The LAVENDER Team

Torrent hadn't the heart to reply to Noir's melancholy query; he didn't think he would be able to give an answer that didn't either sound false or one that wouldn't depress the boy further. However, Cketch seemed to pick up on it quicker, easing the burden. "All there is is us and where we chose to go. Let's chose to go somewhere better."

The giant dragon couldn't help but nod. "...Yes... We have to... keep moving. We're going somewhere better..." He wasn't sure if he was saying it to reassure Noir or himself, but it did at least make him feel a hair better about getting away from the closed entrance. He walked on all fours and offered a hand to Noir. "...Wanna get on my back?" His stoic face softened to a small, nearly hidden smile; though the loss of the last family he had still throbbed in his chest, he needed to keep going. He needed to move forward... He needed a purpose. He needed to protect these pokemon.

Therese could only quietly stand, listening to everyone's words with patience as they got ready to move. Her eyes were drooping, mind fading in and out of sleep from her lack of energy and sickly state. The ground-type surveyed around, using her club as a cane to steady her as the Marowak attempted to peer through the darkness... But failed. It was simply much too aphotic to catch sight of anything that wasn't in a five metre distance from her.

She walked nervously, every step feeling as if the world was crashing down upon her. The Marowak could hear the faintest of growls from the tunnels, but in the state she was in Therese might've just been going delusional. As Torrent asked if Noir would like a ride she blindly began to stumble to where she believed the exit would be. "I... Think I hear undead." she mumbles, the snarling filling her ears. All directions, any directions, she couldn't tell where it was coming from... Or was it just in her head? She hoped so, they didn't need another infected chasing them right now.

"You make a new future. All there is is us and where we chose to go. Let's chose to go somewhere better." The blind Smeargle said to Noir quietly.
The small Cubone thought on his words as he looked at the ground meekly. Torrent quickly agreed, his gruff voice echoing through the cavern.
"...Yes... We have to... keep moving. We're going somewhere better..."

Noirs' large eyes looked up at the dragon, a small glimmer of hope growing in his dark eyes.
Somewhere better...
The little Cubone sniffled loudly as he turned his gaze to the slurring Marowak as she walked by, stumbling as she went.
"I... Think I hear undead."

Noir looked up to the dragon with worry, clinging to his Pikachu as he pointed to the Marowak, hoping he saw how bad of shape she was in.

(OoC-permission given to torrent to pick him up if he wants :3)

As they walk Cketch's tail droops, it's purple tip nearly touching the ground.
He shivers faintly as his damp fur slowly dries and nervously he twitches the plumy tip of his tail every few steps.
Things look bad, worse then they had been in a while and despite his optimistic words he was gravely worried for all them.
How long would it take them to reach the better place and would Therese survive the walk?
Nervously the smeargle draws level with the Marowack and tries to slip his paw into her hand with a kind of cheerful smile.
"I'm sure it's nothing..." he says.

((OOC: Skip... I got nothin orz))

The large dragon said nothing as he lowered himself, allowing Noir to jump onto his back. The little Cubone held onto his things tightly as he got onto Torrents' back, looking at everyone from his elevated perch.

Where are we gonna go?...
Where is a better place?...
Hundreds of questions ran through the Cubones' mind, none of them answerable, but he didn't want to bug the others with them.

(OTL- not sure what else to do lol)

The stones are cold against Cketch's paws and he desperately wishes he had a way to dry off his wet fur.
This always happened, being forced to run from place to place and never being able to have a home.
Always on the move...
A tune starts to play in the smeargle's head, a song his mother had sung back when he was still a pup.
"Are you going to Scarborough Fair..." He hums under his breath.
" Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme..."
On the move is away from danger and closer to hope. It's always darkest before the dawn, his mother said, although he wouldn't know anything about that...
"Remember me to the one that lives there..."
Through the dark and the cold.
But there was always dark...
"She once was a true love of mine."

Yasille stayed close to Torrent, finding the dragonite was a becon for hope in everything that had happened. The landslide had frightened her quite baddle, the Flaaffy was still trembling, and then Penny had disappeared.... where had Penny gone? A terrible chill ran through her at the thought of her being buried in the rubble. All of that rock....

The sheep wraped her arms around herself, clutching at her own body for comfort. The others were continuing on into the tunnel, but Yasille was falling behind. Her legs wouldn't move that much and she wasn't sure that she really wanted them to. Her wooly body was shivering cold suddenly, her skin almost clammy. It all broke when a single tear managed to find it's way out of the corner of her eye, running down her cheek. A sob ripped from her chest as the salty water fell from the bottom of her face, many more tears beginning to cover her normally upbeat cheeks.

