A Beam of Sunlight (Part 2)

This was going to be a big job.  Everyone, including the kits, had a job to do.  It had taken Surf, Espeon, and me ages to plan everything out.

I looked at the diagram drawn in the dirt, with everyone else watching.  "All right Eevees and Staraptors.  Everyone listen closely.  You each have an important job to do.  Night, you are going to lead the trainer to your nest as already established.  Meanwhile, One and Umbreon are going to follow the trainer secretly.  One, you'll listen to her thoughts, just to see if we need to take action."

One looked happy at being given such an important job, but Bolt looked confused.  "Why not me instead of Umbreon?"

"Two reasons," Espeon explained.  "One is for the stealth.  Umbreon is a Dark Type and very good at sneaking.  Bolt, you have a tendency to glow."

The Jolteon looked down.  "Only when I'm excited... but yeah..."

I joined back in.  "That, and he can use Phantom Force if they are detected."  Bolt seemed to accept this, so we moved on.  "If things go bad, which One and Umbreon can alert us to, then Espeon, who will be hidden nearby, will dull the trainer's reactions while three things happen.  First, Two, you have a very important job."

The shiny Eevee sat up straighter, with her ears erect and a serious expression.

I looked at her with the same level of seriousness.  "Tell me if you don't think you can do this.  We need you to use Phantom Force to get into the trainer's bag without her noticing.  Then, you are going to steal Night's Poke Ball and get out.  Clover is going to cover your escape."

Two said nothing, only nodded, showing extreme determination.

Espeon picked up where I left off.  "Now, while Night is leading the human back to the nest, Clover, we need you to make a net of vines around the nest that Streak or Night can grab, and fly away with the nest in tow.  Streak, Night, the Emergency Tree would be a good place."  The Staraptors nodded.  Espeon answered Clover's question before she asked it.  "And Clover, when Two jumps out with the Poke Ball, she'll have to be in the regular dimension.  It's your job to make sure that she is well-hidden, and her shiny brother can be seen."

Three's eyes went wide.  "Wha-  Me?  Mama, why me?"

I let Espeon explain.  "Three, we are counting on your luck.  A shiny Eevee is sure to draw the trainer's attention.  That will give Streak and Night time to escape with the nest.  We need you to run to the clearing near the stand of elm trees.  Do you know where that is?"

Three nodded, looking a bit daunted.  "And I have to lead the trainer there?"

"Right," I finished.  "Don't forget that she can't battle you if she can't catch you.  Stay close enough so that she can see you, but far enough away that she can't battle you.  We're relying on your luck."

The middle kit seemed scared, but accepted the challenge, determination written all over his face.  "I can do it."

"Great!" I said, smiling at him.  "When you see the clearing speed up and hide.  There's a hole in the ground where she won't be able to see your fur."

Inferno jumped in.  "Just check your ears and tail.  ...I learned that the hard way..."

Trying not to laugh, I went back to the plan.  "In the clearing will be Snow, Surf, Four, and Five.  Surf, you are in charge of smashing the Poke Ball.  Two is going to pass it off to Bolt, who will bring it to you, and then get to his post."

Bolt sat and barked at attention.  "Yes, ma'am!"

I flicked a fin in amusement at his antics, then continued.  "Surf, you have to smash the Poke Ball, probably using Iron Tail, then hide the pieces before the trainer arrives.  We need her to see Snow, Four, and Five, who will let Three escape and take over the wild Swanna chase, leading her to a path near the human town.  That is where Bolt and Inferno will battle her until everyone is safely hidden, after which, you two will blow up and make your escape.  I can almost guarantee that, running around the forest almost all day, she'll be too tired to keep searching, and return home."

Nods of assent were seen around the camp.  Surf spoke up.  "What about you, Splash?  It's not like you to not partake in a plan."

Streak jumped in before I could answer.  "And what if the trainer comes back later?"

"Ah, and that is where I come in," I said with a smile.  "I am going to be changing the course of the river to bend around the tree."

"Why?" Inferno asked with extreme confusion.  A few other Clan members shared his expression.

"Because, if things go wrong, she will want her Staraptor back after today, but she won't be able to find her.  She'll be looking for a tree with a river flowing around it and a nest near the top.  She will find a tree that has neither of those things."

Sounds of 'oh...' were heard around camp.  Surf smiled at me.  "Clever."

"Thank you.  Now, let's get this show on the road.  The trainer should be coming closer soon."

 

 

 

I dove into the river, getting a feel for its flow, strength, path, and speed.  While Night was flying back to her trainer, everyone who had paws and was available was helping to dig out a shallow trench that I could redirect the river to.  Surf was going to help me change the course, but I had to keep it flowing while he freed Night.

