(ACE) The FARAWAY Team

(( I'm going to have to skip again, sorry. :B ))

Anaksa's mind had been little more than a numbed void, a dark abyss bereft of pain or pleasure, of all senses and connection to the world around her physical form. In a way, it was a blessing; she hadn't seen rest since Azelea Town regions away. But it seemed that the solace she'd found in the dark wouldn't last long, as something kep prodding at her mind, her subconscious to rouse. Floating slowly back to the surface, the dark, deep waters of sublime oblivion drifted further and further away as she rose to breach the surface.

A hiss of pain escaped her as her body proudly reminded her of its condition, wounds new and old throbbing in complaint. She was on the gound, and while that was completely expected, what surprised her was her company. Eyes opening slightly, her serpentine gaze met a strange, orange foot. What...? Following the form up, she met the eyes of a complete stranger; a pokemon she barely recognized from her earlier attack on the umbreon. He'd been there in the background... right? The haze on her memory was thick, only his silhouette barely there for her to recognize.

While the confusion fogged her mind still, her body jerked with instinct. The bigger, healthier foe was standing over her very incapacitated form, and there was little she could do about it. She jerked her head back, bared her fangs in a half-hearted hiss, and then quickly attempted to slither away into the nearby vegetation.

Her foggy mind registered the freedom. While she wanted that damn umbreon's death, she was now in no position to kill anything except herself. Gathering her strength and wits, she disappeared back into the humid jungles of Hoenn, leaving the others behind.

[[Edited into a leaving post.]]

It took a little bit longer than she thought, but Gwyneira couldn't help but notice the delicate way her guide walked on his paws. "H-here they a-are..." Gwyn looked around and saw quite a few berries she could use to help the Arbok, even a few herbs that the child most likely hadn't noticed. "Perfect!"

She clapped her paws together and rubbed them as she picked out which tree she was going to go for first. Choosing one that had a few ripe Oran at the top she hopped about halfway up the trunk before using her claws to shimmy the rest of the way. Slicing off a branch she held it in her teeth before scurrying across a long branch and leapt to an adjoining tree. There were several varieties growing within the branches and Gwyn wasn't going to let anything to chance, cutting off shoots from everything she could see before climbing back down. "Hold on to these for me for a minute," she said cheerfully, dropping the berries in front of her two escorts. "I saw a few herbs that I want to get too."

It took her several more minutes to collect the herbs than it had the berries and Gwyn hoped she didn't worry the two Umbreon. But she was looking for a very specific herb and when she found the delicate greenish-blue leaves she knew it was exactly what she needed. Getting the best ones she could gather she made her way back over to the her two escorts and knelt down in front of the smaller one. "I couldn't help but notice the way you walked on you paws. If you let me, these will help." She gave him a kind smile and hoped that the boy would let her wrap them, if only to give him some comfort for helping her.

((Hope it's ok she noticed his paws star! If not I can edit, she just really likes to help people since she never was much of a battler in her clan.))

(Ooc: Try as I might I just can't think of anything. I'm skipping but would like to say that yes, Phoe, it's just fine that she noticed his paws. ^^ And also that he said yes to the treatment and thanked her.)

Lotta was just about ready to scream. Balling her small hands up into fists she snarled in frustration. "ARCEUS!" she hissed, kicking a stone away. "With so much foliage and undergrowth one might be lead to believe there would be adequate shelter here but... UGH!" the Gible roughly pushed herself against a boulder, looking underneath only to find soil. She pried away bushes, and grunted in annoyance when there was nothing there. Exactly what she was hoping to find was now beyond her, the woodlands bearing no fruit for the young dragon.

In a slight tantrum the Gible stomped away, only to find herself stumbling and falling face flat in a large puddle. She panics, gasping for air, only realizing minutes latter that she had fallen into a puddle. Grunting with embarrassment, she shakes the water off her scales. "...that was awkward." she whispers, before resuming her adventures through the forest again. "I wonder how everyone else is fairing..." she mumbled, absent-mindedly, before laughing. "A lot better than me, probably."

(Ooc: I need to skip again; can't do anything without Ciana or Phoe. ^^; )

Gwyn smiled and happily wrapped the poor boy's paws, making sure to coat the herbal leaves in berry juice before applying them. "There now, that should help. If they start to come loose let me know and I can retie them okay?" Gathering up her berries and herbs she allowed the boys to lead her back to where the others still resided. Upon reaching the encampment she dropped everything and looked around in confusion. The snake she had gathered everything for was missing and so was the ancient bird who was helping her. "Did I miss something?" she asked to no one in particular.

[OOC: Skip, Lotta's just stumbling around. ;;]

(OOC: Skip. Too tired to post right. Will edit into proper post later.)

