The SEAFOAM Team

Swimming towards the Islands, Reine couldn't help but let her mind wander towards the sky as the sun began creeping up the horizon, staining the sky a magnificent purple hue. The sunrise reminded her so much of a past memory that she had to choke back tears of bitter sadness despite not being able to remember exactly what memory it had been. Concentrating, she shut her eyes and focused, letting the sad feelings bring back the memory to her in bits and pieces.

She was an Eevee sitting by a small lake close to a strange black and red Umbreon. "Daddy what's those colors in the sky for?" She motioned towards the purple sunrise peeking over the horizon. The Umbreon chuckled to her before explaining. "You see those colors there? That's your mother's beautiful Espeon spirit running through the sky greeting the new day." Reine as an Eevee stared wide eyed at the colors before nuzzling against her father's sleek coat of ebony. "Mommy must have been so beautiful." Her soft voice drifted to the Umbreon and brought tears to his crimson eyes. "That she was my little one."

Opening her eyes, Reine looked to the sky with newly awakened emotions and sighed at the thought of her father whom she didn't even really remember. Tears ran down her cheeks freely and into the salty swell beneath her as Reine molded her body into the water and vanished. She swam swiftly towards the Seafoam Islands now, wanting to get somewhere safe and think about what her next move was. Getting to the first Island she saw, the cave mouth and leaped from the water, her particles reforming themselves and making her form shimmery in the dawn light. Stepping foot on shore, Reine let herself sink into the sand, her gems glistening on every fin.

(OOC: I am in the safehouse but I didn't want you guys to wait on me lol)

Flying. One flap after another until my wingbeats match up with my breathing, match with the pulsing of my heart, until I am just a machine. My movements were stiff and robotic as I cut across the sky of the famous Kanto sea. Or at least I was pretty sure that this was Kanto, hard to tell after being a goddam fighting slave for so many years. Anger as cold as ice ran through my veins as the deep set hatred seemed to drag me from my glazed state. I ceased my constant flapping, holding my massive wings out at my sides and allowing the delicate fingertips of my feathers to feel the cool and warm breezes that kept me so easily aflight. My speed dropped but I was not at all bothered by it- any infected bastard would soon get a handful if he screwed with me. I allowed my gaze to sweep the clouds and dawn sky around me, slowly turning my neck left and right. There was a good amount of clouds out over the vast waters but it was not overcast at all.

My oddly colored eyes peirced the vast space of brilliant violets and reds as the rising sun painted the sky celebratory colors. My beak clentched in irritation at the irony of my thoughts. What was there to celebrate? Be thankful for? Life? What fucking life? There was no life without meaning. And my meNing was long gone. 

My eyes closed on themselves as my wings began their mechanical movements again. That was why I had become so stiff and lifeless- only pain followed when I tried to let myself enjoy my existance again. 

I slowly opened my eyes, now narrowed slits of pain, and looked down at the waters. I could make out several lumpy, rocky thigs. Seafoam Islands. I sighed silently, allowing my wings to push themselves harder. Best to look for some food, I suppose, were my thoughts as I came closer to the Kanto islands.

Crimson eyes took in the lavender and orange painted sky, the endless color reaching out beyond what the horizon hid. While many despicable creatures plagued the land held that particular feature, this particular pair was not glazed, not glassy with death or infection. The eyes closed, and shortly after, a sigh escaped their owner. The phanteon glanced around after a momentary pause. Good morning indeed.

The specter had wandered for years it seemed, looking for something to occupy her mind and empty heart. With the coming Apocolypse, it seemed, there was no one else worth conversing or traveling with... All the other pokemon she had encountered were either Infected, Dead, or, while living, were vicious and ruthless as their undead counterparts. It ached her to not be able to talk to anyone after living a life of family and joy... The small thought reminded her of what she lost, her mate, her kit, her life... She then shook her head free of the cloudy images. Now was not the time for mourning.

Maro trotted out from her small spot on some rocks when she spotted something on the shore. Something blue, four-legged and... 'A... vaporeon?' she asked herself, mouth slightly agape from shock. While she knew it couldn't be her mate, seeing another vaporeon alive and well gave her some comfort, since she couldn't sniff out a dead scent. "Hello?" she called from the rocks before trotting closer. "Eh... Good morning," she greeted, not sure what else to say.

Morning light broke into scattered rays through the canopies, the thick grove of trees serving as both shelter and food source to the lone occupant. A few stray beams of light danced with the wind as it shifted the leaves, playing across the face of a sleepy dreamer. There was a twitch, and then another, before brilliant blue eyes opened up under a shadowed face. They blinked and looked around, before closing again as Kegan yawned his greeting to the new day.

