(ACE) The OLIVINE Team

"A vacation huh? I could go for one of those." What a dream it would’ve been. Hawaiian shirts and little drinks with umbrellas, burying Reb in the sand… Maybe imagining it would be enough. It‘ll have to be. Mi put it to the back of her mind before she literally moped over it by popping another berry between her front teeth, squeezing the juices onto her tongue and devouring the rest of it.
"My paws are pretty raw from moving all that rubble around. Shoulders too. They could use a rest." Didn’t the burn scored over his side hurt too? You‘re as tough as Reb… She shot a look to the Joltie, hoping not to catch anything troublingly… gross. His head lay on his paws with the wing absent aside from some feathers spread around. Where did all the bones go?

"A little nappy nap bing bing? Or not so little if we can help it." Cinder suggested following a yawn, bringing on the urge for Miyu to repeat the action. But with a mouth full of half-chewed berry, that would’ve been kinda nasty and somehow fought the pesky yawn off with mental swords. “Nappy, nappy bing nap-ding bat, or whatever, that sounds so good,” the Eevee agreed.
"It might not be a bad idea to take a rest. After all the.. events today Gods know we've earned it."

"I know."

Rebel’s half-ear tilted slightly, adjusting his clouded eye to follow the Houndoom as he strode out of the room. The hell was he doing? Didn’t get enough the first time? The Jolteon groaned, keeping his place on the floor.

"What do you guys say to just calling it for the day? I don't think I have any fight left in me for anything else anyhow." The idea was a more than welcome suggestion to Miyu. She flopped onto her side and inspected her tail curiously - something continuously tugged stands of her fur as she moved. “I think… I think that’s a good idea,” she added as she found the twig nestled in her tail, catching it between her front teeth and pulled it loose. “I mean, we’re safe here. The less risks we take, less chance of something bad happening, right?” Wasn’t much of living on the edge, but it was living.

Rosko made a reentrance, toting along a battered bag of Pokémon kibble. "Me nose was right mateys, I be bringing kibble for those who be hungry."
Rebel’s head lashed up to stare, a livid expression gracing his bloodied face as the pirate dude sprinted back out. What. The. Fuck.
"Maybe its sealed and safe still, though definitely not fresh, but I'm not going to risk it." Cinder said, skeptically looking over the burnt bag from her place. Rebel’s claws dug into his already-maimed opposite foreleg, causing fresh wounds to trail blood.
“Neither would I,“ he growled, the guttural sound his voice carried the least of his concerns. “For fuck’s sake, we could’ve raided an entire goddamn shopping center with less problems than we had for kibble.”

As the Houndoom dragged back a second bag, Miyu kept her eyes trained on her brother. His pelt was standing up and sharpening, which was a pretty worrisome thing… He never was the greatest at controlling his temper. “Rebel?”
“What?” The venom in his voice was not meant for Miyu, but it sorta happened. “’M fine, don’t worry ’bout it,” he added, slightly gentler.

"Enough to hold my own." What did he just ask Faux for her to give that response?

You ain‘t gettin‘ her killed in another dumbass quest.

((OoC - So, his undead temperament is finally flaring lol. He’s reaaallly mad but he’s just gonna be passive aggressive until I see a good chance for him lash out at Rosko. I already have Shad’s permission for it, though Reb isn’t going to actually harm him. :3 Reb seems to have chosen Faux to be the first in the group he warms up to. Definitely because of how amusing it was at the oasis lol.
Just a note, Reb is being a jerk, but that isn't me or my thoughts in any way lol, he's a douche Jolteon like that ha.))

Munching through the rest of her leathery leg the Ninetales finished her meal in peace. While she could of stood to eat more what she had was probably her best meal in days, or even weeks, and was plenty satisfying. Mist finished up the rest of the bird, leaving only feathers and a few blood spots scattered about. The more minimal the residue the better. Sitting up on her haunches the fox started to wash. Licking first her paws and her limbs she was careful to go over every spot a couple of times before moving onto her muzzle and cheeks. How silly would she look to have stream flecks of blood staining her creamy fur?

With the scent of their meal already fading from the air Melanie gave a yawn and stretch. She gave the flooring a quick sniff, checking for any large pieces or massive splotches of food waste. Assured that it was clean and wouldn't attract anything else she spoke with her tails sweeping behind her. "The others should be done by now. Guess its time to head back."


"I know. It's.. Im exhausted. Really." Cinder's words were heavy with the days trials. Sure, things like this were normal if not expected now, but that didn't make the constant onslaught any easier to deal with. Being slammed with near-death, near life altering events over and over and over.. It gets to you after a while. "What do you guys say to just calling it for the day? I don't think I have any fight left in me for anything else anyhow." The Eevee flopped over similar to the Quilava and spoke with agreement. With a soft chuckle the Electrike did the same, though a bit more slowly as he worked his way unto his belly. His old bones could of creaked and the weight was released from them. "I could sleep for a week!" He chuckled, Thunderstone clattering against the floor. Gosh, if only they had that opportunity. "In a sea of clouds overlooking the sea~"

As a yawn erupted from the small hounds muzzle and his hearing fuzzed out for a moment he didn't hear the Houndoom's approach until he dropped something beside them all. "Me nose was right mateys, I be bringing kibble for those who be hungry." The Electrike's head turns at the unfamiliar word. Whatever this was it was clearly meant to be food but all the Etincelle could smell was the burnt bag with an undertone he did not recognize. "Th-thanks," he stutters out, not ungratefully but unsure how to respond to the foreign item.

Though he had just laid down Etin shuffled his paws to stand only to be stopped by Cinder's hesitance. "Maybe its sealed and safe still, though definitely not fresh, but I'm not going to risk it." Sealed? Human food is awfully strange. With nothing to base its safety off of other then the fire type's skepticism Etincelle brought his paws back in. “Neither would I,“ Rebel rasps, the sound of his voice spooking him for a moment. "I guess its better safe than sorry." He agreed doubtfully. "It's a shame to waste food though." But the Jolteon was not finished, his voice growing. “For fuck’s sake, we could’ve raided an entire goddamn shopping center with less problems than we had for kibble.” The Electrike's breathe halts, his body growing tense. The sudden snappiness was oddly placed and unneeded in their conversation. What had happened? “Rebel?” The Eevee worries, only to receive the same attitude back. "Calm down bud," he murmurs with a swallow. "No need to get feisty."

OoC)) skip. Rosko walks off and heads towards the stairway angrily.

Cinder was grateful someone else agreed with her, and that they could avoid the food until misfortune struck, but the Jolteon's aggressive response was rather unexpected. “For fuck’s sake, we could’ve raided an entire goddamn shopping center with less problems than we had for kibble.” Even Miyu seemed taken aback by his snappiness. "Calm down bud. No need to get feisty." Etincelle tried to diffuse him, unease clear on his face as well. Cinder's paws wedged in a little bit closer to her chest. Its true going in that room yielded us nothing. A massive sealed door should of been enough of a warning but someone they had all been blind to it. But we had thought there would be more to it.

"We were after the scent of 'food.' No one expected the undead to be in there." She explained while shaking her head. And we got lucky they didn't do more. She stopped herself from saying the latter half of her thought, the Jolteon's bloodied face a a burning auricle in her golden eyes. Had he been alive.. legends, she'd be amazed if he didn't pass from blood loss and shock. "That being said.. there is bound to be more." The Castle alone had proven the demons lurked all over, even when they thought their shelter safe. "Let's finish up and rest, lest our solace ceases."

