(ACE) The AMITY Team

Rustle. Rustle rustle.
Snap!

As small paws flitted through brush and bramble it seemed no matter where they stepped they made noise, alerting anything in the surrounding area that something living was within. Sofia cursed her bad luck as she found herself stuck on a thorned branch, the snaking vine caught on her amulet. Terrified of breaking the chain she stopped and tried to maneuver it out but only wound up getting her hair stuck next. "Oh no...not again!" This was the third time she had gotten the chain caught on something while trying to hide and at this rate she was sure to lose the valuable treasure. She turned her body slowly, making her face the parasitic vine that choked off what appeared to be a wild berry bush, and lifted her paws to try and work it loose.

This only served to prick her paws something fierce.

Crying out in pain Sofia quickly realized that she was being quite loud and ducked down, at least as best as she could while stuck to a bush. Her ears went flat and she peered through leaves to try and see if anything had heard her make such racket. So far the park seemed still and the shiny Vulpix slowly started to relax but the ache in her paws soon turned into stinging when the blood met with the dirt and got caught within the small holes. Whimpering Sofia struggled to figure out what to do when the soft sounds of voices made their way to her ears.

Voices met living! Suddenly alert and very happy the Vulpix sat up and tried to push one of the branches out of her view and at least two small white figures caught her attention. And a chimp! Chimps meant fingers! "Um, excuse me?" she called out timidly, hoping to Arceus that would listen that her instincts were not wrong. "Is there someone who can help me? I'm...well I'm stuck." Embarrassment flooded the female but she forced it back down, not wanting to make a bad first impression. Please let someone answer her...

((lol Sofia is still very much in the foliage so it should look like a bush is talking to the group. Once someone gets her out they can tell it is a Vulpix XD))

"I think so, too. But...I'm not sure if he'll appreciate it. I don't think he would--not now, anyways." The Pidgey's face fell at Molly's response, taking it to heart. But who wouldn't want a friend? It just didn't sit well with the young avian and he puffed out his chest. Before being able to respond, though, Calvin broke in.

“Oh, but look at him!” The older Pokemon's voice was soft with sympathy, being the first to finally see Colton's own point of view. “I’m sure your smiling faces would be the one thing to cheer him up – I mean, how couldn’t they?!” The small bird chirped happily. "You really think so, Sir?" he asked with an excited tone. “I think you’ll be shocked by his reaction,” was the reply he got. More than enough to harden the resolve in his chest, Colton turned to start walking in the way of Misters Prince and Nokesy.

"What?"  Colton turned in time to see the small blue coloured Pokemon reacting with alarm colouring his features. "No, kids.  Stay away from him.  He's hurt and moody.  The little one is right; he doesn't want company right now." By then thoroughly confused by the many different reactions, Colton let his wings fall in defeat. "Y-yes Mister..." An obedient child by nature, he would listen to the authority figures even if he wasn't evactly sure who that was in the situation.

Colton was a little surprised to hear a snort from behind him, turning in time to see the Ninetales spit at the angelic male. "Where the hell do you get off, you little shit? Fucking with childrens' heads? You've been here a whole ten minutes before the bird and already you act like you know what the fuck you're doing?" Large canines shown as Caine pulled back his lips. "Don't make me tell you again to leave them alone." Colton was at a loss, staring with distressed eyes from Caine to Calvin and back. No, no, no, no fighting! "N-no! Mister Caine, it's alright sir! We are all friends here!" The small bird cried, trying desperately to calm the emotions that could easily burst to a raging fire in no time.

Caine only rolled his eyes and turned his face away, not the response the avian was hoping for, but at least the fox backed down. Sighing softly in releif, it was then Mister Prince chirped in softly, asking "So...what do we do now?" Frankly, it was a good question. Colton would do whatever the others wanted, happy just to help where needed. Caine was the one to awnser, though, his tone low and tired, a massive change than earier. "We could all use a rest... Hell has been breaking loose since dawn this morning. ... Since Nokes and the Shit Head were able to get to Hearthome easy enough with no trouble, might be smart to find a place to lick our wounds there. I don't like the open anymo-"

"Um, excuse me?" A very soft voice interrupted the fire type, making him crane his neck. Narrowed eyes stared into the bush. "...you all hear that?" Then it came again. "Is there someone who can help me? I'm...well I'm stuck." Colton chirped happily, already bouncing in the direction of the voice. "Quick! A lady needs our help!" With a soft sigh, the Ninetales also got to his paws, limping at a much slower stride behind the child.

“Oh, but look at him! I’m sure your smiling faces would be the one thing to cheer him up – I mean, how couldn’t they?! I think you’ll be shocked by his reaction,” Molly looked up to the Togeren with bright, joyous eyes, a large smile growing on her blue lips as she giggled. "You really think so?" she squeaked, awkwardly wagging her round tail. Her grin soon fell when Azelf interrupted. "No, kids. Stay away from him. He's hurt and moody. The little one is right; he doesn't want company right now." she gave a faint nod, pouting. "Oh...okay." she mumbled gently, nestling herself back into the vulpine's soft fur. The Ralts had asked what they should do now, and the normal-type only offered a shrug. "Beats me." she hummed. "Sleep, eat, get stronger, enjoy life while we still can? That sounds good enough, I guess."

