(ACE) The MARSH Team

(OoC: I shall pass this round.)

Seek admittedly felt a little silly about her idea, how childish it must have seemed, but when no one protested she assumed it must have been a good option given their circumstances. Feeling a little hot under her feathers she couldn't help but nod at her own idea, and hoped that in the end it worked out for them. "I fear if you flew above it the heat from the flames could push you higher. I couldn't travel from the ground using trees as cover as I may fall behind... If an umbrella can be found I would not be against it being attached to my tail." ..Right. The child had grown fairly used to flying in the last few days, but while she could do it now that didnt make her an expert. Air currents and temperature, pressure zones, sound bouncing, dew point, lightning, snow.. there were so little things she had yet to experience and learn. Getting tossed into those storm clouds would be the end of me.

Thankfully Shenron was much wiser than her and thought ahead, but that didn't solve the main problem of giving him a safe flight. "I'll go see if I can find one." Eleroo offered, having finished his food with ravenous gulps. His maw was held open as he padded away, the one leppa berry he had gotten left a lingering heat on his tongue. The idea of going out into the cold rain didn't sound so bad anymore, though he pushed it away as he headed into the office they had previously explored. He was positive this place had umbrella's in it, what with all the rain this place got, but this little room just sounded like a nice place to start.

Seek gulped down another bite, the saltiness of the chips bringing up old memories of better times. "Right." She said evenly, trying to think of what other bases they needed to cover. Glancing back at where Eleroo wandered off to she felt her muscles tense. I should probably make sure I can carry actually him. Truthfully, she didn't doubt that she could, it was more of a matter of how long. A sense of dread had long since settled in her belly, and with each minute they wasted it only seemed to grow. "We should head out once that's settled then." She mewed dejectedly, realizing that putting off the inevitable wouldn't make her feel any better.

OoC)) Skip, I can't think of anything and don't want it to be a crap post. However Felix is cooperating fully.

---

After finishing the portion of his meal he wished to consume the Legend expected to feel a sense of content. Being sated was a naturally pleasurable sensation, one he could not admit to experiencing in recent time, but he could not ignore an itch persisting along his skin. At first he had passed it off as a response to their current situation, though he did not truly count himself as part of it, but now it seemed misplaced as if an inclination of something more serious.

Backing away from the dinning set without a word Uxie moved first to the center of their space. Detecting a direction would assist him in pinpointing the cause, but even the ample breathing room alluded him nothing. Flying in a small, slow circle the pixie reached for any cause for the sensation. Every inch of his being was honed with his psychic abilities for a perpetrator, and the first small noise he heard immediately drew his attention. It came from the back where Eleroo had wandered to, but the sound itself gave him no other reaction.

Tilting his head to the side he considered the upstairs, but again felt no cause for his compulsion. Assuming it was not nearby the legend felt it prudent to check the only element that had changed and floated the same way Eleroo had gone. However, upon passing the window he felt a shiver along his spine. Looking without moving his head, his perceptive eye glanced at the outside as he entered the office. Waiting there for several movements he felt again inconspicuously, and as he approached the group once again said stiffly,

"It comes."

Ever grateful that they had left that closest ajar Eleroo was a tad surprised and disappointed when he didnt immediately see umbrellas propped up within. Pawing at the hanging clothing he hoped to see one dangling above, but even after he managed to move them aside he was left wanting. There were several raincoats and boots, their sizes varying, and while a thought bloomed the Radeon had doubts that the human-shaped clothing would fit the dragon in need, what with his wings and all. Pushing things aside he searched high and low, and while familiar objects popped up the one he was looking for did not.

A chill as though he was being watched trickled down his spine, and in an instant the kit flipped around. Relief washed over him as it was just Uxie, and though the legend didn't greet him Eleroo knew by now it was just his nature. "Oh, hey." He chirped softly, hoping the acknowledgement would spur him to speak, but after a couple of awkward silent moments Uxie turned and left. With a blink of confusion Eleroo took a few steps forward. Moving past the desk he wanted to ask the legend what was wrong, but before he could approach him the child noticed something propped by the door that he had missed earlier. Umbrellas!

