No Man's Island

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Robin sat quietly on the Lapras' back, watching the tides churn by. This stranger seemed content enough to blabber on - perhaps his mood had been lifted by the fact that Robin's wallet was now considerably lighter. She was small enough to fit comfortably, glancing to the sky. The sun barely poked through from gray clouds, even as her ride glided effortlessly over the increasingly turbulent waters. "So your son lives in Grassveil?" She mused, effortlessly feigning interest. He continued to ramble on about a topic that Robin neither knew nor cared about, much to her guilt. But she was a captive audience for the moment, as she would be until they reached the islan-

A cry of pain split the air, echoing in her ears. A flash of silver, and before she could register what had happened, she felt her back hit the water. Salt stung at her eyes and water choked her nose, weighing down her fur so quickly that she couldn't move. She was dragged down by the stormy seas, barely able to register a splash of red slowly drifting through the water. Something had happened to her guide, but then-

The world caught up to her, and she passed out from shock, her last rational thought being a quiet shock that she would never wake up again.

It could have been days or hours later when a snowy white fox drifted to the shoreline. Her fur was drenched, dull blue eyes managing a hazy flicker before they fell shut again. Her breath was slow and surprisingly calm, though that could be blamed on her half-conscious state, only watching in numb shock as the world drifted by her.

She'd be an easy meal for a passing predator, though such a thought didn't even occur to her exhausted mind.

Robin's Energy: 2
(17 - 15 from entering.)

Sosio: {23 - (roll)}

Items:

The bird understood that someone wouldn't know everything about a dungeon. After all, why would Windrose exist if Pokemon already understood the world? Still, it was curious how different the creatures in this dungeon seemed to behave compared to others. Were they perhaps more intelligent? Was that why none of them exposed themselves in this clearing or was there a deeper meaning as to why? Maybe it was cursed or sacred, but who could say when nothing was around to provide an explanation.
"That's cool. That means we might be the first to know!" Sosio shared her positive spin on things. She hated seeing Pokemon down on themselves and would do anything to cheer them up again. The bird knew all too well how painful it was to live without reassurance.

Still taking in the incredulous view, Sosio extended her wings for balance as she tapped one foot on the surface of the lake as if in disbelief it was real. Her reflection stared back, rippling from the impact of her claws before the waves settled back down again. She was still curious about how reflections worked but just wasn't intelligent enough to understand. At times she hated being oblivious, but she also depended on it to keep her personality intact. She already lost her natural behaviors once to a loss of hope, and she definitely didn't want it to happen again. No matter how hard it is, the Fletchinder pours all her energy into her positive attitude so she can remain happy for as long as she lives.

In the middle of reflecting upon her reflection, Sosio stopped playing with the water and looked at Robin dead in the eyes with complete shock.
"Wait, is that what happened to you? This whole time I thought something horrible must have happened on the island, but on the way?"
More than anything, she was surprised that the Vulpix hadn't told her sooner, like after they cleared up that there were no attackers in the vicinity to hurt the ice type. No wonder she was so jumpy...

"Red and... blades? Can't say I've ever heard of a Pokemon of the sorts..." Sosio confessed, although she wasn't all that informed when it came to species.
"I sure hope it's not still around..." she stared back into the water, a brief glint of worry flickering in her ever-shining eyes. She closed them and took a deep breath of new resolve, ready to brush off her worries and move on.
"So, you wanna stick around here for a little while longer and investigate, or try covering the rest of the island?"
She wouldn't intend to leave the choice up to Robin since she could very easily make the choice instead of asking, but she'd at least like the other Pokemon's opinion before jumping right back into danger. Which wasn't to say it'd be any more dangerous whether staying or leaving.

aMEWzing carried out 3 launched of one Ancient Island :

, ,

Sosio's positive spin on things sparked a slight smile from Robin. When she spun it that way, it didn't seem so bad at all. And it didn't seem as if the bird was judging her. She took a long moment to just watch and listen to the water, nodding in response. "Yeah... it sure would be cool to find out, huh?" She mused. Despite her grim story, she seemed rather content, resting her head calmly on her front legs, occasionally kicking up a little splash of water with her paws.

"... now that I think of it, I'm not sure how I'll get back to land. It's too far to swim, and I don't think you can carry me..." Now, that was a bit of a worrying thought. Her face creased into a frown, faced with more immediate concerns than whatever discoveries the two of them might be able to make. "... well, it'll be alright. You can let a water type know I'm here, so they can come and pick me up." ... she was far less happy with this turn of events than she let on. She didn't care for being at someone else's mercy in the least. Nor did she like the idea of being alone on such a dangerous island, but what alternative did she really have?

