The LAVENDER Team

“How can I say no to that face?”

For a moment, Torrent wasn't sure that this arcanine would be worth the trouble. His smug grin and words once again reminded the bulky dragon of a certain electric rat that had made a profession of being an intolerable ass. Blue eyes followed the fire dog as he went off to investigate the Center, his firm scowl still glued to his face. Giving a small huff of exasperation, he made his way back to the others, picking up the still dazed Smeargle. "What has happened while I was unconscious?" he asked as Torrent replaced the painter onto his back.

"...We got out." Really, it was the only thing other than finding the fire dog, and certainly the more uplifting of the two. "...Route 9's just past the Center." He stared hard in the direction of the building, his body tense as he waited for a sign from the dog. Eventually, his form appeared just over the rise, a silent signal of safety. Or at least, that's what Torrent hoped it was and not some con. Like we have anything for him to con out of us...

Getting up with a sigh, he led the way, walking slow enough for everyone to keep up. Breaching the peak of the hill, he saw the Center, one he remembered going with his trainer way back when the world made sense. He lumbered down to it, giving the dog a silent nod of thanks, and went inside.

The interior was not something wholly surprising; burnt corpses and ruin. The smell was now normal. Almost comforting, even. It said that while others had died here, the killers had likely moved on. He placed Cketch down once more and watched for the others to make their entrance, including the fire dog. He was fairly certain that since he'd taken up his offer, the dog was probably going to stay. Unfortunately...

The open winds were like gifts from the gods, her lungs relieved of the stuffy atmosphere of the tunnel and inhaling deeply the breeze of fresh air. She was silent, listless as she sat a bit off from the group. She enjoyed Noir's song, quietly humming her own tune along with it as she regarded Cketch with soft, red eyes. "What has happened while I was unconscious?” His tail was still within her grasp, bloody and half-eaten as it hung from her hands. "Sorry," was her only answer, her words filled with sorrow. "I'm so sorry."

Falling quiet again, the Marowak wondered what her fate will be. Her hands had sprouted purple, the scales of her tail now bleeding out it's color to the world. Her eyes were a sharp contrast to her complexion, the pulsing crimson glowing in the late night environment. She couldn't deny it anymore, now. Not with all the evidence against her. Her soft gaze drifted to the Dragonite, Torrent. She had enjoyed his company greatly in the short time that she had been with him.

"Are you going to kill me?" she whispered, as if she was speaking of a forbidden secret. Therese's gaze only softened more, her eyes half-lidded with the kind of fatigue that comes with deep depression. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry." she mumbled, looking away. "I wish I never became... became this." she motioned to her hands, clutching the bloody limb. "I wish it didn't have to be this way." she mourned.

(Please skip me, I'm so sorry. I thought I could post, but I'm running really close to my portfolio deadlines...I just have to do that first. Say Noir and Yue followed Torrent, but not yet in the building yet)

It wasn’t hard to miss the group, the size of the Dragonite and stench of blood stemming from the Smeargle atop its back enough to provide a beacon for fellow survivors and undead alike. Silva watched half-amused as they approached, returning the dragon’s nod with a lax one of his own before his eyes wandered across the variety of species that bundled into the Center. Whilst they all seemed harmless enough – however, all peculiar in their own rights – the Arcanine paid particular attention to the Marowak he’d seen chewing on a tail earlier. He could only presume it had been that of the bleeding Smeargle’s. From her appearance and hushed words to the dragon, Silva could only presume she wasn’t safe company.

This group just got more and more interesting by the second.

Exhaling, platinum eyes rolling across the surroundings, Silva finally turned to hover just outside the building. Whilst his curiosity held him in place, the canine wasn’t totally convinced of remaining in their company. He had a job to do after all. M wasn’t going to turn up out of nowhere, but that sly bitch would continue running to the ends of the earth, each step taking her further away from his need for revenge. Absently jostling his prosthetic upper jaw, Silva remained distracted by his own gruesome thoughts, eventually deciding that it’d be okay to give her a few minutes head-start. She would certainly need it.

His expression of silent pondering soon shifted to an almost pleasant smile, the subtle rippling of his face halting as he lost interest with the contraption concealing his disfigurement.
“This is cosy,” He finally muttered, already growing averse to how quiet this bunch seemed. Perhaps they’d lost a comrade alongside the canine’s injury, casting a sombre mood on the gathering – or maybe it was just Silva’s presence to upset the family dynamics. Either way, the Arcanine was eager to change that. Surely a group so interesting weren’t going to spend their existence in silence. “I take it you had a rough time in the tunnel?” He gestured to the Smeargle with a nod of his head, his voice a sophisticated but unusually docile drawl – he didn’t want to spook them, after all.