Stretching as much as his small legs would let him, the fuzzy Larvesta quickly shimmied across the branch he just lay upon to get to a small bunch of berries growing at the end. He needed something sweet to help him wake up and berries made an excellent breakfast. He scanned the treeline, and a quick glance to both sky and ground, to make sure nothing else might see him as breakfast. Satisfied the coast was clear, he snatched one of the berries and munched happily. That is, until a large shadow passed overhead.

He dropped his half eaten berry and skittered back to the trunk of the tree, pressing into a small hole he had carved out long ago. Whatever was up there was not going to see him, if he could help it. Looking up he could make out a glimpse of orange as it passed overhead. No good, too many bird Pokemon had orange feathers, there was no telling what it was without exposing himself.

But, as luck would have it, fate decided otherwise. His half eaten berry had bounced and was now rolling down the small hill the grove stood on, and right towards the shore. Where two more Pokemon sat. Kegan was angry with himself. How could he have been so careless? He knew better than to leave food lying around. The infected don't eat berries! So of course they would know someone was there! He bumped his head against the trunk. 'Stupid, Kegan. Just stupid.' He looked at them again. Well, maybe they wouldn't notice which way the berry came from...although the line in the sand made it kind of obvious.

"Oh come on, I told you this was the wrong island."
"Shut up, Atticus! I know what I'm talking about!"
The red-scarfed Dewott peered into the dark opening of the cavern, his face dark with frustration.
Atticus sighed as he leaned against the large boulder near the opening, as he stared blankly at the ocean.
He knows I hate my whole name...
He yawned loudly, glancing back at this twin.
"Come on, I'm tired. We've been up all night! Let's go get some sleep."
Maudie looked back, about to interject when a shimmering on the beach caught his attention.
What the?
They both looked out, fascinated by the beautiful shimmer. As they watched, another pokemon, dark and wispy, trotted to the source of the light, speaking to it.
Without a word between each other, the twins looked at each other and nodded, grabbing their weapons and cautiously trotting closer.

How he’d managed to lose himself on the godforsaken island remained a mystery to Vincent. He could hardly remember how he’d wound up there, let alone held the ability to navigate his way through the vast expanse of the area. With his luck, the feline had probably been trudging around in circles – it would certainly explain the lack of food and muddy pawprints eerily similar to his own. Of course, he was bright enough to know nothing was following him. Whilst he didn’t have the greatest sense of direction, Vincent prided himself on his acute hearing. Even the slightest rustling of leaves would pique his curiosity, but in the last few days, he’d inhabited close to silence. Well, except for the occasional natter he had to the egg in times of extreme boredom. Many would think him crazy – a grown luxray trying to converse with a humble pokémon egg, but it soothed him. Knowing that he was in the presence of another being eased the loneliness, even more so due to the unborn child’s parentage. Hidden beneath the fragile, creamy shell lay the last little reminder of Vincent’s lost love, Lily. Well, love wasn’t the correct word, it was more... adoration. He’d been utterly smitten by the ninetales, but alas, she’d found happiness in a pompous brute of an arcanine. Vincent’s fur bristled at the memory of the mutt, reminiscing all the times Rowan had relished in effectively kicking his ass.

Shaking away the thoughts of the past before images from that horrendous day could manifest themselves in the feline’s mind, Vincent slowed to a halt. His jaw was killing him. He’d been wandering aimlessly for a few hours, carrying the egg delicately between his fangs and now the corners of his mouth were aching. With a sigh, he gently lowered the egg to the ground, leaving the unborn life at his paws whilst he began a series of mouth exercises to alleviate the pain. Vinny was no stranger to the aching accompanied with transporting the egg about, and usually a short break would numb the pain enough to resume the process.
“There we go...” He muttered to himself as his jaw gave a satisfying click. He smiled lightly, lifting his head to the breeze before a glimpse of blue caught his attention. Yellow eyes widening, the feline’s grin intensified as realization hit him – the sea! If he could fashion some kind of boat maybe they’d be able to flee this damn place. “Look, kid!” The excitement was evident in his tone and he moved to retrieve the egg. Instead, a berry suddenly flew past his face, rolling towards the shore. It had practically scared the living daylights out of Vincent, and in his panic, he’d nudged the item at his paws. Before he had chance to react, the egg had begun trailing the berry, practically racing it across the beach.

