Alexis admited to herself that Ryu's concern for her Pokemon was rather touching. It was nice to have met someone whose concern for other Pokemon was just as much as their own. So she found herself smiling again. This was unfarmiliar to her; after all, she was pretty much a model of antisocialness. Was she actually enjoying someone else's company? Maybe. Alexis nudged Kira's sides gently with her heels, prompting the Rapidash to go into a gentle trot. Well, it was a gentle trot for a Rapidash, which was still reasonably fast. It was still a pace that Ryu and Axel could keep up with.

"Oh, and I shouldn't worry about Wren and your Altaria." she said to Ryu. "Wren's a very peaceful Pokemon. If your Altaria is going to help her then she'll be very nice." It was true; Wren was a very pleasant-natured Pokemon overall, more than willing to cooperate with other Pokemon if the time called for it. Alexis remained silent for a minute or so more, until she felt a single drop of water drop onto her cheek. She looked up and noticed that the first few drops of rain were beginning to fall; just a few drops, but the rain would be heavy very soon.

"Oh great..." Alexis muttered. Kira snorted and tossed her head in annoyance. Alexis petted the Pokemon's neck again gently in a comforting gesture.

"I think we should pick up the pace." Alexis suggested.

((Sorry i didn't finish the other post! But thanks for pretty muchgetting the most of hwat i was trying to type...))

Ryu nodded and smiled, happy that Wren would be okay with Siren helping her out with searching for the shelter from high up. He heard Axel bark as they ran alongside Kira and Alexis, trying a bit to keep up with the two. It was new to have a pokemon be faster than Axel. He enjoyed it, which was new to him. Many pokemon and their trainers hated it when Axel ran ahead. Ryu was lost in hiw own thoughts until he felt a sprinkle of water along his arm. He jumped and Axel barked back at him. Ryu looked down at his arm and noticed the raindrops falling.

He heard Alexis' comment and looked up at her. "Yeah, we probably should pick up our pace if these fire pokemon want to stay dry." He chuckled and Axel barked at him, obviously annoyed with the rain. The fire-type rana little ahead of Kira and under a few trees that seemed thick enough to at least keep the sprinkle off them. Axel stopped there and whined at Ryu, wanting to speed this up so he didn't get wet. Ryu looked up at the sky and sawthe louds were closing in quickly and seemed darker than before. The rain would be coming in soon and it was going to be a hassle getting Axel to walk through the rain.

"We can travel under the trees for a little, at least until we see signs of our birds. Wren and Hydra should have founds something by now. Even if it's just a cave." He brushed some water off his shoulder and started to worry about Giratina, not wanting the pokemon hurt while high in teh sky. Maybe he's get hit by thunder or some high winds. He shrugged and heard a faint roar, knowing who it came from. He nudged Axel's sides and the dog walked out into the sprinkle of rain. Ryu looked into the sky but still worried about the legend up there. "We can go off at a run from now on, if you'd like." He smiled at Alexis.

Alexis allowed Kira to freely follow Axel under the trees so as to temporarily protect them from the rainfall. She knew from experience that fire-types naturally hate rain. She was tempted to recall Kira to her Pokeball but she had the feeling that even though the powerful Rapidash hated the rain she would refuse anyway, wanting to help her trainer out before relaxing. Alexis was grateful to her Pokemon for that, though sometimes she wished Kira would be a little less protective.

Alexis saw Axel step back out into the rain, still carrying Ryu on his back. Ryu suggested that they could go at a run, and as soon as the word 'run' was mentioned Kira tossed her head up with a neigh of delight. Alexis laughed; all Rapidash loved to run, and run very fast, and Kira was no exception. She didn't need to encourage her Pokemon to stand beside Axel.

"I think Kira would appreciate a good run. Though I should warn you...Rapidash can run at up to 150 miles an hour." Alexis said, with a grin. "Kira won't mind holding up just a little so you won't be left too far behind, won't you, Kira?" Kira pawed at the ground with one hoof, restlessly, but nodded. She just wanted to run! Just then, Alexis heard a cooing noise from the distance and saw that quite a way away from them Wren was circling, calling out.

