(ACE) The MARSH Team

Martha had no idea where she was going. Everything in front of her resembled a hazy, colourful blur. From behind she could hear the screeches and squawks of the avians intend on murdering her and the child in her arms. Squeezing her eyes briefly shut to force out the tears, Martha's vision cleared and she took a sharp turn around a house and hobbled back towards the Great Marsh's gate.

But then, from out of nowhere, it began to rain. Martha barely registered the dark clouds that had materialised out of thin air as she put on a burst of speed and dashed as quickly as she could in the direction of the half-ruined gate. She only had one goal on her mind: find Rhea. As long as she wasn't alone in this, she would be fine. Rhea was strong; she'd help her to deal with this.

She did notice the ball of dirty brown fur leaping out of the undergrowth only to retreat back in again, but paid no notice as her destination got closer. Glancing over her shoulder, she screamed as a Pidgeotto dived towards them, its massive talons outstretched. Throwing herself on the floor just in time, the grotesque bird missed her by inches and soared back into the sky, it and several others getting ready to dive again.

"Sorry, Eliana!" Martha panted as she got back to her feet and carried on running, realising that she'd almost landed on the child. Although it impaired her vision a little, the rain meant that it was easier for her to shock any birds that got too close. The orb on her tail glowed fiercely and shot tiny volts towards any pursuers that got within striking range, forcing them to retreat.

Exhausted, wet and praying for their lives, Martha finally reached the gate and began to scramble over the rubble. Despite her panic she remembered what Seth had said about an Eevee, and that the filthy lump of fur that dashed out of the bushes vaguely resembled one. "I-If you're an Eevee," she yelled over the racket, quickly shocking a Tranquil that had dived for them, "and if you want to help, then please come out! Come with us!"

As Seffie was grabbed and Marda ran, Eliana felt herself slipping until a quick fall left her flopping out of the lambs arms and quickly left in the middle of the hoard terrified and alone. Her eyes darted back and forth as bird after bird swarmed around her to pick off whatever may remain. Her eyes caught the sparks of Marda's tail and the little Oddish used her tiny legs as best she could to start to follow, terrified and crying when they began to get further and further away into the distance. How would she ever catch up to Marda?

Finally the tired little tot had to stop and moved to a tree, pressing herself into a hollow that felt snug like Momma's pouch. There she sat, sniffling and crying until the birds finally moved on, and even when the last feathered baddie had left the Oddish didn't move. Somehow...somehow she knew no one was coming back for her. She was heartbroken. Something in her knew Momma was never coming back, or Virgee, and she had watched Seffie and Marda leave. Who was left to take care of her? The small babe cried and cried until there were no more tears left in her tiny body, until hiccups shook her entire frame, and soon after a soul crushing emptiness crashed over her. There was nothing left for her. Anywhere.

She moved out of the hollow of her tree and looked up at the sky, laughably clear now that there were no more tears to hide in the rain, as though mocking her pain and suffering. The babe waddled slowly into the woods without aim, not really caring where she was going or where she ended up. Maybe...maybe somewhere she would find Momma again and they could be together. Maybe...maybe someday...just....

....maybe.

((Eliana's leaving post, sorry to end my wonderful duo like this but I needed to cut back and really this was where I had planned Rhea to end up, just not so soon. I hope you guys take care of my team. Lottsa love <3))

((Skip me this round - I want Jennifer to hop in before I have Martha do anything. She's still just climbing over the rubble and hasn't yet noticed that she's dropped Eliana.))

    "I-If you're an Eevee and if you want to help, then please come out! Come with us!" between the angry screeching of the avians above, her deafening heartbeat drumming in her ears, and the rattle of branches as she sped through them, Jennifer nearly missed the Flaafy's shout amidst the growing chaos. She yelped and tripped, stumbling out of the foliage when she felt sharp talons raking across her back but unable to grab hold of her from the slick cover of mud. She didn't bother to hide herself anymore, violet eyes looking towards the electric-type as she gave a short nod.
    "Quick! Into the marsh!" the fox screamed, narrowly dodging the Staraptor from before as she made quick movements to get past the rubble. Her paws faltered, nearly causing her to fall as she leaped, haphazardly landing into a large puddle and only pausing for a moment to see if the sheep was following before pressing on.
    Her dirty paws barely kept her balanced as she ran, body trembling and swaying as she fought to not trip. Her eyes brightened at the site of a small burrow beneath a tree, large enough for both her and the Flaafy to fit into, came into her sight. She motioned once with her head. "There! We can hide in there!" she called back, picking up her speed. "C'mon!"

