Kodora's Story

Yoko took a step forward, her rage growing.
"You wouldn't dare. Because I'm not afraid to go through her to get to you, and I WILL put the safety of the rest of us before either of you."

Yoko just looked forward, now THIS was something she had been taught to stop by Sarah, who hated this technique with a passion, just like every other trainer out there. Unlike every other trainer, however, she had made countermeasures against it. Yoko did two steps of her Dance to gain momentum and power, and then slammed the earth with her fist, creating an Earthquake that would be almost harmless to the light Altaria, yet devastating to the ground bound Persianmorph, regardless of how many of her there were. The attack shook the entire square, making all those living there but the birds and levitaters fall over from the shockwaves. After all, when one's target is everywhere, does it not make the most sense to attack everywhere at once?

Yoko stood on the roof as she watched the Pelipper drop the smoke bombs. She had spent a few seconds of her time weaving through her dance after the Earthquake, and by this point was just as fast as the Persian, and more powerful by many multiples. Her enhanced leg strength had made it easy for her to leap up to the rooftops, where she saw the Pelipper hiding. One quick Brick Break later, and it had gotten the point that now was a good time to leave. Yoko then leapt to the highest point on the roof, letting her predator instincts kick in as she switched to wide-angle vision, making every movement within her peripherals visible(Hey, kids! Be like Yoko and release YOUR wide-angle vision too! Let your eyes drift, and don't focus on any one thing! Soon, you'll see as much as Yoko can!), such as swirling smoke from anywhere Persian would leave, not her invisible illusions.

Yoko landed in front of Kodora, the Pelipper shuddering in her arms as a result of Yoko's... Interrogation. Yoko placed the Pelipper on the ground and gave it an Oran to nibble on, as dumb as it was, it was still a fellow Pokemon. This Pokebrid Persian, however... she had repeatedly tried escaping, threatened to kill a fellow outcast of society, and would probably never stop if she didn't get what she wanted. Yoko swallowed, hating to have to do this, and stepped forward.
"I will come with you. Just leave the other here, unharmed and guaranteed to not be taken into custody for any form of experimentation your people may have. If I cannot be free, then she should at least get a chance." As she spoke, she dropped every aura she had on, leaving her totally open, save for her still-active Dragon Dances, just in case she tried to take them both anyways.

Yoko took a few steps forward, bowed in what looked like submission, and then, from that position, slammed her fist into Kodora's stomach using a Brick Break, backed with speed, might, and super-effectiveness.
"Then those pokebrids will fight with me to the last breath to defend this place, and all others, to show that we are a force untameable. If you want to be able to call yourself a Pokebrid, and prove me wrong about your weakness, you'll do the same." With that, she picked up Altaria, slung her over her shoulder, and leapt away.

Neil was digging into the offered platter by the time Pixie returned to the booth. He had downed just over half of what was left in the time she had been gone. At her offer he hadn't had the chance to refuse and at first he had guarded against digging in, but his hunger and the smell had quickly gotten the better of him. He looked up at Pixie as she sat back down and thrust some paper into his face. Blinking at her as she told him to read it for her, as her contacts made it hard to read. She finished by adding a please to the end.

"Uhh, it..." He stuttered before taking a second to chew and swallow the food in his mouth. He started again after a swift swing of water. "It's a flyer about some kind of pokemon costume contest." He said looking over the flyer. "Says the date's today." He glanced at a nearby clock on the wall. "In like an hour or so." He put down the flyer and scratched his chin. "Guess that's why there's so many people around."

He glanced back down at the three fourths empty plate, then back up to Pixie. "Hey sorry I kinda pigged out. I guess I was hungrier than I though." He apologized, though he gave a few more greedy glances at the food that was still on the plate. "Uh, I'll pay for this. You better finish it though." He said as he pushed the plate back over to Pixie's side of the table.

Yoko hadn't gone far when she was carrying Altaria. She'd known Kodora wasn't going to leave empty-handed, and had left Altaria on a rooftop and given her a Revive to wake her up. After that, she went to follow Kodora, knowing that Chirru could handle herself once she came to. After picking up a kimono to hide her body and tail, she walked after Kodora, ending up outside the cafe. She spotted the other Pokebrids almost instantly, their scents different than all the human's. Well, like Sarah would say, no rest for the wicked. She sat herself down at a table in the middle of the cafe, so that she would be able to get to any spot in an equal amount of time. The fact that Kodora would see Yoko there was just a bonus.