Bounding up to the umbrella stand Eleroo placed his forepaws on it as he stood. Gingerly gripping the handles with his teeth he pulled them out one by one and dropped them on the floor. Would they need multiple, were these any good? He wondered how Seek meant to adhere them to their friend, but instead of figuring it out he could here her chatting from the other room.
Looking Shenron in the eye the Aiveon cocked her head in thought. he had been right each time before, and before such an important and possibly long flight she'd be foolish to ignore him. Taking a step back the flier dropped into a sort of squat, her limbs bent and close to her belly as she spread all her feathers. Tilting her body one way or the other she tried to feel out steering, but the floor made it difficult, and stretching her limbs defeated the purpose. "I see." She mewed, realizing speed sacrificed some mobility. Before she could assume the second pose their legendary guest returned with a single, chilling sentence. "It comes."

"What comes? What's going on?!" All the stress they had worked to lessen had returned to her voice as the Aiveon shot up. A rumble of thunder could be heard outside. It was quieter than before, was the storm moving away, or was something harsher coming in? Is this our chance to leave? It was wishful thinking for sure- nothing ever seemed to work out that way for them. With her senses perked the bat-eared Pokemon swore she could hear something- a creaking, tapping, moaning sort of noise.. above them? Thrusting her head up she stared intently at the ceiling as the sound continued. It was soft, almost like it was part of the rain beats. She couldn't see anything, and it sounded beyond the upstairs. "..Do you hear that?" She asked in a hurried whisper, though she did not need validation to know, "Somethings on the roof."

Felix started hearing that sound as well and like so he was not in any mood to deal with unwelcoming company. Much to his mind though it was possibly an intruder that found its way there on top of them. "Seems unwelcoming company wants to crash this breakfast break. Perhaps the Floatzel had called for some friends to drive us out of this place." It was always a possibility but even then, he couldn't be so sure himself. If its an undead though then the first thing to do is kill it right away and second to dispose of the body before any other undead picks up the smell of blood. If he was a psychic type, he would have been able to detect what it was or who it was. Something did come to mind though. Complete silence in order to fool whatever it could be to think that nobody's there. Using one of his ribbon like feelers, Felix signaled everyone to go silent. "Nobody make a sound, but be ready to run if it comes to that." Felix said as quiet as he possibly could to everyone. Now comes the silent game and possibly the game of hide and seek.

(OoC: Due to holiday festivities I must pass this round.)

Seek's pads dug into the floor, toes spreading to keep herself steady as her own quivering threatened to topple her. Had they.. missed their window..? Her stomach dropped to the floor, the little bit of breakfast she managed to eat attempting to come back up. "What is that..." Having another pick up the sound was even more chilling, making it was impossible to play off as the wind or rain. Another roar of thunder boomed somewhere in the distance, and while it was seemed to make use of the sound as cover Seek could not ignore the scrabbling sound above them as it boomed outside.

With his belly fur brushing the floor Eleroo came creeping out of the office. He hadn't caught anything but Uxie's message, but everyone's reactions were plain enough to stress him out. In his maw were the two umbrellas he had freed, along with a belt he had found within the closet. With hurried steps he crept up to the others. Drool was seeping onto the soft material as his full mouth started to gag him, but with a stiff neck he managed to get to Shenron's side and set them down before he lost grip. "Nobody make a sound, but be ready to run if it comes to that." Felix warned with a motion of his feelers, confirming to him that they were in danger.

Unsure of exactly what was going on Eleroo's massive red eyes flicked between the others in loss. They were straining and stiff, clearly distressed over something he could not see. He'd only been gone a second, what happened? Tossing his head about he looked for the offender, but with everyone else looking in different directions he remained in the dark. Uxie. He had acted strange when he entered the back with him. Looking back at the office door the Radeon hoped it would offer some sort of clue, but instead his eyes locked dead on the window beside it.

