(ACE) The MARSH Team

Virgil flinched back as the slight distasteful argument soon led to Rhea going into a full rage. His ears flicking back, his heart in his throat, he was helpless to her fury as she raged at the two newcomers. Of course, the gothitelle was being an ass, but apparently he didn't realize- or care- that Rhea was now in a very precarious place. Recklessness at this point in the game was only going to land them all into an early grave. Quickly dodging a stray fist into a tree as the other two just ran away, Virgil was now very unsure whether revealing himself was such a grand idea... or maybe that he'd simply done it too late. Either way, she was already getting the blind madness that all of them seemed to share...

She turned, tromping toward him with great conviction, he stared wide-eyed at her, unsure whether or not to run himself. Fear, or something else kept him planted, however, and he found to his great relief that she spoke. "Virgil...where are my children?" She pointed toward the city, but the liepard's eyes never left hers.

He didn't answer right away-- he couldn't. Was she still in a good enough peace of mind to be able to go without killing them all? She certainly had the capacity to... but not answering would likely only end up enraging her more. Desperately trying to quickly think of a solution that wouldn't end with someone dead, he swallowed the dry lump in his throat and carefully replied, "...Are you sure... that's such a great idea...?" His voice was low, but not low enough to hide the slight tremble in his words. Not wanting to end on that statement, he hurriedly added, "I-I mean, Rhea... you're... you're not doing so well. What if... What if something happens...?"

Hopefully, ambiguity would be his friend here...

----

Seth waited, watching the demented squirrel fumble over its own feet as it slowly came closer and closer. While he listened to Martha's disheartened reply and knew what she felt, he couldn't bring himself to speak more on the subject. His own life had always been a form of Hell; but at least he hadn't really lost anything more than a few dozen siblings. Still, her downward tone caused something in him to stir. An anxiety. A discomfort. Something he needed to quell. He glanced back at her, wanting to reassure her somehow, but there was absolutely nothing positive that he could say that wouldn't taste a lie. Well... except...

"...At least... we're here, right?"

Laughing brought his attention back to the pachirisu, who was now far closer than comfort allowed. Backing away from the window, careful to not make any extra sound, he snuck back over to the flaaffy and the little root, keeping his voice low. "It's too close now. We need to get out." He looked around, spotting a small window higher up, near the ceiling. He gestured toward it and began to move for it, wanting to get out as soon as possible, before that freak found them.

"Too much for you?" Frank sneers down at the Audino as, his fluffy tail twitching behind him, the small pink medic pokemon came running around the corner and swiftly hid himself behind the Gothitelle's large black shirt.

The Gothitelle smirks in satisfaction to himself. He knew that Marco was pretty stupid about who or not he was going to try and treat medically (he had tried to fix up him after all) but for once it was good to be able to let him see how helpless he would be without help.
Besides he knew that Kangaskhan would go hostile. He'd seen more coherent infected, wandering around pleading for someplace safe for the night as if the disease running through them was something they could hide from.

Pink fingers twitched, a glow of psychic playing around them in case the lumbering normal Type decided to come a bit closer. He can almost see the future extending out in front of him, though compared to others of his species his ability to actually predict was nearly non-existant. What he predicted now, however, was that the battle would make his heart sing. He would waste no time in the attack, crushing the brain inside the skull with his Psychic abilities. In the time that took he would be hurt, another broken arm at least, but the threat would be gone and Marco would fix everything back up again.

"Yes, it was." Marco says briefly as a joint apology and way of flatering Frank's ego enough for the Gothitelle to possibly not rub it in any further. The progression of the disease must be further than anticipated, either that or the Normal Type Pokemon had an unnaturally short temper to begin with. Either way it would be necessary to avoid the Kangaskhan's anger until she either calmed down or there was a good chance of administering euthanasia and that meant getting Frank to get him out of harms way as quickly as possible.

The little Audino finds himself gnawing at the edge of one of his cream padded paws and swiftly stops himself. He was no Teddiursa to be comforted so. The wide winglike curves of his ears pick up the sounds of soft conversation as he presses himself closer to the grimy grey bricks of the alley wall.
Frank would be ever so dissappointed but it seems like the injured party here had started to calm down. Marco sets his jaw determinedly. It would be remiss of him as a medic to allow such a threat to wander loose in the city, while finding a more abrasive survivor would take some doing, anyone else who stepped foot here would be in very grave danger.

"Come on." Frank says from behind him and Marco can't help a small indignant squeak as he is picked up my the light green psychic glow and towed along behind the Gothitelle like a bright pink balloon.
Frank's sniggers of amusement trail behind him.

