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Post by subtleAssiduities on Feb 8, 2016 17:23:52 GMT -5
"She's fine. She's being cared for by a matriarch at the village," he replied, more patiently than he felt. He lifted his paw from the Umbreon just as a movement caught his attention by the fence. He turned to look up.
Vivian stood on the other side of the white wooden panes, eyes wide and fur bristling. While her eyes burned with righteous fury, she was not a sight so easily taken seriously; with her mane and tail fluffed up, she looked like an overzealous contest trainer with an eye for fashion that could use a corrective lens.
She moved with a lack of fluidity that had made the Umbreon so squirrely to Entei, he noted, as she stuffed herself under the fence and raced down the field. In fact, he was quite surprised she didn't trip over her own feet, with that awkward gait of hers. But she stopped beside the black canine and glared up at him with a resilience unhindered by injury of gracelessness. And yet, her virtue was humility. She clearly recognized who she stood before at once, and it only barely kept her from baring her teeth at him.
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Post by Atticus on Feb 8, 2016 18:45:25 GMT -5
Once the beast's paw was off of him, the Umbreon whisked himself to his paws, joined by his mate beside him. He was as flattered as always about how puffed up she got over his safety, and was able to dismiss his embarrassment from being pinned down in front of her as he kneaded the soft ground beneath him.
"He knows where Winter is," he growled softly, Vivian's hostile nature placing him back on the defensive in front of the Legendary.
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Feb 8, 2016 20:15:05 GMT -5
Vivian's eyes widened, the red irises now taking on a distinctive swirl of disbelief. "You know where Winter is?"
This was becoming repetitive. Annoying. And none of Entei's suspicions had been dissuaded by the arrival of the mother, although at least the peculiar-looking creature had some manners. "I do."
"Where is she? Take us to her?"
The mutant appeared to be trying for politeness, but she spoke it like a a foreign language, clumsy in the inflections that would make the statements questions. But she was trying. It was an awkward, imperfect try, but a try nonetheless. Although he tried to stay logical, his opinion of the couple improved with the scruffy -eon's attempt at manners.
Still, he was not below being cryptic.
"She's safe, out of harm's way. I found her wandering on her own. I took her somewhere she would be taken care of."
The statement was not lost on the female like it was on the male; she was visibly stung. The criticism was not taken so lightly. Her fur was starting to settle, and as he tail slimmed down it lashed once, as if she were striking at herself, before it settled. "Where in the forest?" she demanded, her words guarded in an attempt to be humble.
"A village. With a matriarch."
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Post by Atticus on Feb 8, 2016 20:20:43 GMT -5
Was this Entei fellow a Pokémon or a robot? How many times was he going to fucking reiterate that their daughter was in a forest. In a village. With a matriarch. Arceus!
He clamped his teeth shut, his youthful silver-tongue creeping back up on him the more annoyed he got with the dog that was keeping him between him and his daughter. The fur on his spine bristling, he began abruptly towards the forest. Better he put his energy into finding Winter than listening to Entei explain again how much of a village she was in and wow what a matriarch.
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Feb 8, 2016 21:08:01 GMT -5
Entei watched the Umbreon march off, dubious. His gaze turned back to the mother expectantly. She seemed torn; follow her mate into nowhere, or grovel for more information? Neither option was particularly inviting.
"Mum? Dad! Don't you disappear too!"
The voice was deep enough to be an adult, but held the childish innocence of another pup. The two looked up as another Umbreon with striking green eyes stuck his head through the fence. "Mum?"
And then another, an Espeon, peering down at the mother through droopy-lidded eyes. He turned to the Umbreon, and after a moment of conversation the Espeon slid through the fence and glided toward them. The Umbreon followed at a lope more reminiscent of the mother's. They soon stood at her side, although their eyes were fixed on Entei.
The young Pokémon did not recognize him; not by name, it appeared. But they knew a regal Pokémon when they saw one, and while they did not know how to address him, they gave him the civility of acknowledging that he could crush them under his paws. "Hello," the Umbreon said, dipping his head. "Um... Are you... going to help us find my sister?"
He stayed silent.
"I had a dream about Winter in a camp," the Espeon said to the mother, his tail swishing with fleeting agitation. "I think that maybe, we could find it if we looked in the woods."
The mother's eyes widened, and she looked between Entei and the Espeon. "Show me."
The Espeon spared a glance at the legendary once more before slinking past him and starting into the woods. The mother was hot on his heels. The brother appeared to wait for Entei to respond a minute longer. But then he turned and followed the others as well.
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Post by Atticus on Feb 8, 2016 21:18:23 GMT -5
Before Angelo could slither off, he heard the plea of his son and stopped dead in his tracks.
