(OPEN TO DOGS ONLY) Making it "Home"...

[Ren]

Eriko watched the new comer rest. But he kept an eye on the forest...

"I won't let anything get you," she teased lightly, "you can sleep." It was late, after all. It was no surprise to her that he was tired. She looked out, seeing if Nero had stayed close.

[Flame]

"I wish I could, but I'm afraid it would bother you. You see, when I'm asleep, my rings glow- well, 'glow' isn't the right word, they blind," He joked, " if I needed sleep, I would just climb a tree or sleep below a bush. Something like that," The umbreon/glaceon twisted his body, then settled after a cracking sound came from it. Much better...

He sleepily gazed towards the pokémon across from him, grinning, "I hope you don't mind me staying here, I just realized that I never really asked... I just kinda barged in. Sorry," Iceshadow's paws started dancing in the dirt again, he was embarrassed, but his paws didn't give it away. It was the fact that his cheeks were practically glowing red.

[Ren]

"Glow, huh? That would be interesting to see..." she mused, staring at Iceshadow.
She laughed a little; he was doing that thing with his paws again! Oh this hybrid never ceased to amuse her.
"No need to apologize," she said. She gave him a smile. "As long as you can hunt for yourself, and don't cause trouble, I don't mind having you around."

[Flame]

"Thanks," He grinned, straining to stop his ever-moving paws. The hybrid stood up and stretched, then settled back down. He shifted around in the soil and grass before gently nodding off. His rings began glowing bright, but not too bright. The air was full of the chirps of cricketots and tunes.

[Ren]

Eriko smiled, watching the soft glow. "Very interesting..." she mumbled. She then took this time to look around her. Every one seemed to be sleeping now...that was good. They'd need energy for tomorrow. The little group would find a place to call home tomorrow.

She sighed happily. Things would be better now. She could just tell.

[silvergreenfurret]

Nero cut through the open grassland with the stealth his need for food had honed into the sharpest precision. He had fixed his senses onto one prey scent and followed it quickly.

Night blessed his hunt with darkness and shadow. His coat color let him blend into the surroundings perfectly. He narrowed his eyes to dim the chance of their shine warning his prey. The poochyena's mouth was already beginning to water with the thought of the meal he was about to have. For him, this particular prey was a rare delicacy fresh. He was used to having it as someone else's left overs or not at all as it ran at speeds he could never hope to achieve.

But now, he had found one and it was in just the right level of comfort for Nero to take advantage of. He crouched down low and moved inch by inch toward his intended prey. He could see through the last screen of cover that his prey was half asleep; one head was tucked into the back, the other lay out looking wearily left and right. The doduo was a male, sitting a new nest.

Nero felt his gut tighten and prayed to the night it would not tip his chance of a meal off. This was a dangerous hunt, and even with the cover of night, should the duduo spot him and wake enough to figure out he was a threat.... well, he would flayed to bits all over the savanna.

Nero inched just a little closer and sat in range for an assault. He needed the right moment to come to him.












THERE!

Nero jumped out at the exposed neck of the doduo just as it lifted up to turn the eggs. His jaws crushed the thin bones, arteries and windpipe before it could even squawk in alarm. The poochyena jumped back from his victim and licked blood from his lips. He had to stay out of range of the second head, which was now waking from sleep and absorbing the severity of the situation at hand. The remaining doduo hear glared angrily at Nero. Nero pulled further back.

The bird wobbled forward. It was loosing strength fast as its other neck bled out over the grounds. It seemed intent on taking Nero with it. "MURRDERRRERRRAAA!!" it hissed loudly at Nero.

Nero backed away more. He didn't want to fight this angry bird, and he knew he didn't have to. He kept out of range of its sharp beak and deadly feet and watched as the bird pokemon's strength ebbed from its body in a river of red trailing behind it. Finally, the bird flopped over.

Nero sat and stared at it, watching its breath slowing, its legs twitching and stiffening. When it seemed to have gone limp, Nero approached it again. He leaned over to snap the other neck for good measure. His eye met with the doduo's clouding eye.

"murder." It hissed at him in a voice that could be mistaken for grass in the wind. Nero felt a sharp pain slice across his haunch. The bird had saved its strength for one last assault on him, then died. Nero only grunted and snarled. He could feel the hot burn of his open wound. ~Damn it, I should have waited a little longer~

Nero limped over to the bird's nest. ~Well, at least I have these to enjoy.~ He licked his lips and lay next to the two eggs the duduo had been tending two. These would be difficult to get into, but Nero had done it before. After he had this little delight of a snack, he planned to bring his prize back to the pack.

