The UNION Team

“…Find me some matches if ya will son."

Right…..Matches….

The had been too busy feeling the sensation of wiggling appendages crawl down his body to properly give an answer. He swore, Tony crawling on him was a feeling he just would never get used to. The only consolation was that he no long had any thoughts of smashing the shuckle’s shell against the wall for it, maybe telling him he was better.

The shuckle immediately went to work, humming and kinda lost in its musing, that Theo was too dumbstruck about what to do. He had absolutely no clue what a match was. Probably some human thing by the sound of it. And the only human utensils that he could properly name were the knives, ladles and spoons. All of which he could see scattered across the dusty room.

If he just had any idea what exactly a pie was, then maybe he could discern the use of these “Matches” by the object they were trying to make. But then again, thinking back to it, Tony did say they needed a proper fire…So maybe something to start one? Or possible something where the fire was put into…. Theo quickly tried to focus his thoughts on finding the item, because at the rate it was going, he was about to think about the fire type friend who would have been so useful at the moment. And that was one scab he did not want to reopen so soon after it had healed up.

So instead Theo rounded up a few items around the kitchen, all of which were items he had no clue what they were used for. Two wooden round things that looked like smooth sticks, the center part of it rolled for some reason, he figured maybe with those two he could rub them together fast enough to start a fire. One tiny box, which upon further inspection rattled with mysteries hidden inside, only to reveal more wooden sticks inside, but sadly they were too small to rub for a fire, but he figured they could be used as firewood to kick start the fire. And finally two heavy rocks, in the shape of rectangles, each with numerous slashes across them for some reason, he had seen some pokemon smash two special types of rocks together called flint to make sparks, maybe these were that.

“Um, any of these it?”

He would feel ashamed if none of these were what Tony was looking for. He was hoping he could make it up to the shuckle from being mean before, by being helpful now, but there wasn’t much Theo could do in a place like this….

((So the items I had Theo brought where 2 rolling pins, one box of matches, and 2 knife sharpening stones. Just kinda wanted to get the point across that Theo knows just about nothing when it involves Human made objects |D))

Smiling gently at the Ursaring for trying, he grabbed the box gently and set it down beside him. Using his back feeler, he grabbed a pan from the sink while with two others he pulled out a match and a few berries. With a snap he had the match lit and placed it above the gas burner, smiling as a quiet, calm blue fire burned slightly beneath the pan. He broken open a few of his many berries and emptied their contents: seeds, fruit, juice, into the pan, reaching into the cupboard with another one of those stretchy appendages to attempt to find flour. Upon success in his search he hurriedly plopped the flour into the growing pile of hissing juice and fruit in his skillet.
"Look closely here son. All ya gotta do is..."

He shoved the skillet forward and up, making the battery, pancake-like pastry flip onto the other side, but not before spinning in the air once or twice.
"....Just like that. Just ya' wait Theo. Ah'll be havin' ya' cookin' just like me if ya' give me a few days."

He grabbed a spoon from the nearby sink and used it to test the rapidly cooking food, removing it when he got a gooey batter instead of the desired golden flakes. He flipped it once more, this time shaking the pan as it landed to distribute heat to the pastry. Oran Beryy Hotcakes. It was his specialty. Other than singing of course. Again, after a few moments, he tapped the buttery-gold cake, and smiled as he got crumbs. Quickly he grabbed a plate, flinging the spoon away. He flipped the rather large Pancake onto a plate, grabbing a knife and slicing it in to before it got cool.

"Dig in son!"

((OOC- That takes like three or four minutes in real time when I cook berry pancakes... so whatever ya wanna have Theo do for those three minutes... XDDD))

Danny was sitting in the dirt just beyond the small, ramshackle building he and his father had chosen to occupy. Tiny for his species, the young canine wore an expression of melancholy, hiked to an almost frightening intensity. His paws were absently tracing images in the dust, wide honey eyes staring out into the distance of the barren town and the looming forest beyond. Yet he saw nothing. Locked in an almost trance-like state, Danny could sense the foul, dangerous emotions emanating from his father. They drifted on the air, spreading like a disease to render him immobile with their sickly intensity. His vulnerable, youthful head turning to regard the building housing the monstrous Beartic he was meant to love, Danny gave a shudder. He must be having one of his turns.

