The SHADOW Team

"W--Well--" Harley was immediately cut off by a sudden roar, shaking the hallway, Jeanne whirled around, the duo immediately going forward. Are they stupid?! What if the Undead was around the cor- Her jaw dropped, the sudden crash from above as a Drago Meteor impacted right above them. Cutting the path off completely, they both screamed, Jeanne racing forward only to look down at the fire fading into the darkness... "W-wait there!" The Sandslash yelled out to the hole, glancing around frantically. No, no, no, no, no... Please no! She raced over to their supposed shelter, yanking the thick rubber covered wires from the ceiling. She didn't want to be alone, no no. Please, not after losing Smile and Sabi! As she raced back, she threw the wire down the hole, holding onto the other half, "Grab on!"

Her words seemed to echoed, she waited there for what seems to feel like forever. Her sapphire blue eyes turning duller and duller as every second passed, there was no response, there was no tug, it was as they were dead. No it can't be... Jeanne bit her lower lip, leaving the wire hanging as she tied the end she was carrying to a heavy boulder, "I-I'll come get you guys!" Every word of reassurance she spoke made heavy stones fall on her chest, she gulped, hoping for it to disappear as the Mouse Pokemon glanced back over to the hole, "Stay put! I'll go find something!" The end was partially croaked out, Jeanne didn't want to be alone. No... Please... Tears began to form in her eyes, she didn't bother to wipe them away. The Ground-type forced herself up, dragging herself along the ground as she turned at the corner. The hallway seemed longer than usual, she didn't even bother to jump over the broken glass.

She was too numb to feel a thing, her tail dragged some pieces of the now bloodied glass as she plopped herself on the cushion. Her lower half now covered in scratches and cuts with glass pieces stuck to it, yet why isn't she feeling pain? Jeanne laid there, staring across the hall. Why didn't they respond to her calls? They couldn't be dead could they? Her eyes widened as she watched the familiar red figure and bug climb out, scratching the back of their heads as they smiled at Jeanne. They were back...? "Sorry we left you hanging!" The Sandslash jerked up, blinking. It was an illusion, there was nothing there in reality. The duo disappeared in a flash. How long has it been? Five minutes or hours? Everything was going by so fast, yet nothing was going on. She shook her head, they'll come back, they'll be back by morning right? At least when she wakes up from this horrid nightmare, it'll turn out they were by her side right? All along, they were by her side, and she was just having a simple nightmare... She forced her eyes to close, darkness accompanying her thoughts. No way, they wouldn't leave her hanging. They had to be there, they have to.

... Jacques and Sabi, they stood there in the middle of the darkness, open arms just for Jeanne. The Sandslash stared at them in awestruck, so they didn't abandon her! They didn't! She wasn't alone! The Ground-type raced over to their side, a small smile forming at the edge of her lips. NO! When she finally created a smile, the duo disappeared, replaced by their bloodied and battered corpses. Jeann- no, Sister, stopped smiling. Sister, yes her original name... She stopped smiling. For a good reason too; so that no one would get hurt. Everyone, they were all dying because she smiled. Sister covered her face, with her claws, holding her head as she curled into a fetal position. Corpses began piling up beside her, everyone she knew, everyone she noticed, everyone she came across. They were all dead. She deserved to be alone.

Sweat covered her as she awoke in a flash, her eyes taking in the light slowly as the same scenery surrounded her; the lab. Yes, the lab. She took in the details, her mind slowly taking in everything that happened; Harley and Jeanne got swooped up by a bird, they landed in the middle of a desert. They met Luzine and got chased into a lab. The lab acted as their home, yet they found morbid things. Jeanne even killed a child, whereas Luzine killed the mother... She paused, her mind was blank between getting hit and until Luzine killed the mother, she shook her head, shaking it off as she continued to organize her thoughts. After killing the mother... Luzine and Harley got thrown into the very lowest floor... Jeanne wanted to cry, yet her eyes were swollen, and dehydration was coming onto her. She never knew how to deal with these things. Jacques always grabbed water and food for her, Jeanne never knew how to do anything herself.

She... never knew how to deal with this. The Sandslash glanced over at her lower half, the even more bloodied glass still covered her. She heaved herself up, carefully stepping across the room and towards the locker. Due to her claws, it was difficult getting it open, time consuming it was despite everything feeling slow enough. Jeanne finally got it to open, the first-aid kit laid there looking recently fiddled with... Harley used this right? She could see the idiotic monkey's finger prints on the locker, the rest covered in dust. Jeanne didn't smile at all, though the thought of Harley usually made her want to stab him, now she just wished she could see him. She shouldn't depend on company too much anymore...

