A New Dream

Poffin Partners: Dawn's POV

I woke up confused and glancing around me at the strange room that I was in. Piplup was cuddled on the large pillow with his head between my right shoulder and my ear, fitting perfectly against the curve of my neck and peeping quietly everytime he breathed out in his version of a snore. I'd grown to love that sound over our years of traveling and I tilted my head to rest my cheek against Piplup's head. As I did though my left shoulder twinged painfully and I screwed my eyes shut and counted to ten as the pain slowly dissipated and I finally remembered where I was and why I was here.

Not exactly how I was expecting to start out my journey, I thought ruefully as I carefully sat up, causing Piplup to roll down the pillow and curl up on the mattress with a contented peep. 

To my surprise I discovered that my arms and legs really didn't hurt that much as I stretched my toes and open and closed my fingers. The worst pain was from my left shoulder, but I had no right to complain about a pulled muscle. If Paul hadn't caught me then I didn't even want to think how injured I would be now, if not dead.

Where did Paul come from anyways? I wondered to myself as I remembered the shock and relief I felt when I saw him peering down at me from the cliff's edge. He had been as blunt and rude as ever after rescuing me, but he and his Torterra protected me without question from Vullaby's angry mother. Then Torterra carried me without complaint to Hau's place. 

Cautiously lifting up the baby blue blanket from me I swung my legs off the bed. Gently I lifted myself up, causing my knees to twinge uncomfortably, but I was amazed that I wasn't in a lot more pain. I'll have to ask Mrs. Jun for the recipe of that ointment she put on me, I thought as I quietly padded out of the room in my bare feet.

I managed to change into my pajamas last night, a matching night shirt and pants made of a thin, silky material in the same blue color as Piplup's flippers. The silky material glided gently over my body without irritating the bandages wrapped around most of my skin and I was glad I chose them instead of the cotton night dress I considered before leaving Johto.

Tiptoeing quietly down the hallway I peeked around the corner. Paul wasn't on the couch he slept on, and the blanket he used was folded neatly on the farthest left couch cushion. 

He's probably already left, I thought with disappointment. 

Even if Paul was a jerk, I still wanted to thank him and Torterra again for saving me. With a sigh I turned to return to my room but the sound of running water coming from the open living room window caught my attention. Deciding to investigate, I padded out of the room and around the side of the home.

As I walked into the backyard I was surprised to see Paul in his jeans and T-shirt, his jacket discarded on the ground a few feet away, hosing down Torterra's shell. Torterra was kneeling on the ground obediently as Paul sprayed him, turned off the water to scrub a certain spot of his shell, and then repeated the process. 

I must have gotten blood on his shell, I thought guiltily as I watched Paul work efficiently and without speaking. Chewing my lip I weighed the chance of Paul being annoyed with my company and my desire to thank him again before slowly walking towards him, enjoying the feel of the grass on my bare feet.

"Good morning," I called, trying to sound cheerful. 

I was surprised when Paul noticeably flinched, jerking the hose to the right and narrowly missing Torterra's eye. He turned around with a frown plastered on his face and I had to swallow past a lump in my throat before I could speak again. 

"Did... Did Torterra get very dirty?" I asked guiltily. 

Paul folded his arms and opened his mouth, looking like he was about to get mad at me, but Torterra's tree began to glow. Two large leaves shot off and hit Paul in the back of the head, making him scowl and turn to look at his pokemon. Torterra, however, didn't even look at his trainer but instead took a few lumbering steps towards me, giving me a worried look.