Omega's Protector

Omega stood at the edge of the swamp, her sharp brown eyes taking in all the damage done to the plant life and any wildlife that dared to spy on her. The sounds of calls were loud, much louder then she’d have thought. Still, despite the hammering of her heart against the back of her ribcage, she could feel the slight vibration under her skin of excitement and wonder. Yeah, she was scared, but this was new terrain to explore! New things to learn and experience!

Paradox nudged at the back of her arm powerfully, almost throwing her arm up over his head in the process. Omega looked down at him with an inquisitive noise, and his piercing eyes warned her about… something. She had a hard time reading him sometimes. Still, she beamed at him and ran her hand over the bony crest that made up his horns. The fused Pokemon made a grumble and rapidly shook his head with a sneeze-like noise. He was tall next to her, if only by a few inches, and he shifted to partly stand between her and the foreboding swamp, his gaze on the Fog washed plants, scanning everything.

He was on edge. Omega could tell by the tightening of his shoulders, the bristle of his fur, and the subtle rustle of the leaves that formed the ruff around the back of his neck. Something about the environment didn’t sit right for him, and until she heeded his warning, Paradox wasn’t likely to let her continue.

“Would you feel better if I climbed on your back, buddy?” The young woman asked, wrapping a hand around one of his horns. It steadied her, and the way he subtly relaxed told her it steadied him too. He was part Gogoat, after all, and they’d been long since bred to be handled. He knelt down on the dirt, and Omega climbed on his back, settling on the middle portion of his shell. Once both hands were wrapped around the handlebar like horns, Paradox stood and she was grateful for the bottom ridge of the shell for her to rest her legs on. 

Then Paradox started carefully picking where he put his feet… until he became sure of his footing, and then she felt the tension in his posturing. Oh no. He started bounding from patch of earth to patch of earth, and she realized he was trying to avoid the thick, tar-like substance that made up what she could only guess was water. No wonder he didn’t want her walking through it. Omega didn’t focus too hard on it, the fast, rocking making her head swim and her stomach lurch. Instead, she focused on the areas ahead of them. After a few minutes, they got to a small clearing, and Paradox slowed, glancing back at her in concern.

“I’m OK, buddy.” She swallowed, patting the side of his neck reassuringly. He laid down on the bent, broken, and twisted grasses, and Omega climbed off, moving around to cup the Pokemon’s face and rest her forehead against his, stroking his cheeks as she steadied her stomach. “I’m OK. I just need a minute.”

Then they could continue exploring.