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 Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 1:19 am
Looking around the campsite one last time, Shina nodded in satisfaction. "Looks like that's everything, Rasha," Shina commented as she swung into the saddle. With gentle pressure from her legs, she directed her Ponyta - her Ponyta! Her very own first pokemon! - to begin moving. "Let's get going. I wonder what we will see today?"
As they began their day, Shina looked around, still amazed by even the more common aspects of the world around her. Rasha's smooth gait made it easy for Shina's mind to wander, and her thoughts drifted to the past.
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Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 1:26 am
Shina's thoughts: Shina and Rasha had been traveling Zatao since the Eevee swarm some time ago, becoming familiar with each other and the land around them. Before the Eevee swarm, Shina had rarely left the security of her family's large estate. While social engagements often took her to the estates and mansions of other wealthy families, and her tutors had given her the best education her father could buy, Shina could count the times she had been outside those gated sanctuaries without her father or a minder on one hand, with fingers left over. Once, she had spent a week on her own, finding her way home as part of a wilderness survival test. Even then, she had been wearing a combination tracker and panic button, so help had never been more than a few hours away. Another time, she had been allowed to study with the Kimono Girls, though that had been another sheltered environment, and she hadn't traveled alone. Now, Shina was traveling a sparsely populated continent, far from home, without anyone to tell her what to do or when to do it. It was both exciting and scary. While Shina had high hopes of getting an Eevee during the swarm, her luck had not been good enough to get her one of the elusive pokemon. At the beginning of the event, Shina had not owned a single pokemon, and had been forced to rent a Ponyta for the journey. Rasha had been an excellent mount, with a calm demeanor, quick wit, and a very smooth gait. The first and last had likely been traits that most Ponyta at the rental center would have been bred for, but Rasha was still very special as far as Shina was concerned. The two had bonded during the brief, crazy quest for the Eevees, and when the journey was over, Shina hadn't been able to just walk away. She had spoken with Rasha's owner, and, for a hefty sum, had managed to convince the person to part with the Ponyta. The time spent traveling together since then had only deepened the connection between them, and Shina knew that without Rasha, she would have long since returned home.
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Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 1:30 am
Briefly, Shina shivered. If she had returned home after the swarm, she likely would have never left home like that again. While the trip had been exciting, it had also been terrifying at times. The rock slide, the Rocket kidnapping, the escape, the furious pokemon in the clearing, so many moments when her heart had pounded and her stomach clenched as she tried to keep her wits about her while the world went crazy. After all that uncertainty, the stifling rules and high walls of the wealthy world would have felt like safety and security. It wouldn't have stayed that way forever, but even a few months might have sealed her fate. Off balance and insecure, without any pokemon to show for her trip, she might have accepted a gift Eevee from one of the boys interested in courting her. After accepting such a token, she would have been obligated to allow the boy to court her. She wouldn't have been forced to agree if he proposed to her in a year or so after that, but the scandal if she said no without a reason besides not wanting to be tied down would have been horrible. It wouldn't have taken more than a year or two before the comfort and safety of home became the stifling cage that it had been before she begged Papa to let her join the Eevee caravan. By then though, she would have been bound tightly by obligation and propriety, unable to escape a second time.
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Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 1:43 am
As frightening as some of the trip had been, it had also been wonderful at times, and was sometimes both things at the same time. Each time things had gotten dangerous, the trainers had pulled together to help each other. While Shina hadn't hesitated to help, she had been shocked that the others had jumped in right beside her, supported her, and treated her like a possible friend and ally. The concept was startling to Shina, coming from the backstabbing, catty, self absorbed society of the rich. The only people who had ever behaved in such a way was the hired help, and as much as she wanted to pretend otherwise, Shina was always aware that they were paid to do the things they did. Of course, some of them were genuinely her friends, but there would always be that last barrier between them. Out here, even though they technically had been rivals in the hunt for the Eevee, people had pulled together and worked with each other every time things had gone wrong. For that alone, the trip had been worth it.
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Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 1:57 am
At the end, as she prepared to return Rasha, Shina suddenly realized that she wasn't ready to go home. She had written her Papa, begging him to back her attempt to purchase the Ponyta despite the rental company's rules against such purchases. To her relief, Papa had agreed, and with his support and deep pockets, she had been able to convince the owner to sell the Ponyta.