"Are you going to kill me?"

The innocent, fearful question pulled Torrent's gaze toward teh frightened Marowak, her eyes half-lidded with remorse and guilt. He said nothing, unable to answer such a simple question. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I wish I never became... became this." she motioned to her purple-tinged hands, clutching the bloodied, half-eaten tail. "I wish it didn't have to be this way."

"...Me neither," was his quiet response, his brilliant blue eyes staring down at her with pity. He wasn't sure what would happen should she completely lose herself... He only knew that killing her here and now was completely and utterly impossible.

"This is cosy," the arcanine all too happily chirped, strolling into the center after everyone else. Torrent's unamused gaze went to the fire dog, still debating whether letting him accompany them was a good idea or not. Torrent was currently leaning toward the latter. "I take it you had a rough time in the tunnel?"

The bulky dragonite scoffed, wings flaring a little with aggravation. First, the insane cacturne, then losing a few party memebers, including little Yasille, finding the remains of his poor daughter, then nearly losing both Cketch and Noir to pokemon still in their company. "At least your eyes work," he growled, shifting to lean against a wall, still curled into a small, muscle-bound ball of dragon, hiding his true size. He looked to Noir and motioned to come near, wanting the little cubone away from all the threats. "Rest." It was nearly a command to everyone else, himself excluded to keep an eye on both enemies in and out of the building. His gaze rested on the arcanine for a moment, his mind trying to settle on whether he should learn the dog's name or not. In the end, he figured Why the hell not.

"...Name?" It wasn't a forceful query, nor one tinted with anger. Just a simple question.

"...Me neither," The Marowak silently looked up the the large dragon, before huddling tightly into a corner of the ruined building. Her blotched tail gently wrapped around her small form. The pale Arcanine had been an unsettling guest, to say the least. Therese eyed him warily as he spoke with a smile. “This is cosy. I take it you had a rough time in the tunnel?” The ground-type frowned a bit, irked by how easily the mutt asked them the question. 'Insensitive prick... He could've at least waited until the morning to ask something like that,'

"Rest." The voice of the Dragonite snapped her from her thoughts, giving a slow nod. The Marowak stole a quick glance to her hands. 'Will these be murderers tomorrow?' The thought was horrifying for her, every ounce of her body screeching in protest. However, her brain was speaking otherwise, the urge to rip the flesh of her companions, the sudden lust to feast upon their freshly-killed corpses--was this the life of an undead? Meaningless slaughter and feasts? 'Why did this even have to happen...?'

Attempting to push the thoughts away from her mind, her body tensed. "Night." her voice was soft and hushed, afraid that instead it would come out as a menacing growl. Closing her bright scarlet eyes, Therese slowly nodded off to sleep, fearful of the coming day.

"...What's his name?" Yue asked the Cubone, her eyes wide with a detached innocence. Noir took his gaze from the sky, his song finished.
Noir smiled hesitantly at the hunched over Riolu, pulling his plush closer to him in response.

"...Pika." He murmured, his voice soft and quiet. His dark eyes moved over her with a passive suspicion, but the Riolu only smiled at him, replying with a quiet laugh.
"...He's cute..." She ventured a paw towards Noir, her pale fur almost glistening in the moonlight as she gently pat the gnarly plushies' long ear. Noir flinched slightly, his body curling up from her touch. But his muscles relaxed as he realized what her intent was, and looked at her in confusion.

"Why...did you do that in the cave?" He asked, his voice thick with accusational pain, barely restrained. "Why did you want to hurt me?"

The Riolu looked to the ground in confusion, her paws going to the grass beneath her uneasily. She gently tugged at the long blades, fidgeting as she spoke. "I..." she began, her brows furrowed. "I didn't want to hurt anyone...they're just...always there..." She whispered, her golden eyes locking with Noirs.
"Hands of blue...two by two..." She whispered repeatedly in fear, looking down at her paws. Noir shook his head, confused. But before he could reply to the trivial words, the Cubone realized that the large Dragonite was leaving. His eyes grew wide as he started and hurriedly got to his feet.

"We gotta go!" He muttered frantically, picking his club up. The young Cubone paused, his gaze on the dazed Riolu. After a few moments of hesitation, he held his claw out to her. "Come on, we don't wanna get left behind..."

