Shall we be going? [mod|open]

[sorbet]

Ciro frowned as he watched the Poochyena turn tail and run. It was a shame - Poochyena were dark types, and at the very least made good guard dogs and gifts - but at least the girl wasn’t hurt. He quickened his approach, speaking again as he neared. ”Are you hurt?” Looking more closely, he had to wonder why she was out on her own. She couldn’t even remind him of Preston, she was younger and … far thinner. He stopped a few feet from her, unsure of what to do next. If he moved to help her up, would she break?

[Gelato.]

Fighting back the tears that threatened to spill, Azo gently stroked the wing of her Natu. He stirred in his sleep, but would likely need time to rest. He didn't appear to be too badly hurt and she hoped he would be back to fighting strength soon. She, however, would be a whole other matter. Intentions aside, her careless actions had led to him being hurt. It had been reckless and silly, things she had been warned not to be. Sniffing once and blinking away her tears, Azo gathered up the little bird in her arms and stood. There was, after all, a stranger to deal with.

"F-Fine, thank you." The words seemed to catch in her throat and she had to push them out. She turned to face the strange man who'd come to her aid, though her eyes were fixed somberly on his feet. What a fool she'd made of herself to this man. He probably thought her incapable of taking care of her charge, inept as a trainer. She swallowed and did her best to steady her nerves. However visibly shaken she appeared, in the eyes of someone else, she needed to be composed. She bowed her head slightly to the man. "Thank you for coming to our aid, sir. It was most gracious." There, those words came out alright. She straightened, though did not raise her gaze.

[sorbet]

Ciro watched the girl - how old was she, anyway? - and was a little surprised as he watched her struggle to maintain her composure. He remembered his first close call with a wild Pokémon and … well, maybe he wasn’t one to talk when it came to “weird” anyway. He offered up a small smile and a shrug as she got up okay on her own, cradling the poor little guy. And, woah. She talked strangely, didn’t she? He couldn’t help but widen his smile a little sheepishly. Once again, who was he to comment? ”Hey, that’s fine. I’m just glad I was able to come along when I did; I remember how it felt when I’d gotten into trouble like that.” Not like it ever took very long to happen, either.

He glanced away, catching sight of the meat on the side of the road. Prooobably not the girl’s. So, the Poochyena’s, then. Maybe if they moved along, the wild animal wouldn’t have to go hungry for a night. Ciro looked down at the Natu. “Hey, if you get him to a Pokémon Center, he’ll be good as new.” But, what if the little bird was the only Pokémon she had?

[Gelato.]

While the strange man talk, Azo shifted her balance somewhat, but then shifted back, remembering to stand up straight. He seemed very forthcoming for a stranger, but he had yet to introduce himself, and to a lady, no less. It was quite improper, though it afforded Azo a break to lift her gaze and study the man. He was older than she, though not by too much, and he seemed, for lack of a better word, rather scrappy. His impropriety obviously encompasses more than his manners. Despite that, he seemed to have raised a fairly strong Espeon who seemed rather ameliorated with him. If she remember correctly, Eevee evolved into either Espeon or Umbreon according to the time when they feel happiest, or something like that.

However great a trainer he might've been, he was implying that she should turn back and, despite her horrid beginning, that was not an option. She'd just have to wait for her bird to wake up on his own and hope that no other wild creatures thought she smelled appeasing. "I will keep in mind your kind suggestion, sir," she announced when he finished. Azo nodded her head, her curls bouncing with the sudden movement, and began to walk past him. He had been helpful, yes, but he was still a stranger and she needed to cover ground while her Pokémon rested.

[sorbet]

Well, that seemed to touch a nerve. He tried not to frown, but failed once the kid passed by him. Whatever he said seemed to have offended her, but he was just trying to be helpful for once. It was strange, though, he’d never thought he’d run into another one of those fancy types while travelling out in the wild. What a strange encounter that made. Still, that was not the point behind his worry. He was pretty sure she was underage, fragile-looking, and alone. As much as that kicked into whatever few protective instincts he had, he was a tall, strong adult male. He really doubted that his following her around would make her feel more comfortable. For some reason.

But she’d just gone in the direction he’d been headed. He frowned to himself, trying to figure out what to do. It wouldn’t do to just abandon the kid. It wasn’t like he had a map, but he was pretty sure the road between towns was long, and who knew what would pop up? Still, Ciro wasn’t exactly keen on being the new creeper around the block. Oh, what to do. He stared down at Vivienne, troubled.

The Espeon was not pleased. There she’d gone and put out all of that effort, even gotten her paws dirty again, and what did she get? A stare. The girl sized her up, and then just ignored her. The nerve! And now Partner was giving her that look. Again. So far, this new region was rather disappointing, really. At least the air didn’t nauseate her anymore, but everything smelled was still so weird and new. This ground wasn’t as hot and rough and filthy as the “cement” from before, but there was still dirt everywhere! And here Partner was, looking to her for directions. She was more than sure that there was some kind of instrument that could keep her from having to guide him, but then maybe they wouldn’t always go where she wanted to go.

