(ACE) The PYRITE Team

Phoenix was flipping out, her tin box long since dropped to the ground, contents spilling out as the lid popped open from the impact. Sure Raven was a huge pain in her ass but she didn't want the chick to get carted off by some monstrous bird! It was her fault for taking so long in the damn hotel! If she had just gotten in there and not had her stupid breakdown they would have been back in her den by now and not stuck outside after dark. It was all her fault...

Even Asche was doing his best to take out the damn bird, but they weren't fast enough. The fucker had broken one of her sacred rules and there was nothing she could do about it. Raven was just..."Gone." The Ninetales's drooped significantly as the event finally sank in, that she was probably never going to see the other female again. Raven had been a pain in her ass the entire time she lived in Pyrite but the last 12 hours she had become almost, stressing the almost, a friend. Slowly trudging back to where she had dropped her box she suddenly stopped short, a look of pure confusion on her face.

It was gone.

Angry and in a panic she began to sniff around the area where she knew she had dropped it, scratching at the dirt to pick up any trace scents. But with box being made of tin and the entire freaking town being made of metal, the chances of finding a metal box where slim to none. At first she couldn't get anything, as expected, but then a faintly sweet smell began to kick up the more she rooted around. Her ears perked up and she began to take in the scent more deeply, something about it was just way too familiar. She knew this scent, she was sure of it. Something that reminded her of home, of Nikki and Erebos, of..."Dean?"

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As he fought his way through the sands of the desert Dean Caldar realized that once the sun went down he would be a sitting duck. He could see something off in the distance, silhouetted in the horizon by the setting sun, and decided that would have to do. As the sun finally crept under the horizon he crossed the border into Pyrite Town and realized at once why it wasn't exactly a tourist destination in Orre. This place was quite literally a pile of junk. Sad part was that it looked this way before the Epidemic.

He shifted the strange electronic device attached around his neck, still not used to the weight or the way it would catch on his leather necklace, and fidgeted with the earpiece. Despite how useful it had been, thrilling at the chance to finally speak with his Pokemon, the device itself was very uncomfortable and dear Legends did it make his ear itch! As he crept through town, keeping to the sides of the buildings and doing his best to stay out of the open, which can be very difficult in a town with nothing, he suddenly had to freeze when he heard screams and shouts coming from around the corner.

He watched as a large bird, a Braviary from the looks of it, took on a Persian. Others tried to come to her rescue but the one that struck him the most was a brilliantly yellow Ninetales that he would have recognized even a mile away. It was his Phoenix, his beautiful rare shiny that he had raised from an egg as a child into the powerful female fending off the bird. She had dropped something that split open and spilled, and upon approach he could see that it was a small box with several shiny stones and knicknacks in it. Carefully picking them all back up and putting them in the box Dean was forced to dive back out of sight as the bird snatched the Persian away. "RAVEN!". Oh how heartbreaking! Dean couldn't help but feel badly for the small group as their friend was carried off.

Phoenix seemed so out of it, almost lost in herself in a way Dean had never known the brash female to behave as she comprehended the loss of her friend. He wanted to rush out and comfort her but even knowing that she was his dearest Phoenix he had no way of knowing if she was still friendly or not. When she suddenly starting tearing at the ground and snarling he began to worry that maybe his fox had become infected, but she stopped suddenly and began to sniff around. Was she looking for the box? Was that why she was so upset? Looking down at the small tin case in his arms he wondered what she could want with any of these trinkets. "Dean?"

She remembered! Joy surged through Dean at the very notion that Phoenix still remembered him! Summoning all of his courage he stepped out from his huddled corner and into the square. "My beautiful Phoenix..." he whispered, voice full of emotion and blue eyes sparkling with unshed tears. He had been dreaming of finding his Pokemon that Cipher had taken and here she was, as though Fate decided for him to find her. "I missed you so much girl..." In his arms he clutched her small tin box and as he took the last few steps to reach her he knelt down, putting one hand on the top of her head to scratch her ears lightly, and held out the box with the other. "I think this is yours, my little princess. I didn't want everything getting lost."

Phoenix wasted no time in tackling her trainer to the ground and nuzzling his chest, laughter echoing throughout the square at her joy in finding Dean and his joy in having her back once more.

After Raven had been carried off, Asche could only stare up at the darkened sky, his eyes barely able to make out the small dot the bird was now... the bird and Raven. He'd only known her the better part of the day, but to the otherwise lonely absol, any friends he made were all precious... and he'd lost one so easily...

