Chapter Text
"My Lord, Please!!"
“My faithful warden….. I'm afraid my flames will die here….”
“No! No, no! Please, my lord! You can't! Stay strong, your pups are waiting!"
"My body is weakening now… I-it is time… to rest with my mother before m-me… Join with Almighty Sinnoh.."
“No! No you can't.. Please don't leave them, my lord!! You can't die here, you can't!
“Protect them.. Protect my pups.. Will you, my ember..? I…. I know you will serve them well.. As you did ..for me… “
“My lord! Please don't give up!”
“Palina.. My warden.. My kin.. For.. Forgive… me…”
“My Lord? My Lord??
“Lord Arcanine, please! Please don't leave me!”
“HIYOSHI!!”
Palina woke up with a gasp, eyes watery from crying in her sleep. That dream again.. That day still haunts her.
She feels the Growlithe pups, Isamu and Emi, shake her tired body awake, their little whines of worry clear.
“Mama??” The gentle voice of the eldest pup, Emi, barks, sitting at her bedside.
“Mama, Mama!” The younger one, Isamu, yipped excitedly, pawing at her face. “Wake up, mama! The sun is rising!” They said, their grey tail wagging.
Palina couldn't help but smile at the younger pup’s excitement, soon sitting up from her futon with a yawn.She gently petted the young pokemon on their heads, looking at them.
“Good morning to you too.” Palina said, looking at the duo. “Why are you two awake so early?"
Emi lightly tugged at her outfit, trying to pull her out of bed. That made the woman laugh, soon getting up to stretch.
“Play, mama!” Isamu barked, jumping up and down.
“Alright, but after breakfast.” Palina said, petting the younger Growlithe’s head.
Palina walked up to Lord Arcanine’s tombstone, kneeling in front of them. A shaky sigh leaves her as her fingers brush against the carved stone, the face of her late noble etched into it.. She remembers when she had this made, having it look out onto the sea on his favorite spot at Veilstone Cape. The memory of it aches her for a moment before she shakes her head, taking a deep breath.
“Good morning, my lord..” She speaks, holding a stone bowl of Stantler meat and berries. She sets it in front of the tombstone, bowing her head to it. The Growlithe pups do the same, respecting their late father.
“ I offer this to you, great Lord. May your flames protect us as you did in this space..” Palina said, soon conjuring a small fire in her hands, setting the offering in the bowl ablaze. The smell of burning meat and berries filled the air as she prayed, looking down at it as it turned to ash.
After that was done, she led the pups away, going off to fulfill her daily duties.
It's been many months since her Noble had left her, his den at Firespit Island lying vacant. Little Isamu was much too young to take the role. The warden had been working hard to keep the territory safe, scaring off any pokemon who tried to take it for their own. Shooing off Alpha Ninetales or a few groups of nosey Magby was a constant for her. At least her blessings kept her safe within the heat, conjuring up a few balls of lava to scare the pokemon away.
Her own flames haven't been as strong or as stable as of late, having to rest more often to not strain herself. She was usually a master controlling of her Lord’s sacred type, but with him gone it feels as if her own flames were gone with it.
Palina took a break after a while, having a quick lunch of Mushroom cakes and a few Oran berries. She sat by the den, soaking up the nearby heat of the lava pools nearby.
She watched as Emi and Isamu play nearby, seeing the Growlithe siblings test their moves on each other. Little Lady Emi may be the older Growlithe and the stronger of the two, but young Lord Isamu’s inner fire was stronger, outright winning their little match.
The young male was growing stronger every day, but yet he still was unable to conjure his father’s flames, a telltale symbol of him becoming a noble. She remembered seeing it before, a small hint of fire when the pup was first born, although he was the smallest of his litter. Palina had hoped Lord Arcanine would be around to teach the young pup to wield it.
But now he’s gone. Their life was swept away like the ocean that the noble risked swimming through to save their son, only to collapse away on the beach with his head in her arms..
She soon heard Isamu bark, snapping her out of her thoughts with a gasp. She looked down, seeing the young lord bumping their little body against her leg.
“Mama!” Isamu whined. “Mama, you're burning the berry!”
Palina looked, gasping as she tossed the burning Oran berry away, rubbing her hands together. “I-Im.. I'm fine, my little lord. My flames got a bit carried away.. Just thinking… ”
"About Father?” Emi barked, trotting over. She whines, looking up at the warden.
“Don't cry, Mama!” Isamu yipped, licking her hand. “I’ll be strong one day.”
“You’re not ready.” Palina said a bit seriously, petting the pup. “You may have your father’s fire, but you aren't ready to take his mantle just yet.”
“But when can I??” Isamu asked with a yip, pawing her leg. “I don't like it when Mama stares out into the water from Father’s cave..”
“Or when Mama takes on a big scary Magmar.” Emi whines.
Palina sighed, looking at the pups. “I have to. Its my duty to protect your father’s den, that includes you.”
“But who will protect you..?” Isamu barked. “Like your clan said,its my destiny to be the next Noble!”
“We’re not discussing this.” She said with a light growl to her tone, frustrated.
“But I can do it, Mama!” The male Growlithe protested. “Clan Leader Irida said that-”
“SHE'S WRONG!!” Palina snapped, large flames leaving her hands as she growled at the pup, her fangs bared with her fur standing on its ends. She stopped when she saw Isamu whimper and back away, feeling guilty at raising her voice. She didn't mean to scare him...
