No Man's Island

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: {51 - 15 (entrance) = 36}

Items:

Skimming just above the water's surface, Sosio soared toward someplace she so enthusiastically wanted to explore. If she was any more enthralled with the landscape, the bird might have been tempted to dip her legs and wings in, but her newfound caution told her otherwise. After all, it could only slow down her travel time for getting to the island. The whole sea was grand and wide and vacant of presences, save for the land poking just above the horizon dead ahead in the Fletchinder's view. Within her throat, a fire burned warmly and pushed her farther and faster the hotter it grew. At this point, she only needed to flap her wings a couple of times a minute to keep her moving and above the water. A little birdie told her that this was because no matter how strong a horizontal force was, the impact of gravity would still be the same. She hadn't paid attention at the time, but the information suddenly came flooding back to her as she witnessed it firsthand.

Ruffling her feathers in excitement, the goal she sought was becoming closer by the second, especially since she continued to accelerate now that her objective was becoming near enough to touch, to taste, to smell—she inhaled a deep breath of sea air and tasted the salty sea breeze. Finally, she landed on the shore, digging her talons into the shore and fluffing up her chest in satisfaction. Taking in the view, the island already seemed to have the most peculiar rocks and a jungle like nothing she had ever seen before—which was saying a lot coming from a Pokemon who was raised in a rainforest. This was a completely different feeling from any other dungeon Sosio had ever been into, and the bright colors it contained filled the homesick bird with love and longing to remain here as long as she needed to. If anything, this felt like a long-needed vacation that was too good to be true.

Surely it must have been, as the next thing the overjoyed robin saw was a pale white body resting motionless on the shore. Incredibly startled, she stood there in disbelief for several heartbeats before she hopped her way over in fear and concern. Peering over the organism's shoulder, this was yet another sight like nothing the Pokemon had ever seen. From what she could tell, this was a snow-white mammal who seemed to radiate cold from its very body. As much as she wanted to remain in the tropical environment she so craved, her worry for the stranger was too great for her to simply move on without a word. Hesitantly, she leaned over and asked in a soft voice, "H-hey, are you okay?"

With a nervous swallow, Sosio stepped toward the creature to get a good look at its face. It didn't look mauled or half-eaten, but she was still desperately hoping it wasn't dead. Now that she had a closer look, what she was viewing heavily reminded her of a Vulpix, but how could that be? The one she knew was orange and had the same warmth that the fellow fire type contained in her gizzard. So what was this? A distant cousin to the fox, or some sort of anomaly? Completely enthralled and without expecting movement, the bird simply stared at the potentially deceased enigma.

It was almost calming, waves lapping at her paws, and the soft sand was a pillow under her exhausted body. The sunlight was pleasantly warm on her fur, the sounds of trees rustling in the distance... it would have been so easy to drift back to sleep. Were those wingbeats? She couldn't make out the words through that haze in her mind, but she'd swear she heard a voice, from somewhere far away. It was a momentous task to blink her eyes open, only to be greeted with the swimming silhouette of what may have been a bird Pokemon. The way she peered down at Robin wasn't dissimilar to a specimen. One being readied for dissection, if she felt especially grim.

"Mm..." A faint groan escaped her as her consciousness began to return bit by bit, whether she liked it or not. She was face to face with something. Whatever it was, it didn't look like it was trying to eat her. Yet. Was it a scavenger-? Her better mind forced her to roll over onto her belly, the movement disorienting her so much that she nearly emptied her stomach. Sand clung to the side of her body she had just been laying on, forcing a defiant glare at the bird Pokemon.

"S-stop staring." Oh, she hated, in that moment, how weak her voice sounded. She closed her eyes and summoned all her focus to create what was, perhaps, the world's most pathetic Powder Snow. What could have been an icy wind that chilled and stuck to the scavenger's feathers was instead a slight, biting breeze, accompanied by sad flecks of snow that melted as they hit the warm sand.

