Valeria grimaced as Adrian went into the tent. She had little doubt that she'd be hearing screams soon. If the man was willing to rape Umbre even when she was compliant, there was no way he was going to let outright defiance stand.<br/><br/>But what was she supposed to do? Barge in there? She'd never even heard of a Pokemon assaulting her trainer, and if she screwed up, she'd be worse off than Nyx.<br/><br/>It was true. She was a coward, then. Just a pathetic coward, all thought and no action. She couldn't even stand up for what she believed in, just let herself stew in her anger.<br/><br/>"I'm not a coward," she said, standing up. Her heart was pounding in her chest like a machinegun. Her whole body was shaking as she looked from the Kirlia to Umbre. "I'm not a coward!" she repeated, louder this time, but she still didn't believe it. She was terrified, but this was her path. Protect the weak... it seemed so noble, but it was a lot easier to be noble when you were just a wild Pokemon in the forest, interrupting little kids who were trying to catch birds and bugs.<br/><br/>"Vale...?" Umbre replied, glancing at her. "Valeria, no!" she shouted, snapping out of her trance and standing up to block the Leafeon. "I know what you're trying to do, and if you do this, I can't get you out of it! He's going to hurt you!"<br/><br/>"Get out of my way, Umbre. I've made my decision."<br/><br/>Umbre closed her eyes, taking a single step aside. "Have it your way, sister," she whispered. Valeria nodded at her, took a step past her....<br/><br/>The attack was so sudden. Umbre lashed out, clotheslining Valeria and putting her in a chokehold. She quickly brought the Leafeon to her knees, putting her other hand over Valeria's mouth to keep her quiet. "I've made my decision, too. He'll hurt you bad if you do anything, and I'm not going to let that happen to you." Valeria tried to get out of it, but all her efforts were hopeless. "Please, just be quiet before he hears you!"<br/><br/>She turned her head. "Kirlia, come here!" she said in a quick whisper. "Do you have any way to put Valeria to sleep, or knock her out or something?"