Yoko caught the plate in her hand, sipping her water that she had been given when she sat down. She raised her voice just enough so that everyone in the cafe(and Pelaze) could hear her with ease as she dropped the kimono to the ground, the creeps who had been planning on catching a nude shot instead getting a picture of a fully armored Haxorus pokebrid as her helmet formed over her head.
"Come now, you shouldn't start a hissy fit just because we're both Pokebrids. Matter of fact, I'd say that since we're both COMPLETELY unowned and probably the ONLY two Pokebrids for towns over, we shouldn't be fighting each other, much less letting ourselves be seen and heard!"
Her words had the intended effect, both making every trainer in the cafe realize that this could be their big chance, and shooing any belief that Pelaze could be a Pokebrid away. Pokemon started coming out of their Pokeballs, the resulting confusion making the entire place impossible for anyone to get a good hit in, much less someone who is being attacked by the dozens to be captured. Yoko ducked under the table, and then dissipated her helmet, for she had only needed it for the visual effect, redonned her kimono, since no one had really been paying attention to her before, and walked over to the other Pokebrid in the confusion, whispering in her ear at a level only their Pokemon ears could detect.
"Do whatever you need to and then leave, it's no longer safe here for any of us." With that, she stood up and walked away, letting the crowd, in their belief that the Haxorus had gotten away, target Kodora instead. She smiled as she left the cafe's brawls, be them between Kodora and the trainers, or the trainers themselves trying be first to catch her.

Pelaze hardly knew what had happened. A girl hard walked in, clearly a pokebrid by her scent, but well hidden beniegth her colorfully festive kimono's fabric. Pelaze didn't want to suffer through any form of confrontation and was about to grab Neil's hand and walk out with him when, lo and behold, a second pokebrid walked in. Pelaze was beinging now to question the likely hood of three pokebrids in the same area, much less the same roof. Perhaps they each had a sense that naturaly drove them towards eachother. That would be interesting, Pelaze thought as she considered it, if the scientists had done such a thing and frankly she wouldn't put it past them. Many pokebrids gathering with eachother after escape, though a dangerous prospect, would in fact make it easier to recapture them.

That frightening thought kept her attention as she barely noticed the second pokebrid confront the first. "Come now, you shouldn't start a hissy fit just because we're both Pokebrids..." Pelaze snapped her head up, her ears whipping around to focus on them and hear their words. Her red eyes narrowed in alarm and her tails began to twitch in fear as she jumped to her feet. "Matter of fact, I'd say that since we're both COMPLETELY unowned and probably the ONLY two Pokebrids for towns over, we shouldn't be fighting each other, much less letting ourselves be seen and heard!"

'...Wow.' Pelaze was almost knocked over by the force of stupidity from those words, spoken with purpose and pride, loud enough for everyone- yes, absolutely everyone in the restruant, to hear. The speaker then seemingly vanished and then reappered, looking different from when she'd spoken a moment ago. 'To fake that she got away...!' Pelaze realized and turned, prepared to face off when the pokebrid whispered to her. The words were soft but her keen ears heard them loud and clear; 'Do whatever you need to and then leave, it's no longer safe here for any of us.' Pelaze understood perfectly as the ominous pokebrid walked out the door, unscathed, and people began rising from their seats.

Pelaze turned to Neil. It had been a pleasure meeting him, and truely he had given her a new, more hopeful perspective in life, but this was past her line of comfort. Staying in his company jeapodized her well being, therefore it was time to leave. 'I will miss him. Perhaps I could stay because, after all, a human in my company would make me less questionable...' Pelaze thought but quickly brushed that notion away. 'No. Too dangerous. This town will be crawling with suspicious people, willing to throw a pokeball at even a girl dressed in a costume. Too bad...' Reatching foreward, Pelaze gently touched the back of his hand which was still on the table. "I'm sorry, but this is good bye." she said with a small smile, "It was nice meeting you, although I doubt we'll meet again."

