Farewell Cove Crest!

The Vaporeon lets out a gasp as you charge up to his side, of the mind to meet the presumed threat together. Coming up next to him, you see the bed that once held the captive Oshawott now barren save for the two pieces of kelp binding her left torn upon the sheets. With a tap to his shoulder to signal your readiness, he gives a quick nod in agreement, never taking his eyes from the room. As Lyra, moderately slowed by her stature, stomps up to the both of you, Arro leaps forth into the bedroom, taking the right and leaving you to cover the left.

The adrenaline pumping through your veins has your fur standing stiff and bristled as your arms come up defensively. The second or two that it takes to scan the corner of the room moves at a snail's pace, your heart beating in your ears all the while. The tension dissipates somewhat when you realize that your frantic searching reveals nothing out of the norm. Finding the bookshelf, nightstand, and various other commonplace bedroom items are all undisturbed, you quickly whirl to appraise what Arro’s found.

Again, very little is out of place, though you can see the Vaporeon stood firm with his tail flicking defensively behind him. As you follow his gaze, you can see what has the man on edge. The thin wooden slats that covered the window have been shattered, leaving a clear view to the pier’s end just feet from the hut and the sea stretching far into the horizon beyond. Lyra enters in a hurry, sweeping aside the shell curtain as you hop over the bed to stand beside Arro. As you come to a stop next to him, you perceive the reason for his continued agitation.

With the new angle afforded you, the snarling visage of the infected Jona comes into view. She stands at the edge of the wooden planks, inches from the endless water, her eyes locked onto the pair of you. Chancing a look to the fox, you can see his resolve wavering, eyes drawn tight and on the verge of tears. He retains his guarded pose, though you can tell if battle were to be joined, he might not throw himself at the otter as readily as he had the Quagsire. However, as the Milotic approaches from behind, further upsetting the odds in your favor, it looks like he might not have too.

Even in her deranged state, Jona maintains some capacity for self-preservation, taking a step back towards the water. This cuts Arro deep, you realize as you see his posture drop with him unconsciously taking a step toward the broken window. “Jona… Please..” He begins shakily, distress unmasked in his voice. “We can-..!” His plea, predictably, falls on deaf ears as she silences him with a hiss, baring her fangs before turning and diving headlong into the crashing waves below. The Vaporeon lets out a soft whimper before attempting to give chase.

He never makes it a step before a large Milotic hand clamps around his arm, denying him the futile pursuit. He begins to tug at the grip before Lyra gently soothes, “Let her be, my friend. There is nothing more we can do for her..” This seems to break him of his mania, a look of true sorrow replacing the worried one he’d worn. His eyes stay affixed to the spot where his companion had jumped, and you begin to wonder if he and the poor woman had been more than just neighbors. The expression Arro now wears would seem to indicate so.

The next few minutes are for what tears may come as you allow the man to grieve in his own way, silently staring out toward the rolling ocean. You give him the space he needs as Lyra holds him, offering what small comforts she can.

“She is no longer a threat to herself or the people of Cove Crest.” Lyra softly prompts, trying to shake the sullen Vaporeon from his gloom. “Perhaps… when at last this is all over, we will see her again.” Arro looks to his chieftain, offering a small thankful smile, though you can tell he is just trying to be polite. After a deep steadying breath, he straightens himself out, standing tall once more.

“I appreciate your words Elder Lyra. Truly.” The tremble is gone from his tone, now adopting his normal usual style of speech. He gives her supporting arm a sincere pat before turning to regard you, having never left his side. “And to you, Kale.” Following your kind nod, he concludes, “Rushing along to support my rash advance… It’s heartening to know I inspire such heroics…” You feel a bit the gloom fade as that signature smirk spreads across his muzzle, “... or foolhardiness~” The chuckle you share is short lived but genuine and sorely needed in any case.

The cleanup is quick and wordless, but the menial task does well to draw attention away from the day’s abysmal events. Lyra even offers a cup of tea to the both of you, stating it’s a home recipe derived from something called a ‘Pomeg’ berry. Taking a seat beside Arro in the main room, you eagerly taste the beverage, finding the flavor to be sweet and tangy with an oddly satisfying bit of spice. Regardless, the drink is invigorating for all parties and raises spirits considerably. Conversation eventually resumes, Lyra speaking openly of her worries for the village.

“... Which brings me to something I’ve been **** to reassess…” There is a note of turmoil in the womans tone, causing the Vaporeon to look on in concern. “It has become clear that my hopes of preserving Cove Crest, our long standing home, were in vain…” Arro seems as though he is about to interject, possibly sensing what is to come, but he respects the look Lyra gives him, and hesitantly bites his tongue. “I know it is difficult to accept, my friend. This place has been so good to us and we’ve cultivated my good friends and even more memories from our time here. That said…” The Milotic casts a glance down to her half full cup of tea, swirling it idly.