Jeanne didn't heave a sigh, nor did she roll her eyes, she just simply opened up the first-aid kit, only to find it empty. Just like her. Jeanne showed no emotion as she glanced over at her tail, with a small gulp... She Sandslash gripped the broken glass between her claws, pulling it out quickly. For the first time in a long while, she felt scorching hot pain come over her. The Ground-type winced, the glass was the one stopping the flow of blood, now the blood began to spurt out... One-by-one, she pulled out the fragments of glass, that scorching hot pain continuing over and over. Until she finally pulled out the final piece. She huffed, at this rate, she'll attract several undead... But who cares? Who honestly cares? What's her point in living if everyone she knew and love would end up dead? But she stopped caring, if she began caring, she would be heartbroken. She'll just throw away her feelings, everything will be alright that way right? Everything will be alright. Everything will be alright.

The phrase repeated in her head as she forced herself to walk, jumping over the glass this time. As she landed, the impact practically killed her feet, she flinched upon the pain. Yet... It felt unsurprisingly numb as she continued on. Jeanne paused as she stared at the hole Luzine and Harley disappeared to... They still never came. She turned her head back to the direction of her supposed destination, away from the hole. She ventured on, but hesitated as she stopped abruptly a couple of feet away from the hole. Slowly did she raise her arm, waving it, "Bye, bye." She turned the corners, and threw herself in the elevator. No Undead dare came out of their places as she pushed the buttons in, the elevator doors closing in. It shook as it jerked to life, the lights flickered on and off as thoughts slowly danced across her mind...

Jeanne is not Jeanne. She's Sister again, she isn't an adult, she didn't know how to deal with this. Adults should know how to deal with everything. She's just a child, a child... Just a child. She's Sister. The Sister of Smile and Rust, the Sister of Jacques and Sabi. She belonged to him, and to Sabi...

There was no motherfucking elevator music, there was no ding as it paused to the ground floor. Jeanne absentmindedly watched the doors open, the dusty wind greeting her as she stepped out. The doors to the outside of the lab were wide open, the Aggron that used to be there at the fence rampaging now stood empty. How long as it been? How long has she fell into her slumber? Though she wished everything was a dream, everything turned out to be reality. Oh, how lonely she is! If everything was going to turn out like this, why did she even bother to smile in the first place? Hell, why is she in this world? What's her purpose in life? Was there even a life for her? Did she take it away? Oh no no no, she can't be too greedy!

Or could she? Jeanne padded forward, not taking a look at the lab as she felt the dusty wind grow stronger as she ventured outside. Her home. The desert was empty, just like her. The desert was a mess, just like her. The desert is something no one should get lost in. The Sandslash shall embrace this fact. No one should be around her, she shouldn't need to smile, if people around her smile, then it's a good omen. Yes, it's a good omen. She closed her eyes, taking in the 'fresh' air. If this was how things would turn out, she should live that life she selfishly took to its fullest. What belonged to another, she will take, but it will be for the good of others. If it's for the good of others, it wouldn't hurt the person she took from right? Her bloodied lower half, this is the price she had to pay for it.

Why are you crying?

Her organized thoughts from earlier turned into a jumbled mess in a matter of seconds. She paid the price, her lower half, Harley, Luzine, Sabi, Smile... Smile. Her only thoughts focused on the na- no... word smile. It's a curse for her, yet for others it's goodluck. Maybe because Jeanne smiled that the world was thrown into this chaos? She gazed up at the sky, the afternoon sky high and bright. Nothing has changed, yet there's Undead roaming about. Undead... Maybe they're the new generation. Maybe... But if she made everyone smile, things would be be better right?

I'll make you feel better!

Yes, she'll make everyone smile. They'll all be happy, and smile, even if it's for someone else, if they smile, she'll feel like she's the reason they smiled. The cursed one, the one that made everyone smile. She won't be known as the adult Jeanne anymore, nor the childish Sister. The Ground-type threw her head up in the air, a maniacal laugh breaking the silence in the desert. Yes, yes! Sh'll be the one known as Smile. She'll make everyone smile, she'll be the hero, she won't be alone! Jacques and Sabi will be proud of her, so will Harley and Luzine! Even though she switched out their lives for her selfishness, she'll make this worth it! She'll make everyone SMILE. The Sandslash had her goal, Smile will bring peace, she won't be a burden, she'll support everyone~! With the goal in mind, Smile raced under the fence, and away from the lab, her eyes focused on finding anyone that could use a Smile.

