure, either she is super vain or something similar has happened before, either way I feel sorry for her, but now, it's time to work out what the hell is going on around here.

"So... I got a few questions."

"Okay."

"Why were those Pokémon following us earlier? And why did they look so... wild?"

Now she's looking at me like I'm an idiot.

"Are you kidding me? What rock have you been living under?"

"Uh, I hit my head pretty hard, I can't remember anything..."

No need to tell her I'm a human from an alternate universe with no Pokémon but she did just tell me she doesn't like liars, here's to hoping the truth never comes out.

"Right of course, all I know is;"

She bought it, now we're getting somewhere.

"About two weeks ago, Pokémon started going crazy, they weren't themselves, they turned against each other, it seemed like they'd lost their minds. Some changed, others didn't, I don't know why."

I was about to ask another question, but she predicted it, is this Vulpix a psychic type or something?

"As for legendary and mythical Pokémon, I don't know, they disappeared and haven't been seen since, no-one knows what's happening or why. All the Pokémon that weren't changed went into hiding, you occasionally see them when out foraging, but, it's a survival of the fittest, always was but now, Pokémon hunt without purpose, they kill for sport."

That hit like a ton of bricks, some Pokémon's Pokedex entries suggested that there was a natural order, a fight for survival but this, this is like The Hunger Games or something. My Vulpix pal rises and walks away to a straw bed.

"Anyway, I'll let you stay here tonight, as thanks for saving me, you can sleep in that bed over there."

I follow the direction she pointed her paw in until I notice a second bed, it was like hers, though slightly smaller. I settle on the bed and am about to offer my thanks, but she cuts me off. Curled into a ball on her bed, eyes closed, she says;

"If you give away my hideout to anyone else or if you touch me, I will either throw you off the cliff or leave you to be hunted down by the mongrels outside, I don't care which."

...

That was intense, she wasn't looking at me, her eyes were even closed, but I believed every word of the threat, so I shut my mouth, curled into a ball of my own and took one last glance at the ocean before letting sleep take me.