Taking What You Need

The ground felt hard and rough as your paws hit the floor from the bits of pebble and stone lining from it as your group carefully moved ahead on the mountain path. According to the map, there is a deep cave entrance at the top of the mountain. If anyone or anything is living on here, it would be at the top.

You carefully walk close to the wall in order not to be too close to the ledge. You look back and saw that Kate was lagging a bit, being a little scared.

“It’s okay Kate, I’m here.” You stated, holding her paw.

“Rai, do you have anything I can eat?” The Pachirisu asked looking up at you.

“Hmmm…” you thought about it as you took your bag and opened it. What with the attack of the Scolipede yesterday, your nap turning into a nightmare, and meeting Melanie; you’ve never gotten the chance to gotten more food items.

You did see some packaged food items that you took from the huts from Neku’s suggestion.

Early this morning.

“Are you serious?” Rachael asked looking at the Zoroark,

“We’re going to be traveling a lot and pretty far. There’s no telling how long it’ll take. We can’t always expect to find food, medicinal herbs, and supplies lying around.” Neku stated, looking at you and Rachael. “These huts have packaged food, so they’ll stay fresh for a long while and some medicine we can use if we get sick and hurt.”

“Do you know what you talking about? This is stealing!” The Buneary argued, “We don’t know if they’re really gone.”

“If we take their things and they return, they will have a hard time getting by.” Vargus pointed out.

"You guys had been here for a day already, right?" Felix stated, sharpening some sticks into looking like darts, "And the huts do have some dust. So, it seems that those who live here are not going to be returning, at least not anytime soon. I think we should use the supplies while they're abandoned."

"But what if they've not been abandoned?" Your sister pointed out. "The stuff isn't ours."

"I don't want to cause others to have a hard time just because I want things to be a bit easier, but we can't just try to forage especially if it's risky." You stated, crossing your arms.

Just as you were thinking, Neku spoke out, "Then how about a compromise? We'll only take what we need. We have some medicine, so we don't need to get more. Just get some food and items, but still leave some behind so that if the ones who owns it returned, they won't be left with nothing."

"Only take what we need?" You repeated what he said.

"Rai, you not considering it are you?" Rachael asked looking at him.

“This is wrong.” Kate stated, staring at you with pleading eyes.

You sigh as you kneel down to her. “I know it’s wrong, and I don’t condone stealing from others, but with what we’re doing and the fact we’re going to be traveling a lot, we going to need anything we can find. Though we won’t overdo it, like Neku stated, we’ll take what we need; no more, no less. You understand?”

“I… I think so.” The Pachirisu stated, though her expression didn’t change.

“I suppose that can work as long as we don’t take everything.” The Croconaw agreed.

“We’re just needing food then, don’t take anything else, and leave a good amount for them in case.” Neku stated as he, Felix and even Vargus joined in searching.

You sigh as you regretfully looked at the huts and hear a bit of rummaging of the huts. You turned towards Rachael who had a look of disappointment on her face as you go in the empty hut that wasn’t being searched and looked for any food that was in it.

End of Flashback

“Here, I have found some sweet buns in one of the huts. I’m sure that you’ll enjoy them.”

“But they’re not ours.” Your sister protested against it.

“Kate, this is a situation where we may need to make some compromises so that we may have to do bad things in order to have a better chance to get through things. I acknowledge that this is wrong and I’m not happy that we had to do this, but I think this will help us in the long run.” You explained calmly and patiently to your sister.

“So you won’t do anything that is horrible?” She asked hopefully.

“I won’t do anything bad for no good reason.” You stated, hoping to assure her.

Kate looks up and smiles as she gives you a hug and you hug back with a smile.

“Okay, let’s get going.” You stated as you went to catch up with the others.

You managed to reach a point where the ledge was considerably far and even able to walk over and see the entrance of the cave. It was still quite far, but you’ve definitely made some progress.