"Where the hell do you get off, you little shit? Fucking with childrens' heads? You've been here a whole ten minutes before the bird and already you act like you know what the fuck you're doing? Don't make me tell you again to leave them alone." Caine's voice alarmed the child, immediately perking up and nudging the fox's side. "N-no! Mister Caine, it's alright sir! We are all friends here!" she nodded her agreement. "P-Please don't fight with him!" her voice was half-pleading, worry in her eyes. I think I've had enough for one day... She listened patiently as the Ninetales put in his own input on what they should do next, eyes wide in surprise as a voice, a foreign one, interrupted him. "Is there someone who can help me? I'm...well I'm stuck." her eyes drifted to the source, a bush. Am I delusional? "Quick! A lady needs our help!" she quickly shrugged the idea of hallucinating away when the others had also noticed the sound, and shuffled backwards as the fire-type got up to follow the Pidgey. Eagerly, the Azurill hopped forward, following the two as best she could.

I'm actually not the only one...

The Ralts was looking around as well...

I need to talk to him...

Speaking to someone he didn't know made him vastly uncomfortable, but it was going to be the only way. Besides... he didn't look like a bad guy...

"Where the hell do you get off, you little shit? Fucking with children's heads? You've been here a whole ten minutes before the bird and already you act like you know what the fuck you're doing? Don't make me tell you again to leave them alone."

The curses and the venom injected into them made the small monkey jump and whimper, big eyes staring at the vulpine as he went off on the arrogant angelic creature.

Thankfully, as soon as the fire had started it stopped and Caine was soon speaking much more calmly. Timidly, Oliver nodded; he would love to not be out in the open right now...

"Um, excuse me?"

His little body flinched badly, reacting instinctively. Then reason reminded him instant afterwards that undead did not talk; that person was alive.

It was this and the fact that Caine had got up to move that persauded the fire type to follow him to the brambles.

Azelf was far from pleased by the angel like dragon's reaction to his advice to the children.  It briefly contorted in a look that no person with even a spec of goodness in them could wear, but true to the chatterbox that he was, he didn't take long to speak.  “Just trying to spread the lov-"

"Where the hell do you get off, you little shit? Fucking with childrens' heads? You've been here a whole ten minutes before the bird and already you act like you know what the fuck you're doing?"

The fairy started for a moment, having once again forgotten that Caine's volitole temper and Calvin's needling would mix to create an explosive reaction.  "Please watch your language, little one.  There are smaller ones than you here."  His eyes softened slightly.  "But I do share your sentiments."

“Well, that’s a very interesting lecture but I know exactly what I’m doing.  I’m helping you poor souls.”  Oh man, was he pushing it.  “You should show more gratitude.”

"Actually-"

"N-no! Mister Caine, it's alright sir! We are all friends here!"

“Yeah.  Yeah we are. You could learn something from them. Maybe we can kiss and make up sometime?”

"As I was trying to say, one kind deed does not a friend make."  His eyes were locked on Calvin.  "I am world weary enough to know that much.  A kind deed from a stranger means the stranger is worth a chance, but you are following your act of kindness with things that, quite frankly, are anything but."

A girl's voice rang out, nervous and desperate.  It prompted him to his feet, watching as the fox and the children went following him to the bushes where the youngster must be trapped.

“I see Miss Hedge caught your attention, Romeo.  Don’t worry; you’re a real catch.”

"And you are too."  He muttered, rolling his eyes.  "So much I want to throw up.  Please sit down and shut up."

Prince almost smiled as Azelf tried to comfort him, leaning against the other 'Ralts' for support. But when the other mentioned about feeling something Prince couldn't help but nod his head. "Yes...I did." The strange wave of energy that rippled through the park was nothing short of incredible but it seemed only the more sensitive noticed. Prince's eyes had locked with the Chimchar's and the other looked as though he were going to come over to talk before the Ninetales went on a tirade, making the flame chimp pause. The wilted Ralts was saddened to see him stop and cower, the negativity once again washing over him and making him weak. Seriously, was there any kind of break that this gathering could get?

A soft voice calling out from the brush caught everyone's attention, however, and the bickering stopped almost as quickly as it had started. Even the two more menacing of the group looking to investigate despite not actually going with the others to the treeline. Prince eyed Azelf before looking back to the retreating fox and friends and, taking the Legends advice in hand, slowly made his way over to help them.

____________________________

"Quick! A lady needs our help!"

Sofia could have fainted from happiness. Someone had heard her and they were coming to help! And not just any someone, a living someone! With manners! It was like hitting the lottery to the lavender Vulpix, who was still struggling to stay still so as to not break the chain that held her beloved amulet on her neck. Tails tapping rhythmically Sofia waited anxiously for the sounds to get closer before looking through the leaves of her bush to see a Ninetales standing practically on top of her. "Oh my!" she gasped excitedly, happy to see one of her own kind among the gathered. "Please watch out sir, I don't think you want to get stuck in these thorns like I did!"

Ignoring the stinging in her paws Sofia gently pushed one of the branches out of her way to reveal her face to the group, thorns digging into the soft padding as her eyes scanned them all before settling on the Chimchar from before. "Hi!" Sofia greeted cheerfully. "Mr. Chimchar I think you could be exactly who I need. Do you think your nimble fingers could untangle my amulet from this bush? I'm afraid I can't get free because of it." She looked down pitifully at the purple stone hanging delicately from her neck, nearly eye level due to where it was hanging on the branch. "Please? It's really important to me and I don't want to break it."