((OOC: Editted into a fuller post))

Clumsily, she trips over a mass of something tangled on the ground, but gets back up again. Right now, she doesn't feel too well, like her paws wouldn't move correctly, but she would deal with that later. Later after killing them? Later after meeting Papa and Mama? The blood that had continuously oozed from her hind leg had stopped, but her hind leg looked as it was slowly rotting. She curls her tail around it, so as to look friendly, but right now, she thinks, she is a crazy mess.
She stops, when she sees the other Pokemon in front of her, not too close, but a good few lengths away.
"Hello." She says, as one corner of her mouth stretches to smile. "My name is Sparks."
Talking normal is hard, she thinks, but this isn't her being herself at all, but this was quite fun, this was quite fun.
"...Could any of you be Mama? Or Papa? I lost them a few days ago only, but afterwards, I saw Papa, and this is what he did to me, this is what he did to me." She gestures with her tail, but it hurts, oh it hurts so much.
"Is there anyone else here? Anyone else here?" As she finishes her question, it echoes on and on in her head, and the only thing she can see is blinding white pain.
She forces another smile, so as not to seem strange, but maybe that's even more strange. "Don't worry. I won't hurt you. I just want to see Mama and Papa. If they were here before, I hope you didn't do anything to them. That would be a pity. Would be a pity."

Rhea yelled angrily as the pair turned and ran, unleashing her Outrage into the area around her in her frustration. They were going for her children and she wasn't going to have it. Virgil was still by her side but Eliana, Martha and even Seth were in the city somewhere and were at the mercy of these two fools. She chased after them as best she could but her movements were getting slower, her tail dragging completely limp behind her as she ran, and the Kangaskhan soon found herself unable to see the duo.

And for some reason she had the distinct feeling she had done this before. An overwhelming sense of deja vu hit the Motherly Pokemon and she found herself resting up against a tree to will the dizziness away. She needed to think. Her children needed her and she had no idea where they were, or whether or not those two would find them first. If that effeminate black male found her brood it was more than likely he would attack them, and her poor Eliana was still just a hatchling. She had no idea how to defend herself. No...she needed to get to them as fast as she could.

She realized with a start that she did in fact have something that those other two didn't and Rhea quickly stomped off in search of a purple spotted cat. Sighing in relief when she spotted him the large normal type came up quickly to the Liepard before pointing towards the city. "Virgil...where are my children?" She couldn't explain the sense of urgency she felt but it was all she could do to find her children and make sure that they were safe.

((reposted, edited slightly to have her notice the time shift.))

Virgil flinched back as the slight distasteful argument soon led to Rhea going into a full rage. His ears flicking back, his heart in his throat, he was helpless to her fury as she raged at the two newcomers. Of course, the gothitelle was being an ass, but apparently he didn't realize- or care- that Rhea was now in a very precarious place. Recklessness at this point in the game was only going to land them all into an early grave. Quickly dodging a stray fist into a tree as the other two just ran away, Virgil was now very unsure whether revealing himself was such a grand idea... or maybe that he'd simply done it too late. Either way, she was already getting the blind madness that all of them seemed to share...

She turned, tromping toward him with great conviction, he stared wide-eyed at her, unsure whether or not to run himself. Fear, or something else kept him planted, however, and he found to his great relief that she spoke. "Virgil...where are my children?" She pointed toward the city, but the liepard's eyes never left hers.

He didn't answer right away-- he couldn't. Was she still in a good enough peace of mind to be able to go without killing them all? She certainly had the capacity to... but not answering would likely only end up enraging her more. Desperately trying to quickly think of a solution that wouldn't end with someone dead, he swallowed the dry lump in his throat and carefully replied, "...Are you sure... that's such a great idea...?" His voice was low, but not low enough to hide the slight tremble in his words. Not wanting to end on that statement, he hurriedly added, "I-I mean, Rhea... you're... you're not doing so well. What if... What if something happens...?"

Hopefully, ambiguity would be his friend here...

----

Seth waited, watching the demented squirrel fumble over its own feet as it slowly came closer and closer. While he listened to Martha's disheartened reply and knew what she felt, he couldn't bring himself to speak more on the subject. His own life had always been a form of Hell; but at least he hadn't really lost anything more than a few dozen siblings. Still, her downward tone caused something in him to stir. An anxiety. A discomfort. Something he needed to quell. He glanced back at her, wanting to reassure her somehow, but there was absolutely nothing positive that he could say that wouldn't taste a lie. Well... except...

"...At least... we're here, right?"

Laughing brought his attention back to the pachirisu, who was now far closer than comfort allowed. Backing away from the window, careful to not make any extra sound, he snuck back over to the flaaffy and the little root, keeping his voice low. "It's too close now. We need to get out." He looked around, spotting a small window higher up, near the ceiling. He gestured toward it and began to move for it, wanting to get out as soon as possible, before that freak found them.

[complete repeat]

"Too much for you?" Frank sneers down at the Audino as, his fluffy tail twitching behind him, the small pink medic pokemon came running around the corner and swiftly hid himself behind the Gothitelle's large black shirt.

The Gothitelle smirks in satisfaction to himself. He knew that Marco was pretty stupid about who or not he was going to try and treat medically (he had tried to fix up him after all) but for once it was good to be able to let him see how helpless he would be without help.
Besides he knew that Kangaskhan would go hostile. He'd seen more coherent infected, wandering around pleading for someplace safe for the night as if the disease running through them was something they could hide from.

Pink fingers twitched, a glow of psychic playing around them in case the lumbering normal Type decided to come a bit closer. He can almost see the future extending out in front of him, though compared to others of his species his ability to actually predict was nearly non-existant. What he predicted now, however, was that the battle would make his heart sing. He would waste no time in the attack, crushing the brain inside the skull with his Psychic abilities. In the time that took he would be hurt, another broken arm at least, but the threat would be gone and Marco would fix everything back up again.

