Roleplay

1452

May 22, 2019 05:20:10

@skiatha @carnifex

"You can't be serious." Mila looked between Sinclair and Ajax, disbelief leaching into her face. "You do realise that he is a Pokemon. Certainly, he is more astute than most, but-"

Her vision blurred, and she was abruptly much farther from the others than she was supposed to be when Lin, apparently sick of trying to drag her across the sand, used Teleport instead. A sudden surge of anxiety fuelled rage threatened to overwhelm her, and she ripped her arm away from Lin.

"Enough!" Dimly, she registered that Ajax and Sinclair were barely 20 meters away and watching her scream the stress and frustration of the past few nightmare days at a Pokemon. It wasn't a great look. "How dare you? You're my Pokemon!"

Her hands shook, aching to lash out the way she'd seen every other trainer do. An action she had always found abhorrent, and the thought of which, even now, sent a chill through her bones. Fortunately, or perhaps not, Lin shrieked back, high-pitched and operatic, and the sound shocked her into silence.

He was shaking too, so violently that his legs seemed to threaten collapse. His chest fluttered with quick, birdlike breaths. Terror was etched deep into his stance, and Mila felt herself inexplicably deflate at the sight.

"...Alright. Fine. Fine. Do as you wish."

Lin went back for the bag first, blinking out of sight and reappearing a few seconds later with it slung over his back. And then he set off, head low and refusing to make eye contact, in a direction vaguely opposite to where the sun had come up.

@skiatha @ayle

Sinclair watched Mila scream and Lin shriek, felt some sort of pity for the both of them. Lin was smart, and were his trainer less incompetent, maybe he could've been a great fighter, or something. And Mila, who seemed so massively out of her depth, as to be expected for a rich. She couldn't handle Octavian, couldn't handle Lin, stuck in the middle of the desert where no money nor politics could save her. They stifled their snort of bitter laughter--not like any of them were really doing well in this scenario. They took another precious sip of water and swished it around their mouth, as if that could make it last longer, and then Sinclair let out a sigh as they let their feet carry them onwards to follow Lin. It was their best shot at this point.

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May 23, 2019 21:30:32

@skiatha @ayle

Sinclair watched Mila scream and Lin shriek, felt some sort of pity for the both of them. Lin was smart, and were his trainer less incompetent, maybe he could've been a great fighter, or something. And Mila, who seemed so massively out of her depth, as to be expected for a rich. She couldn't handle Octavian, couldn't handle Lin, stuck in the middle of the desert where no money nor politics could save her. They stifled their snort of bitter laughter--not like any of them were really doing well in this scenario. They took another precious sip of water and swished it around their mouth, as if that could make it last longer, and then Sinclair let out a sigh as they let their feet carry them onwards to follow Lin. It was their best shot at this point.

@Ayle @Carnifex

Anywhere else, Mila's voice and Lin's accompanying screeches would have been drowned out by the ambient noise of a crowd or the city. However, here, in the middle of nowhere, the sounds carried across the sand to Ajax jarringly clear, so loud that he couldn't help but flinch. The scene was almost ironic, though, given how just moments ago the woman had chastised him for acting like a child, but Ajax chose not to dwell on it.

After an uncomfortable pause, they began to follow after the small pokemon, with the sun baring down on their backs. Ajax could only hope that Lin had sensed some civilization, or even water.

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May 24, 2019 13:10:17

@Ayle @Carnifex

Anywhere else, Mila's voice and Lin's accompanying screeches would have been drowned out by the ambient noise of a crowd or the city. However, here, in the middle of nowhere, the sounds carried across the sand to Ajax jarringly clear, so loud that he couldn't help but flinch. The scene was almost ironic, though, given how just moments ago the woman had chastised him for acting like a child, but Ajax chose not to dwell on it.

After an uncomfortable pause, they began to follow after the small pokemon, with the sun baring down on their backs. Ajax could only hope that Lin had sensed some civilization, or even water.

@skiatha @carnifex

Lin lead them on a meandering path along the sand, occasionally stopping to cast about, brow furrowed. He kept his head down otherwise, refusing to make eye contact with anyone, least of all Mila.

Whatever he's looking for must be well hidden, thought Mila, wearily, as they crested yet another dune. The anger had left, and all she felt now was exhaustion. They had long since left the path behind, and it felt increasingly like their survival hinged entirely on Lin, a Pokemon, who had lead his entire life in cities and buildings and civilisation.

