(1) Augmentum | Zuko

Chapter Fifty-Five

Eevee bursts through some trees, Zuko following behind, brushing branches aside to get clear of the trees. So far, he's not loving this idea. To follow after the strange pokemon. But he's been getting used to them. Seeing them in his dreams with Rana. There has been at least one new type of pokemon in each dream. Eevee trots up a bank towards a cave entrance where it has suffered a recent cave-in. And there, at the base, is a trapped Houndour. Its leg caught beneath a fallen boulder and it's an angry thing. Spitting fire at the sizeable rock, as if the fire is going to move it. It needs help. This is why Eevee had brought Zuko. But it makes him realise that this has nothing to do with Rana. And he is rather disappointed. But this pokemon sought him out anyway. He looks at the Eevee whose eyes are big and wide, pleading with him for help.

"Okay" He whispers and moves towards the rubble and the Houndour. He can free its friend to make up for the fireball and for being mean. He touches the rock and then turns to push his shoulder into it, putting some real effort into lifting it, groaning with it, it before it lifts just enough. Just high enough for Eevee to grab a hold of Houndour's neck and drag it out and free of the rock. Zuko drops the rock down and turns to the two of them. Houndour tries to get to its feet to stand protectively in front of Eevee, but it collapses instead. Too injured to hold itself up. But he's done his part. He freed it. There is nothing else that he can do for them. He lets out a breath and then nods, steeling himself before he turns and walks away.

"Eevee!!" Eevee calls after him. Zuko closes his eyes and hangs his head. Walking away from them feels terrible but he can't waste time on them.

...........

The sun is setting behind Rana as she packs up the little camp. Noivern waiting behind her. All of the others have been tucked into the ball for the night. Rana's come to feel more comfortable doing so. Knowing that it does make travelling a lot easier without them all trying to pile onto Noivern's back, especially with Ninetails and Lycanroc. She attaches the supplies to the side of the saddle before she lets out a breath, yawns and stretches her arms over her head. They need to find somewhere else before nightfall and they are going to be pushing for time. She looks up at the sun as it begins to disappear beyond the horizon. She then turns and climbs up onto Noivern's back. He's fast so they might just find a cave or a clearing or something.

........

Zuko couldn't bring himself to actually leave them there. Not without doing something. And his reasoning is so unbelievably selfish. He knows that Rana would never forgive him if she were to ever find out. That he just abandoned an injured pokemon. So he returns to where he left them, bandages in his arms as he looks around for them. They can't have gone far with that Houndour's leg but they probably would have found cover to hide them from people and predators. He sees blood speckles in the grass, likely from the Houndour's wound and follows it to a bush under a large tree. He crouches and moves the bush aside to find them curled up together.

"Eevee" Eevee states, seemingly smiling at him. Houndour is less happy about him coming back, seems to be more cautious of him. Zuko and Houndour share a look before Houndour inclines its head and moves to leave the safety of the bush, seemingly understanding that Zuko has returned to help them.

..........

Noivern sails through the clouds, it's dark now, but Rana is in less of a rush to find somewhere to camp, not when she can see the stars like this. It's so beautiful up here. She leans forward and lets out a soft breath. She knows they are going to have to stop to sleep. But just for a little longer, she wants to disappear in the stars.

..........

There is a little fire going now, settled among the trees as Zuko wraps a bandage around Houndour's leg, the pokemon's eyes firmly on him, watching him. Studying him. Wary of him. It's covered in scars. Old ones. New ones. It's been fighting, or defending. Zuko thinks they are scars from defending, probably from defending Eevee. The two of them are clearly very close. He's assuming Houndour has been defending its smaller friend. Kind of like how he used to defend Rana from Azula and her friends. She was always smaller than him, she needed someone to stand up for her. Zuko swallows a little and then clears his throat.

"I have a friend" Zuko starts and then pauses before shaking his head. "Sort of" He corrects himself. "...she'd be better at this" He adjusts the bandage and sighs. "How's that?" Houndour shifts its leg, testing the bandage before it grumbles in some form of an answer. It seems sort of happy with it. Eevee then yawns as it climbs up and settles into his lap, Zuko looks surprised by the action, sitting completely still to the amusement of Houndour who watches them.

........

Iroh is waiting on the dock for Zuko's return. Admittedly rather worried about him. Zuko misses his own deadline. For a rather punctual teenager that's hardly going to ease his worries. Iroh raises an eyebrow at Zuko who huffs a little, approaching the ship. And right there behind him, is Eevee and Houndour, who limps heavily but manages to stick to its feet. Seems his nephew has picked up a couple of pokemon.

"Not a word" Zuko comments as he passes his uncle who smirks slightly watching Eevee and Houndour follow Zuko's every step. "I can't get rid of them" Zuko growls to himself, clenching his hands at his side.

.......

Rana sleeps inside a small cave, curled up around her is her pokemon, some are away though, watching the storm that rages outside. Pichu is the most interested, shuffling forward just as thunder cracks through the sky. Rana wakes with a jolt, bolting upright in alarm, her hand instantly raising with her sword. The downside of travelling alone like this. She has to look out for herself by herself. She lets out a breath, calming down when she realises it is just a storm.

.........

It's a pile of blankets and cushions set up in the corner of Zuko's quarters by Iroh for Houndour and Eevee but only Houndour is happy enough to stay there. Eevee has other things on its mind. That being Zuko's bed, where he currently sleeps. Zuko is startled awake by the wet press of a nose into his hand. He finds Eevee tucking itself into the crook of his arm. He's never had a pet before. Not in the way other people did. He had a horse growing up. But nothing that wanted to sleep in his bed. He raises his hand and cautiously pats Eevee's head, fur soft against his skin. Eevee coos against his hand and then settles into his side to sleep.