Chapter Eleven

Satoshi ignored the way Loki was growling, or maybe it was a hissing, he was after all a mouse, at the newest name confirmed addition to the team. Penny, who was oblivious to the Electric Types displeasure, with her head peeking out, was gazing curiously at the big world around her which use to scare her from the safety of his front jacket pocket.

Originally neither Loki nor Ignis took kindly to the rat staying in his pocket. However the difference in his partner's and starter's personality, and nature quickly revealed itself. Ignis had, while originally irritated with the rat, quickly discovered how naive and oblivious the little thing was and seemed to have taken her as a younger sibling.

Loki, however, even after this discovery, was still just as displeased and annoyed at the pest as he had originally. Satoshi didn't mind either, if Ignis had been acting this way he would have assumed the Pokémon was jealous at the care the little rat was receiving but this wasn't Ignis but rather Loki. While his partner was indeed a bit jealous, he also knew that he held the highest place in Satoshi's mind. Instead he was displeased that they'd both fallen to the little rat's cuteness and couldn't bare to return the little thing, especially when they both knew just how risky it was when the rat hadn't been cleaned by a professional.

Loki also knew that the risk was even greater for him, his body already originally sickly on top of the years of abuse. Even know that he got away and his body was given enough time to heal, he'd never be as healthy as the average person. And despite them both knowing this they still lost to the cute innocent childish look in the rat's eyes. So in reality, Loki was showing both his own displeasure as well as his, but there was nothing that could be done.

Satoshi sighed, he'd always liked cute things it was really the only reason he'd noticed Yellow long enough to remember her name despite only meeting her once. He never thought it'd lead to him putting himself at risk though. Still he didn't think it would change how much he liked cute things.

Having already accepting that he'd lost to it, he turned his attention back towards the area around them. He'd accidentally fallen asleep the previous day when he'd told himself he'd keep watch. Loki had turned a blind eye to it this time as well, they both knew it made since he'd already exhausted himself even if he had ignored it. That long rest however, which still chilled him that somehow nothing had attacked them, had energized them all.And despite the extra energy, he was starting to think they'd never make to out of this forest.

He didn't mind being stuck for another two days or so he'd long been accustomed to having long breaks between meals. However, he was running out of Pokémon food. While the Berries he'd been collecting would satisfy them for a while, they needed real food which would give them everything they needed to stay healthy, instead of just alive.

He stared down at the stupid map he could barely read. According to it there was a river that if followed downstream would pass right next to the road of Route One. Unfortunately, he couldn't hear anything over the loudness of the woods.

"Pika pi." Loki gestured to the water bottle hanging loosely in a holder on his backpack. He gave a nod of confirmation as he slipped an Oran Berry to the hungry mouth in his jacket pocket. He slowed his steps, still keeping a close eye on the wandering Ignis, as the small mouse turned on his shoulder.

Click. Both he and Loki jumped a bit at the sound of the click of the straw flicking open on the water bottles cap. Ignis noticing their slight scare waddled over, extremely clumsy on his stubby legs.

Feeling the little arms of his starter grab his pants he glanced down and rubbed its head, enjoying the warmth reaching though his fingerless black gloves. In his distraction, Loki started to nuzzle his cheek sending a comfortable shock through him.

About to start walking he found Ignis still clinging to him. Not quite understanding, he stared at it before it started to tug on his pants. Oh. He reached down and picked up the not so little guy, carefully arranging the Pokémon so he was away from Penny's teeth and his fire tipped tail was not in danger of lighting his clothes on fire.

The lizard was tired after the constant battles with aggressive Pokémon. He'd caught quite a few more Rattata and Pidgeys thanks to Ignis' efforts though he planned to sell them. He'd also captured a odd looking Pidgey that was more golden then brown unlike the rest. He wasn't sure as to what to do with it, he'd decide once he made it to the city. He wasn't going to just add any Pokémon to the ones he'd actually take the time to bond with, not to mention it's take for them all to learn how to communicate with him like Loki could.