The Gible pulled away the undergrowth and boulders, eyes sharp for anything, everything that could make a decent shelter for the night. The evening loomed over her, the dragon frowning as she hurried to find somewhere for the others to rest. She couldn't fail this quest, especially when the others had already done their part in helping. "All I've done is stand around and listen," Lotta grumbled, shoving mounds of debris aside with her body as she began to run, head pivoting in quick motions as she checked both sides.

Suddenly, she skids to a halt, eyes wide and grinning as if the best thing in the world had happened. Before her, was the dark, gaping entrance of a cave, and the Gible found herself stepping towards it's mouth. Inside was a simple, small cavern. Sniffing the air, she couldn't smell any undead that lurked within, and with the feeling of accomplishment, she took a twig and drew a large X on the ground. "Hard work paid off," she hummed, before turning back to the darkness.

Flexing her claws, Lotta flung her arms to the side, a tornado of sand forming before her fingertips before she launched it inside the cavern. The whipping gales of the Sand Tomb soon began to calm, coating the floor of the new-found shelter with warm sands. Nodding, the Gible turned to the path she had come from. "Better find the others now," and while humming a tune, the Gible sped towards the scents of the others, soon arriving at the clearing where the others were.

"I found some shelter~!" the Gible smiled, waving a hand as she hopped to the clearing. "It's a comfortable cavern, not too far from here..." her words came to a halt, eyes looking around the clearing in confusion. "Where have the others gone?"

((Skip please, not sure what to have Gwyn do right now.))

[shit. skip.]

She looked around, frowning as she sighed. "Perhaps they have regrouped somewhere else. I'll just have to find them by scent..." the dragon mumbles to herself, pacing around the clearing, oblivious to the ghost that had appeared. "Erm, hello over there." she yelps, jumping about a foot off the ground and landing unsteadily. Lotta looks over to the source of the voice, fidgeting nervously, clearly unnerved by the sudden appearance of the phantom. "I heard some ruckus earlier and came to see what was happening. Are you looking for someone?"

Inhaling deeply, the little dragon regains her composure, bowing to the Dusclops. "I er, I deeply apologize for my reaction. It was rude and a bit uncalled for." she mumbles, before looking back up. "And yes, I am looking for someone. You don't suppose you've seen any Umbreons around, have you? One has silver rings, and the other has peach-colored eyes. I'm also searching for a Sneasel, Arbok, and Archeops." Lotta said, looking around the clearing again. She suddenly perks up. "Oh! How rude of me. I forgot to identify myself! My name is Lotta, and it's a pleasure to meet you."

The walk back was thankfully uneventful. In fact, it was such a relief for the spot of good luck, to have made it both there and back with no problems, that Mond wondered if this was some sort of weird dream.

Still... at least if it really were a dream, it was for once a good one. There was the clearing, right up ahead; everything would be just fi- wait where were the people?

"Th... th-they're... gone...?"

His head automatically turned to his elders for some sort of guidance, but Gwyneiria was as dumbfounded as he was.

No blood. No struggle. Had they moved because they smelled undead nearby and had decided to go before the undead found them? That actually seemed highly likely... and thankfully, was a nice. normal explanation that still left room for everything to be fine.

... And it was so unbelievably sad how that could be considered "nice" or "normal."

((Sorry guys, I need to skip. My wrist is killing me and I can't really think of anything for Gwyn to do. I may try and dual her with someone next round to help bounce some plot.))

(( I am also going to have to skip. ))

[OOC: Sorry, skip me please. I don't have anything to work with. ;;]

"I take no offense, Lotta. My name is Saphalom. And no, I have not happened upon them. However, I do sense the presence of three other figures west of here. They seem like they are dark-types." she smiled a little in relief that the ghost wasn't insulted. "It's great to meet you, Saphalom sir. It's a unique name." she nodded, taking a small bow of respect. "They are not too far off; I could guide you there if you wish." her gaze travels as the Dusclops takes a few steps to the right, holding an open palm out towards the direction.

"That is, if you would trust a ghost." Lotta only smiled, striding with confidence towards the direction the Dusclops had motioned to. "I see no reason not to trust others until they've done me wrong." she grinned, carefully parting the bushes an heading forward. "Hopefully they;re all grouped together, so then we don't have to find any lost individuals."

Gwyn set everything down and looked at her two Umbreon escorts, confusion written on their faces as well. It didn't look like a struggle so where could everyone have gotten off to? Not one to leave an injured Pokemon to suffer she began to check over where the Arbok had been laying and spotted a slight blood trail. "It's not overly fresh, but it looks like she went this way. Maybe something scared them into hiding?"