Then Pelaze allowed her Vulpix instincts to take control. Immediately she had scoped out the path to the door and ran towards it, remaining on her two feet. The yelling bombarded her, pokemon being cast out of their pokeballs, cries of alarm, determination, anger, excitement and action buzzing in the air. It felt like it becoming hard to breathe as Pelaze felt the tight grip of fear wrapping it's cold, steel claws around her ribcage, shortening her breath. "Persian: the Classy Cat Pokemon. Many adore it for its sophisticated air. However, it will lash out and scratch for little reason."

Pelaze's eyes darted to the Persian pokebrid for a reason she could not, nor every would be able to identify and she could see the cat pokebrid fighting for her life. Well, maybe not her life, but her freedom at least. But in the way Pelaze saw it, freedom was life. Without it, their was living, but their wasn't life. She loved the ablility to go anywhere she desired, to eat what she wanted, interact how she pleased and not be under the control of anyone but herself. Yes, the circumstances of this freedom were harsh and dangerous, but everything good thing came with a price. And though Pelaze had grown to be very self preservant, it was the threat to freedom which she would always step up for. This was no exception.

As the cat girl ran into a wall, Pelaze slowed to a halt. The door was right behind her, five feet maximum, easily accessable if at any point she decided to turn and flee. The girl, using the wall to hold herself up, bravely stood her ground, shaking her head a little as she was obviously confused. Trainers and their pokemon nearly surrounded her, corning her, leaving only a large window to the girl's right. Pelaze felt the extreme heat in her belly and took a deep breath before she pursed her lips and let it all out.

Her scream was loud and sounded much like the call of a wild vulpix, but the heat was what caught the attention of the trainers. An intense cannon of fire roared from her mouth and swirled past many of them, burning a few who were in the way. That attack was aimed at the window (though the surprise caught a few pokemon as well as trainers off guard) and when Pelaze openned eyes she saw two things:

1. The window was melted, allowing a safe escape for the Persian pokebrid.
2. Many of the trainers were looknig directly at her.

With no excuse to hide her identity any longer, Pelaze raised her tails, flaring them out- proud and defiantly, red eyes narrowed dangerously. Her ears spiralled around to register their small gasps of shock and her hands were clawed and defensive with a small wisp of smoke rising from her mouth, whihc present upon it a fanged smile. Pokemon turned to face her and pokedexs were whipped out of the trainers' pockets. "At the time of its birth, Vulpix has one white tail. The tail separates into six-" "The six tails become magnificently curled-" "Inside Vuplix's body burns a flame that never goes out-" "It can freely control fire, making fiery orbs-" "Just before evolution, its six tails grow hot as if on fire-" "Both its fur and its tails are beautiful-" "As it grows, the tails split and form more tails-" "It is quite warm and cuddly."

As shouts went up and attentions were stolen, leaving an openning for escape for the other pokebrid, Pelaze again took a breath and screamed, her eyes being forced closed by the flames erupting from her mouth. Their were yells of alarm, screams, shouts but Pelaze didn't pay any attention to them until she closed her mouth again. Things had been set alight; small fires, but still effective and some trainers had to split their attention to helping put them out. Focus cut between the Vulpix, the Persian and the burning objects as wel as other people and pokemon, Pelaze though now would be a good time to go. Throwing a sorrowful look in Neil's general direction, it was a split second before Pelaze and turn and was running for her life; her freedom.

Neil was a little dumbfounded at Pixie's attitude as she looked up from the food she had been playing with for a few moments, then shoved it in his direction and began excitedly exclaiming that she was going to win something. He opened his mouth to respond with a question of what she was talking about, but then bust out that they needed to get to the competition quickly. She was also demanding that he come with him. As she shoved what remained of the meaty dish in his direction, he tried to quickly scarf it down so that they could leave. Though what he saw next stopped his fork in it's tracks.

A commotion erupted on the other side of the restaurant. Then he heard someone shouting something about there being only pokebrids in the towns over. Though he really didn't understand what was said, all of the sudden nearly everyone in the restaurant began jumping up from their seats. Pokeballs were going off everywhere, and he heard shouting about catching pokebrids along with commands for pokemon to preform moves. Neil just sat there with his partially full mouth open and his fork halfway between his face and the plate. Then he heard Pixie apologize.

He turned to see her tell him quickly that this was goodbye and with a sad looking smile that they probably would never see each other again. He blinked a few times at her, not really able to respond because of the strangeness and commotion all around him. He turned his head and watched as Pixie bound sprint over to the entrance then turn to look at the relative center of the commotion, where many trainers seemed to be gathered around something. The his dropped his fork, which clattered on the table, when he saw what happened next.

