Chapter 4 - Episode 4: Smoke & Fire

The Zahari Forest was an emerald ocean. Vast and full, it covered much of the region’s southwestern end. It is the only land route that connects the South East to the western corner of Egaia, however, these vast woods are home to some of the strongest wild Pokemon in the region. Many trainers attempt to cross this vast Emerald Ocean, but very few ever make it to the Deep Woods: the core of the forest. Those few who have were never seen again.
 
Regardless, many trainers use the surrounding towns that hug the forest’s edge to hunt and capture the wild Pokemon that call Zahari home. It is rumored that Pokemon captured here will grow to be some of the strongest in the world.
 
Episode 4: Smoke and Fire
 
The outer-edge of the Zahari Forest was like a jungle. Dense foliage covered the forest floor. The canopy of leafy trees cast an emerald glow about the forest as the sun’s powerful rays fought through to the grassy soil. Within this sea of grass, splashes of color populated the scenery. Reds, blues, whites and yellows were scattered about like confetti. Patches of wildflowers grew from the green soil, sprouted atop fallen trees, and danced in front of grass-covered boulders.
 
There was a serene ambiance within this realm. The tree leaves shimmied against themselves in the warm Springtime breeze. They grouped together to give a mystifying shadow puppet performance against the ground below. Bug Pokemon hugged the trunks of trees and sank into the backdrop. The song of the birds was carried along with the breeze in a harmonious orchestra that enveloped the ears with a classical melody that inspired many great composers of the past.
 
Every one of Adell’s senses was numbed with awe. The flower pollen danced like snowflakes. Even the very air was colored a phosphorescent green. It took the full might of the powerful sun’s rays just to break through the heavy canopy of trees. Sea-green eyes took in every small hill, every stone, and every branch covered in blooming flowers. Not even in his dreams could he imagine such a beautiful vista.
 
Karina, on the other hand, was far too preoccupied dwelling on the very recent past. Her normal peppy attitude seemed void as she dragged herself along behind the redhead. One arm was clutching the other tightly. Her eyes were low; watching her feet as she took slow, soundless steps. Her deep brown hair hung over her face. She hadn’t even noticed Adell was looking at her.
 
He turned to face his partner and, when he realized she wasn’t looking where she was going, he put his hands out to catch her as she bumped in to him.
 
Karina gasped, and took a step back. “Sorry…! Sorry… I… wasn’t paying attention.” Her voice was small. Never had such a talkative girl been so quiet.
 
“Karina,” the young man placed his warm hands on her shoulders. “What’s wrong? You haven’t been yourself since we visited Paital.” He looked deep into the girl’s brown eyes, and the girl’s face turned somewhat red. “What happened?”
 
Karina’s mouth opened, but nothing came out. She choked on her emotion. She gagged on her nerves. No one had ever looked so intensely into her eyes as he was. She felt like he was penetrating her with just his gaze. She felt like, with just his stare, he could undress every secret she poorly hid from him. Her eyes shimmered as she looked at her partner. She couldn’t tell him what was wrong. What would he think of her? She didn’t even know what to think of herself. The experience of… of getting raped… It was absolutely terrifying! But yet… just thinking about Officer Jenny’s moist pussy made Karina’s insides heat up. Her eyes drifted away as she recalled the officer’s tangy juices tickling her tongue and sliding down her throat.
 
Karina was so confused. Her eyes watered. Adell wanted an answer, but she just couldn’t produce one. How could she tell him that she liked getting raped? Since she liked it, did it even qualify as rape? On top of that, it was a woman who made her so wet between the legs. Did she like women now? Was she a lesbian?
 
“Karina…?” Concern was ever-present in Adell’s rolling voice.
 
Finally, she found the courage to speak. “Adell I… I just…!” It was difficult. Each letter weighed a hundred pounds in her throat: too big to swallow; too heavy to regurgitate. She looked at him. He was so close to her. His hands were warm. His face was handsome. Karina’s cheeks began to glow red. She could feel tightness in her lower stomach. Her legs felt like they were getting weaker by the second. “Adell…!” She almost moaned out his name as she called to him. “I just… I need to find out!” She pressed herself against him. Her large breasts fell against his chest. “Adell!”
 
The young man, not expecting such an intimate embrace, lost his balance. He went to take a step backwards, but his shin caught hold of an exposed root. He yelled as he fell backwards; the girl toppling over with him. His broad back thudded against the grass. “Oww…” He moaned. His arms instinctively wrapped themselves around Karina’s frame to protect her from the fall. When he opened his eyes there she was. Her beautiful brown face was only a few inches from his. Her cheeks were practically glowing red. The doe-eyed stare she possessed mirrored his own.
 
