(ACE) The BURNED Team

Thankfully the attack hit. Along with the help of another new Pokemon, their attacks easily managed to knock back the monster. The Hydreigon was taking a beating, the grey Haxorus giving it no mercy. Nimbus shot forward through the air, ready to aid him, but it was not necessary. In fact, as the Altaria was closer to the fight, suddenly he was running. There was horror all over his face, more than enough to make Nimbus pull to a rushed halt midair. "RUN!" he screamed. "I SAID FUCKING RUN!" Suddenly the whistling sound of something falling hit his ears. "What is that!?" the avian cried out, but not waiting for an answer. Orange light covered the battlefield as massive comets fell from the sky.  

Is that an attack!?

Nimbus shot away, the heat from the meteors singing his feathers as one smashed into the concrete nearby. Flinching, he could only watch as one of the others was not so lucky. The spring Sawsbuck was tossed into the air, smashing down to earth with a cry of pain. "It hurts..." she muttered, but Nimbus had already veered in his direction to help her. There was no way she could escape the rest of the meteors without being able to run. The stain of red on her leg signified a much worse wound than a mere sprain. But he was not fast enough, the dark type was already upon her. "Get away from her!" The Altaria yelled, whipping around to hover over the injured doe and right in front of the undead.

His throat hummed, no warning before he opened his beak and let loose visible sound waves right into the dragon's face. The Hyper Voice shimmered through the air, warping colour as the music of humming was pushed to all possible extremes in the intense attack. However, there was a remarkably pleasant sound rippling around him, only the sound waves rushing through the air able of causing actual harm.

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Ecruteak City | Morning | 5

Prince immediately poofs up, obviously alarmed by the multiple screams and explosions, before his ear flicks, annoyed by the sudden, sharp whistle. Looking around, his red eyes immediately lock on the glints in the sky. Until the Haxorus yells, he has no idea what they are, or why he should be scared, but once the answer hits him, Prince's pupils shrink in horror. "RUN! ... I SAID FUCKING RUN!"
Luckily, he's not scared enough to just sit in one place, and promptly runs. He hated being told what to do, but, he assured himself that it was of his own choice, not because of the Haxorus. Darting towards the tower looming over the scene, he folds his ears back as he hears more attacks being shot at the two undead.

His eyes want to move over to the Sawsbuck, but he begrudgingly ignores her. If she was hit, that was her own fault, and wasn't his problem. He was more concerned about himself, after all, he was more important than all of the Pokemon here combined. His train of thought however, was broken when a meteor landed right in front of him. Being unable to control his momentum, he smacked into it, a sharp edge of the meteor creating a scratch on the bridge of his nose. Rubbing his face before backing up and continuing, he groans. Was he doomed to run into things today? Ugh.

When he reached the tower, he ran in and hid immediately. Being careful not to fall into the hole that led down into a lower section, he walks across the wood, which creaked under his paws.

[ooc: skip prince lmao...i thought if i waited a few days i would get some idea of what to write but honestly he's just running for his life so rip]

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Ecruteak City || Morning
6
    "Get away from her!" The altaria screeches. Amara attempted to crawl away at the sight of the sound waves rippling through the air and right at the dragon. But before she could do anything, the hydreigon is face-to-face with the sawsbuck. She couldn't pull her gaze away from the immense gore that covered its face as if she was staring straight into the abyss.
    "Oh, look who came running back." The undead rumbles, "How I've longed to see you again, Pure." The emphasis on the word pure, but in the context it didn't sound like an adjective, but a noun, a name. However, Amara pulls a blank, her mind unable to process the words of fate and immediately depended on her instinct.
    The earth around her immediately shoots up, three pillars of mud and mineral slamming up the hydreigon's crotch and two of their heads. A result from Nature Power using the sawsbuck's surroundings. She forcefully puts more weight on her wounded leg to push herself up, quickly and clumsily limping away from the dragon and towards the altaria.
   She would be lying if she said her wound didn't hurt. It stung, it kept stinging with every step. Tears were close to welling up in her eyes, but she held it in. It was embarrassing and weakness was bad, especially in an apocalypse, she needed the aid of others and to do that she needed to be strong she needed to show leadership. Amara knew that much.
    "We should hide in the tower," She panted. No time for introductions, if they live long enough for it, sure, but otherwise the sawsbuck knew she couldn't take on the hydreigon as she was. The group now scattered, she felt the strong need that they all needed to bail and hide. A coward's way is what her comrades would say if she was still with her trainer and team, however it was the only way that she could continue onward without dying to an undead.
    It was always during her battle with the risen was that her mind would not be painted with the words of don't die, but to stay alive.

