[FIN] Misunderstandings

[TawnyAngel]

"Um, yeah, you will!" Taavi agreed, stooping to carefully scoop Isaac into his arms once the Espeon was ready. "See you around then," he added as he straightened up and - with a parting smile and a nod - he turned to head for home.  

[BlackFireKitsune]

With their goodbyes complete, Sera offered one last small wave before turning to consult her phone. What to do with the rest of her day...

Isaac settled comfortably in Taavi's arms with a happy noise.

A minute or two later, something rustled quietly in an alley a few moments after he passed it.  

[TawnyAngel]

Over the noise of the city Taavi didn't notice the noise from the alley - especially as he was updating Isaac on some bits of news; that he was still living with Abel, the new pokemon he'd met, and suchlike - but Swift's keener senses picked it up; while his trainer walked onward the small fire type pause and peered into the gloom.  

[BlackFireKitsune]

The scent of another pokemon lingered in the air and hadn't begun to fade just yet. From within the alley came the sound of a hesitant step forward but no more, as if the creature was waiting - listening. At first glance, the only things in the alley were the dumpster nearby and a few trash cans near the middle, with a healthy amount of garbage littering the pavement all through the alley.

Isaac hadn't heard the noise; he was too focused on trying to stay awake to listen to Taavi. While he wasn't as completely drained as before, he was still quite tired, but that didn't mean he wanted to nap instead of spend time with friends he hadn't seen in months.  

[TawnyAngel]

Swift peered down the alley, too cautious to step down it but curious enough to say; <> Somebody was clearly down there but they didn't seem to want to be seen.... Just in case whoever it was turned out to be hostile Swift poised himself to flee if he needed to; he hadn't come anywhere close to forgetting what it was like living feral in the city, strong survival instincts were a must.  

[BlackFireKitsune]

No more sounds came from the alley for a few moments, but eventually a soft, timid-sounding voice asked,  

[TawnyAngel]

<> Swift responded, glancing up the street to make sure Taavi hadn't gone too far; he hadn't. <> he asked cautiously; it wouldn't be the first time that somebody had tried to trick him into approaching them so that they could attack, either to try to take his food or to make him into food.

A little way down the street Taavi paused, having realised Swift was no longer with them. When he turned he spotted the Vulpix standing at the entrance of an alley, peering down it intently. "What's up Swift?"  

[BlackFireKitsune]

the voice responded uncertainly.

When Taavi stopped and looked back, Isaac lifted his head to look over at the Vulpix.  

[TawnyAngel]

Swift's ears set back nervously, he didn't want to go down the alley but he didn't want to just walk away either. <> he admitted to Isaac. <> he added to the unknown pokemon, still obscured from view. <>

Taavi frowned, he didn't understand the words of course but he could pick up on Swift's uncertain tones very well. A little gentle manoeuvring of Isaac in his arms allowed him to reach Scully and Melody's pokeballs on his belt; he released the pair and awkwardly shoved their pokeballs back into his pocket. Maybe it was all fine but if Swift was wary so was he, just because things were looking up didn't mean the tendency to paranoia that had grown in him over the last few months had disappeared.

Melody appeared with a happy jingle and remained close to Taavi while Scully, taking quick stock of the situation, slithered over to join Swift. <> she asked, peering down the alley to try to see what the Vulpix was looking at.  

[BlackFireKitsune]

The voice stuttered once Scully's comment joined the mix of noises, as if the knowledge that more pokemon were out there than just one unnerved it, and the pokemon fell silent.

Isaac frowned, his ears swiveling as if unsure to perk forward or slick backwards.  

[TawnyAngel]

<> Scully instructed firmly before moving confidently into the alley, though she remained alert for any sign of danger; she wasn't about to dismiss her friend's extensive experience of the city but she wasn't prepared to dither all day long either. <> she asked, glancing left and right as she moved forward into the shadowy space.

Swift stayed where he was, tails twitching uncertainly. <> he called after his friend.

<> Melody echoed with a happy jingle.

Taavi frowned and took a couple of steps back towards Swift; Scully had gone into the alley, what was going on here?  

[BlackFireKitsune]

The pokemon had every right to be cautious; the moment Scully passed the dumpster, a Houndoom darted forward with a snarl, fangs bared, and had every intention of grabbing the serpentine pokemon up in its jaws.  

[TawnyAngel]

<really?>> Scully hissed, surging forward with Extreme Speed to evade the attack before twisting to face her sudden opponent again.

<> Swift exclaimed, baring his small fangs and - after a moment to gather his courage - charging forward with Quick Attack. <>

Taavi had reached the same conclusion as Swift at about the same moment; he hissed a curse between his teeth and - holding Isaac close to his chest, fumbled for another pokeball.

A Lapras appeared and looked around itself, rather confused to find itself on land. <> With his friend in danger the large pokemon's expression darkened and he let out a low bellow. <> he snarled as he prepared to attack.

<> Melody added helpfully, jumping and jingling in what was probably supposed to be a threatening manner.  

[BlackFireKitsune]

The Dratini effectively avoided the Houndoom's attack and, vaguely frustrated by this, it instead turned away from the serpent to meet Swift with fangs bared as the small fire-type charged forward. If it couldn't grab the Dratini, it would grab the Vulpix instead.

As soon as Isaac saw the familiar Houndoom, his ears perked straight up before they lowered against his head immediately after, and he growled viciously with small fangs bared. Oh no, there was no way he was going to go back there, not now.  

[TawnyAngel]

Seeing the larger pokemon with its fangs sent a chill up Swift's spine but he couldn't fail his friends! Heart pounding he saw the attack through aimed right at the Houndoom's face, this was going to hurt both of them though probably him more than the dark type.

<> Scully snapped, using Extreme Speed again but this time to slam herself at the Houndoom's flank.

<> Mulder demanded, furious and bewildered as he launched a Water Pulse at the Houndoom; it would hit Swift too but they'd just have to deal with that later.

"s**t," Taavi hissed, holding Isaac a bit tighter and glancing around quickly to make sure nothing else was approaching; seemed like it was just the Houndoom right now but he wasn't going to be caught off guard!