Not Lost [Open] Just Exploring

[Tala Wolfang]

Although she had never been uncomfortable no matter what her surroundings, the tall skyscrapers and large cities of Unova were starting to make Tala feel claustrophobic. Castelia City, she already decided, was not her favorite place in the region.

"I'm starting to miss Hoenn's and Sinnoh's forests," the young woman murmured. Her companion, a Grovyle that stuck right by her side lest they be separated from the crowds, nodded in agreement. Tala pointed out a vender selling Castelia Cones and said in exasperation, "Didn't we already pass him?"

The Grovyle had no response, and Tala sighed before tugging her Pokemon along. If anything, perhaps the pair could find the Pokemon Center so she could withdraw one of her Flyers out of the PC. "Sheesh, it's not like this is our first time here... Where is the exit to this city--?"

"Hey, kid!"

A tanned man with an athletic physique stepped in front of Tala and her Pokemon, eying her Grovyle in a way that made the Grass-type lean back toward his trainer and grant the man a "Are you crazy?" expression.

"Whatever you're selling, I'm not buyin'." Tala tried to sidestep the man, but he just laughed.

"No, ya got me all wrong," he said. "I was just admiring your Pokemon, it's one that's not native around here. Wanna battle?"

Tala glanced at her Grovyle and then at the crowded street. With a shrug, she smiled and said, "Sure." At least battling was familiar. "Pick a style. I'm up for anything."

"How about a quick double battle?" her opponent suggested. "Just two Pokemon each. Winner is the one who makes the other two faint first."

Tala nodded and stepped back, allowing the young man to yell at everyone else that a Pokemon battle was going to happen and it wouldn't be either of their faults if bystanders got hurt. The presence of his Krokorok and Darumaka emerging from their pokeballs helped his words. With a nod to her Grovyle, Tala allowed the Grass-type to join in the battle and threw out one of her own Pokeballs. "C'mon out, Mona."

A Gardevoir appeared next to her companion in the makeshift battle ring, and regarded her opponents with a steely gaze. Whereas she stood still, waiting patiently for an order, the Grovyle lightly bounced on his toes, keeping agile for the battle.

It didn't take long for the battle to erupt. "Krokorok, Crunch on the Gardevoir! Darumaka, Fire Punch on the Grovyle!"

"Switch it up with Agility, Trek," Tala said. "Mona, Psychic."

It was apparent to onlookers that the Grovyle's best attribute was his speed. He had intercepted and knocked the Krokorok away from his teammate while Mona's Psychic attack hit the Darumaka, making the Fire-type wince and miss Trek with his Fire Punch. Krokorok and Darumaka attempted their attacks again, this time ignoring the obvious type advantages and attacking their closer opponents.

Krokorok's Crunch caught hold of one of Trek's arms, while the Darumaka's Fire Punch grazed Mona in the side. Trek retaliated with a swipe of a Leaf Blade attack from his free hand, and Mona caught the Darumaka with a Hypnosis attack. The corner of Tala's mouth twitched in a small smile as she heard her opponent curse.

"Trek, Slam," Tala commanded, watching her Grovyle break free of the Crunch attack. Trek leaped up as Tala said, "Mona, Shock Wave."

Mona's body crackled with electricity before a surge of power rippled out from her, smashing into the Darumaka and Krokorok. The Fire-type gave a shuddering breath and woke only long enough to give out a cry before fainting. The electricity didn't phase the Krokorok at all, it being part Ground-type, and it glared at Mona before advancing on the Gardevoir.

It didn't get very far before being knocked to the ground with Trek's Slam attack. With one last Leaf Blade from the Grovyle, the Krokorok was down for the count.

"Excellent," Tala praised her Pokemon before returning her Gardevoir. She used a potion on Trek as her opponent returned his fainted Pokemon.

"You're not a kid, are ya?" the man said with a crooked grin. Tala returned the smile and shook her head.

"Haven't been one for a while," she said. "Thanks for the battle."

"No, thank you."

[/b] With a deep nod, the man disappeared back into the city crowd.

Tala sighed contently, feeling better after the battle, and nudged her Pokemon. "Well, c'mon, then," she said to Trek. "Let's see how long it takes for us to get out of here."[/blockquote][/size]

[Snow Hakamuderi]

Snow followed Soul, listening to overwhelming sounds of the Unova city. "I guess you don't like it here, either, huh, Soul?" Snow said as Soul, her trusty shiny Umbreon, bristled beside her. Snow winced as the long gash on her arm was scraped by the rough coat of someone passing by her. She began to silently cry, and felt Soul press against her leg for comfort. She reached down to pet his soft fur. Some type of flying Pokemon gave a loud alarm call, then fell abruptly silent.

