[IC] As Gods Sleep Chapter 1: The Dust Settles. . .

[Zephyrus the Priestess]

After a bit of effort, Umbreon tumbled over onto her back, then looked up indignantly at the dude. "All right, thought getting a human would help..." she muttered through her teeth or... fangs, emanating utter impatience. "Oi, Hound!" The blue-ringed Pokemon turned, her tail high, and sped away in the direction she last saw her canine companion.

[Ojama Yellow]

Sark was almost, almost gone when he turned around one final time. He saw the small Dragon-type, who just lost his mother, cuddling to the Pangoro. For a brief moment, he felt an emotion he never felt since he left his homeland. It was compassion. Grief. He quickly shook it off. Why does this situation make me feel...so uncomfortable? He then recalled why he teamed up with Yuki before. She saved him. He had to repay her. And if he wanted to defeat whatever that caused the wind he felt before, he was going to need help. He walked back to the group. I can't believe I'm actually doing this...

[K_H]

When the Deino clipped Kenny's hand while eating, she also bit right through the Scalchop the Berries were on.

Jeez, that's one powerful bite. I would hate to be in her way when she grows up...

He then noticed that the new shape of the Scalchop looked a bit, well, interesting. He decided to change the shape of the Scalchop a little.

hmm... perhaps if i trim off a few bits here and there... aha! now what'll i call the new thing that is made from it? a Scalcharang? sounds good. so, time to get to work on creating it!

And with that, Kenny started to shave off slivers of the broken scalchop with the still-whole scalchop. When he had finished, the Scalchop looked and functioned like a Boomerang with the sharpness of a Scalchop on the edges.

Perfect. now, to test it out...

"Nivia, i'd like to try something out. When I use Water Gun, i want you use Ice Beam on the Water Gun. That should freeze it into a pole. If we do that several times, the entire group can train up on their fighting skills using the poles, and i can test out this new weapon and technique i've thought about trying."

Then, he felt the chilling wind again.

Oh no, not again. What the heck is it?!

"Hey, Lily, Do you know what the source for that wind is? I'm totally befuddled as to what it could be."

Edited May 5, 2014 by K_H

[Flux]

Blaze let out a whimper and covered his eyes as the gunshot rang out. He caught a glimpse of the Hydreigon falling limp to the ground, never to move again.

-----------------------------

Blaze walked over by Theo and Nivia, feeling a mix of anger at the human boy, guilt at the part he had played, and sadness for the Hydreigon and the Deino. He sat next to Theo, watching the Deino eat. It would never see its mother again, much like how he may never see his trainer again. That feeling of hopelessness for the both of them crushed his heart, and he began to cry.

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

"I do not wish to remain here. This wind greatly bothers me. However, there are some things that need to be taken care of. Firstly, I think we should name this Pokemon. and Secondly, I need to recover my wounds as well. However, Rest would take too long for my tastes." said Theo, a rather serious look on his face. It must of been strange for the other Pokemon. Seeing a Giant Pangoro covered in wounds, holding a small fragile babe.

Blaze started to cry. All Theo could do, was place his hand on his friend's back. He hoped he would know, Theo was there for him. Master Blaze was important to him in a strange way, same with Lady Nivia. And now, this Nameless Babe. He didn't want to let go of her, he wanted to protect her with all his might.

Edited May 5, 2014 by Hukuna

[K_H]

Kenny noticed the Cyndaquil start to cry. Then, he noticed the Cyndaquil's Armband.

huh? did he also?...

"Hey, what's that armband? i've got something similar."

and with that, he put his forearm forward, showing the bracelet that had the diamond and sapphire to the Cyndaquil.

"This bracelet of mine represents the bond me and my trainer share. i lost him to the rifts, though. all that's been keeping me going forwards has been the hope that he's survived."

he then realized that he didn't even know the Cyndaquil's name.

"Who are you, anyways?"

[DarkLight]

"Nivia, I'd like to try something out. When I use Water Gun, i want you use Ice Beam on the Water Gun. That should freeze it into a pole. If we do that several times, the entire group can train up on their fighting skills using the poles, and i can test out this new weapon and technique I've thought about trying."

Nivia became even more upset when Kenny ask for her help. It's not that she didn't want to help, but Nivia felt that this was not the time. She was already crying when Blaze also started crying beside her.

"H-How can you focus your mind on training right now?" Nivia lashed out at the poor Dewott. "We just... Just k-k-killed that Deino's m-mother! I-I mean... It's o-one thing to i-injure it s-so that w-we can move to that mountain, b-but KILLING it is just WRONG! That baby is helpless against the w-world we live in! I-I mean, just look at her! S-She can't even see! A-And now we h-have that wind coming back again! Don't y-you feel any g-guilt and shame for what we have done?!" The Dewgong sobbed as she felt the horrible, dark wind creeping up upon the group once again.

