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Post by Atticus on Dec 30, 2015 11:59:26 GMT -5
Winter was getting a little... restless. She had explored every nook and cranny of the ranch, played with all of the toys, and bothered almost all of the other Pokémon. She learned one day, listening to the stories of some older 'mons, that there was actually a world outside of the ranch. Immediately following, Win yearned to see it.
She was small enough to wiggle through the fence, and better yet, evade the attention of her friends and family. Really, the little Eevee would have loved for them to join her, but they were always telling her to stay within the white picket, that she thought they maybe were too scared to leave. Well, not her!
The fence didn't give her any sort of trouble. With the slightest of squeezes, the fox cub was through. Even the grass already felt different! She whisked down the rolling hill towards a dense forest. The smell of food and comfort washed away behind her as she welcomed the strong tang of pine and flowers, as well as a whole mix of other scents she couldn't identify.
She bounded through the undergrowth, tripping over roots, but learning quickly to try and avoid them. But she was new to the terrain; she had no idea what other dangers were out there for a little 'vee like herself.
So, it was not so unbelievable when the beautiful smell of rose lured her in, only to get her caught in the middle of the prickly bush.
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Dec 30, 2015 12:30:13 GMT -5
Entei was not one for a leisurely stroll; even with an indefinite lifespan, walking simply took too long, and leaping from height to height was much more convenient for scoping out the area anyway. But every now and then, something he saw from above brought him onto the lower ground.
From a precipice near the Lake of Rage he caught sight of a tiny cream-colored creature slinking aimlessly through the flowers. When the little creature wandered into a rose bush and didn't come out, thee fire dog could immediately tell that its decision was not intentional. He paused for a moment, deliberating. It was not like he was on a schedule; no one was expecting him, although he was sure his arrival was highly anticipated. And what kind of civil servant would he be if he did not stop to help a poor trapped child?
He descended noiselessly into the flowers behind the little creature and approached slowly. A fluffy cream-and-white tail was all that he could deliberately make out of the trapped creature, but he recognized the pattern. An Eevee. He should have known. The little creatures seemed to have a knack for getting themselves into trouble.
He caught a claw in the bush's main branch and carefully pulled it aside. He wanted the creature free, but there was no reason to uproot the bush. It bent easily under his paw, and he tugged the last prickly branch away from the Eevee with his teeth.
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Post by Atticus on Dec 30, 2015 12:39:41 GMT -5
Raikou paused as Entei made a silent detour from their intended route. That was odd.
"Where is he going?" the saber-tooth asked the Beast beside him, as if Suicune would have any better idea. The blue Legendary merely shrugged his shoulders and continued on their path to Pokémon Village. The golden tiger flashed another look at where the Lion-Dog had disappeared before following after his comrade. Entei would catch up.
Meanwhile, down in the woods, the Eevee rolled back onto her bum after being freed. It was such a relief; she was small enough that the thorns had barely penetrated her skin, but the thorny scraping was very uncomfortable and irritating. Only one on her paw had gotten deep enough to draw blood, and it was only a speck at that.
Win looked up at her saviour, staring wide-eyed as the massive, and royal-looking Beast in front of her. She had never seen anyone quite like him! "Whoa," she gasped, holding her paw to her chest. He looked so... powerful. More so than anyone she had ever seen at the ranch. "You're... so fluffy! Do you live here?!"
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Dec 30, 2015 12:48:24 GMT -5
Although he had guessed that the child was young, he did not anticipate to be looking into the face of a mere infant. She saw every emotion dance through her eyes: surprise, bewilderment, and a vague inherent sense of respect overpowered by a delighted wonder. She did not recognize him. She simply appreciated his power. A child this young should not be out on her own.
"I do not," he replied, lowering his voice to a gentle rumble. Small children were not his niche, but he knew enough not to frighten them. At least she was not intimidated. "Do you?" he inquired. If she lived nearby, he could quickly return her to her parents and continue on his way.
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Post by Atticus on Dec 30, 2015 12:55:33 GMT -5
Winter debated answering truthfully. She wasn't one to lie, but she didn't want to go home yet-- she'd only just gotten out! And now she knew better than to leap into prickly bushes, so it would all be smooth sailing. Besides, the sun was still up. Win had intended on exploring until nightfall, then she'd go home and curl up with her parents and then... maybe head out again tomorrow? It was nice out here, and it didn't seem nearly as dangerous as some of the ranch Pokémon described it as. There were fluff lion-dogs!
"Yeah..." Oh, she couldn't lie to someone who had just saved her! "...But I don't want to go back yet. My mom will be super mad if she knows I ran off! And she's scary when she's mad..." Win had only seen it once so far, and only really an inkling of it. But she did hear stories. Her mom was a great fighter! Not that she ever thought her mother would hurt her... Win just thought it'd be a lot easier for everyone if she sneaked back to the ranch at night instead of being escorted back home, like she feared this adult would do.
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Dec 30, 2015 13:09:44 GMT -5
The fire lion tilted his head to the side, deliberating. So the child wanted an adventure? Who was he to say no? But he would not let any harm come to her. "Would you like to come with me?" he asked. It may be a bit unorthodox to bring a visitor, but the elders would understand; better this child find her fun in the village than out here where anything could happen. And someone would escort her home later, he was sure.
