Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon, or any of the related characters. The Pokemon series is created by Satoshi Tajiri and owned by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures. All rights of the original Pokemon world belong to the Nintendo, Gamefreak, and Creatures. This story is a fanfiction and is meant only for fun. As the author of this fanfiction, I earn no compensation in any form from its publication.
Heff and Amelia Adventures
The First Storm
The last few days on the trail had been good to them. The sky had been clear, the weather had a light wind every now and then, and the temperature was perfect. She knew she was close to her destination. Potentially four more days on this trail if the weather was as forgiving as it has been. Her and her companion; an evolutionized Growlithe that she fondly began to call Hephaetus (Heff). She knew Arcanines were big but she was glad that his evolution occurred prior to this trip. Although, she had prepared to travel this road without the help of any of her Pokemon, Arcanine was the largest Pokemon she's ever tamed. His majestic height had given her help on the first day of travel that she simply stopped putting him back into his Pokeball.
She allowed him to live as freely as she was. Sleeping at her side, roaming the free space they had, enjoying the wind in his fur, and riding on top of him when she couldn't cross treacherous paths. She rather enjoyed his company. She actually couldn't understand why Pokemon trainers didn't allow some Pokemon to roam with them. She could understand the strictness that may occur within crowded areas - where trainers bombarded other trainers in hopes to get more experience for their caught creatures. However, here, in the middle of no where, most trainers should probably just let their Pokemon roam freely.
Now, she wasn't a great trainer, she did not even hold great Pokemon. Arcanine was just something she held fondly because he was her first Pokemon. On a rainy day, when she was 15 years old, a large storm rolled into her village. Amelia was off exploring a near by grassy plain when the wind shifted. As the rain began to pelt her she ran for shelter at a near by tree where she had found a little Growlithe cowering from the rain. She did not mean to take it. But it had seemed to get attached to her and she brought it home. Amelia did not want to be a trainer. She did not want to remove the wild from her little Growlithe, but as her 18 birthday rolled around she wanted to explore. To explore means to Pokemon training. Therefore, she picked the route she thought would help her be free. However, it was clear to Amelia she only chose this path as a way to explore the world without any questions from others.
Therefore, she sometimes felt guilt at having chained Heff to her, but when she rode him her guilt was deepened as if she was betraying him somehow. Sometimes these thoughts were just a quick jab before the wind strung it's fingers through her hair and reminded her of the freedom she was experiencing.
The journey that Heff and Amelia were embarking was the hardest she has done. She could see the ocean from the cliffs of the mountain and she knew there was a small village about a 15 days walk from the main road. Amelia felt that the universe was on her side as it had given her great days for this journey 11 days in.
However, the inauspicious cumulonimbus cloud could be seen over the ocean. Amelia did not think anything of it. Most threatening clouds would dissipate before moving inland and she felt she was so close to her destination that these clouds would just be a distant memory by nightfall. Amelia watched the sun as it began to set and gave Heff the signal to find a nice piece of land where she could set up their sturdy abode and build a fire.
As Arcanine found a decent piece of land, Amelia climbed down and gently petted his cloud like fur on his chest. Thanking him for his help. She began to set up their dome tent that would take about an hour. Her comfort had made traveling days shorter but was worth the sleep. Even though she would hate setting up the tent day and day again she enjoyed the fact that now Arcanine could fit in it without her needing a new one. She even had space to set up things if she needed to care for herself or for him.
As she toiled away at setting up their night, she recalled the last freshwater crossing they did so she could return to fetch water for the evening. She knew Heff would be able to start a fire so she called out to him to fetch her some sticks for firewood. Arcanine quickly did as he was told, scurrying into the nearby patches of forest to retrieve their ingredients for warmth for the night. Once her tent was set she grabbed a pail from her pack to retrieve some water for the evening.
Upon her return, Arcanine began a fire and she began to boil some water. The sun was barely setting as they began their nightly routine. She looked over towards the cliffs end where the ocean laid before it and saw flashes of lightning as she finished eating. Amelia did not know now if that storm would dissipate but she hoped it would not come to her. She went up to Heff and snuggled into his fur while he laid by the fire half asleep. Her body nestled at his abdomen as she watched the stars that displayed above them. Her favorite time. Where time and space would slow down long enough so she could enjoy herself. She could feel the heat of her Arcanine, the mystic fire that roiled within him, and could enjoy the sounds of nature as the evening mistress beckoned it's creatures. She was at peace with herself and all that was in the world during these moments. Especially next to Heff.