Her legs gave out as she tried to force herself to stand, a faint tremble betraying her fear. Was it just going to wait for her to die? Or perhaps it would grow impatient and finish the job? No, no- she didn't want to die here. She didn't want... but her legs gave out rather pathetically, an utterly joyless smile crossing her face as she stared at what she presumed to be a feral pokemon. If she could just summon a stronger attack, maybe she could scare it off, or at least antagonize it enough to finish the job- if only she could raise her voice to something stronger than a hoarse whisper-

"... 'm still here- I'm still... either screw off or finish the job if you're that hungry." She loathed like little else just how pathetic she sounded, how defeated she knew the hunch of her shoulders must have looked. If that bird would just stop staring. Or at least have the decency to stay out of sight while it was waiting for an easy meal.

Sosio: {36}

Items:

The bird tilted her head in surprise and concern as a pained grumble made its way to the snowy Pokemon's throat. It's alive! Sosio thought in bewilderment. At first, she was able to brush aside her panic now that she had confirmed that this mammal was not in fact dead, but there were still remaining concerns that swirled in her mind: what if it was sick? Injured? ...cursed? She hesitated as she stumbled over her own thoughts, stopping herself short of thinking too much into things.

As the mumbles soon became a comprehensible sentence, Sosio took a hop back. A flurry of cold seemed to escape the young creature's body, like a final attempt to protect herself in a hopeless situation. Sosio apologetically took a few more steps back before she heard the final sentence the Vulpix uttered.
"Wh--hungry? Oh dear, you must have been through a lot..." the bird oozed with sympathy. Not only could this ice type barely speak, but it seemed the exhausted fox could barely comprehend the situation she was in. Sosio kept her distance, but she still cared just enough to bob her head to see if the Pokemon were able to move at all. Her first thought was that the Vulpix must have ended up this way after being chased by a predator, without ever occurring to the fire type that it was she who seemed to pose a threat.

"It's okay now, whatever hurt you must be gone..." Sosio desperately tried to reach out, while still respecting the shipwrecked creature's request for space. "I have some berries I can share if that will help you recover..." With continued uncertainty, the bird watched and waited, feeling incredibly pained and even somewhat guilty that she couldn't help this Vulpix as it were. Although the stranger's type was her opposite, she could never generate any malice toward a poor, defenseless Pokemon unless it proved hostile and ready to show Sosio a world of hell.

As her thought process continued, the flying type began to wonder if the Pokemon here was native to the island, or as its colors suggested, merely a visitor. After all, the tropical climate would be no place for an ice type to thrive, but then again, Sosio knew so little about this island that it was perfectly possible for there to be some change of temperature mere steps away from the jungle. Clearly, not that she knew anything about how the world worked, but she did suppose there must have been more to the story of this washed-up Vulpix. Without force, Sosio wanted to learn what she could about this island and what happened to the vulpine victim before her.

The world slowly drifted into focus. Robin's trembling began to subside as the strange pokemon's voice finally got through to her, beginning to process her words. She was speaking...? And not only that, she... was offering to help her. A weak laugh escaped the Vulpix, half delirious from relief. She gave up on trying to hold herself up, collapsing once more onto the sand, clinging like dust to her still-damp fur. "Oh." She said softly, staring up at the odd bird pokemon. Now that she could get a closer look at her, this didn't look like an ancient pokemon.

"... 'at was rude. 'm sorry." She managed. She was still, perhaps, not exactly in her right mind. With her brush with death, that was understandable. She forced a weak, flickering smile up at the stranger. "You're trying to help me, and I insulted you. That's awful. 'm sorry." She echoed. Even she was vaguely aware that she... wasn't making the most sense, at the moment. What had she said about berries? Berries... oh. Right. Robin had those, too.

Or, at least, she did. Hopefully they hadn't gotten washed away in the storm. It took a great deal of willpower to force herself up to a sitting position, her vision tinged black with dizziness for the effort. "I can't take your stuff. There... think there's stuff in my bag." Her bag. Where was her bag? Thankfully, it hadn't washed up far from her. Her face lit up in relief when she saw it, only to fall once more a second later.