So Smile for me!

[Ooc: Annabelle is gonna take Jeanne's place, whereas Jeanne is just going to turn Undead because fuck everything she's insane enough]

The mighty huntress stalks her prey…
It wasn’t even looking in her direction. Silly little prey to let its guard down in the presence of a predator and now it was going to pay…
Cream pawed feet with their soft pale pink pads made no sound on the cold stone floors as she kept her lithe body slunk low to the ground. Her short red-lined ears twitched as they picked up the tiniest of sounds.
The elongated metal claw of her right paw gleamed dully as the Quilava stalked closer and closer to her unsuspecting target.
Her Pecha berry pink tongue swipes over a razor sharp canine tooth as her silver eyes fixed mercilessly on her target.
To any other predator it would be out of reach but she was not any other predator.
She was a Ninja.
She was the Dark.
The long twist of red fabric flew out behind her like a tail as she dropped to her haunches and darted straight towards her target. It couldn’t even move before the Quilava landed on it, batting it back and forth the floor with her paws, teasingly scraping her fangs across the frail skin before tossing it up with one graceful twist of her head and rolling over on her back with a purr to batter at it some more before she finally pins it between her forepaws and digs her teeth into it.
The huntress takes her prey close between her powerful jaws and carries it away into the deepest darkest recesses of the room and there she curls her lithe body around and tears off a great juicy chunk of dripping flesh, still with skin attached, and swallows it down with relish.
The berry’s juices trickle down the Quilava’s cream furred chin as she happily eats.
Her scarf that normally covers her face hangs loose around her neck, its soft light fabric as much comfort to her as a human child’s security blanket.
The river had swept her far from her home and although she had tried to follow it faithfully natural blockades of stone and fallen trees had forced her to take detours then further detours around detours.
It was one of those detours that first led her into this dank depressing place.
She was a young Quilava and raised in the mountains; she had no idea of the terrifying history of this place or of the sinister purposes the dust covered lab equipment had been put to. She had no name for most of the things she had seen, her human trainer had lived in the mountains like she had. It had been a simple life.
The Quilava pulls her scarf tight back over her face to suppress the desire to burst into tears. Crying wouldn’t help her get back to her human.
The mighty huntress wanders back out of the small broken paned greenhouse with its few wildly twisting berry trees, her scarf billowing majestically behind her.
When her silver eyes catch sight of another figure too wandering the laboratories she instinctively melts back into the shadows, her blue-green fur a perfect camouflage.
Thief taps her Quick Claw against the stone as she draws back into a defensive position.
Who is this? She thinks as she watches, keeping her back flame low to avoid detection.

It was hot and dry. That was all that Lady Annabelle could think of as the sun blazed overhead in the horizon. The day was still young, yet in this wasteland, the day seemed to have lasted longer than it should have been with the heat. The Tropius winced against the whipping sand up her face, her leafy wings rustling against the wind. The perks about being a Grass-type; she didn't have to worry about feeding herself. Just through photosynthesis -- water and sunlight -- she could produce her own fruit [which strangely grows out from her neck]. The downside? Without water she's just another parched soul.

But the weird thing is -- her wings are rather different from others. Annabelle was perfectly aware of how unique her wings were, though she honestly hates pointing it out; she can't avoid the truth. Nonetheless, she liked her wings. The edges were sprinkled with an autumn color, and she definitely loved Autumn. The crisp morning air, the sound of crunching leaves. If only those wonderful days were to return. She glanced up at the sky. At least that didn't change. The sky that was so vast, compared to the Epidemic, the sky was not stained with crimson red. It stayed blue, a calm blue. Maybe it's a sign? Though the Tropius never believed in superstitions, it was nice to have some hope every once in a while.

She paused. She was too deep in her thoughts, she should really look at where she's going! Though she was in the middle of nowhere, honestly not having to worry about bumping into something; the Fruit Pokemon figured she might be walking in circles... Looking in front of her, she gaped, her mind going blank as she stared at the abandoned building that stood ten feet away from her. It was surrounded by a steel fence, scarred with several scratches from possible robbers. Below the fence was a deep indent that led to the inside of the fence. The indent was about the size of an average Sandslash She snorted, is this one of those labs? If so, there must be some sort of research concerning the Epidemic going on right? Lady Annabelle wouldn't be able to get underneath the fence to reach the otherside, the dent was far too small for her fitting. But the perks of being a Flying-type and to have wings; she could fly over. Flapping her leafy wings, she flew over the fence, dropping herself as she reached the ground of the other side of the fence. What poor security!