"Yes, it was." Marco says briefly as a joint apology and way of flatering Frank's ego enough for the Gothitelle to possibly not rub it in any further. The progression of the disease must be further than anticipated, either that or the Normal Type Pokemon had an unnaturally short temper to begin with. Either way it would be necessary to avoid the Kangaskhan's anger until she either calmed down or there was a good chance of administering euthanasia and that meant getting Frank to get him out of harms way as quickly as possible.

The little Audino finds himself gnawing at the edge of one of his cream padded paws and swiftly stops himself. He was no Teddiursa to be comforted so. The wide winglike curves of his ears pick up the sounds of soft conversation as he presses himself closer to the grimy grey bricks of the alley wall.
Frank would be ever so dissappointed but it seems like the injured party here had started to calm down. Marco sets his jaw determinedly. It would be remiss of him as a medic to allow such a threat to wander loose in the city, while finding a more abrasive survivor would take some doing, anyone else who stepped foot here would be in very grave danger.

"Come on." Frank says from behind him and Marco can't help a small indignant squeak as he is picked up my the light green psychic glow and towed along behind the Gothitelle like a bright pink balloon.
Frank's sniggers of amusement trail behind him but suddenly stop as the Gothitelle's sensitive ribbon-like feelers twitch. Marco's wing-like ears flutter as well. The strangest feeling of deja vu has just come over both of them but neither knows why.

((OOC: Pretty much just complete repost))

((Skip please, things are hectic here. Sparks is still limping over, but if I were to post, it'd just be another modified repost.))

"...Are you sure... that's such a great idea...? I-I mean, Rhea... you're... you're not doing so well. What if... What if something happens...?"

Shock was clearly written on the Kangaskhan's face at Virgil's reply. Why didn't he just tell her where the others were? Why was he hiding her children from her? "Virgil...tell me where my children are," she growled, voice low and laced with restrained anger. "Why won't you tell me? You're hiding them...aren't you? You're hiding them from me!" A sudden rush of anger nearly overwhelmed the childless mother, her voice fading in a guttural moan as her body began to glow.

With an angry roar she unleashed her Outrage, intent on beating the information out of Virgil if she had to.

((Short post is short, but it is leading to something lol))

"...At least... we're here, right?"

Martha looked up at Seth; she had been watching Eliana contently begin to sleep but the Smeargle's words had rung a bell somewhere in her mind. Her sister had said something very similar after they had escaped from the farm, and the words still held the same uplifting feeling as they had back then. After her sister had fallen to the virus, Martha had continuously repeated those words, determined to live on just as her sister had wanted her to.

"Yes." Martha's eyes swam with tears as she nodded to the Normal-type, an emotional smile twitching onto her face. "Yes, Seth, you're right."

But the Smeargle then left his post by the window and stood by the couch that Martha was sitting on, looking worried. "It's too close now. We need to get out." Martha nodded and then followed Seth's gaze up to the window up above. The Flaaffy groaned - it was too high up for any of them to reach.

Carefully setting Eliana down on a cushion next to her, Martha hopped off the couch and looked around. An overturned chair lay next to an old dining table in the corner of the room. Martha approached it, grabbed one of its legs and slowly pulled it forward, being careful not to make too much noise. "Seth," she whispered as she reached the space below the window. "Help me to stand it up."

"Hello. My name is Sparks." Martha froze, the fur on her back standing on end at the sound of the undead's voice. Turning to see a small, squirrel-like Pokemon limping towards them, Martha quickly abandoned the chair and rushed back over to the couch, climbing back up and standing guard over the sleeping Eliana, the orb on the end of her tail flashing threateningly. But the newcomer insisted that she wasn't going to hurt them. Martha tilted her head a little as she examined her. The little thing looked more nervous than bloodthirsty, but she knew from experience that many of the more intelligent undead put on such an act to lure their prey.

Martha said nothing, simply continuing to stare down at the Pachirisu while crouching protectively next to Eliana. She didn't want to be the one to say or do something wrong. Maybe Seth knew what to do...

((I'm sorry, things haven't resolved themselves yet, so please, assume that Sparks smiles at them and continues a "normal" introduction and conversation >.<))

((Skip please, I have nothing to work with.))

 
 
Virgil's heart pounded as he watched the rage quickly engulf Rhea's face and body, his emerald eyes widening at the realization of his mistake. "Virgil...tell me where my children are," she growled, voice low and laced with restrained anger. "Why won't you tell me? You're hiding them...aren't you? You're hiding them from me!" Her body began to glow that telltale purple, and already, he coiled his muscles beneath him to jump out of the way. Her roar echoed around him, vibrated through the soil he stood upon. There was only a single moment, a small, tiny window of opportunity to dodge, and so he took it.
 
Leaping out of the way, his wounds thankfully still held together, he raced to a small overhang, the same he'd hid behind not ten minutes ago. "Rhea, listen to me!" he pleaded, hoping against hope that she was still capable of rational thought, of being reasoned. "They're fine-- I promise you! But you're not doing well, Rhea-- you're sick. You know you're sick; it's why you left us in the city to begin with!" He grimaced, knowing that there was little chance that she'd be able to see any of them again without trying to kill them... "Please, calm down and I'll lead you to them, ok?"
 