Popping the rest of her berries into her maw the Quilava chewed roughly and swallowed. It seemed her poison had been tamed enough that her appetite was finally returning and hunger was bubbling weakly in the pit of her stomach. They still had some berries left and she could afford to splurge and sate herself, but with those kibbles being their only other food option she decided against it. I'll be more grateful for them in the morning. Flexing her toes the fire type carefully got to her paws and balled one paw into a fist. "Tomorrow.. we go exploring!"


The fox's tails puffed up as the hound turned and stalked away grumbling. The hell is his problem? He had asked a question and didn't even explain himself? She had answered him yet he was definitely not satisfied by her response. His loss. Finishing her drink the Vulpix grabbed one more Rawst berry before padding up to the others. "While we stayed her last night I don't think the foyer would be the best choice to rest in." Her pale eyes shot daggers at all the debris that was still strewn about. Kaze and Etincelle had done an admirable job at clearing the ground and making the place safe to traverse, but the cracks in the floor, dust, blood, and splinters still made it rather uncomfortable on the pads. Not to mention these tiles are hell to sleep on. Her feathery bedding had all but been lost in the fighting, completely displaced in the mayhem.

Stepping to the other side of the group Faux quickly went over their options. "The back room with the others should suffice. We could all fit, and it would be plenty warm enough with us all." Between the fire types and the warm bodies it wouldn't be the cold, drafty space that was the foyer the night before. Plus, with everyone together it would be harder for something to sneak into the room. Turning her head back she gave the undead electric type a prudent stare. "Though its just a suggestion. Everyone can sleep where they will."

"Calm down bud." Etin’s shot at pacifying him was met with little response from the Jolteon. "No need to get feisty." Miyu bounded to her mood-swinging brother and flopped next to him. “Yeees, like-like, uhh--” She pursed her lips and nervously swatted his nose. “Magikarp face!”
Dragging a single-eyed glare away from the Houndoom and holding it on the Eevee, he sighed heavily at her antics. “Stop. I’m not going to lunge the guy if that’s what you’re panicking about. ‘Doubt I’d even see him if I tried.”

He tilted his head lazily towards Cinder as she spoke, "We were after the scent of 'food.' No one expected the undead to be in there. That being said.. there is bound to be more." He spat a clot of blood at the wall behind him before resting his muzzle across Miyu’s shoulders. “That’s the thing, we got led in there expecting nothing to be wrong. Back in the day, people got hit by cars out of the assumption nothing was gonna be there when they took that step. The ones that checked probably lived, unless their luck was as bad as mine.” The Eevee’s body stiffened. He was gonna run his mouth until something happened, she just knew it… “I’m jus’ saying, it’s a lot harder to be killed by something if you expect it.” He was many things, and a survivor of the streets was one of them. Miyu just didn’t expect him to put it quite so… maturely.

"Let's finish up and rest, lest our solace ceases." Poetic as heck and the best idea of the day, give Cinder two prizes for that, please~! "Tomorrow.. we go exploring!"
“Yaaaas!” Miyu shot up with both paws held high in enthusiasm, but then it faded and she flopped again. “But first I sleep.”

During which, the Jolteon was a bit more inclined to glare venomously at the Houndoom’s back as he disappeared with a bit of (sea?) salt in the departure. ‘The hell you bein’ pissy about, pal? Regardless, Reb dropped to his side and jumped on the R&R bandwagon next. He was done.

"While we stayed her last night I don't think the foyer would be the best choice to rest in." Miyu stared dejectedly at the Vulpix. Didn’t wanna walk somewhere else. Might as well been across the world. "The back room with the others should suffice. We could all fit, and it would be plenty warm enough with us all." Miyu whimpered, butting at Rebel’s chest for him to get up. The agonizing pain of walking while she just wanted to be lazy would all be worth it… all worth it…
"Though its just a suggestion. Everyone can sleep where they will." The Jolteon gave a heh, at the Vulpix’s ending. Even without an eye on her, he kinda felt like that was referring to him. Who else would wanna sleep solo besides him?

“Am I included in that sleepin‘ arrangement, Faux?” He asked humorously, sitting up as the Eevee clambered onto his shoulders in apparent exhaustion... “Jus’ checkin’. Don’t wanna get beat up anymore today than I already have.”

Etincelle's claws clacked against the floor. Suddenly the air felt tense and heavy, like the crackling before a dry electrical storm. Rebel had been acting peaceful, or at least somewhat lethargic, up until now. What could have changed his mood so drastically? He took a pretty nasty hit to the head and was left with a gnarly wound.. Maybe he's in pain? That was hard to say. Undead were hit or miss if something was to actually harm them. “Yeees, like-like, uhh-- Magikarp face!” The Eevee tried to smooth things out but Rebel was not having it. “Stop. I’m not going to lunge the guy if that’s what you’re panicking about. ‘Doubt I’d even see him if I tried.” Whether that was an apology or an explanation it didn't make the Electrike's fur lie flat.  

Maybe.. a wound that close to the brain would even hurt an undead. Pain does things to people.. This response could just be him not knowing how to deal with it after being numb for so long. Or he could just be mourning the loss of his eye. Which, in all honestly, would be completely understandable. "I wasn't implying that at all." He explained slowly. "I'm just saying everything is safe and calm right now. No need to get worked up now that the danger has past." Cinder must of picked up his unease or felt it herself as she continued the train of thought, "We were after the scent of 'food.' No one expected the undead to be in there. That being said.. there is bound to be more." That.. was on his paws. He was supposed to of scouted everything out with Rosko but the tightly sealed door hadn't caught his attention. The entire battle, everyones wounds, his eye.. I could have prevented it.

Was that why he was upset? Because the entire thing was unnecessary and he was the one who was suffering for it? Cause no one seemed to care for his injury because of his.. status? The Jolteon spat and continued his rant, finishing with a solemn, “I’m jus’ saying, it’s a lot harder to be killed by something if you expect it.” Ambush predators made their livelihoods on that very principle. There was nothing 'ambush' about their fight but, just not expecting the mass and ruling the seal, the basis was the same. "Let's finish up and rest, lest our solace ceases." The Quilava forcefully ended the turmoil. While the small electric type knew putting a pin in heated problems was never a good idea he was grateful to dismiss it until he had more energy. "Tomorrow.. we go exploring!" Even with their troubles the prospects of new ground was enough to get his short tail wagging. "I wonder what we'll find!" He barks excitedly, paws fluttering, as Miyu squeaks, “Yaaaas!”

Nodding in agreement he watched the child flop over. “But first I sleep.” A chuckle worked its way out of his throat, any awkwardness from the rant already seeping away. "But right here? That doesn't seem all that comfortable." As if on queue Faux padded up to them and was instantly on the sleeping topic. "While we stayed her last night I don't think the foyer would be the best choice to rest in." Running his claws around in a gentle circles he had to agree with her. It was rather hard and cold in here. Plus the buried corpses on the other side of the room were a bit disconcerting. "The back room with the others should suffice. We could all fit, and it would be plenty warm enough with us all."

"Though its just a suggestion. Everyone can sleep where they will." That last little bit was just asking for trouble. Hopping to his paws the Electrike quickly starts to peddle away, only stopping to turn his head back and say, "I'll go on ahead and tell them we're gonna bed down. Just so they are expected the crowd." They probably didn't need the heads up but he didn't want to get caught up in another of the Jolteon's fits.

