Pokemon Fan Fiction / Pokemon Fan Fiction ❯ Charon's Pursuit ❯ Lily and Calien ( Chapter 3 )

It felt like an eternity. There, inside the cave, barely illuminated by the glow of the moon in the sky, the three of them – a male vulpix, his female counterpart (close to his side,) and Charon – stood opposite of each other, apprehension keeping one side from conversing with the other as they were entwined in an uneasy stare. Having never met, but knowing fully well the violent potential each side possessed, neither vulpix nor raichu could determine how to break the ice that petrified the lot of them, even though Charon had attempted a weak greeting. However, this could not go on forever.

The raichu attempted to talk a second time, keeping his tone as gentle as possible. “Well, um…how are you two doing?” Charon managed to eep out, growing tenser as he mentally slapped himself for asking such an inane question.

“To be honest…I’ve felt better,” the male vulpix responded hesitantly. His dark-red paws dug slightly into the rock below him. The female didn’t respond, for out of the three she possessed the most fright. She pressed close to the side of her companion. She whispered something into the male’s ear. Charon couldn’t hear the words, but it was painfully obvious she wanted to get away from the raichu as soon as humanly possible.

Charon sighed, his tension killed by guilt for the female’s dismay. He leaned against the face of the rock behind him, and slid down into a sitting position, his long tail laying flat to the side. He stared down to the ground, as the two vulpixes continued to stare.

“I…well…um…” The raichu tried to say, but the words he wanted to say eluded him. Charon wanted to apologize, to explain why he hid himself, and to assure them that they could stay in the cave without worry for harm. But he didn’t know how. Charon was certain whatever he said would mean little, for there was no reason the two foxes should trust him. He was a raichu. Raichus were selfish brutes, not deserving of any trust…

The male vulpix summoned the courage to speak. “W-w-why were you hiding from us, raichu?”

“Charon. My name is Charon,” the raichu said grimly.

“…Oh. Charon…why were you hiding from us?”

“Hell if I should know,” muttered Charon, looking away from the frightened foxes. “I just wanted to stay out of trouble. But, as you can see, that backfired hella-quick.”

“…Oh,” responded the male, taken aback by the change in demeanor.

Charon looked back towards them. He saw that they were still terrified. Dammit.

“I know you have no reason to believe me, but I don’t want to hurt either of you,” Charon said, “All I want is a place to stay for the night. The three of us could sleep here without any trouble, since there’s plenty of room…but you don’t trust me at all. I don’t want to drive you out, but something tells me I’d get driven out anyway…just because you have no way to trust me.”

Once again the foxes were taken aback, their tension now wavering slightly, gradually replaced by neutral uncertainty. It seemed now that they were not quite sure what to make of Charon. Hardly aggressive the raichu appeared, for he seemed more…melancholy. The impression certainly had an averse affect on the female, who now seemed close to expressing pity, a feeling she never thought she would consider for a raichu.

“Maybe…if we got to know you better, we could trust you?” The female meekly suggested.

Her male companion, for a moment, turned his head to her, his face contorted in surprise…but concern regarding the raichu in front of him demanded that he keep his focus on Charon. Though tensions were easing, no one really knew where all this was going to lead to.

“That wouldn’t be a bad idea; but that could take a long time between the three of us, and it’s already late. I’m sure you two would rather get some shuteye. I know I would.” Charon said.

A moment of silence passed.

The male vulpix broke the silence. “I think I have an idea, Charon. How about we let my mate, Lily, rest in the cave, while you and I take duty as the night watch? That way, we can keep an eye on each other.”

“What? Calien, no!” Lily protested, “You’re the one who needs sleep! You’ve done the night watch for five straight nights!”

“Honestly, Lily, I’m perfectly fine,” Calien rebutted, “Also, if you were to be the night watch with Charon, I would not be able to sleep a wink anyway.”

Charon sighed. He’s got the worst-case scenario in his mind…I wouldn’t blame him. Vulpix like Lily are prime targets for the broken…even if the season isn’t spring.

“What am I, a twig?!” Lily cried, baring her teeth as she confronted Calien, her pointy ears folded back in anger. “If Charon DID try anything, I’d roast him good! Now go to sleep, you NEED to rest!”