She wasn't sure how long they had been walking, when Lin abruptly stopped in his tracks. Mila, who had had her attention focused on the sand and not falling, all but walked into him, before she looked up and realised why.

In front of them, after all, lay a field of dessicated Type: Null bodies, scattered between the charred skeletons of tanks, vehicles, and other weaponry, which had seemingly materialised from thin air.

"Wh- what happened here?"

Lin hummed a low, warning note. From the edges of her vision, Mila saw his stance shift to something defensive, and she swallowed, nervous. Of course, we aren't done yet, are we.

Ayle

1452

May 29, 2019 04:07:13

@skiatha @carnifex

Lin lead them on a meandering path along the sand, occasionally stopping to cast about, brow furrowed. He kept his head down otherwise, refusing to make eye contact with anyone, least of all Mila.

Whatever he's looking for must be well hidden, thought Mila, wearily, as they crested yet another dune. The anger had left, and all she felt now was exhaustion. They had long since left the path behind, and it felt increasingly like their survival hinged entirely on Lin, a Pokemon, who had lead his entire life in cities and buildings and civilisation.

She wasn't sure how long they had been walking, when Lin abruptly stopped in his tracks. Mila, who had had her attention focused on the sand and not falling, all but walked into him, before she looked up and realised why.

In front of them, after all, lay a field of dessicated Type: Null bodies, scattered between the charred skeletons of tanks, vehicles, and other weaponry, which had seemingly materialised from thin air.

"Wh- what happened here?"

Lin hummed a low, warning note. From the edges of her vision, Mila saw his stance shift to something defensive, and she swallowed, nervous. Of course, we aren't done yet, are we.

@skiatha @ayle

A weird sense of dread crept over Sinclair as their scenery shifted abruptly, from open desert to what seemed like the home of a battlefield. They shuddered at the sight of the Nullies--you couldn't pay Sinclair enough to handle those beasts, even remotely. And then there were the tanks, and all sorts of rusted over and charred weapons, vehicles, and Sinclair was pretty sure they had kicked over some sort of bone from... probably a person. They were glad they didn't have a weak stomach.

As Lin hummed, Sinclair tensed--they had spent enough time around wary pokemon to recognize a defensive stance when they saw one, which meant Lin sensed something. And then, over the horizon...

"Company." Sinclair said faintly, their face going slightly pale as they realized what they were seeing. Pokemon. Big ones. They could see several, a charizard, braviary and skarmory in the sky and a garchomp, raichu and rhyperior on the ground. They held Aoife's pokeball in their hand, a sharp frown on their face. It was really, really bad odds--six on four, all those were all pretty big pokemon. Even if Ajax's death weasel was one of the best, she couldn't take on these odds.

"Really wish you had let me keep my gun." Sinclair remarked to Ajax, although there really wasn't much snark to it, just a forlorn tone as they watched the pokemon come closer. They released Aoife regardless, the growlithe bristling and snarling as soon as she materialized, sensing her owner's distress.

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May 30, 2019 11:55:29

@skiatha @ayle

A weird sense of dread crept over Sinclair as their scenery shifted abruptly, from open desert to what seemed like the home of a battlefield. They shuddered at the sight of the Nullies--you couldn't pay Sinclair enough to handle those beasts, even remotely. And then there were the tanks, and all sorts of rusted over and charred weapons, vehicles, and Sinclair was pretty sure they had kicked over some sort of bone from... probably a person. They were glad they didn't have a weak stomach.

As Lin hummed, Sinclair tensed--they had spent enough time around wary pokemon to recognize a defensive stance when they saw one, which meant Lin sensed something. And then, over the horizon...

"Company." Sinclair said faintly, their face going slightly pale as they realized what they were seeing. Pokemon. Big ones. They could see several, a charizard, braviary and skarmory in the sky and a garchomp, raichu and rhyperior on the ground. They held Aoife's pokeball in their hand, a sharp frown on their face. It was really, really bad odds--six on four, all those were all pretty big pokemon. Even if Ajax's death weasel was one of the best, she couldn't take on these odds.