She had almost died- died- as well as letting the Absol, Penny, down. The Flaaffy tried so hard to keep upbeat, but the world was tearing down on her. Her family, her home, everything good in life- it was all slowly being ripped from the Flaaffy. She had no idea how much longer she could take it. It was only when her she fell to complete darkness did Yasille realize that her emotions had dimmed her light. Without a second thought she brought it back up, lighting the cave. Thankfully it was behind her, leaving her face in shadows so that no one could see her tearstained face.

The Flaaffy sniffed once before picking up her pace. Once she was only a few feet behind the others, she slowed her pace to normal, bringing a smile to her face. She couldn't let the others know she was troubled. Yasille may be sad but if the others knew that she was sad, well, that might make them sad as well. She forced herself nt to focus on the fact that she wore her first false smile.

As the group moved forward, Torrent felt some comfort in the familiar pressure on his back as Noir silently rode. With the discovery of his daughter long dead, the fact that the others were there with him made the cross a little easier to bear. Even with the sickly scent radiating off of Therese and everyone else getting a little on edge from a strange noise.

In the tense silence, Cketch began to sing a tune, one Torrent vaguely remembered. While the melody eluded him, he remembered the low, bass chords that supported the song. He hummed them softly, mostly to himself, as he found his voice recalling the tune far more accurately than he'd thought. For a small moment, the two sang together, though Torrent was a little out of it.

A scent caught him off guard-- water. "...There's a small lake ahead," his low voice echoed in the dark. He remembered where he was, the map in his head still accurate. "Watch your step; it should be a little slippery."

"I'm sure it's nothing..." Therese accepted his paw, her worries edged away from the warmth. Cketch's hand reminded her that she was still here, walking on the Earth. She wasn't dead yet, but the sickly Marowak knew the reapers were coming for her, the eerie, hollow sounds ringing in her skull. As she keeps going, her eyes catch the sight of her free hand, the very tips of her fingers, pale as a Beartic...

But there was a splash of purple.

Panic was rising in her, eyes wide in horror at the deep color, as if it were parasites growing on her body. Therese wanted to scream, wail, cry out, but the ground-type stopped herself before she did. What if they turn on me? Kill me? She didn't want to die, no, not yet... Not after she had just met everyone, such a friendly group too! She spared a glance at Torrent, before leaning sideways to catch some mud onto her hand, where the violet grew. Before anyone could question her, she quickly murmured; "The mud helps cool my body down."

It was a lie, but she didn't want to cause anymore pain than there already was. As she listened to the Smeargle's tune Torrent's voice told them of a lake up ahead. "Watch your step; it should be a little slippery." Nodding, she hummed. "How much farther do you think we need to go before we get out?"

Noir listened to the two sing together, complimenting each other perfectly as a small smile grew on his covered face. He didn't know the song, but it sounded nice.

"...There's a small lake ahead," the dragon grumbled quietly.
Noir clung to his back inching forward to see what he was talking about. The small Cubone was parched, and was eager to get something to drink. He watched Therese anxiously head to the mud and smear some on herself. The little Cubone tilted his head in curiosity.

""The mud helps cool my body down. How much farther do you think we need to go before we get out?" Therese asked.

I hope it's not far. I miss the fresh air...

"At least we won't go thirsty then..." The Smeargle says more cheerfully than he feels, tightening his paws grip around Therese's fingers to let her now she is safe. Her skin is still sickly hot and, although he can smell the mud she slathers on, he knows it will not aid to cool the internal heat. If the lake was large and cold enough the Marowack might need another cool bath.

Torrent's deep humming of the tune makes a tiny smile twitch the corner of his lips.
His mother had heard the tune around a human dwelling and it seemed the great dragon type had as well.
For a moment they harmonize and it lifts his spirits just a fraction.
He was cold, tired and on the run but there was a good chance that things would get better...

And Therese was holding his hand. The Smeargle's tail tip twitches and traces a tiny circle in the air. While he was close to her he could protect her.
Everything would turn out alright in the end...

Yasille continued to stay in the back of the group. As her feet took her deeper and deeper into the cave alongside the others, her fame smile seemed to be harder and harder to hold up as the seconds passed. But time seemed to move so slowly, it seemed several hours had passed since she fought to bring the smile to her face. Her normally bright green eyes just seemed so dull in the dark and the Flaaffy was so thankful for the shadows cast upon her face from the light. She felt so horrible empty. Just... Empty.

