I keep my grip on Chuck's spiky back. The waves have made themselves hateful to me for the sixth day in a row. Chuck says he knows where he's going, but I'm starting to doubt...
"Thar she blows!"
I groan. Finally. I roll over to my side, then stand up, wrapping my tail around my arm. There it is. Lightning Island.
I'd heard about it from some Chinchou I'd helped out. They said that it was inhabited only by Electric-types like me. After Todd- no, I won't think about it.
I see a forested isle, my angle putting one of the dual mountains in front of the other. At last, I'll have a home.
I run up Chuck's neck to his horned head. He chuckles, then speeds up. I'm too busy enjoying the breeze to care.
When we reach the shore, I hop off his lowered head. "Thanks, buddy."
He grins. "Don't mention it. We've already said our good-bye's so I'll scoot. Amy's waiting."
I grin and wave him off. "Go, kid. Been nice knowin' ya."
He nods seriously, then pushes off with his blue flippers, speeding off into the waves. I turn and duck into the trees.
Swiftly, silently I run. I want to reach the top of something, anything, to survey my new home.
I hear some excited sqealing through the night. Something about fish. I smirk to myself and run faster.
Minutes, hours, who cares? I reach the treeline of the mountain. There's a cliff to my left that looks about right. I slow to a trot, feeling my breath coming hard.
I reach the tip of the peak and sit on a rock. There, far below me, I see a small light twinkling through the leaves. It reminds me of-no, I won't think of it.
The pain comes crawling back, but I shove it down.
I stand up and walk to the edge of the cliff. The moon is so bright...
And the fire below is nice...
I let a tear out. It helps with the pain...
I hear laughter...
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SB