"Really wish you had let me keep my gun." Sinclair remarked to Ajax, although there really wasn't much snark to it, just a forlorn tone as they watched the pokemon come closer. They released Aoife regardless, the growlithe bristling and snarling as soon as she materialized, sensing her owner's distress.

@Ayle @Carnifex

Ajax had finished his bottle to the last drop about two miles or so back. For the past few hours, the only sounds he could hear were his own ragged breaths and the shuffling of feet against increasingly sandy ground.

Ajax always had a notion that, given his occupation, he would probably be killed by a pokemon one day. He just didn't realize it was going to be this way--led across a desert by a Kirlia until he died from heat stroke or thirst, whichever came first. What a way to go.

He nearly didn't notice the group had stopped until he felt Nem give a sudden shudder within his pokeball. Looking up with dry eyes, for a moment Ajax didn't know what he was seeing. It had all been hidden from sight by the bordering sand dunes, which formed a large depression into the earth; but now they were standing right above it.

A graveyard, made of rusted metal and sandblown machinery and grotesque skeletons, half pokemon and half steel. Type Nulls. Their bodies, along with tanks and other destroyed weaponry, littered the field before them for as far as he could see.

"Company," he heard Sinclair say, for once sounding less than confident. Or maybe it was just the heat--

His pokeball gave another, more violent shake this time, just as they caught sight of the approaching pokemon that seemingly appeared from the shimmering heat waves above the graveyard. There were six of them that he could spot, three in the air and three on the ground. As they came closer, Ajax shifted a hand to his pokeball, then paused at Sinclair's comment, switching to the guns holstered at his side. He muttered under his breath,

"Don't move, their trainers are probably nearby."

Strangely though, Ajax didn't catch sight of any mods these pokemon had, be it accessories or augmentations, nor any visible identification. He tensed as the largest of the flying pokemon, the Charizard, suddenly made a tight dive from above, landing heavily about 10 yards away to their right. Sand billowed from underneath it feet, and its flame-tipped tail lashed from side to side behind its hulking frame. Its eyes narrowed as it regarded Ajax and the rest of his group with nothing short of hostility, and let out a low, rumbling growl.

The pokemon that were approaching from the ground suddenly stopped, standing still in the midst of the wreckage. The other two in the sky wheeled silently above--had to keep an eye on them, Ajax reminded himself. He didn't move, watching as the Charizard regarded them, a faint snarl on its lips as it took several deep huffs in their direction.

Then it took a lumbering step forward. Ajax was about to move to the front of the group and draw his gun when he suddenly realized its focus was no longer on any of them. At least, not any of the humans.

It was looking at Lin. The Charizard's head tilted as it gazed down at the Kirlia with an almost curious expression, making a deep rumbling sound in its throat.

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May 31, 2019 22:02:34

@Ayle @Carnifex

Ajax had finished his bottle to the last drop about two miles or so back. For the past few hours, the only sounds he could hear were his own ragged breaths and the shuffling of feet against increasingly sandy ground.

Ajax always had a notion that, given his occupation, he would probably be killed by a pokemon one day. He just didn't realize it was going to be this way--led across a desert by a Kirlia until he died from heat stroke or thirst, whichever came first. What a way to go.

He nearly didn't notice the group had stopped until he felt Nem give a sudden shudder within his pokeball. Looking up with dry eyes, for a moment Ajax didn't know what he was seeing. It had all been hidden from sight by the bordering sand dunes, which formed a large depression into the earth; but now they were standing right above it.

A graveyard, made of rusted metal and sandblown machinery and grotesque skeletons, half pokemon and half steel. Type Nulls. Their bodies, along with tanks and other destroyed weaponry, littered the field before them for as far as he could see.

"Company," he heard Sinclair say, for once sounding less than confident. Or maybe it was just the heat--

His pokeball gave another, more violent shake this time, just as they caught sight of the approaching pokemon that seemingly appeared from the shimmering heat waves above the graveyard. There were six of them that he could spot, three in the air and three on the ground. As they came closer, Ajax shifted a hand to his pokeball, then paused at Sinclair's comment, switching to the guns holstered at his side. He muttered under his breath,

"Don't move, their trainers are probably nearby."