Now that he was injured, it would be that much more important that he stay close to other pokemon who would protect him... and more importantly, make sure he was fed!

[mintchan]

(I'm sorry, I'm finally back from europe and ready to post again ^^; )

Aisa mumbled a little in her sleep, and opened her eyes. It was still night time, but a loud noise had stirred her from her rest...she let an ear prick up to listen to the noise, as well as uncover her eye to peek out blearily into the grasses. Something sounded like it was in pain...sounded like...

She quietly crept through the underbrush after making sure that her mother wouldn't see, and made her way to the strange noise. She poked her nose through the underbrush first, sniffing, and then peeked out with perked-up ears...to see Nero. She had thought that he had snarled, but she hadn't been sure...why wasn't he sleeping with the rest of them, anyway?

"B-Big brother...?"

[silvergreenfurret]

Nero stared at the eevee. She was all alone and would have made an easy prey... had he not been injured and in need of some shelter from attack. ~Your lucky day.~ he thought to himself grimly.

He threw down the leg he had been dragging the doduo by. "Hungry?" he grunted shortly at Aisa, "Went hunting."

Nero sat down slowly. There was an inch-wide gash running from the middle of his ribcage and down his flank. The bleeding had slowed to a slow weep, most of his fur was sharp and crusted in blood around his wound. Nero quickly changed position from a crouch to laying down on one side. He resisted the urge to lick his pains away and bit the end of his tongue to keep from making any whining. He might need their help, but he wasn't going to let on that he was in any more pain than they could assume.

It just wasn't his way.

[Ren]

Eriko noticed soon that Aisa was gone, and began to panic. What if they were sepparated once again?! What if she couldn't find the pup this time?!

Eriko leaped up to her feet; Kiera was still asleep, and Iceshadow was the same. But he surely was alert, even in sleep. He would watch over the poochyena.

The flareon didn't have to travel far to find her "daughter" and Nero. Her eyes widened considerably when she noticed Nero. Then, she sighed and walked over to him, a soft smile playing on her lips. "You look like crap, you know," she teased, taking a seat next to him and examining the prey.
"You did this by yourself? Impressive..." She was mostly muttering to herself. It made her happy; everyone could eat happily now. Unless, of course, he planned to eat it by himself. Should that be the case, she would simply hunt again in the morning and feed her pack. It was his catch; he decided what to do with it.

Finally, she looked at Nero again. "Are you okay?" she asked, a worried frown coming to her face. Because it had two heads, this bird was much harder to kill.

[silvergreenfurret]

Nero jerked at the sound of the flareon's assessment of his condition. His eyes shifted between Aisa and Eriko. He shouldn't have been surprised by her arrival, but he had been concentrating too hard on ignoring the pain that burned through the wide bloody path on his side.

"Thanks." Nero blurted out in reply to the compliment paid. "not hungry. You eat." He was actually too uncomfortable to eat. He could feel a strange warmth beginning to radiate from his wounds.

Nero sighed and lay his head down. He was feeling very tired, but he felt uncomfortable, uneasy. He worried about how vulnerable he might become, or how vulnerable he might be seen. He had threatened to eat the cubs not but a day ago. It would be an opportune time for them to be rid of any threat he might pose them in the future. He'd certainly be rid of someone like himself had he been in her position in a group.

The poochyena looked at Eriko as she examined his condition, "I'll live." he gave a shrug. He didn't know what he was going to feel like later on down the line, but he was certain it wasn't going to be pleasant. At least, the flareon looked as if she was really worried for him. "Just need sleep."

[Ren]

Eriko's frown became more pronounced. Regardless of what he told her, Nero looked like he was in serious pain.

She turned to Aisa. "Honey, could you find a blue berry for me, pretty please?" she asked sweetly. An ouran berry should help some; Eriko discovered its healing powers quite a while ago. Hopefully, Aisa would find the right one. Even in the dark.

She turned back to Nero, getting closer to see how serious his wounds were.


(I think it was the ouran berry in those games...)

