The LILYCOVE Team

"Oh your Eevee friend!" Diamond Dust gasps, the tiny motes of ice once again sparkling around her as she feels her apology has been accepted.
She rises and shakes out her long ears as she curiously observes the Phanteon. Newly evolved he can't have been any older than her.
There was still a childish sort of concern in his voice when he mentioned his friend.
The white furred Glaceon is worried she has managed to get them into more trouble.
An Arbok and a Dragonair, both serpents of the kind that made her skin crawl.
"Why is it always snakes..." She thinks, keeping her ears perked up.
Despite her initial impression she decides these living are of a good sort and she admits to being curious as to how exactly this strange form of Evolution had come to life.
It was amazing to think that the Eevee species had learnt how to evolve in yet another way.
She flicks her long tail elegantly.
"Should we...?" She asks embarrassedly.

Royce was first to emerge from the building, eyes wide as he scanned the surroundings. Everything was as it had last been, but soon a small gathering of creatures fell into his line of vision. Tensing in initial alarm, the Arbok’s face was overcome with apprehension, a certain frustration visible from his narrowed eyes. He should have rejoiced in the fact they were alive, but their presence only angered him. He didn’t want to look at them, let alone speak to them – but more importantly, he didn’t want Rose to get any stupid ideas. That Dragonair, as beautiful and charming as she was, was just so damn flirtatious. He couldn’t trust her. The female looked to betray him at every opportunity and whilst he struggled to judge the genders from this distance, Royce’s sexism convinced him the majority were male.
“Oh…” Rose had slithered to hover beside him, the exclamation quiet as she followed his stare. Annoyed that he hadn’t acted quick enough, the larger serpent’s tongue flicked from his mouth accompanied by a bitter hissing. The female turned to him, worried. “What’s the matter, dear?”
“Undead,” He lied. The Dragonair’s previously hopeful expression had succumbed to a muted fear, her sparkling eyes unmoving from the group as she strained to catch the telltale scent of the undead. She could smell nothing, but knew it unwise to argue with Royce – he’d only get angry. Managing a weak smile, she nudged her mate gently, eager to discover the truth. She loved people – always had, but Royce’s jealousy always held her back. She didn’t want others to see that side of the serpent she loved and found it easier to simply avoid conversation with strangers all together. But still, it was a miracle to witness other survivors and an opportunity she was unwilling to sacrifice so easily.
“A-are you su-“ She stopped, catching his glare.
“They’re dangerous. But I’ll check, for you,”

Slithering forward, the Arbok slowly approached the creatures, taking in the assortment of species as his attention lingered on a Dragonite, male. Unable to suppress the angered hiss the sight had triggered, images of the stranger wooing his beloved Rose bombarded his thoughts. Over my dead body. However, as he neared, the sudden appearance of two Zoroarks atop the roof took him off guard. Freezing, the situation only worsened as the larger of the two sank his claws deep into his companion’s throat, her lifeless body plummeting to the ground in a shower of blood. Horrified, Royce knew these creatures were trouble.
“Royce!” Rose cried, terrified for her mate now that the space between the Arbok and the strangers had been near-eliminated. The spurt of blood had made her feel nauseous, her eyes tearing up as the fox’s attacker scooped up the victim and disappeared into the distance. Moving terrified to her mate’s side, Rose’s body was trembling as she found herself unable to tear her gaze from the pool of blood left behind.
“Let’s just go,” Was his firm reply, though the shakiness in his voice betrayed his fear. Nudging the female away with a little more force than he should have, Royce was mainly concerned about his own well-being after witnessing such unprovoked violence. His judgemental nature condemned the whole group as no better than that murderous Zoroark and he was eager to escape whilst he still had chance, with or without Rose. Fortunately, she obeyed his every command.

A great sigh escaped him, his body fatigued and tired from the long night's journey. His paranoia of the stalkers that haunted his trail kept him from sleeping, and so, his feet continued to move, as restless has his mind. While he was normally a simple creature, the current situation had him on edge. A silhouette of a large city loomed in the distance, a foreboding shadow even in the sun's first rays. Raised a country boy, cities made him feel awkward, out of place, even on a good day. The sandslash's nose crinkled at the stench that wafted on the air from its direction. It would just be better if he passed it by.

The sandslash paused as a scream filtered through the air, unmistakably female. For a moment, he was caught with indecision, weighing charging into battle in unknown territory for an unknown female that was probably already dead. However, his chivalry quickly won out, despite the voice of reason in his mind. He was never one to leave someone in aid, and he wouldn't start now by abandoning hope for a woman in peril.

