TEEN: Long Shadows (Latest: Chapter Five)

[Lifestream]

Long Shadows


Prologue​

A clump of people were crowded in a circle, screaming and yelling to egg on a fight. A huge three-tailed bull bashed his skull into a smaller Pokemon. The small Pokemon cried pain and fear as he was thrown away. The humans backed away to give the Pokemon a painful fall as he hit the ground with a thump.

“Get up and fight, Blood!” a huge male human roared, kicking the small Pokemon in the side. Blood trembled as he rose to his feet. His body screamed in protest, but Blood stood his ground since he didn’t want to have to face his master’s foot again.

Blood bared his teeth, his fangs gleaming in the sunlight. But to his dismay, the Tauros wasn’t intimidated. He whipped around, his hind hooves flying and nailing Blood in the jaw. Blood was thrown back to his master’s feet. He looked up, his eyes pleading, and saw his master’s face red with anger.

Blood hurriedly scrambled to his paws, his sides heaving and a bead of blood appearing in the corner of his mouth.

He lunged forward to tackle the Tauros. Tauros was bowled over with Blood pinning him down. Tauros’s eyes blazed with rage. Blood stood where he was, his claws slowly creeping closer to Tauros’s throat. His master waited impatiently for the kill.

Blood gulped. He was trained to kill every Pokemon he fought, and the Pokemon were supposed to kill him to win. This was his first real fight with another mad human’s Pokemon, and he was only inches away from victory. Tauros watched Blood with furious eyes. Blood’s claws were directly over its throat now.

I can’t, he thought miserably. He slowly got off of Tauros, whose was stunned and turned to face his master with a bowed head. The human looked ready to explode with rage.

Blood heard the pounding of hooves behind him and was bashed by the hard skull of the merciless Tauros. Blood fell to the ground. His vision blurred and his body felt numb. He heard the screams and shouts of his furious master.

He tried to stand, but when his bones moved only a bit a terrible pain ripped through his back. He felt the slam of a foot against his side before everything went black.

Blood opened his eyes and was surrounded by the people who had trained him to kill. The four humans glared down at him angrily. He stood, his back screaming, but he ignored it. He felt somewhat surprised he was still alive. Tauros was supposed to have killed him.

But as he gazed up at his glaring masters, Blood wished he had died in the fight. But to his astonishment, two of the people stepped aside, clearing a path for him to leave. Blood kept his head bowed and tail low to show his shame as he slowly, painfully left the four humans.

But his heart plummeted when he saw three Houndoom step out of the shadows and take the sides of his masters.

“Go.” the man who had watched Blood’s defeat ordered. The three Houndoom bared their fangs and lunged at Blood. Blood bounded across the lawn in terror. Surely his masters weren’t angry enough to kill him in Tauros’s place! But apparently that was the plan.

The Houndoom called Scorch spat out an ember at Blood. Blood jumped to the side to avoid it, but it still burned the tip of his tail.

The second Houndoom, Blaze, leaped in front of Blood’s path. He slid to a stop to avoid colliding with the huge black dog. He looked around frantically for a way to escape. He didn’t want to attack the Pokemon who he’d been raised beside in order to escape his fate. Without a second thought, he dived under the legs of the remaining Houndoom, Fury.

The three Houndooms’s flamethrowers hit where Blood had been standing. Blood felt hope rise in his chest as he spied the fence bordering his master’s property. Surely the Houndoom trio wouldn’t chase him off property!

But he was wrong. He scrambled under the fence only to see the Houndoom clearing the five foot fence in a single leap.

Scorch, Fury, and Blaze all used their flamethrower attack. Blood screeched in agony as the flames engulfed him. He felt his life draining from his limbs.

The darkness began to leak into his eyes when he finally burst through the raging fire and hid behind the huge trunk of a tree.

Eventually the flamethrower subsided, and the Houndoom trio gazed at the piles of black ash in triumph. They leaped over the fence again and bounded back to the four humans.

Blood managed to walk through the forest for a long time. But with each step he took, the more his back and limbs screamed in pain until he finally collapsed.

 

[Rob Anybody]

Re: Long Shadows (Latest: Prologue)

Okay first off, What is Blood?. Second, all the blood and gory description may warrant a rating. Third, I would like to see how this story develops, can you tag me when the next chapter is out?