She still had no idea just what his problem was, however. Vivi gave a release of breath anointed with the softest of hisses, rolling her shoulders as she turned her head and strode on past the vexing girl-child, tail whisking from side to side and just barely missing the girl as she passed. As the Espeon knew would happen, Ciro followed quickly enough, keeping an eye out for other wild Pokémon. Passing would at least let her know he wasn’t following, right? "Um, take care, okay?" The Espeon heard him tentatively mutter. She gave something not too dissimilar from a huff, though it could just as easily been mistaken for an agreement. The sooner they moved on, the better. Maybe she could talk Ciro into brushing her fur tonight.

[Cai]

The bushes rustled ominously.

Though the Poochyena had run away yelping, the threat was not gone. Because little did the trainers who had fought it know, it had company. Not just any company, either, but his big, bad, fearsome mother, whose dark eyes narrowed to angry slits the moment her offspring came wailing to her side, butting her with his head. She listened avidly to what he complained vehemently about and growled comfortingly in response. Getting to her strong, clawed paws, the Mightyena shook out her thick fur and emerged.

Oh yes, she was angry. This was a full-grown, highly-enraged mama bear looking to protect her young. She broke into a run, following the scent of human, and the second she saw the two figures standing, obviously gloating over her poor son's fate, she let out a howl of fury and faced them off, teeth bared, drool around her jaws.

[atrb=border,0px solid,true][atrb=cellpadding,5px,true][atrb=width,250,true][atrb=style, border-radius: 1em; -moz-border-radius: 1em; border: 1px solid #FFD456;][bg=FFDC7C] w i l d   p o k é m o n ! "] L32 ♀ Mightyena Good God, you've disturbed a mother Mightyena! You have encountered a furious Pokémon! Time to decide whether to battle it or to run for your life.

{...not what you had in mind? :] }

[Gelato.]

She didn't think too much about it once she passed the strange man, her eyes full of worry for her little bird. Azo stroked his wing and he stirred comfortably in his sleep. It was amazing, really, how quickly Pok?mon could recuperate. Already he looked much better than he had when she'd seen him last hit. He didn't look exactly as he had, not yet, but it really surprised her how much his condition had improved. She wondered about the man's advice to take her little bird to the Pok?mon Center, once she reached the next town, and decided perhaps his words were valid and true. After all, he had raised quite a beautiful Espeon, despite is uncouth behavior.

She noticed that Espeon again, passing her now, followed by that man wishing her well. Suddenly, she was worried again. Had she been the one being uncouth? Sure, he had made the first folly by carrying on a conversation without introducing himself, but she knew nothing of etiquette on the road. Perhaps it was customary to invite a traveler to share the road with you, should you be going the same way. But, then, would it be rude of her to impose upon a rude stranger? She'd only just begun, while he seemed fairly experienced. Would it be too troublesome to have a beginning with you, even for such a trip as that between cities? She had much to learn about things while traveling, she decided, tensely nodding to the man when he wished her well.

When Azo looked back down to her bird, remembering again that he needed a name, the little Natu stirred again in his sleep, though this time it was different. He seemed startled, like he'd just seen something. Her brow knitted and she stroked his wing again. "What's wrong?" she cooed, her voice soft and lilting, like a little girl's. Then, she heard the bushes rustle. She stilled and turned her head to look, perplexed. Hadn't the Poochyena run off, content with his victory over her? What could be behind the bushes now? Hardly thinking, she took a step toward them, her curiosity a powerful push in the back. She regretted it almost instantly, as a Mightyena, fully grown and enraged, leaped forth from them. Azo made a noise somewhere between a scream and a squeak, quite unladylike, and made another move without thinking; she turned and hurried behind the man, seeking safety from the slobbering beast that had now presented herself. Without a word, she peeked out from behind him, tightly holding her Natu.

[ooc:// completely what we had in mind. x3 ]

[sorbet]

"]

Ciro was trying to reel in his thoughts when Vivienne stopped in front of him, ears swiveling. Frowning, he’d only managed to start an, ”Uh, Viv, what’s-“ before a scream cut him short just as the Espeon turned sharply, causing him to whirl around just in time to see that young girl racing towards him, away from a- aw, Zapdos Spoink-tied to a pogo-stick. His arm instinctively went out in front of the stranger behind him. He knew he should’ve caught that Poochyena. Adrenaline dipped into his veins with a force, making him take a breath. This one was strong, he had a feeling just looking at her. Stronger than anything on his team, probably. And this girl wasn’t able to outrun an angry wild Pok?mon like this. He’d have to think fast.

He clicked his tongue, withdrawing a Pokeball from his pocket, running his thumb over the almost invisible brail letters; F-R-A ... Perfect. He threw it, releasing a Cacnea, and Vivienne immediately turned her head, looking away from enemy and ally both at the sign from Partner in an action that might appear haughty to the untrained eye, rather than recognized for what it was; trading her action that turn for defense in distance from her own ally. He put away the Pokeball, snapped his fingers, and reached in for another as the grass-type began to lean one way, then the other, before it was Teetering in a strange, almost Dance-like movement that he knew would continue for just long enough. He knew they would be able to fight together, that they would know what to do better than he in a situation like this. He wet his lips, dark gaze lifting to the strong, wild and beautiful dark-type before him. If it was just her, they might be able to handle it. His heart raced, but a smile was already spread well enough as he spoke to the girl. “Ah, you know, if you want you can probably use this to get away.” His smile didn’t falter, not yet. He would need luck for this, though, and with Ciro ... Well, maybe that depended on how someone went about looking at it.