Vincent burst less than elegantly onto the shore, flustered and steadily repeating the word ‘shit’. The pokémon gradually gathering nearby were the least of his concerns as he desperately scrambled after Lily’s child, skidding in the sand as the egg rolled dangerously close to the lapping waves.
“No, no, no, no, no!” With a final effort, the luxray leapt forward, a flurry of sand kicking up behind his form as he dived for the egg. Relief swept over him as his arms acted as a barrier, his paws encasing the egg in front of his face to bring the item to an abrupt halt. He sighed heavily before beginning to laugh to himself, almost maniacally in his relief. However, the sudden sensation of water against his face soon silenced him, and Vincent quickly retreated, pulling the egg to safety with him. He hated water. Shaking his head furiously, the salty liquid stinging his eyes, the luxray kept a paw protectively around the egg before his blurry gaze fell onto the figures in the distance.
“What the...?” He was convinced he was seeing things. Maybe some kind of mirage, a sick illusion that tempted him with the promise of company and safety. But no, they were still there. A vaporeon and some kind of ghostly looking creature were conversing, right there, on the beach. He shook his head in disbelief, his mouth hanging agape as if some kind of freak show were parading before him. Vincent had nothing to say, instead opting to stand dumbfounded like the clumsy idiot he was.

Reine had her head gently resting on her paws looking towards the sea with longing and sorrow when she heard a voice calling from behind her. "Hello?" Pure joy pierced her heart at the prospect of having someone living to talk to as she stood and turned, smiling at the ghostly Pokemon before her. She had never seen a Pokemon such as this before but she knew it was of her family of species since she vaguely remembers her father telling her a legend about the Pokemon known as Phanteon. Reine knew without a doubt that a Phanteon was exactly was stood before her and she was almost awestruck as it padded closer, obviously feminine. "Eh... Good morning," Reine smiled to her as she grew closer."Good morning indeed. I thought I would never see another living let alone another evolved from an Eevee." She laughed gently, her gems glistening in the light. "My name is Reine what's yours?" Reine tilted her head to the right with a smile.

A sudden outburst of sound caught her attention and she turned towards the source to watch a berry and then a Pokemon egg roll towards the shore with a Luxray trailing behind it. Panic overtook Reine as she thought the egg would fall into the waves but she breathed a sigh of relief when the Luxray saved it and then stood looking towards Reine and the Phanteon with a dumbfounded look upon his face. Reine tilted her head in confusion. She never thought she would see another living and now they were everywhere. Just the thought of maybe having friends put a gentle smile on her face as she used her paw to wave the Luxray over to her and the Phanteon.

The sky still held it's brilliant colors as I made my way down. The clouds were no longer engulfing mt large body and I could not help but feel exposed as I nearly bee lined for the islands, the string around my leg flitting in the wind from underneath my great body. My massive twelve foot wingspan shrunk to a mere yard as I snapped my wings together. My multicolored eyes narrowed to slits as the world rushed by me, the wind howling through my ears as the skies zoomed by me as I dropped altitiude in the splendid nose dive. Within seconds I was dangerously close enough to the island of Seafoam, and I instantly expanded my wings. I was jolted for a second as the air comprehended my wings and I was slowed to a leisurly speed.

I was still a almost a quarter mile above the highest point of the Seafoam Island as I lazily circled overhead. My head turned on it's side and I stared at the trees and rock with the eye facing downward. Hmm. I spotted a lithe blue shape and frowned as a darker form with the same build approached it. I tossed my head in my own version of a shrug before dropping even closer to the land. 

There were a handful of trees by the rocky reach and I aimed my sights to one of the taller ones. I approached the great evergreen, flapping my wings rapidly as I prepared to land, but I then heard something, the softest of sounds. I whipped around, on full alert as my narrowed gaze swept the trees  earby. I then saw a rolling... Berry? I was startled by a berry? Mentally scolding myself, I landed within a smaller tree, stretching my long legs as I pulled my powerful wings against my long body. I glanced through the tree with peircing eyes. "I know you are there," I spoke bluntly. I was not cautious as no undead would bother going in a berry tree. "I suggest you show yourself. I will not harm you."

((Ooc; His height is 5'09, so I am assuming that his wingspan would be around twelve feet or something :B ))

"Good morning indeed," the vaporeon replied pleasantly, and Maro's anticipation had been correct. The water eevee was safe. "I thought I would never see another living let alone another evolved from of an Eevee." She laughed gently, her gems glistening in the light. "My name is Reine; what's yours?"

Reine... How peculiar. She couldn't help a small quirk of the brow. Her own mate had been named Rayne... Odd. "Maro," she replied gently. "I--" she began to continue before hearing a string of obsenities from the beach nearby.

