As soon as we made it back, everyone just fell to the den's floor, discouraged, weak and grief-stricken. The smell of burnt wood, leaves, and grass lingered in the air and was stuck to the bedding the den contained. The large entrance to the den was not covered, meaning the light from outside was slowly creeping in. Light was being thrown everywhere unevenly but, there were dark shadows that loitered all around us. Normally Flicker or Ember would have been seriously hysterical about the presence of darkness but unusually nobody seemed to care anymore. All hope had been extinguished along with our old care free ways and happiness altogether. Every moment we stayed drained our fragile souls, reminding us that everything had changed in a matter of minutes.

We had just experienced the most traumatic day of our young lives. All I could hear was staggered breathing and faint rustling that came from the outside. I opened my eyes for the first time since collapsing on the floor, but all I could see was depressed bodies scattered around. Flicker was the closest to me, then Bell, then Ember, who was slightly shaking. I couldn't see what was wrong with her as she had turned her back on me. I wasn't going to intrude though as she just needed some time alone.

Time passed but really it felt as if time had actually frozen. The only indication we had of the day progressing was the light that had now over took the den, overthrowing the shadows. Soon Bell was the first to fall into a deep slumber, next it was Flicker then finally Ember who had calmed down completely.

I couldn't go to sleep though, just the thought of it made my insides knot into a massive ball. It just felt so wrong. The beings that I loved had been taken mercilessly from me and there was nothing I could have done to save them.

'If only I had been stronger... I could have actually done something, instead of being the pathetic little coward I am.'  My thoughts were now eating away at me, making me feel disgusted, disappointed and overall frustrated with myself.

The magnificent sun had now risen fully into the eerily quiet air, casting it's dancing ray's everywhere. There was a slight breeze that came from the north yet no noise had joined the breeze. Surprisingly the trees didn't move, it seemed even they felt the sorrow that had declared the forest.

I looked out of the entrance to the den at the peaceful yet still sky wondering what our plan's would feature next. I wasn't exactly sure what to do but I did know that we couldn't stay here any longer.

More time had past away and I finally felt my head slip, my eyes droop and a wash of heavy tiredness come over me. Everyone was still asleep, and there was no uneasy feelings so I gave in, and crashed into a long sleep.

************

"Wake up! Flame wake up you big lump!! Bell's disappeared."

I could hear Flicker faintly pleading for me to get up, but strangely I wouldn't open my eyes. I felt his two little paws on my shoulders, shaking me rapidly but even that couldn't awake me.

'Wait........ what! ...Bell's gone?'

It took a few seconds to register. I ultimately snapped my eyes wide open with as much force as I could muster. The first thing I saw was Flicker's face maybe an inch away from mine or closer. I could still feel him violently shaking me awake. Ember was sitting up straight rubbing her eyes. She had woken up due to the amount of noise Flicker was making. There was a indented patch of crinkled browning leaves where Bell had been lying.

Flicker had stopped shaking me now and shot to the entrance of the den, waiting for Ember and I to join him. As I tried to get up I stumbled over Ember's body that felt extremely stiff and hard. It didn't feel like a normal body that I had tripped over but she was already awake so there was nothing much to fear about. At this moment now the only thing I was worried about was finding Bell. 

"Ow! There was no need for that!" Hissed Ember straightening herself once more, then getting to her feet gradually. It looked like she was in pain but not trying to admit it.

"Sorry," I mumbled under my breath.
"Are you ok? I mean you look hurt." I started to edge closer to her, my eyes darting to where I could have hurt her.

"Look, I'm fine. Can we just go see where Bell is?" Ember asked bluntly.

"Well now that both of you are awake can we go look for Bell?" Asked Flicker worriedly, pacing back and forth.

"Of course. Both of you didn't have to wait for me. I can find my own way." I exhaled moodily

When we exited the den together the sun was nearly in the setting position leaving us with a few more hours of day light left. The breeze had started to turn into weak wind punching the trees to vibrate suddenly now and again. The sky had a light pink glow to it but strong yellows still dominated the airspace. No Pokemon were in sight which was unnatural but after the circumstances that had gone on it was the new natural. The smell of burnt objects was still powerful as ever which made my eyes tear up.

As we cautiously walked down a little dirt path that had dried limp yellow grass sprouting here and there, and small dirty white stones. The path had led us deeper into the forest. It was much darker here although it was still day light. Tremendous amounts of dark velvet green trees loomed above us. The height of these trees were on a scale so big that even if your eyes were looking straight up, you still wouldn't be able to see the top. These trees was strangely lined up in rows, making their presence even more daunting. We couldn't rely on our eyes or noses anymore as it was too dark and the smell of burnt forest was still so intense. As I led the way I felt an uneasy shiver make its way up my spine.

"I don't like this at all Flame!" Whined Flicker, sensing something was wrong again.

