Chapter 22 - A new Alliance (Long Chapter)

We followed the tracks until we found them. Stepping into a clearing in the forest, we could see a bunch of them on the other side where the forest began again.

"Ok Cate, I can't talk to them so you have to be the negotiator and my translator. But first, let's go with what we discussed."

"Sure. Let's hope this works out."

"It will. There is no reason it shouldn't" - we end our last second conversation and step towards the heatmor's.
We cross the clearing in a couple of seconds while the Heatmor's watch us carefully.
Cate starts talking.
I don't understand anything. I don't understand the Heatmor's either. The biggest one of the group stepped forward and replies.
"Heeeat. Heatmor. Mor" - you get the gist. I really don't understand a thing.
*Cate answers again. Followed by what seems to be questions from the Alpha Heatmor.
Kate glances in my direction and replies shortly.
All the Heatmor's seem to relax now.
Kate looks at me and nods. Meanwhile the Heatmor's turn to look at me as well.*

"They will help us if they get the Durants we kill. Their tribe has been hungering. Because there are not enough of them left to hunt the Durants effectively, the Durants outnumber them by way too much. Half the tribe left to find a better spot to hunt and live." - Cate translated after she turned towards me.
"Fuck, so how many are there? It can't be only these five can there? If there are and they want all the Durants they can't expect us to kill a lot right?"
"I guess not. Wait I will ask them."
Cate turns away to ask them.
I look around and notice a few trampled paths to this clearing.
I guess there are a few more, I doubt a group this small can trample four paths on their own. Maybe they are from the Heatmors that left? Well, I'm about to find out.
*Cate already looked at me as I turn back to her.*
"They say there are a few more but they also prepare to leave."
"That isn't good. Have them convince the others to stay and tell them that we have a plan to reduce the number of Durants. Hopefully by a number that makes them able to hunt them again. We can pull it off with the five of them but that would just take ages and I don't think they can wait that long."
"Ok I will tell them that, should I ask them to get the others too? So we can go over the plan?"
"Sure, yes do that, please. Thanks for being the translator Cate."
"No problem."
This whole situation is a bit weird I have to admit it. Normally if the number of animals shoots up the number of their predators follows with them. This didn't seem to happen here. Maybe that made heatmors even more available for trainers? Could be, but this whole situation should be more balanced. I guess this plays a role in the situation as well. In my last life nobody wanted to capture dangerous animals. The numbers rarely spiked that high I believe. I can remember a story about a bunny plague in Australia where their numbers just exploded because they had no natural predators. I guess one can compare that to this situation. With the predators not being able to keep up with the numbers to hunt them effectively or at all in this situation, makes the Durants pretty much comparable to the bunny situation in Australia. While the Durants have enemies the Heatmors just don't have the numbers anymore to tackle their prey. A bunch of the Heatmors leaving doesn't really help the situation either.
*Cate finishes the talks.*
"They say if there is a chance to make this home of theirs viable again they will join and help us. They will go and talk with the rest of the group, trying to get them to join as well."
"That's perfect. With that many, we will soon finish this business up and can continue our journey. I actually like the forest. But I don't like dealing with the Durants, I don't think we are a good match against them. Not yet at least, when we get stronger our type differences shouldn't matter that much anymore. But right now I don't think we should fight them long term, we should deal with them as long as the problem for nature is solved and move on."
I glance over the Heatmors.
"Alright Cate, tell them we want to go over the plan, best would be with everyone at once. We can wait while they try to persuade their pack. And remember to tell them that they can have any durant's we defeat with this, I for myself am not excited to find out how they taste, so I would prefer to hunt something else for us that actually doesn't break my teeth."
"Makes sense, I am with you on that. You will hunt that? I can't complain about free food. How long do you think we need to prepare this?"
"Couple days is my guess, I have no idea how fast the digging process will take. So their guess will probably help you more. We will ask them after we explained our plan to them."
"Sounds good. Alright so we wait and I will explain everything to them later?"
"That would be perfect. Thank you, Cate. You can tell them to leave and tell their pack to prepare mentally or something. I just want to ask you some stuff before we prepare the operation.
*Cate turns back to the Heatmors and asks them to persuade the rest of the pack. The Heatmors nod and turn around and walk off into the bushes, after they are out of sight again Kate turns back to me*
I continue "Ok my questions. So for example, the biggest question would be that I have no idea how smart the basic Pokémon is do you mind telling me how complex explanations can be with them still understanding it?"
"Oh right, you still can't understand a single thing? Nothing? I thought you might be able to learn it with time?"
"No clue maybe I will after some more time?"
"Could be, anyways it's not that easy to explain depends on the Pokémon-Race and Type some are smarter and some are pretty dumb."
She then turns to tell the Heatmors that they can leave for now so that they can have a talk with the rest of the pack and that we will meet them hereafter they've prepared themselves.
Huh, I guess that makes sense, between humans there can be huge differences in intelligence too. "Wait, Races makes sense but there is a difference between Types too?"
"Well, most predators are pretty smart and strategic, hunted Pokémon mostly just run away or camouflage very well. Most of them never had the need for a lot of intelligence, the ones that live in small packs are pretty good at cooperating from what I have seen personally.
Certain Types have advantages in intelligence too. Fire types for example, while some have resistance to fire the smoke can still kill them in the long run. And the ones that don't have a resistance obviously have to watch out for friendly fire." - Cate explains.
"Well, that makes sense and should have been obvious to me from the start."
Damn it's as if I have never watched any documentaries in my previous life. Which I did. I should really just start thinking before I ask, or Cate will think I am completely inept. Get a grip man.