[Flame]

Iceshadow shifted and opened one eye. 'How long have I been out?' He thought. He glanced around, thinking they had left already and abandoned him. "No, wait!" He muttered, seeing the sleeping pokémon a few yards from him, "They wouldn't leave one of their own!" The umbreon/glacion sniffed the air. He caught Erico's scent, along with Nero's Aisa's and fresh blood. He stood up to rush to them, but held back. He couldn't leave Kiera alone! He padded over to Kiera and sat down a few feet from them. His rings glittered as the moonlight caught them.

Iceshadow stared hard into the trees, waiting for the others. He wished that there was a rattata close by. It was too dark tonight, though, to see anything farther than four yards away, even with umbreon rings. 'I know!' He thought. Iceshadow turned to a grassy patch and smiled. He made a circle with his lips and breathed out a freezing breath, Icy wind. The grass froze over and the moonlight made it sparkle. He sniffed and looked around to see if there was any prey around.

"Step away!" Sounded above him. He glanced up to see the caller. A female murcrow Lay in a nest a few meters above him. Iceshadow shifted his hauches and leapt up, swiping at the bird. It fluttered away, sadly calling, "Bye..." Iceshadow wondered why she said that, then the nest came crashing down. They were small, but there were eggs in there. He licked his lips before carefully picking up each one. He trotted over and sat next to Kiera again.

[mintchan]

Aisa had been staring worriedly at the gash, but when her mother gave her a job, she knew it was time to shape up. Her ears perked up and she instantly bounded through the grass, searching for the right color. The dark made it hard to tell where everything was, but she was going to do her best...

"...Blue...Blue, blue, blue..." she hummed, jumping through the grass. "Blue, blue--oof!" She tripped, not noticing the rocky terrain in the light, and tumbled back into the grove where Kiera and Iceshadow had been sleeping. "O-Owww..." she sniffed, picking herself up and glancing around. "A-Ah!" She rushed over to the two, bouncing up and down on her tip-paws. "Blue berry, we gotta find a blue berry! Blue...ooh...what're those?" She bent down to examine the eggs, unsure of what to do with them. Only thing she could tell...they weren't blue.

"That's not it, Mama wants a berry..."

[Umby]

(OOC: woot, more activity! )

"Fancy meeting a sweet little thing like you here," the large black pokemon said. "You must be tired, after walking around all day. You must be going somewhere, why else would you be in my section of the plains?"

"M...mother? What's going on?" the little Poochyena asked, concerned.

"Hush, little one," the larger Mightyena replied, in a tender voice. "We don't want any trouble. We're just passing through!"

The black pokemon laughed. "Naw, I wouldn't be a gentleman if I let a pretty little thing like you go along without offering a place to stay. And who knows? Maybe you'll give me something in return?"

"We're fine, there's no need..."

"Don't make me get... rough. I won't take no for an answer."

The Mightyena leaned in close to her child, and whispered in her ear. "When I yell, I want you to run away from here, as fast as you can. Don't stop! You understand?"

The Poochyena, though slightly worried, took her mother's words to heart. "Y... yes mother. I understand."

"Good girl. Remember, keep going, don't stop."

"Hey, your time's up. Now let's get moving, or I'm gonna drag you instead."

The Mightyena took that as her cue. She nudged her daughter, and yelled, "Run!" At the same time, she turned on the large black pokemon, lunging at him, and bit down on his leg hard.

The Poochyena couldn't see what happened next, because she took off like a rocket. She could hear the sounds of more fighting though, along with the sounds of pained snarls. Terrified, she continued to run until she could run no more.

When she finally could no longer keep going, she turned to look for her mother. This is when the realization hit her: her mother was gone.

"Mother?" she called, hoping that she was only just out of sight. "Mother! Where are you?"

She continued to call out for some time, mostly out of desperation. She continued to call out until she couldn't help but burst into tears.

Kiera woke with a start. "Mother!" she called out, before she realized that her dream was in fact the harsh reality. Mother... where are you? she thought to herself, fighting back tears. She took a quick look around, noticing that Eriko was gone. Panic quickly set in, though it didn't last long, as Aisa found her way to them soon after she awoke.

"That's not it, Mama wants a berry..."

"Is... is she nearby?" she asked Aisa, feeling in need of comfort.