"Oh. Oh no. Er, if you could grab like, one of the apples, I'll be fine, but- I had some really important stuff in there, can you please see if there's still a flower and a rock?" Her voice picked up a slightly frantic tilt, which couldn't have done much to reassure this stranger that Robin was in her right mind. "The flower was so pretty and blue, and soft, and it looked delicate. The rock was..." She trailed off, tilting her head in obvious confusion. "Really round?"

Her Time Flower and Mysterious Stone were surprisingly hard to describe, to the half-conscious little Vulpix. Hopefully the message had gotten through.

Sosio: {36}

Items:

Hearing the weak chuckle at first startled the concerned bird, but hearing the Pokemon's interesting accent reassured and cheered her up somewhat at the very least. Hearing an apology, however, was even more surprising than any other outburst the fox had previously.
"Oh, please don't apologize..! I'm just glad you're okay," the bird offered, shocked at her own tone of voice reaching a new level of softness and femininity she hadn't felt since she was helping Clara through the dungeon they met in. Sosio had quite a knack for taking on a protective role for Pokemon who could hardly defend themselves, whether they appreciated it or not. She could only hope this Vulpix would accept it more than the others she had tried to help.

The Fletchinder did, however, understand the vulpine Pokemon's refusal to accept her offer to provide food to heal. There was a level of guilt and obligation that often came with taking from others, and Sosio didn't want to be someone to contribute to that. Hopping to action immediately after the fox mentioned her bag, the flying type began the search on the shores to ensure that this Pokemon could be assisted as soon as possible. Thankfully, she had powerful eyesight thanks to her frequent flights and adaptation for a "bird's eye view" gave her excellent far-ranged vision.
"Ah, found it," she reported, cautiously picking up the wet bag by its strap while trying to keep everything safe inside as she carried it over to the six-tailed Pokemon.

Placing it gently next to the Vulpix, Sosio then proceeded to slowly nose her way inside, listening still to the continued request. Though incredibly damp, it seemed everything was in order.
"Yep, still here," she called out, head still inside the bag. "The flower looks a little wet, though... I hope it's still alright."
Since she hadn't seen it from the start, the fire type wasn't sure if it was discolored or missing any petals. She just hoped it would return back to normal once dried.

Finally, she pulled her head out, an apple carried gently between the angle of her beak, and held it close to the Vulpix.
"It's still good, but might be really salty," Sosio claimed after the Apple was released from her grip. It did travel through saltwater, and quite frankly, it surprised the bird that it hadn't escaped the bag, pushed out by buoyancy. Even still, she wouldn't be surprised to see another apple or two still floating in the waves. She hoped that wouldn't be the case, considering she had checked the bag. Hopefully, too, the apples would be enough to restore the Vulpix's health.

Robin perked up when she realized that everything was accounted for - everything important, at least. "... that's a relief. Thank you." The apple was, indeed, pretty salty, but it was a small miracle that it had stayed in there at all. She seemed to have a bit more energy after eating. At least, enough to finally stumble to her feet, shaking the saltwater from her fur. "Heh. I'll be alright now, thanks to you." It never hurt to play to someone's ego, but she did, indeed, probably owe this stranger her life. She's have to work on how to repay her for that.

"Thanks for finding me. I owe you, huh?" Her tone was light and airy, a sharp contrast to her weak sputters a few minutes before. She was still weakened, but at least she was strong enough to walk. A quick test of her Powder Snow attack (away from her savior's direction, of course) revealed that it was back to it's normal strength, a cold gust sweeping through the air, bits of snow collecting on the trees.

"My name's Robin. I'm really sorry I lashed out at you. Care to tell me your name?"

