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Post by subtleAssiduities on Dec 30, 2015 16:24:54 GMT -5
Even with the Eevee out of sight, she was clearly enamored. He smiled slightly to himself as he looked around, and it took him all of a moment to catch Raiku's smirk. His companion did not look surprised. He didn't know why. It wasn't like he picked up children a lot.
He walked into the center of town, where he quickly drew the attention of the elders, among which was Dominia. The Ninetails raised her head, and her tails curled in surprise as she noticed Entei's little charge. The canines had never brought a visitor before. What a surprise!
With a nod to Suicune to excuse herself, she rose and approached the latecomer. "Good day, Entei," she said with with a nod. "We've been waiting for you. And hello to you, too, little one." She smiled sweetly at the tiny fox on his head. What a little darling! They rarely got Pokémon so young.
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Post by Atticus on Dec 30, 2015 20:44:34 GMT -5
The Eevee perked up when she saw a familiar Pokémon striding her way. Victoria? No, her tails were too big... and she looked a lot older. She spoke differently, too... this was not Tori, this was another Ninetales. Still, that was even more exciting!
"Hello!" she wriggled, reaching over to boop the larger fox on the nose. She lost her balance as she did so, sliding off of the Lion-Dog's face and onto the ground with a soft thud. It didn't phase the little cub much, who quickly sprung back on her paws, tail swaying. "Who are you?" she asked, blinking between the two Fire Types. "...and you too! I never got your name. I'm Winter!"
Raikou and Suicune tailed behind Dominia, looking at the scene curiously.
"Who's this you've brought with you?" Raikou asked.
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Dec 30, 2015 21:42:54 GMT -5
Dominia gasped as the little one tumbled off the fire Pokémon's head, but she was on her feet so fast that the Ninetails did not have time to worry. Her smile returned, softer than ever. Absolutely precious! So young that she did not recognize her honorable escort! "My name is Dominia," she told her. She nodded to Entei. "This is Entei, one of the legendary canines of our region."
Entei nodded to the Eevee as he was introduced. He was happy to led the elder do the talking for him; among groups, he was not a fan of being a spokesperson, even for himself. Besides, there wasn't much that he usually had to explain. Especially in Pokémon Village, he was an open book. He turned to Raikou and nodded to the child. "Her name is Winter."
"Winter. Welcome to our village," Dominia said warmly. She kept careful hold of her tails as to not let them wag. Her excitement was rising; it had been some time- thankfully -that they had had such a young visitor to the village. This little one hardly seemed to have her legs under her. The fire fox certainly hoped that this was more complicated than it looked. As much as she would love to have a child around to dote on- or look after, she reminded herself -it would be heartbreaking if this young one had a reason for being here that had to do more with her past than some agenda of Entei's. But she couldn't imagine why he would have her with him, if not to bring her here. She would soon find out. But it was not her nature to be overbearing with questions. The child would feel welcomed before she was asked to recount whatever it was that had brought her here.
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Post by Atticus on Dec 30, 2015 22:23:15 GMT -5
"A legendary?" Winter repeated, her jaw dropping slightly. She had heard that word only a few times... something about mythical creatures... guardians. She whirled around to Entei, her brown eyes wide. "You're my guardian, then!" she announced, tail-wagging at this new find.
The attention was short-lived as Dominia spoke. She tried to call back on the manners the ranch Pokémon tried to teach her. "Um... nice to meet you, Dom-en-yah! Thank you!" she squeaked. All these new scents and names she had to learn... The Pokémon Village...
Winter looked upon the two other Beasts, as regal as her fluffy Lion-Dog. She bounded up to the blue one's forelegs, and used them to prop herself on her hind-legs. "And who are you guys?" she asked. The blue Beast smiled, and the sharp-toothed one beside him chuckled.
"That's Suicune, and I'm Raikou. We travel with Entei."
"Wooow!" the kit yipped, looking at the three with adoring, brown eyes. "I wish I could travel!"
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Dec 30, 2015 22:39:47 GMT -5
Entei nodded to the Eevee's exclamation. It was true, though he may not have interpreted it as intimately as the little fox meant it. He watched her prance up to his companions. It always fascinated him how reverence manifested itself in different individuals. Winter seemed to have some inclination of who they were, and yet she was not overcome with submissive awe, as so many others were. Of all things to admire, she wanted to travel. As if she had not already come quite a ways from where he found her. Quite a ways for her anyway; he was sure that to travel like he, Suicune, and Raikou did would overwhelm her.
It was all Dominia could do to hold still. Winter was absolutely adorable. She was the energetic, inquisitive, enthusiastic child that the Ninetails had always wanted but had never had. Oh, she hoped she was staying! She could never wish anything but good things on the little Eevee. Maybe Entei had simply found an ignorant orphan. As soon as the thought entered her mind, she wished for it with all her heart. A beautiful child, ignorant to the horrors of the world. That was all she had ever wanted. Entei was not the way she ever thought she would get it, but she had been wrong before! Winter was simply too cheerful to have gone through something like the other villagers. Her gaze shifted to the fire legendary, who had sat and was watching the child with a thoughtful, imperial gaze. She had so many questions for him! It was almost too much to wait.
