"Make it quick, I'm tired."
"Ok, so dude. I know everything about you. You know, the curse, that shiny Mienfoo you saw talking to Reef. I want to help. Plus, I'd like to avoid being trapped in a box for more years."
"Uh huh...really."
"It's true, I learned by taking a piece of your soul!" "mutter mutter"
"Look, I'm tired, I haven't eaten in three days, can we discuss this tomorrow?"
And with that, the Growlithe, and the Honedge returned to the humble home, leaving the woods.
“Yang.....?”
A voice mumbles having over heard the conversation between an apparent team from the Tabira guilds.
Red eyes watch in the shadows as the growlithe and honedge leave the woods. Once they’re gone a Frogadier steps out, face hidden by their frubbles but their red eyes can be seen, narrowed firmly at the retreating forms in the distance.
Could this be her clue? Finally?
She hasn't heard someone mentioned a shiny Mienfoo before in a long while and a small spark of hope finally comes and makes her eager to talk to the two.
Patience though.
She’s not sure these two can be trusted. If anyone in the guilds can be. They wouldn’t understand or think her suspicious if she goes and just asks outright. A total stranger.
Still, it’s the best lead she has after months of searching blindly. She’ll keep these two in mind for sure and gather more info.
--
A few weeks would pass, and the guilds begin to mobilize. Prepare, form, create.
They had a dangerous witch to defeat.
Charles packed his bags, mouth in a tight line. At the very least, this mission wouldn't take him close to home this time. Still...there were more problems to worry about.
First, there was Pufne. She had been growing more and more rebellious against her parents. Though she tried to keep Charles in mind, her parents were blaming him, straining their relationship.
And he needed their assistance...
His eyes glanced toward the egg nestled in the corner of his home. Without his grandmother, he needed someone to watch the egg. Picking it up, he ignored the sliding of metal briefly against his back, Nero getting comfortable underneath the cloak that hid him.
A brief grimace met his features as he stepped out. While he didn't like the mon following him constantly, at least with him close by he could make sure the gossip didn't speak.
With a knock, a Pufne was exchange for an egg, and the group of three joined the procession, and began the journey to the marshlands. His eyes looked around, trying to find Yang and Sonya, but the crowd blocked his view, and he soon gave up, sighing.
--
The Frogadier watched from the shadows as the guilds seem to prepare to head out for the fight of their lives. So many teams forged and gathered.
Unfortunately with so many teams present and being so far she can’t make out each and every teams species or features. Any closer and she’ll draw attention and she’s not apart of the guilds yet.
With the leaders busy with these battle preparations she feels it best to keep their focus on the major task at hand. Besides she still needs more info. She can’t see anyone that stands out yet form her point and she thinks it best to go ahead of the teams and gain info more on this upcoming battle from the locals.
Then once the teams arrive she can see just what they have planned to tackle this witch. Somewhat of a plan in mind, the Frogadier leaps off through the trees to gain the next transport to Fever Flats.
--
Arriving, Charles and Pufne hear of the witch, and the forest. Masks being given out, he was a part of the first response teams. Gulping, he glanced to the eager Pufne, and they stepped into the caverns.
The fog made it hard for the fire type to see, and they wandered in circles a few times. Regardless, eventually they made it to their location, and began to set up a small front camp. It wasn't much, a few rocks to sit on and some pre-prepared food. Sitting and waiting, the two quietly talked for a spell.
Pufne eager to show her stuff against the creatures with Charles on the other hand clearly more hesitant.
Though...with the sound of a voice, they were caught off guard as a dizzying wave of psychic energy hit Charles.
His vision swam as Pufne dived into the mist. By the time Charles's vision had cleared, he was alone.
Frowning, he pulled his cloak tightly around himself, and called out, looking around fearfully.
"Pufne?"
Pufne, meanwhile, was dashing madly after a blurry figure, flapping madly. She ducked, weaved, and stopped. She'd found one of the totems! Pleased, she picked it up, and took off, beginning to fly back to the camp.
Only...which way was camp?
--
Raine, even though hesitant, had decided to check out these caverns she had heard about. Gaining info that someone else was plaguing the area lately than just the marsh witch.
She’s starting to understand somewhat why the guilds are here and why they’re helping.
At least a bit.
She’s not sure taking a witch all out are what guilds are supposed to do. Did they train the teams to take on a witch? Are the teams even ready to take on a witch? A lot of them from what she observed appear quite young.
Why are they encouraging so many young to join only to have them face such dangers?
She sighs through her frubbles still covering her face but also underneath is one of the masks that were handed out to help with the poison mists.
Having ‘acquired’ one so she too can avoid being poisoned by the mist.
New information also reached why they’re here and not just to look for the totems. A deserter apparently that’s the cause of the missing totems and was once a Tabiran guild leader.
Why a guild leader would abandon not only her child but her position to pursue her own goals and cause this problem gets her interest. All these questions plague Raines mind as she wanders the cavern but a sound makes her stop in place alert.