Martha's prayers were answered when the Eevee darted out from her hiding place and swiftly made her way over the rubble. "Quick! Into the marsh!" she cried, and the Flaaffy panted as she struggled over a particularly large stone slab, her feet kicking wildly as she pulled herself up. "Wait for me!" Just barely keeping her new ally within her sights, Martha made it over the last obstacle and soon her feet were once more sinking into the mud of the Great Marsh.

Looking about wildly, she scanned the area and spotted the Eevee next to a tree. "There! We can hide in there! C'mon!" No sooner had she said that, Martha was skidding across the wet ground to slide head-first into the burrow. Inside it was cramped but large enough for them all to fit. Falling to her rear in relief, Martha sighed heavily. "Phew! Are you OK, Eli--"

"ELIANA!" Panic like never before gripped Martha's heart as she scrambled back to the entrance of the burrow, poking her head out just to see the Eevee catching up. "WHERE IS SHE? ELIANA?!" Despite the black cloud of hungry avians that were still on their tail, Martha wriggled out of the hole and dashed off into the Marsh, hysterical with dread.

WHEN did she manage to drop her? WHY did she drop her? HOW didn't she notice? Not even paying attention to where she was going, Martha careened through the foliage, shouting the Oddish's name over and over. She could hear several birds following her, but barely registered their presence as she staggered on, getting deeper into the Marsh by the second.

One thing was for sure: if the birds didn't kill her, Mum would.

    She felt the mud next to her shift as the Flaaffy quickly slid into the burrow, the Eevee bounding forward to catch up. She could hear the sheep's voice as she sighed. "Phew! Are you OK, Eli--" Within milliseconds the electric-type was already back on her feet, eyes wide in fear as she stumbled back to the entrance to their makeshift shelter. "ELIANA! WHERE IS SHE? ELIANA?!"
    Confused and panicked by the electric-type's sudden hysteria, the normal-type stumbled into a halt as she watched the pink bovine speed through the marsh, frantically calling out the Oddish's name. She hesitated, watching the flock quickly begin their pursuit. Gritting her teeth, the fox leaped forward, paws heavy against the piling mud as she fought to catch up with the Flaaffy.
    "Careful!" Jennifer called, worriedly looking overhead to the half-rotted avians. Her stomach churned in disgust, fur pricked in fear. "You've got a horde on your tail!" she barely managed to stumble out of harm's way, paws twisting at painful angles as she sidestepped away from a pair of talons. Her eyes glanced back with concern for the sheep. "Hey! Do you even know where you're going?!"
    The thick rain soaked her fur, the puddles beneath wet her paws, she was surrounded by water yet she felt at unease. She scowled, unsure of why she had even chosen to follow this fool of a survivor--after all, they had a perfectly good hiding spot back there! Sure maybe she had lost that little red...thing, but with the massive flock following them and the infant's outstanding color, it would've been a straight out miracle if the thing survived! The kid was basically a lost cause, but here the Flaaffy was, worried eyes and all, careening through the multitudes of foliage that surrounded them, desperately holding onto some kind of hope that they would find the kid.
         She almost felt sorry for her.
    Part of her mind was telling her to tell the Flaaffy to give up--they couldn't search for the Oddish forever, and definitely not with the undead chasing them. Already her paws were aching, longing for the sweet blankets of the ocean to sweep her away. Her legs nearly buckled, instead springing her forward in a leap. "Hey," she grunted, still struggling to keep good pace with the electric-type. "We...can't do this forever."

"Screw you stupid screwy dumb birds!" A female voice cried out shrilly, the rhythmic splash of her paws sounding beneath it. A flock of undead was the last thing Seek needed right now: she was already in a marsh thanks to Eleroo. With the smallest glance behind her the vulpine made sure her brother-like companion was still following her. Though it was obvious he was struggling to keep pace Eleroo was right on her tail. Good. One bird call croaked much too closely to her and the Eevee was not going to stand for it. Using the dreadful pouring rain to her advantage Seek mustered up her Hidden Power, gathering what little static cling was in her damp fur and using it as a bright, electrical attack. The gutsy Starly was obviously surprised by both the attack and the pain, immediately flying off with a labored effort.