They would only have to cross that bridge when they got to it. "But, ah... I don't think the red was... part of a pokemon." She corrected quietly, not willing to outright say that it was blood. Still, she'd been in a haze at the time, but she couldn't think of what else it might be. It had appeared after the Lapras was attacked, and that was the most reasonable answer, in Robin's mind. With the rather grim place her thoughts had traveled to, her energy felt a bit sapped, staring down at her worried reflection in the water.

"If you'd be okay with staying here for a while, I think I'd like that." Maybe it would give her a much-needed chance to calm down. She stared at her reflection, unaware of the bubbles rising from the center of the pond, drifting ever closer to the little fox. Something lived in the pond, and it wasn't pleased to see it had company.

Robin's Energy: 19
(+1, new page)

Venusian carried out 10 launched of one Ancient Island :

, , , , , , , , ,

Sosio: {23 +1 (new page) - 24 (roll) = 0}

Items:

Sosio agreed entirely, especially curious if the two they had encountered before were just an anomaly, or if many Pokemon here were like that. She blinked and turned with a curt nod, eyes beaming with glee.
"There's something just so awesome about being the first to something, isn't there?" she said, bobbing joyously. "You know, I was the Pokemon to discover Fallen Leaf Copse! You've heard of it, haven't you?"
Her chest was completely puffed with pride now, ecstatic to find an excuse to bring that story up once again. It was, of course, her favorite topic.

However, all that excited energy left her once the Vulpix brought up her experience. Sosio wanted to argue that she could carry Robin, but that was likely her overconfidence. Maybe if I evolved... she pondered, realizing how long it had truly been since she last had a boost of power. Focusing on the "alright" part of the sentence, though, she accepted the more practical solution.
"Yeah, I could definitely fly back and let someone know... But I also really wouldn't wanna leave you alone here..." the Fletchinder debated internally a bit, hoping there was another way.
"Or maybe, if we're lucky..." she started, "we could find a Pokemon here who could do the job?" Attempting to offer another solution that didn't require her to leave her newest friend alone on a dangerous island, Sosio really hoped this could be possible. If not, she was entirely ready to stay here with Robin the whole time, even if it meant until someone else visited with them.

Oblivious to what the ice-type fox was implying about blood, Sosio continued on with her own activity, now stepping away from the water to have a seat. Truthfully, she was growing a little tired already, despite only just arriving. Maybe she did want to stay here a bit to Roost, which was fortunately possible with the Vulpix's answer.
"Ah, that's great!" She exclaimed, now leaning back in bliss by the water's shore, listening to the waterfall's roaring echo in her ear, vibrating to her very core and filling her with a calming sensation. If anywhere, the fire type definitely considered this to be paradise.

That calm was broken very quickly, however, when the sound of stomping footsteps came closer and closer in a run. The same rock-looking Pokemon she had seen on the beach were now rolling at high speed toward the resting duo, with a much larger Pokemon trailing behind them angrily. It was only a little taller than Sosio, but to the short worms, it must have seemed like a raging beast. That it was, as the terrified two used Rollout to escape, rolling all the way up to the clearing and waking chaos along with them. The furious dino was right on their tails, opening its mouth in preparation to bite down on the prey Pokemon it was hunting. That was when things got really out of claw.

The predator bit down with a Crunch, only for the ones in chase splitting and ricocheting off of every rock they hit, continuing their random path and confusing their chaser. Trying to keep tabs on their location just like the large-jawed creature, Sosio's head darted this way and that, trying to pinpoint where they were and where they would be next. Despite being out of control, there seemed to be one thing the bugs kept consistent: no matter what, they never seemed to touch or enter the water. After a moment, which felt like an eternity, the bird suddenly realized she had lost track of one of them, and all too late. Sosio's tall legs were knocked out from under her, sending them swinging up into the air as the rest of her body fell forward in the direction of impact, everything in sight simply disappearing with a splash as she submerged without the time to process what was happening.

Her next sight was the blurred vision of her legs pointing to the surface of the water she sunk into, sunlight rippling on the surface that seemed so far away in the quick amount of time that had passed. She didn't know what was happening. Another eternal moment passed. Her eyes stung and wings were plastered to her side. She couldn't breathe. In what was only a second, she realized finally that she had landed in the pond, struggling desperately to resurface. The impact of the Rollout had practically knocked her breath away, and if she hadn't stopped her instinctive reaction to inhale, she might have been drowning by now. Her wings flapped viciously, legs kicking under her as she aimed for the sky. Water was much heavier than air, though, and everything felt like it was in slow motion, especially to her rapidly beating heart. She poked her beak out, managing a breath of air, but could not kick herself to the surface. How did she end up so far from the lakeshore? Why couldn't she fly her way out? True, she had never swum before, and the lack of oxygen in her lungs reduced her buoyancy, but how long would it be before she could no longer fight her way to the surface? In her panic, however, she managed to get enough air in her lungs that allowed her to rest on her back on the surface. Hyperventilating with small and narrow breaths, Sosio's eyes were filled with horror and shock, remaining above the water as she attempted to calm her nerves.