Caine was a little surprised, glancing over his shoulder basically all of the little ones had followed his initiative. Though whether that was actually because of him or they wanted to find out who was calling out, did not matter, Shrugging, the Fire type took comfort in how close Oliver was to him. Waving one tail, he gently let it touch the chimp's side in a comforting gesture. He had been so quiet for such a long time. Frowning slightly at the change in thought, Caine was drawn out of his mind at the gasp he was met with. "Oh my!" His violet eyes slowly turned to... actually see some Vulpix coloured like a faded bruise. Frowning, not actually all the pleased with her species. Caine himself was nothing like the norm for his kind, surely, and he didn't enjoy the thought of having to share this with someone else. "Please watch out sir, I don't think you want to get stuck in these thorns like I did!" His only response was a tired sigh. "No, I think that was a novice move on your part," he muttered, tone deadpan.

Colton, though, was much much more enthused than the vulpine. He chirped out happily, bouncing up and down. "Oh! Oh! It was a lady! And a small pretty purple one, too!" The child giggled boyishly at that, not having the opportunity to be by someone so beautiful often. "HI!" she greeted them in return, earning a coy grin in return from the Pidgey. But she seemed to look him over instead, in favor of Oliver. She showed her necklace, it was really tangled in there! Indignant, Colton turned to Oliver and gave a small jump into the air, flailing his wings. "Come on Mister Oliver! You must aid a lady in need!" The small avian's eyes were determined, so demanding he may even frighten the already timid Fire type, but he did not realize that upon his actions. Oh, if only I had hands too! I would help her instead, Colton wished with a silent sigh.

[ooc; i think that i just unintentionally made Colton smitten with Sophie. LOL He is totally going to be her outright admirer from now on xD Maybe that will make up for Caine's buttheadedness][/color]

He had expected to find a living, as well as a living female, given the feminine touch to the voice. He had not expected to find a Pokemon with coloration that wasn't normal, yet wasn't even the mutation classified as "shiny."

She reminded him of the lilacs that bloomed in Anne's back yard. The memory association soothed him, and his ridged body slowly relaxed. The few lines of speech between Sofia and Caine did not reach where his mind had wandered.

He missed sleeping underneath the tree, where his human would sit and read to him for hours. He missed the tree itself; a primate, he loved to climb and swing and play, and that old oak was perfect for all three.

Home... will I ever see it again...?

"Mr. Chimchar I think you could be exactly who I need."

He jumped, instantly all senses plunged into overdrive as the sudden mention of his species--and therefore, being the only Chimchar, the addressing of Oliver himself--ripped him from his memory based fantasy.

"Do you think your nimble fingers could untangle my amulet from this bush? I'm afraid I can't get free because of it. Please? It's really important to me and I don't want to break it."

Nervous eyes moved from her face to her amulet, and fear gave way to pity. He'd hate to see a young kid cry over losing something that meant something to to her. Especially given that it was probably all she had left of home. His hand moved to stroke his scarf, understanding that desperation to safe guard that kind of keepsake all too well.

"Yes, miss."

He stepped forward carefully, and breathed a little fire on the brambles in his path, weakening them before pulling on them to make them collapse and move them out of the way. Once a path was clear, he reached into the branches that ensnarled her necklace and carefully began to untangle it, quietly thanking Arceus for the blessing of opposable thumbs.

(Apologies; I forgot Snitch was in the SH. I need to skip this round.)

The Ninetales watches with a bored expression as the small ones conversed before him. The light to his eyes were darkening, faded, and held nothing but an almost expressionless sorrow. The life that had been in his paws were numbing, just at seeing the small vulpine joining. Already it seemed the entire team was taking a shine to her. The new Pidgey was practically tripping over himself in trying to get her attention, but even little Oliver was listening to her. Caine only allowed a slight widening of his eyes in response, watching the child move forward obediently. The fire starter had hardly done anything but shake from fear and cling to Caine's fur since the Harbinger left them, and yet now he was almost seemingly eager to help this newcomer? Was it because she was a girl? Was it because she was a regal representation of their species? When he was....not?

The Ninetales' eyes narrowed as Oliver obeyed her words, doing what she pleased. Was he the only one feeling that things were shifting? Something felt off to the bleeding vulpine and he did not like it. Gritting his teeth, he kept silent. Even as Oliver untangled her precious gem, Caine could have sworn he saw some sort of connection between them. A sudden bolt of icy terror shot through him. Looking around abruptly, Caine counted the ones he could consider allies in the group. Molly, maybe the bird... Oliver? Caine's breathing suddenly quickened along with his pulse, the numb feeling spreading through his paws, snaking along his limbs. I have lost Bachi... Milo... I can't trust Nokes or Calvin... Prince seems like a good kid... but...

The Ninetales' gaze became feral then, a primal sort of fear and paranoia dilating his pupils. Glancing swiftly to the side, Caine turned and started walking towards the burned remains of the forest. "Go see if there is anything... useful left," he muttered to no one in particular. A lame excuse just so that no one would follow him. His remaining tails grazed gently against the ground, his evident lack of energy to even hold his tails up showing as he fell from the others' line of sight, vanishing into the blackened trees. He did not do anything or a few minutes, walking alone, just letting his paws crunch against the dryness even as it slowly gave way to parts of the forest where it was not burned. His head hung low all through out the trek, dead eyes on the ground just beneath his muzzle. There was nothing to think about regarding what he was about to do.

Eventually, keeping his eyes on the ground got back at him. Caine was silent as his skull smashed harshly into the truck of a thick tree. Not a sound, his eyes narrowed, not moving away from the tree either. Keeping his face pressed against the bark, Caine slowly shut his eyes. He was losing them. They would forget him. He did not matter, nothing mattered. He would just die like the rest of them, then they would move on. There would be nothing. "There would be NOTHING!" He roared, whipping his head back before slamming his muzzle back into the tree. Blood began to flow freely down his forehead, into his eyes, where his skin had come apart from the impact. Gritting his teeth, the Ninetales snarled, disatisfied. Thepain pulsing through his head was not good enough. It did not hurt enough.

