Forever searching...

[Ziskara]

Kaji lifted her head into the midday air, and gave it a sniff. She was still searching for her lost parents. It had been so long, searching the lands around the fortress for her parents that she wasn't sure if they were lost, or if she was the lost one.

She pressed onwards, forcing tired limbs to keep going. She had almost given up on finding her parents. Even just finding a pack with a mother or something that would take her in... She needed someone.

[wynnyelle]

The houndoom caught up to the stranger on the other end of his scent trail. This was an outsider here, but she looked young enough to impress in the ways of the Horde...if she was willing. " Hello," he said to her, sidling up to her.

[Ziskara]

Kaji stepped back, then paused as the Houndoom greeted her harmlessly enough. "Uh, Hello. I'm searching for my Ma and my Pa, have you seen them?" She asked, hoping he might have.

(( She's not really an outsider, her parents were of one of the packs that roam around the fortress, hoping to be accepted into the Horde or whatever. ))

[wynnyelle]

ooc: Ok cool!

ic: " Who are they?" said the houndoom. He probably knew them if they were Horde members, or at least had heard of them.

[Ziskara]

"My Ma was an Arcanine named Swift and my Da was a Houndoom named Blaze... They were part of a little pack of fighting canines, all hoping to get into this... Horde I kept hearing them talk about... Do you know what the Horde is?" She asked, after hesitating at his question.

[wynnyelle]

" I should know, being as I'm a member," said the houndoom. " You've also wandered onto Horde territory, so either you're with us or against us. The Horde is the greatest organization of pokemon ever to grace the earth." He looked her over, she would do fine as a member or a prisoner. Which she ended up as was up to her.

[Ziskara]

She paused, overwhelmed by this. "My Ma and Pa had always hoped to join the Horde. They trained relentlessly, fighting always. They taught me that when I grew up I should also strive to join the Horde." She paused again, then hung her head. After a few seconds she looked back up. "If I join the Horde will someone help me find my Ma and my Pa?"

[wynnyelle]

" If we find them, we find them. If not, then something may have gotten them. I offer you no promises except that with the Horde you will grow stronger." The houndoom stood tall and grim.

[Ziskara]

Kaji Thought for a long time, all kinds of things whizzing through her head. After a while, she answered; "I would like to join, it would be an honour."

[wynnyelle]

" Then come with me," said the shadow houndoom with a subtle, evil smile. He started towards the Fortress proper, where she would receive her shadow training.

[Ziskara]

"Okay!" Kaji yipped, excited to be doing something considered so highly among her pack. She closely followed the Houndoom, Skittering about.

[wynnyelle]

The houndoom walked in silence for a little while. " I am Scythehorn...what are you called?"

[Ziskara]

Kaji ran to catch up with him. "I'm Kaji. My parents told me it means fire, but I don't know what language it is. They were going to name me Akai, meaning red, but I turned out this funny dark colour. I am a Hybrid after all." She said, a tone of proudness coming into her voice at the mention of 'Hybrid'. "So what happens at the Horde?" She asked, curious.

[wynnyelle]

" You become a pokemon who is never alone. You are part of a greater whole, and you help further that whole," said Scythehorn. " You also get to dominate those we capture if you wish, for the weak exist to be exploited by the strong."

[Ziskara]

Kaji smiled at the thought. It sounded good. Even if she couldn't find her Ma and Pa, she would become part of a thing like a pack. It was a good compromise. "It sounds good..." She said "But how far away is it?"

[wynnyelle]

" Right over there," Scythehorn nodded his head towards the dark ruined castle in the distance. It could be seen plainly, sitting atop a hill amongst the woods and fields.

[Ziskara]

Kaji turned her head to it, and smiled inwardly. It was fearsome, yet proud and strong. "I want to become stronger." She said simply, not showing how much was going through her head.

[wynnyelle]

Scythehorn led her towards the place, but as he did so he picked up something wrong. " Something's happened...the Shadowlord..I do not feel his presence anymore."

[Ziskara]

"... The Shadowlord? Who's that?" Kaji asked. She couldn't feel anything...

[wynnyelle]

" The one from whom originates the shadow pokemon," said the houndoom. "He is gone, or in hiding."

[Ziskara]

Kaji paused. She was about to ask the meaning of "gone", But thought better. "What does that mean?" She asked "Will I still be able to come to the Fortress?"

[wynnyelle]

" Of course," said the houndoom. " I intend to find out just what the hell's going on, too."

He reached the Fortress entrance and stepped inside. Inside he saw a scene of disarray uncharacteristic of the place. " What is going on?"

" Aruseus paid the shadowlord a visit," said an absol. " And the shadowlord as far as we know didn't exactly survive the encounter. We're trying to determine whether Aruseus is still in the Fortress or the area; no one's quite sure. He was spotted in the prison caves as well recently."

[Ziskara]

Kaji made a small deflating noise. Aruseus? Whoever this Shadowlord was, he probably didn't stand a chance against Aruseus! "What's going to happen now?" Kaji said, asking Scythehorn.

[wynnyelle]

" That's up to each individual," said Scythehorn. " I don't intend to let those arcanines and tyrannitars continue to tell -me- what to do."

[Ziskara]

"So... You're going to leave or something?" She asked, confused.

[wynnyelle]

" We need to make sure Aruseus is really gone," said the absol. " We try anything with him around and he could just vaporize us or something. Like I hear he did with a few guards who didn't let him pass at first."

" If he wants to make himself known, he could do it whether he's still in the fortress or not," said Scythehorn. He looked to his companion. " We're going to stick together and make our own way training."

[Ziskara]

Kaji smiled vicously, but there was a hint of fear in her eyes, of Arusues and the fact that she was still pretty young. "Okay Scythehorn, what now?" She said daringly.

[wynnyelle]

" We figure out how to stay alive here without the Shadowlord directing things," said Scythehorn. " And..." he turned and walked away from the group so only she would hear, " we start by taking care of anyone who wants to see me dead. I have a few in mind."

[Ziskara]

"Hmm... Okay. Lets go find these enemies of yours then..." She yawned abruptly. "Then can I have a rest?" Kaji blinked up at him. So much happening, all on her first day too...

[wynnyelle]

" Yes, let's rest first in fact if you are tired," said Scythehorn. He led her to a place among the trees where they could sleep safely and not be found, in all likelihood. He lay down to get some sleep.