The drive back was suffocating.

  Hilda drove, eyes fixed on the slick asphalt from the drizzle outside, not even bothering to select a playlist. Hilbert sat in the passenger's seat staring at his lap unusually quiet. The only sounds were the low drone of the engine and the rhythmic swish-swash of the wipers.

  Nate sat quietly in the back. His head no longer throbbed, but his ribs felt tender, pulsing with a dull ache every time the van hit a bump.

  On his belt, Deerling's Poké Ball sat still. He could feel the faint, dormant energy of the creature inside. It was resting. Peacefully.

  Joy. Community. Safety.

  Riolu's earlier projection echoed in his mind. Hugh was right, in a way. His Deerling, and the two Hilbert caught, hadn't fought back with desperation. They had been startled, sure, but once captured, the bond formed instantly. They were safe. They would be cared for. That was the ideal. People and Pokémon in harmony.

  But the Truth is not the same as the Ideal.

  The image of the Spring Form Deerling's face burned in his memory. It was disfigured, morphed by injury, its eyes haunted by a depth of trauma no Pokémon should endure. That Deerling hadn't felt joy. It felt terror so absolute it chose the ultimate escape over a hand reaching out to help.

  People and Pokémon coexist in harmony. That was the line fed to him at school. That was the truth in the safety of Aspertia. But out there, deep in the untamed woods? Harmony was a lie. Someone had hurt that Deerling. Someone had broken the ideal.

  Nate looked at his reflection in the darkened window. He saw the purple blooming on his cheekbone and his busted lip, but the physical pain was dull compared to the gnawing question in his gut.

  What happened to you?

  He wanted answers. He needed answers.

  The sliding doors of the lab hissed open. The four Trainers walked into the sterile brightness of the lobby, a jarring contrast to the greying mountains they had left behind.

  Professor Juniper was waiting for them, a welcoming smile on her face that faltered the moment she took in their state.

  “My goodness,” she gasped, rushing forward, her lab coat fluttering. “Nate, what happened to you?”

  The team shared looks, faces drooping with exhaustion.

  “A wild Aggron attacked,” Nate said, wincing as he moved. “I'm alright, though.”

  He couldn't tell if he was lying. The physical pain wasn't crippling, but on the inside…

  “We did catch the Deerling, though,” Hilbert interjected, his voice lacking its usual bounce. “Three of them are Summer Form, but the fourth…”

  “We ran into a Spring Form Deerling,” Hugh finished.

  “Spring Form?” Juniper blinked, surprised. “That can't be possible. Are you sure?”

  “Tepig traced the form from the spring scent. The Deerling is pink and the patterns consistent with Spring Form,” Hugh explained. “Professor, it's hurt. It has a large, rotting gash on its head.”

  “Most likely the reason it has not changed to Summer Form,” Nate added.

  “I see,” Juniper said, her scientist persona taking over. “I'll need to examine it. If it needs treatment, we'll have to get it set up as soon as possible. Could I please see the Deerling?”

  The three boys turned to Hilda, who was clutching her bag's shoulder strap with both hands, her knuckles white.

  “Hilda?” Hilbert said softly.

  Hilda remained silent. She looked into the depths of her bag and fished out the shrunken ball containing the Deerling. She held the ball out for Juniper, hands shaking, but as Juniper reached to grab it, Hilda recoiled, pulling the sphere tight against her chest.

  “No!” she said, her voice sharp.

  Juniper froze. “No? Hilda, what's the matter?”

  “You can't just put Deerling on a table with a bunch of people staring at it,” Hilda said, her voice trembling but fierce. “It's terrified of people. It's terrified of me! It tried jumping off a cliff to save itself from me! If we release it in a room full of strangers, it will panic. It might try to hurt itself again.”

  Juniper let Hilda's words sink in. She thought deeply for a moment.

  “Hilda,” Nate began, “we need to see the extent of Deerling's injuries.”

  “I know… but I need to know that it will be safe.”

  “Perhaps you can comfort Deerling alone,” Juniper suggested calmly. “I can give you some time with Deerling so you can show it that it's safe before we do any examination.”

  Hilda turned her eyes to the tiled floor. “Okay. I can do that.”

  “Elekid’s former room towards the back of the lab is soundproof and isolated. You can take all the time you need.”

  “Thank you, Professor.”

  Hilda turned and walked stiffly towards the hallway where Riolu had chased Elekid’s aura yesterday evening.

