Once Is Enough

Part 7

"Hey, Ave!" he greeted warmly. "How did you sleep?" Avian stretched out his back and arms, reaching them to the sky as he replied the best he could.

"Fine, I guess...!" Zoar nodded.

"It may not be like your home, but it's something. At least you fell asleep," he sighed. "...So, what do you think? Did I protect you from those monsters well enough?" He let out a teasing snicker, causing Avian to blush.

"Yeah... I should sleep next you more often..." he admitted, smirking. Zoar gave his paw one final lick before standing up and shaking his pelt.

"Well, when you're ready, I want to take you somewhere. The perfect timing should be around a quarter to sun-high." Avian anxiously wondered what Zoar had in store for him at wherever he was taking him, but he knew he could trust him. He knew deep in his heart.

"Okay, we can leave now if that's fine with you," he said. Zoar grinned.

"That's perfect. You ready?" he asked.

"Yes,"

"Then let's go!"
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Avian followed the eager Luxray to a clearing with no patches of grass to be seen. He could spot many trails of uneven dirt marking the ground, continuing for a long distance. The road seemed pretty old, but used often by something... Or someone. They stopped right where the trees meet the dry earth. "Where are we, Mister Zoar?" Avian couldn't help but ask. Zoar's expression brightened with intelligence.

"This is the season of the Diglett and Dugtrio migration. They head to the caves near the other side of the forest for the winter so that they can let the earth and food here replenish," he explained. Avian's eyes sparkled.

"That's so cool!" he beamed, grazing his sight through the bumpy ground.

"Isn't it?" Zoar couldn't help but show a toothy smile. "Now Ave, what I want you to do might sound crazy, but hear me out, okay?" The pup nodded without a second thought. His chest was filled with eagerness and enthusiasm. He did't say a word, letting the older Pokemon continue. "The Diglett and Dugtrio are about to come through here soon.

I want you to stand in their path."

Avian felt his heart lurch as doubt began to fill his mind.

"Wh-what?! Why?!" he stammered.

"Trust me. Stand right where you see the eroding dirt."

Reluctantly, the young child shuffled over to where Zoar instructed. He gave him an unsure glance.

"Why are we doing this...?" Avian managed to question.

"I want you to do your best and dodge the Pokemon as they make their way through the path. No attacking, just footwork. This'll help you on your speed," Zoar replied as he checked into the distance for the oncoming horde. He squinted his eyes, spotting the shaking sediment that was kicking up in the horizon. Just in time! He then turned to Avian, giving him a hopeful stare. This caused him to relax a bit, feeling better about the daunting task.

"...A-alright. I trust you, Zoar," the pup said. The rumbling was slowly increasing with volume.

"There're a lot of them. A good halfmile of them. Are you prepared?" Zoar asked. Avian gulped. H-halfmile?! Swallowing hard at his fears, he remembered how the Luxray had defended the poor boy from his own mistake. He recalled the feelings of the night before, the emotions bundling up inside of him that he couldn't tolerate.