Fire and Darkness

Kari had no idea why he decided to come back here, it wasn't good for him last time, as the scar over his right eye proved that point. Alas, the large, white furred, four legged, Absol. was probably fueled by the want for treasure and riches, which always seemed to lead him into the harshest of situations, as his past so clearly supported. He decided to venture into the mountains again, but what he didn't expect was the task of survival that lied ahead, and the trust he must put into a Pokemon, he doesn't even know.

The clouds, dark and ominous, loomed above the winding mountain trails that skirted about the rocky terrain. There was little rhyme or reason to be observed in such a place: some paths led nowhere, while others led back to another spot on their mother trail. Such conditions, along with the rapidly dropping temperature, left Ares with little to be motivated about. Though a Fire-Type, he had not yet reached maturity, and as such he was not entirely immune to the biting frost and the snapping ice. His breath, super heated from his internal fire, formed vapor that spewed forth with every contraction of his lungs, and the flame upon his tail grew to a mild temperature.

His search for iron, a crude material he learned manifested in great quantities here, was becoming more and more bleak as the wind threatened to increase in ferocity. High in the heavens it howled like an angry beast, threatening to smash and destroy what it could to appease its anger. It snarled, and exhaled a powerful gust down the mountain pass, pummeling into the Charmander's frame and forcing him off the ledge he had been scaling. Tumbling downhill in a rather comical fashion, the drake would land heavily in a nearby snow bank. Oof!

Kari was walking throughout the winding paths, keeping his eyes open for other Pokemon and looking around for items on the ground. He looked up at the sky to see dark rolling clouds, ripe with precipitation. Kari had a bad feeling about today, as Absol's are born with the power to sense danger and disaster, a 6th sense that Kari despised and hated, he tried to keep walking to take his mind off of it, but he heard a crash in the snow behind him. Kari turned around and saw two orange legs and a tail tipped with fire, which was a dead giveaway that there was a Charmander in that pile of snow. Kari walked over to the snow pile with the Charmander in it and said in a sarcastic tone "You know, you might want to work on your rock climbing skills"

There was little movement to be observed that occurred after the Charmander had landed flat upon his back. Certainly the snow had provided an excellent cushion and prevented his organs and soft tissue from splattering against a merciless, unfeeling rocky terrain, but that was not to say that he had come out unscathed. As his flame flickered in a solemn fashion, in the slow bleakness, a voice would beckon him back to reality.

He slowly sat up as the snow melted about his body, a soft, prolonged exhale spewing hot breath forth from his slit-like nostrils. Ares would have preferred to give a snarky reply, but found it not to be in his ability to do so. His head was still spinning from the height he had fallen - that was a good sign. Between the throbbing that felt like his head was literally growing and shrinking in size and the desire to return a smart retort, there was little motivation. He would simply wave a clawed hand at the puffy-white Absol, dismissing such a comment as he gathered his senses.

"Yeah, whatever."

Kari looked down at the Charmander, as it was apparent that he was taller than him and said in a cautious tone, "Did you hit your head hard? You seem a bit off balance." Kari tilted his head slightly "What is a Charmander doing out on Mt.Frostmeer?" this isn't a typical place for your species, he said as a large gust of wind blew by, ruffling his fur.

Once more, a dismissive, downward flick of his hand was given as he continued to collect himself. Let's see... Toes? Check. Legs? Check. Tail? Check. Hands? Check. Seemed like most of him was here. He would direct a rather glossy-eyed gaze towards the Absol as a curt smile blossomed upon his face, giving him the look of a drunkard fresh from a night of celebration. "Nope. Pecha-perfect."

Ares would slide to his feet as the throbbing of his head eventually subsided, allowing him a bit more clarity in his train of thought. It was wondrous not having to contemplate various subjects, such as conversation, through a new pulsating sensation occurring within his skull. As the wind threatened to howl and thrash against the only souls upon the mountain side, the Charmander would size up this freshly met stranger. He seemed decent enough...

"I'm looking for something," he would reply, preferring to keep his plans secret from a stranger, "what about you? Can't say I've run into an Absol here before."

Kari felt a very odd presence around this Charmander. "What am I doing here? Well, Im here looking for treasures to fuel the need I had as a child, that directed me toward thievery, and that my new found friend, is wealth." Kari said as he shifted his eyes around to see if there were any others. "Please don't let this be another awkward situation" Kari though to himself.

A frown crinkled the smooth features of his face as he stared on towards the Absol. Well, he certainly wasn't expecting that. He would fix his scarf in a subconscious nervous fashion, as if he were attempting to hide valuables, and would stare on in serene uncertainty. Did this guy just come out and announce that he was a thief? To a guy he just met on a desolate mountain? Good job.

