Lost in the woods

Trace slogged through the muddy ground as rivulets of frigid water drained from the dense canopy above. His head was close to the ground and he looked at his surroundings with exhausted eyes. Was it morning or night? Did it even matter? No, not in this world of darkness that the Electrike found himself in. How did he get here? The last time he was anywhere was when he was with that young Swablu, what was his name? Varda?? Yea, that must be the child’s name. Trace stopped in his tracks, staring at his immature feet as hot tears welled in his eyes. That bird was probably just as old as he was, perhaps even older. He should be just as carefree as Varda was, and yet- NO! Just Keep on moving forward! If you stop the memories will return…

Trace managed to get himself moving again, although it was difficult. Every muscle in him felt numb and overused. He was cold, exhausted, muddy, wet, hungry, suffering to the point where everything stopped mattering. His first step in getting this lost was when he rushed recklessly into Pecha forest after throwing the surprisingly light bird through the air. By the time he realized he was hopelessly lost he was somewhere in Shadowhue Forest. At that point Trace did the only thing he did best: pick a direction and go. Eventually he would hit something like a road or some other landmark that would lead him to an inhabited place. No such luck however, due to the prevalence of aggressive pokemon that forced him to flee in random directions until he was even more lost than when he started. He did manage to find a good few items, but anything he found he had to immediately eat in order to stave off his only companion. Now he was at the end of his rope, each step harder then all he has done to this point. He didn’t even realize how labored his breath was as he doggedly plowed on.

Just ahead of him something began taking shape out of the gloom. It was an old hollowed out tree, barely even a stump at this point. In a better situation it would fail horribly as a shelter. The stump was small, roofless, rotting, and falling apart. Trace didn’t have the luxury nor the strength to find anything better. If only he could reach that haven! The Electrike’s feet dragged across the ground. Whether or not he wanted it, his body was shutting down. He forced a few more steps, then he collapsed sideways. He simply fell, his body hitting the ground with a weak thump. Trace’s vision got fuzzy and out of focus before his eyebrows smoothly slid to a close. Darkness took him. Why?

He was just three steps from the stump.

(I got impatient or else I would have written a dream and officially set the stage to be in the morning. Feel free to have your character adventuring now or the following day, both could work very well for me. It would be a great start for Jet to find Trace’s unconscious form…)

Jet folded his arms against his body, looking left and right at the trees surrounding him. He couldn't believe he had actually talked himself into coming here all alone. He had been through this very dark forest only once before and it had been with a Fire-type Pokémon that was able to light the dark path for him. While the visibility in this forest wasn't usually too bad, an open flame certainly helped make him feel more comfortable. This forest was really starting to give him the creeps, now that he didn't have the reassuring glow of an open flame. He felt like, at almost any moment now, a Ghost-type Pokémon could jump out at him. He was sure that it was only an inconsequential fear, of course. After all, even a Ghost-type Pokémon was a regular Pokémon...but he still couldn't help but feel fearful of it regardless.

The Buizel's footsteps continued to fall against the dried mud that made up the forest floor. The night before, there had been a pretty bad rainstorm. Although he normally loved the rain, he knew that it could make trudging through places covered in dirt an absolute nightmare. Honestly, he was glad that he hadn't come out here the night before like he had previously planned. It helped ensure that his journey through the woods were going to be minimally messy...or at least, that's what he hoped for. So far, that was true enough. He had yet to actually even come across any kind of Pokémon or...well, really find anything of worth at this point. This had undoubtedly been his most uneventful trip into the woods yet. Not that he liked to take constant trips or anything. But he had been in the Pecha Woods enough....

Wait...what was that? Just ahead of him, there was a small, shadowed form laying out across the ground. What was it, exactly? It could potentially be a sleeping wild Pokémon...but then again, it could be something else. Something that he might want to take with him, like one of the many strange items that could occasionally be found mysteriously lying around. The Buizel took a cautious step forward, not wanting it to suddenly jump at him if it was a Pokémon of some kind. And it wasn't long before he could finally make out some of its distinguishing features. The Pokémon species he didn't recognize, but it was a smaller, four-legged, green Pokémon with yellow stripes on his fur. If he had to guess, he would assume that the Pokémon was an electric-type. But what surprised him the most as his condition. His body did not look like it was merely sleeping.

