Out On My Own [mod]

[Angelique Preston]

roses in december

The day dawned with mist.

It wasn't a thick layer which coated everything, but the moisture in the air and the heat that was predicted to come with the day made it almost stifling. Angie frowned as she peeked out her window, an index finger lifting to rub at the tip of her nose. Her allergies always messed up with weather like this and she could already feel the pressure centering under her eyes and around the bridge of her nose. For a moment, the thought of staying here another day poked at her brain.

A mental shove was all that she needed in order for the thought to retreat. She had wasted enough time here, a full day really, and prolonging the trip was...idiotic. She wanted to learn, to help the humans master this strange planet with its strange creatures and strange flora and fauna. She wasn't going to be able to do any of that if she stayed in her hut, scared to venture outside the settlement walls for fear of everything unknown. What kind of researcher would she be?

Angie let the curtain fall, blocking out the wispy threads of sunlight that tried to peek through the overhanging gray clouds. Her silver eyes locked on the red and white pokeball on her dining room table. She and Audino had sat up for a night merely staring at one another. Angelique didn't know what to say to the creature or even if said creature would understand her. It was best to merely...observe, right? Besides, she's know if there was another out there that wasn't normal...right?

It was the lie she told herself.

Shaking her head, she gathered up the pokeball and the egg and her backpack. She was unsure where the egg had come from. Having found it on her doorstep when she returned from her meeting with the Ambassador, common sense said not to fry it up for breakfast the next day. How she was supposed to hatch it was anyone's guess and while she saw it as a challenge, one she was more than ready to meet and overcome, taking it with her on that long trek to New Pallet was...well, it was asking a lot.

But she couldn't just leave it here to rot while she was away.

So it came with her and she hoped, as she stepped out the door, that she was doing the right thing, all things considered.

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[Jenn]

By the time Angelique was on the winding path, the mist had cleared and the morning sun shone brightly on the main trail, with the city behind her. The dry dusty trail lived up to its name, it winded well ahead and through a few small grassy hills. It was also littered with pot holes, if she didn’t watch her step Angelique might fall in one or two during her journey.

Several pokemon were running about, completing their morning routines of foraging for food near the bushes at the edge of the trail. None stayed for too long for Angelique to study them properly as they would dash deep into the brush if she loomed to close.

A rustle from a bush near Angelique revealed a pair of Nincada, one much smaller than the other, that started making their way slowly across the trail. They passed by Angelique, taking no notice of the trainer, clearly this pair was used to humans being around. The larger of the two made sure that the smaller was following them and had to stop often. The action seemed almost maternal.

“KWAAH!” Up from above a blur of brown feathers! The larger of the two pokemon was knocked on their side. Would Angelique interfere to defend the family? Or would she sit back and watch nature run its course.

	NINCADA (x2)
	Lv. 1-2	No Mutations Observed

	MURKROW
	Lv. 2	No Mutations Observed

[Angelique Preston]

roses in december

There was little info available on the parenting nature of insects. Most believed that they lay their eggs and then let mother nature take its course. And since there was nothing to refute this thus far, many believed it true. How fortunate Angie was to see actual Nincada go against what she and the rest of society thought to be true. Kneeling, she grinned as she held the egg close to her chest, her breath held as well in order not to disturb the family.

It wasn't she who would break the peaceful scene, but a Murkrow instead. The flying-type divebombed from no where that Angelique could have seen, toppling the mother onto her side. Seagreen eyes darted away from the smaller insect-pokemon, zeroing in on the Murkrow instead. She grabbed for her Audino's pokeball, thinking that she would teach this bird a lesson. Even if this was the circle of life in action, well, Angie felt she had to step in.

The pink pokemon appeared in a flash of light, looking midly confused as to why she had been summoned.

The Murkrow, Angie said, pointing to the figure in the sky. Let's bring it down!

The Audino nodded her head, her hands flexing as she whispered a word to the wind. The mist that had departed early quickly rolled in, covering the ground, specifically the Nincada family. Turning, she tried to get a bead on the Murkrow in order to open her mouth and drowsily yawn at the attacker.

Audino uses Misty Terrain!

Audino uses Yawn on Murkrow!

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[Olive]

As the mist rolled in, the Nincada family was covered and hidden. Sounds of both confusion and irritation came from the predator as its lunch vanished beneath the fog. Really? The one day it decided to leave its home in search of a tastier morsel this cloud of mist had to show up? Murkrow was used to feasting on earthworms and leftover human food in Port City, so finding a much larger bug was a treat for it.

I swooped back towards the ground, only to fly into the Audino's field of vision. What was that thing? The creature's yawn brought the same to the dark bird. This must've been the creature that brought in the mist! That's why it lost its lunch!