Robin's Energy: 7
+ 5, apple

Venusian carried out 7 launched of one Ancient Island :

, , , , , ,

Sosio: {36}

Items:

Pleased beyond words to hear the Vulpix's renewed attitude and tone, Sosio grinned widely at the praise she received. Quite sheepishly, she raised a wing behind her head and smiled with whole relief and gratitude.
"Really, it was nothing. Of course I'll help a Pokemon in need!" she chirruped pridefully, overjoyed that things were okay between them and that the Vulpix was healed. A much stronger rush of snow than before swept through the area, which Sosio thought was a nice display.
"My name's Sosio. It's nice to meetcha!"

Watching the sparkling flakes fade into the environment, she then turned her attention to the dungeon before them.
"So, think you're up for exploring this path ahead of us?" she asked, motioning with body language toward the vine-covered trees and earth. Sosio enjoyed the beach and all, but to her there was nothing in the world so wonderful as trees. They gave cover, air, and food all in one, plus the bird was naturally inclined to rest atop their branches at high altitudes.

The Fletchinder's focus was cut short when the cries of scuffling Pokemon rang through the open sky. A small roundish rock was being attacked by a bug type, no larger than Sosio used to be as a baby, but still towering over the item on its stilt-like legs. It jabbed and blew bubbles as the bird sat and wondered why it would be attacking a rock, that is until she noticed a yellow insect squeezing out of the way of the predator's attempts. She watched in awe as she recalled the situation she was just in, where a Pokemon thought itself to be under attack by another who wanted to eat it. She was just grateful it hadn't been that way for the Vulpix.

Wasn't this one bold? Perhaps one of those explorer types? Robin nodded once more, heaving herself up to her feet, a slight smile crossing her features. "Yup. I'm ready when you are." She chimed, shaking off her fur. The lowered visibility that the forest brought was a bit concerning. Then again, it was a double-edged sword; they were hardly safe out in the open. She quickly nudged some different leaves and flowers into her bag, lingering for just a moment on an especially pretty reddish-pink one. Windrose would be happy with her, so she hoped.

She trailed after Sosio into the undergrowth, her ears perked with interest. "What brought you here?" She wondered, keeping her eyes peeled for any other specimens. Flowers, leaves... oh, that fern wasn't as flashy, but maybe it was also extinct out of this little island? She gave a thoughtful hum as she plucked a leaf from it, careful not to damage the rest of the plant.

Right. She picked up her pace, not wanting to hold back her new traveling partner. She could sneak in more plants soon.

Robin's Energy: 0

Sosio: {36 - roll}

Items:

Sosio listened attentively to the crackle of growth under her feet, trying to discern her steps and the Vulpix's from any wild Pokemon that may be lurking nearby. Usually, when alone, the Fletchinder would simply fly, making it easier for her to notice when something was amiss, but this time she needed to be more focused than ever to ensure the two didn't end up ambushed or defeated. As they continued through the path, it was easy to notice that almost everything was completely covered in vines and other colorful plants. Unlike any of the flowers Sosio had familiarized herself with, these ones seemed dangerous or even ravenous, as if ready to defend themselves from any Pokemon who was looking for an easy snack. Bright purples and reds clouded the bird's vision, as thorns poked out this way and that while she cautiously tried to prevent her feathers from getting caught or torn off. Some plants released potent smells, while others seemed to bend and coil at the touch, as if trying to escape whatever might be nearby. Truly the forest was lively, as even the Pokemon living in it would not remain quiet for more than a moment. Cries and coos echoed through the treetops, like some primal language between the feral creatures that resided here.

The background noise was broken only by the sound of a familiar voice: the companion that Sosio had only just met, but already felt the need to protect. Her question resounded in the fire type's mind, as if not even she knew the answer.
"Well," she started, "I'm not even sure, if I'm being honest. I'd heard about the island, so naturally, I wanted to come and see what it was like with my own eyes!"
It may have not been a satisfactory answer or much of what Robin was expecting to hear, but it was definitely the full and absolute truth. Sosio acted on impulse at nearly every occasion she thought to make a decision, and things were no different this time around. Quite simply, she came here just for the heck of it.

