The Silent Traveler (OPEN!)

[briaka]

The silence was painful as Searila wondered if the Poochyena was going to say something, or just walk away. It surprised her when he spoke, and she only gave a silent nod in reply.

'Why did he help me?'

Her mind whirled with questions, but her vow bound her to silence, and she didn't plan on going back on the promise she had made only the night before. The Absol was quite annoyed when another growl emitted from her stomach, breaking the silence.

[aspinwolf476]

Remaining with his gaze on the bushes, his ears twitched slightly as he heard the sound of a low grumbling, extremely similar to that which emitted from hunger. Only then did the poochyena realize that he himself had not eaten anything since afternoon the day before.

"I'll be right back...."

He mutter uncomfortably, walking off into the woods. And then the throbbing in his mind began again. Halting, he closed his eyes, an unknown darkness moving in a hidden current.

Uggg.... What's wrong with me? This pain... It burns..... No, I should concentrate on finding food right now...

Blocking off all other senses, Nightshade scented the air. Welcoming in fresh oxygen was a relief to his lungs after inhaling the shroomish's poison powder. After a while, his muzzle caught onto a fresh scent and the poochyena padded after it, ears alert, body low.

------

Several minutes later, the dark figure of the canine pushed through the bushes and walked over to Searila. Dropping a pidgey and several Bluk berries in front of her, he sat down a little ways off. However, he couldn't help but feel rather guilty. His aquaintence Keenai probably wouldn't be too happy knowing that one of his brethren had been killed by an old hunting accomplice of his. Sighing, Nightshade turned his head, watching the absol.

[briaka]

Searila waited for Nightshade to return, wondering why he was suddenly being so kind to her. When the Poochyena returned with the food, she sniffed at it, then looked up at the provider, who had taken several paces away from her. She gave him a questioning look, and straightened up. It was his food, and she wouldn't eat until he had relieved his own hunger.

Another growl threatened to emit from her stomach, but she managed to keep it silent as she continued to stare at the Poochyena, her purpose clearly showing in her eyes.

[aspinwolf476]

A stubborn shadow cast over Nightshade's eyes, turning them a liquid gray. Stiffening his shoulders, he stayed rooted to the spot. Unwilling to eat until Searila had done so first, he made a point by turning his head away from her and staring over his back grudgingly.

Shifting uncomfortably, he realized the absol might even be more determined then him. Glancing at her from the corner of his eye, he muttered

"Why don't you eat first..... I'm not that hungry."

Flicking his tail slightly, he wondered if she would speak up. Perhaps she had made some sort of vow of silence or he had angered her to the point of loss of speech? He wasn't sure, and if she really had vowed to be quiet, he would probably never know.

[briaka]

Searila watched as the Poochyena showed obvious signs of not wanting to eat. She hesitated, then took a small bite of the dead pokemon. The meat was nice and tender, but the feathers stuck in the Absol's teeth. When she had managed to get rid of all of the feathers, she sat up again, and stared at Nightshade.

'Why is he being so nice to me? It was just last night that he showed me how he disliked my company.'

The thought ran through her head again.

[aspinwolf476]

Relaxing slightly as the absol ate, Nightshade shifted slightly as he read the confusion and suspicion in her eyes.

I wonder what I said to her... Maybe she's not talking because she's a different absol from the one before. I'll ask her anyway.

"Have I met you before?"

As soon as the words were out, he regretted it. Of course he'd probably met her. It wasn't every day you found an absol in the woods, and this one definitely resembled her. Not too mention there was no gauranteeing that she would answer his question anyway.

Stupid. Stupid, stupid.

[briaka]

The suspicion in Searila's eyes turned to surprise as Nightshade asked her the question.

'Met me? Does he not recognize me?'

The question tickled in her brain, and the Absol didn't know why, but she felt sad. She hesitated, then nodded, remaining silent.

[aspinwolf476]

Blinking, Nightshade traced his memory. He knew he had seen her before. When he had met her and what the circumstances had been he could not remember though. Taking a hesitant step towards her, he said in a soft voice,

"I remember you... But when? I made you cry... How... What did I do to make you cry?"

