[center][h2]Somewhere Ouside Petalburg[/h2][/center]
[center][@Phoenix][/center]

Rai was sick of laying in bed. This was the sixth time that morning he had found himself staring up at the sky while trying to remember the proper way to refill his lungs with air. The Taillow overhead were soaring past without a care in the world, save where their next meal came from. The ground underneath his back would tremble every now and then with the activity of ground-types trundling on about their day. All the while, the calm was puntuated with constant updates of the deloping situation in Mauville that were all too effective at reminding Rai just how close a call they'd had.

He was going to break something before the day was out.

Coming outside was supposed to help him blow off some built up steam. It was easier for him to think when his body was preoccupied with the familiar steps of practiced exercises. An old wrapped post in the yard - it freed his mind to wander and piece together the shattered remains of what should have been a simple plan: get to Mauville, figure out what Dicky had wanted done on "Mauville Island," get back to Slateport.  Now he'd been stuck somewhere near Petalburg for close to thirty-six hours. The Rangers had all but locked down travel to and from Mauville, and even if they hadn't, Rai could barely manage a stiff hobble on his own. He could count on [i]maybe[/i] fourty-five minutes or so of aching, but cooperative muscles. Then something would suddenly cramp hard enough that his vision would turn white for a moment, and he'd be looking at the sky.

It was all he could to not to scream in frustration out to the sky. Just because he'd managed to find the one blind spot in the universe's cosmic gaze didn't mean his pokemon was just as inattentive.  Forrest had somehow managed to coax Kye from fretting at Rai's side and into training along with his other pokemon. But that hadn't stopped the fire-type from checking in on him. He couldn't fault Kye for being so worried, but it was the way his own pokemon watched his every move as if he were going to break into a thousand pieces that bothered him the most.

Rai forced himself to roll upright and dig his fingers into the spasming muscle of his calf, just trying to get his entire limb to stop shaking while he rode out the charlie horse from hell. How Forrest was able to power through his own regimen with barely more than a sweat was not just infuriating, but Rai couldn't wrap his head around how the other man wasn't still tottering around like an invalid. The envy that welled up in his chest only served to stoke his frustrations higher as he used the post next to him to claw his way back to his feet. 

Like hell the old man was going to out do him. 

"[color=forestgreen]Stretch your calf. Use the post,[/color]" a voice commanded Rai from behind. 

[color=lightgreen]”You have some secret stretching technique?”[/color] Rai deadpanned, turning just enough to cast a withering glare at Forrest over his shoulder. [color=lightgreen]”Because I’ve been stretching all morning, and if it hasn’t helped already, I sincerely doubt it’s going to now.”[/color]

"[color=forestgreen]Well, I'm not the one who thought I could get over paralysis in a few hours. I listened to my body and rested,[/color]" Forrest said, almost condescending but, ultimately, paternal.

Deep down, he [i]knew[/i] Forrest was probably trying to help. But he didn’t want any more help. Not from Forrest, not from Jeanne, not from any of them. It was bad enough Mauville had even happened in the first place. He couldn’t muster the anger to be upset that he’d decided to step in, instead of running like a coward. But the feeling of being entirely useless was orders of magnitude worse.

He already owed Forrest for pulling them out of Mauville, not to mention Jeanne for helping him recover as much as he had. He felt like he owed them something and didn’t have a vanillish’s chance in hell at ever being able to pay them back. And coming face-to-face with Forrest, who by all rights should have been struggling every bit as much as he was, only to see that he was in enough health to even be instructing his kids? It was beyond infuriating.

[color=lightgreen]”I don’t need your help. I’m fine.”[/color] Rai snapped, when Forrest didn’t move. 

If he was being honest with himself, of the two of them, Forrest wasn’t the one who needed to be convinced of that.

"[color=forestgreen] If not my help, then you need someone's. You're clearly not fine. You shouldn't still be seizing like that if you'd rested properly. Here,[/color]" he said and was immediately behind Rai, somehow. 

For someone so large, he seemed to be able to move in silence. 

"[color=forestgreen]Lay down,[/color]" he instructed, anticipating the groan of aggravation for having just gotten up. "[color=forestgreen]Lay down,[/color]" he repeated, his brows raised, threatening a reprimand as if Rai was one of his own children.

Rai bristled at Forrest’s sudden proximity. In any other scenario, he might have appreciated how someone as large as he could move that quietly. As it was, it was another reminder how far Rai still had to go to recover. He didn’t [i]want[/i] to lay down, to stretch, continue to take it easy, or any other clichéd advice people often gave in place of actual medicine. What he wanted was to be in Mauville, or at the very least, back on the road to Mauville. Not wasting time waiting to just be able to walk properly again.

Still, he could hear it in Forrest’s voice that he wasn’t about to let this go. Rai didn’t move for a few good moments, debating with himself whether he’d be able to punch the man for his condescending tone or not. Except he knew damn well Forrest was in far better shape than he was right then, and if he chose to make a scene of things, Kye would likely come running. He’d caused his pokemon more than enough grief over the last few days, and the last thing he wanted was to worry him any further.

