Junebug (and Beetibite) Learned Infestation!

Omega dragged her hand down her face with a sigh as she looked down at Junebug and her new friend, Beetibite. Both stared up at her in turn, confused and mildly frustrated. That made three of them. The young woman put her hands on her hips as she looked down at the pair, the gears screeching in her head as she tried to get the words together to articulate what she was expecting. Normally, it was fine! Normally she could figure this out! But usually? She only had one ‘student’ she was trying to teach at a time. Her thoughts stilled for a moment and she focused on Junebug. That was it!

“OK. Let’s try something different, ok?” Junebug sat down, wings fluttering in the faint breeze that seemed almost omnipresent in this patch of forest. The Pokemon, usually stubborn and ill-mannered, was willing to listen, which she was grateful for. The Delta Pokemon had a tendency to give up after a while, so Omega was glad she was sticking with this. “Junebug, let’s try and learn Infestation, okay? I know you got this.”

The Pokemon gave a noise that was a mix of a purr and a chirping click, nodding her head. She then turned to the forest, ears perked up, though one adorably still flopped lazily despite the attempt. Omega folded her arms over her chest, her grip on her arm tight as she prayed to the Guardians Junebug could get this. Some learned better with an example, and she was hoping Beetibite was one of those types. Junebug’s head turned, scanning the edges of the forest, ears alert, tail stiff. Beetibite turned too, attentive, but it wasn’t focused on Junebug. It too was focused on the forest’s edge. Slowly, so slowly it was almost embarrassing, Omega realized the forest had gone silent. No chirps, calls, or anything of that sort. The only noise Omega heard was the wind rustling the leaves, but even that seemed off. Her shoulders tensed, her back straight as she too focused on the forest, scanning the trees for whatever it was.

Junebug growled, the fur along her back bristling and her wings flapped once. Her tail lashed once. Her stance shifted, bracing. Omega reached for her belt, where her other Pokeballs were, just in case. Beetibite chattered, clacking its mandibles in warning as it came to stand beside Junebug. The two were doing their best to be intimidating and scary, and Omega was grateful, but she also worried. As the trainer, she should be protecting them. And then, even the wind stopped. A chorus of chittering, chattering, and the sound of too many legs started to swell. Eyes opened in the shadows, surrounding them. But none were focused on her. Instead, they were on the thing in the shadows. 

Whatever it was thought better of its decision to stalk them and the branches cracked and thrashed away from them. The eyes followed the noise, and the cacophony of legs chased after it, eyes disappearing as the sound got more distant. Slowly, Omega looked down at the pair, eyes wide. Only after the noises died down did the two Pokemon finally turn and look at her, curious if they’d done it right.

“Y-yeah, yeah. That’s great. Good job, guys.”