Strangely though, Ajax didn't catch sight of any mods these pokemon had, be it accessories or augmentations, nor any visible identification. He tensed as the largest of the flying pokemon, the Charizard, suddenly made a tight dive from above, landing heavily about 10 yards away to their right. Sand billowed from underneath it feet, and its flame-tipped tail lashed from side to side behind its hulking frame. Its eyes narrowed as it regarded Ajax and the rest of his group with nothing short of hostility, and let out a low, rumbling growl.

The pokemon that were approaching from the ground suddenly stopped, standing still in the midst of the wreckage. The other two in the sky wheeled silently above--had to keep an eye on them, Ajax reminded himself. He didn't move, watching as the Charizard regarded them, a faint snarl on its lips as it took several deep huffs in their direction.

Then it took a lumbering step forward. Ajax was about to move to the front of the group and draw his gun when he suddenly realized its focus was no longer on any of them. At least, not any of the humans.

It was looking at Lin. The Charizard's head tilted as it gazed down at the Kirlia with an almost curious expression, making a deep rumbling sound in its throat.

@skiatha @carnifex

Mila sucked in a breath at the Pokemon that appeared on the horizon, her initial thought one of relief, that oh thank god, there must be people nearby.

It was quickly replaced with confusion, and then anxiety, when she realised that nobody seemed to be accompanying the Pokemon. And the orange Char-something was laNDING

She flinched away when it hit the ground, one arm coming up to shield her eyes from the flying sand. The heat from its tail didn't seem like it should have been distinguishable from the already sweltering environment, but somehow it felt like the temperature shifted up just a few degrees.

Lin, however, stared straight ahead, looking up at the Charizard with wide eyes and a slack jaw. His gaze kept darting between the Charizard and the rest of the group. He took a step closer, hands twisting together over his heart, and chirruping softly.

The Charizard rumbled, and Mila jerked into action. "Lin, get back!" Her legs had, at some point, taken her those few steps forward to place her in the usual position of just in front of Lin, much closer to the Charizard than she would have liked.

It sniffed, and then snarled, showing off far too many yellowed teeth. The blast of hot air washed over Mila's face and she wrinkled her nose at the smell, but she held her ground and tried not to think about how this was a Pokemon that could probably barbecue her in a second.

Of course, it then proceeded to attempt exactly that, rearing, wings flared and flames licking the corners of its mouth, and Mila realised with crystal clarity that she was almost certainly about to die. But Lin was the only thing I have left and by god, I'm sick of l-

Lin screamed and pulled, as he had done so many times over not very many days, and blinked into existence on Mila's shoulders, arms wrapped around her head. Stop!

The constant thrum of Mila's thoughts in his head still tasted of frustrationexhaustionprotectwhat'smine, but Lin refocussed on the Charizard which had no trainer in front of them.

He could feel it, so close now. A pull unlike anything he'd felt before, something which felt older and more powerful than he could have imagined. A remnant of it cloaked the Pokemon that had come to meet them, warm and welcoming.

Mila was shaking her head, snapping at him to get off her. The sharpness of her tone rang discordant to the emotions Lin sensed, but he was used to that, and this was something he needed to do.

He chirped and whistled his answer to the Charizard's question, trying to convey as much as he could who they were, that these humans weren't like the others, we're just passing through, that, please, we need shelter and rest. He also told her about Nemesis, and Octavian, and Aoife, as much as he could. This wasn't the first time they had seen battling Pokemon, and Lin could feel the Charizard's pity.

When he finished, the Charizard paused for a second, before she turned and bellowed. The Garchomp looked up at the summons, launching into a run that brought him to the group in seconds. Garchomp were fast. The Braviary landed as well, and the three started a muttered discussion. The Charizard was for it, and the other two were reluctant, but the Garchomp seemed like it might be convinced? Lin wasn't entirely sure; their emotions weren't anywhere near as clear as Mila's, who had fallen silent and was broadcasting intense curiosity.

Eventually, they came to a decision. The Braviary took to the air again, meeting up with the Skarmory and flying back in the direction they had come. The Charizard lifted off a few seconds later, but not before the Garchomp huffed and lashed his tail, beckoning them to follow.

((oof what a monster post))

Ayle

1452

June 01, 2019 18:29:10

@skiatha @carnifex

Mila sucked in a breath at the Pokemon that appeared on the horizon, her initial thought one of relief, that oh thank god, there must be people nearby.