 

[Lifestream]

Re: Long Shadows (Latest: Prologue)

Okay first off, What is Blood?. Second, all the blood and gory description may warrant a rating. Third, I would like to see how this story develops, can you tag me when the next chapter is out?

I'm not going to mention what species Blood is, or it will probably spoil the actual story. And sure, I'll tag you.

 

[Lifestream]

Re: Long Shadows (Latest: Chapter One)

Alright, @Rob Anybody, first chapter is up .

Chapter One​

Willow stretched her front legs forward, raising her haunches in a stretch. The sunlight warmed her silky brown fur. She opened her mouth in a wide yawn.

“Hey, come out and have some fun!” Willow called to a night colored Pokemon who was always cleaning his pelt, never talking to anyone else. The Pokemon glared at her before he slunk away into the shadow of a huge tree.

Willow scampered over to where to Pokemon was grooming his thick black fur.

“Why don’t you ever have fun?” she asked him. The black Pokemon didn’t reply, just kept lapping at his already clean pelt. Willow’s paws pricked with frustration.

“Why do you keep cleaning yourself? You’re already clean!” she muttered.

The black dog-like Pokemon whipped around, his fangs gleaming and his red eyes narrowed. Willow flinched, trembling slightly. “Just leave me alone and go have fun somewhere else!” he snarled. “I wish to be left alone!” Willow nodded quickly and darted away.

“I hate his attitude!” she murmured to herself, glancing back at the black Pokemon. He was grooming his sleek fur again.

“Willow!” a cheerful voice called. Willow looked behind her and saw her best friend, Lynn.

“Hi, Lynn.” she greeted, touching noses with her. She shot a dark look at the shadowy Pokemon.

“Why is he always so grouchy and mean?” she asked Lynn quietly. Lynn shuddered. “No one knows. He doesn’t like anyone going near him.” she whispered in Willow’s tall brown ears. “I heard that once he attacked a Nidorina who hung around for longer than he liked!”

Willow’s pelt pricked. “I hope he doesn’t ever attack like that.” she mumbled. “I was talking to him.” Lynn jumped, astonished. “What did he do?” she exclaimed.

Willow kneaded the ground with her paws. “Well?” Lynn pressed, leaning closer. “He looked like he was about to claw my ears off!” Willow hissed. Lynn nodded slowly.

The black Pokemon was suddenly staring at them through sharp eyes. Lynn and Willow flinched, trembling. The Pokemon’s lips drew back into the beginning of a snarl, and Lynn and Willow ran for it.

When the Pokemon was out of sight, they stopped, panting.

“Gosh, he’s touchy!” Willow gasped. Lynn nodded, her eyes narrowed. “When I’m a big, strong Ninetales, I’m going to teach him a lesson!” she declared.

Lynn looked at Willow curiously, the determination fading from her big brown eyes. “Willow, I know I’m going to be a Ninetales when I’m older, but what about you?” she questioned. “You have so many choices!”

Willow tilted her head, thinking. “Well, a Vaporeon would be cool, but I’ve also had big thoughts about a Flareon.” she replied.

“They both sound pretty cool.” Lynn agreed.

Suddenly, the ground began to vibrate. A look of horror flashed across Lynn’s face. “It’s an earthquake!” she cried. The shaking became violent. Willow found it hard to breathe since her bones rattled beneath her skin.

The black Pokemon’s fur bristled. The day seemed nice, but he caught the strong scent of a large rock type Pokemon.

When all seemed peaceful for a few moments, he settled down, lapping his thick black and yellow tail.

The ground began to tremble. He stopped midstroke and raised his head, his lips curling into a snarl.

The quaking became rough, and the black Pokemon jumped off the mossy root he sat on and bounded through the woods.

Through blurred vision, Willow thought she saw a pair of red eyes. Lynn saw it too, her blood turning to ice.

“It can’t be!” she gasped. The black Pokemon was advancing, his crimson eyes blazing in his fangs bared. Lynn cried out when he was a paw-step away from her.

The black Pokemon leaped over her head, tackling a huge Rhydon that stood several feet away. Rhydon fell over backward and the earthquake stopped, showing that he had caused the nuisance.

Rhydon rose to his feet again, towering over the black furred Pokemon.