The birds sung them a love song.
 
Adell could feel Karina’s heavy breasts pressing against him. Her short skirt barely covered her underwear from her downed position. His thigh was practically between her legs. The heat generated from her lower region warmed him. Karina’s heart was pounding as she stared into Adell’s sea-green eyes. She felt embarrassed from her position on top of the trainer, but unlike the officer, he was so kind to her. He was gentle and caring. Karina felt like he would not judge her. He would not do her any harm. She could feel her passion rising with each passing second. Officer Jenny tried to take something very special away from Karina, but luckily, the girl was able to escape. If anyone was going to take Karina’s treasure, she felt as though it should be Adell.
 
Adell looked beautiful the way the shadows from the trees danced around his face. His hair was a radiant fire splayed out against the green grass. She felt her body being drawn to him. Her eyes closed. Her luscious lips pursed out somewhat. She wanted to feel him against her.
 
Adell’s face went red as he watched her. He could feel her body trembling. He could tell she was scared, but she continued to move her lips closer toward his. He felt his lower part stirring to life as he caught an inescapable view of her deep cleavage. Her luscious lips neared. He knew she was going to kiss him, and he knew that he wanted it as well. He closed his eyes. The image last present in his mind was that of her dark brown hair flowing around them; encasing them in a veil and separating them from reality. His lips pursed and prepared to meet hers with intimacy.
 
A jolt went through the trainer’s bodies like lightning when a scream echoed through the forest.
 
Both snapped their attention to the direction of the cry. Karina then looked down at her partner. A blush was still visible on her cheeks. There was a powerful hesitation; a magnetic force that kept them attached to each other. Still, they knew that someone was in danger, and they were probably the only ones who could assist.
 
Somewhat begrudgingly, Adell nodded to his partner. “Let’s go….”
 
Karina nodded in agreement. Her body was reluctant to leave him, yet she forced herself away regardless. As Adell rose to his feet, Karina hustled deeper into the woods towards the source of the noise. “This way!”
 
“Right!” There was a great hindrance in between his legs that caused him to chase after the trainer with an awkward gait.
 
 
Scrambling for safety against an overturned tree was a trembling young child. Her white spaghetti strap Lolita dress was stained with a mixture of dirt and grass. In front of her terrified eyes stood three wild Pokemon. With fur black as smoke, the skull-capped canine pups snarled viciously as they approached; their shackle bracelets rattling with each soft paw-press.
 
The tiny blonde-haired girl had no route of escape. Paralyzed was she by their red-eyed glares. The three approached, the biggest of the group taking lead. Step by step they came closer until the largest decided to go in for the kill. With a savage bark, it lunged forward. The sudden movement sparked another shrill scream from the child before she covered her eyes with her tiny arms.
 
A ball of furry fire slammed itself into the attacking canine. The two bodies landed, the red one on its four paws while the black body hit the ground and rolled to a stop. The shaken Pokemon barked ferociously at the red-furred pup.
 
When the little girl found the courage to remove her arms, her eyes widened with hopefulness. A hero had appeared. “Growlithe!”
 
Orange and red fur stood on end as the tiny pup growled at the three dark-furred canines. The downed dog quickly regained its footing and snarled at its attacker. It barked before stalking over towards the other two, who were already moving as well. Ruby red eyes stared down the lone Growlithe as the three Pokemon moved into triangle formation
 
The blonde-haired girl was helpless, and looked on as the four creatures readied for battle.
 
The leader barked, and the two followers charged. Their tiny little feet carried them through the grass at impressive speed. Growlithe braced himself: all his senses focused on the simultaneous attackers. With a jolt, he turned to the left attacker. The dark Pokemon tore through the grass in a sharp lunge, but Growlithe was able to dodge. Its heart pounded when all its nerves pulled the pup into an instinctive dodge, yet he was not quick enough to fully evade a glancing blow from the second dark canine. The third attack would be unavoidable.
 
With its footing rattled by the second attack, Growlithe was overtaken by the looming shadow that overcast him. With fangs reared, the smoke-colored leader descended upon the fiery pup like a demon preparing to drag a soul to the nether realm.
 
There was blunt collision as a small brown fist connected with the side of the dark Pokemon’s face.
 