"Faster Eleroo!" Seek yowled over the cry of the birds, but Eleroo found it difficult to listen. Im.. trying.. His own panting roared in his long ears, the pain-riddled beat of his hard pummeling his ribcage. With each stride a new splash of icy water soaked his legs and belly fur, making the poor child even colder then he needed to be. The fast pace Seek had set, even though it was for good reason, was nearly his limit. It strained his capabilities and threatened to bring tears to his large brown eyes. His necklace bobbed against the tip of his chest, taunting him with the idea of pain. If the birds made contact with him he doubted there would be a good cure for the pain out here.

Despite it all what sounded like a voice penetrated his ear fur. "We...can't do this forever." "Did you hear that?" Seek said faster then he could. "Y-yes!" He managed to say, nearly chocking on the single word. Without another word the female changed their course, blasting a Staravia that was over the males head at the same time. She must of caught the voice better then him seeing how she heading toward it. His vision, slowly going foggy, barely picked up the white and pinkish shape of something ahead. What is that? He asks himself as the pair move closer.

"ZHEN!" The young Cubone's scream rises over the chorus of harsh bird calls.
Blindly he flails with his club but the monochrome birds dart past the blows before he can land one.
Vier's dark eyes are wide with fear as he flails. The cloud of feathers around him block his sight.
The birds swoop closer to him, playing with the little ground type as his bone club fails to land even a single blow.
With a harsh caw a Staravia swoops with black claws outstretched and beak open wide. Its eyes are the same color as the blood across it's beak.
Swiftly the Cubone raises his club to block the blow and the dark talons tighten around the splintered femur.
Struggling to prevent his weapon from being ripped from his grasp Vier feels a hard beak tap against the thick skull of his helm. The Staravia pecks again, seeking the vulnerable opening around his eyes.
Moving more swiftly than the undead flock a dart of dark fur flits across the ground towards him.
The flying type caws angrily as the Cubone is ripped away from it.
The dark beak darts forwards and digs into flesh as dead as its own. Thick nearly congealed blood oozes from the wound.
Vier clings to the filthy strips of tattered cloth against a furred chest ridged with scars and half-healed wounds. The scent of refrigerated meat left to rot fills his nose as he breathes.
"Zhen..."

Inside his head was white noise.
The disease swept away thoughts and only raw instinct remained. As the birds had appeared the Weavile did not fear. When they pecked him he did not hurt. He killed them but he did not taste triumph.
All was white.
"ZHEN!" Vier's cry marked the void; a drop of scarlet blood falling onto the snowy plain of his mindscape.
The Weavile turns with claws dripping blood and runs towards him.
Birds peck at his back but he doesn't feel anything until he pulls the Cubone into his arms. With the Cubone's weight in his arms Zhen holds his claws over the ground type to form a shield.
Unable to slash and hack at the enemy Zhen turns one blank red eye skywards.
Though the marshland is humid his breath forms a small puff of white.
All was white.
With a raucous cawing the birds dive towards him as Zhen brings the whiteness forwards.
The air around the undead Weavile becomes harsh with the bite of an Arctic chill. The nearby temperature plummets faster than the diving birds. Tiny crystals of ice start to sparkle as Zhen breathes out a long icy wind. The bird's frail bodies chill then frost coats their feathers. Becoming hailstones they splash into the marsh and start to sink beneath the mud.

[ooc: skip! Jennifer is still, although a little reluctantly, following Martha. The mud and rain are impairing her sense of smell, so she doesn't know there are others around.]

Vier feels wisps of dark fur tickle his nose as the undead Weavile presses him close. Zhen isn't looking at him. Instead the Weavile's one blood-red eye scans the cloudy skies above for signs of danger.
One sharp clawed arm holds the small Cubone steady. Even in the muddy marshland Zhen can still move swiftly. The purplish mud is caked to the Ice Type's ankles but he continues to move on.
With every step of Zhen's the leather satchel that Vier carried bounced against his back. It feels lighter than it had when they first entered the marshes. Supplies were running low.
Vier keeps a solid grip on the dark grey fur that smelt of rotten, frozen meat.
The noise of the angered birds has faded away. Now the only sounds are the squelch of mud underfoot and the sound of his own breathing. Even pressed close against the Weavile's chest he can hear no heartbeat.
"Zhen, I think they're gone now." The small ground type says.
The Weavile continues walking.

