Chillz [open]

[Black[f]all]

"Cyndaquil! Cyndaquil, wait!"

The tiny pokemon was going at a break-neck speed, clearing fallen branches and ruts in the earth with powerful springs. Its rounded back flared with alarm, casting a sparadic orange light through the forest. Legs churning and mouth gasping for air, Cyndaquil ran like a Houndoom was on his tail.

"Cyndaquil, stop!" Kaysie screamed after her pokemon, struggling to keep up. It was difficult keeping Cyndaquil in her sight while navigating the unfamiliar grove.

What a 'fraidy-cat. She had let him out after she had entered the trees. The creepy feel the forest cast had grabbed her attention, luring her in. When the sunlight had become strained, she'd decided to release Cyndaquil, thinking its fire might help to guide the way. But almost as soon as it had come out of its pokeball, something had spooked it into bolting.

"Absol, go!" stumbling to a hault, the girl called out the powerful dark type. Absol lighted to the ground delicately, turning its sharp red eyes on his trainer. Panting with her hands on her knees, Kaysie pointed into the deep of the forest. "Go find Cyndaquil. The baby ran off."

[Jay]

Farther off in the Grove, a brown haired woman was having her own problems. "Anubis! Anubis where are you?" Nami called looking around through the foggy area of the Grove. If not for her playful and slightly annoying Riolu wandering in without a second thought, Nami would probably have not entered. However, it seemed Fate had not been kind to the brown haired woman, and now there she was looking around for her pokemon. In Nami's arms, a Torchic flailed rather hard to get free. However, he remained unsuccessful even as Nami walked. "Buck stop that we need to find Anubi," Nami ordered. Buck blinked and then continued to flail again as though he had refused to acknowledge Nami's statement in the least.

Farther into the Grove, a white Riolu was moving rather fluidly through the dark trees and completely oblivious to the calls of his trainer. He had seen the area and thought it would be amazing to explore the area. For now at least, he hadn't even realized that he had gone that far from Nami. Swinging from one tree to another, Anubis made a flip and then grabbed onto another branch before hanging upside down from it. After a few seconds, he closed his eyes and relaxed a little allowing his aura detection sensors to finally scope the area. He could sense Nami's presence far behind him......... and... then something else far in front of him... Hey! What was that? He wasn't even really sure. Flipping down again, the puppy started off to find out what he had just sensed.

[Black[f]all]

Absol trotted on ahead, leaving Kaysie behind to catch her breath. The white Pokemon seemed to glow in the gloomy light of the forest, its fluid movements giving it a surreal appearance. It covered ground swiftly, barely leaving a mark in the soil. Its blood-eyes flashed, searching for any sign of the little Cyndaquil. Such a timid little creature it was, always spooking at silly things. It didn't have an ounce of confidence and appeared to be almost terrified of their trainer. Kaysie was a little harsh with it sometimes, but she had a driven attitude that Absol had found inspiring. Raichu had certainly benefitted from Kaysie, developing as much temper as the girl had and double the ego. That silly Pokemon was fearless in battle, and clever. It would never match Absol in speed, and eventually Cyndaquil would outrank it in strength, but Raichu's electric power was intense.

A noise in the grove made Absol slow down, its head lifted. The usual brooding scowl was replaced by curiosity as it tried to pinpoint the sound. Could it be Cyndaquil? Opening its mouth, it called out softly, its gentle voice carrying through the trees.


*~*~*


Cyndaquil was out of breath. Its little churning legs buckled beneath it, flipping it into a summersault that threw it several steps forward until it landed sprawled on its stomach. Whimpering with fear, it snuffled back the tears brimming in its eyes. Making sense of its surroundings was difficult. Everything in sight was creepy trees and mist. Anything could be hiding around, waiting to pounce out and snap him up. Even though he had run from her, Cyndaquil wanted Kaysie now. She was brave in situations like this; she could protect him. But he'd been so frightened of all the darkness he had sensed that fleeing had seemed like a logical thing to do. But now he was alone, and he hated that more than being scared. He sniffled again, covering his nose with both forepaws.


*~*~*


Kaysie had released Raichu after Absol had gone in search of Cyndaquil. She felt vulnerable without the dark type. Honestly, he was what kept her little party strong. Raichu adored him, Cyndaquil was in awe of him, and Kaysie loved him like a best friend. Now, girl and pokemon walked quietly together through the grove, keeping an eye out for their missing companions.

"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea." the young trainer admitted reluctantly. Raichu looked up at her, blinking its dark eyes. "I mean . . . we just got to Era a few days ago, we've barely seen a town since we crossed the border. We have no idea what could be in here." Raichu nodded, its wide ears flapping over its head. "Rai-rai." it agreed solemnly, reaching back to pick up the end of its tail so it wouldn't drag through the leaves.