(and I quote: "do it, hit paladin in the crotch" -cedric when I asked if I could hit paladin w/earth power)

[Pardon, but skip me this turn; I'm sick and I also have a lot of math left to do... otl. I'll get you next turn, Drowned.]

His attack was readily dodged, the Altaria's eyes widening in horror as he realised that it was too late, both him and the doe would be torn to shreds. But thankfully she reacted while the Hydregion was speaking. Who the heck is Pure?! The single, loud thought rushed through Nimbus' head before the dragon was forcefully shoved away with a very well placed Earth Power. "Good aim there, Miss," he muttered under his breath as they were moving. She was able to get to her feet and keep up a rapid retreat, something he was thankful for. He doubted he could carry her the short distance.

Keeping lose to the injured, Nimbus kept glancing behind them as she suggested, "We should hide in the tower." He nodded automatically in response, but something was off. The Espeon had already slipped in ahead of them, but the black Haxorus and the scrappy Mienfoo: they were still back there. "You head on in. Take care of your leg," Nimbus tossed over his shoulder, but even as he spoke he was already moving. He flew through the air, passing the black dragon. "Head into the tower!" he called out, but did not stop. He was lucky enough to be mostly unhurt-- and as he saw the scene of the Mienfoo and the Swampert, he was immediately grateful.

Without warning he tried to aim another Dragon pulse, the powerful energy swirling before his beak for several seconds. Unable to call out a warning to her without gaining the undead's attention, he hoped she saw him. Unable to hold it back, he released the attack.

[ ooc: sorry for shortness, no clue what to put but did not want to skip. You're free to hit Nimbus, ced, he's kinda been needed to get wacked out of the sky for a few cycles now LOL Just no maiming or perma damage ]

The rancid stench of decay clung to the wooden beams that once held the tower strong and tall. Its source lurked nearby, behind a section of destroyed wall, watching the prey that had wandered so innocently into his sight.

Lucario's blazing crimson eyes latched onto the Espeon that had dashed in from outside, only to let his guard down and start exploring the inside of the tower. Sounds from outside indicated a struggle, no doubt involving some of his lesser brethren, which the Eeveelution had clearly fled from.

The psychic-type's eyes were wide with curiosity as he wandered, turning his head towards the harbinger and -- what was that? Lucario ducked out of sight, but not before spotting something glittering on the Espeon's forehead. A jewel?! So pure...so...beautiful...he just had to have it.

The Espeon turned in his direction, still obvious to the harbinger's presence. At that moment, Lucario lunged out of his hiding place, landing on all fours in front of the the startled Espeon. Tail raised high, greasy fur bristling and mouth parting to reveal filthy, sharp teeth, no wonder he looked so terrified.

"That," Lucario said softly, pointing to the gorgeous jewel embedded in the Eeveelution's head. "I want that..."

The Espeon immediately saw sense and bolted across the wooden floor. Calmly, Lucario held up his paw and, with a Psychic, lifted the Espeon off the ground. He squirmed and writhed and begged to be put down. Lucario held him in midair for a moment, pondering what to do.