All was white...
As the sounds of pursuit died down so did the vague goal in Zhen's mind. They were no longer being followed. Vier was protected.
Zhen continues walking simply because he sees no reason to stop. His fur is becoming matted with thick, stinking mud but it does not effect his pace. He has no goal to travel to...
No...
One feathery ear twitches as his still working nose picks up a scent.
Food.
Blood had been shed and somewhere nearby. Zhen wasn't picky; when he was hungry he would eat. If his prey was living or dead didn't matter. As he was missing most of his tongue he could tell no difference by taste.
Operating on nothing more than pure instinct Zhen heads towards the scent. Mud squishes under his clawed feet.
One clawed hand presses against Vier's shoulders. Zhen can feel the weight of the Cubone against his chest. It means he has not lost him.
Vier's words drop in one ear and out the other without making an impression on the Weavile.
He was hungry.

((Skip me for now. Feel free to have everyone meet up, although Martha likely won't even notice, haha. I'll have her discover Rhea next round.))

[OOC: actually, gonna have to skip this turn, sorry! I was trying to type up a post before realizing that I really don't have a lot for Jenn to do except following Martha unless I dragged out the post, which would just end up in an awkward 2-paragraph post about her trying to keep up. ^^; sorry!]

Eleroo panted, his lungs burning with each moist gasp of breath. "Elo.. ise.." He barely managed to cough out before stumbling and falling face first into the putrid water. The muddy liquid squelched beneath him, racing up the sides of his face and dirtying his brown pelt. Slowly he lifted his face, seeing the bitter blue eyes of an angry Eevee staring him down as Seek turned to face him. His eyes widened for a moment when it looked like she was about to attack him but instead she jumped, directly Tackling a Starly that was coming straight at them. "Get up."
She pressed desperately, nudging his side with her stone-covered helmet. The rocks pressed hard against his ribs, pain digging deeper with each centimeter more she pressed. Chocking for breath the male Eevee barely managed to get to trembling legs. He heard Eloise let out a screech, unable to catch sight of the bird Pokemon coming at them before sound of electricity passed though the air and a large stone smashed into his face that she must of kicked up. Wailing in pain he again splashed back into the filthy water.

"Oh no you don't!" Seek spat moments before sinking he small fangs into the other Eevee's thin scruffy mane. She tugged, her muddied paws slipping on the soft ground with each step she took. "Come, onnnn.." Its not like she could just leave him here, nor could they stay. Her eyes closed tight as she pulled, trying not to think of thr possibilities. Tail flicking with effort Seel felt beads of relief inside her as Eleroo began to budge. As soon as he was on his unsteady paws she rushed to the back side of him and pushed, getting him going before starting herself. With a light sigh the good feeling was replaced with anger. "Your going to get us killed, you big dummy!" Her voice cracked slightly as she let herself fall in place next to him.

Eleroo's thoughts were fuzzier then before. His heart felt like it was going to explode. Its not poison... not poison.. not.. poison.. The spot on his forehead that was struck was starting to drip bright red blood into his eyes. There was a sway to his step, left and right, and only Eloise's presence on his side kept the Eevee balanced. Can't keep this up.. Blinking desperately he scanned around for the pink shape he had seen before. Their course must of veered, it was gone, but more strange colors and shapes were popping up ahead of them. Browns, purple.. The cacophony of bird calls was dimming, let it be that they were getting farther away of him or that he was losing consciousness, Eleroo didn't know. Something odd caught his attention as they came closer to it. "What is that?" He whispered, thinking aloud.

The sounds of pursuit are receding...
"Zhen, lift me up." Vier asks and with a shift of motion the Weavile shifts his passenger onto his shoulders.
Vier's helmet of bone slips against his skull as the Cubone examines the skyline. His short stubby claws wind tight around Zhen's fur, giving him a proper grip as he looks for danger.
The skies are the color of slate.
They had just arrived and already they had been attacked. Vier feels in his satchel for the splintered halves of his club. The berries within are few and they are becoming soft and bruised. Soon they would go off.
They needed food which was the only reason they had set foot in this stinking muddy place.
Zhen's footsteps squelch loudly. The marsh land was desolate, a place of thick mud that imperceptibly became drowning pools clogged with waterweed. All that grew here were spindly twigs of trees with no berries.
How long until the birds were back?
Vier clutches to Zhen's deep gray fur with one hand and half of his club with the other.
There is a black cloud on the horizon, beating wings and sharp beaks in pursuit of...something. Vier can't quite see from where they are.
Silently the Cubone curses the wide open fields of water with no place to properly hide.
"Zhen?" The small Ground Type asks as the Weavile turns his head towards the birds.

