The town of Maren

"That's a wonderful idea." Grace muttered vaguely turning his head in her direction. He didn't see what he got out of the alliance, for he was already full and could offer his own protection. Sadly he didn't think he would be able to say the same about the Vulpix so he decided to stay with him. He thought briefly on correcting the Vulpix about his name. He was an Umbreon, his name was Grace. Whatever, he could handle the inconvenience until he saw how beneficial this alliance would be to him. Until then he would keep his personal information personal.

He let her take the lead as he started to scan the area for other Pokemon while she scanned for food.

After many lessons of knowing names, and species they managed to form an aliance.

Vulpix for some reason thinks Grace really thought Vulpix was a girl, BUT VULPIX IS A BOY!!!!! At least he's trying to deciever the difference He thought.
With a rumbled tummy Vulpix smelled the air, BINGO!!!!!

"Grace I smell a bush full of Berries."

He decides to creeps toward the smell quietly

"We have to see if the cost is clear, bug pokemon are good at ambushes." When they got closer they saw a Butterfree, and a Mankey.

"Okay there pokemon over there, let me go to them and try to see what they're up to. Then I'll come back to let you know the circumstances. Ok"

"Okay." he responded. He had no problem with letting him call the shots as long as they made sense.

He watched as Vulpix strode up to the Pokemon looking cheery as ever. He watched the Mankey and Butterfree for any hostile movement and began planning out battle strategies. He was almost certain it would come to a battle because he had not once met a mankey who wasn't looking for a fight.

Vulpix walks up to the pokemon. The Mankey looked agitated, and the Butterfree looked nervouse.
Vulpix started saying "Hey how are ya'll"
Mankey started jumping and yelling like a Mankey would, "Agitated, I own this section of the forest, and this butterfree is trying to take my berry bush"
Butterfree shivered and said, "But I'm weak and need some berries, please let me have some-" "NOOOO" Mankey shouted
"Um, can I have a suggestion if it helps." They both stared at Vulpix. "What is it" They said.
"Well, why not give Butterfree the berries, and you Mankey get a berry and plant another bush. Because if you have two bushes you'll be able to have more berries. And I'll go back over there so you'll think about, then let me know what you decide. Okay"
They both stared and finally said "Ok, but if you trick us you'll pay"
Vulpix went back to Grace with a sweat drop on his head, and told him what's going on

Grace rolled her eyes at Vulpix's peaceful solution. Sure it stopped the two now but eventually the mankey would want more. Then of course he would pester the Butterfree for it's berry bush back. Mankey's were also impatient and a bush would take forever to grow. Besides the butterfree hardly needed an entire bush. No it would never work.

Without responding to Vulpix he walked confidently up between the two pokemon.
"Hey!" umbreon yelled and the pokemon stopped what they were doing to look at him. He walked up to the bush and tore off a branch with his jaws. He ignored the others reactions and tossed it under the butterfree.
"If your only hungry now, you don't need a whole bush." he said to the Butterfree. It seemed almost reluctant to take it but Grace just turned to the mankey.
"Got a problem with that?" He asked the mankey squinting his eyes. They both glared at each other until eventually the mankey relented and turned away.
"Don't think that you can intimidate me, umbreon!" The mankey screeched at him before running off.
Grace stared after the mankey but after a moment just shrugged it off. He was probably just hot air. He nodded to the butterfree before walking back to sit by Vulpix.
"Where next?" he asked wondering if her next choice would be as interesting as this one.

Vulpix looked at amazment on Grace's intimidation, Vulpix doesn't do that unless it's needed.
As Vulpix thought about what Grace asked, he replies "Well I'm sort of exploring this forest, but also want to get out too...ah...ah....achoo."
A flare came from Vulpix only a little, and grinned "hahahaha, I'm glad it didn't started a forest fire. Otherwise were in trouble."
Vulpix looked at Grace, still curious about what Vulpix parents told him the story about Umbereons.
"Um Grace, when I was a cub, my parent's told me a story about Umbreons. But I there's something I forgot about the story, it was something they did heroicly, or something. Do you know any such stories?"

Grace allowed herself to smile at the small flame came from Vulpix.
"I'm glad it didn't started a forest fire. Otherwise were in trouble."
Grace nodded and kept the smile on his lips. It was nice to smile every now and then especially since he so seldom did it.
"Um Grace, when I was a cub, my parent's told me a story about Umbreons. But I there's something I forgot about the story, it was something they did heroicly, or something. Do you know any such stories?" Vulpix asked him

Grace stopped walking and sat down on the spot. Vulpix had certainly earned his trust but Grace was still wondering whether to divulge personal information. He turned and looked at his genuinly curious face and decided that he could spare an answer.
"No. I wasn't raised up to be an Umbreon." He chuckled remembering back to his Eevee days and how he was almost an espeon. "But if you remember make sure you tell me."