The fallen Pokémon looked as though he was still breathing, so that was of no concern. But he seemed very...malnourished for lack of a better word. His body looked like it had been through a lot...and rather recently as well. His fur was muddy, indicating that he had been out here in the rain without washing himself off. He knew what that meant immediately: This Pokémon had been wandering out here all night, even in that rainstorm.

All thoughts of his own self-preservation were abandoned immediately. Jet's eyes widened as he realized the condition that this Pokémon was in and he rushed forward, quickly sinking to his knees at the unconscious Pokémon's side. He reached his paws down to lift the Pokémon's head up slightly and off of the ground. The Pokémon's fur was filthy, but he didn't care. "H-hey, are you alright!?" he asked, a tone of desperation in his voice. He was partially afraid that this Pokémon was one that was feral and would jump up and lunge at him out of nowhere...but he still couldn't care about that. This Pokémon looked like he needed help, and feral or not, he couldn't just leave him here like this....

The few hours of rest being unconscious gave Trace provided little compensation from his ordeal. As it was now, he would barely have enough energy to become aware of his surroundings if he needed to. The level of exhaustion he drove himself to would send most to their grave; the simple fact that he was still breathing was a powerful testament to his will to live. Surprisingly his body was left undisturbed by the inhabitants of the forest. Perhaps it is because his weak form posed no threat to their territories, or perhaps it is because he had nothing of value to take. Whatever the reason is, he was given a wide berth. Then something changed: The Electrike's ears picked up footsteps approaching him.

Someone was by his side, holding his head and keeping it off of the ground. An unfamiliar voice called out "H-hey, are you alright!?" From just above him. Trace tried to open his eyes to see who the stranger was, but couldn't. His eyelid's merely fluttered from the effort. He tried to do ANYTHING, but his body didn't respond. It was as if he was trapped within his mind, able to know what is happening but unable to respond.

Trace was certainly in a bad spot: His paws and most of his legs were caked with mud and his fur was matted. He smelt like a wet dog and his breath came out stiffly. When he was picked up his head responded stiffly as the muscles on his neck were stiff from the cold. There was no denying the possibility that if he were to continue to be left out to the elements for much longer then he might not survive the experience.

Alert enough to get a feeling of what is happening, Trace wondered who this stranger was. What would he do. Trace dared, not for the first time, to hope that the pokemon would help him when so few have done so in his life. He has always been driven away, no matter where he went, for the sole reason of him trying to live in a world where he should never have existed.

(note: this is getting into things that make no sense to anyone who doesn't have Trace's backstory in the back of their head. I plan on clearing this point in a dream/nightmare sequence soon.)

Jet didn't get much of a response from the fallen Electrike. This really worried him for a moment. It didn't take much observation for him to decide for certain that he was in no condition for any kind of adventuring. But at the same time, he could tell that, at the very least this Pokémon was alive. That in and of itself was a relief. But what could he do? He didn't have many items that he could use to help. He certainly did not possess any Oran Berries, at least, which would have helped this situation out greatly. He searched the area surrounding him desperately for a moment, unable to spot anything that could help the barely-conscious Electrike and restore his strength. Would he, then, have to drag the Electrike all the way out of the forest and back to the Guild? He wasn't sure he had the physical strength to do something like that, though. Whatever he did, he needed to do it now.

Well, it seemed like he did not have much of a choice at this point. He was going to, at the very least, try to take this Pokémon to the Monochrome Falls. He had been there once before, and it was probably closer to their location than the city was. He wasn't sure what he could do until that point, however. "H-hey, just...hold on, alright?" he said, hoping that the other Pokémon was still hearing him. "Y-you just need to hang in there. I'll...I don't know what to do yet, b-but I'll think of something!"

Without another thought, Jet took the Electrike's paws into his own and attempted to lift his body up, off of the dirt. He knew immediately that he wouldn't be able to lift the Electrike's entire body up and still carry him far enough to make it to the Falls, where they would be completely safe and sound. So instead, he draped the Electric-type's paw over his should, lifting about half of his body up and off of the ground. Maybe, as they traveled, he could keep his eye open for any kind of items that would come in handy right now...

"D-don't worry, I'll get you out of here..." he grunted, pulling himself forward. He began taking his first steps, hoping to drag the Electrike with him in the direction of the Falls. Hopefully, they weren't too far away...