  Riolu! That's it!

  “Hilda, wait!” Nate called, jogging after her. “Let me go with you.”

  “Nate, I want to do this alone,” she shot back without turning around.

  “Right. I get that,” Nate said, rubbing the back of his head. “It's just that Riolu can sense a Pokémon's aura, and it might be able to help calm Deerling.”

  Hilda stopped. She looked at the Poké Ball in her hand, then back at Nate. He looked her directly in the eyes, hoping she could see the sincerity beneath his bruises.

  “I know you feel Deerling is your responsibility, but let Riolu and me help you.”

  “Okay,” Hilda whispered, her shoulders sagging slightly. “Okay. Just you.”

  Nate smiled. “Thanks.”

  They made their way down the hall and into the quiet observation room. The glass enclosure stood in the center, empty now. Nate summoned Riolu out next to him.

  Hilda keyed the pad, and the heavy door to the enclosure unlocked.

  “You seem to know how to work miracles in this room, Nate. Let's see if you can do it again,” Hilda said, her voice hinting at a touch of her usual sarcasm.

  The two positioned themselves in the center of the room. Riolu stood ready, ears twitching.

  “Let Deerling come to us,” Hilda said. “Don't force it to interact with us.”

  “I won't,” Nate reassured her.

  Hilda threw the ball. Deerling materialized, feeble and shaking on the smooth floor. It faced the two trainers and the small blue Pokémon, then immediately squeezed its eyes shut and turned its head away.

  Hilda crouched down to its level. “Deerling…”

  The noise made the Pokémon jump as if struck. It raced backward, hooves skittering, only to collide with the glass wall behind it. It rebounded, frantically darting toward another wall, only for the same result. It ran in circles, screeching in panic, guttural, visceral howls of fear that bounced off the soundproof glass.

  “Nate…” Hilda said, scooting closer and grabbing his arm. Her voice broke and she shook as the Deerling smacked against the enclosure walls, crying for help.

  “It's okay,” Nate assured her, though his heart hammered. He grabbed her hand in his own. He didn't want to seem weak in front of Hilda, who was already on the verge of tears, but seeing the creature this way caused a surge of panic. Deerling may be broken beyond repair.

  “The fear. It is intense. She is begging for an escape,” Riolu projected.

  “She? The Deerling?” Nate thought back.

  “Yes, she is terrified. Her aura is black. Stained with memories of horror. Fear haunts her. Pain controls her. Everything she feels is suffering.”

  “Can you help her?”

  “I… I don't know. She will not talk to me.”

  The Deerling finally settled in the farthest corner of the enclosure, whimpering. Its head was tucked deep into its front legs, shaking violently, desperate to disappear.

  “I will try to make my move,” Riolu said.

  Riolu slowly walked toward the Deerling. He moved silently as Nate and Hilda stood frozen. Hilda had let go of Nate and watched, breathless, as Riolu gently placed a paw on the Deerling’s flank.

  The contact made the Deerling shout, but it didn't run. It just continued to hide itself in the corner.

  “She screamed herself to exhaustion,” Riolu's voice came, heavy with sadness.

  Hilda slowly started to approach. “Hey, it's okay,” she cooed, taking a slow step forward.

  The Deerling let out a high-pitched, broken bleat of terror. Hilda jumped back, arms raised and packed tight against her chest.

  “Pain. Darkness. Cold.”

  “What do you see, Riolu?” Nate projected back.

  “Her memories. Her fears. Her pain… ARGH!”

  “Riolu? What happened?”

  “My head. I feel it. I feel her wound. It burns! Something terrible happened to her.”

  “Show me, Riolu. Show me what you see.”

  The images hit Nate like a strobe light.

  Trees passing in a blur. Lungs burning. A shadow chasing. Colder than ice. Inhuman. Black. Large. An embodiment of the void.

  A human voice. Rough. Cruel. Laughing.

  A loud CRACK!

  “Argh!” Nate grunted aloud, gripping his forehead. He fell to his knees. A hot, piercing sting overwhelmed his senses, his ears ringing with the phantom sound of the blast.

  “Nate!” Hilda turned to him.

  “What was that?” Nate thought toward Riolu, grimacing.

  “A weapon. Used for evil. Used to kill.”

  “A weapon? Like a gun?”

  “Yes, perhaps.”

  “And that shadow… A ghost Pokémon?”