Ares would push himself into a defensive stance, allowing his eyes to narrow as he growled, "Listen, I don't need to hear your life story, but if you're a thief - even an ex-thief - then I think we're done here. I don't need to get robbed or left for dead on this mountain." He was not going to die today, or let his precious materials be stolen! The Charmander's claws glinted in the pale light that was filtered by the condensing storm. The wind roared in disapproval.

Kari looked puzzled "You think I am going to just mug you? Now that would be outright stupid, If I were to steal from you, I would plan this out, Im not a mugger." he said with a snicker. "Besides if it makes you feel any better, I am an Ex-Theif, The last thing I need is the police force after me again. So, If you want me to leave you alone, so be it." he said as he began to walk away to further his search, but this was when the wind picked up harder, and the snow began to fall. Kari stopped dead in his tracks and looked up at the sky. He turned around and said softly "I recommend getting out of here, I have bad feeling about this weather"

Hadn't this guy heard what he said? "Listen," he would once more growl with exponentially increased malice and hostility, "I said I don't care if you're an ex-thief or not: I'm not risking an ambush or getting stabbed or whatever you guys do. Sure, you look like a nice guy, but it's probably an elaborate ruse to get me to lower my guard and then swiftly push me off this mountain!" His flame burned bright and passionately, its light becoming more potent to the encroaching darkness.

The wind howled as the Absol left, which was met with a defiant and belligerent look from the young Charmander. What perturbed him, however, was the fact that this other male hesitated. What was there in the fading visibility that he could not see? He folded his arms in preparation for a retort, snarling once more, "Oh yeah, like I'd take advice or orders from you."

This angered the storm, and it unleashed its fury.The clouds grew dark and dismal, swirling together to form a net in which sunlight could not pass. The wind increased in intensity, and the snow pattered heavily against the ground. Headstrong as ever, the drake did not budge an inch.

It was when Kari was walking away for the Charmander in the beginning of a brutal winter storm, that he was hit with the sense of a disaster, He pictured an avalanche falling with massive strength right toward him a down the path he had come from, then he remembered "Damn, That Charmander, he has no idea!" Kari dug his feet in the snow, turned around and started sprinting down the path, and behind him he heard a loud rumbling behind him. He neared the Charmander and yelled to him "There is a freaking avalanche! Get on my back! We need to move!"

Oh look, he was coming back to mug him! Panic and anger rolled into one lethal combo as the Charmander sized up his perceived opponent, allowing his fire to burn brightly as he snarled loudly, "I knew it! You lousy parasite, you horrible thief!" The roar of the wind and the sheer exasperation that was occurring were enough to dull his senses. He didn't need to hear what that other was saying, he knew what it was:

"I'm going to steal your money and leave you for dead! You were right all along and you were really smart for figuring it out!"

Everything began to slow as he charged towards the Absol with great determination, a fire building up in his throat as his vision focused solely on the Dark type. Fueled with a newly identified hatred, he brought back his hand to unleash a powerful Scratch-Punch combo. Perhaps it was the roar and sudden vibration beneath his feet that caused him to sense danger, for he hesitated and chanced a glance towards the steep mountain side. Snow, thick and coarse, was rushing down towards them.

Screw this!

He would hook his claw about the Absol's horn and hoist himself onto his back, hanging on for dear life.

Kari sprinted without thinking, he ran as fast as his long legs could carry him. He ran as fast as he could to the Charmander and he felt the Charmander hook his claw on his horn a swing onto his back. He said loudly over the sound of the roaring avalanche "I know you don't want to, But you have to trust me!" he sprinted with the Charmander on his back, as fast as he could all while avoiding rocks and other obstacles. But All this running was to no avail, the avalanche was too fast for the Absol to outrun and before they knew it, they were engulfed in darkness.

He didn't know what was worse: dying in an avalanche or dying at the hands of a stranger. At least in the avalanche he could attempt to claw his way out and eventually accept his demise - plus he'd get a free coffin. Strangers always had a poor habit of leaving bodies out in the open for Mandibuzzes to pick at. It was a disgusting, grotesque thought that made him slightly sick.

Ares didn't say much as they stampeded down the mountain, but only released a horrified gasp as the mountain side overtook them and plunged him into the abyss.

Silence.

That was all that surrounded him in his cocoon of snow. There was a stiff stillness that embodied this frozen prison and made him incredibly paranoid. Any attempt to move his limbs caused the snow to pack in tighter. Yes, the worse alternative had occurred: he was now at the mercy of the elements. At least he would be claimed by nature, and not another.

The cold snow engulfed Kari in what he thought to be his dark grave, he couldn't stand it, the thought that this was the end of his life, no, he wouldn't accept it. The Absol thrashed and thrashed until he could manage to get his horn and a claw somewhat able to move, he used these appendages to dig, little by little bits of the snow. He couldn't tell wither he was gigging up or down, but he was exhausted, and stopped moving to regain some energy, or just give up, all seemed hopeless.