He makes quick work as he pudders down the hall, stopping just outside the pair's room. Scratching his claws softly against the wood he announces himself before entering. "Hi," he greets them, surprised by how clean the area seems. "Hi!" Mel greets back, twisting her torso around toward to face him. Her pelt glistened, freshly washed and clean. If anything Etincelle expected the room to wreak of blood and intestinal fluid but it was shockingly sterile with only scattered feathers and a leg at Me's paws remaining from the Staraptor's body.
"The others are coming here to bed down." He explained, padding up and nuzzling the Ninetales cheek. She tensed up midway, asking with an air of confusion, "Its not that late, is it?" Running his tongue along her snout he shakes his head no. "No, but every is exhausted and we have a window of peace. Might as well make the most of it." "Oh," immediately falls from her muzzle, head tilting in thought. "That makes sense." With his short tail wagging Etin muttered, "Mm," And he stepped closer to wash the long fur from her head. "Did you two have a good meal?"

A massive yawn irrupts from the Ninetale's maw, her toes flexing as a whine follows. "Oh yes it was excellent. Probably the best I've had in moons." Her tongue runs gently over her teeth, checking for anything she might of missed. "What about everyone else?" "Oh uh," the male hesitates while looking for the right words. "The food was fine, the discussion got a bit uncomfortable though."

“Am I included in that sleepin‘ arrangement, Faux?” It was no surprise that he picked himself out of her words. Not that she was trying to be sly about it or anything. “Jus’ checkin’. Don’t wanna get beat up anymore today than I already have.” Etincelle quickly excused himself and Faux could already sense Cinder prepping another motivational speech. "Of course." She answers with only a slight pause, enough to consider her words without inviting the Quilava to speak. "Hence why I said, 'everyone can sleep where they will' instead of we will sleep back there." Trotting off the direction Etin had headed she raises her muzzle and calls back to him, "Besides, you wouldn't want to make Miyu sleep all by her lonesome."

A quiet puff of air escaped the Quilava's lungs, grateful that Faux had held her judgement carefully. On the next inhale she finds herself chuckling and waving one paw as she slowly gets back to her pads. "Yeah, even if you were together its awfully cold sleeping out here." Standing on all fours Cinder teeters for a moment before starting to move forward. While they were definitely still sensitive her paws were already starting to feel better and allowed her to walk fairly normally.  
The walk to the back was short and Cinder greeted the others with a tired, "Hey." Faux was already stating out a spot and cleaning her fur while Etin and Mel were together and chatting. The energy of the room was peaceful, quiet, and perfect for rest. Cinder's jaw stretches wide but mid-yawn the Quilava spots something and gasps before bumbling her way toward Mel. "Oh my gosh, I totally forgot about the talons! Mel, Mel can I have those? I mean, if you're not eating them." She had been all over them earlier but her priorities were forced to shift. Had the other set been eating? She couldn't see them anywhere, or any of the bird for that matter. Geez you guys must of been starving.

Faux gave a small huff at the starter's random burst of energy. For someone so exhausted you sure got excited over a dead foot. What did she even want them for? They were just junk to carry around. With another huff she flexes her spine, reaching around to clean her many tails. A few strokes in the Vulpix gingerly stops as her paw skids on the smooth floor. Damn tile. Even if the room would stay warm some may take issue with the heat-sucking floor. "There is plenty of time and light to go scavenge around for some bedding, if you are so inclined. This stuff will be hell on your bones." She taps her claws against the tiles, making loud clinks. The thinner the Pokemon the worse it would be. "Just try not to run into any trouble while looking." Spreading her toes the Vulpix digs her paws into the floor as she continues to wash. Her legs shake slightly, her focus split, ans a small chuckle can be heard from Cinder as she completely flops to the floor. "Or just walk around if you are not tired. You know, feel free to do whatever! No rush since its still early. We'll be here if you need anything."

"Of course." Well, what he lacked in manners, various body parts and a vocabulary, he made up for in sense - Reb didn't get through life and then death screwing people over without knowing a bit about how situations effected one's speaking. And gods be damned, Faux seemed genuine with that invitation. Heh. "Hence why I said, 'everyone can sleep where they will' instead of we will sleep back there." Oh. Well, he might've looked stupid with that one if he hadn't looked so horrific. Glass half full kinda guy.
He quietened his musings on his overall intelligence as the rust-colored fox offered over her shoulder, "Besides, you wouldn't want to make Miyu sleep all by her lonesome."
He snorted wearing the smirk of the devil himself, "Hell, she'd probably be better off! Gotta teach 'em independency when they're young, right?"

"HEY!" The offense caused the Eevee in question's balance to falter, sending her hind quarters tipping over Rebel's spine and the tiny fox sliding forwards to the tile. "I can totally take care of myself. I just don't want to, it's a cold and lonely world out there."
"That's a lie and you know it. Just like the cake!" Until the Epidemic, he never thought there would be truth to a meme.
"You're a lie! And you're carrying me for that."

Briefly pausing the wild-west showdown with Rebel, Miyu humorously put up her paw to 'shush' Rebel's protests.
"Yeah, even if you were together its awfully cold sleeping out here." Cinder's form swayed a little before she began to tread along Faux's trail. She was walking okay, Miyu supposed - if something happened to Cinder, she would-- click, click, click, click.
Reb tapped his claws against the floor, wordlessly asking "what the hell are you spacing out about?" Although she didn't guess that wording specifically... close enough. "If she hasn't set you on fire for laughs yet, she's stronger than you're giving her credit for. Calm yo'self." The Joltie offered a comfort in his own way, pushing himself off the floor slowly. A squeak of his name and weight once again over his back had him assuming combat, which was disproven by the Eevee's cheerful humming. "I said, carry me."
"Get off."
"I'll get off after you carry me in there with the others!"
"No."

He groaned; it was easier to comply with fluffy stubbornness than to go against it. Admittedly, a lil' shit whose height and body size was mostly ears and fluff, respectively, was hard to lift. Hell, his own body was hard to lift. It took a moment, but he was able to pace ahead with Miyu lay horizontally over his shoulder blades.

The front and hind halves of Miyu's body rose and fell with each stride he took, his shoulders acting much like a 25¢ ride in front of the supermarket. She was certainly having a ball until her 'horse' knelt down and sent her sprawling to the ground behind him.
She was an inch from a long-winded lecture, but the forecast changed when she actually realized why she had fallen; Reb sat with his neck bent downwards and blood spat at his paws. "My bad," he rasped.
"Are you, uh, okay...?" She bumped her forehead against his side affectionately, moving to slide her entire form along his.
"'M fine," he brushed his chin along the tuft on his chest and leaned for her to re-board, "let's go."

"It's alright, I can walk from here."

The duo made their entrance a few moments later, Reb settling near the door with a fatigued eye staring out it. Mi curled a few loops between his front legs and settled in a near-figure eight until he would inevitably tell her to move so he could lay down. She might've asked who he was intently watching for, had she not been attending her own pity party. "I just wanted to play around again," she murmured as he stepped to the side and flattened against the floor.

((OoC - He got angry and forgot he was in pain for a minute lel. They're ready to time skip~! Just do me a solid and if Rebel is mentioned after the skip, he won't be in the room with everyone and Miyu will be sleeping alone. He's just out of the room a bit, violently vomiting to deathhhh jk lol.))

The pair acknowledged the other Pokemon's entries but said little else to them as they nestled together. Melanie had shifted her way a bit closer to the wall, settling gently on her side as Etincelle clambered his way beneath her chin. While the low crunching of her gnawing through the last bit of leg was a bit unsettling the Electrike was too absorbed in bliss to be bothered by it. Honestly, he was relieved she had had a good meal and managed to recover her strength. Snuggled up between her paws he wondered if she would allow him to sleep there all night, but any thoughts of intimate slumber were driven away by a harsh gasp. "Oh my gosh, I totally forgot about the talons! Mel, Mel can I have those? I mean, if you're not eating them."