The Fruit Pokemon felt triumph for a brief second, her heart slowly dropping as the realization of a possible Undead lurking about making her cautious. Carefully she poked her head into the lab, the doors were boarded up, but have been recently broken down. Anxiety chewed up her insides as she gulped, "Hello is anyone here?" She asked, though she didn't sound scared. She was very scared on the inside. In the back of Annabelle's mind, she wondered whether books were around here or not, anything for her to read that could help her escape this world. She shook her head, no! She must find a cure for this Epidemic! The faster she finds it, the faster she can reunite with her team!

Annabelle glanced around, no one was watching her. She expected crimson red eyes staring right back at her from the shadows, but strangely enough everything seemed silent and abandoned. And by abandoned, she meant recently abandoned. It was obvious someone was here no less than five minutes ago. The Tropius pushed the thought away, if they abandoned it, they abandoned it. They won't come back... right? The Grass/Flying dual-type carefully entered the lab, which had rubble scattered across the floor, wires hanging from the ceiling and ahead laid a door; an elevator. Someone already punched a card in that allowed access to it, Annabelle should be thankful then since she didn't even have opposable thumbs to hold onto the card. "Research papers, research papers..." She mumbled to herself. She honestly needed a reminder.

Arceus...


He had been on Olivine Beach, just enjoying the waves with his girlfriend. Then those birds... Blackening the sky. He didn't know what they did to him and Jinx, but they had been separated because of it. Honestly, he had enjoyed the feel of the sand on the beach, but this... This... Desert, fucking, everywhere. He could barely walk in this stuff, let alone run! He didn't belong in the middle of a desert, with no companions. He'd die out here alone.

However, after what seemed like weeks of searching, he finally noticed something in the distance. A silvery building catching the light of the sun. At last... he thought. Moving at as fast a trot as he could manage, he clip-clopped to the round dome. When he saw the gate, the first thing he noticed was the hole underneath it. He was trained to look for get-away routes and chase enhancers, of course. Ducking his body as low as he could, he squeezed underneath with a single push, pulling himself through with his front legs. Continuing inside, he blessed Arceus for the shade. It was hot in that desert, even for a fire type like him. It was then that he realized he was not alone on the inside, however. He could see her from the doorway, a large Tropius with faded wings. "Hello there?" He called, careful to keep his positioning so he could run if need be. He knew how fast these beasts could be.

((asdfghjk Didn't realize it was my turn already))

Her fur stiffining the mighty huntress slinks further back into the shadows, her bright crimson eyes the only spots of color on her as her deep murky green fur blended smoothly into the darkness.
She drew her scarf around her, unknowable, mysterious and watched the scene unfolding in front of her with greedy eyes.
She rubs the sharp metal edge of the Quick Claw with her other paw. The tiny long healed wound where her flesh had actually grown into the metal upon her evolution hurt a little still but the small pain was actually a comfort to her and she couldn't help playing with it like a gap where a tooth had been.

As a hiding place this human building was far from secure as she had found out by watching the first pokemon. It wasn't one she recognized at all. It was big and smelt like strange plant things and she could swear it was keeping a fragrant string of fruits around its neck.
Theif was glad she had managed to hunt down that berry or no doubt the rumbling of her stomach would have given away her location in a heartbeat.
That fruit smelt good.
It called out in a strong clear voice and Theif privately rolled her eyes.
Her muteness had muzzled her permenantly for such a long time that she couldn't have been able to reply to that even if she wanted to, not that she would be stupid enough to give away her position until she knew a bit more about this new visitor.
Her Quick Claw tapped silently on the ground, a small shine running along the metallic surface as she silently stalked along behind the large grassy dragon thing.
What on earth are 'research papers'? She thinks to herself.

With a quick and heavy sigh, she clumsily walked into the lab. The place was dusty enough, she was thankful that she didn't sneeze yet [otherwise she would have given away her place if Undead were around!], however... She glanced around, this place was a mess. Scientists must have definitely rushed out of the place when the Epidemic broke out. Her eyes scanned the area, shelves of the familiar binding of books had caught her attention. They were rather thick, filled with data from experiments or research of other things. Most of the books had no titles [other then; 'Shadow Lab Research I', 'Shadow Lab Research II'. Annabelle had no clue why the word Shadow was in there - it meant darkness, but why a dark lab? Were they planning on making one?], but it was all obvious they had been untouched for years. The latest possibly being a decade. Lady Annabelle would have to go through a lot of text just to find the information she's looking for... Her eyes were always caught by the 'E's. But most of them were titled with words she was unfamiliar with, or Eggnog, another was Eggplant. Why were they studying an eggplant? She shook that off, scientists have research about everything don't they?