Danger really was everywhere, after all, even danger that was traumatic enough to potentially cause a new fear.

"Really?" Robin perked up with a hint of excitement. "You've discovered a mystery dungeon? That's so cool!" She chimed. Funny... wasn't that exactly what she was hoping to do? Although, to be fair, in Robin's case, it would just be a means to an end. Not exploring for it's own sake like Sosio. In that light, maybe it would have just been a waste if Robin was the one to discover it. She was happy for her. Really, she was. That shred of envy was shoved deep into her chest where it belonged, a faint smile grazing her face. "A lot of pokemon must admire you."

Still, it was hard to work up too much excitement with the threat looming over her head. She wasn't exactly looking forward to being left here on her own. "I hope so." Was the only sentiment she managed. Her tone was low with worry, biting her lip. She truly didn't want to be here, but what choice did she have? There wasn't exactly any way out. She couldn't swim or fly, and having a pokemon here to ferry them... who knew how likely that was?

They'd have to have about that more, later, though. There was no point to it unless they couldn't find a way out. No use in depressing her traveling partner with topics like that before it came to it. She only watched in slight surprise as a pair of pokemon came rolling through. It was quite the sight, bouncing all around them, rebounding off of this and that. She was quietly thankful that the Tyrunt was occupied with the two of them, though she kept a careful eye on it just in case. Perhaps it would give up on the pair of Shuckle, and settle for easier prey. Namely, the two of them.

It was her laser focus on the Tyrunt that betrayed her. She didn't even realize what had hit Sosio until she hit the pond with a heavy splash, only flashes of gold and red betraying that it was, indeed, the bird pokemon stuck below the waves. "Sosio!" She called from instinct, scrambling for what to do, what to do, what could she do-

For a moment she was sickeningly still, perhaps in shock from the impact. And then the thrashing, water spraying everywhere. Robin realized she was simply standing in shock. Thinking on instinct, she lashed out at the water with a Powder Snow, leaving a thin layer of ice on the top of the water that she could use to run to Sosio. But at the first step, her paws only plunged through into the water. Her move was too weak. She was too weak. What now, what next-

Robin scrambled through the undergrowth, looking for something in a manic hurry, finally ripping a fallen branch off the ground. The damn thing was both far too heavy and not as long as she would have liked, but it would have to do. It had to. She cast it out into the water, desperately trying to give Sosio something to grab onto. Sosio had already saved her, she couldn't just stand here and watch her drown like a moron-

From the sky, drops of hail were beginning to peter down. Robin's voice was both commanding and frantic. "Grab it! I'll pull you back!" She demanded, trying desperately to stay calm. Sosio was the one in danger. She needed to keep her cool, needed to stay calm- but it was growing ever more difficult, when a spindly purple leg rose from the depths, then a second, a third, a forth- it had a black head and furious orange eyes, sharp as a knife, and a choked noise broke in Robin's throat.

"Hurry!" She cried, even as the Araquanid shot out some kind of web, thin and goey, towards the Fletchinder. If the bird was especially unlucky, it might bind her wings together, and if that happened, Robin didn't care for their odds. Her only real attack was far from precise, but it was all she could do to try and batter it away with a Powder Snow, even knowing that Sosio would be caught in the crossfire. She whispered a quiet apology and put all her energy into the blow, hail crashing from the sky with a renewed intensity, raining down on the pond, the spider, the bird, the entire island.

The shiny Araquanid hesitated, trying to claw it's way towards Sosio through the battering winds and harsh strikes of hail. It wasn't able to reach her with it's spindly claws, however hard it tried - and so it fired yet more webs, trying to drag her into the depths.

Robin's Energy: 0
(- 51, rolls.)

Sosio: {23 +1 (new page) - 24 (roll) = 0}

Items:

Overjoyed to hear praise from the companion she cared so much about, Sosio had found herself beaming more than ever, excited enough to practically fall into the water she stood beside.
"Oh no, not at all," she pushed her humility, "but maybe someday, I'll be a famous explorer whose name everyone knows..! Hey, I guess that would mean you get bragging rights for knowing me too, huh?" She suggested with a giggle. She pondered many titles she could go by as the two rested by the shore.

But that was the future. Right now, Sosio decided to focus on ways for the two to return to the mainland, even together if possible.
"Don't worry, I have complete faith that everything will turn out alright!" The atmosphere of worry began plucking at the bird's heart so severely that she almost couldn't take it anymore. She needed to change things to be positive again, which thankfully turned into focus on the present. They would rest, and though alone with their thoughts, it was much better than the anxiety-inducing environment of constant travel.