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Post by Atticus on Dec 30, 2015 14:59:12 GMT -5
"Sure!" the Eevee squeaked. As much as the idea of exploring alone thrilled her, she also decided that it was good to travel with someone who could pull her out of those blasted bushes. The little fox leaped to the Legendary's side, craning her neck to look at him. It was the same as it was with her brother, months ago. She was always looking up at everyone-- she couldn't wait to be on eye-level. Then she could pull herself out of her own bushes.
"Where are we going?" she asked, staring focused at the forest floor now to avoid tripping over anything else.
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Dec 30, 2015 15:03:22 GMT -5
Entei lowered himself to the ground. They still had a ways to go, and if he was going to arrive in a timely fashion- he was sure his companions already missed him -he could not afford to match the little kit's pace. "To a village. Climb on my back."
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Post by Atticus on Dec 30, 2015 15:07:30 GMT -5
"Oh!" Winter blinked, both surprised and delighted. Maybe she could get down and dirty with the forest later, because she did love get carried. It was like getting a taste of how tall she would get to be one day, when she evolved. Not that she could decide what she wanted to be. An Umbreon was her first choice right now, so she could look like her dad and brother. But Angelo was always reminding her that there were options!
When Entei was low enough, she began to scramble to get on his back. Luckily, his armour left something for her to grab and pull herself up with. With a plop, she landed on the Beast's cushion-y back, barricaded in by the spikes on his flank. She didn't even need to hang on, if he walked. "Whoa, so soft!" she squealed.
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Dec 30, 2015 15:17:10 GMT -5
"Hold on," he told her, standing. She was so light that he could hardly feel her; all she was to him were four slight points of pressure between his shoulders. He hoped she listened; if he was to be running at full speed, he definitely did not want her to fly off his back. It certainly would put a cynical flare on his charity work to send his charge flying into the mountains.
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Post by Atticus on Dec 30, 2015 15:19:44 GMT -5
Suppose she did have to! She was a little disappointed, because riding on his back was literally like hanging out in a cushion-y basket, but the Eevee listened. He could only have a good reason to tell her to do so, right? She wrapped herself up in the wispy fur on his back, since his neck was too thick for her to hold onto. Getting herself tangled and holding on would help just as much, surely.
"I'm ready!" she called, snuggled into his back.
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Dec 30, 2015 15:38:48 GMT -5
He gave a nod and looked around briefly to reorient himself. With a leap he was crossing the forest again.
It was a short journey to him, but they had crossed quite a distance for a regular Pokémon. Although Entei had done his best to keep his gait smooth for his tiny companion, there was only so much control he had over the dramatic rise and fall of his flexing shoulders. He landed as softly as possible before the tall trees that marked the entrance to the Pokémon village and lowered himself to the ground. From the sounds inside, it sounded like his companions had already arrived and greeted the townsfolk. Late and with a flourish. Hadn't that always been his style anyway?
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Post by Atticus on Dec 30, 2015 15:50:21 GMT -5
Winnie hadn't been expecting such a bumpy ride, and she couldn't even enjoy the view! She curled up so tightly in his back fur, her arms curled around him in an almost vice-like grip, she had no chance to peek up over his armour to the large trees and green hills they were leaping past. Still... it was exciting. With her eyes closed, she could try and guess the scenery, and her imagine went wild.
Still, she was a little relieved when the Beast came to a gentle halt.
Straining her large ears, she could hear the murmur of chattering Pokémon, and dared to crack open one of her dark eyes. "Where are we, Mister?" she blinked, untangling herself from his tufts and climbing up onto his head.
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Dec 30, 2015 16:04:02 GMT -5
"Pokémon Village." He looked back at her, and once she was on her feet he stood and shook himself off. She looked so disheveled from the ride- he found himself simmering in guilt for that -that their arrival did not seem to have sunk in yet. "Have you ever been here, child?" He was almost positive that the answer was no; very few Pokémon found themselves in this village by accident, and only the most negligent parent would let such a young one wander the distance between the flowers and the forest they were in now. It would be a safe, fun adventure for the child, he was sure.
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Post by Atticus on Dec 30, 2015 16:13:02 GMT -5
The Eevee shook her head, but realised that on top of his brow, he couldn't see her. "No," she squeaked, looking around slack-jawed and wide-eyed. It kind of reminded her of the ranch, but... more flowery and beautiful. Surge's Ranch was mostly open plains, a few trees, gifts, and that picket fence. This looked much less tame, but at the same time... incredibly appealing.
The flowers made it so colourful... and she could hear water from the river that ran from the mountains into the Lake of Rage. And the trees were huge! Some of the biggest she'd even seen, both in height and width. There seemed to be roots and vines twining around the bark, and Pokémon were using to get from the flowery floor to the top of the tree. On the side of the mountains, there was a string of caves. She could see some Pokémon napping out by the mouth of one, but... they were breeds she had never seen!
Raikou's ears were attuned to that of his comrades, so he recognised Entei's bellow quickly. He turned around, pausing his conversation with some of the villagers in the square. He was about to ask him about the hold-up before noticing the Eevee perched on his mane. The tiger only smiled and shook his head.
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