--
 
Seth's eyes softened as he watched Martha's slowly breaking facade. "Yes." Martha's eyes swam with tears as she nodded to the Normal-type, an emotional smile twitching onto her face. "Yes, Seth, you're right." His eyes narrowed with a wince of pain, his sapphire eyes glancing downward, away from those sad eyes of hers. He couldn't look at them...
 
But at the mention of danger, Martha's demeanor changed to one of responsibility. She began struggling with a chair, and instantly, he understood her idea. "Seth," she whispered as she reached the space below the window. "Help me to stand it up." Once more, he silently assented, helping her grab the legs and prop it to better get at the window. But suddenly, a small, child-like voice creeped into their shelter, alarmingly close.
 
"Hello. My name is Sparks."
 
They stood, frozen in anticipation, as the little undead squirrel smiled up innocently at them. With Eliana and Martha so close, it wasn't like he could bring the cieling down or anything. Not wanting to let the little rat bastard have a chance at attacking first, Seth broke the silent stalemate with a well-aimed Pay Day, hard coins flying right into the little thing's face and eyes. "GO!" he cried, pointing toward the pathway they'd just created, grabbing Eliana. "Try to find another space to get into!"

Martha was somewhat relieved that Seth had decided to attack the Pachirisu - if she was indeed just pretending to be sweet and innocent so she could later attack them, he'd just saved them a great deal of trouble. But as she watched the sharp-edged coins flying in the electric squirrel's direction, Martha grew worried - if anything was going to provoke an attack from the undead, it was a Pay Day to the face.

"GO!" Seth yelled, hopping onto the couch she was on and grabbing Eliana. "Try to find another space to get into!" Following his finger up to the path up to the window they'd created, Martha determinedly nodded. Hopping off the couch, she hurried over to the chair and scrambled onto it, her legs wriggling as she struggled to pull herself up. Once on, she climbed the chair's back and jumped up to the open window.

In her haste to escape she hadn't realised that there was a drop of several feet in front of her. With a yelp of surprise she fell through the window and landed roughly on the grass. Groaning, Martha pulled herself up, standing on the toes of her injured left foot. Her eyes darted around for another shelter, the wool on her chest being tugged until it stung. Spotting an open door just at the other end of the road, Martha began to limp towards it but stopped when she noticed she was still alone.

"...Seth?" she called, her voice high-pitched with a sudden panic. Had he even been planning to follow her? But surely he would! He has Eliana!

Eliana screamed unhappily as Seth ruthlessly tugged her out of Martha's grasp, the small Oddish struggling to get loose until she saw the Smeargle attack something. Were they in trouble? Like the meanies that hurt Momma? Suddenly very aware that Seth wasn't just being mean the small red grass type burrowed into the arms that encircled her, silently wishing for Momma's warm pouch. She missed Momma...why did she go away? When was she coming back? It seemed like forever since Momma went away...

Sniffling sadly the small Oddish wrapped two of her leaves around Seth's wrist and held on, almost hugging limb to her. "Seffie...finds Momma?" she questioned meekly, hoping that the fuzzy one would hear her and stop running long enough to answer. Looking around she realized that they were also minus her other fuzzy friend with the bouncy ball. "Marda?" Oh no! Momma and Marda were gone! And Virggy went with Momma before so it was just her and Seffie! Trying not to cry so as to not upset the Smeargle Eliana whimpered pathetically and burrowed further into his arms, wishing with all her might for Momma to come back.

________________________

"Rhea, listen to me!"

Right now the last thing she wanted to do was listen to Virgil. He was purposely keeping her from her children and she couldn't figure out why. She trusted him...and he was turning against her? "They're fine-- I promise you! But you're not doing well, Rhea-- you're sick. You know you're sick; it's why you left us in the city to begin with!" Snarling angrily the Kangaskhan shifted closer to the Liepard only to see him tense and quickly change tactics "Please, calm down and I'll lead you to them, ok?"

"You'd better..." she growled. The Motherly Pokemon was beginning to question what she ever saw in the purple feline. His kind weren't known for their honesty or loyalty so why had she defended him for so long? Why had she taken care of him when he was injured and defended him when others tried to defame him? Virgil had only been looking out for himself the entire time and now she knew he only gave up on stealing her egg because it hatched. Virgil was just like the rest of his kind, a liar and a thief. No son of hers...

'Son....'

Gripping her head Rhea felt an intense pressure, the pain causing her vision to go white and her balance to falter. Shaking her head clear she looked to Virgil with a mixture of fear and confusion. What had gotten into her? Of course Virgil wasn't going to try and take her Eliana from her, he was her friend. She had taken him in as one of her own, despite his age, and he had accepted being by her side happily. Why was she suddenly doubting him? "Virg..." she croaked out, fighting back the fearful tears threatening to spill over. "What's wrong with me?"

Virgil stared, terrified, hoping that his words would do more help than harm. The kangaskhan still looked very much hostile, but after his promise to lead her back to them, she seemed to settle, if only a little. "You'd better..." she growled down to him. He swallowed, his mind frantically trying to find a way out of the pickle he'd just screwed himself with. He couldn't lead her back to the others. Not like this. What if she didn't recognize them, call them liars? Kill them for it? No-- he had to think of another option, and fast.