Zhen had a keen sense of smell. It was one of the few things the infection hadn't erased.
Vier asks to be moved and without breaking his stride Zhen places the Cubone on his shoulders.
Each step in marsh's soft mud sucked his feet in to the ankles. The clinging wet muck wasn't a concern but he was moving slower than usual.
Zhen turns his head towards the scent he seeks and inhales. The scent of recently shed blood overwhelms that of the musty feathers and stink of rotten poultry.
A sudden cry pieces the air, far away but still pained.
His body instinctively responds. Moving in the thick mud is like moving in the snowdrifts of his home forest. He remembered so little about that time. The Weavile's mind projects snow onto the marshland as he starts his hunt.
Vier's protest isn't even heard as the Weavile heads off in the direction of the birds.

Panic, pure raw panic, was the only thing capable of occupying Martha's mind at that moment. She stumbled as quickly as possible through the mud on her injured foot, only faintly aware that Eliana was likely to be ... No! she vehemently told herself as she pushed aside the branch of a small shrub. She's clever. She'll be hiding somewhere. Just need to find her, must find her.

The foliage around her was starting to thin out and eventually Martha found herself in a clearing. At least ten birds were pecking at something on the ground in the centre, and yet even more were circling overhead. Whatever they were gathered around was large, and its features barely eligible underneath the swarm of screeching, jabbing avians. Martha turned to leave them alone, glad that there was something there to distract them, but as she did so one of the birds took to the skies again, revealing a part the creature's brown, scaly side.

No. Martha's stomach plummeted. It isn't... No matter how hard she told herself that the dead thing had nothing to do with her, she could not believe it. She would never rest until she knew for certain. "Get away!" she cried at the horde, blasting a Thundershock at them. Greasy feathers scattered as the birds screeched, the attack forcing them to retreat to the skies once more. As they scattered, Martha began to feel cold. It was as though the ground had split open underneath her and dropped her into a frozen lake. Her mouth slowly opened in the utter horror of Rhea's motionless body lying in front of her.

"No..." Martha dropped to her knees, paralysed with disbelief. No, this wasn't Rhea; it was just some other Kangaskhan who had fallen victim to the birds. Or ... or maybe she had died even before all of this - yes, that was it. She didn't know this Pokemon, not at all. Didn't know who the heck she was; didn't give a damn that she was dead, didn't--

"MUUUUUUUUUUUUM!"

    Jennifer scowled as the foliage thinned to reveal a clearing bearing almost a whole flock of undead birds picking at a muddy corpse. Barely visible through the mass of greasy feathers, the Eevee was glad when the Flaafy motioned to leave, but furrowed her brow in confusion when the electric-type frantically turned again, shooting a Thundershock at the infected.
    "Get away!" slowly, the mixture of filthy wings and mottled bodies rose to the sky, the echoes of screeches and caws leaving behind what was left of the cadaver. It was a Khangaskhan, it's body sprawled across the dirt and filth of the earth with small cuts and chunks missing from where the birds feasted. "No..." her eyes flickered back to Martha, who fell disgracefully to her knees. "MUUUUUUUUUUUUM!"
    The Eevee visibly cringed at her shout, a concerned look held on her face as she watched the Flaafy. Opening her mouth to say something, anything, she found that her jaws promptly clamped shut when she realized she had nothing to say. Instead her ears twitched, glancing upwards to find the flock of undead circling them from above, ready to reclaim their meal. "Hey..." she mumbled, taking cautious steps towards the sheep. "W-We uh, we need to go." afraid that she would only upset Martha more, her words were but a soft hush as she watched the infected circle closer to the ground.
    "C-C'mon! We need to get out of here!" a Murkrow wasted no time in swooping down, batting it's talons in the living's direction to ward them away from their corpse. "We can't become food for them, too!"