{Ah, okay then. I'll look forward to that~ =}}

The question of what the stranger would was answered soon enough. "H-hey, just...hold on, alright? Y-you just need to hang in there. I'll...I don't know what to do yet, b-but I'll think of something!" Trace heard the Pokemon plead. If only he could reply! If only he could let this stranger know the insurmountable gratitude he felt from knowing that there was even one person was willing to go out of his way to help someone at their lowest. Silent tears were flowing freely by the time he was situated to be dragged.

Of course, if he had enough energy to talk he had enough energy to walk and then he would not need the help he needs now. Or at least until he got to the point where he would be similarity incapacitated, but then he would hopefully be in a place where he could rest peacefully. Then he-

"D-don't worry, I'll get you out of here..." the kind Pokemon's voice brought Trace back to the present. Even when on the edge of exhaustion, his mind was running. The Electrike felt his half-supported body start to move. Everything felt muted and distant as if he were being dragged against soft grass instead of the rain hardened dirt and tree roots he would likely be dragged over.

Trace wondered where he was being taken. He hoped it was back to Grassveil, but could only trust that the Pokemon knew what he was doing.

Jet knew already that there was no way he was going to be able to make it all the way back to Grassveil Town lugging a Pokémon only slightly smaller than him on his shoulders. His best bet was to make it to the Monochrome Falls and gather some kind of restoration items while they were in a safe place. It would certainly be a lot better and easier to search while he didn't have to worry about the Electrike getting put in danger.

He sighed and looked back at the Electrike he was pulling through the trees. He grunted with the effort of pulling the Electric-type Pokémon through the forest and wished he could have the upper body strength to lift the Pokémon off of the ground completely. But this was the best he could do. "Ngh...s-sorry I'm not...stronger or faster than I am. I-I'm not usually built for this..." he grunted as an apology.

Digizel carried out 1 launched of one Shadowhue Forest :

Upon hearing his rescuer's apology Trace wished he could comfort the Pokemon. Although it is no-where near any pace the Electrike was comfortable with they were making good progress to wherever. The important part is success, not perfection. Then again, some part of Trace reminded him that if he were fully conscious he would definitely be pulling at the proverbial leash at this speed, they were barely moving above a crawl!

Still, Trace's body was so sapped of energy that he couldn't even force his eyes open. It was all his power to remain conscious of the events around him and he was dead weight against the Buizel. He hoped that they wouldn't encounter anything too dangerous (if only they could avoid the tall grass) as he was carried to safety.

Coming out of the gloom ahead of them the silhouette of what appears to be a small flower tethered to a low-hanging tree branch by a single vine. If Jet approached closer to it he would spot the telltale light blue petals and small white form of a sleeping Flabebe. It was still pretty early in the morning and many of the more carefree inhabitants of the forest were sleeping comfortably, if Jet was careful he could easily avoid confrontation here...

Energy=6 (roleplaying as if =0)

Guest carried out 1 launched of one Shadowhue Forest :

{Energy: 12 - 2 = 10}

Jet grunted and continued his effort to pull the Electrike along the grass. This was taking a lot longer than he had hoped. The Electrike seemed incapable of replying to his words, but that wasn't something he didn't expect. After all, as far as he was concerned, he was carrying an unconscious Pokémon. But still, he wanted to keep talking to him, if only for his own selfish desire to trick himself into thinking that all of this wasn't in vain, and that the Pokémon in his care wasn't on the brink of death. He could feel the breath and heartbeat of the Electrike, but it was labored and weak. He needed to hurry, but he couldn't. And that's what drove him crazy the most.

Along the way, he soon came across a silhouette of some kind of strange flower that didn't quite match the rest of the scenery. He approached more slowly and cautiously than before, wanting to make sure that he didn't come across some hostile Pokémon to battle against. Sure enough, he could soon identify the form of a Flabebe, a Pokémon he had read about back in the library before. Thankfully, it seemed as though the Pokémon was fast asleep. If he was careful, then just maybe he could manage to sneak around him.

He began taking an alternate route. The Buizel stepped softly and carefully. He was extra careful to make sure that Trace made nothing but the tiniest sounds when he was dragged along the ground. Once he was on the opposite side of the area, however, he saw something caught in a low-hanging branch. It looked like the Defense Scarf he had seen in a store at one point in time and decided that it would be best to take it with them. But rather than stuff it into his bag, he stopped walking forward after grabbing it. He gently placed the Electrike on the grass and then tied the scarf around his neck. At the moment, he needed it more than he did.