"Wren must have found something." she said, nodding to Ryu. "Let's go!" She nudged Kira's sides gently and the powerful fire-type set off at a canter. Even though she was going slower than her top speed, she was still going very fast indeed. Her mane and tail flowed out in the distinctively beautiful display of her species running at speed, and Alexis herself laughed as her hair caught in the breeze.

Ryu kept his head to the sky and continued to worry about his Giratina, but was jolted from his thoughts by Axel barking at him franctically. He snapped out of it and looked to where his pokemon was barking. Alexis and Kira had already gone off with Wren, who he could still see flying. Hydra returned to his side and chriped at him, wanting him to turn around already adn head off with the girl. Altaria, not beinga very patient pokemon when it came to her feather clouds getting dirty and wet shot a stream of water at Ryu, getting him in the face. She continued to chirp angrily at him and flew off after Wren and Alexis.

Ryu hissed at teh water and shook his head off. "Hydra you mean bird!" He shouted after his Altaria, but he knew how much ofa  drama queen she could be. He pulled on Axel's ear a little adn the dog turned back around toward where the trio o fpokemon and a trainer went off. "Alrighgt, come on." He gave Axel's side a pat and the fire type ranoff as quickly as he could at a sudden start. Ryu got lower, not wanting to drag his Arcanine down. The dog ran up to Kira, keeping pace with teh horse and he barked. He enjoyed running with a pokemon who was faster than he was. It was new adn exciting to see if he could keep up.

Ryu shook his head and sat up a little, now that Axel had his own pace set. Ryu smiled at teh familiar feeling of wind whipping through his hair and nipping at his face. He couldn't remember the last time it felt so good. He gave a satisfied hum and looked sideways at Alexis. She was a pretty cool trainer, one that he seemed to trust already. Altaria cooed as she flew low and next to Ryu, happy her trainer was up to speed. "Where is this place?" He said more to Wren than anybody else around.

Wren cooed over at Ryu in response to his question. If she could speak like a human then she would almost certainly be telling him where she had found. Of course, all that came out of her beak were some sing-song chirruping noises. She picked up her pace through the air and Kira glanced at Axel, who she could tell was only just keeping up with her. Now, you must understand that although Rapidash are a generally a peaceful species they absolutely cannot resist a race. Kira chucked her head up and snorted, seemingly in challenge. Alexis knew what this meant; she grinned at Ryu.

"I think Kira's just turned this into a race!" she said, with a laugh in delight at the sheer speed she was moving at. "This is really fun! Haven't run with another trainer in ages! And never with a trainer whose Pokemon is almost as fast as mine! It's no fun when you're always leaving them in the dust." Kira kept going, with her hooves pounding against the ground and her fiery mane and tail streaming out behind her in a beautiful display. The powerful fire Pokemon kept on running, determined to beat Axel to wherever it was they were going.

They kept running for a few minutes before their destination came into view; a large cave on the edge of the forest. Sure, it was just a cave, but it would have to do. Wren flew into it and Kira skidded to a halt just before it, breathing heavily from all the running she had done, looking back at Ryu and Axel before walking inside. She shook her neck to get rid of the raindrops on her fur as Alexis dismounted, petting her Pokemon to thank her.

"Well, it's not much, but it'll do until the rain stops. Good race, by the way. I enjoyed it, and I know Kira did, didn't you?" Alexis said, the latter directed at her Rapidash, who nodded. Kira then proceeded to lay down on the cave ground, her fire not only providing light but also providing comfortable warmth for the two trainers. Alexis smiled gently and returned Wren to her Pokeball with a 'thank you'. Alexis put the Pokeball away and turned back to Ryu with a bright ex
pression. Inside, she was a little worried about her Giratina, but she knew that the legendary Pokemon was powerful enough to take care of himself out there, and he could always come down to her if he needed help.

