[FIN] Hunting for Dragons

[TRHQ Yuri Lowell]

It was over a week past Halloween now and they were in the thick of fall. The trees around then were arrayed in brilliant colors and as they went higher in elevation, the fewer the leaves still on the trees. The group had passed through Sagestone uneventfully, and there had been a request to look for Pokemon. So, into the mountains they went, where it was said some dragon types could be found.

The rushing of water could be heard as they approached a wide mountain stream.

Yuri, who wasn't all that interested in catching Pokemon, followed along. Repede, Astal and Link followed along with him. Arms folded behind his head as he went, Yuri simply took in the nature around him.  

[Tymiko]

It wouldn't be long until, if they followed the mountain stream, they would come across Tymiko sitting at its edge, her capris rolled up to her knees as she kicked in the cold water. When she heard someone approaching, she stopped kicking and looked up. "Hi," she said, gazing blankly at them.  

[Tori Honoo]

As they hiked though the woods, Jace bounced long next to. Yuri, his eyes sharp on the trees about him. The promise of dragons--REAL dragons--in the area was more that exciting, and the boy was absolutely determined to find and catch one. Beaming, he looked over his shoulder at Hen. "See any yet?"

Dove followed behind the group quietly, making no move to talk to anyone. Though she had talked to the children and attempted to be lighter, she had yet to find the right time to apologize to Yuri for the rift she had caused and the now gaping hole between them. She spent the days like a dog between her legs, attempting to find little ways to appease him silently, but not daring to bother him if she could avoid it.

When they ran across Tymiko at the side of the river, Jace stopped and grinned brightly. "Ahoy, Captain!" he greeted playfully, saluting.  

[Gwennythe]

"Not yet!" Hen' called, urgently looking... everywhere.
But mostly up.
Most of the dragon types she could think of, off the top of her head, had wings, and wings meant flying, she thought... So, up seemed logical.

She'd reverted to bright energy and enthusiasm again; perhaps even more so than usual, after the adults had had their conflict.
"But they gotta be here somewhere!"
She paused as she heard a greeting, and then grinned at the familiar person they saw ahead.
"Hi! Are you dragon-hunting too?! Oh man, and we totally gotta have a rematch!"  

[TRHQ Yuri Lowell]

As they came to the stream and went up it a ways, Yuri paused and blinked at the familiar figure.

"Well if it isn't the champ," Yuri greeted. "Didn't expect to see you out here."

Or anyone for that matter.  

[Tymiko]

As she regarded the travelers one by one, Tymiko realized that she'd met each and every one of them on at least one occasion prior. This, perhaps, might have been a pleasant surprise for most people; to know that their friends and acquaintances knew each other and got along well enough to travel with each other.

However, a darker voice spoke in the depths of the girl's mind; a childish voice petty with jealousy and malice. Look at them together. They're enjoying themselves. Without you. In a moment of weakness, Ty felt inclined to listen to it. They probably all forgot about you until this instant.

"Ahoy," Ty called back to Jace half-heartedly, trying to work up a smile that fell almost instantly. They never wanted to be your friends. "Oh...you're dragon-hunting?" They're not yours.

Yuri was the last one to come into view. Out of all four people, she thought she'd known him best and that maybe he might've known her. But here, among the group of other dragon-seeking trainers, he was the last straw. And if they aren't yours and yours alone, why should you have anything to do with them?

Staring at him in a moment of disbelief, her features went from blankly surprised to deeply offended. An almost inaudible murmur escaped her lips. "...You traitor."  

[Tori Honoo]

Jace nodded at Hen once, smiling brightly. "We'll find some! Maybe if we find a cave or something it'll be easier..."

His attention switched quickly, however, to Tymiko, his brows furrowing a bit at the lack of zeal in her voice, though he tried for a better smile as she greeted him the same. Why did she seem sad? She was alone again, too... "Yeah! We're dragon hunting! You wanna come with us?" he offered, extending an invitation in addition to Henrietta's question.

Her quiet comment to Yuri, and her sudden change in expression made him pause and blink, as well as drew Dove's full attention. The woman risked a glance at the man she assumed Ty was talking to, and though she herself had attacked him not so long ago, she immediately felt like defending him--though, of course, she had no idea where the comment had come from in the first place, and wasn't too keen on getting involved in more trouble, if, indeed, there was trouble between them. Though she said nothing, she did take a cautious step closer.

Lovey, who had been trailing behind with the other pokemon, moved to the front of the group, in front of Jace, slipping against his leg as she watched Tymiko. Fathom had spoken to her once, and the sudden switch in mood was odd. The eevee quickly realized how glad she was Diana was in her ball.  