But as he began to regain his breath back in his lungs, Rhea gripped her head in pain, grunting and growling with effort. Concerned, but still very wary of the powerhouse female, Virgil stayed his ground, still keeping his body ready to bolt. But when she looked back up at him, he could tell... This was Rhea. "Virg..." she managed, tears building in her eyes. "What's wrong with me?"

Virgil couldn't hide the pain or pity the question provoked in his face, his mind very convinced as to what her ailment was. "...Rhea..." he began softly, taking a timid step toward her, "I... I think you're sick. Sick, like... like the other pokemon. Like... that mightyena... you just fought."

---

Seth struggled to find an exit in the now damaged building, the undead cretin still somewhere nearby. He flung another Pay Day attack at the ceiling, causing dry wall and cement to fall. Thankfully, he was limber enough to avoid the quickly falling bits, and moved to go the same route Martha did. Unfortunately, the window cracked and the wall began to shatter-- seemed his Pay Day did a little more damage than he'd thought. "Shit!"

"Seffie...finds Momma?" Seth grunted, shaking his head. "Not just yet, Beansprout." Running to another window, he quickly dove through it before it too crumbled beneath the failing wall. "Marda?" the oddish in his grasp called, and Seth growled. "Shut it!" he snapped in a harsh whisper, as if being quiet would help keep his stealth when there was a building collapsing literally right next to him. Dashing away from the blanket of dust, he finally found a figure nearby. "...Seth?"

"Martha!" he called back, emerging beside her. "We need to get out of here. Let's get with the others-- fuck Virgil. Being separated like this isn't doing anyone any favors!"

To Martha's horror, the house began to buckle before her eyes, the roof practically beginning to cave in on Seth and Eliana, who were still inside. Clinging to her face in panic, Martha bounced up and down on the soles of her feet as she waited, she hoped, for the Smeargle and the baby Grass-type to emerge. "Seeeeeth!" she wailed helplessly, bursting into tears as the house crumbled and crashed to the ground, erupting a blanket of dust. Coughing and retching, Martha stepped backwards from the cloud and clung to herself in grief, spilling out tears by the gallon. Why did she listen to him and go first? She should've insisted that he took Eliana while she kept the undead busy - that way he and the little Oddish would've made it out safely. Martha's mouth hung open in horror as she imagined just how angry and upset Mum would be with her for letting them both die--

"Martha!" That voice was a bird song to her ears. Gasping in delight, Martha watched as Seth emerged from the dust cloud with Eliana still safe in his grasp. "SETH!" she practically screeched, limping towards him. "I-I thought you were-- oh thank Suicune you're safe!" Resisting the urge to hug him, Martha giggled, a little embarrassed at the state she was in. She quickly wiped her eyes and offered a beaming smile to Eliana.

"We need to get out of here. Let's get with the others-- fuck Virgil. Being separated like this isn't doing anyone any favors!" Smoothing her dirty wool back into place, Martha nodded. "You're right. We need to find them." Turning back northwards towards the gate they had passed through, she started to limp forward, walking on the toes of her strained foot and keeping the heel off the ground. "They're still in the Marsh, right?"

    "Seeeeeth!"
    "Martha!"
    "SETH!"
    A single Eevee, tucked stealthily between two stacks of rotting planks, groaned while anxiously shuffling her paws at the voices near her. Only a few moments ago their shouts had awoken her from a, surprisingly peaceful, nap--the house that she resided next to swiftly crumbling down with the panicked screams. Despite them seeming to be in some sort of grave danger, she couldn't really have bothered to help--their problems were no business of her's, after all. Her lungs heaved at the dust that sprayed against her, at least thankful that her makeshift barrier-shelter was able to shield her from most of the debris. Jennifer shook her head furiously, eyes watering as she desperately fought to not burst into a fit of violet coughs in fear that her breakfast would've come up along with it. Creeping forward, her violet eyes peaked around the edge to watch a group of three Pokemon, a Flaaffy, a Smeargle, and a...uh...
    "What is that?" her gaze narrowed in confusion at the bright...red and yellow thing. She carefully analyzed it, unknowingly leaning forward to get a better view. "Is it food? It looks flashy enough to be a berry," she remarked with a snort. "That can't be a Pokemon. Can't. Just can't. How was it even born with those colors I--" she trailed off quietly, ears perking upwards as the two other's conversation caught her interest.
    "...in the Marsh, right?" The Marsh. That was just beyond one of the gates, wasn't it? She had been looking for that place, having heard from a few other survivors in her travels that it held small bodies of water, and Arceus knows how long the Eevee had been itching for a good swim. Despite being terribly excited to go to the famous landmark, Jennifer had been wary. She had no idea what kind of undead the area had in store for her, nor did she know which way it was to the Marsh. She wasn't too comfortable with the idea of venturing into an area like that alone, either. With great curiosity the fox watched as the electric-type began to stagger northwards, to what she presumed was the entrance to the Great Marsh. With a smile, she slipped out of her shelter, hiding behind some foliage as she followed from a distance, eager to finally have a chance to take a dive.

