Going in Circles [Catch / Complete]

It was the Riolu that had spotted the shaking bushes, and had quickly pulled on Damian’s overcoat to get his attention.

(There’s something over there! I don’t know what it is, but can you feel it? I can pick up the aura… and wow… this one seems to think very highly of themselves…) his companion chirped, causing Damian to look down at the Riolu in confusion. “Alyosha? What is it?” he inquired, tilting his head slightly, before picking up on the unfamiliar aura that was in their general area. “Stay behind me,” he continued, stepping forward and preparing to shield the Riolu just in case it was a particularly aggressive Pokémon.

The undergrowth in front of them shook for a few more moments, and just as Damian was about ready to prepare his companion to fight, a Snivy emerged, before eyeing the two with some suspicion. Seeing that the Grass-type was regarding Damian with something that looked like a scoffing gesture, the Riolu then stepped out from behind where he was hiding, and stepped forward.

“Alyosha, whoa, be careful, we don’t know what it wants…” Damian warned, before the Riolu began talking with it. Of course, the entire conversation went over the human’s head; yet he still kept an eye on the Snivy’s aura—what was it with this one, why did it seem like she thought rather highly of herself? Quickly groping around in his pockets for his Pokédex, he then flipped it open before checking the information and reading it.

So it prefers its vines more than its hands huh… he thought as he snapped his Dex shut before pocketing it again, and then trying to listen in on what his Riolu and the Snivy were talking about.

(I’m sorry to ask, but… are you really so full of yourself?) Alexei began, backing away a few paces short of coming into the Snivy’s personal space. (Are you really that conceited…) he corrected himself with a snicker.

(How dare you talk to me like that, you ugly thing! Oh, wait, you’re a Riolu. Not so ugly then,) the Snivy began, turning up her snout at the small jackal, who looked extremely non-plussed. Blinking, the Snivy continued, (Now if you’ll excuse me, I have places to be at, things to do, and—) before suddenly collapsing flat on the forest floor.

“What happened?!” Damian began, who was silently observing the exchange between the two. “What’s wrong?! Alyosha, were you able to get—”

(I don’t know! She was talking fine to me for a while, but then she just—) the Riolu frantically tried to say; however, Damian couldn’t understand it. instead, he could pick up the feeling of worry from his companion’s aura, before he went over to where the Snivy had seemingly passed out. It was at this point he then heard a grumbling noise coming from the Grass-type.

“Oh… I think I know what’s wrong…” he began, unable to fight off the smile on his face. “She’s hungry.”

(Ohh, that’s embarrassing…) the Riolu snickered, but approached where Damian was now crouching, holding the Snivy in his other arm, before looking around to see if there were any Berry shrubs nearby. “Oh, Alyosha, can you look for Berries? You know, like those Razz berries you eat by the truckload,” he continued with a bit of a snicker, before his Riolu made a face in his direction. “Go, I’ll keep this one company,” he added, waving off the Riolu before the jackal ‘mon disappeared into the nearby undergrowth.

It took some time before the Riolu returned, holding an armful of what appeared to be an assortment of Berries—and while he was eating one himself, he then proceeded to drop the armload he’d found right where Damian was now sitting on the ground, waiting for the Snivy to wake up. “Thanks for the find, Alyosha. Want to get some more while you’re at it?” he asked, tilting his head before the Riolu nodded in answer and disappeared once again.

The scent of the Berries woke up the groggy Snivy, who then gave a start before blinking up at Damian, who then stared back at it. “Well, good morning, there. Are you hungry?” he asked, before reaching for a Berry. He then took a few moments to observe how the prissy Snivy would react, before seeing it nod in his direction. “Ahh, I take you like Razz Berries?” he continued, and the Grass-type nodded again, before flailing its arms in a “gimme” pose.

“Well, well… here you go,” he continued, handing the Razz berry to the Snivy, watching as she gulped it down without even blinking.

(I want some more. Give some more of these. Like, right now,) the Snivy began after swallowing the Razz berry, looking at the strange, white-haired human for more. (I want some more! I’m hungry…) she continued to whine, before trying to scramble out of his hold for the pile of Berries that she’d spotted just beyond Damian’s reach. (I want it! Give it to me, NOW!) she continued to cry out, just as the Riolu returned with another handful of Berries before adding to the pile that was now building up beside the human.

