Are We There Yet....

[punchesyu]

Who: Yosuke Hanamura, Mami Tomoe, Waver Velvet, Ahri, Yukiko Amagi, Fuuka Yamagishi
What: Hinterlands exploration
When: Week 99
Where: The Hinterlands
Summary: Yosuke gathers up some of his friends to go on an expedition to find exactly where the city of Gigas is and takes the wrong way. Also to open up the area for bonding.

[It seemed like forever since they'd left Union, heading west initially to search for a city that held a danger that was brought to light several months ago by a legendary pokemon. Northwest was their aim, missing the desert as they traveled. It seemed like they'd been walking for forever. For the duration of the trip, Yosuke had been confident, but now that they'd gotten this far, even his will started to waver whether or not they were actually going to find what they were looking for.]

How far is this place...

[What else is there to do but start to complain about it.]

Comments

[untalented]

If they wanted to eat us, they would have attacked us by now.

[Waver shot an agitated look at Yosuke while he uttered his grumbled complaint, but he still seized the opportunity to call his Seismitoad and his Vulpix to the field. Helen jumped onto his back at the sight of the strange pokemon, while Atlas positioned himself between Waver and the surrounding pokemon.]

Since when is Union the sort to attack first and ask questions later? They might just be curious, like we are.

[9tailedtemptress]

[Seeing everyone's actions made Ahri's tails quickly fray up and she got in between the two groups.]

Wait! Stop, they're not attacking!

[Turning to the pack of Mightyena, she tried showing them no threat but instead being a shifter she tried communicating.]

Hey there... Could you please stand down a little? My friends are just nervous and are just trying to defend themselves. If you need some food I can help, if we stepped in your grounds, please let us just move through. We got lost during our travels but we have no intention of staying in your turf~

[She did her best to be as charming as posible, taking advantage of her special abilities and such. She didn't want to brawl if it could be avoided but her fox fire was still passively orbiting around her form.]

[bravenewmods]

[The Pokemon continue to growl but a fierce bark cuts them off, one Ahri recognizes as an order to stand down.

A single Mightyena, much larger than the others steps forward and her form shifts into a tall, muscular woman with an olive complexion wearing leathers and furs. At her side is a formidable looking obsidian blade about the length of her thigh]

You humans trespass into our territory.

[frozenflame]

[Yukiko blinks, surprised by the transformation, but she says nothing. Ahri can do the talking, she's very, very convincing anyway...she's just going to hang out here with the plant monster and Snor-Lord.]

[9tailedtemptress]

Oh! You're like me~ [Ahri mused cheerily, her tails swaying a bit excitedly behind her though she didn't forget the situation they were in.]

I'm sorry about that, really. Like I was saying earlier it was never out intention we simply got lost. [She looks back over at Yosuke for a moment and smirks but turned back to smile at the Mightyena.]

And when the weather became hostile we just ran to the closest area that could provide some form of shelter... If you don't mind, we'll be out of your territory as soon as possible, we really mean no harm~

[wishingalone]

[A Shifter!]

[Mami's eyes widen and she lowers her hand, with the rifle in it, immediately. She tilts her head to the side, then she nods after Ahri.] Yes. It's much as she said. We were exploring, and did not mean to enter your territory.

[She looks around, for a moment, and then back at the woman.] You live out here?

[punchesyu]

[He doesn't know what that look means from Ahri, but his blades lower as does the rest of his doubles, which disappear at this point. Not that there might not be a need, but since this lady decided to talk to them instead of just attacking them for a meal, it would be helpful. He doesn't want a fight.]

Yeah! [He echoes, trying to sound as apologetic as he can.]

You guys heard the lady, we're trespassing, so we'll just be going now-!

[windyflower]

[That immediately took Fuuka out of her concentration. Now that all her attention was on the mysterious woman, she just found herself in a state of shock!

Although...]

Yosuke, I don't think that's a very nice thing to say when everyone else is saying we're just exploring. And especially when it's true!

[punchesyu]

Fuuka, shut up....!

[He hisses quietly through his teeth back to her. He doesn't want any more unwanted attention.]

[bravenewmods]

[The woman looks stern.]

You waltz into our lands and insist you just simply 'didn't know'? Typical human garbage. Why should I believe you?

[frozenflame]

Because it's the truth. Do we look like we know where we're going?

[They aren't exactly the most organized band.]

[9tailedtemptress]

[Ahri nods.]

One, I'm not human, two, they're not garbage... Three, we're being completely honest~ I promise~ I mean really, who in their right might would be running around in circles and walking aimlessly hm?