It wasn't even the fact that she could have died a minute ago. No, not anymore. There was something deeper. Something that nagged at the back of her mind like a persissrant child. Yaaille finally gave up the fake joy, a deep frown pulling at her face. No one else cared, anyway. No one had noticed her being all alone and in the back. Another siver ran across her skin from being exposed to the chilly cave air and she wished that someone would care for her. The sheep's eyes flickered to Noir and where the small Cubone was up on Torrent's back. She almost allowed a broken sob to escape her. Why did no one care about her like that? Was she not worthy? Flashes of when she had been so very young ran through her head. But Yasille felt no jealousy or envy for the child and the Dragonite. No, instead she just felt lonely, so lonely.

But suddenly Therese was acting odd and the Flaaffy's head snapped up, coming to life as she watched the Marowak suddely slap mud onto her arm. Almost instantly the sheep made the orb on her tail light up, so quickly and brightly it nearly hurt her eyes, just to see Therese clearly. But she had already turned, murmurring something about it cooling her down. The Flaaffy merely blinked her large eyes, her expression now a little suprised. It was already damp and cold in the cave... Why would she need to cool down more? 

She couldn't shake the feeling that something was horribly, horribly wrong.

But then Torrent made a comment about an upcoming lake and the sheep nodded slowly despite no one being near enough to even see her. The light died behind them to only a glow bright enough to let them see their noses in front of their faces. She just didn't have the energy anymore. Where had it all gone?

"We've been walking through this cave for ages!" Trey complained. Eris, taking advantage of the darkness, did not bother to hide her scowl. However, when she responded, her voice was sweet once more. "We'll be on the other side soon, dear. Just don't rush ahead." If the Eevee got lost in here, it'd never get out. Then Eris would never enjoy the test of his flesh. Sounds farther into the tunnel, echoing off the walls, startled her, and excited Trey. Before Trey could run off after them, Eris had to whip her second mouth over her head, smacking the Eevee in the face and pushing him behind her. "Shh..." She hissed at him. She would get back in his good graces later.

Carefully, she untied her ribbon in the safety of the dark. Stretching the mouth like a muscle she was not used to using, she opened it up wide. Out of the mouth flowed a soft, sweet scent. Hopefully, that'll calm down whatever the hell is in here... Maybe we can get around them. She thought to herself. However, she had no doubts she could kill whatever it was. She just didn't want to let Trey get injured. A bruised prize would be no good for her.

It was easy to spot the difference in the lighting as they walked, and the giant dragonite turned to see the little flaaffy sullenly trudging through the rocks behind them. He paused, waiting for her to catch up. Torrent was a little surprised that she seemed less than enthusiastic -which, from his short time with her, was very odd- but figured it was due to the many stressful events of the day. He nodded to himself, affirming that she was all right, then continued walking down and down, leading the way to the cavern lake.

The smooth pebbles were the first tells of water nearby, then the moist, cold rocks and finally the water itself. Torrent listened intently, sniffing carefully and listening for any tells of Infected. There was quiet, a silence that was only interrupted by the soft laps of water at his feet. He sighed, satisfied that for the moment at least, they were alone. He bent down to sniff the water, then took a small sip, and determined that it too was fresh. He gestured the others over, then continued to lap up the water before him.

In a daze, the Marowak continued to trek through the caves with the others, her mind to occupied with anxiety to be able to pay proper attention. When Yasille's tail orb lit up Therese looked to the Flaafy, squinting a bit as the bright flash partially blinded her. The ground-type gave a gentle smile, before turning away as the lights dimmed.

It wasn't long before they arrived at the pool of water, and she waited as Torrent surveyed their surroundings. When he gestured to them that the water was safe, the Marowak stepped forward and looked down to the dark liquid. As she slowly reached down to cup water in her hands she caught the sight of red. Studying closely through the small ripples, Therese realized that the red was her own eye.

Panic shot through her again, skin turning pale with fear as she froze in her spot, the clear water slipping from her hand. Soon the Marowak's whole body began to shake, the nausea inside her rose up again. Trying not to gag, she slowly stepped back from the pool, her hands wrapped around her own body. "...A-Arceus help me..." Therese's voice was a faint whisper, words laced with fright.

Noir looked down at Torrent anxiously, the scent of fresh water enticing his nose. His face brightened underneath his skull as he gazed at the large underground lake.