Taken aback, the Ninetales bit through the last bit of her leg and let the foot drop onto her paw. She swallows roughly, an awkward grin forcing its way onto her muzzle, and reaches down to find and nudge the foot away. "O-of course. I doubt I could eat those, not that I wanted to." Pushing it as far as she could from her the Ninetales let out a yawn, her toes flexing with effort, and curled her back around a bit more. Her many tails swept their way forward, covering her legs and making it all the way forward until they covered even Etincelle. "There is plenty of time and light to go scavenge around for some bedding, if you are so inclined. This stuff will be hell on your bones." Faux suggested brusquely, her own irritation clear as her paws slide across the floor. Giving a tiny shift Mel agreed that it was a bit rough but saw no reason to build a nest just for the night. Her tails flicked, and she gently laid her head down to rest it upon Etincelle.

The small electric type's pelt buzzed with sensation, his face flushing hot. "I-I think we'll be fine without." Etincelle tittered, finding it hard to smother the butterfree's in his stomach. Nestling his own head upon Mel's paw he shifted himself slightly so his belly wasn't flat against the floor. If given the choice he'd want this moment to go on forever. But, knowing reality, he could only hope he didn't fall asleep too soon and got the chance to enjoy it as long as possible.

It was cold this morning. The Vulpix, used to short sleep cycles, had awoken early and set out to check the parameter. A fine mist had settled in the Battle Frontier, leaving everything chilled and damp. The ground had soaked in enough moisture that, if heavy enough, a foot print would wasily remain from a careless Pokemon. It smells clear. They had been lucky with Pokemon on the outside the past few days. Do they all just stay in these buildings? If they did, why? What purpose would that serve? With the mist smothering any scents or sounds her jaunt was cut short, and the Vulpix returned a bit damp but fully awake to her sleeping companions.

She padded in quietly, grateful that some of their members had already gotten up, and made her way into the back of the room where the Quilava slept. She was sprawled out, arms wrapped tightly around her stupid bird foot and a weird grin across her face. "Cinder." She spoke, not trying to be particularly loud nor quiet. "Wake up. Its morning." The sleeping fire type wriggled, her back feet kicking as she curled into a ball, but she gave no words. Faux prodded her side but still she gave no reaction. Huffing, she moved her paw to the Quilava's nose and pressed hard. After a moment Cinder's eyes shot open, a harsh gasp choking out of her throat as her flames erupted into life.

"Woah whatzit!" She wheezes, failing so hard she ended up on her stomach. Pain shot through her chest, and in delusional panic the Quilava both shrieked and spat a short stream of fire. "Ywwaaaooh!" Faux ducked, protecting her eyes, but the attack still managed to brush her ear. Its heat sizzled her pelt but Flash Fire saved her from any pain. "Relax," she spat, cuffing Cinder's cheek. "What's the matter with you?" The Volcano Pokemon's eyes were wild, sleep blurring her thoughts as she struggled to push herself into a sitting position. "Oh.. good job."

Blinking her bleary eyes Cinder put one paw to her face but flinched as the pain shot through her chest again. Angling her head as tentatively as possible she looked down and was horrified to see her foot's talons were dug into her chest. "Oh fuck," she gasps, pulling it out with a sharp wince. A few blots of blood trickled onto her fur. "That's.. one way to wake up." Smearing the blood into her fur with one paw Cinder rubbed her eyes with the other. "What's going on? We under attack?" Her voice was groggy, sleepiness refusing to fade despite the adrenaline that had been forced into her system. The Vulpix stared at her blankly, gave a small disappointed sigh, and spoke flatly. "No, it's morning. You should be awake. You wanted us to move after all."

In a vain attempt to ward off the unwelcome cold, Miyu's cocoa fur had puffed out akin to a Mareep... or maybe the innards of a feather pillow was a better comparison...
It seemed sensible in her unconscious mind to roll around every so often in search of a warm spot, which she was never graced with.
A few more minutes of this had her coming to slowly, as reality slowly set in. Very slowly. Slow enough that she believed to be napping in Snowpoint Cavern as she looked around sleepily. She had never been there, and after this morning, any intentions to were probably dead.

Miyu yawned widely, looking around with pupil-less eyes rich with sleep. "Izza sun up...?" She mused, hoping for a negative. Or at least ten more minutes; cold or not, sleeping alongside everyone was a pleasure enough that she could very well sleep until the end of time. "Bruh, get up," she ordered from habit, leaning her head back and stretching her neck. The Jolteon was absent, she realized as she turned to each direction. "Hey," she waved her tail to beckon Cinder and Faux's attention and started for the exit. "Reb ran off somewhere. I'ma go see where he skipped off to."

Returning literally seconds later, she added, "And good morning!" And padded off for real this time.

---

The Jolteon lay in the next room, flat on his side and nearly at peace save for his labored breaths. His remaining eye was shut softly and twitched every once in a while, likely tugging the blood matted fur uncomfortably.

His awakening was significantly less enjoyable as he began to retch and pushed himself up just to sway and try to keep his meal down. Well, what was left.
Reb lost that fight bitterly, expelling undigested meat and bone in front of him, along with spats of darkened blood. His head hung lazily with more of his attention focused on returning air to the lungs that felt like they had completely collapsed before another wave of nausea hit and had the violent action repeating itself.

"Kill me, please," he whined in a pained perversion of his boyish, sharp-witted tone usually spoken in. His shadow didn't reply.

Miyu bounded above a small trail of blood, following the color and twisting around a corner to stride for the purple body peering at her with a single glowing eye. "What, you didn't wanna be around me anymore?" She half-joked, throwing her nose up in a I'm offended now sort of way.
"Not that," he moved to block the mess of chewed and vomited flesh. "Jus' easier to suffer alone." Rather, quieter. It wouldn't be a real rad thing to wake up to your dead brother hurling bird meat.
"It's a bad morning if that's your best one-liner."
His expression remained unchanged, no "gotcha," or inkling that he was up to his usual shenanigans. "More like a flat-liner."

((OoC - I offer this slightly disgusting post as my gift to Olivine City on Thanksgiving. I am so sorry. Lol. And now I must violently research poisoning. Again.))

The air was light, the forest's giants looming tall and proud. Beams of sunlight and leaves drifted down to the earthen floor where the Electrike trotted. "It's such a lovely day," he breathed, taking in the fresh scents of wood. He stopped and stretched his back, digging his claws into the soft earth. "I haven't felt this good in ages." The Eevee beside him gave a soft chuckle, her pink eyes shimmering. "What was that?" He murmured, yawning as he continued to walk. The fox bound forward, looking back to him as her mouth moved. Etincelle blinked but couldn't quite make out was she was saying, if anything at all. "Arenea?" He asks, wondering if she was just messing with him. It sure seemed like she was talking.

A harsh wind blew through the massive trees, rustling their branches while throwing tons of leaves from their perches. The Eevee took no notice, her maw still moving though only muffled noise seemed to reach Etincelle. "Wa..p. I...or. .ng." Suddenly the sunlight faded, and Arenea raced on ahead without another word.  "Arenea!" He gasped, pumping to catch up to her. "Wait up!" the trees creaked, the shower of leaves growing so thick they were near blinding.  "Arenea! Arenea wait!" The Eevee's brown form blurred into the darkness, her faint giggles still ringing in his ears under the harsh rustling. "Wait!" The leaves were took much, his pace slowed considerably but the Eevee continued ahead as fast as ever. "W-waaait!"

"Woah whatzit!"