__________

Soul walked with Snow at her heels, keeping her in line. A teardrop fell on his fur and he looked up, and realized that she had begun to cry. He pressed against her leg comfortingly, and gave a small 'purr'(if you could call it that) as she pet his fur. Why wasn't I protecting her? How did I let her cut her arm? Neither of these questions Soul could answer.

__________

Snow walked on, unaware that the man was following her. "Hey, kid." Snow stopped, and looked back. "What do you want, sir?" she asked. He simply responded that he wanted a Pokemon battle, and Snow quickly refused. The man must have gotten angry that she wouldn't battle him, because he walked away saying, "What a pity." Snow was convinced that the man was weird, and walked on. Soul stopped, and she stopped too. She crouched down and whispered to him, "What do you see, Soul? Is it something dangerous?" Soul tightened his grip on her semi-coat.

[Tala Wolfang]

"This is ridiculous..."

Tala had taken to muttering to herself, much to her Grovyle's chagrin. Trek nudged his trainer to keep her focused, and she turned to give him a wary stare before the pair moved over to the sidewalk. "Yeah, yeah, yeah... I know, it won't help for me to get too annoyed at this place. Still, it would be helpful for tourists if there were giant neon arrows pointing out the exits of the city!"

Trek rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, waiting for his trainer to take the lead. Tala, after a moment, threw out one of her pokeballs. "Fang, c'mon out!" A Crobat emerged in the sky (startling some passerbys, much to the amusement of the trainer and her Pokemon), yawning, but seemingly awake enough to focus on Tala. "Think you can fly around and find the exit to this city?"

Fang blinked and glanced at Trek, whom just shrugged. With a few chirps of his name (which sounded suspiciously like laughter at them being lost to Tala), Fang took to the sky. The Crobat looked around, finding several exits from the large city. Memorizing one such route, Fang was about to fly back and report to Tala and Trek, but his sharp eyes spotted something else as well.

There was an Umbreon in the crowd, one with abnormal colors. The bright blue fur was what caught Fang's attention and usually he wouldn't give the other Pokemon a second glance, but the Umbreon and his trainer didn't seem like they were too comfortable in the city either. With that thought, Fang returned to Tala.

"I found the ridiculously-easy-to-find exits," Fang said, his words just sounding like syllables of his species' name. Trek rolled hsi eyes. "There was also another trainer, a young one it seemed, with an Umbreon who could probably use some help too."

Tala, although not being fluent in Poke-speak, understood the gist of her Crobat's words and gestures into the crowd. Trusting him, all she said was, "Lead on."

Following the violet wings of Fang, Tala and her Grovyle dived back into the crowd. It didn't take too long until the trio caught up with a young girl and her Umbreon. The first thing Tala noticed was the gash on the girl's arm, and she automatically became worried and suspicious. The second thing Tala saw was the girl's sightless blue eyes.

"Excuse me..." Tala said, trying to catch the girl's attention, but staying a decent distance away so as to not startle the Umbreon. "Are you alright? Your arm looks as if it could use a good cleaning... Or a band-aid..."

To the Umbreon, Trek nodded. "You two looking for the exit, too?"

[Snow Hakamuderi]

Snow turned, and though she couldn't see the one who had spoken, the eyes drilled into her, and she found it uncomfortable. "Uh..yeah...a way out.."

_______

Soul quickly answered the other Pokemon's question. "Yes! We've been lost for days in this stupid city." It was true.

________

Snow nodded with the other question, and quickly unhooked a disinfectant she had been using on the wound since yesterday. She sprayed it on, though no one else seemed to take notice. Soul seemed content with talking the other Pokemon, so she let him be. Regarding the girl who had spoken before, she asked, "I'm Snow, who are you?" Soul jumped up onto her shoulder as she talked, making her step back a pace as so not to fall backwards. She reached a delicate hand up and pet his head. Whispering, she asked Soul, "When are you going to stop trying to make me fall over?" though she said it a bit loudly. Soul's only reply was to jump on top of her head, and sit down as if he had a right to be there. Snow picked him off and placed him on the ground, where he jumped right back up onto her shoulder. Snow sighed.