[K_H]

Nivia's scolding made Kenny flinch.

"Hey, Nivia, i don't know why the Human Boy shot it, but i DO know that he was the one who killed it. I feel horrible about the fact that we were the ones that weakened it, but I got KO'd in the process, remember?"

then, Kenny realized that the Deino needed a mother as well as a father. he knew that there was a Dark Type who was a female nearby, the Umbreon.

"Hang on a sec, guys, we should probably get all the People and Pokemon in the group together before deciding what to do next. I'll go get Umbreon, Houndoom, and Zephyr. One of you guys go get Gardevoir, Togepi, and Gale."

[Ojama Yellow]

Sark listened in to the conversation between Kenny and the Dewgong that was apparently named Nivia. As he heard Kenny asking for someone to go get the human, the Togepi, and the Gardevoir, he replied: "I'll do that. And...Nivia is your name, correct? Nivia, I know it's sad that baby Deino is an orphan because we killed his mother, but Kenny's idea isn't bad. Training may be disrespectful, but you felt that wind, didn't you? The thing that controls that, is more powerful than an Hydreigon. We need all the training we can get." With those words he walked off to get the human and his Togepi.

He found them sitting in a corner, the human feeling down and the Togepi trying to cheer him up. Completely ignoring the human, he said to the Togepi: "Kenny got the idea of getting all together to discuss what to do next. You can come with that Gardevoir, and you can take that with you you if you want," Sark said as he pointed at the human.

Edited May 20, 2014 by Bibarel

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

"Hmmm, I will name you Umbra. That sounds like a fine name." Theo said to the little Deino in his arms, He kinda blanked out for a little while racking his brain thinking about it. He didn't really notice what had just transpired though he was pretty close by. Theo tended to get lost in his thoughts, mostly since he wasn't used to being around others. He held onto little Umbra, while feeding her a few more berries. "What is going on guys?" the big Bear asked.

[Code: PIRULUK]

Ugh. Lily hated her emotion synchronisation sometimes. It tended to kick in at the most annoying moments. Right now, she was sharing the human's unusually strong feelings of guilt. Sighing, she established a telepathic link with Gale.

"Human. It's me. I'm not good at comfort and speeches, so I'll make this simple and brutally honest. You are responsible for the murder of the Hydreigon. You shot it with intent to kill. You cannot escape this fact. But. What yo uused was no excessive force. The dragon, too, attacked us intending to kill. It may have been confused, or protective, but the intent does not excuse the action. You did what you needed to in order to preserve the lives of everyone here. That is the truth. If someone slaps you, do you turn the other cheek? No. In the past, maybe. But in this chaos which we call our world? No. If both people and Pokemon cannot be trusted to guard their own interests, what can they be trusted with?"

Lily's tone became gentler, kinder.

"Gale... This guilt you're feeling... Embrace it. Learn from it. Resent it. But do not drown in it. Accept what you have done, and also accept that it had to be done. The greatest way you can atone for your murder of the dragon is to allow it to help you grow as an individual."

[Arkhi]

A voice came into Gale's mind. It was clearly Lily, with the sharp, condescending tone of speech, like a parent speaking down to a child, chiding him. She said what he knew would come next, but he was still unprepared to hear it.
"Oh yeah, I killed a creature. Let me check that off of my 'characterization chart'. And as for 'embracing the guilt'... What the hell do you think is happening now? It's basically choking me at this point!" he rose his voice, almost a shout, but still controlled.
Gale shook his head. "I fucked up. I can't just turn the page and leave the guilt," he said, lowering his voice quite a lot, trying to control his tone. "I know I messed up. But honestly... Learning from this benefits only me. In the end, there's still a corpse, an orphan, and me."
Gale looked at Gardevoir, his tears already gone and spent. "What can I do? What can I physically perform to... 'Move on'?" he asked bluntly. He remembered earlier, when she descended on him with a kick, then spouted philosophy about how he was a warrior at heart. In no way did he feel that way now, but he was wanted to. Wanted to be honorable.

[Code: PIRULUK]

Lily sighed. She was getting a little annoyed at the human's endless guilt trip.

"Prepare."

She sped towards Gale, fist enclosed in dense psychic energy.

[Chevaleresse]

Amarantha replied to the Bidoof. "That sounds like the best plan for now, though it looks like we need to do a little wound-licking." She returned to Gale, continuing to attempt to comfort the poor human, until Lily apparently became upset and threw a punch at him. As she stumbled backward, she thought, She wouldn't really hurt him, would she?

