(no subject)
When I got home, Mother was sitting at the table, peeling an apple with her claws. She looked up in surprise when I entered. "Thierry... back so soon?"
I nodded. I had been all excited back at Miltank's Saloon, when Aycee and Enoki had been there with me, but now the fizzy, thrilled feeling in the pit of my stomach had turned into a syrupy anxiety. "I just stopped by to grab some stuff. We just got our first job." I crossed over to the cupboards, looking for some Oran berries I could take along. I wasn't too sure what Mother was going to say to that. While Father had always been adamant about me growing up tough and being in a rescue team, I knew that Mother worried about me. I guess I couldn't blame her. I was the only son she had, and I'd been frail since the day I first cracked my eggshells. She did her best not to shelter me, though, and that was something I appreciated.
"...Oh...? Well... what's your mission, then?" Behind me, the steady sound of her claws tearing away the apple skin had halted.
"Father Hough's gone missing. We're heading into the mountains to look for him."
"Father Hough...?" I could hear a slight waver in her voice. "That sounds like a very important mission. Thierry... wait here a second. I have something for you to take along."
Please don't let it be a sweater.
I still kept my back to her, keeping myself busy by picking through the Oran berries in search of the biggest ones. It wasn't something that made a difference, really, but I still did it. A while later, I felt three strong claws on my shoulder, gentle as ever, then felt something sliding over my head and settling around my neck. I stood up, looking down. A single worn-looking claw rested above the yellow gem on my chest, hanging from a leather thong. I cradled it in my claws. No matter how old the claw looked, the point was still needle-sharp. "Mother...?"
"That claw has been passed down in our family for generations. When a Sneasel takes their first step into adulthood, they're given that claw to wear. Think of it as... think of it as a good luck charm. Keep it close to you." I looked up at my mother with wide eyes. She looked... a little sad, almost. But just for a moment; seconds later, she shot me a fanged grin and slapped me on the back with a laugh. "I'm serious, kid! That's an heirloom. Lose it and I'll kick your ass. Well, why are you still standing around here? You've got a job to do, and a town without a minister is like a Weavile without a headdress. Get going!"
...That was Mother for you. I smiled and nodded my head, hastily stowing away the few Oran berries I'd selected. "Thanks. I'll be home later... don't wait up, okay?" Mother raised her claws in a salute of sorts, and I returned the gesture before I left. I was still as nervous as anything, but I could feel the claw Mother had given me bouncing against my chest as I ran. That was reassuring. Well, as reassuring as a sharp, pokey claw resting over your heart can be, anyhow.
I was the first to arrive at the usual spot, for a change. It had been snowing for most of the day, so I had to brush a layer of fluffy white off of the stump before I sat down. I wasn't waiting long, though, before Enoki hopped into sight. Aycee joined up with us a moment later, and the three of us spread our supplies out on the stump. "Okay... four Oran berries, one Reviver Seed, six Gravelerocks, and a... is this a TM, Enoki? What's it for?"
"Aerial Ace. Figured to bring it along just in case. Found it during my travels, but... eh, never really needed it. If either of you want it, then it's all yours. None of us are flying-types, so it could come in handy to cover ourselves. Thierry... Sneasels have a pretty big weakness to fighting-types, don't they? You could probably use this the most of any of us."
"Uh... thanks." I muttered, carefully picking the shiny disc up in my claws. I knew Enoki meant well, but I had the feeling he had me pegged as the most inexperienced member and was just trying to give me a handicap. Still, he did have a point. A team was only as strong as its weakest link, that's what my father always said. I stared at the TM for a second, then snapped it in half. Pale blue light erupted from the broken disc and swirled around me, then dissipated into the night air. A tingling feeling shot through my arms and legs, then likewise faded.
"Okay, great. Thierry's got a slick new move, we're ready to go. Thierry, you can just leave the used TM here. It's only gonna take up space, since none of us know how to fix those things." Aycee was back in charge. She directed us over to a fresh patch of snow and drew out a crude little diagram with the tip of her tail. "So we know for a fact that Father Hough went this way on his walk. He doesn't get around all that easily, so let's assume he stuck to the path instead of dragging himself through the forest. The road goes up to the main shaft of the Leopold Mine, so we'll head up Mt. Errodain by the same path. This snow will have covered up his tracks by now, so we'll have to keep a sharp eye out. For the time being, we'll stick together. Sound good, guys?"
Both Enoki and I nodded our consent, so Aycee wiped out her little map with a single swipe of her tail and raised a fist. "Sweet. Okay, Team Silvertounges... let's move out!"