He lowered his head in shame, his loss multiplied by the mere fact that he couldn't do anything. He'd tried, and once again, he'd failed miserably; this time, however, it had been someone's life on the line. His inability to help had gotten Raven likely killed... and that destroyed him. However, it was only Phoenix's odd query that got his head to raise. "Dean?" she asked.

"...What?" he replied, looking to her, then noticing the figure coming out of the shadows. His nose worked, and once the smell hit his nostrils, he gasped and hid behind some junk. A human?! Since when were they still alive?! Phoenix tackled him after he whispered something, something Asche couldn't catch what with his heart pounding in his ears. He swallowed hard and peeked out from the debris, watching the display. His eyes went to the sky, then the desert that bordered the town. "Phoe..." he whimpered, glancing to her. His voice was strained with despair, even at the low volume. "...We should... get inside."

After Phoenix's muffled words Rukh began to follow the others, whom in turn followed the yellow fox. The Skarmory slowly drifted behind the group, the large chunks of metal weighing him down considerably. (Though not too much to keep him from staying with everyone.) During their trek a large, disgusting bird swooped down towards Raven, and much to the steel-type's surprise, snatched her away from them.

Rukh's eyes blinked once, twice, his mind trying to register what just happened. A giant Braviary just came in and took Raven away. In a single, swift movement Rukh dropped everything he had with a loud clang and tried to go after the infected, but found it already too far to catch up to. Instead, the Skarmory glared at the sandy ground, unsure of what to do or say.

"Dean?" The bird's head snapped up, curious to who this 'Dean' might be. As the new figure appeared, Rukh was frozen solid. A... a human? The Skarmory couldn't believe it. In all of his travels around the land not once had the avian spotted a living person, and to see one standing in front of them now... They must be coming back to us! To save us! They must be!

Watching the yellow Ninetales tackle the human to the ground in a fit of nuzzles made Rukh smile. It had been a while since he's seen such great joy from others. "Phoe... We should... get inside." Looking to the sky, the steel-type nodded. "It's getting awfully dark..."

Things happened so fucking fast.

Asche never responded to my odd ass request and I really waas not supprised. I should be able to evolve on my own if I was really that desperate. But then again, there was something a wee bit more important that happened just then. Like a fucking Braviary coming out of nowhere and grabbing Raven. I haulted in place from where I was walking beside the blue Absol, watching in frozen horror as the shadow ran over the group. Despite how dark it was becoming outside, it was all too ovious that there was yet another threat. As the bird screeched and lunged, I could no longer move. The fear that ran through my small body froze every muscle and stopped every heart beat.

Things moved in slow motion. I watched as the Persian bravely fought back, the entire group stunned with the shocking realization as the massive avian took it's grip on her. Not even able to think, let alone remember what moves I knew, Asche screamed out in horror, shooting out a crystaline beam in their direction. Even Rukh stood up only to stand down. FInally sinking in, I realized that I had simply stood there while a companion was carried off. I could have done something and yet I did nothing.

What a miserable excuse for a dragon type I was.

The group was then greiving, trying to comfort eachother, when the weirdest thing happened. Clumsy footsteps and the muttering of another language entiredly made my antenna stand right up. I whipped around in horror, eyes wide to see what I never thought I would lay eyes on again. A human. A fucking human. I could have cried at how terrible things had gone within five minutes. Was I not just the one comforting Phoe a second ago? What happened?! But the strangest thing was when the brilliant Ninetales spotted the human. I was already scrambling back, all of those years in hospitals and brutal training flashing behind my eyes, when Phoenix jumped forward. She cried out for a 'Dean' and the human responded with the Ninetales' name! I was in shock, backing away until I found my tail hitting a nearby building.

The fox jumped onto this Dean and their happy laughter rang through the air. I noticed a pile of rubble next to the building Phoe and I had exited then. I dashed forward, effectively hiding myself as Asche suggested they get moving. I poked one eye out of my hiding spot, my breathing ragged with fear and eyes wide as I observed the scene.

Don't hurt me, don't hurt me, don't hurt me, the only thing running through my panicked mind.

Before Bane could react, Raven had been swooped up and carried off. Bane tried to leap into the sky to catch her, but it was useless. He had an injury in his wing that made flying hard. He couldn't take off at this particular moment, and he felt horrible as he struggled to try to catch Raven. But she was gone.... And at that moment, a creature appeared in front of him near Phoenix.