Pressed up against the edge of the glass was a blue face, hands close to its eyes to reduce glare. With a loud involuntary yelp and jump the Radeon lifted a paw to point as he whimpered uncontrollably. Within seconds Seek clasped a paw over his maw and hushed him with a stern, "shhh," but his trembling foot would not stop. Having been spotted the Golduck hurried away from the window, and only then did Eleroo hear the noise from above. They were surrounded. They were trapped.

The sounds other than the rain told all. If there was any hope of escaping, they'd have to fight their way out. Felix had to change strategy from pacifist to combative. Even then he just recovered and this might be a strain on him. Seems we've got little choice of strategy of getting away unseen. Looks like our Floatzel friend had called for his allies to prevent us from leaving without a fight. The Sylveon gestured to Seek to be ready to fight since they had little choice after being spotted. His heart was beating somewhat quicker than normal, but in short the air was tense as foes surround them. The Fairy type shifts his eyes seeing a window where they could be seen easily and amongst that was a battlefield where their enemies await them to come out. Looking at Eleroo, it told him that they was indeed spotted by something. "Your call Seek." Felix said as he whispers to her.

---

Silence fell over the group like a dawn's mist. The dim morning sky, smothered by thick, relentless rain clouds, offered little to no light for the dark building. As Shenron controlled his flame, reducing it to a meager orange glow, the room took on a sense of abandon. Everyone present dared not breathe, let alone speak, and the only noises to pierce that silence were the creaks from above and the clack of the Radeon's nails as he returned to them with his parcels.

Uxie waved his twin tails in a similar fashion as Felix, a signal to come but stay quiet, and while the confused child approached he only seemed to notice the tautness of the air. For all his effort Eleroo's age showed as he started to yelp as an observer was spotted, the fright too much to handle. Uxie paid it no mind, as he was focused on the sliver of the intruder he saw. It was one of the Pokemon from earlier.

Everyone witnessed it as well, giving him no reason to acknowledge it. A cold panic started to sweep across the group as realization began to set in, but Uxie could not let himself fall victim to it. The creaking from above became more ravenous and fevered, the sound bouncing across the roof as the assailant grew bolder.

Seek could hear her heart beating inside her ears. They should have left immediately, they should have taken the food and ran, they should have used the cover of night... The Aiveon need no amount of bartering, begging, or cursing would change things, but as her paws shook it was hard not to hope this was a bad dream. The Pokemon at the window was gone but she knew it was only a matter of time; if they could hear the thing on the roof it had too. If it was spying on them they were still a matter of interest. Couldn't they catch any sort of break?

The scratching grew worse, the thing clearly no longer caring to cover its noise with the rain and thunder. Eleroo's shuddering in her grasp intensified, the sensitive boy struggling to cope. Letting him go so he could breathe freely the flyer couldn't stop her own paws from shaking. This was becoming worse than the Marsh.. "Your call Seek." Felix breathed tensely as he awaited instructions. Her call...
It was her choice. Her judgement... The child fretted, knowing she stood between them and whatever horrible things came their way. How was she supposed to know? Forcing herself to remain calm the child tried to think it out as rationally as possible. The thing above them.. was it trying to break in, or scare them out? The lurker at the window, was it looking for something or gauging their reaction to the other Pokemon? Were they working together or separate assailants? If they stayed they were trapped with a hole in their shelter, and if they left they would walk into the other Pokemon of the town who knew they were frightened.

The possibilities seemed endless and quickly overwhelmed her. With a rough swallow the child went bug-eyed. She couldn't do this. How was she supposed to decide?! How was she supposed to know?? Paralyzed in fear she glanced at Uxie, praying for some elder's wisdom, for any guidance at all, but he was just staring off at the ceiling as the noise grew worse. No matter what she thought of it seemed they wouldn't have time to get out without trouble, and her stream of ideas was cut off abruptly.

