Noko's Story

Panting and stumbling, Noko rounded a corner in the labyrinthine cave system. He took another fearful glance over his shoulder before ducking behind a rocky outcrop to catch his breath. Maybe if I hide here long enough, they'll go away. This was hardly likely; the pack had been pursuing him for hours, ever since he entered the cave.

Noko tearfully cursed his own curiosity. He had spotted some particularly appetising berries growing around the entrance, plump and juicy, the kind that the Kecleon brothers would pay extra for. After wandering a little distance inside, Noko had been jumped by a group of three wild Poochyena who chased him in even further until he was hopelessly lost. They showed no sign of letting him get away, even after all this time.

Suddenly, a faint ray of light shone into the Cyndaquil's lowered eyes. Squinting through the darkness, he could make out a tiny gap in the moss-covered wall, not quite big enough for him to fit through - but wide enough for a letter. Noko's heart leapt in joy, and he fumbled in his gathering sack for a sheet of paper. Maybe a Pelipper could find it, and take it back to town, and find someone to come and get me before it's too late! Drawing out a tattered sheet of note paper and a pencil, he hastily scrawled: Help! I'm trapped in a cave and being chased! Please come quickly!

He dashed up to the crack and slipped the paper through, allowing himself to feel hopeful again. Then a howl resounded along the tunnel, and Noko hurried off with a groan.

Crimson was ready, looking around for the gangar. He was going to finish this. But there was a woosh as another smokescreen filled the chasm. Crimson sighed in annoyance. This was going to go one for a while...

A light appeared through the smoke a ways back and Crimson thought it was an attack. He ducked to the side, expecting something to come out of the smoke directly at him. But it didn't. He looked out and the light was still there. As he approached, the light revealed itself to be the outside. He also noticed that the mysterious power that was the curse was gone.

"Oh, no you don't!" Crimson cried out, glad he was able to talk again. Dashing outside, he looked around. No one was in sight. He didn't see a shade of purple anywhere. He leaped into the trees and began climbing. Reaching the top in a matter of seconds, he scanned the forest, but didn't see the gangar anywhere. He'd gotten away, which surprised him based on how fat he'd actually looked.

He climbed down and began to walk back to the clinic when he remembered the eevie. He had to make sure he was okay. The best way to do that was to look for a river on the other side. Running around the other side, he search and searched, but didn't see a single stream of water escaping. That meant that the river didn't leave the dungeon. The eevie was still in there. He had to go back. Sighing, he fan a few feet forward and a parchment caught his eye. Glancing at it, he saw that it was a call for help. The scrawly writing proved such.

So there were two pokemon lost or trapped in the dungeons. He went to the entrance of the dungeon again and once more entered the chilling cavern walls. What had started out as curiosity had turned into a rescue mission. But he wasn't going to give up on them. He'd just have to search the place a lot farther than he'd got. A howl echoed off the walls, sending a shiver down his spine. Was that the creature (or creatures) the one crying out for help was being chased by? It seemed like it. He'd have to quickly find him, but he didn't even know who him was. He'd just have to go with his instincts.

He took a deep breath, getting his mental focus back, and started to run.

The final Oran berry splattered against the granite wall. Noko had started throwing them down at intersections to distract the Poochyena, slow them down, or even trip them up. Of course, it hadn't worked; judging by the noise, all three were still in pursuit and gaining ground.

This new chamber was more spacious than the last few, some part of Noko's brain noted. After a breathless scan of the room, his heart plummeted. There's no exit! As the rising panic threatened to overwhelm him, Noko's head snapped back and forth in desperation, squinting up at the darkened ceiling. About seven feet above ground level, a section of the northernmost wall hollowed out slightly. Perhaps it was enough to fit a Cyndaquil. Not daring to stop and take a breath in case his body gave in, Noko tossed his gathering rucksack up and hurled himself after it, feet scrabbling against stone. Once he had hauled himself up, he simply collapsed against the back wall and curled up, shivering.

Maybe they won't find me. Maybe Ruth or some other Pelipper found my letter and sent a rescue party. Maybe I could learn how to... use my fire...

The growling drew closer.