“Wow, we’re really high up!” Kate stated, amazed at the sight.

“Hehe, I know. I’ve never been up a mountain before.” Vargus stated, lifting the Pachirisu up on his shoulders, which caused her to yelp, but laugh playfully afterwards. You smile at her laugh as you saw Rachael Neku, and even Felix sporting a smile at seeing the little girl laugh at the Croconaw's antics.

"Our parents would've loved a sight like this..." Kate spoke softly, resting her arms on the Croconaw's head.

"Yeah, they would. Right now ne need to be strong for them until we can stop this." You stated.

"Until then, keep your head up little one. Vargus will be there to help keep you and your brother safe~!" Vargus stated, playfully bouncing Kate a bit and patting you on the head.

"Hey, I don't need anyone protecting me! I can fight my own battles!" You stated, blushing a bit as you hear Kate and Vargus giggle. Just then you heard something nearby, your ears twitching from the sound.

"Rai, are you okay?" Kate asked, noting you look concern as she got of Vargus and went to you.

"I'm hearing something." You stated, as the others got close and looked around.

"What does it sound like?" Vargus asked, trying to see if there's anything approaching.

"Sounds like... something rolling..." Neku stated, "But I can't figure out where..." he stated as the group surrounded the Pachirisu as they felt the ground rumble a bit.

You feel Kate hold your leg as she was trembling within the gap as you place a paw on your head as you look around. Rachael's ears rose up stiff as she looked to her right, "Up there!" she stated, looking up and the group followed her vision. They look and saw that there was a rolling brown colored orb coming towards them. Felix grabs hold of Kate as each of you jumped away from the rolling figure as it rolled past them. Afterwards, the orb then broke apart, claws digging into the ground to stop itself from falling off the ledge.

You saw that the assailant was a Sandslash. The plump chest it had and dripping folds tells you that the ground type was a female. Her light brown skin was covered in dirt from having to break her rolling as her white belly was pudgy, probably due to the number of preys she had. Her lips parted as her tongue licked her lips as she grumbled eagerly for new prey as she examines each of them with her feral, purple eyes.

Rachael and and Neku was about to join them until Rachael saw something rushing towards them. She grabbed Neku from the back and pulled him back, barely having him avoid a green glowing fist lunging in front of him. He looks and sees the form of a Meinshao moving past them. This one was male due to the hardened groin underneath his waist, and despite the girth on him, he was still agile and good stability. His purple eyes stare at the two of them as well as he finds easy prey from the Dark and Normal type respectively.

Vargus was in between them, debating on who to help in this situation. While he doesn't like the idea of the little girl being closed to this, Rachael and Neku won't last long so he decides to help them by going after them.

The Sandslash meanwhile stares at the three before eying the Pachirisu and salivating more, which made the squirrel whimpered before you stepped forward.

"You stay away from my sister!" you growled at the rat, trying to hide your fear. "Felix, find someplace safe to hide Kate!"

"Are you nuts?! You stand no chance against the Sandslash!" Felix argued.

"Kate is in danger and I can't allow her to stay here. Find a safe place for her first, then come back!" You told him firmly.

"But-"

"NOW!" You barked back just as you leapt back from the ground underneath you preparing to swirl. You landed on one knee as you got up and shake a bit of sand off of your hind paws.

Felix looked concerned before he takes the Pachirisu in his arms before leaping up some stones to get to higher ground.

You got up and stared against the sand mouse, seeing her getting her claws ready. 'I just got to hold out until Felix comes back. There's bound to be spots to hide her and keep her hidden so he can help.' you thought to yourself, getting ready for a battle. 'I can do this, I'm a Voltaire after all!' he thought, before you and the Sandslash launched at each other.

Rai-Holding off a Sandslash till Felix finds a safe place for Kate to hide and come back.

Vargus-Helping Rachael and Neku drive back an Meinshao.

Felix-Finding a hiding spot for Kate to stay in so he can return to and help Rai.