Sound of wings? Is someone nearby?
Pufne flew forward, seeing a figure in the fog. Finally she'd made it!
"Charles! I found the-" She pauses, slowly coming to land as she realizes who it was.
"Oh, sorry Miss. I mistook you for my friend." She hid behind her wings, still a very quiet bird most of the time.
Raine relaxes a bit seeing a young Pidgey come into view.
"....I'm Pufne," she responded softly. "Do...Do you know the way back to the camp? I seem to have gotten lost..."
Raine feels a bit worried, the fact again on why they allow such young Pokemon to join the guilds and take on dangerous tasks like this one. A false move or action and this young Pidgey could be hurt or worse. And who’s to blame? The teammate? Or the guilds?
She observes the young Pidgey curiously, her face still obscured by her frubbles but Pufne can see her red eyes and what looks like a few white freckles peaking out as well.
“Pufne.” She responds in acknowledgment but doesn’t give her own name. Even if she’s young Raine still isn’t sure who to trust yet.
“It’s dangerous here. You shouldn’t be in the caverns.” She states only to notice the totems the Pidgey has.
“You found the totem?” She says then narrows her eyes. “How do I know you’re not the one who stole them?”
Pufne jolts, feathers bristling as she began to shake. "A-Ah-Mm...mm......" She hid further in her wings. "T-The same c-could be said of-of you...M-Miss...P-Please...I-I just need to find...M-my friend Charles...H-He's A Growlithe with glasses and a cloak."
Raine relaxes, recalling the description of the growlithe back in the forest she overheard with the Honedge in Tabira. There’s no way the one who took them would know that and as she suspected, she looks too young and scared to be the one to have done this.
Raine relaxes her stance and gives a bow in apology to the Pidgey. Under her frubbles her necklace slightly peaks out in sight.
“Forgive me. I did not mean to frighten you. I’m no threat, just a passerby gathering information.” She looks around cautiously.
Even if this Pidgey isn’t the culprit the fact she has a totem could make the real culprit target her. “I’ll escort you out young Pufne. Stick close or you’ll get lost again.”
Pufna pokes her head out, and nods, taking into the air with the totem again. "T-Thank you." she said, looking around nervously.
"I've...not been out of Tabira much without Charles or Yang and Sonya beside me...It still...scares me a little."
Raine pauses in her step at the name ‘Yang.’
A surge of eagerness to ask the Pidgey questions eating at her, but she can see how distraught the young bird is. She doesn’t wish to further pressure her under such stressful circumstances.
She takes a deep breath and glances to the Pidgey through her frubbles curiously. “Are they all your teammates? Why did you join the guilds anyway? Doing things like these is dangerous for someone as young a you.”
Pufne shakes her head. "No...Just Charles. Yang and Sonya are on a different team." She flares her wings, and huffs. "I'm not a child! I can take care of myself!"
She looked away, "I just don't know the world. Any mon would be nervous."
Raine smiles amused under the mask and frubbles. The Pidgey is quite determined that’s for sure, probably sheltered though from hardships most of her life.
Raine would envy her if she were her old self before being taken in and cared for by her dojo family.
“You’re determination is strong, but that alone with no experience will only get you so far. Perhaps it best to do small things than big dangerous ones like these.” She says still leading the way and keeping alert just incase.
Still, the name comes up again and she gets anxious. She said Yang again. Could it be?
“These friends of yours, Sonya and.... Yang.” She says Yangs name in a strained tone but tries to hide it. “Are you closely acquainted with them?”
Pufna actually smiles at that, nodding eagerly. "Yes! Yang teaches me how to dance."
As if to demonstrate, she did a twirl in the air, before settling back down. "She is very sweet and kind. Sonya is a bit brasher, but she is a good heart, I can tell."
Raine tenses up but listens closely to what she said. It sounds like her. Could it be her?
Still, Raine can’t get her hopes up just yet. She hasn’t even seen this Yang she mentions but any least, it’s a start. She just can’t get her hopes up only to be crushed.
Not again.
“I see.” She says then takes a deep breath
Pufne looked around, "Hey! I think that's the camp!" She points toward a barely flickering fire like light in the fog.
Raine stops and looks forward at the light. She softly narrows her eyes unsure but keeps going forward with Pufne.
They arrive, and sure enough it is the camp.
Charles has a relieved look on his face as he approached the two. "Pufne! What have I said about running off like that! What if something had happened?" He scolded, causing Pufne to look down.
Raine remains back a bit, relieved the made it but also still cautious as Charles comes up to them. She watches him come up, and then glances around briefly to see if she can spot sign of any familiar face or form anywhere near.
Pufne hid under her wings as she landed. "Sorry Charles. But...I found one of the totems." She looked up.
Charles let out a breath, looking to Raine. "Thank you for bringing her back; I was worried sick about her." He smiles.
