Two Halves of One Clan (Part 1)

I looked at Bolt in amazement.  All of the injuries that he had sustained had suddenly vanished, leaving only a few scratches.  "Who healed him!?" I asked again.

Everyone was silent for a few moments.  Then, Five raised a tiny paw.  "Um... I think I did."

I tilted my head at the tiny brown Eevee.  "How?"

Five sat down.  "Well... um... I wanted Uncle Bolt to get better and I looked up and I thought I saw something in the sky and Uncle Bolt got better..."

It took me a second to put the pieces together.  "Something in the sky...  A shooting star?"  Five nodded.  "Five, you just used Wish."

Inferno tilted his head, standing over his best friend.  "Wish?  How?  No one related to her knows that move!  And can we talk about this after we get Bolt back to camp?"

I nodded.  "Right.  Yes.  Here, help me carry him."  I slipped underneath the sleeping Jolteon and slowly stood up, Inferno helping to balance him by pushing him onto the center of my back.  Bolt's spiked fur poked my skin a little bit, but I wasn't about to complain.  I raised my tail to help balance the Jolteon as we walked back towards camp with Two and Five following closely.

Inferno glanced back at the Garchomp, knocked out a short distance away.  "What happened back there?  Bolt dropped me out of a tree and ran ahead.  I only got there after you did."

I did my best to answer as I balanced my load.  "I got there just as Bolt got knocked out."

"Down," Inferno corrected.  "He got knocked down.  He was still awake.  He's pretty resilient."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, just leaving the small smile.  "Fine, I got there just as Bolt was knocked down.  Better?"  Inferno nodded.  "I had heard the Garchomp from the lookout post, so I came running and used Blizzard the second I saw it.  Good thing I did..." I finished, looking at Two and Five.

We reached the camp entrance, which, thanks to One's and Three's hard work, looked a lot more like a camp entrance.  I lugged Bolt to his rock den and gently set him down in his bed.  Inferno slipped past me as I exited the den.  "I'm going to use Discharge a few times on him.  If Bolt is sleeping this soundly, it's because he has no power left."

"Essentially, his batteries are dead," I stated jokingly.

Inferno laid his ears back in annoyance.  "Essentially, yes.  ...That was my line..." he complained.  "Can you just watch Two and Five, please?"

"Sure," I nodded.  "Just give me a second to get One and Three."

Inferno backed out of the den quickly as I turned to jump into the pond.  "You know where One and Three are!?" he shouted incredulously.

I nodded.  "Well, yeah.  I found them right after the explosion and brought them to my den."

Two and Five jumped up, Five pawing at my shoulder.  "I want to see One and Three!" the small Eevee called.

I smiled at her, wondering how she could be so cute.  "Ok, one second, Five!  Let me get them!"  I trotted to the edge of the pond and dove in, relishing the feeling the warm water on my skin. 

I let myself sink to the bottom before swimming into my den.  At first glance, I didn't see either of the kits... until I saw two pairs of long ears, one brown and one shiny blue-grey, poking out from inside my nest.  "One?  Three?" I called.  "You can come out now.  It's safe again."

Both Eevees bounced out of my nest and dashed over to me instead, snuggling up as close as they could.  One looked up at me with big eyes.  "What was it, Splash?"

"Did you beat it?" asked Three.

I smiled.  "Yes, Three, I did, and One, it was a Garchomp."  Their eyes went wide.  "Don't worry, I know Blizzard.  It wasn't a big deal."  Both kits still looked stunned.  "But...  Guess what else I found?"

Both kits sat in silence for a few seconds, not knowing or willing to hedge a guess.  One narrowed her eyes at me, focusing.  She suddenly lit up as she found the answer.  "Inferno and Uncle Bolt and Two and Five!?" she shouted.  Three's mouth dropped open.

I nodded, proud of One's abilities.  "Yes, but Uncle Bolt is really tired, so don't-"  I stopped talking as both kits barreled out the entrance of my den and into the pond, not even remotely listening to what I said.  I let out a sigh.  This was exhausting.

A tear slipped out of Espeon's eye.  She didn't think she had ever been so happy in a very, very long time.  The love of her life was alive and well, fighting like only she knew that he could to save her.  One of her sons was safe.  She had a feeling that the rest of them were, too, somewhere.  She was happy.

Umbreon's kiss lasted.  Espeon never wanted to pull away.  She inhaled his scent deeply as her nose touched his.  She blocked out everything else around her, just wanting to focus on the Pokémon in front of her.  Maybe it was the way that he spoke to her.  Maybe it was the way that he looked at her, no matter the time of day or night or the way she looked.  Maybe it was the fact that she couldn't read him like she could everyone else.  He was always something of a mystery.  He loved her despite the type difference, and she loved him right back with all of her heart, soul, mind, everything.

Finally, they pulled away, still staying very close to one another.  Espeon didn't want to lose him again.  Ever.  Umbreon looked at her.  "Espy...  You're crying..."

Espeon nodded.  "I thought I'd lost you."

Umbreon shook his head, starting to answer when another voice cut him off.  "Hey!  Luvdiscs!  Go get your Staraptor friend and let's get out of here!"

Espeon looked at the speaker in confusion, then alarm.  "Umbreon, isn't that Terror?"

He nodded, not looking too concerned.  "Yes, but now she means well.  She came to save that Zorua that you were talking to."

Espeon was about to speak when said Zorua dashed across the room and pounced at the Liepard.  "Terror!  You came to get me!"

Terror gave her a sly smile.  "Of course!  Thought I'd bring your new friend a little present, too..."

Terror had led Umbreon here.  Espeon looked at her mate.  You know what?  She didn't care.

Espeon touched his nose again quickly before standing up, urging Four to follow.  "Come on.  Terror's right.  Let's get Streak."  Together and in perfect sync, Espeon and Umbreon bounded over to the hanging cage.  Espeon easily lifted the Staraptor with her mind, relishing the use of her telekinesis again.

Carefully, Espeon lowered Streak over the two of them, one wing draping over each of the perfect couple.  Espeon looked at Four.  "Four, sweetie?  Go stay with Snow and Clover, ok?  They can watch you." 

Her radioactive son nodded and turned to do as his mother said.  He stopped suddenly and rubbed his entire body against Espeon, forgetting for a moment about his extra energy.  "I love you, Mommy," he whispered before breaking away and dashing over to Snow and Clover.

Umbreon caught Espeon's eye again.  Around Streak's feathers, she saw a little red stone tied to a worn vine around his neck.  "What's that?"

Umbreon glanced down at the stone before meeting Espeon's eyes again.  "A promise," he stated.

Espeon needed no further explanation.  Surf, now mostly healed thanks to Aqua Ring, ran ahead.  "Come on, everyone!  Let's get out of here!" he shouted, leading the way.

Everyone followed, including two Pokémon in the back.  One of the sun, one of the moon.  One made for the other.  Even underneath the weight of an unconscious Staraptor, nothing held them back.  Espeon smiled, not bothering to hold back another tear.  She was with Umbreon and her kits were safe.  That was all that mattered to her.