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“Mobostiff!” The sandy haired boy screamed as the.. thing in front of him struck his partner, flinging the canine across the cavern
Mobostiff hit the grey wall with a crack and whimper, breaking atleast one bone and causing agony for the poor Pokémon.
Arven looked up in terror as the beast turned its focus toward him, raising its deadly claws.
The boy was struck across the face by the monster, narrowly missing his eyes as a splatter of crimson blood landed on the cavern floor.
Arven nearly stumbled back as blood dripped into his eyes, blinding him.
Before the boy could react further the monster slashed him across the stomach, creating another splatter of blood across the cavern
The sandy haired boy stumbled back with a cry of pain before collapsing onto his side, bleeding onto the cave floor.
The monster bit down on his leg, sinking its teeeth into the flesh of his leg before tearing out a chunk and swallowing it
Arven was terrified, he and Mobostiff were going to die. He was going to bleed out without ever confronting his mother
The last thing the boy could see was the monster standing over him as his eyes fell shut
—
Arven’s eyes shot open. adrenaline pumping through his veins as he shot up, believing he was still in the cavern where he had gotten injured.
It was only when he heard Mobostiff’s snoring when he could start to calm down, noticing the plush of the bed he sat under, the smell of the ingredients in his dorm, and the light of the window near him.
It was just a nightmare, A nightmare of something that had happened over two years ago now, why was he still thinking of it? The scar on his face had faded, and the scars on his stomach and leg weren’t noticeable by most people.
Arven laid back down, pushing his face into the pillow, and tried to fall asleep
But sleep wouldn’t come, No matter how much he tried. He felt ever so slightly jealous of his partner Pokémon and how it could sleep so soundly, and he ended up deciding to get some fresh hair.
The sandy haired boy carefully sat up, slowly moving to the edge of his bed in order to not wake up the dog
Arven stood up, not bothering to change out of the oversized t-shirt and sweatpants he went to bed with as he dug around for a pair of socks and some shoes
He soon took out a pair of socks and shoes, carefully putting them on before opening the door to his room and stepping out into the hall.
Arven walked through the hall, his dorm was near the entrance so it wasn’t difficult to reach, and the lights in the halls were still on.
The boy walked through the library. looking at the books around him, he could spot the scarlet book
He considered stopping to read it. but decided against it, he didn’t want to end up thinking of his mother
As walked out of the school. The dark and cold hit him quickly as he shivered.
Arven walked over to the railing, murkrow squawking around him as he leaned on it. Staring out into the distance.
He closed his eyes and started thinking, about how if Juliana had never come to Paldea, he would have never learned about what happened to his mother, about the monster that attacked him, and about the fact he’ll most likely never know his family.
The sandy haired boy was interrupted in his thoughts by a sudden voice, distinctly feminine
“Arven?” The girl spoke, the boy could easily reconize her voice as Nemona
“Nemona?” Arven said, looking over at the girl, Nemona was wearing her uniform still, her hair was still tied up in a ponytail, and her glove(?) was still on her right arm. Honestly he felt very underdressed compared to her right now
“Why are you out so late? Especially in that when it’s this cold?” Nemona asked, concerned Bold words coming from Nemona, who was in the summer uniform, with short sleeves.
“Couldn’t sleep” The boy mumbled, it wasn’t entirely false, but he didn’t want to mention the nightmare
Nemona nodded, shuffling to stand next to him
The two stood together in a scilence before Arven spoke “So. Why do you only wear one glove?” Arven asked
Nemona looked over, confused. “I’m not wearing a glove?” Nemona spoke
Arven looked just as confused “Then that’s that?” He questioned, gesturing towards the thing on Nemona’s arm
“Oh!” The raven haired girl perked up “It’s my arm brace” she chatted as she lifted her arm, looking at the magenta brace
“A arm brace?” Arven added “why would you need an arm brace?”
“Oh, my right arm has a lot weakness in it,” Nemona admitted, looking up at the boy as her left hand ran up and down the brace “So I got the brace to help support it!” Nemona smiled
Arven nodded, suddenly feeling bad for making assumptions about the brace
Soon enough the two teens were talking, about Pokémon, about the league, about really whatever they wanted. It came surprisingly easy for Arven, he hadn’t really talked to people before he met Juliana, but it didn’t seem too hard now.
—
Arven laid asleep on his bed as the sun rose, Mabostiff next to him as the dawn light flowed in through the window. He was off today, so he could sleep as long as he wanted. His sleep was dreamless, and he would be alright.