[color=lightgreen]”Fine.”[/color] Rai choked out the word as he swallowed his pride. He intended to lower himself back down to the ground, but even trying to hold onto the post for support, he only made it part way down before gravity took over and pulled him the rest of the way. His ears burned with humiliation, as he sat in the dirt still holding his leg with Forrest looming over him. It was bad enough that Forrest had scolded him like a child, but now he truly felt like one and it did nothing to improve his mood.

[color=lightgreen]”There, happy?”[/color] Rai muttered bitterly, refusing to look at Forrest.


"[Color=forestgreen] No,[/color]" Forrest said with the slightest hint of empathy. He seemed keenly aware of just how miserable Rai was.

"[Color=forestgreen]You need to take it easy,[/color]" he said, reiterating the cliche. "[Color=forestgreen]But you've also got to reteach your muscles how to respond properly. It's going to take time. You've got to be patient with yourself. Listen to your body while forcing your body to obey.[/color]"

Rai nearly snapped at Forrest. Time was something he didn't have. He couldn't be laying in bed and playing invalid while he had places to be. Instead, he blew out a long, irritated breath as Forrest dropped down next to him. Forrest's torso leaned forward while Rai's foot was planted flat on his chest. He also massaged Rai's calf firmly enough to be effective but soft enough to be relaxing to some degree. After a few minutes, it was like Forrest knew the muscle was finally relaxing and released. 

"[Color=forestgreen]Now, get up slowly. Control your muscles. Be aware how they move.[/color]" He went from taking, to condensingly paternal, to coach. 

He really didn't want to. Struggling to stand back up was one thing when there was no one to see if he fell on his ass back into the dirt. Having someone like Forrest coach him how to do something so basic was nearly beyond what his pride could handle. But pride wasn't going to get Forrest to leave him alone either.

Rai had to close his eyes as he started to sit himself up. Something so simple shouldn't have hurt at all, but the muscles in his core [i]burned[/i] as he lifted his back off the ground. His arms felt like lead spaghetti when he put even a little bit of weight on them, but they didn't just give out on him as he shuffled his feet around to get them underneath him. Forrest's massage had helped the muscles relax some, but it didn't ease any of Rai's anxiety about a returning cramp dropping him to the ground all over again. He swore he could feel it lurking in his still tense limbs, waiting for his guard to drop when it would hit him full force all over again.

But it didn't. The tender, aching echo in his calf faded quietly into the background, as Rai breathed a sigh of relief and enjoyed the feeling of just standing without feeling like he might tip over at any minute.

"[color=forestgreen]Now, let's go for a walk. Loosen up that calf,[/color]" Forrest suggested and bat Rai on his back, now playing the role of supportive friend. 

The Petildale Forest looked like any other forest from here. Most of their yard was flattened field. Much of the area was deforested, possibly by Forrest, himself. But he led Rai to the edge of the tree line, pace slow so Rai could focus on controlling his muscles. This made the walk long and tedious. 

But something strange happened. Rai noticed Forrest's arm seemed to seize, bending at the elbow. Without a sound, he pulled his hands behind him and straight, pushing them up so his arms would be parallel to the ground. After a minute of this, he released slowly and flexed and stretched his bicep, which seemed to be the muscle that caused [i]him[/i] problems.

"[color=forestgreen]So, where are you from?[/color]" Forrest asked to distract from the tedium but not so much to distract from focusing on their recovery.

Rai was so focused on just putting one foot in front of the other without looking like some newborn deerling, that he nearly didn’t hear the question at first. Another knot formed, though this time it was in his throat as he tried to find the right words. He’d told more people about himself since coming to Hoenn than he had in the last several years, and the openness was a new sensation. Caution and hesitation were the first sensations to hit him, before reason kicked in. Haven had already known him, so lying would have been an ultimately useless endeavor, and Forrest certainly didn’t seem to be the type to run anywhere near the same kind of people Rai had the “pleasure” of dealing with. Besides, there was something about him that Rai felt Forrest would know if he did try to lie, and then he’d never leave him be.

[color=lightgreen]“Olivine.”[/color] Rai said more to the ground than to Forrest while he watched his footsteps. 

"[color=forestgreen]Ah, Olivine's a nice place. Been there a couple times.[/color]"

[color=lightgreen]”S’ been a while since I’ve been out that way though.”[/color]

There was no reason to, either. Their house, or what was left of it, had been bulldozed years ago and rebuilt. He’d never found out who moved in, and to him it didn’t matter anyway. The house was gone, and so were the people that made it mean anything, which left nothing but bad memories for him to make a nostalgic visit for.