With a massive smash something broke through the ceiling, bringing along with it shrieks and roaring rain. Eleroo yelped, pressing his belly flat to the floor as he heard the critter crashing around in the messy second floor. "Stay together!" Seek barked in a firm whisper. "Don't let it separate us." The sounds of breaking glass and crashing wood spoke of a wild being upstairs, its calls unintelligible and angry as it blundered around. Fear gripped Eleroo's heart; he wanted to run, to hide, to get away from this nightmare, but his trembling bones wouldn't move from the spot. The cries only got worse, and tears bulged in his ruby gaze as the sounds intermingled in what he could only assume were multiple Pokemon.

It must have only been a few seconds since it smashed the roof, but it felt like a lifetime before the undead stumbled to the top of the stairs. Eleroo instantly recognized it, another Tropius, but unlike last time they didn't have the support of Green, and now they didn't have Rhia either. It stomped forward, reaching its long neck out as it bellowed a low roar at them. Eleroo didn't know what to think- in the dim light, the thing almost looked normal, like it was one of the Pokemon that lived in this town. Were it not for its blazing red eyes and, fresh purple wounds he would have thought her just infected, but deep gore marks on her flanks spoke of a horrid death.

Their previous fight with the other Tropius was blurry to him now, his own part being ever so small, but the Radeon couldn't think about that. The Tropius struggled to make it down to them, its wings obstructed by the small stairway, giving him a small manner of hope until something shot out from behind it. It was a blur, darkened feathers hard to spot in the dim room, but Seek's gasp told him enough. The Pelipper squawked, circling around the room and calling out again as it shot a stream of water at the clustered group.

---

The roof caved in, the driving rain and wind following suit. The tromping and crashing of their new guest was an overwhelming sound, one that deserved attention and concern, but he focused his hearing on the natural noises behind it. The beat of rain had decreased, a small lull in the storm, but the whipping wind sounded even more violent. It raged outside, foretelling of a dangerous flight. Their inexperienced flyer would struggle, and Uxie easily pictured her being tossed about by the vicious gusts and breaking something as she's thrown to the ground.

"Are we escaping or are we defending this spot?" Shenron inquired while holding his attacks. The legend dove, avoiding the stream of water from the decaying pelican. Indeed, though they intended to abandon this place fighting here would ruin their shelter one way or another. As the wind roared outside Uxie knew fleeing would not end well. Unless they wished to traverse below the treeline the painless undead would prevail. Yet he could not help but wonder how the resident Pokemon would respond to their property being destroyed.

What would be the bigger enemy?

Hunkering down to the floor Eleroo felt his entire body quake with fear as the Tropius tried to make its way to them. They had fought one before, they could do it again, right? As its hulking weight crushed some steps beneath it he could only pray that was true. Green's Pokemon.. they hadn't survived the fight, had they? He swallowed, barely able breathe through his own saliva. They were fewer in number now, could they really do it..? A Pelipper flew out from behind it, and he barely managed jump out of the way of its beam of water. It splashed, water drops touching his fur and making his body realize how real the threat was.

"Are we escaping or are we defending this spot?" Shenron's voice boomed in her ears, but Seek could barely hear him. She took a step back. Her breathing had already quickened, eyes growing wide the second she could hear the flaps. What was she going to do..? Her paws shook, practically knocking her over as she tried not to cry out. It was just one bird, just one fat, stupid, ugly bird. "I-I," she mumbled, trying her damnedest to think of an answer for the dragon, but her mind was racing in panic. They had to fight, they couldn't run. They had to run, they couldn't fight. The pelican let out a cry, and Seek could feel any courage leave her body. "Seek," Eleroo whined, knowing her distress, but she couldn't hold it together any longer.

Scurrying to the door the Avieon reared up and scratched at the wood. "Let me out, let me out let me out!" She wailed, unable to handle a knob. Her vision swam, barely able to make sense of door she was staring at. "Seek stop, its just one!" Eleroo tried to reason with her but it only made her paws work harder. She couldn't breathe, not here, not in this place with a bird. Her incessant cries grabbed the Tropius attention, and with an angered roar it whipped its wings in a violent fury. Leaves broke free, and the savage Leaf Tornado whipped toward her. Blinded by panic Seek had no thought of dodged and was tossed aside by the wicked wind, her light body having no say as she was thrown about.