Maro's gaze was on the luxray that had stumbled out over the sands of the beach to catch his runaway egg before it hit the waves. Her indigo fur stood on end for a moment, anxious of whether he would catch it or not. However, her anxiety eased when he caught up to it just in time... and she gave out a small chuckle when she realized he was just as relieved as she. "Seems today's a lucky day," Maro commented as the luxray noticed them and Reine waved him near. "All this time without seeing any living, decent pokemon and now, we've found a small pack of them."

Kegan sat in his hole, watching the pair on the beach. They didn't seem, well, aggressive, not like the infected. In fact, they seemed to be talking to one another. The blue one was even smiling a little, which was a rare thing to see in these dark times. Blue eyes scanned the beach for any sign of where they might have come from but came up empty. He did, however, notice that the large shadow from before was back. Never really a good sign to see a predatory bird's figure return to a location. That meant it saw something it wanted. And seeing its large form quickly turn small was even worse.

Like a bolt of lightning it struck hard and fast, landing in the tree hard enough to shake the branches and knock loose a few unripened berries. Which was just plain wasteful, in his opinion. He could have eaten those in a couple of days. It was a massive Fearow, and the smaller bug knew to keep himself well hidden from any bird Pokemon, much less one so large. "I know you are there. I suggest you show yourself. I will not harm you." Kegan snorted in amusement. Yeah, right! Like he was juts going to pop right out and say 'Hi, here I am. Eat me.' Not in this lifetime, birdie.

But something pulled his focus away from the large bird in the tree nearby, and it would steal his focus for the rest of the day. A string of loud obscenities came from the forest, as did an egg that went rolling down the hill. Kegan was up and out of his hole in an instant, furious, the Fearow completely forgotten. Spits of flame could be seen shooting from the horns around his neck as his anger grew. How could anyone treat an egg like that?! Just letting it roll away? How careless! He slid down the tree quicker than an Aipom and charged after the crazy blue Pokemon chasing said egg.

By the time he made it to the sands of the beach the egg had been recovered, and the blue lion looked relieved, but Kegan was still pissed. His tiny legs weren't made to walk on sand so he settled for the same method his berry and the egg took. He slid all the way to the bottom and marched right up to the other male. "Just WHAT did you think you were doing?" he demanded, completely invading the lion's personal space to inspect the egg. "You can't just drop these things willy-nilly and expect everything to be okay! They need to be kept close, and warm, and to know that you are there! If you don't stay with it the egg-ling will feel abandoned and die! Any good breeder knows that!" His tiny shadowed face didn't reveal how angry he really was, but the flames surrounding his horned collar did.

((OOC: Uh-oh Vince, you're in trouble! lol. Kegan was raised to hatch eggs and help take care of hatchlings, just like his sire did for their breeder owner. His whole world was eggs so he is just a little upset to see one being...mishandled. He'll warm up to Vince when he realizes the lux just really doesn't know what he is doing. ^_^))

The twins stopped in their tracks on a small overhang as they watched the clutzy Luxray curse madly while chasing an egg into the surf.
A fit of laughter followed as the tiny bug started reprimanding the huge Luxray below.
"Hahahahahaa! A Luxray! Getting chewed out by a BUG! AAHAHAHAHAHAH!" Maudie collapsed in a laughing fit while Atticus leaned over, a large grin spread over his face.
Their scarves flapped in the wind as they snickered at the small pack beneath them.
Tapping Maudie on the knee, he sheathed his weapons and leaped down into the soft sand beneath them, his twin only a second behind. Both landed dramatically, their eyes vibrant and grins wide.
"Hi!" they said brightly in unison.

(OoC- purple will be used when they say something together :P Also, sorry for taking so long, I didn't get any notification)

Were they waving him over? Vincent frowned, confused. Looking over his shoulder for any other being they may have been addressing, the luxray was pleasantly surprised at his solitude. He broke into a toothy grin, delighted that these strangers were real and most importantly, friendly. Vince went to take a step forward when he looked down to see an insect had suddenly appeared. He jumped at the creature’s appearance, falling backwards to land on his rump as he attempted to avoid squashing the larvesta. The egg was jostled slightly at the lion’s movements but was soon steadied by one of Vincent’s large paws.

"Just WHAT did you think you were doing? You can't just drop these things willy-nilly and expect everything to be okay! They need to be kept close, and warm, and to know that you are there! If you don't stay with it the egg-ling will feel abandoned and die! Any good breeder knows that!"