"I can still feel the PAIN!"

Bellowing out again, Caine continued his self destructive act, smashing his face against the bark until blood flowed freely, crimson splattering across his chest, paws, and the ground. He continued the onslaught several times, hitting his cheek again, and again, until he finally collapsed, panting from the dizziness. "I lost... blood." THe Ninetales curled up at the foot of the tree, pulling his small body around himself even as he closed his right eye. The left one he could no longer open, there was too much blood flowing hom the wounds on his face... Or maybe he had messed up the eye, too. "I don't even give a fucking fuck anymore..." He buried his muzzle in his tails, feeling the inviting blades of the razors bite gently into the skin on his neck.

[ooc: Skipping Colton. Also don;t mind me, just using Caine as a way to vent. Caine will return to the team in a post or two, depends on what he does.][/color]

"Please watch out sir, I don't think you want to get stuck in these thorns like I did!" it was a feminine voice, the young Azurill eagerly leaping from her place for a better view of the new survivor. She caught a glimpse of a violet pelt, and quietly rolled to Caine's side before staring at the fire-type. "Oh! Oh! It was a lady! And a small pretty purple one, too!" the look on the child's face brightened, feeling a slight rush of happiness that they had discovered a female survivor. Although it wasn't actually awkward for young Molly to be the sole girl in a band of males, she did, however, greatly enjoy the idea of being able to make friends with one of the same gender. I can finally do the things I didn't get to do before! Like, like girl talks! She watched attentively as Oliver began to retrieve the Vulpix's necklace, before Molly bounded towards her.

"Hi!" she squeaked, rather joyously despite her wounds. "My name's Molly, and it's really nice to meet you!" before she could continue, she heard the voice of Caine mumble behind her. "Go see if there is anything... useful left," shuffling to face the fox, watching as he solemnly tread away, tails dragging behind him. "C-Caine?" she mumbled, a concerned expression overtaking her as she whimpered. "D-Do you think he's okay? Do you think he's gonna be okay?" she squirmed nervously on the spot, looking down to the ground. "Oh...I hope he's okay."

Getting her untangled was no easy task, and Oliver once again thanked the fates for his opposable thumbs.

"There we go..." He stepped back slightly as the brambles fell away and let her loose, then backing up to allow her room to move out. As he did so, he spotted Caine from the corner of his eye. It was what the vulpine said, however, that alarmed him.

"Go see if there is anything... useful left..."

He froze, not liking the way the elder creature said that, and stared helplessly after him for a minute or two before bounding after him. He couldn't say what instinct drove him to do this at first, but it quickly cleared up.

It was because the look in his eyes betrayed the same empty feeling Oliver himself had when he thought the most about just giving up.

"And you are too. So much I want to throw up.  Please sit down and shut up."

Calvin quirked a brow at the shiny Ralts’ response, a crotchety remark that didn’t go unnoticed by the flamboyant Togeren. He stared the creature down a moment, expressive eyes narrowed in confusion at the male’s confidence and somewhat misplaced aura of wisdom. He seemed older, experienced in the world and so apparently comfortable scolding the rowdy. It was a trait juxtaposed with his appearance. Calvin had overlooked it on their first meeting, too enamoured with grinding the fox’s gears, but now that he thought about it the Ralts was quite the oddity.
“You know, I never did catch you name…” The angelic creature had opted for a less snarky response, instead brushing over the psychic’s lecture in favour of exploring his suspicions. Something was off about the shiny, and Calvin wanted to find out exactly what it was. “In fact, I hardly noticed you before – I apologise. So… let’s start again, hm? Why not tell me a little about yourself? I mean, I could learn from someone like you, right?” The tinge of sarcasm in Calvin’s tone was hard to distinguish.

Unable to work out his tiresome companion’s latest train of thought with the sudden questioning of the group’s resident healer, Nokes soon zoned out of the conversation. His permanent frown softened slightly as sounds of conversation in the distance reminded him of what had originally piqued his curiosity; a female. Despite the angel’s attempts at provoking a more unpleasant side to the hound, Nokes was genuinely keen to meet this unseen damsel. She sounded sweet, a pretty face to match a charming voice, but he had learnt not to get his hopes up. If she weren’t horribly disfigured by the epidemic world, no doubt she would be too young. Nokes, despite his many questionable morals, drew the line at pursuing a child.

His mind suddenly void of Xatu’s torment to make space for a beautiful face, Nokes rose to his paws without a word. He wouldn’t be missed; Calvin could entertain himself by pestering the pair of Ralts for the time being. Seeing opportunity to assess the situation behind the trees, the Manectric silently left to investigate.

"…useful left,"

Stalking towards the scene, powerful stature naturally hunched, Nokes approached in time to catch Caine’s escape. He watched the defeated fox leave, nostrils flaring as he caught the canine’s signature bloody scent on the air. It was soon coupled with the delightful panic he had come to associate with the chimp as Oliver darted past in pursuit of his downtrodden companion. Nokes frowned after them, confused at their behaviour.
“What’s their problem?” He grunted, blunt. As he spoke, he turned to catch his first glimpse of the mysterious female tangled in the foliage. The Vulpix was flawless. Petite form cloaked in a soft shade of lavender; eyes wide and totally arresting. Nokes took a sharp inhale, his brutal charade faltering as he allowed himself to momentarily and most blissfully succumb to her youthful radiance.

