Katherine's P.O.V.
*****
Its been yesterday since Lonnie decided to live with Louis once again since she already forgave him. We were a bit skeptical at first, but seeing him changing for the better just switched the thought upside down. We were just about to fetch her at their house today, thoughts of the guild springing up in my mind.
Philip whistled while Blake was just tapping his paws. After a few minutes, they finally decided to start a conversation. These two seemed to get along well. No wonder...
"You two seemed to get along well," I said. It elicited a chuckle from Philip, bringing a smile to my muzzle. Blake slapped me on the back in laughter, which turned my smile into a glare.
What is he thinking about? Is he blind? I'm a girl, not some random guy to be slapped on the back!
"You like him..." He teased with traces of mockery in his voice. I rolled my eyes and rambled walking in front, muttering to myself with a matching growl at a soft blush etched across my face.
Dews of the fogbound town trickled across my fur, which I didn't really mind; it actually felt nice. I felt slushy grass rustle against my paws and expectedly became wet at the touch, dripping water as I padded along the path.
Trails and scents of random Pokémon trailed along in the town, causing my nose to twitch curiously by smelling new scents in the air. It felt soothing and relaxing along with the morning walk, enough to freshen us for a new day. A familiar house started to reveal in sight; Lonnie and Louis'.
A grin loomed across my muzzle as I knocked on the door. A smiling Leafeon turned the knob with a click and saw me.
"Lonnie!" We called. She gasped and gave me a tackle-hug.
"Kate! Blake! Philip! I missed you so much!" She screamed. I laughed sheepishly and hugged her back.
"Its great to see you too, Lonnie," I chirped. "But you only left for a night, remember? Why?"
"Yeah, but I really, really missed the three of you! After all, Philip and you look so cuuuute toge-"
As the grass fox tried to utter the final syllable of the word 'together', I immediately reacted and a swift paw covered her mouth. A flaming blush streaked across my face, trying hard to hold it.
Looking back, I saw confusion spreading on the Jolteon's face, uncertain; more like-
"What is she talking about?"
"Uhhh.... Lonnie?" Blake asked. "Where's my hug?"
Seeing his reaction, I let go and the grass fox gulped and blushed. Later, she shook it off and hugged Blake. Philip awkwardly refused the offer; I didn't think he likes hugs that much. After awhile she broke the hug and invited us inside for another breakfast. Blake and I didn't dare to turn her down, for we didn't want to be rude.
But Philip-
"Sorry, Lonnie. I already had my breakfast for today..." He reasoned out. I sighed and instinctively pulled his right paw heading inside.
"Come on, Philip. Besides, its only for today."
"But-"
"Don't give me but's, I know you'll like it!"
"Nggghh!!! Fine. But expect me to have a full blown seizure later after eating too much..." He joked with a grin. I laughed, couldn't stop myself. Still pulling his paw, I started up for the stairs, but I clumsily slipped, dragging him down as I almost fell on my face. Luckily, he managed to gain control and pulled me by my paw in a panic.
"AHHHHH!" I screamed as I rammed smack on his mane.
"Guys?!" Blake gasped. I raised my head and saw that Philip's muzzle was only an inch away from mine. Fifty shades of red painted itself on my face as a thought immediately crossed my mind. Blushing immensely, we pulled away from each other; both of our faces tinted in crimson. Blake burst into laughter until he couldn't hold it anymore, wiping his tears with the end of his scarf.
"Ha! Ha! Are you seriously going to do it behind our turned backs guys?" He laughed, emphasizing the word it like there was some kind of hidden meaning behind it. Violently shaking my head, I frantically waved and began flailing my paws as wildly as I could.
"N-no! I-Its just t-that I slipped and he pulled me-b-by my paw a-and I r-ran smack into h-his mane!!!"
"I-Its t-true..." Philip stuttered. "I... p-pulled her up before she hit the floor. I-Its my fault. I'm sorry."
"No. I-Its not your fault. I was the one t-that slipped by accident. You're the one who pulled me up before I could even fall on my face. I should say my thank you's to you for that..." I spoke, sincere about it. To be honest... I want to punch myself in the face for being so clumsy. Believe me! It was embarrassing, you know that!
Philip broke it with a sheepish laugh, slowly morphing into a more, tremendous one. I went laughing with him, happily joining Blake, Louis, and Blake on the table.
-------
"So, what do you think about this, Lonnie?"