[Arkhi]

Two and two went together to remind Gale that Lily was not to be toyed with. The strike that potentially could have blown his head off uppercut him right on the forehead, sending him straight up, before being flung onto the ground, his back aching like never before. His head felt like Chernobyl inside, what with the pain from the punch and the insane headache that resulted. He lay there, limbs outstretched, slipping in and out of consciousness before snapping back awake. Unfortunately. Never before had he felt this sort of physical pain. That'll teach me to question confidence, he thought sarcastically

[Code: PIRULUK]

Lily dusted off her skirt and sat down in front of Gale.

"That headache was the sum of all the resentment the Hydreigon felt for you at the moment it died. As you can evidently see, you're not dead. The weight of resentment is not that which the murdered feels toward the murderer. The Hydreigon does not hate you for killing it, so will you go on hating yourself?"

[Ojama Yellow]

Sark looked at the trio. The Togepi and the Gardevoir were apparently trying to comfort the human. Why? Why would they do that? He killed that Hydreigon, can't they realise that he's a damn murderer? He walked away, back to Kenny and the Dewgong named Nivia. Apparently the Pangoro joined the discussion, along with little Deino. "The three of them will come...eventually. Togepi and Gardevoir are still trying to..." the white beaver paused a bit. "cheer up the human."

[Zephyrus the Priestess]

"Hey, hey, is she okay?" The hellhound asked his friend, rather concerned about their-- admittedly, somewhat unstable Trainer and partner's condition. Zephyr'd been kneeling by the huge corpse's side for a while now and didn't seem to be responding to either Houndoom or Umbreon's gentle nudges.

Climbing down from the lap of the girl in question, the ringed Pokemon shrugged.

"I can't tell if she fainted or fell asleep or what. It's like she's shut me out somehow." Umbreon whimpered in frustration and worry. "Urgh, why'd... Why'd this happen? Darn it, she shouldn't have trusted those guns to the dude. Heck, I couldn't even get him to help me look for her..." She leapt onto Zephyr's shoulders and tried to get her attention from up there, pawing the girl's head gently.

"Zephyr, c'mon, girl. Get up... We've gotta go... That crazy wind's acting up again, and I don't like what it's telling me..."

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

"It is fine, I am sure he needs a bit of time after that." Theo said. "Anyways, I think Umbra fell asleep, not sure though she is very quiet." Theo was still holding the Baby Deino, gently in his arms. "I am going to need to rig something up to carry her, I think I have something that will work in those supplies I carried here. Nivia, can you hang onto Umbra for me for a little?"

[DarkLight]

Nivia nodded numbly as Theo put down the baby Deino beside her; she was still considering what Kenny and the white (wait, white?) Bidoof had said. As she dried her tears, the Dewgong looked back at the incoming wind that is creeping ever so slowly behind them. Her self-pity is replaced with disgust, slightly. Repulsed by the dark color, Nivia turned towards the little dark dragon.

She watched the tiny Deino, Umbra is what Theo named her, lay motionless beside her, or so it seems. Her body rose up and down steadily as she breathed, seemingly at peace with the world around her. Nivia lied down so that their faces are leveled, sighing with a choked sob here and there. Seeing the Deino resting so peacefully reminded the blue-eyed Dewgong of her days as a baby Seel, swimming playfully without a care in the world.

"She is so innocent to this world, the poor thing..." Nivia thought sadly. She covered little Umbra with her tail, hoping that it might give her some warmth as the Deino slept. "I-I guess that is the most I c-could do, right?" She asked the river. "It's not like I could be her mot--"

Nivia gasped as she felt Umbra playing underneath her rubbery tail. The Dewgong was surprised that the little dragon didn't bound away from an Ice type like herself, which usually happens with older dragons. "A-Aren't you afraid of me?" she asked the little dragon.

Umbra stopped and turned her head towards the source of her voice. The dark dragon then began stumbling towards her, sniffing around to get a scent of the seal. Nivia watched as Umbra fell onto the grass right in front of her face, although it didn't seem to bother the dragon. Umbra proceeded to sniff the Dewgong out of curiosity.

"Hi there, little Umbra." Nivia spoke quietly. The said Deino jumped back in surprise, then lowered her little head so that they are at eye-level, or so it would be if Nivia could see Umbra's eyes underneath all of that hair.

Umbra let out a small cry; she was curious about this strange creature she sniffed up. The creature didn't smell like a dark type and her body is colder than most Pokemon's. Yet, the Pokemon didn't harm her, so the cold one must be safe to approach, right?

