Thread: A New Home (ZaWarudo and Inspirit)

The Lucario wouldn't even stir as he was fished out of the river, the battered figure offering no resistance as he was dragged back into the town. It would be obvious even from a glance that the last couple hours had not been kind to the Pokeboy. His clothing was torn and frayed, his body covered in an array of bruises and burns. What little breath he drew was ragged, and his heart seemed only moments from stopping altogether. In the hands of the gym leader how it wouldn't be long until improvements could be seen. After several hours had passed and his were both cleaned and bandaged the Lucario would look almost peaceful to an extent, chest gently rising and falling as he laid sprawled upon her bed. The dreams he dreamt during the healing process were chaotic, holding little rhyme or reason. The escape replayed itself by what felt like a thousand times, each time resulting in failure. Sometimes he wouldn't even get past the faculty's wall, other times they'd catch up with him in the forest and strike the Pokeboy right in the back. The worst were when he though he'd escaped, when his pursuers had long since fallen behind and sanctuary was only a couple of yards ahead. Even in those fate was cruel, his hopes always being dashed at the very last instant. Different as they might've been the message was always the same. No matter how hard he struggled there was no true escape. Cruel as it might've been there was no denying that the laboratory had been his life. Even if he did escape how could he expect to survive when he had not even a name? Flames licked at his body now, the Lucario's legs and limbs bound by something or other. A ring of fire surrounded him now, and through the flames came a face that had dogged the Pokeboy constantly. A Houndoom, the same one that had chased him relentlessly through the forest, stood impassively over the bound Pokeboy. Though he made no noise the Pokemon's lips moved, mouthing out a single phrase over and over. No escape. No escape. No escape. N- Agh...! With a jolt the Lucario's eyes snapped open, whatever calmness he might've shown vanishing in an instant as consciousness returned. He blinked several times, watching carefully as the room around him slowly came to focus. Mind slowly managing to pull itself out of its groggy funk, he'd come to several realizations. First of all was his own state. What felt like his entire body exuded a dull ache, sweat dribbling from his brow. Secondly, there was where he was. The thick forest had vanished, replaced instead by a room. A sharp contrast to the norm, it held a certain warmness to it that cells back at the facility very much lacked. The bed beneath him was surprisingly soft as well, the thick mattress feeling as though it was moments from swallowing him up. It was disconcerting to say the least. Thirdly, and most importantly, was the human standing over him. Almost immediately instinct would kick in. He'd move to lunge forward, though whether it was to make a break for it or go for the human even the Lucario wasn't entirely sure. Not like it particularly mattered. Ow, ow, ow... He was barely able to move even a couple of inches being a searing agony arched its way through the Lucario's form. Wincing sharply he'd fall back onto the bed with a faint thump, eyes sparkling with tears of pain as he struggled to regain himself. Slowly, but surely, sense would return. You're not them. His voice was weak, and the words seemed more for his own benefit than hers. Now that he said it out loud it felt almost obvious. Of course the woman wasn't Team Rocket, that was ridiculous. Not to mention- Craning his neck to the side he'd slowly uncurl his hand, glancing at the small stone resting upon his palm. The fall hadn't created a single scratch, the gem's shine as ever. He still had his stone. The woman probably didn't know what it even was. Lucky him. Turning his attention back towards the human, he'd fix her with a cautious look. She wasn't Team Rocket, but that didn't mean he felt much safer. Who are you? He'd asked, tone a bit brunt. Where am I? As he spoke the Lucario maneuvered himself, using his elbow to gently prop himself up.