A mountain of coarse, white fur, the Beartic’s head grazed the ceiling of the dilapidated house at his stood on his hind legs, staring from a broken window. Catching sight of his reflection within the shattered glass, the faulty artificial light of his surroundings illuminating his intimidating stature, the giant bear was smiling to himself. Lloyd was here again.
“I don’t know, Lloyd,” Jack shrugged his powerful shoulders, dark eyes locked on the familiar hallucination beyond the window. To anyone else, he looked insane. Nobody was there, the mammoth creature simply addressing an invisible force like an old friend. Within the Beartic’s unpredictable mind, Lloyd stood as clear as day, his signature wolfish grin sat proud on his vulpine face. “I just don’t know what’s wrong with the boy – he just doesn’t care, doesn’t want anything to do with his ol’ Pap,” Huffing, gesturing to his son innocently playing beyond the thin, bloodstained walls encasing him, Jack’s smile vanished. As usual, Lloyd was telling him to strike some fear into the kid, make him respect him. Jack didn’t know whether he had the heart for it. Sure Danny pissed him off now and then, but he truly did love the little bugger. “Maybe I should, eh? Grady said somethin’ like that to me once too,” Lloyd replied that Grady was a most intelligent gentleman.

The young Riolu sat bolt upright, ears pricked as he was blinded by the malice, the hateful vibrations that flowed from the building behind him. Wincing away as the emotions sought to mar and destroy his own dwindling supply of joy; the child was only brought out of the effects of his horrendous gift as a more heavenly scent wafted into his acute nostrils. Head turning in the direction of what was a warm, sweet aroma; Danny’s eyes lost their earlier frenzy to be replaced with a childlike curiosity.
“Smells good, Tony,” The canine muttered, a tinge of excitement lacing his voice as he spoke to an imaginary friend. Smiling over at the non-existent Riolu, Danny gave a slight giggle as the manifestation of his loneliness ushered him to go investigate. What’s the worst that could happen?
“Daddy told us to stay here, though” Although he didn’t feel obliged to follow his parent’s orders, unwilling to trust anything that escaped the Beartic’s mouth, the canine realized the dangers of the epidemic world. Pouting a little, his soft gaze volleying between the tempting smell and the space Tony inhabited, a smile suddenly broke across the Riolu’s face. “Okay, we can’t be long though! Daddy’s already upset,”

Trotting on all fours, not wasting time in brushing the dust off his small frame, Danny moved surprisingly fast for a long-legged child. Of course, he possessed the same lopsided gait of an over-enthusiastic colt, but his movements remained endearing. Soon enough, he stood alone before the door of the house. At a closer range, the smell of food wasn’t the only indication of safety, of life. There was scents of pokémon too – alive ones! Not the normal rot of the undead, but warm smells that mingled with the sweet aroma of food to provide a tempting combination.

Taking a deep breath, swallowing his inhibitions, the canine pushed tentatively on the door.

Wide eyes immediately fell onto two figures, a brown, smaller version of his father and a strange creature encased in a shell. Frowning at first, a little alarmed at the sight of the stature of the bear-like creature in particularly, Danny’s fears remained quenched by the smell of food. Lingering in the doorway, silent as he stared up at the strangers with deep, round eyes; Danny’s countenance eventually took the shift from immediate awe to a shy but glowing smile of joy.

(( So glad to be here! :3 Also, I should explain that these two are pretty messed up characters, lol. Danny’s imaginary friend is ‘Tony’ and Jack suffers vivid hallucinations, with the most frequent ‘characters’ of his mind being ‘Lloyd’ and ‘Grady’. Hopefully it’ll become more obvious in time. :3 ))

It kept itching….

It hurt to scratch at it with his sharp claws, but it annoyed him sooo much more if he didn’t. His burns had stop throbbing, and had blistered over, and the berries Tony applied to it helped a lot, but it didn’t help against itchiness. Even when his claws reopened the wounds on the open skin and made him bleed, he was still itching. Going so far as to use a pointy human instrument with many edges to scratch with, anything to make it stop.

He had been so busy trying to alleviate his discomfort that the intoxicating scent of something baking didn’t faze him until after Tony spoke up. All that effort Tony put in in trying to show Theo how to make these ‘Pies’ and he was too busy scratching himself to take heed. Instead it was as if the shuckle had started off with a seemingly random assortment of items, and magically made a heavenly meal appear before him, flipping through the air with such ease that could only have come from experience.