_____________________

Yue looked at the small ground type before her, offering his help.
He'd...help me?...even after what I did to him?...
Staring blankly at the Cubone, she accepted his paw and got to her feet, her height showing as she stood above the child.
She nodded at him, staying at his side like a lost puppy with every step. After trotting quickly over the hill, they rejoined the group and entered the pokemon center. The smell of old blood and burned flesh filled the air, but her gaze remained empty. She could hear the small Cubone at her side gasp and gag in repulsion, but she payed no heed, her ears tuned only for the conversation between the dragon and the large canine.
She saw the canines' interest in the dragon, as well as the raging jealousy, though at what, she didn't understand.
But the dragon retreated to a wall, his bulky body curling in on itself as he motioned for them.
Yues' ears perked slightly as she started forward, only to stop in her tracks.
He wasn't asking for me...he was asking for him...she thought sadly, her large eyes staying on the Cubone as he plodded to the large dragon and curled up next to his haunches.
"Rest." The Dragonite snarled defensively. Yue looked to her feet, eventually scanning the floor uneasily as her paws fidgeted with the longer patch of fur on her torso. She spotted a seared area of the tiles, off in the shadows. She padded to it slowly, her gaze drinking in the details of the scorch-marks. The tile was rough from the chemical residue, the flames leaving very little waste of what was left of a corpse. With a quiet sigh, she slowly stretched out, lying right over the mark, her head aligning with where the corpses' once was. She stared up at the ceiling, now oblivious to the others while she whispered to herself.

"...Very comfortable..."

"Rest."

Definitely a chatty bunch…

Silva emitted a loud, exasperated huff at the Dragonite’s abrupt answer, annoyed that any shred of sociality was buried beneath those bulging muscles. He was clearly the leader of his brood too, the youngsters and wounded, not excluding the rather unstable Marowak, obeying his every command as they settled themselves down. Dismissing the display of appalling manners as the effects of fatigue and some unsaid torment as a result of their voyage through the tunnel, Silva remained uncharacteristically quiet. Patience had always been one of the canine’s strongest qualities, but his comments on the matter rarely went unheard. This, however, seemed to be an exception.

Rolling his piercing eyes, the Arcanine settled by the doorway, slumping into a lying position as he spent a moment observing the creatures littering the place. To think this was the class of survivor left crawling about the world. It saddened him really. As interesting and quirky as they were, it seemed that nought but sheer dumb luck was the only thing protecting them. Still, the epidemic was far from over. No doubt they’d fall in due time.

"...Name?"

Genuinely surprised the curt dragon had the decency to enquire for a name, albeit in the shortest way possible, Silva raised his brow in mocking shock. A sly, although not entirely unpleasant smile slithered onto his features as he turned away, looking out of the doorway and up to the iridescent moon.
“Do you really care?” He asked, bored, smirking in anticipation of what could only be Momma’s silent answer. Flexing his forelegs, sleep failing to ensnare him in its grasp unlike the majority of the group, Silva remained on watch. Whilst he had no intention of protecting these strangers from any of the night’s beasties, the canine hadn’t a desire neither to sleep nor to lose his latest playthings. In time nature would take its course, but for now, a little company wouldn’t hurt him. “Silva,”

Looking back to the Dragonite, smirk dying down into a small, barely conceivable smile, he gestured to his drowsy companions.
“Rest if you’re tired, Mom,” He muttered, earlier malice sapped. “If I intended to harm you, I would’ve got it over and done with,” Silva shrugged, honest in his words to put any flourishing concerns to bed. “Besides, us survivors have got to stick together, right?”

“Do you really care?” was the arcanine's sarcastic response, his odd grin on full to Torrent's irritation. His stark blue eyes stayed on the dog, however, even through the other's silent musings, his stare unwavering. A lesser pokemon might have found it unsettling, even if Torrent meant nothing by it. Finally, though, the fire dog decided "why the hell not" as well, and then added, “Silva.”

Torrent's nostrils flared as he committed the name to memory. Silva, huh? An odd name... Almost more of a female's name. Still, he gave a curt nod, shifting as the children came in, Noir to his side. "Torrent," was his ever chatty reply. He considered introducing the others, but quickly let the thought fall by the wayside. If they wanted this "Silva" to know their names, then they would introduce themselves. Therese bid them a quick goodnight and the dragonite nodded to her, glad that someone wanted rest.

Silva, though, seemed to want to get in a few last words. “Rest if you’re tired, Mom,” Silva sighed, his coyness and playful manner replaced with weariness. The words themselves made Torrent tilt his head slightly. "Mom?" “If I intended to harm you, I would’ve got it over and done with,” With this, Torrent nodded. It had been his earlier train of thought and been why he hadn't killed the creature on first sight. “Besides, us survivors have got to stick together, right?”

"...Yes," Torrent replied, weariness seeping into his own voice in the form of a small yawn. "Now sleep. I'll take watch."[/color] He glanced to the Riolu pup, who seemed to take her spot on the charred bits on the floor some ways away... Good. He could keep a good eye on her from there. His eyes traveled upward, to the broken roof that revealed some stars twinkling above. This was going to be a long night for him...