"Yes sir! It's a promise, and when I make a promise I keep it no matter what. If we get separated I'll try to find you." Vulpix did a solute, and a facial expression as if he was in the army.

After his solute, Vulpix took his Bandana, and made sure it was nice and clean. After inspecting it he put it right back on.

Then he beamed up with a business look on his face, and sat in front of Grace; which usually means this is a time to get serious.
"Alrighty, first off we been in this forest and have no idea who or what is in here. It's our job to find out what we're up against, who we can trust as friends, and who we can lable as a Big Fat Bully. Secondly, we need to make sure we know our way around the forest, finding places that are safe to go through, or places that are dangerous. Do you have any thoughts on this Grace?"

"Okay, then." he said surpressing a smile. Vulpix would certainly keep him interested. He watched as Vulpix took his bandana and inspected it along the ground. He cocked his head in confusion. Vulpix was a wild pokemon. Why would he chose to dress himself like a human? Oh well, he had already decided that Vulpix was odd so this was just another thing on the list.

He was about to ask him about it when he turned to him seriously.
"Alrighty, first off we've been in this forest and have no idea who or what is in here. It's our job to find out what we're up against, who we can trust as friends, and who we can lable as a Big Fat Bully. Secondly, we need to make sure we know our way around the forest, finding places that are safe to go through, or places that are dangerous. Do you have any thoughts on this Grace?"

Grace lowered his head to think before coming up with his answer. "Well I'm pretty sure we've -or rather i've- made enemies of the mankeys but if we tried I guess we could make friends with the Butterfree back there." A small pause "But your right, first we should figure out the forest. I say that we should find somewhere to camp. Somewhere we can keep food and somewhere we know is safe to sleep. Once we have that we can fan out from there. And in the process we're bound to meet some more pokemon."

Vulpix took Gace's thoughts into concenderation, "Yes our camp needs to be a place that only you and me know, and trusted pokemon too. But before we begin finding it, we need to make sure it's a place where no pokemon knows of it's existence. Because if they did, they'll probably steal stuff that we already have; especially a Mankey." As Vulpix says Mankey, he started to shiver. Vulpix had never seen a Mankey he didn't liked. "So, should we begin now?" with a gleam of kidish happiness.

"Yes." he said glad to see his playful face again.

As he walked with Vulpix he wondered where they could make this secret base. Nowhere they had passed so far had struck him as desolate or hidden from other pokemon. But still he kept his eyes open for anything that might fit.
While they searched he decided that now was as good a time as any to ask his question.
"Why do you wear that? the bandana- I mean." He asked while searching a hole by a tree. Wouldn't work he could smell diglet at the edges of the cave.

As Vulpix walked, he heard a question that gave him a heart warming smile. After being sentimental he began to answer Grace's question as he looked at his bandana.

"Well, Grace, it's about a story that changed my view on humans. When I was young, leaving my parent's den; I gone exploring the world that I'll eventually be a part of. As I was traveling people really didn't take notice of me, and if they did, well lets say it didn't end very well. Because of this, it gave me the impression that humans don't really need me, nor care about me. Until one day, as I was playing on a branch near a rushing river, I slipped and fell. It seemed like 15 min. have passed, and I was soaking wet; which isn't good for a fire pokemon. Anyways, a hand had picked me up from the river, as I looked up, it was a human. It took me a minute to realise he's different from the others I met; he was kind, caring, and heartwarming. He kept me for a few days, so I can regain my strength. Then after my last day, when I was ready to leave, the human gave me a blue bandana. It was nicest thing that anyone had done for me. And so with a happy smile, I left him, knowing that somewhere in this world they're people like him."

As he told his story, Vulpix started to tear up a little bit with a heart warming smile still on his face. He looked up at Grace, with a grin and said, "Well that's the story of 'Vulpix and the Bandana', I'm glad you asked me. Usually other pokemon call me an OCD Humans Freak, I still have no idea what that means though."

Grace lifted his head out of the hole and watched Vulpix tell her story. It amazed him how quickly Vulpix changed emotions. In the short time he'd known him he'd gone from happy to serious to happy and then sentimental.

"And thank you for telling me." Grace responded before going back to his search. He wondered if he would ever be able to tell his own stroy with such ease. It was the complete opposite of Vulpix's story; tearing him away from humans instead of making him like them.

He walked ahead through a copse of bushes and before his eyes was a cave. Perfect he thought before walking up to inspect it further. It was probably bigger than what they needed and he could hear Zubat screeching inside. They won't be much of a problem he thought and was about to pounce forward when he stopped himself. Bah, he had a partner now. He couldn't just charge in. He turned around and it seemed as though the Zubat's screeches were now laughing at him.
"HaHa cowardly umbreon!" came the Zubat chorus
"I'll be back for you later." He hissed back before turning back to Vulpix.
"Hey, I found something."

