"Flutter," Kenji asked, dread curling inside. "What did you do?"

  The beast in question appeared nervous and scared, bobbing over his supplies with insistent trills. The butterfly had returned, wounded and frantic, after only a short stint in the forest.

  "Ti, ti," the butterfly squealed.

  Almost as if in answer, a buzz grew from the direction the Pokémon flew in from.

  "Sprout!" Kenji shouted, "Into the sled," he ordered.

  Racing up to the supplies, he snatched up his pack and hurriedly pulled it on. There was no time to ensure everything sat nice and perfect, leaving several of the silk straps twisted.

  Nearby, the young turtle warbled in fear, sensing Kenji's distress.

  Unfortunately, Kenji had no time to comfort the beast.

  Finding that the turtle had yet to do as he told it, Kenji took matters into his own hands.

  "Withdraw," he snapped as he moved to pick up the beast.

  Whether from fear or his command, the Pokémon did so with a cry. His limbs disappeared into his shell, his large head the last thing Kenji saw before he picked up the turtle.

  With the beast protected by his hard exterior, Kenji could afford to be more rough in his handling as he shoved the young turtle into his spot on the sled. Picking up the handles, he grunted from the effort as he started to move.

  As he feared, the short break to relax in the river and recover was not enough. His muscles ached, protesting his awkward run. The sled was too close to his legs for him to pump them properly, with the handles keeping him from moving his arms.

  Still, he had no choice, not with a swarm of angry beasts seeking vengeance for whatever slight Flutter gave.

  Settling into an awkward jog, Kenji cursed the sled as it tried to trip him. He did not want to abandon the supplies, not yet, not only into their second day from the camp. It represented failure in his mind, a severe lack of ability that destined failure.

  Biting back the dark thoughts, he forced his mind to focus on the dilemma at hand.

  Perhaps he would be able to return for his goods, especially if he found a proper place to quickly hide the bulky sled. The angry swarm had little reason to stop and raid his supplies, so they were sure to be safer than him.

  To that end, he struggled to keep an eye out for a spot to temporarily abandon his supplies. Unfortunately, it was difficult for him to do so while running for his life.

  Behind him, the buzzing swarm grew louder as the beasts neared.

  Cursing the giant butterfly for bring this situation down upon them, Kenji paused behind a tree. He kept the other side of the trunk facing the swarm and roughly dropped the sled to the ground.

  Sprout warbled in fear, still withdrawn into his shell, as he was rudely jostled.

  "Beau!" Flutter trilled with worry, its voice filled with insistence.

  "Quiet," Kenji hushed the two, scared that their cries would attract the attention of the angry beasts.

  Not wasting any time, Kenji snatched up the young Pokémon, grimacing at the cumbersome weight. However, carrying the dense turtle was far better than dragging an entire sled.

  With Sprout in his arms and the wooden pack strapped to his back, Kenji raced onwards. He made far better progress without having to drag the mass of wood and food. The turtle's weight left him hunched over, but he still managed to move.

  Still, the swarm grew louder behind them.

  Huffing, from both panic and exertion, Kenji desperately tried to think of what to do. He dashed around the trees and leapt over roots, barely able to clear the tangles with Sprout in his arms. Sweat dripped into his eyes, causing him to blink furiously lest he run face first into a trunk.

  Flutter was easily keeping pace and he soon focused on following the Pokémon's iridescent wings instead of searching for a path. The butterfly caught on, and quietly trilled encouragement.

  The water from the river was soon washed away by sweat, causing his clothes to cling tighter to his body. He could taste the loamy scent of the forest on his tongue as he desperately panted for breath. Kenji could feel himself slowing down despite the fear and his companions urging him on.

  There was nowhere for him to hide, no empty hovel or carved out tree that he could see. Climbing in an attempt to escape would take far too long and only serve to leave him exposed. He had foolishly abandoned the sled, thinking that without the supplies slowing him down he would be able to outrun the swarm.

  A decision he quickly regretted.

  For there was a small chance that with the frame propped against a tree, he could disguise three of them long enough for the Pokémon to pass.

  In the background, the monstrous buzz grew clearer, a deadly 'ohm' bouncing off the trees. The angry noise easily drowned out the sound of the river.

  That's it, Kenji thought desperately. The river!

  With a destination, and potential safety in mind, he took a sharp turn towards the river.

  As he placed his foot down, Kenji felt a dreadful twist. Recovering quickly, he did not register the pain until he placed his full weight on the limb again.

  Letting out a strangled scream, he crashed into a trunk. The rough bark bit into his skin and helped to hold him up. Tears of pain blended with sweat as he bit back another howl of agony. The slightest movement jostled his ankle, sending him into a fit of whimpers.