It was quickly replaced with confusion, and then anxiety, when she realised that nobody seemed to be accompanying the Pokemon. And the orange Char-something was laNDING

She flinched away when it hit the ground, one arm coming up to shield her eyes from the flying sand. The heat from its tail didn't seem like it should have been distinguishable from the already sweltering environment, but somehow it felt like the temperature shifted up just a few degrees.

Lin, however, stared straight ahead, looking up at the Charizard with wide eyes and a slack jaw. His gaze kept darting between the Charizard and the rest of the group. He took a step closer, hands twisting together over his heart, and chirruping softly.

The Charizard rumbled, and Mila jerked into action. "Lin, get back!" Her legs had, at some point, taken her those few steps forward to place her in the usual position of just in front of Lin, much closer to the Charizard than she would have liked.

It sniffed, and then snarled, showing off far too many yellowed teeth. The blast of hot air washed over Mila's face and she wrinkled her nose at the smell, but she held her ground and tried not to think about how this was a Pokemon that could probably barbecue her in a second.

Of course, it then proceeded to attempt exactly that, rearing, wings flared and flames licking the corners of its mouth, and Mila realised with crystal clarity that she was almost certainly about to die. But Lin was the only thing I have left and by god, I'm sick of l-

Lin screamed and pulled, as he had done so many times over not very many days, and blinked into existence on Mila's shoulders, arms wrapped around her head. Stop!

The constant thrum of Mila's thoughts in his head still tasted of frustrationexhaustionprotectwhat'smine, but Lin refocussed on the Charizard which had no trainer in front of them.

He could feel it, so close now. A pull unlike anything he'd felt before, something which felt older and more powerful than he could have imagined. A remnant of it cloaked the Pokemon that had come to meet them, warm and welcoming.

Mila was shaking her head, snapping at him to get off her. The sharpness of her tone rang discordant to the emotions Lin sensed, but he was used to that, and this was something he needed to do.

He chirped and whistled his answer to the Charizard's question, trying to convey as much as he could who they were, that these humans weren't like the others, we're just passing through, that, please, we need shelter and rest. He also told her about Nemesis, and Octavian, and Aoife, as much as he could. This wasn't the first time they had seen battling Pokemon, and Lin could feel the Charizard's pity.

When he finished, the Charizard paused for a second, before she turned and bellowed. The Garchomp looked up at the summons, launching into a run that brought him to the group in seconds. Garchomp were fast. The Braviary landed as well, and the three started a muttered discussion. The Charizard was for it, and the other two were reluctant, but the Garchomp seemed like it might be convinced? Lin wasn't entirely sure; their emotions weren't anywhere near as clear as Mila's, who had fallen silent and was broadcasting intense curiosity.

Eventually, they came to a decision. The Braviary took to the air again, meeting up with the Skarmory and flying back in the direction they had come. The Charizard lifted off a few seconds later, but not before the Garchomp huffed and lashed his tail, beckoning them to follow.

((oof what a monster post))

@ayle @skiatha

Sinclair tensed as the charizard reared, a command on the tip of their tongue--Aoife couldn't block much of the blast, but maybe she could shove Mila out of the way in time, or--but then Lin moved first, warbling at the great beast. There must've been some sort of exchange, and they could tell that the tension in the air had dissolved a touch. They were still in danger, but they weren't about to get roasted on a spit. And then the group of pokemon separated, the garchomp gesturing for them to follow.

Sinclair wasn't quite ready to give an exhale of relief, because they still weren't sure what was happening, the nervousness choking up their throat some. All they could rely on was what seemed to be some feral pokemon and Lin, and that was terrible odds, which left them basically helpless. It caused a bit of panic to thrum in their chest, even as they carefully forced their expression into a mask of neutrality.

They would die out here and no one would even tell Grace what happened to them, they were a terrible younger sibling, and it wasn't fair that this of all things was finally going to be the thing that killed them, and then Aoife pressed against their leg, and that was a little bit of comfort. They forced themselves to relax slightly, get their thoughts back into order and not let themselves fall apart now. They were better than this, the heat must've been getting to them.