The small Cubone waddled to the Dragonites' side, leaning against the dragons' rough hide with an exhausted little sigh. He listened quietly to their conversation as he tucked his club next to him and snuggled his plush.
“Rest if you’re tired, Mom,”
"Mom?"

Noir smiled softly at the words, his eyelids drooping slowly.
Not mom. Dad.
Dad...
The child inched closer, nuzzling Torrents' side with his masked nose.
Having a dad is...
It's like having Iva back...
Iva...
She was like a mom...
Maybe Torrent can stay...maybe he can be dad...

The Cubone gulped, his large eyes gazing up at the stars, full of sadness.
"...Torrent?"
He whimpered, his eyes tearing up against his will.
"Do you...do you think you can..." The little Cubone choked up, his tail pulling closer to him. "Maybe tell me a story?..."

"...I always used to sleep better when...she told me stories..." He whimpered quietly, looking up at the dragon pleadingly.
"I...I miss them..."

I miss her.

_________________________

Yues' attention turned to the small Cubone, his quiet voice barely audible. Her golden eyes stared at the two in listlessness as she listened.
I wonder what it's like...having a family.
A family that cares.
That doesn't embrace you with needles and scalpels.

"Do you...do you think you can...Maybe tell me a story?..."
"...I always used to sleep better when...she told me stories..."
The pale Riolu stared blankly, a sudden vision coming into focus.

I miss her.
I miss her so much.
Iva...why did you leave me alone...?
You were supposed to come back...
Why did you leave me behind...?
Did you not want me anymore...?

A Cubone was curled up in the lap of a fiery-headed human, with a slim figure and kind face. She wore a white shirt and a petite black tie, with dark gray pants that covered her feet. The masked Cubones' face was calm and serene despite the skull covering most of his features. They sat in what appeared to be a humans' quarters, with a soft and long couch, pillows tucked comfortably around the girl as a television changed its' pictures soundlessly. The fire-headed girl held the ground-type loosely, her mouth uttering something that the Riolu couldn't understand.

Yue blinked once, the vision fading.
A tear trickled slowly down her face as the Cubone once again came into focus.

Beautiful thoughts...like bright red apples on a summer day...
She looked to the hulking Dragonite, quietly pulling her legs to her chest as she waited for his reply, her eyes wide with hope.
Maybe...a story will help me sleep too...
Maybe it'll stop the screaming...

"...Please?..." The Riolu pleaded quietly, her knees beneath her jaw and her arms and tail wrapped tightly around her legs.

(@_@ Sorry I took so long, I thought Lulu was out of the SH for some reason)

The white furred canine raises his nose in the air as he hungrily sniffs at the new scents.
"Thank you Torrent.” He says dutifully to the large Dragonite, aware that he would be helpless without the Dragon Type's assistance.
He can't even move by himself.
Carefully the blind smeargle sits and starts to lick the stump of his severed tail.
The seared flesh stings as he licks his fur up into rough spikes with his grooming.
Held in his paws it hurts to so much as twitch it enough to try and balance him.
Cketch softly sighs.
It was no-ones fault, he holds no grudge against the mindless rotting golbat that had severed his tail or Torrent who had seared the bleeding wound shut or Therese who had taken the severed tail to consume.
He just felt so very...tired.

"Therese..." He says calmly, taking a step towards the kindly marowack.
"Therese, it's o.k. It's not your fault."
He reaches his paws out towards her as he tilts his head towards Torrent.
"Yes, a story..." Cketch says so softly he could almost be talking to himself. "The kids could use something to cheer them up."
The blinded smeargle has no opinion yet on their fiery guest. From its strange manner he has no liking for the flame-furred hound and resolves to ignore it for now.
While it doesn't wish to harm them it seems to be irritating in the extreme.
With his tail cut and burnt he has no time for the arcanine's attitude.

"...Yes. Now sleep. I'll take watch."

Torrent, although characteristically curt, was otherwise accepting of Silva’s honest words. The Arcanine gave a nod and a snort of approval, pleased that he wasn’t about to brutally evacuated from their presence. Then again, who was going to do it? Only Torrent and the unstable Marowak seemed battle-ready, even in their fatigued states, to prove only a slight hindrance to the powerful canine. Of course, they’d give him a run for his money – especially Mom with the need to protect the drowsy innocents littering the room. Still, Silva was true to his word. He had no foul intentions.

"...Torrent? Do you...do you think you can... Maybe tell me a story?..."

