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 Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:08 pm
Keiran Keiran simply watched, feeling something in his chest grow hollow as the group tried to reassure each other, to band together and keep moving. Clive was shaken, with his heart aching and his stomach twisted into knots. Ivilon was laden with guilt and doubt, unsure of his place within the team and weighed by the burden of his own loyal spirit. Riley, of course, was like a shattered mirror. He held himself together, remembering who he was supposed to be and holding to that image, but there was something within that hurt and cracked until it reached the surface.
He knew all of these things, simply from the emotions that spilled across the humid air and the aura that threatened to choke the life from him. He knew them, but what he could do to remedy such a situation was beyond him.
Era had taught him a great many things in the time he had been under her care and supervision. He learned to tend wounds and to help in healing the small hurts. He could not manage to bridge this kind of gap alone. Insight into why they felt as they did might have been helpful, but in truth he knew not how to pose the question, or even if he should do so in the first place.
It was certainly clear that Riley missed Era, but now even Keiran had to suppress a dull aching for his friend. Era would not have known the right path, not immediately, but together they might have been able to help.
The Riolu continued walking behind them, silent and watching. Riley’s breakdown had given him much to think about, perhaps in more ways than just his concern for the team. The glimpse into the true depths of Riley’s pain, and the words he had spoken… it reminded him of his thoughts on Aric. Where Riley’s heart was broken, Aric’s very being had been shattered into dust. There was very little left of the person he might once have been.
He concealed his aura from the others, recognizing the signs of his own anguish as he realized why Aric had made him so uneasy. He had seen others descend into such madness before, through only one to the extent that Aric had. At one point, Keiran would have considered him a comrade in their training. That hadn’t lasted long, not once the trials had begun. Not everyone could cope with killing another Pokemon, and for some it was a wound too deep to heal. He had been there to see someone driven mad by the burden of their own guilt and anxiety and they had paid the ultimate price for that weakness, if only to protect those that surrounded them.
All he could remember of that person now was how empty they had felt, how unbearably angry. Keiran closed his eyes, trying to force an even breath from his lungs as he thought of what to do. It was clear to him that Aric was maddened, perhaps irreversibly so, but the knowledge of how extensive it was could not be explained to anyone else. Especially after the explosion of emotion they had just experienced from their captain, such a revelation would only harbour misfortune for them.
If he was to suffer, he would do so alone. He wished very sorely that he’d picked a less trying mission for them to complete, especially now that he no longer knew what path they’d started walking.
Under such a stress, it was easier to shut down. He felt his sadness ebb away as he meditated, still following his companions along the narrow trail. He had a mission to complete.
Keiran was calm, if expressionless when he and his teammates completed their trek to the riverbank. He glanced over their list, already picking out the easiest samples to gather in their immediate area. He could see the water hemlock he’d mentioned earlier, through a little off the beaten trail, amidst other things.
”There are some samples we could collect here,” Keiran commented quietly. ”I’ll start on these, if the rest of you want to track down some others nearby.” He pointed carefully to a few of the samples he’d already noted from the list, and a corresponding number of mismatched glass jars were drawn from their satchel. As he passed Ivilon the list, he did not wander very far from their group. His unease and torn feelings only solidified his will to protect them, though he no longer knew if it were possible for him to do so.
Waving a hand, he uprooted a small section of a nearby plant sample with his aura. He had no intention of touching it, provided he was given the choice.
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:08 pm
Riley & Ivilon They made it to the riverbank. Somehow, by some miracle, they held themselves together for that span of the journey. Clive murmured soft words of comfort in Riley’s ear as they walked, too soft for the others to hear but steady and measured, stopping and starting with just the right pauses to make a murmured cadence. They were simple words—little observances of what was beautiful, anecdotes from his travels, memories of happy moments—but they seemed to be serving their purpose. While Riley wasn’t quite smiling, he did seem to be better than before, dragging his paws less and with the slightest hint of a light in his eyes.
Ivilon found himself listening to the hum of the Vaporeon’s voice as he maintained his focus on Riley’s mind. His eye was glazed over, staring through the Espeon’s head to the energies in his mind. Shaping them into their functional form, regulating the chemicals with utmost care, the Beldum kept his captain’s mind from spiraling deeper into the depths of his despair. His Psychic pulsed in response to the heartbeat he fought to preserve, and he was rewarded with the knowledge that Riley was able to keep going with his help; he didn’t care to think about what would happen if he wasn’t there to help. At least doing this he could feel useful.
The Beldum’s eye flickered with surprise when he found the list proffered to him, and his Psychic faltered for a moment as he actively shifted some of his energy to hold the paper. Watching Keiran closely, it occurred to Ivilon that something was not quite right with him. His aura was tight and his face expressionless, the signs of emotional withdrawal. He’d seen the Riolu do it before and it made his mind prickle with unease. It was clear that the Riolu didn’t want to express what he was thinking, but for what reason was unclear. He’d been paying less attention to his vice captain than perhaps he should have been.
When Keiran wandered off, Ivilon hesitated. The pair of Eeveelutions were standing before him, but Riley wasn’t providing any instruction and Clive was watching him with deep concern etched upon his features. Given the situation, it seemed like there was only one reasonable choice left to him. A low chime emanated from him, and he looked at the other two somberly. “Would you mind looking after this list for a time?” he asked softly, sending the parchment over to hover between the quadrupeds. “There are a few plants on this list that can only be found in the water. Given that I can retrieve them without exposing myself to its contaminants, I intend to retrieve them for us.”
Riley raised his head groggily, as though just now registering that they were carrying on with their task. His ears twitched as he lifted a paw to pull the list from the air and he nodded absently. “…Thank you Ivilon. I’ll leave it to you.”
Bowing his head, Ivilon circumvented the two and made his way out over the water, though not before taking a few jars from the satchel and leaving the bag behind for the Eeveelutions to access if need be. He doubted they’d be collecting much of anything though, if he was being honest with himself.
He kept an idle link between himself and the Espeon as he tilted his gaze downward and perused the murky water for what he needed. There! Some glowing orange lichen, distorting the purplish hue of the water just enough to be noticeable against the muddy shallows. With a tug of Psychic energy, he pulled the substance out, holding it a considerable distance away from him as he moved onward, searching for more of the same; in the end he’d amassed a sizeable ball of the stuff in a wide, spherical jar. Staring at the specimen blankly, and noting how it contrasted with the vague sheen of his silver Psychic, Ivilon felt a faint chill run through his body: the sooner he could store this somewhere out of view the better—it looked positively toxic. The other specimens were much the same--something that had to have been algae once, miniature stalks of something that were practically cemented in the muck, even some shockingly pink fungi that had managed to grow under the water. Ivilon diligently packaged them into the jars with his Psychic and proceeded to try not to look at them, holding them outside his line of sight as he turned back to the shore, ready to return with his findings.Glancing back at Riley and Clive however, it seemed that they were still talking. Their heads were pressed together close enough that Ivilon quickly turned his gaze, feeling like he was interfering with something private. If he couldn’t return to them then…there was someone else who probably needed him more at the moment.
Jars hovering behind him, Ivilon made his way back across the water, coming up in an area slightly distant from the others. It was shady here, but he could pick out Keiran’s energy from the shadows as if the Riolu himself were glowing silver. “It seems we’ve made some progress here after all,” Ivilon said, his voice hesitant to permeate the silence. He hoped Keiran would be amiable to conversation, but based on his luck thus far he felt he could no longer trust his instinct. Still, he didn’t have much else to lose at this point. “...Forgive me if I overstep, but you…I do not think that you should be alone at this time.” He said nothing further for the moment, but his golden eye watched the Riolu with a careworn, gentle gaze. Whether he thought it better to disconnect from his emotions or not, there wasn’t a doubt in Ivilon’s mind that Keiran needed someone to acknowledge them now, and the Beldum knew he was the only Pokemon capable of doing so at the moment.