"....Just like that. Just ya' wait Theo. Ah'll be havin' ya' cookin' just like me if ya' give me a few days."

He had nothing to say at that, he didn’t want to disappoint the elder shuckle who was offering him food, something practically no one else would do in these times anymore. So instead he just awkwardly nodded before going back to watching the ‘pie’ start to turn brown before Tony deemed it ready to eat and cut into it, telling Theo to dig in.

“The Pie looks great.”

Just…how exactly do you eat these? Was there a certain method, or do you just eat it normally? It was too much thought to put into just to eat something, so hopefully Theo wouldn’t be embarrassing himself when he grabbed a chunk of the soft morsel about to pop the thing into his mouth when the faintest creak stopped him and put him on edge.

He was expecting an undead pokemon to have wandered in on the smell, and start attacking them both, so he was surprised to be seeing a small blue pokemon in the doorway. His small chunk of ‘pie’ barely saved from hitting the dirty floor from his shock.

Theo knew why the young pokemon would have walked in here, he was in that same position himself not too long ago. Being able to smell food in an abandoned human building, but finding it taken and horded by bigger stronger pokemon who never share. Never…..

And now he was on the other side, staring at a smaller pokemon who wandered in on his food. And despite the fact that this technically wasn’t his food, that it was Tony’s since he made it, and Theo was just lucky enough to be offered up a share, Theo couldn’t do what all the others have done to him.

Casting an apologetic look at the older shuckle, Theo waved the new pokemon over, offering up the small piece of ‘pie’ in his paws, and in turn his share of the delightfully aromatic ‘pie’. Something he wouldn’t have done a few minutes ago in his raged state…..

((I know its Pancakes and not Pie, but Theo doesn’t xD And Welcome Snitch! Already love the imaginary friends & possible Schizophrenia from the daddy. AND ANOTHER BEAR, SO MUCH LOB |D))

Wandering the region as lonely as a cloud, Carnivine once again found himself in humble Azalea Town. He’d befriended a riolu here once. Now the aroma of more survivors sweetened by fruitful pastry had drawn him back.

Slithering on rotted tentacles, the Harbinger was strangely silent as he sniffed out the illustrious scent of the living. The stench of cooking was something new, almost off-putting against his typical idea of the perfect scent, but it led him directly to his targets. There were voices now. Soft, innocent and filling the Carnivine with a vicious jealousy. Why didn’t they speak kindly to him? Why weren’t they his friends?

Hissing, infuriated at the downright cruelty of the creatures within the building, Carnivine slithered up the wall, his bloodstained head suddenly crashing through the window. Glass flew into the kitchen, embedded in the Harbinger’s numb face as his wild eyes latched onto the closest creature, a shuckle.
“MY Friend!” He snarled savagely, half his body inside the building as shredded, leafy arms reached out to grasp his terrified victim. Thrashing within the plant’s vicelike grasp, Carnivine was deaf to his pleas for mercy as he strengthened his grip. Dragging the shuckle towards his agape jaws, the dangerous spikes housing mementos from his list of victims, the Harbinger hadn’t been conscious of the flame lurking just beneath the frying pan.

The hot cooking utensil dropped to the ground with a crash, the Harbinger numb to the ravenous fire as the struggling shuckle was held cruelly over the blue flame. Screaming as its body alighted, the intense heat charring the shell and eating away at the creature’s delicate, flesh, Carnivine found the stench of burning far more appetizing. Grinning maniacally whilst the shuckle blackened, its movements slowing as lumps of skin melted off its exposed bone structure, the Harbinger let out a laugh. Who’d want to be friends with him now!?

Wide eyes on the ursaring and riolu also sharing the room, Carnivine snatched his prize away, disappearing out of the window as the gooey remains of the shuckle splashed into the cooking flame. The Harbinger claimed the empty shell, sliding it up a charred tentacle to wear it akin to bracelet, black with decorative splashes of gore.

Making his exit, Carnivine had added yet another friend to his collection.

Danny, eyes wide with the innocence of youth, hovered by the door a moment, attention glued to the Ursaring that had turned to regard him. Shifting on the spot, trying to sense the creature’s aura and judge the severity of his error in intruding, the youngster was thankful to find his company were warm, kindly. A small smile creeping onto the Riolu’s face, Danny watched as the bear waved him over, the aromatic pancake flaunted temptingly in his paws. Tony told him it was okay, ushering him onwards as the blue pup took hesitant steps towards the towering creature. He looked a lot like Daddy. But Daddy was bigger, white in colour and surrounded by far darker vibes.