"Maybe I would be interested in what items and treasures I could get my claws on, though... What brings you here?"
Sosio naturally pulled the focus away from herself. It wasn't that she disliked attention, which she very much loved, but she really did want to hear the story of the Pokemon she would be exploring with. Understanding someone you wish to travel with makes things much easier for both parties, in both communication and knowing what to do if the circumstances were to go awry. At that point, it might have well been the bird's nature to pick up information from others and utilize it to help them to the best of her abilities; it came to her as easily as walking. No doubt, she was built to be a social creature, and she was going to use that to make the most of her world.

aMEWzing carried out 5 launched of one Ancient Island :

, , , ,

That wasn't... exactly the answer that Robin was expecting. She wasn't sure if she was satisfied with it. Granted, her own motives could be explained as curiosity, an urge to explore the unknown. If someone was unfamiliar with the respect and rewards that doing such a thing would bring, at least. There was a hint of dark amusement to her smile as she walked onward, sparing a passing glance at the plants around them. If she weren't with the Fletchinder, she probably wouldn't have been making a very good pace.

"Me? I'm part of the Windrose Scouts." She was still a twinge embarrassed that she'd thought they were supposed to be secret. In hindsight, her lies about why she was off exploring had been... a tad flimsy. And yet, the words slipped from her involuntarily when she remembered the quiet admiration it had earned her before. "We're a little group that's investigating a few things. We're trying to learn about mystery dungeons and what makes them tick - why they change every time you enter them, for instance. Or odd rumors, like a place where you can stand on thin air, or a strange shape that blocks the sun, or a crop of rainbow trees..."

The hint of excitement in her voice was clear, and she walked a little faster, picking up her paws more than she had a few moments before. "Our leader's ultimate goal is to make a map of the world. I'm their newest member." She chimed, trailing after Sosio. If she had volunteered a bit more information than was strictly necessary... she hoped that could be excused. Most pokemon didn't like to hear her ramble on.

"... you remind me of a guild pokemon, you know." She mused instead, drawing on her own observations to turn the conversation back around. No one wanted to hear Robin talk about herself for hours on end, after all. "Helping people in need, exploring for it's own sake. Are you part of a guild? You're a model member, if you are."

Sosio: {36 - 13 = 23}

Items:

Sosio listened to the voice behind her carefully, while actively slashing down webs and vines in front of her to clear the duo's path, shaking her wing after to flick off anything that stuck uncomfortably to her feathers. The moment Robin mentioned a familiar organization, the bird twisted her head in surprise.
"Ah, Windrose!" she exclaimed. "I have a friend who works there. Be sure to say 'hi' for me if you see a ghost wandering the library," she teased lovingly, remembering the Misdreavus with a fondness in her heart. They had met long in the past but still talked occasionally about what each Pokemon had been up to. They were wildly different personalities and yet they still managed to get along, which encouraged the bird to further seek more friends, no matter how different they were from her. After all, kindness can come from the most unexpected Pokemon.

"What a goal, I wish you the best of luck on that map! Especially since I'll be exploring the world right there behind you," Sosio boldly declared, secretly hoping that even a wanderer like herself could tag along and provide help for one of the greatest organizations. Not that she wanted to join, of course, but to be a source of strength for the Pokemon that may need her temporary help was something she long-desired. Just as her thoughts were trailing toward her dream of becoming a guild member, she heard those very words that compared her to the job she wanted.

Though not visible from the outside, the Fletchinder's skin began to turn as red as her feathers, heating up not because of her flame sac, rather because of her rapidly-beating heart expressing how delighted she was to hear what was likely the highest possible compliment to her at the time.
"You... Really think so?" she turned to face the companion she knew for such little time, and yet already knew exactly how to make the bird blush. "Because that's exactly what I want to be..."
It lightened her heart to hear that she'd be perfect for the goal she sought so vigorously now. Wholly flattered, Sosio's feathers began to stand on end as she was visibly delighted to hear something like that from anyone.