“Foolish Umbreon!” he roared, the big horn on his head spinning. “Easy prey is hard to come by these days, and I just found my share!”

The black Pokemon unsheathed his claws. “You’re not going to kill them, no matter how annoying they are.” he hissed, and Willow knew the words were aimed at her. “And for the record, my name is Fallenclaw.”

“Enough talk!” Rhydon shouted. “Do you really think that you can beat me in battle?” Fallenclaw’s intense eyes fixed on Rhydon. “Try me.” he growled.

Rhydon began to stomp on the ground, and the violent tremors began to shake the forest again. Fallenclaw's eyes began to shine and a dark purple glow. A shock of the shadow colored substance jolted forward, and Rhydon was cloaked in it. Rhydon began to fidget in pain, he’s teeth gritted.

“That’s a Night Shade!” Lynn murmured in awe. The Night Shade stopped, and before Rhydon could recover Fallenclaw lunged at him, bowling him over again.

Rhydon rose to his feet slowly. Fallenclaw hit him with another gentle Night Shade, and Rhydon limped into the mouth of a cave hurriedly.

“That’s right!” Fallenclaw yowled, a triumphant gleam in his eyes. “And don’t come back!” He turned to looked at Lynn and Willow, whose eyes were widened with awe.

Willow thought she saw concern on Fallenclaw’s face, but if she had it was gone. His eyes blazed furiously.

“If I have to saw your hide again, my opponent won’t be the only one getting hurt!” he spat. Lynn shrank back, shivering. “Go back home!”

Willow scrambled to her paws and hurried away into the trees. Lynn followed her, glancing back over her shoulder to make sure Fallenclaw wasn’t following.

Fallenclaw watched them disappeared into the woods before stalking back to the clearing.

“Stupid kids.” he muttered crossly, breaking into a run back to the clearing. He slid under a bramble bush, entering the clearing. He hurried to the huge tree in the center, perching himself on a large mossy root.

He licked his paw, drawing it over his tall black ear. The sun had disappeared beneath the horizon, the sky darkening and stars beginning to dot the sky. The remaining sunlight lit up one side of the forest. A crescent moon rose opposite of the sun.

Fallenclaw gave himself a final thorough grooming before jumping down from the root. He slipped in a tunnel hidden by a clump of ferns, the darkness swallowing him whole.

 

[Lifestream]

Re: Long Shadows (Latest: Chapter Two)

Chapter Two​

@Rob Anybody - Next chapter's up!

Wind rattled the large tree above Fallenclaw. The walls of his small den shook and the wind howled outside. Fallenclaw was curled up in his moss nest, trying unsuccessfully to catch a wink of sleep. Knowing it was useless to try and sleep, he got up and stretched.

The shiny stone in the middle off the floor was the only thing that kept the den lit in the night. It was a personal treasure of his, something he valued more than anything in the world, even though the evolutionary stone was useless to him.

Fallenclaw flexed his claws, irritated. He longed to leave the burrow and hunt, his stomach churning with hunger. He was out of berries and fruits for once.

A crack of thunder shook the den violently. Fallenclaw dug his claws into the ground to keep his balance. The storm was a terrible one. It was hard for Fallenclaw to believe the afternoon had been so nice.

The memory of the Eevee and Vulpix crossed his mind. Foolish kits, he thought. They had to go and run right into the paws of a Rhydon! But the battle had been amusing, something to keep him from grooming himself all day.

Another clap of thunder shook the tree above. Fallenclaw wanted to see how bad the weather was. Picking up the shiny stone to light the tunnel that led to the ground, he stepped into the darkness of the tunnel and followed it to the tree. He pushed through the ferns that hid the entrance of the tunnel.

Fallenclaw was almost carried off his paws by a blast of wind. He gripped the ground with his unsheathed claws, hoping the dirt wouldn’t loosen so the wind could send him rolling across the clearing.

He slowly began to back into the tunnel again. His hind paws had just landed on the dirt of the tunnel entrance when a large stick was hurled toward him. Fallenclaw raised his paw and slashed the stick in two. One end hit the ground while the other slapped his jaw. The shiny stone fell from his mouth and was carried away by the wind.

“No!” Fallenclaw cried, leaping after it. He bounded across the clearing after the glow of the stone, the wind tearing at his fur and ears, threatening to send him flying in another direction.