Raine turns her attention back to Charles and nods to him. “It’s no big deal. She ran into me and was lost. Though perhaps it best to not let one as young as her into a poison filled cavern.” She states observing Charles now closely.
Definitely the growlithe she saw in the forest with that Honedge that mentioned a shiny Mienfoo.
Charles rubbed the back of his head. "Ah...well...She's my friend and her parents gave her permission to come as long as I went with her. To be honest I'm not much of a fighter. But if Pufne really wishes to assist, well...I suppose I can help with the medical duties."
He walked over to the totem, a brief flicker of red cloth from underneath the cloak hiding his back as he did so. He examined it. "So this is one of the Totems. Now we just need to get it back."
Raine narrows her eyes at Charles at what he said and the way he said it.
This was the young Pidgey teammate? Something is off about him. And not just the way he speaks.
She catches the red cloth underneath his cloak briefly then sighs and turns to leave.
“It isn’t right to make one as young as her do the heavy lifting. Or stand by while she does dangerous things.” She states in observation then continues to look around curiously for someone.
She sighs once more and glances behind her to the growlithe. “Protect those close to you with all your might. You’ll regret it if something happens to them and you didn’t give your all to protect them as you wish you had before it’s too late.” She seems to speak from experience and then leaps off.
"I'M NOT YOUNG!" Exclaims Pufne with an angry look. "I'm old enough to evolve thank you very much! I'll be doing so any day now! Just you watch!"
She floofs, trying to appear threatening, but just looks adorable.
Charles sighed. "Odd mon. And she didn't even give her name." He observed, shaking his head as he looked to Pufne. "Come on. Let's take this totem back."
--
Raine sighs looking conflicted as she runs. She wanted to ask more about how they know Yang. They appear friends but, she still isn’t sure this Yang is the one she’s looking for or if she can trust them.
Yet this is the closest she's been to finally finding out more about Yang, and it eats at her to not straight out ask upfront.
Patience is what she was taught but it can still be a tricky thing.
She's thrust out of her thoughts hearing a voice in the distance and looks confused.
It sounded familiar. Didn’t she just leave him back at the camp?
She quickly follows it, only to stop looking confused seeing a second Charles mumbling to himself and calling out Pufne’s name.
Charles glanced to her, worry in his eyes. "Excuse me have you seen a small Pidgey, shy, tends to be quiet? She ran off and I'm trying to find her..."
Raine looks at a loss for a moment, taking a step back in confusion to this Charles. "You....." She says uncertain and glances back behind her to where she was at then back to Charles.
Something isn't right.
She narrows her eyes in suspicion and goes on her guard. "I'm not certain. I'm afraid I'm also lost and haven't run into anyone else but you...."
"Oh, that's a pity." The Charles then smirked, and charged forward, launching attack with dark blades.
Raine looks shocked but acts on instinct with her reflexes and gives a powerful leap backwards to dodge her attack. Doing a back flip and landing crouched in a defensive stance and glares to this ‘Charles’.
She thought as much as she recalls what she saw before with the 'first' Charles. Seeing the red scarf at his back underneath his cloak, that must have been that Honedge.
So who's this?
She focuses as the air around her turns cold and on her left webbed hand the form of a single ice blade forms and lengthens, utilizing her Ice Punch in a different way to create a makeshift weapon to defend herself.
"Not exactly a kind greeting to give someone from a member of the guilds." Raine says glaring through her frubbles, since she's not apart of the Guilds yet she only knows what she's heard but by the way this being is acting this must be the culprit. She isn't sure of her abilities yet so keeps her guard up.
The voice laughs, the illuson fading as the ice blades hit it, fading into the mist. "Not part of the guilds anymore." There's a sound of footsteps running away, and then silence.
Raine glares forward, it was the deserter she heard about but something is off about her.
Did she, change? She used an illusion. How? A Witch?
She keeps her guard up and senses heightened as the silence fills her, then after a minute she slowly relaxes a bit but doesn't get rid of her ice blade yet.
“She wanted information on Pufne. She must have been after the totem to gain it back." She mumbles softly and sighs.
Concern again eating at her on what would have happened to Pufne had she not been keen enough to figure out something was off and told her where she was.
Luck was on Pufne's side this time it seems, but what should happen in another situation like this happened? Old enough to evolve yes, but the way she acted in front of her showed she lacks experience in defending herself.
Had she told this deserter where Pufne was or if they had found Pufne first, she only dreads what could have happened to the young Pidgey.
Did the guilds not emphasize on safety more elaborately? They can’t control all their guild members or limit their decisions, but still. She grips her hands tight together in concern and frustration.
If Yang was truly apart of these guilds, was she safe being apart of them? What did the Guilds even strive for? She sighs with a determined look, definitely sure of joining them after this upcoming battle they'll face to gain answers for herself while also seeing if this ‘Yang’ they talked of is truly her Yang.