Cubone delivered a heavy pound that sent the dog rolling back into the dirt.
 
“Bone!”
 
The ground Pokemon landed to its feet with bone-club in hand. Its eyes stared down the other two smoky canines fiercely, daring them to step forward.
 
“Good hit, Cubone!” Adell cheered as he and Karina arrived on the field in a hurry. Quickly taking his place close to the rock Pokemon, Adell stood firm with his partner.
 
Karina split off to find the young girl huddled against a log. “Are you okay? We’re here to help.”
 
Growlithe was less than grateful for this so-called rescue and barked fiercely at the strange Cubone. His protests fell short when the three attacking Pokemon regrouped to face down their new challengers.
 
“What are they…?” The redhead reached for his new Pokedex. Opening the tablet, he used the camera to scan one of the three dark-furred hellhounds.
 
“Houndour, the Dark Pokémon. Houndour travel in packs and communicate though barks in order to surround their prey.” Along with the computerized voice, a digital image of the canine Pokemon was displayed with its basic attributes. It was labeled as a Dark/Fire type with higher statistics in Speed and Special Attack power.
 
“Come on out, Togepi!” Karina removed a Pokeball from her belt and summoned the egg-baby Pokemon, Togepi.
 
The round creature danced and cheered after teleporting on to the field.
 
The pack of shadowy Houndours growled deeply as they regrouped.
 
Fear jettisoned itself into Togepi’s soft shell like a harpoon and she quickly retreated into the warm arms of her trainer with tears in its eyes.
 
“H-hey… There there... it’s okay. Maybe next time…” The brown-haired girl had no choice but to comfort the Pokemon. Still, a battle was about to commence.
 
The three dark Pokemon stood firm as they faced down their opponents. Fiery eyes scanned over the focused Cubone and protective Growlithe. Even more bothersome were the two trainers who interrupted their hunt. The odds of victory did not seem in their favor.
 
The leader of the small troop let out a sharp bark at the other two before slowing backing away. Its followers complied, and the three scampered off into the foliage.
 
The forest breathed a sigh of relief.
 
A weight was lifted from Adell’s tense shoulders. He smirked back towards Karina. The female trainer gently caressed the spiky head of her Pokemon. “It’s okay, Togepi. The big bad Pokemon are all gone now.” With the care of a new mother, she gently rocked her little egg baby until its tears stopped falling. “There you go.”
 
Growlithe barked sharply. Its fur turned a deep red as it turned its attention to Adell’s Cubone.
 
The rock Pokemon faced the challenging Growlithe and stared the canine down. “Quu…”
 
“No, Growlithe! Don’t!” The blonde child pleaded to the Pokemon, but with flat ears, it seemed the canine was less interested in words.
 
“Hey, we didn’t come here to fight you. We came to help!” Adell’s voice was unsteady.
 
“He’s telling the truth!” Karina confirmed. “We’re not here to hurt you. Promise!”
 
“Growlithe, don’t fight them!”
 
So many messages bombarded the defensive Pokemon. Its growls lessened, but uncertainty seemed more frightening than these foreigners invading his space. The Cubone that stood before him made no hasty advances. The Togepi resting in the female trainer’s arms seemed more scared of him than he was of everyone else. He looked back at the male trainer. Growlithe snorted defiantly at the redhead, then slowly backed away.
 
“No, Growlithe!” The little girl cried. “Wait!”
 
But wait it did not.
 
The Growlithe took off into the forest. Its orange fur was enveloped by the greenery.
 
“Come back!” The little girl went to pursue the Pokemon, but Karina was able to catch her by the arm.
 
“You can’t go out there!”
 
“But I have to help Growlithe!” She struggled to break free. “He’s in danger!”
 
“In danger of what?”
 
The little girl found it impossible to escape. Eventually she settled, then fell quiet.
 
With no enemies in sight, Adell pulled out his Pokeball and aimed at Cubone. The rock Pokemon jumped to the side and avoided the red beam, then barked defiantly at the trainer. “Quu!”
 
“H-hey!”
 
The Pokemon violently shook its bone club at the trainer. “Quu Quu Quu!”
 
Meanwhile, Karina returned a squealing Togepi back to its Pokeball, and then kneeled down next to the blonde-haired girl. In a soft voice, she spoke. “My name’s Karina. Adell and I came looking for you after we heard you were out here all by yourself.”
 
The girl looked towards Karina with bubbly blue eyes. She remained silent, however.
 