Vincent shuffled backwards, alarmed at the larvesta’s anger as he looked to the strangers in the distance for help. From the creature’s tone, the luxray was fearful the bug might set him alight as flames licked about its horns.
“I-I... I-“ He was lost on how to respond, instead opting to stutter like a babbling idiot. “I-It’s not mine!” Vinny finally blurted out, before realizing how badly that may sound to the furious fire-type. “Well, it is, but...”The lion sighed, the panic momentarily coming to a halt as memories of the egg’s true owners came flooding back. He felt a sharp pang in his chest, guilty that he may have lessened Lily’s child’s chances of survival with his own clumsiness. “It’s a long story...” Vincent’s voice was quieter this time as he met the larvesta’s glare. He felt like a child being scolded – it was something he’d been fairly used to in the past. “I... I don’t really know what I’m doing. I-Is it okay?” It was painful knowing that he was entirely responsible to the egg’s health, but if this stranger had the knowledge to help, then Vinny would leap at the chance for tuition. He wasn’t ready for fatherhood, not by a long-shot, but for Lily’s sake, he would willingly adapt. Vincent pouted slightly, looking down at his feet as he awaited the insect’s verdict.

I waited for a whole minute, easily, but the pokemon that was in the tree with me did not show itself. I shook my head. Foolish soul. You just lost an ally, ran through my head. I did not have the greatest sense of smell so I could not find out what it was exactly just bu scent. I haunches my ahoulders, rolling the joints before I uncurled my wings. No sense wasting time for a fool who didn't know a potential ally when they saw one. But just as I bent my knees to take flight, the creature burst from the dark carvern within the heart of the tree. My eyes widened as I watched it scurry across the rocks to a huge lion thing that had an egg by it. What the...? I did not reccognize any of the pokemon. It didn't matter to me that they were living- I needed no companions to keep myself safe, really- but it irked me. My mostly dark eyes narrowed in irritation as my full wing span opened and I was thrust back into the air, my former perch left vibrating from the power of my leap. My huge wingtips touched the air as my own power kept me aflight.

The bug had... flames licking around it's horns as it made angry gestures at the huge feline. I hovered in lazy circles as I curiously watched the pair, but I quickly shook my head and turned my attentions elsewhere. I would only let down my gaurd pondering what species they were exactly and that was not how I had survived so long on my own. I gained altitude steadily in my swirling and soon clouds licked at my feathers again. If there was one thing I enjoyed, it was the pure love of flight. How normal pokemon and humans can live their entire lives walking was beyond me. I revelled in how it was just my own strength that kept me up in the sky, my own muscles and steady flapping motion. I hummed quietly to myself as I survayed around me, the ground and air alike. No infected would sneak up on me if I had a say in it. But then my peircing gaze snapped to movement far below me. The moving shape was eerily simular to my own revealing it's species, but the movements showed ovious signs of the sickness with slow flaps of it's wings and the way it dipped and jerked randomly midair. My eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. No clean Fearow would have a flight pattern like that.

As if on cue, I watched as the undead's head suddenly snapped to one side, it's entire body following suit and making it an arrow shooting through the air. It took only a glance in the direction it had looked to motivate me into my own downward dive for the beast. I had seen a cerulean and white shape of a Vaporeon, surely, that sparced like dew in the light with a dark, almost whispy shape beside it. The undead thought it had found an easy meal, but I was gaining on it quickly. The air began to whiz by my ears, disturbing my hearing as I moved faster and faster, but still I was behind the undead since it had started it's desent before me. Within seconds the rocky shore was coming up to meet us and the Eeveelution was right in veiw. But I was taking no chances with the gargled demon. My body instantly began to spin round and round as I used my trademark Drill Peck to gain speed. And it worked like a charm. I was now side by side as the thing screeched, reaching it's filthy claws out to tear into the sparkling water type. It was time to act.

In an amazing display or areial acrobatics I whipped around my undead counterpart until I was right behind it's blindside. I lunged, digging my own talons into it's rotting back as the ground was mere feet from us and my wings opened in a flash to nearly hault our desent, but just a little. As a result, the undead's body was smashed gruesomely against the harsh rocks while I landed right on top, my claws covered with black sludge from the gashes my claws had made in it's back. I flapped my wings several times to pull my now discusting feet from the dead carcass, a grimace pulling from the corners of my beak. I turned and landed right into a small pool of water a few feet away and dipped my claws under the water, cleaing them. When I took back to the air I finally turned to regaurd the two that the undead had been attackig, no more than a few yards away. It was a Vaporeon alright, with dazzling jewels on it's spinal fin and tail, with yet another pokemon I did not recognize.

I flicked my head as I perched upon one of the larger boulders, watching the two with a hard look as I pulled my wings tightly against my body. "Sorry, I grunted with a gesture to the smashed and clawed remains of the undead. "Couldn't let that thing getcha if I had anything to say about it." It was my way of greeting, but I would not introduce myself unless they decided to act kind.