Before long, a voice responded to her earlier question; the one she had asked when she entered this room not-so long ago, "Hello there?" The Tropius paused, tearing her gaze off of the books, her honey-colored eyes were restless until they laid upon a fiery horse that stood at the door. Flabbergasted, the Grass/Flying Dual-type stumbled backwards, taking a good look at the Ponyta; taller than the average, a small flame flickered on his head while a bright yellow lightning-bolt shape necklace hung from his neck. Odd Equine the young fellow is, but he already gave off the aura he would be a feisty one. She blinked as she shifted her gaze off to the side, he seemed rather friendly, there were no obvious wound marks, and there was no scent of death and decay, nor was he an illusion! He was a living Pokemon, the first one in so long. As she glanced back at the Fire Horse, she gave a smile, small, but genuine, "Hello there," She began softly, "I'm not one of those things, I'm Annabelle and..." By those she meant the undead. She gave a slight pause, glancing around before giving an awkward smile, "Is this your home?"

Now if this place was the Ponyta's home, that's a far different story, she didn't want to look like a thief! No, she was just a person thinking this abandoned lab had research about the Epidemic in hopes of finding a cure and reuniting with her team. How could she dare steal at such a time like this? Everything would be essential for survival, but she wouldn't steal just to have it! Sure, borrow if it's a book, but no way on anything else! She gulped, a misunderstanding would be made if she didn't explain herself, but she still didn't know of this place belonged to the Ponyta! If she said sorry immediately, then that's just her jumping into conclusions... She didn't want to make statement without valid proof of course. This place hasn't been touched for quite some time other then when a Pokemon had abandoned this place not-so long ago. Maybe he was the one that abandoned this place and decided to come back?

As her gaze wondered elsewhere, her eyes attracted to what seems to be a shiny item in the metallic floor behind her. What is it? But she immediately dismissed that, it's her imagination playing tricks again isn't it? If not, then if that item stays there... well at least she's still sane. The Tropius said nothing at it, she'll investigate that once this is overwith, for now she'll just await the response of the equine.

[Ooc: Sorry for posting so late @_____@;; I really would have posted earlier, but I had lots of homework. Also I don't want to give a half-assed post that I wrote during that time D;]

Good... He had managed to find a survivor. "Annabelle is it? You can call me West." He said, looking around. At her question though, he paused, his face quizical. Stomping on the hard metal floor, he let the CLANG reverbate through the room. "Home? Nah, this would be a rather loud place to call home. I'm from Johto, and I'm not quite sure how I got here." Thinking for a moment, he added, "Where is here, exactly?"

It occured to Wally that he probably should have claimed the place for his own. It would have been a good bartering chip for later, if any kind of... situations came up. And there would be more supplies for himself. But no, he wasn't even the first to come across this place. Jinx must be rubbing off on me... he thought, thinking once again of his missing girlfriend. He really did need to find her.

Theif crouched, staying safely in the shadows as she observed silently.
Her breath slowed to the merest whipser, her body was completely still. The long training she had had from her trainer had taught her to become nearly completely invisible.
These two seemed harmless enough to her eyes. There was no hints of disease running across their fur, one was even a fire type like her.
Still she keeps very very still, her flames completely extinguished and her scarf wrapped tight around her body.
This place was strange to her, she did not know anything about it purpose except that from the way the grass type was flustured it had something to do with bits of paper.
The Quilava had never learnt to read although on ocassion she had been permitted to curl up in her trainers lap as he read aloud for her. There must be something important on some of those bits of paper. Despite herself Theif was becoming intrigued.
Instead of the sensible course of action, moving in the opposite direction and snatching some of the remaining berries for the road she keeps an eye on the two.
The tiny seed of hope burns inside her like an ember.
Maybe some of those papers will show me where my trainer went...
Theif lays low, her ear twitching as she shamelessly evesdrops on the conversation.
She winces at the loud CLANG and her body tenses, ready to spring into action should they so much as glance her way.

