The LAVENDER Team

Eyes wide with horror, Noir watched as his friend zealously tore apart the Hypno and tortured it until it begged for death. He began to shake furiously as he clutched at his Pikachu. Tears fell down his face as he watched the Hypno very quickly turn into a pile of gore.

Shuddering with fright and pain, he looked for his club through his tears, frantically grabbing it up and dashing out of the closet. He ran past the Cacturne, not daring to look at the damage he had done, but instead ran straight through the doors, seeing only his owner, covered in his own blood, his head a bloody mess, completely unrecognizable. His paws slipped through a puddle of blood and gore; he managed to make it out of the building and into the abandoned streets. He ran to the closest house, collapsing against a wall, weeping and screaming frantically. His mournful cries echoed throughout the town, eerily bouncing off the cliffs surrounding them.

He buried his face violently into his plush, trying to get rid of the blood-soaked images in his head.
His mind raced back to the Cacturne, who had shown kindness to him...and then tore apart another pokemon with such a brutal amount of violence, it shook the young Cubone to the core.
NOT A FRIEND! NOT A FRIEND! He screamed in his head. No! Can't trust! Stupid! Shouldn't have!
Noir cried, enraged that he was once again alone. Enraged that he was proven right; that he couldn't trust anyone.

Lavender Town|Pokemon Tower|Night (3)

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Swearing under his breath Cketch picks his way around the now blood-splattered headstones, trying to avoid catching the sand smelling pokemon's eye as he flees up the stairs and collapses panting behind another grave stone. Warily he sniffs the air and prays to Arceus that that thing hadn't seen him. As the smeargle paints his tail along the ground to calm himself he knows there is no doubt it was one of them

A flash of a new scent makes him forget the bloddy thing for a moment, a soft earthy scent much like the dried bones in the tower but still...different. A living pokemon.
As it flees he attempts to use his foresight on the moving pokemon but only gets picks up a blurr of bone and soft skin before the small creature is out of the pokemon tower.
Cubone or Marowack he thinks, remembering the bone masked pokemon who used to live near his cave.
Either way the curling scent of fear was evident, even over the blood.

Picking his way across the row of graves he drags his tail over the inscription in one tombstone, the paint of his tail refilling the faded groves so the name once again stands out. With a little bow to the one he has come to see Cketch hurriedly flees. This was not a good time to be so far from the ground, and so far from escape.

Ivy shivered as she wandered about the streets heading back to the tower.She had spent the day carefully gathering seeds to plant trying to bring life back to this sad, decimated town.Ivy sighed and slipped into the tower not aware of its guests until she noticed the smell of decay. 'Someone was just killed, an infected.'Ivy thought to herself.

Nervous yet curious Ivy weaved her way through the tombstones and peaked out over the top of one.Ivy gasped loudly giving herself away accident to everyone near by.What she saw horrified her slightly yet Ivy was intrigued by the plant like figure in front of her.

Halloween heard running...It was the Cubone, the child...It was running away from him. The Cacturne tried to follow the child with heavy steps but stopped at the door. A drop of blood ran from his eye like a tear...a child was afraid of him, but why? He could not understand.

But his attentions quickly turned towards something else...The smell of sweat, fur and a strange sweet aroma started to come from behind him. A creature has ran upstairs...while the other was still on this floor, Halloween was able to identify a gasp. He turned around and started to look through the current floor he was, eventually the creature would give itself away.

A quick glance towards a window made Halloween identify the sun which was starting to rise in between the few houses of Lavender. The large cactus walked towards a wall and impaled his spikes on the wall, as the sunlight lightly touched his body, his eyes went dark and his body became imovable. Being a noctornal being Halloween would rest while the day was at rise...although by not moving that wouldn't mean he was defenseless. At the minimal approach to his body...his spikes would shoot out and drill the body of the victim with hundreds of Pin Missile attacks.

As the light began to slowly filter over the mountains to the north, Torrent felt a little better about walking around the quiet, haunted hamlet. He meandered behind Therese, watching out for any Infected that he would have to take care of as they made their way to the Tower. He frowned as he thought about having to go in; he had had to bury him teammates in the hallowed dirt of the Tower, and he didn't feel much up to risk fighting near their tombs.

However, a little brown blur came rocketing out of the Tower, whimpering and sniffling as it ran into a nearby abandoned home. Torrent gently shook Therese's shoulder for her to look, which he was sure she already saw. "...Sounds like that could be the one we were looking for," his deep voice rumbled.

Torrent lumbered over to the house and nudged the broken door open. "...Hello?" he asked as he poked his large head in. When he saw what the runaway was, he gave a small sigh. The cubone was clutching a little plush doll, sobbing and rocking. "Hey, little man, it's ok..." He waited for Therese to come in, since he knew his large size was more than a little... intimidating.