The shine of the stone began to slowly fade. Fallenclaw dug his claws into the ground, forcing himself to run faster. Rain and flying dirt stung his eyes, and he knew he couldn’t catch his precious shiny stone.

* * *​

Willow opened her eyes. Light filtered in through the entrance of her and Lynn’s burrow. She stood and stretched each leg in turn. Lynn was still asleep, curled up in her nest of leaves and dried bracken. Willow quietly slipped out of the burrow, careful not to awaken her sleeping friend.

The lightning storm had kept her awake over half the night, but she didn’t feel that sleepy. Willow examined the woods. Branches and debris was everywhere, dirt and grass torn from the earth and fallen trees blocking forest trails. Willow sagged. Traveling through the woods would be so much harder.

She saw a bright light out of the corner of her eye. She looked to the side and saw a glowing rock under a clump of brambles. She padded over to the stone. She slipped her paw through the brambles and rolled the stone out of the spiky plants.

Its beautiful glow awed Willow. She dug a deep hole and buried the stone, dragging the brambles over it to remind her where it was.

Willow scrambled over small fallen trees and dug under the giant ones. She found her way to the clearing, which she scarcely recognized. The only the remaining was the giant tree in the center, although many of its branches were lying everywhere. Dirt covered the grass in various places and strange looking and smelling junk dotted the clearing.

She saw a familiar black furred Pokemon digging through bushes and debris around the clearing.

“Fallenclaw!” Willow called, trotting over to meet him, ignoring her personal fear of the Umbreon. Fallenclaw didn’t reply, just kept clawing apart the bordering thicket, a desperate gleam in his eyes.

“What are you looking for?” Willow question, peering into the empty gaps in the thicket where he had clawed out clumps of leaves. Fallenclaw whirled around, and for once there wasn’t anger pulsing from him when he faced her.

“Tell me, young Eevee, have you seen a rare stone anywhere?” he asked, his voice quivering slightly. Willow remembered the brightly shining rock she’d found at her burrow.

“Describe it.” Willow said slowly. Fallenclaw nodded.

“It’s a beautiful silver rock with a yellow light in the middle, and it has a strong glow.” he explained quickly.

Willow looked up at him, her eyes shining. “I found it!” she chirped.

“Where?!” Fallenclaw exclaimed.

Willow led him through the forest to her den.

“Right here,” she said, pushed the brambles away and digging up the stone. Fallenclaw scooped it out of the hole, his eyes softened with relief. “Thank you,” he murmured, gazing at the glowing stone.

“What is it, anyway?” Willow asked, sitting and curling her bushy tail around her paws.

“It’s a shiny stone.” Fallenclaw replied without looked up, just gently brushing dirt off the edges of the rock. Willow’s eyes gleamed curiously.

“But you’re an Umbreon! Why would you need a shiny stone?” she questioned, leaning forward to get a better look at the luminous shiny stone. At last Fallenclaw looked up.

“It led me here, to my home.” he said quietly, as if there was a nagging thought in his mind. Willow leaned closer.

“Where are you from? Haven’t you lived in the forest forever?”

“No. I came from of magical Ponyta.” he murmured, his eyes giving away his amusement
Willow heard the rustle of plants and pawsteps. She turned to see Lynn coming out of the den, her eyes dull with sleepiness and her six tails drooping.

Oh, hi Willow, and…!” Lynn froze, shocked with fear and astonishment. “T-that’s Fall-Fall-Fall!”

“Fallenclaw.” the black Pokemon snapped, then turned back to his shiny stone with a loving expression. Lynn stomped over to Willow.

“What is he doing here?” she hissed at Willow. Willow shrugged.

“He was just looking for a lost item.” she said simply. “He’s being pretty nice for a first.”

Lynn snorted and stalked off, her fur bristling as she walked past Fallenclaw. Willow shook her head in annoyance.

“So Fallenclaw, are we on good terms?” she asked the black Pokemon. Fallenclaw’s muscles rippled beneath his pelt as he approached Willow. He dipped his head politely.

“I am thankful that you found my shiny stone.” he said. “So yes.”

Willow’s eyes sparkled with joy, and Fallenclaw knew he’d made a mistake. But his precious treasure was back in his paws again, and if it hadn’t been for Willow it might have been lost forever.