Clive
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:09 pm
Keiran Keiran’s aura had turned a dark silver, looking like a sort of glittering smoke as it coiled itself around the stems of the exotic-looking blossoms and neatly sliced through them a few inches below the flower heads. They fell into the extended jar with a soft ’paff’, the sound only audible through the glass because he hadn’t dared to take hold of it with his paws directly.
He spun the metal lid onto his selected mason jar and set it aside. He’d be collecting some of the spongy moss at his feet, too, though it had taken him some time to recognize the species as one they needed. It seemed that names weren’t always useful here, since the toxic nature of the environment had forced such drastic changes in the plant life. It barely looked alive, but he could sense a vague heat to it that told him it still endured.
It unnerved him to see the environment in such a precarious balance between life and desolation. He wasn’t coming back to this place again, not if he could help it.
Clive’s whispers to Riley were barely audible to him from where he knelt across the clearing. The Vaporeon’s words were rhythmic and soothing, but he didn’t try to understand what he said. So much relied on Riley’s strength right now, and on Clive’s ability to help him- that was not a conversation process that he wished to interrupt. His training told him that he needed to know what was happening, but his heart told him otherwise. Riley needed peace, consistency. Those were things that he, being who he was, could provide to the Espeon.
The most that he allowed himself to do was briefly scan Riley’s emotions. He could feel the emptiness and anguish of his captain ebbing and flowing back again, but it was like a steady tide of emotion that he felt was stable. Clive was good at what he did. The Riolu made a mental note to thank him later, for being the person that he could not- and for helping his friend when he was unable to.
Keiran twisted as he felt Ivilon draw near, the cautious and analytical aura replacing Riley’s frantic one as it pressed at the edges of his mind. Ivilon was calm, but there were muted and mingling emotions that bubbled beneath the surface. Keiran glanced back down to his work, unwilling to pry into the emotions of someone who was already wary of his presence for fear that we would reveal the unease in himself.
”Progression in some ways, regression in others,” he admitted quietly, politely ignoring the hesitation in Ivilon’s voice. Ordinarily he might have been a little irritated by it, but under the circumstances he could not say that he didn’t feel like the monster Ivilon saw in him. The Beldum’s next words confirmed such thoughts. ”Stay, then,” he replied, unsure of how to interpret the situation. Ivilon’s tone held some manner of warmth, but his words were not. Keiran couldn’t blame him for that, not after all of the curveballs that had been thrown his way prior to and during their first mission.
They were supposed to be together as a team during such a situation, and yet Keiran could only see them as shards of broken glass. They grated on each other, sharp and not quite one whole despite standing in the right places. ”I’m not offended, and you haven’t overstepped any boundaries that I can see. I can understand why you would be anxious,” He kept his voice forcibly calm, hoping that he might portray some sort of stability for his teammate. Being teammates with a killer would make anyone uneasy. He’d gone through this process so many times, and each time had involved patience and perseverance in waiting for their opinions and feelings to change. Some took a few days to decide his fate, others had taken years. That was no fault of their own, and he would endure it until they had chosen for themselves.
”Is there something else you needed in the meantime?” He questioned, absently cutting a square-shaped sample of moss from the ground at his feet. It was heavy and soaked through with water, and he realized as it was lifted from the earth that he needed to separate it in order to take a proper sample. Cringing as he realized that his aura would not have enough precision for the job, he reached with his aura-shielded paws and wrung the toxic water from the moss. The small stream of foul-smelling sludge that seeped from the moss made his fur bristle and instantly he felt bile rise in his throat. Having it in contact with his aura and skin combined was almost worse somehow- like feeling it twice.
The sample was thrown hurriedly into a glass bottle and Keiran was already using his aura to pull every droplet free from his skin. Said skin was now crawling. ”That was gross,” he added, making a silent note not to hold food with his paws for the next decade.
{{ To be clear, he is completely misunderstanding Ivilon's intentions in keeping him company. From his perspective, he's the guilty party and Ivilon is ensuring that he won't hurt anyone. Lemme know if you need clarification or spot a problem, Darky- it's been a while. xD }}
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:10 pm
Riley & Ivilon "Do you ever think about...running away?"
Clive blinked his eyes open as Riley drew back, feeling a slight tingling sensation where the warmth of the Espeon's forehead began to fade. In truth, he'd been too absorbed in the closeness of his friend to think of anything else. "I...running? Running where?"
"Anywhere Clive. Anywhere at all." There was a glow in his eyes, but it seemed fueled by desperation more than anything else. "Just like the between time, when we traveled and performed together. But we could go further! Away from the Guild and the fighting and the problems... Somewhere they wouldn't be able to catch up with us."
There it was again, that awful proposition. Every time Riley brought it up the same scar reopened, the same burning desire to give in to that beautiful dream and say Yes--yes, I'd go with you to the ends of the earth. So much of him wanted that more than anything else, but Clive knew better. Even if they did, Riley wouldn't be happy, and there was no point in being with the person you loved if you were the source of their unhappiness. Riley needed other Pokemon, he needed the love of a whole audience, just one other person couldn't ever be enough--Clive doubted even Era would be able to mend the hole in Riley's heart completely. What the Espeon didn't understand about himself was that there wasn't any magic way to make the problems disappear. The only way to solve them was to face them, but the last time Riley had done that had made him terrified of ever doing it again. So, just as before, Clive bit back the words of consent that bubbled in his throat and stared back at Riley with watery eyes. "Riley..." he murmured, "You know we can't do that."
The Espeon's ears drooped pathetically. "But why?"
"You know why." Clive shifted his tail and wrapped it around his friend beside him. "Think about all the people who love you, how sad they'd be to see you go. Your fans, your friends, your Team. They'd be devastated if you disappeared."
The frown lines on Riley's brow hardened in consternation. "But I'm not the Riley they love," he said. "Look at me Clive, I'm not anything like myself. Not when I'm like this."
"Liar." Clive's mouth twitched into a smile in spite of himself when shock registered on Riley's face. "This part of Riley is the just as good as any of the others." The Vaporeon pressed his head teasingly into the Espeon's shoulder. "This is Riley at his most vulnerable. Riley who doesn't realize that no one expects him to be a god--just another Pokemon who does his best. And who every knows is always giving it his all for everyone else." Riley's mouth quavered and Clive leaned against him reassuringly. "Don't be afraid of disappointing anyone Riley. The only disappointment comes when you don't take care of yourself."
A tear trickled down Riley's cheek. "Legends Clive, if only I knew how..." His voice cracked again, choked off by a sob, and he shook his head rapidly. "No...No we have a job..."
Clive gently pressed Riley's paw to the ground with one of his own, pulling the list from its iron grip. "This is just what I'm talking about. You've hardly got your wits about you and you're trying to jump right back into things before you've recovered." Looking into his friend's eyes, Clive stared down his anguish with practiced calm. "Don't you trust Keiran and Ivilon? They'll make sure we don't fall behind schedule so you can rest and recover."
"But I--"
"You'll stay right here with me." That was the end of it, Clive's tone left no room for questions. Riley sighed, but allowed his head to loll onto his friend's after a moment, staring at the ground forlornly.