She saw the little Cubone dash out of the tower and felt Torrent gently shake her shoulder. She nodded. "...Sounds like that could be the one we were looking for," She gives a brief nod. "Yeah." 'Although the figure I saw earlier looked different. Something like a Smeargle.' she thought, but kept quiet because they had already found one living, and it was crying.

She followed Torrent as he lumbered to the house the Cubone had ran into. He called out a greeting, adding in; "Hey, little man, it's ok...". Therese quietly padded in, eyes soft as she approached the Cubone.

"Hey, are you alright? Did something happen in the tower? Did you get hurt?" she asked in a gentle, motherly tone.

(OoC- oh jeez, I'm so sorry guys! I didn't get a warning or anything. @_@)


Noir sat there, holding his knees close to him, shaking violently. He clung to the little Pikachu so tightly, it hurt his arms. He didn't see the door open, or the giant head of the Dragonite.
He saw nothing but blood.
Suddenly, he heard a booming voice over the pounding in his head.
"Hey, little man, it's ok..."
His fur stood on end in fright, as he frantically grabbed for his club. He saw flashes of reality pass in front of his eyes, mixed with repressed memories, but he could see no one.
"Who's there!?" He cried through his tears as he held the bone out in front of him. He didn't want to sound frightened, but hell if he could hide it. He felt like he was on the very edge of sanity.

He heard paws on the floorboards slowly approach him.
"W-wait! Don't come any closer!" He yelped.
He blinked hard and shook his head, making his skull rattle. His vision cleared, but still had a red tint, but he could make out the face of...a Marowak, coming closer to him.

"Hey, are you alright? Did something happen in the tower? Did you get hurt?" she asked.
He kept blinking, trembling like a leaf. He clutched his Pikachu in one arm, and his club out with the other, his arm stiff as a board.

"N-n-n-nnn-no!" He looked down at the floorboards, trying to regain his composure. Only then did he see the bloody footprints he left, and his feet and bottom half spattered in blood. He recoiled in terror, breaking down and frantically trying to get away from his own hind paws. He fell backwards and scrambled on his hands, backing into the corner, where he couldn't move any further away.
He cried helplessly as he looked at the Marowak with desperation and pain filling his eyes.

Carefully Cketch peers around the gravestone. Whatever that sandy smell was it wasn't moving anymore, the scent is pooling in one place.

Maybe It's asleep...or lying in wait.

Either way Cketch decides it would be bad news to disturb whatever thing had taken up residence in the pokemon tower. With only the soft crunch of dirt under paw Cketch edges his way out of the burial plot and back onto the designated path with a small bow to the gravestone's owner for allowing him a hiding place. He creeps downstairs, trying to be as stealthy as possible. A pale golden light starts to illuminate the path ahead of him and the Smeargle feels a bit...happier.
True some pokemon had been torn apart, quite recently by a sand smelling THING that was in the tower with him but a new day always made him feel more hopeful.

The sand scent gets stronger. It is close. Cketch pauses and sniffs the air thoroughly. The thing is close and at rest, he can't smell the disturbance of scents in the air there would be in a waiting predator.
He twitches his tail and uses his foresight.
Blood and thorns.
Many many thorns.
Nose twitching in irritation at the smell Cketch resolves more firmly not to get involved with this thing. All he had to do was trip and he would end up as so much pokemon food. Gathering his resolve he moves swiftly past the sand scent.

Ivy Saw the sun rise and already being known stood up and dashed for the stairs.She was tired and in need of even just a short nap, the tower had been her choice of shelter.It was a decent place to rest but with the creature downstairs Ivy was paranoid that it would attack her.Setting what few seeds she had found down with the rest she sat down her back against the gravestone."If only Spinley were here, that crazy clown would have no problems confronting that..."Ivy said softly to herself.


Her mind went blank as her eyes began to fall."need to stay awake...."She told herself trying to struggle past the darkness that was taking over her.However her need for rest was to great and she eventually fell asleep against the tombstone.Her dreams were strange nothing but colors at first but human shapes and pokemon silhouettes became visible."Ivy, you need to be just as good as Spinley here ok? I will train you well I promise."A voice said to her.It was her trainer, and Spinley as well.The dreams were vivid each battle she had in her dream realm was more vivid than the last.Ivy's face made her seem to be at peace in her dreams but there was a small glimmer of pain as well for those with eyes trained to see.

(OCC: Halloween is in a sleeping state you can skip me if you wish.)