[OOC: Good to be on the team! c: I'd prefer Jennifer to stay hidden for a few more rounds, at least, until she gets into the Marsh, but feel free to notice a presence nearby/or her scent! VuV]

"...Rhea...I... I think you're sick. Sick, like... like the other pokemon. Like... that mightyena... you just fought."

Rhea had already been thinking what Virgil was telling her but that didn't make the words any less painful to hear. She...she was infected. She had to be. How could she have let this happen? She had children to take care of, she had Eliana, there were people who needed her! "Why...?" she moaned mournfully. What was she going to do? She couldn't go back for fear of hurting her kids or infecting them, but she couldn't just leave them. What was she going to do? "The kids...you...who will take care of you?" she asked the Liepard softly. "How can I protect you when I'm the one who will eventually put you in danger?"

_________________________

Eliana squeaked fearfully at the sharp command to be quiet, the Oddish wrapping her leaves tightly around his arm so that he wouldn't drop her. But when Martha came in through the dust the little one smiled brightly, delighted to see the comforting pink of the Flaafy. "Marda!" she called, happy to see the female smiling at her. Seth was still holding on to her but right now the child didn't care since her family was coming back. Now all that was left was for Virgil and Momma to come back!

The adults began talking again which didn't interest the little Oddish much but a strange rustling kept catching her attention. Something was out in the distance and while she couldn't yet see what it was the tiny tot was excited that someone else might be coming back. Maybe even Momma! Eliana began to squirm and wriggle to try and get free, hoping to get down on the ground where she could walk. She wanted to go find Momma!

((Eliana has no idea who or what Jennifer is she just knows something is out there. She can't express it to the other two with her so your girl is safe Lulu XD
Also Sil, Rhea's next post is going to be her last so Virgil should suggest leaving or mercy killing, I will have her decide which one to take. I will write Eliana out with your next post as well so I guess have Seth run off with her? I dunno lol. Whatever works for you))

Virgil's heart nearly shattered when his words reached her, crippling her. "Why...?" she moaned mournfully, her pitiful wail causing the liepard to look away. Though they'd only known each other a few days, she had given him more parental care and love than his parents had shown him his entire life. It had been an eventful few days, bringing them closer together than most pokemon he'd ever known. Watching her break, shatter before his eyes... It was proving to be too much. "The kids...you...who will take care of you?" Virgil couldn't help the mirthless chuckle that escaped him; all this time, he'd fended for himself, looked after his family, held the responsibility as the caretaker. And now... as the world was sputtering its last breath, now was when he was able to release the reins, only to have that pokemon die, too. "How can I protect you when I'm the one who will eventually put you in danger?"

He looked back to her, his pain evident in his face. He studied her a moment, taking a precious second to weigh the terrible options. She couldn't go back to the kids. She was already so far gone... Now was likely one of, if not the last, lucid moment she had. She was a ticking time bomb, and there was nothing anyone could do about it... except...

"...You can't..." was his soft reply, his voice cracking only slightly. He cleared his throat, then took a deep breath and continued. His next words, despite his normal verbal capabilities, he stumbled over, stuttering and blubbering. "Rhea... you know as... as well as I do what needs to be done here." He took another steadying breath, which calmed his nerves, if only a little. What he was suggesting was one of the most single horrible things he could: killing her. The thought disgusted him, terrified him, wrenched his heart, but... there was no way he could simply let her go. She'd hunt them, search for her "children"... He'd seen so many undead cling to something when they were alive, no longer aware why it was so important. No... she needed to be put down. And he fully expected, if the tables were turned, Rhea would be posing the same options to him. "You're... you're dangerous. We have to... I have to... keep you from hurting the others. It's... what's best, for them.

"As for us," he continued, glad for a small change of subject, "...You shouldn't worry. I'm the oldest of 16 kids, Rhea, and I cared for all my siblings for a long time. Those guys? They'll be a breeze..." The last comment was made with something in between a chuckle and a sob, his throat closing up with a strange lump, correlating with a strain in his chest. This was getting to be too much to stay calm; she was going to die, and by his own paws. He nearly felt like she was dead already, and he was speaking to her ghost. Then again... she may as well already be dead. But still, whatever courage he still had was summoned up into one last soft smile in a last ditch effort to soothe his terrified, dying friend. "I'll take care of them."

____________________________

"You're right. We need to find them." Seth nodded, struggling a little when Eliana began squirming in his arms. The hell had gotten into her? "They're still in the Marsh, right?"

"No, I think... they're past the-the city...," the smeargle replied, trying to keep the little oddish babe in his grasp. "The fuck is your deal, kid-- SHIT!" She managed to wriggle out of his paws and onto the ground, when a scent caught his nose. He lassoed the little plant with his tail, bringing her close to him again. Someone new-- it had to be. He knew the scent too; an eevee. "There's an eevee nearby," he growled, his voice low and only for Martha's ears. "We should get back, quickly."

"No, I think... they're past the-the city...The fuck is your deal, kid-- SHIT!" Martha turned to see Eliana thrashing and protesting in Seth's grasp, and the Smeargle eventually lost his grip on her and she landed in front of him on the ground. "Eliana! You need to be a good girl for Seth, y'hear?" she said sharply, hobbling towards them both just as Seth held the child close to him with his tail and began to sniff the air.