Pixie took a deep breath and a large cylindrical blast of fire erupted from her mouth. Neil took a big gulp, swallowing the chewed food that had been sitting unattended in his mouth for far to long, though his jaw quickly returned to the wide open position. He simply had no idea what was going on. How had Pixie done that? Why was everyone up in arms and all excited? Did it have something to do with this Pokebrid business? Was Pixie one of those elusive pokebrids he had heard of? Was there more than one close by? He didn't believe it. It was all just too crazy.

Neil simply sat there, dumbfounded, while Pixie ran out the door. Then a big icy wind blew past a large part of the crowd and eventually the once fully packed restaurant became virtually empty. Finally he took a sip of the nearly empty ice water he had ordered.

"What a crazy day." He said out loud. "This is worse than that time Biter got a hold of that rich ladies dress." He sighed, draining the rest of the water out of the glass. "Right Bozo?" He glanced down toward his pokemon, seeking conformation. The Furret scampered up his arm to his neck and Neil gave him a little pet. Then he did a double take back down towards the seat. Then he quickly looked under the table.

"Bozo, where's Biter?" He asked the furry pokemon curled around his neck. Bozo responded by pointing his head toward the newly formed large hole in the glass that Pixie had made. "Crap."

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Elsewhere Biter, who had somehow scurried down into the tight whole that the Persian Pokebrid had made was now closing in on his target. The long, furry, swingy tail of the tan classy cat pokebrid. As he waddled closer, he opened his wide jaw in preparation to playfully chomp down on the alluring tan target.

Kodora huffed down the streets of the town, kicking over a trash can in frustration. She had no idea where that damn Pelipper went, and he was her ticket home. She finally stopped when she came to an intersection. She didn't really know this town, and started to ponder if she should just continue looking for the Pelipper or try to find a Pokecenter. Her injuries weren't too bad, but she did feel that she could use a good rest.

Her tail swayed gently from left to right as she thought over the options. Suddenly, a shiver of pain ran through her body and slowly bought her down to her hands and knees. She could just barely manage to turn her head back to see a Totodile prancing about over its triumphant catch- her tail. She glared and cursed at how such a little creature could cripple her so easily.

"You're dead.", she managed as she lifted a hand. Long, sharp claws shined in the sunlight. Before she could even swipe at the pokemon, her hand was bought back down to the ground with another shiver of pain. Her ears folded against the top of her head and her eyes started to water as she realized how paralyzing the pain in her tail was. The Totodile seemed too innocently happy to be letting go anytime soon. Her claws retracted, and she began her cat-like whining in hopes the Pelipper would hear her.

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Current HP: 98/172
Status: None.

Neil jogged through the streets, glancing in different directions as he also kept one eye on the direction of Bozo's head which was just below his chin. Once he realized that Biter had scampered off, he had quickly exited the restaurant in pursuit of his easily excitable pokemon. Luckily by the time he got outside the large crowd had mostly dispersed, each trainer going in different directions looking for the rare pokebrids that had recently fled. As he jogged passed a small leftover cluster, he caught a few snip-its of their conversation. Mostly them expressing their disappointment about having been so close to catching the Persian pokebrid.

Neil quickly changed direction as Bozo shifted his head to the right. This was definitely not the first time Biter had gone on an "unsanctioned excursion" and Bozo had become quite good at picking out the totodile's scent. Neil too had become quite attune to Bozo's method of navigation, as the faster they found Biter, the less trouble the chomp happy pokemon could get into. Neil had long ago lost count of how much time and money Biter's excursions had cost him. Still, he never ended up blaming the pokemon. After all, it was his fault for being a bad trainer.

As Bozo guided Neil into a back alley, he suddenly began to hear painful sounding cat-like whining coming from just around the corner. He picked up his pace, somehow knowing Biter was the cause of the discomforted noise. Oh, no. He's gotten hold of another pokemon. Neil worried as he thought of the many scenarios that could have happened and how bad they could be. Especially if someone already owned the pokemon biter had probably clamped onto with his mouth.

