Tiresome Journey

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Just days before the darkness had arrived upon the world. A lone golden riolu had been traveling for some time. Having just recently run away from the only place it had called home. Despite the fact that it was a moving home. After all, his clan was nomadic, depending no the situation they were in. They would move to new locations every so often.

However, all that is now in the past. Ever since he had believed he had failed his trials and had lost his master. He feared the effects of it within the clan. He hasn't heard of such an event that has ever happened before with another. So he informed them what had happened, as his master's wish. However, he ran away afterwords. They didn't even bother to stop him.

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Now, just passing near the town of Rainfront town. The golden riolu had been walking slowly across the sandy beach along the coast. Looking off towards the ocean. The orange glow of the sunset in the distance.

He had been traveling non-stop ever since he had left his clan. The path being endless for him. He was worn and tired. More so than what his trial had entailed for him. After looking at the sunset, he figured that this would be an alright location to rest. Sensing little to no other presences with his ability to sense aura. The only presence that was actually somewhat distinguishable was something in the water in the distance. It was quite possible that it was heading towards the beach area.

"Oh, uh, we don't have to find civilization if you're uncomfortable with it, of course," Breeze protested the selfless offer Raul had stated. "I just meant, find like a shelter. I'm just... I know you say you'd sense any enemies, but it goes against all my instincts to sleep out in the open like this beach is all. But, I mean, I can just go on my way if you would prefer that."

Raul listened to breezes protest as he looked back towards the direction he had come from. He remembered passing a small alcove under a large outcropping of rocks. It would serve as an excellent shelter from the outside, as it only had one opening and the back wall was not too far back either. Maybe that would suffice for a shelter for the mudkip? At least, until she decided she wanted to go to civilization.

Raul turned towards the mudkip as she finished speaking. “I saw a spot where we can stay a little ways that way if you like.” he stated as he pointed off in the direction he had original came from.

Breeze nodded gratefully. It would make her feel infinitely better to not be out in the open as the night wore on. In fact, she didn't think that she would be able to sleep at all in the open. She would close her eyes only for them to snap open as she imagined some sharp-toothed pokemon sneaking up on her in the dark and biting down...

"Eeep!" the mudkip let out a small squeak of fear as she looked around frightfully. She was just scaring herself now! Now that the sun was down and the night was setting in, she was no longer as comfortable being on her own that she had been before.

It hit her for perhaps the first time since she had left, how vulnerable she was without the Tribe to protect her from the dangers of the world. "Y-yeah, l-let's go, shall we?" She said to Raul nervously, eyes darting back and forth across the beach.

Raul glanced towards Breeze as she seemed to jump, sensing no aura near her to be startled by something. However, it didn’t mean it was something living that startled her either. Raul nodded as the mudkip asked if they could get going. As he did so, he started to lead the mudkip off towards the direction of the spot that could be used as shelter.

As he walked along the beach towards the location, he kept an eye out for various twigs and branches. Anything that was dry, he would pick up and carry along with him as the duo walked onward. They would eventually see the outcropping in a minute or two.

Breeze nervously followed the golden-furred pokemon towards the shelter he claimed he knew about. She noticed him picking up twigs and dry leaves, and she scrambled to pick up some moss as well, as she liked the spongy, soft bedding for herself.

She continued to follow the riolu until they reached the alcove that he had mentioned. Breeze awkwardly stood there with moss tucked under her neck and in her mouth as she waited for him to make the nests so that she could put the moss in them.

As Raul made his way picking up the last of the sticks and twigs he could find along the way, just noticing the moss that Breeze had picked up as the two traveled. The two Pokémon eventually came across the alcove, right where he last saw it. He felt glad to be of some help for the Pokémon. Although he was used to the openness of the wild. Some Pokémon aren’t used to it, and he rather help them feel better. Besides, it was better to find shelter regardless in the event of bad weather.

Raul walked towards the alcove and dropped his supplies on the ground, a little ways in the alcove. He didn’t want to bring a fire too far in, as it could cause problems with smoke and fire, especially if it had some foliage growing along the surface of it.

After inspecting the alcove for any problems they might have, he felt satisfied and then sat down next to the pile of sticks. He may have had enough to start a fire, but it definitely wasn’t enough to sustain one for long. Fire was always hungry, and failing to feed it enough would kill it. “Going to need more firewood.” he said as he look outside the alcove. He hasn’t started making the fire yet, but he did plan to if the mudkip wanted to get more firewood.

Breeze blinked as the riolu set down the sticks in big pile. Was that how this clan made its nests? It seemed rather uncomfortable to her. Then he said something about a fire, which made Breeze drop her moss as her mouth opened in shock.

"Errr, fire? I thought we were going to make some nests... Isn't having fire next to where you sleep, like, dangerous?" Breeze asked nervously. "I mean, I'm not weak to fire obviously but it still doesn't feel good to get burned..."

Raul looked towards Breeze as she questioned his reasoning about having a fire close to where they slept. He thought for a moment why she would ask that, but didn’t quite get a conclusion of it other than possibly having a whole home to keep them warm before. “It will help keep us warm, and the fire won’t burn if you keep some distance from it.” he said with a smile. Raul looked towards the outside, only to notice a few more branches along the beach side.

