Despite the heat, Davina wasn’t discouraged and was lying on her back amidst the lush grass by the lakeside. Both of her pokemon were out of their pokeballs. They deserved some freedom after all, especially since Zigzagoon had been cooped up inside the Pokemon Centre for nearly two days. It was an energetic and curious little creature that belonged in the great outdoors and shouldn’t be kept inside all the time. It had made an obvious full recovery, you could tell by just watching it frolic and paddle into the shallows of the lake. With the help of technological-advanced medicine, Zigzagoon was healthy once again from it’s last battle and was now braving the water and swimming contently, splashing water at the self-occupied Davina.

Combusken on the other hand, being a fire typed pokemon, disliked water and therefore was happy practising it’s stealth by jumping from tree to tree. But Davina was too busy in her own thoughts to observe the scene. Staring half-awake up at the cloudless sky she was dressed in her usual wear, a light green blouse and white skirt with her head resting on her folded and slightly frayed denim jacket.

Even though all of her pokemon were enjoying themselves having fun in the sun, Davina couldn’t rid her mind of one thing … the previous pokemon battle against her rival, Joey.

*Flashback* -

*End Of Flashback*

Watching her Zigzagoon now on the grass shake the worst of the water out of it’s fur coat and happily use it’s claws to scale a tree trunk, it was evident to see that it was fully healed after it’s previous battle only a couple of days ago.

Davina loved pokemon more than life itself, and she knew perfectly well when she agreed to become a Pokemon Trainer that she would have to battle other pokemon and their Trainers so that she could become stronger in experience; but she wasn’t fully aware at the time of the pain she would feel when she would be forced to watch her pokemon fight a losing battle and to gain injury after wound whilst the other would enjoy it all. She loved the feeling of fighting beside her pokemon, even if it was only verbally and not physically. And although she wasn’t the highly competitive type like her rival Joey, the feeling she got when she saw her Zigzagoon’s unconscious body and Joey cheering without a care in the world; it felt worse than the time when Davina watched her idol on TV lose the final battle in the Johto Pokemon League. It made her feel so useless knowing there was partially nothing she could do to prevent it from happening.

And how could Joey win? He doesn’t even like pokemon for starters, and he doesn’t even give a hoot about their well-being and yet he wins without Mudkip gaining a scratch from it all.

The stinging memory of Zigzagoon blasted back into the climbing frame pole came back to Davina and she blinked back the tears of lament.

What does Joey have that I don’t?

It was the single question that refused to exit Davina’s mind no matter how hard she tried to twist her attention to her pokemon or the cloud-less sky or the admiration of nature. She loved her pokemon and they loved her back equally, it was mutual and Davina was confident about that. Mudkip loves Joey and still it knows Joey doesn’t love it back. But it still fights on and wins a battle for him.

Contented with her cruel and conclusive thought, Davina closed her eyes and sighed peacefully; humming the tune of a lullaby she had heard countless times:

It didn’t take long and soon Davina’s singing stopped as she fell asleep under the rays of the sun and the gentle caress of the wind against her cheeks.

She awoke several hours later, slightly startled as she realised she had been woken by her Zigzagoon, which was on her stomach soundly asleep. The tiny racoon pokemon was tightly curled in a ball-like position with it’s bushy, coarse tail covering it’s nose and it’s paws neatly tucked beneath it with it’s claws piercing Davina’s soft flesh inadvertently.

Glancing around, she nervously checked her surroundings. All was surprisingly quiet; and Combusken wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Blinking and scanning the countryside once again, she couldn’t find any sign of the young fowl pokemon. Davina was sure it couldn’t have wandered too far and would be back soon when it would be time to head off, she trusted it and was confident it was nearby … somewhere. She sighed and lay her head back down on her folded jacket, fatigue coming suddenly over her. Obviously two days without sleep used on worrying about her Zigzagoon was back to haunt her, and she might as well rest before they head off for Petalburg at night when all of the pokemon would be more commonly found and easier to catch.

Even over the soft snores of Zigzagoon and the eager chirps from the quietening wild Taillows in the trees, Davina could just about identify the pleading cries of a wild pokemon that pierced the silence like a dagger stabbed in the back. Once again, she opened her eyes with the sinking thought that maybe she shouldn't sleep during daytime and that doing so was a bad idea. The pokemon’s cries were high-pitched and sounded in her opinion like a cry for help. Being a pokemon researcher’s daughter had it’s qualities; you could get face-to-face with some of the world’s rarest pokemon and learn by experience what pokemon calls belong to which pokemon. At first the terrible idea arrived that maybe the pokemon cries were her Combusken in danger. But then she realised, to her relief that it wasn’t. Combusken’s battle cry was higher and the calling she was listening to sounded like a haunting melody. Like a wind- chime, but not. It didn’t sound like anything she had heard of before, but all the same curiosity got the better of her.

~

Walking through the overgrowth never is easy, especially when you’re wearing a skirt. The ground was covered with poison ivy and Davina had to be careful where she tread. Zigzagoon had no worries about this and thought it funny to chase the wild Wurmples and bite at the fleeing Taillows’ tails. Davina had no qualms that maybe Zigzagoon might frighten away all the pokemon here for easy capture, or might even injure one involuntarily. Her mind was now set on discovering the source of the cries. And one thing was sure, whenever Davina set her mind to something … she wouldn’t stop until she achieves it. The cries hardly sounded like they were getting any closer in Davina’s opinion, but she was determined to discover the source.

After all, she was the Professor Hugh Birch’s only daughter.

----------------------------

Author’s Notes:

Just a quick note of thanks to whoever nominated Clash Of The Titans in the Readers Choice Awards. Even if it didn’t win, I’m glad it got at least more than seven votes! ^_^