“Willow,” he said, “Thanks.”

 

[Rob Anybody]

Re: Long Shadows (Latest: Chapter One)

Fallenclaw is Blood, isn't it? Also you have a few spelling mistakes. Don't ask me about grammar, cos I'm no good.

 

[Lifestream]

Re: Long Shadows (Latest: Chapter One)

Fallenclaw is Blood, isn't it? Also you have a few spelling mistakes. Don't ask me about grammar, cos I'm no good.

Is Fallenclaw Blood? I'm still thinking about that. So, maybe, maybe not. And Grammer? What that is?

 

[Lifestream]

Re: Long Shadows (Latest: Chapter One)

@Rob Anybody - chapter's up!

Chapter Three​

Willow stayed pretty close to Fallenclaw that day. He was clearly annoyed with her presence and excessive talking, but he managed to keep his claws in his paws.

“Fallenclaw, do you have a family?” Willow questioned.

“Yes.” Fallenclaw growled.

“Where are they?”

“Obviously they’re not here.”

“Then where?”

“Like I said before, I come from a land of magical Ponyta. They are living there right now.”

Willow was about to burst with frustration. Every time I ask about him, he always brings up this land of magical Ponyta. Unless…

“Fallenclaw, I want to go to the land of magical Ponyta!” Willow exclaimed eagerly. Fallenclaw stood and stretched.

“Sure, you’d fit right it. If that little fire fox of yours wants to go, she can tag along.”

Willow bristled in astonishment. Was there actually a land of magical Ponyta?!

“Her name is Lynn, and I’m sure she’d love to come!” Willow scampered away to get Lynn, who was watching them with a dark look across the clearing. “Lynn, Fallenclaw said he’d take us to his homeland!” she said cheerfully. Lynn rolled her eyes.

“Oh goodie!” she muttered. “What’s that, a land of magical Rapidash?”

“Ponyta, actually.” Willow corrected her. Lynn sighed.

“You aren’t honestly going to go, are you?”

Willow tilted her head. “Of course I am. I want to see the outside world, beyond the forest!”

Lynn sighed again. “Okay, I’ll go, but only because you’re by best friend.” she muttered angrily, though her eyes showed warmth for Willow. Willow touched her nose to Lynn’s.

“Thanks Lynn. Trust me, it’ll be fun.”

Lynn grinned. “And if it isn’t, I’m just going to have to claw your ears off.” she said happily, her tails straight up in the air. Willow felt a pit open up in her stomach, for she knew Lynn spoke the truth. She laughed nervously.

Fallenclaw waited at the side of the clearing. Lynn glared at Fallenclaw, her eyes blazing. Fallenclaw’s eyes were narrowed.

“I think we’ll get along fine.” he muttered. He turned. He gazed at his den in the tree one last time before he turned away, his eyes gleaming with sadness.

“You know the journey will be rough. It’s nearly all the way across the Kanto.” Fallenclaw reminded them. Willow and Lynn looked at each other and shrugged.

“So Fallenclaw,” Lynn growled. “You don’t come from a land of magical Ponyta, do you?” Fallenclaw looked over his shoulder, his eyes sparkling. He shook his head amusedly.

“Nope, I don’t even think such a place exists.” Willow’s fur bristled.

“Then where are you taking us?” she hissed, halting. Fallenclaw stopped as well, turning to face the Eevee.

“I’ve finally worked up the nerve to start wandering again.” he explained. “I didn’t honestly expect you to believe me when I said I came from a land of magical Ponyta.”

Lynn’s fur rose. “I’m pretty sure Willow here believed you, but I sure didn’t. I came because my best friend did.” she spat.

Willow felt hot with embarrassment. “But why did you tell us to come?” she asked, puzzlement clouding her eyes.

“I thought you’d refuse, but apparently I was wrong.” Fallenclaw growled. “But, do you want to come with me or not? You still have that choice.”

Willow stared at her paws. She did want to go explore the outside world beyond the forest, but she didn’t want Lynn to stay behind.

Suddenly, Lynn’s eyes were shining. “Wow, a real adventure!” she exclaimed. “With or without you, I’m going!” she said to Willow.

Willow’s tail went straight up. “You weren’t thinking I’d stay behind, did you?”