((OOC: Not much for Theif to do right now))

((SKip, my post relies on TK))

Like a thief in the night the Quilava moves stealthily closer, her red scarf wrapped close around her and concealing her face from view. Curiosity gleams in the pits of her silver eyes, not ill will.
Her time has honed her will, made her especially cautious, but she is also aware that not everyone is out to hurt her. By making the first move she can show she is, at least, trustworthy and she just needed to know what was on those papers.

Her claw shining silver and now finally making an audible sound against the hard floors the Quilava slowly slinks forwards on all fours, her scarf flowing smoothly behind her like a ribbon dancers ribbon. Her back flames ignite a fraction, enough for the burst of hot air to hold the light red cloth aloft as she walks but not enough to look harmful. At the slightest sign of approaching aggression they will spew a thick dark smoke to blind.
Hello there people~!... He tries to say but again the words stick in her throat as soon as she tries to say them.
Giving up in frustration she merely raises herself back up onto her hind paws and carefully scrutinizes the pair before her.
She is not foolish enough to approach closer, even directly revealing herself like this goes against her years of training.

Small hooves sank deep and tore furiously from the ground, rhythmic steps quick in their pace and propelling their owner ever forward. Her legs were shaking from the effort, her lungs were burning from the lack of air, and her heart was pounding so furiously that she felt as though it was going to burst straight out of her chest. The young doe reached a great stone and metal building in the middle of nowhere and was immediately grateful for the place to hide and rest.

Hooves went from rough sand to clacking against stone as she came into the foundation of the property, looking behind briefly to see her pursuer still hot on her trail. Panicked she leapt up a few conveniently stacked crates to a small slope hanging off of the side, finding a small indention in the bottom in which she pressed her body to go flush against the building and hide. From the ground she would have appeared to have vanished, and as she heard the sound of approaching hooves she prayed that it would be enough.

The buck from before had been sent here with the lovely Persephone, and her beauty so enraptured the male that he could not stop himself from having her. Especially in her current form. He chased her all the way across the desert to this abandoned place and now he was busy trying to track down his prize. After having wasted all of that time luring her away from her former home he was not going to lose her to some pathetic attempt at hiding from her fate. Calling to her, taunting her, he bade her to reveal herself, but Persephone just held her breath and prayed that the amorous male would go away.

Unbeknownst to her, the male had very much seen her go up there. He was simply waiting for her to reveal herself and prove her surrender to his dominance. She was so beautiful, even as a Deerling when he pulled her from the depths of hell itself, he couldn't allow anyone else to have her. She had to be his and his alone. Calling to her he slowly made his way around to the side of the building he had seen her go up, placing one hoof on a crate to make noise, a terrible taunt to let the female know he was near her. Jumping up the first crate he called her name one last time, a final warning to reveal herself if she didn't want to be harmed.

Either way, however, he would have her.

He had never been a complainer. Through the long, arduous, solitary years of his life, the strangely mutated hound had taken Fate's dealings in strides, accepting whatever cards the fickle intangible entity deemed to deal him. However, as he trudged through the merciless sandstorm, his feet sinking down with each step, he began to wonder if his streak would be broken. He gently reminded himself that he was out in this Legend-forsaken desert for a very specific purpose: to get his property back.

He paused as a spare scent of spring was wrapped around him for a moment before vanishing, mocking him and his goal. Was it a true fragrance of his mate, or was it simply a mirage he'd been chasing all along? Ever since the strange rift of power that tore him from his beloved cave, he'd only captured whispers, mere traces of Persephone to keep him on the trail long enough to pull him to the next clue. He sniffed again, finding the scent gone in the chaos of the sands around him. Still, the light touch of her presence was enough to keep him on the trail, trudging forward.

Eventually, he spotted a strange white building, the sandstorm moving on past him. As the devilish winds finally ebbed away to go and torture some other lost soul, his eyes widened at the bountiful amounts of fresh scent that pawed at his senses. Persephone was definitely here... His eyes immediately went to the only moving figure, a male counterpart to his own mate, calling her name. "Oh... What is this?" he mused, striding forward, his long legs quickly closing the gap between him and the stranger.

Instead of offering an actual greeting, however, Hades merely sat and watched, eager to see just what this young buck was up to. Obviously, his own mate was up on the roof, in all likeliness cowering from this bold, albeit stupid pursuer. He gazed on, pleasant countenance upon him.