While facing the Vulpix, a trace of movement caught Sosio's eye, immediately flattening her feathers and cocking her head to find what it could be. It appeared that some aquatic fossils had followed the two from the beach: a shelled squid, and a plant-like fossil that had attached itself onto the blue Pokemon's back. Giving the colorful surroundings of the forest and the constant noise, the Fletchinder might have never noticed if she hadn't turned to face her newest friend. Battle-ready, she hopped forward, her fiery gaze asking every question she wanted to know about why the explorers were followed. Meanwhile, the wild Pokemon had stopped in their tracks, surprised and guilty looks spreading to their faces once they made eye contact with Sosio. Rather than initiate battle, though, the opposing duo seemed frightened as they scrambled in an attempt to hide. Shocked by the encounter, Sosio lifted her head in confusion and continued to wonder what the other Pokemon might have wanted from the foreign females.

"You know Windrose?" Robin looked up, a faint, surprised smile crossing her face. "I haven't met anyone else yet who recognized it." Wasn't that an odd coincidence? Robin smiled, then. "I'm sure you'll be a big help! I'm not much of a fighter yet, so I really appreciate it." She'd already been saved once before, after all. She dipped her head once more in a silent gesture of gratitude. Then she picked up her pace and trailed after the bird Pokemon, her spirits clearly lifting as the compliment struck home.

She hadn't known just how highly she would take the compliment, but Robin still felt a bit of pride that her own observation had been accurate. "I'm sure you'll fit right in. After all, I barely know you, and I thought you might be one." She chimed with a cheerful tone and a wink. If that wasn't a sign that she was a natural fit, what was? Granted, it had been partially flattery that drove Robin to voice that thought in the first place. But that didn't take away from the fact that the guild was where Robin's mind went to, did it?

She couldn't help but smile. Seeing Sosio look so happy... it made her feel a bit better, too.

At least, until her feathers went flat, a harsh glare in those beady eyes. Had she done something to displease her? No, that wasn't it, she wasn't looking at her. Robin turned to look behind her with a quiet hum of confusion, catching the duo of fossil pokemon red-handed. With confusion written clear on her face, she walked slowly after them, a tilt of her head betraying her concern. Now, that had been weird. And they'd looked... guilty? That was hardly something she'd have expected from feral pokemon.

In any case, they didn't seem like a big threat. Perhaps trying to reason with them couldn't hurt? "Hey, don't worry. We're not gonna hurt you." Robin called, raising her voice high enough to be heard. They had darted into the bushes, but she couldn't pinpoint where they'd darted off to. She would have thought that the flashes of blue and purple would make them easy to find, but the plantlife was colorful enough that they blended in surprisingly well.

She nudged a bush aside, a note of curiosity leaking into her voice. "Did you guys need anything?" It was a dumb question, to be fair, but it was the more polite substitute of why were you following us? Unless they were after an easy meal, she supposed. She glanced back at Sosio in mild confusion, not truly expecting an answer from the two, nor for them to come out of hiding.

"That was weird..."

Sosio: {36 - 13 = 23}

Items:

Sosio nodded at the Vulpix's surprise, still facing forward and hiding a smile that spread across her eyes. The bird always greatly enjoyed feeling special in any way possible, so hearing someone who distinguished her abilities or even knowledge from a world full of Pokemon made the Fletchinder's heart flutter. Robin enabled her even further to say that the bird would be welcome to join in on journeys the fox may have to embark on in the future. Granted, those weren't her exact words, but Sosio's excitement was already pulling her thoughts ahead of herself, steaming forward in expectation for the grand future. As their conversation continued, the fire type couldn't possibly find herself more grateful for the company she had this time around. Utterly delighted, Sosio was entirely ready to push herself to new heights she never reached before, just to show gratitude for the Pokemon who helped her restore that excitement.

