They'd gathered so many Berries from this forest. Wouldn't the Wild Pokémon living here struggle to make it through the winter because of it?
Imagining all the Pokémon that might starve to death because of this, Dongshu couldn't help looking at Fire Emperor, trying to ask what would happen.
"Yiya, yiya?"
Hearing the Little One speak from its back, Fire Emperor immediately used telepathy to ask:
"What's wrong?"
Dongshu pointed at the Berry tree, which had only a few Berries left, then looked toward the backs of the departing Kangaskhan.
"Wawa, aaya?"
Though there was still a language barrier between them, Fire Emperor looked at the worry and compassion on the Little One's face and somehow understood what he meant.
It turned its dignified gaze toward the Berry trees and explained through telepathy:
"Don't worry. Even after we picked some Berries, there will still be enough for them to get through the winter."
"I didn't pick them all in one place. The Berries in the cave came from many different places, and I only took a few from each one."
More importantly, Berries were quite special.
Even if every Berry was picked from a tree, in less than three days, the tree would be laden with Berries again.
After hearing Fire Emperor's explanation, Dongshu finally relaxed.
He couldn't bear the thought of any Pokémon starving to death in winter because of this.
Was the Little One worried that they'd picked too many Berries and the Pokémon here would go hungry?
Fire Emperor was a little surprised, but then its heart filled with pride and joy. As expected of its Little One—he was so kind!
The human and Pokémon continued onward. After wandering around for a while, Dongshu began to feel tired.
As drowsiness washed over him, he lay across Fire Emperor's back and started to doze off.
Seeing this, Fire Emperor said nothing. It immediately turned around, intending to take the Little One back to the cave so he could sleep.
But just as the human and Pokémon passed the spot where Kangaskhan Mother had picked Berries earlier, Fire Emperor suddenly heard a desperate cry for help.
The voice was filled with anxiety and panic.
Fire Emperor frowned slightly and immediately dashed toward the sound.
Dongshu, who had been dozing, quickly woke at the cry.
What was that sound?
Fire Emperor soon reached the place.
Beneath the Berry tree stood the mother and child Graveler from earlier.
The mother Graveler looked anxiously at her child, Krabby.
"What happened?" Fire Emperor asked, its brow furrowed. Its imposing voice sounded in Graveler's mind.
"Graveler!"
Graveler glanced at Fire Emperor with some awe, then explained.
Its child, Krabby, had been too mischievous and had run over here. Seeing a Berry pit on the ground, it had mistaken it for food and swallowed it.
But the pit had become lodged in its throat. It could neither spit it out nor swallow it.
Krabby lay on the ground, barely breathing.
Its eyes were tightly shut, and it looked to be in great pain. Only its round belly continued to rise and fall.
Clearly, Krabby was suffering terribly.
What should it do?
Fire Emperor frowned as it tried to help Krabby, but it had never encountered this situation before and had no idea how to handle it.
Seeing that Fire Emperor had no solution, the mother Graveler grew even more anxious. It let out mournful cries, its eyes fixed on its child as its breathing grew weaker and weaker.
Just then, Fire Emperor and the mother Graveler heard a young voice.
"Yiyi, yaya?"
The mother Graveler looked up and saw a human infant on Fire Emperor's back.
"Little One?" Fire Emperor murmured, taken aback.
Then it felt the Little One on its back begin to struggle, as if he wanted to climb down.
Fire Emperor didn't understand, but it still bent down.
Dongshu slid off Fire Emperor's back and crawled over to Krabby, who was lying on the ground. He examined it.
From its pained expression and reactions, Dongshu immediately realized that Krabby was choking on something!
"Yiyi, yaya!"
Dongshu hurriedly turned toward Fire Emperor and the mother Graveler, signaling for them to lift Krabby off the ground.
The two Pokémon didn't understand him and didn't react.
Seeing this, Dongshu grew anxious. He quickly crawled over to Krabby and reached out to pull at it.
The mother Graveler looked bewildered, but Fire Emperor understood.
After spending all these days together, it knew the Little One very well.
Its Little One never acted without reason.
Seeing what the Little One was doing, Fire Emperor immediately told the mother Graveler in a low voice:
"Pick it up!"
The mother Graveler looked confused, but soon realized that this being might have a way to save its child!
It immediately lifted Krabby off the ground.
Seeing this, Dongshu crawled behind Krabby and used his soft little fists to pound the spot between its shoulder blades and spine.
But it had no effect.
He was too weak.
With no other choice, Dongshu looked at Fire Emperor and signaled for it to help.
"Yiyi, yaya!"
He grabbed Fire Emperor's enormous paw and tried to pull it toward Krabby.
Fire Emperor understood what he meant. It swung one paw, and the tremendous force sent Krabby flying, along with the Berry pit that had been lodged in its throat.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Krabby let out a violent cough, then grimaced in pain.
The round Berry pit rolled across the ground.
Seeing this, the mother Graveler looked overjoyed.
It hurried over to check on its child.
When it saw that Krabby had only suffered a few minor injuries and was otherwise unharmed, it finally breathed a long sigh of relief.
It looked at the human and Fire Emperor with profound gratitude.
The cloudlike mane behind Fire Emperor swayed in the breeze. It stood still, a hint of tenderness softening its usually solemn, dignified face.
Dongshu grinned at the mother Graveler and giggled.
With the matter settled, Fire Emperor picked Dongshu up in its mouth and set him on its back. Then it turned around and slowly walked away.
Neither of them noticed the petite figure in their shadow, quietly watching everything with a distant gaze.
Before you continue