If there was any time to realize he was out of his depth, it was at that moment. Silva looked to the kid with muted disbelief, the emotion silently overwhelming the group enough to make him gag. They truly were a family. He’d never known one himself, watching almost awkwardly, confused as they gathered around preparing for a story from their resident parent. Frowning, unsure of the etiquette for such a situation, the shiny turned, regaining his natural composure as he headed for the door.
“I need some air,” He grumbled. “You’ll give me a cavity,” Whilst only half his teeth were at risk from the sweetness that the unit held, the top half entirely false, Silva wasn’t prepared to risk it. He was out of his comfort zone in such an environment and in reality, he was wasting his time. Silva had a job to do.

His initial curiosity of the group worn off, the canine was unwilling to carry the burden of an emotional, dysfunctional family that was huddled with the building. Stood outside the center, taking deep inhales as the cool, night air enveloped his proud form; Silva had soon made up his mind. With a final look over his shoulder, catching glimpse of the group through a cracked window, the canine gave a huff and carried on ahead. As delightful a prospect as company seemed, the fire-type knew he’d grow tired of their bleeding hearts, his boredom apt to translate into a need for removal. But, merciful, he chose to leave them be. Let them make the most of their joy, Arcues knows it wasn’t going to last.

Alert, Silva made his exit. Long, powerful strides carried him swiftly from the city; determined, as he set off in search of M. He would have his revenge.

(( I’m gutted I couldn’t stay longer, but this is Silva’s leaving post. It’s been lovely writing with all of you. <33 ))

As Torrent settled with the small cubone, it seemed that they would finally get rest. Though, Noir looked a little restless, turning his masked head up to the great dragon with sleepy, pleading eyes. "...Torrent?" Noir whimpered pitifully, earning Torrent's gaze. His brow furrowed a little at the cubone's bright eyes twinkling with moisture. Was... Was he crying? "Do you...do you think you can..." Noir's voice coked a little, confusing the dragonite more. "Maybe tell me a story?..."

Torrent was dumbfounded. A story? He had never been much of a talker, much less storyteller. He was about to protest when Noir's little voice made him stop. "...I always used to sleep better when...she told me stories..." he whimpered quietly, looking up at the dragon pleadingly.
"I...I miss them..." Torrent's unease began filling his normally stoic expression, his typical static scowl being replaced by an unsure grimace. While he thought the conversation was between them and them alone, it looked like Noir wasn't the only one wanting some late night entertainment.

"...Please?..." The riolu asked, followed quickly by Cketch. "Yes, a story..." the blind smeargle agreed. "The kids could use something to cheer them up."

"I..." he began, unsure of how to respond. His mate had filled his daughter's nights with stories, lulling her to sleep with the sound of her beautiful voice, nestled in her coils. His beautiful dragonair bride took pride in her stories, each as soothing as the angelic voice that bore them. Torrent had never partaken, only listened. He could never stand up to the standards his mate had set so many years ago...

“I need some air,” Silva grumbled, standing and turning to the door. “You’ll give me a cavity.” Torrent watched, the acranine's unusual behavior catching his attention. He'd seemed so intent on staying... All thought of whether it was a temporary stay outside was cast as the arcanine took off, leaving them completely. A small frown creased the dragon's lips. He'd never know what compelled the fire dog so much to just up and leave like that, especially since he'd seemed intent on staying earlier. But... Torrent understood that groups were not for everyone.

He turned back to the others, who were still intent on hearing a story. He sighed, then nodded. "...All right. But I'm not good at telling stories," he grumbled before flipping through the many memorized stories he'd heard his mate recite to their daughter. After settling on one, he gently cleared his throat and began.


Torrent paused, as his mate did, for effect. He looked at the others, judging their reactions, before moving on.


A sigh escaped the dragonite as the story came to its close, happy that he'd been able to remember it all. "The curse was so terrible of one, it affected all dratini and dragonair. Each form Skye took was cursed, and so those two evolutions have no limbs. At least, that's how the story went..." He glanced to the others, hoping it was enough to lull them to sleep.

((Made that COMPLETELY up on the spot XDDD))

[OOC: Skip, she's snoozing already. |D ]

"...All right. But I'm not good at telling stories," the dragon grumbled before clearing his throat.
Noir beamed, settling in to get comfortable as he rubbed his eyes in fatigue. He listened with a keen ear, his body relaxing at the rumbling, strong voice that reverberated through the dragon.

Before long, the little Cubone was sleeping soundly, his young mind forgetting the horrors of reality.

____________________________

Yue stared at the dragon with an almost child-like innocence, enthralled by his story. She clung to her legs as the dragons' pacing grew quicker, her quiet gasp barely audible as Torrent paused after his dramatic incantation.
Father never used to do this...
I wonder where he is now...
If he's still looking for me...
And what about Ilo...is he okay?
Her mind began to wander and slow as the dragons' words became a soothing background hum. Her heavy lids slowly falling, she yawned and rested her head on her arm. Her defensive position was released as the Riolu fell into a rare and comfortable slumber.