As the canine padded closer, a smile creeping up his face, a sudden chill sapped him of such joyous emotion. His small body rigid with fear, a heavy darkness lingering in the air as the younger creature stood silently trembling, his eyes locked on the window. Something was there.
“Shh, Tony,” He warned quietly, his imaginary friend suddenly screeching in his ear about danger. Danny wanted to run, obey his companion’s every order, but fear found him rooted to the spot. His heart leapt to his throat, the foul emotions in the air ensnaring his delicate being as a monster loomed behind fragile glass.

Expression contorted into a silent scream, the plant broke through the window and caught the shell-encased stranger in its grasp. Feeling sick but physically unable to look away from the gruesome spectacle, the Riolu watched traumatized as the Shuckle was burnt alive, its agonized screams colliding with Tony’s own. Danny just wanted them to be quiet. Soon finding the key to shutting the world out as he tore his gaze away, instinctively running to the Ursaring’s side and burying his head in the bear’s fur, small arms wrapped about his leg.
“Go away,” He pleaded feebly, voice muffled from his position as the sounds around him slowly died into a painful silence. Tony stood obediently at his side, glaring over at the plant, whilst the Riolu trembled against the bear’s leg. Overcome with fear, the negative emotions encircling the Harbinger causing him physical pain, Danny did not cry. He was strong, face contorted with terror but void of tears.

---

Snapped out of his trance-like state, mindless mutterings of how to deal with his unruly son with apparitions of his own damaged psyche, Jack was busying himself with scavenging. The house he currently resided within had been scoured long ago, broken windows, upturned furniture and blood-smeared walls evidence enough that the place had played host to countless weary travellers. There wasn’t a scrap of food in the place.

Snorting as he stalked out of the main room on all fours, heavy, powerful frame lumbering with each heavy footfall, the Beartic nudged the main door open with his nose. Pained bolts gave a shriek of protest and complied to the bear’s wishes, the wood swinging effortlessly aside to reveal a barren town.
“Danny?” Noticing the Riolu’s absence, a frown crept onto the bear’s tired face. Dark eyes scanned the immediate environment, the abandoned, half-collapsed buildings and blood flecked streets of this apocalyptic world. But there was no Danny. Head raised, his coarse fur prickling with unease, the Beartic stalked forward with new purpose, pace increased as panic seeped into his being. “Danny?!” Voice a deep bellow, Jack knew his boy had a tendency to wander off alone, but the stench of blood and burning in the air instilled a greater sense of concern in the bear. He was a smart kid, but his damn curiosity could see him an untimely end. Determined that today was not be that particular day, Jack scouted the town, repeating his son’s name in a tone boasting a mixture of fear and anger.

(( Hope you don’t mind Danny clinging onto Theo – I can edit if there’s a problem. ^^; ))

There was nothing he could do, it all happened so fast.

That was what he kept telling himself, but even he was having trouble believing it. Maybe the truth was that he will be now and forever a scared little bear, running at the first sign of trouble, at the first sign of conflict, away from all possible conflicts…

When it first happened, he was dumbstruck; to think that inside this building something could barge in so fast and take ahold of the situation so fast that no one had a chance to react was unthinkable. Yet there it was, an ungodly being of a grass type, one which Theo had never seen before, grabbing hold of his new friend Tony and just squeezing his shell as if trying to squeeze the juice out of a berry. And by the time he smelled the burning, and the screams of anguish from the elderly shuckle, Theo could think of nothing else other than to flee.

To flee with the young pokemon, who had managed to burry its face in Theo’s fur during his shocked phase, to grab the kid and just keep running, trying his hardest to drown out the screams that a pokemon he called a friend was now making.

It wasn’t until he got them both outside that the screaming stopped, and then it hit him.

He had let his friend die.

He had done nothing to help, and had even ran while the shuckle was still alive. To him, Theo was something undeserving of any positive experiances anymore. He could do nothing but gently place the young pokemon down before turning away and expel the contents of his almost empty stomach onto the ground. The memory of the smell was what was most present. The smell of the burning flesh of a shuckle he knew and that cared for him, even for a little.