The yell throws him from his dream, the waking world much too bright and cold. The rush of flames tickles his ears, the sound an immediate panic trigger. Etincelle yelped, kicking and flailing as his feels hot confines around his person. There is another sharp yelp, someone was in trouble! "Arenea!" He fails, sparks filling his pelt as he tries to make sense of the area around him. The yelp comes again, but this time as a word as the warm around him vanishes. "Etin!" His pink eyes flash open, the world becoming clear as cognition returns to him. Falling still the electric type realizes he's lying on the floor, and though the air had a hint of smoke in it it was calm and quiet. "Wah.." He groans, struggling to stand and shake out his fur. "You scared me half to death!" Melanie mumbled from behind him, one leg lifted gingerly as she licked its pale fur. "That hurt, too!" "Oh.. good job." Another Pokemon's voice brushes his ears but he can not tell if the comment is meant for him or not.

Things finally start to click into place and the Electrike whips around with a new panic. "Mel! Mel oh my gosh I'm so sorry!" It could see the fur along her legs standing on end, the muscles beneath it twitching from the stimulus. "I-I I didn't mean to I swear!" The Ninetales took a step back, her tails brushing the wall, and shook out her own pelt. "It's okay." She says lightly, a small cloud of smoke bubbling from her throat as she yawns. "Just wasn't expecting it."

Padding forward Etincelle rubbed himself across her legs, hoping to take any spark away or at least ease her twinges of pain. "I'm sorry," he repeated, licking the fur just as she had. "I'll be more careful next time." Mel smiled and bent her neck down to lick his ears. "Yeah well, you slept like a baby. I wouldn't want to be woken up either." He chuckled, but any replies are cut off by Faux voice ringing over his. "No, it's morning. You should be awake. You wanted us to move after all." Planting his rear on the floor the Electrike turned his head a little. "Where are we going?" The last time his group moved bad things happened..

Rubbing her eyes with one paw Cinder mumbled a morning to the Eevee before she scurried away. "Sorry guys," she mutters halfheartedly to the other waking pair, praying that they wouldn't chew her out as well. Not like its my fault Faux doesn't know how to be gentle. Despite her roughness the Vulpix did have a point; if they were going to move out they should get going before the sun got too high. Maybe the chill will slow the undead. That was some wishful thinking, but as she stretched out her bones the Quilava knew it was all she had to go on.

"Where are we going?" Etincelle asks, his voice still reeling. Standing evenly on all four paws the Volcano Pokemon shakes out her fur and lets her flames puff up to a nice hot intensity. The comforting warmth quickly swept over her body and chased away her sleepiness. "Uh.. Well, if memory serves I think the Battle Arcade is across the way." While getting a grasp on the size of the Battle Frontier was a challenge for such a short Pokemon, Cinder was pretty sure the Arcade was closer than the Hall. "It's a straight shoot, so it'd be a good idea to check it out first." And, if need be, it'd be easy to peel out from.

Faux sat promptly, trying to picture the space in her head. They would be heading away from her water source and past the core of the Frontier. Even if it was the shortest was this path truly the best? Her ears immediately swivel toward incoming paw steps, her claws flexing cautiously, but her tension fades as Rosko's voice and dark fur trail in. "Sorry that I stormed off mateys, I been rather down lately from me being away from me captain." While her body makes no reaction Faux doesn't know what to make of his words. A captain? Was his piracy more than just a facade? Why move away from the shore then? There was so much about him that didn't add up. Rosko's awkward question rings in her ears again, still just as arbitrary as before. Maybe it was best he had wandered off; his cohesion still wasn't up to par.  

"Where we be heading to next matey," the hound starts, Cinder answering, "The Battle Arcade-" But both creatures are cut off by a shattering crash. Instantly Faux bounds to the doorway, ears perked and searching for any looming sounds. Straining her hearing to the max Faux is both alarmed and infuriated as the sounding thumps of the Houndoom's steps stride past her and back down the hall. "Stop." She hisses through her teeth, struggling to keep her voice down, but the dark type does not respond. Was he daft!? "Seven hells," she curses through gritted teeth. "Everyone-- stay here." Her tiny paws bound from the room, a hushed voice calling after her but it does not follow. "Faux!"

Hustling, the Vulpix's paws make only a soft patter as she hurries after the Houndoom. "Come back," she growls harshly under her breath. The last thing they needed was the fool who couldn't think straight rushing head long into danger. Or worse; bringing it back to the others. "I'll go check it out, it be better that ye be somewhere safe." Her inner-flame burned intensely, heating her small frame. Just who the hell did he think he was, a pirate or a ninja? Nothing qualified him to check for intruders over her. Compared to pretty much every other member of their party he was larger, louder, and more noticeable. "Don't be a hero." She warns, flexing her claws, but the dual type continued on onward until he reached the trap room.  

With a huff the Vulpix let out an annoyed groan. There were no windows in there. If he was searching an inner room for breaking glass then he couldn't figure his way out of a wet paper sac. Gods damn it. It was futile; she had to go after him. She went o catch up with a moderate trot, the majority of her focus going to hearing. The Houndoom was still fairly far ahead of her as he moved to check another room but Faux was paying little attention to him now. There was something odd to the air, a tension that shouldn't of been. There was something.. malicious. The floor tinks with every step the canine takes but the sounds didn't quite match up, it didn't quite-- A shadow moved, a dark figure lurching forward and smacking the hound to the ground.

Faux came to an instant halt, her eyes lighting up with an Extrasensory. The psychic energy built and burst around the dark canine shape but it kept going unhindered. It had no effect? Fucking dark types! The fox charged forward with flames building in her throat as the rogue barked something at Rosko and struck him again. Was he caught by surprise or outmatched?! "Rosko! Get back!" She calls out before spitting the stream of fire. The other Pokemon, another Houndoom by the looks of it, was having none of it, and skillfully tilted her head aside to dodge the flames. "You will pay for killing our brother." She scoffed.

What the.. They, they knew each other? This was some personal dispute? "Shit," Faux hisses beneath her breath while skidding to a halt. Her eyes take on a purple haze, the Confuse Ray just forming as, in one swift motion, the bitch clamps her fangs around Rosko's neck and gives a warning. "Try anything stupid and your friend dies here!" The color fades from her eyes, muscles tensing. Shit shit shit. This was some personal revenge, beef, falling-out, whatever! An undead she could kill. A starving infected or survivor she could make a deal with. This.. "Let him go." She growled, the fur along her neck raising ever higher. "There is no victory in taking a man while he's down."

The silence following was negatively charged and broken only by the heavy breaths and rapid bubbling of blood forced through the sickly Electric-type's nose as he lay flat on his side.
Today felt bad already.

Every time Miyu would part her jaws to say anything, she was silenced by the dread that he was gonna get mad, or he'd be gurgling through blood, or maybe he wouldn't speak at all.

"Miyu."
She jumped a little at his harsh whisper, having been so adjusted to dead silence.
"Uh, yeah?"
"Where was everyone when you got up?" His ears moved rapidly as he lazily rose his head off the floor.
She began moving her ears similarly, but she failed to pick up a sound. "Cinder, Faux... Mel, Etin, me..." Miyu hummed as she tried to remember the details... To be honest, she was half asleep upon leaving and hardly could recall what exactly she saw. "You weren't there. I mean, obviously, and I didn't see Mist and Ven either. Or Rosko. Why?"