"My beautiful Phoenix... I missed you so much girl..."

And just like that, Phoe seemed to go puppy mode and tackle this thing. He saw as the little Vibrava with Phoe ran away.
"W--Wait!..." She was already gone. Bane sighed, looking back to the scene. Bane curiously leaned forward, catching this thing's scent on the wind.

"...We should... get inside."

"It's getting awfully dark..."

Bane glanced up from his stare on the human to look around. "Indeed...." Bane continued to observe the thing next to Phoe. He had never actually encountered one of these things... but he had a hunch as to what it was.
"... This may sound stupid of me... but is this a human...? I have never seen something like this." Well, it seemed feminine, but by the judge of it's voice it was male. Bane was confused. Were all of the creatures like this this way? He continued to smell it on the wind (whichheguesseditsmelleddefinitelylikeaHOOMAN), not being able to really come near because of the nagging fear in the back of his mind that Phoenix would attack him.

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(OoC: Bane you silly derp. |D Never seen a human before. Hah.)

As Phoenix and Dean shared their reunion, something caught the attention of the blonde human as he stroked the fur of his pretty Ninetales. It was a tiny bug Pokemon, a little Vibrava, who darted past and hid. The poor dear, she must have had quite a fright seeing some random stranger pop up. He tapped Phoenix's nose, causing her to back up and sneeze, then pointed over to the small hole he had seen the bug scurry into. The look that came over Phoenix nearly melted him, as she showed the same motherly compassion she used to always show for her kit back at the ranch.

Phoenix went up to Kylie and gently nudged her nose under the rubble and lay down, just looking at the young female. "So...you just gonna hide in there then?" She let out a soft chuckle to try and lighten the mood, hoping to draw Kylie out of hiding. "My den is a little warmer than some pile of rocks, you'd be a lot more comfortable." It didn't occur to the fox that the Vibrava might actually be terrified of Dean, because all she had ever known of the Breeder was that he was a softie and a big push-over. Who could ever be scared of that?

"Phoe... We should... get inside." Dean looked over to find who suggested going inside and saw a strange blue Absol, a odd coloration for the species much like Phoenix's brilliant yellow. Phoenix's ears pricked up and she turned to look at Asche as Rukh mentioned the growing darkness. The Fire Fox sighed and nodded her head, scooting back from Kylie's hiding spot but still standing there to wait for the bug. "... This may sound stupid of me... but is this a human...? I have never seen something like this." At the question Phoenix's eyes nearly bugged out of her head, it was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard. Who had never seen a human?

However, when she caught the Aerodactyl scenting her Dean she let out a deep, menacing snarl, warning the dinosaur away from him. Dean almost jumped at the feral sound coming from his princess and at once gave her a stern look. Phoenix was somewhat confused by the expression so he felt it finally time to clue them in on his little secret. Reaching up and wrapping his hand delicately around his throat he used his two center fingers to press a small button on the side of his throat where the device ended. "Your companions are right, Phoenix, we need to get to shelter." To all those who heard him they would have noticed that they could understand every word he said. Turning to the Aerodactyl he quickly added, "..and yes, I am a human."

Phoenix stared in shock at Dean, her mouth opening and closing repeatedly as she failed to find anything to say. Her tails hung low to the ground as she stared at her Breeder wondering what the hell he had done to talk to her like any other Pokemon. At the mention of shelter she nodded mutely, closing her mouth and pointing with one paw towards the back of town. Looking at Kylie she offered an awkward smile and a shrug before grabbing Raven's stash and heading off to show them her den. It wasn't far from where they had stopped so the trip didn't take much. Nosing the window she had been crawling in and out of she dropped into the basement she had been calling home for several months, plopping onto her giant mound of pillows before calling out for everyone to get inside.

Dean tried to make himself useful by holding open the window for everyone else to go through, hoping they weren't as scared of him as the small Vibrava. He reached up to press the button before trying to reason with them. "It's ok guys, I'm not going to hurt anyone. Go on ahead I'll hold it open, we can all relax and introduce ourselves inside, okay?" Hopefully they would take shelter and survival over this odd fear of humans they seemed to share.