"I don't know. Why are there more item retrieval jobs than search and rescue ones?"
I sighed and averted my gaze towards her. "Maybe it's becoming a bit cliché, I think? Found one, yet? I'm bored of having item retrieval jobs too often."
"Nope."
"I agree," Philip began. "But what if there wasn't one anymore?"
"Then I guess we'll have no choice but to have the remaining jobs, then..." I groaned.
"Ahem. Sorry. Did I happen to interrupt the conversion, Alpha?"
"Good morning, Guildmaster!" I greeted her with a grin. The liger-like Pokémon chuckled and smiled.
"Katherine, didn't I tell you to stop addressing me by that title and call me by my name, remember?" She reminded me with a raised brow. I sweat-dropped and straightened up, awkwardly agreeing with a stutter.
"Y-Yes ma'am!"
"Good. Anyways, I'm here to ask you a favor,"
She said it with a serious and a chilly voice. Why is that? It must be some kind of urgent errand.
"You four will be teaming up with another rescue team from Guildmaster Azrael Inteleon's guild for today. Since you four are some of the most highly-skilled rescuers we have in our guild, you'll be worth a shot enough to accomplish this." She told us with an edge in her tone.
It left me with an open jaw. It was supposed to be for gold ranks.
"Not today, because all of you will be elevated to gold ranks after you finish this mission." She would say as if she read my mind. Why us, though? I'm just a poor human forced to walk on this world full of Pokémon that can easily make a slit on my throat. It was the reason I have this form for protection. So why us?
Plasma noticed the skeptical emotion on my face. She chuckled and winked at me. "I won't accept a no," She chuckled. I laughed jokingly, hardly ever believing it.
"Is this a joke? Plasma, I know you're trying hard to be sincere about this, but why won't you let Team Spitfire to do it? I mean- look at them. They're way more experienced than us."
"Katherine, you know why..."
"About that incident during that little competition Leena threw months ago? I understand Plasma, but can you at least give them a second chance?"
"I did, Katherine, but you got something they didn't even had in the first place," She began. "They may have confidence, but they lack one thing that preserves the beauty of inside- humility. And confidence without humility is dangerous. I see you in a totally different way. Humility that lacks confidence," Plasma lectured, pointing at my chest where my heart was.
"I see that you're quite a humble Pokémon. Courageous and having a wonderful charisma. That's why you need to believe in yourself, Katherine. I knew you can do it and I'd love you to do it. So please... can you?" She pleaded, locking her eyes with mine. I couldn't bear to see her longing and looked away, finally losing it. Ears flicked down as I broke the stare and took a deep breath.
"F-Fine. Guys, what do you think?"
"Okay as long as you're fine with it!" Blake says. Plasma grinned and took a letter from her saddlebag.
"Here it is. You are heading inside a snowy dungeon, which is hidden deep within the outskirts of Everglade Forest. Here's the map and equipment for today's mission, and don't forget to be nice!" She says and tossed saddlebags at us in the air.
"Got it." We answered in sync. Plasma winked at us and walked off.
"So... what now?" Blake asked.
"Everglade Forest?" Lonnie gasped. "That's- that's the forest where I went to find a Mossy Rock in there! And it was kind of dangerous in there, you know that?"
"You've been there?" Philip asked incredulously, hardly believing it. At the sound of these, I elbowed the electric fox, glaring daggers at him.
"Hey!"
"Why do you look sceptical? It's almost as if you didn't believe in her. Explain this,"
The Jolteon laughed, ruffling my fur. "Well, I didn't know her quite well in the first place. Is that enough for my alibi, miss leader?"
"Whatever," I giggled with a matching blush, starting to walk out from the guild. Fallen leaves pelted against my fur; with Philip walking beside me. Lonnie and Blake seemed so close to each other. In fact, it was cute.
"About earlier..." Philip started. "Blake started laughing and teasing us after that moment where you landed on my mane and our muzzles were so close to each other. What's about it?"
"H-huh?! N-Nothing at all, I think! M-Maybe he was just-you know-j-joking around, I think!" I stammered, blushing immensely. Did Blake seriously thought I was... g-going to... k-kiss Philip?! Arceus! Like hell, I would never!
Philip laughed once again, ruffling my fur with a cute grin.
"Same old you. What's with the blushing?" He chuckled as he walked forward towards the others, leaving me as a blushing mess.