"Clive?"
"Hm?"
"Promise me you'll think about it more. About leaving."
"...Alright. I will."
~~~
Keiran reacted to his presence curtly, which was understandable. He was the one breaching the privacy of the Riolu's emotional space, so that intrusion was bound to be met with some hostility. What was less clear what the contrast of the still-forced calm with his vice captain's claim at understanding. Given that he was then prompted to clarify his own claims, Ivilon mulled over his words as he watched Keiran complete his self-imposed task. The Beldum winced at the sight of the water brushing against his vice captain's paws, resisting the urge to wring it out for him. He could hardly look at it, practically feeling the chemicals that were crawling on the Riolu's skin. "You...You need not do that to yourself." He murmured, voice practically quivering with concern. Silver Psychic glowed around the jar, sealing it and collecting the toxic water from where it had splattered against the sides before lowering it to the ground as though it were something breakable. "Please, if I am able to assist in any way--the less contact you have with this poison the better off things will be in the end I would think."
Chiming dully in his characteristic version of throat-clearing, Ivilon decided to venture further into his probing. "But, if you say that it is of no trouble to you, then I would ask how you are holding up." The Beldum collected the jars that Keiran had already filled into the collection that hovered behind him and busied himself with floating up toward the tree branches where he began to shift through the leaves, looking for the tiny berries that he'd spotted when avoiding his companion's gaze. He began to pluck them off and collect them in the air beside him, having no open jars left to store the tiny fruits in. "It was...a lot to swallow back there, for all of us. It is too much to ask, I think, to have that exchange and then move on as though it hadn't happened." It was the truth, plain and simple. "While I may not have any explanations for it, or any understanding of my own, it seems better that we don't avoid the difficult questions. It may be that this is what caused such an incident to begin with." Well that put his motives out in the open. "That being as it is, I felt you should not be left alone with whatever you may be facing when there is no reason for it. ...I know it is hard enough for me, and I do not experience these things to the same extent as you must." That was the heart of it anyway. It was odd speaking candidly with someone who set his circuits on edge, but he felt it was the right thing to do here--nobody should have to face this sort of emotional turmoil on their own. And really, in a situation like this, where everything was falling to pieces, what else could he do but listen to his conscience?
Clive
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:10 pm
Keiran The Riolu shrugged, only just managing to twist his grimace into a smile. It was an awkward expression, but he hoped that it expressed his appreciation for the offer. His skin was still crawling at the sensation of coming into direct contact with their samples. ”I can’t say that I won’t be taking you up on that offer, at least,” He replied, his voice a little flat. He wasn’t jealous of the Beldum in the true sense, but he did feel a little stab of embarrassment that his control of aura was not as fine-tuned as that of a true psychic. ”There are strengths and limitations to my control of aura.”
He took note of the care with which the toxic water was replaced into the sodden soil, a grudging nod of approval breaking his stiff posture. Ivilon knew better than to throw it around, of course, but it was good to see that caution in action.
The Riolu took the now-clean collection jar and tucked it away for safe-keeping, scanning the area around him for their next sample as Ivilon moved above to collect samples from the low and shrubby canopy. Automatically, the Riolu extended an upward paw, holding a small collection bag for the berries that his teammate had just plucked from the branches. ”For the berries,” he explained calmly.
The dull chime from above told him that Ivilon wasn’t finished, and nor was their conversation. He supposed that such a noise was more habitual than physiological- Beldum hadn’t the need to clear their throats as far as he knew, but he’d also never thought it prudent to ask. It would probably come across as either rude or threatening.
Keiran’s ears twitched, his brows furrowed in confusion as Ivilon’s words sunk in. To ask into his mental state was an interesting turn of events, and certainly not one that he’d expected. His emotions were being monitored, he knew, but he hadn’t expected an open acknowledgement of that. Even among psychics, whose empathic abilities functioned much differently than his own, he knew that lines were usually drawn in how deeply they pried into the minds and feelings of others. He didn’t respond, recognizing that Ivilon had paused but not completed his speech. He would not interrupt him, either, as the Riolu was still trying to conclude what the Beldum’s intentions were.
He twitched guiltily at the idea of not addressing Riley’s concerns, but a small voice within reminded him that it was neither something he knew how to do, nor was it his place to do so. It was his fault, but it was also out of his control.
”I am worried for Riley,” he admitted, ”and I tried my best, but I am not what he needs. It is not my place to delve into his mind, and I can’t imagine that he’d react well to me confronting him with concerns regarding his health. For me, he will always act strong, fight back, because he sees me as someone to be protected. He does not understand our relationship through any other context.”
”I am frustrated that in this case, I can’t protect him. I can’t save him from himself. Clive knows better than I do about how to treat injuries of the heart and mind.”
The Riolu stopped, realizing that this was likely not the answer that Ivilon had wanted from him. Even despite the specificity of his question, he was still answering as if he’d asked about Riley. ”I want to be a captain worthy of respect, Ivilon, but even now I see how poorly my own limitations match up to that standard. I have a responsibility to fulfill the obligations of our team and our captain, to protect all of you from physical harm, and to prevent those responsibilities from falling to the rest of you in my stead.” His expression was dark as he spoke, betraying how serious he was. ”That you are concerned for me is a credit to your character, but I’m not certain that I can deflect my burdens onto you. It conflicts with my responsibilities as your captain.”
He realized belatedly that he couldn’t bring himself to meet the Beldum’s gaze, and felt a little relieved when he simply continued in his work. It was touching that Ivilon worried for him, but it made his heart ache with guilt. He was fully aware that he would disapprove of the memories he was drawing on, or the skills that he might have to… He didn’t want to use them, either. Riley had told him that he would defer to his judgement, if such a situation came up that he saw no other option. To consider that so early would be a discredit to his captain’s character.
Feeling frustrated and ashamed, he buried his emotions ever deeper into his heart. His eyes were filled with a glow of silent resolve as he looked again to his teammate in the treetops. ”I can cope with my emotions. I've managed it for my entire life. For right now, my emotions are just something that would cloud my judgement. When our work is done, and I can guarantee your safety, then we may speak of this again.”
’If you still want to, and if I am able to protect you as Riley would want me to do.’
Keiran knew what their client was capable of, and to what depths he had fallen, but the others would never understand. Even if he were to try and explain, it would only discredit his own words. But he knew, and knowing was half the battle. All he had to do was stay vigilant and get them home safely- the guild could handle the Quagsire without his intervention.
[[ OOC: Please let me know if something's weird in this- it was written in multiple parts and at different times.
-forever shamed in the dog house for taking literal months to make a post- ]]
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:10 pm
Riley & Ivilon As he was instructed, Ivilon lowered the berries he'd collected into the bag that Keiran held open for him, offering a nod of appreciation in turn for the gesture. When he'd finished with the cluster in the current group he scanned the branches for more like it, and was rewarded with a few more branches to pluck from. So long as he kept busy he didn't have to see the look that Keiran was giving him, whatever that might be; both of them were strangers in the end, so it was more comfortable to avoid the intimacy of eye contact.
Ivilon was surprised to hear what came next, mutely allowing Keiran to proceed through his speech as he saw fit and staying silent for a few moments longer even when the Riolu had finished. "I would not say that it transgresses your obligations," the Beldum said after a moment, and when he turned to face his vice captain his expression wavered with reluctant melancholy. "I cannot claim to know anything about the way things stand between everyone here, but I can say that it seems the thing that cuts the deepest is the way that more is learned through aura and psychic than through words. I would not say that anyone intended it to be as such but that is undeniable I think, and because the communication isn't there it forces reliance on things that should be used only in dire circumstances." The abilities that Pokemon had were a part of them, but they were primarily tools of self-defense--something so martial in nature...was it truly supposed to stand in for basic contact?"