(OOC: lol, took so long that you posted before me. I had to edit her wake-up scene to accomodate <.< I've been planning this for a while xD And oooooh, pretty multicolored post o.o )

[Flame]

Iceshadow jumped a little and got into a defensive position. He nodded towards the small spheres, "Those are murcrow eggs. I found them in a nearby tree. Then Kiera said "Mother" and Iceshadow tugged on his glaceon ears after another jump, "Can't I go five minutes without someone surprising me!?" He cried out in an annoyed, almost angry tone. He pushed his paws down to the ground and sat hunched over. "Blue berry? Kelpsy?Oran? What was it, chesto?" He pondered over this a little before asking, "How was someone hurt?" He was still hunched over as he craned his neck over to search for any of the blue berries he knew.

[mintchan]

"Blue berry!" Aisa insisted, not knowing what any of those strange names meant. "Big brother has a bad spot on his leg! A birdy poked him and he's got red all over and he hurts, Mama wants a blue berry!" She scrambled over and tugged on Kiera's paw. "She went this way, this way this way!" Before anyone could say anything else she bounded through the underbrush again, mroe than expecting them to follow.

[Flame]

'Oran' Iceshadow thought as he hatily followed the young eevee. He hurried to see Nero. He might be able to do something. The idea came, he could at least ease the pain and try to stop the bleeding. He ran through the underbrush. 'I'm coming, don't worry!' he thought.

[silvergreenfurret]

Nero let his eyes slide close and his body droop into relaxation. He would try to get some sleep in while the pack fed and bustled about. His wounds were begining to itch with the drying crust of blood around the edges. He treated those worries as he would treat a fly buzzing around his ears and just ignore them.

The flareon and her cub seemed intent on helping him somehow. Nero would let them. He had never been taught the lore of berries and healing. The poochyena would make sure he payed close attention.

[Ren]

Eriko gave Nero a reassuring smile, though his eyes were closed and he was probably asleep.
"Don't worry; the pain will go away soon," she said softly.

She was really happy that the others were helping. Already they were acting like a pack--a family.

She laughed slightly. "You'll be hungry once you're healed." She continued to talk to him, though-as said before-he was more than likely asleep.

[Flame]

Iceshadow crept through some surrounding underbrush and got behind Nero. He got close to him and whispered so quietly that only Nero might hear him, "Um, listen, if you're still awake, I could help ease the pain and the itching. It will go numb, but it should help," Iceshadow backed up a bit and surveyed the wound. This might take a while to heal. If only there were some oran berries around. Maybie even a sitrus berry. His nose only told him things he already knew; There was blood and other pokémon. He walked over to Eriko, "How bad is his wound? I'm not the best healer here," He miserably concluded. He was glad that Nero's eyes were closed, his rings shone with a blueish tint and his eyes flashed with worry.

The night air was growing colder as Iceshadow twitched his ears, searching for a beam of moonlight to help him settle. He stared at Nero's catch. He grinned with admiration. "Damn bird. You were a fighter, weren't you?" He muttered under his breath before turning back to Eriko.

[Ren]

The flareon frowned. "I imagine it hurts a lot, but I do not think it damaged anything vital," she assessed. She sighed. "But I wouldn't know. He hasn't given me much information. I just know that it doesn't LOOK too deep."

She grinned down at the poochyena. "Of course, he should take it easy for a couple days. I don't want him moving around by himself. But I don't expect the little bugger to listen. I know I wouldn't; I don't like being weak, and I imagine he doesn't either."

She glanced at the bird that had caused such damage. "Well, no need for that to go to waste. If you're hungry, eat. Feed Keira and Aisa too. And be sure to save some for Nero; he'll be hungry when he wakes up," she told Iceshadow, turning back to face him.

((Haha, Eri-chan likes to talk!))

[silvergreenfurret]

Nero listened, his eyes still sealed shut to the world outside of them. He thought about what he might say to the two older pokemon. They had experience on their side and it would most likely be best if he listened and learned. His flank twitched involuntarily, causing a rise in the itching sensation as the movement cracked the dried blood. Nero gave a lurching grunt.

The poocheyna's eyes slid open wide, then narrowed. He looked over at Iceshadow. "Yeah, Itches."

He'd admit that much. Itching wasn't a weakness, just a temporary discomfort. He couldn't bring himself to speak of the pain he was in. He did not want to admit he was vulnerable, not even fully to himself.

