I hadn't slept well. Again.

  This time it wasn't my own thoughts keeping me awake, but the soft whimpering coming from the sleeping bag where Umbreon was curled up. Every twenty minutes or so, she'd start making these heartbreaking little sounds, distressed cries. She was having nightmares.

  Each time, I'd reach over and gently stroke her head until the whimpering stopped. Sometimes it took just a few seconds, but more often several minutes. But the touch always seemed to help.

  Mightyena had stirred awake each time I did. She never made a sound, just observed for a moment before settling back down. I got the impression she approved of what I was doing, maybe even understood why it was necessary.

  By the time dawn started filtering through the trees, I'd probably gotten maybe three hours of actual sleep. My back ached from the awkward position I'd maintained to keep one hand within reach of Umbreon, and my neck had a crick in it that would probably last all day.

  But seeing Umbreon sleep peacefully through the last hour of night made it worth it.

  I quietly got the fire going again and prepared breakfast for all three of us. The routine was becoming second nature. Boil water for myself, portion out high-quality Pokémon food for my partner and Umbreon, make sure everyone's water bowls were clean and filled.

  Mightyena woke up properly as the smell of cooking food reached her, stretching in that way dogs do when they're working out the kinks from sleeping on the ground. She grumbled a bit, moving over to her bowl and began eating with her tail wagging.

  I was just finishing my own breakfast when Umbreon finally stirred. Her eyes opened slowly, and for a moment there was confusion as she tried to figure out where she was. When her memory seemed to catch up, I could feel the panic starting.

  "Morning," I said softly, getting her full attention. "You're hungry right? There's food for you too."

  She looked at the food before her, then at me, then toward the edge of our campsite like she was calculating whether she could make it that far on her injured paws. The urge to run was written all over her body language.

  I reached out slowly and placed a gentle hand on her back when she tried to shift toward getting up. "Hey now," I said, keeping my voice as soothing as possible. "Your paws aren't going to get better if you start moving around too much."

  Umbreon's muscles tensed under my touch, but she didn't try to pull away. Her breathing wasn't calm, I could feel her chest heaving for air. She was very close to a panic attack if she wasn't already having one.

  "I know you want to run away," I continued, keeping my hand steady on her back rubbing gentle circles. "I know every instinct you have is telling you that staying in one place is dangerous. But right now, running is going to hurt you more than it helps."

  Her dark eyes met mine, and I could see the conflict there. Fear and anxiety warring with exhaustion. She desperately wanted to run but she must know she doesn't have the strength right this moment.

  "You need to eat, drink, and rest," I said firmly but gently. "Your paws need proper treatment at a Pokémon Center before I'll even consider letting you run off anywhere. I'll take care of everything else. Mightyena and I will keep you safe. Right girl?" Mightyena let out a soft 'woof' of agreement.

  Something in my tone seemed to get through to her. The anxiety was still clear, but the panic was definitely lessened. She looked at the food bowl again, and I could practically hear her stomach growling from where I sat.

  While she ate, I found myself thinking about her nightmares. In the games, there were Pokémon that specialized in dreams and sleep. Cresselia could cure nightmares, Musharna and its pre-evolution Munna could eat bad dreams, and even Hypno and Drowzee had dream-related abilities. One of their Pokédex entries said they get energy from dreams? At least I'm pretty sure. Hell, even Darkrai, despite being known for causing nightmares, could probably take them away if it wanted to.

  But all of those Pokémon were either legendary or not native to Hoenn. Cresselia and Darkrai were from Sinnoh, Musharna's line was from Unova, and finding any of the Psychic-types that could help would be like searching for a needle in a haystack here in Hoenn. Then convincing them to help a traumatized Dark-type? That seemed about as likely as winning the lottery.

  By the time I'd snapped out of my own head, Umbreon finished about half the bowl before stopping. She'd ate more than I'd expected. I waited a minute or so to be sure she was actually finished.

  "That's good," I said, moving the bowl away so she wouldn't feel pressured to finish it. "You being able to eat this much is good enough. Hopefully we'll get your appetite back to healthy levels."

  I pulled out my water bottle and refilled her water bowl. She drank more readily than she'd eaten. Good, dehydration was probably a bigger immediate concern than hunger. Even if hunger is the enemy.

  "So here's what's going to happen," I said, settling into a more comfortable position. "We're going to take this slow. Today we'll stay here and let you rest. Tomorrow, if you're feeling up to it, we'll make our way back toward Petalburg. It's closer than Rustboro."

  Umbreon's ears flattened at the mention of going back toward town, and she made a small, distressed sound.