[Gwennythe]

Oh right, yeah! Dragons totally lived in caves! Hen' remembered, only prompted by Jace's suggestion, several old Legends and fairy tales that said as much... Plus, Blackthorn was cut into the rock itself, from what she remembered; Jace's home town... She found herself casting about for caves as well as looking up, but as Tymiko was speaking, all attention went to her with a bright smile.

She considered everyone a friend, unless they flat out told her they weren't or were a mean Rocket.
"Yeah, you should totally come! It's gonna be awesome!" She either didn't notice the less enthusiastic tone, or she wasn't responding to it so much; her voice kept the usual enthusiasm.
Until she called Yuri a traitor.
She blinked in confusion, and looked back at him.

Gummy greeted the pirate girl by wandering right past her and sitting down in the stream; his stare was as blank as ever.  

[TRHQ Yuri Lowell]

Yuri looked just as bewildered as the rest of them upon Ty's accusation. His dark eyes blinking at her. "Huh?"

That hadn't been expected either and he paused, glancing at the others before putting a hand on his hip with a smile.

"Okay, how about you guys go on ahead, and catch some Pokemon. I'll catch up with you later."

Whatever was going on they didn't need to be involved. Especially after his fight with Dove.  

[Tymiko]

The water trainer appeared oblivious to everyone and everything else as her narrowed eyes locked on Yuri. None of her pokemon appeared to be out at the moment, but there was a bandage on her right arm.

The only move she made was to put her other hand on it gingerly as she stared the swordsman down. She didn't seem to mind his words to the others if she was even aware of them at all. Perhaps she was too absorbed in the voice at the back of her mind.  

[Tori Honoo]

Jace looked down at Lovey for a split second, confused at her sudden slightly protective nature, then back at the others, stilling his eyes on Yuri. Whatever was going on, it wasn't his business, though it did make him curious,and he nodded, eager to continue the dragon search. "Kay," he offered simply, looking at Ty for a second before moving away in the opposite direction. "Fearless leader awaaaayyyy!" he called, stepping around Lovey with his fist driven into the air, hoping the others would follow. Chester followed behind him.

Dove hesitated, looking at Yuri a long moment in hopes he would give done indication if what was going on, then nodded, realizing even if it was her business, she should expect him to involve her. Waving to Thierry and Aurora, she followed after Jace, scooping up Lovey on the way, casting a glance over her shoulder at Tymiko before disappearing.  

[Gwennythe]

"Come on Gummy!" Hen' called, as Jace took off.
The Totodile continued to sit in the water.
"We gotta go catch dragons! You comin' or you takin' a bath?!"
The Totodile continued to sit in the water.
"You wanna stay here for a bit?"
A slight twitch of his tail.
"'Kay, you catch up; I'm gonna go on ahead and I'll come back down if y' don't come up soon! Yuri, can you make sure he comes up when you do? Thanks!"
The girl, confident of Gummy's ability to catch her up, and, apparently, of Yuri's agreement without even truly waiting for an answer.
"Hey, Jace, wait up! Gummy's gonna catch us up; he's taking a bath!"

If they did meet a dragon, Hen' would, for the moment, have to rely on Winglet.. or Fluffster... to help her catch it.
Until Gummy decided his bath was over anywhere.  

[TRHQ Yuri Lowell]

Yuri passed Dove a smile before heaving an exaggerated sigh at Hen's "request". He didn't argue though and let them go on their way.

Once they were gone, Yuri turned his attention back to Ty. He studied her for a moment before speaking up.

"Let's take a walk," he suggested.

Repede looked at Ty intently. The girl seemed a bit off, but the Growlithe remained quiet.  

[Tymiko]

Getting up, the girl waded out into the shallows toward Gummy, the water licking up her legs but not touching her rolled-up capris. She smiled fondly and reached out to pet the purple-eyed water-type, remembering him in the battle that Henrietta and she had had a while back.

"I like it here," she told Yuri, not turning to look at him. "Gummy does, too. You wouldn't want to abandon him, would you?" Though she was facing away from him and her voice seemed normal, there seemed to be an underlying question in her otherwise innocent words. "Not after Henrietta just trusted him to you. That would be cruel."  

[Tori Honoo]

Dove walked along quietly as Jace continued to lead the trio, her thoughts completely preoccupied, but her attention focused as best it could be on the two younger trainers with her. The smile Yuri had offered wasn't half as reassuring as she was sure her had intended for it to be, but it was a smile none the less and took her by surprise. She hadn't so much as even looked him in the eye in the past weeks, let alone earned a smile.

Jace bounced ahead, pausing only for a second to wait for Henrietta, then grinned brightly at her. "I don't know if there are any caves around here... Maybe if we go up higher, we'll find some! What kinds do you think we can find?"