Music
Cinnabar Island: Volcanic Slope
The base of the volcano is still covered in a thick blanketing of forest. The narrow path, covered in leaves and brush, almost looks like it hasn't been used in years. Still, a small clearing opens up at the end of the path, with a quaint little building. Behind the building is a large hot spring, divided in two by a wooden fence. From here, one can see only trees and the volcano. Every so often, tiny gouts of flame can be seen rising from the top of the cone. Odd, especially since the volcano is extinct. Isn't it?
Contents:
Finesse
Obvious exits:
East <E> leads to Nine-Tails Breeding Center.
South <S> leads to Cinnabar Island: Big Riddle Inn.
West <W> leads to Cinnabar Caves - Steam Cave.
Down <D> leads to Cinnabar Island: Steaming Tunnel.
North <N> leads to Cinnabar Island: Hiking Path.
Fair weather clouds drift through the blue sky from the west, along with the wind. The sunlight on the snow is dazzling, and it gleams on the ice. In the forest, blowing snow drifts against the trunks of the trees. While at the coast, the sea is bright but cruel and cold looking in the sunlight, the waves gentle and the whitecaps small.
Finesse heads along the path, only her and the lone Charmander that provides walking company. Her windbreaker is the only protection against the cold, being only a slight chill in the air rather than the icy blast to be found on the island proper. No snow on the ground at all. Cinnabar /does/ have its redeeming qualities, rather. The Charmander walks with his nose in a book, though he appears to be having a rough time of it. Apparently Charmanders don't read very well.
With the early morning sun climbing higher into the sky, white clouds drifting lazily by, and the day just beginning, now is the perfect time for a hunting session. It is here that the Charmeleon known as Scorch shows his talents. Patiently he waits, hiding his crimson form in the undergrowth, making the most of the camouflage this provides. What is he waiting for? Well, the cries of Pidgeys may be heard in the trees, driven to the island by the onset of winter. While they may be the most awkward prey to catch, this fiery lizard has obtained a taste for them, the reward justifying the effort needed to catch one. The location he has chosen is ideal too, as the insects around the area are indeed tempting to the bird pokemon. No sign of anything coming within striking distance, however. Scorch inhales slightly, readying himself for a long wait.
Finesse rolls a small metal object around in one hand. A bullet. No gun on her, though, so it's a touch odd that she has that. Still walking in silence, neither of the two make a move to talk to each other much, enjoying the relative peace. Except for "Watch that hole in the path." or "Turn, Blaze, turn, try to pay attention to where you're going." they both seem content to just be with one another, as it were. Again with the oddness, the Charmander suddenly holds up the book in one set of stubby claws and shouts out <Under the oak!>
With his striking scarlet scales and a brightly burning flame, it is a wonder that any pokemon will come near Scorch, regardless of how well he is hidden. As a matter of fact, he isn't hidden all that well. He is lying flat on his tan-colored belly, his body as low as it can go. While he -has- scattered some dirt over his back, along with his own natural markings (which seem to have been designed specifically for this purpose), the bright red of his own leathery skin makes him stand out like a lighthouse. He must just be hoping that the birds are either dumb or blind or both. The Charmeleon eyes the approach of the Charmander and his human with a little resentment, but he makes no move to reveal himself yet... Not that he is invisible anyway. As Blaze cries out, Scorch takes a deep breath and blinks. Has he been spotted? The Charmeleon doesn't distinguish between trees, so he doesn't know if he is under an oak or not. All he can do is remain where he is, about as inconspicuous as a cop at a smuggler's hideout.
Eek! A Psykitt! Hope Santa has reindeer insurance! (Saving)
Finesse stops outright. "How much of it did you figure out, Blaze?" The Charmander seems rather excited. <All of it!> She checks her watch. "Wow. Under an hour this time. I'm impressed. You're getting better.... Hey, friend of yours?" She points out at the visible tail-flame, unable to really see much more of the pokemon... Mostly because of the forest in the way. The Charmander looks apprehensive. <I don't know. I can't see. What is it?> From his lower vantage point, he indeed needs to move further into the brush to see the other Char.
Oddly enough, the cold air doesn't seem to be bothering this Charmeleon. Then again, endurance was what made him evolve, and by the same logic, it will make him evolve again. With today's hunting trip as an exhibition of his talents however, it seems he is going nowhere fast. As Finesse points in his direction, Scorch deduces that he has indeed been spotted... not a difficult task, by any means. With a sigh, the Charmeleon pushes himself to his feet and marches forward into full view. His expression shows clear annoyance, and he eyes the Charmander with a curious eye, as if to say 'why are -you- with -her-?' Folding his arms across his chest and standing as straight as possible, he prepares to make a speech. <You are trespassing on our hunting grounds!> he states, pointing a sharp claw in Blaze's direction. Oddly, he seems to be ignoring Finesse for the moment.
Blaze stops short in a hurry. <Aw, crap.> He takes a few backward steps, hugging the book to his chest defensively. Finesse now gets the impression that something may be wrong. "What's the matter, Blaze?" Blaze, though is already meekly apoligizing. <Really sorry. I didn't mean to... Jesse, now really isn't the time to try to handle this. Just let me do it.> He looks to the ground, not making eye contact with the larger pokemon. Jesse takes a step back. Alright, let the Charmander do it as he will. A glint of metal might be seen as she tucks the cartridge into her pocket.
