An intriguing find...

[lonewolf]

(ooc: wow...so much going on in this forum I decided I was going to make my own thread to start off with. Anyone else can post here, of course!)

Yamato the Riolu walked into a region completely new to him. The land was covered in mysterious stone structures foreign to Yamato.

What is this place?

Yamato walked cautiously deeper into the decaying infrastucture. Looking all around him, partially because he wasn't sure what to expect, as well as being fascinated by his surroudings. He stared in awe of a giant stone building, which he stepped walked inside of. He didn't see much inside, just vegetation finding it's way through cracks in the stone floor. A collapsed cieling let it plenty of light from the sky above.

Wow, this is amazing. Is there anyone else here?

Yamato looked around again, listening carefully for any signs of life. Nothing but complete silence.

It looks like I'm all alone here. When will I ever find a place to call home?

Yamato dropped his head in sadness. He hasn't seen another pokemon in a while in his constant searching for where he belonged. He wasn't fond of large groups but he longed for someone...anyone...

Yamato howled up at the sky for no apparent reason.

"Hello? Anyone?"

Oh well. Maybe the next place I go. I still want to examine this place closer, though, it is magnificent...

Yamato turned over pieces of rubble, searching for anything interesting. Underneath the pile was something of interest, a small wooden chest. Yamato scrutinized the mysterious object.

Hm...What is this? What does it do?

Trying to make sense of the object, Yamato tried different methods. First, he tapped it lightly. After seeing that nothing happened, he hit it. The box was moved slightly, and the lid was lifted off from the impact.

Surprised, Yamato peered into the box. Inside was...

[BH, Dreamer, & Ifirit]

A small Piplup and a Bagon hiding together hudeled in the box. They were hiding from the Horde. When the lid of their hiding place was removed Dreamer instantly went into a headbutt and knocked the Riolu out of the way.

Hurry Ifirit hurry now! Screamed the Bagon is despreration.

The small Piplup jumped up and missed his grabbing on the side of the box. He jumped again and reached it this time. He managed to pull himself out and waddle over to Dreamer. He turned around and looked at the Riolu that Dreamer had knocked over. It didn't look that bad. But then again looks couldn't be trusted. He knew that.

Bagon started to run as fast as she could out of the building followed slowly by Ifirit.

[lonewolf]

"No, wait!" Yamato called out to the fleeing pokemon, still on the ground.

Why did they have to do that? Am I really that intimidating?

Yamato started feeling sad and alone.

"Please, don't go. I won't hurt you, really!" Yamato pleaded.

He could feel his aura emanating from himself because of his strong emotion.

Should I go after them? No, probably not. They will just think I'm attacking them again. It seems I'm fated to this life of solitude...

Yamato's pulsing aura grew and grew. He also started to feel something strange, yet another presence. It didn't belong to the Bagon or the Piplup. Suddenly, Yamato felt a chill down his spine. Turning around, he saw a trio of Duskull hovering right behind him.

His instincts brought him to jump back a distance away from the ghosts.

They must have felt my aura...it is indeed a blessing and a curse.

One of the Duskulls moved in to attack. Upon moving he vanished in the air. Yamato, using his keen senses, detected the Duskull coming. When it reappeared, the Duskull attempted striking Yamato, but the lupine pokemon evaded it barely.

I'm outnumbered...What do I do?

Yamato wasn't by any means a coward, so he wasn't going to give in without a fight. He tried striking back with a move of his own, using a swift Force Palm. However, his attack went straight through Duskull's ethereal body.

All of the Duskulls started laughing creepily. Yamato backed away further, and tried to think of a way out of the situation.

[BH, Dreamer, & Ifirit]

"Bubblebeam!" cried out Ifirit as he turned around running back to the Riolu.
The bubblebeam managed to push one Duskull out of the way so the small Piplup could help the Riolu. Ifirit ran behind him and hid readying another bubblebeam.
Dreamer stayed outside watching. She couldn't do anything because she was still a Bagon with pyshical attacks.