Fallenclaw had frustration pulsing from him, but he said nothing as he picked his shiny stone up in his jaws and heading away.

Willow and Lynn followed along happily, chattering excitedly. Fallenclaw glanced back at them. He sighed and looked ahead again, swerving around a tree he almost hit.

“At least I’m back on the road again.” he said under his breath, so neither Lynn nor Willow could hear. “I’m back on the road again.” he echoed, and a tiny smile appeared on his face.

 

[Lifestream]

Re: Long Shadows (Latest: Chapter Three)

@Rob Anybody - sorry for the delay, chapter four is up!

Chapter Four​

Lynn gazed at all the wild Pokemon around her. She never would have guessed so many different Pokemon lived in the forest!

A Beautifly frolicked with its mate, its colorful silk wings flashing in the sunlight. A Persian mother was sitting beneath a tree watching her three kits with a loving look in her eyes. Scyther and Scizor were leaping through the trees, slashing down tree branches and thorny vines.

Lynn glanced at Fallenclaw. He was looking ahead sharply, as though the beauty of the forest was nothing to him. Lynn glared at him when he wasn’t looking.

But Fallenclaw had felt the icy touch of her eyes, but kept walking without looking back. He’d seen the Pokemon, explored the entire forest, and knew many Pokemon here. Nothing was new.

“Fallenclaw, why are you suddenly traveling again?” Willow questioned. “It seems a bit odd that you’d suddenly leave when you’ve been living here since before I was born!”

Fallenclaw glanced at her. “Do you wemeba da junk in da cleawing?” he said, his voice muffled by the shiny stone he carried in his mouth.

Willow nodded. “Yeah, I’ve never seen it before.” she murmured. Fallenclaw as well nodded.

“Dat means humans aw in da awea. And I don’t wike da pwesence of dem.” Willow nodded again slowly.

Lynn snorted. “You should hear yourself.” she hissed. “You sound like a Lickylicky with a stuffed mouth!” A growl rose up in Fallenclaw’s throat, and Lynn shut her mouth.

“What is a human, anyway?” Willow asked. “Big, stupid tings. Take Pokemon out of da wild and twain dem against will.” Willow shivered.

“Will we see them along the way?” she asked quietly. Fallenclaw nodded.

“Many. Dey wive all awound da Kanto!” Lynn’s fur pricked. “But we won’t get cwose to dem, so we won’t get caught.” Lynn let her fur lie flat again.

Fallenclaw stopped suddenly, his ears perked. He placed his shiny stone on the ground. “Well speak of the devil.” he growled.

Two tall figures on two feet with a Poochyena and Phanpy walking happily beside them were strolling through the forest. They turned and looked at Fallenclaw.

“Wow, an Umbreon!” one yowled. “Phanpy, get it!”

Phanpy rolled up into a ball and began spinning at an incredible speed. Willow and Lynn shrank back in fear, trembling.

“Fallenclaw, watch out!” Willow cried as Phanpy suddenly rocketed toward Fallenclaw. He kicked the shiny stone into Willow’s paws.

“Don’t lose it.” he growled, his body beginning to glow as he began a nightshade. Phanpy let out a cry of surprise as Nightshade engulfed him. The Poochyena bared his fangs and bowled Fallenclaw over, pinning him.

“Nobody messes with my friend!” he snarled.

Fallenclaw smirked. “Ha! You think you’re so strong just because you’re bigger than the average Poochyena.” he laughed. “But you’re fur is too soft. You must be you’re first visit outside, huh?” That obviously made Poochyena furious.

“You call me weak, but look at you! Looks to me like you’re trapped!” Fallenclaw gently pushed his paws upward and Poochyena rolled off. He stood and shook the dirt from his fur.

“Trapped?” he snorted. “Don’t be silly.”

Phanpy was rolling toward him again. Fallenclaw batted her away with his paw. Poochyena closed his teeth around his tail, but his small fangs couldn’t make it all the way through the thick fur. Fallenclaw flicked his tail away.

Poochyena and Phanpy both charged him from each side. Fallenclaw sighed and stepped backward. They slid to a stop before they collided. Fallenclaw put his left paw between Poochyena’s shoulders and his right paw on the back of Phanpy’s head. The two struggled for a moment before going limp to show their defeat. Lynn laughed.