Ryu and Axel ran behind Kira and Alexis. He laughed and Axel barked, his tongue lolling out from teh speed and having to use all his strength and speed to keep up with the other frie type. When the cave came into view, Ryu smiled slightly. The cave would help them out and keep them dry from the rain, which seemed to increase by the second. Axel barked at Alexis' statement. Axel came skidding to a stop just inside the cave where the dog promptly sat down, dropping Ryu onto his feet and shook his fur of water. Axel turned toward the rest of the people in the save and laid down on teh floor, tired from the run. He stayed close to Kira to gain warmth from her. The Rapidash's mane giving off lovely heat, which Axel enjoyed by giving a small bark in enjoyment.

"That was a good run. Axel normally doesn't get to run like that. Normally he leaves people behind and all that. Never had someone faster than him." Ryu removed his sweater and snapped it a couple times, flicking off the water that clung to it. He nodded. And held his sweater out to the flames of rapidash's mane, drying it. "Well, did you want to send out a pokemon to get some wood. Or i can go look for it, so Kira doesn't have to have people all over her."

Ryu heard a coo and he looked to Altaria, who had curled up by the mouth of the cave. "OH! Right. I forgot about you for a minutes. You did good Hydra." He took his backpack off and searched through a pocket before he pulled out a small conainer. He popped the cap off and pulled out a poffin, sweet poffin. He tossed it to Hydra and the Altaria plucked it in mid air, swallowing it whole before giving out a small thrill. Her cloud feathers fluffing. Ryu returned Altaria to teh ball. "Did Kira want a poffin? I just made them a few hours ago."

Alexis smiled and nodded when Ryu said that his Arcanine rarely got a race like that. It was just the same for Kira; because her species were naturally extraordinarily fast, she hardly ever got to race a Pokemon whose speed came anywhere near to her own. She seemed glad to have an opponent who could run almost as fast as she could. Alexis petted her Pokemon again as Ryu fed his Altaria, whose name was apparently Hydra, a poffin and then proceeded to offer Kira one as well.

"I think Kira would like one." Alexis said, and Kira nodded, still lying down, taking a rest. "Hmmmm...and as for wood, I think I have the perfect Pokemon to go ut and get some for us." Alexis drew out a Pokeball and sent out Crysta, her Froslass. The Pokemon hovered in the air for a moment, waiting for Alexis to speak.

"Crysta, would you mind fetching some wood so we can make a fire?" Alexis asked her Pokemon, sweetly. Crysta nodded and floated over to the cave's entrance. The Pokemon hummed, producing a glittering forcefield around herself which ensured that she would stay dry. Then she floated out to find wood.

"It's a shame that Crysta can only cover herself with that forcefield of hers. Otherwise she could have kept us all dry." Alexis said, before turning back to Ryu. "We'll be fine in here until the rain stops. Not to worry!" She smiled, brightly and cheerfully, sitting down next to Kira.

Ryu stood up from where he was kneeling and walked over to the Rapidash. He sat down in front of her and held the open box of poffins, offering the Pokemon whatever one she wanted. He placed the box on the floor and stood up again, giving her all the time she needed to pick which poffin she wanted. He plucked a red spicy poffin from the box before he walked away and to Axel, holding the poffin in his long time friend, which Axel ate happily.

When the poffin box was placed in front of Kira, the Rapidash looked at it for a moment before taking a Dry Poffin and eating it, chewing it slowly to enjoy the flavour and then swallowing. Kira tossed her head and neighed quietly as way of thanks. Alexis laughed; her Pokemon was nice like that. She looked over as Ryu sat by her, and listened as he made the comment that a Gardevoir may have been better to train before a Froslass. Ryu asked Alexis how long ago she started walking in the forest, and she flinched a little. That was a sort of question she didn't like to answer. She was momentarily distracted when Ryu suggested that they let the Pokemon out, and she nodded in agreement to this suggestion.