"There's an eevee nearby," he growled softly into her ear. "We should get back, quickly."

"An Eevee?" Martha tilted her head and turned on the spot for a glimpse of whoever was watching them. "A living one, or...?" Not waiting for an answer, Martha continued onward as quickly as she could on her aching foot before briefly turning back and asking, "Are you OK with Eliana, or do you want me to try carrying her?" She couldn't quite figure out what was spooking the child, but it made the young Flaafy apprehensive.

    "The fuck is your deal, kid-- SHIT!" she watched in amusement as the red-yellow grass...thing managed to squirm out of the Smeargle's grasp, getting onto the ground for a few moments before the male quickly caught the child with his tail. The Eevee stared at the painter, furrowing a brow when his lips moved, but the voice too quit for the fox to hear.
    "Aw, shit." she mumbled, taking a few steps backwards into the thicker part of the bush and bundling herself so no stray hair could be spotted. "Have they already noticed me? Fuck maybe they can smell me-" almost immediately at the thought she dropped to the ground and furiously shook herself into the dirt and mud beneath her, covering herself in a thick layer of grime and causing the flora she hid in to rustle loudly. She barely noticed the latter, too busy trying to mask her scent. In a few minutes she was covered head to toe with wet soil and muck, only the freckles on her face and her eyes still visible.
    Satisfied with her work she quickly made move to follow the Flaafy, disregarding the leafs and branches that clung and knotted into her fur. Her movements were rigid and stiff, the excess debris weighing her down but she barely took notice, after all, she'd be able to wash this all off eventually.

[OOC: sorry for the lateness!!]

"...You can't..."
The soft words hit her harder than any punch ever could. In her head she knew he was right but her heart still screamed to take care of her children. She lost one baby to the plague already, was she really about to lose the others as well? Eliana...what would she do without her Momma? "Rhea... you know as... as well as I do what needs to be done here." Raising her head slightly so she could meet Virgil's gaze the Kangaskhan briefly wondered if he meant what she thought he did. As he continued Rhea realized that he was indeed talking about killing her so that she wouldn't harm her children, but it didn't make the realization any easier to deal with.

Virgil was asking her to let him kill her.

"Virgil, I can't just abandon my children...I've already proven that. I tried to walk away and look what it got me. I went crazy. I need my kids." Her pleas didn't seem lost to the feline but his intent never faltered. He was as determined as she was to keep them safe, but unlike herself he was willing to make sure they were safe even from the one who loved them. "...You shouldn't worry. I'm the oldest of 16 kids, Rhea, and I cared for all my siblings for a long time. Those guys? They'll be a breeze..." The soft smile he offered her broke her heart all over again, the attempt to soothe her having nearly the opposite effect as she felt the world slipping out from under her. "I'll take care of them."

"Okay Virg...okay..."

________________________

Eliana squeaked in surprise and disappointment as the Smeargle's tail tied itself around her, keeping her from running off once she finally hit the ground. It wasn't fair! She needed to get to Momma! Something in the child was screaming for the soothing beast that was her mother and Seffie wasn't letting her go. "Momma! Momma Virgee help!" she couldn't stress hard enough that they needed to get to the missing pair, that something was wrong and even the new friend had to wait. Marda even tried to ask what was wrong but the Oddish just shook her head and tried pulling Seffie's tail off with her leaves. "Help Momma! Help!"

((Permission to kill Rhea off Sil, Eliana I will write out next round since I figure she will just go wherever Seth and Virg run off to))

"Okay Virg...okay..."

It was the single most heart-rending sentence he'd ever heard. Not the tearful goodbyes of his siblings, not his own brother's adamant loathing for him... Not even his parents abandoning them to fend for themselves. No. It was this kangaskhan, this poor, beaten woman that had only wanted to protect her children-- her adopted children. And here she was, kneeled at his paws, accepting the hard truth that she was better off dead than alive... for herself and for them. His throat tightened, but he didn't allow the tears to flow. Breaking form now might spark something in Rhea, and Legends knew he needed her full cooperation for this to happen smoothly. He nodded, quietly, wanting to at least comfort her a little before Death's cruel, cold grasp claimed her. But... again... it might set her off again, and cost him and the others their own lives.

No...
It had to be done.
Immediately.

Words had been exchanged. She knew how he felt, how he appreciated her efforts. Nothing more really needed to be said; anything else would seem to be delaying the inevitable. So, with a heavy heart, he picked his strongest attack, Night Slash, and powered it up. Rhea's eyes had fallen to the ground, something the liepard was all too grateful for. There was no way he could have done this looking at her. With her neck arched down, his eyes spotted a weak point in between her armor. He could snap the neck easily from this angle, not having to break through her tough hide. His decision made, he shifted and heaved a shaky exhale.

It...

It was time.


The night slash had already engulfed his paw and arm, and he leaped into the air to gain more momentum to help him. With lethal precision, he slashed down, rendering the back of her neck. Bone and tendon snapped beneath his power, the skin separated on command. And as his paws hit the ground, Rhea's now very limp and lifeless body did as well. The heavy thump caused Virgil to freeze, his back to the now lifeless corpse. His heart pounding, his arms shaking and his eyes now no longer able to keep their barricades against the tears, he allowed himself a last look, to make sure his aim had been true.