Quickly, he rushed down the paths that the humans had carved long ago that led right into the city. Working on instinct alone, he merely guessed where the cry could have come from. However, once in, he skidded to a halt, spotting a group of pokemon not too far. There were a few further away, but his eye fell on a beautiful dragonair, scales of clay rose glistening in the morning light. Jack was too simple a pokemon to be able to put her beauty into words, awestruck with the ethereal creature before him. He swallowed, unaware his mouth had been agape, then went towards her. He paused once more when an arbok slithered to her side, mentioning they should go. Unsure of what else to do, Jack stepped forward.

"Well, hello Sir, Miss Ma'am," he greeted, still panting from his mad dash toward the city. "I high-tailed it over here to see if anyone needed some help, but... I guess I got here a smidge too late, huh?" He offered a broad, friendly, tired smile to the two. "Name's Jack. Pleasure to meet you both."

((Well hello! Pleasure to be on the team! XD))

Watching yet more of his friends leave, the great dragon sighs and looks to Soren who asked where Siri was. Shaking his head, his eyes clearly stated what he didn't want to say. From far off Tenebre saw the Arbok and the Dragonair getting closer but then halting. With a deep sigh he looked to his remaining friends and motioned towards the two. "Come on let's go." Pushing his wings out he began to glide towards the Pokemon off into the distance knowing that Diamond and Soren would no doubt follow in his shadow.

He was hungry.

The Harbinger was very displeased, as he had not had a simgle lick of a fight or prey since he smashed that ghost and left the surrownding area in ashes. Despite the sun lifting into the unsuspecting morning sky, there was an odd chill within the air. With no heat left inside his body, the signature blaze at the end of his tail completely gone, he was unnaturally cold anyway. Pulling back rotted lips, an earthshaking roar vibrated from deep within CHarizard, rippling though the sky around him as if you could actually see the power.

Of course anyone could sense his strngth. Even those pathetic dying roaches that dared claim they bore the same beautiful perfection as the Charizard, fled at the ghastly sound. Clouds obstructing him from veiw, there was no way they could see him.

Not like he could see them in return, either.

For many hours, there had been nothing but the disgusting flow of the oceanic waters beneath him. He did not need to beable to see to know that- he could just fucking SENSE it. But the dragon could also feel when the revolting liquid gave way to land. The sounds he listened to, they echoed differently from solid rock and ground. Waving the bonified and gorey stumps that were once powerful arms, a sickly grin split his reptilian muzzel. He would fine good game here, oh YES. He would.

The sunds of voices from faraway brought Charizard's attention right to the ground, his head snapping around so quickly, you would have thought he could see them despite the bloodied gashes across his eyes, taking that sense from his forever. No... he heard them. Many different voices. His grin pulled back into a vicious snarl, a rabid growl errupting from deep within his chest. The massive wings at his sides flicked, banking him to one side as his desent became swift and steep. As the wind rushed past the sunken holes in his thick head that crossed for ears, Charizard knew he was coming up steadily to the ground. Opening his jaws wide, another deafening roar erruoted from within his being, echoing at a near impossibly loud volume in the ruins of Lilycove.

As soon as the noisy scream of his arrival, the massive pressure within his chest exploded with fury, his wrath released almost instantly as if a switch had been flipped.

He could smell it.

he could SMELL the next prey.

The ice type.

He could smell IT.

Snapping out his wings to hault the dive, the Harbinger allowed the lava to form at his lips. The growling ripping from within his body nothing short of horrifying, the intensity all too clear. So when he scented the ice type again, he swirved and did not pause.

The screaming that accompanied his coming into their veiw was nothing compared to the begging cries of the Glaceon. She knew he was coming for her. It was ovious in the way her scent rippled and grew with pure fear. The slamming of the Charizard's nothing short of monsterous body into her dainty build was nothing short of brutal, her scream cut short with a loud gasp as his ribcage smashed into her. Knocking the wind from the fox and slamming her body against the pavement, the scent of blood was already in the air. There was a roar from behind and the Harbinger did not move his attention from the Glaceon, merely slamming his powerful tail into the gut of the Dragonite, effectively knocking his body away and letting the predetor take his meal.

Struggling in vein beneath his bulk, Charizard took intense and sick pleasure from her pleading. Might as well have been speaking to air. His lips flaoming with molten lava, fire dripping from his tounge and mouth like saliva and hitting the paved ground, he lunged blindly. The sound of singing then melting fur cut through the air slower than her screams as he sunk teeth and melted rock into her shoulder. His eyebrow ridges raised in pleasure, the would-be glow to his eyes ovious even with his sockets effectively singed.

As the limb was amputated, it was not heard as the leg fell to the ground with a dull thump as the Glaceon was still screaming and crying for mercy. The wound was completely sealed shut, though, with the fire. So there was no blood. And he wanted blood. "BURN!" Charizard roared into her face, whipping around with blinding speed and slamming his tail into her midsection. THAT cut off her screaming. The air completely stolen from the ice type, she could no longer bleed. Blood splashed openly across the ground and both him and her a her ribs snapped and gave way. her insides were a site the Harbonger could never see, but those around them would never forget.