She crouched down, looking at the pup with a small whine. “I.. I'm sorry for yelling, my little lord.” Palina said sadly, offering her hand to the Growlithe. “It's.. it's just that you're not ready. The E-Elders.. I-Irida… They want me to push when you haven't even developed your father’s flames yet..”
“Mama…” Emi whines, pawing at her leg.
Palina sighed, shaking her head. “I'm sorry, pups. But I don't want to discuss this right now.” She said, standing up. “Let’s head back inside the den for now.”
The Growlithe puppies whine, knowing this conversation is over. “Okay…”
“Can we get some berries first, Mama?” Isamu asked. “I want Nanab berries.”
“Oh, and mushrooms!” Emi perked up, pawing at the warden’s leg.
She nodded, sensing the pups’ hunger. Usually she could only find those in the main area of the Coastlands. Would be a good idea for dinner, she thought to herself. The more things to distract her, the better.
“Alright. C'mon then.”
Palina led them away from Firespit Island and back towards Veilstone Cape. After visiting her noble’s grave again, she went foraging.
She warns Emi and Isamu to stay nearby, letting the pups roam the beach nearby as she collects Nanab berries and mushrooms. She walks away with a basket, climbing up trees to collect the ripest berries. Her mind flooded back to her outburst earlier still feeling guilty. She didn't mean to raise her voice at the pup at all, but grew so frustrated at the idea of forcing the young lord into a role he wasn't ready for.
The warden remembered her last argument with her sister, now Clan Leader Irida, about a month after she lost her Noble. Some choice words were said, yet both sides had concerns. She knew her younger sister was only acting out the wishes the Pearl Clan Elders asked of her, but the idea made her so upset. The pup was still too traumatized back then, still too scared to be near any body of water. Even if he’s gotten better now, that fear still stays with the Growlithe..
Her instincts and duty clashed so much back then, but in the end she couldn't. It wouldn't be what her Noble wanted, after all it was him teaching the young pup. She had watched it all, having been the one to name the heir when the pup arrived. They were all they got now, and she just wanted them to live their lives without pain..
“L-Lord Arcanine….” Palina mumbled to herself, feeling the memories flood back to her. Tears spilled down her face, sighing. “Oh my Lord, w-what do I do…? How can I protect them if my flames can't even offer your heir comfort…? If only you were here... Hiyoshi.. You would know what to do…”
Her thoughts were soon stopped by the sounds of howling, her ears perking up. That.. That was Emi’s call. She sounded distressed. Something is wrong…
She dropped her basket and began to run towards the sound, her own howl responding back. The elder pup’s howl more and more distressed as she got close.
She soon made it back to the cove, soon finding Emi being attacked by a man ordering Honchkrow and a Purugly to attack the wounded Growlithe. She snarled, running down the hill with flames conjuring in her palms.
“GET AWAY FROM MY PUP!!” Palina roars, blasting the two pokemon with a wave of heat. Once blinded, she charged at them, biting hard on the Honchkrow’s wing, hearing it caw in pain.
The Honchkrow goes to attack her with Steel Wing, but she quickly catches it with her bare hands. Her fangs dug into the bird pokemon’s wing bone, soon tossing it at the Purugly, knocking them both out.
She then heard a yelp, turning around and seeing the man, a poacher, pointing a knife at Emi’s throat. The pup whimpered and squirmed trying to get away.
“Back off, Warden…” The poacher speaks, seeing the woman crouch down with a growl in her throat. “Unless you dont wanna see BOTH of your little heirs again, I suggest you stand down…”
Palina snarled, baring her fangs in anger. “Where is my little lord?” She demands, flames flickering off her body. “What did you do with him???”
“My buddies are already rowing with it..” They said, pointing at seeing two more hunters rowing off in a boat. Her heart sank at seeing her young noble trapped within a small cage, hearing him call out to her.
“NO!!” Palina screams, eyes wide in horror. She turned her anger toward the poacher, stepping forward.
“I said, back off, you freak!” The hunter says. “Unless I’ll cut this one’s paw- AUGH!!” They screamed as Emi bit hard on the man’s hand, soon being dropped onto the ground. Palina took the opportunity to charge at the poacher, shoving them to the ground.
The poacher thrusts the knife at her, the warden quickly dodging at the last second, just getting a nick on her face. That just made her more angry, grabbing at the wrist of the man, her flames burning at their skin.
The man screamed, soon shoving her off. Palina was about to attack again before hearing the frantic howls of Emi, turning around.
Right, Isamu.. Those men had taken him.
She snarled the injured poacher, flashing her teeth with a smoke-filled snort. “Get out of my Lord’s territory.” She threatens, before sprinting off after the boat with Emi in tow.
She ran up and down the side of the coastal rocks, trying to chase down the boat. But as the coast grew more steep, her pace began to slow down. Emi was right behind her, barking worriedly for her brother’s safety.
The two soon made it to a cliff that hangs over the ocean, seeing the poacher’s canoe disappear into a passage, much too far away to make their way over, and the cliffside was just too jagged for her to climb down.
“Isamu! Isamu!!” Emi howled sorrowfully.
“No.. no, no!” Palina cries, looking horrified. Her body shook, her feet burning the grass under her. “My pup!!”
“What now, Mama??” Emi whined, looking up at the warden.
Palina clenched her fists, soon looking towards Tranquility Cove, the home of the other noble of the Coastlands. And of the warden who lives there…
“We need help. C'mon!” The warden said, soon scooping the pup into her arms. She begins to down the will , heading towards the main coast.