The Beldum blinked, his gaze shifting back to Keiran from the faraway place it had been before. "Please do not mistake my meaning--I do not mean to claim that the bond between you is false, merely that it has grown fragile because of the need for a different form of affirmation." Ivilon dipped his head and lowered the jars and berries that he'd collected to the ground, having no further work to hide behind. "It may not be the traditional time or place for such reflections as these, but perhaps your belief that emotions dull the senses is keeping you from understanding something. Or perhaps I am merely misplacing conjecture." He couldn't say what the Riolu felt, but that was the closest thing to his opinion he could give without overtly stepping out of line. It seemed to Ivilon that Keiran needed to reevaluate the meaning of a Team, much as Riley did; the Beldum had never known a singular member of a collaboration to insist the burdens weren't to be shared between them, but now he knew two. Was it an issue of trust? Was it a product of the Riolu's former profession? Ivilon couldn't be certain, especially because he knew and recognized the bond he'd mentioned. It wasn't that they'd lost connection--that was strong--it was more like they both refused to believe that connection was real. He couldn't speak for himself or Clive, but for Riley and Keiran that seemed to be a sticking point.
"How are things going over here?" Ivilon turned at the sound of Clive's voice, finding the Vaporeon smiling warmly at the pair of them, Riley lingering behind him. "Sorry we took so long--Riles insisted that we bring something to add to the collection after we got finished."
The Espeon smiled weakly, twitching his tail forward and bringing forth a tangled collection of thin, dirt-clotted roots. "You might have some already, but I remembered these were on the list and I spotted them nearby." Riley's front paws were flecked with dirt where he'd been digging, and his cape looked a bit dusty from the work, but otherwise he seemed relatively normal. Ivilon noted his breathing was regular and his eyes had dried, though he still looked exhausted, and trembled slightly when a warm breeze carried the scent of the water over to them. Their Leader looked to Keiran, stepping forward hopefully to see what the Riolu had to report. "It looks like you've managed to find some things in my absence?"
Clive
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:11 pm
Keiran Keiran looked at Ivilon with an expression of interest, but there was a shadow of doubt that seemed to flicker in his eyes. It was one thing to understand his intentions on a level of logic or reasoning, but another to take those intentions to heart. He would definitely have to consider that perspective, particularly since so many Pokemon lived without the sensation of aura at all. It struck him that he could not remember a time when he’d been without it. From what he understood of his kind, all Riolu were born with the innate ability of an empath. It was his physical manipulation of the ability which was learned, rather than born.
What was it like, to not feel the touch of another’s soul beside you? He couldn’t imagine that he would be totally blinded, unable to infer anything at all, but that seemed to be the implication. The thought was unsettling in more ways than one, but he still felt a stab of guilt at his blatant rejection. That bias would be another thing to sort out, once the remainder of their mission had been settled.
The Riolu twitched his ears as Ivilon continued, and his expression settled into a contemplative frown. ”Conjecture is never misplaced, for it can be useful even in extreme circumstances. I will always listen, even if it is not to my liking,” he answered cautiously. ”Your words hold some truth to them, although I feel like what we each mean to say… has not been expressed in the depth that we understand them ourselves.”
There was a small and grim smile, though not unfriendly, that seemed not to reach his eyes. ”Then again, that is exactly a part of your warning for my relationship with our captain, so you may be closer on the mark than I am willing to admit.” He sighed quietly, though he abruptly silenced himself as Clive’s voice carried through the marshy air.
He spun on his heels, standing straight to address the incoming duo. He’d advised to set aside the discussion of emotions for now. Perhaps he should stick to that advice himself. After all, they did have a job to do. ”We don’t mind at all,” he dismissed, paws eagerly outstretched to take the samples from his captain. He gripped the soiled tubers, turning them over with a cautious claw to make sure that the surface was intact. He vaguely recognized them by their description, but it wasn’t among the named samples for him to remember the specific species. Everything here was potentially poison, as far as he was concerned. Judging from the way Clive lifted his paws an extra half-step, the Vaporeon whole-heartedly agreed.
”We’ve found a couple of the other samples. Mostly plant cuttings from the transitional zone between in-land and the riverbank. This will definitely help, though. I wasn’t sure how close we could get to the river itself to get these, all things considered.” He shot his captain a sympathetic glance. ”I’m admittedly a little glad that you found them further back, because I’m not in the mood for a swim.”
He offered them to Ivilon with an open palm. ”Would you mind bagging these? We should be alright to reserve the sample jars for some of the trickier specimens.”
As soon as the roots were out of his paws, he set to taking out the list for himself and the others, spreading it over a lifted kneecap to read it more thoroughly. The list was long enough, but it looked as though there were only a couple more samples in their immediate area. Anything else would be much further from the river, and hopefully a great deal safer for them to procure. He glanced back to the pile of samples they’d gathered, and once at the roots which Ivilon was wrapping up, and tentatively formed a mental to-do list. ”You have something to write with, Riley?” He asked his captain hopefully. He usually had something up his proverbial sleeve. If not, he could always poke the tip of his claws through the paper for each sample.
”We have these four, and I believe these as well,” he explained to the Espeon, pausing as he gestured to each of the samples. ”These two should still be nearby, though. This one’s a ground-cover, so it should grow in carpets under any amount of shade. This one… it says it’s an orchid, but I’m not sure…” The Riolu made a face, and looked up to his captain for confirmation. ”You’ve used orchids in your shows, right? You always said they were delicate flowers. How would they even grow here?”
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Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 1:31 pm
Riley & Ivilon Riley laughed a bit, shaking his head. "None of us are going for a swim today," he said with conviction, "That's the last thing we need." He glanced back out over the water and his tail quivered. "If there's anything too dangerous on the list, we should just keep note of its location for the client. Particularly if it involves the water--it doesn't seem to have the same effect on him." The Espeon shook his head, turning back to his companions. "I guess you can adapt to anything, huh?"
Clive shook his head, shuddering. "Any Pokemon who can adapt to that would be better off finding a new place to live." The smell of the tainted water made his skin crawl, the pure water that composed him rippling in response to his revulsion. The sort of Pokemon who lived in these places left him nervous and unsettled: how could one live somewhere so defiled without it leaving its mark on them? The Vaporeon doubted it was possible.
Ivilon silently moved forward, his silvery Psychic gathering the roots and organizing them as he turned to find another bag for them. Riley and Clive stepped around to get a closer look at Keiran's list as the Beldum moved out of the way, and the Espeon tilted his head thoughtfully when he was addressed. "Something to write with..." he said thoughtfully. It seemed for a moment that he didn't have a response, the quaver in his voice a bit more genuine than his usual showmanship allowed for, but he smiled gingerly after a moment. "Clive, would you make me a puddle here?" He gestured to an indent in the soggy earth where his paw had been.
The Vaporeon's eyes twinkled. "That can be arranged." A gentle trickle of water flowed from Clive's lips as he bent over the spot, filling it with a clear, pure liquid that contrasted so greatly from the purplish fluid that flowed just beyond. Clive looked at it with satisfaction for a moment, before he noticed its color changing quickly as the moisture from the soil sunk in. "Might want to do whatever you're planning quickly," he said, irritation harshing his tone, "The ground's too saturated for it to last for long."