A growl came from the drowsy bird as it flew forward towards the Audino. Its beak glowed with a dark energy. You want a fight? Well here it is!

---

Murkrow used Pursuit!

[Angelique Preston]

roses in december

Audino didn't look scared at all. It was the first thing that Angie noticed about her...uh, what were they called. Starter pokemon? Starter comrade? Something like that. Whereas Angie was almost sick to her stomach with nerves, the thought of her one and only pokemon fainting in battle making her stomach turn, Audino stood like a battle herald on the front lines. Seeing her in action was even a little inspiring, if Angelique was completely honest. She could see why people took up pokemon training on the old world for sport and as a pastime.

A wave of dark energy propelled the bird forward, the connection between shoulder and neck catching the Audino in the midsection. The girl couldn't help but squeak as the crow bowled into her Audino, the pursuit hitting home. She watched, almost helplessly, as the Audino wiggled back and forth on the ground, trying to dodge the pesky beak that chased after her.

Defend yourself! Angie encouraged from the sidelines, but without actually knowing the Audino's moveset, she wasn't sure how much help she was actually being. Her seagreen eyes scoured the ground, trying to find the two insects they were trying to protect, but the mist was protecting them. Good, Angie thought, turning her attention back to the fight at hand.

A tiny smile crossed her lips when she saw the Audino curl a tiny hand into a fist and aim for the head of the Murkrow.

Audino is hit by pursuit!
Audino uses pound!

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[Olive]

One unwary crow was struck so unexpectedly that it didn't even have a chance to sound before being knocked to the fairy-powdered ground. Its drowsy red eyes darted around the mist to try and find some trace of its attacker. Murkrow let out another yawn, normally by this time the yawn would've taken effect, but being knocked into Audino's Misty Terrain seemed to delay the effects.

With a huff, the Feral returned back to its feet and gave a little shake. There was no way it was going to let that pink blob ruin its special lunch date!

Its tiny ears piqued. Soft scrunching sounds were heard near the bird. Ahh... there they were. Two little hops, and grab! The bird had the smaller bug now in its grasp, but it could feel its eyelids growing heavy. Maybe if it just stayed in the mist for awhile longer..

Murkrow hopped its way towards Port City with bug in beak. From behind, the bird heard as the mother squeaked out worried cries as it searched for its child. Just as the Feral felt it was almost home free, it bumped into something and accidentally dropped the Nincada, who proceeded to crawl up... whatever it was...

Oh. It was Angelique's leg! 

With an irritated caw, Murkrow began to prick the girl's foot with its beak. Such an exciting adventure!

[Angelique Preston]

roses in december

Audino widened her stance, amazed at the Murkrow was still up after all this time. She wasn't taking into account the mist that swirled around her legs and pressed against her haunches, a cool reminder in the heat of the early morning. It worked for hiding things, but it also was helping the Murkrow stay alert and active. Yawn wouldn't activate until the damn thing left the mist, but Audino was too pressed to realize that at the moment. The most she wanted was to get this bird away from the insects and her human if possible.

Huh, she thought with a blink as the Murkrow righted itself. When had she started considering Angelique her human. She had hardly known the girl longer than...what, two hours? If that?

A squeak of surprise was the only sound that the Audino could release as the Murkrow found the tiny morsel that he was hunting after. She made to dive for the bird, grab onto a wing or a talon or something, but came up short, her stubby arms not long enough to ground the winged creature. Luckily for the human-pokemon pair, the Murkrow didn't seem as able-minded as he might've been had he not been in a battle with the Audino. Slamming into Angie's leg, causing the girl to squeak and twitch the leg away from her only added to the confusion.

It wasn't that Angie had a bug phobia or anything, she really didn't, but tiny scrabbly legs calling up her leg and dress was, well, unwelcomed! She turned in a quick circle, hopping from one leg to the other, shaking whichever she wasn't balancing on in an effort to get the Nincada off of her. She wasn't some place that it could use as a resting spot!

Audino, help! Angie called out, her balance tipping completely over once the Murkrow turned his attention to her. She fell onto her bum, her arms clamped around the egg that she still carried, the hard contour of the shell pushed into her bosom.

Audino was at something of a loss. She wasn't sure how, if at all, she could get this bird away from the party at hand. Narrowing her blue eyes, she charged forward, fully intending on tackling the Murkrow if possible.

Audino uses improvised charge(?)!
Audino uses pound!

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[Olive]

Thanks to Audino being a good three times the size of the bird, the charge easily knocked the Feral out of the mist. Squawks piped from the Pokemon as it bounced across the ground before finally sliding into a splayed position with its wings spread out. Red eyes fought to stay open, but to no avail. A yawn crept from the bird's beak as it stared into the Domestic's eyes before finally being forced into a nap.

Unfortunately for Angelique, the fall of the baby's predator did not subdue its terror. It quickly scuttled its way towards the girl's shoulder and nested itself in her hair.