It took a minute to calm himself down, his throat burning from that experience, even if it was all dry heaving towards the end. He wanted to just crawl into a ball against this building and wait until that thing came for him, he felt that he deserved at least that right now.

But the blue pokemon….

He had no clue whether the pokemon could survive on its own or not. It’s possible its group had just recently broken up, like Theo’s. Or it could be that it was all alone since the beginning. Either way, to just leave the riolu right there and only save himself after that experience was something he could just not bring himself to do. There was already too much death today.

“We need to get you out of the open, who knows what else is out here.” Theo held his paw out to the riolu, he wasn’t sure how shaken up the other was, so in case his legs gave out the paw would help prevent a fall in a life or death situation.

To the forest or to the buildings…. He had no clue which, he just knew he didn’t want to go back through Union cave and chance a meeting with his old group. He knew the first thing they would ask was ‘Where’s Tony?’….

The floor had slipped from under his paws before he knew it, the young canine instinctively tensing as he ran on air. The bear he’d sought for comfort, to shield him from those painful emotions and shattering cries of agony, was now saving him. Clutching to the Ursaring, small arms holding tight as his face remained locked in an expression of silent pain, Danny was thankful when the screaming died away.

Set back onto the ground, alert, the silence was proven as uncomfortable as the Shuckle’s terror. Wide eyes, dry, scanned the immediate environment, eventually stopping on his saviour as the emotions radiated from him in powerful waves. Pain. Danny flinched away at the vibes, cursing his acute abilities as his gaze fell to the ground. But it wasn’t like Daddy’s pain. The stranger was sad, a guilt emanating from his core that sought to infect the pup’s heart in its intensity. Daddy’s pain was scary, angry.

“We need to get you out of the open, who knows what else is out here.”

Nodding his head, Danny fearlessly took the bear’s paw. Images of the Shuckle’s death plagued his mind, but his companion’s sorrow was proving an effective distraction to the horrors of the epidemic world. The Riolu wanted to help him. It had been so long since he’d felt any pure emotion, the joy he sensed earlier something precious amongst the hatred, rage and foul vibes that provided the foundation of the undead. A small smile tugged at the canine’s lips, young eyes searching for the bear’s own as he gave his large paw a reassuring squeeze.
“Don’t worry,” His voice, the definition of childlike innocence, was bursting with emotion. But there was no fear. A tinge of sorrow, the bear’s emotions subconsciously seeping in to affect the pup’s mood; but ultimately, hope prevailed. Things would be better.

“Danny!”

Jack lumbered forward, gargantuan frame moving at a surprising speed as his eyes latched mercilessly to his son.
“Damn kid, wandering off as usual,” The Beartic was hardly aware he was muttering aloud, eyes narrowed as an annoyance sought to replace the relief of seeing the Riolu safe and sound. But there was something with him. It was another bear, smaller, and brown in colouration that held the canine’s paw. Nose scrunching in distaste, a low growl rumbled from the depths of his throat as Jack approached. “Danny…” Tone serious, the Beartic made the swift transition to stand on two legs, a blatant act of intimidation as he stared ruthlessly down at the stranger. To his disapproval, his son didn’t move, replying with a shake of his head.
“He helped,” Jack’s eyes narrowed, his attention volleying between the child and this so-called protector. There was no denying, the stench of death was heavy on the air and Danny was never one to lie, but the bear remained sceptical.
“Helped with what?” He demanded, voice cold, his natural aggression seeping into what he’d intended as a level tone. ”Who are you?” The ice-type’s dark eyes looked the stranger over, not sure if he appreciated the creature’s close proximity to his boy. What would his mother say? Dimissing the thought, savagely, Jack reminded himself that he didn’t give a shit about Wendy. Wendy was just out to corrupt the boy, fill his head with lies about him and essentially destroy their relationship. That bitch.

Danny, feeling his parent’s anger, shied away, moving closer to the Ursaring. He hated to think what the bears thought of one another, part of him growingly increasingly concerned that a fight may break out. Whilst the youngster couldn’t boast a loving relationship with his father, he didn’t want to see him dead either. He was just going through a difficult time without Mommy; but then again, when they’d been together, they’d always argued more.

It all went south …..fast.

