Subject: Re: [PW!] Ai desu ka? [was Chasing the Glooms Away] Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2002 19:49:18 GMT From: "Marco262" <marco262@yahoo.com> Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon "Adrian Tymes" <wingcat@pacbell.net> wrote in message news:3DE11BCA.8040900@pacbell.net... > "I HEARD THAT!" Aerie stomped back in. "Fine, fine, if you've got > *that* little confidence in me, I'll stay with the group. But I am > going to scout from the air, so I can at least warn you if trouble > approaches." She shimmered down into a noctowl, then hopped back > outside, waiting for the others to follow. Jason puffed out a sigh. Since when did I become so unreliable, he thought to himself. He turned towards the door and hesitated. A thought popped unbidden into his mind. Amber's out there. His heart quickened. He involuntarily rubbed a hand over his chest. "Alright! Let's go!" The group stepped outside, and Jason caught a glimpse of a Noctowl winging off over the treetops. Again, his subconscious let itself and its thoughts be known. He hoped that Amber would be found quickly, before any harm could come to her. His conscious self tried to brush it off by saying she could take care of herself, but still the feeling persisted. "It's getting dark," Bob observed. Kistu and Keaton, both in pokémon form, sniffed the ground expectantly. Jason nodded. "We should get going, before night falls." And so, they were off. The sunset disappeared behind the thick curtain of tree trunks as they entered the forest. The evening quiet was settling, as diurnal creatures prepared to sleep, while their nocturnal counter parts stretched and prepared for a new night. Jason jumped to the side as a rattata went scurrying across his path. The smell of sap pervaded everything, carried on the cool evening breeze. "You know, for someone who was so reluctant to go, you seem to enjoy the front of the line." Jason faltered, and noticed that the rested of the group was behind him. Someone suppressed a snicker. He turned around and smiled, trying to think of a way to save his pride. "Just trying to keep you slackers in step. If it wasn't for me, this group would never get to where it's going." "If _you_ were leading," Bob countered, "We'd get lost. We're supposed to turn here." Bob pointed down the fork in the path next to the one Jason had taken. Velocity, already partway down it, yelped at them, telling them to hurry so they could save her trainer. Jason put on a hurt expression. "Well, if you don't want me to help in this," he swung himself up onto Keaton's back and laid down, his arms crossed under his head, "Then I'll just hitch a ride up here for awhile." Keaton snorted and bucked forward. With a wail, Jason grabbed Keaton's horns and flew, heels over head. He ended up hanging onto Keaton's horns, staring the angry Tauros right in the eyes. Both their eyes twitched. "Or, I could walk." TBC...