 

Finally, I resurface, my mate alongside me.  "I'm feeling pretty good about this!"

 

Bolt blasted over to the bank while everyone else kept digging.  "Hi Splash!  Hi Surf!  Clover said to tell you that we shouldn't take the river too far out of its way.  We're just looping it around Streak's and Night's tree, and then letting it flow back into its original course."

 

I nodded as Surf spoke.  "Tell her that it shouldn't make much of a difference.  With the depth of the trench and the volume of the river, Splash and I should be able to make due with half of the water flow."

 

"Just a simple fork in the river," I agreed.

 

"Roger!" Bolt shouted before tearing off to tell Clover.  I didn't realize just how much I missed that sound until he had to be suspended from Clover's ceiling.

 

Surf turned to look at me.  "Ok, we need to make this quick.  I have a long way to go, so let's get this done as soon as possible, ok?"

 

"Of course."  I peered over the bank of the river, spotting Espeon.  "Espy, how close are they?"

 

She paused for a moment to scan the area.  "Night just reached the human with Umbreon and One.  They're coming this way now."

 

I thanked her before raising my voice.  "CLEAR OUT!  WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE RIVER'S COURSE!"  Eevees scrambled to get out of the way as Surf and I concentrated on the water flow.  We couldn't just both use Surf and leave it; the water would return to the river.  "Surf, melt.  I'll use Surf to push the water into the trench, but you have to make it flow the rest of the way.  Make it happen, and I'll keep it going."

 

"You got it," he smiled before dissolving into the river. 

 

I waited a few seconds before beginning a countdown.  "3... 2... 1... Go!"  I used Surf in as focused of an area as I could, forcing a ton of water into the smaller river bend, hopefully with my mate at the front.  I sank back into the water and felt the current carry around the tree and reenter the river.  It didn't take much effort on my part to keep the river flowing.  All I had to do was shift some of the flow into the trench.

 

Surf reformed, jumping out of the river on the far side.  "Looks good, Splash!  Good luck!"  I didn't have time to call back to him before he spun on his tail and raced for the clearing, followed by several other members of my clan.

 

A few tense minutes later, I heard the telltale beats of Night's wings.  Dissolving into water, but still remaining in the same place, I watched as she swooped towards her nest and mate, hovering in front of them.  A few seconds later, the human trainer ran after her, a bit winded.  She watched Night curiously as the female Staraptor flew across the "river" and landed on the edge of her nest, next to Streak.

 

The trainer watched her for a few seconds.  "...Staraptor?  Is... this your nest?"

 

Night responded by stepping into the nest and sitting on her eggs.  Streak stood over her, watching the trainer closely.  He had the vines of Clover's net already around his talons, but they weren't visible from the ground.  Or the river.

 

The human watched her for a long time.  I didn't see Umbreon or One give any kind of signal.  Finally, she spoke to Night again.  "So that's what you were upset about.  I thought I could make you happy, but you have a family."  She looked away sadly.  "I don't think I could take care of two Staraptors and four eggs along with the rest of my team..."

 

I almost forgot about the water flow.  Was she about to do what I thought she was?

 

She looked back up at Night.  "Staraptor...  Do you want to stay here?  I mean...  I've always wanted a Staraptor, but I won't keep you from your family..."

 

Night looked surprised and touched.  She looked back at her mate.  The two of them seemed to have a silent conversation before Streak nodded, looking a bit sad.  Night stood back up, gently picked up one egg in her talons, and flew down to the trainer.  No words were spoken, but the meaning was clear.  For all that you did for me.

 

Her eyes went wide.  "You're...  You're giving me one?"  When Night only landed gently and placed the egg in front of her, her trainer put her hands over her mouth.  "Staraptor..."

 

She bent down and hugged Night tightly.  "Thank you.  I promise I'll take good care of it."

 

I saw Espeon move in the corner of my eye.  Night saw her, too.  "Tell her, Espeon.  Please."

 

Espeon closed her eyes, using telepathy that all of us could hear, but sounded like a whisper on the wind.  Her name will be Sora.

 

"Sora..." she murmured.  "That's beautiful.  I'll make sure she meets you, Staraptor.  Thank you."  She hugged Night again, then picked up the egg as if it would break if she touched it.  "I'll care for her like I took care of you.  She's my favorite already."

 

Night nodded.  Both looked at each other for a long time before the trainer reached into her back, removed Night's Poke Ball, opened it, and snapped it apart.  She put it back in her bag before returning her gaze to Night.  "Goodbye, Staraptor..."  With that, she slowly turned and walked back towards the tow, cradling the egg gently in her hands.