  “What are you saying? Nate?” Hilda asked, her voice trembling.

  Nate was not paying attention to her. He barely even heard her.

  “I cannot say. I only see what Deerling has seen.”

  The images continued, flashing faster now. A net constricting around his body. The rumble of an engine. Bodies. Bodies of other Deerling piled around him. Biting. Chewing the ropes. Jumping from a moving truck. Running. Running into the dark forest. Running until the legs gave out.

  “Her memories are a reminder of the evils of humans.”

  “Riolu, tell her we're not hunters. Tell her we want to help.”

  Riolu glowed a brilliant, bright blue. His eyes shut and he hummed, holding a resonant note that seemed to vibrate the very air in the room.

  The images faded. The pain in his head ceased immediately. Nate blinked, finding himself back in the room with Hilda, who was looking at him as if he were a figment of her imagination.

  Riolu stopped glowing. His eyes opened.

  Deerling took her head out from her legs and made soft murmurs to Riolu. Riolu spoke back to her, gently and quietly.

  Nate and Hilda watched silently as the two Pokémon conversed.

  “Riolu,” Nate said aloud.

  “She's alright. She knows you won't hurt her,” Riolu's voice came, calm and precise.

  Deerling looked at Hilda, eyes somber and steady.

  “It's alright,” Nate said to Hilda. “You can go to her.”

  “Her?” Hilda questioned.

  “Deerling, I mean.”

  Hilda carefully walked toward the Pokémon in the corner. Riolu stepped to the side as Hilda crouched.

  “You poor thing,” Hilda said gently. She met the Deerling's gaze, keeping an arm's length distance.

  Nate walked up behind her and crouched as well.

  “Thanks, Riolu,” he said, rubbing his hand on the back of Riolu’s head.

  Deerling was no longer shivering. It scooted closer to Hilda and finally rested its head on her lap, letting out a soft, long breath of surrender.

  “Nate, I don't know how you did it, but I think Deerling is doing okay,” Hilda said softly. She gently stroked the back of its neck, careful to avoid the gash. Deerling accepted Hilda's touch, leaning into the warmth.

  Nate sat next to Hilda, legs crossed and hands in his lap.

  “It wasn't me. It was all Riolu. He's the one who calmed her,” Nate replied.

  “But you were talking with Riolu.” Hilda's eyes narrowed on him. “Weren't you?”

  Nate’s eyes widened.

  “No, I… it wasn't like that,” he said, struggling to find an excuse.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “You spoke to Riolu. ‘Show me what you see, Riolu. A gun? A ghost Pokémon?’ You were having a conversation with him. I know you were.”

  Nate froze. He looked to Riolu, who looked back with an apologetic shrug.

  “I…” Nate stammered. “I said those out loud?”

  Hilda nodded. “Do you hear Riolu talk?”

  Nate slumped. There was no point in lying.

  “Yeah,” Nate admitted, looking at the floor. “I hear his voice in my head. And I can speak to him in my mind. I guess this time I was speaking out loud without realizing.”

  Hilda stared at him for a long, agonizing second. Nate braced himself for mockery, or accusations of insanity.

  “That's how you knew how to help Elekid, isn't it? Riolu told you?”

  “Yeah.”

  Hilda let out a gentle scoff. She looked down and fiddled her fingers in Deerling's fur.

  “Well,” she looked at him with bright eyes. “That explains why you're such a weirdo.”

  Nate chuckled. “You don't think I'm insane?”

  “No. I believe you. I do.” She looked at Deerling again. “This right here is all the proof I need.”

  “I haven't told anyone. Not even Hugh.”

  “Don't worry, your secret is safe with me.” She held both her hands to her heart and balled them into fists. “Promise, or die.”

  Nate looked at her, confused at the strange gesture. “What?”

  “Oh,” Hilda said, looking to the side, cheeks flushing slightly.

  “It's a thing Hilbert and I have. When we say ‘Promise, or die’ and do this,” she repeated the balled hands to heart gesture, “it means we're being serious with each other. No jokes, or sarcasm. And if we break that promise, we drop dead.”

  Nate let out a small laugh. “Really? Well, thanks, Hilda. You're also a weirdo.”

  “Shut up, Nate.”

  She turned back to Deerling who was still resting its head on her lap. Its eyes were open, barely involved with the conversation of the two humans before it.