Gritting his teeth Eleroo bound forward screaming, "Don't do that to her!" With his maw agape a fast spray of Toxic shot forward and coated the undead's already discolored skin. It hissed on contact, the poison seeping in as the Tropius shook to rid itself of the sensation. It wasn't much, but she stopped her attack, and with Seek out of dangerous Eleroo's small bout of courage started to fade. He was shaking, breathing heavy with uncertainty as he stared down the undead. Seek hadn't answered Shenron, and he was no strategist, but he barked the only thing he could think of. "T-try to take a-at least one down!"

Felix had started seeing Seek starting to panic. Right now this wasn't a good time, but he had to step in and say something. Even then, this place was to confined and likely the back was being unguarded since the first intruder came from upstairs and the second came through the front. "Seek, listen to me, we don't have to fight them. We can see if Uxie can teleport us somewhere safe from them and we make a bee line for the place of safety. What do you say? Its worth a shot at asking Uxie?" Hopefully this will calm Seek down a bit and get them out of danger for some time. Likely though that the two was sent to eliminate the thieves that stole the medicine. Felix looked out one of the windows seeing a very angry floatzel. It wasn't looking at them, but was focused on the front waiting for the two. "Uxie, can you teleport us out of here? I don't think we'd have a good situation on our paws if we stay here and damage the place further. I'd be concerned that it would cause much more damage if they are after the ones who stole the medicine." He had hoped his request for them to be teleported to safety would come to pass. There was so much things here that could go wrong and if there was any gas around that it might cause an explosion with all of them in its blast zone.

---

Uxie remained calm, all his senses at ease as the pair of undead barged down to the main floor. They had numbers on their side, though limited space could pin that against them. Even so, it did not seem to matter as the same scene from the rooftop repeated; at the sight of the intruders the winged child went into a panicked frenzy. The response was completely inappropriate, and Eleroo used all his bravery to act in her stead.

"T-try to take a-at least one down!"

His voice shook, but his own strike on the Tropius blistered and burned, provoking its anger even further. The creature had already made it to the end of the staircase when Shenron charged it with powerful flames. The scent of scorched flesh was harsh, but Uxie noticed the attack was restrictive, as the dragon took care to acknowledge their surroundings. In such an inconvenient space for combat he wondered who, or what, would take the most damage within the squabbling.

"Uxie, can you teleport us out of here?"

Felix implored him, though it was unclear if the request stemmed from Seek's reaction or the combat situation. Never had he been one to interfere with the affairs of others unless necessary; the Floatzel would have sought immediate aid without him and the roof strike could have killed them all. In truth, he could move them, but the need to did not strike him. After all, he was a seeker of knowledge, an observer, no more than a spectator to be forgotten.

He was no hero. No protagonist or fate changer. "Not currently." He said was the same errie calm as always. If things grew dire and he was to act out of his own safety, then he had the potential to move them, but currently that need was not present. Instead, the Pelipper made its presence noticeable again with a loud cry, drawing his focus back to the battle happening around him.

It had made another arch after flailing in a corner. The floppy bird was struggling with its restricted flying space, and just followed along the wall. Its new pathway went directly towards Seek, and with a target in its line of fire Uxie could see its pouch gurgle with foul water.

He had just refused to intervene, but with Seek refusing to participate he could count her outside that rule. With a swish of his twin tails he let free a shower of stars. They made their way to their target without fail, bursting on its pouch and wings. Throwing the bird off-course, it gagged, water falling harmlessly out of its bill as it struggled to stay aloft.