...It had.

His jaw quivering and eyes now overrun with water, he slowly went toward her, placing his clean paw upon her already cold hide. He could have assured himself that this had been for the best, that this had been something mutual and safe. That he should be proud that he had protected the others and Rhea from herself... but it still didn't change the fact that her blood was now on his paw. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he allowed himself a quiet sob as the guilt and melancholy ripped through his chest in a more brutal way than Rhea's claws could have ever hoped to achieve.


----


"An Eevee?" Martha's voice was as soft as Seth had hoped it would be, not wanting to alert any other bastards that might be lurking nearby. "A living one, or...?" Seth shrugged his shoulders as he scooped Eliana back up and pointed toward the edge of town, indicating to start going the other way. He honestly did care; living were just as dangerous as undead at this point. "Are you OK with Eliana, or do you want me to try carrying her?"

Seth nodded, but as he was about to hand her off to the sheep, she began struggling. "Momma! Momma Virgee help!" she cried as Seth desperately tried shushing the child. "Help Momma! Help!" Growling in frustration, Seth tried keeping a hold of her, but couldn't understand what the kid's problem was. "If you'd hold still, we'd already be on our way, you little--!" But as he glanced upward, something caught his eye. They had been quiet in the city, besides the building falling down. But that noise... something had heard it.

A lot of somethings.

A black cloud, whirling and moving on its own whims, came steadily closer and closer. But of course, it was no cloud. Hundreds, thousands of flying undead had banded together in a way that he'd never seen before... and they were all headed straight toward the town. a piece of the flock headed down, and as the caws became audible, one scream in particular cut through the flock's mindless calls-- one that sent a chill down Seth's spine.

"VIRGIL!"

But the cat was likely already gone, and too soon, the flock was upon them. Eliana fell out of his grasp, and all too quickly, he was airbone before he could land any hits. A Swellow was his captor, and ugly, terrible thing, and he could only glance down to Martha's pink and white fur to see if she was still on the ground. "MARTHA, RUN!"

He disappeared into the flock.

[[Virgil's and Seth's leaving post. Permission was given to kill Rhea. It's been fun, guys, but I have to cut down. ;u; Hopefully I'll be back sometime!]]

Martha reached out her arms to take Eliana but only grew more concerned when the child continued to thrash and protest. "Come on, Eliana, come to Martha for a cuddle," she soothed, trying to put on a warm smile. She glanced up at Seth, only to find his gaze swiveling upwards at the sky, his mouth dropping open in horror.

Turning to see what was the matter, Martha wished she hadn't. A flock of hundreds, possibly thousands, of undead bird Pokemon were flying their way, their piercing screeches enough to make the Flaafy's fur stand on end. Martha's mouth hung open in terror as several of them came swooping towards them. "N-No, get away!" she cried, blasting the nearest one with a Thunder Shock.

"VIRGIL!"

"Wh-What? Virgil's in trouble?!" Martha panicked as she continued to try and keep the birds at bay, only for one of them to veer off to the side and grab hold of Seth. The Smeargle was carried off into the sky before Martha had even got over her shock. "MARTHA, RUN!" "SETH!" The Flaafy clung to her face desperately, watching as her friend disappeared into the immense cloud of screeching, rotting avians.

She realised that she would have to grieve later - more birds were diving in her direction. Scooping up Eliana, the sobbing Martha dashed off back towards the Marsh. Got to find Mum got to find Mum--

    "Momma! Momma Virgee help! Help Momma! Help!"
    "If you'd hold still, we'd already be on our way, you little--!" the Smeargle's frustration with the child had been amusing, the Eevee had to admit. The wat the painter growled and struggled to keep the plant still in his grasp summoned a slight chuckle from the fox, who, having almost forgotten her original goal, silently cheered the red Pokemon on. The Flaaffy seemed to be much more gentle with the grass-type, but soon the two older survivors had stopped to stare at the darkening sky.

    Those were definitely not clouds.

    "VIRGIL!" the Smeagle's shout managed to bring the Eevee to her senses, stopping herself from gawking at the sight. Hundreds, no, thousands of flying hellspawn covering the skies and swooping down to pluck the living from the earth. The electric-type began to Thunder Shock the avians nearing her, but it wasn't long before a Swellow grasped the painter within it's grotesque talons and carried him off. "Shit."
    "MARTHA, RUN!"
    "SETH!"
    At the back of her mind, Jennifer mused that the scene before her seemed to almost be like some sort of tragic love story. The sheep had wasted no time in scooping up the child, immediately beginning a mad dash towards the marsh. Motioning to follow, the fox tried her best to keep pace within the foliage despite her body being caked in a frosting of mud and dirt. Mid-sprint she leaped, spinning in the air before landing with as much grace as she can muster. It doesn't take long for the Rain Dance to take effect, storm clouds forming above the undead flock as it began to pour with rain. Hell yes.
    She had felt much more at home, now. Taking advantage of the water she slimmed her armor of debris, narrowly evading a Staraptor that had spotted her within the bushes. She rolled out of the brambles for a few moments, lunging and Quick Attacking the bird away before swiftly emerging back into the thicket of leaves.