As Vulpix wondered around, Grace called him, "Hey I found something."

Vulpix ran to Grace very happily, then stops. "WOW A CAVE!!!!" but suddenly he here's a colony of Zubats, this made Vulpix worried. He looks up at Grace, then to the cave. And finally he gathered his courage, and yelled at the cave, "ALRIGHT YOU ZUBATS, WE'RE COMMING IN!!!!!!" And with that his nose flared up with excitement. You can here the Zubats screeching with excitement that either means bad news, amuzment, or joy.

"Shall we Grace?"

"With pleasure." Grace responded with mischeivious smile. He wasn''t quite sure whether Vulpix wanted to make friends of the Zubat's or fight them but Grace knew what he wanted to do.
Next thing he knew he was inside the gave using bite on every Zubat that came close. His night vision easily picked out Zubat's that tried to send in a bite of their own. In the same way his now glowing rings picked him out as a target in the dark cave. Every now and then he would see a spout of flame to remind him that Vulpix was fighting too. He stayed one step ahead of the Zubat while still matching bite for bite and confuse ray for confuse ray. Eventually the Zubat decided they couldn't win against the Zubat and fled with the ones still fit to fly. The ones that couldn't were carried in the talon's of those that could.

Grace followed them out eyes still wide from the thrill of battle.
"Who's the coward now." Grace taunted. He hoped that his taunt would provoke at least one Zubat to turn around. Anything to continue the battle for at least a few seconds.
"We'll be back umbreon!" they called back witout turning around.
He seemed to get this alot lately so he just shrugged it off.
"Yeah and I'll be waiting." Grace said turning his back to them.

As he slowly walked back into the cave, his usual calm settled over him. Instead of searching one of the other cranies in the cave, he collapsed on the ground and once again tried to nap.

After that intense battle of Zubats, Vulpix learned the move 'Tailwhip' and 'Roar'. After having his own excitment he sees Grace collapsed and fell asleep. Vulpix gave a small smile, and started gathering piles of sticks in the cave. After all the sticks been stacked in a nice pile, Vulpix used 'Ember' to start a small camp fire next to Vulpix and Umbreon.
After settling down, Vulpix started to sing a song that he had no idea where it came from. Probably from that human who loves that anime Fruits Baskets.

[The words with extra letters indicate the words being stretched, or the notes change within the word]

(Song Starts) "I was so happyy when you smiled, your smile breaks throught the clouds of greyy. All from the sunny days that liiee in sleeep. Waiting with patience for the spring, when the flowers will blooom renewwed again. Knowing there's more beyond the paiinn of today. All though the scars of yesterday remains, you can keep on living as much as your heart belieeeves. You can't be born again, although you can change. Let's stay together aaallwaaayys." (End Song)

((OOC: apologies for taking so long. Christmas, new years and all that jazz kept me away.)

When grace finally roused himself from sleep, he became instantly alert. His eyes pierced the darkness and only when no danger was spotted did the umbreon relax. He stood up and padded closer to the fire that vulpix had made. He sat down and began to clean himself. He hadn't had the chance to do so after last night's battle and he had slept on the dirty cave floor.
"Where should we head today?" he asked Vulpix between licks.

(OOC: Its fine, holidays are one of the most busy moments)

With out giving a thought, due to the extra time he had, Vulpix responde right away. As he spoke, Vulpix groomed his 6 tails and the puff on his head. "We should start scour the forest, knowing what where. And maybe gather food." After finishing he got up and put out the fire.

"Sounds alright to me." Grace said as he applied the final lick. He looked over his sleek black fur before nodding his approval. He looked at Vulpix still grooming and decided he would explore the cave while he had the chance.
"Call me when your ready." he told him although he was already on his way towards the back of the cave. The light from outside didn't seem to penetrate this far into the cave and Grace let the darkness envelop him. He took a long sniff of the darkness and gave a small smile as the earthy scents -and some lingering Zubat- filled his nose. Ah. He was in his element if he could ignore his glowing rings. They cast a small aura about and Grace just wallowed in it until he heard Vulpix call. He had to make a conscious effort not to go back to sleep in the sweet serenity that was darkness.

After what seemed minutes, Vulpix called on Grace, "Grace it's time to explore!" As he called, Vulpix decided to go outside to see what the sky looked. "You can never be too careful with the weather." Appantly the sky is clear, which meant perfect time to see what's out there. (music note) "PPPIiiiidggggyyyy!" (music note). "This is a great day that even the pidgey's are singing." And vulpix jumped getting ready for the great day. "But I need to wait for Grace before we can do anything though."

