"Zarude!"
The frenzy in Zarude's eyes gradually faded. Beneath the pink cape billowing behind it, the crystalline green vines spreading outward slowly dissipated as well, eventually turning into tiny bud-like bumps that vanished beneath the settling cape.
"Zarude, Zarude!!"
Meanwhile, Coco, held in Xia Yan's grasp, struggled wildly and kept roaring at Zarude, seemingly telling it not to worry about him.
But.
From the moment Zarude realized it had become a father, the most important thing in its life was no longer itself, but its child.
Holding Coco was the same as holding Zarude's weakness.
Watching the deeply devoted father and son, Xia Yan rubbed his nose again.
He was practically playing himself.
Sizzle—
Suddenly.
Coco's body stiffened as a cool sensation spread across his back. The pain from being smacked by Kubfu and slammed into a tree was immediately greatly relieved.
"Zarude?"
The sudden change left Coco utterly stunned.
Not far away, Zarude noticed Xia Yan's actions and Coco's condition, and could not help blinking.
Xia Yan set Coco back on the ground, then summoned Latios.
"Latios, help me explain it to them."
"Latios!"
At those words, Psychic-type power shimmered in Latios's eyes. Through Telepathy, it conveyed Xia Yan's intentions and the reason for his actions to Zarude and Coco.
Only after Coco and Zarude finally calmed down enough to listen to Xia Yan did they realize something.
They seemed to have mistaken him for someone else.
However, upon hearing that Xia Yan wanted to soak in the Healing Spring, Zarude's expression turned serious again.
"Zarude!"
It firmly declared that it was impossible.
Xia Yan knew what the Healing Spring meant to the current Zarude, and he also understood the Forest Rules established by the Zarude Tribe.
So he did not act particularly determined.
After all.
The Healing Spring