Lave dripped from his maw then as he faced the Glaceon with a satisfied smirk. "Yes... burn," he rasped, easily hearing as her last breaths left her mangled and crushed body. Just one more thing to do. The immensely powerful fire attack suddenly sprewed from within the undead as he tossed his head from side to side, alighting all of the buildings and landmarks around him for many feet. Satisfied with the uproar of horror rising around him, Charizard almost leisurely took the leg into his mouth. Having tamed the inner beast that once, the Harbinger took to the sky.

"Well, hello Sir, Miss Ma'am. I high-tailed it over here to see if anyone needed some help, but... I guess I got here a smidge too late, huh? Name's Jack. Pleasure to meet you both."

Royce stared accusatorily down at the Sandslash, whilst Rose mirrored the creature’s smile. Taken by the newcomer’s charming nature as he boasted a valiant persona, expressing a desire to help, Rose struggled to keep herself from blushing. Although, she soon realized that her own scream was likely to have triggered Jack’s movements, guilty that she had tired the stranger for nothing. Catching Royce’s disapproving, almost jealous glare, her smile vanished as she averted her eyes to the ground. So wrapped up in the idea of company, the shiny had forgotten her mate’s own opinions on the matter. The Arbok wasn’t a people person, especially if said people were male.
“What do you want?” The Arbok demanded harshly, eyes narrowed as his glare volleyed between Jack and his Rose. They were talking through their eyes; he was convinced it was flirting. Hissing, forked tongue flicking irritably from his mouth, Royce would deal with his unruly mate later.

A sudden, horrendous screaming broke the tense atmosphere. Flinching at the sound, panic seeping into her veins, Rose whipped her head around in alarm. Almost as soon as she’d done so, she regretted it. It was a Charizard – a monster of an undead, tearing savagely into the pretty Glaceon who’d been conversing with the Dragonite from earlier. Feeling nauseous, light-headed, the Dragonair looked like a deer caught in the headlights. She was frozen, terror rendering her immobile as she fought the overwhelming urge to pass out. Fortunately, Royce was there to snap her out of her fearful daze.
“These people are fucking psychopaths!” He spat, his unparalleled fury disguising his own fear at the attack – far too close for comfort. Shielding the scene from his precious mate’s eyes by standing directly before her, his broad hood blocking the horror, he hurriedly ushered her away. “We need to go!”

Rose, her eyes brimming with tears, didn’t know what to do. She wanted to help, but she struggled to even look at that monster let alone had the guts to fight it.
“R-Royce, w-we have to help,” She was sobbing now, her voice shrill and shaky as she searched for some ounce of bravery within her. But with the serpent roughly pushing her back away from the scene, she was left with little opportunity to protest. But in her emotional state, she persisted – a mistake. “Royce, p-please,”
“Don’t you dare argue with me,” The venom had leapt back into his voice, full-force. He spoke in a dangerous whisper, eyes narrowed as the fury, the jealousy, the fear, was becoming difficult to suppress. “You are mine. You do what I say – and I say we’re leaving. Now,”

She couldn’t fight him; Rose meeting her mate’s cruel glare as she finally accepted her place. Sniffing, tears streaming down her pretty face, she strained to see past her partner’s hood to catch glimpse of the sight. The undead was gone, a bloody mess left behind whilst both Jack and the shiny Dragonite stood a fair distance from her and Royce’s retreating forms. Tempted to speak out, reassure the Arbok that it was over, that everything was okay, a single glare from him silenced any desires. He was struggling to keep calm – she could tell – and was unwilling to push her luck any further. Saddened that she was to be leaving such kindly souls – well, she was sure they were – so soon, Rose reminded herself that Royce was right. Royce was always right.

(( OMG! I’ve just realized, Jack and Rose – TITANIC! :o ))

(LOL, Snitch, I nearly choked on my cereal.)


Jack's amiable demeanor slowly faded as he listened to the two snakes converse, particularly the arbok's manners to his female companion. Jack was fairly sure they were a mated pair, which made the verbal venom all the worse. The dragonair looked to be a sweet, shy girl, but the arbok... now that was a different creature all together. The harsh question from the arbok put Jack on the defensive, a small frown creasing his usually jovial expression. "...Now, hold on there," he began slowly, careful not to arouse more anger from the snake, "I didn't mean fer no trouble..."

The tension in the air escalated not only from the harsh words and actions from the male, but from a nearby scream. Turning, and soon wishing he hadn't, he saw one of the other pokemon from further away being completely consumed and devoured by a very dead Charizard. "These people are fucking psychopaths!" the arbok cried, pushing and shoving his mate further away from the scene, despite her pleas for them to help. Looking back to the sight, Jack shook his head to himself. 'Naw...' his mind murmured to itself, 'It's too late...'