Yet, anxiety chased right after the duo anyway, as it would when sitting in a dungeon. As the chaos ensued, everything went by so quickly to Sosio that she could barely process her surroundings, much less the sound of Robin's concerned shout. Just as anyone else in a life-or-death situation, it was hard to notice anything but one's own struggles, gripping on tightly to the shred of life that remains. It wasn't until she lay on her back, floating above the water that the fire-type noticed the Vulpix's desperate cries to grab her attention. The world had slowly but surely returned to her after nearly drowning, which meant she had to be alert once again to her surroundings. She turned her head wearily, still slow to process the current moment.

Then it hit her like a Brick Break to the face. A spindle of sticky thread wrapped in an instant around the bird's leg that stuck out in the air, whipping her head to discover the most terrifying bug-type Pokemon she had ever seen. Her eyes shut wide and blood pumped with adrenaline so instantaneously that she was thrown into the mindless actions of instinct once again. Her pupils were nearly nothing but a fleck of darkness as her chest puffed with fear, shooting a bright flame at the thread that sent it burning and coiling from the center out, tracing the line of material like the wick of a candle as it quickly ate up the white line and petered out of existence. Instantly after, Sosio had scrambled back to her chest, moving so quickly she could be certain she was running on water in her panic. The wetness of her wings kept her from flying, not to mention the whipping snow and hail kept her stuck to the water, but it didn't even affect her anyway. Thanks to her adventures, she had gotten so used to ice and snow that she hardly felt it, especially since her heart was pumping so quickly that all the snow melted on contact with her Flame Body.

Before she knew it, she was at the shore, legs still trembling from the trauma, but eyes gradually dilating once again to their normal size. Fortunately for both of them, the terrifying predator could not nearly be prepared to handle ice-cold temperatures when living in a tropical climate. It struggled and pushed itself forward, but slowed immensely from the hail and ice attack. This didn't stop it, however, as it continued to attack. Sosio desperately evaded the new webs it shot, her look still shocked and heart still pumping. She hardly knew what to do except the one thing her entire body and soul agreed upon: fighting back.
"Cover me," she commanded grimly, flapping her wings so furiously that all the water flew off and the air around them began to push faster than the feat of her heart. The winds raged twice as hard now, full of stinging ice all directed at their attacker. If she had enough time without getting touched by the enemy, she could raise the winds high enough to land her most powerful attack... Razor Wind.

Cover me. She didn't know why, but Robin nodded in response, putting her trust in her new battle partner. What choice did she have? That thing was huge, she couldn't fight it on her own. It was buffeted by the wind and hail, snow collecting on it's limbs. But it was still lumbering closer, closer, and Robin dipped her head and gritted her teeth, focusing all her willpower on her attack. It wasn't enough. It moved slowly, yes, but it was still moving, creeping ever closer towards the shoreline. Whatever Sosio was planning, it needed to happen soon.

Another burst of web bound Robin in place, latching onto her paws and chest before she could react. The snow faltered for just a moment as the pressure on her chest made it hard to breathe, and the spider Pokemon lunged forward. She flailed against her restraints, but she could only watch as a beam of bubbles shot towards her, battering the trapped fox. "I'm fine! Just take it out!" She forced her head down and tried not to think about it, tried to ignore how hard it was the breathe between the pressure on her ribcage and the water continuously spraying at her head-

The hail whipped up in intensity again, as if in response to her desperation. She held her breath and lashed out with another Powder Snow, trying her best to force it back. It continued to gain ground, despite her best efforts, creeping ever closer at a tortuously slow pace. She needed to breathe, but she'd only be greeted by water in her lungs. They burned, now, hungry for air, and it fought all her instincts to keep her mouth shut. If Sosio couldn't act soon, it would drown her on dry land.

She hoped she'd bought enough time. She wasn't sure how much more she had in her.

Sosio: {0 + 18 (Roost) = 18}

Items:

Spinning the air around like a vortex, Sosio pinned the very center on the aquatic Pokemon who had nearly killed her. If anything angered her so heavily, it was that an insect didn't know its place around a bird. She was a flippin' flying type, after all! It may be a strong bug given the fight it was putting up, but there was no way it would take the advantage over the adventurous duo. Yet, life was always full of surprises.

The water arachnid had trapped and ceaselessly begun to attack the Vulpix, now utterly defenseless. Like the inferno blazing in her heart, Sosio lashed out in sheer anger that the predator would play such a dirty trick. That wasn't strength, that was just a foul tactic of winning, and Sosio would not have it. In her rage, she concentrated every bit of the wind she had built directly onto the insect. The air stabbed and slashed at the Pokemon, strong enough to tear the bindings from Robin's legs and push the water-type backward with such force that not even digging its legs into the ground could keep it from being violently throttled about. The invisible force seemed to cut the Pokemon, as it shrunk back and eventually recoiled in pain, curling its legs and remaining still and unmoving, even after the wind had died down.