The buck was furious when Persephone didn't move from her hiding place, and angrily leapt the rest of the way up the crates to the roof, looming over his prize. However, said prize had more in store for him than the shriek of terror that hit his ears. A Jump Kick to the face was the last thing he expected, and sent the buck crashing to the ground followed quickly by a fleeing Sawsdoe. Her hooves clicked noisily to the ground as she came down from her Jump Kick and she took off to go hide inside the building.

However, something was blocking her way to the door.

A strange and powerful hound was sitting there, staring at her, and Persephone felt her legs go instinctively to jelly. While she had never seen this kind of creature before everything in her body was screaming at her not to run, that it would only make it worse. She hadn't felt this way since the day she had been captured, and as she remembered a familiar scent hit her nose causing the doe to take a couple of steps back in shocked awe. "H-Hades..." While he looked nothing like the hound that had taken her, she knew this was he. There was no mistaking those eyes no matter what form he took.

Face gashed and bleeding the buck forced himself back up to his feet, stumbling around as the world fought to get back into focus. That little bitch had kicked him right in the face! She was gonna pay for something so humiliating. So angry was the Sawsbuck that he didn't even notice the hellish hound sitting before his prize, nor did he see the look of fear crossing her face as she acknowledged its presence. Instead, he reared back and let out a terrible cry before charging the doe, antlers down and ready to drop her.

Ah, it seemed his many days of training his mate had done some good after all.

While his gut instinct was to immediately rip the impudent ignoramus that sought after his own property, it seemed his mate knew her place and rightfully denied the buck in a rather violent way. A cruel smile graced his lips as he watched the buck fall to the cracked concrete, earning his rightful spot face first into nothing but failure. Cold, distant, teeth-shattering failure. Persephone careened off the roof as well, landing on the ground somewhat gracefully before finally realizing he stood there. His smile unchanging, he looked over her new form without restraint, his contrasting eyes analyzing the beautiful creature she'd become.

Her elegant legs had grown, elevating her on glorious stilts above the world that so tried to entrap her. Her neck, thin and swan-like, curved down to a strong back, shoulders and hips. Her chest was adorned with a small, bright and lively bush of greenery, decorated with a lovely, simple blossom of pink. It was fitting for her. Still, though they had both changed considerably since seeing each other last, it looked like either was not going to forget the other soon.

"H-Hades..." Her voice, fragile and soft, was an ethereal chorus of angels to his ears. Only she could say his name so.

"...Persephone," he replied, cooly and calm, his gratitude for finding her not only alive but unscathed tinting his otherwise emotionless tone. He did not get the time to extend the pleasantries, however, as the buck remembered he was still alive and, in a blind rage, came at the two.

While Hades appreciated his mate being able to defend herself, this buck was swiftly losing the hound's interest-- a dangerous concept. He stood, calmly taking his place in front of Persephone, raising his head a little to see the young buck eye to eye. "...I would quit, barbarian, were I in your tread."

As she heard her name rumbling from that deep chest Persephone felt her limbs freeze. It was him... Panic swelled in her as she realized the fury he must feel at her running away, how angry he would be to find her with someone else...even if she was trying to get away from the other one. The Hades she knew didn't take kindly to his things being touched or taken from him, and since she was supposed to be his 'mate' he would be even more furious.

The Sawsbuck was charging blindly, eyes to the ground as his horned stood ready to either gore the doe or rush her to the ground. Persephone heard his coming and turned slightly, eyes wide in fear, but Hades himself stepped in front of her. "...I would quit, barbarian, were I in your tread." While he heard the voice he was too close to stop, but he didn't care. There was another male between him and his prize so that meant a challenge. Rather than the futile effort to slot down his horns began to glow as he readied a Horn Leech, ready to full on fight his challenger.

Seeing what was about to happen Persephone jumped out of the way, hiding from the slaughter that was sure to come. Another fear gripped her, but this time it was more a fear of worry. The scariest part was...it was fear for Hades, not of him. She was scared he would get hurt. "Hades..." she whispered, watching as the buck made his move on her 'mate', and whispered a silent prayer for the hound to emerge unscathed. Despite the fact that him remaining uninjured would mean that she wouldn't be able to get away once he set his sight on her, she just couldn't bring herself to wish him harm. After all, he had never directly harmed her, so why would she want him to feel pain?

Though he'd given fair warning to the vapid cervine, Hades saw no attempt in the simpleton to slow himself. It was true he could have simply burned the charliaton to a crisp right then and there, however, Persephone was in danger of becoming a victim as well. So, in a bid to further protect his wayward mate, he merely opened his stance and allowed the attack to hit him.