Digizel carried out 1 launched of one Shadowhue Forest :

Trace listened as his rescuer maintained a steady string of comments that clearly showed his empathy and desire to save him. The stranger then adjusted him in order to create less noise as he was dragged across the forest floor. Once situated the pair continued on more stealthily, however Trace was confused as to why this was a needed action. If only he had spent more time on self preservation instead of wasting all his energy trying to return to town! Then again, worrying about what might have been makes it harder to fix what is happening right now.

With that in mind Trace put renewed attention to the only thing he could help, his breath. He tried to breathe calmly and evenly, but it was hard. Hard to focus, and hard to force any action right now. He felt like he was at the bottom of a well, given limited understanding of the world around him but no control over it. Forced to sit and wait for his body to restore itself.

It was then that his rescuer stopped and gently placed Trace on the ground. What was happening? were they safe? Suddenly he felt a fabric being tied around his neck. Somehow this cloth made him feel safer, more sure that he was going to pull through this. It was strange, but very welcome.

Guest carried out 1 launched of one Shadowhue Forest :

{Energy: 10 - 1 = 9}

Jet continued making his way through the forest. "D-don't worry, I won't let you down," he murmured determinedly. He reached his paws down, now that the Defense Scarf had been tied around the Electrike's neck, and pulled him back over his shoulder again. The returning wait took him by surprise for a moment. If he didn't know better, he would have sworn that the Electric-type Pokémon seemed a little bit heavier this time than he was before. But of course, that could only be his imagination. Obviously, he had put the scarf on, but it couldn't possibly have added that much extra weight.

The Buizel then began making his way forward once more, continuing to lug the Electrike on his back the entire way. He grunted with the effort, starting to really feel the extra energy burn away with the body of the Electrike weighing him down. This was turning out to be a lot harder than he had originally thou-

"Ack!" Jet called out as his leg was stopped prematurely, blocked by something hidden in the somewhat tall grass around them. His forward momentum carried him beyond where his legs could hold him up and he wound up falling down onto his stomach in the grass with a soft thud, Trace falling down on top of his back. "D...darn it...." he groaned, sitting up with Trace still with him, searching for what had caused him to trip. His paws soon found something solid, like a rock of some kind. He lifted it up...and saw that it was a Leaf Stone! His eyes widened slightly at the discovery. He also found a small spike in the ground that looked like a stick. He decided to pocket both of the items for now, slipping them into his bag before continuing. They could come in handy if they have to fight or barter their way out of something.

With that all sorted out, he pulled himself and Trace back up to their normal position and decided to continue going. He didn't have time to just continue standing around and thinking about everything. He needed to make it to the Falls. "S-sorry about that..." he mumbled. "I-I'll get you there. I-I promise..." With that, he began to take his steps forward yet again, hoping that they didn't come across some kind of feral Pokémon on their way out.

Digizel carried out 1 launched of one Shadowhue Forest :

(energy: 6 - 1 - 1 = 4)

Trace felt his rescuer stagger when he collected the electrike. He began fretting that this kind stranger would overextend himself, but then laughed bitterly at the hypocrisy of that statement. After a short moment he quieted and looked forlornly outward from the cell he is trapped in. Please, just survive. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something bad happened to you because you were trying to help me.

At the exact time he finished that thought the Buizel tripped over something. The two of them tumbled forward, landing with the buizel sandwiched between the Electrike's dead weight and the ground. Trace stared with concern and, not for the first time, cursed his predicament.

In short time Trace was picked up again. Apparently Jet had only tripped over something instead of someone and they continued onward, however they were not alone. Hidden in the grass around them a diminutive pair of eyes watched the spectacle.

A concerned Flabebe saw Trace's unconscious state and Jet's determined march, and she immediately decided to help somehow. Should she try and talk to them? No, the thought alone made her shudder. They were just too big! She had to help in a different way. As soon as she could leave without alerting the travelers she floated off, her eyes determinedly set. She will find a reviver seed! She must!

Guest carried out 1 launched of one Shadowhue Forest :

{Energy: 9 - 2 = 7}

Jet grunted again as his feet carried him forward. This was getting ridiculous. With each passing footstep, he should logically be approaching the waterfall at the very end of the dungeon. However, no matter how long he walked, it felt like the trees were not thinning out in the slightest. It seemed like he was getting nowhere...but still, he wasn't about to give up. He needed to help this Electrike recover his strength, and that was exactly what he planned to do. He couldn't just leave him out here to possibly get killed by a passing feral Pokémon who decided that it wanted him out of its path.