"A moment's all I need," Riley replied, "You should know that." The magician bowed down, meeting the small puddle at eye level, and gently blew across its surface. The liquid darkened from the ripple he created, expanding out and deepening to a deep black color. "There we are," Riley said, sounding pleased with himself for the first time in a while as he straightened up. "That should serve nicely." He watched Keiran with an eager look. The newly made ink was as good as any from a bottle, which the Riolu would find when he took advantage of it.
The pair of Eeveelutions pressed in to examine the list as Keiran explained the situation. "An orchid?" Riley's tail swished thoughtfully, but there was a touch of consternation in his tone. So long as he didn't dwell on it. He didn't need the hazy-bright eyes of a certain Espeon muddying his thoughts further, and if he let her in he knew he'd crack again. "There are certain kinds that grow in areas like this," he said briskly, "I know where to look. I won't be long." He glanced back over his shoulder. "If you can find the other one I'll meet you back here in a few minutes." With a wave of his tail, the Espeon disappeared into the trees, clearly leaving the others alone.
Clive shook his head, staring after his friend for a long moment. He knew that look, Riley wanted to have some time to himself. Something about the orchid seemed to have struck a nerve, but at least his friend was up and active again. Turning back to the others, he smiled, although it was, perhaps, wearier than before. "Alright K, where do we look?"
Clive
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 6:30 pm
Keiran The corner of Keiran’s mouth twitched into a smile as he watched Riley’s expression change. He pleased to see that the Espeon was at least comfortable enough to laugh. His words weren’t particularly enthused, as the subject of conversation wasn’t at all pleasant to any of the four present, but at least there was a lightness to his turn of phrase.
He caught Clive’s shudder of disgust, too, though it was not news to him that the Vaporeon despised the swamp’s environment. Water-typed like that were usually better-suited to clear water biomes, anyway. ”So we should cancel our arrangements to stay the night on the river, I take it?” The words were entirely deadpanned at he looked at Clive, though it was clear that he was not serious in the slightest. The thought of sleeping over water like that was enough to make his skin crawl.
The Riolu’s eyes flickered, watching the trickle of crystalline water flow over Clive’s lower jaw and into the paw-shaped print their captain had left behind. The liquid shone like starlight in comparison to the oiled swirls of mud around them, and he felt a brief instinct to drink from the tiny pool before it would disappear into the ground. Not terribly wise for a number of reasons, he reminded himself. The oily sheen was already spreading across the surface from the mud around it, tainting what had moments ago been the purest water for several leagues.
Riley was the next to bow his head, and for a moment he had to suppress the heart-wrenching instinct to pull the magician’s muzzle away from the fluid. Riley was far from dumb or desperate enough to drink from that, despite the strangeness of his gesture. Instead, he watched with interest as his captain blew lightly across the surface of the water and the water rippled into a shadowy pool. His eyes brightened with recognition. ”Ink! That will do nicely. Thank you.”
He smoothed back the fur on his paws, clearing the soft hairs from the tips of his pointed ivory claws. Riolu weren’t known for fighting with claws, so they were understandably small and fine-pointed, but they were perfect for delicate work like this. He dipped the tip of his index finger into the ink, though reluctant to allow his fur to brush the surface, and continued marking off their collected samples along the list. Small, graceful loops were scrawled around the remaining in-land samples, so that they would recognize what they had yet to collect.
As they discussed the orchid blossom, he noticed the sudden sharpness to his captain’s tone. Ah. He had touched another nerve, it seemed, though this he did not know the trigger for. It would be difficult to proceed without mentioning botany, so he hoped that it was merely orchids in particular which bothered him.
He nodded back to Riley as the Espeon turned to leave, his face a professional mask. There was a thoughtful stare from the Vaporeon who remained beside him. Clive, too, had noticed his mistake. This was not going as smoothly as he’d hoped.
Keiran winced at the expression on Clive’s face as he was addressed again, and the Riolu maintained his mask of calm. He had to be near to emotionless with Riley, at this point, but Ivilon seemed to encourage the exact opposite. He wasn’t sure where he stood with Clive.
”I’d like to check under the shrub cover just there,” he gestured, his tone forcibly professional. ”We’re looking for something low to the ground with broad, serrated leaves. Probably an inch or so wide. Some of them might have dry, brown seeds just below the leaves. If I remember, it’s not the leaves we have to worry about- the seeds are poisonous, though, so try not to break the casing or get them near your mouth.”
The collection of tangled leaves and vines that stretched under the scattered branches of the shrub layer were clearly not going to be particularly simple to dig through. Some of it was probably not the best to touch, given their environment, but his fur would be protective enough. Ivilon could float, and the sheen of moisture on Clive’s skin would act as a barrier. ”Let me know if you find a patch of it. I think it would be safer if we just take a couple of the whole plants, rather than clippings.” He stepped cautiously around patches of thicker plant life, his head ducked low to avoid knocking himself out on one of the low-hanging branches of the shrub-like tree beside him.
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Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 8:18 am
Riley & Ivilon Clive blinked with surprise at the distance in Keiran's tone, straightening up to peer closely at the Riolu. Though they weren't the closest, it was strange to hear him sound so distant. True he was a bit stiff, a lot like Ethfael in that sense, but rarely did he try to put such deliberate distance between them. The Vaporeon listened to the explanation quietly, nodding when it was done. "You've got it captain," he said, accompanying the comment with a light-hearted salute. He turned toward the brush then hesitated, turning back. "Say, Keiran." His expression was somber. "If you need anything else, just say the word, alright?" Clive offered him a half-smile before turning to wander off in the direction of the shrubbery he'd been directed to. Everyone would feel better the sooner they were finished; that was something at least.
Ivilon watched the Riolu and Vaporeon part ways, a heaviness weighing in his heart. He didn't know the dynamic between them, but everything was terribly stiff now--they were only going through the motions. It was like static, the air so cripplingly heavy with emotion it felt like moving through syrup. What was there to do? They had a job to do and the others had committed to it, so that meant they wouldn't be stopping until it was done. The Beldum stared at the samples they'd already collected, feeling the weight of an insurmountable task settle on his heart. There was nothing else for it, was there? With a metallic sigh, Ivilon too headed over to the cover Keiran had indicated, his eye flickering as he began to scan for the qualities the Riolu had indicated.
After the hunt had gone on for a couple minutes in silence, the trio separated by more than just the vegetation between them, the soundlessness was shattered by a triumphant exclamation from Clive. "K, I found some!"
The unexpected joy in Clive's voice startled Ivilon, who had already amassed a collection of four of the plants already--they were surprisingly sparse, and the process had taken longer than expected, but he'd been making progress and had assumed the others were doing the same. As the Beldum turned to try to locate either of his Teammates, his eye was drawn to a rustling in the brush across the way, where a familiar teal figure emerged in the distance, bounding towards them with an unnerving look on his face. The minute Riley's eyes locked onto his, a powerful Psychic shout resonated in his mind, one that clearly was directed to all three of them: Everyone, quick, get out of here! A moment later the reason was clear, as a loud thudding was heard, along with the creaking of trees being pushed to their limits across the meadow. Something enormous was coming, and it didn't mean them well.
"Go, go!" Riley shouted now, the distance between them closing. Ivilon felt a current run through him and his eyes widened, the idea of movement returning to him just as the ominous figure became visible through the trees. A Venusaur, larger-than-normal size, was trudging forward, an expression of outrage in its eyes. The Pokemon was a sickly yellow color, and its leaves were a wilted brown. The bloom on its back was the most unsettling of all: the color of an infected spider-bite, it had been a flower once perhaps, but its petals were so shredded and droopy you could hardly tell. Ivilon didn't know whether the creature was sick, or if it was just a product of this environment, but either way it was clear the thing was too enraged to talk to.