Karina smiled. “What are you doing out here, anyway? It’s too dangerous to travel by yourself.”
 
The girl exclaimed, “But I have to help Growlithe!”
 
“It’s okay. It’s okay.” The trainer’s voice remained even-toned. “Tell us what’s going on. We can help. Right, Adell?”
 
Cubone angrily danced through a storm of red lightning from Adell’s Pokeball. “Bone! Bone! Bone! Bone! Bone!”
 
“That’s right!” Adell shouted as he battled with his own Pokemon. “We’re here to help! You’ve got nothing to worry about!”
 
“Bone!”
 
Karina forced an awkward laugh as she watched her partner struggle with his Pokemon. “See? The best of the best…” The girl looked back and forth between the two trainers. Her eyes were terrified, but softened from the comfort of Karina’s voice. “How about we start with your name?”
 
The blue-eyed girl stared up at Karina. Finally, she spoke with a soft voice. “Lilith…” Her voice shook. “Lilith Myst…”
 
Karina paused. Her eyes analyzed the girl for a brief moment. The trainer’s mind played with the name Myst for a brief moment. She then decided to revisit her thoughts when they were securely out of danger. “Wow. That’s a beautiful name, Lilith!”
 
“Thank you.” The girl smiled back.
 
“So, tell me: what made you come all the way out here?”
 
The stress returned to her voice as she explained. “Because I have to help him! All the other Growlithe have turned against him, and now the Houndours are attacking and I just don’t know what to do!” Tears poured from her eyes and spilled down her cheeks.
 
Karina wrapped a warm arm around the child and hugged her tightly. “It’s going to be okay. We’re here to help.” With a sweet smile, she spoke. “How did you find all of this out?”
 
“Well… I can talk to Pokemon.”
 
Adell paused. “You can talk to Pokemon?”
 
Cubone, taking advantage of his trainer’s ceasefire, dealt a heavy club blow to the redhead’s right foot. Adell shouted in pain and released the Pokeball. “Bone!” The Cubone smacked a homerun right into his trainer’s forehead. Adell toppled over like a fallen tree, and the victorious rock Pokemon huffed at an easy victory.
 
Karina couldn’t help but giggle at her hapless partner’s blundering. It seemed Lilith also took some enjoyment in the spectacle. “Yes, I can. And Cubone really doesn’t like being inside a Pokeball.”
 
Karina released the little girl, then continued. “Why are the Houndours attacking the Growlithes?”
 
Lilith took a deep breath. She looked over towards the two trainers before continuing her tale. “Well… it was about a month ago… Growlithe wandered too deep into the forest where the Houndours controlled and… accidentally burned it down…”
 
There was a pause of disbelief from the two trainers.
 
Lilith continued. “Now, the Houndours have come here for revenge! They’ve already taken over most of this side of the forest and are trying to push the Growlithe out completely! If they’re not stopped, they might kill the Growlithes!”
 
There was a stunned silence. Not even Karina could find words to express her concern. The two trainers looked towards one-another.
 
Adell’s face was the first to swell with confidence. “Let’s go talk to the other Growlithe.” He sat up from the ground; a bright red Pokeball indent glowing on his forehead. “We can deal with the Houndours after.”
 
Karina’s eyes drifted down towards Lilith, who seemed hopeful after hearing Adell’s words. “Let’s give it a try, Lilith. Whaddya say?”
 
The little girl’s blue eyes rose to Karina’s kind face. A smile formed, and the blonde nodded enthusiastically.
 
 
 The emerald green of the Zahari forest only thickened the deeper they traveled. Plant-life flourished on all sides of the group as they traversed through the wilds. Bird Pokemon sang enchanting songs that danced along the warm springtime air. Bug Pokemon skittered across the trunks of trees, keeping a mindful set of eyes out for predators while making their nests. The group was led by Adell and his Cubone with Lilith directing them from the rear. It wasn’t long before they appeared in a secluded grove.
 
A grand tree stood erect in the center. A natural Monolith, the tree stretched high into the overhead canopy. The trunk of this mighty oak giant was as wide as a house. Its aged wrinkles told stories of century’s past, and how this tree is one of many siblings who watched this forest grow. This grandfather tree stood surrounded by a crystal blue moat that sunk deep into the ground. Its hardened roots formed a miniature island sturdy enough to support its full weight. A heavy branch stretched out like an arm from the tree’s lower level. This arm reached out to meet the edge of the grove. Its leafy hand was sewn into the ground by weeds and flowers, creating a bridge that connected this tree to land.
 