"D-Do you think he's okay? Do you think he's gonna be okay?"

It was only Molly’s fearful stuttering that brought the hound back to his senses. Eyes hardening, he offered the fire-fox a small, unpleasant attempt at a smile and looked down to focus on what exactly Molly was saying. She was worried for Caine, her shrill little voice quick to grate on the canine’s nerves as he held his temper for the sake of their audience.
“Hush,” Whilst the word was typically spoken in a coo, Nokes was no expert in the field of comfort. It was an order, cold and demanding. “He’s been through a lot. Many seek solace in isolation,”

He silenced to steal another glance at the Vulpix, finding his single eye subconsciously rolling back to her despite his better judgement. She looked young. “What is your name?”

"I can still feel the PAIN!"

Caine’s bellowing was muffled, echoing out somewhere in the distance as Nokes raised his head in the direction of the furious cry. His poor attempt at settling the water-type’s nerves were dashed at the scream, evoking a defeated sigh from the electric-type as he looked back to the females. No doubt their sensitive little ears had heard.
“We should regroup with the others,” Nokes gestured back in the direction he’d come, thinking rationally. Though admittedly, it would be no tragedy to ‘accidentally’ lose Calvin out in the forest. Regardless, Nokes continued. “Then, I will find Caine and Oliver,” He stared hard at Molly, his words as harsh as the begrudging glare he wore. “Okay?”

Calvin would already be mocking his reluctant obedience; his strained kindness now that he had a spectator. Anything for a pretty face, eh Nokesy?

Brushing away such thoughts, he worked to disguise his limp when making way for his companions. With a soft gesture of his head towards the group’s initial place of gathering, he ushered them to take lead.
“Ladies first,” Nokes was no gentleman no matter how convincing the charade he tried to adorn. The words sounded foreign on his tongue, perhaps forced as yet again his attention cemented on the fox. Nokes did not smile.

(( Sorry about Nokes’ quiet lusting after Sofia, Phoe. I’m happy to tone it down or spike it up further depending on what you think of the whole situation. I wasn’t sure how young she’s meant to be. ^^;
Also apologies about the delay in posting too, I was unwell yesterday. Still a bit rough but the worst has passed. c: ))

The angel glanced over at him and immediately Azelf knew he was in for an exchange of words; at least the creature was finally acknowledging his existence. The fact that it took insulting him to do so was rather irritating.

“You know, I never did catch your name…” The fairy straightened, little hands clenching at his words being swept aside as if they meant nothing... although in hindsight, he should have expected this. “In fact, I hardly noticed you before – I apologise."

Sure he did. People like him were always ever so sorry. What a load of bull.

"So… let’s start again, hm? Why not tell me a little about yourself? I mean, I could learn from someone like you, right?”

"While your words are well said, and you do well at hiding insincerity, I know your kind well. And up until this point you've basically been checking off the boxes on my list of what makes a person like you for me. So no, I don't believe I owe you my name or anything else about myself."  

He looked to the boy whom he still had an arm around. Prince was being very quiet, not that the fairy blamed him. He must be very exhausted. Or at the very least, highly dispirited. Ralts suffered so much from negativity like this...

"I can still feel the PAIN!"

The shout was faint enough due to how far away Caine was, but Azelf jerked in surprise when he recognized the voice. What in the world was the fox doing off on his ow-

No, he was not alone. The little chimp was missing too...

Azelf felt a deep sense of dread settling into his stomach.

Sofia didn't allow the rather gruff reply to her concern to faze her, letting the slight against her judgement slide off her back like water off of a duck. Turning her smile to the happily helpful Pidgey and the Chimchar who agreed to lend a hand she couldn't help but be relieved. As the fire chimp worked on her tangled chain she felt the sudden need to break the silence and turned towards her savior. "Did I hear the Pidgey call you Oliver? That's a nice name. Mine is Sofia, and I wanted to say thank you for all you are doing." A small Azuril bounced and squeaked happily, making Sofia's glance go over Oliver's shoulder and to the clearing behind him as the girl gave her name as 'Molly'. The Vulpix smiled kindly before a worried frown arose due to the other fire fox's words. He seemed really upset but instead of staying with his friends he started to walk away. Poor guy...

Oliver managed to get her chain free and she let out a happy yip, but before she could properly thank her rescuer he was already hot on the trail of the Ninetales. Not really wanting to be rude she stayed back, knowing that such talks were for closer friends than she had in these Pokemon, but it didn't stop her from feeling badly for them. Every in this little ragtag group seemed to be in some kind of distress. It was sad. As she stepped out of the brush, free and clear of any brambles or thorns, a golden canine stepped towards her and Sofia couldn't help but pause. He was rather...intimidating. Her name was asked as the hound's eyes raked over her, but before she could answer a rather loud and frightening cry came from the direction of the fox. "Oh my! I do hope he's alright!" she said aloud, more as a voiced thought than to an actual person.

As the Manectric gave off a plan the lavender fox couldn't help but be somewhat impressed by his ability to take such sudden charge when everyone else was just worried. “Ladies first,” Sofia took pause at the offer, which sounded rather gravelly and forced, but she couldn't ignore the polite gesture and offered her own in the form of a sweet bow. "Thank you very much," she offered before trotting ahead of the canine, heading for the others. While the one-eyed electric wolf was a bit rough around the edges he didn't seem so bad. And since everyone else seemed really nice Sofia hoped maybe this would be a group she could stay with for a while. It was always better to be surrounded by friends.