A stab of fear sent the Beldum rising upward for a better view, and he located all of his Teammates through the treetops, using his Psychic and scanning capabilities to their fullest extent. Keiran and Clive were on opposite sides of the trees, and Riley was sprinting behind, too close for comfort but still some distance from the thankfully-slow-moving Venusaur. Companions found, he searched for some solution to the problem. They couldn't run forever but they certainly couldn't fight. His eye lit up at the sight of something promising down by the river. A boardwalk, far too light for something like a Venusaur to cross and surely at a point too deep for him to swim. Yes, that was the answer.
Ivilon took a breath and opened his mind, sending out Psychic links to each of the three and feeling his energy drain from the effort. Fortunately there was adrenaline to keep him going. Can you hear me? There was no time to be polite--he sent his voice to their minds despite any resistance he met. This is Ivilon. I am above you now. I will guide you to the others. I've located an area of safe passage across the river where we can escape our pursuer. Listen to my instructions carefully. Do not turn back. Do not stop. If my calculations are in order we have only just enough time to accomplish this successfully.
Clive
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 12:30 pm
Keiran Keiran ignored the stab of guilt as he watched Clive’s expression fall. A professional distance was much easier to manage right now, particularly since his attempts to be supportive or inclusive were not helping matters with Riley. He dipped his head to the Vaporeon in appreciation, feeling a little better as he received a corny salute in response. The call of his name made him hesitate. The somber expression in his eyes as Clive addressed him by name was quick to pull the guilt back in, and he cringed as it dawned on him that Clive’s smile was less genuine now than he’d ever seen it. Now they were both faking it.
He avoided Ivilon’s gaze entirely, fairly certain that the psychic could sense his guilt and uncertainty from several feet off. He did his best to curb his aura of displeasure, and pushed back the sensations of concern and frustration that rolled off his companions. He just had to focus on work.
Keiran grabbed roughly at one of the plants, his aura cutting sharply into the tangled root structures below them and pulling up a small shoot with serrated leaves. It matched the description well enough, with small brown seed cases bundled around the base of the central leaves. He gripped it more tightly by the leaves themselves, not keen to break a toxic plant seed across his paws.
Clive’s call was enough to draw both his head from the clouds, the Riolu shaking off the heavy thoughts and lightly stepping around the undergrowth to reach the Vaporeon’s side. The pleasure in the water-type’s voice was cause for celebration, though he hadn’t expected the contrast of emotion to hurt as much as it did.
Experienced claws reached out to examine the plants again, and Keiran spared the Vaporeon a smile as he again recognized the little brown seeds. ”That’s them,” he agreed, unable to keep the familiar professionalism from sinking back into his voice. ”How the hell did you find a whole patch of the things?” His grin was a little crooked, baring the tip of a canine tooth as he tried to return the lightheartedness. He was reaching out to grasp at more of the little plants and cut them free when Riley’s voice screeched through his mind.
He resisted the urge to yelp, his innate abilities already having calmed the alarm in his mind. His head throbbed with the echo of the psychic shout, but he’d recognized Riley’s call and was instantly on his feet.
The Riolu pushed Clive a half-step, drawing him out of his momentary daze. He could see the vibrations through the rustle of leaves and the sound of snapping branches was rising in volume. Something big was on its way. ”Clive, go! Head up river!” As he barked the order to Clive, his aura snapped and crackled like fire. He gestured in the opposite direction, waving for the Vaporeon to run ahead of them. He himself couldn’t sprint off and hide with his teammates still further behind him. Even if he wasn’t one of their captains, he could never leave Riley.
He headed back several steps, his movements light and his aura fully concealed as he ducked through the barrier of stunted trees to find the others. He whipped his head around, trying to set his eyes on either of the two remaining teammates. He couldn’t see Ivilon at all, but he could sense the Beldum’s aura from somewhere above him. The higher he flew, the less focused his aura would appear- he had to be above the canopy if he couldn’t get a point on him. Riley was easier to find, however.
”Go, go!” The cry was edged with panic, and Keiran’s heart hardened as he dove through a tangle of branches to reach his captain on the other side. Thorns and gnarled twigs scraped as his face and shoulders, but were ignored. His inner focus would not allow him to hesitate now.
Ivilon’s voice was nearly as loud as the noise of the chase ahead, ripping through his mental barriers and demanding their attention. He could hear, but not respond. His plan was wise, but he knew could buy them extra seconds. His own safety was rarely a priority in these cases, at least for himself. He knew Riley was tired. To be tired now could be deadly.
His paws met open air as he broke away from the tree line, twisting to face the source of his captain’s aura. When Keiran’s gaze locked with Riley’s, his cerulean eyes were bright with a mixture of anger and determination. He took in the sight of the Venusaur bearing down on the feline and the madness that burned in its clouded red eyes. The twisted expression of alarm on Riley’s face was enough to bring a protective snarl rippling up his throat. Now was a good time to sprint.
He sprang away from the tree line, charging straight past the fleeing psychic as his aura coiled down from his heart and into his palms. The Venusaur was aware of him now, but it mattered little to the battle-hardened Riolu. He closed the distance in simple seconds and added a burst of speed to whip around the rotting vines that scarred the earth where he’d been standing. As he jumped with the ease of a practiced warrior, Keiran thrust the palms of his paws down into the Venusaur’s forehead.
Aura burst from around his wrists, the blast of energy unleashing a noise that shook the canopy and sent the Venusaur’s jaws crashing shut. A shower of gold and rose-tinted sparks splattered across the grass-type’s face; the remnants of a powerful Return. He could feel the massive Pokemon shudder, stumbling from the force of their collision and his chin burying itself into the muddy soil. Keiran took his chance to retreat, springing up and running in a wide arc to keep the grass-type’s attention off of Riley. The Venusaur was already scrambling back to its feet.
He caught the hesitation in Riley’s posture and realized that the Espeon was shifting to turn and fight. ”Keep running, Riley! Don’t you dare stop for me!” His words were a breathless screech. ”Follow Ivilon!”
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Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2016 10:01 am
Riley & Ivilon Clive returned Keiran's smile happily, pleased that he'd managed to advance things in the right direction. "Beginner's luck?" He offered in response to the Riolu's question, shrugging noncommittally. "I promise it's not familiarity." Water Types had a natural aptitude for tending to plants, but it wasn't something Clive had particularly worked to nurture. Sure he knew some--Riley had taught him all about the flowers he liked to work with--but he didn't know nearly as much about non-blossoming plants. From the amount of rules with just the flowers, the Vaporeon didn't want to think of how many specifics went in to the rest of the plant world. He stuck with watering what looked like it needed it and leaving the rest to the Grass Types; it was better not to interfere with plants if you didn't know the proper way to treat them. Following Keiran's lead, Clive extended his claws and reached toward the plants, when suddenly their moment of contentment was shattered.
Riley's mental cry forced Clive to the ground, his body seizing up at the unexpected mind-sound and the sound of his friend's terror. A moment later, he felt the ground quake beneath his paws, and the Vaporeon felt his blood run cold. Something was coming, and it was after Riley. Ears pressed back against his ruff, the Vaporeon's eyes burned into Keiran's as he was instructed what to do. Pride flickered in his eyes, along with something else, and it would be impossible to miss the way his aura flared in response to the statement. There wasn't a chance he was leaving Riley alone. "I'll see you on the other side." He turned and bolted off in the opposite direction, but Clive had never been a good liar. The "other side" he spoke of was clearly not the one Keiran had in mind, but the Vaporeon was already gone, his location lost to the trees.
