Stranded Carvanha

Since Xiao Hai had already caught a Magikarp, the two did not linger outside. Though Zeno had come up empty-handed, he was not discouraged.

The two boys carried their fishing rods and buckets along the riverbank toward Big Shell Village. Laughter filled the journey, and they had both had a wonderful time today.

Just as they were about to take the path home, Zeno suddenly stopped.

"What is it?"

"Xiao Hai, did you hear something?"

"Did I?"

Xiao Hai looked puzzled. There was clearly nothing there—at most, the sound of flowing water and the calls of bird and bug Pokémon. Wasn't that all perfectly normal?

Zeno did not explain further and ran ahead.

"Zeno, the forest up ahead is dangerous! You haven't caught a Pokémon yet!"

Xiao Hai shouted as he chased after him, afraid Zeno would get himself into danger alone.

Zeno pushed aside a patch of grass and saw a fish lying on the riverbank. It looked rather fierce, with red and blue colors mingling across its body, a yellow four-pointed star beneath its jaw, and yellow fins.

Zeno examined it and found that it seemed to be in pain. Its tail fin appeared injured, with blood seeping out around it.

There had been heavy rain yesterday, and the river had risen considerably before slowly receding today. This Carvanha had probably been washed up then. Normally, this distance would not have posed any problem for it; a few flops and it could return to the river. But its tail fin was badly injured, and it seemed unable to move.

Just as Zeno was about to step forward to help, Xiao Hai grabbed him.

"Zeno, that's a Carvanha."

Zeno understood what Xiao Hai meant. Whether Carvanha or Sharpedo, the villagers utterly despised them. Pokémon of this kind were vicious by nature. Not only did they enjoy attacking other Pokémon, but they did not spare humans either. Their skin was especially rough; even a slight scrape could tear flesh and draw blood, accompanied by intense pain.

"But look at it. If we leave it alone, it'll definitely die."

Seeing Carvanha's wound, Xiao Hai could not bear it either. And since he already had two Pokémon, he was not quite as afraid.

"All right, but be careful. Their skin is sharp. Last time my dad went diving for big pearls, a Carvanha brushed against him, and a chunk of flesh was missing from his arm."

Xiao Hai remembered it vividly. His father had complained about it at home for ages, and even had trouble eating at the time.

"Mm, I'll be careful."

Zeno and Xiao Hai slowly approached it. The moment Carvanha noticed them, it immediately put on a ferocious expression. Sensing its nervousness, neither of them moved any closer.

"Carvanha, don't be afraid. We're here to help you," Zeno said softly, trying to appear as friendly as possible.

Seeing Zeno like this, Carvanha inexplicably felt favorably toward him. It no longer resisted his approach, and its expression gradually relaxed.

Zeno and Xiao Hai had learned some basic Pokémon medicine at school, enough to handle simple wounds. But when Zeno got closer, he saw just how serious the injury was. It was completely beyond what the two of them could handle.

"What do we do? It's hurt too badly. Let's go find Teacher Zhihe at school."

The nearest Pokémon Center was in Lilycove City, far too distant from Big Shell Village. Teacher Zhihe, who taught Pokémon medicine at their school, was probably the most skilled healer nearby.

"But Qingqing said Teacher Zhihe went to Lilycove City yesterday. She said she'd applied for new teaching materials, and she might not even be back by the time our break ends."

"Then what do we do? Carvanha definitely won't last that long." Zeno grew anxious.

"Let's take it back to the village. I remember the village chief seems to know what he's doing. He cured my dad's Tentacruel before."

"Really?"

Zeno found it hard to believe. He had never known Uncle Kam had this skill hidden away.

"Wait here. I'll find some Leafage..."

Before Xiao Hai could finish, Zeno had already picked up Carvanha and run toward Big Shell Village.

Xiao Hai immediately chased after him, watching him with worry. Only after confirming Zeno was unharmed did he breathe a sigh of relief. He had never expected Zeno to be so bold.

"Are you okay? Anything feel wrong?"

"I'm fine. This fish is just a little heavy."

"Tsk, tsk~"

Carvanha moved twice in displeasure. Just because it liked this human did not mean he could call it fat.

Thinking it was uncomfortable, Zeno supported its tail fin with his hand to keep it from struggling.

"That's strange. Why can't it cut you? Is your skin thicker or something?"

Zeno: "..."

"Do you feel any stinging? Maybe this fish is still young, so its skin isn't that hard," Xiao Hai continued.

"No. It feels like its skin is pretty smooth, actually."

"Really? Let me try."

Xiao Hai immediately reached for Carvanha. Looking at his grimy paw, Carvanha glared fiercely at him.

"What's with that?! You won't even let me touch you? What a stingy fish!"

Because it had to keep a constant eye on the human watching it like a hawk, Carvanha was considerably more alert along the way.

When Zeno got home, Kam had just returned from gathering along the shore. At the sight of him, Zeno finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Uncle Kam, hurry and look at this Carvanha. It's badly hurt."

Zeno hurriedly handed Carvanha to him. By then, Carvanha had already passed out and looked much more peaceful.

Kam examined its injuries and found them rather serious. Ordinary medicine would not work at all. Fortunately, there was still some powerful medicine left at home from when Mantine had been injured last time.

"Ah..."

Kam sighed. The medicine worked well, but it was too expensive. One bottle cost 1,200 League Coins, and it could only be bought in a large city like Lilycove City. It was enough to cover his family's living expenses for two months. If he had not found a large pearl while diving last time, he truly would not have been willing to use it.

When Zeno saw Uncle Kam sigh, he thought Carvanha could not be saved. His eyes immediately turned red.

"Zeno, it's fine, it's fine. I'll clean its wound and put on some medicine, and it'll be all right. Go get me the waterproof bandages."

Seeing that Zeno was about to cry, Kam stopped agonizing over the powerful medicine.

Carvanha's wound was covered in grime, and Kam cleaned it with great care. Perhaps it was too exhausted, because Carvanha barely reacted. Once the wound was clean, Kam applied the medicine and gently wrapped it in bandages.

"One application might not be enough for this injury to heal. Keep an eye on it over the next few days, and remember to change its medicine." Kam patted Zeno's head as he spoke.

"Okay. I'll take good care of it."

"It's getting late. Go rest first. I'll have Octillery keep watch over it."