By the time he realized the two snakes were no longer nearby, he had little time to think. There was a dragonite, left in the carnage of its teammate, and another pokemon Jack didn't know. Turning to see that the two serpents were already reclusing, he had a moment to make a decision. Follow or stay? Giving a small grunt of frustration, Jack raised a claw, beckoning the dragon and fox to follow. "Come on, now!" he called, then ran to catch up to the others.

He knew that the arbok would protest -though he wasn't really sure why- but he couldn't stand to think of just letting that fragile thing be off on her own like that. Arbok could only do so much... and the ladyfolk needed all the protection they could get. He soon caught up to them, panting from exhaustion. He really needed to stop running everywhere.

"Sorry to bother ya'll again," he stated, keeping their pace beside the shiny dragonair, "But I can't say I've seen survivors in a dog's age. Where ya'll headed? I can't say I know this region well, but I came from this direction, and there's nothin' good out this way..." His eyes flicked between both serpents, eager for a reply. Maybe a change of subject would help that distant, sad look on the dragonair's face. "Can't say I heard any names, but that could just be m' bad hearin'." He offered a small, reassuring smile, hoping to lift her spirits.

The Braviary hadn't let go of her since Pyrite, it just kept tearing through the skies like it had completely forgotten she was in its talons. They passed over water and towns, and even what looked like an ocean, so Raven was pretty sure she wasn't even in Orre anymore. 'This is just freaking great...' she thought to herself. 'I finally get a footing in Pyrite and suddenly I'm whisked off to Arceus knows where? I must have been horrifyingly cruel to puppies in a previous life to deserve this. Raven was starving and the constant pressure of flying so high had given her a headache the size of the TV Station back home.

As they passed over yet another town Raven decided she had finally had enough. Waiting for the right moment she let loose a Thunderbolt, sending the electric current racing through the bird and making it let out a horrifying shriek. It completely paralyzed and before she knew it they were both dropping out of the sky towards the ground. Its claws has loosed their grip on her as she had shocked him, so the Persian was now free falling right next to her foe. Suddenly aware the the ground was very close she struggled to get to the bird and placed herself on top of it, letting the massive avian break her fall as they crashed into a small house.

The bird made impact first, absorbing most of the shock from the fall. Raven could feel and hear almost every bone in its putrid body cracking like twigs and ripping through the flesh. Its body flattened as the ground didn't give way, spraying blood and gore in almost a perfect circle from where they landed. Raven herself wasn't spared all of the impact, however, for when they hit the roof she had been knocked back and wound up barely staying on the Braviary in time to not be crushed by it. Limping out of the wreckage of the house she had a very pissed off expression, practically seething. "Cats always land on their feet my ass!" Screw whoever came up with that stupid expression. It was then that she noticed she was actually around a few other Pokemon and she clammed up immediately. "Oh uh...hi?" 'Great first impression Raven....'

((OOC: Hey guys! Happy to be on the team and glad to have Raven back in action. And extra kuddos to anyone who catches the quote in here.))

"Come on, now!"

Royce hissed irritably, eyes narrowed as he looked over his hood to see the Sandslash was pursuing them. His expression one of purest loathing, the serpent focused his attempts on roughly pushing Rose onwards in a desperate bid to avoid the over-friendly ground-type. He didn’t give a shit what he wanted, what he was offering; Royce only wanted to be free of his company. Rose’s mind was so drawn to the corrupt, finding some twisted joy in hurting him with her incessant flirting. She could be so cruel. Fangs bared, the Arbok soon discovered his efforts in fleeing had all been in vain. Jack trotted beside them, panting from the physical exertion.

The Dragonair had been quick to pick up on her mate’s growing anger, that familiar look etched across his handsome face – it was a shame the emotion was soon keen to distort his natural allure. Turning away, she let herself be pushed along, stopping only as the ground-type reappeared at her side. He was smiling, kind in his words as he enquired to their names in a boyish drawl. Rose subconsciously mimicked his smile, eyes falling onto his form as instinct told her to respond.
“I’m Rose,” Her voice was sweet, innocent as she glanced to Royce, the Arbok unafraid to make known his discomfort. He was still scowling away, probably angry that she’d spoken to the stranger without his permission. Stifling a gulp, the female was suddenly aware of the drastic error she’d made. With that single utterance, she had effectively succeeded in placing the Sandslash in Royce’s bad books – she was only trying to be friendly.
“You didn’t hear out names for a reason,” Royce hissed bitterly, powerful body coiling in a direct threat that he was more than willing to spring. Damn country lad flirting with his Rose – the commoner didn’t even deserve to share the air they breathed.
“Royce, he’s just being friendly,” Rose whispered quietly, leaning over to her mate to speak in a reassuring purr. The look of malice he shot her was enough to silence any thoughts of pressing the matter. She couldn’t push him – he’d only get violent.