The time since then had been calm, and spent mostly just wandering about, learning the land and Rasha's quirks. She had also taught the Ponyta a few tricks, which the clever girl had picked up on quickly. Her previous mounts, a dressage Ponyta and a trick riding Ponyta, had been trained to obey nonverbal signals, and did so very well. They had also been from very specific lines, bred for their obedience and performance ability, meant for the show ring. Outside of the situations they had been trained for, however, they were high-strung, skittish, and generally unhappy. Rasha seemed to be much more resilient and adaptable, happy to obey nonverbal or voice commands, learn new things, and generally tried to help her master. Shina was reminded of the Growlithe she had helped train. Like Rasha, the puppy had been curious, eager to please, and clever. His line had been bred for intelligence and obedience, making him a joy to work with.
Shina blinked and came back to herself as Rasha pranced beneath her a few steps. "Sorry girl. Didn't mean to go so far away." Shina patted Rasha's neck soothingly, and looked around. "It really is a beautiful day, isn't it?"
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Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:22 pm
Breathing the crisp late morning air, Shina glanced around. The forest seemed to be a bit thinner ahead. Then, Rasha broke from the forest, pacing smoothly into the large, open meadow spread across the valley below.
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 3:55 am
Morning. Edge of a clearing in the Zato wilderness. Fresh. Bright. Tranquil. Hungry.
Three stomachs growled together. Three sets of eyes pinned down one nugget of poke-chow; one bright and hopeful, one cold and petulant, and one resigned. It take's a lot to feed an Arcanine, and Electrike, and a human, and the surrounding hills hadn't quite provided today. One stale, months old kibble dug out of the dustiest corner of a saddlebag was all she could find after the lions share of forage had been dealt out to the surly Arcanine. She sighed, taking out her knife to divide the crusty lump in three. "Time to move onto greener pastures for a while, boys." She said, offering each a portion. Taka engulfed his as was his due, but Worf wiggled his whole blue rear in a show of thanks. Khol pinched her nose and made to swallow the bit like a pill. It's good for you, really. What she wouldn't give for a good civilized meal right about now. Bottoms up!
The soft whump of a heavy pokemon's feet on turf sounded of on the other side o the clearing. Breakfast forgotten, perhaps a bit eagerly, she perked up. Large pokemon or mounted trainer, this could represent an opportunity.
Seeing -his- opportunity, the blue pup darted in and plucked the unsavory food item from her hand in exchange for some saliva as she signaled them to follow her out. :3
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 10:42 am
Movement below caught Shina's eye. A trainer with an Arcanine and a shiny Electrike? Memory bubbled to the surface. This had been one of the trainers from the Eevee caravan! She had never spoken to this trainer, or really interacted at all, but those pokemon had stood out a bit, even among all the others present. Shina would be surprised if this trainer remembered her though. She had been just one of the masses mounted on a Ponyta. Still, Shina had just been remembering the kind trainers from the caravan earlier, she didn't want to just pass one by without at least saying hello.
"Hello, good morning!" Shina called out brightly, waving an arm in greeting. More quietly, she spoke to Rasha. "Come on girl, lets go!" Rasha picked up her pace slightly, fiery tail streaming like a joyful flag behind.
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 3:30 pm
Taka stopped short and released an ember filled huff upon seeing the delicious delicate Ponyta and her exuberant trainer. He slowed to a skulk and circled round to it's right, sparing a look seasoned with a bit of disdain at his small blue minion as he took left flank with energetic, tongue-lolling bounds just out of range of the horse's kicks should she aim them - the pup did have some sense, he had to admit. He returned his acid eyed gaze to the Ponyta, sending his tongue over his whiskers in such a way that his fangs showed. "And I was so hoping for a Stantler."
Kohl fell out of her lope in front of the approaching pair and looked them over appraisingly. Bright red, unfaded, flowing sleeves, sparkling earrings that would be a temptation to even a blind rattata. Soap. This girl wasn't roughing it. Maybe... Her eyes glinted. "Ho, trainer, care for a battle?"
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 3:45 pm
Rasha drew to an abrupt halt, eying the Arcanine warily. She shied sideways a bit. "Keep that beast away from me!"