(You know, that’s not a very nice way to talk to my friend. It wouldn’t hurt to say ‘please’ every once in a while, you know?) the Riolu sassed back at the Snivy, who then proceeded to give the jackal ‘mon a glare. Trotting back to the pile of Berries, the Riolu then pulled at Damian’s overcoat, before pointing at the pile he’d brought back. “You want one, Alyosha? Go ahead and help yourself,” he said with a grin, before plucking another Razz berry and then holding it in front of the Snivy.

He then watched as the Grass-type’s eyes followed the Berry in his hands as he waved it around, before he finally considered it. “You want it?” he asked, to which the Snivy whined before almost yelling, (YES! Give me the Berry, NOW!) which earned a glare from the Riolu that was now munching on what appeared to be a Nanab berry before returning to his business.

Seeing the Riolu glaring at her, she then stuck her tongue out at the other ‘mon, before whining once again in his hold, before trying to make grabbing motions for the berry. “Well, here you go…” he conceded, finally surrendering the berry and feeding it to the Snivy, who let out an appreciative cry and proceeded to chow down on it without blinking. After several more Razz berries (with a couple of Bluk thrown in) the Snivy then hopped out of Damian’s arm, before staring at the Riolu.

(Fight me. Right now,) she demanded, standing up as tall as she possibly could. (Fight me right now!) she continued, itching to get into a scrap with the Riolu, who’d just finished eating the last of the Magost berries he’d found. (You know, with that stuck-up attitude of yours… you need to be knocked down a few pegs…) the Riolu grumbled, before watching as Damian then stood up and looked at his companion, staring at the two and trying to read the air as best as he could. While the Snivy was giving off the aura of an excited over eagerness to battle, his Riolu, on the other hand, was spiking with something that he recognized: concern.

“Are you sure you can handle her, Alyosha?” he asked, to which the Riolu nodded, before he stepped away far enough to give the two some room. (Don’t worry, I can handle her. Just tell me what to do, and I’ll try to beat the annoying attitude out of her…) he growled, baring his teeth at the Snivy, who returned it with a haughty smirk of her own. “Alright, let’s get started. Show her how we dance, Alyosha! Get going with an Agility to start off the bat!” Damian began, shifting into ‘battle mode’.

The Riolu then nodded, before relaxing itself and zipping forward; to which the Snivy was given a split-second warning before giving it a Leer. While it did knock down the Riolu’s Defense some, the jackal ‘mon had the advantage of speed… for the moment. “Okay, let’s go with a Quick Attack!” he continued, and the Riolu thanks to its quick footing, came to a stop before winding around and charging forward, meeting the Snivy’s incoming Tackle attack. While the Grass-type was so full of herself she’d be able to score a direct hit on the Riolu, she was surprised to get a face-full of the jackal ‘mon as it slammed its body against the Snivy before backing off.

(You’re asking for it, ugly!) the Snivy cried out, before charging forward in a full-body Tackle, while the Riolu looked back at his friend for confirmation. Nodding, Damian then continued, “Skirt around the Snivy and dodge that with an Agility, and catch it by surprise with another Quick Attack, okay? Don’t force yourself too much, we’re here to show her how we do things, together,” before watching as the Riolu then used its Agility in order to dodge out of the way as the Snivy came barreling in and ended up hitting nothing.

(STAY STILL!) the Grass-type shrieked, to which the Riolu answered, (I’m not going to! You need to calm down a little bit!) before charging forward again in another Quick Attack and catching the Snivy by surprise. By now, the Riolu was beginning to exert itself, but waited for more orders from his friend.

(I’m going to hit you this time!) the Snivy all but roared, charging with reckless abandon right at the Riolu, who in turn was caught by surprise at the Tackle attack. While it did hurt somewhat, the Fighting-type was still standing. “Be careful, Alyosha! Let’s knock some more sense into it, go use your Quick Attack again! Dodge out of the way if you need to, Agility or not!” he called out, before the two continued their battle.

Eventually, the battle had ended with the Riolu still on his feet; although the Snivy had fallen flat and was now snout-down on the ground. Right then and there, another grumbling noise came from the Snivy’s stomach, to which Damian couldn’t resist but chuckle. “Looks like the Snivy needs food to keep going. What do you think, Alyosha? Snivy good enough to come with us?” he asked his companion, before the Riolu huffed a little.

(Well, she’s a brat, that’s for sure. But maybe I can help smack some sense into her…) the Riolu growled, walking over to where the Snivy had collapsed from exhaustion due to hunger and poking the Grass-type with one of his paws. (My friend wants to know if you’ll come along with us… while we do travel a lot, we always come within sight of Berries, so it won’t be so hard to feed you…)