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Rustic Path - Route 13: Beaten Path
A beaten cobblestone path that leads out from the charming seaside town of Maiden's Peak. It looks very much like part of the largely rustic city, blending in well with the other parts of town. Small cottages appear every so once in a while along the road, filled with nice, helpful people, ready to lend aid or provide a cheap night's stay. Shrubbery is the most prominent plant around here, and creeping vines along some of the trees make for a somewhat medieval-looking, but nice scene. Every so often, a Tangela will pop up and run about. This is a very good area to find some of the more interesting pokemon. However, some of them do belong to the people that live here and won't be capturable.
Contents:
Streetwind
Obvious exits:
North <N> leads to The Kanmou Breeding Center - Driveway.
East <E> leads to Rustic Path - Route 13: Picnic Spots.
Southwest <SW> leads to Rustic Path - Route 13: Cobblestones.
The weather isn't perfect, but it isn't bad either. The cloudy sky has not yet given way to rain, which is good news for fire-type pokemon that are out and about today. This area of the island isn't completely devoid of human dwellings, but there is few enough to allow passage of wild pokemon. The greenery in this area is thick enough to allow a certain Charmander to pass unnoticed by human eyes. Suddenly, the near silence is broken by the startled cries of a flock of Pidgeys, flying hastily from the cover of one of the trees. The bird pokemon rise into the sky, flying northwards as one, seeming terrified of something. A low mutter of <Rattatas...> comes from the lowest branches of the tree, showing the presence of a hungry fire pokemon who has just failed his hunting attempt.
A port in a storm, a home away from home. We're (saved)!
Some things never change. For example, the behavior of some of the pokemon she meets, wild or owned, never ceases to surprise Streetwind. How can one hope to hunt by climbing a tree?! And so clumsily, too? The stray Ninetales has watched the small fire lizard doing what he calls hunting for a while. He seems very fixated on that tree of his; otherwise, he likely would have seen the large fox resting only a stone's throw away, under a different tree. With seven feet of sand-white fur carelessly sprawled out among lush green grass and flowers, she's not exactly well hidden, at least. Streetwind watches Scorch out of two half-closed eyes. That, and a weak smile, is all she grants him. For everything else, she's too lazy. In contrary to the bold tree hunter, the firefox has had her meal already. Chewed up bones form a small heap a small distance away from the large predator that was responsible for their production.
The small pokemon drops the short distance from his branch to the ground, landing in the thick grass below the tree with a low thud. After a short amount of rustling, the grass parts and Scorch emerges from the clump, looking skywards. With a taste for Pidgeys and a body not really suited to running, Scorch has to rely on the element of surprise to feed himself, something he isn't very good at, obviously. With a sigh, Scorch slumps forwards, looking completely dejected. He shakes his head and looks around, determined not to give up so easily. He spots Streetwind easily, now his sights are not focused skywards. He blinks, unsure of the nature of the larger pokemon. <Uh... hi!> he says, giving a hesitant wave, before continuing to look around. A low growl might be heard coming from his stomach if one listens closely enough, showing the poor thing probably hasn't eaten in a while.
Hmmm, this moment could be perfect if it wasn't for the clouds, and the not-really-warm air. In the brilliant midday sunshine on a hot and hazy summer day, Streetwind sleeps twice as good. She doesn't mind the heat that drives other pokemon insane. If she could just lie like this, on her side, with the sun shining on her full belly... the mere thought brings pleasant sensations, and the firefox shifts slightly in her bed of grass. Hmmm? Oh, the lizard said something. <Hi>, she grunts in response, sounding every bit as sleepy as she is at the moment. Then, her attention is drawn away again, as a small insect deems Streetwind's left ear is the perfect place for landing. With a flicker of the ear, she sends the insect back into the air it came from. Go land somewhere else!
The Ninetales' blunt response would indicate to every sensible pokemon that she isn't interested in a conversation right now. Unfortunately, Scorch isn't one of the most sensible pokemon around, and he attempts to draw Streetwind into conversation. <So, how'd I do? You saw me up there, right? I was good, wasn't I? Wasn't I? Okay, so I didn't get anything, but I got -this- close!> he indicates with his right thumb and foreclaw exactly how close he imagines he was to the Pidgeys. In reality, he wasn't even on the same branch before they noticed him and took flight, but the Charmander seems to think highly of himself. The small fiery lizard smiles and raises his chin slightly, trying to show off how good he is.
The sky is cloudy grey, and nothing casts a shadow. The southwest wind is mild.
Streetwind's eyes open a bit more. She wants to get a better look at the lizard. The bragging lizard. How he was? Depends on whether he wants to hear the truth, or something that will make him feel good. There's a mid-sized dimension in between those two, honestly. He can't climb properly, he's too loud, too visible, and hunts entirely wrong prey, for his race. <Yeah, I saw you...>, she replies to his question after a moment of thought. With another grunt, she lifts her head off the ground, and twists her upper body so that it comes to rest on the chest. Lizards look funny when sticking out from the wall, but if he insists on staying, Streetwind would like to correct her perspective of things. <That should tell you something already>, she tacks on afterwards.