“How amusing.” Willow nodded, biting her tongue to keep from laughing, knowing it would make Poochyena and Phanpy upset.

“You got lucky!” Poochyena hissed. Fallenclaw snorted.

“Does that mean you want a rematch?” Poochyena silenced, though he trembled with anger. Fallenclaw let go of Phanpy and Poochyena. Phanpy hurried back to her humans, but Poochyena sprang to his paws again, his fur bristling.

“My trainer told me to fight you, and I’m not giving up yet!” he snarled. Fallenclaw’s eyes gleamed.

“Your courage is something to be proud of.” he said. “Don’t lose it.” Fallenclaw nodded at Willow and Lynn. “Come on, we’ve wasted enough time here.”

Willow picked up the shiny stone and followed Fallenclaw past the stunned Poochyena.

Poochyena shook away his surprise and lunged at Fallenclaw again, landing square on his shoulders. Fallenclaw shook him off and continued walking. The humans just watched him go, knowing he wasn’t weakened enough to capture.

Poochyena walked back to them with his fur bristling. When she had disappeared under a bush, Lynn burst out laughing.

“That was hilarious!” she exclaimed. “What a sorry excuse of a battle!” Fallenclaw glanced at her, his eyes gleaming.

“You see, humans are nothing to worry about.” he said.

Fallenclaw spotted a huge tree, perhaps the largest tree in the forest. Its trunk seemed to be a wide as a Camerupt and its branches were thick and hidden by leaves. The sun was sinking, bathing the tree in red light.

“We shall sleep in that tree tonight.” Fallenclaw said, taking the shiny stone from Willow. Lynn flexed her claws, ready to climb.

Fallenclaw leaped onto the tree’s giant trunk, clawing up to the lowest branch. Lynn followed, her muscles straining from holding herself up on the smooth trunk. She took another step up, slowly progressing until she was sitting beside Fallenclaw, panting.

Willow gulped and drove her claws into the tree trunk. She slowly climbed up to the branch. On the last step, her paws slipped. She screamed in fear, feeling herself falling. She was too far up to escape an injury. She closed her eyes on waited for the landing.

But she realized she wasn’t falling. Lynn as grabbed her by the scruff, struggling to stay atop the branch. When Lynn began to lose her balance, Fallenclaw reached down and hauled Willow up to the branch.

“Thanks!” Willow gasped, trembling. Fallenclaw nodded in reply and curled up where he was.

“Sleep now.” he said. “I wish to get an early start.”

Lynn laid down beside Willow, closing her eyes and giving in to the wave of black.

 

[Lifestream]

Re: Long Shadows (Latest: Chapter Four)

@Rob Anybody - sorry for the delay, I've been slightly busy

Chapter Five​

Fallenclaw opened his eyes. The night was cold, making his fur stand to keep warm. He was in the giant oak tree where he, Lynn, and Willow had slept. He glanced at the two sleeping kids. But they were gone. Fallenclaw sniffed at the bark, but their scent had been completely erased.

Fallenclaw’s pelt began to prick, and it wasn’t because of the chilly air. Something was wrong in this forest. It didn’t feel the same as the forest he had lived in for a long time. But it clearly was the same place, just with a creepy feeling.

Fallenclaw jumped down from the tree, landing hard on the ground. Ignoring the pain in his feet from the rough landing, he trotted through the forest, cautiously peering into each bush.

A shadow seemed oddly intimidating. Fallenclaw’s hackles rose as he examined it from a distant. Two crimson spots appeared and yellow rings lit up on the black shadow.

Fallenclaw immediately struck it with a Night Shade. The Pokemon ducked and the Night Shade obliterated the bush. Fallenclaw’s lips drew back into a snarl and he unsheathed his claws. The black Pokemon simply dipped his head and turned, disappearing almost instantly.

Fallenclaw ran in the direction the Pokemon went, not stopping. He saw a pitch black space between two trees, one that was darker than the rest of the forest.

He approached in carefully and slowly, waiting for something to jump out at him. He stood directly in from the dark space. He saw his reflection.

“Odd,” he murmured. “It’s as though there’s a mirror.”

His reflection suddenly stepped out of the shadows. Fallenclaw leaped back and alarm. But the other Umbreon just dipped his head as a ray of moonlight streamed down on him.

