Swampfires [mod]

[Seas]

[Pokemon: Gunda - Kabuto at level 10]

Roxy's fingers twitched as she walked under the shadow cast by the swamp. She couldn't keep her eyes off Gunda, who was happily swimming in the murky water beside her. The Kabuto's brown shell blended in so well with the rest of the marsh that Roxy could only track her by her movement. How does she swim so fast? she wondered, She has legs, not fins. Maybe it's because of her water typing? The pokedex didn't explain.

She switched her gaze for a second, looking at the path ahead of her. Then she turned back to Gunda and sighed so softly it could barely be heard. The only thing in front of her was more of the mud that had caked her black boots and the watery, grassy mess that Gunda was making her way through. She knew that eventually she would find herself in Buteston if she kept following the path and from there to the Strangling Sprigs, just as she had planned, but she still wished a little for something more than the quietness around her. The sunset she had been watching had faded away, lost in the swamp like Roxy's enthusiasm for her freedom. She was still glad that she had escaped Violet, but it was a muted pleasure. She hadn't quite realized that freedom would mean walking through wet, dingy place with no company other than her pokemon.

Abruptly, she shook her head, making a few more strands of her hair fall out. Why aren't I happy? she wondered, trying to look at the world around her with a new gaze, This is an interesting place and it's peaceful, with no one telling me what to do.

Just as she started to consider the ecosystem of the swamp and the mystery of why no pokemon had attacked her yet, a pitter-patter started. The rain was only a light drizzle, but Roxy shivered as soon as it touched her. It felt wrong against her feathers and she barely choked back a cry. She looked around desperately for a place to huddle under and wait out the rain. However, as hard as it was to see anything other stunted trees, water, and tall grass in the day, it was far harder at dusk. Everything turned into soft shadowy shapes and even Roxy's eyes, sharp as a Talonflames', couldn't see a shelter. She couldn't help thinking, between shudders and gasps for breath that wasn't water tainted, that this was when she would attack, if she was a pokemon.

[ZOM]

The damp and cold was miserable enough, but the swamp was a gloomy place in and of itself, and only became more so with rain dripping down. The swamp water had a glassy, faraway look to it under the shimmer of drizzling rain, interrupted by the dull darkness of twisting vines and roots and drooping water flora. It would be harder to see Gunda in such low visibility, which would make the feeling of being watched all the more alarming. Eyes, too many eyes, were peering down at Roxy through the haze -- or at least, it was easy to feel that way, even though no eyes were visible.

Then, in the distance, a tiny light began to flicker, its bright blue glow piercing through the mist. Its light was welcoming, somehow, warm and enticing. Casually it drifted closer to Roxy, twisting and dancing in lazy patterns, and nothing about it seemed threatening, only curious. As it approached, it was accompanied by a faint, high-pitched, dizzying humming sound, and the light began to take on some definition. It was round still, but two string-thin appendages fluttered beneath its body like billowing smoke. Once it was about ten feet from Roxy, the light let out a delicate cooing noise and slowly, slowly extended one of its smoke-like limbs. It did not attempt to grab her; it wasn't close enough for that. Rather, it waited, inviting, and it emitted such a sweet, calming aura that it would be hard to feel as though it had anything but good intentions. "Come with me," it seemed to whisper, though it still made no sounds but the pretty, disorienting hums. "I will take you away from this place. Come with me."

The feeling of a thousand leering eyes at Roxy's back never went away.

[Seas]

Roxy skimmed the surface of the water, instinctively searching for Gunda. She knew the mucky water was only a foot or so deep, but as she stared down it seemed to her it was grower deeper, with slimy, twisted creatures occasionally surfacing from its depths. It's just a trick of the light, she told herself, stepping on, Where's Gunda?

Suddenly the quiet squish of her footsteps stopped. She curled her arms around her body, the sodden mess that was her wings weakly fluttering. She couldn't help feeling like something was watching her and immediately her largest fear slid to the forefront of her mind: Violet had hired a psychic pokemon to find her. Her head turned from side to side in a futile effort to see what was watching her. Then she saw the light and reached back to tuck a damp strand of her hair behind her ear.

Maybe it's someone who knew enough to bring a flashlight, she though, waving a little. Her heartbeat slowed as it drew closer to her in what looked like a strange, drifting dance. The humming sound made everything else fade away and when she looked at the creature in front of her, she barely realized its body didn't look exactly normal.

At the cooing noise she smiled, bright and open, cracking right through her mask. It felt like a shock of icy cold water had been poured on her, because she could remember the last time she had smiled like that. It had been when her mother told her she was going to have a sibling. That's strange, she thought, one of her hands slipping towards it, But it does seem friendly...

Still, she was uneasy. Her fingers curled back into her palm before she reached the smokey tendril and she said, softly, "Gunda?"

Gunda had been lurking underwater right near Roxy, practicing the details of her swimming slowly, if only because the weeds of the swamp tended to get twisted around her and yank when she tried to move quickly. She surfaced at Roxy's call and blinked up at the creature in front of them. She wants me to battle, Gunda decided and quickly reached out with Absorb.

[ZOM]

The light glowed brighter with glee and welcoming warmth as Roxy outstretched her hand, so close to gripping on to the offered limb, so close... But at the last moment she seemed to have second thoughts, and her hand faltered, and she murmured a name. The source of the light flickered with confusion momentarily, and before it knew what was happening, before it could even recover from this minor setback, a horrible draining feeling was ripping some of the ghost's life force away.

Humming turned to screeching, and suddenly the light and comforting aura faded away, revealing a rather angry Drifloon. Its beady black eyes gleamed red with fury down at Gunda, and the cloud atop its head was puffed up and stormy-dark. Though the ghost did not look to be very hurt, as grass-type moves were weak against flying-types, it did look angry. +Do not interfere,+ it hissed, and it surged towards Gunda suddenly with the intention of slamming into her, using an Astonish attack.

Drifloon, F, lvl 9, Aftermath
Constrict, Minimize, Astonish, Gust, Hypnosis

[Seas]

Gunda wasn't quite prepared for the pure speed of the Astonish. She made no noise, but tried to skitter away from it. The ghostly energy still touched her, making her body jump with fright. Instinctively, she used Harden to try to protect herself.

Behind her, Roxy's trembling hands pulled out her Pokedex. She had gasped at the sudden appearance of the pokemon and the cobwebs inside her mind faded away as she read it was a ghost/flying type called Driftloon. She tried to step away, but the rays of the sun had faded and all that was left was darkness. She could barely see a foot in front of her.

I should have brought a flashlight. I need light, she thought, and flames curled around her hands and forearms.She breathed a soft whisper of surprise and delight. The fire were warm against her skin, comforting and the fear that was breaking through her control died down. They lit up the path. Her eyes flashed a bright blue.

"Gunda, follow me, okay?" she called out, and started a slow run.

The Kabuto had no objection to swimming over fighting. She did use Absorb again before ducking under the water. It felt fair stealing the energy of the Drifloon after it had scared the energy out of her. And it could get Roxy, Gunda thought as the water slipped over her shell, I can swim faster than it. I dunno if Roxy can ran faster. She's kinda slow.