Torrent thinks the waters okay!
As the large dragon lowered himself to drink some water, the small Cubone put his plush and club at the base of the dragons wing, ensuring they don't fall off. With a quick dash he leaped off of the large dragon, using his large head as a jumping point.

A small splash echoed throughout the caves, with the small Cubone resurfacing and giggling as he paddled clumsily towards shallower waters. The feeling of water on his dry skin reminded him of the baths that Iva had given him often, always sure to keep him groomed and clean. Warm memories of her flooded his mind as he splashed in the water, with a rubber Horsea in her one hand and a bar of soap in the other, she sang to him and giggled when he tossed suds at her playfully.

He sat down in the shallows, his black tie floating near his belly as he looked to the others silently with a rare and bright smile.

The smell of cool water, hardly uncommon in this place, prickles the Smeargle's nose and he suppresses the desire to sneeze. It is cold in here and the dank smells of wet stone and cave mould are strong enough to prevent his nose from working clearly even without him getting a cold.
They reach the promised lake, the water untainted.
Cketch slowly subsides to his knees and licks a few drops from the edge with his Pecha berry pink tongue.
He hadn't been particularly thirsty but the sheer amount of walking they had done was tiring and he is desperately grateful for a chance to rest his aching paws.

"...A-Arceus help me..."
He is close enough to hear Therese's faint whisper and smell the acrid scent of fear fill the air around her.
He can smell the bitterness too, as a wave that rises from the Marowack's earthy scented skin.
"Therese..." He says softly and cups a small amount of water in his own forepaws.
Carefully he carries it over to the Ground-type and offers her the drink.
She's sick, very sick, to the point the scent of her sickness is nearly overpowering her usual comforting smell and Cketch knows that she would need someone to look after her until she got better again.
He doesn't want her to be left behind.

Eris had told him to be quiet, but Trey was just too excited. He could get the chance to meet more pokemon! He hadn't met anyone besides Eris, and although she treated him well and kept him fed, she did hit him sometimes. Trey wondered what it felt like to meet someone who wouldn't attack him. In the darkness, Trey's still underdeveloped eyes couldn't make out what Eris was doing, but he didn't care. Immediately, a sweetish smell filled the air, and his excitement was even stronger. He heard the sound of Eris retying her hair-ribbons - was she retying them? Why had she taken them off? Oh well.

The whoevertheyweres that Eris was so worried about had obviously not noticed them yet, however. When he heard the soft dripping noise, however, he could not contain himself. It had been so long since he had water. Racing away quicker than Eris could stop him, he darted towards the sounds of others. He was quiet, however, hoping the others wouldn't notice him. They seemed to be in the middle of an emotional conversation, so with any luck, they may not notice him until after he could drink. Eris sat in the shadows not too far away glaring at him, but he didn't care. He lapped up the water quickly, savoring the moisture.

((OOC: IDC if anyone notices him or not. Whatever fits into the story best. :x))

As Noir splashed into the cool recesses of the shallow water, Torrent absentmindedly moved with him, settling in the chilled water with the youngster. He settled on all fours into the shallows like a giant dog watching its young, the gentle water lapping carelessly at his bulking frame. The child's belongings were still nestled in the dip of his back, his wings keeping them firmly in place. His eyes continuously scoured their surroundings, but his lack of suitable night vision left him only guessing that they were safe.

The huge dragon happened to look down as Noir looked back up at him, and he caught the young cubone's gaze. Seeing the bright eyes in a rare expression of joy, Torrent couldn't help but return the silent expression with his own small smile. It had been a horrible day, but it looked like simple pleasures would always be there as a comfort. However, as Noir was splashing, Torrent didn't catch Therese's small cry of distress.

Torrent glanced back to Yasille, who was still somewhat forlorn. He gestured with his head, beckoning her over. "Yasille, why don't you come over, eh?" he offered, motioning again to the water. "Feels pretty good." He moved his head back to the dark waters, eyes still searching for enemies. He'd rather all the group be in one place rather than scattered; in the dark, one never knew who or what was watching, waiting...

He shifted uncomfortably as he felt another presence with them. Something else was here.