The weather was going to be clear tonight, but the temperatures might drop. They were in a moist environment also, so that would play part in what kind of weather occurred there. Raul wasn’t entirely sure if the weather changed rapidly here or not. However, one thing was certain… They would need a fire in case that the temperature dropped.

Breeze blinked. "Uh, well, not really. That's what the moss is for. Also, sleeping with other pokemon, we share our heat. In the Tribe, the dens are always warm," she said wistfully.

She walked over to the edge of the alcove's wall and began to dig two holes for them to sleep in. She made quick work of the earth, using her water gun to make the earth wet and easier to dig up. She piled the earth in one big pile, where they could perhaps use it to ring the fire.

Then she split the moss up and put the moss in the two holes. One of the holes was larger for the riolu, as the golden-furred pokemon was rather bigger than the mudkip, standing at least a whole foot above Breeze's height.

The riolu stood still as he watched the ocean move back and forth along the beach. The waves had been crashing along the land’s borders, never stopping. Raul listened to the mudkip’s response as he turned towards Breeze’s direction near the end of her sentence. As he had turned, he saw her begin digging at the ground, seeming to make some form of nest as she placed the moss at the bottom of each small hole. He noted that the space between the two beds was just about as large as Breeze, one mudkip in length. He watched her place the moss in the bottom of each hole as a sort of padding for the two.

The riolu nodded as he glanced outside for a moment, pondering whether or not to make a fire. He always had a fire when the nights became cold, mainly because in a shelter like this, the heat would be kept in place within the stone. That would keep the area warm enough to rest, even using some slabs of stone over the fire could be used to warm one’s self up. The riolu looked back towards breeze once more before looking at his pile of sticks. There was enough fuel there to let a fire burn for about 15 minutes, which wasn’t enough to warm up the rock above. He also didn’t want to leave the mudkip behind as he went to get firewood.

“It may be true that your dens were always warm… However, this isn’t the same place.” the riolu stated as he decided to walk back towards the dirt piles near the bed. He looked at it for a moment, eventually deciding to sit along the side of the larger hole that was meant for him. He had to admit, it was an interesting little nest. However, would it keep them warm? “If it does get too cold, let me know. I can start the fire, but I will need more wood.” he stated in a neutral tone. This entire time, he had not realized that he was holding onto his trinket. As he went to look at the pouch on his wrist, it wasn’t there. He was actually holding the two in his one paw still. Closing his eyes, he breathed out deeply as he put the trinket in his pouch, tying it to his wrist once more.

Breeze looked up at the riolu once she was done with the nests. She took a moment to process what the pokemon had said, before walking over to his side and sitting down, staring into the night sky, where the tiny pinpricks of light that were the stars were just beginning to wink into existence. She gave a long sigh as she stared at a particularly bright star, wondering which of her ancestors the star represented, and if said ancestors were still watching over her.

"Yeah, this isn't the same place," she said quietly. "If you think it's a good idea to start a fire, we can. You would probably know better than I about how to survive in solitude."

Raul looked back out towards the ocean as he listened to the mudkip’s response. He was thinking whether or not it would be warm enough at night based on the location they were at. “I don’t know too much about this land… but I know that one has to be prepared for anything. I will get some more wood… in case we need the fire.” he responded to what the mudkip stated.

He didn’t need to go far as there was some more wood around the area that was still in view of the mudkip in the little light that remained from the night sky. After grabbing more pieces of wood, he walked back towards the entrance of the shelter. Raul dropped the wood next to his previous pile. It was enough wood to keep a fire burning for a little bit if they need it.

Raul then began to make his way back towards the bed that was made for him and sat next to the mudkip. After a moment of sitting there once more, he decided to take his figurine out of his pouch once more. He untied the knot on the pouch around his wrist and opened the bag up. He grabbed the figure and placed it on the ground in front of him, keeping the figure in a position facing him.

Breeze nodded and watched as the riolu went off to collect some more wood. She padded over to the little bed she'd made for herself and curled up in it, the moss warming up the nest just like she had thought. It was getting colder though, so she supposed that the fire would be a good idea. She was still nervous about having such a dangerous thing near her while she slept though. She wasn't sure she would have a good night's sleep while she was so near a fire.

The riolu came back with more firewood, and set it down by the other pile. Then he came to sit near her and pulled something out from around his wrist and set it down in front of him. Breeze perked up her head and looked at the figurine. She hadn't seen anything like it before. "What's that?" she asked him curiously.

Raul remained silent for only a brief moment after the mudkip had asked what the object was. As he went to respond, he continued to stare at the object. “I don’t know the name of it… Theynin gave it to me before… before I was forced to leave.” he said in a bit of a lower tone than he had been using earlier. The sorrow in his voice was audible once more, however it didn’t seem as bad as last time.

Raul closed his eyes for a moment, keeping them closed for a decent amount of time. “It is very important to me.” he said as he opened his eyes and looked over towards the mudkip. She seemed to be in the bedding that she had made for herself. An equal one was made for him also, but bigger. However, he was only sitting on the edge at the time he took out the figurine.

Breeze nodded almost imperceptibly as she continued to study the strange figurine in Raul's paws. "Well, whatever it is, it's ... pretty," she said. She looked over at the pile of wood, and wondered how the riolu was going to start a fire. Maybe he knew a fire type technique?

"Are you versed in the knowledge of fire types? Otherwise, how will you start the fire?" she questioned him curiously.