Before anything else, Sosio limped quickly over to Robin.
"Robin! Are you all right?! You took quite a blow to the face..." she exclaimed, fear clouding her eyes so heavily it looked as though she could cry. Stabling the Vulpix's body with her wings, she took a quick glance around. It seemed that in the commotion, all the other Pokemon that were around had evacuated. The bird sighed in relief, closing her eyes and sinking to the ground; it was over, for now. Exhaustion swept over the Fletchinder like the blanket of darkness that rested upon the world every evening, frequent and inevitable. It wasn't necessarily the attack that drained her, rather everything that had just happened. First, the panic of Pokemon running around, then nearly drowning and nearly falling prey to and watching her friend become a victim of one of her worst fears made incarnate, especially now that she still trembled at the thought of going near the pond again. Oh I seriously hope I don't stay afraid of this forever...
Regardless, she lacked any energy to continue whatsoever. Turned out that their choice to relax ended out just as taxing as traveling, but at least they defeated the primary enemy of the clearing and could rest in relative peace.

Sosio was no longer wet, but still somewhat damp from her accidental submersion. It was somewhat unpleasant, but she definitely wouldn't let it keep her from relaxing. Careful with her muscles, she tucked her legs under her feathery bosom, warming her body with her flame sac as she lay in a meditative state. More than anything right now, she just wanted to sleep, but Roosting would have to do for now. Even just a short break should help replenish her energy so she could at least keep moving.
"I'm so sorry I put you in that position," she apologized softly, looking to the ground before her and avoiding eye contact. She opened her beak to say more but promptly stopped herself. She didn't want to drone on more than necessary, especially since things were probably okay now. Sosio had only wished that she was able to carry her own weight better so she wouldn't have to rely on others for help so that she could do all the helping herself. It wasn't necessarily power she desired, just reliability; no'mon could get by with just talk, and the fire type wanted to prove to the world that she wasn't as hopeless as she used to be, capable of saving Pokemon from dungeons and protect everyone almost effortlessly.

A hero... She supposed, drifting off. That's what I want to be...

Dagger-sharp wind grazed her, easily slicing through the silk that bound her, and Robin all but threw herself backwards, gasping for breath. Finally able to breathe without water in her nose and mouth, she dipped her head and simply breathed, for a moment, in short, rapid gasps. When she looked back up, the spider-like Pokemon was still, and she let out an audible sigh of relief, sinking to her knees. That was... close. Far, far too close. She was soaked, and Sosio's concerned was much-needed, moreso than Robin had the strength to admit. "I'm alright. Just... tired." That was one way to put it, feeling drained and exhausted as the adrenaline rush subsided. She wanted to fall asleep, but this place wasn't safe. It would be smarter to keep moving.

"Hmm?" The Vulpix lifted her head in honest confusion, blinking as she tried to decode what Sosio was apologizing for. Asking Robin to take point so that she had to take that blow, perhaps? Or drawing the Araquanid's attention in the first place? "There's nothing to apologize for. If I was on my own, I'd have been dead." She said simply, her tone a bit too light for the gravity of the subject. If anything, she'd held Sosio back, battering her with hail and getting her caught in Robin's Powder Snow attack. Even when she served as a distraction, Sosio probably could've just flown out of range to prepare her attack, if she hadn't needed to protect Robin.

But saying any of that would've just sounded self-pitying, and so she bit her tongue and decided to play to the bird pokemon's dreams instead. "Don't beat yourself up. You saved me." She reminded her, giving her a gentle nudge. Funny... was it just her, or did Sosio seem a bit shaken? She supposed that incident with her almost drowning, followed by a rather intense battle, would do a number on her. Robin made her decision and stood back up, the ghost of a smile crossing her face, thin and fake.

"Just relax and tell me when you're ready to keep moving. I'll keep watch."

There, she could make herself useful. She owed Sosio that, at least. She plopped down next to the bird pokemon, her gaze scanning this way and that for any flash of color. A little Archen limped out of the jungle, to which Robin stood up with a harsh growl, her fur bristling and standing on end. "D-don't panic! I'm not gonna hurt you." The ancient pokemon managed, putting his hands up in a gesture of peace.

"I just wanted to thank you for taking out that Araquanid! It's caused my tribe a lot of trouble, and- this is the only source of fresh water around, right, s-so we needed to go farther. It's been chasing off everyone who tried to defeat it. Some of us who tried didn't come back..." The ancient pokemon stepped forward slowly, putting down an oran berry in front of the Vulpix and an apple in front of the Fletchinder.