Archie sat at his desk. He saw a fresh new letter in the post box. He read it. A cyndiquil named Noko needed a rescue. Ruth flew next to Archie. "Got some mail?" "Yes, I need you to go send a rescue team. Send the Growlithe and the Shinx." "Yes sir!" chimed Ruth. He flew over to the announcement table. "Growls and Tail please come to the post office admedeatley!"

Crimson flinched as a trickle of dirt landed in his hair. Turning in a 360 direction, he didn't see anyone. He sighed, but only in a little bit of relief. His tail could only light up so much. He might as well be traveling through an endless sea of blackness with nothing but a red laser beam.

He reached another exit, pulled out some chalk he found walking, and made an X with two arrows: one for the direction he was going and one for the direction he came. This way, he didn't get lost and he could navigate through this maze of a cave.

He continued on. He kept hearing low growls from places. Some were quite far away while others felt like they were nipping at his heels. He jumped about a foot in the air every time he heard a sound. So much for being a guardian, he thought. How could he explore these dungeons without the sound of a zubat or something making me shake every few seconds.

Of course, he knew that zubats would be a relief to find rather than the animals he kept hearing.

He reached another cross section, but this time it seemed different. He saw light heading in one direction and heard a splat in the other.The light was too far away to make out. It could be a way out. Or it could be one of two people he was looking for. The other way was a splat, which could mean anything. A drip of water, which could lead to the second person he had to find. Or it could've been caused by any creature, maybe the ones that have been growling, frightening him.

Each side had it's risks, but after careful deliberation, he decided to go right, in the direction of the splat. He'd fought a gangar today, he could probably handle whatever was this way, enemy or not. And if the light was a way out, he didn't want to leave yet.

He made the markings, then traveled right. The right passage seemed to end much faster than the left one appeared to have. He came across another chamber, but this time he felt a precense in here. Good or bad, he wouldn't know until he made a noise.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" Crimson called out, his body shaking. A cold pang went through his body and he regretted ever doing that all of a sudden.

(OOC: Okay, so what was down the left passage was Kai and Kat. The light was from Kat's tail. The path I chose was the splat from the berry Noko just threw. So chances are, I just found Noko. Just to clear up any confusion.)

Ruth saw the two come in. "Quickly, we are sending you to Rock Caverns to rescue a cyndiquil, named Noko. Please return him to the guild at once!" He handed them each a supply sack. Inside of each one was an apple and an escape rope.
"Good luck!" he chimed.

Talim was surprised when the chatot flew down, and readied to explain. That is until she was interrupted by a sudden pelipper. She nodded and raced after him, soon stopping and calling out to Mr.C, "Light Bearers! Remember it!" She called, soon dashing out to catch up with Growls.

The tiny ball of fur panted once they arrived, a bit surprised that the mission was simply placed on them. "A cyndiquil? At Rock Caverns...? I suppose we can do it..." She murmured, a bit uneasy on their first mission. She took the supply sack and managed to throw the back around her neck, making sure it was secure before looking to Growls.

"You ready?"

Growls was trying to get the supply sack on his back. It would look kind of funny seeing as one of the straps got caught in his mouth, and he struggled to get his foot through it. "Can you help me out with this strap, please?" Growls asked Talim.

"Hello?  Is anyone there?"

Startled, the dusk-grey Poochyena whipped around to face the new threat, moving away from the north wall and standing in a defensive circle with their fangs bared.  When the Chimchar came into view, three pairs of yellow eyes narrowed.  It wasn't a powerful Pokemon from the lower levels of the cave, or even a competing Poochyena.  This new intruder was almost an insult.

The Alpha, largest of the pack, stalked forward.  An uncommon look of thoughtfulness crossed his snarling face as he regarded the new toy.  The Cyndaquil had turned out to be disappointing, hiding at a dead end and not even bothering to fight back, but the Chimchar could carry the game on.  After all, the Cyndaquil wasn't going anywhere; the Alpha could come back and finish him off whenever he wanted.  The pack would certainly eat well tonight.

He waited for his two packmates to spread out, then crouched and let out a deep growl.  "Run."

Crimson walked around, getting no response. "This is ridiculous," he muttered. That splash could've been anything.

Sighing, he turned around to head back and check out the light in the other direction, but a gleam caught his eye. Turning once more, he looked onward and realized that there were three pairs of eyeballs staring at him. Crimson stepped back, somewhat off-guard, trying to make out if it was a friend or a foe.