Something suddenly crashed a short distance away from the trio, a crashing sound and glimpse of beige and feathers caught in the serpents’ periphery. [color=#B22222]The fuck was that?! Royce, alert and particularly intimidating in his battle-ready position, snapped his head to the building. It took a moment, but a feline eventually emerged from the wreckage, offering an awkward hello. Rose had flinched at the sound, remaining close to her partner whilst her expression was muted enough to disguise her fear.
“What do you want?” Royce grumbled, eyes volleying between Rose’s ‘admirer’ and the recently arrived Persian. Whilst he was thankful that the creature was female, he still wasn’t overly fond of being so crowded. He’d grown used to the lonely world of the epidemic – all he needed was Rose and the sudden appearances of two others had immediately set him on edge. Unmoving and most blatantly displeased, Royce stood protectively by his delicate Rose – the female’s expression lost in an awry land of fear and hope.

Yeah, there was something definitely wrong here. As the pretty dragonair softly introduced herself as Rose, the arbok had different thoughts. A furious glare didn't escape the simple ground type's attention, noting the genuine fear in Rose's eyes. Now, that just wasn't right. Wasn't right at all. Jack's mouth opened to voice his protest, but a sudden and almost convenient distraction made itself known in a flurry of feathers, blood, wood and fur. The three pokemon stood, waiting and watching the wreckage until a persian emerged, winded by her scuffle.

"Cats land always land on their feet, my ass!" she yowled, her frustration apparent and seething out of her. However, when she spotted the small crowd of pokemon observing her, her demeanor changed immediately and could only offer a quiet, awkward greeting. Jack, however, was not put off. Though a lady shouldn't curse like a sailor like that, he figured she had enough reason to be crass since she did sort of just fall out of the sky. Dismissing her slight rudeness, he gave her a reassuring smile after the arbok asked her what she wanted.

"Well, hello there, Miss Ma'am," he offered, trying to ease the tension a little. "Quite a fall you took-- you all right?" His eyes shot upward, making sure there weren't more. "Didn't bring friends with you, did ya, Darlin?"

Wow, what a warm reception. Two serpents and a hedgehog. One looked like he wanted to eat her, one looked like they were terrified she was going to do the eating, and another that acted like she was made of glass. What an odd little troupe. What did she want? "Honestly, I just want the ringing in my ears to go away and for everything to stop hurting. Why? What do you want?" She chuckled to herself, the joke probably not easily noticed by anyone but her. At least she could still amuse herself.

"Well, hello there, Miss Ma'am. Quite a fall you took-- you all right? Didn't bring friends with you, did ya, Darlin?" She wasn't trying to be rude, but Raven couldn't help but laugh at the way the Sandslash addressed her. "You sure do talk funny, buddy," she chuckled, walking past him and flicking her tail lightly over his head. "So, I'm sorry to have dropped in on you like this but I kind of didn't have a choice." The Persian slowly licked one paw and drew it across her face to try and get rid of some of the dirt. "Say...can any of you tell me where the heck I am? 'Cause this sure as heck ain't Orre anymore." 'Not enough sand.'

"Honestly, I just want the ringing in my ears to go away and for everything to stop hurting. Why? What do you want?"

Royce simply frowned at her reply, tongue flicking irritably from his downturned mouth as he regarded her with disgust. At least she wasn’t some arrogant male – two of the blighters around his Rose was a nightmarish situation. No, he remained thankful that the cat, whilst already too upbeat for his liking, was indeed female. Rose cracked a shy smile at the cat’s reply, finding her quip amusing as the stranger’s chuckling threatened to start her off. She resisted however, knowing that Royce would disapproved. She nodded her head kindly at the female, silently curious to what more she might say.
“Trying to leave,” Royce grumbled bluntly, looking away to emphasize his point, but his actions stated otherwise. He made no movement, his posture relaxing as only his expression demonstrated his disgust. It only worsened as the Sandslash spoke once more.

"Well, hello there, Miss Ma'am. Quite a fall you took-- you all right? Didn't bring friends with you, did ya, Darlin?"

When the Persian began laughing again, this time the Dragonair caved in. It had been so long since she’d chuckled, her previous fear lost as the melodic, humble sound echoed from her being. She caught the flaring of her mate’s nostrils, but she was gone. A creature of emotions, it was unsurprising how contagious as much as a smile was to the deprived shiny. She silenced as the newcomer went on, questioning of her new location. Orre? Rose knew not of the place, but a smirk on her mate’s face suggested he did. Oh yes, Royce had fond memories of the region – back before he’d committed to a life alongside Rose.
“Lilycove, Hoenn,” The Arbok replied, his tone significantly more civil now good memories had been reawakened in his mind. Nodding his head in a small gesture of politeness, he paid Jack no such kindness. The cretin didn’t deserve to look at him, especially not his beloved. “Unless you’re going to sprout wings or swim a couple hundred miles, you won’t be going back to Orre…”

Though the cat and even Rose joined in at chuckling at Jack's accent's expense, the good-natured sandslash took no offense. In fact, it was nice seeing some happiness from the sad dragonair, and he was glad he could have helped it form. Smiling himself, he only chuckled along with the others, replying to the cat's statement of his funny talk. "Yeah, it sure is weird, ain't it? But I gotta tell ya, it's mighty fun lettin' yer werds slur all together like honey caught on yer tongue." Though when she asked their location, muttering something about Orre, Jack's eyes lit up.