Worried she went back over to the herbs and berries she had brought back with them and wrapped only a few into a large leaf and slung it over her shoulder like a satchel. "I'm going to go look for her. The rest of these should help you boys while I am gone so try not to lose them okay? I'll be back as soon as I can." Heading off in the direction of the bloody serpentine trail she paused for just a moment at the treeline and waved to Mond. "Take care of those paws while I am gone! That wrap should hold through tonight but be careful anyway!" She didn't want the little guy getting any more damage to those delicate footpads, but thankfully the salve she put on should help speed his healing. The berries she left certainly would.

Hopefully those guys found their other friends before something else did.

((Leaving post. I hate to do it for this team but I have a lot going on and...well things are just rough. Gwyn will try to come back someday so don't forget about her!))

A few minutes were passed in silence as the three of them stared dumbfounded at where they had left their friends. Thoughts were kept to themselves as the shock wore off and they attempted to rationalize the situation.

Until Gwyneira had gathered her wits enough to actually go invesigate, placing her load of healing supplies on the ground and walking over to where the Arbok had been. It didn't take her long to find something. "It's not overly fresh, but it looks like she went this way. Maybe something scared them into hiding?"

That's what I thought, too. The small body relaxed a little, a touch of relief seeping into his features. No one was coming straight out to tell him they were dead, so they must still be alive... right?

The relief was quickly wiped away when she stepped back over to them and proceeded to fashion a bag, taking a few of the medical supplies into it. Wait, what are you doing?

"I'm going to go look for her. The rest of these should help you boys while I am gone so try not to lose them okay? I'll be back as soon as I can."

His mouth opened to protest as his ears fell, a quiet whimper leaking out instead of the words he had wanted to say. She couldn't leave! They'd only just met! One of the first nice Pokemon he'd met since his sister, and she was already leaving! She couldn't! She couldn't go!

Because undead didn't care about promises like "I'll be back."

Numbly he watched her proceed to the tree line, and his ears lifted when she paused and turned, hope bright in his eyes. Was she returning...?

"Take care of those paws while I am gone! That wrap should hold through tonight but be careful anyway!" Her wave matched her voice; cheerful and light, optimistic. Mond's heart sank and so did he, sitting down on his haunches and staring as she left.

Now he had only Orique left with him. And if the others were dead or had somehow left, that meant Orique was all he had, period.


Colors and shapes were one to her. She really couldn't tell them apart anymore.

The tiny Espeon was easy to miss at the foot of the tree she had sprawled out at. Her fur was filthy, and even the bright sunset color of her eyes and forehead gem had faded; the gem smeared with mud and crusted with saltwater, and her eyes weathered by fatigue, by hopelessness and loneliness.

Her throat was so dry. The vegetation here was so lush, she'd been sure she'd find water. But she'd been so hungry that she hadn't been able to find water in time. Her stomach had slowed her too much.

Now she was going to die here. Oh well. Not like it was such a loss. She was one stupid kid; her life meant nothing. Her death would mean nothing.

Unless, of course...

Mondy...

If her brother were alive... that changed everything...

But really, how could he? He'd always been so much more fragile. It wasn't his fault, really. The way they'd been raised and his physical setbacks had made him this way. And she loved him because what did it matter if he were sickly or skittish? They were night and day. Quite literally.

But he was gone now, taken by that horrible storm. By the epidemic that had forced them to try to flee in the first place. And now she'd join him. Maybe the afterlife would be kinder than this one.

At this point that was all she could hope for.

All the trees looked the same. The thick shrubbery all looked the same too. It tugged at his fur and obscured the short Pokemons path as he trudged along. The forest seemed to blend together into one green and brown mass of leaves with nothing to break it up. No buildings, no proper mountains in the distance, no great lakes. Just trees. Trees and trees. Trees that looked familiar now after wandering through them for so long. Yet the now vague look of the previous trees he had seen still lingered in the Eevee's mind. This was not the same forest he had been in. No, he was not somewhere familiar with ferns, bracken, and birch trees. This was a completely different forest and it was a complete and utter mystery to the kit how he had come to be in it.

His dark, glazed eyes blinked slowly and listlessly. Their was nothing interesting for them to see so the Eevee's sight blurred to obscurity. He was simply pressing forward through the undergrowth mindlessly, going on for the sake of going on. With no purpose moving him and no real desire to go on it must of been instinct pushing him forward. Or longing somewhere deep within that he can not feel. His tail twitches slightly while it drags on the soft ground, breaking the sliding note it had held. With a blank mind he rounds another shrub obscuring his path. Nothingness.. The forest seemed endless and empty.

Heavy-pawed he pressed forward. Was there anything here? Anyone..? Suddenly it seemed so quiet, the sounds of leaves rustling and distant birds drowned out in an unnatural silence. He felt so very alone. But Im always alone.. No one ever seemed to want to be with him. And Eevee's are 'beloved'. A knot tightens in the kit's stomach and his head hangs a bit lower. That wasn't his life. That was never his life. With a slightly bigger puff of air then his normal breath he quicken his pace ever so slightly as if trying to flee from his own thoughts. There had to be something around here. Even if it was one of those demons at least it would be another moving creature. At least he wouldn't be so.. alone.