(that was absolutely amazing silv dear!~)

The tiny canine pokemon opens his jaws wide in an unmistakable yawn.
"T-Thank you Torrent.” He says politely before he curls up to sleep.
He keeps his back firmly pressed against the cold walls with all four paws out in front of him. His long tipless tail curls around to rest just under his chin, the scorched tip clutched firmly in his furry paws. It is a paranoid sort of position, designed so that if he is awoken by something unexpected his tail will be ready to paint as his paws ready to run.
His twitching nose picks up the comforting pale cloud of the large Dragonite's scent. The workings of Torrent's mind were still a mystery to the skinny Smeargle but he had shown Cketch many times over he was entirely trustworthy and, though in other circumstances the Smeargle may have offered to take the load off his back and take the first watch Cketch's ordeal has left him both physically and emotionally drained.
He could not trust himself to be of any use...
The Smeargle's paws tighten around his mutilated tail.
Cketch can feel the absence of the tail's brush-like tip like the space where a tooth once was and some perverse belief that it may heal or grow back prompts him to touch the blistering flesh in hopes of reawakening some kind of sensation.
His tail is completely gone...

Cketch keeps his misery to himself, aware that crying will not restore the severed flesh and would only distress Therese further.
The scent of his blood lay thickly on her lips, the poor sweet Marowack...
His blind pupiless eyes slowly close as the Smeargle starts to drift off into sleep, his thoughts becoming increasingly less coherent as he begins to dream.

Torrent gave a small smile to the sleeping kids, each curled and slumbering beside him. While he wasn't completely happy that the riolu was there, much less so close to Noir, he was glad that she was at least out. Their breathing even, his eyes turned to Cketch and Therese, where his smile fell a bit. Therese was already so far gone... at least she was sleeping... And Cketch looked like he wouldn't make the night. Heaving a deep breath, he leaned back against the wall he was propped up on, allowing his head to roll back a little to watch the stars in their endless, slow trek above.



There were no dreams for Torrent, as the rest of his night had been him waking at every small movement and sound, a hair trigger on his sleep. Once the stars began to disappear into a blanket of pinks and purples, he finally gave up on the entire idea. Looking down to the kids, he laid a hand nearly as big as Noir's head onto the little cubone, gently shaking him awake. "...Hey, Kid. Time to wake up." His voice was low, but gentle, not wanting to startle the poor thing. His glance went to the riolu, and he reached to do the same. "Get up, now. Come on." There was little urgency in his tone, so to not alert them. After what sure seemed a peaceful night, he didn't want to be the reason for a bad morning...

The Marowak mumbled and tossed as the morning rose, quietly grasping at her skull as she muttered words under her breath. The Ground-type cracked open a single eye when the voice of Torrent awakening the children slithered into her ears. With a reluctant groan, Therese sat up, the dark bags under her eyes only darkening as she lazily blinked the fatigue away. Although the night's sleep had been better than most, the eternal exhaustion that had sprung within her was relentless, grasping at her ankles and wrists in an attempt to whisper her into an everlasting rest.

Rubbing her eyes with her tainted palms, she tentatively opened her mouth to speak. "Good morning," she mumbled, her voice raspy and dry. Her throat ached for water, awkward coughs sputtering from the Marowak's lips as she struggled to stand. Using her Bone Club as a cane, she heaves her body from the dirty flooring and stumbles from the corner. "Hope you lot had a good night's sleep," Therese's voice was uncharacteristically hostile, her words sharp with a large sprinkling of sarcasm. It only took minutes for the newly infected to realize what she had said, crimson eyes going wide in shock as she covered her mouth. "I-I didn't mean for it to come out that way I swear," she whispered, turning away in shame.

(Gah, I'm so sorry guys, but skip me. I'm really busy, and I probably won't have the time to post this time around. Noir woke up without incident, Yue woke up with a slight start, but didn't overreact)

It seemed everyone else had gotten a good amount of shut-eye, Noir waking normally, the pup waking with a small start and Therese even mumbling a "Good morning". He nodded to her, beginning to stretch his limbs and back, the joints popping and cracking from staying still so long. He was glad that they were able to greet the morning together and out of that blasted cave, but Therese's voice soon cut into his thoughts of content with a raspy, cutting voice. "Hope you lot had a good night's sleep." Torrent turned to her, eyes slightly widened with shock and anxiety, wondering if she'd turned more overnight. Thankfully, it seemed she realized her hostility and turned away, ashamed.

"I-I didn't mean for it to come out that way I swear," she whispered, her tone tinged with the embarrassment and shame he'd heard. He cleared his throat, rising to his feet.