Why was this happening again? Seek's breath came fast and short, her heart racing as she scratched at the door like a caged animal. The Tropius, the others, nothing seemed to reach her ears other than her own pulsing blood and each beat of the bird's wings. In the enclosed space it seemed to echo, or maybe that was just her skull, but the sound multiplied to an almost deafening roar as her mind envisioned more and more birds. Suddenly, a noise broke through, a voice, though the words were garbled beneath her inner turmoil. "Seek, listen to me, we don't have to fight them. We can see if Uxie can teleport us somewhere safe from them and we make a bee line for the place of safety. What do you say? Its worth a shot at asking Uxie?"

Teleport. That, that was what happened earlier, right? She tried to look into Felix's blue eyes but couldn't keep her vision straight. They could get out- they could leave this place in an instant. "Wecouldgetout," she puffed quickly, the words blending together as she pressed herself against the wall. With enough approval to ask the legend himself Felix moved away, but Seek's momentary relief was already fading. R'hia. They had lost her and Asura last time.. what if that happened again? If they were all separated, if Eleroo was-- a pathetic whine squeezed through her teeth. It wasn't worth it.

A shiver trickled uncomfortably down Eleroo's spine as the sound assaulted his ears. She wasn't improving, not that he'd expected her to, but it was hard to see someone he cared so deeply about be so afraid. Was that how she felt whenever he was afraid? The Tropius stumbled, a scorch mark across its side and shoulder from Shenron's attack, but even as they got in a hit the Radeon's confidence was at a stand still. How was Seek so strong, so resilient for him, but he couldn't even stop his paws from shaking when he had a type advantage? With a gasp something clicked, and while it wasn't much he hoped it would do something for the Aiveon. "Seek, blast it- give it a jolt!"

Shivering, Seek could only watch as the bird came toward her once again. As a Swift blasted it out of the air she could feel her entire body tense up. The call for an attack was like some weird deja vu, some sensation that was more instinctual than reactive. With a sharp breath the Aiveon felt the electricity arc across her pelt and blast toward the Pelipper as it careened toward the floor. Her eyes were closed, but she could hear the crash as the stunned bird was not expecting to be double teamed. Pressing her belly to the floor Seek backed up, not wanting to relive anything else.

Elated, Eleroo felt light on his paws. She listened! She wasn't in a good way or anything but Seek wasn't out of the running yet. With the Pelipper still for a moment the poison type turned his attention back to the bellowing dinosaur. Making a sweep with her head Eleroo couldn't imagine himself getting close to it again. He brave. Tensing his muscles to keep himself from shaking the child took in a deep breath, a dark sphere forming at his maw. With a flick of his head she shot the Shadow Ball forward, hitting the beast in the jaw. Its head jerked, a rough patch on its cheek, but it kept moving forward. Eleroo tried not let out the same whine as Seek, and steadied his voice as much as possible as he yowled, "D-don't let it c-corner us!" before launching a second Shadow Ball.

Damn it, It regained composure and it started making its way towards Seek and Eleroo again. Understanding Uxie though with the unavoidable no, it was likely because it was after the thieves. That one shot though he did to the tropius might be worth the chance to disable the Peliper and if lucky to force it to crash into its partner. "Hey you! The big dumb bird! Who sent you!?" Felix shouted at the water type to get its attention away from the other two. Though he hated to use snarky remarks to another pokemon, it had to be done to get it distracted. He then looked at the Tropius who looked tougher than it appears. They looked like they was wanting to retrieve what was stolen. Fat chance though since the Floatzel did threaten them before and was willing to force them out if it had to. Even then, the threat they pose is something that would be done through battle.

The Sylveon gave a low growl at the Tropius while keeping his eye on the Peliper. "You want us to leave this place, but yet you take orders from a type you have an advantage over? If you have a rotted mind then the cure to that is sadly to be put down." Felix said to the Tropius. If it gave even a response of even be sentient then perhaps they can work something out as a way to leave without needing to do any further damage, but right now it seems they really don't care of anything. If its a fight they want then a fight they shall get. Mostly undead have such feeble minds that if the right thing is hit then they could be easily returned to the sender and turned against them. That being a theory that Felix felt so far but never proven yet.

(OoC: I will pass this round.)