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Post by Atticus on Feb 11, 2016 2:45:40 GMT -5
"Good morning, 'Minia!" the cub chirped, rubbing herself against the elder fox's chest.
She stepped out into the sunlight and closed her eyes contentedly. The warm, rising sun, the spearows and pidgeys chirping in the trees... it was certainly some kind of paradise, this place. A few other residents were beginning to stir as well, she could tell. Tzerua, the shaggy white Absol from yesterday, was sat by the river. The pointed kitten was nearby, snoring loudly, while a Furret laid, observant on a tree branch. This place was so alive; so tame and yet so wild.
It made the plain fields and white picket fence of the ranch so... dull.
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Feb 11, 2016 13:34:22 GMT -5
Dominia's heart swelled at the affectionate gesture, and she watched the little one for a moment before looking around. The early risers here were few and far between, especially due to the mildness of the season. It seemed to breed a happy laziness among the villagers. And Dominia could not complain; everything still got done. Everything was in its place.
Still, it left those who did wake with the sun at a bit of a disadvantage, if they woke up with an itch to be busy. Unsure of what kind of early riser Winter was, she decided it best to ask. "How would you like to spend your day?"
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Post by Atticus on Feb 11, 2016 13:45:42 GMT -5
The brown kit looked towards the little food hut from yesterday, and her stomach rumbled with approval.
"I think I'd like breakfast first," the cub responded, nodding her head before bunching her muscles and leaping off towards the village's berry stock.
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Feb 11, 2016 14:01:18 GMT -5
Dominia chuckled softly as she passed after the kit. So she was a lively waker. Not only adorable, but she would easily find a niche with so much energy to focus.
Her attention was drawn from the child by the presence of the legendary trip behind her. She turned toward them, and their expressions struck her with a feeling of dread. Her fur pricked, and her short claws pressed into the soil.
Entei slowed as the fire fox turned toward them. The dispirited frown that marred her delicate features did not make him eager to speak. He spared swift glances to his companions in the meager hope that they would begin, would soften the news somehow for her.
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Post by Atticus on Feb 11, 2016 14:32:46 GMT -5
"Dominia," Raikou started, softly, "the cub's family is on their way here." A little straight to the point, but Raikou wasn't all that great at buffering.
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Feb 11, 2016 16:49:40 GMT -5
Only through eons of exercises in deadpans was Entei able to keep from grimacing. That wasn't the gentle approach he had in mind.
The ninetails started in surprise; she all but literally jumped into the air at the news. "Her family is on their way... here?" she repeated, stupefied. "Where are they coming from? How will they know the way?"
"They live on a human ranch beyond the valley," Entei explained, nodding in the direction from which they had come. "They were looking for her. I did not tell them where to go, but an Espeon with them may have seen the way."
Dominia sighed heavily and looked toward the food store, where her precious charge had gone. She did not know what to feel: Fear? Anger? How much time did they have? How should they prepare? If the legendaries stood on their side, marked the family as crooked, then surely they would protect Winter from them, but were they?
She took a deep breath and turned back to the trio. "What are they like?"
"The father is worried," Entei replied. "Caring, but not too bright. The others, I talked to less. Two brothers and a mother. They appeared quite rugged for a ranch."
That wasn't nearly as telling at Domina would have liked to hear. It didn't help her decide what to do. At a loss, she posed another question. "What do you suggest we do?"
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Post by Atticus on Feb 11, 2016 17:09:35 GMT -5
Suicune lifted his elegant, pale-blue head, and looked to the Eevee who was both playing with the Meowth kitten and chewing a mouthful of berries.
"Why don't you ask the cub?" the beast spoke, looking back to Dominia. If anyone was going to have the clearest opinion on the rugged Eeveelutions, surely it would be the daughter. And if the kit did not come out with a clear answer... she seemed, at least, very expressive. From his experience, children were not great liars. Hearing that her family was coming would spark some sort of reaction out of her, no doubt.