"...It's all right, Therese..." Torrent's low voice rumbled. "...Just... try and keep it together." He strode over to the entrance, spotting the small space where Cketch had been. Blue eyes darted around the room, searching for some trace of the painter's wherabouts when they settled on Therese. Cketch, the only wounded member of their party, suddenly gone without a trace? The thought that maybe he was simply wandering around in a feverish haze came to his mind, but the thought that stuck was that something far more foul was afoot. Eyes narrowing on the marowak, he quickly ran through the events of the night that he'd witnessed in and out of dozing, trying to remember if he'd heard any suspicious sounds. Surely he hadn't slept so hard to sleep through a murder...

"...Therese..." he began slowly, beginning to make his way to her, "...Did you see where Cketch went?"

"...It's all right, Therese... Just... try and keep it together." With a weary nod, the Marowak yawns, gently rubbing her eyes. She began to stretch, extending her arm as far she she can before pausing, switching to flex out her other arm. "...Therese..." Torrent's voice caught her attention, the ground-type turning around to see the Dragon approaching her. "...Did you see where Cketch went?" She froze, glancing over to the area where the Smeargle had slept only to find that he wasn't there.

"Wh-where'd he go?" she mumbled, frantically looking around. "Here was here last night and-" looking up to the Dragonite, who had come closer, she stopped. "Y-You're implying that I killed him?" she whispered, panic rising from the pits of her stomach. "I-I didn't, I swear! I didn't kill him--you saw me, didn't you? I was asleep before anyone else!" she shouts, flailing her hands. "I-It wasn't me! You have to believe me, I would never do something like that to a friend!" Therese backed away, stopping as she bumped into a wall.

"I didn't kill him,"

Noir yawned as he stretched and scratched his belly drowsily, smiling faintly after getting to his feet. The little Cubone picked his plush up and gazed outside, reality setting in once again.

"Hope you lot had a good night's sleep." The Marowak snarled, making the small ground type turn around in surprise. He felt a pang of regret in his chest from the Marowaks' words, but unsure of what to say.
"...It's all right, Therese...Just... try and keep it together." the Dragonite replied, before stomping over to the entrance. Noir began to trod after the dragon when he stopped at the warning signals the dragons' posture was sending.

The hulk of a reptile looked outside before stiffening and slowly making his way back in, his head low and eyes narrowed.
"...Therese...Did you see where Cketch went?" A shiver went down the little Cubones' spine as he looked up at him, and back to the Marowak. Nobody could miss the accusational tone in his voice, whether it was intentional or not. Therese looked about worried at first, as if she were looking for the missing canine. But her face quickly changed as she realized what Torrent was asking.

"Y-You're implying that I killed him? I-I didn't, I swear! I didn't kill him--you saw me, didn't you? I was asleep before anyone else! I-It wasn't me! You have to believe me, I would never do something like that to a friend!"

Noir quietly padded closer to the dragon, his eyes wide with confusion and fear. "...Therese wouldn't hurt us...Maybe...maybe he went for a walk..." He said quietly, his gaze turning to the large entrance as he shuffled past the dragon. "Cketch!" He shouted once, listening carefully for any reply before making his way out into the field and calling out once more.

_________________

Yue watched with a wide, empty gaze as everything began to unfold. They were talking about the missing canine, trying to find where he disappeared to.
...Wasn't her. He's gone now. Out into the sky. Blind painter for a blind world.
The dragons' large form obscured the movements of Noir, which made the Riolu get to her feet in anxiety.
Not safe out there.
She trotted towards Noir, pausing at the door to look back at the others.
"The blind one. He was left broken. His voice got scared away, and he forgot who he was." She said softly, her paw going to her throat to emphasize what was said. A subtle look of strain passed across her maw, as if she was frustrated at her own words. Looking back outside, she ran out into the brightening day.

(I'm so sorry this took so long. Haven't been having a very good week. Yue speaks in riddles and metaphors. I left it vague, so they can take it however they please.)

"Here was here last night and-" Therese began, but cut herelf off when she realized what he'd meant. "Y-You're implying that I killed him?" The question left her lips as a fearful whisper, her eyes widening with the realization of the very real, but silent accusation. Torrent gave no notion of an answer; choosing to silently watch her reaction with hard, yet sad eyes. "I-I didn't, I swear! I didn't kill him--you saw me, didn't you? I was asleep before anyone else!" she cried in her defense, flailing a little. "I-It wasn't me! You have to believe me, I would never do something like that to a friend!" Therese backed away, stopping as she bumped into a wall.

"I didn't kill him."

Torrent sighed, then hung his head a little before turning to the door, studying the deceptive cheeriness of the morning. There was no way that Cketch could have wandered out on his own far. With his wounds, even thinking such a thing was flirting with death. Smeargle relied soley on their tails for attacks, which Cketch now lacked. Coupled with the already heavy wounds he was already carrying, lack of food, water and sleep... he should have been passed out this entire time, if not for the next few days. But Therese... she was so adamant, and that odd twinge in her voice didn't come back up. As far as he was concerned, she was still herself...