As he rounded the corner, at first glance he was a little disappointed that his suspicion was true. He saw biter had a hold of the tail of a rather large pokemon, who was the source of the cat-like whining noise. Though he was also relieved to see that there didn't appear to be anyone else around, so perhaps the pokemon Biter had a hold of wasn't owned. Neil let out a sigh of relief, he hated when he had to deal with other trainers who were really angry about Biter attacking their pokemon. No matter how many times he tried to explain that Biter was just trying to play, it either ended up with Neil loosing a battle or having to pay for a potion.

"Come on Biter, let go" Neil called out in a soothing voice as he inched closer. Not so much for Biter, but to alert the wild pokemon of his presence and hopefully not startle it. The only way biter was coming of was if Neil pulled him off or the pokemon somehow broke free. Though as Neil got closer, he realized something. The tail Biter had a hold of was attached to no regular looking pokemon.

"Wha?" Neil absentmindedly blurted softly out loud. He stared for a second, noting both cat features and human features. Biter turned his head slightly, though not giving any leeway to the tail in his mouth, wagging his short reptilian tail as he notice Neil. That's a pokebrid! The one from the restaurant! Neil realized suddenly.Well, the one other than Pixie. Part of his mind commented, before it began racing. Crap, Biter's got a hold of it! He worried, knowing that the pokebrid had been strong enough to take on a horde of trainers at once. I've got to get Biter away from it! Maybe if I spray it's tail with a potion, it won't start attacking us and I can get biter. He brainstormed, then reached into his satchel for the spare potion he kept. Though suddenly a strange thought came to his mind as his had bumped up against something round.

What if I catch it? The lone strange thought appeared, branching off into his mind racing forward. I've got that old pokeball I always hold onto! It seems incapacitated! They said those pokebrids are really strong and really rare! Maybe I could win gym badges with it! Or catch even stronger pokemon! But isn't it kind of weird to catch something that seems so human? Would it even work? Like Pixie, she was a pokebrid right? Wouldn't it be weird and kind of mean to catch someone like her? But she lied to me... He hadn't gotten to make sense of what happened with Pixie due to the urgent search for Biter after his disappearance. Whatever, this is my chance! With a strong pokebrid I might be able to win gym battles. But, I'm bad as a trainer, that's the problem not my pokemon's strength. Neil started to hang his head for a millisecond, then stopped and clenched the old, unused, white premier ball he had been keeping as a souvenir for years. I've gotta try! He pumped himself up and then whipped his hand out of the bag, letting the white pokeball fly toward the cat pokebrid. Hoping with everything he had the toss would be a success.

As the Pokeball soared through the air, it was intercepted by the fist of Yoko, whose Brick Break was more than enough to shatter the little ball with ease. She stared at the man in front of her, she'd seen him with that Vulpix Pokebrid at the restaurant. Maybe if she hadn't interfered back there, this man would have captured her by now. As for Kodora, as the Pelipper had told her her name was, she was a Pokébrid, and Yoko was going to make sure she wasn't captured for good. As the poke ball crumpled in her hand, she stared at Neil with blank eyes.
"You don't want to do that. If you want a strong Pokemon, I'll help you find a friend, but you have a Zubat's chance in Hell to try and catch one of us."

Kodoras ears perked up with the sound of the mans voice. Biter? Was that the Totodiles name? How... Appropriate. She looked back to see the trainer going through his bag. Her eyes quickly widened with the revelation and she held her breath as the pokeball came her way. That's when the Haxorus intercepted and shattered the pokeball.

Her brief moment of relief was quickly overwhelmed with hateful rage. She bared her animalistic teeth. If it wasn't for that damn Haxorus she wouldn't be in this situation in the first place. She'd be home, cuddled up next to the fireplace and eating fine delicacies. She slowly forced herself to stand herself up and turn around to face the two. Totodile continued his happy prancing with her captured tail, completely oblivious to the tension in the air. Kodora wanted to get back at the Haxorus so bad even though knew she wouldn't have a chance in this state. That's when her features softened and and a grin sneaked upon her face as she thought of the idea. What was followed was a complete act of spite.

"Seems like I've already been captured.", Kodora said with a chuckle as she glanced over to the Totodile with her tail in his mouth. It was true in a sense. There were many ways to capture a Pokemon without a pokeball, and this easily felt like one of them.

"Congratulations.", she said as she grinned slyly at the trainer. "You've captured a Persian. I was named Kodora, but you may rename me to your liking." Her eyes than darted to the Haxorus and a wave of euphoria came over her.