It was a bit of a selfish thing, but they let the growlithe stay out of her pokeball as they convinced themselves to follow after the garchomp, glancing at the others and trying to gauge their reactions. Forcing the tremor out of their voice, and forcing a loose smile, they shrugged and said, "Damned if we do, damned if we don't, huh?" They turned to look at the massive garchomp, head tilted slightly. "I didn't think there were that many ferals out and about these days, and certainly none of this size. Goes to show you anything's possible." The words held their familiar bravado, but their voice was still a little bit more subdued than was typical for them, like they were afraid if they talked too loud the garchomp might whirl on them.

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June 03, 2019 13:03:16

@ayle @skiatha

Sinclair tensed as the charizard reared, a command on the tip of their tongue--Aoife couldn't block much of the blast, but maybe she could shove Mila out of the way in time, or--but then Lin moved first, warbling at the great beast. There must've been some sort of exchange, and they could tell that the tension in the air had dissolved a touch. They were still in danger, but they weren't about to get roasted on a spit. And then the group of pokemon separated, the garchomp gesturing for them to follow.

Sinclair wasn't quite ready to give an exhale of relief, because they still weren't sure what was happening, the nervousness choking up their throat some. All they could rely on was what seemed to be some feral pokemon and Lin, and that was terrible odds, which left them basically helpless. It caused a bit of panic to thrum in their chest, even as they carefully forced their expression into a mask of neutrality.

They would die out here and no one would even tell Grace what happened to them, they were a terrible younger sibling, and it wasn't fair that this of all things was finally going to be the thing that killed them, and then Aoife pressed against their leg, and that was a little bit of comfort. They forced themselves to relax slightly, get their thoughts back into order and not let themselves fall apart now. They were better than this, the heat must've been getting to them.

It was a bit of a selfish thing, but they let the growlithe stay out of her pokeball as they convinced themselves to follow after the garchomp, glancing at the others and trying to gauge their reactions. Forcing the tremor out of their voice, and forcing a loose smile, they shrugged and said, "Damned if we do, damned if we don't, huh?" They turned to look at the massive garchomp, head tilted slightly. "I didn't think there were that many ferals out and about these days, and certainly none of this size. Goes to show you anything's possible." The words held their familiar bravado, but their voice was still a little bit more subdued than was typical for them, like they were afraid if they talked too loud the garchomp might whirl on them.

@Carnifex @Ayle

It had just occurred to Ajax that the Charizard was in fact a wild pokemon the same moment it suddenly reared back, revealing a glowing inferno growing in the back of its throat.

A real, wild Charizard. A shame that would be his last thought. He doubted he could get his gun out in time and put enough bullets into it to put it down before getting roasted to a crisp.

But then a warbling scream rang above their group, and the dragon abruptly paused. The Kirlia was now sitting atop Mila's head and appeared to be...communicating with it? Ajax blinked at the exchange, dumbfounded, as Lin made a series of bird-like noises at the Charizard. It grumbled back, and after a moment's pause, begrudgingly turned and called to its companions.

"What the hell?" He breathed, watching as the other wild pokemon seemed to have a heated discussion right before his eyes. It was almost human-like, the way they grumbled and snarled and rumbled at each other, and Ajax wasn't sure if it was actually happening or if he had passed into a hallucination. But it appeared that both Mila and Sinclair had seen the Garchomp motion for them to follow, and Ajax felt his legs start forward after them. He barely noted Sinclair's comments, instead focusing on not tripping over the sand as they made their way down into the graveyard.

He wasn't exactly sure how long they had been walking, but he felt something change--something in the air. It was a subtle shift at first, and Ajax couldn't immediately put a finger on it, but it felt almost tangible, causing a wave of relief to wash over him.

Water.

There was moisture in the air, and the temperature steadily shifted downwards from the brutal heat that had surrounded them moments earlier, even though the environment was the same.

Before Ajax could attempt to grasp what was happening, the scenery abruptly dropped away around them, as if a veil had parted from before their eyes. The feeling was not dissimilar to entering and exiting through a portal, except they couldn't see it-- only feel it. The last lingering skeletons of machinery de-materialized, and was instead replaced with--

"That's...impossible." Ajax's voice came out in a croak as his eyes widened at the scene before them; at something that shouldn't exist.

A lush oasis spread ahead of their group where previously they had only seen open desert. Ajax stared, casting a look back at the way they came. The image of the desert was still there, but it lay behind what looked like a shimmering, rippling wall of energy. It surrounded the entire place, disappearing into the horizon on both sides for as far as he could see. It took him a moment to find his voice again.