Just not the way that Theo would have expected. If anything he would have predicted another undead to come crashing in and snatch him or the blue pokemon up, which would have been horrible, but still something reasonable. But a bigger, bulkier white bear to come charging in and to have an instant grudge against Theo just for being with the riolu? That was unexpected.

He really didn’t know what to say as he stood around as the third wheel while the other two had their little bout. If there was anything he could have taken from their back and forth, it was that this little guy’s name was Danny. As for the bear, Theo would have to brave that question later on. As for what else he took from that….Danny and this bear obviously knew each other, and the white bear was very wary of Theo, so obviously he was being protective. But….the way Danny kept scooting closer to Theo, and grabbing on to his fur tighter told him that there was something not right with their relationship. Maybe a recurring violent attitude?

It was scary, especially since this bear was bigger than his mother, the only other large bear he had ever seen, but still he stepped forward, even if a little nervously. “I-I’m Theo.” Yes, names, it was usually the best to be told first, he had learned before that sometimes others can be more trustful when they learn your name, because then you just weren’t some random pokemon. Because as soon as someone learned you name, they could no longer think of you as some unknown figure, they were forced to think of you as another living being.

“And we really should move, there’s this…..giant plant type undead in there….” Trying to convey the sheer fear he had witnessed despite his lack of proper description.

Theo chanced looking away from the white bear to glance back at the ‘hotel’ he had pulled Danny out of. He wasn’t dumb, he knew that the larger bear could attack in its aggravated state, and it wasn’t as if he didn’t fear him. But whatever it was in there, that was what he feared the most. At least if he was mauled by this bear, that would be the end of it, just death. But with that thing….Theo shuddered just thinking about it.

The faster they got out of here the better. But despite his fear, Theo did not move away yet. Danny was still hanging close to him, for some strange reason that Theo still had no clue of. And even though he didn’t understand the situation, Theo didn’t feel right making the first move, which would give the other bear an opening to swoop in and drag Danny away against his will. He would only move away from the riolu when Danny decided to do it himself, that or when Theo could see that this great white bear really meant no harm to Danny.

He just hoped this other bear was reasonable enough to take his warning and let them all get to some shelter before starting up this whole mess of a discussion again.

((WHOOT! Half asleep while writing this, gonna check back in the morning and fix my grammar mistakes |D))

“I-I’m Theo.”

Jack merely snorted in response, a firm scowl plastered over his haggard features as he restlessly scanned the feeble duo before him. Danny had an excuse. Danny was just a kid. But this bear, although young, had no reason to stutter so pathetically. The Beartic, however, quickly ruled the title of threat of his opinions of the stranger. Relaxing, returning to stand more comfortably on all fours, the bear moved forward, eyes tearing away from the Ursaring and to his son staring up with those wide eyes. Although endearing to most, the sight, so common, sickened Jack.
“Jack,” He responded curtly, dark eyes finding the stranger’s once more. “And that happens to be my son,” The bear gestured with a bulky head to the silent canine, voice stern to alert the newcomer of a certain distaste for their close proximity. Danny seemed to have finally got the message though, the Riolu releasing his grip on the Ursaring’s paw to stand a little closer to his unstable parent. A weak smile hitting his face, Jack gave a good-natured chuckle. “Never can be too sure who to trust these days, eh? No hard feelings, Theo,”

“And we really should move, there’s this…..giant plant type undead in there….”

Tilting his head, that familiar frown re-emerging to stain what had been a mainly amiable expression, Jack’s nostrils flared as he followed the bear’s stare to a building.
“A giant plant?” The Beartic repeated slowly, a mocking disbelief to his tone as his gaze volleyed between his company and the place that had unhinged them so. Admittedly, they looked pretty scared. It’d explain the stuttering, Danny’s clinginess – but a plant. How scary could a plant be? Shaking his head, he took a step towards the building before his son’s small form darted concernedly in front of him. “Danny,” He stretched out the name, exasperated. “I’ll get rid of it,”
“No!” The blue canine shook his head vigorously, though remained curt, not wanting to provoke his father by doubting his strength. He stood awkwardly in front of the towering Beartic, David against Goliath, as the fighting-type suddenly darted away. Jack, unable to respond in time, fell right into his offspring’s trap. Distracted by the rebellious pup, the undead was forgotten as he turned in a vain bid to grab the fleeing youngster.
“Danny!” He snapped, annoyed. “Damn it Danny…” Muttering quietly as the troublesome child returned to the building they’d occupied earlier, the Beartic gave a defeated huff. Left alone with the Ursaring, his nature soon forced him to pick up conversation. It had been months since he’d met another survivor. Even though Theo seemed a little pathetic for his immediate liking, he was in no position to be fussy. “Come on then,” Beginning to lumber away, he gestured for the newcomer to follow. ”You fancy a couple of berries? Danny found a bunch the other day. He seems to have taken a liking to you,”