“I will not let my pride cost us one more friend, one more member of our family… I’m afraid my mind is made up.” Arro, defeated as he appears, nods his acceptance all the same. The woman continues, speaking directly to the Vaporeon, “Do not consider this a commentary on your abilities, Arro. I’ve no doubt that your efforts are the very reason we’ve survived as long as we have. Still, it is time for what remains of the Cove to make haste to the reef, that we might weather this vile plague.” She turns her eyes to you and she finishes, “Until such time that some brave soul might free us from this terrible burden.” The vote of confidence she grants you makes your heart swell, and you can only hope to meet some small measure of her expectations.

“When you are prepared, I ask that you take Kale along and spread my edict to the people. We will be made whole once more.” The declaration from the stalwart leader again proves the Vaporeons faith is not misplaced in this woman.

The next hour or so is spent touring the village and informing the few folk still braving the mainland of their imminent return to the sea. Some bawk and scoff at the information, but in the end, all respect the will of their Elder. While a few of the seafaring pokemon are wary of the strange Sneasel being led about by their gallant protector, most warm to the new face. One particularly endearing encounter with an elderly Azumarill couple that you were helping to pack their belongings, ends with the aged woman referring to you as a ‘rather handsome young gentleman’. The praise caused her husband to cock a brow before playfully telling you to "not be gettin’ any ideas!” Another laugh, another family sent to meet up with the growing party of departing pokemon before all that was left were you and Arro.

The walk toward the gangplank that would lead you back to dry land is a quiet one. Though he had protested, Arro would ultimately respect the wishes of his Chieftain in that he must aid the group as they made their way through the unknown depths. The pair of you stop just before the slanted walkway back down to the beach, quietly watching the waves crash upon the shore, apparently neither of you wanting to be the one to say goodbye. Eventually, the plunge must be taken and, naturally, it is Arro who speaks first.

“Well my friend, I hope you enjoyed your time in Cove Crest.” You turn to look upon that grinning face, the one you come to know so well these past two days, “...Despite the ‘difficulties’, that is~”. You share in his smile affirming that it was indeed a memorable experience that you’d carry for all time. Extending a hand for a friendly shake, you are startled but wholly unsurprised when the man grabs your forearm and draws you into a tight hug. “As will I, Kale… As will I” You let yourself be held for a moment, allowing the emotions to whirl about inside you. The sensation of the firm embrace coupled with that opportunistic tail curling about one ankle will do well to keep you warm on the colder nights during your journey. “I’d join you if I could, my friend.”

You draw back just enough to give the Vaporeon an appreciative grin before replying, “We go where we are needed most. I understand Lyra’s reasoning, as the whole of Cove Crest would be lost without your ‘charms’ ”. The resultant ‘hah… hah…’ from the man is punctuated with a friendly shake before he releases you from his clutches. With little else to be said, you both bid each other a proper farewell and you turn to make your way down the plank, Arro watching as you go.

As your hindpaws make contact with the smooth, pliant sand of the beach, a sharp whistle directs your attention back to the man. Your timing is good, thankfully, as you’ve just enough warning to snag a thrown object out of the air before it collides with your face. Arro congratulates you on a good catch between giggles as you turn the bottle of his homemade bathing lather over in your hand.

“Don’t you dare ruin my work on that fur by getting yourself gobbled up, tree cat!” You laugh at his somewhat morbid joke and voice your thanks as you deposit it into your satchel along with the other items. Arro continues his taunting. “At least not until you’ve come back to…”

FIX MY DOOR

A jolt runs up your spine when those three spoken words catch in your ear. Your body stiffens and your fur stands on end as you FEEL the Vaporeons hands running down your back, gliding over your hip, and to your utter shock, delivering a sharp pinch exactly where he had earlier that day. Your face goes flush and a single pulse catches a ride on the heartbeat that travels down between your legs, causing your otherwise undisturbed sheath to twitch with need. The feeling of unannounced euphoria lasts only the span of a second, but its effects are slowly becoming apparent. Praying that your reaction to the embarrassing incident went unnoticed, you quickly turn your back to the village, trying to hide your predicament with a friendly wave.

Arro’s following “Arceus guide you!” assuages your fears of being caught for only a moment before the worrying confusion of what happened replaces them. As you walk, you feel yourself getting hotter below the waist, even panting a bit to dispel the heat in your cheeks. A discrete look down to your nethers confirms your fears and you watch the tip of your pokehood starting to slip free of its home. Wanting to remove yourself from this shameful, albeit puzzling experience as quickly as possible, you break into a measured jog toward the tall grass you had sprinted through three days prior. Putting the odd happening out of your mind in the hopes that it will fade on its own, you look beyond the vegetation to the looming tree line. Eventually, as you reach the grasslands, you focus on what you have learned and how, at long last, you have a goal to set your course by. As you pass between the eye level blades of grass, you stare onward, considering the distant forest and the new adventures within.