The evolved pokemon narrows his eyes and looks down at the Charmander. That at least is something he wasn't able to do before. The human doesn't seem as tall as the rest of them used to, either. Well, being twice the size he used to be has its advantages, at least. A slight smirk makes its way onto Scorch's face, seeing his intimidating form actually -work- for the first time. <First mistake, no problem. Just don't do it again.> The Charmeleon takes a deep breath before continuing. <So you need to turn around and go back the way you came, or go -quickly- to where you want to go. You're driving the Pidgey away,> he states, although he is probably doing that himself. <So which is it to be, kid?> Calling the Charmander 'kid' seems to satisfy the Charmeleon's need for superiority, even though there is likely to be only a small age difference between the reptilian pokemon.
Eek! A Psykitt! Hope Santa has reindeer insurance! (Saving)
Blaze seems confused. <What do you mean, which? Leave or something else? I didn't hear a second choice... If you want Pidgeys wouldn't you just throw down a pile of grains and seeds? I've seen Jesse do that lots of times, even though she doesn't eat them. Lulling them into a false sense of security has always been my theory.> Finesse cuts him off with an indignified "That's not it and you know it!" Blaze gestures at her to 'zip it', and she trudges a bit further away, to remove her pokedex from a pocket and begin scanning information, disgruntled but willing to acquice.
Scorch frowns. <A smart one, huh? The choices are exactly that. Leave or leave.> He seems to be annoyed that the Charmander is trying to teach -him- things. <Seeds? Where am I going to get seeds around here? Anyway, these aren't the type of Pidgey that would come down if you held out a claw... Not the human-liking kind that go into towns and eat anything they're given. They see -anything- suscpicious, they flee. They like bugs, bugs and more bugs, so I let them have their bugs and then pounce!> Here the Charmeleon swings his arms together and past each other, claws outstretched in a classic hunting maneuver. <So don't think you can tell -me- how to hunt properly...> he finishes, folding his arms once more.
Blaze apologizes again, perfectly willing to concede ground, and takes another step back. <But... A Pidgey is a Pidgey, and a Pidgey is stupid. How hard can they possibly be to catch, if you hunt smarter than they escape? Even so much as going out of your way to catching the bugs yourself, and using those, then? Bugs are even /easier/ to catch... How hard can it be? I've had those feathered buggers alight not an arms reach away... even if there was a window between us, but that's not the point.>
Now the Charmander is -really- beginning to tick Scorch off. <It's not -how- I hunt that's the problem, it's -where- I hunt. I hunt here. You are here ruining my chances, so either help or get lost!> he frowns, showing the slightest hint of his sharp teeth as he does so. While he might once have been tolerant and grateful for any assistance offered, his own proud nature has now taken over, refusing to accept that something smaller than him might know more than him. That must be a hint of the old and slightly feral Scorch showing through, as he was when he first left home.
Eek! A Psykitt! Hope Santa has reindeer insurance! (Saving)
Blaze takes another step back, nearly back to the path by now. <Even you, if you knew how this darkness soaks me through and through, and infuses unholy fear in my essence, you would pause to distinguish what hurts from what amuses.> He says the enigmatic stanza in a rather grave tone, his own ire of a slightly different nature. Finesse, just out of earshot, watches, but doesn't interfere, believing that mayhaps the young Charmander may just learn something out of the encounter.
If he does learn something, it will probably be not to annoy a Charmeleon. However, the recital Blaze provides does confuse him somewhat. <What? I tell you what, if you don't leave, you'll find something that will hurt -you- and amuse -me-! Don't make me speed up your escape!> he growls slightly, showing his teeth clearly. The Charmeleon would probably be red with rage right now, but his crimson scales make this difficult to distinguish. Turning for the first time to Jesse, he instead appeals to her. <Human, your -friend- seems to be having trouble understanding the word 'leave'. Explain it to him.>
Finesse's comprehension of Charmander is only partially converted to understanding of Charmeleon, but it doesn't exactly take a forensic to figure out the general intention. "You know Blaze, I'm not really sure you're getting anywhere with him... her... whatever. I'm sure that we could probably find something interesting someplace else." The Charmander seems close to capitulating. <Alright, if you don't want help, then you don't want help. I guess that maybe I thought you might know more than I do. I suppose I was wrong.>
Eek! A Psykitt! Hope Santa has reindeer insurance! (Saving)
<No, I don't want help. Yes, I -do- know more than you, but I'm not sharing today. If you want to learn something, don't interrupt my hunting, okay?> the Charmeleon says, calming considerably. Regardless, he seems unwilling to pass on any knowledge today, especially not to an owned pokemon. <I suggest you go and try and catch me on a good day, okay?> With that, he turns around, but instead of going back to his hunting ground, he turns towards the peak of the mountain. <Sorry, but this isn't a good day anymore...> he says before trudging away, back towards the place he calls home.
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