Meanwhile, in the midst of the fog, the Mamacada's cries grew weaker until they ultimately disappeared with a crunching sound that resembled that of digging. Perhaps she had given up and decided to just give in and go home?

If the mist were to clear, the trainer would be able to see a small hole, probably big enough to stick her foot through, but there were other, larger potholes nearby if the trainer wanted to take her chances and return the baby. Or she could not, and just continue on her way to New Pallet. The choice was hers.

---

Murkrow fell asleep!

[Angelique Preston]

roses in december

Angelique was sitting very, very still. Her silver eyes were pinched closed, her bottom lip had fled between her teeth so that she could nibble on it, and her legs had tucked against her body into the Lotus position. The egg was crowded against her front, pressed hard enough that if she were to remove it, there would surely be an indentation there on her dress. She wheezed through her nostrils, the flush along her cheeks and throat explaining how uncomfortable she was.

She could feel the baby insect resting nearest her earlobe, sheltered under the thick alabaster curtain of her hair. She didn't understand why this was; wouldn't it have been easier to dig a hole and hide that way? Wouldn't it want to be closer to the ground, to find its mother and go off on its merry way without any interruption from Angie and her pokemon? Maybe the pokemon was...different; different in the same manner that some humans are different from one another, able to experience the world through a specific lens. Her right eye peeked opened at the thought and the idea of researching such a thing.

The pink pokemon waved her arms, the mist clearing without so much as a single dip of hesitation. The potholes were clearly seen and while they intrigued Audino, when she turned her blue eyes to the human whom had picked her, she noticed something very wrong. Well, besides the fact that Angie's heart was beating six miles a minute, the aura of distress that washed through her was almost overpowering. Audino didn't really understand, but she crept closer nonetheless.

Help, Angie mouthed, her spine ramrod straight, her fingers gripping the cool shell of the egg with enough strength that her fingerprints could very likely still be there if she ever dropped the damned thing.

A stout nod was all the indication that Audino gave before she pointed at the sleeping Murkrow. Angie lifted a brow in confusion, her eyes petering over to the avian creature.

Do...do you think we should? she whispered. She didn't know why she was whispering, but she was.

Audino nodded. In response, Miss Preston slowly fitted the egg within the dip between her legs, her body shifting as she pulled the back straps from her shoulders. Unzipping one portion of the bag, she pulled out a pokeball and lobbed it at the sleeping bird. She had no idea if she was doing this right at all, but stories from the survivors who often went outside the settlements gave her as good a mental picture as any.

What about this thing? she asked her partner, her hand pointing to the shoulder where she could feel the Nincada resting still. Can you find its mother? Surely, she wants it back...

Hesitation crept over Audino's feature. She didn't know enough about wild pokemon to assume that they would leave their children or wage a war to get them back if they disappeared. However, this mother had disappeared and seemingly left the job of upbringing to these two. Perhaps just keeping it and moving on would've been a better idea. Yet, Angie had asked her to do a thing, and so the thing she would do.

Studiously, she began to peek into the potholes, leaning forward and calling into them to see if there was a reply.

Capture attempt on Murkrow!

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[Olive]

1 Shake... 2 Shakes..... 3 Shakes........

-Ding-

The device chimed as the slumbering Murkrow was captured inside. Well that was one battle put to rest, but near the holes...

After awhile of Audino doing the thing, she finally heard skitters from the hole. Presumably from the mama-cada. Ah! The little bug finally began to scuttle its way back to the surface - wait. What was that? A flash of gray? Silver maybe? Bombastic clatters and squeals could be heard below. The baby bug on Angelique's shoulder began to squirm worriedly. What was going on in there..?

Within a few moments, the sound stopped. Mamacada scuttled to the surface in one piece. She tipped her head at the baby who rested on the trainer and released a flutter. Something a coo was its response as it crawled back to the ground and made its way towards its mother.



The hole that the mother used both as an escape and entrance suddenly began to rumble, then rupture. Audino could see cracks form as the earth began to bulge up as if something was ramming into it. The baby Nincada stopped in its tracks as a creature burst from the hole. Its hostile red eyes glared above the baby's mother before it clamped onto the bug and devoured her with a sharp and grotesque crunch.

The Pokemon enjoyed its meal for a few moments more before it eyed the remaining bug. Its body gleamed in the sun as it hunkered down and prepared to scuttle its way to the next target. Audino was close enough to the creature to stop it, but the Pokemon looked quite strong, and didn't even give the onlookers an acknowledgement. If they interfered, they'd likely have to run afterwards.

---

Who's That Pokemon?? 
- For 1 Finder SP

Murkrow was caught! You may choose its name, ability, gender, and personality.

Audino gains 5 EXP!