Arro the Vaporeon

You slowly raise a hand to the fin and brush it from your face, shakily getting to your feet. The hut’s resident follows your movements evenly with those piercing orbs, giving you the sense that they are in no way ready to forgive just yet. You had some bridge building to do. Your name seemed a good place to start.

Motioning to yourself, you begin proper introductions before being cut off by a sharp, “Ah!” from the water-type. “Names are for acquaintances”, comes the reply. “I wish to know who you are before I learn what to call you~.” You are beginning to wonder if this odd pokemon enjoys seeing others squirm, or if they are just starved for attention. Either way, it looks like you’ll have to play their little game. “What brings you here, Cat?”

An exasperated sigh slips from your throat, earning a wink from the Vaporeon. Seeing that the expeditious route is off the table, you spend the next twenty or so minutes explaining your actions. You touch upon your childhood, making a point to leave out the cruelty that drove you from the clan. You are much more eager to tell of your year spent out in the world at large, and of all the interesting locations and pokemon you’ve encountered. It puts you at ease a bit to see that your passion for travel replaces the cocky grin upon the Eeveelution’s face with a genuine one. They even offer you a chair to sit for the rest of your saga. By the time you arrive at your motivation behind your choice to look into the infection, you both recline easily in your seats, even sharing a few awkward chuckles about the close call with a certain fire lizard.

“And…” You conclude with a long exhale, “That’s me.” You wait patiently in your chair, watching as your new companion rubs a digit over their chin, deciding what to think of your story. After a few moments, they rise from their own seat, walk around the table between you, and extend a hand.

“Arro.” Their voice is gentle and without any of its previous snark, “Pleasure to meet you~”

With the tension gone, your shoulders slump into a relaxed posture, a relieved chuckle escaping your lips.

“Kale.” You reply with a smile as you take their offered hand.

Your paw receives a hearty shake accompanied with, “Welcome to my home, Kale.” Arro sarcastically pans the small room as you follow their gaze from the muddy footprints, overturned furniture, and formerly solid door. “Such as it is…” You blush hard once more, immediately standing and begin to right some Arro’s disheveled belongings. At least until you hear Arro call out yet again.

“The thought is appreciated, Kale…” Slight agitation in their tone, “But your gesture only serves to create a larger mess.” Following a webbed finger, your face reddens in further embarrassment when you realize your paws, still caked in mud from your earlier sprint, have left a noticeable impression on the floor. Shamefully, you look back to Arro for guidance and they point to a lone wooden stool in the corner of the hut. It sits in a bit of a low point in the hut, about a foot deeper than the rest of the floor, and strange jars adorn the shelves above it.

The Vaporeon utters a single, commanding word, mischief thick in their tone once more.

“Sit~”