His eyes were adjusting to the dim light and now he could make out slender, dog-like bodies. They looked like...

Poochyena, savage Pokemon, hunting in packs, killed anything they thought of food. Foe, definately foe...

The Alpha male stepped forward, looking in interest. Crimson sensed an attack coming. His suspicion was confirmed when the male crouched low, saying a single word: "Run."

"Bring it on, bitches," Crimson taunted, trying to ease his own nerves. He may have caused a gangar to run away, but while there was only one of him, there were three Poochyenas. They would have the upper hand in this battle, he was sure of it. If only there was help nearby...

Alpha was poised to leap, licking his canines in anticipation of the coming chase.  His smug expression vanished soon after: "Bring it on, bitches,"  came the Chimchar's mocking reply.  The creature's arrogance was maddening.  Alpha could see the looks on his packmates' faces.  They were confused, upset that the monkey refused to run.

We'll make him run.

Alpha's chest swelled as he inhaled.  Picking up on his change in stance, the other two did the same, puffing themselves up.  As one, they threw their heads back and released their tension in one ear-splitting howl.  The already deafening sound was only amplified by the shape of the caves, bouncing back at them and reverberating along the tunnels.  If the other cave life wasn't disturbed already, it certainly was now; among the noise was the leathery sound of dozens of terrified Zubat taking flight in the passages.

Before the echoes had even begun to die down, the three Poochyena bounded forward, jaws open wide.

There were a billion sound going on in that one instant.

He could sense the confusion and anger coming from the three Poochyena as he refused to run, but he wasn't bait. He would fight if he knew no other option, and then he would run.

They howled as they charged, the sound amplified across the entire cave system. He would be surprised if no one in the cave heard that. That could break glass.

The zubats were what he heard next, flapping around, their sleep disturbed. All of it was distracting, but Crimson regained his focus. The Poochyenas had halved the distance between him and them. It was go time.

Crimson repeatedly fired embers at the floor, creating a fire wall between him and the Poochyenas. The light could be seen through most likely any chamber close by. Their own momentum would carry them to their own demise, but just in case, he tensed himself in a defense mode, ready to repel anything they could throw at him.

Noko's head was a mess of light and sound. He was only dimly aware of the chaos in the cave, but knew that the last thing he wanted was to become involved in it; his chances of survival were low enough as it was. Seeing a sudden light flare from the entrance, Noko curled ever tighter, as if that might protect him from whatever was outside.

***

The pack let out a surprised yelp as they flew through the scorching embers. One reflexively leapt out, backing away to the far side of the chamber. Another was moving too quickly and fell in a heap on the other side of the wall, thrashing and fighting the flames. Only Alpha kept on his feet, glaring balefully at Crimson. He barked his defiance as he reared up and lunged for the throat.

Alpha felt the heat rising from the Chimchar's tail as he ducked underneath him. Feeling his jaws snap around nothing, he grunted and spun on his heels for another try. That was when the kick connected.

It was well executed, and Alpha found himself reeling from the blow. It knocked him onto the ground and, although he climbed back up after a few seconds, the fact remained that the foe had hit him hard enough to stun.

And it hurt.

Feeling the initial rush of adrenaline ebb away, Alpha blinked furiously to clear his ringing head. The game was over, and the monkey would not catch him off guard again. He took in his surroundings and the confident look reappeared, less smug this time. The embers were dying on the stone, and the other two were recovering in their different positions.

Another command was barked, and the Poochyena cautiously converged in a circle. Their backs were unprotected, but the Chimchar was caught.

Crimson felt a good vibe go down his leg as the foot connected with the head. It felt like it hit in the right spot, but it didn't knock him out. The Poochyena was on the ground from the force, but he didn't have enough force. Dammit, his lack of strength...but he had other talents...

The confidence surrounding the Poochyena was back, but there was more focus behind it. He barked. He saw movement in the corner of his eye. The other Poochyenas were back in action. One of them, the one that caught on fire, looked rather different, his fur was scraggled and randomly shorter from where the fire burned it.

He'd be laughing if it weren't for the emminent death hanging around him.

They had surrounded him. Crimson was trapped in between them. Maybe he should've ran. He could've set up some traps.