The small Cubone clings tight to the Weavile's shoulders as their steps get bumpier and bumpier. Mud sucks at the tall Ice Type's feet, making each rapid step Zhen is taking squelches.
The small Ground Type winds his claws into the deep gray fur. Holding on is taking all his strength.
Beneath the mask of bone his teeth are clenched together. Zhen ...Zhen is going way too fast!
The leather satchel beats against Vier's back, half of the hard club of bone inside smacking into his back with every step.
"Zhen, slow down!" Vier cries as the Weavile leaps over a grassy verge.
The hard landing almost tips Vier off into the mud. Zhen is speeding up as he heads straight towards the flock of birds.
"ZHEN!" Vier screams but the noise of his fearful cry is whipped away by the wind and the caw of birds.
Raising his club to try and ward off attack Vier turns his eyes skywards.
The birds are close by but they haven't seemed to notice him yet. Instead they swirl and flock around...
Vier's throat goes dry.
What he had mistaken for a lumpy ridge of earth was bleeding.
As he stares one mangy-feathered bird perches on one muscled shoulder and digs its sharp beak into flesh. Blood oozes out of the round hole it leaves.
"Zhen...?" Vier manages to say past the dry fear in his mouth.

The scent is getting stronger.
Pain runs through the Weavile from the pit of his stomach. The salty scent fills his nose and his body cries out in remembered hunger. The dark mud sucks at his ankles as he runs as fast as he can towards the smell. His digestive system is little more than rotting slop but it twists with the memory of hunger. He was starving! He was dying!
The strips of cloth that hung across his face were in the way of the rich scent of food. Zhen pulls them off and keeps on running.
His cat-like mouth opens wide and his severed stub of a tongue waggles in the open air.
Blood.
Blood.
Blood.
Faint memories of the past blur in front of his eyes as he catches sight of the source of the smell. A field of snow surrounded by dark mountain pines is projected around the corpse of the Kangaskhan. The shivering, excited feeling of a hunt completed runs down his spine.
Nothing matters now but digging his fangs into the meat and eating until the pain of hunger vanished.
Zhen bares his fangs at the birds already circling and leaps towards them. He lands heavily and a weight slips from his back. He barely notices.
The Weavile cares about nothing but food. He hisses and the bright frill of his neck stands on end.
He hunkers close to the body and his dead, red eyes glare up at the birds.

[OOC: really super sorry but I can't write a full post with so little to work with. ;A; all Jennifer is doing now is whispering urgently to Martha that they have to get out of this place while staring at Zhen in fear.]

Using the cover of tress to their advantage the Eevees weaved through the dirty underbrush. The flock seemed to of lost sight of them, at least for the moment, and their pace had dropped significantly. Seek's ears flicked at the sound of Eleroo's heavy panting beside her, beads of worry burring themselves inside her. Don't you give up on me now. No! As long as she stood she would make sure the little twerp kept going. "Not yet Eleroo." She growled, standing a bit taller to give him support.  
The male Eevee simply nodded to her. She knew him too well. He needed to stop. I need a break.. now. Thin body shaking with effort he feared that he could not handle this much longer. Perking his bloody-hot ears for a moment a cry pierced the delicate sense like glass. "MUUUUUUUUUUUUM!"
Flinching at the sound Seek hesitated. It was obvious to her that going toward it would only mean bad things. She had her own problems to worry about right now and didn't need more! Her paws turned away but stopped. This place.. was unfamiliar to her. If they're local, they could have shelter. As much as she didn't want to get involved it seemed to also be the best option as this point. With a dramatic sigh the female Eevee nudged Eleroo in the direction of the noise and started to move.

It seemed that almost instantly the other Pokemon appeared. The pair stopped barely hidden from the view of the new Pokemon. Eleroo couldn't hear what the other Eevee had said over his own panting but gasped as a Mukrow dived at them from above. He took one pawstep forward but Seek was first to react as she dashed forward and lept onto the corpse before them. Trying to call out to her the words only came as a dry rasp of air, his lungs burning too furiously to allow speech. Hunching his body slightly Eleroo watched as Seek blasted a bolt of electricity at the bird. It cawed and turned toward her, talons still extended. Forcing his paws to move the weak Eevee stumbled forward, wanting to do something but doubting that he could as he made his way into the clearing. His brown eyes dully gazed over the Flaaffy and fellow Eevee, unsure what to make of them.

Seek hissed at the bird and regretted her decision to attack it. Swiping one paw in the air she ducked her head, hoping that the pointed rocks on her helmet would keep the bird at bay. "Move it!" She spat, though the recipient of her words was unknown. She wasn't going to let these Pokemon see her as a coward! She was worth helping, they couldn't ignore her!