"You're too late. You failed.", Kodora said, the grin never leaving her face despite the physical pain she was still feeling

"And I'll be there stop you next time his pokeball goes after another one of us.", she said, wanting to cause as much grief to the Haxorus as possible.

When Yoko heard that Kodora had already been captured, she smiled warmly at the thought, oblivious to the fact that Kodora was trying to make her angry. Even so, she felt as though it would be wrong to not mess with Kodora in this state.
"Really? In that case, that Team Aqua doesn't have to worry about you anymore! I'll just go tell that Pelipper and have him deliver your resignation, he should still be flying around! Good luck with the new owner, have a good liiiiife~!" Yoko hopped up onto the rooftops with her strong leg muscles, and went off to go tell the Pelipper the good news.

Neil felt all of his hopes for acquiring gym badges, becoming a respectable pokemon trainer, and being able to face his family again shattered as he saw what appeared to be a large pokemon come out of nowhere to intercept the pokeball he had thrown. Which met a similar fate as his hopes. Even after he realized that the figure which had stopped the pokeball was another pokebrid, he was still focused on his failure. Should have know. There's no way I could have captured something so powerful and rare. I'm not good enough for that. He gave tiny melancholy smile at the realization. Even at the haxorus pokebrid's strange offer to help him find a friend, he was still focused on his failure.

Though Neil was suddenly surprised by the words that came from the Persian Pokebrid. It began protesting that it had indeed been captured by him. Calling itself Kodora, but also saying that he could rename it if he wanted to. Neil was a little dumbstruck at this and zoned out for the rest of the conversation between the two pokebrids, too caught up in his internal thought process. I can't believe it. There's no way. Maybe my luck is changing.....No, just just has to be some freak accident like when I caught Abra. She'll probably just run off or something when she gets the chance. Neil looked up, suddenly noticing that the Haxorus had disappeared. Remembering that Biter still had a hold of Kodora's tail, he quickly moved over to the two.

"Ok, just hold still." He said to Kodora, kneeling down to Biter. Who was still quite excitedly wagging his tail. "Try to keep your tail still. I'll get Biter to let go." He continued as he gently laid his hands on Biter's snout. He plugged the Totodile's nostrils with his thumb and forefinger. Then when the pokemon opened it's mouth for breath he pulled apart the upper and lower jaw, freeing Kodora's tail. After which he picked up biter and sat him down further away from them both. Bozo sampered down from his usual place at Neil's neck and began to distract Biter by running in circles around the big jaw pokemon.

"Hold still, I'll spray a potion where he got you." Neil said, quickly pulling out his extra potion. He lifted up Kodora's tail gently so that he could spray it from all directions. When he was finished he slipped the empty potion container back in his satchel and wiped his hands on his pants.

"Does that feel any better?" He asked Kodora, as he let Bozo scamper up to his shoulder again. The Furret had quickly tired out Biter, who was now sitting down and panting. "Anyways, my name is Neil. It's nice to meet you Kodora, sorry about Biter. He really just want's to play, it's just he has a little problem with self control." Scratched the back of his head, unsure of how to continue considering the circumstances. Caught between apologizing to a person who Biter had bitten and addressing a pokemon he had potentially just caught. "Uh, I mean, If I really caught you, I think Kodora is a fine name. There's no need to change it."

Kodoras eyes widened in shock. Resign from Team Aqua, one of the biggest pokemon gangs in the world? Would they even allow her to leave so easily? Would she.. Have to live a life outside a giant mansion?! N-No. She couldn't bare to be without her caviar and grooming. She started listing the various luxuries she would have to give up. Neither Neils words nor Biters release on her tail broke her train of panicked thoughts. She was about to call out to the Haxorus, but flinched.

She quickly looked back to find Neil lifting her injured tail. She readied the claws that were concealed under her long sleeved coat. A slight burn was soon followed by wave of relief as the spray seemed to soothe some of the pain. She stood up straight and watched every move he made intensely. A long stare was given before answering. Tsk, the Haxorus was gone by now.

"It'll do.", she muttered. She looked away with the mention of the creature 'playing' with her tail. Ugg, she just wanted to forget that. With the mention of her name, she looked back and smiled slightly. Good, she liked that name.

