The Search Begins

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Sosio gazed at the forest, so shrouded with thoughts, she couldn't even think. The trees were mellow, yet she was filled with excitement as she strolled down the autumn lane, breathing the crisp air as if it was made of a gold that would never last long enough.

The leaves reflected the golden air feel, in all shades of orange and yellow. Even the trees that were brown seemed colorful, whether covered in sap or moss or nothing at all. The amount of trees was almost overwhelming, the need to land on them rising. But she was stuck to traveling the ground as her wing lay crippled awkwardly on her side.

Sosio's Energy Level:

*Energy from latest post: 6*

"But you have to have heard something? Noone asks whether the other Pokémon has heard something without a reason to do so. And if you didn't hear anything, then your question would be coming quite out of the blue."
Now this was even more worrysome. Did the Flying type have some reason to try and keep whatever was probably approaching hidden from him? Maybe she intended to leave him as a distraction to the enemy she had noticed. Maybe these were her allies, trying to attack him with her.
Millions of scenarios danced through the Nincada's small head, one more convoluted and paranoid than the other. And sadly this was quite the commom experience for the Bug type, seeing horrors in every shadow and monsters in every sound.

Sosio stared at him. "The only reason I asked is because it seemed as if you were the one who had heard something. You seemed jittery..." She blinked a couple of times, seeing no change in his expression. In fact, he looked even more nervous before, making Sosio quite so herself.

What if he had heard something, and was playing koi so the bird didn't know? What if there was something truly terrible in this dungeon that the bug-type was told, but the Fletchling never heard due to her hastiness? What if paranoia was contagious? It probably was, for Sosio simply plopped herself back onto the chilled soil, a crazed expression forming on her face.

Sosio's Energy Level:

"Uh, no, I didn't hear anything.", the Nincada replied, now even more confused than before.
He hadn't been acting any differently now, had he? Was this yet more of a ruse to try and confuse the Bug type until finally he would be beset by attackers?
And what was the Flying type doing, simply lying on the ground like that?
Ned was highly doubtful for this to simply be some new trend or something of the sort, and since he had never seen another Pokémon in a position such as this it most likely wasn't to get comfortable either. But what was it then? A sign to her allies? Preparation for a strange attack? A sudden and completely unexpected onset of a coma?


(E=9)

Sosio, now disheveled, confused, and uncomfortable, began to glance around uncontrollably. Her eyes were now narrow and crazed, feeling as if there was something missing. Probably her sanity. With her back pressed to the ground, she began to flap her wings, flailing, and pushing herself awkwardly across the dirt as she continued staring at the sky.

Eventually, the Fletchling reached a tree, which she used to stand up again by gripping the bark with her talons. Her eyes twitched as she walked like a revenant, wandering into the forest with no consciousness of what she was doing.

Sosio's Energy Level:

This situation was getting weirder and weirder by the second. What was the Flying type doing now? It probably wasn't a normal thing for Flying type's to do as the Nincada had met a few of those in his time already, and he had never seen one act like this before.
Just what exactly was the Bird trying to do? And was he supposed to do something in response to that? While the state Ned was in right now wasn't being afflicted with the confusion ailment, it certainly did come close.
Well, at least it wasn't a battle, so there most likely wasn't too big of a danger for either of their health around. A welcome change to what things usually were like.

Sosio continuously walked blindly, her mind elsewhere. Her body simply moved, like a chicken with its head cut off, not caring if she fell, hit an object, or walked into--
FLOOF

The Fletchling walked into a pile of leaves, falling onto the thick layer of dead extensions to the tree's branches which lost its green color due to the cold and loss of chlorophyll. It was just enough to wake Sosio out of her trance, the loud sounds of leaves crunching next to her, and an impact on the ground at the same time. She got up, whipped around, and looked back to where she was when she stood up, eyes wide, and embarrassment hidden behind her facial feathers.

The bird shook off the leaves that still stuck to her, the curled five points making perfect hooks to hold on to something like fur or feathers. The shake started in her head, moving down to her body and tail, looking like a blurry vibration as all birds do when they shake off dirt or water. Closing her eyes for a moment, she sighed, thinking Forget it. and turning around with her wide and wonderous eyes as usual, getting over the creepy insect, and chirping chipperly
"You coming?"

Sosio's Energy Level:

Ned had long since given up on trying to understand the situation. The Flying type's behaviour was simply illogical and any attempt at comprehending it would lead to one thing and one thing only - headaches.
And then all of a sudden this Pokémon was acting relatively normally again. What had happened? No, there was no use thinking about that either.
And now she was asking him to come with her. Why? Was it a trap?
"I don't think I have many other options, do I?", the Nincada sighed.
Just why did this sort of thing keep happening? Couldn't other Pokémon simply leave him alone?