"Nothin'." He was a damn good liar at times, but one thing Miyu learned was he wasn't fond of wasted breath. Given the question, she would assume it was a little more than "nothin'" on his cloudy mind if he brought it up.
Another bout of sickness washed over, his whines almost overtaking a distant, but definitely a shout. And then more of them. "W-what was, um, what was that?!" Her pelt rose in alarm. She couldn't imagine everyone playing a hardcore game of Marco Polo.
"I gotta go see if everyone is okay, stay here, br-"

She was halted immediately with a small, misshapen Protect thrown in pure haste. Miyu scowled at the brightly lit Joltie, "Stop being stupid! Something is wrong!"
Rebel's form didn't even twitch at the high shriek in the confined orb. Instead, he took a breath and responded, "No. Whatever is happening ain't our problem. And you ain't throwin' yourself under--" He cringed, spatting blood on the inside of the barrier. "... a fuckin' guillotine. We take care of 'rselves."

Miyu stared at him for the instant before her own temper bubbled to the surface. "I can't believe you!" She screamed, though the display was slightly less intimidating with the cracks in her voice. "They let you stay with us! They gave you food, and somewhere to sleep, you're gonna act like they don't matter?! You don't belong with us, you're horrible."

She got a small response from that, though only in the depths of his mind.

Good to know.

The Eevee struggled against the status move despite knowing she wasn't capable of escaping. She dropped to the floor and held her breath to try and calm herself down, which availed to nothing. He'd made his sister cry.

((OoC - My iPad keyboard kinda died and won't un-die... So typing this on my phone sucked so bad. I tried to wait for my new keyboard but it didn't get here. ._.
As for this post, I really had no idea what to do without the possibility of them messing things up. Clarifying, mostly for my peace of mind lol: Rebel knew something had gotten into the Castle by the sound, which Mi missed. By asking where everyone was, he guessed everyone was safe besides Rosko, who was assumed gone and alone. And he was kinda okay with it lol, but he isn't truly expecting something to happen to him.
3 hours of sleep in 48 hours. I'm out. Lol))

Breathing deeply to soothe his drumming heart Etincelle gently sits back down as he listens to the Quilava. It was incredible, he thought, that she could recall anything about this area. He was completely out of region and human places were foreign at best, but the Quilava must of really loved this place to be able to remember its different areas after so much time. "Do you know what-" he starts but stops himself as Rosko pads in, first apologizing then asking the same question he had.

It should of been simple repetition, just saying the Arcade once more, but neither fire type can finish their sentence as a loud crash echos though the hall. For a couple of heartbeats the room is silent, the panic and realization swiftly spreading through them all. "W-what was that?" Mel whispers quickly, her forepaws shifting closer to her. The sound had been obvious, the shattering of glass somewhere further along, but her hope was to get a name of someone not present. Instead she hears the drumming of hurried paws, and feels Etincelle's warmth leave her side.

The Electrike pounds forward, ready to face whatever intruder had arrived, but is halted by Faux's hiss and a harsh, "Everyone-- stay here." Coming to a sudden stop Etincelle digs his claws into the floor. He could see the intensity in her eyes; something was going to go down. "Don't do anything stupid." He urges, taking a step back into the room. His eyes linger on the Vulpix's tails as she vanishes down the hall, and on the empty space for a few moments longer. "Be safe.." topples quietly from his mouth before he heads back in.

Was this really happening? They just had to sit here with baited breath? "Gods be damned.." he growls, scuffing a paw across the floor. "We should be out there! What if they need us!?" What if a swarm had just burst in? There was no way the pair could handle them on their own. "W-was that Rebel?" Mel asks, her legs quivering as she speaks. Etin frowns, unable to stand seeing her so distraught. "I don't know," he mumbled, plating his rear forcefully against the floor. "We can only hope.."

An icy sweat dripped down the back of the Vulpix's neck. Fight her! She urged the hound mentally, teeth gritted. You have to fight! The fear was obvious in Rosko's eyes and his flailing clearly distressed as the female gripped his throat even tighter. Throwing up her tails Faux roused her Confuse Ray back to fruition just as primal fear kicked in to the Houndoom and he started to fight back. The Shadow Ball built quickly but it was weak, doing little more than enraging the bitch into biting harder.

Gods damn.. Shooting the opaque spheres forward they pop swirl around the females eyes, but as she speaks clearly the fox knows her attack had failed. "Go ahead, tell her what you are brother since you'll be dead anyways." The hot, metal scent of blood swamped the area as the red fluid seeped out between the bitch's teeth. Faux gritted her teeth and, knowing her limited options, charged forward at full sprint. Rosko was sobbing, the cries nearly overriding his chocking breath. "It be true, I be a runt, but this runt be a pirate and the Quilava be the captain of this hardy crew." Her paws drummed across the hall, the distance suddenly vast as the hound screamed, "Foolish runt! Now you die!"

"No!" Forcing her Quick Attack to throw her forward Faux charged full pelt into the Houndoom, but moments before she nailed her shoulder an ear-splitting caterwaul scoured racked her eardrums. The sounds of tearing flesh and snapped bones shatters all her focus and the world spun around her. No.. Only momentum carried her and allowed her strike to even budge the Houndoom, but the bitch was too wrapped up in her antics to care. She continued to prod her prey as Faux fell to the ground on unsteady paws. "You bitch!" Scurrying back up she sank her fangs into the hounds leg and threw her head side as infinite rage fueled her tiny fangs. The Houndoom flinched, her sick triumph cut short as she tossed the Vulpix away. Colliding with a wall the air was knocked from her lungs, the world spinning even further as the bitch took one last look at the work. The crunching of glass echoes weakly against Faux's ear fur as the female vanishes the same way she had entered.


Cinder sat stiffly in place, her ears tall and listening for the slightest disturbance. Can't there be one morning where things don't go to shit? Etincelle cursed and growled, rightfully outraged at being unable to do nothing, while Mel hoped aloud. "W-was that Rebel?" The question was meant to be a positive thought, the best scenario, but Cinder's heart skipped a beat. Miyu.. If it was Rebel.. what had happened to the Eevee? What if he flipped out and had tossed her through a window?! Her breath lodges in her throat, gagging the fire type as she shakes it away. No, no he wouldn't do that to her. If there was anyone he would protect it'd be her.
That thought should of offered some reassurance but a pain-filled cry shattered its way through her ears, crushing any hopes of things being resolved. While screams all sounded similar Cinder knew that was not Rebel's voice nor Miyu's, and an icy all-knowing feeling spread throughout her body. There was only one reason someone would scream like that. "Rosko!" She gasps, scurrying out of the room as fast as her paws would allow.

Please, please, dammit Faux.. Why had the Vulpix kept them back? The carpet sank into her tattered pads, stinging the healing skin, but Cinder pushed forward until she could see the stiff shape of rusty fur. "Faux!" She yowls, eyes darting around in search of the enemy. The scent of blood assaults her senses, bringing up flashbacks of their last battle, but the hall comes up empty aside from the fox and a dark.. "....R-Rosko?" Bright scarlet blood pooled over the floor, much, much too much to be okay. "R-R-Rosko!?" Neither Pokemon gave a response.

Cinder's paws were trembling, the thick smell of blood dizzying as she teetered her way forward. No.. no no.." She didn't have to get much closer to see the gaping wound in the Houndoom's throat and the awkward angle of his head. There was no questioning his state. "Wha.. wha.. w-what happened? Who did this?? What happened!?" Cinder demanded in horror, but the Vulpix gave no reaction. She was stiff, paws planted firmly with her downcast eyes locked on Rosko's severed vertebra. "Faux?!" The Quilava was near screaming, tears bulging at the corners of her golden eyes as the Vulpix continued to stare. The fox's face was hard and unmoving, smothered by an unbelievable amount of rage that just couldn't cover its poignant stare. "I couldn't do anything."