A very familiar feeling rose up in the specter as Maro watched the two converse; the lion and the bug. While watching the bug chew the poor lion out, she couldn't help but want to resolve the fighting. She began to pad toward the other two when a screech from above caught her attention. She whirled her head around only to see a fearow kill an infected of his own kind before looking between her and Reine. "Couldn't let that thing getcha if I had anything to say about it," he stated in a gruff voice.

While she was grateful for the assistance, she couldn't help but be on edge with the scarred fearow suddenly there. It must have been the reek of death and blood. "...Thank you," Maro said as she allowed her posture to relax. "That was... heroic of you." It was so odd that so many pokemon had suddenly just come together, as if a beacon were on that beach.

However, with the scare ended, Maro made her way to the other two, wanting to bridge the gap between them. "...May I look?" Maro asked the luxray, nodding to his egg. Looking at it, she knew instantly that it wasn't an Eevee egg, and she was all too glad for that. Meeting a vaporeon named Reine and seeing an Eevee egg would convince her that instead of turning into a ghost, she was simply in her own hell.

“I... I don’t really know what I’m doing. I-Is it okay?” Kegan felt his anger deflate as he listened to the blue lion's rambling. This guy was just, well, clueless would be the best way to put it. He was caring for an egg that wasn't his, which was a merit in and of itself considering the world they lived in, and probably had never even seen one before he was saddled with it. The flames surrounding his horned collar completely vanished, along with his ire. The Larvesta knew he couldn't blame the guy for just being completely unaware of how eggs are raised. The least he could do was offer his expertise.

Looking over the egg, he carefully brushed against it with one of his tiny legs to check for any miniscule cracks the fall may have caused. The shell seemed solid, which was good. He then used one horn to light a tiny flame beside it to check the reflection from inside, and was delighted to see a small form move within. It was still alive! Another good sign. One last check had him put his head near the shell to listen for the heartbeat, which there was a faint echo of one deep within. The egg was no where near hatching but it was still healthy. "You are lucky," he told the lion. "It seems none the worse for wear."

It was then that a loud screech could be heard, and a Fearow came diving out of the sky, heading right for one of the foxes by the water. Already naturally afraid of bird Pokemon, Kegan quickly took the opportunity to duck behind the lion as the Fearow who attempted to get him in the trees attacked as well. But, it went for the new, undead Fearow instead of them. It was helping? Alright... It took out its counterpart with relative ease, and gave a smooth introduction to apologize for the assault. He wasn't sure he could trust that bird.

"...May I look?" Kegan's fuzz bristled slightly as the ghost-type snuck up behind him, and the bug couldn't help but freeze on the spot. His blue eyes darted from the egg to back behind him several times. When did she move? He had never noticed. For some reason she wanted to see the egg, and the small bug wasn't sure she should be allowed. He wanted to protect the egg and its new 'parent', as that was what he was always taught to do. But, she didn't seem like she wanted to do any harm. The wispy ghost-type just looked genuinely curious. Maybe it couldn't hurt. He looked to the lion since, after all, it was his egg.

(OoC- um skip.)

Vincent watched in silent curiosity as the larvesta examined the egg, clearly an expertise in the field. It baffled the luxray – the methods the bug used were completely foreign to him, although he was sure he’d once seen Lily listening to it before. Still, it was strange to the feline. However, he found a smile playing on his lips as the insect skittered about the item, glad that he’d found a mentor for caring for the egg. Although when it eventually hatched would be a whole different story. He shook away the thought as the insect spoke up.

"You are lucky. It seems none the worse for wear."

Vinny grinned wildly, relieved that Lily’s unborn child was alive and well. He breathed a sigh of relief, touching the egg lightly with a paw.
“Thank you,” He spoke quietly, bowing his head slightly, grateful for the bug’s interest and skill. God only knows what he would’ve done if the egg hatched to reveal a deceased child – it would’ve destroyed him. The insect had spotted something, and Vincent soon followed his gaze towards a fearow removing his claws from the undead creature sprawled out beneath it. Vincent’s lip curled back, disgusted at the gory remains of the bird. He also noticed a pair of blue creatures in the vicinity. He didn’t recognise the species, but he beamed over at them regardless.
“Should we go ov- AH!” The phanteon had seemingly appeared from nowhere, effectively scaring the living daylights out of the luxray. He caught his breath, his heart beating savagely in his chest as he regained his composure.

"...May I look?"

Vincent met the phanteon’s eyes and slowly nodded his head, ushering a weak smile. He wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to let all these strangers go prying at the egg, but these two at least seemed safe enough. Snapping himself out of his momentary panic, he cleared his throat, glancing to the larvesta as he lightly nudged the egg towards the ghostly canine.
“I-It’ll be a vulpix,” Vince thought he might as well give a little more information about the egg, even though he guessed the larvesta already knew. “Oh, I’m Vincent by the way. Vinny, Vince, whatever you want,” He grinned crookedly, figuring it was about time he introduced himself.