  "I know," I said quickly. "Towns and citys are scary right now. People are scary too. But in order for you to get better you'll need proper medical treatment. Nurse Joy will make sure of that and she'd never hurt a Pokémon."

  Mightyena had finished her own breakfast and came over to settle down near Umbreon. Not close enough to be threatening, but close enough to offer companionship. She'd been incredible through all of this, seeming to understand what I was doing.

  "Mightyena knows what it's like," I said, scratching behind my first partner's ears. "She was hurt and scared when I found her too. Different circumstances, but... she understands."

  Umbreon looked at Mightyena with something that might have been curiosity. Another Dark-type who'd been hurt by humans but had somehow found safety. Maybe that was giving her something to think about.

  "The world's not fair to Pokémon like you two," I continued, trying to keep my voice calm. "People see your typing and decide you're evil before they even know who you are. They throw you away or hunt you down based on nothing but prejudice and fear."

  I clenched my fists in my lap, feeling a familiar anger rising. Whoever had taken a Pokémon who loved them enough to evolve through friendship and thrown her away like garbage. Had probably convinced themselves they were doing the right thing, protecting themself from an "evil" creature.

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  "But not everyone is like that," I said, forcing my voice back to gentleness. "Some of us judge Pokémon by their actions, not their types. Some of us think all Pokémon are just as deserving of love and care no matter what. You did nothing wrong."

  Umbreon was watching me intently now, like she was trying to decide whether to believe what I was saying. When someone has shattered your faith in humans, it takes time to build it back up. I hope I can make them believe again.

  "You don't have to decide anything right now," I said. "Just focus on getting rest."

  I spent the rest of the morning making sure our campsite was secure and comfortable. I gathered more firewood, and even managed to find some Oran berries growing nearby that would help with healing.

  Umbreon mostly slept, waking periodically to eat one of the Oran berry or drink some more water. Each time she woke up, she'd tense up as she remembered where she was, followed by gradual relaxation as she realized she was still safe.

  Mightyena had appointed herself as unofficial guard, positioning herself where she could keep an eye on both the camp perimeter and Umbreon. Every so often she'd get up to do a quick patrol, but she always returned to her spot near the injured Pokémon. When Umbreon wasn't sleeping the two seemed to converse. I could only assume Mightyena was reassuring Umbreon.

  Sitting around all day, it gives you time to plan. Picking up a twig I drew shapes in the dirt. I just need to bridge the gap, but how?

  How do you teach a Pokémon to trust again when the person they trusted most had betrayed them? How do you convince them that not all humans are cruel when the human that was their entire world had turned their back on them?

  I didn't have the answers. But I had patience, and I had the determination to see this through. Umbreon deserved better than what she'd been given, and if I could provide that better life, then that's what I was going to do.

  The sun was starting to set when Umbreon woke up from her longest nap of the day. This time, the anxiety wasn't as apparent, and she actually looked around the campsite with something resembling curiosity before her eyes found mine.

  "Feeling a little better?" I asked, giving her my best smile.

  She made a soft sound that wasn't quite agreement but wasn't disagreement either. Progress, even if it was small. At least she was vocalizing.

  "Tomorrow we'll start heading back," I said. "If you need another day to rest, we'll stay here."

  Umbreon looked toward where the path back to Petalburg would be, and I could see the fear. I might be pushing, but I know she needs it.

  "We'll take it one step at a time," I promised.

  As night fell and I built up the fire for warmth, I settled in for what would probably be another night of interrupted sleep. But that was okay. Umbreon needed to know that someone was there, that she wasn't alone with her nightmares.

  The second night followed much the same pattern as the first, though with some improvements. Umbreon's nightmares still came, but they seemed less frequent and less intense. Maybe it was the consistent care, or maybe her body was just too exhausted to maintain that level of distress, but I managed to get nearly five hours of sleep between wake-ups.

  Each time she whimpered, I was there with a gentle hand and quiet words. "You're safe," became my mantra. "No one's going to hurt you. You don't have to run anymore."

  Mightyena had taken to sleeping closer to both of us, positioning herself as a living barrier between Umbreon and the rest of the world. Her presence seemed to help. Another Pokémon who understood, who could offer the kind of solidarity I couldn't provide as a human.

  When morning came again, I could see the difference immediately. Umbreon woke up more gradually, without that immediate anxiety. She still looked around nervously, but when her eyes found mine? She seemed to calm, at least as calm as she's been so far. It seems she's getting used to my and Mightyena's presence.

  "Morning," I said, offering her a small smile. "Ready for breakfast?"