Asche was as dumbfounded as Phoenix was when the human pressed something on his neck and spoke, clear as day, to all of them. "Your companions are right, Phoenix, we need to get to shelter," he stated, the normal strange garble of the English language absent. He was talking in normal Pokemon! But how was that possible?! Asche shrank back a little when the human's gaze fell on him. Though the absol felt that the aerodactyl should get some sort of flaq for not knowing what a human looked like --because, REALLY?!-- the fact that Asche was more scared and on edge made him lose his sarcasm. Still, Phoe led the way to her den after consoling Kylie.

His eyes widened. Kylie! He never answered-- Oh, he felt like a Grade A ASS. His tail lowered and he slunk in line after the leaders, his body low to the ground. He managed to pull beside Kylie and nodded to her, unable to really speak at the moment. While he wasn't all into the mood for fighting, he was ok with the idea of making one of his friends stronger... After all, if Kylie evolved, she'd be less likely to get carted off by some giant bird... "...We can tomorrow," he said, his voice coming out in a hoarse whisper.

The den wasn't too terribly far, and while Asche had full intention of going inside, the human keeping the entryway open caused him to pause. Keeping his knapsack close, he skittered by, choosing a dark corner to curl into nearby Phoenix. This might have been her human, but any human was bad news in his book. "It's ok guys, I'm not going to hurt anyone. Go on ahead I'll hold it open, we can all relax and introduce ourselves inside, okay?"

Ha. Right.

Rukh was astonished when Bane has inquired as to whether the human right in front of them was... human. The male answered the Aerodactyl's question. "Your companions are right, Phoenix, we need to get to shelter...and yes, I am a human." The Skarmory nods to the fossil as confirmation before whipping his head around and staring at Dean in pure shock. "...How can you do that?" his voice, so enthralled by a human that can talk to them as if he were talking Pokemon, was only a whisper.

Phoenix began to head inside, which caused Rukh to hurriedly gather up his metal scraps and flutter to the window, which the man held open for them. "It's ok guys, I'm not going to hurt anyone. Go on ahead I'll hold it open, we can all relax and introduce ourselves inside, okay?" He stopped before the opening, knowing it would be an all-too tricky maneuver to fly through the entrance with talonfuls of metal. Not to mention dangerous to others around him, if a scrap of metal were to slip from his grasp and be sent flying...

Reluctantly Rukh sorted quickly through his stash, picking out onto the cleanest, most comfortable pieces of steel and abandoning the others, turning to the human. "Thank you, sir, for holding the window open for us." he nods, gathering the chosen scraps in his beak and carefully heading into the window, making sure that none slipped from his grasp.

((Please skip, I won't have time to post until late tonight. Sorry...))

((Need Phoe. :< Please skip))

Bane heard the humans response, which didn't phase him since he didn't know humans couldn't usually talk to pokemon. He looked to the others, who seemed to be stunned. Phoenix growled at him, which didn't intimidate him too much. He sniffed around, thinking to himself as the group advanced on. He absently looked at something off in the distance. He didn't walk with them, confused in his own mind about something that was unknown. He hardly noticed as they rushed by, leaving him alone. He then perked up out of his thoughts, noticing they had left. He freaked out for a moment at the loss of his group, but then he calmly went about searching for them, going in the wrong direction in his confusion.

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(OoC: I had noooooooooo idea how to make him leave. |D Sorry. ^^;)

Dean's smile faltered as the Absol skittered past him, desperate to get away. A sadness filled his eyes as his mind wondered at what could have made him so skittish around humans, to fear them even at his age. He looked in to his beautiful Phoenix and saw her sprawled over a large mound of pillows, the Absol hiding in a corner, and the Skarmory ducking into the window with thanks. But...this wasn't all of them, he was sure. Reaching up to press the small button on his neck he called down. "Phoenix, I think a couple of them are missing, I'm going to go look for the Vibrava and Aerodactyl." Before she could call out for him to stop Dean was already closing the window and gone.

The blonde male wandered around the small hideout for several minutes, seeing no trace of either Pokemon, and was getting worried. What was the little Vibrava's name again? Darn it... "Little Vibrava? Please don't be scared, we need to get you safe. Please come out." He called softly for her, right hand around his neck as he kept the translator active, loud enough to hear in the immediate area but not loud enough to draw attention from across the town. Just in case, however, he kept his left hand behind his back and gripped tightly around the grip of one of the hunting knives tucked under his coat. He hoped she was around here somewhere, because Phoenix would be sad if her friend wasn't there. But he also didn't want to be wandering in the dark with these creatures for too much longer.