"S-sorry this is taking so long," he commented to Trace, still trying to trick himself into thinking that the Electrike was listening and could respond. "I'll...get you out of here soon.... I-I promise...."

Digizel carried out 1 launched of one Shadowhue Forest :

(energy: 4 - 1 = 3)

Trace could hear his rescuer exerting himself. It seemed like this was starting to become too much for the pokemon, yet Trace kept hope. Within his own consciousness he was cheering on the weakening pokemon, but then something caught his attention. Just on the edge of his silence-enhanced ears a new sound was introduced.

It was faint, just on the edge of hearing but it was the unmistakable sound of large quantities of water moving. Trace spent a moment focusing on the sound, is that where his rescuer is trying to get them to?

Deep in her frantic search, the blue-petaled Flabebe encountered another of her kind. It didn't take long for her to explain the situation and recruit a red-petaled kin. A reviver seed is as big as one of them, they would need to work together if they wanted to successfully bring one back to the desperate company.

Guest carried out 2 launched of one Shadowhue Forest :

,

{Energy: 7 - 1 = 6}

Jet continued on his way, continuing to murmur soft, promising words to the Electrike he was carrying on his back. At this point he was mostly just distracting himself with a one-sided conversation. Anything to distract him from the strain he was putting on his own body was welcome in his mind right now. After all, the last thing he needed was to collapse out here. He groaned with the difficulty...until finally, something in the grass caught his attention and gave him additional vigor. His eyes widened as he saw the beautiful, red gleam of an Apple laying in the shadowed grass. He immediately altered his course so that he was moving directly for the fruit, finally getting close enough to it to reach out and grab it.

The Buizel kneeled down and lowered the Electrike onto the grass once more, just like he had done when he had given him the Defense Scarf from before. He reached his paw out and took the apple in his hand. He had to admit, he was quite tempted to take a quick bite out of it himself. His body was exhausted and he was already panting rather hard. But no...he didn't need this nearly as much as the electrike did. "H-here..." he said softly, lowering the fruit so that he could try to slip it into Trace's jaw. "C-can you...?"

He stopped. Jet quickly became aware that the fruit was going to be harder for the Electrike to eat. It was simply too large and too firm for his injured body to get down. Thankfully, however, the answer came quickly. Resting near where he found the apple, there were two additional objects: One was a small box that he quickly simply shoved into his Guild Treasure Box. The other, however, was a very welcome Oran Berry. His smile brightened again as he put the Apple down on the ground and picked the Oran Berry up instead. "H-here...this...is better for you...." he mumbled between pants. He held the Berry down, inviting Trace to find the strength to manage to eat it. If nothing else, he could push it in the jaw himself and force him to chew it himself. Either way, this was very important. It probably wouldn't restore his strength enough to make a huge difference thanks to the severity of the condition his body was in, but it should keep him outside of the critical stage.

Digizel carried out 2 launched of one Shadowhue Forest :

,

Trace felt the sudden shift in direction followed by him Being lowered to the ground. Had his rescuer found another item? Or had they run into an unavoidable threat? The Electrike couldn't hear a second Pokemon so it wasn't likely, but that didn't stop Trace from worrying about it.

"H-here..." He felt something hard being pressed against his jaw and smelt the familiar scent of an apple. "C-can you...?" Obviously his rescuer was proffering him food in hopes that it would revive him. If only he could force his mouth to chew! Trace shouted within the confines of his mind, but it was a futile attempt. His body was nonresponsive.

The apple  was lifted from his face. His rescuer must have realised that he was incapable of eating the apple, however another scent wafted to his nose. It was unfamiliar, yet the scent alone gave him a crucial energy. Trace felt himself expanding within his mind, quickly filling his prison and awareness...

"H-here...this...is better for you...." Trace heard his rescuer say between exhausted pants. With the extra energy provided he managed to slowly winch his jaws apart enough to accept the berry, even though he lacked the strength to control any other part of his body.

If Jet put the berry in Trace's mouth then his jaws would slowly close as he began chewing. His actions would be frighteningly weak at first, but quickly grew in strength as the properties of the berry took effect. He swallowed, and his eyes slowly opened. They didn't open far however, remaining in a half lidded state. The Oran berry may have restored him but it is a poor substitute to genuine rest.


(Energy: 3-2+10=11)

Please give us something good to finish this thread! Either way, my last roll:

Guest carried out 7 launched of one Shadowhue Forest :

, , , , , ,