"Alright then. I think my Pokemon might like to meet yours, anyway." Alexis said, drawing out two Pokeballs, from which she sent out a Pidgeot and a Luxio. "You've met Wren already, and this little cutie is Pandora the Luxio. She's the youngest of my Pokemon but she's still real tough!" Pandora walked curiously up to Ryu and Axel, then she purred and nudged at one of Ryu's hands in an adorable and friendly gesture. But Alexis had realised that she would have no choice but to answer Ryu's first question. Sighing a little and petting Kira's neck, she started to speak.

"I'm the type of girl who wanders around because she has nowhere to go." Alexis began. "I...I'm an orphan, and the orphanage that raised me was a cruel one at that. I was abused by everyone, and I mean EVERYONE. Eventually I left the place with a Ponyta, Pidgey, Snorunt and Shinx in tow...they've stayed with me ever since. Kira, Wren, Crysta and Shinx were my only friends. Anyway, we wandered alone without a home, a home which we still haven't found, until we were attacked by G-" Alexis broke off; she didn't want to talk about how she met Giratina. It was something that she remembered to this day as a very bad thing.

"We encountered a very powerful Pokemon." Alexis went on. "It was enraged, and it attacked us..." She trailed off, gently pulling off her coat. When she had done so, her arms were fully revealed; they were covered in terrible burns. Alexis sighed.

"That's what the powerful Pokemon did to me." she whispered.

Ryu did noticed that Alexis didn't really want to answer his first question, which didn't really bother him. They had only met anyways. At the mention of the pokemon coming out, Alexis seemed a bit happy to him. He nodded at Kira, having just realized that the noise she made was her own way of saying thank you for a poffin. He smiled and when she mentioned her pokemon, well, one of the ones he didn't know, he perked up. Pandora. He chuckled when the cat looking pokemon came up to him and nudged his hand. He couldn't help but to pet the pokemon gently. He smiled and looked at his own pokeballs, which were still out in front of him. "Luxio... Oh! I know who you might have fun with."

Ryu leaned forward and poked the center of on teh pokeballs. It opened and out popped his Shinx, Oni. The little cat mewled and rolled onto his back. "Alexis, Pandora. This is Oni. I just recently got him from an egg I stumbled upon. He is still a baby pretty much. Hasn't even battled a caterpie. He just plays with them." He smiled at the kitten as i ran over to the Rapidash and head butted it's leg, causing Oni to roll backwards. Ryu poked the remaining three pokeballs, each one opening and three pokemon came into view. "You met Hydra, teh Altaria." He nodded to the bird and she let out a coo of affection for her trainer and his new found friend. She decided to fly over to the poffin box and pick at a poffin.

He smiled at his pokemon. "The vulpix is Siren. I got her not too long ago, but she's been here as long as I've been in teh forest." The little fox ran over to her trainer and curoed up on his lap, comfortable with being stretched out over a loving lap. "The gengar is Jaaku. He grew up with Axel. I've had them both the longest." The watched as his Gengar moved out toward the mouth of teh cave, obviously seeing something out there that piqued his interest. "He likes the rain... Never really realized it until the first rain shower not too long ago."

When he finally turned toward her, to look at the burns, his heart clenched. They looked bad and painful. "I see... You're not the only one. I found a.... powerful pokemon before we came to teh forest. It was injured and when Jaaku tried to go and protect the woundfrom any pokemon that were gathering, it lashed out at Jaaku. Before the pokeon managed to his Jaaku, I had grabbed him and it lashed me instead. I'd show you the scar, but it's on my back... I have.. three marks. They look like whip marks, according to teh doctor." He sighed and looked at Alexis again. "I'm sorry you grew up that way. I can't know how it feels since I grew up with my mom on a pokemon breeding farm.. But.. it must've been bad." He leaned back on Axel, the arcanine nudging his head against Ryu's thigh.

((Bump))

{bump}