Clive's heart pounded furiously as he circled around. He knew what Keiran was planning to do and he was not going to be the one to turn tail when the others fought. He glimpsed the massive beast in the distance and felt a pang of fear tugging at his paws, but there was something more important now. His eyes found Riley, the Espeon running just beyond the reach of the vines that strained forward from the Venusaur's back, and he knew what he had to do. Ivilon's voice echoed in his mind and the Vaporeon shook it. "Not now," he spoke through clenched teeth, knowing that no one would hear. "Not until they're safe."
----
Riley's ears twitched in response to the Psychic, sending a surge of gratitude towards Ivilon, wherever he was. The Beldum would be able to get them out of this, thank goodness. He jumped as a vine slammed down just behind him, keeping himself from stumbling from the impact, and he felt his tail tingle from the inches between it and the impending threat. His breathing was hard and painful, but he would be able to maintain this distance, so long as Ivilon was directing him. I'll follow your lead. He sent the words back through Ivilon's Psychic link, knowing they'd reach the Beldum because of it. It seemed like they'd get out of this for a moment, but then things took a turn for the unexpected.
The Espeon's eyes widened in horror when he spotted Keiran up ahead of him, reading the intent in them without any need for Psychic. "No, Keiran, don't!" The panic in his voice caused it to grate painfully even on his own ears. "Turn around, I'm right behind you!" This wasn't something they should fight. But his words fell on deaf ears and Keiran was already moving, sprinting past him and springing between the vines in a gorgeous, terrifying dance that turned Riley back around to watch, his heart in his throat. The inevitable collision came and Riley cringed at the sound that assaulted his ears, blinking furiously to clear his vision from the multicolored burst of energy. Keiran was nowhere to be seen, and the Venusaur's vines had fallen slack for a moment as it recovered from the direct hit to its skull. A moment later Keiran's voice hit him, and the Espeon frantic gaze shifted to find his partner, his heart only beating again when he was that the Riolu was unhurt. Riley shook his head in response, planting his paws firmly in the ground. "I'm not leaving you alone!" he shouted back, his throat screaming with agony from the volume. "We're not fighting this and we're not separating! We're going to get out together!" Like hell he was abandoning his partner; especially after Keiran had come back for him.
"Riley!" The magician's gaze shifted to his other side, heart seizing again at the sound of Clive's voice. The Vaporeon was about as far from him as Keiran, and his eyes were narrow. "Now, before he can recover!" Riley's brow furrowed with confusion until he saw Clive turn his head, icy energy forming in his friend's open mouth.
"Ready!" The Espeon shouted, eyes glowing as he tapped into his psychic energy. Without another word Clive sent his beam flying, and Riley followed suit. A stream of ice shot at the Venusaur's foot, causing it to stumble while it tried to recover from Keiran's attack, and a beam of pure Psychic energy collided with its face a moment later, causing the creature to moan as its eyes were forced shut by the dizzying impact. "Now!" Riley shouted, looking from left to right at his companions, his voice leaving no room for objections. "Run!" Clive listened immediately, turning tail and bolting into the underbrush, and Riley turned to his partner. "Keiran, to me!" he shouted, "We're losing time!" Though it was clearly shaken, the Venusaur was beginning to regain focus in its eyes again. "We go together or not at all, you know that!" His throat hurt from the screaming, but his expression was resolute. He knew Keiran wouldn't run ahead like he should, so rather than letting the Riolu stay behind he would make sure his partner came by staying by his side. There was no need to sacrifice someone for nothing, but that was a lesson his friend had a difficult time retaining.
Riley would only turn to run when Keiran came for him, not so much as turning the other way before. Provided his partner complied however, Riley would put everything he had into the sprint, and Ivilon would send them both direction to guide them through the woods ahead. If Keiran stayed, then Riley would too, incessantly sending Psychic waves toward the giant to slow his path and continually begging his partner to give up the fight.
Clive
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2016 10:55 am
Keiran Keiran could have cried. The emotional backlash of using Return in a circumstance like this was enough to make his heart flutter and the sight of his teammates banding together to help him in return was enough to brighten his eyes with unbidden tears. He did not use Return lightly, for it was an attack that required him to expend all that he had. A Return was to release the energy of your bond with another and to let every emotion tied into that bond become the strength with which you fight. He would fight for his team and his captain, even if they were not the ones who'd taught him the meaning of that strength. A swell of affection rose in his chest at the memory, but he pressed it back. They were not out of danger yet. So, he refused to cry.
He hadn't known that the Vaporeon was circling back to aid him, although the memory of his clever wordplay was enough to bring a grin of surprise to his face. The flash of his icy breath spilling over the swampland was burned into his mind, and the following swirl of psychic energy from Riley brought the Venusaur crumbling to his knees a second time. Two strikes would certainly be enough to buy time for their escape.
The Riolu answered the call of his captain with a rush of enthusiasm and devotion. His aura swirled bright silver with the loyalty to the captain who was racing to protect his team before himself, and to the team who seemed determine to answer his every order. His heart would hurt with the emotional whiplash of it all but it had to be worth it if it meant protecting them.
"I'm with you!" He called back, already answering the Espeon as he made to repeat the order. His strong black paws fell into step alongside Riley's and they ran together. He was moving fast, only ever slowing when he felt that Riley was a step behind. Luckily for the two of them, they were quick to gain speed as they ducked and swerved through the undergrowth. Adrenaline was pushing him on, and the urgent directions of Ivilon above were filling his mind with every passing moment.
That, too, was a blessing. With his mind as fuzzy as it was, Ivilon's intricate instructions were absolutely necessary.
He caught a glimmer of light and Ivilon told them the moment they were to meet with the riverbank. His blunt hindclaws dug sharply into the mud and the Riolu twisted to see the remains of an abandoned boardwalk across the river. It sagged and rotted, looking as though no sane Pokemon had tended to it in years, and he immediately felt better about what they meant to do.
He could see Clive ahead of them, the Vaporeon's beautiful shimmering skin like a beacon against the polluted blend of earthen tones. They were here, and they could make it. With any luck the Venusaur wouldn't try to cross after them. He had a feeling that the others would be reluctant to let it drown, however much a mercy that might be in its current condition. Instead of the usual frustration and unease, only pride and affection bubbled in his throat at these thoughts. Everything would be fine.
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Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2016 3:59 pm
Riley & Ivilon They ran side by side, Keiran occasionally spurting ahead only to hesitate enough for Riley to catch up. The vegetation was dense and might have been painful if it weren't for the deliberate bursts of Psychic energy Riley sent out whenever a particularly nasty branch or set of brambles crossed their path, which was thankfully very irregularly. Ivilon's instructions were terse but true, rarely steering them towards anything too troublesome. It amazed Riley how the Beldum's navigation could be so precise from such a distance. He sent feelings of gratitude pouring back the link between them, not having enough mental wherewithal to thank his Teammate properly--thank the Legends Ivilon had taken a shine to them, who knew what might have happened here without him? The Venusaur could be heard behind them, the forest moaning behind them as it pushed through, and the sound of its vines snapping at their heels enough to ensure they didn't slow. Despite it all, Keiran exuded something like exhilaration, keeping Riley's spirits elevated as well. There was a connection between the members of the Team at that point, all of them, and that connection made all of them believe that things would turn out alright in the end. Ivilon was watching over them and they kept him powered with their feelings of trust and appreciation; it was a seamless network of communication and it couldn't falter. For a moment, they were as one.
