Traces of Radioactivity (Part 2)

Most of the listening clan members tensed up at Jayna's words, Clover retreating to her den as quickly as she possibly could.  None of Espeon's kits were old enough to remember the traumatic incident that left Clover able to sort of fly, but also terrified of nearly all humans, Liepards, anything that made her feel trapped, and of someone finding out about her abnormal ability.  The word "study," when used with other Pokemon, usually meant humans were involved.

Sunbeam, naturally, was hooked at the word "study," rather than alarmed.  "Really?"

Jayna nodded, apparently oblivious to the sudden tension in camp.  "I want to know what causes the phenomenon, Zan tries to find out if the status gives them any extra abilities or boosts in any way."

Sunbeam sat down and leaned closer, fascinated.  "What have you found out so far?"

"Nothing much.  Despite you having two shiny siblings, they are very, very rare and hard to find.  We don't have much data to go on."

Three spoke up.  "I'll help with your research!"

Jayna smiled at him.  "Thank you, that's very helpful.  Do you think your sister might assist me, as well?"

Sunbeam made a face.  "Not if you tell her you're studying her...  But I might be able to offer some help."

"I don't know how much, but thank you.  I'll be discreet in watching her."

"Again, just...  be careful of that."

I finally approached the pair.  "Um...  When you say "study..."  Do mean with humans?"

"Yes, why?"  The mood in camp immediately darkened, Umbreon watching Jayna's every move.  This time, the Meowstic noticed the sudden change.  "Oh, don't worry!  They're more of a resource than they are trainers or anything like that!  I wouldn't even think about telling anyone about your clan!"

I looked at Umbreon.  Was she telling the truth?

He nodded.  I sighed quietly in relief, along with a few other clan members.  Clover still did not come out of her den.

Sunbeam just looked confused.  "How did everyone make that jump?"

I searched for words that wouldn't bring Clover's name into this.  "It's..."

Umbreon walked up to his daughter, giving me a brief glance before returning his vigilant gaze to Jayna.  "We'll explain later.  It's too long of a story to tell now."

If the Meowstic could sense our unwillingness to explain, she didn't say anything about it.  "I'm sorry about that.  Zan and I do mostly research on our own, we just occasionally enlist human aid to find more shiny Pokemon."

I nodded and let Sunbeam return to her many questions, her three unevolved siblings sitting and listening intently.  Finding Umbreon again with my eyes, I flicked my fin towards Clover's den, silently asking if he would watch her in Snow's absence.  He nodded and touched noses with Espeon briefly before padding silently to the spacious bush den and slipping inside.

I looked back at Jayna, now asking Three a bunch of questions, about a third of which Sunbeam was actually answering.  I wasn't sure how I felt about this.  Umbreon gave me the OK as far as my clan's safety went, but I was definitely warier of the newcomer now.  On the other paw, if Snow and Moonlight found Zan, he might start questioning Moonlight, and, well.  I didn't need Sunbeam to tell me how wrong that scenario could go.  But that left me with a dilemma.  Should I stay and keep an eye on Jayna, trusting Snow to keep Moonlight in line, or should I track the trackers down before Moonlight took something the wrong way?

Right on cue, Surf leaped back out of the pond, bringing as much debris with him as possible.  I trotted over to him before he could dive back in.  "Hey, Surf?  Could you keep an eye on things here while I go help Snow and Moonlight?"

He looked at me in confusion, then back towards the newcomer.  "...How long was I under?"

Oh.  "...Only a few minutes..."

Espeon stepped over to us.  "I'll explain.  Splash, Inferno is getting the last of the debris out of camp and Bolt is checking how stable all of the nearby trees are."

"Of course he is...  All right, I'll go find Snow and Moonlight, then look for Bolt.  Just to be safe."

I found Snow and Moonlight with perfect timing, just as they had tracked the still-unconscious male Meowstic down.  Running as fast as my awkward Vaporeon gait would allow, I skidded to a stop next to Snow.  "Hey!"

"Hey," both responded simultaneously.

"This him?"

Moonlight shot me a look.  "Well, seeing as this is the only other Meowstic I have ever seen or heard of, then it's probably the right one."

Snow gave the young Umbreon a stern look.  "Hey.  Not only is she older than you, she's your clan leader.  Show some respect."  Moonlight rolled her eyes dramatically and just grabbed one of Clover's Revival Herbs.  I sighed quietly and sat down.  It wasn't so much that she had taken an attitude towards me personally, but that she repeatedly did things like this to everyone in the Clan.  I'd smack her over the head with my tail if I thought it would do anything.  But it wouldn't, and would probably backfire on me anyway.

Aided by the Revival Herb, Zan groaned and blinked awake.  On the upside, his injures weren't nearly as bad as Jayna's had been.  On the downside, his gaze flicked quickly over me, then Snow, then stopped dead on Moonlight.

I quickly thought as loudly as I could, SAY NOTHING ABOUT HER BEING SHINY.  Jayna told us about your research, and she would not take survey questions well.

He glanced back towards me.  "...You are?" he asked, his accent identical to his sister's.

"I'm Splash, and this is Snow and Moonlight."  Snow nodded politely.  Moonlight said and did nothing.

"Nice to meet you three...  You've seen my sister?"

Snow nodded.  "Yes, she's the one that sent us to look for you.  She's back at camp with our healer."

"Healer?" he asked, quickly becoming concerned.  "Is she all right?"

"She's fine," I assured him.  "Clover just wanted to be sure.  She's just staying until we find you and make sure you're both fit for travel."

He nodded, looking mostly assured.  "All right...  That's good to hear..."  He glanced briefly back at Moonlight again before returning his gaze to me.  This time, she noticed and narrowed her eyes slightly.

I decided to take this off track before something (meaning Moonlight) exploded.  "Why don't you come back to camp with us?  Clover can check you over and then you and Jayna can go back to wherever it was you were going."  Secretly, I hoped that Clover had recovered enough with Umbreon's help to check the other Psychic over by now.

Zan nodded.  "All right.  Lead the way."

Moonlight needed no further encouragement, trotting ahead and leaving us to trail behind.  Zan watched her every move, now that she couldn't see his eyes on her.  After only a few minutes of walking, however, a distant voice caught my ear.  "Where are you!?"

All three members of my Clan stopped, instantly recognizing the call as Bolt's.  Who was he calling for...?  I quickly took charge.  "Moonlight, Snow, go find Bolt and see what's going on.  I'll take Zan back to camp and hold down the fort."

Moonlight nodded curtly, taking the order without question.  "Got it," she said before dashing ahead, not waiting to see if Snow was behind her.

I looked back at Zan.  "Do you feel up to running?"

"If I have to, I can."

"Good.  Keep up with me."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We burst into camp a few minutes later, Zan far more winded than I was.  Sunbeam was in the middle of camp with her mother, apologizing profusely over and over again.  What happened?

I turned back to Zan.  "Clover, the Leafeon, is our healer.  She's probably in the bush den over there," I said, flicking my fin towards it.  "Just let her look you over.  Ask if you can come in first!"

"Okay..."

I barely waited long enough to make sure he was headed in the right direction before dashing over to the pair of Espeons.  "Hey!  What's going on?  What happened?"

Sunbeam turned towards me, looking panicked.  "It's my fault!  I wasn't paying attention!"

Espeon tried to soothe her eldest daughter.  "It'll be fine.  You'll see."

"What'll be fine?" I asked again, getting more and more concerned by the second.

Sunbeam spoke two words that I was hoping not to hear.  "Four's missing!"