[color=lightgreen]”Nice enough place. The Lighthouse there is one of the oldest in the world that’s still in use. Kind of a tourist trap, but it’s neat to see I guess.”[/color] Rai filled in to try and steer the conversation away from anything more personal without being too obvious about it. [color=lightgreen]”I’d ask if you had lived here for very long, but I’m guessing the cabin didn’t go up overnight. You guys got family around or do you prefer to be hermits out here?”[/color]

Forrest let out a low chuckle. "[color=forestgreen]Well,[/color]" he began. "[color=forestgreen]I was born in Cherrygrove, but moved to Oldale soon after. My mother runs the Johnson Academy in Oldale and my father works with Professor Fir in Littleroot. Jeanne's from Petalburg. Her father's the Gym Leader there.[/color]"

[color=lightgreen]”That right?”[/color] Rai hummed in surprise. [color=lightgreen]”Would have never pegged you as being from my part of the world, even if you are a few years removed. All the people I’ve run into the last few days, starting to make me wonder if Hoenn isn’t where everyone washes up eventually.”[/color]

Rai meant it as a joke, though there was a part of him that truly hoped it was true. Maybe it was just some kind of bizarre luck that he’d stumbled into, but he desperately wanted it to hold. He was going to need all the luck he could muster if he was going to keep going like this. But thinking like that wasn’t going to get him anywhere fast. Following Forrest around the property line might be helping his muscles loosen up some, but it wasn’t going to do much good if he didn’t have a clear destination in mind. Especially now that the Rangers practically had Mauville City on lockdown.

"[color=forestgreen]I consider myself a Hoenn native, though,[/color]" Forrest said as if in correction. 

"[color=forestgreen]My parents moved here soon after I was born. I don't remember ever living in Johto. I've gone for family reunions and an occassional vacation, but this is my home,[/color]" he continued. His voice graveled with inward reflection, old and reminiscent. 

[color=lightgreen]"Don't worry, you weren't missing much."[/color] Rai said, blowing out a huff of disgust. [color=lightgreen]"Hoenn seems like the better choice anyway."[/color]

They continued their little walk around the "property." The trees around held a weathered age. The bark reflected the lightning strikes of violent storms that frequented the region. The leaves swung with an eagerness, hungry and excited by the breezes passing through. The grass was combed by the wind, the blades soft like fur. The sky was a pale blue with the whisps left off by the storm from the few days prior. Taillow and Swablu chirpped from deep within the Petildale Woods. Beautifly and Dustox fluttered through the branches of the trees. Cries from Zigzagoon and croaks from Lotad played a distant percussion of the wilderness. 

Rai chewed on the inside of his lip in thought, as he experimentally lengthened his stride a little. It sounded like Forrest had family all over the place, and in some fairly lofty positions too. People who might make the Rangers look the other way. He didn’t like the idea of asking for any more favors from Forrest or his family, but if they had connections that could help him make up for lost time…

[color=lightgreen]”There anyone in this region you [i]don’t[/i] know?”[/color] Rai said with a low, impressed whistle, [color=lightgreen]”Don’t suppose you know anyone who’s familiar with Mauville Island, do you?”[/color]

Forrest didn't respond right away. Rai could feel his calf start to tense up in anxiety.

"[color=forestgreen]I go camping there, annually,[/color]" Forrest finally said, allowing Rai to slowly exhale the held breath.

"[color=forestgreen]It's 'technically' a nature reserve, but there are a few locations where people are allowed to camp, given they have a permit from the Rangers. I was actually supposed to go with my sons this weekend, but...[/color]" he trailed off, implying his current condition. "[color=forestgreen]Not sure if the wife is going to allow that so soon.[/color]"

He paused a moment, thinking of what to say as if attempting to solve a problem. "[color=forestgreen]We'll just have to prove to her that we can,[/color]" he ended with a smirk, the implied invitation dangling in the air, difficult to grasp.

Rai tried his best to return the smile, even as a knot balled up in his throat. It would have been bad enough with the Rangers around, but Forrest [i] and[/i] the kids? Forrest was more than able to hold his own, but with them around? What was he supposed to do if shit rocketed skyward again?  How did he know who or what he was looking for was even still there? It wasn't like Dicky gave him a timeline, but with everything going on in Mauville...

Then again, it wasn't like his options were pleantiful either. The odds of him being able to get to the island alone, with permission or not, were not in his favor. But if he did tag along with Forrest, he might not be able to get away long enough to take care of his job.

[i][color=lightgreen]"Not if he has the kids with him."[/color] The thought crossed his mind unbidden. [color=lightgreen]"They're self-sufficient, but they're still kids. Forrest won't be able to keep tabs on all of you at the same time. Not for long anyway."[/color][/i]

It was more than just a longshot, but Rai didn't have a better plan than that. He needed the time to heal, and he needed a way to the island. Now here were both served on a silver platter. He'd just have to deal with the risks.

[color=lightgreen]"Shouldn't be too hard."[/color] Rai said swallowing his concerns and putting on a fake smile to hide behind. [color=lightgreen]"If ya got room for one more, I could show you a few things I've picked up here and there. Might not suit you much, but between the two of us, we might be able to pull it off."[/color]

Forrest let out a soft chuckle, however soft his graveled voice could produce through his thick chest. "[color=forestgreen]Sure thing,[/color]" he said and landed one of his hands upon Rai's shoulder with a strength inappropriate for both their states, threatening to knock them both down if he didn't hold back as he had.