The emaciated Jolteon moved with one ill stride at a time, ever slowly and carrying a cocoa colored puff that could’ve easily been mistaken for a fluffy key chain if not for the movement of her eyes and ears wildly in all directions.
Rebel halted for a minute, his toes curling inward and craning his neck downward just far enough from the floor that Miyu could not catch with her hind paws. She gave a loud, aggravated groan as she flailed her said paws along with her tail.

At some point since unleashing the wrath of fluffy hell, he reached a compromise with her - they would investigate, but she wasn’t allowed paw privileges. Non-negotiable. So there she hung from a mass of fur, seething with intent to freeze his paws to the floor. It didn’t matter that he was protecting her, she’d lived longer in the Epidemic than he had! Did he expect her to Quick Attack straight into a bloodbath and get flayed alive? Reb was the one jumping in front of her and taking hits constantly, so what did that say?! He‘s not walking fast enoughhhh!

Rebel’s paws froze completely, but of his own accord and not an Ice-type Hidden Power. Aw, shit… He’d caught the stout smell of iron… it smelled really good. Saliva pooled on his tongue in a huge contrast to the dread contained in the now-unbeating heart he owned.
The Eevee’s sense for blood wasn’t quite as keen as her brother’s, but when the awful smell reached her, she froze for only a heartbeat before slipping into panic. She knew what blood meant, something was wrong, somebody was hurt, if she didn’t get there they might die! "R-R-Rosko!?" A double-chill shot down both of their spines for different reasons.

“Cinder, I’m on my way!” Miyu cried, recovering from her drop to the floor and sprinting in place until the world decided she would move forward. She ran off without asking - she told and left! - and now something bad happened, oh god, would they blame her? Would they think she was just like the doe-eyed Jolteon behind her? She wasn’t!

Meanwhile the ever-witty, slightly douchey Jolteon was truly regretting his actions for possibly the first time ever. He’d done some damn idiotic things, but most of them ended badly for himself and preserved someone else. He couldn’t really regret that completely, but…

“Rosko… isn’t okay, is he…?” Miyu lay flat on her stomach, limbs tucked underneath her and had been that was since the very moment she saw the proud captain lay ahead, his blood sprayed around the room.

Reb backed off silently.

Every action, every word, has a consequence.

((OoC - My keyboard got here and it’s for the wrong ipad oh my god. Lol. Anyways, I was talking to Cinder about these two and how difficult they can be, so I’m trying to adjust their personalities a bit and make them more of an asset to the team. \o\ So join me next time on “Miyu Makes Post 100 And Dazey Screams About Trying To Make Unique Characters!” lol. Gonna make them new art now. >w<))

A caterwaul ripped through the building, piercing both the Electrike and Ninetale's ears. A moment of silence passes through the three Pokemon, a sense of knowing coming over them all- someone had just been killed. A heartbeat ticks by before Cinder flies out of the room, wailing something as she charged down the hall, but as Etin takes his first hurried steps forward he hears Melanie whimper, "Tha-a-at wa-sn't Re-reb-bel.." He has no time or words to comfort her, and continues to run whether or not the fire type was following him. She would be safe there, behind everyone who went off ahead, but if the worst had happened he would be the first to strike the aggressor.

This cant be. His paws glide over the carpet, the path known and familiar. The reek of blood hits him first, nauseating and thick. Etincelle's eyes squint, his steps slowing as he tried not to stumble on the gagging smell. This wasn't supposed to happen.. Sound trickles in, but its not the crashes of battle that he is expecting. "R-R-Rosko!?" He heard Cinder wail, her bright flames visible through his blurred vision, but the sound was muffled as though behind glass. Falling into a slow, stiff stumble he pads forward and forces his eyes open against the burning iron scent. It stings, nearly making his eyes water but he continues to push, body tense and ready for the incoming fight when suddenly he spots the dark, still shape of the hound on the floor. "No..."

The blood, bright scarlet and still pouring from the disturbing wound tells enough of the story, and Etin must shy his eyes away from the sight of his friend. Why him? Bringing his head upward he looks around and further afield, anguish turning to anger as he realizes the killer is no where to be seen. "Where are they?" He barks at Faux, hoping for anything. "Where did they go?" Cinder yelled at Faux as well, emotion getting the better of her as the fox didn't respond to either of their inquiries. Why didn't she give chase? They had to punish whoever did this! But when the fox finally speaks her eerie words rattle him. "I couldn't do anything."

What? So she didn't do anything? She kept them all back, she let the killer escape, she let Rosko be murdered!? The small hound's claws dig deep into the carpet. "What do you mean you-" His voice is dark but falls flat as another comes spouting over it. “Cinder, I’m on my way!” Turning his head around he expects to see the Eevee already there, sprinting her way forward, but instead he only spots Mel standing several yards back. Her legs were bent and shaking, the ribbon around her eyes darkening with the tears beneath it. With nothing but yelling and the intense, vile scent of blood to go on Etin prayed whatever she was picturing wasn't too vivid. Oh legends.. He didn't have the luxury to question the small fox right now.

Heartbeats later the Eevee showed up, freezing and falling low to the floor. "Miyu, stay back." He barks firmly, standing as tall as he possibly can to wall her. The kid was too young for this, too innocent to have to deal with such devastation. “Rosko… isn’t okay, is he…?” The Electrike's head tilts downward, eyelids falling as she heavily breathes, "No, dear, he's not." Just saying the words hits him heavily as well, as though the hounds body was resting on top of him. Thankfully, and ever so gratefully to him, Melanie forced to shaky limbs to move forward. Padding with careful steps she rounded her way in front of the Eevee and used her many tails to block the terrible scene from her. She speaks quietly, lowering her head to the Eevee's level. "Y-you shouldn't see.. this." Where was the blood? What was the extent of the damage? The Ninetales didn't know. "We should go back." She suggests to the normal type gently, trying not to choke on her own words.

This couldn't be happening. This couldn't be real. "Faux answer me!" The Quilava roars, the previous response not satisfying in the slightest. Etin had rolled up but she hardly even noticed. "What do you mean you-" He started, tone accusing, but she just couldn't focus on it and all the other voices that followed suit. Her friend was lying dead in front of her, and the only one who knew what happened was being catatonic.

Cinder was not alone with the excess stimulus though, as Faux had had enough. The yelling, the panic, and sniffling tears.. now was not the time. Spinning on her heels she turns with enough force that her many tails knock over the Quilava on contact. "Shut up!" She barks, pulling her lips back as Cinder scurried upright. "You are disrespecting the dead." Watching as the starter Pokemon's eyes go wide Faux relaxes her stance, forcing her cheeks and fur to settle. "The assailant is gone. She winded me and I could not give chase." An air of shame hangs heavy on her words as humiliation pulsed from the small wound below her shoulder. Such a strike should not of downed her, let alone wounded and prevented her from pursuit. The embarrassment would last the rest of her days, but the other fire type had other, more pressing concerns. "Which way did it go? We have to kill it before it comes back!"

A small sigh whistles out Faux's nostrils. Her fears were just, and though the Vulpix only had little information to share it was invaluable to everyones understanding. "She will not return." She speaks slowly, holding a firm gaze on both the Electrike and Quilava. "The assailant was living, with some sort of family history with Rosko." She would never know what went down between all the hounds, but the Rosko she knew did not deserve the capital punishment. "It was a personal matter of revenge, and with her goal achieved there is no reason for her to come back."