  This time, she ate nearly the entire bowl of food and drank steadily from her water dish. Her appetite was returning, which was a good sign. The body couldn't heal properly without proper nutrition.

  "How are the paws feeling?" I asked, though I didn't try to examine them. She was still too skittish for that kind of handling, and I didn't want to undo the progress we'd made.

  She shifted slightly, testing her weight on them, and winced. Still painful, but maybe not quite as bad as yesterday. The bandages I'd applied were holding, and there didn't seem to be any sign of infection.

  "Alright," I said, beginning to pack up the camp methodically. "I think it's time we got you some proper medical attention."

  Umbreon's ears flattened at the mention of leaving, but she didn't try to bolt. Progress.

  Mightyena watched the packing process with alert interest, occasionally sniffing the ground at the place I had picked something up. Once again, dog gunna dog.

  When everything was secure in my pack, I turned to the most delicate part of the operation. Umbreon was still lying on the ground where I'd made her comfortable, watching me with those wide eyes.

  "I'm going to need to carry you," I said gently, crouching down beside her. "Your paws aren't ready for walking yet, especially not the distance we need to cover."

  She tensed immediately, and I could see the conflict playing out across her face. Being picked up meant being vulnerable, being completely at someone else's mercy. For a Pokémon who'd been chased and attacked, that was terrifying.

  "I know," I said softly. "I know it's scary. But I promise I'm not going to hurt you. I'm going to be as careful as possible."

  I held out my hands, letting her see them, letting her make the choice to trust me or not. "We can stay here another day if you're not ready. But those paws need proper treatment, and the sooner we get you to a Pokémon Center, the sooner you'll start feeling better."

  Umbreon stared at my hands for a long moment. Then, so quietly I almost missed it, she made a soft sound that might have been agreement.

  Moving very slowly, I slid my hands under her. I waited for a moment watching her reactions. She didn't make any movements to stop me. I started to lift her and held her like I was cradling a baby. Her paws up in the air and near my face.

  She was lighter than I'd expected, probably from the days of running without proper food. Her body was tense in my arms, ready to struggle if I proved to be a threat, but she didnt end up doing anything.

  "There we go," I murmured, adjusting my grip to make sure she was as comfortable as possible. "See? Not so bad."

  I could feel her heart racing against my chest, but she wasn't hyperventilating. That was something, at least.

  "Mightyena, you ready to head out?" I asked.

  My partner gave a confident huff and moved to take point, leading us back toward the path that would take us to Petalburg. She kept looking back every few minutes to make sure we were following. She was taking her task very seriously.

  The walk back was slow and careful. I stopped every half hour or so to give Umbreon water and check that she was still comfortable. She never complained, but I could see the stress of being carried was wearing on her. Her breathing was picking up, and she kept scanning our surroundings like she expected an attack at any moment.

  "We're almost there," I told her during one of our rest stops. "Just a little further, and then Nurse Joy will take good care of you."

  The mention of another human made Umbreon tremble slightly in my arms. Every Pokémon with a good trainer should have brought their Pokémon to a Nurse Joy at some point. The fact she trembled doesn't bode well. Did whoever have Umbreon before not take her to the Pokémon Center?

  "Joy is different," I said, resuming our walk. "She helps all Pokémon, no matter what. She helped Mightyena when she was hurt, and she'll help you too."

  I found myself talking more as we walked, partly to reassure Umbreon and partly to fill the anxious silence. I talked anything that came to mind. Mainly just stories of any heroes I remembered, like Batman and Robin.

  Umbreon had gradually relaxed in my arms as we walked, her body becoming less rigid with each passing mile. She was still alert and nervous, but she was clearly drawn in by the stories of Batman and Robin.

  By the time Petalburg's buildings came into view, my arms were aching from carrying her weight for so long, but I didn't let it show. Umbreon needed to feel secure, and that meant maintaining a steady, confident grip no matter how tired I was getting. Thankfully, my story was keeping Umbreon distracted from all the people giving us various different looks we were getting.

  "There it is," I said, nodding toward the red roof of the Pokémon Center. "Almost there now."

  Umbreon looked toward the building, and I felt her tense up again. So many humans, so many potential threats. But she didn't attempt to run, she likely figured she'd rather hedge her bets with me. Someone who hasn't done anything to harm her, over the unknown people.

  "Remember," I said quietly as we approached the automatic doors. "I'll be right there with you the whole time. No one's going to take you away from me, and no one's going to hurt you. I promise."

  The doors slid open with their familiar whoosh, and we stepped into the antiseptic calm of the Pokémon Center. Hopefully Umbreon won't take long to recover.