[Umby]

Kiera followed the hybrid silently as he hurried off. She moved at a slower pace, not feeling very much like running or hurrying in general. While she wanted Eriko's company, she was sure that she would be too busy to pay much attention to her right now.

After arriving on the scene, she watched intently as everyone fawned over Nero, not saying a word, ears flat against her head. With everyone worrying about Nero, in her current mood, Kiera began to feel a little jealous.

"Feed Keira and Aisa too."

She barely caught Eriko's words while lost in her own thoughts. "I'm not hungry..." she said, her voice barely more audible than a whisper.

(OOC: I hope this doesn't sound TOO forced, lol )

[Flame]

Iceshadow nodded to Eriko. He began to move towards the bird when he heard Nero. He turned and hurried to the poochyena's side. "Okay, this will be a little cold..." The hybrid got close to Nero's leg wound and took a deep breath. He exhaled slowly, letting frigid air cover the wound. He didn't stop using icy wind until he was sure that Nero's leg was numb. The fur that was crusted with blood became covered with frost and ice. "There, that should keep it numb for a while. Tell me if you want it numb again, I won't hesitate!" Iceshadow began to walk away.

The doduo was a big one. Iceshadow looked around for Aisa and Kiera. "Hey, you two. Want to eat some of this?" His glaceon ears motioned towards the bird. It was a good thing that this bird wasn't evolved. Especially close to the pack's-er-Eriko's pack's camp. Why was this happening? Iceshadow had only been with them a few hours yet he had grown so attached to the small group. He had never shown pack instincts before. He finally felt like he had a purpose.

[silvergreenfurret]

Nero lifted his head and looked at the shiny frost on his haunch. ~huh... feels weird.~ He thought to himself, ~dun hurt though.~ "Thanks." he spoke as his eyes turned back to Iceshadow.

The poochyena lay his head back down on his paws and closed his eyes once more. He needed his rest.

[mintchan]

Aisa had been quiet for a while, watching Iceshadow. He was yet another evolution of her kind...and she had been wondering what she would turn into for a very long time. Her mother's kind? Or the pretty Espeon she had seen a bit of time before? Now there was another one that she could choose from...her head started to hurt. She had no idea what she was supposed to turn into!

SHe snapped out of it at Iceshadow's question, and focused her attention back on Nero. He seemed okay now...even if she hadn't found the blue berry. She let out a sigh of relief and turned to Kiera with a grin...but it faded as she noticed the look on Kiera's face. It puzzled her. What was on her mind...?

"...I'm hungry!" she declared, tugging on Kiera's ear and pulling her towards the kill. "Aren't you? Eat time, midnight snackie!"

Well, food always made HER feel better...

[Ren]

Eriko's face betrayed no emotion. She was deep in thought at the time, her eyes searching the Savannas. She wasn't sure what she was looking for, though.

She got on the ground, exhaustion tackling her. When's the last time she got any sleep?

That wasn't important, though. She had to make sure everyone was safe...no sleeping for her until a den was found. And she would find one when the sun returned. And then everyone could rest peacefully. What a nice thought...

[Umby]

Kiera started to feel guilty. Here was Aisa, happy and cheerful, while she was being miserable.

"I guess I could eat a little..." she decided.

She glanced over at Eriko, and made up her mind. She took a piece of meat with her and settled herself down next to Eriko as close as she could, and began to eat. The larger pokemon's body was a great comfort, and she was starting to feel better already.

[mintchan]

Aisa bounded over to her mother's other side, her portion already nipped from the creature and in her mouth. Kiera had taken the side she normally slept by but...well, it was okay. She cuddled into Eriko's fur and finished off her portion, already feeling a touch sleepy again. She could tell though...the way that Eriko had flopped over, she must have been tired too. It wasn't like they would be able to move though, not until Nero was feeling well enough to walk again...

"But...Mama is tired too..."

"...Aisa will keep watch!" She suddenly declared, tail wagging as she bolted up and bounced in front of Eriko with a smile. "That way Mama can sleep! Aisa will watch good!"

[Ren]

Eriko smiled at Aisa. She was such a sweet little thing.

"Okay, baby, you take care of everybody," she said, letting her head rest on top of her paws. Iceshadow was still awake...it would be okay if she slept a little. She wasn't a god or anything; she needed the basic thigns too, sleep being one of those.

So, after winking at Kiera, she closed her eyes and let sleep take over her.