__________________________

Prince cherished his place beside Azelf, comforted in the support he recieved from the disguised Legend as Calvin once again forced a bickering match between them. Prince was starting to feel some relief in everyone's joy at finding the Vulpix, their good feelings giving him a small boost, but when Caine shouted everyone's emotions took a nosedive and once again he was left weak. He hadn't even made it away from Azelf before crashing once more, truly terrified that he was going to die simply from the weight of everyone's sorrow.

~Azelf...~ his mind whispered to the Legend. ~What's happening? Why is everyone so upset again?~ The Vulpix was the only one who, beside's Calvin's creepiness, seemed to have a mostly upbeat attitude. If not for Azelf he would likely have to rely on her in order to not wither completely.


((It's okay Snitch. While in the show Sofia is a child I made her older in my profile since I RP better that way. Sofia is older teen, nearly young adult, she just looks much younger because of her youthful cheer and exuberance. Feel free to make Nokes as creepy as you want lol))

The small Pidgey glowed beneath the Vulpix's gaze, even if he was not out rightly addressed by her specifically. It had been so long since he had seen such a star gal...!

Colton stiffened as the far off shout drifted through the group, the clear voice of the Ninetales silencing each Pokemon individually as they all slowly processed what was happening. Colton let out a small, shaken whmper, "W-was that Caine?..." His large children's eyes were full of concern and insecurity.

What was a kid like him suppose to do in a situation like that? There were so many things he could do... Stay with the lass and protect her, go after Caine and help him, or just perch himself near Calvin or Molly and try to help as needed...

His decision was made for him, though, as the Chimchar suddenly shot off, ignoring anything that the others were saying. Alarmed, the small avian flapped his wings as he dove after Oliver. "W-wait! Mister Oliver, wait up!! It can be dangerous on one's own!"

--

"Starting to hurt," the small vulpine grunted, lifting one paw to wipe away blood from his remaining good eyes. The thick, heavy liquid was pouring down his forehead in waves, no sign of stopping, as the pain only intensified with each passing second.

"...Then again that is a good thing."

Lifting his head to look through the tree tops, his remaining violet eye narrowed with repressed emotion. Pulling his lips back in a feral display, Caine had to fight the urge to just let it all go. His bod begged to cry, to release, and get rid of all the negativity.

"But that is what the fucking pain is for!" The Ninetales spat, whirling his head around in disgust.

Crying was for the weak. For the fools too weak to act upon it. Snarling softly, Caine allowed his only eye to slowly droop shut. There is only one thing to do, his mind whispered.

I know, Was his response.

Bending his head slightly forward, the Fire type felt his chin dig slightly into his neck...the bite of the blades a reminder again.

"Yes... yes, I do know."

    “Hush,” Almost immediately the child could feel her lips sew themselves shut in reply. She looked up at the Manectric, furrowing her brow at his next words. “He’s been through a lot. Many seek solace in isolation,” she didn't understand, solace in isolation?
    "I...don't understand?" she mumbled, gaze now downcast as she worried for her friend's safety. "How can you...find peace in loneliness? Doesn't it hurt? Doesn't it get scary?" Molly asked, trying to comprehend what the shiny canine said. Never had she once found any type of calm while being alone, if anything it had frightened her. The lack of her family and the constant reminder of her mother's death could hound her much more easily in the silence, and at the very thought the normal-type soon found herself shifting uncomfortably. "B-But it's dangerous t-"
    "I can still feel the PAIN!"
    "W-was that Caine?..."
    “We should regroup with the others. Then, I will find Caine and Oliver,”
    The scream had made Molly almost burst into tears, her companion's words nearly lost in her ears as she curled into a tight ball. Despite the slight stings and itches from her wounds this position offered her, she still felt much more secure as she his her face behind her tail. She had subconsciously shifted closer to Calvin, watching with horrified eyes as her new Pidgey friend flew off along with Oliver. Her body shuddered, voice mute in her throat as her expression reflected her confused emotion. Why are they leaving us?
    “Okay?” she felt the first few drops stream down from her eyes as she stared up at the electric dog. His glare only furthered her fear, small hiccups shaking the child's body as she managed to give a numb nod. Barely registering his polite gesture, she almost mechanically crawled forward and past Nokes, doing nothing about the tears that flooded down her face.
    Freezing, she quickly snapped her head back, a near-emotionless look in her eyes as if she'd lost all hope. Molly stuttered, hesitating to speak before asking: "Caine and the others will be okay...right?"

[OOC: sorry this is late! I have a bunch of real-life stuff that unexpectedly popped out and is slowing me down, but I should be back to my regular posting schedule and whatnot in a few days time. ;u;]

It was surprisingly hard to track the vulpine down.

Oliver's super sensitive nose should have made it extremely easy. Or, at the very least, easier than it would normally have been. He was antiquated with the other fire type's scent and Caine had not traveled through any water. It was another scent; something was mingling with Caine's scent trail and making it hard to distingush between the two. The other smell was... powerful.

And as Oliver sat and inhaled a few times, he realized with this other scent was. The smell of rot.

No...  

Rot meant undead. And Caine was out here all alone...

There was no more thought, just blind terror. He shot forward again, barely even trying to untangle the fox's scent trail from the smell of death as he searched desperately for the first person he was able to trust even a little.

The ground dropped suddenly; he had failed in his terror to remember that Amity was spotted with really short cliffs, and he tumbled off of one as he failed to stop in time. Thankfully the drop was short.