The ghostly creature turned it's gaze to me slowly, it's crimson eyes all too wide. I felt little kindness in the gaze, even as it spoke, revealing itself to be a girl. "...Thank you," She seemed to drop her haunched shoulders, relaxing a little, but regaurdeless she was much less than welcome. "That was... heroic of you." Heroic? Really? I kept my face emotionless and only responded with a curt nod. However as soon as she moved, to the bug and lion I had observed earlier, irritation and inevatible hurt crossed over my eyes. Had she been sarcasic? Did she think that I planned for the bastard to aim it's sights on her? My old shoulders haunched over in defeat for a second. I had been alone for so alone for so long... Were my manners truly that unruly? Was a just a simple savage by then? My old feathers ruffled a bit by the darker thoughts swirling around inaide me like bloody parasites. I should have just given up, cut my losses at the clearly failed attemp to make nice, and ditched the foolish group. I would have been no better off staying there with those that oviously distrusted me than up there in the sky, in my element, all alone.

I fought the urge to growl in frustration, flicking my head just to have the satisfaction of feeling my beak slice through the air with a whooshing sound. Would it have really been worth it... To stay? Instead of bowing to that silent question to myself, I lifted my head up proudly and heald my posture upright. I glanced back over to the group of the three unknown pokemon species to me, taking in the way that they cared for the egg. Pain flashed between my multicolored eyes, driving an icy stake right into the core of my imbreakable beating heart, memories dancing behind my eyes. But in an instant it was gone and I tore my gaze away. I was probably not fit to be over there with that group of pokemon... The scars said all that they needed to. I had seen things in my day. I had experianced things.. I had done things.

But as I turned my body more to face the ocean again, I was met with an odd sight. Two upright walking blue... Cat-otter things. Each had a peice of cloth wrapped around their throats, one had red while the other blue. I tilted my head to one side. I did not recognize this species, either. But the two did not seem to have any relations with the group gathering upon the beach. Hmmm... Maybe I can make some allies after all. I did not know exactly what to say, really. Introducing myself would be odd, to say the least. Asking what the hell they were didn't seem polite, either. I settled for a generic question, to see if the two would at the very least be respectful to me. I clicked my massive beak together a few times, making a loud plastic tapping noise, to capture their attention. "Hey! You two! Do you live around here?" I asked in a gravely old voice. It was generic enough but oh well. At least it would serve my purpose. I had no intention of introducing myself if no one else was going to do the same.

“I-It’ll be a vulpix,” the luxray stammered. “Oh, I’m Vincent by the way. Vinny, Vince, whatever you want,” he added, which reminded Maro that she hadn't introduced herself to either him, the bug, nor the fearow. The fearow! She turned to find him dejectedly hobbling away in the fashion that only birds could muster and immediately regretted the way she had spoken to him. However, he was too far for her to apologize... Obviously, her lack of socializing had affected her speech skills...

She sighed and looked back to Vince. "Vince," she repeated, making sure she heard correctly. "I'm Maro... I'm... sorry that I startled you," she said with a small chuckle, taking a step back. "But a vulpix egg? Exciting. What are you going to name the kit?"

Kegan wasn't very relieved to see the lion jump too, the guy was as skittish as the Larvesta. Some shield, hmf. But Kegan was relieved to see the strange ghost-fox thing wasn't very threatening, she seemed almost kind to the egg and its new 'father'. The bug relaxed even more when the giant freaking bird ignored them and moved on to two blue dots in the distance he had never noticed before. As long as it wasn't more dead things or birds of prey, he'd be fine.

"But a vulpix egg? Exciting. What are you going to name the kit?" Vulpix, huh? Dean had one, once. A fluffy little orange thing that acted like she owned the world. But she was always nice to the kids, like Kegan. What was her name again...oh! Phoenix! The day she evolved into that highlighter yellow beauty of a Ninetales was the best day of their breeder's life. Phoenix was always a prized Pokemon around the ranch, and she didn't mind one bit. Smug was an understatement, when talking about Phoenix.

The Torch Pokemon looked back up and the lion, Vince, and waited for his answer. If he already had a name picked out then that would mean he was serious about taking care of the kit once it hatched. That would make it much easier on Kegan's conscience. he had already decided he was going to help the clumsy cat take care to raise the egg. Until then, knowing that the hatchling would be well cared for, even if the 'dad' was kind of clueless, would be a nice way to look at it.