"There could be, like, Haunter in here, or packs of Houndoom." Kaysie continued. "All these dark types looking for some kid to eat."

"Raichu?" the pokemon cast its trainer a confused look. Pokemon didn't eat people, did they?

"Any second now," she lowered her voice to a whisper. "They're gunna jump out . . . and shred us up! RAWR!" she leapt for her Raichu, mischief playing cruelly on her face. Raichu squealed, surprised by this sudden attack, tripping backwards into the forest debris. Laughing, Kaysie pointed mockingly.

"You shoulda seen your face, I scared you so bad!"

Raichu growled, glaring at its trainer with disapproval. Its cheek-pouches flickered with tiny bolts. Kaysie whirled on her toes, still going on about how she had scared Raichu silly. "Raichu's afraid of ghosts! He's too wittle to be in da scary, dark forest, ain't'cha?" Gathering himself up, Raichu dug its feet into the ground, bunching its muscles tight. It's tail-end touched the ground, like an anchor.

"Poor baby, don't worry. We'll find Absol an- EEEAOWWW!" she ended in a scream, electricity coursing through her body, Raichu smirking with satisfaction behind her.

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[Jay]

Anubis continued moving through the grove rather quickly now that something had finally caught his attention. However, suddenly he found himself feeling dozens of aura at once. Wait... which one to go towards? Uh... Inneee Meanieee Mineh...MOE! With that, the white Riolu resolved to head in the direction of Kaysie and the Raichu. He quickly climbed over a large tree root and pounced up toward a branch to swing forwards. However, just as he was ready to swing to the next branch, Anubis felt the branch crack, and suddenly he found himself falling and landing straight on the ground only about a hundred meters off from the girl and her pokemon. Ow.......

Nami continued to walk around, and her grip on her Torchic only continued to constrict the small fire type repeatedly. Buck flailed wildly and shook his head trying to wriggle free. That was really starting to hurt dang it! However, The brown haired woman seemed all but oblivious too consumed with worry at the moment as she continued to look through the mist. However, not far off, she heard an odd call... Was that... her Anu? "Anubis?" she asked looking through the mist of the grove.

[Black[f]all]

"I cannot believe, I cannot believe, I cannot believe you just did that!" Kaysie shrieked at her pokemon, body still tingling from the shock. Electricity zapped between her fingers, crackling through her dark hair. Raichu ignored her, doing its own little victory dance. Swaying in circles, it hummed to itself, proud and haughty. Just like its trainer. Frustrated, Kaysie stomped away huffily, ready now to find her missing pokemon and get well out of the grove.

A snap and a crash jolted her bad mood right out of her, a brand new shock coursing through her. Raichu cried out in surprise, bounding to Kaysie until he was behind her legs, forepaws and tail wrapped tightly around her. Not far away, a tree branch had fallen. Kaysie peered into the gloom, noticing an odd white lump. Gulping back worry, she tiptoed forward.

Only to fall flat on her face.

Raichu's hold on her had been so strong, that when the girl tried to move, he planted his feet firm in the ground, the pokemon's weight causing the trainer to trip. Kaysie moaned.


*~*~*


Sighing and somewhat composed, Cyndaquil sat up. It was as calm as could be expected, its fire spikes only flaring occasionally when it felt threatened. The grove was quiet except the whisper of breeze, which was almost more eerie than if the trees had been teaming with unearthly noise. Whiping the tears away, the fire pokemon tried to decide what it should do with itself when a familiar sound cut through the silence.

Absol's call.


*~*~*


"Anubis?"

Absol stiffened when it heard the human voice. It sounded female, but it certainly wasn't Kaysie. Growling from deep in it's throat, Absol slipped quietly into the trees, trying to hide its bright coat in the shadows. Quickly, it skirted around the place it had been before, listening and smelling until it had picked up a rough idea of the stranger's whereabouts. Claws extended to their limit, the pokemon stalked toward her, alert and ready to pounce.

[/size]

[Jay]

Upon hearing the tripping sound, the small white Riolu looked up suddenly not from fear but from a general response mechanism. After a few seconds, he finally saw the girl and her pokemon. Forcing himself up at least into a sitting position, he stared for a good few moments wondering whether or not the girl was friendly or not. Suddenly remembering that he had left Nami far behind, Anu looked back now sweat dropping greatly at himself. Oh man... he was going to get yelled at. After a few seconds, he looked back to the girl. "Olu?" he asked after a moment.

Buck flailed in Nami's arms more and finally managed to wriggle himself free climbing quickly up to her shoulder then and there before looking around. "Chic," he 'barked'. "Torchic!" Nami blinked in confusion not understanding just yet why Buck was becoming as agitated. However, the Torchic was aware that something else was out there... He just wasn't sure what exactly it was. "Tor!" he called out looking around. "Buck...?" Nami asked looking around now.