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Post by Atticus on Dec 30, 2015 23:17:58 GMT -5
Now that she was acquainted with everyone, Win only felt that it was appropriate to throw herself in the flowers. She had never seen so many in one place, it was enchanting! The pollen was getting up her nose, though, causing the little fox to sneeze between bouts of laughter.
As the Eevee distracted herself, Raikou moved closer to Entei and Dominia.
"Where did you find her?" he asked, though he could imagine it was when the Beast had deviated from the intended path. As amusing as it was to see the little cub flopping around the petals, he wondered about her family. "Was she alone?" Obviously Entei hadn't robbed her from her parents-- he wondered about any apparent dangers she might have been rescued from. But she seemed too blissful to have experienced anything that required rescuing.
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Dec 31, 2015 0:12:44 GMT -5
At Raikou's question, Dominia's tails went up, and she drew closer to listen in. Finally, someone was asking just the questions she wanted the answers to!
"She was in the rose bushes in the flower patch near the Lake of Rage," Entei replied, his gaze trailing from the Eevee to Raikou. "She was alone, and wanted to explore. I thought this was the safest place for her to do that." He looked to Dominia, awaiting her judgement.
It was clear that the fox was elated, but despite her brimming excitement, she spoke calmly, and her nod was dignified. "You certainly were not wrong," she agreed, casting a look at the child. She paused a moment, and then added, "But what of her family?"
"She said," the lion said slowly, "that she did not want to go home yet. She was afraid of her mother."
Dominia's shoulders tensed. So she was a runaway? She found that it shocked her more than she expected. But if Entei said it, then it must be true. The fire beast was certainly not a liar. So she was to stay. And she needed a mother figure.
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Post by Atticus on Dec 31, 2015 0:27:22 GMT -5
Raikou nodded, though he was a little appalled. Most of the cases he learned about in the Village all had to do with humans. It was upsetting to hear about Pokémon turning on each other... family, especially. However, he warned himself not to jump to conclusions; Entei didn't know all the details. The fox kit could merely be worried about getting in trouble with her mother the same as any mischievous cub. For now, it wasn't his business.
"The Lake of Rage?" Suicune blinked, his soft voice chiming in. "Would the Red Gyarados perhaps know something, then?" It was a long shot, but a runaway cub was no trivial matter.
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Dec 31, 2015 0:36:05 GMT -5
"He could," Dominia replied, nodding thoughtfully. Her mind was already abuzz with thoughts of this little darling. Would she want a new name? What did she know? What did she not know?
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Post by Atticus on Jan 1, 2016 21:39:50 GMT -5
The Eevee eventually decided she had enough of the pollen, and bounced back to Dominia paws. The Ninetales looked at her so sweetly, like her family did. It was... really welcoming. Winter was in a forest she had never been before, with Pokémon she had only just met, but it... reminded her of home. Just a little more sneeze-y.
"This place is great!" the Eevee chirped. "Can I live here?!"
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Jan 1, 2016 22:22:18 GMT -5
Dominia's attention was immediately drawn to the little Eevee, and she smiled warmly at her. "Of course, Winter!" she cooed. So she would stay! It was perfect! Dominia felt like she was vibrating with excitement, but her demeanor remained perfectly stoic as she lowered her head to speak to the child. "Would you like me to show you around your new home?"
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Post by Atticus on Jan 1, 2016 22:49:12 GMT -5
At this, the Eevee twirled. "Yes, yes!" she cheered, but quickly added, "please do!"
She wanted to explore the caves, swim in the pond, maybe even climb some trees! It seemed easy enough anyway, with those root-looking stairs on the trunks!
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Jan 1, 2016 23:15:22 GMT -5
"Then we will go." Dominia stood and dipped her head to the legendaries standing before her. "If you would excuse me?"
Entei nodded his permission in silence and allowed his companions to do the same. He wondered now if Suicune would consider the child's past important enough to investigate with Gyarados. Despite his intentions to leave Winter in the very capable paws of Dominia and the townsfolk, his curiosity was piqued.
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Post by Atticus on Jan 1, 2016 23:29:49 GMT -5
Watching the Ninetales escort the Eevee off, Suicune nodded to Entei and Raikou before leaping away. He wanted to investigate... as happy as Dominia looked, he needed to know if there was some misunderstanding with an Eevee so jolly... He didn't want two mourning parents on his conscience.
The Eevee, meanwhile, had temporarily forgotten as she got wrapped up in all her new environments. "So what do you guys eat? Where do you sleep? How many of there are you? Has this place always been here?"
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Jan 1, 2016 23:42:53 GMT -5
"One question at a time, little one!" Dominia trilled, turning down the main road of the village. It had changed a great deal in her time here; how long had it been? Almost a hundred years, she believed. Even back then the village was not new, but it was remote. There was not the slightest trace of a human for many, many miles. It offered a sense of security, but made it nearly impossible for wayward Pokémon to find. Back in those days, before she had been an elder, she would often go on walks in search of lost Pokémon. It began as a hobby and soon became a job; an easy way to earn her keep. She was not a brave Ninetails; going any further than a few miles out made her nervous. But it was often far enough to find Pokémon who needed a little help finding their way. Humans and Pokémon had encroached, but the village still maintained its full autonomy. She no longer left the village to guide travelers. As the oldest elder, her role was securely fastened within the village's confines, as a guide and guardian.
But that was not an answer she could give to a little girl. "It has been here a very, very long time," she told her. "More than a hundred years!"
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