Thread: A New Home (ZaWarudo and Inspirit)

Occasionally, when circumstances were just right and the planets aligned, there were fewer tourists and ambitious tamers about, which usually meant less gym battles in a day. Less gym battles meant free time, and free time was rare to come upon, even to enjoy the simple, menial activities in life like collecting oddly colored pebbles along the riverbank. Even swimming in the river was like a vacation for the gym leader's Pokmon team that rarely dunked their feet anywhere else but in the gym's battle pool. Today was one of those days that the bustling city was not-so-bustling for once, and the gym leader, Riven, closed the gym for maintenance. Two of her Pokgirls, a Milotic and Floatzel , were freed from the stuffy confines of their PokBalls to take a dip in the river, collect pebbles, and whatever their hearts desired. Arm in arm, the two Pokgirls set off, reaching their favorite bend of the river in a place few tamers and feral Pokmon ventured or even dared to roam due to the hazardous terrain. But, for the two Pokgirls, the formation of boulders that formed along the riverbank and the freshwater pool that collected at the mouth was a playground that didn't come short of paradise. Once the riverbank was in view, the Floatzel broke free of her older companion and leaped gracefully into the water with an overexcited squeal, barely wetting the Milotic's feet as she also slipped into the water with less of a flashy performance. It wasn't long, however, before the tranquility of playtime shattered, and the Floatzel resurfaced with a perplexed expression on her face. You hear that? she asked her teammate, wading over to the Milotic. I heard a splash. A big one. Probably a belly-flopper, love, the Milotic reassured as she took her usual spot by a smooth boulder to comb her silky tresses. Huh, you think so? I don't know, Nami, my gut's telling me something else, the Floatzel retorted, scrunching up her nose at the possible outcome of her gut telling her it was Team Rocket. She and her companions had plenty of run-ins with those thieves before, although the grunts and weak Pokboys hardly put up a worthy fight against the gym leader's Pokgirls. Still, Riven had warned them to be careful of their evil ploys, especially if they were too far from the city to be rescued should Team Rocket ambush in overwhelming numbers. Strength had never been the crime organization's forte, but they always had other cowardly methods of cheating the fight. Regardless of the threat, the two Pokgirls played without another care in the world the Floatzel swimming and the Milotic grooming herself. The silence didn't last long, however, before the Floatzel rushed to the Milotic's side, seizing her arm in a bruising grip. Nami, Nami! There's a dead body over there! the Floatzel frantically pointed to the opposite way the current flowed, and there it was a dead body. There had been a few drowning incidents in the past but none that were recent, since Pokmon that couldn't swim strayed from the riverbank. Despite her gruesome discovery, the Floatzel seemed more curious than she was terrified, and soon detached herself from the Milotic to wade over and examine the corpse at a closer distance. I think he's still alive, he doesn't look like a freakishly pale dead thing, she even prodded the slowly drifting Pokboy with a piece of driftwood and grabbed the hem of the Lucario's shirt, much to her teammate's disdain. Goodness, Rin, get your hands off of that thing, it might be infected! the Milotic scolded, although her chastising did little to prevent the Floatzel from dragging the drifter ashore. Immediately, the Floatzel pressed her ear to his chest and heard a steady heartbeat, although it was too slow for it to be a positive sign. Nami, he's alive, we should bring him back to Riven, Rin suggested with a pout. Help me carry him. The Milotic hesitantly helped her partner load the unconscious Lucario onto the Floatzel's back, just before the two heard shouting and branches snapping nearby. Something, or someone, was chasing them, and the two knew better than to wait for whatever danger lurked beyond the foliage. Go on, the Milotic whispered, guarding the Floatzel's flank as they wove their way through the familiar off-road path. I'll keep an eye out. When the two Pokgirls brought the injured Lucario to Riven, the gym leader immediately brought him under her intensive treatment, nursing him for hours in the comforts of her own bedroom. It was odd, according to her knowledge of indigenous Pokmon, to spot a Lucario living so far from his natural habitation. His injuries showed signs of a ruthless battle, which explained why such a fighter must have been too exhausted to swim against the river's current. Otherwise, the Lucario couldn't have drowned itself, just because. The gym leader was surprisingly calm when her Pokgirls explained the splash and their hidden perpetrators, finishing the ribbon of the last bandage. Nearly half of the Pokboy's body and face was covered in some kind of ointment or bandage, most of them burns that she had healed with the few Burn Heals she kept in supply. When injured Pokmon were denied at the PokCenter simply for being unowned, Riven opened the doors to her own bedroom to nurse the unwanted strays back to optimal health. This Lucario, on the other hand, did he have a tamer? Did you find anything else on him, Rin? Riven asked her Floatzel. An identification card? A tracking bracelet? A collar? The Floatzel stood awkwardly at the door with the most uncomfortable smile on her face, rapidly shaking her head to Riven's prying question. N-No, of course not! Just him. Yup, just this guy, floating down the river... hehe... Rin. Rin sighed and opened her hand to reveal the Mega Stone. He dropped this shiny pebble. Can I keep it, pleaaaaase ? the Floatzel pleaded, only to have the stone confiscated and returned to the unconscious Lucario's hand. She puffed out her cheeks in defeat. That pebble was the prettiest she saw yet, and somehow, someway, she was going to have it for her collection!