"Taaaa. Ta!" Shina rode out Rasha's nervous prancing, gently tightening the reins. "Easy girl," she murmured. To the trainer, she continued, "Battle? Well, I haven't tried battling before. I don't know if I would be much good at it, and it seems my Ponyta is a bit leery of your Arcanine." Pausing, Shina considered the offer. Well, it was rude to refuse a challenge. And this was one of the trainers from the caravan . . . Shina dismounted, holding Rasha's bridle firmly by the cheek strap. "I suppose a friendly match between your Electrike and my Rasha would be alright."
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Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2010 11:54 pm
Taka gives the Ponyta a Cheshire grin and sprawls in the grass, the tip of his tail twitching while he watches through half lidded eyes as his mistress speaks.
Kohl's expression, though arguably more pleasant, almost mirrors his. "Great! Worf could use some training that doesn't involve straining against Taka's paw." She mimes putting her hand on a smaller persons head to keep them out of range, realizes it's covered in Pokemon slime and wipes it down the front of her tatty brown coat. The pup was less of a sure bet, but still... she focused again, looking up a little to meet the other trainer's eyes. "Kanto rules?
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Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 12:02 am
Shina pauses. Kanto rules is a polite way of saying that the loser pays half the contents of their wallet to the winner of the battle. Well, it isn't like she can't afford it. Truthfully, she isn't carrying much actual money, most of her wealth being in the form of nuggets, star pieces, and stardust, as the items are easier to carry. "Sure. Just let me get Rasha's tack off. It wouldn't be a good idea for her to battle still wearing her saddle." Suiting actions to words, Shina begins stripping Rasha's tack. ((From here, the thread will move to the arena forum. http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=20797583&page=1After the battle, we will return.))
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 5:31 pm
"Oh." Khol cringes from the sidelines as Rasha's rear sinks down another inch, stifling her Electrike's reedy whimper. With a sigh, she turns to Taka and unhooks a dented sauce pot from the tack, tucking it into the tangle of belts behind her as she strides out to the battle zone.
Kohl pauses before Rash and puts her hands on her hips. Matter-of-fact-ly, "Get up, lady-broad-behind, this muck isn't good for either of you." The hiker turns and shoves against the clay-painted pony's flank once then takes a hold of the trapped pup's forepaws, bracing a muddy boot against the formerly ivory beast rump and giving them a steady pull.
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 5:39 pm
With a snort, Rasha gives in and gets off the puppy. "Hmph. Little mud mutt." Disdainful of her opponent, no matter the actual outcome of the fight, Rasha walks over to her trainer. "Get the mud off?"
Shina sighs with relief when Rasha finally gets off the Electrike, though she favors the puppy with a snort. The whinny Rasha makes when she reaches Shina is truly pathetic, and Shina winces as she slips a halter over Rasha's head. "Come on girl. Let's go over to the stream and get you brushed out."
Louder, Shina calls to the other trainer, "Hey, let's go to the stream and get some of this mud off our Pokemon! I'll get you your winnings too!"
Shina leads Rasha to the stream, and sets up the combs and brushes she will need to get Rasha clean again.
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 6:29 pm
Pop! The mud released it's captive as the tired Ponyta pulled herself up. The electrike and it's trainer fell back with a squelch and a scattering of large gooey clods. Khol wipes one offer her cheek. Her chest is covered in puppy, and mud - said puppy shakes his head miserably and freckles her face with it. Time to get clean. She stows him under one arm and follows the other trainer to the stream.
At the edge of the stream she stops. Worf looks up at her hopefully, apologetically, eyes large and sparkling, but she grins down toothy. "You won your battle, but you won't win this one. Your puppy eyes are not effective against me." She takes him in both hands holds him over the water, and lets go. He splashes in with a strangles yelp, but it's only chest deep and flows gently. He stares at the surface in surprise.
"Water is wet!" The pups yips, staring at the wavering image of his paws on the rocks below the surface. It doesn't -feel- like they're wiggling. It feels cold. It tickles. He bites and at ripple and sneezes as the stream crawls up his nose.
To the other human, Kohl calls out "So how do you wash that thing?" She nods towards the pony pokemon and makes flickery motions with her hand. She strips off her coat, belts, and starts on her boots. She swigs the pot to throw water over the distracted electric type.
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