"That's right, Umbra. I'm one of the ones that had a hand in... the death of your mother. You should stay away from me," Nivia said despondently to the curious Umbra. Instead if taking her advice, however, Umbra somehow found her way back to Nivia's tail and crawled underneath it again, letting out a small cry of enjoyment as Nivia's tail flowed around her. The Dewgong couldn't help but smile despite her circumstances.

"...Training may be disrespectful, but you felt that wind, didn't you? The thing that controls that, is more powerful than an Hydreigon. We need all the training we can get."

"Maybe that white Bidoof has a point." Nivia thought as the Deino played around. "If we don't get stronger, then my guilt over killing Hydreigon would be pointless. Then we might not even be able to save little Umbra.The least I could do is to protect Umbra until she could defend herself. I can't let a baby Pokemon live on its own, especially since I was the reason as to why she is an orphan in the first place. That is the one thing I can do for Hydreigon as my way of saying sorry."

With that, she looked over to find Kenny with the Umbreon, Houndoom and the girl. If making poles can help them protect the little Deino as well as themselves, she might as well help Kenny now. "Hey there! Didn't you want to make ice poles or something before? I'm ready when you are!"

[K_H]

"You're ready? Great! let's get to it! on the count of three, i'll use Water Gun!"

Kenny then readied a Water Gun for the Target Making.

"One, Two, THREE!"

as he said 'Three', he fired off a water gun at the side of the Path, positioned at the optimal angle for an Ice Beam from Nivia to be able to hit it.

[Zephyrus the Priestess]

The hellhound watched as the Dewott fired(or... Watered? Houndoom shook his head in confusion.) in interest. As much as he worried for his Trainer, simply sitting around waiting for her to wake up just wasn't going to get them anywhere. And, he thought, nothin' wrong with showing her that we can be stronger too, right? The thought of making Zephyr proud and happy, somehow, seemed to revitalize the dog, though he didn't quite show it.

He yawned. "Hey, kitty. Don't you think we ought to be buffing up too, like that fellow? Y'know. So we can protect Zeph better too."

Umbreon, on the other hand, had to think about it for a while.

"... I guess you've got a point. I don't know. But I'm not going to leave her alone here," she replied, curling up again on the girl's lap. "If you really wanna play around, go on ahead-- we'll take turns watching over Zeph till she comes to."

Not needing to be told twice, Houndoom sped off to join the others in training. Sure, the ominous wind bothered him, and he didn't like leaving Zephyr and Umbreon all by themselves for too long, but just sitting down like this and not taking extra measures to protect his only remaining family-- now that, that just seemed worse.

Making sure to avoid the jet of water, he approached the otter-like Pokemon. "I could go for a warm-up or whatever," he said, casually. "Got room for another?"

Edited June 1, 2014 by ZephyrEnyalios

[K_H]

Kenny heard the Houndoom state he could go for a warm-up, and then ask him if he had room for another. Kenny answered the Huondoom while still firing off Water Gun.

"Yeah, Me and Nivia are creating Poles of Ice for Targets for anyone to practice up on their skills with. i'm going to be testing out this new weapon and technique i've got using some of the poles, there'll be plenty of poles for everyone."

Edited June 1, 2014 by K_H

[Zephyrus the Priestess]

Ice poles, huh? Not bad, but... "Wouldn't those be... a little too simple to hit?" inquired the Houndoom. "If y'all want, I could fire some rounds, and you could get some practices in for moving targets too." After a beat, he added, "So that we don't have to kill each other accidentally."

Looking back in the direction of the massive dragon's body, where his friends remained, he continued on, saying, "Could probably get Umbreon to help out too... If Zephyr'd just wake up. Also, what is that?" He wrinkled his snout, only noticing now something small, with the unmistakable feel that only Dark type Pokemon could give off-- what's more, he picked up the scent of dry scales, sensing a sort of naive, innocent bliss emanating from whatever the heck it was.

Narrow, dark-brown eyes widened in disbelief.

"That's not a... Is it?"

[K_H]

Kenny kept on using Water Gun, and answered the Houndoom's question.

"yes, it's a young Deino. Umbra is the reason i have the new weapon and technique: She bit right through one of my Scalchops. i then altered the shape of the broken Scalchop a little to make what i call a Scalcharang."

as he said that last bit, he showed the Houndoom the Scalcharang he was holding, but still facing the same direction for making Ice Poles. by this time, they'd gotten enough of the poles for their training.

"Oh, and about the Moving Targets: Feel free to help the group train up. we need all the help we can get."

Edited June 1, 2014 by K_H