With each step he took the Eevee's dim hope of other life forms only faded further. Endless trees, was that all this place had to offer? No life other then plants, no one to talk to, nothing to heal the loneliness in his heart. The chocking, drowning loneliness.. Long fingers clenched cold around his heart, making it feel pain on top of the numbness. Then he stops. The Eevee's fallen ears give a twitch of life as a foreign noise enters them. Words. "-I am allowed to of course." A voice? Eyes opening the slightest bit further and with a small gasp his ears twitch upward more. Was his brain playing tricks on him? Was this a lie from his mind to make him feel better, that someone was here with him? What if.. it wasn't? The tiniest bud of hope worms its way in his cold heart that feels like no more then a poke in the chest. A dent in his fur caused by a strong wind. Nothing really yet it existed. The little Eevee turns his paws toward the sound and moves forward mindlessly.

It was all a shock to the small vulpine. He had not spoken since introducing himself to Gwyn and honestly it was a nice change of pace. Since the earlier meeting of the twin Mightyena it had been so far outside of the Umbreon's comfort zone. Speaking and standing up for himself was not something he practiced often. Though the soft conviction of staying by the shaking Umbreon pup at his side continued to swirl within him. Orique had not felt such a connection to another since Tyson and Sasha- the feeling was entirely too alein, yet he could not ignore the feelings. Orique kept loyally by Mond's side, limping excessively as they moved through the darkening forest. His dream meal was hours ago by that time and it was starting to really wear down on the Eeveelution.

Orique resisted the instinctive urge to pant as his paws numbed to lead. As the duel type conversed, words went into his ears and left without any understanding of them. The Umbreon spaced into the beyond, peachy eyes glazed as his mind pumped with exhaustion. No matter how many times he tried to keep his health up and stealing the nightmares from other Pokemon, the constant fatigue was still all too familiar to him. Small paws sloshed slopily across the moist ground, Orique not paying attention to anythin but the soft pelt of his fellow Umbreon brushing against his own.

Then suddenly the Sneasel was making some sort of leave. Orique glanced up, blinking without comprehending as she gave a genuine smile before fading into the dark. Wha... Did she just leave? Or did I miss a promise that she would come back to us?... In either case, Orique was now finding himself alone again with the small Mond. Several seconds passed as the vulpine allowed his body to become completely accustomed to the exhaustion and fuzzy mind before the Umbreon stepped forward slowly. Brushing his nose gently against the base of one of Mond's large ears, Orique's mental voice betrayed his exhaustion. '...come small one. She will catch up later... We need... need to find Lotta and the other two...' Sympathy coloured his gaze as he gently placed one paw against the young one's back. 'C...can you walk just a little more, Mond?' Though even as he spoke the small Umbreon could hear sounds in the distance. One ear twitched. It almost sounded like the tone of voices...but it could also have just been a trick.


"Lu...ugiq knows how far I've walked..." The slender older woman stumbled slightly even as she spoke. The salt of past and coming storms on the evening air were noticable even to her human tastes, deep brown eyes glazed with exhaustion as she tried desperately to stay afoot. Slyke was walking along the beach of an unknown island, her fithy sneakers sinking into the moist sand with each step even as the lazy waves behind her lapped at the shore, making any sign of her vanish within minutes. The Trainer was parched, her stomach clenching in protest, but even so she refused to call out any of her team to ride. Salem carried me all the way here from the main land... I can only imagine how tired my baby is, Slyke reminded herself even as she licked her chapped lips.

Even so, one of her beloved family was out and at her side if only to offer anothe rpair of eyes in case of trouble. The Arbok stayed loyally at his trainer's side, tounge flicking out occasionally even as intelligent eyes watched for possible threats. "Ashen..." The human murmurred affectionately, running her fingertips along the snake's hood, receiving a loving nuzzle to her palm in return.

But in that moment, Ash suddenyl froze, causing Slyke to mirror his actions. Using the communicator, the ex Champion trainer was not surprised to her him whisper of someone up ahead. Motioning for the Arbok to take to the woods and circle around, she walked into the direction that Ash had scented the new comer. Slyke moved with newfound stealth, stepping on the balls of her feet even as she entered the thicking foliage. It was not long until the heart breaking sight was before her; Slyke gasped in horror, seeing the clearly malnourished kit of an Espeon, hardly breathing. "Oh, dear Lugia. Sweet dear, please don't be alarmed," She spoke into the communicator then, making very clear to have her pressance known. She knew all too well of how unfriendly some Pokemon were. "I- I can help you. I have water and food. May I approach?" The concern in her face was etched with thick motherly emotion- she would not let the Espeon die if she had something to do with it, but she also wouldn't approach and startle it either...