*** A couple of Minutes later ***
I already heard the Heatmors way before they stepped out of the bushes, I don't know if it was because my hearing as an animal - ehhm- Pokémon is better or if it was because of the sheer number of Heatmors.
With the previous Heatmors the Group tripled now making them now be a group of fifteen Heatmors.
Cate explained the plan after they sat down to listen, they were positively surprised after they heard the plan. Apparently, not all Heatmors are hunting, some of them stay with the pack to protect the young for example. Which explains why you would never see Baby Pokémon in the games.
It seems they were doubtful that all of them could help but after hearing that they don't need to fight the Durants directly made them seem more relaxed. It seems that if they are not needed for fighting all of them are eager to help with the plan. Which made me really happy, because with a group of fifteen Heatmors plus Cate and me this job should be done a lot faster.
Cate started talking with the Heatmors after explaining what we plan on doing, which left me out of the conversation again.
My attention drifted off into the forest, smells like that of tree bark and earth invade my nose now that I pay attention to it. I can hear the singing bird Pokémon in the distance and around us. The sky seems more vibrant than in my previous life, even the few clouds I can spot seem fluffier.
Cate turns to me and I get snapped out of my daydreaming.
"I asked them what they think about the duration of the whole operation, and they said they just need 2 or 3 days. They know most of the layout, based on the information the pack collected the last weeks. But still want to be careful of possible new tunnels that the Durants dug."
"Two to Three days?! I expected a week if not more to get this done? This thing should hold a couple of hundred Durants, meaning this hive is humongous. How fast can they dig? I mean sure there is an Attack called dig but that's just down and up, without much planning and coordination. All that is possible because they can remember where all the tunnels are? How does their brains work? That Den is so big?! Well. I guess that's great."
"So? What now. They do the digging what do we do? I personally don't want to be part of the digging part."
"Well, I guess I will try to help a bit with digging at the start but as it goes on I will be of no help to them. Just because I can't remember a tunnel layout that big. Ok, so we will have to start a bit away from the Den, we don't want them to know what we are doing. I guess our first job is covering up the holes the Heatmors digg all around the base. So first we will do that and then we will cut down some trees for the durants to take into their Den."
At this point every Heatmor is looking at me. As is Cate, only difference is that the Heatmors cannot understand me and one can see their confusion in their eyes. Confusion but they really look like they are trying to understand what I am saying. Seem like they understand that this plan is from me and that Cate is mainly supporting with ideas and translating what I am saying.
"I would say we start as soon as everybody is ready. Considering food for the next days I would say we go around and hunt for the group. I guess they eat berries too right? Durants might be a bit hard to hunt but with berries we might be able to manage."
Cate looks back at the Heatmors translating what we just talked about. The Heatmors nod and hit us, well me with the "Mor Heat Heaaaat", still no idea what that meant but I guess it was some sort of "We understand, Let's go." - I nod at them and look at Cate.
"Did you understand what they just said to you?" - Cate asks with a confused expression. I shake my Head "Nope, not I thing, I just guessed that they agreed with the part you explained to them".
"Hm. I mean. Yeah they did. So should we start?" Cate asks.
"Sure let's do this."

