As a Legendary Pokemon, Entei didn't need to eat the way ordinary Pokemon did to maintain its strength.
Looking at the Berry the human infant was holding out, the legendary beast fell silent for a moment and didn't accept it.
It wasn't that it disliked it. It simply didn't need it.
But when the Berry was refused, the little one immediately pulled it back, his face crumpling with disappointment, looking visibly upset.
Entei: "..."
Forget it, Entei thought.
It reached out with a paw padded with soft pads, nudged the Berry toward itself, lowered its head, and bit into it, finishing it in just a few bites.
It didn't look at the child's expression again. Instead, it stood up and gazed into the distance.
They couldn't stay here for long.
As a member of Ho-Oh's Guard, there were still many things in this world that required its attention.
This human child had to be taken back to human territory.
Like a large cat, Entei circled behind Fuyuki and gently grabbed the back of his clothes with its teeth, intending to carry him that way toward a human settlement.
But before it could take more than two steps, a sharp coughing fit came from the child's throat, his small hands flailing wildly.
"Cough, cough!"
The fabric was tightening around his neck.
A choking sensation hit him, and he instinctively struggled.
The pressure vanished almost immediately as Entei set him down.
"Cough!"
Fuyuki sat on the ground, gasping for breath.
Standing nearby, Entei watched him thoughtfully.
It quickly realized the issue. Human infants weren't Pokemon. Carrying him by the back of the neck for long periods would cause discomfort.
Then… riding?
Its gaze dropped to the child's short legs and short arms.
Without hesitation, it picked him up again and swung him onto its back.
"Hold on tight," Entei said in a low voice.
Fuyuki tensed and instinctively wrapped his arms around Entei.
Once it felt that the child had a grip, Entei picked up speed.
But Fuyuki wasn't even a year old yet, and his strength was limited. Before long, his arms began to give out as he clung to the thick fur.
His grip loosened, and his body started to slip.
Just as he was about to fall, Entei sensed something wrong while running. It deliberately slowed, then came to a stop in a small clearing.
Fuyuki slid down along the beast's slightly coarse fur and landed on the ground.
He looked up at Entei, trying to communicate.
"Waaah!"
Entei didn't understand at first. Its gaze shifted to the child's arms, and the situation became clear.
The Little One was too young. He simply didn't have the strength to sit securely on its back.
"Hm…"
Entei frowned, its already stern face growing even more serious.
This was a problem.
If it were alone, it would take less than half a day to cross the forest and reach a human town.
But with a child, its pace was drastically slowed.
"..."
After a moment of silence, Entei sighed quietly in its heart.
"His parents died protecting Pokemon. As a Pokemon, I should take care of their child."
With no other choice, Entei continued forward at a slower pace.
Where was Entei taking him?
At first, Fuyuki didn't understand its intentions.
But watching its actions, he soon realized the truth.
Entei was planning to send him back to a human settlement.
Gratitude filled his heart.
If he could speak, he would have thanked the legendary beast properly.
But his vocal cords weren't developed yet. All he could manage were soft, babbling sounds.
One human and one Pokemon traveled on, stopping and starting, weaving through the vast forest.
Before they knew it, two days had passed.
During those two days, their routine became steady.
They traveled during the day and rested at night.
Whenever it was time to eat, Entei would settle the child somewhere safe, then head out to find Berries.
While Fuyuki ate, the legendary beast would lie nearby, quietly watching him.
At night, it would curl around the infant, using its body heat to keep him warm.
Just like now.
Entei watched the child silently, its expression calm and unreadable.
Fuyuki didn't mind at all. After two days together, he was completely sure of one thing.
This Entei would never hurt him.
Because of that, his courage slowly grew.
He burrowed into Entei's chest, pressing his face into the thick fur, a quiet sigh rising in his heart.
Entei was so warm.
Especially the fur on its belly. Unlike the slightly rough fur on its back, the belly fur was soft and fluffy. If he focused, he could even smell something like sunshine, mixed with a faint scent of buttery popcorn.
Thinking that, he snuggled even closer.
After all, this was the embrace of a Legendary Pokemon. Sleeping in Entei's arms was something he could brag about for the rest of his life.
Fuyuki knew it clearly. Once they reached a human settlement, he and Entei would have to part ways.
The world was vast. There was no telling if they would ever meet again.
Even if they did, it would probably be more than a decade later.
So he might as well enjoy this while he could.
Entei lay on its side in the grass, turning its head to look at the child pressed against its belly. A flicker of surprise rose in its heart.
This Little One liked it that much, relied on it that much…
A thought suddenly surfaced.
If the child knew that it planned to leave him behind in human territory, never to see it again, he would be heartbroken, wouldn't he?
Maybe he would cry until his voice gave out, just like the first time they met.
Ripples spread through Entei's heart, disturbing its thoughts.
It closed its eyes, trying not to think anymore, but its mind refused to quiet down.
The Little One's parents were gone. From now on, he would have no mother or father.
And as far as Entei knew, human infants at this age couldn't survive on their own.
They needed someone to care for them if they were to grow up safely.
He couldn't speak, couldn't walk, couldn't find food, and even slept poorly when it was cold.
Once he returned to human territory, how would he live? Who would take care of him? Who would find Berries to fill his stomach?