He glanced at Loki, the mouse giving a nod of confirmation. They had originally agreed that Ignis would go up against the wild Pokémon to gain some experience, the Fire Starter eager to evolve and get stronger. Not that either Satoshi or Loki understood this desire of it's, they were more then content with just wandering. They'd thought of maybe having Penny battle but the two of them quickly decided against it. Little Penny would stick to being their tiny cheerleader, she seemed content with their decision as well.

But now that Ignis was tired, Loki as the strongest on the team would take care of the pests. They traveled a bit more distance trying to find the river, before they ran into more Spearows. Loki didn't even hesitate to zap them into unconsciousness and they were quick to move on. He didn't want to waste any more Pokéballs catching more as well. It was when they picked up the sound of the river that things started to go downhill.

Loki was quick to lead them to the river once he picked up the sound. Likewise when Satoshi saw the quickly rushing water dropping down the steep rocky cliffs, he knew that they'd gone a long way off course if they found the rivers 'beginning' which was on the corner of his map. He frowned looking at the rushing water, before down below as the water fell into a trench formed from an old earthquake. The water's surface was calm down what he could see but that didn't account for what was likely an extremely strong current underneath. He returned Ignis and Penny securing their Pokéballs onto his belt, he turned his eyes toward Loki wanting to return him as well but the look in the mouse's eyes said he wouldn't cooperate.

Sighing, he took off the Pokéball of the jerky Spearow, whose name he'd yet to decide, and then he pressed the button on his belt which would encase the items on his belt in a strong metal which would prevent damage, keep things from breaking off. With heightened nerves he opened his backpack and grabbed the rope Daisy had somehow knew he'd need.

He took his time securely tying it to a rock by the edge. He was going to play it safe so just in case didn't make it to the rock beside the river underneath, and he fell he could still make himself fall into the water. However the downside of that was if he fell into the river he wouldn't be able to get back out the walls encasing it being to steep and high for him to grab. His only way out would be to grab onto plants growing on the walls sides, the river was actually quite smooth until a bit before it reached Route One where there was an extremely rough bit as it channeled out of a wide lake. If he was extremely unlucky he'd be eaten by a stray Gyarados going upstream to breed, but the odds of that happening were little.

Rope secured he tossed it over the edge, he didn't have enough to secure himself to it. He released the unarmed Spearow and glance at it hoping it'd obey. "Guard."

The bird sneered at him in disobedience but cawed in acceptance thanks to a threatening spark of Loki's cheeks. Originally he hadn't wanted to rely on such a disobedient Pokémon, but all the others were injured to badly and he needed help fending off Flying Types which saw him as potential prey.

Trusting the bird to do it's job, he gave the mouse on last concerned glance, "Hold tight."

Slowly he began his descent down the cliff beside the roaring waterfall hiding the wings of preying birds. He had made it about halfway down when suddenly he felt a heavy gust above his head and he felt weightless. He repsonded to the familiar feeling in a second kicking off the cliff to push himself above the river.

"PIKACHU!" Loki cried as they were suddenly falling. An arm holding Loki to his chest, he glared murderously at the shining silver wings of his Spearow. It was gazing at them victoriously obviously proud of itself but it seemed to have forgotten something.

Quickly Satoshi raised his arm and shouted, "Return!"

He watched with glee at the twisted look on its face at its failure as it was hit with the red light and returned to its Pokéball. Slipping it into his pants tight pockets, he held his breath as he prepared for impact. He'd deal with it once they were safe.

SLAM!

Satoshi almost chocked as his back hit the water hard his backpack lightening the blow a bit, just enough that he could hold back his gasp. Loki tight in his arm he struggled to kick himself to the surface just in time as moved out of the way of a Gyarados. The current carried them speedily through the water, his lungs starting to burn just as he made it to the surface. He forced his tired limps to spread out allowing him to float on the water, while Loki coughed up water and clung to his chest.

He was thankful that his backpack wasn't heavy enough that it prevented him from floating like that. He watched in relief as his partner got air finally after getting rid of all the water in his lungs, and he just barely managed to fight off the coldness to stay conscious to tell his buddy, "Hold on. Pleas..." as he locked his limbs in their place to keep them spread even after he was unconscious. Before he slipped into a familiar darkness.

"PIKA PI!!"