But no, he made his decision. He had to act upon it now. He spawned a flame wheel, kept it spinning, faster and faster. However, instead of launching, he feinted, tossing two embers at the other two before sending the wheel hurtling toward the Alpha. The main point of that attack was to get the other two off his back. He was sure that the Alpha male would dodge it or deflect it, so he ran towards the Alpha, a scratch to follow up on the flame wheel.

The Poochyena saw their enemy start to spin a flame wheel and braced themselves to jump once he launched it. This plan fell to pieces when the Chimchar flung embers, sending the smaller two into disarray once again. Alpha could have screamed at them.

Seeing the oncoming flame wheel attack, Alpha shifted position and batted it aside contemptuously, only to be thrown off balance when the Chimchar rushed forward. Alpha's breath was knocked out of him in the collision, and he felt a white-hot pain on his flank; a scratch attack had connected, and would likely leave a scar. He fought to overcome both the blow to his head and this new agony, and readied himself to strike back. By attacking the prepared Poochyena, the Chimchar had finally left himself vulnerable.

Alpha twisted around, planted his paws on the monkey's sides and pulled. If the Chimchar could be overbalanced and knocked onto the floor, he would be defenceless. Feeling himself being dragged by the foe's own momentum, Alpha bared his teeth and aimed for the leg.

Crimson felt the scratch hit the Alpha, this time in his flank. He didn't need to be powerful, he thought. Smarts would get the job done.

He turned around quickly, just in case his embers had missed their targets, but they hadn't. They both were fighting flames once more and Crimson realized that they weren't really putting up much of their own fight. Did they even want to be here, or were they just under the Alpha's control?

His thoughts were interrupted by a push at his side. He suddenly was falling. The Alpha had caught him off-guard, and now he was going to attack.

Not yet he isn't! Crimson landed on his hands and propelled himself forward, using his speed to put as much distance between him and the Alpha. Something hit his leg and it was only after Crimson had steered clear and turned around to face his opponent once more that he felt pain. He winced and used his peripherial vision to spot the scratch that had hit his leg. The Alpha had finally got a hit on him.

But it was minor, nothing that couldn't be treated. There would probably be a scar, but he had to have gotten some kind of injury out of the battles he had today. Otherwise, they would look at him in disbelief at all he accomplished. He pulled out a tiny flame, between his two fingers, like he had done with the gangar.

"This is a warning, dog. Leave the cavern now or die!" he boomed, holding out the flame towards them, as if he was going to torch them to the next lifetime. "You have five second," he cried and began charging the flame. It was growing bigger and brighter.

Alpha barked in frustration. Even after biting his leg, the Chimchar had slipped from his paws. This whole fight was no fun.

As usual, the intruder danced away and began to light fire again. This time, though, he chose to speak rather than attack. "This is a warning, dog. Leave the cavern now or die!" Again, that arrogant tone of voice that made Alpha bristle.

He didn't buy his threat for one second, but all the same he gave a quick growl to his packmates. As one they backed off to the corner of the cave, looking more shaken than before the fight started. Alpha took the initiative. "Can't get out. Everything heard us. Others'll come. Kill you."

At a command from the Alpha, the two other Poochyenas backed away, leaving it to be just him and the Alpha. "Can't get out. Everything heard us. Others'll come. Kill you." Ah, so he could speak. Kind of minced speech, but still, they could communicate.

"And I'll handle the way I'm about to handle you in three seconds if you don't leave," Crimson retorted, calmly. The fire was growing bigger and brighter, and was now hiding his face. It was almost to the blinding point. Crimson shut his eyes. The Alpha wouldn't be able to see. "Two..."

The firelight glared into Alpha's eyes, strengthening his headache and muddling his thoughts, most of which involved the Chimchar and a very painful death. However, dragging the fight on would just hurt him more, and he had already lost his appetite for games. Reluctantly, Alpha raced past the Chimchar and into the tunnel, his two packmates in tow.

He hadn't been lying. Alone in these caves with a bloody wound, even a small one, the Chimchar would have a hard time surviving long enough to find his way out. The Poochyena, on the other hand, knew where to hide from the other Pokemon in the dark. It was one of their greatest talents.

The other, Alpha knew well, was never forgetting a scent.