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Phoenix whimpered lightly as Dean went off on his own, the sinking feeling in her gut worsened as the last rays of light disappeared. It was completely dark out and Dean was out there without her, with who knows what. While she was worried about Kylie if she went out there now she would be a bright flaming target that just screamed 'eat me'. Instead all she could do was lay there and worry, eyes trained on the window as she watched for him to return.

"Hey, Asche..." she whispered, voice almost detached as she watched the window. "Why did you run from Dean?" She had noticed the way he had crawled through the window, keeping every part of his body as far away from Dean as he could while still fitting through the small opening. It had never occurred to her that he might not like humans, since he knew Ice Beam and had a weird ass name like Asche. Surely someone gave him those things, right? Her eyes shot to him in the corner briefly before going back to the window, nervousness growing as the time went by. "Something bad happened, didn't it?"

Though Asche didn't think it smart for the human to go out at night, the absol couldn't help but feel some concern for him or Kylie; he'd thought she was right behind him! Realizing his folly, guilt rose up in the back of his throat like bile, gripping the lump that had now formed. He should have made sure she was behind him...

"Hey, Asche..." Phoenix whispered, her voice sounding odd at such a low volume. He turned to look at her from his position curled in the corner. "Why did you run from Dean? Something bad happened, didn't it?" His eyes fell from her, expression falling a bit as well. While his mind flashed through memories of being stolen, bought, flung from human to human to human, and then to have those same people clamor to kill him, his tongue couldn't manage to speak. He hated humans, for their backstabbing ways, but couldn't bring himself to really harm them... After all, his hideously bad luck managed to do that on its own. In reply to Phoenix, all he gave her was a small nod.

However, his fear for the little vibrava was enough to make him stand. He figured Phoenix had some reason why she wasn't running after him, but Asche began to slowly move toward the door. "...Should I go help...?" he asked, looking to her and Rukh for advice.

[OOC: Skip, not quite sure what to make Rukh do atm.]

Despite Phoenix's words, I was still pretty freaking unsure. While the Ranger had never outright mistreated me... She had never once stopped to consider my feelings. She made me fight and harm others even when I begged not to both in words and actions. Sure, I evolved and became healthier and was able to leave a hospital for the first time since bein hatched and taken from my Mommy, but she had been completely deaf and blind to both Dylan and my own real feelings. They just scared me anyway. Damn things took over the planet and were crawling everywhere like roaches. Hell, I even had my own theory that they were behind the fucking virus. Who else could? Either them or Arceus and I knew the Legend would not do that. Damn humans. 

I did not come out of my hole even as Asche came close. I blinked in suprise but all he sad were three words, his voice sounding unhealthy and dry. "...We can tomorrow," the Absol responded to my earlier inquiry. I raised my head, hope flashing in my eyes as my wings quivered happily. About to come out of hiding, I immediately ducked back down when the human, Dean, passed by, watching with wide and frightened eyes. Phoe might like him... But I was just unsure. My face flushed as I realized how much a fool I must seem to her, but I could not change my beleifs like that. Too soon.

It was only a few more minutes later that I realized my mistake. It was now dark. And I was alone. And fuck. I immediately scolded myself feircely within my mind, hiding the growing fear with a colorful vocabulary. Should have just gone, who gives a fuck if there was a human! I found myself whimpering loudly without meaning to; I had screwed up. Who even knew if I would be able to find my way in the dark. I had no sense of smell. "Rayquaza..." I whispered the name of the god my mom always used to pray to. "Help." Maybe the deity was actually listening, because there was a voice that called through the thickening night. "Little Vibrava? Please don't be scared, we need to get you safe. Please come out." My head shot up, antenna flicking forward. It was the human... But his voice did sound sincere. I cautiously stepped forward until my head was poking from my hiding place. "D-Dean?" I called out, my tone high and oviously frightened and the tremor in my voice all too ovious. But I was running out of options.

[ooc: Permission to pick Kylie up if you want Phoe. c:]

Douglas suddenly found that he was not in the Dreamyard anymore. He stared down the undead Abra that took him there. It growled at him, aggitated at him for some reason. The Shuppet fired a Shadow Ball at it, but it quickly dodged it. It then countered with its own, more powerful Shadow Ball that hit him dead on. Doug struck him with Faint Attack as the Abra kept firing Shadow Ball at him. Doug finally took down the undead with one final Faint Attack, killing it on contact from the damage it had already taken.