"It stands for 'little tiger'. My previous owner named me that after I mauled the face of one of his lackeys for touching my tail.", she said with a smile as she crossed her arms under her chest, revealing the small claws at the end of each fingertip. Not wanting to get into any more about her previous owner, she quickly changed the subject.

"So. Shall we head towards the forest? I'm sure that's where we'll find the Vulpix hybrid that you can add to your collection." That's when it hit her, wasn't this the man sitting next to her in the restaurant.

"You were so close to capturing her too that time. Don't worry, I'll make sure she doesn't escape.", Kodora said smugly as she walked past Neil and continued, not looking back but signalling him to follow with her finger.

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Current HP: 118/172
Status: None.

Neil gulped at Kodora's explanation of what her name stood for. He hoped that he wouldn't have to deal with any mauling. He made a point in his head not never touch the cat pokebrid's tail again without permission. As Kodoar changed the subject to the pursuit of Pixie, noting that she would help him ad the Vulpix hybrid to his collection, Neil thought for a moment. I guess if we capture her too, it would be even easier to get gym badges. Though it seems weird to be capturing her. His thoughts conflicted in his head. Then as Kodora spoke him being close to capturing Pixe before, he noticed she was walking away. Neil quickly grabbed up Biter from where the pokemon was sitting on the ground and panting, then placed it on its usual riding position atop his satchel.

"You mean when I was at the restaurant?" He asked as he caught up with Kodora. "Honestly, I wasn't really close to capturing her then. I didn't even know she was a hybrid at that time." He scratched the back of his head. "I thought she was just somebody who liked to dress up like pokemon...I wonder if her name is really Pixie." Neil trailed off, thinking out loud.

"Hey, maybe we shouldn't head into the forest yet. I only just got out of it today, and we're pretty much out of food. We should probably stock up before we leave town. What do you think?" He finished by asking Kodora her opinion on the matter.

Kodora ran her hand through her long hair, frustrated at how naive humans could be sometimes. She slid her hands in her pockets and looked back, narrowing her eyes at Neil. Why was he asking for her opinion? Did he not know that he, being the trainer, held the position of power? At first she was going to ask why he even cared what she thought, but decided to just take advantage of it whilst she still could.

"Fine. The market is on our way there anyway.", she shrugged. She then pulled out a large sum of currency from her pocket. It was in case she needed anything for her 'job'. She must of easily had enough to live off of for a week comfortably.

"You can use my funds since -judging by that weak potion- you seem to be lacking. Hopefully we can get a meal out of this.", she said, tossing the wad of currency towards Neil. She had no clue about the value of money, and figured it would be best just leaving it to him.

"I only eat quality meat, preferably steak or fish.", she said as they continued walking. It wasn't long before they came to the large outdoor market, and she stopped, hoping he'd take the lead from here. She was use to being cared for, and didn't quite know how or even what to buy.

Neil took the lead when he and Kodora arrived at the market. If there was one thing he was good at it was getting the most out of his money. He kept a clear total of the surprisingly large amount of money he had received from Kodora earlier as he moved swiftly through the market, making note of the lowest price per unit of whatever he needed. As he moved though the area, he was completely focused and fluid. Even preemptively stopping Biter, who was still riding on his satchel, from nipping some stranger's arm while looking in a completely different direction. Only after he had made one full cycle around the market did he begin to purchase supplies, stretching the money as far as it would possibly go.

By the time he was done, he refilled his stock of supplies and even replaced a few items that had outlived their usefulness, such as his old rope. He had also purchased a few new items the he thought Kodora might need, like an extra space blanket. Though even with all he had acquired, he still had only spent about forty percent of the money he had received from Kodora. He had exhausted his personal funds, but there had not been much to start with. After he put the last bit of pokemon food into his satchel, making sure to keep Biter from snatching it, he turned to face Kodora.

"Alright. That's about it."He said, but reached up to scratch the back of his neck. "Uh, except for your food I guess. I mean, I got some pokemon food for Biter, Bozo, and Abra. They seem to like it, even though it's pretty cheap. But you said you only eat high quality meat, like steak or fish?" He paused for a moment and looked around. "Uhh... maybe we can look around and you can point out what you would like? Since I don't really know what you like? I think it'll be fine if you just pick whatever you want, we have a whole lot left. And I guess it's your money really anyways..." He trailed off, still a little uncomfortable with the situation of how he should act around the pokemon hybrid that was "his".