Fox in a Box

Taveska remained huddled in the corner, wallowing in misery and anxiety. Sure, it wasn’t her fault that Lazuli got hurt. He went out on his own accord. She expected to get a stern lecture from the doctor about his condition, and she was correct, she did.

But Taveska didn’t handle being yelled at very well. Her spine was thinner than paper when it came to conflict such as this. It got to her head, and she began to think of everything she could have done to prevent this. 

She didn’t mean for it to happen.

She didn’t even KNOW it was going to happen.

But she should have been responsible enough to put everyone in their balls.

Raziel stared at her in astonishment. She certainly wasn’t taking that lecture very well. He cautiously approached her and waved a hand in her face.

“Helloooo?” He called.

“What is it?” Taveska replied, muffled by her collar.

“Nothing, I just wanted to see if you were okay. You’ve been sitting there for hours.” Raziel said.

“I’m fine, this is just where I belong. In a corner, wallowing in my own misery because I can’t do anything right. I’m not cut out for any of this. It’s why I live in a cabin in the woods, away from society.”

“I mean...Is anybody cut out for being blamed for something that isn't their fault?”

“No?”

“Exactly. When life tries to make you feel bad...You make LIFE feel bad.”

“...What does that mean exactly?”

“It means you go to that doctor, and you TELL him how it is. Who is he to yell at you for Lazuli’s injuries? He wasn’t there, he didn’t see what happened. Who does his know it all ass think he is?”

Taveska blinked. “I can’t just...Yell at the doctor.”

“Yeah you can, what’s stopping you?”

“He could kick us out?”

“He wouldn’t throw an injured pokemon out.”

“B-but-”

“TAVESKA. LISTEN.” Raziel gripped Taveska’s shoulders and shook. “You gotta stand up for yourself! Come on. Lets go give that asshole a piece of our mind.” He said, pulling her up and forcefully guiding her to where Lazuli was being kept.

“This is a horrible idea.” Taveska mumbled, her chest tightening with anxiety.

He could feel energy return to him slowly. He must have been so injured, the doctors decided to keep him in his ball. He could hear voices outside, but couldn't understand them. He recognized.... Taveska's voice, he was sure. The other sounded stern and angry. Was she being lectured because of him?

"You should know when to stop a battle."

"I'm sorry."

"Tell that to your pokemon when he recovers. You shouldn't be so reckless!"

Lazuli frowned and sighed. He could hear what he thought was the doctor continue lecturing Taveska, but he couldn't make it out.

They weren’t the one’s that needed  his attention though. There were three others.

His children.

Analise was huddled in the corner. Other humans passed curious, concerned glances at her. He couldn’t blame them, she looked miserable. Cautiously, he moved across the waiting room to talk to her.

Her ears flicked upon hearing his approach. She tensed and began to tremble. She didn’t want to talk to anyone. She wanted to be left alone. “P-please go away..”

Raziel knew he shouldn’t approach any closer. He sat on the floor a few feet away from the pale purple fox. “It’s okay. I just wanted to talk to you.” He said gently. His ears lowered. It hurt to finally meet his daughter and see her so frightened.

“N-none of this is okay. I don’t know anyone. I don’t feel sorry for Lazuli. I want him to die.” Analize managed quietly. Her body screamed for her to get up and stretch or at least move, but she refused to leave the safety of her corner.

“I know. He’s a jackass.” Raziel replied with a nod.

Analise felt a little comforted by his confirmation of how she felt. “ I just w-want to go home.” She whimpered. 

“I understand.” He said, scooting a little closer. Analise turned a little to keep an eye on him.

“You’ll be able to go home soon, I promise... Analise, right?”

“H-how do you know my name?” Analise asked warily, but weakly.

“ Your mother and I picked out names for you early, since we... Had to send you away. We picked two sets of names, Aeverwynn and Analise, and Talthiel and Rima.” He said. 

“H-how did... My adoptive parents know what to name me then?” Analise asked.

Raziel shrugged. “You’ll have to ask Adriel. He’s the one who had to leave with you so Lazuli wouldn’t kill you.” He replied uncomfortably.

“Why did you have to get rid of us? Wasn’t there another way?” Analise responded, almost coldly.

“I’m sorry.” Raziel started, then looked down in defeat. “There were other ways. But it wouldn’t have been safe for you to grow up fearing for your lives.”

“I  still did! He found me, terrorized my parents into abandoning me, and hid me away and continued to threaten me with death and misery every day!!” Analise snapped.

Raziel looked up at her.

“Anyone who tries to take you or your brothers away from me is going to have to kill me first.” Raziel declared, and he did  so strongly and sincerely.

Analise trembled, and tears finally broke from her eyes again. She didn’t know if she could trust those words, but she wanted too. She barely noticed him scoot closer until he was right beside her, putting a hand on her shoulder.

“I promise. Nobody is going to break this family apart ever again.” Raziel stated, gently trying to pull her into a hug.

Taveska: idontthinkhewantstobecaught

Raziel: If you ever try to put me in one of those things I will break it, and then break you.

Aeverwynn: Dad please dont break Taveska

Raziel: Fine. ONLY CAUSE YOU SAID PLEASE.

Taveska: be free hairy butterfly

Raziel:Okay, worm.

Taveska: I don’t think that’s been done before.

Adriel: You could try…. For science.

Taveska: But what if something goes wrong?

Adriel: But what if it doesn’t?

Taveska: But what if it does?

Adriel: But what if it doesn’t?

Taveska: But-

Pinches: Not even worth a snack.

Pinches: Come back when you’ve hit puberty at LEAST.

Raziel: You do realize that yveltal is capable of absorbing souls right

Pinches: Oh, this is a yveltal? I thought it was a pidgey.

Raziel: Are you serious

Adriel: Our thick coats prevented sand from bothering us too much. Back when I was still whole, I would often help people who were lost back to the oasis to rest, like some others of us did.

Adriel: We sometimes had squabbles with other groups of pokemon wanting to take our territory, but it wasn’t incredibly often. We made sure to leave a lasting impression.

Pinches: I gotta get them when they least expect it.

Pinches: That zoroark looking one is first on the list tho

Raziel: excuse me

Pinches: I take nose booping to a whole new level. No pain no gain bitch

WELL THERES VENOMONE OF COURSE,

HELIBLOOM AND NERIWATT ARE THE ONLY OTHER TWO