[Aeroth]

Two red eyes peered out of the darkness. It had felt with all its senses, something close. Screaming and laughing, slight vibrations in the earth, the smell of dirt being disturbed. The only thing missing was taste, for she could 'see' or sense the aura of six pokemon nearby. Aurora dropped the food she had carried all the way here and turned and peered out from what was left of a crumbled wall. It was none of her business, she shouldn't get involved, there was definately danger about.

The Riolu went to turn back and go inside the remains of what was once a large mansion, taking the fruit with her. She passed four mounds in the garden, each with a large rock for a headstone. She shivered as a horrible memory came drifting back unwanted. '"Always help those less fortunate than yourself, you never know when you might need a favor yourself." This was what her father told her the morning before his death. "Never fight, fighting breeds hatred, which only begets more hatred. Safety will always be your number one concern, hold you life above all things" So said her mother, her smiling face reflected the sad ripples of aura Cilis felt inside, feelings she couldn't fully suppress. The sun shown through the clouds at that moment, showing that even in darkness, there is hope.'

The sun shone through the clouds, just like that day so many years ago, showing the creature for what she was, a miscolored Riolu. She wasn't normal, but there was no way for her to know that, she looked just like her father, they both had red where there should be blue. Aurora hesitated, part of her wanted to help those in trouble, but the other part wanted to not interfere. These Pokemon were too close to her family's grave for her comfort. The red Riolu moved in the direction of the commotion, jogging most of the way, letting the Pokemon's Aura tell her all about them. Three Duskull, their Aura's unmistakable, were antagonizing another one such as herself, a fellow Riolu, and a Piplup was defending the Riolu while a Bagon watched from a distance.

Aurora slowed to a careful walk, so as to not make any noise and attract attention, and kept a strict watch on her emotion, to hide her aura. She peeked into the building, it was as she surmised three against three...or really, one against three, as the Riolu and Bagon couldn't harm the Ghost Pokemon. It was an unmatched fight, and Aurora wanted to help badly, but knew she couldn't do anything. Her eyes kept wandering to the Riolu, it wasn't the Aura he was eminating because of his unchecked emotions, it was the fact that she had never seen another Riolu outside of her family and was oddly intrigued.

Aurora stepped out from hiding and sent ripples of concentrated Aura to the other Riolu and to him alone ~"This way. Quickly"~ And with that she backed away slowly. She dimmed her Aura so only one who was looking for it could see. She knew this area better than anybody, she grew up here, knowing every nook and cranny.

[lonewolf]

There is nothing I can do against the Duskull...

Yamato watched as the Piplup attacked the ghost. The Duskull were recovering from the attack, so Yamato tried to think up a plan.

"Thank you for your help," Yamato said to the Piplup.

If I stay here, it will be pointless. I have to get away. This Piplup has a much better chance than I do.

Just then Yamato heard something, not with his ears, but in his mind, telepathically.

"This way. Quickly," said an unidentified voice.

Could it be? Another one of my kind? There is no sense staying here, so I'll make a break for it.

In a moment Yamato dashed out of sight of the Duskull. Although he was anxious because of the voice in his head, he stayed calm so the Duskull couldn't follow him.

Yamato felt with his unique sense to track the Riolu that called out to him. He crept stealthily towards the source of the new found aura...

[Aeroth]

Aurora led the other Riolu through twists and turns of ruined buildings, keeping far enough ahead so she wouldn't be seen. She knew the best hiding place. There was a large room, decorated in blue and black tiles, coincedentally the same color as a Riolu's natural fur color. She leapt out an open window before Yamato could arrive. ~"Stay here. Stay calm"~ She commanded as she moved away from the hiding place. It seemed the three Duskull hadn't left the Piplup and Bagon. Aurora shook her head, she thought the Riolu would at least tell the others. She didn't reach them telepathically because she didn't want to draw the attention of the Duskull.

She returned to the room. No matter how strong the Piplup was, it couldn't defeat three ghost Pokemon by itself, and the Bagon was a problem. She had to force the Duskulls out of her territory, she didn't want to risk them leaving and then coming back and terrorizing her families spirits, who knew how strong they'd be then.

All Aurora knew was fighting moves, and as she watched the other Riolu, she knew fighting wouldn't work on ghosts. She closed her eyes and found them with her Aura, and used Foresight. She knew just how to attack. It revealed the Ghosts weakness. She waited for the perfect time to attack, preferrably while the Piplup had them distracted.

[lonewolf]

(ooc:you're avatar is slammin, Aeroth. Also, did you get your little quote underneath from the classic movie, Nightmare Before Christmas?)

Yamato waited patiently after hearing the message from the other Riolu.

I hope they're alright...I can't believe that happened, I'm so useless...

[Aeroth]

(Thank you. Umbreon is my favorite character. If only it was the real colors...constantly looking for someone who could change that...no luck, however. The quote I actually found on another siggy, so I dunno, but now that you mention it, you're probably right.)

Aurora waited and waited. Nobody else made a move. She sighed, this went against what her father taught her about tactics, but this time it needed to be done. The Riolu flooded the three Duskulls with her Aura, temporarily startling them, which gave her the opening she needed. Aurora dashed forward quickly, using a Quick Attack to slam a mighty fist into the head of the closest Duskull (She can because of Foresight), and used the momentum from that attack to cartwheel over her first victim and send a Force Palm into the head of another ghost, sending it downward. If one watched closely, they would see that with each strike she hit both Pokemon in the exact same spot, a spot on the uppermost part of the skull.

Aurora then quelled her Auora output and ran away. This time the Duskulls followed, how could they not? All three of them scrambling to get out of the doorway, giving Aurora another oppertunity to send a flying kick at the weakest one, sending them all backwards, before turning tail and running away. Being a Riolu, she had awesome stamina and strength, she turned corners almost faster than the ghosts could phase through them. All of a sudden, her Aura dissapeared completely. The ghosts stopped, unable to find her. Aurora was hanging onto a ledge on the second floor of a building, catching her breath and thinking about pure blackness. Unbeknownst to her, she was rather close to where she told the other Riolu to hide.

[lonewolf]

Yamato was sitting down on the stone floor very quietly, meditating as he often did. In this perfect state, his senses were even more heightened. Suddenly, he opened his eyes.

What was that?

Yamato felt something, extremely faint, but still something.

I know she said to wait, but I have to see what that was.

Yamato wandered, trying to detect what he had felt. After a little while he found himself high up, looking down to a dangling Riolu. Without hesitation, Yamato bent over and pulled Aurora up.

"Are you okay?" he asked her.

(ooc: needless to say I have a feeling BH won't be posting again)

[Aeroth]

(Yeah...I suspect that too. Either way, if he/she comes back, we can always welcome them again. We've left it open)

Aurora, startled by the sudden touch of Yamato, reacted violently with a roundhouse kick to the head, beofre she caught a glimpse of his face and just barely managed to halt her attack. It was the other Riolu! Her temper flared, and so did her Aura. The three Duskulls turned and pinpointed her, but she didn't notice. ~"What is with you? I told you to wait, I can handle this!"~ She spat into his mind. Then, she actually spoke in words, barely an audible whisper "I have to." Just then a Duskull appeared behind her and caught her unawares with a Nightshade, and the other one used Astonish. Her mind fogged as she was sent flying back into the wall and slumped there. She flinched...that hurt. ~"Ruined my surprise attack...fool"~ Aurora struggled to get up. It wasn't a strong hit, luckily the Duskull's level was low...still. This was trouble.

[BH, Dreamer, & Ifirit]

((I'm to far behind and theres to much to read. Sorry I'm dropping out.))

[lonewolf]

Yamato watched the other Riolu get hit and get back up again.

"I'm not going to let you fight alone," he told her.

He looked at the Duskull, trying to think of what to do against the seemingly invulnerable assailants.

Hmm...Maybe if I concentrate...

Yamato felt the auras around him, and used Foresight to make the Duskull open for attack.

"We might be able to defeat them if we work together," Yamato said.

He then moved in to attack the indentified Duskull. Hitting it with Force Palm, the Duskull took a heavy blow and was struck with paralysis, unable to move.

One of the other Duskull attacked Yamato with Astonish, but just in time, Yamato concentrated deeply and Countered the attack (oddly enough Astonish is a physical attack).

The Duskull was knocked back but far from defeated, as Astonish is a weak attack.

Yamato turned to Aurora. "So do you have a plan?" he asked her.

[Aeroth]

Aurora used the wall to pull herself up and support her weight. She could handle this, she wanted to handle this...alone. She had something to prove, to herself. Besides, this was her territory, not his, why was he helping her? '"Always help those less fortunate than yourself, you never know when you might need a favor yourself"'

'But Father, I do not wish for a favor just now...still' The red Riolu thought to herself. She let her breathing steady as shefocused on a plan. The Duskulls moved to corner them, they had triangulated her and her companion's position, one blocking the ledge she had been hanging from, one blocking the doorway. No escape. She turned to Yamato, ~"You could call it that."~ She moved so that her back was flat against the blue Riolu's and got into a fighting stance ~"The Duskull on the left...your right, see? We both attack on my mark. Ready? Three, two one...mark!"~ The Duskull in particular was the one who was not blocking an escape route, and it seemed close to attacking anyway. As soon as she said 'mark' Aurora dashed forward, running in a zigzag pattern just in case in attempted to use another Nightshade. She used an overturned brick to launch herself into the air, and as she fell she used Foresight again, just in case, and sent a Force Palm directly downwards. If the other Riolu attacking, this ghost would go down in one hit.

[lonewolf]

"Three, two, one, mark!" Aurora said to Yamato.

Okay, this is it. Don't mess this up.

Yamato took a deep breath and followed Aurora's instruction. The Duskull they were targeting had it's attention on Aurora, but she was moving too fast for him to land a hit. Yamato dashed foward at the Duskull as fast as he could, swiftly put his hand out in front of him, hitting the ghost with a Force Palm at the same time as Aurora.

The Duskull, taking two strong blows at once, could no longer fight and drifted down to the ground and passed out.

"Okay, now that there is just two left how about each of us attack a different one?" Yamato suggested. "I'll attack the one by the ledge, you go for the one by the door. Agreed?"

[Aeroth]

Aurora smirked, she took a kind of sick amusement in defending herself, in fighting. She Duskull fainted, and became invisible. It didn't die, just was far too tired to keep it's form for the time being. It wouldn't be bothering her here again. She returned to her fighting stance behind Yamato and had a psychich chuckle. ~"Now who's got the plan?" She had no complaints, that was the second part of her plan. The first part just leveled the playing field.

~"Don't get possessed. Wouldn't want to beat you too"~ She was playing, of course. When she actually got into a battle, she totally changed from the cautious and timid young lady who trusted no one, to a determined and light-hearted Pokemon who loved the fight like the thrill of the hunt.

This time, she let the Duskull attack first, using a weak Astonish to attempt to make her flinch and get a free shot. Aurora moved to the side, but somehow the attack just grazed her shoulder. She grimaced, shutting her right eye in pain: she had jarred that shoulder when she slammed into the wall. Her opponent turned around to follow up, but Aurora managed to block the attack and countered with a Quick Attack, using her body to Tackle the ghost Pokemon and then pressed her hands on top of the shite skull and flipped, crashing both feet into the top of its head, sending it through the floor, but not before it lost its form and fainted.

The red Riolu turned around to see if Yamato needed assistance.

[lonewolf]

Yamato had calmed down considerably, he felt comfortable with someone fighting alongside him. Very calmly he motioned for the Duskull by the ledge to come and attack him. The Duskull laughed a little and floated toward him, readying an attack. Just as Yamato was about to be hit by a Night Shade, he dove past the Duskull and blasted it from behind with a force palm. The last Duskull met the same fate as it's bretheren.

Yamato sighed in relief. "Well, that was...interesting. We made quite a team I think. You aren't injured, are you?"

[Aeroth]

Aurora truly let herself relax and felt herself grow stronger after the battle. Each Duskull had to be level fifteen at least. That was a harrowing battle, but the victory tasted so sweat. The red Riolu's eyes turned from their hard state to a calm and almost happy one. She did it, she was strong enough to defend herself and her territory.

Then she heard Yamato speak and that brought her back to reality. She automatically became suspicious, squinting her eyes and attempting to read his Aura and predict whether he was a threat or not. ~"That doesn't concern you"~ She said tartly directly to his mind as she unconsciously reached to feel her injured shoulder with her paw. The tendons were raw and swolen, she flexed her right paw feeling stabs of pain every time she did, but she didn't show it. To show pain was to show weakness. Aurora backed up and jumped onto the ledge of the building, balancing so as she wouldn't fall two stories, not that it would hurt her much.

~"So, who are you and how did you come to be in my territory? What are you intentions? Why had those Duskull attacked you?"~ The Riolu shot out questions, not harshly, but almost as if the answers didn't matter to her much, which she really wasn't sure if it mattered. Whatever happened, she wanted to live here, alone.

[lonewolf]

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to..." Yamato stopped mid sentence. He was feeling alone again now that the battle was over, and sorrow filled his heart.

He did his best to stop his eyes from watering. "I didn't come here with any goal in mind...I...I just..." Yamato struggled for words.

"I don't have a home. I guess I came here looking for one. I didn't mean to intrude, honest."

Yamato thought for a moment, looking at the mark on Aurora's shoulder.

"I know you're hurt. I can feel it. Please, let me help you. It's the least I can do."

[Aeroth]

Aurora almost felt guilty about antagonizing him after he had helped her fight the Duskulls. ~"How can I trust you? It was because you ignored me that I got hurt."~ If he ignored her again, it may be insignificant, or it may be fatal. Also, she didn't know if he disobeyed her on purpose to attempt to hurt her, for all she knew, his attempts at getting close to her could only to trick her into a false security and attack her to take her territory and her home.

She wanted to trust him, really she did, but after what she had seen, it wasn't possible for her to just accept someone just because they seemed friendly

(She's really kind-natured, jsut have to get past her original crustyness.)

[lonewolf]

(ooc: understood. Man I'm so into riolu and lucario, especially since Ive been using lucario in super smash bros. I have to log off after this post so I'll pick it up tomorrow around 11-11:40 am)

Yamato was a little worried that aurora would be too defensive.

"Listen. I didn't go against what you told me to hurt you, I would never do that to you, or anyone else for that matter. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You can feel what I feel, just like I can feel what you feel. You would know if I was trying to hurt you. I don't want to take anything from you, I have nothing to gain in attacking you. All I've ever wanted..." Yamato said as his voice broke a little. "Is a place where I belong. In all my life I never met anyone like myself...until now."

[Aeroth]

(ooc: understood. Man I'm so into riolu and lucario, especially since Ive been using lucario in super smash bros. I have to log off after this post so I'll pick it up tomorrow around 11-11:40 am)

Yamato was a little worried that aurora would be too defensive.

"Listen. I didn't go against what you told me to hurt you, I would never do that to you, or anyone else for that matter. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You can feel what I feel, just like I can feel what you feel. You would know if I was trying to hurt you. I don't want to take anything from you, I have nothing to gain in attacking you. All I've ever wanted..." Yamato said as his voice broke a little. "Is a place where I belong. In all my life I never met anyone like myself...until now."

(Yeah, I must go too. Technically I should be off now.m Lucario is my best character in Brawl...He's awesome)

Aurora unintentionally let down her guard, she accepted this Riolu was telling the truth and meant no harm. She had no idea Aura could sense emotions or truth, because she had never had a conversation with anyone aside from her parents, and she was too young to decipher such things. She leapt down from the ledge and approached Yamato, searching him with one last scrutinizing stare before pulling back and holding out her hand for him to shake. She still didn't truly relax though, for a reason unknown, even to herself.

~"Let's get going, it's getting dark, I can give you shelter, but as for food...that'll wait until morning"~ Aurora knew well that they would have to hunt for their food, or go berry picking. But the taste of meat was much more appealing to a canine like herself. The red Riolu moved through the doorway that the Duskull had barricaded just a minute before, and went down two flights of stairs into the open street. Weeds vines and lichens were breaking through the concrete and growing up the buildings as the setting sun glowed orange, casting long shadows throughout the ruins. Aurora half expected another enemy to spring out of nowhere despite the lack of Aura, moreso than she expected the other Riolu to attack her. She didn't even check to see if he was following.

She arrived at the large mansion, the roof had caved in and the west wall was missing, but other than that it was largely intact.

[lonewolf]

"Let's get going, it's getting dark, I can give you shelter, but as for food...that'll wait until morning" Aurora said to Yamato.

"...Thank you," Yamato replied quietly.

Yamato followed Aurora to the decrepid mansion. Walking through the ruins, he felt relaxed and serene.

I can hardly believe it...She's just like me. Could I finally have found someone? Someone who will accept me? Yamato thought to himself.

While Aurora was looking away from him at her home, Yamato stared at her, thinking deeply.

[Aeroth]

Aurora looked back at the other Riolu before turning and walking into the overgrown garden of her self-proclaimed home. It was on a side street of the city, surrounded by heavy wood on three sides and the paved street on the last side. She caught a glimpse of color laying on the ground. Three apples were sitting on the ground where she left them after she went to investigate the commotion that lead her to the other of her species. Bending, Aurora picked them up and tossed one over her head to Yamato. With her free hand she back-handed the top of the apple and cracked it in two, tossing the half over her head again as she kept the other apple and a half. ~"I lied. This is dinner. Enjoy"~

Aurora had planned to eat all three apples by herself, that was normally her dinner. There were many fruit-bearing trees, apples, pears, oranges, around these parts, and she would alternate where she went to pick them. She wouldn't be full tonight, but this other one was her responsibility now...or at least, that was how she saw it. She would act like an older sister again.

Aurora turned forlornly to the four mounds in a weed-free part of the garden. The two largest were where her beloved mother and father lay, the next one was smaller by half, her older brother, and the final...the final grave was tiny in comparison. Karia was still too young to understand or remember much before...No! She shook her head, she wouldn't turn her mind to such thoughts.

~"You can sleep where you like, we're getting up early"~ She thought to him. There were comfy, if somewhat molded, sofas on the second floor, along with comfy couches. But the third floor had a caved in roof, so if one wanted to sleep under the stars. The first floor was what was once the lower servants quarters, with shiny rooms that Aurora knew nothing about.

[lonewolf]

(ooc: although it only says I have around 32 posts I actually have 47. So we can evolve pretty much as soon as it's appropriate in the plot.)

Yamato caught the apples and hastily ate them. He had been traveling a long time without eating anything, but being a Riolu, he was in immaculate physical condition and could handle it.

"You can sleep where you like, we're getting up early," Aurora said to Yamato.

Yamato, not much for conversation, simply nodded, and wandered around the mansion looking for a solitary place to fall asleep.

He reached the top floor of the mansion where the roof was caved in, and lay down on the floor. Yamato gazed up at the stars as he often liked to do, thinking.

I wonder...only time will tell, though, Yamato thought, his aura bursting with joy.

[Aeroth]

(But the post count only counts for In Character posts. No matter how many posts you have, if you have only so many posts with a character, that's how many counts. I didn't plan on evolving Aurora for a bit anyway)

Aurora wiped the dirt off the apple with her chest fur before taking a bite, the juicing exploding in her mouth. She leapt onto the crumbling wall that surrounded the mansion and watched the burning sun set between the aged buildings. She ate slowly, savoring every bite, until the last rays had gone and the moon filled the sky, the great crescent surrounded by its loyal pack of stars...pack...hmm.

The red Riolu dropped from the wall and walked into the heart of the ancient city, scanning her world with Aura to attempt to sense any remnants of the Duskulls presence. She found nothing, and visibly relaxed. In all her years living here alone, she barely had any problems. There were no rival groups who wanted the territory, it wouldn't seem like an ideal home, but it worked for Aurora. No, the most was the occasional predator who had gotten desperate and wandered a little too far. What did they have to do with her companion anyway? Would they come again?

She sighed, no sense in worrying about that now, all things will come with time. She turned to go back home, and looked up at a Nocktowl, silhouetted against the dark sky on a flag pole. They stood locked for a while, perhaps having a wordless conversation, perhaps sizing each other for a dramatic battle. Either way, they both turned away at the exact same time and walked and flew in opposite directions, Aurora to the mansion, the avian...anywhere.

Aurora made her way directly to the third floor of her home, looking through the caved-in ceiling to the sky. The rubble had been cleared away long ago. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the other Riolu laying there. Not checking to see if he was asleep, she spoke outloud. Loud enough for him to hear if he was awake, but not to wake him if he wasn't. "Under the sky is the only place to be" She also slightly chuckled to herself, a deep dark laugh that sounded as if it was half primitive growl. This was where she usually slept. It was alright, she could share.

[lonewolf]

There was a brief silence before Yamato answered quietly, "I'm glad you think so as well."

Yamato continued to look up at the sky, thinking about his question before asking it.

Aurora is living in these ruins alone, maybe she doesn't want anyone with her...Oh I hope it's not like that...

"Please don't take this the wrong way, but why are you here, alone?" he asked Aurora solemnly. Waiting for an answer, he hoped he wasn't being offensive.

[Aeroth]

Aurora looked down, so he was awake. She looked to the sky once more seeing the moon for all its majesty. But at his question, there was a visible change in her demeaner. She stiffined and took a slight intake of breath and she took a step towards the door. Then she actually analyzed what he had said..."Don't take this the wrong way"...she examined his Aura, there didn't seem to be any ulterior motive for asking, not that she saw. Still, it took a while for Aurora to relax. When she did, she thought up an answer. She didn't want to lie to him, but she didn't want to tell him the truth either. It wasn't his fault, it was just a sensitive subject.

"Why wouldn't I?" She asked him, as if it was the simplest answer in the world. She paused before elaborating, suspecting that wouldn't satisfy him, even if he didn't voice it. "I have food, water...shelter. This is my home."

"Don't take this the wrong way" Hah. If he hadn't said that, her tongue would've carried more poison than the fangs of a Seviper, with more barbs than a Sandslash. As it was, she hoped she wasn't rude in her explanation. Aurora was growing to like this Riolu more and more.

[lonewolf]

"I see. I just thought you would have been...you know, lonely," Yamato mumbled to Aurora before turning over and falling asleep.

(ooc: obviously after you fall asleep we go to the scene where dusknoir attacks.)

[Aeroth]

She was caught off-guard by that remark. Was he seriously looking out for her, even though they just met? Did he really care so much? He was a wanderer, he was alone before they met, and they were both so young. Why would he think about her? He had said he was looking for a home, but there must of been plenty of places where a Riolu could stay and live peacefully and yet...what was a home? She claimed this was her home, because she could live here, but what if that wasn't all a home was? Could you have no place to go, and still have a home?

She wasn't lonely. Pah, what a statement. Loneliness is only a feeling that brings...weakness? She wasn't lonely. She had the ruins, she walked with the other Pokemon who shared this land, she spoke to her parent's graves regularly...but they never replied. They never talked back. This was her first true conversation in five years. Five years ago, almost to the day, she lost the most precious things in her life. But now...what if she had lost something more, something deeper? She felt it, or rather, felt the lack of it, deep in her heart. The first time she realized she had missed it, it ached. It burned deep in her heart. She longed for a family. She kept scolding herself, telling herself that she would never have a family, they were dead. Now she understood, a family doesn't have to be related by blood, a family was just those who cared about you, it could be just one Pokemon, but that would be enough to fill the hole that was torn open the day she found herself alone. The day she found herself digging four graves.

Aurora would allow this other Riolu to live here with her, as long as he wanted, and they could be happy, forever. Aurora finally moved from her standing position, staring at the sky and proped herelf up against the wall, a single beam of moonlight shining through dark clouds that covered it. She closed her eyes and fell asleep, with a single tear sliding lazily down her cheek, and a faint, yet plainly visible smile accross her mouth.