Riley and Keiran made it to the river by the boardwalk and Clive was waiting for them there, his eyes brightening at the sight of his companions. Your path is clear and the Venusaur is still too far to interfere. His vines may trouble the bridge, but if you move quickly and use your claws to keep a hold there should be no need for concern. Ivilon's voice echoed in their minds collectively, and he could be seen hovering far above their heads if they looked, the sun gleaming off his silver body. The Beldum's eye was locked on the Venusaur, calculations whirring through his mind faster than he could process. They should be fine, but the vines wouldn't make crossing easy. He intended to handle that in due course, his body tilted downward and ready to throw himself at the first vine that broached the treeline with all his might.
"You heard him!" Clive said, bounding ahead first, water already gurgling in his throat. The Vaporeon shot a steady stream of liquid from his throat, clear water forcing the murky liquid that had pooled overtop of the boardwalk to the sides so they could tread safely. Claws extended, Clive broke into a run, clearing the way for his friends to cross safely behind. The Vaporeon's movements were agile and deliberate--whenever he touched a rotting board he was quick to spring to the side--so long as Riley and Keiran followed his tracks closely they should be fine.
It was about halfway across the boardwalk that the Venusaur's cry could be heard, and if they glanced back they'd see Ivilon pulling himself back from the enormous vine that had snaked forward. The other vine smacked down close by, narrowly avoiding the Beldum, who drifted back smoothly, away from its reach. Ivilon didn't stay long, shooting away across the river as the giant drew closer and his swings grew more accurate. It was only after the Beldum was out of its reach that the Venusaur focused its gaze on the boardwalk, where the trio was nearing its end. The creature bellowed its outrage, stomping forward faster than it had before, and Ivilon's eye widened as he saw the murderous intent in the eyes that were narrowed on his Teammates. "Just a little further!" he called out to them this time, now that they were just within earshot, "Brace yourselves!"
Crack!
A shudder ran through the boardwalk as not one, but two vines crashed into it, its weak and neglected framework snapping as the powerful, thick appendages forced their way through it, breaking through the beam that connected to the structural support of the bridge. It shuddered beneath the trio's paws and the boardwalk moaned as the water churned angrily from the impact. Fortunately the structure held out in spite of the impact, and the Team didn't stop running. Ivilon felt a surge of relief run through him at the sight. It was fine, they were going to be alright after all. And then he saw the petals on the Venusaur's back spread wide, the creature settling into a firm stance as it stood in the sunlight, staring them down without motion. Things were not alright. "Hurry!" Ivilon's metallic screech wasn't pleasant on the ears but was necessary. "To the sides, as fast as you can. He's going to take down the bridge!" If the trio were caught up in the Solar Beam, they were as good as dead.
Clive felt his chest tighten as he raised his head, dousing the rest of the bridge ahead of them in water and finally allowing the stream to cease. There was still so much distance between them and the shore. He glanced back to see his companions on his heels and the sight of the Venusaur sent fear through to his core. Riley caught sight of look on his face and the Espeon's ears flattened with concern, though he resisted looking back in turn.
From the shoreline, Ivilon watched the Venusaur dip down to his knees, flower glowing with an ethereal light. There wasn't any time left. "Jump to the side! Now! The Beldum himself shot to one side, and Clive and Riley jumped almost simultaneously in opposite directions, aiming for the shore that seemed impossibly far away. The Solar Beam would shoot just behind them, incinerating the rotten bridge and not stopping until it collided with the shore beyond.
Clive
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2016 7:41 pm
Keiran Keiran nodded sharply, unable to respond with psychic as Riley did. He felt a flicker against his soul as the two psychics seemed to acknowledge that they'd understood. His mind was clear enough now that he was at least thinking straight, even if the warmth hadn't fizzled out of his chest. He could feel their aura without the interference of his own, and it was comforting to know that they didn't seem terribly unnerved by his actions at this exact moment.
He darted obediently after Clive, watching the Vaporeon send a swirling jet of clean water across the surface of the boardwalk. It would make it horribly slippery for running, and Keiran felt himself hesitate to run behind Riley instead of rushing straight onto the wooden passage. His blunt claws were poor for running under these conditions if he was to admit it to himself, but he could feel the unbridled confidence of both Eeveelutions and the urgent reassurances of their Steel-type companion still echoed in his mind. If they could do this, he could follow.
He sprinted, purposely moving to follow the path that Clive had cleared. If he were to slow now, he could tell that he would find himself flat on his face from the lack of traction.
Panic surged from Ivilon, and Keiran kept running, his eyes trained on the sight of Riley, Clive, and more significantly- the boardwalk ahead of him. It wouldn't hold up well to a fight, and if it wouldn't, neither would he. He heard the call of alarm, now verbal instead of telepathic, and he felt a surge of blind trust for the Beldum that he hadn't before.
He was told to brace himself, and he did. The Riolu threw himself belly-first onto the cold, sodden planks of the boardwalk. The impact sent pain spiking up his wrists as he slid along the slippery surface, but it was ignored in favour of the shockwave that ripped through the whole of the bridge. He could feel the framework shuddering, splintering, and with a sudden panic he twisted around onto his side to slam a Force Palm into the trembling structure. His aura cut clean like blades, but the force of his own strike was enough to split the two crossing support beams. There was an alarming shift from their half of the bridge, but as it stilled his alarm was replaced with nervous satisfaction that the world was not collapsing under their feet.
He'd probably have bruises from this. More pain, but nothing broken. Still, he could easily run, and his blunt claws scratched against splintering wood to turn and run from the still-angry Venusaur. Ivilon's voice called out to them again, this time warning them to stick to the sides.
"Take out the bridge?! He already did, what's he going to-" Keiran retorted under his breath, his eyes narrowed as he risked a glance behind him. Oh. OH. "Stars." Was all he said, his voice hoarse from the way his mouth had suddenly dried. There wasn't much room for dodging that. They had too far to run. Even for Clive, and he headed their retreat.
If Keiran had not been at full speed before, he certainly was now. The Riolu was in a dead sprint across the remainder of the bridge, his eyes darkened with dread as he felt himself waiting for the call from above. His hurried steps were aided by aura now, the warrior's blunt claws sinking neatly into the damaged frame of the bridge as he ran. There was nothing to lose if he didn't make this jump.
Ivilon's order was like the sound of shearing metal. It would have been painful in any other circumstance. Today, it was simply the signal to jump. Keiran knew how far he was from shore, but it didn't matter. He didn't have strength enough to take a direct hit from a Solarbeam and the water below, so he decided to risk only one.
His feet hit the water first, icy cold gripping him as he shifted to keep his head above water when he landed. His paws hit sand below the surface and he was scrambling for shore without a moment's hesitation. He crossed the last couple metres in the biggest hurry of his life, his throat burning from the scent of poison that seeped against his skin. He hit the shore and just dropped to his knees, exhausted and more than a little unnerved by the sensation of fresh poison seeping through his fur. Thank the constellations that he'd hit shallow water. In theory, he'd be fine with a thorough rinse and some pecha berries. He hadn't swallowed or inhaled any of it.
Riley. Clive. Ivilon.
Keiran's blue eyes were frantic as he glanced up, and he smiled with giddy relief as he realized that he was the only one not to make the jump. They were all shaken, but they'd pulled it off.
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