  Nate looked at Deerling's face. The Pokémon was calm but still looked to be on the lookout, hyper-aware of its surroundings. He looked at the gash on its head. He remembered the phantom pain he’d felt in his forehead. Looking closer at the wound, he could see that flesh had caved into what appeared to be a hole.

  A loud crack and a gun.

  “Hilda,” Nate began, his voice serious. “When Riolu showed me what happened to Deerling, I saw her memories and I felt her pain.”

  “Is that why you held your head?” she asked.

  “Yeah. I saw a shadow of a Pokémon chasing Deerling. I heard the laugh of a man and the sound of a gunshot. I think someone shot Deerling in the head.”

  “Someone? Who?”

  “I don't know. I couldn't see. But take a look at the back of Deerling's head.”

  Hilda inspected the Pokémon, using her fingers to gently part the fur.

  “There's no exit wound,” she said quietly.

  “I think the bullet is still stuck inside,” Nate concluded.

  “You might be right,” Hilda said, a cold edge entering her voice. “You think it's still causing her pain?”

  “Most likely. We need to tell Professor Juniper.”

  “You better clean it before you go to bed,” Rosa instructed. She was in the middle of placing a bandage wrap around Hilbert's elbow. He had scraped it badly when he fell from Deerling's Take Down.

  “I will, don't worry,” Hilbert sighed.

  Rosa, Bianca, and Cheren had joined Hilbert and Hugh in the laboratory lobby. They sat along the U-shaped couch, the exhaustion palpable in the room.

  “Can you bend it?”

  Hilbert attempted to bend his elbow but before he could make a forty-five-degree angle, he winced and snapped it straight.

  “Nope. Not even a little.”

  “Just try not to use that arm much, okay? You could risk bursting the bursa inside your elbow which will cause serious inflammation.”

  “Bursa. Right,” Hilbert repeated.

  “How do you know all this?” Hugh asked curiously.

  “Oh,” Rosa stopped. “My dad's a doctor. He's taught me a lot of things.”

  “More than teaches you,” Hilbert whispered under his breath.

  Rosa instinctively smacked him on the arm, right where she had just patched him.

  “Ow! My bursa!” Hilbert yelped sarcastically.

  “Oh. Sorry!” Rosa said, covering her mouth.

  “What caused Deerling to attack you like that anyway?” Cheren asked, leaning forward.

  “I don't know. It actually attacked Hilda. I just… dove in front to protect her. It really knocked the wind out of me,” Hilbert explained.

  “That’s pretty bold of you,” Rosa said with a grin.

  “Yeah, well, I can’t let her see me like this. She’s got enough to worry about.”

  “Is Hilda okay?” Bianca asked earnestly.

  “She's fine,” Hilbert said. “At least, physically she is.”

  “Is she really that traumatized?” Rosa asked. She worried for her cousin. Hilda had always been there for Rosa when she felt down. And now Hilda needed Rosa to be there for her.

  “She broke down in tears after what she witnessed with Deerling,” Hilbert explained, rubbing his neck with his good arm.

  “Was it that bad?”

  “I don't know. I wasn't there. But the look on her face when I saw her…” Hilbert turned to Rosa and shook his head. “I've known that girl all my life. I've never seen her break down like that.”

  “I hope she's okay,” Bianca said, her hands clasped together.

  “What about you Hugh?” Rosa said, turning to him. “Are you alright?”

  “Me?” Hugh sat up straighter. “I'm good. I wasn't the one that took an Iron Tail from a wild Aggron. Or inches away from being trampled to death,” he added.

  “What do you mean?” Cheren asked, alarmed. “What happened?”

  “Oh,” Hugh grunted, “A wild Aggron ambushed us right as we were trying to catch Deerling. It hit Nate and sent him to the ground. I had to drag him to safety before it almost killed him.”

  Rosa winced.

  Nate nearly died?

  “Is Nate okay?” Rosa burst out. Her voice sounded more panicked than she intended.

  “Yes. Nate is fine,” Hugh said, eyeing Rosa with interest. “We fought off the Aggron. It would've trampled Nate if he didn't throw a Poké Ball at it at the last second.”

  “Nate caught it?” Cheren said, surprised.

  “No, it broke out and fled off into the forest. We were both lucky to get out of that alive.”

  “I'm sorry you all had to go through that,” Cheren said, eyes darting to the floor. “If I'd known it would be that dangerous, I wouldn't have sent you.”

  “No need to apologize, Cheren,” Hugh said. “It's what we Trainers do, right?”