I mean, I'm all for fun and adventure but you must have been watching us for a while now since these are your lands.

[windyflower]

[Hey, don't be rude, Yosuke! She's just telling the truth!]

I agree, it seems like you have been looking after us for quite sometime. But I must insist as well, we really didn't know. Please believe us!

[wishingalone]

I'm afraid it's quite true. We come from the lands to the east. From Citadel, myself, though we also have individuals from Union, here.

[She frowns, before she glances back at the woman.] We mean you no harm, rest assured. Have humans in this are caused you difficulty?

[They are looking for Gigas, after all.]

[punchesyu]

[He stands, silent and waits for the woman to answer- the rest of the group has voiced a prominent question, and he's not going to add on to it. This is just one of those times to stay quiet and let her answer.

And be ready in case she gets really mad.]

[bravenewmods]

The heads of my people decorate the walls of human filth. The flesh of my people make handbags for human garbage. Our hunts grow scarce as the humans cull the herds with tubes of fire and their housebroken Pokemon slaves. Why should I trust anything you say?

[The woman's snarl is fierce and viscous]

[9tailedtemptress]

[Ahri was visibly disturbed...]

W-what?! [She looked back at her group knowing that she was pretty sure none of them would ever do something like that.]

They're not like that, at least not the ones I came with... Not where we came from... Who's doing this to you? [She voiced a bit angrier than she probably should... But the visuals left a very bad taste in her mouth.]

[untalented]

....I think I have a question that might clear things up.

[Waver's voice was quiet as he chimed in, stepping out into the open from the place he had hidden in the back of the crowd. Helen, his little Vulpix, had her face buried against his chest in her fright-- and it was all he could do to keep from hiding in her tails.]

The people who hurt you and your people....did they carry these?

[Moving slowly, he reached into his side bag and pulled out one of the few pokeballs he had kept with him after he left Sanctuary. Although he had fully adapted to Union's customs with the Warp Band, and he had always preferred to let his pokemon friends roam around by his side rather than contained in anything, he felt better having the empty ones around....just in case something happened.]

[frozenflame]

[Yukiko again stayed silent, remaining defensive of Fuuka, standing near her and Snor-Lord. Who...just kind of looked big and goofy.]

[bravenewmods]

[The woman's eyes turn fiery red with rage as Waver withdraws the Pokeball and in a movement too swift for the eye to follow she draws her obsidian blade and brings it to his throat, snarling in a fashion that is in no way human. Her body-length black hair stands in hackles]

Drop your slave ball now human or I will tear your throat open!

[Her voice is barely intelligible as she snarls, her speech much closer to that of a Pokemon than a human]

[untalented]

[Waver clicked the ball open and dropped it harmlessly to the ground with a startled little yelp before immediately Teleporting back to his hiding place on the far side of the group-- out of range and unharmed.]

N-no one here uses them, [he stammered, voice cracking in his fright.]

But w-we know who does-- and they've hurt us too. We're trying to find them.

[wishingalone]

Rest assured, none of us use those! We were terrified as you to find them. The Pokemon who work with us--

[It's some mental effort to not say "our" Pokemon, but that feels like an awful word choice right now.]

--travel freely. See? [A glance at the Florges behind her.]

[windyflower]

Please listen to us, we don't! Just like what Mami said, the Pokemon travel with us simply because they want to! They're our friends just like how we're their friends too!

[Although, she wasn't too sure if her words were getting the woman to agree. Right now, the important thing is for her to relax and to see if there was a way to talk things out peacefully]

Peter no...

[frozenflame]

[This time Yukiko stayed quiet. But Snorlord, in his jacket and all, stepped in front of the group. Or rather, swaggered.]

The girls ain't lying, chicka. We're here cuz we like em. No balls, heh. And if you wanna screw around with our humans, you're gonna have ta go through me. And before you ask, punk, I'm Snorlord. So you best watch yourself.

Peter yes

[punchesyu]

[His weapons raise again in reaction to the woman drawing a blade to Waver's throat, freaked out by the entire ordeal thus far- but lower again when Waver moves himself out of harm's way. He looks at Peter, irritated that the big blob had moved forward to say something, because he's sure whatever it is, it's probably cocky and not helping.

He speaks, in general to the party:]

Quit pissing her off! Does it really look like she cares?!

[And then to her, apologetically:]



I'm sure this is just all one really big misunderstanding...! Sorry that humans have been sorta a pain in your ass, I promise we're not all like that! But, we've overstayed our welcome, so we'll just be- [He hisses this next part to the party-] going-! Right. Now.