<I... I know I wasn't that good today, but I've done better! I caught the fattest Pidgey you ever saw! I couldn't eat it all!> Scorch licks his lips, remembering the taste of that particular one. He doesn't reveal the fact that he usually preys on the weak, infirm or just plain dumb ones of the flock. Today he must have been greedy, going after more than one at the same time, very unwise for someone who can't even get -one- at the best of times. He blinks hopefully, but he already knows the stark truth, he was just denying it. <Aw... Who am I kidding? I can't hunt...> he whimpers softly, kicking a convenient pebble into the shrubbery. <I never could... My brothers and sisters always had to share with me when I was little...> Maybe the Charmander just feels a certain familiarity with the Ninetales, or he is just spilling his heart for some sympathy.
A port in a storm, a home away from home. We're (saved)!
Seeking sympathy? From Streetwind? Scorch sure is bold today. But who knows, even the blind sometimes find something. Streetwind is in a strange mood at the moment. She's so full and lazy, she can't be hostile. She can't think complex thoughts. Or, at least, she doesn't want to, not at all. <Why do you hunt Pidgeys anyway? You can't jump, you can't fly, you can't climb. Go for something ground-bound. Maybe you can catch that.> Okay, so not exactly the sympathy the lizard was looking for, but at least helpful advice, if worded somewhat bluntly. If he can't handle the truth, Streetwind couldn't care less.
<I can climb! How do you think I got up there in the first place? Did you think I got a human to put me up there or something?> Scorch looks offended by the words, for some reason. Still, the rest of Streetwind's advice is sound, except that the only ground pokemon worth eating are Rattata, and they are quite a bit faster than this Charmander with his short legs. <Hmm... Rattata... and bugs... I don't like bugs and I can't catch Rattata, I've tried. Well, I can get them sometimes, if I'm lucky,> he explains, looking unhappy as usual.
<You can learn everything if you just keep on trying>, Streetwind states in a convinced manner. The Ninetales doesn't look overly interested in helping Scorch solve his problem, though. She yawns widely for several seconds, showing off sharp, white teeth surrounded by pink flesh, and finally closes her jaws soundfully. Then, she licks her muzzle, and finally shakes her head and neck fur, sending some small plant parts that clung to her fur flying. When her attention wanders back to the lizard, she seems to be waiting for him to do something. It has to be him who has to do something, right? At least, she ain't moving anytime soon!
Scorch grins at the enouragement, if that is what the words are, it is hard to tell. <Er... Didn't I see you before? I seem to remember someone that looked like you... It was ages ago though...> he explains, not too sure if this is the same Ninetales. Then again, how many Ninetales has Scorch seen? He has seen one twice, but it might not be the same one. On the reverse of the coin, Streetwind may recognize the Charmander, as there can't be too many around that have markings, especially ones like his. The only problem is that they are on his back, so Streetwind is unlikely to see them unless he turns around. <It was at that farm place, and there was a Hypno there... That's all I remember.> he finishes. Scorch begins to approach the Ninetales, trying to make out any distinguishing features.
The lizard talks too much. He asked the wrong question. Now Streetwind's good mood is swiftly swiped away, and it shows. Her face turns into a vulpine frown as Scorch speaks. <That farm place...> Did he /have/ to bring out that subject? Okay, it's not exactly /the/ subject, but it's familiar. Anything that contains the word farm is. As Scorch steps closer, the Ninetales glares at him, no longer seeming friendly. <You heard what happened to that farm place, didn't you?>, she asks with an ever so slight threat in her voice, be it intended or not. One or two of the large fox' spread-out tails twitch at their tips.
<Um... No?> Scorch says, a puzzled look on his face. <I was away for a while, you see, and...> he stops, seeing the not-so-friendly expression on the fox's face. <I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?> he asks. Boy, he really isn't very bright, is he? There are signs of intimidation in his demeanor, his voice is unsteady and his stance has become more defensive. <I'm sorry...> he repeats, not wanting to anger a pokemon that could eat him for lunch.
A port in a storm, a home away from home. We're (saved)!
Yeees, you did say something wrong. You ruined a happy and content Streetwind's mood for the rest of the day. And that, as one can imagine, is never a good idea. Despite Scorch's attempt at an apology, Streetwind remains tense, and threatening. <Then I suggest you go there now. Go there, and take a good look. Ask someone there if you have to.> The firefox pushes herself up into a sitting position while she speaks. With the result that her head is now above the lizard's. And she uses that position to stare down mercilessly onto poor little Scorch. <But mostly...> She's peaking slowly and intently, to make sure he understands. <But mostly, get away from here.> Her eyes narrow a bit, and she leans forward. <Quickly.>
The sky is cloudy grey, and nothing casts a shadow. The southwest wind is mild.
Poor Scorch. Unwittingly provoking the wrath of a Ninetales wasn't one of his plans for today, nor was it a wise idea. Looking up at the Ninetales and taking a few cautious steps backwards, the Charmander opens his mouth to say something, then snaps it shut again quickly. Better not give Streetwind any more ammunition. With a scared and apologetic glance, Scorch turns tail and swiftly trots away, giving a clear view of his unique markings. Without another word, he darts into the undergrowth once more, leaving only rustling grass in his wake.
In conclusion, Rule Number One is: don't annoy anything bigger than you. Streetwind would be perfectly capable of shredding the Charmander and eating him for lunch, so Scorch has learned to avoid her for now. Still, it was a perfect example of how vividly she portrays the character, and I will gladly roleplay with her again.
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