Uh Oh...

Torrent within

The fur on the back of your neck bristles as your vision, still weak from exhaustion, detects a darkened shape. It crouches opposite you just behind a cloth and straw pile bed. You freeze, one gasp escaping your mouth, no doubt alerting the figure to the fact that it’s been spotted. Time seems to slow as the sounds of the storm is drowned out by the pounding in your chest. The seconds tick by, neither of you making the first move.

Seemingly unamused by the stalemate, the fates send forth a tremendous crack of lightning, shaking the walls of the hut violently. This jolts you from inaction, coiling a leg beneath yourself and kicking up to a firm stance. In the fading illumination left by nature’s latest outburst, you see the light blue skinned figure jump up from its crouch to match you, evenly. You make out a long, smooth tail whipping behind the figure, though this is as far as perception brings you before a fierce torrent of water erupts from the pokemon’s maw.

Not expecting a ranged attack, you barely dodge to the side, the cool liquid just grazing your shoulder before colliding forcefully against the door. Your soaked paws skid across the slick wooden floors, managing to keep you upright but bringing you right into the adjacent wall. The impact isn’t enough to do any damage to wither you or the barrier, but you do find yourself with one less route of escape. Not wasting any time, your light blue assailant reels back their head (sporting deep blue fins, you note) and inhales, no doubt preparing another blast.

This time, however, you know what to expect and send your legs to motion. As the expected geyser rockets toward your face, you stifle a grin. Having read your foe correctly, you dash forward tilting your upper body to the side as you advance. The water missed your head by mere inches but does nothing to slow your charge. You This rapid approach seems to startle the water pokemon, allowing you to close the distance between you. Just as you reach back to prepare a left hook, you hear it.

“You will NOT!!”, the creature roars with somewhat unconvincing bravado. The callout staggers you mid-step, nearly causing you to trip. You barely keep your poise as you slide to a stop before the other pokemon. Another flash from the tempest lights the few feet between you, allowing you to clearly identify a lithe Vaporeon, their features drawn up tight in a defiant glare. Once more you are stuck to the spot, the realization that you aren’t fighting another feral stealing your momentum.

Your stunned expression makes for a lovely target as a rubbery slap from the pokemon’s tail catches you fully across the chin. You are sent skidding across the floor and crashing back against the door, coming to a stop with you face down and head spinning. You groan weakly, taking a few seconds to shake the dots from your eyes. You shakily rise on one elbow bringing your gaze up to the approaching Vaporeon, now wearing a cocky grin. They speak as they clear the last of the gap, “Pesky ferals… Always wandering in from the forest for a quick meal.” The voice is soft, even what some would call “proper”, clearly enunciating each syllable with a slight sing-song tone. Your heart sinks as the water-type finishes their thought.

“Only ever finding a cozy stomach…”