Doug tried to float away from it, but he was in pain. He didn't recognize this place at all, and he was a little scared. He heard something that made him hide behind a bush. A voice. He looked out of the bush to see what the voice was. He was shocked to see that it was a human. "A-A human? But..." He mumbled, but before he could finish the sentence, he collapse from exhaustion. The Shuppet fell out of the bushes and was down for the count.

(OoC: Sorry if it's a bit crappy. I was so nervous in making this post because I've wanted to join this team for a while now...)

The comforting grip of his hunting knife was starting to fade as the sounds of attacks filtered through the night air. He needed to find the little Vibrava soon and get back to Phoenix before something found him first. He had circled the area where they had last seen the little bug at least twice now and was losing hope that she was still there, and he couldn't afford to stay out here all night. He was about ready to give up when a soft voice called out to him. "D-Dean?" Turning his head sharply he spotted the small head of the bug he was looking for and a smile brightened his face.

He made his way over to her slowly, hand falling from the grip of his blade to reach out for her. She looked really frightened, though it was hard to tell if it was because of the night and monsters or if she was that terrified of him, but at the moment all he cared about was getting them to safety. "Shh, it's okay little sweetie," he whispered, picking up the female gently and cradling her to his chest. "It's gonna be okay." He couldn't resist smiling at the awkward way he had to hold her, trying to keep at least one hand free to reach for a blade if he needed it. It was almost like holding a toddler on his hip the way he had to shift her to one side, but she was so tense that he didn't want her to have to walk all the way back.

As he started to make his way back to the den Dean thought he heard the sounds of battle nearby and hid around a corner. Peering around he saw a ghost and a creepy Abra going at it, the small ghost coming out the victor. Not willing to risk it and see if the ghost was infected he kept moving only to hear rustling in the bushes quickly after. Not wasting any time he quickly pulled out a knife and held his arm bent in front of him and Kylie to hold the blade in a defensive position, the blade catching the moonlight and shimmering menacingly. His eyes narrowed to assess the threat and he held Kylie tight, not willing to let anything get to the female, when out of the bush fell the small ghost from before.

"A Shuppet?" he questioned, knife lowering slightly so he could get a better look at it. The poor thing looked absolutely exhausted and had passed out, leaving it totally exposed. His heart pulled tightly for him to help the little guy but he also had to think of Kylie. Turning to the little Vibrava he gave a slight shrug. "Think I can carry you both?"

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Asche never answered her question, and while it irritated Phoenix somewhat she knew that the Absol's memories were his own and she didn't have the right to pry if he didn't want to share. She was a bitch, not a hypocrite. If she forced him to spill his guts it would bring up any time that she refused to share anything about herself. Rukh seemed unsure of what to do, and Phoenix chuckled at him. "Just put your stuff anywhere and make yourself comfortable. We may be here for a while." She tried to force the sadness from her eyes as she glanced at the window once again, praying that Dean would come through it again soon. She was growing more worried by the second, and Asche said something that threw her worry into full blown panic. "...Should I go help...?"

Seeing Asche get up to move Phoenix quickly rose to her feet and blocked him from the window. "Out there I am a bright, flaming target. My pelt reflects off of any surface even in the dark." She lowered herself to a crouch, almost threatening, her tails fanned and twitching nervously. It was killing her not to go after Dean and Kylie, especially with how much Kylie reminded the female of her son Nikkolai, but if she went out there she would only draw attention to them. Asche would be no better.

"Your blue pelt may help hide you in the night better than my yellow but your uncanny ability to find trouble will make you a target too. And that will only draw focus to the very ones we are trying to protect." With a heavy sigh she shifted her position so it wasn't as aggressive, giving off an air of more exhaustion than anything else. She turned her neck and looked out the window longingly, praying to whatever deity would listen that Dean and Kylie were alright. "We just have to trust Dean..."

((OOC: Sorry for the late reply!))

Asche's tail lowered as Phoenix explained how going out there would be a bad idea. "Your blue pelt may help hide you in the night better than my yellow but your uncanny ability to find trouble will make you a target too. And that will only draw focus to the very ones we are trying to protect." A small pang of guilt stabbed him; he knew it was true. If anything, Asche really only managed to make matters worse. He glanced to the silent Rukh, who looked to be just as useful in the dark as either of them. "We just have to trust Dean..."

The absol paced a little, going to and from his spot he'd picked within the confines of the ninetales' den. Just sit and wait? He'd never been very good at that... Honestly, he'd never really been good at much of anything other than getting in and out of trouble... and not even the latter part. And as much as he didn't like it, it would be better if it were just Dean out there; Phoenix's points were true. He'd just have to sit and wait.