"Hey! You two! Do you live around here?" the Fearow cawed as all the excitement died down, staring at them expectantly.

"Attie, I think they've finally spotted us." He snickered, his pointed nose turning to his brother.
"Not too observant, are they? We could have taken them for everything they had, and I doubt they'd even notice." The Dewott sneered as they trotted closer, his whiskers twitching in the breeze.

"...Not very polite either," Maudie grumbled as his eyes shot to each of the speechless pokemon.

The two Dewotts approached the Fearow, their movements mirroring each other.
"No, we don't live here. We came-"
"-to find the great ice bird."
"What about you? Do you-"
"-live here?"

They finished, Maudie leaning on his brother, their tails whipping casually behind them. Each of their grins were wide, as if they knew something the others didn't.

“Vince. I'm Maro... I'm... sorry that I startled you,”

The luxray nodded his head in confirmation, grinning at the canine’s comment about his undoubted calm. He looked away briefly to the separate gathering of pokémon – the massive bird and blue, otter twins, but his eyes struggled to pinpoint the striking vaporeon. The phanteon continued, asking about any potential names for the child. Vincent had never really considered names in much depth – it was a strange concept giving such an important life factor to someone else’s offspring. Glancing to down to the egg, he smiled softly, racking his brain for anything Lily had commented on. He prided himself on remembering almost every conversation he’d ever had with the ninetales, but when they’d been abandoned in Kanto, the priority was always staying alive.

“Well, Lily,” Just saying her name triggered a sharp pain in his chest. He tried to disguise the flicker of emotional distress by hastily continuing. “T-the mother. She was always partial to Ellie for a girl,” Vince had overheard the conversation the day after the egg had been conceived. The whole team was stretched out in the summer sun, the happy couple discussing parenting tips before moving onto names. Vincent had lain by his human’s side, trying to hide the tears. ”She never wanted a boy. They agreed that she’d named the girl and Rowan,” He practically spat out the name. “would name it if it were boy,” The sudden reminder that the parents were dead shot guilt through the lion’s veins – as much as he hated the arcanine, he would’ve been a much better father and the idea that he would never see his own child was a painful thought. Vincent was privileged; he was beginning to realize the fact more often. He smiled weakly, hoping that he had given the pair a satisfactory answer. He was well aware that he wasn’t dad-material, but he would do his damndest for the child’s sake.

(I have no time to write a nice post before leaving so lets just say Reine introduces herself to the others and stares in wonder at the gorgeous egg that Vince has. Also she brushes her tail against him in sympathy when she sees the pained expression on his face. She thinks he will be a wonderful father to the egg and even if it isn't his she is sure he will be the best father that he was possible of being.)

Maro's face fell slightly as she listened to Vince's story. It sure looked like unrequited love, the way he spoke of the mother and father. Or perhaps this Lily was a relative? Either way, he cared for her deeply, and still did since he had tasked himself with taking care of the child single-handedly. She listened intently, watching his very expressive face the whole time. Reine even joined the group to show her own sympathies, letting her tail stroke the lion reassurringly.

"Well," Maro began with a kind smile, "I'm sure you'll think of a fine name if it comes out male. But Ellie is a pretty name... I'm sure Lily would be proud, no matter what happens." Her attention was soon distracted by the bird and two others' voices on the winds. Turning, she found the three conversing over by the shore. '...I should go apologize...' she thought to herself as she excused herself before trotting down to where the other pokemon were.

"Pardon," she called as she approached, "but I'm sorry I acted so... rudely...?" Her apology was soon rendered to a confused query as she got a closer look to the fearow's companions. "Uh... Hello," she offered the twin pokemon. She had never seen such creatures before... But then again, she was getting that a lot herself.

He was concerned when he heard the disdain dripping from the lions mouth as he mentioned, what Kegan could only assume to be, the father's name. While the name Lily was a perfectly decent name, if the child hatched male would Vince be able to devote as much love and care as he professed for it right now? What if he forced the son to carry the sins of the father? While the strange ghost held no reservation to the distaste in his voice, this little revelation was not helping the Larvesta's confidence in the blue one's attempt at parenthood.

Vince smiled weakly, obviously distressed by the trip down memory lane, so Kegan left it alone. For now. He would keep a close eye on him and the egg-ling, until it hatched. Then he would determine for sure whether or not Vincent would be a decent father. If not, well then Kegan was going to have to step in to care for the hatchling. No child should have to bear the burden of one they have never met. He eyed the lion, and chose his next words carefully, "You will need an experienced hand to get you to the next stage. I can offer my Flame Body to help heat the egg-ling, to speed up the hatching."