Unfortunately he realized the smell of rot had intensified a thousand fold just as his body stopped rolling and hit something... soft.

He raised his head, and screamed, scrambling back.

It was a body. Torn to shreds, body mangled. Undead and time had ravaged it beyond immediate recognization. First glance could only tell a person it had once been a human child.

But there was something... something about this corpse... a scent that faintly stuck to death's smell... something familiar...

Then he spotted the ragged, torn pink bow.

No scream could properly vocalize the horror that set into him as his world crumbled. And so, he stared in silence, tears pouring down his face as he stared at the remains of the little girl who had been the first person to ever smile at him.

(OOC: I will need to skip this round, dears.)

Sofia wasn't sure how to respond to what she saw. The sweet and helpful Chimchar screaming and crying over a dead little girl and the fox covered in his own blood and not caring at all that he was bleeding. Her eyes widened in horror at the scene unfolding before her as bile churned in her stomach, leaving the frightful tightening of her throat as a warning that she was about to throw up. She stopped several feet away and just looked at them, unsure what to say or do since she barely knew any of them other than Oliver's name. It was...it was a dreadful sight. 'What do I do?' she wondered morosely. 'How do I help?

Prince could feel the overwhelming emotions before he ever even reached the group, stopping halfway on his trek when the smothering weight of pain and inner turmoil sent him crashing to the ground. ~Azelf!~ his mind screamed for the Legend. ~What's happening?! Why does it hurt so much?~ The Ralts felt like he was dying and didn't know how to stop it. In his pain the small psychic type curled in on himself and began to weep openly, begging to any Legend that would listen for it all to go away.

He prayed that all of this was just a bad dream and that with a gentle push he would awaken from the terrible nightmare that was his life.

((I won't know exactly what to have them do until after next round, Sofia is too gentle to understand and Prince is too weak to get there. Ciana has pmed me the end result but I'm not entirely sure how much longer it will play out in RP before reaching it so this was all I could think of for now.))

[skip me. things are happening and havent slept and wont have time to post now or tomorrow before warnings. Caine looked up and then back down and started limping away, hes out of sight now.]

She was dead.

Anne was dead.

His Annie was dead.

He mouthed the words to himself, giant eyes dripping tears fixed on the gruesome sight of the dead child in front of him.  He had not managed a single sound since finding her body--his shock and anguish was so great that his voice had deserted him.

Annie...

Martin was supposed to be able to take care of her... he knew the Lucario would never have left her side so how did she die!?

... Die... dead... gone... she was gone...

Her father was gone, too...

Why?  Why why why why why?  Why this?  Hadn't normal, everyday life been full off enough sufferings?  Why this apocalypse?  Why all this death?

Where was the god little Annie had so faithfully prayed to every Sunday? When she'd put on her cute little Sunday dress and skipped to Sunday school, Oliver on her shoulder and her father at her side, had the god ever cared?

Did he even realize such a precious creature had existed?

... If he had, why would he have let her die?

The Chimchar didn't move when Sofia entered the clearing.  He was aware that she was there, but it was a foggy awareness, as if he knew but the part of his brain that filed information under "important" or "unimportant" wasn't sure where to put it.

His breath hitched as a sob worked its way through, mouth moving as he tried to voice the torment inside, as if that could expel it from him.  Or even reveal everything to be a nightmare, hallucination, anything but real.

Something moved out of the corner of his eye, and he flinched, eyes moving to follow it; he just barely spotted Caine slipping out of sight.

He bolted forward after him, terror and grief threatening to choke him.

He wouldn't let anyone else be gone the way Anne and her father were.

(OOC: I'd like to ask everyone not to follow them, as what needs to happen can only happen when Caine and Oliver are alone.)

Dear Father...

Following after Sofia had not been hard, and so Azelf quickly found his way onto the horrible scene that the young Chimchar had already witnessed.  The young ones eyes were full of horror and numbness, and Azelf hoped desperately that this was not someone he had known.

Glancing at the corpse, he shuddered deeply.  A human child.  What was this world coming too...

Staring at what was left of her, he felt bile rise in the back of his throat; he had never forgotten that little girl who would annually visit him, and to think she may have met the same fate...

For once, he was hoping her aging body had run its years out.  Better she die as an old woman in her home with her family surrounding her, than be torn to shreds like this...

Azelf!

He gasped, frozen for a moment at the sheer terror in Prince's mental voice.  Regaining his wits, he wasted no time in bolting back to the Ralts.  

What's happening?! Why does it hurt so much?

The little fairy reached the shivering ball that was his friend very quickly, dropping down to his knees next to the boy and taking the sobbing Prince into his arms as he tried to soothe him.  

It's okay... I'm here; it's going to be okay...

He needed to get Prince out of here.  The negativity was far too much for him.  For all Azelf knew, helping him over to where the grieving Chimchar was could actually kill him.

Azelf carefully adjusted his grip on the boy and shifted him in his arms, using his psychic power to relieve the burden of the small creature's weight but maintaining physical contact in the hopes that it would help.  Without another word, he hurried back the way they'd come, hoping that putting distance between the horrible scene and Prince would help him recover.

(I hope that's okay; Phoenix; since the request is not to follow Caine and Oliver, I needed to get away before spotting them leaving. Tending to Prince was not only the best way to do that, but since I've grown deeply attached to him, it only makes sense that I'd want to go to him after he screamed for me. Plus I also figured it'd help to get Prince away from the area, but with him in such a state, I doubt he could even move, so I needed to do it myself; I can edit if you have any problems with any of this.)