Was it an accessory or was it...attached? Lucario tipped the Espeon upside down and shook him, trying to dislodge the jewel. The only thing it did was make the Espeon complain even louder. Lucario gritted his teeth in frustration and released his hold on him, letting him drop roughly to the floor.

"Why won't it come out?!" he raged, more to himself than anyone else. "I want it!" There was only one thing for it.

Lucario looked back to the Espeon only to see that he had got up and was limping away as quickly as he could. Rage boiled through Lucario's blood; his jewel was getting away! "NO! DON'T YOU DARE RUN AWAY!" he screamed, blasting a Dragon Pulse in his direction. The Espeon was launched into the opposite wall, ribs audibly snapping as he slammed into the wood.

Within seconds Lucario was back upon him as he lay on the floor crying out in agony. Using Psychic he lifted the Espeon back into the air, the Eeveelution now screaming and begging for mercy. Charging up another Dragon Pulse, he launched it straight towards the Espeon's skull.

An explosion of blood, brain tissue and skull fragments soaked the harbinger as the Espeon's head was blasted from his neck. Lucario let the headless body drop to the floor as he dove into the remains of the skull, digging through the mess for his prize. Eventually he found it, examining the bloodstained jewel at eye level, wiping it clean with his other paw.

"It's...nice," Lucario said gently, smiling as he finished cleaning the jewel. It sparkled and glimmered in the beams of morning sunlight that shone through the gaps in the wall. "Beautiful...

Lucario had no need for the meat; another treasure for his collection was more than enough for him.

Satisfied, he left, leaving the Espeon's headless body and shattered skull for his friends to discover.

[ooc: lmao skip because i know i don't have enough time to post for burned. prince caught up w/ the others and entered the tower, barely noticing phi's remains until he stopped. as soon as he sees the remains he stumbles backwards and gags, recognizing what is left as an espeon, and begins to panic.]

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Ecruteak City || Morning
7
    She entered the tower with short breaths, dizzy with the pain beginning to numb her leg, but she tried her best to not falter.
    Oh how much she longed to sit her ass down and just take a break.
    In the corner of her eye did she manage to spot a dark figure escape the tower, was it the espeon? No.
    Amara felt the familiar sensation of blood and guts stench the area, a puddle of blood, that she failed to notice, was slowly forming around the corpse of the espeon that was alive no longer than a few minutes ago.
    She winced at the sight. Never could the Sawsbuck get used to it. All she could do was look down in shame, staring at her reflection in the crimson liquid. I'm sorry you didn't live long enough and I did.
    It didn't take long for the Haxorus to come in. Prince entered the tower with haste, but stopped immediately when his eyes laid on the corpse. Amara didn't dare question whether he took care of the living dead as he already started gagging at the gore glorifying the area.
    "...I think it's best we quickly search the area again, Prince." Amara murmured, "Danger could still be lurking. We wouldn't want to be facing the same fate."

(late af post b/c i've been facing existential crisis and manga scanlations deadlines. i'm also sick of a lot of people's shit, but that won't stop me from posting :D hoorah. very short paragraphs, i didn't want to go in-depth on the details b/c v straightforward situation)

Nimbus watches as the pair of undead finally have retreated, his blue eyes narrowed. The avian did not know if his actions aided in driving them off, or if they had simply decided it was time to move, but he would be watching their surroundings for the next amount of time to make sure another ambush did not happen. You won't catch us so off guard next time! The Altaria hovered gently, his long wings dropping and rising through the air with no effort as he watched the Haxorus and Sawsbuck follow the Espeon as they retreated to what he assumed at the time was safety. Nimbus allowed a brief sigh of relief; no casualties had happened.