The arbok was quick to answer first, giving information Jack had previously been denied. Well, that was a start. He still didn't know where Hoenn was, but it was a start. Still, his mind ached to hear of how Orre was doing in all this mess, and was quick to follow the arbok's question. "Yer from Orre too, Miss Ma'am?" His voice betrayed his longing for news. "H-How is it over there, what part were ya in, w--" He stopped himself, sighing and scratching his head with his large claws. "...Sorry, Miss Ma'am, I didn't mean to interragate ya. It's just I hadn't seen nor heard hide 'r hair of Orre in a long time. Name of Jack, Miss Ma'am. Pleased t' meet ya." He flashed her another smile, hoping his flurry of questions didn't have the wrong effect.

(( Urgh, I hate to skip but we sorta need Phoe at the moment. ^^; ))

((I must skip too XD))

"Lilycove, Hoenn." Hoenn? That damn bird carried her all the way to Hoenn?! That was nowhere near Orre! How the hell was she getting home? "Unless you’re going to sprout wings or swim a couple hundred miles, you won’t be going back to Orre..." Damn. Princess Phoenix was for sure going to be taking over her stuff now. Though, if she was honest with herself, she actually kind of missed the obnoxious fox.

"Yer from Orre too, Miss Ma'am?" Oh Legends! That's why his accent was funny! He was from one of the outskirts! She could smack herself for not noticing it earlier. "H-How is it over there, what part were ya in, w--" She was trying to answer but he was firing questions off so fast she couldn't even get a word in. He seemed to notice because he was shortly apologizing. "...Sorry, Miss Ma'am, I didn't mean to interragate ya. It's just I hadn't seen nor heard hide 'r hair of Orre in a long time. Name of Jack, Miss Ma'am. Pleased t' meet ya." Raven just smiled.

"Quite alright Jack, it's my pleasure," she began, still smiling happily since she found a fellow Orre Pokemon. "I'm from Pyrite personally. My gang and I used to run that town, well...most of it. Once Phoenix moved in a lot of our territory got disputed. But that's beside the point." Her smile started to fall because she was sure that what she was about to tell him the Sandslash was not going to like. "You probably haven't heard anything because Orre is almost completely devastated. The infection hit so hard and so fast that no one had time to get out. Sorry..."

Royce listened with a look of amusement as the feline muttered of a past occupation in one of the infamous gangs of Orre. Well, that explained that tatty ear and scarred eye. So engrossed in the conversation of the lower-class beings of Jack and Raven, the Arbok’s stance had completely relaxed. Whilst his calmness had stemmed from his own self-righteous superiority above the commoners conversing before him, he had fallen into a silence akin to a scientist observing a particularly rare species. Rose was pleased, content that even if it weren’t under the best circumstances, Royce had chosen to accept the quirky duo. She smiled along as they spoke, unaware of this strange region but content to hear a voice other than her mate’s malicious hiss.

"You probably haven't heard anything because Orre is almost completely devastated. The infection hit so hard and so fast that no one had time to get out. Sorry..."

This was enough to obliterate the Dragonair’s smile. The sorrow immediately infecting her fragile being, she averted her wide eyes to the ground, sparing a thought for the countless victims of the epidemic. It was a cruel world, a cruel disease and to hear so bluntly the demise of thousands, if not millions, was more than upsetting.
“They’re in a better place…” Rose mumbled to herself, practically a whisper as she struggled to contain such powerful emotions. She hated her sensitivity and knew damn well how crippling a weakness it was. She felt Royce shifting beside her, apparently uncomfortable to learn of such information. Whilst he covered up any ounce of sorrow or regret with a cold indifference, if not a sense of irritation, Royce wasn’t fond of the news. He’d had friends back in Orre, friends likely to be dead. Unwilling to dwell on the topic further, he spoke in a bid to alter the conversation’s direction.
“You got a name then?” Although it wasn’t exactly friendly, it wasn’t hostile either.

Miss Ma'am's words hit harder than Jack thought they could. Devastated? No one could get out...? Her words repeated like a horrible record over in his mind, confirming his fears. While he had few friends there in Orre still, as his owner had passed, it was still his home, and she was saying it was as good as gone now. He felt his demeanor falter, his resolve begin to waver as he heard Rose's voice over the echoing words, "They’re in a better place..."