"Zhen!" Vier tries to scream as his hands are ripped from the Weavile's fur by the impact.
Still clutching two handfuls of dark grey hair he tumbles backwards into the mud. The leather satchel breaks his fall, mud oozing up around the worn leather, but spends his club skimming across the mud.
Frantically the small Ground Type leaps for it. As his stubby fingers close around the slender length of bone something passes over his back so close he can feel the wind of its wing beats. Blindly he swings the club round behind him. It doesn't so much as graze feather but a flash of electricity seems to be drawn to it. The flare of static runs down the club into Vier's arm then into the ground with no ill-effect on the ground type. His helm of bone slips a fraction as Vier turns around.
Crouching low against the mud Vier opens his mouth to call out to Zhen, just in time to see him hunkering over the oozing body. His teeth are bared in a feral snarl. Overhead birds caw in anger, swooping at the Weavile to try and drive him away. They are driven back by scything blows of Zhen's hooked claws.
Oh...He's hungry.
Zhen must have dropped him here so he wouldn't get hurt while he has feeding...
Against the backdrop of mud is a small blob of bright yellow. A helmet, made of plastic not bone like his own. It appears to be studded with rocks.
Vier's grip tightens on the club as he sees two brown furred pokemon, well camouflaged like he was by the mud. They're under attack!
Vier breathes in deeply and chills the air inside his lungs the way Zhen had taught him to.
Exhaling rapidly he shoots a column of freezing energy directly at the bird, hoping to ice over its feathers and send it plummeting to the ground.
The Ice Beam barely clips a wing before arching off into the sky. The bird turns baleful red eyes, sunken deep into rotting sockets, towards the small ground type.
With a jolt of fear Vier realizes that it hadn't even know he was there.

Blood. Meat. Red.
Images swirl disconcertingly in Zhen's mind, feeding his hunger. He spits and hisses incoherently at the birds as he crouches over the body of the Kangaskhan. It's a big corpse and the skinny Weavile can't cover all of it. Birds dart in under his guard and tear away small bits of meat. Zhen leaps in and bats at them with his claws but the birds fly away before he can catch them while others dive in on the opposite side.
The Weavile tries to take a mouthful of meat and talons rip into his bandaged back. Zhen flails as the birds dive back.
His hooked claws catch on one scaly foot and Zhen yanks. The decaying limb pops neatly out of its socket, leaving the bird to flap away crippled. The Weavile sniffs at the leg briefly. It's scaly skin on bone with barely a scrap of meat.
He tosses it into the flock and on instinct they swarm around the piece of meat, tearing into scraps with their sharp beaks.
Zhen digs his teeth into the carcass. Congealing blood sluggishly oozes from the wound. The Weavile twists his head to the side and gnaws with his carnassials. Flesh tears and rips away from the bone and blood runs down his dark furred chin.
Triumphantly Zhen pulls back, a strip of brown skin flapping loosely from his lips, and swallows.

No. No, no, no. This wasn't real. It was a dream. A terrible dream. She'd wake soon, of course she would. Wake up, drenched in sweat and panting, thanking Arceus that none of it had really happened. Any second now. Five seconds. Five, four, three, two, one ... Why wasn't she awake yet? Maybe another five seconds...

Blurry figures surrounded her. Three Eevee. Either there were more or her eyes were giving away. They were saying things to her, but she couldn't hear a word. She was certain that her lower jaw wasn't far off the ground now, her hands clinging to her face in horror, wet eyes bulging from their sockets.

Mad, mad, she was going mad. First Seth, then Eliana and now this. Dead. Everyone was dead. Only one explanation as to why she was the only one left: it was all her fault.

"N ... nnnnnoo..." the Flaaffy wailed, feebly crawling forward. The black, fluttery blur that was what remained of the undead swarm were suddenly drawn to something on the ground nearby. Martha just wanted to hold Rhea, to hug her and hope that she'd forgive her. She flopped forward onto the Kangaskhan's outstretched arm, blinking out her tears and partially clearing her vision. Just off to her right, near to Rhea's leg, was a Weavile ... a piece of Rhea's flesh dangling from its rotting jaws.

"NOOOO!" Martha screamed, her entire body exploding with electricity. She fired a Thundershock at the Ice-type, and anything else that moved. She couldn't protect Rhea in life, but she could in death.

"TOUCH HER AND I'LL KILL YOU!"