  “Yeah… Right.”

  Rosa slouched in her seat.

  Hugh might be trying to downplay it, but he's definitely hurting. His own friend almost died in front of him!

  She admired Hugh's bravery. They needed someone like him to keep everyone's morale up. He certainly cared about others.

  She needed to talk to her cousin. She wanted to see Hilda for herself. Her mind raced with ideas of how to approach her. Should she be immediately consoling? Or should she let Hilda come to her? She tapped her foot against the floor, waiting for her and Nate to return.

  There's so much I want to say to you right now.

  Just then, the hallway doors slid open. Hilda came walking out slowly with Deerling clutched in her arms. Nate walked a few paces behind her.

  There's so much I want to say to you, too.

  Professor Juniper and Ms. Gabby, who were off to the side in private conversation, went to meet Hilda and Nate. Deerling whimpered and tucked its head into Hilda’s neck.

  “It's okay, Deerling, no one is here to hurt you,” she heard Hilda say.

  The rest of the team got up from the couch and joined them. Deerling was shaking in Hilda’s arms.

  “Hilda!” Rosa said, practically running to her cousin's side. She was mindful not to cause the Pokémon any more stress. “How’s Deerling?”

  “Deerling is a little scared right now, but she's calmed down quite a lot,” Hilda replied.

  Rosa looked to the creature and saw the horrible gash that ran up its head. The disfigured appearance made Rosa's stomach churn.

  “That wound looks severe,” Juniper noted, hands on her knees as she bent down to examine it.

  “Professor, we think a poacher attacked Deerling. There's a bullet stuck inside Deerling's head,” Nate said aloud.

  “A bullet?” Juniper shot up and looked at Nate. “What makes you say that?”

  Rosa saw Hilda and Nate look at each other uneasily. She peered at the Deerling. Underneath the dried fur and scarred flesh, there appeared to be an entry wound, about the size of a small pebble.

  “I think he's right, Professor,” Rosa said, looking at Nate. She briefly caught his eye just as he looked away. “There's an entry wound just above its eye. And there doesn't seem to be an exit wound.”

  “Gabby, get the portable X-ray. We'll see for ourselves,” Juniper directed.

  Minutes later, Ms. Gabby set up a portable machine hooked up to a monitor. They held the device up to the front of the Deerling's face, placing two twirling sensors above and below its head. Ms. Gabby activated the device and the sensors rotated around the Pokémon on an axis. Hilda held Deerling steady to prevent it from fleeing.

  The image imprinted on the screen. There, in the root of the flower on the top of its head, lodged a small, metal object surrounded by fractured bone.

  “A small caliber round,” Juniper said, fixing her glasses. “From a hunting rifle, it appears.”

  “It's not common, but poachers do hunt Deerling for their hides,” Gabby said, her voice tight. “It's certainly plausible that this Deerling was a victim of a poaching incident.”

  “That explains why it is stuck in its Spring Form,” Juniper realized. “The flower on its head senses sunlight and humidity to determine seasonal changes. With the bullet lodged into its sensory organ, Deerling cannot send the signal to its chromatophores for a form change.”

  “Can you take it out?” Cheren asked, hovering over the screen.

  “Unfortunately, I can't. The bullet is too close to the brain. I don't have the skill or equipment to perform such a delicate surgery,” Juniper sighed.

  “We can't just leave it there!” Hilda protested. “It's causing Deerling pain.”

  “I know,” Juniper said softly. “Which is why we must send it to the Pokémon Center in Striaton. They possess the necessary resources to handle a situation like this.”

  Striaton Pokémon Center! Mom can help!

  “Professor, my mother is the Head Nurse at Striaton. She can help Deerling,” Rosa declared.

  “Yes, I know Laura Whitley. She is well known in our community. I will make arrangements immediately.”

  “I can take Deerling to the Center!” Rosa said.

  “I'll go too!” Hilda volunteered instantly. “Deerling is my Pokémon and I want to be with her.”

  Juniper looked at the two girls. “Alright, but Deerling is in no condition to travel right now. And quite frankly neither are you two,” she said, eyeing both girls. “It's been a long day for everyone. Right now, we all need rest. Especially Deerling. It has had enough for one day.”

  Rosa saw the Deerling's disheveled face. It didn't need more machines or people prodding it. It needed rest, comfort, and probably some food.

  “Okay. Tomorrow morning, we leave.”