He nodded to himself, having faith that the peace of true death was better than a lot of other options now. Swallowing the despair that had lumped in his throat, he took a steadying breath and nodded again. "Yer- Yer right, Miss Rose. They sure are." He was glad when the conversation turned to the persian's name, away from the destruction of his home region. He glanced around, sniffing the air that now began to linger of death and decay. While it was not a threatening presence, it gave him no reason to linger. "W-We should git a move on, now. Git some shelter and talk there, eh? That way, we kin actu'lly cool our heels."

Raven let out a soft sigh when she heard Rose mention that the people in Orre were in a better place, preferring not to correct the pretty female that they were most likely running around eating their former kin rather than being better off. She'd rather die than be one of those things. "W-We should git a move on, now. Git some shelter and talk there, eh? That way, we kin actu'lly cool our heels." Guy had a point, and Raven was starving after not eating for the several days that psycho bird had carried her across the sea. "Sounds good to me, but do you think we can grab a bite to eat on the way? I'm starved..." She really wished she had hung on to the bundle from the Fortune Teller's place, but she dropped it when the bird grabbed her. That thing had Lava Cookies in it.

“You got a name then?”

A strange look came across Raven's face as she pondered the question, thinking back to the few minutes ago she met these creatures. "Wait..you mean...Ididn'tgiveittoyouyet?! Man I'm dumb! What is with me today? Maybe that bird dropped me on my head..." Her ranting had started out very rapid at first, the words all sort of blending together into one big word before finally trailing off. She paced as she rambled, chains jingling softly against the Amulet Coin around her front paw, before finally stopping and giving the group a winning smile. "The name's Raven! Nice to meet ya!" The only thing that didn't make that completely the standard greeting in Pyrite, though it was close, was that she didn't mug them right after and take their shit. But hey, beggars can't be choosers.

"Yer- Yer right, Miss Rose. They sure are."

What? The Sandslash had listened? He’d not only heard, but he’d responded without the usual spite that tended to greet her. Shocked, unnecessarily flustered at the subtle act of kindness that seemed so rare in Royce’s company, a blush broke across the Dragonair’s face. Looking away in a vain bid to disguise the red tint of her face, she was helpless to escape the Arbok’s glare.
“Stop,” Royce whispered darkly, threatening, as the female soon regained her composure. That’s right; she wasn’t allowed to be happy.

The male serpent eyed her suspiciously, disgusted at the Dragonair’s desperation to flirt with every man in the vicinity, apparently scum included. His sharp glare shooting over the accusing ground-type, now preoccupied with the latest, female arrival, a quieted hiss escaped the powerful serpent. Sleazy bastard… It was only the feline’s responding to her earlier question that prevented Royce from killing the pretentious ground-type where he stood.

"The name's Raven! Nice to meet ya!"

“Royce,” The Abrok replied bluntly, half-distracted now that the chemistry between his beloved mate and a creature unworthy to share his air had come to his attention. Still, he tore his gaze away to give Raven a quick nod of his head, desperate to bring a shred of civility to proceedings.
“I-I’m Rose,” The Dragonair feebly replied, her composure calm following the missable hiss of warning from her overbearing partner. In the end, Royce was right. She’d been stupid enough to let something innocent charm her, it was her fault he’d misread the situation. Still, positivity was the key to happiness. With a smile, she listened as the Arbok continued.
“As for food, I can offer you half a Rattata?” Royce spoke solely to the feline. “No berries, I’m afraid,”

It was high time Jack actually got to hear Miss Ma'am's real name, and he laughed a little when she caught herself. "Wait..you mean...Ididn'tgiveittoyouyet?! Man I'm dumb! What is with me today? Maybe that bird dropped me on my head..."

"'Sall right, Miss Ma'am, it's already been a long day and it ain't even noon," he replied, a chuckle in his reply. Even with the hostile Royce ever present -even though Jack only had fair incling as to why the snake was so aggressive- Jack felt the best he had since the plague began. His face was relaxed with a genuine smile as Miss Ma'am finally introduced herself, naming herself Raven.

The couple introduced themselves as well, when Jack stayed quiet. He'd already introduced himself before and to do it again was just obnoxious. Only people that tried to shove their name down your throat were salesmen and politicians... so, salesmen. He blinked, though, when Royce offered Miss Raven half of a rattata, not remembering that being available when he'd asked about food. Well, ladies needed to eat first. The matter washed over him, completely unaffected by the snake's actions.

"You should eat it, Miss Raven," Jack commented, noting her too-slim form. "Sounds like you need it th' most. When we find somewhere t' hole up, Royce 'n I kin go 'n' dig somethin' else up, right, Royce?" He turned to the arbok, a friendly offer to hunt out on the line. Maybe if they just spent some time together, the snake would calm down. Hell, he'd be pretty paranoid trying to guard his girl in this sort of hell alone.