  Sprout tumbled out of his arms, the young Pokémon still withdrawn and rolling several paces before a bundle of roots stopped him. Flutter trilled wildly, fearful of the approaching swarm.

  Gripping the trunk, Kenji snarled, fighting to turn the pain into anger. Hobbling forward with a single step, he collapsed to the forest floor with a shout.

  Gasping, Kenji rolled on the ground, trying to right himself as fire crawled up his ankle. In front of him, Sprout poked his head out, warbling in fear. Above, Flutter's trills grew quieter, as though hoping the swarm would not notice them.

  His prayers were quickly dashed.

  The disharmonious buzz peaked into an all-consuming roar that shook the forest around him. Leaves tore free and floated downwards, only for a storm of wind to send them into a flurry.

  Emerging from around the trees were large, hexagonal beasts flying above the ground. Their vibrant yellow bodies were striped with black, sporting small wings that flickered quickly to keep them aloft. Honey dripped from their angular forms in thick, viscous drops as they furiously swarmed.

  Sprout's head quickly disappeared in a flash of Energy as he empowered his shell to defend himself. The detail was noted but dismissed as Kenji's attention was overtaken by the monstrous bugs swarming around them.

  With their appearance, Flutter dropped to the forest floor, huddling in fear. While half of him wanted to help the butterfly, the other was furious at the Pokémon for putting them in this situation.

  The bugs easily took notice of their presence, individuals linking together into floating walls. Fury was evident on their multiple faces as the Pokémon bore down on him and his companions.

  Kenji did not know who was more surprised, him or the furious insects, when a giant net fell from the tree's canopy to land upon the swarm.

  Focused as they were on him, none were looking up and the creatures were caught by surprise.

  The edges of the swarm were trapped first, as the reaches of the net were weighted. Their wings were trapped by the material, dragging them to the ground. When the bugs' ominous buzzing was abruptly cut short, alerting the rest of the swarm.

  Still, it was too late.

  The forest turned quiet as the bugs were forced into a temporary silence. Stranger yet, what Kenji took to be weights emitted a red light that disappeared one of the large bees upon contact. The net collapsed further as result, entangling the beasts even more.

  Kenji held his breath, as shocked as the swarm by the turn of events. It was a momentary distraction from the pain of his turned ankle, at least until he shifted. The it flared up, causing him to grit his teeth.

  Several conjoined blocks of the bugs attempted to rise, but they were unable to do so with the net weighing down their wings and bodies. The honey dripping from their forms only served to cling the material tighter to their bodies. Entangled as they were, the bees were barely able to move, let alone fly.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  The Pokémon wailed in distress and anger, attempting to rise or bite at the netting. The multiple faces sported by the large bugs created a strange, echoing cacophony.

  However, the trap was braided from something stronger than simple thread. Odd orbs were wrapped in the net, lancing out with red light to disappear the unfortunate bee that touched it.

  The bugs were unable to bite through the net and, without the ability to maneuver or spread their wings, they were left unable to break out.

  His parents' lessons rung in the back of his mind, his mother urging him to be considerate and gentle with the Type Beasts. He knew, without a doubt, what she would do if presented with such a dilemma.

  Yet a single glace at the angry faces glaring in his direction reminded him of his father's warnings. Pokémon were powerful creatures, and not ones to be treated lightly.

  No, freeing the beasts would only allow them to vent their anger on him. And there was no question as to how the encounter would go for the three of them.

  Kenji clawed at the bark of the trunk, pulling himself to his feet. He grit his teeth from the painful heat radiating from his ankle, but there was no choice.

  He hobbled towards Sprout, calling lowly for Flutter to join him. The butterfly lifted off and followed closely behind him with barely a trill. When he reached the young Pokémon, Kenji had to brace himself against a tree to avoid toppling over.

  Grabbing the turtle by the edge of his shell, Kenji grunted as he lifted the beast up to cradle in his free arm. While he debated on how to move forward, a strange noise alerted him, one quite different from the swarm of Pokémon.

  Pausing, he tilted his head.

  Behind him, the honey soaked bugs wailed as they attempted to free themselves. Their cacophony was not nearly as loud as their furious buzzing, and allowed him to hear more of the surrounding forest.

  There was a murmur, if Kenji could call it that. A soft sound, as though someone were speaking at a distance.

  Crouching, Kenji prepared to flee, twisted ankle or no. He was lucky once, a trap falling to stop a swarm before they could attack him. He highly doubted that there would be a second.

  Wary, he rotated his head, taking in the surrounding forest. The strange noise grew, slowly becoming clearer.