Coming to this conclusion, he flopped back onto the spot he'd claimed as his and sighed, eyes fixated on the door, body anxious for a sight, scent, sound of the others. Legends, this was taking forever...

[OOC: I'm sorry! I've been having a hard time getting in character with Rukh, I'll try to post next round. ;; I might make him a dual so he'll be easier to RP with. ;w;]

I could not hlp the way that my tounge was suddenly too dry to speak as the human immediately took notice of his name being gingerly called out. I felt my uneasiness rise to an incredible level as his face instantly lit up, a too bright twinckle in his eyes as he quickly turned in my direction. I did not miss the hold he held on the knife at his side and true fear shot through me. Would he try to ram me through before he returned to his beloved Phoenix? Surely he could come up with an excuse as to why I was never found. Might lie and say that he saw infection in my eyes. The true terror that pumped through my veins was almost too much to bear.

But then the human suprised me.

Coming in close to where I hid, I fought the urge to step back into the shadows, but the grip on his weapon had dropped. His entire presense was suddenly oozing with concern... Was it concern for me? Impossible to tell with humans. But as his arms reached for me, I held my breath and forced myself not to move, but I did not relax either. "Shh, it's okay little sweetie," Dean cooed softly, taking me into a strangely gentle grip against his chest. I did not move as he near juggled around to hold me with merely one arm. "It's gonna be okay." I was stunned. He had instead picked me up, craddled me, instead of just leaving my pathetic ass to rot. I decided to take a chance and turned my head ever so slightly to face him. "Th-thank you.... My name is Kylie, b-by the way," I added quickly. Suddenly there was sounds of a struggle and movement.

I strained to turn and see what was happening but only saw a ghostly Pokemon collapse on the ground. Dean spoke my thoughts- "A Shuppet?" I did not notice the hold on his knife until he loweed it before shrugging after a second's thought. "Think I can carry you both?" I felt both touched and worried. I was finally coming to trust the peson Phoenix so clearly adored, but the ghost type was oviously much worse off. I wiggled just slightly in the one rmed grip, trying to catch his attention. "You can p-put me down. I can walk- the Shuppet clearly needs help m-more than I do," I pointed out, my tone soft with modesty.

(Skip me. Doug's still passed out from exhaustion. I also give permission to carry him.)

Dean knelt down carefully, so as not to drop Kylie, as he looked at the small little Shuppet. The poor little guy was exhausted, but didn't have any serious injuries that he could see. "You can p-put me down. I can walk- the Shuppet clearly needs help m-more than I do." Dean looked at Kylie and smiled. "Don't worry about it sweetie, just climb onto my shoulders and I can carry him in my arm." He let Kylie do which ever one she chose before reaching down to gently lift the ghost into his arms. "Poor little guy..."

Keeping his eyes sharp Dean quickly made his way between the buildings until he saw the window he had left through earlier. "There it is Kylie," he whispered softly, so the Vibrava would know she was almost safe. Checking the shadows carefully, left hand with a firm grip on the hilt of his blade, Dean made his move. Darting across the open as quickly as he could he made it to the window in a flash, opening it up and jumping through, holding it open a moment for Kylie. "Hey guys! We're back!"

When Phoenix saw Dean come through the window she yipped happily and nearly tackled him once again. But when she saw the small bundle in his arms she paused and sniffed at it awkwardly. "What the hell is that?" she asked to no one in particular. Upon seeing Kylie the Ninetales beamed and went over to the small bug. "Where the heck did you get off to? I was worried." Nuzzling her gently Phoe pointed a paw over to her mound of pillows. "Make yourself comfortable doll, 'kay?"

"Phoenix sweetheart, do you have any berries or healing items here?" Dean's voice floated over to her. The fox tilted her head in confusion for a moment before she realized the strange shape in his arms was actually a Pokemon. Ears straight up and her tails slightly flared she wondered why she didn't notice it before, and then Dean set the small bundle down on one of her pillows. A little irked she marched over to it and sniffed it over once again. "A ghost," she hissed, irritated that she hadn't noticed before. Dean just gave her a harsh look and the yellow fox hung her had in shame, ears flat to her head. Dean was the only one who could ever make her feel that way.

