Smokey continued to lead them through the caves in silence. Tiger
was just looking ahead with a distracted look on his face.
"Pikachu joined me willingly..." Snow's words repeated in
his mind. Tiger closed his eyes, and held back a sigh.
Pikachu was taken from me forcefully, but did he change his mind
while I recovered in a Ripple Forest? Have I failed
him... Tiger thought to himself darkly.
Tiger looked over, at first he was going to say nothing. I trust
her enough to know about that...after all she heard Snow mention
it... he thought darkly. "Of Pichu er Pikachu" he continued
lowly.
"N...no It's...." he continued, and sighed as he spoke. "It's
already to late...Pikachu has been a member of Snow's team for
seven years now..." he said quietly. "If I were to save him now I'd
just be stealing him away from Snow...I'm too late, and I failed"
he admitted bluntly. He then walked ahead of Mira in silence.
Tiger continued through the cave when Smokey saw the cave exit.
"We're almost there" Smokey said softly. "Though we should set up
camp...it's late, and we are only half way to Cerulean" he looked
over his shoulder. Tiger just nodded, he glanced at Mira, and
sighed. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything... he thought
to himself as he began to feel guilty for snapping at Mira.
Mira yawned, and nodded, staying silent as well. Pikachu was
visibly trying not to fall asleep on her shoulder; he hadn't slept
in a night or so. She glanced at Tiger but still said nothing.
Smokey walked out of the cave with Tiger behind him. He stopped
just outside the cave, and stopped near a small pond. He sat down
next to a rock, and looked around. "I'll keep watch tonight. Though
we should eat first" Smokey said softly.
Tiger nodded, and looked over to Mira once more maybe I should
just leave...I don't want to snap at her again... he thought
with a sigh, and climbed into a tree near the side of the cave.
Tiger looked over, and grabbed his bag. He then got to his feet,
and nodded to Cyndaquil. "Cyndaquil, and I can take care of dinner"
he said quietly. He tried not to let his tone of voice give away
his still guilty feeling. "After all you pick up a thing or two
when you travel" he said softly, and went off into the trees to
look for berries leaving Smokey alone with Mira.
"Is something wrong with Tiger?" Smokey asked suddenly as he
noticed the strange mood his brother, and Mira were in.
Mira looked up. "Yeah. I... Accidentally made him mad at me. It'll
be alright, I think, though," She explained, sitting down against a
tree. Growlithe climbed into her lap. "...Right?"
Smokey blinked, and looked instantly confused. "Made him mad at
you? I don't think so...I mean he gets mad yes, but mainly at Team
Rocket members...especially Snow" he sighed. "But if you did make
him mad how did you do so?" he pressed kindly.
"No the same one...you see he still feels guilty about what
happened" Smokey said in a concerned tone. "He always has been
blaming himself for the incident...especially when our father gave
him Pichu as a birthday present when he was four..."
"But it wasn't his fault," Mira finally looked up again. "Team
Rocket stole him. He was five. He couldn't have done
anything," She sighed. "But... He doesn't think that. Or else we
wouldn't be having this discussion."