"So, here! I wanted to give you guys some healing items. I'm afraid my tribe doesn't have much to offer, but it's the least I can do..."

Robin frowned as she looked down at the berry, uncertainty clouding her features. "If you're sure? I don't want to take anything if you guys don't have very much." She insisted, only for the Archen to smile, shaking his head.

The bird pokemon scrambled around in his bag for a moment longer, but seemed unsatisfied with what he found. Still, he lifted his head, motioning with a wing. "We can grow more, now that we have a reliable source of clean water. We've got plenty of oran berry and apple seeds! We'll be fine, thanks to you guys." He explained, sitting in front of the two with a friendly smile.

"In which case... thank you." Robin said with a smile, biting down on the berry.

Sosio: {18}

Items:

Relieved to finally and literally allow the duo to catch their breath, Sosio directed all her concerns to the partner she tried to protect.
"Good, it's good that you're okay..." she stated, still troubled by how dangerous their battle was. More than anything, the Fletchinder was just as tired, ready to rest even longer than they intended on staying here in the first place. With their current conditions though, what choice did they have? At the very least, the biggest threat in the area was eliminated, and now they could rest in peace.

Trying to warm herself up, she continued to worry about her decisions. Were they really best picked for the situation, or was there too much risk that came with playing the waiting game? Either way, she still blamed herself entirely for the position the Vulpix was in, and having thought about it more and more, she couldn't do anything else but blame herself for the danger her friend was put in. Even after apologizing, though, Robin still insisted that the bird did her best. It was still hard for Sosio to believe though being in more danger without her being there in the first place was a good point... The gentle nudge that came from the ice type made her relax a bit, happy to receive contact that calmed her.
"I'm just... Glad you're okay," she finished, resting her head on the ground.

It wasn't very long before an unfamiliar voice had shaken Sosio out of her shallow slumber, checking blearily to see what it was. A bird, much smaller than she was and even more flighty than she used to be as a little fledgling, had approached cautiously to surprisingly thank the two exhausted newcomers. Staring, both out of disbelief and a sleepy lack of focus, Sosio focused her eyes on the apple as it was placed before her, looking up with gratitude at the other who had presented it.
"Anytime, and do let us know about anything else you need to be sorted out for ya," she dismissed the fellow flying type with an eager thought of being able to help out more. Even though she wanted nothing more than to nap and restore her energy, the very thought of helping more and becoming a legend on the island filled her with adrenaline from anticipation. A hero... Is this how she could be a hero?

Stretching her legs with a yawn, the fire type finally stood up, feeling much more refreshed than before. She did rest for quite a while, both before and after that rock bird showed up, but now she was itching for adventure. Her lungs had tightened up from her shallow and sleepy breathing, but just like the expansion property of heat, it would soon be full of as much air as her heart was full of excitement. It was true that their last endeavor was a huge struggle, but it was also a huge feat to take down such a terrible terror of a Pokemon. The apple that had once been resting in front of the Fletchinder's beak was then tucked neatly next to the other items she kept safe on her journeys.

Shifting her bag more neatly on her back, Sosio shuffled her shoulders and feet, ready to return to her responsibilities.
"Don't worry about keeping guard anymore," she said, beaming down at the soft mammal on the ground. "I'll take the shift until we're ready to go."
She stared ahead, lungs still sore from holding her breath back in the pond. The feeling of desperation for oxygen but being unable to inhale brought great terror and urgency to whomever it seized, especially for a Pokemon like her who couldn't swim. Just thinking about it again had Sosio subconsciously holding her breath as she relived the moment. The thought discomforted her so heavily that she had to shut it off, now focusing on virtually anything else she could find.

She stared around at the clearing, mind clouded with thoughts about the entire encounter with the Pokemon of the pond. Thinking back, the beautiful allure of the place had made it the perfect trap for a predator like that, the locals' only protection being to pass around the news about the danger. It had provided an answer to all the questions she asked herself, though. Why there were no Pokemon here, and why every'mon seemed to avoid the water in particular. She wondered if this place would be filled to the brim with creatures like the ones they've seen now that the danger was removed. She just hoped that those who needed it would flourish more than ever with the help of the bird hero.
Yes... she thought, no longer discouraged. I did do something pretty great, after all.

"You sure...? I can stay up." Robin protested, though she was cut off by a long yawn. Maybe she did need a rest. That little battle had taken a toll on her - apparently, a heavier one than she had at first thought. As brief as it was, she felt drained as soon as the adrenaline rush passed, exhaling a deep, cold puff of air through her mouth. "If... you're sure it's okay..."