Asche felt a small wave of mixed feelings as Dean returned with Kylie and a new little bundle nestled in his arms. He didn't recognize the actual pokemon, but the scent-- a ghost. Frowning at the thought of another newcomer, especially with how Phoenix thought on them, he expected her to at least snap at the human for his ignorance. But no, she nearly tackled him in excitement and then, when she realized the shuppet was there, just took to sniffing it over with a frown.

Really? The girl who'd nearly bitten off the aerodactyl's face at just asking for directions just blew over an intruder in her very den? His eyes glanced to the human, gaze narrowing slightly as he asked for healing items. Asche kept his bag of Fresh Waters close behind him, not wanting to share if it meant it was going to the shuppet. It had no business being in here, and now they were stuck with it. Resentment built quickly for Dean, as the human had not only disrupted their group by bringing in some stranger whom they had no idea was trustworthy or not, and also turned Phoenix into a doting puppy. She wilted and fawned when in his presence and it was almost sickening. He'd known her for the full day, but this Phoenix right here was nothing like what he'd known for the past 16 hours.

Instead of lashing at Dean, Asche turned his attention to Kylie, the poor thing shivering near Dean. "Hey, Baby Girl, you wanna come here? There's plenty of room," he called, his voice soft and inviting. He shifted so as to make room for her, occasionally glancing to Dean, to make sure he wasn't getting any closer.

As the others went on with their own conversations, Rukh was sitting somewhat-comfortably on his pile of metal, thinking over the events of that day. 'Alright, so I arrived in Pyrite, met Phoenix and Asche, and also that damn Smeargle. Also met Kylie, and Raven. The Smeargle was killed, a Garchomp came but went, Raven was taken...' the Skarmory screwed his eyes shut in a desperate attempt to jog his memory, mind hazy from fatigue.

When the human came back, he brought a Shuppet with him. Phoe didn't quite seem too happy about it, and Rukh craned his neck to the side for a better view. It seemed to be unconscious, probably from exhaustion. "Oh, I have a question..." he mumbled, looking over to the Ninetales. "What are the plans for tomorrow? It would be a good idea to plan a schedule out so we're not running around everywhere,"

[OOC: Crappy post, I'll do better next time. ^^;]

I was already coming to like Dean. he had my respect, anyway. When he headed to the den Phoenix had so spoken of, I took his advice and had a new perch on the ride back so that he could carry the poor Shuppet. My wings even buzzed oftly in joy, being cared for enough to be rescued lifting my mood. "Hey guys! We're back!" The human announced, letting me fly from his shoulder to the ground as he stepped inside. I looked around with wide eyes, taking in the small yet cozy space. Rukh, Asche, and Phoenix had already taken up their spots, but the Ninetales quickly bounded forward to greet us.

Pausing in her excitement, the brilliant fox sniffed at the ghost, growling, "What the hell is that?" But then her eyes landed right on me, and her entire face lit up again. Blushing from embaressment, the fire type came right on over to where I had landed and stood awkwardly, unsure of what to do. "Where the heck did you get off to? I was worried." Shocked at her words, I felt my heart warm as she welcomed me with such a motherly gesture. "Sorry... I got a little... lost." That was the excuse I settled for. brilliant Kyle. But Phoe did not seem to mind, instead gesturing to the pile of endless freaking fluff in the corner. "Make yourself comfortable doll, 'kay?" Smiling timidly, I just nodded in response as she turned back to Dean, probably deciding what to do with the Shuppet.

But, despite her words, it still seemed super awkward to go lay by the Absol when she was the one inviting me, not him. Not to mention the gaurded look to his eyes. Concern fluttered in my chest, but before I could question it, Asche welcomed me as well. "Hey, Baby Girl, you wanna come here? There's plenty of room," the Disater Pokemon called warmly, even shifting to make more room for my much smaller frame. Showing how thankful i was with my brightened eyes, I happily moved over and settled beside him. Almost purring with relief, I glanced up at him. "Thanks, Asche."

"Oh, I have a question..." Rukh suddenly spoke then. My wide brown eyes immediately were drawn from the sweet Absol over to him. "What are the plans for tomorrow? It would be a good idea to plan a schedule out so we're not running around everywhere," the Skarmory pointed out in a calm voice. I blinked. He was completely right. But after a glance at Phoe and Dean, I knew that Asche had already made plans with me. At least, I was pretty sure it was still on. Suddenly unsure, I whispered to him, "You will still help me, right? I mean, to evolve, that is." If I could evolve and become stringer, maybe I would have the strength and courage not to repeat my stupid mistake of last night.