The Herbalist

The sky was standing up above around the forest path above Rachael and Felix as they continued down the dirt path after having to deal with that infected Swampert. Felix stated that it won't be much longer now after some time. The Buneary looked back at the path they came from, thinking about you and the others. It's been some time since we left them. Hope they're doing well.. Rachael thought before looking up back ahead to the Grovyle.

Various brushes of leaves in the trees and bushes made the two look towards the direction of the sound. Despite that, nothing comes out of the green as they decided to continue onward. The wind blowing from the air made noises that sounded through the area.

The two of them have been carefully examining the area. Considering it's just the two of them at the time and there's still some distance away from the village, the Buneary thought it would be nice to talk to pass some time. "Where did you used to live before this whole thing started?" she asked the grass type.

"In a small town, a bit far from here." Felix answered as he added. "Overwhelmed easily."

"Sorry to hear that." Rachael said, noting how fast he answered that. "Did you had anyone you cared about there."

"Not many. A few friends. Don't know if they escaped or not." He answered as well.

Rachael nodded at the info. "Sorry to hear that." she said, 'Wow, he's handing this pretty well. Grovyle's are composed, but wow.' "Why are you alone? Don't you have a place to go?"

Felix was quiet for a moment before he spoke. "Was in a group. Didn't work out in the end." he coughs a little as he noticed some broken wood from a sign at the side of the path. "This is still here. We're getting close."

"Right. Hopefully the Pokémon there are uninfected and not-hostile." Rachael stated as she thought about what he said at the part where she asked about a place. Felix paused about what happened to him during this. Did something happened to this group and he's now alone? she thought to herself and thought about asking, but stopped herself. I asked enough of him, I'll figure it out later.

The two of them then found themselves seeing what looks like a created wall of the town. It was stacked with logs and hardened clay and while there had been some singes and damages from various attacks, they were still standing. They then see there's a doorway that was knocked down from the hinges. "Whatever it did, it must've been strong." Rachael stated as they walked in and looked around.

They see that there are some damaged huts and tents, even some that are destroyed, but there isn't as bad as Silverhills where Rachael was. "Whoever is here had taken care to not let this small village." Rachael said as she looked around.

You two... A voice sounded in Rachael's mind. Just as she heard that, she felt her body becoming still, unable to move. "W-What's going on?!" Felix called out as he also found himself unable to move as well.

Clearly you two aren't infected... so what are you two doing here? The voice spoke in her mind, sounding female.

If the Pokémon is capable of speaking in my head and stop my body, it must be a psychic type. Rachael thought to herself, only to be caught off guard by an response.

You are correct young Buneary. Now please answer... The voice spoke once more.

Seeing as there's no way they can escape, Rachael takes a deep breath before answering. "We don't want any trouble. I was told that this place may have herbal medicine for someone who's sick with my friend. I want to see if I can get some."

They were held there for a few minutes before they felt themselves being let go and being able to move. They can see a door opening at a larger hut at the far side. Come inside.

The two of them moved their limbs a little in order to get feeling back into them before they stare at the entrance of the large hut. "I don't like this. Whoever can hold us down is strong..." Felix whispered to Rachael as she thought about it. "You have a point, but we came this far, and we need those herbs. Be on your guard, just in case." She said as they headed inside.

The faint scent of various types of lavender, sage and lemon balm filled the room as they looked around in a quite empty room in the hut other than the anthro Umbreon in front of them. 'I don't see any types of plants around here, so why is there a smell here?'

They looked at the the Umbreon and from the appearance and stance, the dark type was male as he stared at the two with red eyes, he was standing rather stoic and unmoving at the sight of them. "Come with me." he said to them as he turned around to walk somewhere.

"Hold on, where are we going?" Felix asked the dark type.

"I don't have to answer you. If it troubles you, you can leave." The Moonlight Pokémon said coldly, not even bothering to look at them, making the Buneary shiver at what could be expected, but steel her nerves at the two of them followed through and saw him moving a bookcase to the side, revealing a plastic covering behind it.

"A hidden passage? I see, you and your companion had a hiding spot prepared in case of emergency. That's smart." Rachael stated as the Umbreon opened it.

"Precautions are good in times like this." he stated as he stepped inside, Felix and Rachael following right behind him. The tunnel was coated with harden clay that Rachael estimated to have took at least 1 or 2 years to have been dugged through. The floral smell was even stronger as they walked through the tunnel. It was surprising for her which had her guess that it was strongly sealed to keep in the scent.

The Umbreon was quiet during the walk until he arrived at a wooden door. The strong scent of the herbs were potent behind that door. "So that's the source of the herbs." Rachael stated, seeing the Umbreon stopped at the side of the door.

Rachael looked at the door and from appearance, it was quite thick and heavy looking, it would take heavy resistance before falling.

Just as they were about to go through, the dark type separated them with his paw. "Only one can go through, the other will wait out here."

"Why?" Rachael asked confused.

"Out of caution." The Umbreon answered.

"Hey, we're not gonna pick fights with either of you or this other Pokémon, so we're not-" Felix tried to move, but the Umbreon gave him a stern look, making the Grovyle stay in place.

"One stays. End of discussion." The dark type said.

Rachael sweatdropped, she doesn't want to end up alone with a stranger, but it's clear he won't be letting both of them through.

"Felix, it's okay. I'll be back." Rachael said to him and while he still distrustful at the Umbreon, he backs off.

"Don't be long." He said, resting against the wall as the Umbreon opened the door leading inside the room. The Buneary takes a deep breath before stepping through the door.

The first thing that hits her was the strong scent of the various plants in her nose. She can see that various potted plants are hanging from hangers along the holes that would shine in sunlight from above. She can also feel herself sweating from the heat within the room.

"Ah, so my visitor is a Buneary and a Grovyle behind a door. How intriguing." A feminine voice sounded in front of her as Rachael jolted in surprise as she looked and see there was an anthro Espeon sitting in front of her. The Buneary can see that she was sitting on some pillows with a table in between them with a couple cups and a teapot on top.

Rachael rubbed the forehead with her arm as she decided to go and sit down on the pillow. "Um... Hello." She stated, a little awkwardly, nervous about how things can work out. "I-I was wondering if you can... spare some medicinal herbs for someone in my group?"

The Espeon had her eyes closed most of the time before she opened them, showing them to be light blue eyes. "Ah, A little girl caught a fever. You need some fast-healing herbs to pick her up."

Rachael shuddered at how effective the Psychic's power is. "Y-Yes, that's right. I-It's important that we do not go back where we came from, so we really could use some help."

"I see, I could offer some help." She poured a cup of tea into the cups and offered one to Rachael. "Why don't you share a drink with me first? I toast to making it here?"

Rachael looks at the tea she was offered. While she doesn't know exactly what specific kind, she was sure it was herbal tea. "No thanks, I'm not thirsty."

"Cautious, understandable, but unnecessary." The Sun Pokémon stated, raising her paw forward in a assuring way. Rachael still looks unsure about that. "If you want some herbs, drink the tea." she offered, making her jolt. "Can you take a chance for the sake of another..,?"

The Buneary looked at the Espeon, while she doesn't see any malicious intent, she was still unsure. She could've tainted the tea to make her sick or worse, but she may not get the herbs if she declines again. After some time thinking, Rachael...

1. Drinks the tea

2. Refuse the tea once again.