*** A couple hours later, somewhere around the Den ***
*** Cate's Perspective ***
I am a bit surprised to be honest. The plan sounded alright. Each Heatmor except the young ones started their own Tunnel the few young ones shared on in pairs of two. So we currently have 12 Tunnels. Karl and I managed to cover up the Tunnels fairly quickly with branches and leafs. We started working on cutting down smaller trees positioning them closer to the Den for the Durants to find. I'm taking a break until Karl comes back with food.
The Heatmors have been working tirelessly only taking short breaks outside of the tunnel from what I have seen. As far as I know no tunnel has collapsed yet.
The elder Heatmor explained to me that they plan on digging three tunnels each, planning to be done after three days. One of their reasons for working that fast is that the longer they take the further the rest of the pack will have traveled and it will be harder for them to contact them again. Which makes sense. We talked with them about overworking and that it leads to mistakes, at least that's what Karl said. Something about losing focus after long hours of concentrating.
Karl said that he learned from our last conversation that he won't tackle difficult fights alone anymore. I offered my help hunting but he said he is fine. I guess he just appreciates my help. Let's hope that is the case. He knows where all the tunnels start so I guess he will take care the the food for the Heatmors first before searching for me. Well no that he has to search for me. I am resting close to two of the Holes the young Heatmors started digging.