...So what the hell happened?

"...Therese wouldn't hurt us...Maybe...maybe he went for a walk..." Noir commented softly, going past Torrent to take a few steps outside. While Torrent doubted it, he frowned slightly when Noir began to call for the artisan. "Cketch!" he cried, and once more. Torrent made his way to him, placing a large, muscular arm in front of the boy before shaking his head.

"You don't want to attract bad things, Noir," his low voice rumbled gently in a bid to quiet the child. "We'll find him... soon enough." Likely dead or hanging from some monster's mouth, but the dragonite knew that he'd have to be around here somewhere...

"The blind one. He was left broken. His voice got scared away, and he forgot who he was."

Torrent blinked as the riolu's stupefying words rolled over and over in his head before he finally booted them out-- he'd never been all that great at riddles. "...Sure, Kid," was his curt comment before he sighed and took a look around, straining to remember what exactly was nearby. This side of Rock Tunnel was close to Cerulean and the Power Plant. While Lavender was quiet enough with undead, that wasn't much far from the truth without the world ending. Lavender had never been very populated. Cerulean... might be a dangerous goal. He recalled it as lively, with a spritely Gym Leader. The power plant may have to be their destination... We can't stay here forever...

"...Therese wouldn't hurt us...Maybe...maybe he went for a walk..." The panicked Marowak gave a grateful nod towards her pre-evolution. She watched quietly as he padded outside, calling for the blind Smeargle whom had gone missing. She herself shuffled towards the building's entrance, sparing a peak outside in hopes that maybe the painter had gone out for some fresh air. "C-Cketch?" she called out gently, worry nagging at her words. She didn't kill him... She was asleep through the whole night--there was no way that Therese would've awoken and devoured the blind Pokemon...right?

"We'll find him... soon enough." She paused, tentatively taking a step outside to survey her surroundings. She could see much better now, the Earth dappled by beams of sun. "The blind one. He was left broken. His voice got scared away, and he forgot who he was." Therese turns around to glance at the Riolu, blinking a few times in a futile attempt to interpret what she had said. The attempt itself only made her growing headache worse, and decided to pay no mind to it. Carefully walking over to a small pond, she took a look at her reflection, only to feel tears threatening to overflow from her eyes at what she saw.

A stranger was staring back at her, face filthy with patches of grime and blood, eyes a bright crimson that almost seemed to glow. Her once-warm, earth-like scales had bled out it's colours, replaced now by a dull, blossoming purple. She frowned, before looking away, glancing towards Torrent. "What's our first goal for this morning?"

"You don't want to attract bad things, Noir. We'll find him... soon enough." The dragon rumbled, his already sour face deepening as he blocked the childs' way. The little Cubone stared up from behind the skull mask, his face brightening. "So we're gonna go look for him?..."

"The blind one. He was left broken. His voice got scared away, and he forgot who he was." The Riolu said softly, turning everyones' attention to her. The Cubone stared at her, pondering on her words.
He forgot who he was?...
"...Sure, Kid," The Dragonite snorted, as if distracted by something.
The little Cubone shuffled back to the pale Riolu, his gaze soft and curious.
"He forgot?...How do you forget who you are?..." He asked, gazing up at her. The white canine took a step back gingerly, a sudden confusion rising in her.
"...Sometimes...it's easy. Too easy..." She whispered, her throat tightening. "You eat, and sleep, and eat...run in the sun, feel like you're alive..." The Riolu shuddered, blindly walking forward as she stared at her feet. "...Feel everything...sometimes you feel too much..." She stared back at the others, her large eyes glistening with tears. With a small whimper, she pulled down the goggles from her head and placed them over her moistened eyes. With a turn of her heel, she dashed away from the small group and towards the town over the hills.

Noir watched as he clutched at his stuffed animal, his eyes wide with worry. While he didn't understand all of what she said, there was a truth in her words, and in her voice. But as she covered her eyes with the weird things on her head and ran, Noir jumped forward in protest.
"W-wait! No come back!" He shouted, dashing forward as quickly as he could to follow. "Yue!"

(I was thinking that Yue is going to go look for Cketch on her own. She wants to find him, as a way of finding a bit of herself in helping him. But maybe when she gets into Cerulean, she can find the harbinger that will attack the team? They can fight a bit, and she'll run and hide after she gets a bit roughed up. Noir will probably find a way to go find her, either secretly or with the others. From there, we can probably start the whole plan. Yue will blame herself for the following attack, and everyone gets to die, lol)