Chapter 255: Treatment
High in the canopy of the ancient tree, Xiu and Abra followed the sound of the second Fearow's cry. The first Fearow, no longer under immense pressure, thrashed and struggled but to little avail. It was clearly agitated as if sensing they were approaching something vital. Its nest, undoubtedly, Xiu deduced from its frantic reaction.
They found it quickly. Tucked amongst a sturdy fork of thick branches, partially concealed by leaves, was a crude, hastily constructed nest – a simple platform of deadwood and twigs. Not very sophisticated. That, however, was not the focus of Xiu's attention. Lying within the nest, motionless, was another Fearow.
This one was in a truly horrific state— a thick, jagged branch had impaled its left thigh, pinning it to the nest. Dried, coagulated blood, dark and crusted, had stained the surrounding wood and its feathers.
Even from a short distance, Xiu could smell the sickeningly fetid odor of infection. The wound was clearly old, festering with pus oozing from its edges. The Fearow was emaciated, its feathers dull and matted. It lay limp, barely breathing, its eyes glazed over, showing little signs of life. The desperate cry they'd heard earlier must've probably been its last, fading spark of consciousness.
Beside the dying Fearow, Xiu noticed the mangled remains of a Rattata, torn to pieces, uneaten. The healthy Fearow must have brought it as food, but its partner is too far gone to even attempt to eat.
The first Fearow, still psychically held by Abra, renewed its struggles with desperation as Xiu approached the nest. But Abra's power, though now focused more on restraint than on inflicting pain, was absolute. The bird could do nothing but watch, its eyes blazing with helpless rage.
A quick, grim assessment confirmed Xiu's fears. The impaled Fearow was moments from death. The infection was rampant, its life force fading. This explains the other one's aggression, Xiu realized. It wasn't just defending territory; it was protecting its dying mate. Driving away any potential threats and any competitors for scarce resources, desperately trying to buy time.
He looked back at the struggling, healthy Fearow, then met its fierce, hate-filled gaze. "Do you want to save it?" Xiu asked, his voice surprisingly gentle, projecting his thoughts clearly through Abra.
The struggling Fearow instantly stilled. The mindless aggression in its eyes faded, replaced by something else – dawning comprehension, desperate hope. So, it's not entirely driven by instinct. There's intelligence there, however clouded by fear and rage. Its earlier refusal to communicate had likely stemmed from that protectiveness and its deep-seated distrust of humans.
"I can try," Xiu continued, his voice calm, authoritative. "I can try to save your partner. But you have to cooperate. You have to be obedient." He then, with a subtle mental command to Abra, released the psychic bonds restraining the Fearow.
The powerful bird, suddenly freed, nearly tumbled from its perch. It caught itself at the last moment, its talons scrabbling for purchase on the branch. It flapped its massive wings a few times, steadying itself, then turned its sharp, intelligent gaze back to Xiu. It didn't attack. It simply watched him, waiting.
Xiu met its stare. "You see its condition," he stated plainly. "Left like this, it will die. Soon. But I might be able to save it." He didn't wait for a response. He reached into his pack, produced an empty Poké Ball, and with a swift, gentle movement, touched it to the dying Fearow in the nest. The bird offered no resistance, dissolving into red light.
The healthy Fearow tensed, its feathers bristling, a low growl rumbling in its throat, but it held its ground, resisting the urge to attack.
"If you want it to live," Xiu said firmly, "you will listen to me. Follow me. Now." He didn't wait for an answer. He turned and, with Abra at his side, began his descent, leaping from branch to branch with practiced agility.
He landed lightly on the forest floor, finding Rinko waiting anxiously. Before she could speak, he reassured her, "It's alright."
Just as he finished speaking, the healthy Fearow burst from the canopy above, circling overhead with powerful wingbeats, its piercing gaze fixed on Xiu. Rinko gasped, stumbling back a step, her eyes wide with alarm.
"It's okay," Xiu said again, calmly. "It's with us." He glanced up at the circling Fearow, then turned back to Rinko. "I'll explain on the way. Right now, I need a flat, clean, and well-lit space. Urgently."
"The mountainside is too rough," Rinko replied, her mind still reeling from the events but her professionalism taking over. "There's no suitable flat ground here. We'll have to go back to the botanical garden. To the lab." She turned without further hesitation. "Follow me! I know a shortcut."
Xiu nodded and followed, the Fearow still circling watchfully above them. As they hurried back through the forest, Xiu quickly explained the situation – the injured mate, his attempt at a rescue.
"I'll do what I can," Xiu concluded, "but if it survives, let's cross that bridge later when we get there." They reached the botanical garden in just over ten minutes.
"Abra," Xiu directed telepathically, "communicate with the Fearow. Tell it to wait by the lab window and to behave." He then turned to Rinko. "Rinko, I need clean water, lots of it. And any strong antiseptic solutions you have." Time was critical. Every second mattered.
"Right!" Rinko nodded, already rushing towards the villa.
Xiu hurried into the lab, quickly clearing the central workbench. He retrieved various items from his backpack – sterile cloths, surgical tools, vials of concentrated nutrient solutions, and his own carefully hoarded supply of medicinal herbs.
The Fearow landed outside the lab window, peering in nervously. Abra returned to Xiu's side, ready to assist. Xiu spread a disposable sterile mat on the workbench, then released the injured Fearow from its Poké Ball. It lay limp, breathing shallow and its life force ebbing.
Rinko returned, carrying a large basin of steaming hot water and several bottles of antiseptic.
"We don't have proper surgical facilities here," Xiu stated, his voice all business. "This will have to be an emergency procedure and for that, I'll need your help." While Abra psychically stabilized the dying Fearow, Xiu directed Rinko to sterilize his instruments. He then began rapidly preparing a concoction of crushed Oran, Sitrus, and Pecha berries, mixed with a concentrated nutrient solution.
When everything was ready, Xiu closed his eyes, focusing his own psychic senses, extending his perception into the injured Fearow's body to assess the damage. Better than I feared. The branch missed major arteries, vital organs. No significant bone fractures beyond the immediate wound.
The injury was several days old, he realized. Penetrating wounds were notoriously difficult for wild Pokémon to recover from.
He opened his eyes, his mind already formulating a surgical plan. Just then, Rinko's anxious voice broke his concentration. "Xiu! It… it can't drink!"
He looked over. Rinko was kneeling beside the Fearow, helplessly trying to administer the berry juice mixture. The Fearow's head lolled limply in her hand, the life-sustaining liquid dribbling uselessly from the side of its beak, pooling on the sterile mat.
It was too weak, too far gone, to even ingest liquids.