*** Minutes later, at the other side of the Den ***
*** Karl's Perspective ***
*Sigh*
It took a while but I managed to find something for everyone. I found berries first, I collected a bunch of Grepa Berries and Pomeg Berries. There were some others too that I didn't pick. Simply because I wasn't sure of their effects. I can't have everyone getting paralysed or falling asleep in the middle of the day. I wrapped everything in a big leaf. Which was quite hard without hand and fingers but I somehow managed. This is actually my second run. I already placed a bunch of berries in entry of the tunnels, I managed to cover six tunnels so far. So this is my last run before I have to search for something that Cate and I like to eat. Don't get me wrong berries are fine, but I always ate some meat in my previous life, not a lot just the normal amount. But I don't plan on changing that diet anytime soon.
I can remember where the holes are luckily to be honest. My sense of direction was always decent. Well not on level with the Heatmors. I have no clue how they know where they are underground. Give me a Minimap or something like in games and then sure no problem but without? No way I will be able to do that. I can't imagine pulling this of without the Heatmors to be honest. I guess without them this plan would have been a bit to close to impossible.
Around here should be one of the wholes that I already covered on this past run. But its awfully noisy. I guess I should check out whats going on. Sounds like someone trying to get rid of the cover quickly. If its the heatmors fleeing from something I should try to help them.
I stop in a bush with the Hole in view.
It's... what's their name again? Pigeon...Pigeons. Pidove. No... it's bigger. Tranquill! Its two Tranquills trying to get into the hole.
I bet they are after the Berries! Did they smell them? Or did they spot the Hole-Cover from above and get curious? Well, I don't plan on letting them get the Berries and it's Birds... I should have the upper Hand here. I have the moment of surprise on my side aswell. Let's end this quickly and cleanly.
I jump out of the bush and manage to cover the 5 meters towards the Hole in the blink of an Eye. The closest Traquill has seemed to have noticed me but it's to late.
My Teeth catch on Fire and not even a second after I open my mouth the neck of the Tranquill is in between my teeth. I slam my my mouth shut and hear bones cracking. The head of the Tranquill immediately becomes limb.
The second Tranquill lifted it's head by now and look at me in shock. My front paws press the first Tranquill down while my rear paws push against the ground preparing to jump. The flames in my mouth begin to fade away. I push myself away from the first Tranquill directly toward the second one. It recovered quickly from the shock and started turning as it cannot flee into my direction. But even for launching into the air it is to late by now.
The first Attack worked out perfectly, but I noticed that Thunder Fang probably would have been the wiser choice. Even when trying out Fire Fang for real is a good practice of the attack.
The Tranquill is moving faster then I expected. I manage to charge my teeth, letting the sparks fly out of my mouth but I miss the mark by a few centimeters. My Jaw shuts closed around the left wing of the Tranquill, and my Teeth bore deep into the wing. It's bones not giving much resistance, after my sharp teeth cut through it's muscles.
The Tranquill let's out a pain filled scream before trying to peck my head. The Attack hit's but with nearly zero force. I release the useless wing and reajusst my aim to the neck of the Tranquill.
*umpf* The second Tranquill hits the ground. The fight didn't last more then a couple seconds.
Shit, I'm glad I didn't get reborn into a Bird Pokémon. These guys are really, really weak when on the ground. What an unfair match up. I have to admit after all the hunting I did until now my Bite got a lot stronger already. I mean sure Birds have light bones so that they can fly, but it was like they aren't even there at all.
I read that Hyenas have an incredible Bite Force, and all I have to think now is "Yeah no kidding." 1100 PSI or about 77 kg per squarecentimeter. That's mental. That's a little lighter then the Weight I had in my past life. The weight of a grown man. On a small space of a square centimeter.
Sure it's nothing compared to Crocodiles or Sharks and still less then what Lions, Jaguars and Tiger have but still scary. Humans have a powerful bite compared to other apes. Especially for their size, but just compare their jaws and teeth and tell me what is scarier to look at.
And Childrens Stories want to make you believe that Hyenas are scavengers only being afraid of Lions. I really can't believe it after having a one sided fight like this. And I don't even have a pack that is around me while hunting.
Hm, I guess I got Cate if things get difficult.
Anyway I should clean this up. I cover up the whole again and pick up the two Traquills. I guess Cate's food is ready. I will just bring them to her so they don't get picked up by some other predator, and finish my Berry run before I take a bite. I feel bad for the Heatmors working so hard.
*** Fifteen Minutes later ***
"Are you ok?" Cate asks me, for the second time now.
"Yeah I just need to catch my breath a bit. I didn't expect getting these birds here would be so hard. The weight is one thing but they are really unwieldy. I'm glad I knew were you were relaxing. Searching for you with these would have probably made me useless for the rest of the day."
"You could have called for me you know? I probably would have heard you, you know? It's not that noisy around here."
"That's the Problem, I think calling for you would have drawn from the Durants you know?"
"Oh, you are right. Wait a minute. Since when are you thinking that far ahead Mr. Suicide?"
"What? Hey! That,... That was like once. Don't bully me here, I got us food didn't I?"
"Yeah, I guess you are right I shouldn't be this harsh at least you didn't endanger yourself needlessly this time. You learn. That's good."
I cannot tell if she is sarcastic with me here.
"Thanks... I guess?"
"You are welcome. Karl."
*sigh* "Anyhow Kate, can you take over for me? I want to rest a bit but I haven't finished delivering the Food to all of the Holes yet." - I say while exhaling. I'm to tired to argue with her.
"Sure I'm well rested, we can eat together later if you like, or you finish your share now if you want?" - she replies in a very upbeat tone, I guess making fun of me gives her energy.
"I'm fine we can eat together later"
"Perfect, just tell me to which I still have to go and tell me where the berries are and i will be right back."
"Well you [...]"

*** About an hour later ***
I had hoped that my description, was understandable to her, but it seemed like I was worried for nothing. Cate's really smart for a Pokémon I got to say. Really puts me to shame sometimes. She almost seems human to me.
Cate appears behind a tree and walkes up to me and the Tranquills.
"Done already?" I ask her..
"Yep, you made it easy. I didn't have to search for anything."
"I guess my describtion was fine after all? You wanna eat now? I'm starving already."
"Yes, and yes. Me too. Let's eat." - Cate says with a relaxed expression, sounding relieved.

*** Two days later ***
I cannot believe how smoothly this went. There was a small fight that was a bit harder but other than that everything went perfectly up until now. We defeated a few scout parties of the Durants, which was easy after we struggled a bit against the first one. But Cate and I are a good team and the Heatmors were even more fired up to digg because they finally managed to get themselves some Durant Meat.
All there is to do now, is wait for the Durants to fill their crumbleling Denn with enough support beams so that we can light this whole Den on fire.
The Heatmores who stayed behind already send a smaller Group to find the Heatmors who left the pack behind and bring them back, which is fine because I bet this will take the Durants a while to get done anyways.

*** TO BE CONTINUED ***

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