Welcome to Gaia! ::

Cetus squiggled up both her brows. There seemed to be a commotion everywhere from the nearby camp supply store to the dashing gal hoping to catch up with the group. Algenubi chirruped next to her ear and she turned about to see him edging her forward to keep up and not dawdle. He knew she was impatient to get her mission on the road, but letting the moments sit was also a good idea. Her impatience couldn't really handle both but Algenubi kept a hawk eye on keeping her straight.

River let out a pent up sigh, after the whole incident the girl had decided to get her hair cut even and styled. There was no point in looking like a ragamuffin even if underneath it all, especially with all of her memories, she felt lonely and miserable. Fumbling with the zipper on her pink sleeveless vest the crimson haired nineteen-year-old attempted to flick the corners of her lips into a smile however as soon as the expression kept onto her features it fell away into a soured frown that lingered and pulled her narrow face into a gloom that only a teenager could manage without it being read into too deeply.

Slim hands dropped to her sides and thumbs sought out the comfort of her pockets, she couldn’t help but feel like such a loser. She was almost a full fletched adult and she still didn’t own a pokemon, what sort of loser was she?

Pfft. She knew exactly what sort of loser she was. She was the kind of lame person that had studied to be a dancer for most of her life, that was after all what her grandmother wanted for her. Even if she didn’t want that sort of life for herself, then again granny didn’t want her to be gay either but that didn’t stop her did it?

Nope.

Letting out yet another sigh the longhaired youth slide the heavy sole of her left running shoe along the ground, what she needed, what she really needed was---

‘Look at that a**---’ River mentally perked up as her pale blue hues locked onto the rear quarters of a vaguely familiar looking female as she exited the shop that she was loitering near. Cantering her head as the woman walked away River couldn’t help but grin wolfishly and flick the tip of her tongue across the cool metal loop on the right side of her lip. Those hips, the way the woman’s thighs just seemed to call to her like a siren, a hormone crazed, lusty eyed siren. Tucking her head downward until her chin touched her clavicle the athletically built punk-girl tore her stare away from the other female as she did so for the first time since she laid eyes on the other trainer River paid attention to her face.

“Keria…” Without even thinking River’s feet began to move on their own, quickening her pace, her stride, all in effort to catch up with the purple haired girl. “Yo, Keria! Hold up babe, can I join you?”

The camping supply store was filled to the brim with untouched merchandise. Unless they stocked early with newly obtained items, Cetus figured not many people were out and about exploring the land of Zatao. Especially with word of not only Team Rocket being in the area, hehe. Once again, Algenubi remained a loyal steed outside the door as his owner ran her slippery fingers over every tent and tin pot hefted onto the shelves. Unfortunately, the items were too large to just slip into her sideways satchel and slip away, so Cetus actually considered the purchase of items. Besides, they'd come in handy later when she was not playing the role of cartographer.

She gathered what she found suitable: a collapsible tent for one (she was never fond of sharing) and a sleeping bag. That's it. She was harshly trained in the right ways to survive off the land, so food and drink were not needed. Considering she was with people, there is no way this would be harder than the time she was thrown from a helicopter onto Mt. Coronet. With no Pokemon to assist her, she had to fend and supply herself with everything for one week. She barely made it, but earned the title nonetheless when Galactic personal discovered she had stumbled upon some rare gems while searching the area and had piled them up to take back. This, alone, was why she prided herself on obtaining brownie points. They got her everything she wanted.

With her purchases made, Cetus slipped the items onto Algenubi's back to carry. He was no pleased.

"Oh, calm down." she muttered when she tightened a strap slack on his back. "You've carried me before, so this is nothing."

Why should I be forced carry your items? his stare said.

Cetus pursed her lips. "Stop looking at me like that." she sneered. "My head is on the line here. There is a disgusting experiment of the Rockets on the prowl. Getting that thing means more to me that dealing with your bickering, so cut the crap!"

In the middle of the Pilkiras Plains, something sneezed and caused the collection of Pidgeys she was sitting in to vanish with a cackling away of beating wings into the air. The poor thing sniffled lightly, frowned, than searched for another place to hide. Someone was probably talking about her, saying mean things. That's probably why she sneezed.

Shina paused to consider a book. While she personally had little to no use for "The Edible Abundance of the Wilds of Zatao," she suspected that the book might come in handy for convincing others that the things she identified as food were, in fact, edible. She wasn't sure the party would believe a girl like her had been trained in survival from the age of eight. It wasn't really a skill a rich heiress needed most of the time, but papa had always indulged her whims. Shina shrugged and added the book to the towering stack of items she was purchasing. Better to have and not need than to need and not have.

Flint left his Pokemon outside the camping store and walked in, making his way through the aisles. He grabbed a collapsible tent and a sleeping bag as well a few miscellaneous items such as a flashlight and extra batteries. As he went to check out he frowned as he handed over the money and made a mental note to be more careful with his money from now on as he was almost out. He would have to call his parents before they left and ask if they could send him some. He made his way back outside and leaned against a wall to wait for the others.

Rush stood by looking rather impatient, humans always took such a long time to do everything.

Cetus and her Pidgeot eventually fell into a recalcitrant bicker as the bird raised its wings in discomfiture and shook its feathers to rid itself of the forced on baggage. Cetus did what she could to tame the writhing avifauna, forcing her fingers onto its spread wingspan and trying to pull them down. Behind her gritted teeth, she wondered why she ever stuck with the Pokemon. True, he was her first, but meant little to Cetus. Mira, her third to be obtained, was her favorite. The timid mouse was the mother she never had; warm to the core with steady maternal affections. She was a much better companion. A much better friend than the over sized featherbutt in front of her joggling the cases on its back with heavy twists and turns.

Ah.

An epiphany of truth shot from her trembling fingers and into her head, coiling around both reasoning, sensibility and memory with a rattling tail. That's right. She remained attached to him for memory's sake. Algenubi was a gift from him -- her first and what she deems her only true love. They were ten at the time and Mr. Willis did all he could to impress her. She was a stubborn Ponyta raised upon riches, so any of his attempts to woo her were bucked away. It wasn't until he presented her with a Pidgey babe, fresh from its newly hatched egg, did she truly give it. Her poppa never let her have Pokemon (he wasn't a fan of the natural creatures), so it was the greatest gift of all. Little Cetus treated Algenubi as a toy. When he grew dull, it is when their friendship became strained. He only serves to be a beacon of memory when the days of young love and toys were the greatest things in life. By this time, Algenubi had calmed and was staring awkwardly at Cetus as she leaned onto him. He chirruped and she removed herself, sighed, than turned away.

How much longer?

Taka nods slightly in acknowledgment at Rasha when she first appears, but his attention is on Tenka. He decides the treed squirrel could provide some worthy entertainment. He stretches, and pads over to the base of the light pole, rears up, and carefully places both paws on it and stares up with a Cheshire grin. The pole groans.

The dusky hiker exists the store with a self satisfied smile, new set of trail cookware and a saddlebag significantly lighter than before. She stops when she sees the motley group that's gathered. She shoots a look at Taka to make sure he isn't making trouble and decides taunting a rat from a distance isn't worth correcting. Worf is at his side, but looking from one target person or pokemon to another with mounting excitement. Also acceptable.

"So, this is the party." she asks to no one in particular, pulling a torn, stained paper out of her pocket and looking it over.

She nods as Shina makes her announcement.