Suddenly, the poochyena's eyes filled with a dark pain that swept him back into his past.

He was walking side by side with a sneazel. They were laughing, and though he got the feeling they were very close, he couldn't remember his companion's name. The two walked up to a tree, where he dared the sneazel to climb to the top. It became a race, and the two scurried swiftly up, the sneazel beating him. A smile crept across his face, and the two burst in fits of hilarity. However, a mightyena suddenly appeared. He felt a feeling that drew him towards the pokemon, yet it also scared him at the same time. Leaping out of the tree, he walked over, waving a brief farewell to his friend before being led away by the mightyena. However, just before dissappearing from view, he could see something. The faint reflection of the sky directly below the sneazel's eyes. He had been crying.

And then blinking, the flashback was gone. Looking up at Searila, Nightshade's eyes were clouded with confusion and hurt.

I didn't mean to hurt you... I'm sorry for whatever I did... It wasn't my choice....

The mightyena's voice then entered his mind: It is. You aren't to play with that monster anymore. It's for the better if you just stay here with your siblings.

But they hate me! And don't call him a monster! He's the only friend I have who isn't afraid of me!

How dare you talk to me like that!

Pain.... Pain and agony tore through his ear, but more so in his heart. Shaking his head, Nightshade desperately tried to erase the past from his mind, erase the scenes that had scarred him, erase the pain.

[briaka]

Searila resisted the urge to back away as the Poochyena took a step towards her. When he asked her what he had done, she sighed, and breaking the oath she had made, opened her mouth to answer. But as the speach was about to escape her lips, Nightshade's eyes filled with pain, and a shadow crossed over them, telling the Absol that he had slipped into the past.

When finally Nightshade looked up at her againm Searila realized that he seemed close to crying. Tears again filling her own eyes as she saw the pain in the Poochyena's eyes, she spoke, saying,

"Please, don't be so sad. Do you really forget what happened last night?'

[aspinwolf476]

Staring at her blankly, he felt the familiar numbing darkness cover him. It was his only escape from reality, his only path away from the pain. He felt himself sinking deeper and deeper, falling. And then, a voice.
Please don't be so sad. Do you really forget what happened last night?
It wasn't much, but somehow, it dragged him from the darkness, pulled him back to reality. Blinking, his eyes refocused, and he stared at the absol. Despite being vulnerable to the pain, he felt an overwhelming relief at being away from the shadows, and a wave of gratitude washed over him towards Searila.
"I'm sorry...."
Barely speaking above a whisper, the past night's events hit him like a rock.
"I hurt you... Why? Why did I hurt you... I'm so sorry... For making you feel pain... You didn't need to feel that pain... I'm so sorry... I'm..."
Nightshade's voice faded off as he felt his limbs trembling.

[briaka]

Searila was watching Nightshade, so many emotions showing in her eyes that you couldn't identify any. Her shoulders tense, she listened to the Poochyena's quiet pleas. The ghost of a smile flickered on her otherwise sad and confused face, and she spoke.

"You should eat."

But there was a hidden message behind those words, and it read,"I forgive you."

[aspinwolf476]

Blinking, the cloud behind his eyes seemed to fade slightly, and he stared at her.
She's.... Forgiving me.... No one else.... No one else has ever....
A mixture of feeling swept through him and he found himself gazing at her the way a lost child did at his mother, a tear dropping off the side of his face.
"Your name... Please... Your name,"
He whispered. Something inside him. Something stirred. Where had he felt this feeling before? This sad, yet warm feeling. A feeling that he wasn't alone. Not completely. That perhaps there was someone out there who cared. Who felt the same way, who shared his pain. Someone who wasn't afraid to take his paw and guide his blind, helpless frame away from the bitter confusion. For once... He thought that maybe things would be alright. Maybe he'd found someone who cared. Maybe. Just maybe, he'd found someone who could help him break free from his dark past. Someone to bring back his smile.

[briaka]

Another smile appeared on her face, slightly larger than before.

"Searila"

The simple reply was quiet, yet the Absol's voice was stronger than it had been just a few seconds ago. A trickle of happiness rose her spirits, and a spark of hope appeared in her eyes. Perhaps Searila had finally earned the Poochyena's trust.