"I think we've found a Sanctuary."

((updated the first page gif ovo))

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June 04, 2019 23:33:39

@Carnifex @Ayle

It had just occurred to Ajax that the Charizard was in fact a wild pokemon the same moment it suddenly reared back, revealing a glowing inferno growing in the back of its throat.

A real, wild Charizard. A shame that would be his last thought. He doubted he could get his gun out in time and put enough bullets into it to put it down before getting roasted to a crisp.

But then a warbling scream rang above their group, and the dragon abruptly paused. The Kirlia was now sitting atop Mila's head and appeared to be...communicating with it? Ajax blinked at the exchange, dumbfounded, as Lin made a series of bird-like noises at the Charizard. It grumbled back, and after a moment's pause, begrudgingly turned and called to its companions.

"What the hell?" He breathed, watching as the other wild pokemon seemed to have a heated discussion right before his eyes. It was almost human-like, the way they grumbled and snarled and rumbled at each other, and Ajax wasn't sure if it was actually happening or if he had passed into a hallucination. But it appeared that both Mila and Sinclair had seen the Garchomp motion for them to follow, and Ajax felt his legs start forward after them. He barely noted Sinclair's comments, instead focusing on not tripping over the sand as they made their way down into the graveyard.

He wasn't exactly sure how long they had been walking, but he felt something change--something in the air. It was a subtle shift at first, and Ajax couldn't immediately put a finger on it, but it felt almost tangible, causing a wave of relief to wash over him.

Water.

There was moisture in the air, and the temperature steadily shifted downwards from the brutal heat that had surrounded them moments earlier, even though the environment was the same.

Before Ajax could attempt to grasp what was happening, the scenery abruptly dropped away around them, as if a veil had parted from before their eyes. The feeling was not dissimilar to entering and exiting through a portal, except they couldn't see it-- only feel it. The last lingering skeletons of machinery de-materialized, and was instead replaced with--

"That's...impossible." Ajax's voice came out in a croak as his eyes widened at the scene before them; at something that shouldn't exist.

A lush oasis spread ahead of their group where previously they had only seen open desert. Ajax stared, casting a look back at the way they came. The image of the desert was still there, but it lay behind what looked like a shimmering, rippling wall of energy. It surrounded the entire place, disappearing into the horizon on both sides for as far as he could see. It took him a moment to find his voice again.

"I think we've found a Sanctuary."

((updated the first page gif ovo))

Last edited on Jun 04, 2019 23:35:37 by Skiatha

@skiatha @carnifex

((oooh that's such a pretty gif! Nice!!))

Mila took a few seconds to follow the Garchomp when it turned away, and only started to move after it when Lin hopped to the ground and tugged lightly on her arm.

Her heartbeat seemed to clog her throat. The exchange between the Pokemon was something she hadn't seen before, except in Lin, whose eyes were now shining with something like anticipation. They met up with the other two Pokemon, and they formed a loose triangle around the three humans. Again, without any sort of command.

Amazing. Amazing. This is just like Lin. If I could just find out more-!

Her gaze shifted between the three Pokemon on the ground, and the Charizard in the air. Her exhaustion faded to the background, drowned by a sudden wave of adrenaline. So engrossed was she in watching their guards that she barely noticed the change as they passed the barrier, only looking up when Lin squeaked in awe.

She followed suit, gasping quietly. Oh, I could make so much money. The oasis was beautiful and a more than welcome respite, but what really caught her attention were the Pokemon.

So many Pokemon, and not a human in sight. Ajax's mutterings about a Sanctuary rang faint bells of old myths, and the wonder started to sink in. A Sanctuary! Oh my god, even just as breeding stock- are they all like Lin? There'd almost certainly be a market, especially given the current trends. I'd be able to rebuild.

Somehow, that thought was sour. Mila watched a Maractus chase a Rockruff across a bare patch of rock, a Salandit? Salazzle? open an eye to watch before curling back up to sun itself.

Octavian's Pokeball was shaking violently at her side, and a glance down showed Octavian clawing at its confines. She picked it up, but didn't release it; who knew what it would do, especially in this situation. There were already too many uncontrollable variables.

The air shifted, suddenly tense. Mila glanced around, and met the eyes of dozens of wild, likely dangerous Pokemon. Their presence had been noticed.

Ayle