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.
However, her eyes would glance over at the threatening lightning that laid off-land. Sleep slowly began to become difficult to fight and the mountains were a place where nightfall became cold and mysterious and potentially full of ghost Pokemon. She begrudgingly got up and began to walk towards her tent. Heff quickly behind her as she entered. She turned on a lantern to view the insides - it was cozy, some pillows, blankets, laid on the center, with her kitchen off to one side, followed by her pack and some emergency items; water, preserved food, tea, etc.. Arcanine had grown accustomed to sleeping a certain way with her and she always left that space empty for him.
Heff shifted into his typical laying position. Amelia closed the door behind them and gave a quick safety check to make sure that the building was secure. If that storm was going to blow in, she wanted to be safe and sound. After feeling safe, she moved towards Arcanine and nestled into his body. Heff shifted himself so Amelia could use him as her pillow and make sure she was comfortable. It wasn't long before they both drifted into sleep.
Amelia was startled awake by the loud clash of thunder. Weary, she did not know what was happening but could feel her tent shake. The sound of rain had not hit her and she wanted to make sure she would be able to check the tent one last time as she felt the wind whip at the sides of her abode. She got on her feet, grabbed her lantern, rope, and stakes and rushed outside to stabilize her tent. When she exited the sky was pitch black and the air was saturated with humidity. It was cold and she could feel this storm was going to be a long and violent one. Using her light and lightning she quickly began to double up her ties to stabilize her home. As she moved towards the 4th tie, the rain began to drip on her. She still had 8 more ties left, and she thought she would rather be soaked than to be without shelter. She kept working as the cold rain would sting her warm human skin. As she got to the 12th tie, she was already soaked and shivering. She could barely feel her hands and would need to breath into them so she could warm them to tie good knots on her anchors. The storm began to roll in and the sky became angrier when she was done and moved back into the tent.
Heff was awake by then. He did not go outside, but waited for his Amelia to come inside and greet him. She looked over at him, dripping in rain and shivering, "W-w-w-well....I guess I j-j-jinxed us..." she managed to tell him as she began to take off her soaked clothes. Amelia picked up a towel to dry herself and moved towards Arcanine. She needed his warmth at the moment as the wind whooshed and the sky yelled outside.
Arcanine got up to let Amelia lay down on her bed, once she was there he stood over her lithe small human figure. Each giant paw by her shoulders and passed her legs. He crouched down to her to give her his warmth. Something he was used to doing as Growlithe, but now as Arcanine - he realized how much bigger he was. His 350 pound mass would easily crush his trainer so he made sure to keep himself propped off of her small frame.
Amelia appreciated his warmth, but secretly missed how he would simply lay on her as Growlithe and not have this unfortunate space between them. However, she did not want him to move. His warmth radiated towards her and she could feel her body stop shivering as he crouched above her. She smiled softly and reached her hand up to his soft cloud like chest. Her small fingers lost in his fur as she thanked him.
Heff shifted at the touch of his trainer. He noted that it was not pushing him away. He pushed himself a little closer to her. This caused Amelia to give him some belly rubs. Her hands moving to his underbelly. Part for warmth, part for thank yous. She was sad that he was the size he was, but also thankful that he was with her. Regardless of evolving.