Once Is Enough

Part 12

It shocked his whole body until his eyes clouded with darkness, and every single one of his senses were unfeeling and cold.

Before he knew it, he found himself falling to the ground, unmoving.

Confounded.

Immobilized.

...Zoar... Why...?

Ringing filled his ears; only the muffled echoing voice of Zoar entering into his mind before it completely collapsed:

"I'm sorry, Ave.

...But this is my battle."
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Zoar padded outside the cave, despite how anticipated he was. He felt like breaking for it, and disappearing into the night like nothing happened. Like a ghost, almost. He would be safe from the hell that was to await him.

But that was unthinkably selfish.

And after all he had taught Avian, completely hypocritical.

He shook his head, exhaling sharply.

From within the darkness, those mirroring eyes glared back at him. There were about six of them, and Zoar particularly recognized two. A Luxray with a wild grin and a chipped ear strode behind another Luxray with an old scar over his left eye. Both had their teeth bared, ready to strike at any time. The front-most one halted the others and spoke.

"Ah, Zoar. Long time no see," he croaked with his bladed voice.

"What do you want, Syphier?" Zoar snapped in response.

"You've forgotten already?" he mused. The Pokemon cocked his head intriguingly, and soon acted as if an idea had hit him in the head. "Oh, I should've taken into consideration that you've been gone for... a few days now. Your memory must be foggy, no wonder."

"Why are you even coming back for me?!" Zoar demanded. "I was useless to your pack, a burden! You should've been happy I was gone!" The second Luxray's eyes blared with vexation.

"Its not you were after, Joltick-brain!" he retorted. "It's the scrap we're after." The hairs on Zoars back bristled, but he forced himself to keep his serious and unchanging expression.

"Stupid as always, Strike," he muttered, causing Strike's anger to bubble even more than before. Zoar found that he oddly enjoyed it. "I sensed you all coming the day before and had him run away before you arrived," he lied. They looked convinced, and Syphier let out a low chortle.

"Well then... That's a shame. We clearly said for you to watch over that pup. The only food we've been able to find in months. I guess you took that order into different thoughts... You disobeyed us." His face became morbid with hostility. "...And you know what happens to the members who disobey orders, especially such simple and mindless orders like that one." The group began to creep forward, Zoar recoiling.

"What's wrong, Zoar?" Strike taunted. "Ya figuring out that your as weak as you thought you were?" He let out a maniacal laugh that not even the thunder could compare to. Zoar lowered his head until his radiant red and yellow eyes were the only visible features on his face. Electricity emitted from his mane.

"...I'm not going to let your pack eat him," he hissed.

"What?!" Strike roared. He towered over him "Say that again to my face! I dare you!" There was a long pause before Zoar let out a deep growl from his throat. Syphier only stared at him, fascinated by his sound.

Zoar flashed his teeth.

"That pup. Will not. Be eaten."

Zoar prowled forward, causing Strike to step back.

"I WILL NOT ALLOW IT!" 

The Luxray lashed his right claw at the other's face; blood spilled from his cheek and he howled in agony.

"D-! Damn you! ARGH!" Strike stumbled back into the formation, covering the wound to keep it from bleeding out. The other Pokemon flinched in shock at the usually tame Luxray's move.

"Zoar! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Syphier yowled infuriatingly. Zoar only shot him a glance.

"You went too far this time! You ordered the midnight patrol to hunt out of boundaries! They killed that pup's parents and left him for dead! THEY FEASTED THEIR REMAINS RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS EYES!" he exclaimed. "How could you do that to a mere child?!" Syphier didn't reply, but only licked his lips maliciously. Zoar grit his fangs. "You make me sick," he spat. "You and your pack may have raised me, but I will not succumb to your rules, not after what you did!" Sypher's eyes flashed red with rage along sly shine of manipulation. He loomed in front of him.

"Is this what you want for your pack, Zoar?! For us to starve out here in the barren wilderness only feeding on the boney and weak?!" He stepped forward towards him. "Winter is nearing, the prey will be scarce, and at this rate, we're all going to parish!" He let his voice drop, hiding the chilling taunt in its huskiness. "Did you want that upon us? Upon you?" Except Zoar stood his ground, staring his leader dead in the eye.

"Barren... Barren?!" Zoar cried. "It's barren because of us! Because we kept hunting and hunting with no forbearance towards the other helpless Pokemon that were trying to survive too! IT'S BECAUSE WE KILL--!" A bolt suddenly lunged at him, and he took the powerful shock from his former alpha. Zoar hollered in pain, but did his best to block out the electrical stabs with all his might. He finally sent one of his own discharges, canceling it out into a storm of yellow dancing off the arriving rain. Panting heavily, he looked up at the horde that was advancing towards him. Syphier swung his paw and hooked his claws into the side of Zoar's head, making him wince.

"I'm going to enjoy killing you," he snarled.

Zoar let out a raspy breath.

"...I'll make sure you die before that happens."