Raven was relieved that everyone seemed okay with her little blunder of not introducing herself. And that Jack guy was just damn entertaining. "'Sall right, Miss Ma'am, it's already been a long day and it ain't even noon." Now wasn't that the truth. The serpentine duo seemed alright, though the girlie was a little soft spoken and really skittish. They seemed like decent folk, but even the Classy Cat could sense a slight air of tension constantly around the two. It would take a little longer to figure out why.

“As for food, I can offer you half a Rattata? No berries, I’m afraid." Her mouth started salivating at the thought of food. "Meat? You have...real meat? Oh man it's been too long." Living in Pyrite you were lucky if you got any meat without having to kill someone's Pokemon, but that usually wound you up in more trouble that just going hungry would. Jack offered to let her take the meal and the cat simply purred in delight. "If I wouldn't be intruding, then I really do thank you. I think that could be just what I need to get back on my paws."

"Meat? You have...real meat? Oh man it's been too long."

The feline’s reaction brought a grin to Royce’s slim face, shooting a look of bittersweet triumph to Rose who had looked down ashamedly.
“At least someone appreciates it,” He hissed darkly, though the smile gracing his features was enough to lessen the brunt of the pair’s earlier, savage argument. Well, argument was the wrong word. Rose rarely put up a fight. She knew he was right.

"You should eat it, Miss Raven. Sounds like you need it th' most. When we find somewhere t' hole up, Royce 'n I kin go 'n' dig somethin' else up, right, Royce?”

The feline soon wholeheartedly accepted the offer following Jack’s miserable attempts at communication. Royce’s smile had vanished, his attention mainly on the Sandslash and his presumption that it was necessary to find more food. Royce had eaten, the feline was going to eat and Rose had declined the offering – Jack could sustain himself without assistance. But Royce kept his bitter musings to himself, instead choosing to humour the creature for the sake of getting his facts straight. He wanted to know exactly who had the nerve to flirt with his Rose.
“Sure,” He managed with as much civility as possible with such dark thoughts clouding his mind. “Rose,” She turned obediently at the utterance of her name. “Go find that Rattata,”

The Dragonair had made an effort to stay quiet, hoping to avoid any unnecessary drama within the group, but responded on calling. Nodding her head in response to her mate’s demand, Rose quietly slithered back to the house, trying to remember where Royce had thrown the ‘food’ upon her polite decline. Well, at least she wouldn’t have to eat it now.

As the dragon-type disappeared within the abandoned home, Royce gestured the other two to follow. The more useful food and items had been claimed long before; they wouldn’t be able to mooch anything out of the place so there was no harm bringing them along.
“Come on,” Mustering a smile, Royce began to head back to the house. “Make yourself comfortable, Raven. Jack and I will go hunting shortly,”

Jack smiled broadly as Miss Raven graciously accepted the offer of meat, glad that at least that bit of Rattata was going to someone, at least. Miss Rose went to go and get it, and Royce offered Miss Raven to follow her while they went out and hunted for more. Something deep down told him that he wasn't safe with the arbok alone, but he dismissed it. No girl like Miss Rose would go around with someone so dangerous, right?

"Right," Jack commented after Royce's statement to Miss Raven. "You girls go git settled, and we'll come back with more food t' hold us over." He turned to Royce, bright, friendly smile still well plastered on his face. "All right, Royce, where should we head off to first?"

The offer of real meat was confirmed and Raven could feel herself salivating at the thought. Real meat...“At least someone appreciates it,” She titled her head in confusion but brushed it aside as just an inside conversation. The pair were obviously together and she didn't want to butt into a lover's spat. That was more something Phoenix would pull, but Raven had more tact and manners than that. Royce told Rose to head back and fetch the Rattata but that seemed unneccesary since they started to head that way themselves. Maybe it had been put away?

“Come on. Make yourself comfortable, Raven. Jack and I will go hunting shortly.” Raven happily trotted alone after the Arbok, pleased to find herself so much more welcome here than she had been back home. That didn't mean she didn't want to get back, of course. Princess would run that town into the ground if she stayed away too long. "You girls go git settled, and we'll come back with more food t' hold us over." Giving Jack a big grin she did just that, heading inside the house and going in search of Rose.

She found the female looking around and coughed lightly to let her know she was there, not wanting to sneak up on the obviously sensitive female. The Persian didn't want to scare her to death, especially since they were freely offering her food. “So Rose,” she began, trying to warm her up with a smile. “What's your story? Are you and Royce from around here? And how'd you wind up with Jack?” She didn't mean to just fire off questions like that, but it was just kind of how people in Orre worked it seemed. Ask a hundred questions and hope the person you asked them to caught at least one of them so they could answer.