Torrent sighed as he watched the little cubone completely freak out as he and Therese entered. Reasoning with the kid was probably not in their near future. He contemplated simply kindapp-- rescuing the kid and taking him back to Sil's where he could calm the hell down.

He made a face as he continued to think on it and decided it was the best option. The only real downside would probably be Therese yelling at him for being such a brute. But what was to be expected out of a dragonite like him? And the fact that the kid would probably not stop screaming. But then again, that wasn't going to be happening soon anyway.

...Yup.

Kidnap.

He moved into the house completely, easily lumbering over Therese and with a large, calloused hand, picked up the kid and tucked him into the nook of his bulky arm, muffling the screams a bit before heading back out. Before exiting the threshold, he leaned down to the terrified kid to talk to him.

"Listen, kid. I know you're scared. But we don't have time for this. You have to be quiet, or else you'll bring more attention to yourself than you already have. We're the good guys. We're trying to help you. You just have to let us. Ok?" And he continued back to Sil's house, not really looking to see if the kid had paid attention or not.

"N-n-n-nnn-no!" Therese frowned. "Shhh, it's alright, your're safe no-" suddenly Torrent lumbered over her and picked the Cubone up. She quickly followed the Dragonite out of the house. "Listen, kid. I know you're scared. But we don't have time for this. You have to be quiet, or else you'll bring more attention to yourself than you already have. We're the good guys. We're trying to help you. You just have to let us. Ok?"

'Torrent does have a point.' she mused as she followed the two back to Sil's house. She could talk to the Cubone in there, it was definitely better than that old rundown house they were in a minute ago. She skipped ahead to open the door for the two. Although she didn't exactly agree with the method Torrent used to get the child out of the house, but at least there were more positive parts than negative, she supposed.

(Ooc-go ahead and skip me this time. Noir is busy getting carried. XD)

With the sound of paws on flagstones Cketch emerges from the pokemon tower and once again presses close to the smooth walls of the nearby dwellings.
He sniffs in earnest, picking up on the leathery scent of dragon hide, two similar earthen skin scents and blood, which always made his fur stand on end.
He sneaks closer to investigate.
This was always dangerous he knew but for the all the times he got just a bit too close to one of Them there were times where it was worth his trouble. Berries, Pokemon food, Allies...All he had found in his journeys.
The day must be dawning, a faint warmth tingles in his fur.

(Ooc Skip since Ivy is sleeping)

Voices...Voices everywhere. But they were outside. His Territory wasn't comprimised. That was the least he was happy with, anyone that would step in this place shall not get out.

The child was an exception...Children are important. Halloween did not know why...but they were important. Paralyzed by the sunlight shinning through his blood covered body, his eyes turned dark as he closed them rendering empty eye sockets. Like a normal unlit Jack'o Lantern. The great Scarecrow demon was put to rest untill the Night would set in or some infidel would arrise.

Torrent lumbered into the house, letting Therese close the door as his bulky arm kept the frightened cubone quiet. I've really gone soft... he thought grimly to himself when he realized that just hours before, he had sworn to not trust anyone save for his own team and... here he was, with two strangers.

He placed the little cubone on the couch, looking the shaking child over for injuries. He seemed unharmed and just had some dried blood on the bottom of his feet. He had noticed the kid had freaked out at the sight of his feet and figured... maybe that was it? Blood terrified some folks; he himself wasn't sure why, but being a major part of the competitive ring, he wouldn't be scared of the stuff. He'd be more than a little useless.

He reached over to a torn blanket on the couch and spat in it, then rubbed the bottom of the kid's feet, wiping the blood from him. "No need for squirmin' or screamin' or any of that sort. Just don't want a little kid like you out on your own, you understand? My name's Torrent, and that lady over there is Therese. This is my trainer's old house, so try not to break anything. You have a name?" He felt odd for being so verbose, but he knew that the kid needed some sort of kind words to break him out of his little... episode.

He retreated after he finished cleaning to the back of the room, since he knew his size was more than a little frightening, allowing Therese to do whatever she wanted with the kid. After all, they may get along better being part of the same species' tree.

"No need for squirmin' or screamin' or any of that sort. Just don't want a little kid like you out on your own, you understand? My name's Torrent, and that lady over there is Therese. This is my trainer's old house, so try not to break anything. You have a name?" Therese stood there as Torrent questioned the little Cubone. She wanted to talk to the child too, but didn't want to overwhelm him.

As soon as the Dragonite retreated, she stepped closer to Noir. "It's okay, you're going to be safe now. We won't let anything hurt you, okay?" she whispered, gently patting the Lonely Pokemon's skull. "Did you see a monster? They're scary aren't they? They scare me too." the thought of the infected came up in her mind as a sad smile crept up on her face.