He was honestly surprised how weak the buck truly was.

The force of the attack made him slide a few inches, a foot at the most. The buck's antlers stayed against Hades' thin side, the attacker likely unsure of what to do next. "...You were warned," was the only reply Hades would give, and might be the last words the insolent child would ever hear. Without reacting or blinking an eye, the hound fired a Dark Pulse, the buck's face once more bearing the brunt of a full-on attack. The challenger was sent flying, smashing into the crates he'd previously been taunting Persephone on. Hades sat, patiently waiting to see if the buck would emerge. He glanced back to his mate, chilling eyes catching hers for a moment.

"...This is the strapping stud with which you eloped? I would be insulted were I a lesser creature such as he."

The Sawsdoe couldn't tear her eyes away as Hades tossed her pursuer away with ease. She had to jump out of the way when his body was flung by the ripples of dark energy to crash into the crates, finding herself praying that he wouldn't get up again. She was so very tired of running..."...This is the strapping stud with which you eloped? I would be insulted were I a lesser creature such as he." Persephone's eyes widened as she turned to face Hades himself, her mind reeling from his mere presence. "I-I...n-n-no! I-I d-didn't...He..." It wasn't a lie that she did nothing with the male, but she couldn't deny to the hound that she had run. All she could do now was hang her head in shame and cry.

Broken wood shifted and fell to the ground noisily as the buck climbed out of the wreckage of crates. His face was nearly completely skinned on one side, blood pouring from the wounds and lacerations. He was in tremendous pain but his anger was quickly forcing it away. Who the hell did this guy think he was? Calling out to Persephone he ordered her away, only to see her move closer to the mutt to the point of hiding behind him. "Stay away!" she cried. Couldn't she see that this stupid dog was just going to rip the flesh from her bones? Angrily he stomped the ground and lowered his horns once more, charging the dark type before leaping and preparing his Take Down. That dick would pay for trying to take his girl.

Hades' gaze stayed on Persephone as she admitted her guilt, trying to deny some unknown accusation before completely submitting to all-out weeping. His expression remained, the soft, enigmatic smile still on him even as the wood before him shifted to reveal the bloody remnants of his challenger. The hound turned to see him, face marred almost beyond recognition, step out of the bloody debris and called to Persephone. Hades didn't even look back to her for her response; he knew she wouldn't budge. She cried for the buck to stay away, backing further behind Hades than she already was. Hades' smile grew a fraction, his ghost-like eyes still on the livid buck.

It was a last chance for the young male to walk away with his life, but Hades knew it was a futile notion. Too enraged to see that he was hideously outmatched and out-typed, he darted forward in another bid to best the hound, charging and leaping in a terrible Take Down. Hades' eyes followed his form, and just as the buck reached the pinnacle of his arc, he fired, smile still on.

The Dark Pulse caught the male in the chest, careening him back into the air and away from the two. He fell, some other pile of debris breaking his fall. Hades stood, turning his ornate head toward the shivering doe behind him, saying, "Stay here." It was soft but terribly firm, a glint of tension in his normally pleasant gaze. Turning from her back to his pitiful challenger, he casually made his way to him, the poor buck broken to better fit the metal scraps he'd met as his cushion. Hades' smile never faltered as he stared down at the creature, eyes so contrasted against his shadowed form wandering the odd rivets and lumps that littered the buck's body. Ribs shattered, spine probably broken, the buck's hindquarters limp. One eye seemed well enough to still see, and lo and behold, his chest was still rising. So he managed to survive the fall as well.

Pity such a headstrong boy should end up like this.

Without a word, Hades reached forward with his paw to the male's neck and pressed down, blocking the air. There would be no grand attack to end his life. No, Hades enjoyed the male's suffering, the way he uselessly twitched and gagged. Under Hades' light but firm pressure, he slowly lost more and more air as the hound ever so slightly administered more and more pressure to his throat. Soon, the buck's eyes began to bulge, white scolera stained red with popped blood vessels. It was a beautiful few moments, the buck's fear of death finally outmatching his anger, his brow turned upward in an expression that was supposed to evoke sympathy. Hades gazed back down, his own smile unwavering. Finally, the buck learned that he had been facing and challenging his own fate.

And lost.

When the erratic pulse pounding under Hades' paw came to a still, he retrieved his appendage, turning back to Persephone, expression unchanged. "...Now, you may speak without interruption." He went back to her, his speed as casual as it had been all along. "...You won't leave again." It was not a question. It wasn't even a demand. It was fact.