Grace flicked his ear upon hearing Vulpix. He had been right to assume it would be hard to leave he considered as he hauled himself up. Grace came from the cave and squinted his eyes until they adjusted to the sunlight. 
"I'm here." he announced, appearing by Vulpix's side. While he waited for a response he looked around them to try and figure which way they should go. Well that's the way the Zubat went so not there. And that is the way came from. That left the left and right unexplored. He kept his judgment silent to see Vulpix would come to the same solution.

Vulpi looked to Grace, "Since we are ready to go, we need to go to a place that we hadn't explored. I was thinking on exploring the middle road. But I'm not sure where the Zubat went, and I don't want to deal with the likes of them again." Vulpix stuck his tounge out at that comment. Looking at his surroundings, Vulpix tries to find a path where it's safe from unexpected, annoying encounters. "Do you know what's funny, for a forest near a city, you would expect trainers and come exploring."

"We should probably be wary of them too." Grace said finding none of the humor Vulpix saw. He could easily admit the ways of humans were peculiar to him. Instead of delving into human's strangeness he decided that he would decide which way they would go. It didn't seem that Vulpix would make the decision on his own. He took into account his previous calculations and reviewed his two choices. Whichever way they went they would just go the other way the next day, which seemed like a waste of time to him.
"If we split up we can cover more of the space around us." He said voicing his idea this time.

Vulpix pondered on this, "You may have a point, hmmmm." Vulpix blined with an idea, "We can split up like you said. And after we explored the areas, we come back here and discuss on what we saw and observed." Vulpix looked at the road that leads to the left sie of the forest. "I'll go explore this side of the forest, and you take the other side. But we need to come back after a certain time. I know, we'll come back to the cave during the afternoon. Sounds good to you?"

These sort of explaration makes Vulpix excited, everything about the world is a mystery to him. Ever since he was little he would go out of his home, and go exploring. Then he would come back, and told his parent's about his discoveries.

"Right. That should do it." Lady said, folding the map back into it's place.
"About time." said Electrabuzz as he got up for where he sat. Arbok, Beedrill, and Ursaring got up shortly after and their expressions showed they felt the same way as Electrabuzz. The group had been waiting here for about thirty minutes while lady reviewed the map to make sure they were on course. Lady looked back and reviewed their faces. Not a single one seemed to be happy about the delay.
"Oh don't be like that. If we hadn't been on the right course it would have taken far longer to recover." Lady scolded the lot of them.
"And were we on the right path?" Arbok asked with a cock of her head.
"Well yes, but better safe than sorry." She said almost taken back by the question.
"You hesitated." Came Ursaring's booming voice. Lady was taken back by Ursaring's comment. He so seldom spoke but when he did it usually was to say something important.
"Merely taking time to think, Ursaring. Now if we're all ready, we haven't the time to waste." With that Lady turned and started walking the direction she thought was right. As they had since they met, Ursaring's comments always unsettled Lady. If he had picked up on her hesitation he would soon realize that she wasn't quite sure how to read her map yet. She was a wild pokemon just like the rest of them despite being more sophisticated. This map was the closest she had come to anything human so obviously she couldn't read it well. She had picked an important looking spot on the map and now she was leading her group to it. She had been sure when picking them that they would be able to protect her. She had convinced most of them that the forest around Unilife were abundant in food and if they wanted to be in battles, there were bound to be trainers in the area. They knew nothing about her desire to be in competitions. If she wasn't careful, her help might turn on her.
She shook away the thoughts and focused her eyes on where she was headed. Too late though and she banged hard into a tree ahead of her. Her followers all laughed at her negligence (even Ursaring cracked a smile) and Lady's brow furrowed in annoyance.
"Okay everyone makes mistakes." She said but Arbok and Electrabuzz kept on laughing. Lady walked up and whacked both of them with her leek. Needless to say they stopped there laughing to rub their injuries.
"Because I'm a lady, won't laugh at your pain as you did mine. Now let's move on."
It had been the wrong move to attack the two aggressive pokemon as in both pairs of eyes she could see bloodlust. Lady could read the signs and started to back away. She bumped into a fuzzy surface and looked back to see Beedrill had blocked her escape. Arbok and him were close so she should have known he would fight by her side. Her pleading eyes looked back to Ursaring but he remained inanimate as usual. She was trapped.
"Let's not be too-" before she could finish talking Arbok was already darting forward to strike. Lady ducked out of the and left arbok a mouth full of feathers. As soon as she was semi-free she simultaneously used double team and agility (a part of her routine) and tried to escape the area. The area looked like an entire flock of farfetch'd using agility and running around. Lady got to the edge of the fray and was hardly able to get out a sigh of relief before beedrill spotted her. Beedrill called out to the others and soon Lady was being chased through the forest. Lady frantically called out reasons why it was wrong to attack her but her pursuers didn't seem to want to listen to reason.