But as he turned, the dragon realised that someone had not followed suit. Glancing back behind him, near the trees, he spotted her-- there! Nimbus flew closer to the wounded Mienfoo. She clearly was not doing well, doubled over with pain evident in her clenched jaw and the tenseness of her body. He landed beside her, asking softly, "Miss? If you will permit me to, I can carry you on my back until we reach a safe enough space to tend to your wounds properly." Oblivious to the fallen Espeon in the tower and the fighting type's disgust at being around strangers, he smiled gently. "My name is Nimbus, in case you did not catch it before the earlier attack. I do think it wise to find shelter before something brings the pair back."

The city known for bearing the marks of its history surely has never had this many scars. Interwoven, gashing wounds that transformed the once beautiful city into a grotesque new assemblage. It was almost beautiful. However, the pincher pokemon had no interest in the architecture, he was looking for a real masterpiece.

For once, the faint humming of his rusted, chiseled wings didn't accompany his approach. Instead, metal toes almost delicately cross over fallen debris and marks previously etched into the floor. He had been watching them. They came from the outside, intent on entering his current shelter and who was the scizor to stop them? Maybe they knew of his new look and have come to marvel. If not, he would surely show them regardless...Using one pincher, he carefully repositions his "scarf"

The rigid, reeking braxien around the harbinger's neck had not fared well since their departure from the cold weather. It's blood had leaked everywhere, showering the scizor in a fresh coat of uneven paint. Blood also matted the once soft fur, clumping it into disgusting bundles of rotting meat. Frequent repositions and tying has left the body with little form or resemblance of its living appearance. It's tail and legs practically just stumps with clipped bone jutting out to greet the morning.

They enter, one by one, each taking time to notice his brother's handiwork. Brief jealousy flares within the scizor. His brother had gotten such a beautiful jewel...almost as beautiful as the crimson mirror it's corpse had painted across the worn floor. He had almost gotten lost gazing into its mesmerizing depths from behind several large, concealing pillars. Only when he catches a glimpse of something with a brighter shine does he break his gaze. A jewel... An injured deer had crept close. The large gash on her right ankle revealed her beautiful insides to the air, letting blood flow. "Such beauty...this mirror, you see it too?"

Eagerly, the metal bug creeps out from his hiding place to stand before the sawbuck. His metal toes splashing through the blood and brain matter of the deceased espeon. "Beauty...beauty...your jewel is so beautiful." The grass-type recoils from his approach, nearly tripping over herself as she back-pedals. Emotions the harbinger can no longer name dance within the injured pokemon's eyes. It makes them shine...just like her jewel... With a start, he comes to the realization that this pokemon may not be willing to simply give him the desired treasure. Clamping one powerful pincher on his scarf, he yanks it off himself with an audible sound.

"Trade me." It's not a question and with each denial from the sawsbuck his currently calm demeanor cracks and splinters. "Trade me!" The words come out as a choked scream from his raw, damaged throat. The sensation of blood pooling at the back of his throat registers in the back of his damaged mind, but it's only a dull feeling compared to the collage of jealousy, frustration, and anger. Jumping along with his prized possession into the air, he twirls, glows, and blasts the corpse with a vacuum punch into the deer.

She falls backward with a loud scream that swiftly turns bloodcurdling. Stomping forward, deaf to the cries, he leans over the deer...Her ankle had become even more beautiful...twisting in an abstract way thanks to an upturned board and the tumbling of her body. Without thinking, he reaches forward to grasp the gorgeous limb--only to have his pincher kicked away. The grass-type's eyes and mouth were as wide as the hole of the burned tower. She thrashs and kicks, trying to get rid of him--TRYING TO KEEP BOTH TREASURES!

"You MONSTER! You cheated me! You can't have either! You don't deserved anything! You don't deserve to have beauty!" Reaching a fever pitch, he propels himself in a full body tackle at the sawsbuck. His wings beating rapidly to accompany his jump and madness. The scizor tears the pokemon to pieces. Pincher after pincher dives and scoops, crushes, tears into the supple flesh and fur. Clumps are thrown haphazardly to the side or smashed back into the deer's widening chest cavity. Her scream from her ankle was nothing compared to this one--one that only stops as blood is forced up her throat and clogs it.