I nodded. I had been all excited back at Miltank's Saloon, when Aycee and Enoki had been there with me, but now the fizzy, thrilled feeling in the pit of my stomach had turned into a syrupy anxiety. "I just stopped by to grab some stuff. We just got our first job." I crossed over to the cupboards, looking for some Oran berries I could take along. I wasn't too sure what Mother was going to say to that. While Father had always been adamant about me growing up tough and being in a rescue team, I knew that Mother worried about me. I guess I couldn't blame her. I was the only son she had, and I'd been frail since the day I first cracked my eggshells. She did her best not to shelter me, though, and that was something I appreciated.
"...Oh...? Well... what's your mission, then?" Behind me, the steady sound of her claws tearing away the apple skin had halted.
"Father Hough's gone missing. We're heading into the mountains to look for him."
"Father Hough...?" I could hear a slight waver in her voice. "That sounds like a very important mission. Thierry... wait here a second. I have something for you to take along."
Please don't let it be a sweater.
I still kept my back to her, keeping myself busy by picking through the Oran berries in search of the biggest ones. It wasn't something that made a difference, really, but I still did it. A while later, I felt three strong claws on my shoulder, gentle as ever, then felt something sliding over my head and settling around my neck. I stood up, looking down. A single worn-looking claw rested above the yellow gem on my chest, hanging from a leather thong. I cradled it in my claws. No matter how old the claw looked, the point was still needle-sharp. "Mother...?"
"That claw has been passed down in our family for generations. When a Sneasel takes their first step into adulthood, they're given that claw to wear. Think of it as... think of it as a good luck charm. Keep it close to you." I looked up at my mother with wide eyes. She looked... a little sad, almost. But just for a moment; seconds later, she shot me a fanged grin and slapped me on the back with a laugh. "I'm serious, kid! That's an heirloom. Lose it and I'll kick your ass. Well, why are you still standing around here? You've got a job to do, and a town without a minister is like a Weavile without a headdress. Get going!"
...That was Mother for you. I smiled and nodded my head, hastily stowing away the few Oran berries I'd selected. "Thanks. I'll be home later... don't wait up, okay?" Mother raised her claws in a salute of sorts, and I returned the gesture before I left. I was still as nervous as anything, but I could feel the claw Mother had given me bouncing against my chest as I ran. That was reassuring. Well, as reassuring as a sharp, pokey claw resting over your heart can be, anyhow.
I was the first to arrive at the usual spot, for a change. It had been snowing for most of the day, so I had to brush a layer of fluffy white off of the stump before I sat down. I wasn't waiting long, though, before Enoki hopped into sight. Aycee joined up with us a moment later, and the three of us spread our supplies out on the stump. "Okay... four Oran berries, one Reviver Seed, six Gravelerocks, and a... is this a TM, Enoki? What's it for?"
"Aerial Ace. Figured to bring it along just in case. Found it during my travels, but... eh, never really needed it. If either of you want it, then it's all yours. None of us are flying-types, so it could come in handy to cover ourselves. Thierry... Sneasels have a pretty big weakness to fighting-types, don't they? You could probably use this the most of any of us."
"Uh... thanks." I muttered, carefully picking the shiny disc up in my claws. I knew Enoki meant well, but I had the feeling he had me pegged as the most inexperienced member and was just trying to give me a handicap. Still, he did have a point. A team was only as strong as its weakest link, that's what my father always said. I stared at the TM for a second, then snapped it in half. Pale blue light erupted from the broken disc and swirled around me, then dissipated into the night air. A tingling feeling shot through my arms and legs, then likewise faded.
"Okay, great. Thierry's got a slick new move, we're ready to go. Thierry, you can just leave the used TM here. It's only gonna take up space, since none of us know how to fix those things." Aycee was back in charge. She directed us over to a fresh patch of snow and drew out a crude little diagram with the tip of her tail. "So we know for a fact that Father Hough went this way on his walk. He doesn't get around all that easily, so let's assume he stuck to the path instead of dragging himself through the forest. The road goes up to the main shaft of the Leopold Mine, so we'll head up Mt. Errodain by the same path. This snow will have covered up his tracks by now, so we'll have to keep a sharp eye out. For the time being, we'll stick together. Sound good, guys?"
Both Enoki and I nodded our consent, so Aycee wiped out her little map with a single swipe of her tail and raised a fist. "Sweet. Okay, Team Silvertounges... let's move out!"