“And if something happens to you, then what? Don’t take an unnecessary risk!” Calien cried back, now growling. The two vulpix were now fixated on each other, the flames of bickering surging between the two, as Charon watched the spectacle unfold in disbelief, hoping the two wouldn’t resort to violence.

“I’m NOT a weakling!”

“You were terrified of him two minutes ago!”

“So were you!”

“If he attacked us, you would’ve run away!”

“So would YOU!”

“I don’t care! What he could do to you is infinitely worse than death, and I will never let even the risk of such an atrocity to occur so long as I draw breath!”

“AAAAGH!” Lily cried, “You want to be a night zombie? Fine! You can just forget about tomorrow! SEE IF I CARE!” And with that, the female vulpix angrily trotted a small distance away from Calien, and lied down on her stomach upon the rock of the cave, curling up to feign sleep.

What? What’s so important about tomorrow? Charon thought, eyeing Lily curiously. The raichu pondered the possibilities, taking a few things into account: the recent arrival of the spring season, the female’s youthful appearance, and the look of pure dismay on the equally youthful male’s face as the declaration of his vixen sunk into his mind, not to mention the welling of tears that threatened to stain his cheeks. Ooooooh. THAT. Charon couldn’t help but let escape a minor grin from his face, seeing how skillfully the female made use of her resources. But that grin was quickly erased as he watched poor Calien literally slink down, devastated by the impromptu ultimatum.

“T-t-that…that…that’s not FAIR!” Calien whined, his ears hanging limp, as well as his tails. “I’ve waited my whole life for that moment, and now you want to barter it so I’d get a few hours of sleep?! This is cruel and unusual!”

“I’m not liiiisteniiiing, I’m…yawn…oh so sleepy…” the maiden vulpix sang softly.

Calien scurried up to his mate, stricken with panic. “No, wait! Please! Don’t do this to me, Lily! I just want to be a good mate! Have a heart! LILY!”

Lily slowly uncurled herself, looking up to Calien’s tear-stricken face as she laid on her stomach. “Calien…I know that you love me, and you want to protect me…but if you try to be my savior all the time you’re gonna die before you ever see our litters.” She rose to her paws, and closed the distance between herself and Calien, comforting him with the soft rubbing of the side of her muzzle against his. The male fox sighed, resigning himself to this special comfort.

“Charon doesn’t seem so bad, but I’ll keep an eye on him. Let me protect you for tonight, ok?” Lily asked gently, delicately pulling away from the embrace.

Charon thought it was a good time to speak up. “I can promise you that my paws will be absolutely hands-off,” the raichu stated, rising up upon his hind-legs. “And If anyone tries anything on her, I’ll show no mercy.”

“And what if I’m the one that has to save your sorry butt?” Lily asked, poking fun.

Charon sighed. “Whatever. You cover my six, and I’ll cover yours.”

Lily cocked her head. “My ‘six’?”

“It’s an expression,” Charon replied.

“Well,” The male vulpix said, defeated, “I guess I’ll respect your wishes, Lily, and get some rest for tonight.”

“Ok!” Lily said happily, “Charon and I will be right at the mouth of the cave, ok, sweetie?”

“Alright.”

The raichu and the female vulpix, now that the matter had been settled, walked calmly towards the mouth of the cave, keeping a respectable distance from each other. So much for avoiding trouble, thought Charon.

“Charon?” Calien spoke up.

The raichu stopped and turned around. “Yeah?”

“I just want to let you know that my sense of smell is very keen. If anything were to happen to lily, I assure you that I will not stop hunting you until you are dead.”

“Calien, please,” Lily protested, “It’s been a rough night, but I’ll be fine. Now go rest.”

“Fine, fine,” the male vulpix conceded, laying down upon the ground, curling up for a night’s rest, but facing towards the mouth of the cave in order to keep an eye on Charon.

I really do hate paranoid creatures, Charon thought in irritation, as he turned back and continued towards the opening of the cave, following Lily, who had assumed the lead. It’s a wonder that they even trust themselves…

I just hope that the rest of the night is calm.