Panting as he comes down from his high, the form before him is barely recognizable. A mess of dyed red fur to match the metal of his own exoskeleton. Trembling, his scoots torn flesh and fur aside to find his prize. There...! It takes several attempts, but soon enough it is within his grasp. Clasping it carefully within one pincher, he uses his other to gingerly pick up the braxien. Instead of taking it back, he pulls it carefully through the sawsbuck's remains. After looping it around what he believes is her neck he can't help but grin. "One of us has to keep our promises!" The harbinger sneers at the corpse.

Standing up, he beats his wings harder than before to take off through the open roof. Metal wings carrying him far from the tower and sight. The morning air blowing through his fresh coating of 'paint' and working to dry it. Even some bits of the sinew and fur has stuck! Such art...this is what beautiful 'mon felt like.

Without warning, the sounds of a struggle suddenly rang through his ears. Whipping around, the Altaria's eyes went wide with shock and terror. He saw a blur of crimson, shooting away from the Mienfoo then. Upon approaching the tower through, he was wracked with nausea at the sight. The Espeon, his name lost on the bird, lay, dead, his head clean gone from his shoulders. Gore was everywhere, but it was ot but one corpse. Flicking his eyes to the side, he saw the other corpse, the remnants of the female he had aided not minutes ago.

His mind swam, Nimus' eyes growing cloudy with shock and revoltion. Clearly there was something wrong in that place, something dangerous, and it was more than just the undead they had chased off. With only a glance behind him, he looked to the Haxorus with regret before taking off. Shooting into the sky, he vanished into the clouds without turning back.

[ ooc: Leaving post ]

"Cofa... hungry... So hungry..." The harbinger rumbled quietly, pained. It had been weeks since the... remains of the bug had been divulged from him, the impaled corpse nothing more than a dessicated husk, drained of it's mousture and nutrients by the Sarcophagus. The creature in question still lay by the Ghost's side, cumbling more and more to dust, looking a thousand years ancient as the morning light cast heavy shadows over the sunken features. "Cofa... so hungry..." The coffin rumbled again, sinking into a shadowy smear on the ground... "Cofa... hunt... Cofa... feed..."

The shadow rose from the ground, a silent monolith behind the resting fox. "Cofa... feed..." was the hollow whisper, echoing from inside the golden box as transclucent arms raced forward, gripping tight at the wrists of the Meinfoo. "Cofa... eat...." The tendrils yanked backwards and upwards, the shoulders of the fighing type twisting, cracking with a muted crunch and pained scream. The Harbinger raised the strappadoed creature, turning it this way and that by crushed wrists, hanging it from cracked shoulder blades. "You... feed Cofagrigus... You food..." the rumbling voice intoned. A muted THUNK escaped the harbinger as it unhinged itself, yawning wide at the hinges, stuffing the Meinfoo inside before slamming the door, the sound echoing around the town.

"Cofa not... greedy. Cofa take you slow...." The ghost whispered, golden shimmering with cruel heat, the ghost filling his casing with Embers. Muffled screams rang out from the ghost, escaping with a flood of steam. "Cofa eat you slow... Cofa save you..." Another scream rang out, lower, a muffled roar escaping the golden case that was falling forward, frame dissolving into shadows as it met the ground. One last time the undead spoke, an low whisper as it fled the town, vocal prey encapsulated within.... "Cofa have fun with you...."

(OOC: Welll, I guess when one leaves, another must enter... ^^; )

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It was too early in the morning for such loud noises.

'Wait, loud noises...' a small mind thought, ideas and thoughts jumbling and racing at speeds imperceptible. A small head looked out of the hole in a hollowed-out tree just outside the edge of the city, manic eyes darting to and fro, scanning for signs of danger. The small one gave a swift, light sigh of relief when he spotted nothing... save for a rampant Scizor taking off nearby. He ducked back inside the tree and muted his breathing, making for certain the creature would not spot or hear him. Another quick glance out a moment later showed no signs of the infected Pokemon, but what he DID see was a normal-looking Altaria flying away in a state of shock and despair.