Colton did not know what he was suppose to do. Things were all so bad so quickly! As he followed Miss Sophie and Mister Oliver, they came upon a gruesome sight that left the small bird cowering away. "Holy smokes," the child whispered in horror. It looked like what would have been a small girl... Tugging at the avian youth's heart strings, he immediately knew he had to choose the Fire type over the lass this one time. She was not the one displaying disturbing behavior in the wake of the sight.

In fact...

"Oh Mew, don't tell me he knows her!?" Glancing in horror at the Vulpix by him, he had no clue how to react. But as Oliver suddenly shot away and out of sight, he realised that the Ninetales had also vanished. Oh no! "I'll go get them! Be right back!" Tossing his words to the lilac vulpine, he ran off forward into the forest. Forced to walk, the Pidgey cursed his disability. Gosh flabbit! Why now of all times?!



The group had followed him. There almost nothing worse than just being left alone like all he fucking desired. His paws dragged in the dirt, filth and muck from the woods and ash mixing with the blood that flowed more and more freely from his the wound above his eye. "I don't even know whats fucking worth fighting for," he growled to himself. Caine still could not see through his eye, giving confirmation to his thoughts that it was injured permanently. The fire vulpine could hear sounds from behind him, cries and voices, but suddenly he felt a spike of electricity running up his spine. "Or why the fuck I need...to... scream!!" As the louder shout ripped out his maw, Caine suddenly propelled himself forward in a burst of speed to escape the group behind him.

The forest slowly gave way from black and ash, the occasional ember, to lush green and thick vegetation. As Caine picked up more and more speed, the small vulpine felt fire biting at his maw as natural unused embers within his body. I don't even fucking know why I instigate and say what I don't mean! Th words screaming through his head as he bit at random bushes and tree branches, lighting small sparking flames in several places and leaving black scorch marks as the fires burned themselves out. Making feral snarls and sharp, vicious barks, the Ninetales fled further and further way from the city of Hearthome and Amity Park. Leaping over fallen logs and slashing out with his claws, Caine ripped several nails out of his paw without missing a beat, whipping around to dig his jaws into the thick trunk of a tree.

Growling like a wild animal, his remaining violet eye glazed with madness as he felt his teeth tear from his own gums with the pressure he placed upon the bark. Not knowing any sort of attack like Flamethrower or Ember, he could only depend on the natural fires within his body, and that would never be enough to burn a tree through and through. "I don't... know how I...got this way," Caine growled into the bark of the tree, not releasing his grip even as blood poured from new places in his delicate mouth where the skin broke open. "And I now it's not fucking alright," he mumbled into the bark, letting his eyes close again. "So I'm breaking..."

A constriction in Caine's throat sudden choked the Fire type, forcing him to violently rip hi jaws out of the tree. Jumping backwards and dancing in circles on light feet, he whipped his head back and forth as he fought to breathe again. Coughing,blood splattered upon the grass the small vulpine panted as he started at the blood. Such a stark comparison... He was fascinated for several seconds before turning to look at the tree, blood and scorch marks in a very clear bite mark upon it's side. Light glinted off of half a dozen teeth that had been ripped out of his jaws, embedded into the tree's trunk. "...Looks like I'm breaking this habit tonight." Turning, Caine could see the trees opening to an open space with only short vegetation growing. Nearby was a massive hunk of earth ripped out, more than likely from some sort of undead strong like the demon bird, and filled with filthy looking water. It was too far away to gauge how deep it could be.

But as the Vulpine walked forward, he found himself limping from the ripped out nails in his fore paws, blood falling upon his foot steps. As the pain in his mouth pulsed, the blood from those wounds mixed with the wound on his head to leave massive splashes of gore on the ground as he limped slowly forward. "...Yes... I am breaking the habit today. Who needs to live like this anymore?"

His eyes hardened, the madness giving way to cold numbness as his mind cleared.

I know what I am to do now.

Thinking back to the blood trail he was leaving straight to himself, the Ninetales chuckled darkly. "I'm painting it on the walls... cause I am the one at fault." Smirking then, he looked nothing more than one of the demons plaguing the world. Taking in the shark scent of his own blood and letting the pain sharpen his focus, he spoke softly. "I'll never fight again. And this is how it ends."

The silence of the open space was tainted only by the sharp breaths taken by Caine himself and the rustling of the breeze.

He could not have asked for a better day to die.

Coming to terms with what he had to do had quelled the beast inside of him. Caine could not recall ever feeling as icy calm as he did in the following seconds. He finally had his purpose. Smiling, he whispered to himself again. "I don't want to be the one the battles always choose, for inside I realise, now, that I am the one confused." Caine felt tears bite the crner of his lone eye, the warmth releasing and, before he could control it, he was crying. There was movement behind him, though, and the Ninetales turned slowly to see Oliver had followed him. The small Chimchar had been the one to care enough to go after him... the little fire starter...

Caine turned slowly to look at him with broken eyes, the one unable to even open properly while the other sobbed silently, but also hope. "I'm- I'm clutching my cure," he croaked to the small fire type, the tears ripping his voice and leaving it cracked. "I'm locking tight my door- I tried to catch my breath again... but I hurt... much more than anytime bfore..."

Letting his emotional pain overcome the physical, he collapsed at Oliver's feet, his bloodied chest wracked with sobs. "I have no options left again. It's all ending now," he whispered. Crying, he let himself crack for the final time.

[ooc: Had permission to have Oliver show up like that and such to keep things moving faster. Also, Caine's speech is basically lyrics from the song that always inspired his character long before EJ.]