(sorry it's short, but I am really busy)

[aspinwolf476]

Blinking, Nightshade felt the dark wave cease as a light seemed to pass through it. And then, for the first time in his life, he wanted to smile. Wanted to show her that he saw her not as a stranger, but as a friend. Yet, his smile would not shine. Not yet. No, it would take much longer before he could bring himself to shed warmth from the inside.
But it's a start... The last time I had a friend... Was so long ago, it almost feels as if it were in another life.
His gaze softened, and he watched the absol for a moment.
"Searila.... You... You really are something, aren't you?"

[briaka]

Not really knowing what Nightshade meant, she just stared back. The wind whistled through the leaves of a nearby tree, bringing Searila out of her trance. Looking up to the sky, the Absol noticed that the sky had already began to darken, and the air was steadily cooling as night came to meet them.

Searila didn't know how much time passed, and didn't care. As the sun sank lower on the horizon, it felt like her life had started anew.

[aspinwolf476]

Blinking, Nightshade looked over his shoulder, his senses restored. A chilly breeze swqept through the woods, and for the first time, he noticed the dark gray clouds that had cast their shadows across the sky.
"Uh oh... I think a storm's coming in..."
Narrowing his eyes, the poochyena hesitated a moment before looking back at Searila.
"We should find some shelter before any lightning hits these trees."
A booming crack of thunder threatened to drown his voice and the steady yet droning splatter of rain began, instantly soaking him from head to paw.

[briaka]

As the rain began to pound down on the two pokemon, Searila nodded, not wishing to stay in the icy cold downpour. Suddenly a thought hit her.

"Where are those two Eevees?"

The Absol's voice was almost inaudible over the sound of the rain, and she wondered if Nightshade had heard her.

[aspinwolf476]

Blinking, the poochyena pricked his ears. Staring at her with a look of confusion, he wondered what she was talking about.
What eevee? Wait... The ones I saw before running off....
The poochyena's mind rewinded to the last point he could remember; himself fleeing from the battle scene, two young eevee sitting behind him.
Jumping to his paws in shock, he recalled they were still children. In a storm like this, they wouldn't stand a chance. Rapidly scenting the air, Nightshade detected the trail he had left when running. Flicking his tail at Searila, he rushed back to the cave.

[briaka]

Getting to her paws, the Absol followed Nightshade. The sky continued to darken, and thunder rumbled in the distance. The wind was also becoming stronger, threatening to sweep Searila off her feet.

She ran all the way to the cave that she had sheltered in recently. She looked around, but the pouring rain was obscuring her vision so much that she couldn't see past the tip of her nose. The falling water filled her mouth and nose as she called out for the two young pokemon, and she remembered a waterfall from way back in her memory, when she still had her parents to comfort her.

[aspinwolf476]

[Sorry, I don't really have anything to post until the eevees show up. Want me to pm Ren to ask about posting here?]

[briaka]

(That's fine with me! I've reached fifty posts, WOOOOO!)

[Ren]

((Sorry! I forgot about this! It happens every-now-and-again! I'll post now!))

Shadow had wandered off soon after Nightshade made an appearance. Dawn didn't understand why he was leaving; he had probably seen something interesting. So, she began to follow her brother.

Only, she couldn't find him. Again. It aggrivated her that Shadow always got lost, thus sepparating the duo.

And now, it was raining. Hard. Dawn never liked the rain. And now she was lost, wet, and alone. She sniffed, willing herself not to cry; she was too old to cry. Momma would not be proud at all if she cried.

She looked up and saw a figure not too far off. But she couldn't see through the rain, so she did not know if they were friendly or not. She got down on her belly, trying to hide herself, and let the tears fall.

[briaka]

Searila shook her head, trying to clear her senses, and sniffed the air for any signs of the two eevees. Unfortunately, the heavy rain masked all of the scents, even her own. Blinking the water out of her eyes, the Absol looked around, and spotted a small figure crouched in the grass a little ways away.

'Is that one of the eevees?', she asked herself, as she signaled to Nightsade with a wave of her tail.