'Someone must have died...' the small one thought as he slowly climbed to the edge of the hole and edged himself out. Glancing around, mind half paranoid and half tired, on watch for any signs of danger, the small one, now revealed to be a young Axew, made his way slowly into the city. His entire trip in consisted of several seconds of movement, followed by a pair of double-takes in every direction to take in all his surroundings, a look to the sky for signs of attack from above, and finally a single hop backwards to prevent being assaulted from below, before repeating the process all over again.

Finally, despite his long and overly cautious traverse, he finally made his way to the door of a large, scorched-looking tower. The door was still standing, so he figured the best thing he could do... was the honourable thing, and he knocked. 'I hope I'm wrong, I REALLY hope I'm wrong,' the young Axew thought over and over as he waited for entry. Then again, even if he was right, in this world, anything went, and anyONE could too. that was the way of this viris-infested world... People hid in caves and cities, away from the Pokemon they once loved and respected, just because a number of them had gone rabid. Or... so he thought... but anything that could mangle the visage of his ex-trainer's Scyther THAT horribly could NOT be simple rabies... wait, could Pokemon even GET rabies?

'Well, the dog-shaped Pokemon likely could...' he reasoned, not willing to go any farther with that train of thought. He stood waiting, and decided it would be better to wait where he wouldn't be seen... he pulled the tusks off his mouth and slowly began to climb the outside wall until he was upside-down and directly above the door frame. Whatever came through the door, he'd be ready for it. If it was an Infected, he'd utilize his hit-and-run skills until the creature was weak enough for anyone else to come in and drive it off. If it wasn't... well, he would apologize profusely... while still scanning for threats... That would likely make him look insane.

((ooc: I have some major projects i desperately need to work on so I'm going to ask to skip my turn ;m;/ ))

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Zandros watches at the much taller and clearly fully-evolved Haxorus sped off into the woods, worry and fear in his eyes. He shook his head in sadness.

'Another one lost to the insanity of the situation,' he thought thought. He was still hanging upside down above the door, and the blood in his legs was beginning to pool in his head. That was dangerous. He turns around on his blad nubs and, now the proper way around, began scaling what was left of the wall until he came to a busted up floor. One goof leap brought hi to the cracking surface, and he hopped again to get away from a piece of crumbling floor board.

'At least my escaped evolution managed to run away before those super-mutated monsters got him...' Zandros consoled himself. He was still looking around, unable to find anyone of any species thus far. Had the rest been eaten too? Was his journey to find survivors to lead him further into Johto's wilderness?

I REALLY hope I don't have to go backk to the trees,' the small Axew thought as he wandered into a room and came face-to-corpse with a smashed-up, deceased Sawsbuck. He cringed at the sight before he noticed one specific leg had been ripped apart at the joint.

'I see the sick freak that did this has a disturbing fascination with ankles,' he mused morbidly, 'Or maybe it's something to do with something else entirely? Who knows...' He continued further and came across another corpse, this one a headless Espeon. He stared in morbid fascination at the horrid MESS that littered the walls, floor, and a portion of the ceiling... after all, if his eyes weren't tricking him, he could swear... that he saw... BRAINS on the ceiling.

'HOW in the name of all things ARCEUS did the beastie manage to get it all the way up THERE?!' he questions in stunned surprise; he'd never SEEN brain matter that elevated before. He made a mental joke about "someone REALLY getting high", chuckled darkly a little, then moved on into the tower. So far, alll he'd come across was a fleeing Haxorus, a mangled DEAD Sawsbuck, and a headless Espeon. Things were not looking good, and he was moments away from throwing in the towel and heading back to face his chances against the infected in the trees.