"Austin?" he blinked, lifting his skulking head and taking a step back, towards his family. He watched the fluffy Umbreon innocently question the Legendary beast, but Entei remained absolutely useless. Weren't he and his girlfriends supposed to be the Guardians of Johto? He felt awfully more akin to some belligerent drunk than someone who was supposed to be a national treasure.
When Chance burst into the foliage, the black fox shot the Legendary an incredulous look before resuming his hasty trek into the woods.
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Feb 8, 2016 21:35:58 GMT -5
As they entered the cover of darkness Vivian's and Austin's markings lit up; Chance's orb, too, pulsed from time to time, although whether it was catching light that dripped from between the trees or of its own accord, it was hard to say.
The Espeon, more lithe and flexible than the rest of his family, was easily maneuvering the forest despite his relative inability to see. Vivian was only barely keeping up, and with Austin sparing glances back at his father, he was falling behind.
Leaping through the fields and over mountains, Entei had time to find his companions before the family had made it truly into the forest. He started first at the Lake of Rage, and with a dip of his head motioned for Suicune to follow him before starting away again.
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Post by Atticus on Feb 8, 2016 22:02:34 GMT -5
The Red Gyarados was very informative, and quite jolly despite his threatening appearance. Through him, Suicune had learned about the ranch that occupied the land by his home, a group which the water serpent described as both reticent and entertaining.
He paused his idle chat with the Guardian of the Lake of Rage, however, when Entei approached. Had the trio ever been inept at picking up gestures throughout the years, the Water Beast would have lead him to the ranch. It was clear, however, that his assistance was required elsewhere. In fact, it was very likely that the Fire Beast had already been acquainted with the ranch's residents.
He excused himself from the Gyarados with a polite dip of his head before striding off towards his comrade.
"Raikou?" he tilted his head, looking towards the woods.
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Feb 8, 2016 22:07:00 GMT -5
Entei nodded. "The girl's family is searching for her," he explained. And he started through the forest, bound after bound, in search of their electric comrade.
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Post by Atticus on Feb 8, 2016 22:09:57 GMT -5
Suicune leaped after him in impressive strides, contemplative. Was this good or bad?
Raikou's ears twitched in the depths of the forest and he lifted his mighty muzzle towards the sky. His vision was obscured by tree tops, but that was hardly a problem for the saber tooth. In a single caper, he was at the top of a tree, where he could see Entei and Suicune's shadowy forms bounding through the night. Bunching his muscles, the tiger sprang for them, his cape rippling with electricity.
"Any luck?" he asked as he reached their side. Suicune nodded, but kept on his silent stride.
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Feb 8, 2016 22:12:03 GMT -5
"The girl's family is in the woods, looking for her," Entei repeated. "Dominia should be informed." He chose, at the last moment, to use 'inform' over 'warn'. After all, only the father seemed completely harebrained. But it would be a warning. Dominia would see it that way.
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Post by Atticus on Feb 8, 2016 22:31:20 GMT -5
"Right," Raikou agreed. There were only so many cases in which a Pokémon from the village encountered their family or trainer again, it was worth informing Dominia. Dominia, who would be less than enthralled to have to give up the cub, if she had to. But did she have to?
"Did you speak to them?" the tiger inquired, mid-leap. For Entei to know about them, did he interact with them? Were they worth returning the cub to, or should they try and stop them at the gate? After all, only so many Pokémon knew of the location of the Pokémon Village... for good reason. If they were trouble, it would be better to stop them before they could endanger anyone in the village. But he was, of course, jumping to conclusions.
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Feb 8, 2016 23:06:48 GMT -5
"Briefly," the fire beast replied, his gaze fixed on the path ahead of them. "A father, a mother, and two brothers."
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Post by Atticus on Feb 8, 2016 23:12:26 GMT -5
Winter stirred in her nest when the sun began to rise, the early bird that she was. But when her eyes fluttered open and she was greeted by a leafy roof instead of that of the barn, she became momentarily alarmed. Where was she?
She sat up and shook her head, ridding herself of her drowsiness and recalling the events of yesterday. The Pokémon Village!
The fox kit wriggled out from her nest of Dominia's tails, and stretched her legs. She should probably try heading home today... but... Winter sighed, almost purring as the soft breeze tickled her fur. And the fresh smell of spring flowers... maybe... they could all just live here? Dominia was nice enough, maybe she'd let them?
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Feb 10, 2016 15:44:53 GMT -5
The fire fox sat beside her, warming her fur in the morning light. She peered down at the girl as she stirred, and smiled. An early riser! Yes another pleasant treat. "Good morning, Winter," she cooed, brushing the babe's nose with the tip of one of her tails.
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