Seeing him better, Fallenclaw knew the Umbreon looked very different from him. Fallenclaw could count his ribs, showing how skinny he was instead of muscular like himself. The Umbreon was tiny, making Fallenclaw have to look down to see his face. The Umbreon dipped his head.

“Greetings,” he said in a high voice, signaling he was young. “My name is Courage in this time.” Fallenclaw’s fur flattened.

“What do you mean by ‘this time’?” he growled. Courage smiled softly.

“This isn’t the real world.” he said. “You’re dreaming, Fallenclaw.” Fallenclaw bared his teeth.

“You know my name?” he hissed. Courage flicked his tail, signaling for Fallenclaw to calm down.

“Yes,” he replied. “I’ve known you for a very long time.” Courage flicked his tail again, and Fallenclaw sat.

“So Courage, why are you walking my dreams now?” Fallenclaw questioned. “It’s a bit strange that you’ve never come in the years you’ve supposedly known me.” Courage laughed softly, his eyes sparkling. “

Now that your journey had begun, I shall provide guidance.” he explained. Fallenclaw tilted his head.

“I’ve traveled before, yet you weren’t there.”

“Come and see something.” Courage murmured, leading his through the pitch black space. Fallenclaw’s pelt bristled, but he stepped in the black.

The darkness swallowed him. Cold gripped him like claws, and he couldn’t see past the thick blackness. Fallenclaw focused on using his Flash, trying to ignore the icy touch on his pelt. His yellow rings shined brightly, but the darkness covered it as well.

Fallenclaw struggled to breathe as the black seemed to fill his lungs like water. When he began to feel limp, as though the life were being drained from him, the darkness cleared and he appeared in unfamiliar territory.

The trees were tall and skinny instead of wide and their leaves were pale green as though the green had been drained from them. A scrawny black Pokemon raced through the trees and panting hard, his eyes gleaming with terror. Fallenclaw looked closer, but the Pokemon raced by before he could examine it.

Fallenclaw followed, digging his claws in the ground to move faster. The Pokemon slid to a stop in front of a tunnel guarded by bracken. Glancing around, he quickly slipped into the tunnel, the darkness swallowing him. Fallenclaw pushed past the bracken and padded into the tunnel.

He couldn’t see anything, but followed the sound of paw steps deeper into the tunnel. The cave opened up into a clearing. A huge lion-like Pokemon sat in the middle, staring at the ground sharply.

“Entei!” the Pokemon cried. Entei looked up, his eyes still narrowed. “Entei, I need to get out of here!” he wheezed, his breath coming out in ragged gasps and his eyes drooping as though he were in deep pain. Entei lifted his nose without reply and smelled the air.

“Is it raining?” he asked in a deep voice. The unknown Pokemon ignored the question.

“Please, Entei!” he pleaded. “You’re the only one who can help me!”

Entei took a whiff of the air again before standing to his huge grey paws. He nodded toward the back of the clearing. The clearing branched off into many different paths.

“Should you choose the right one,” Entei growled. “You will be safe.”

Fallenclaw squinted his eyes at the Pokemon, but he was in Entei’s huge shadow and was hard to make out.

“But which one should I take?!” The Pokemon cried.

“Only instinct will tell you.” Entei replied, stepping aside to let the Pokemon pass. The Pokemon glanced around at each tunnel. His gaze met Fallenclaw’s but he didn’t seem to notice him.

Fallenclaw leaned forward. Those deep red eyes seemed oddly familiar, and he noticed gleaming yellow rings under a coat of dust…Fallenclaw's fur rose.

The Pokemon, his eyes wide with fear, ran into the nearest tunnel and disappeared into it.

“Courage?” Fallenclaw murmured. The terrible darkness engulfed him, suffocating him until the blood roared in his ears and he felt numb with death.

He woke up in the tree again, gasping for breath. Willow’s eyes went wide.

“Fallenclaw?” she said, shocked at his strange awakening. “You were fidgeting in your sleep, and now this!”

Fallenclaw rose to his paws, the images of the beast Pokemon and the bony, scrawny Courage in the underground cave. But still, he thought. Courage showed me that, but how does that tell me why he’s accompanying me? Fallenclaw gazed up at the sky.

“I guess I’ll find out sooner or later.” he murmured to the sky, so quietly so Willow and Lynn couldn’t hear.