“Wow…” The humans approached the area as if it was sacred ground. Adell’s eyes traveled up the tree’s central trunk until it burst through the green leaves of the forest ceiling.
 
“Amazing…” Karina’s smile was as wide as the colorful grove; abundant in lilies and lion flowers.
 
“This is where the Growlithe live.” Lilith stepped from Karina’s side and walked to the start of the Tree Branch Bridge.
 
Cubone, wary in nature, examined the area carefully. He could see the tiny footprints of quadruped Pokemon indented in the grass and leaves. As the group marveled at the secluded area, they were yet to realize the several sets of eyes keened in on their position.
 
The company of travelers crossed the arched bridge over the gentle lake toward the base of the Growlithe. Lilith clutched Karina’s hand for both comfort and protection. Adell and his Cubone led the group to the other side and stood before the grand tree that held the isle together. The smell of sweet sap overpowered the senses, and a feeling of peace swept over the trainers’ bodies like the feathers of foreplay against one’s skin.
 
The texture of the ground beneath their shoes was different. The surface was uneven. Roots from the mighty tree composed the land on which they walked. Cubone’s tiny legs had trouble adjusting to the dips in the terrain. Stumbling occasionally, The Pokemon compensated by hopping from root to root. He couldn’t help but feel as though the Humans took their long legs for granted.
 
They entered the massive trunk of the tree and were met by the light glow of the phosphorescent fungi that called this place home. Deep blues and luminescent greens mixed together to create a serene glow to an otherwise eerie passage.
 
Before long, the travelers entered the central base of the tree: a large dwelling with a carpet of grass and accented by the multiple breeds of wildflower that flourish in the Zahari forest. Light from the outside poured in to the central floor through a window of burnt wood.
 
The group stopped once they entered the interior. Looking around, they noticed several nests of dried leaves, grass, and twigs. As their eyes wandered about the dwelling, one question remained unanswered. “So… where’s the Growlithe?”
 
As if waiting for Adell to call them out, a flood of eyes filled the darker regions of the den where sunlight could not reach.  Hostile growls reverberated against the once peaceful ambiance.
 
The pack of ember pups emerged with fiery orange fur and canine jowls flush. Karina quickly estimated twenty Pokemon slowly approaching them. “Adell…” Her voice was flavored with uncertainty.
 
Before another word was spoken, Lilith broke her grip with Karina and stepped forward. “We’re not here to hurt you!” Her large heart contained passion far greater than her tiny lungs.
 
“Lilith!” Karina called her back to safety, but the young girl’s attention was focused on her goal.
 
A single Growlithe, visibly larger than the rest, stepped forward and snarled viciously.
 
“Please listen!” The child begged. “We want to help you!”
 
The pack of wild Pokemon began barking and snarling at the group. The girl’s passion may have been strong, but there was fear in both her eyes and her words. The dominant canine Pokemon could find little reason to respect this passive Human’s request.
 
Without even realizing this primitive social norm, Adell stepped next to Lilith with a fire in his eyes and a boom in his voice. “Listen to her!” The trainer’s demand even caught the attention of his rebellious Cubone.
 
There was a hesitation before the leader of the pack directed its hostility towards the redheaded trainer. Through a series of snarls and barks, Lilith’s countenance washed over with a look of hopelessness. Discovering this, Karina asked, “What are they saying.”
 
With a shaky voice, the young child spoke. “He’s saying that the Houndour are already on their way. That they’re going to try and wipe out all of the Growlithe. He said that they don’t have the energy to waste attacking us, but if we do not leave now, then they will.”
 
After hearing the girl’s translation, Adell fired back. “We can help you protect your home if you just trust us!”
 
Anger caused a gust of fire to slip through the leader’s teeth as it barked.
 
The trainer’s eyes fell on to Lilith, and she translated. “He said, the last time we trusted one to do the pack’s job, they brought back the full fury of our enemies.”
 
“Do they mean that other Growlithe?” Karina inquired.
 
Before more words could be exchanged, a frantic Growlithe dashed in from behind the trainers. It shot through the legs of the young Adell and presented itself in front of the pack leader. The two exchanged barks in a quick conversation, and Lilith gasped. She turned towards Adell in a panic. “It says the Houndours are right outside!”
 
With barely any time to react, the leader of the Growlithe gave off a series of commands, and then charged forward with his full family at his tail.