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Feb 11, 2016 17:18:55 GMT -5
Dominia understood all of this too, and yet she had the sinking feeling that she would not be happy with Winter's response, regardless of what it was. She looked back at the legendaries, torn; despite no forceful inclinations on their faces, she felt trapped.
She managed a stiff nod, and turning slowly toward the Eevee, she called for her. "Winter, can you come here for a moment? I have something to discuss with you."
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Post by Atticus on Feb 11, 2016 17:21:41 GMT -5
Winter ceased her playful sparring when the elder fox summoned her. "Sorry!" she chirped to the Meowth, who watched her spring away, disappointed.
"Oh, Entei!" she greeted excitedly, headbutting the large beast's foreleg before whirling around to the Ninetales. "Yes, Minia?" the brown cub asked, her brown eyes unblinking.
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Feb 11, 2016 17:31:08 GMT -5
Dominia watched her, adoring her bouncy movements, the liveliness and cheer in her. How awful it would be to have to give that up!
Entei, for his part, couldn't shake the feeling of gentle fondness that the cub stirred in him. He could understand Dominia's anxiety of losing her, to an extent. She was a treat.
She lowered her head and channeled her inner piece to speak to the Eevee as gently as possible. "Winter; Entei, Suicune, and Raikou say that your family is looking for you." She stopped there, measuring the child's reaction.
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Post by Atticus on Feb 11, 2016 17:38:12 GMT -5
Win's first reaction was to wag her tail, until she realised just why they were coming. Because she was far from home. Because she hadn't gotten back before dark, like she'd planned.
She lowered her head, long ears collapsing against the back of her skull. Timidly, the kit shuffled her paws. She had never really gotten in any trouble before; most minor issues she was able to buck-up and pass right through.
"Do you think they'll be upset?" Win mumbled. "I just wanted to explore the forest, and... I really like this place! We don't have a whole lot of flowers on the ranch, except for Miss Ellie's garden..."
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Feb 11, 2016 18:25:00 GMT -5
Despite what Dominia would have liked to believe, this was clearly not the reaction of a child frightened of her family. Frightened of getting in trouble, perhaps. But she did not fear those coming for her.
She did her best not to let her disappointment how; while Winter would not have been able to see it, the legendaries certainly could detects the slight sag in her shoulders, the low sweep in the few tails that had hovered hopefully. But she kept her voice gentle, pleasing to the the kit. "I'm sure they're worried. Any family would be to lose you."
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Post by Atticus on Feb 11, 2016 18:31:08 GMT -5
"I didn't mean to be lost, though," the Eevee insisted, as daft as her father. "I thought I would get home before the sun went down, but Entei took me here and... it's great! I kind of wish we could live here..." She gave another look to the village's territory of bustling, colourful flowers, the the hum of the river rushing nearby. "But I... think I would miss the ranch, too..."
She hadn't yet thought about what going home would mean. Would she ever see this place? Dominia? Entei, or his friends? Or how about her new Meowth playmate, or the shy, shaggy creature from yesterday? This place was so tame, and yet so wild. There was no fence here, that was for sure.
Her spirits became dampened. "Pokémon Village is really nice, Minia..."
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Post by subtleAssiduities on Feb 11, 2016 20:39:53 GMT -5
The fire fox allowed herself a dispirited sigh. "I know, dear. But this is a place for Pokémon without nice families. Is yours good to you?"
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Post by Atticus on Feb 11, 2016 20:44:21 GMT -5
"Without nice families?" she repeated, stunned. This wasn't just some super cool secret village that the Legendary Beasts took lucky Pokémon to? She looked around, rounded eyes landing on Tzerua, then the Meowth. "So they don't have moms and dads?" Her voice was heavy with emotion. How could that be?
She thought back on her own fondly. "...Yeah. My dad plays with me a lot, and I sleep right between him and Mom. My brothers usually watch me during the day, and... Chance can be a bit of a sourpuss, but Austin's super fun."
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