Sosio stopped and turned around again, hearing the Nincada's somewhat bummed voice.
"What's wrong? Don't you want to explore?"
Surely he had come here for a reason. No one would unwillingly come to a dungeon. Wouldn't he at least be a tiny bit enthusiastic about trying to find treasure? Sosio knew she was... Whether she found it or not, this place was amazing. She wanted to live here, the awe-striking place of wondrous ever-autumn forest.

Sosio stopped thinking for a while, and just spaced out in a way that made her look normal. Well, Sosio's normal, anyway. She understood well enough that everybody's "normal" was different. That's what made everything interesting and amazing. Just like this forest.

Sosio's Energy Level:

"Why should I want to?", Ned replied.
"Exploring is dangerous, exhausting, painful and generally nothing more than a nuisance. Furthermore I am far too weak to successfully do any exploring. All I want is for everyone to leave me alone and in peace so I can wait until I finally evolve."
The universe seemed to have some sort of feud with the Nincada. Whereever he went and whereever he waited, he would soon run into some Pokémon and some set of circumstances that would force him to travel with them through the entire dungeon without accomplishing anything except for needless suffering and strife. And it had apparently just happened again.

Sosio bobbed her head up with surprise, body forward and tail pointed downwards, shocked at what he said.
"But how could you ever possibly evolve without the experience... The discovery, the effort put into training, the traveling side-by-side with new acquaintances, assisting if you're weak to one type or another... How..."
She trailed off, finding no use into explaining and reasoning. The Pokemon would probably just grow bored and ignore her. After all, words never do anything alone. If a Pokemon walked up to someone and said "I think there's another world out there," the other would just ignore it, and never believe it without proof. One won't simply change their mind if someone else wanted them to.

Sosio sighed, realizing the Pokemon obviously didn't want her here.
"I see how it is then..." she muttered with a lowered head. "Enjoy your solitude." She said, before turning her head back to where she was heading, stepping forward, as if crossing a barrier she never had to before.

Sosio's Energy Level:

"Simple. By waiting. It's what Nincada usually do. While we are in this weak form, any sort of exploration would put us into danger far too serious to be even remotely reasonable. And when we have waited for long enough, then we shed this hide and can start venturing through the world."
Indeed how other Pokémon could get the idiotic idea of trying to explore before they had reached their final evolution stage was completely incomprehensible to the Bug type. What if they got hurt? After all they were not at their maximum level of strength yet.
"Thank you however for understanding that it is too dangerous for me to follow you around. YOu're probably the first Pokémon who has ever realized that."

While hearing Ned's explanation, Sosio wanted to say Waiting? Waiting is for Kakuna. but didn't, thankfully hearing more of what he had to say. He even thanked her, which made her grateful she hadn't spoken out. It was curious exactly what the Nincada had to do, but she didn't object.

"Well, in that case, what should I do? Explore on my own, or sit here with you and fight off any Pokemon who near us?" To Sosio, it would feel weird for her to explore on her own. She was always used to some random Pokemon accompanying her through the dungeon, usually right to the end. Walking alone would be unimaginable, especially with her wing injury. It wouldn't be too bad to sit around for one day. Plus, it would be the perfect excuse to come back to find the treasure again.

Sosio's Energy Level:

"Uh, I don't know.", Ned responded.
"I'm not you after all. Do whatever you want to do I guess. However I advise for you to simply go home and stay there. It would be much safer."
This Flying type truly was an astounding Pokémon. Few Pokémon had ever been able to accept the Nincada's preference for avoiding doing battle and exploration in general.
Ned still hadn't managed to evolve, but knowing that there were at least some Pokémon who didn't have to drag him with them or tried to do him harm was a pleasant thought.
If only more Pokémon were like this Fletchling.

"I'd much not prefer to leave you alone and vulnerable, even if you can escape with a running, so I shall be your guard!" she said, putting one wing in her chest and the other in the air. "I solemnly swear to battle any Pokemon that comes here to threaten us until we can leave. My oath."
She ruffled her feathers and smoothed them down again. Keeping a watch for approaching enemies. This was fun. It was like a game she used to play with the Bulbasaurs back at home. It made her feel at least a little important, which she liked. She would do almost anything to help new friends.

e=9-roll

aMEWzing carried out 1 launched of one Fallen Leaf Copse :

The Nincada groaned.
What the Flying type was doing was probably doing more harm than good.
Wanting to defend him and all that was great, but standing around like this with that bright orange head of hers was basically like a huge alarm signal telling everone about the Nincada's location.
And that loud exclamation of hers really didn't make things any better.
For now the Bug type simply decided to remain silent. If he waited for long enough, then maybe the Flying type would simply grow bored and leave.
With enough waiting all problems could be solved. Too bad that the universe never let him wait long enough.