The Quest for Night (Part 1)

I rubbed Surf's fins and touched his nose repeatedly, partly just to reassure myself that he was really here in front of me.  I inhaled deeply.  He always smelled like the sea, regardless of whether or not he was wearing his Sea Incense.  It was one of the many reasons that I loved him.

Apparently, he was doing the same thing.  "You smell like home, Splash.  You always have."

"And you smell like the sea," I replied, rubbing fins with him again.

He smiled.  "Really?  I'm not even wearing your Snow Day present!"

"You always have.  I just wanted everyone else to be able to smell it, too.  It's the best smell in the world," I murmured.

"I don't know...  Home is a pretty nice smell, too..."

Umbreon's soft voice interrupted my next compliment.  "Excuse me, believe me when I say that I know how you two feel, but Espeon and I really want to see our kits now."

I reluctantly pulled away from Surf.  "Sorry, Umbreon.  Of course.  I'll go get them."  I turned back towards the camp entrance, leading everyone inside.  "Kits!  Your parents and brother are here!"

In the stampede that accompanied my words, Surf managed to slip up behind me and whisper, "We'll finish that conversation later."  I gave him a warm smile in response.

Clover trotted past me with Snow in tow.  "Hi, Splash!  Is anyone injured?  I took all of my healing supplies with me."

I nodded.  "Yeah, Bolt...  Hold on.  You took your supplies?"  Clover nodded.  "When?" I asked, shocked.

She shrugged, exposing her wings.  "A little bit after the explosion.  Umbreon found me and we saved Four.  Then, we went back into camp after the humans left, and I'll explain why that happened later, so that I could get my healing supplies and see if anyone was still there."

"I was still there!" I shouted, not believing how ignorant I had been.  "I never left camp!  I was right in the pond with One and Three!"

Snow looked back and forth between the two of us.  "You didn't see each other?"

I looked up at the fading light in the sky.  "We walked right past each other and didn't know it!"

"Unbelievable..." Clover said, shaking her head.  "Well, either way, you said something about Bolt?"

I shook my head.  "Actually, he's fine now.  He's just recharging.  Just keep an eye on him, just in case?"

Clover nodded.  "Sure thing.  Him and Umbreon."

"And Streak," Snow added.

"Right."

I tilted my head.  "Speaking of, did any of you see Night at all?  It's like she just vanished."

Both shook their heads.  "Streak got captured with us, but we saw no sign of Night.  We assumed that she had escaped."

"But we didn't see her either."

I nodded.  "Well...  Maybe we can all piece it together."  I turned away and jumped up onto the announcement rock.  "EEVEES!  Let's assemble in the middle of camp, each with the groups that you left the explosion with.  We're going to swap stories."

 

Inferno finished telling what had happened, speaking for both himself and Bolt, as the Jolteon was still recharging.  Streak had joined us in the middle of our story swapping, and because he was with Surf, Espeon, and Snow the whole time, he was snow sitting on the ground in between Snow and Clover, occasionally filling in details.  Finally, when everyone had spoken their piece, I stood up again.  "So... No one has any idea where Night is."

 

Everyone in the circle shook their heads and stayed silent, Streak included.  I nodded slowly.  "Ok, then.  So.  Let's organize a list of priorities.  We need to help Bolt and Umbreon recover, find Night, and help you five develop your abilities," I finished, looking at the five Eevees.

 

Streak was in a panic.  "Oh Arceus...  We have to find Night.  We have to.  And I can't help look for her because-"

 

"Streak," I cut him off, still standing.  "We'll find her.  But if you have something to say, stand up, ok?"

 

The Staraptor nodded, rising to his feet.  "Sorry, Splash.  I'm positive that I can hire you all to search for her, but I can't join in the hunt."

 

I tilted my head at him in confusion.  "Why not?" I asked, sitting down again. 

 

"Because," Streak said quietly.  "Our nest has already been sitting with no one to watch it for three days.  I don't think the eggs can go much longer without-"

 

Clover jumped to her paws.  "You have eggs!?"

 

Streak looked over at her, startled by her outburst.  "Well, yes, and I'll have to-"

 

"Congratulations!" said almost the entire Clan simultaneously. 

 

Streak looked around worriedly, beating his wings for silence.  Everyone settled down, Clover sitting back down again.  "Anyway!  Someone has to sit on the nest, and since it obviously can't be Night..."

 

I stood back up again.  "Ok, we'll add Streak's nest to our list of things to take care of.  I'm sure Inferno could help keep the eggs warm if you want to search with us."

 

Inferno looked at me without standing up.  "...but..."

 

I looked at him sympathetically.  "I know it's in a tree, but you're warm and fluffy and cuddly, to use Five's words.  Please?"

 

His ears drooped a bit at the prospect of the heights.  "...Fine."

 

I smiled at him.  "Thank you, Inferno."

 

Streak nodded at him, too.  "That means a lot to me."

 

I looked around, Surf catching my eye.  He had noticed my broken Shell Bell.  I looked back at the rest of my Clan, plus Streak.  "Ok, everyone.  We have a lot on our backs, but we still need to settle back in to being at home.  Streak, why don't you come back tomorrow at around midday, and then we can start organizing search parties.  Sound good?"

 

The Staraptor nodded and sat back down.  "I think I need a good night's sleep anyway..."

 

I nodded.  "That might be a good idea for everyone.  We'll start everything tomorrow.  Clan meeting dismissed!"

 

Everyone stood up and started drifting back towards their own dens, Espeon and Umbreon ushering their kits towards the guest den.  I scanned the crowd for Surf, finding him slipping into the pond and swimming back towards his den.  Trotting to the edge, I dove into the warm water myself and swam after him.

 

I surfaced in his air-filled space, seeing him sitting and waiting near his bed.  The crystal orb behind him was aqua and purple, with a bit of dark blue mixed in.  All three colors were swirled together, but not dramatically.  I smiled.  Content, lonely, overwhelmed, and a bit confused.  I had to give Espeon credit for accuracy.

 

Surf smiled as I entered and pulled myself from the water.  "Hey.  What happened to your shell?"

 

I glanced down at it.  "It broke during the explosion.  It doesn't work anymore, but it still reminded me of you, so I kept it on."

 

He tilted his head with a smile.  "Well, then, I'll have to make you a new one."

 

"No, you don't!  It's fine!" I protested, but Surf would have none of it.

 

"Of course I do!  You know Recover instead of Aqua Ring!  You have to have some aquatic way of healing!"

 

"What's wrong with Recover?"

 

"Vaporeons are supposed to know Aqua Ring.  Recover is not in our usual moveset."

 

"Hey, it's handy," I defended.  "I don't even remember how I got it.  Most of my kithood is a complete blank!"

 

"Nevertheless," Surf said firmly, rubbing his fins against mine.  "I am going to make you a new Shell Bell.  It looks beautiful on you, and I'd hate to lose that."

 

I smiled and closed my eyes, relishing the feeling of his cool, smooth skin.  "Thank you, Surf."

 

He laid his tail on top of mine.  "Anything for you, Splash."  I smiled.  "Now, how about we finish that conversation that we started earlier in front of camp..."