  The sun had fully set. The rain picked up outside, battering against the windows of the dorm’s common room. Inside, however, it was warm. The tables were littered with pepperoni pizza and cheesy breadsticks. A comforting respite for a day that had offered very little comfort.

  The team spent the evening crowded together inside the common room. They were all beaten and tired, but they kept each other's spirits high. Rosa looked around the room. It felt like she was a part of a family. One that stood by each other. One that supported each other's dreams. One that felt like a true, cohesive unit.

  One that I always dreamed of.

  Hilbert was back to his usual goofy self. He laughed and joked about how Rosa used to be mean to him as a kid. Always calling him out on his chaotic antics. Even Hilda's spirits seemed to return, giving her usual one-line jabs at Hilbert. Rosa laughed, remembering what it was like growing up with Hilda and Hilbert. The two of them always got her in trouble, too much trouble for her parents, anyway.

  Rosa found herself a quiet moment with her and Hilda sitting together on the plush couch. Hilda twiddled her thumbs, staring at a grease stain on the pizza box.

  “You sure you're okay?” Rosa asked her cousin.

  Hilda let out a dry laugh. “Yes, mom. I'm okay.”

  “Hilda…” Rosa said in a worrying tone. She knew Hilda was trying to cover up.

  Hilda sighed, shoulders dropping. “There's no point in trying to hide it from you, is there?”

  “Nope. I can read you like a book.”

  Hilda looked to her friends. Cheren, Bianca, and Hilbert were talking about their childhood while Nate and Hugh sat together on a couch across the room.

  “I can still see the look on her face,” Hilda said softly. “Before she tried to jump.”

  “It must have been terrible. To see a Pokémon with such pain.”

  “She looked at me like I'm a monster, Rosa,” Hilda's voice began to tremble. “I get why, though.”

  “You're not a monster, Hilda. You saved her.”

  “I know, but… there really are people out there. People who would commit evil for their own selfishness. To Deerling, I was just another human. Another human who wanted to hurt her.”

  “But you're not!” Rosa argued. “You're not just another human.”

  “There's a bullet inside her head because of people.”

  “You didn't put that bullet there. You’re the one making sure it gets out. People can be evil, yes, but people can also be good.”

  Hilda's eyes dropped to the floor.

  I need to get through to her somehow.

  “Whoever shot Deerling… they didn't see a Pokémon. They saw a target. You saw a life worth saving. That’s the difference.”

  Hilda rested her chin on her knuckles. “You're pretty wise for a runaway,” she said through a clenched jaw, a hint of a smile returning.

  “I'm not a runaway! My parents agreed to this,” Rosa defended.

  “Well, you are going to show up to your mom's work tomorrow with a Deerling that has a bullet in her brain. If that's not medicine then I don't know what is.”

  Rosa laughed. “Shut up, Hilda!”

  “We'll see how she reacts to that,” Hilda said with a smirk.

  “You know, my parents taught me a valuable lesson today,” Rosa continued.

  “Oh yeah? What's that?” Hilda said, raising her eyebrows.

  “They taught me what not to do when treating a Pokémon.”

  Now it was Hilda's turn to laugh. “What? What are you talking about, crazy?”

  “I mean, my parents always treat their patients as problems to be solved. But I learned you can't treat Pokémon like a puzzle, you need to treat them with empathy. It worked with Blitzle when I took off my gloves to comfort it. That's also why it worked with Nate and Elekid. Remember? He took off the mask and showed Elekid his humanity.”

  Hilda looked at Rosa for a moment, her expression unmoving.

  “Speaking of Nate…” Hilda said, adjusting herself to face Rosa directly, her tone slightly lowered. “What do you think of him?”

  “Ummm.”

  Rosa thought for a moment. She didn't really talk with Nate a lot. In fact, every time she tried, he would turn away or disengage.

  “He's alright. A bit awkward, maybe?”

  “You don't think he's hiding something, do you?” Hilda pressed.

  “No. I don't get that impression. Why?”

  “It's just…” Hilda paused. “He… gets them. Pokémon, I mean. He understands them in a way I don't think any of us do. Like he’s speaking their language.”

  Rosa raised an eyebrow. “I'm not sure I follow.”

  “All I'm saying is, just keep an eye on him. He's got a lot of layers,” Hilda said with a wink.

  “Right.”

  Just then Hilbert leaned over the back of the couch, popping up between them.