    "N ... nnnnnoo..." the Eevee watched in fear as the Flaafy crawled forward, her bleating feeble. She glanced at the foreigners, fur spiked and horror clear in her eyes as the fox was unsure what to do. Through the remaining flock of birds her gaze locked on the Weavile, it's once slate-blue skin blotched with unnatural purples and body bandaged. Within it's jaws some of the Khangaskhan's thick flesh dangled, and Martha seemed to notice it too. "NOOOO!" Jennifer recoiled, barely able to shield her eyes from the bright light that exploded from the sheep's body. "TOUCH HER AND I'LL KILL YOU!"
    The Eevee stumbled backwards, a shock of electricity pulsing through her fur and singing the tips of her pelt. Desperately she looked at the other Eevee, panicked on what to do. "S-Stop!" she shouted, before bounding towards the electric-type. She couldn't let this go on any longer, it was too dangerous, too many lives were on the line. "You have to stop!"
    She collided into Martha.

[OOC: tell me if anything needs to be changed!]

Vier determinedly tightens his grip on the club of bone.
"Zhen..." He says outloud, hoping the Weavile has finished eating. "I need some help..."
There is no guardian ice type running in to save him as the bird turns its blood colored eyes on him.
Patches of pimply purple skin show where it has shed feathers and its wings look mothim eaten.
However both hooked claws and stabbing beak are still sharp and smeared with red.
"Stay away." The Cubone says in a voice that does not betray the quiver of fear inside him.
The bird is beyond hearing him. It dives towards this new threat with open claws and a guttural caw.
Vier attempts to swing his club at it but the undead flying type isn't fazed by the human thigh bone swinging towards it. The bird grabs onto the bone with both claws. It beats its wings powerfully, trying to drag the weapon from Vier's grasp.
Vier tightens his grip and pulls it back towards him.
"You can't have it!" He snarls in a futile attempt to order the Murkrow in the same way he did Zhen.
The Cubone's feet leave gashes in the wet earth as he is dragged forwards. Gritting his teeth he braces himself as firmly as he can and pulls back.
This was like his helmet; it was a precious reminder of his mother. It was all he had left of her and he would not lose it the way he lost Zhen!
Vier's dark eyes turn cold.
He tugs sharply and the Murkrow's claws slip from his club. Without the force to pull against the Cubone goes tumbling head-over-tail in the mud. With his club held tightly in one hand he breathes deeply.
The Murkrow dives in with beak open wide.
Vier exhales a column of freezing air straight towards the undead and this time it strikes the bird in the head. The Murkrow is sent spiraling off course and crashes into the ground, shedding grimy black feathers into the mud.

A flare of light hits Zhen solidly in the chest. His body twitches in tiny spasms as his muscles are stimulated by the electricity. For a brief moment his deadened nerve endings feel pain. The sensation fades before he can match it to his memories and he dismisses it.
The electricity passes through him into the ground. He can no longer feel the damage it has done.
His feathered ears twitch as he seeks out the source of the attack.
Blood dribbles slowly down his chin, matting his grey fur.
He has not eaten enough to deaden his hunger but he has eaten enough that he can think more clearly.
His red eyes fall on two shapes. A pink one and a brown one.
The Weavile points his scarred face towards them and sniffs the air.
The smell of blood consumes all but they smell good.
Like warm fresh meat instead of the old kill he was eating.
He spreads his hooked claws and hisses. His teeth look like splinters of diamond in the bloodied cavern of his mouth.
Food, kill, eat.
"V...i...er" He hisses out, his lack of tongue mangling the consonants.
The Cubone doesn't reply to him. Does that mean it was o.k to eat them?

"You have to stop!"

Stop ... Stop ... how could she stop? How could she let that disgusting, undead fiend to eat what remained of her family? No. She'd fry that monster before she let him take another bite. Bolts of lightning shot into the sky as Martha's power unleashed itself, the orb on her tail glowing with a blinding light. She couldn't do this for long and she knew it; using all her power at once like this was going to exhaust her, but she had to. If it meant she was protecting Rhea from any further harm, it was worth it.

"No," she snarled, her livid eyes glaring straight at the undead Weavile, who in return brandished his claws and hissed at her. "You will not--"

Something collided with her from the side, sending her stumbling backwards. Landing roughly on her back, Martha allowed the air to return to her lungs before snapping her head up, searching for whoever had attacked her. To her surprise she spotted Jennifer, and the Flaaffy started to sob as she shakily got back to her feet.

"Just trying to protect her!" she wailed, clinging to her face. "That -- That monster was going to -- going to--" The amount of electricity she'd discharged finally caught up to her, and her energy suddenly drained. She flopped back down to the ground, holding her head in her hands and howling. "They're all deeeeeead! My fault ... my fault..."

((Skip for now))