"HELLO!" he called in indoor voice, "Is there anyone here?"

Aaden waits patiently within his hiding place among the rubble of the decaying tower for the beasts to have their fill and move on. The blaziken had been rummaging through the ground floor of the tower for any remaining supplies when he heard the sounds of a struggle and other approaching. Though he had averted his eyes so not to watch every gory detail, what exactly had happened was no mystery. The walls were painted with the blood and innards of those he heard die. The stench filled his nostrils, bringing back all too familiar memories that he swiftly suppressed. Every faint creek and movement caused the fire-type to pause and search anxiously for the source. I swore I saw them leave... he restates to himself mentally. An ordinary undead he could handle, but those things...

Those things were the real monsters. His talons click lightly as the bird takes cautious steps around the outskirts of the carnage. He tries not to look directly into the messes that used to be pokemon for too long. "HELLO!" The call rings out above the stifling silence and tension of everything else within the room. Taking a step back towards the shadows and pillars, Aaden's eyes scan for the owner of the voice. "Is there anyone here?" The fire-type finds he doesn't have to search far.

An axew, cloaked in a rather visible red scarf is observing the corpses as well, much more closely. His eyes following the 'mon as they look at the individual corpses and seem to find some interest in the extent of the damage caused. Nothing attacking him...the corpses untouched for now...it's the closest to safe we may ever get. Cautiously, Aaden starts his slow walk forward once again, covering the ground he had back-tracked before and going further yet into sight range. "I'm assuming by that, you mean someone here still alive? Surprisingly, yeah." Though his words come out rather casual, the grimace on the bird's face portrays the darker part of their situation. His tired eyes scan the room again, shoulder sagging slightly, beak in a tight, downward turn that for some reason, seems to match his eyes.

"The name's Aaden. This dump's my shelter. My--" His voice cuts off as a distant screeches and other distorted noises reach them from the outside. As if a switch was flipped, all his bright, dirtied feathers lay flat against his frame. This wasn't safe...there...there was too much blood. "Looks like we can't chat here. Those...things can smell blood. You look smart, I'm sure you can figure out why that equation doesn't look good for us here." Blue eyes dart around them, his stance widening in case something would appear from the woodwork. "So stay if you want or follow. I know somewhere safer."

Turning back the way he had originally come, Aaden starts off at a brisk walk. Taking the time to adjust his vest by pulling both sides forward afterward he reaches instinctively for his ribbon, but just before he pauses, his grimace deepens and his hand drops, leaving the ribbon as is. "Now I said safer, not safe...keep an eye out."

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Zandros turned on the spot, charging up a Dragon Rage and displaying the energy threateningly... until he saw what he was speaking to. The Blaziken looked healthy and alive...  but then again, so did the infected some of the time. He then noticed the Tranquil coming down to them. And while he'd normally concur with the bird's sarcastic comments, now was NOT the time or place.

“While I would normally agree with you, Mr Tranquil,” The small Axew said in a gruff tone, “This is hardly the time or place to do so. I think for now we should follow him... better than hiding in those damned trees, that's for sure.” With that, Zandros turned, wrapped the scarf tighter about his neck and set off behind Aaden. However, something bothered Zandros. His sense of smell was picking up the faint hint of rotting flesh somewhere around him.

Against his better judgement, he wrote it off as being thee corpses behind him beginning to decay and kept moving.

“Apologies for my outburst earlier,” he said in a slightly lower tone, “But I saw that Haxorus run for the hills and didn't know if anyone was still alive. I had to take a chance... I've been living and surviving alone for months, gouging out the trunks of trees to make shelters... it's been rough, but I'm glad to at least be in some form of group again... strength in numbers, you know?” To the untrained ear, it sounded normal, but the truth was, Zandros was more trying too convince himself than anyone else. That fact alone scared him almost as much as being attacked by an infected.