"Yasille, why don't you come over, eh? Feels pretty good." Torrent said above him, his large body making waves in the dark water. Noir giggled quietly as he let the waves move around him, feeling his body lift slightly from the waters' movement. He looked at the Flaafy and smiled.
"Yeah, Yas! Come on!" He added, patting the water next to him like it was a seat. Suddenly he heard some pebbles fall in the darkness, somewhere near the shore. He turned, adjusting his skull helmet as his dark gaze scanned the underground beach. In the darkness, sat two large orbs, reflecting the light in them. Noirs' curiosity grew as he pushed himself to his feet and shuffled through the water slowly, approaching the shiny orbs. His eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness away from the group, revealing two large fluffy ears and a round head connected to the orbs.

"Oh!" He gasped, stepping back suddenly. He clasped one of his claws together, anxiety suddenly filling him.
My club! It's still with Torrent!...
Noir slowly stepped back, his eyes large as he dashed back to the large dragon, splashing frantically as his small legs clumsily pushed through the water. The little Cubone fell in the water in front of the dragon, getting a mouthful of water. He came up choking, his eyes wide as he looked up at the Dragonite.

He could say nothing, so he pointed as he coughed and choked, towards where he saw the face.

The commotion in the water cannot fail to draw his attenttion and with a flick of a soft brown ear Cketch's head snaps around to face the direction of the tiny ground type.
Anxiety and fear make a sharp scent.
Are they under attack again?
His tail tip slices the air angrily. It has been a long day and he is tired of fighting and running, fighting and running. He needs sleep.
"What is it?" The smeargle asks, keeping a protective paw close to Therese in case he has to run and carry her with him.
The scent of water fills his nose, rendering him incapable of identifying what, if any, new threat there was.
A sudden thought fills his mind and the Smeargle swiftly steps out of the water, full of fear of what could possibly lurk undetected beneath it's concealing surface.
Had some great arm or stinging tentacle risen from the depth to drag the cubone under?
Anything was possible and the thought of such a vast undetectable threat made his white fur stand on end.
Cketch scrambles back onto the shore quickly.

The Flaaffy's tail light was still dimmed as she followed the group to the pool of water. It was much larger than she had ever expected, unable to see the shores of the water farther into the cave. Her green eyes brightened slightly, her mood lifting just as Noir hopped into the pool. She would have thought that a Pokemon type disadvantaged with water would dislike swimming, but he dropped his beloved Pika as well as his club and jumped gleefully into the water. The smile grew on Yasille's face. No one could argue with that. The glow from behind grew a little brighter. Just a little. Color was faded out of the world and she watched from the sidelines as Torrent moved in slowly alongside the young Cubone. The Dragonite waded into the water, even a rare smile rinding it way onto his face.

The Flaaffy found herself grinning so wide it hurt. Such anrare but beautiful light.

"Yasille, why don't you come over, eh?" The Dragonite called softly to the sheep, motioning to the water. "Feels pretty good." Yasille grinned, feeling joy regrowing within her as Noir happily called to her as well. "Yeah, Yas! Come on!" Yasille bounded forward  as Noir patted the water beside him as if she could sit there. She giggled. The Flaaffy jumped in, releasing a gasp of shock as the cold vastness covered her. She bounced right back up, shivering slightly as she brought her head above water. Her wool was all flat and dripping but the grin was still on her face. Her orb glowed brightly from beneath the water, a distorted light being thrown on the walls of the tunnel. "Th-that's cold!" She shouted in an elated laugh. All seemed to be well again. Well, almost all.

Noir was examining somethin in the dark, his posture changing drasticly as the small Cubone found something that oviously frightened him. "What is it?" Cketch asked anxiously, standing protectively by Therese. Yasille immediately brought her tail out of the water, letting it light up enough to clearly illuminate the cave. Yasille gasped loudly, recognizing the little brown fox by Noor. "Oh gosh! An Eevee! How cuuuuute!" She sang loudly, sqeualing happily as she splashed in the water.

Dammit! Eris knew that the twerp would get caught... He may have ruined everything by being so careless! This was a large group. If they decided to attack, not only would she lose her prize, but they may kill her too! But wait... They didn't seem to notice her yet. Maybe she could just... sneak back... farther into the tunnel. But no. She couldn't give up on Trey yet. She would eat him, and see that glorious moment when all hope left a creature's eyes. She wouldn't deprive herself of that.


The sudden burst of light blinded Trey for a moment. He had been found! However, the voice that accompanied the light didn't seem mean at all. Cute? Trey couldn't help himself. He beamed with pride at the stranger's praise. These pokemon weren't mean, they were nice! Where was Eris? Looking around, he couldn't see her in the darkness. She probably hadn't gone far though. He found friends!

((Gonna skip... got nothin lol |D))