  “Sorry to interrupt, ladies,” he said, grinning. “But Cheren and Bianca want to make sure you're doing alright, Da.”

  “I'm fine, honey,” she said, playfully patting his cheek. “Don't worry about lil’ old me.”

  “Would you come over to us, please?” Hilbert asked. “Bianca won’t stop worrying about you.”

  Hilda looked at Rosa with a smirk. “Alright, fine. I'm coming.”

  Hilda got up and followed Hilbert back to the table where Cheren and Bianca sat. Rosa remained on the couch thinking about Hilda's cryptic message.

  What did she mean by layers?

  She looked at Nate who was sitting next to Hugh across the common room.

  Layers! The wool! I almost forgot again!

  She quickly stood up and marched over to the two boys. She approached them and caught them both off guard.

  “Hey!” She opened up. She still felt awkward around them. They were still pretty new to her.

  “Hey you,” Hugh replied back.

  “I… uhh… forgot to say thank you for the wool you guys sheared. It was really a lifesaver.”

  “Oh. Well, it's our pleasure,” Hugh replied. “Nate's dad works on a ranch with the Mareep. He's the one who really did most of the work.”

  “That's pretty cool! Your dad works with Pokémon, Nate?” Rosa asked, turning to Nate.

  “Yeah, he does,” Nate replied.

  “I heard that the Blitzle you treated is doing better,” Hugh said, glancing at his friend.

  “Yeah, it is. We stress-tested it this morning, but it had trouble keeping up its electricity. We'll have to continue monitoring Blitzle for a while before trying again.”

  “That's good to hear. I'm glad everything worked out okay.”

  “You guys must be tired. It's been a long day,” Rosa said with a forced laugh.

  Rosa saw Nate shuffle in his seat, pressing his hand to his side.

  “It has been,” Hugh said, stretching his arms up. “Nothing like I imagined.”

  “Hopefully, you can get some rest. You look like you can use a good night's sleep, Hugh.”

  “Yeah. Yeah, you're right.” Hugh slapped his hand on Nate’s knee. “You ready to check out for the night, buddy?”

  “I am. Let's go,” Nate said.

  The boys stood up from the couch.

  “Goodnight, Rosa,” Hugh said, walking over to the table where the rest of the team sat to say his goodbyes.

  “Night,” Nate followed up. He started walking to Hugh.

  “Nate, wait.” Rosa caught him before he got too far ahead of her.

  He spun around and looked at her.

  “Umm.” She suddenly felt awkward. His expression was unreadable and his silence was piercing. “Are you feeling okay?”

  “Yeah,” he replied softly. “Why?”

  “I saw you hold your side when you moved. Did you get hurt?”

  “Oh. Umm. I think so,” Nate said as he reached to feel his side.

  “Are you alright?” Rosa pressed.

  “Yeah. I am. I'm good,” he nodded.

  “Okay… Good that you're doing good,” she added with an exaggerated smile.

  Nate couldn't keep his stoic face intact. He, too, smiled at her mockery of his earlier blunder.

  “I visited Elekid,” Rosa said, rising up and down on her toes. “Mr. Orens thinks it will be fully recovered by tomorrow.”

  “Oh.” Nate's expression turned to excitement. “Thank you, Rosa. Elekid wasn't violent, was it?”

  “Nope. No new bruises for me,” she said with a small laugh. “I did get a scratch from a Leaf Tornado, though. Not related to Elekid.”

  “Oh, sounds painful.”

  “Not as painful as taking an Iron Tail from a fully evolved Aggron.”

  “Yeah, I guess not.” He shuffled his legs putting his hands in his pockets.

  Rosa looked at Nate. She could still feel the awkwardness in his demeanor. She was trying her best to engage him. She thought she was being playful enough to not come off as judgemental or overbearing, but he still kept his guard around her.

  I shouldn't be trying to make small talk with him. He really has been through a lot today.

  “Anyway, Nate. I'll see you around. Goodnight,” Rosa said with a weak smile.

  “Goodnight,” Nate said, giving her the same smile.

  Nate caught up with Hugh and the two left the common room for their dorms.

  Rosa stood there, even more curious about Nate. She wasn't sure about him. Was it possible he didn't like her? He was short in his response, but nothing about his body language suggested he had a grudge against her. Still, she had this feeling there was something about her that Nate found different from everyone else.

  You're right about one thing, Hilda. He's got many layers. And I haven't even scratched the surface.