Funny, how heavy her eyes felt as soon as she was given the chance to rest. She nodded slightly, flopping down onto her side, half-leaning on Sosio. It took seconds for the Vulpix to doze off, faintly snoring, an occasional twitch of her paw. The Archen didn't leave, oddly enough, only glancing at Sosio with a faint smile. "You really saved us." He murmured, tilting his head. "You sure you don't need any healing items? That looked like a pretty rough fight, from what I saw."

Oh, his job would've been a lot easier if she'd just eaten the apple. That dumb little fox didn't even notice the Sleep Seed powder ground into it. Well, with a double type advantage... he could probably knock her out with a rock move, if it came to that. He'd prefer otherwise, though.

Their faces always made him feel bad.

Robin's Energy: 10
(+ 10, Oran Berry)

Sosio: {18 - (roll)}

Items:

"Yes, I'm certain, so get some rest," she declared as the soft white mammal already began to rest her head. Sosio looked over to her dozing companion with a gentle smile, protective of the Pokemon that had not only gotten her this far, but also supported the bird to the fullest so she could remain confident in her travels. It was an amazing thing, to be able to cheer on someone much stronger than yourself effectively. Then again, the fire type was easily influenceable, but she still massively appreciated Robin's help throughout their whole escapade. Once her friend woke up, she'd have to thoroughly thank the little ice type.

Sosio's gentle gaze was averted from her companion to the kind stranger, who continued to push the bird to eat the apple he had offered before.
"That's ok," she said with a grin, completely unknowing about the plan "I already roosted, so that should be enough energy restored to me for now."
She did like the other bird's company, but why was it still lingering? Surely a hero such as herself didn't need to be waited on so seriously by a smaller Pokemon who needed the help? Instead of saying anything more, the fire type stared awkwardly at the other flying animal, gripping her beak with uncertainty and twisting her head to gesture the Pokemon away from their temporary camp. On second thought, maybe that wouldn't work.
"Look, I appreciate the help, but I think we need some alone time for now."
Little did the oblivious bird know, that was the exact opposite of what she was about to receive.

aMEWzing carried out 3 launched of one Ancient Island :

, ,

He cast a brief glance at the Vulpix, sleeping peacefully by the side of her companion. Yeah, he knew how this was gonna end. Some of them got suspicious, or clever, or lucky. Then he ended up in this situation, which was always a royal pain. This wasn't his first rodeo. He knew from her bright, knowing grin that she didn't have any clue the kind of trap he'd just sprung, the pairs of eyes watching the show from the undergrowth, ready to haul off the sleeping Vulpix and the unconscious Fletchinder as soon as he was done with the dirty work.

Sure, they were criminals, but they had to be lazy, on top of that? Honestly, they could do with some self-respect.

As soon as Sosio finished speaking, he smiled - not without a somber tint - before raising his wing high, a flurry of rocks tossing themselves at the Fletchinder on his command, glowing with dull purple aura. He was betting on being able to take her out with a sneak attack, Ancient Power should do a real number on a pokemon with her typing. One good blow should do it, he thought. At least for her sake, this wouldn't have to be drawn out.

"Don't hate me. Just business, yeah?"

Sosio: {18 - 10 = 8}

Items:

Sosio shivered as she watched the bird remain there even after everything was settled. Why wouldn't he just leave? Did he want something more? She didn't take her eyes off of either him or Robin as she stepped over to the strange Pokemon. Questioning his extended stay, she was quickly met with an attack he had hailed from behind, catching her off guard just before she hopped to the side. She looked to the target site, which had been precisely where she was standing. With her right wing, she held onto her left, which had been slightly grazed by the stone closest to the direction she jumped. Why on earth was she attacked by this Pokemon who was only just expressing his gratitude to the adventurers?

Furious, Sosio rocketed toward the source of the ranged attack, launching herself beak-first into the Pokemon who had tried to knock her out. Repeatedly, the Archen managed to avoid her rage-blind Pecks, hurriedly dodging each one while hopping backward as she made her advances further and further, hoping to corner him eventually and land the final blow. One of the biggest struggles that she knew, however, was the fact that even if she managed to land a hit, her moves ultimately would have little effect on the rock and flying type. It was exceedingly frustrating knowing she could hardly do anything, despite being the stronger Pokemon who, with the right matchup, can take out an unevolved enemy in a single blow. Was it sheer misfortune that landed her in such a circumstance, or had she brought this upon herself by playing the waiting game? Then again, if it weren't for her reaction time, she might have been heavily injured within an instant.

Despite her speed, however, the Archen made quick time keeping himself safe from her moves. Not for long... she seethed, getting closer and closer to backing him toward the bushes and into a dead end. What she didn't count on, however, was the fact that there was an ambush waiting just there, and they had enough time to prepare to change their plan to capture her right then and there. Without further haste, she was seized by a Pokemon much larger than her, wrapped in tentacles that constricted her movements and crushed her wings and lungs, creating an unpleasant crack from her wings. Squirming from the trap, the Fletchinder shot a few sorry Embers from her beak, trying to hit whoever else was there and hopefully free herself from the grasp. What on Earth was going on?