Disbelief and disgust sparkled brightly in the Quilava's eyes. "It, it was a survivor? Family, like his sister or mom or something? And they killed their brother!? What the fuck!?" The world was fucked up but this? Cinder refused to believe it. "No. No we can't let this go! We can't let murder go unpunished. We have to find her, we have to bring down retribution!"

Faux stood stiffly, the scent of blood making her stomach bubble uncomfortably. "Calm down." They may have purged the area of undead but they could never be too careful. "She's probably long gone by now. Houndoom are relentless when they run." Tears babbled down the Quilava's face. "But.. we.." Feeling sorrow built in her own throat Faux's words soften as she pads a step closer. "It's hard, but we have to take care of the here and now." Letting her eyes trail past the rustled pair toward the Pokemon further back she can here the soft sobbing of the females. Sighing through her nostrils she gingerly waves a paw. "You two should find a nice place outside."

Just when she felt she was getting a handle on things Faux ears perked up intensely, a new voice coming in soft and distant. "Hello? Anyone here?" The sound was not at all like the Houndoom's raspy, bitter voice. It was high, like that of a child. Godsdamned, this is not the time. Grumbling to herself the fox paced slightly, weighing her options. "And check whatever that is on the way. If its of the Houndour line don't trust it." Maybe she should have them take Rebel for protection? The Jolteon could scare off a kid but.. halting her own thoughts the fox flicks her gaze between the Electrike and Quilava. Rebel could be a protector but, right now, they needed someone of his size.

"Rebel," Faux starts firm but not unkindly as she gazes further down the hall, but her view is obstructed by all the other Pokemon. Looking back toward the corpse she continues. "We'll need Rebel. We need to move him." She spoke quietly, carefully avoiding the word body. "Lest we attract more unwanted attention."

"No, dear, he's not." Nuh-uh, they were wrong, Etin was wrong... He wasn't lying, just, nobody died was all. No, Rosko was gonna get up and he was gonna say something in his funny accent! "Ahoy," or something! No one else talked like him, or was a pirate, and she wanted to hear stories, or even if he didn't talk anymore, just as long as she didn't have to check the doors and wait for someone who wasn't... around anymore.
With everyone's volume, mixed with the ill feeling in Miyu's gut, Mel's soothing voice and protection she gave from seeing the horrific reality any more was a blessing in a room that felt like Hell. "Y-you shouldn't see.. this."
"It's so loud..." There was a lapse in the sentence, enough for Miyu's face to contort in a failed effort to keep her voice stable, "Why is everyone yelling, Mel? It's not gonna bring him back... can we just focus on losing our friend...?" Her jaws parted with weeping breaths as Mel's fur became a blurred mass of colors in front of her eyes. "Revenge just makes us feel better for not saving him..."

"We should go back." That would be nice... Miyu gave a half-breath-half-"okay," as she tested her paws and remained careful to keep her eyes on Melanie and not today's tragedy.
Faux offered a wave of her paw attentively to the fox duo, "You two should find a nice place outside." The gesture was unnoticed by the Eevee fixated on getting out. The smell, the thoughts, the voices... the sight was gone from eyes but would never leave her mind, and it was too much. For now she just focused on the door.

"Hello? Anyone here?"

... Was she the only one who heard that...?

"And check whatever that is on the way. If its of the Houndour line don't trust it." Guess not...
"Ready to go, Mel...?" Miyu asked with a broken tone suggesting she'd been born without a soul. She had one, it was just hurting right now...

---

"Rebel,"

His pelt twitched lightly at the word. What a stupid name to give someone like him. He always over imagined who he could be after receiving his name, this brave knight that got down and bloody to save people and was still courteous to ladies...? What a goddamn joke.
Once life dealt him a crap hand, he became that one asshole that would let an innocent man get slain to look after himself and the one kid too blind to see how hideous he was. Literally and figuratively.

"We'll need Rebel. We need to move him." He could run... he could get the hell out of there and go halfway across Johto - hell, halfway across the world - just as long as no one would know him. Nothing more than another rotting parasite. They'd never know who he was, just like no one knew who any of the dead once were.

But still, he heeded Faux's request.

Reb cautiously placed himself ahead of the Vulpix, dipping his head respectfully at both the female and the deceased. "I'm here," he rasped, "I'll help you. Just... just tell me what to do."

((OoC - Miyu's 100th post! I can't believe she finally did it. :'3 Thank you guys for letting us hang around so long!<3 Rosko's death actually broke Rebby, holy smokes. Good, now stop being a butt, Reb. Because you were a kill-off char but I love you too much now lol. I doodled this and it ended up messing with my feels and making me love him again.))
#MiyuPostCount100

The more Faux spoke the more furious Etincelle became. Dammit it all.. Winded? He had seen Faux fight; she was ferocious but calculating. To think being winded would stop her, that she could even allow Rosko to be downed.. "It was a personal matter of revenge, and with her goal achieved there is no reason for her to come back." It was almost like the whole thing was a rouse.. No, no she wouldn't! Faux wouldn't do that, not to her friends. Would she? They had had their disagreements but he hadn't ever thought her to be malevolent. Cinder seemed to be losing her mind over getting justice but, pulsing in his own head, Etin wondered if she was damning the right Pokemon.

Suddenly, as the Quilava crumbles even further, Faux's demeanor changes. Its slight but enough that his suspicions seem even less unfonded. "It's hard, but we have to take care of the here and now." Was she being diplomatic or pushing the other fire type away from her own revenge? "She's right." The Electrike confesses gingerly to Cinder. "We can't leave him like this." Though he eyes the Vulpix warily he knew she agreed. She said it herself- they had to respect the lost.

"We'll need Rebel. We need to move him. Lest we attract more unwanted attention." Further unease seeped into his fur. Though he didn't like the idea of the undead being so close to fresh blood and an open wound he knew he wasn't large or strong enough to help his friend one last time. But as that acknowledgement passed through his thoughts two new ones quickly sprouted up. If he had been stronger, could he have prevented this? Could he prevent future disasters if he wasn't so pathetic? And, as he looks back at Rosko with another wave of grief, it strikes him- would he end up like Rebel? Fear holds his tongue, as though simply thinking such a thing would make it real. No, no he can't...

Panic pulses rapidly throughout his small frame as his eyes unwillingly stare at the hounds frozen face. He doesn't wish to look, but something paralyzes him in place as he watches for even the slightest quiver. For any sign of the unthinkable happening. "You.. you don't think.." His voice falls to the most fragile, delicate, whispering whimper. "He'll come- he'll beco-" But the sentences refuse to form, too painful, to unspeakable to be brought to life.


"You two should find a nice place outside." Mel's jaw tightened as she suppressed a whimper, and she nodded stiffly. "We will." It was the least they could do. Its not like we could do anything else... More tears soak into her ribbon and threaten to pour out below it. "Ready to go, Mel...?" The Eevee asks, her voice painfully hallow. With another nod Mel begins padding forward. "Yeah, let's go." The sooner they were away from the thick metal scent of blood and into the fresh air the better.

She walks quietly, her carpet softening each of her slow, shaky paw steps. The hushed hall was almost too much, like it was holding its breathe, but when a tiny voice trickled in from uphall it seemed deafening to the Ninetales. "Hello? Anyone here?" "What was that?" She gasps instinctively, ears swiveling to catch it again. It didn't sound threatening, it didn't even sound frightened, but uncertainty clogs her judgement. "Hello?" She answers back, the cold tinge of metal coming to her snout. Is that old blood? Were they walking into the killer? The Ninetales claws dig into the carpet. Legends, she needed her eyes right now. Bending her head closer to the floor the fox whispers, "Miyu.. what is that?"