A/N: Hello, everyone! Welcome to my second oneshot! I hope you all like it, and, don't forget to review!

"Those damned twerps!" Meowth growls as he pushes himself up off the ground. The fall had been brutal, but Meowth is grateful that he's a cat. Nine lives can come in handy. "The next time I see 'em, I'm gonna fury swipe 'em!"

James groans from where he lays on the ground. His uniform is covered in dirt and grass stains, and is torn in some places. His hair is tousled and full of twigs and leaves. "… I hope we don't see them next time. Right, Jessie?"

There is no response. James blinks, and finally manages to push himself up into a sitting position. He looks around, but there's no sign of his other partner anywhere. "Meowth?" he asks his cat companion. "Do you happen to know were Jessie is?"

"She isn't here?" Meowth replies, looking around, too.

"… She probably landed somewhere close by," James says, his tone hopeful.

He pushes himself up to his feet, and begins calling out for his lost friend. Meowth copies him. After nearly ten minutes of searching, there is no luck. It's getting dark, too, and nighttime in the forest is dangerous.

"We should set up camp," Meowth offers.

"What about Jessie?" James says. "She could be lost, or hurt, or –"

" – Or, she could be perfectly fine," Meowth finishes, giving James an odd look. "This is Jessie we're talkin' about. Jess can take care of herself, rememba'?"

"Yeah, I guess so," James mumbles, still nervous and anxious for his friend. There's a feeling in the pit of his stomach; something telling him that Jessie is not alright, that she needs them and they aren't there. Maybe she's hurt? Maybe she's in danger? May be she's scared, and alone, and cold, and –"

James bites at his lower lip. He looks down at Meowth. "… Maybe I should go look for her…"

"Really, James?" Meowth says, slightly irritated. "Jessie's a strong girl. She can take care of herself. She doesn't need some knight in shinin' armor comin' to her rescue. She's not some damsel in distress."

"But, Meowth!" James whines., and jumps when a loud crash of thunder is heard. He looks up, only to get hit in the face with large, cold raindrops.

"Great," Meowth growls out, shaking himself off, only to get more wet. "Just great! It just had to rain, didn't it?"

"Now Jessie may really be in trouble!" James cries. Meowth groans, shaking his head as the pair stop under a tree with rather large leaves.

"You're not going anywhere in this weather," Meowth says, sounding like the parent of a young child.

"But, Jessie !"

"But, nothing, James!"

More thunder is heard. James collapses to his knees, hanging his head and pulling his legs up close to his chest. Tears roll down his cheeks, mixing with the ice cold rain. What a lousy partner he is. He can't even go looking for the girl he loves when she might very well be in danger.

Jessie, James thinks, please forgive me… !

Jessie groans as she hears the first crash of thunder. Great. Just great. First, she gets lost from her two companions. Then, it just has to start pouring.

Jessie looks up at the dark, cloudy sky. She growls angrily as large droplets of water land on her face. She squeezes her hair out, letting it hang loosely down her back, sticking uncomfortably to her skin. Nervously, she combs her fingers through her hair and looks around. It's growing dark. Soon, it will be nighttime. And, the forest is not a place to be at night.

Jessie shivers when she hears howling in the distance. She bites at her lip just as her heartbeat accelerates. God, why did this have to happen to her? Why not one of those blasted twerps? Or someone else? Why did she have to be the one separated from her companions?

Jessie jumps when she hears thunder crash loudly. God, she wishes James was here. Or, Meowth. But mostly James. If he was here, he'd be able take away the unwanted fear she feels.

Suddenly, she hears loud, angry growling. She turns around quickly to see multiple pairs of glowing eyes. Her breathing hitches. Now, she really wishes that James was here. Not only could she use his protection, but he also happens to have her Pokéballs. She has none of her Pokémon to protect her from these wild beasts that want to attack her.

One of the dogs jump out of the bushes, and a few more follow it. The dogs are houndour, and the look angry. And hungry. Jessie instantly panics. She takes a few stumbling steps backwards until her back hits a tree trunk. A soft, pitiful whimper escapes past her lips as the dogs gain on her.

"… Nice doggies," she mumbles, feeling so utterly stupid right then. What else can she do, though, beside trying to calm them down, or get them away from her?

One dog, possible the pack leader, jumps up and lunges at her. It knocks her down with a strangled cry. Its long, sharp claws tear away at the flesh on her leg. Blood instantly spills out, dripping down her leg and mixing with the rain.

Se cries out as pain explodes inside her. Is this it? Is this the end? Is she going to die; alone, and scared? Without James? Without Meowth?

Another strangled cry escapes past her lips as the dog Pokémon claws at her stomach, tearing easily through flesh. Suddenly, startling her, and even the dogs, a loud clap of thunder is heard. The once fearsome dogs whimper in fear before jumping off of her and scurrying away, whimpering as they do so.

Jessie lays there for a moment. Her breathing is rough and ragged. She is covered in her own blood. Tears slide down her cheeks, mixing with the rain water that continues to fall.

She can feel her eyes drifting shut. And, soon enough, she is drifting off into a deep sleep, unsure of if she will ever wake up again.

"Jessie!" James cries as he searches for his lost friend. "Jessie, where are you? Please, answer me!"

"It's no use, Jimmy," Meowth murmurs. He is walking alongside James, also calling out his companion's name every so often. He breathes out a heavy, tired sigh. "She's not here."

"She has to be here!" James says. "Where else could she be?"

Suddenly, there is a soft, quiet sound. It startles James and Meowth. They share a glance when they hear it again.

A sob.

And, not just any sob – Jessie's sob.

James' eyes widen, and he races towards the sound., heart racing, powered by adrenaline and fear for his partner. He finds her laying up against a tree trunk, covered in blood. Her long crimson hair hangs loosely over her shoulders. Her skin is pale, wet from rain, and cold. He rushes over to her, kneeling down beside her.

"Jessie!" he cries. "My god, Jessie! What happened?"

"I – I was attacked," she chokes out. These few words send her into a coughing fit. "James, please help me. I – It hurts –"

Jessie begins to sob again. "Shh, Jess, shh," James murmurs, and instantly picks her carefully up. He cradles her gently to his chest. "Don't be afraid, Jess. Everything's going to be alright. I promise."

Jessie curls her fingers tightly around the fabric of James' soaking wet shirt. She snuggles close to him, believing his words, and feeling comforted by his presence.

Soon, she finds herself, once again, drifting off into a deep sleep, but knowing, this time, that she will wake up.

Jessie wakes up a few days later in a hospital bed. Her stomach and leg are bandaged in the places where the dogs had attacked her. The first thing she notices is Meowth curled up into a tight ball on her feet. She smiles softly, and reaches down to pet him, which causes him to purr loudly in return.

The second thing she notices is James. He is sitting close beside her bed on a chair. One hand's fingers are intertwined with her own. Her smile brightens, and she gives the hand holding hers a gentle squeeze. This causes James to stir and blink open his eyes.

"Morning, sleepyhead," she says, mirth sparkling in her bright eyes.

"Jessie!" James cries joyously, and, momentarily forgetting her injuries, he throws himself at her, hugging her to him tightly, and sobbing.

"God, Jess," he cries into the crook of her neck. "You scared me. I thought you were going to –"

Jessie silences him by pressing her lips to his own in a short, but sweet, kiss.

"Shh, James," she murmurs. "I'm fine. You saved me. Everything is alright, just like you promised."

James manages to give her a watery smile. "Thank you, Jess. Thank you for being here."

Jessie smiles softly, and presses another soft kiss to his lips once more. "Anything for you, James. Anything for you."