Robin flinched out of her slumber as she heard a sharp crack, the sound of something breaking snapping her rudely back to reality. What was that sound? One moment she had drifted off peacefully to sleep, and the next, an awful sound rang through her ears and jolted her back awake. She could barely hold her eyes open, though, only vaguely aware of a Cradily behind her, vines wrapping the little fox in place. It was cold. She blinked her bleary eyes open, half aware of a second Cradily constricting Sosio, trying to focus, trying to think.

The hail stormed down once more, as if heading the spark of panic under her skin. She could fire off a Powder Snow, but to what end? She couldn't knock them out like this, they could just beat her up until she had to stop- she swallowed hard, trying very, very hard not to panic. They must have wanted something. Give it to them, and they'd go away. Maybe this was just a robbery, and they'd leave after taking what they wanted? She didn't want to lose her things, but she wasn't willing to risk her life for them. Even irreplacable things were just... things.

The Cradily that had ensnared Sosio let out a displeased growl, gutteral and deep, trying to restrict her beak shut to stop her from spraying embers. The Archen from earlier cast a glance at Sosio, his gaze almost apologetic, before stepping aside to let an Omastar lumber from the undergrowth. Robin had stopped struggling, then, only waiting with baited breath.

"Here's the deal." The Omastar - apparently the leader of the bunch - ordered, the hush of the strange group falling dead quiet at her voice. Her pair of almost cat-like eyes gleamed back at them, though she seemed more interested in Sosio than Robin. Perhaps because the little fox had already decided that fighting wasn't going to do her any good. "All you have to do is give us a name and address to send ransom to, and we're not gonna have to hurt you any worse. Easy enough?" She waved a tentacle almost dismissively, and Robin shifted in place anxiously.

Who would even pay for her? Maybe her parents? No, there was no way, not after all the trouble she'd caused them. "I don't- I'm sorry, I don't know who-" Robin stammered, casting a lost glance towards Sosio, her eyes clouded with concern. She had an address for Osiris, sure, and maybe he could alert the police or the guild, but there was no way he'd be willing to pay ransom for her. They'd just met. She looked down, trying not to pay any mind to her shivering. If she couldn't think of someone, would they just get rid of her?

It looked like it was only the four of them. Could they take four outlaws? Sosio had a severe type disadvantage, and Robin, well. She wasn't built for combat. She looked to the bird, as if for guidance, her gaze clouded and lost, sending the bird a silent plea for help.

Sosio: {8}

Items:

The slimy creature wrapped its constriction over Sosio's beak, disabling any more fire or speech as she could only watch the sleepy Vulpix come to her senses. The bird tried to wrestle her way out of any grip, but nothing could be done. She watched the scene unfold with concern and sadness flood her once realizing Robin had to see her like this. When the Archen gave her a look, though, her expression returned to undying fury, watching him make way for what she assumed could only be the master behind this plan. As she spoke, her heart filled with a burning sensation that could not be quelled. Unable to say anything still after being spoken at by the tentacled leader, Robin took what initiative she could to speak, filled with such uncertainty that she could hardly say just 4 words. The duo was vastly outnumbered, and even with what strength Sosio had, she knew she couldn't take all of them on at once.

The desperate look Robin shot her, however, disabled what struggle she could manage, her heart sinking at the situation the poor fox was in. Truly and more than anything, that was infuriating. The Fletchinder's body heated up so rapidly and so hot, the Cradily released her instantaneously with a screech of pain, its burn inflicting damage as it shrunk back in surprise. With the adrenaline that flooded her and her Flame Body that was active, she slammed her foot into the smaller surrounding Pokemon who tried to manage the situation, launching herself directly toward Robin and the devil who trapped her. With her greatly increased speed, the bird managed to shoot an Ember directly at the second Cradily, followed immediately by a Peck to send it backward. Now that Robin was free, Sosio's focus shifted to the Pokemon who watched this unfold, uncertain of what to do without their leader's command. If it weren't for her dislocated wing, she'd have snatched up the Ice-type and left as fast as she could.

"You chose the wrong Pokemon to mess with," the burning fire-type spat at the ancient organism, staring her down while guarding the Vulpix behind her. As if enough didn't happen today to make her wish she had ended up somewhere else, she had already faced near-death and now was hated by an entire gang who only wanted money out of her. She absolutely would not have it, and she was keen on staying alive and letting nobody down, especially not Robin who relied on her so heavily now. She was ready to take on anything, even if it meant whipping up another whirlwind to sweep the whole room at once.

OOC: