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The cave leading deep inside the volcano is minus at least one resident today. The Charmeleon known as Scorch ventured out earlier, intent on getting something tasty to eat before deciding what is on the cards today. Training on an empty stomach is hard, but hunting is training in itself. After a long period of absence, the Charmeleon trudges into the cave, leaving the bright light behind him in favor of the warming glow of the liquid rock in the base of the chamber. However his hands are empty and a frown marks his face. Oh dear... It seems things didn't go well today. Muttering things about 'stupid humans', he plods towards his usual place by the soothing magma pool, perhaps hoping that it will make everything better. For a few seconds, he says nothing, but the frustration inside him just seems to well up and overflow. <Gah!> he shouts, sitting down.
Eek! A Psykitt! Hope Santa has reindeer insurance! (Saving)
In the meantime, while Scorch is outside hunting, Dakshi lies on the rocky ground of the cave, warming herself by the heat that rises from the pool of magma that steams down below. The dragon-esque pokemon isn't too deep inside the cave, and she stares out the entrance with eyes that are half closed -- glazed with tired disinterest. Blackish orbs slowly flick back and forth, as she observes the hot springs that dot the terrain just beyond the cave that resembles a Charizard, eyes on the small shrubs that grow on the edges of the moist earth, placed there in a random order --rather chaotic now that the evolved beast thinks about it. Staring past all the drab scenery, Dakshi spots Scorch as he approaches the cave, frowning slightly when she discovers that he's returning empty handed. Lying on her belly, with her head resting on her slender forearms, Dakshi regards the angry Chameleon's behavior levelly, remaining silent for a few moments before responding to it. <Giving up so soon?> she asks, her voice low and deep as the rumbling vibrations of her growling baritone find their way past her scaly tiers.
Everything -doesn't- seem to have been made better by the rippling and bubbling orange liquid below the Charmeleon. Looking into the pool, he seems to be concentrating to lose his anger, but it doesn't seem to be working. <I'm not giving up. I'll try again later,> he explains, his eyes not moving from the magma. <A stupid human girl and her 'pet' found me... I was doing -fine- until they got there...> he frowns again, giving a large sigh. <They wouldn't go and part of me just wanted to fly at them but the other part of me said that was wrong, so -I- left instead...> he explains. Something about the Charmeleon's demeanor seems to cry out his frustration, although the familiar surroundings and company seem to be helping. A few more moments pass, where he does nothing but stare into the flickering light below him. In contrast to Dakshi's calm, collected and intelligent manner, Scorch seems to embody a quick temper, perhaps even more since his evolution.
Dakshi listens to Scorch's words of frustration, as he offers up his explanation, nodding once or twice to show that she is paying attention to what it is that her young companion is saying. Even though she does not possess psychic abilities, like some types of pokemon are capable, Dakshi is sensitive to things that can be communicated through the evolved reptile's change in body posture, and the tone of his voice. As a result, the Charizard is quick to pick up on Scorch's demeanor -- after all, she was a frustrated Charmeleon once, and grins warmly, her dark eyes soft with understanding. She knows the pain, the conflict, the inner turmoil that he is dealing with all too well, having experienced it all herself, many days into her own past. Sliding backwards, she pushes herself onto her hind legs, and leans heavily on her muscular haunches, using them to support her gargantuan body weight. Instinctively, she folds her wings up against her back, and crosses her arms across her chubby middle. Her small, expressive eyes look down an elongated muzzle, and she gazes at the Charmeleon in silence, before saying, <You must cast these excuses away.> she begins, narrowing those almonds, apparent disapproval flickering through them, hot as the magma below the fiery lizards, <They are heavy, and will only hold you down, keep you from reaching your dreams in the end.> Dakshi lectures Scorch, her words deep and firm. This is an important lesson, and she must be strict about it.
Scorch blinks and turns his head towards his mentor, an apologetic expression adorning his own raptor-like features. <They're not excuses! Well, I suppose they are... I just get the feeling that if I'd attacked them to get rid of them, I would've regretted it.> A brief pause follows, during which the once-evolved fire lizard's gaze shifts back to the burning rock beneath them. <Humans and their brainwashed companions! Argh! It makes me...> he growls, clenching his fists as tight as they will go. <If I'd told him what -I- knew, he would've taken the human's side, for sure... Poor Charmander... He doesn't know what this is doing to him. If only he could find out without doing it the hard way, like me!> he mutters in a low tone, his eyes looking at nothing in particular. <What would you have done? If they'd come along and found you hunting and ruined your chances?> he asks, only trying to get another perspective on the situation. Of course, Dakshi's is probably the wisest perspective around, in Scorch's view.
Eek! A Psykitt! Hope Santa has reindeer insurance! (Saving)
Sharp, white fangs flash dangerously, when Dakshi opens her mouth to respond to the smaller Chameleon's retort. <Oh, they aren't are they?> Dakshi inquires, feigning curiosity to mask her disappointment with Scorch's blinded response. However, when Scorch does admit, that they are indeed excuses, the Charizard nods her head up and down a few times, grumbling with approval. At Scorch's next response, Dakshi nods again, closing her eyes in a sagely fashion. <First of all, I would have done what you did. At first,> she starts, lifting a clawed digit in the air, to put emphasis on this point, <It was a very wise decision to retreat from the human, /and/> Dakshi growls bitterly, <Its pet. However,> The Charizard turns around so that she's facing the Charmeleon, and spreads her arms above her, and lifts her wings in an arc for added effect, <Are you telling me, that one human, and a Charmander, were able to scare away every pokemon on the island? Certainly, you don't mean to say that. Yes, I would have left the area I was hunting, but I wouldn't have returned home so quickly. Instead, I would have gone someplace else, and tried again.> Dakshi replies, feeling as if, for just a moment, she's failed her student with her training. <Scorch, you must start to behave like you've been taught. Have you learned nothing?>
Failed? Hardly. However with his latest actions Scorch has once again proved that his thoughts are not -totally- on the things he has been taught. A shameful flaw that must be corrected, and quickly. Scorch's vision drops to his feet, finally seeing what he did wrong. <I... I'm sorry. It was just...> he apologizes, shaking his reptilian head. <No. No more excuses. That's the old me talking, and that's not me anymore...> he states, getting to his feet once more. <Sometimes I wonder if Scorch is really my name anymore. That was the Charmander's name, but I don't feel... There's not much of the old, dumb me left...> he ponders, taking a few contemplative steps towards the cave mouth. What's in a name? Apparently not much anymore for the Charmeleon. Just as he has grown in size, knowledge and skill with the help of Dakshi, so has he become too big for his own name. <I'm gonna try again... And this time I'll return with food for both of us!>
Eek! A Psykitt! Hope Santa has reindeer insurance! (Saving)
Dakshi watches Scorch, her eyes observant, her expression approving. <Do not be sorry. You have learned a valuable lesson today. I am quite proud of that.> The Charizard nods her head once, and glances outside. At least it isn't pouring rain like it has been the last couple of days. Perhaps she should go hunting too? A nice Mankey sure would be a welcome change to the Pidgey they've been eating for the past few weeks. Of course, with the onset of winter and the lack of leaves in the trees, the pig-monkey pokemon might be exceedingly hard to track this time of year. When Scorch makes his next statement, Dakshi replies short and simply, <You are, who you are.> she pauses and adds briskly, <You were never dumb,> the older female assures him with a grunt, before saying, <Naive perhaps. Not dumb.> Watching as Scorch nears the mouth of the cave, Dakshi follows after him, the sound of her heavy lumbering steps, echoing against the walls of the heated cave, <I am sure that you will.> Dakshi agrees confidently, pleased with her student's willingness to try again, amused with his determination and stubbornness, slightly reminded of herself in her younger days. <Would you like some company, or would you prefer to go it alone?>
It seems Scorch is viewing himself as if the Charmeleon and his earlier form are two seperate entities. Perhaps this is true. Whatever his reasoning, he seems to be distancing himself from his earlier naivety. Nodding in acknowledgement, he looks up at his companion with considerably brighter eyes than before. At least he doesn't have to look up as far anymore. <Wow... I learned something and I didn't even know it!> he smiles. <I am who I am...> he says slowly, looking down at himself. He is certainly different, that is for sure. Enough for him to want to discard the last connection to his family? Perhaps. <I was dumb once, and I regret it. It was my fault for going with a human, so it's my fault I lost everything. Again, I can't thank you enough for correcting my fault...> he says, his own dark eyes looking up into those of his friend. Sincere is one thing that he will always be. He takes a few more steps forwards, basking in the sunlight yet enduring the cold air of winter. Cinnabar may not suffer as much as the rest of the world, but the cool weather reaches the island like everywhere else. Turning once again to his cavemate, he nods in reply. <I wouldn't mind! If you want to join me, you're more than welcome! There'll be more hands to hold the food then!>
Eek! A Psykitt! Hope Santa has reindeer insurance! (Saving)
Grinning the Charizard growls in her guttural tone of voice, <You learn something new everyday.> Standing at the foot of the cave, with her eyes on Scorch, the female sighs softly. <Sometimes, you must learn things the hard way. It is a difficult method, but, it always helps you to remember.> Dakshi admits, feeling a little sorry to see the Charmeleon being so hard on himself. <You are quite welcome,> the Charizard murmurs, acknowledging the male's gratitude, <But, I've only been a guide. It was you, who made the correction. Don't ever forget that.> Silent once more, she sits in the sunlight, happy to bask in its warmth, even with the cold wind blowing against her sensitive scales -- in fact, the contrast between the two temperatures feels rather nice, and gives her skin a tingling feeling. Feeling less lethargic, and more rejuvenated with the thought of being outside, Dakshi flaps her wings and takes a step outside of the cave. <I do believe I shall join you. It feels good to be outside, and I've been rather lazy this winter.> Dakshi admits, mentally cuffing herself for taking it easy, with the come of the colder weather. She chuckles then. <With the food we're going to catch, I think an extra pair of hands is just what we'll need.> the winged beast growls with a friendly wink.
<Yeah, learning the hard way isn't nice... But I'm past that, thanks to you... Well, okay. We did it together then.> Scorch nods, as if he won't accept any changes to this statement. <Okay, let's go for it! Let's catch the biggest Pidgeys around! Or Mankeys, or whatever we find!> he smiles, his eagerness returning. <I could eat just about anything...> The sunshine is once again a welcome addition to the scene, and even the cold wind is only slight to him, allowing it to go ignored. A bright flame matching a bright spirit, Scorch is once more his cheerful self. Anger, sadness and frustration definitely don't suit him one bit. Unlike his larger companion, Scorch is as active as he always has been, but one thing is for certain, Scorch wouldn't bear to be without the Charizard now. If he were a Charizard himself, this might be called love, but as it is, close friendship is enough for now. Dakshi isn't so much a guide to Scorch as she is a guardian angel, except her wings aren't of the feathery kind.
Dakshi nods her head once in acceptance. It isn't exactly the answer she wants to hear, but she's willing to settle for a compromise. <Yes, we should hunt now. The sun is starting to set, so the Pidgey should be feeding before they head to their roosts. This is the perfect time to track for them.> Dakshi informs her student, feeling a pang of nostalgia, and a wish to be united with the Charmeleon that were her family again. Of course, with Scorch as her student, and sharing her cave, Dakshi can't help but feel as if he is part of her family now. And, in a way, he is. Dakshi looks down at her stomach when a persistent grumbling issues forth from its depths, and she nods her head agreeably. <I could too, I think.> she admits with an amused chuckle, before heading out past the hot springs and towards the wooded area that's tucked away behind the cave, away from the rest of the touristy area of Cinnabar Island. <Come, let us go. And,> she starts with a smile, <Why don't you lead the way?> Despite the bleak weather, and the cold, rainy days that lay ahead, one thing is for certain: With Scorch in her life, to be her friend, and to be her student, Dakshi's soul will always be filled with affection for the Charmeleon that's crawled his way into the depths of her heart.
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