This carried over into her intense need to protect this fluffy friend, ready to jump immediately into battle at the sight of the stalking creatures behind them. However, instead of instantly initiating battle, the wild Pokemon seemed already terrified before any of the explorers got a word in. To no avail, Robin had tried to get an explanation out of the rock types, but they still fled without a word. Were they curious about these new tourists who had trespassed on their land? Or had they failed to plan an ambush attack after being noticed? Who could say, since Sosio knew nothing about the Pokemon here, but she recalled one who might.

"It certainly was weird, I'll tell you that," Sosio returned the comment, bewildered. "Speaking of, since you're from Windrose, do you know anything about the Pokemon living here? I'm wondering if that could explain their behavior..."
Before she could ponder the question any longer, the bird found herself in a clearing now. A roaring of water sang louder than rain or rivers as a small waterfall poured into a pond, surrounded by dark grey stones that formed a steep yet short cliff that the liquid jumped off of, embracing the crystal-clear spring below. This place seemed like the perfect sanctuary for creatures living on the island, yet why was the clearing devoid of life? Surely Pokemon would enjoy such a spot considering how tempted Sosio was to make the most of it, but it was definitely strange that nothing was here to tell the tale.

Dismissing the odd absence of organisms, Sosio trotted closer with curiosity buzzing in her mind. The tropical sun beat down once again on the Fletchinder's head, which had long been hidden under the foliage of the trees the two trekked under. Light glistened on the surface of the deep, casting reflections on the surroundings like a light show she had never seen before, having never been in an environment with water surrounded on all ends to make such a phenomenon possible.

Caught in her bewilderment for a while, Sosio finally uttered some words to her companion.
"Woah, check it out..." she spoke lowly, still captured by the beauty of the area. The place would make a great pit stop, that is, if nothing attacked them while they waited there. Carefree nonetheless, Sosio approached the water to dip a claw in or two, wanting to make the most of this vacation-like spot.

Robin's expression flickered into a frown, unsatisfied that her question hadn't been met with an answer. She should have expected as much, really. The two probably couldn't even talk. Something in her didn't like leaving a mystery like that unsolved, but what could be done about it? The two had vanished into the bushes, and most likely, they were long gone by now. A tad disappointed, Robin could only shake her head. "I don't know. I've never seen pokemon act like that before." She confessed, knowing how disappointing that answer would sound. She was far from pleased with it, herself. "And I have to admit that I don't know much about the island yet... anything I could think of would just be my best guesses."

She wasn't stupid. That was one of her few virtues, she thought in wry amusement. But she hadn't read on the island before coming here, not any more than the basics. In hindsight, she really should've, she mused. Still... wouldn't knowing everything ahead of time take the fun out of it? Or, worse, influence her own results? No, in reality, she was just trying to justify herself being lazy and not reading up. No point in deluding herself otherwise.

She perked her ears at the sound of running water, jostling her from her rather grim thoughts. Sosio's voice was low with awe, and Robin let out a quiet murmur of amazement herself. It really was beautiful here. She wished dearly that she had Alki with her to capture the sight, but as it stood, she could only manage a gentle smile, dipping her front paws in her water. "Wow." She muttered softly, her mouth hanging slightly agape as she watched the light reflect off of the water, giving the pond a beautiful gleam.

It was very nice, to have this place to themselves. She would have thought it would have been flooded with feral pokemon... perhaps this spot was under someone's guard? Whoever it was, hopefully they would never find out about their little rest spot. It wasn't as if they would stay for long anyways, right? Robin fished her last reviver seed out of her bag, crunching down on it with an audible snap. She felt a bit more energized as she swallowed the contents, shrugging off the slightly bitter taste. The last of her exhaustion from the shipwreck began to melt away, and Robin stretched her legs and back with a large yawn, shaking a few drops of saltwater from her fur.

"You know... this Lapras was ferrying me here, when I think something attacked him. I remember seeing red in the water, and... some kind of blade, I think, it was long and sharp and silver, and curved like a scythe." Robin's voice fell quiet for a moment. Those weren't pleasant memories, but she had a more immediate concern. "I hope that Lapras is okay."

Robin's Energy: 18
(+ 18, Reviver Seed)