"But as long as you stay away, you're going to okay. Us, along with the spirits of the tower will look over you. You're not alone anymore, we're here to protect you." her reassuring voice timidly echoed off the house's walls.

[OOC; Thank you Google for helping me with this post. *thumbs up to 'How to comfort a scared child*. XD]

Noir stopped struggling in the giant dragons' hands, exhausted and confused. It got a rag and rubbed all the blood off of him, which helped his mind clear itself of the red haze that surrounded it.
"You have a name?" the Dragonite asked afterwards.
Noir gulped as he watched the looming dragon stomp to the back of the room.
"Um...N-Noir..." He said, sniffling mid sentence. He looked down at the floor and grasped his Pikachu close to him. He didn't know if he could trust these two, but he also didn't know if he could escape, with the huge dragon blocking the door.
If they were going to eat me, they wouldn't ask me my name...would they?...

The one that kind of looked like him; Iva called them 'Marowak,' slowly walked up to him, her eyes soft and nice- not like the...thing in the tower.
"It's okay, you're going to be safe now. We won't let anything hurt you, okay?" she said, patting his head.
"Did you see a monster? They're scary aren't they? They scare me too." Noir shuddered nodding.
"But as long as you stay away, you're going to okay. Us, along with the spirits of the tower will look over you. You're not alone anymore, we're here to protect you."
Noir carefully looked at her and looked back down at the ragged plush.
"It...gave me candy...but then...it killed them...he screamed in my head...wanting to die..." the young Cubone whimpered. He couldn't explain what had happened without wanting to start crying again.
"The tower...it's bad now..." Noir whispered, looking out the window, terrified.

The feeling of the faint wind passing over his fur made him realize his belly was starting to feel empty. This problem must be addressed immediately.
The building were mainly residential so there was little chance of any good food being left in there but searching the nearby areas for berries might turn out to be dangerous and he was sure there were other pokemon here, pokemon that didn't bear that tainted scent.
Would it be worth the trouble though? Would they have food or be willing to share it?
Cketch decides to carry on down the street. He keeps his paws held out in front of him and moves them like a Mr. Mime built a wall ahead. He starts to walk slowly, playing the invalid.

Ivy was still asleep though her mind was in a blur.What was it that she had seen downstairs and why did she find it so appealing yet repulsive at the same time? Was it alive, or Infected? So many questions swirled about in her head as she slept since she knew she couldn't sleep long.Ivy enjoyed the slight bit of peace this rest brought knowing it would be the last bit for a while.

He kept hearing the voices in the distance in the dreadful silence...But he felt the warmth of the sun moving quickly...Winter had arrived after all, and since that happened, the days would move faster than most would think.

Something he felt was strange...He could feel a presence in the tower...Not from an undead, not even from the dead. It was well alive. If it still is the tower after Halloween awakes...he shall see if it deserves punishment.

Torrent sat quietly as Therese tended to the young cubone. He gave a soft chuckle as she nurtured him and brought him out of his hysteria-- 'I guess there IS a reason why they call her "Mother", huh...? he thought, amused. Though, when the cubone -Noir- said something about the tower, the giant dragonite returned his attention to the actual conversation.

"The tower... it's bad now..."

His brow furrowed and he looked out the slit in the window to the Tower, the resting place of many of his comrades. 'Figures... I knew even holy places wouldn't be safe for long... I just didn't want to be around when it did happen... He said nothing to Noir; he had said his piece and that was about it, letting Therese run the show.

"It...gave me candy...but then...it killed them...he screamed in my head...wanting to die... The tower...it's bad now..." The Cubone whispered. Therese gave a grim nod. "Then we'll stay away from the tower." she murmured.

She glanced behind her to Torrent, then out the window. It was light out, and light filtered down from the sky. Afternoon. She sighed. It was times like this that it almost seemed like the world was never hit with this epidemic. She hopped to the window and looked to the tower, finding what the Cacturne had wrote earlier. "Trick...Or...Treat...Give me something sweet to eat..."

She shivered. Looking towards Torrent, she thought for moment before speaking. "Do you have any food or berries here? Or know where to find them?" she asked. They couldn't sit here all day with nothing to eat.

"Trick...Or...Treat...Give me something sweet to eat..." the Marowak muttered under her breath, staring out the window. Noir slowly climbed off the faded couch and looked out as well. He gazed at the looming tower, shivering as he read the words written in blood, when he caught sight of something moving through the streets.
"What's....that thing...?" He whispered, pointing at a brown and white pokemon, appearing from behind a building. "It looks...lost." He said, puzzled. The pokemon was moving very slowly and had its paws out in front of him.
Noir tilted his head in confusion, then looked up at the other two, wondering what they thought.