  Wait, Kenji thought suddenly. A trap!

  He snapped his head back around, focusing on the captured beasts. Kenji wanted to slap himself for being so foolish, as he stared, open mouthed, at the net.

  The man-made net.

  The fibers were not natural, instead they appeared to be a dull grey metal. The weight of the metal and the large round attachments prevented the creatures from lifting off. Fortunately, none of the beasts appeared to be seriously harmed, looking frustrated and scared.

  Equally excited and horrified, Kenji realized what the trap signified.

  People.

  But not just any people, Pokémon Hunters.

  It was among a Warlord's many duties to ensure the protection of a kingdom's Pokémon. Only a select few Warriors were given permission to hunt on the kingdom's land, and they did so with extreme care. They had to be careful not to attract the anger of the powerful Alphas, nor drive off the kingdom's prized beasts.

  However, there were always those that did not care for the Warlord's responsibility or kingdom's prosperity. Ronin, unrestrained Warriors beholden to no Warlord. A rough and cruel lot, they hunted Pokémon for pleasure, sport, or worse.

  Type Beasts were valued as much for their alchemical properties as they were for their strength.

  Thinking quickly, and with more than a bit of desperation, Kenji ducked down. On his hands and knees, he clenched his teeth and crawled around the tree trunk. He drug Sprout with him, whispering for the young turtle to remain quiet.

  Meeting Flutter's large eyes, he hushed the Pokémon before it could chirp. Kenji silently waved for the butterfly to crawl towards him, physically stopping the beast from opening its wings. The iridescent pattern easily reflected the light and would give away their position.

  Holding his companions close, Kenji prayed to the guardians that they would remain unnoticed.

  He heard crashing behind him, a few branches falling to the ground as they were shorn free by a fierce battle. Kenji could not spot the fighting creatures, but he could hear their violent screeches and pained cries.

  Grim thuds signified the approaching end of the fight as the giant bees were taken out by the opposing Pokémon. Soon, the forest turned silent as the Pokémon were forcibly quieted and subdued.

  Kenji covered his mouth to quiet his panting. Sprout was still hidden within his shell, so he settled for resting a hand on the turtle. He was too scared to poke his head out, worried that the hunters would see him.

  Nevertheless, he could still hear the men rustling around. The net was the loudest as they moved it around, covering much of their movement. It sounded as though they were talking, but the words were garbled and he could not make them out.

  Kenji did not know how long he sat there, waiting for the hunters to leave. It felt like forever, listening to the strangers rummage through the net. After the first spate of talking, the two remained silent. Eventually, the sounds quieted and his breath froze in his lungs.

  He listened intently for the sound of approaching footsteps.

  When the strangers moved, Kenji nearly leapt to his feet to run away. Fortunately, before he could, he realized that the sounds were fading. The hunters made little noise, and they quickly disappeared from his senses.

  Kenji tensed, ready for the Pokémon Hunters to appear before him. Such Ronin were at home in the wilds, far from civilization. This was their home territory, and he would not see them unless they wanted him to.

  He waited as long as he could, eyes darting around as he listened closely. It felt as though his skin was itching. All he wanted to do was leave and never encounter the men again.

  Pokémon Hunters were a jealous lot, not to mention the judgement that fell upon them should they be captured.

  Once Kenji could not wait any longer, he attempted to stand, only to be quickly reminded of his twisted ankle. He fell back with a yelp of pain, hurriedly clamping his hand back over his mouth. Breathing heavily, he groaned through gritted teeth.

  It was difficult thinking with the throbbing in his foot, so Kenji focused on controlling his breathing. When he could finally think, he carefully walked himself through the problem.

  "Twisted ankle," he muttered. "Need something to straighten it out, help support it."

  Kenji looked around, searching for any sticks he could use. Unfortunately, none were within easy reach. He was forced to hobble until he found one that suited his purposes.

  Breaking it over his knee, he aligned it to his leg and eyed his swollen ankle. The skin was already starting to bruise and swell.

  "Flutter, come here," he called out. "I need your help."

  The beast chirped, unnerved by the race through the forest and the disappearance of the swarm. Still, the butterfly flew towards him, bobbing in their air.

  "It's ok," he said to the Pokémon. "I just need some silk to wrap my leg."

  "Beau," the beast trilled when Kenji gestured to the sticks framing his leg. The sound was anxious, trying to look anywhere but him.

  "Come on, Flutter," he said insistently. "We've done this before."

  "Ti?" the butterfly chirped with uncertainty.

  The beast retreated slightly, aggravating him further. The pain in his ankle and the presence of Pokémon Hunters nearby was driving his temper short. A scowl formed on his face, despite his intention.