Suddenly we all heard muffled screams coming from a clearing up ahead. I sprinted ahead, knowing it was something to do with Bell, both Ember and Flicker followed at once. Down the dirt path we flew, sticking out branches whipped at our legs, thorns biting at our sides. Our speed never faltered though.

"What the Arceus was that?!" Ember asked loudly while keeping up with Flicker and I.

"SHHHH!! Don't be so loud! We can hide behind that bush and see what's going on." Flicker called narrowing his eyes at a rather over grown sitrus bush.

Our speed slowed right down as we came closer to the clearing. We approached the bush slowly creeping on our stomach's, being careful that we didn't give ourselves away. Our senses were on fire now due to the sudden adrenaline rush we had gained through running towards the clearing.

*mmmmuhhh*

We heard the suppressed voice again but much louder this time. Now we were right behind the bush listening to the owners of the voices that weren't gagged.

"Awww is your mummy and daddy dead wittle Eevee?" Chuckled a mocking voice.

"All alone now with no one are we?" Sneered another voice.

"I hope you rot in hell with your good for nothing parents, they deserved to die" Honked a voice they had all heard before.

"Haha good one Bubb- I mean 'Scald'" said a voice quickly correcting himself.

"This is sick and twisted-" began Ember, her eyes were full of anger. Her body language so stiff she looked like she couldn't move at all.

"Yes it is. And I think I know who the ring leader is." I growled.

It was my turn to shake now, not due to sadness though but due to absolutely rage. My claws were fully outstretched and digging into the bottom of the innocent bush. My razor sharp teeth ready to snap bones. My once puppy soft fur had now turned jagged and was standing up on end. My whole body ready to unleash pure hell onto four repulsive Pokemon.

"Who?" Quietly asked Flicker and Ember their eyes widening. Both looking worried now as they saw a totally different Flame standing before them.

"That's not important right now, we need to rescue Bell," I whispered fiercely. "Just stock up on loads of sitrus berries ok?"

They both nodded with puzzled glances. But they both knew not to question me as they could see I was seething with temper.

'We're going to need them.' I thought.

"Should we kill Bell now? I'm bored." Moaned one of the group members.

*mumumumhahma*

Bell was now violently struggling and screaming out for anyone to help her.

At that exact moment all three of us jumped out from behind the bush revealing ourselves. We could see Bell gagged with some sort of strong large leaf and her legs were tied together. A strong looking Croconaw was holding her upwards so she had no where else to look.

There was also a Poliwag, who didn't look entirely comfortable with the situation, a Tympole who enjoyed the torture very much, and the ring leader was the ugly Ducklett called Bubble. He looked evilly joyful about what he was doing.

"Let her go now" I grumbled. My whole body had lowered itself ready to pounce on the first Pokemon that moved anymore closer to Bell. I stared at each Pokemon in turn, my claws scrapping at the ground and my fangs emerging from my mouth, being exposed.

"Well, well isn't this a delight, the weak fire team who also don't have any parents... And aren't you missing a team member. Your loser of a brother?" Laughed Bubble looking ecstatic about what he just said. His pathetic friends agreeing with his statement, nodding their heads like they had no brains at all.

"Don't you even dare!" Roared Flicker, taking a step towards Bubble, growling deeply.

"And what will you do if I dare? Use a weak fire type move on me?!" Sniggered Bubble lifting his head up while laughing.

"So Bubble-" I started staring into his eyes.

"Never call me Bubble!" Hissed the Ducklett coming closer to me. As he did this I stood up tall, sizing up to the Pokemon.

Now it was my turn to laugh.

"Anyway Bubble how's the tail?" I grinned. If he was going to play dirty so was I.

I could see him getting more and more angrier, it was like watching a berry burn, Bubble got redder and redder in the face.

"What's this lame-o group called then?" I asked smiling obviously making Bubble mad. This was actually working now as his minions were looking from me to Bubble not ushering a word.

"You're the lam-o round here and our group is called the Wild Water Gang if you have to know." Said Bubble looking at the other group members puffing out his small chest.

"Haha is that the best name you could think of?" I laughed loudly. "More like jr wild water gang." I wanted to test his limits, see how far he could go before cracking. Ember and Flicker knew what I was doing so they joined in on the act.

We all laughed at that comment but that was the straw that broke the Camerupt's back. Finally.

Bubble motioned for his followers to do something and then all of a sudden I feel like I am drowning. I couldn't see anything, smell anything, and I couldn't breathe. My chest felt as if it was a pin cushion, having about a thousand needles being pushed in it all at once. I could feel about three water guns were suffocating me.

'I have to get out of here if I want to save Bell and protect Flicker and Ember.'

I tried to dart in different places but they kept following me. Then another water gun joined in. The pressure was unbearable I started to get dizzy.

'Must hold on, must hold on.......'