  "It's just some silk," Kenji snapped, his anger flaring. "I don't know why you're so reluctant now. You were fine doing it when you tried to bundle me up in a cocoon!"

  Kenji huffed, the short tirade helping to release his pent up emotions. Still, that did little to assuage his guilt when the butterfly wailed with distress.

  The beast fled, spinning in place and flapping its wings to put on a burst of speed. The Pokémon weaved around the trees, its hurt trills lingering behind as it fled.

  "Wait! No!" Kenji shouted desperately, "Flutter. Flutter!"

  The beast either ignored his yells or could not hear them over its own cries. Despite the brightly colored wings, Kenji quickly lost sight of the large butterfly.

  A heavy sigh escaped him, as Kenji fell back to the ground. All of it sudden, he felt drained of both energy and emotion. Not only was it foolish of him to focus his anger on the Pokémon, it was wrong.

  It was unlikely that a single bug could earn the ire of an entire swarm. Wild Type Beasts often engaged in battles of strength and dominance, competing for territory, food, or even resources. Rare were the times that doing so led to a rampage or persistent hunt.

  "The Hunters," Kenji swore as he stared at the disturbed section of forest. Fallen branches, broken plants, and overturned earth was all that was left behind by their successful hunt. He was certain the Ronin Warriors were responsible for the swarm's agitation.

  He glared at the woods darkly, his mind churning as he thought over how their presence would affect his search for civilization. Already, their disruption resulted in an injury, one that would significantly hinder his progress. There was no telling what else they were responsible for or what they would do.

  "The dam, of course," he realized suddenly. "There must have been a strong beast claiming the river for its own," he muttered.

  Certainly not an Alpha, for even the most foolish of Warriors knew better than to tangle with such monstrous beasts. No, more likely the Pokémon that ruled the dam was simply a powerful evolution that would be valued for its strength or alchemical properties.

  Kenji thought back to the thorny guardian that carefully tended to the glade, a 'Roselia' if he remembered correctly. His chest grew tight at the thought of the Hunters stumbling upon her field.

  "Hopefully the caretaker can fend them off," he said with a sigh.

  Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do to help the beast. Even if he was strong enough, he had little idea on how to find the creature again. Not to mention his two companions that he would be putting at risk as well.

  Kenji looked up at the thought of the Pokémon that traveled with him for the past, well, he was not sure how long. There were days where it felt as though he arrived in the forest only recently-his mind shuddered in memory-while other times it was as though seasons had passed since he saw another human.

  Instead of standing and chasing after his flying companion, Kenji closed his eyes and breathed deeply. He fought to clear his mind, seeking the separation between himself and the strange feeling of being wronged.

  Wisps clung to his form, smothering him as they tried to burrow within. Kenji could feel his body shiver, fighting his will to absorb the energy.

  Kenji scowled, reinforcing his control. The Energy was weak, but for his body to open itself up to the uncultivated power was strange. He worked to uproot the Ghostly Energy that sought to merge with his spiritual seed and expelled it into the surrounding spiritual earth instead.

  "I control me," he intoned, rejecting the influence of the foreign power.

  The wisps did not rebel, not exactly. Instead, it was as though they rejected his rejection, desiring only to be one with him. His body yearned for the Energy, wanting to soak it up like parched soil.

  In response, Kenji wrapped his hand around his mother's pendant, the orb rough against his palm. He sought the strength of his bond, the ghost of sand and sea. The castle that was erased by the tides, only to return again and again.

  The link was still and silent, suppressed by the binding of the necklace. Nevertheless, the link existed.

  Unable to forcibly expel the wisps of ghostly Energy, Kenji funneled the power to his longest companion. The link binding him and the earthly spirit shivered as the eerie power flowed along it.

  For a moment, Kenji felt the warm sun on his skin and breathed in a salty breeze.

  However, too soon, the Energy was spent and the connection lost.

  Still, Kenji felt better. With his mind cleared, he forced himself to his feet with a grunt of pain.

  "Come along, Sprout," he called out softly. The turtle was still wary and chirped fearfully from the safety of his shell.

  "I know, and I'm sorry for scaring you," he apologized. "But it's safe to come out now."

  The young Pokémon extended his head slowly, the beak nosing the air as the turtle inspected the surroundings carefully.

  "Don't think I missed your Withdraw into your shell," he commented encouragingly. "It was a true technique, with a proper application of Type Energy."

  The beast tilted its head with a warble and Kenji chuckled. Hobbling after his erstwhile butterfly, he kept up a running commentary on the beast's skill and possible enhancements. In the back of his mind, he crafted an apology for his other companion.