Danny hovered at the entrance to his temporary home, wide eyes on the two bears in the distance, thankful when his father, at least, started following. As much as he scared him, the canine simply couldn’t allow his parent to face that monstrous grass-type. Shuddering at the thought of the Shuckle’s brutal disposal, Danny shuffled impatiently on the spot, smiling apologetically as he caught his father’s disapproving shake of the head as he neared with heavy footfalls. But then, Tony was speaking. Turning his head, facing a non-existent Lucario, the child’s expression was one of quiet consideration.
“Daddy couldn’t kill that, Tony,” He muttered essentially to himself, in fact responding to his friend’s suggestion of seeing a fight between the Harbinger and Beartic. Tony had turned away, huffing almost disappointedly at his inability to behold a most gruesome spectacle. But what he went on to speak of, a whispered warning about the result of Theo’s presence alarmed him. “No,” He whimpered, a determination lacing the overwhelming concern. “Daddy won’t get worse,”

Theo silently followed the white bear and the Riolu, not wanting to comment about the little heated discussion they had both had only a second ago. He had learned a lot just from that, mainly that the white bear had a history of jumping into violence, which the riolu would normally protest against, almost as if it was the son trying to take care of the father. It was easy to see there where a few…trust issues, but it was hard for Theo to tell, not having a father meant he had nothing to compare this relationship to.

”You fancy a couple of berries? Danny found a bunch the other day. He seems to have taken a liking to you,”

The swiftly shook his head, thinking of food right now, after just a few minutes ago he had been just about to eat when that….thing killed Tony right in front of him. Theo wouldn’t be able to stomach any food right now, not without thinking about his dead friend again, and not without the taste of bile rising up in his mouth again.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to eat anything for a while….”

Yeah, it made him sound weak, like he had led a sheltered life of seeing little to no blood. But he didn’t really care about that right now, trying to look tough was something he just didn’t do. Sure, maybe confident, but not tough.

“So, how long have you two been in this area?”

He had a few reasons for that specific question, first was because he remembered Luke wanted to come to this town for a specific reason, so he was hoping to find that out. The second to find out something about these two, who right now were mostly mysterious figures. But the last and final one was to know if they had any sense of the land, because right now he didn’t, and if these two did, then sticking around might sound better for Theo.

He was even going to ask a follow up question, but then Theo’s ears literally twitched. Not for the usual reasons, like when his ears itched, or when something was bugging him. No, this was because he had heard something, something familiar and unexpected. He heard a name. A name that had just barely lost its owner.

“Tony? You, You know Tony?”

It would make sense, why Tony was in this area, and why he knew there was a hotel in this town. If tony knew Danny, then he had traveled with these two before heading to the cave and finding Theo. Maybe, these two where his last connection to his dearly departed friend.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to eat anything for a while….”

Jack snorted at the bear’s response, secretly thankful Theo wasn’t intent on raiding their stash of food. Muttering a quick ‘suit yourself’ as he trudged onwards, he listened, half-distracted, as the newcomer enquired of how long they’d sought refuge in the quieted town. Giving a hissing inhale as he mentally counted back the days since they’d ‘lost’ Wendy on the outskirts, it took Jack a couple of moments before he finally answered.
“Couple weeks,” He estimated, voice naturally gruff as he kept his attention on the building and Danny stood outside it. Whilst a certain curiosity ate away at his mind telling him to find this dreaded killer plant, Jack knew he possessed at least some manners. He’d get the frightened Usaring settled then go and slaughter the beast that had succeeded to dispel his appetite.

“Tony? You, You know Tony?”

Danny jumped a little realizing the close proximity of his father and Theo, wide eyes latching onto the Ursaring following his sudden question. A tiny frown loomed over his eyes, the canine shuffling on the spot as he gestured to a non-existent companion at his side.
“Yeah, sure,” He responded shyly, looking down as he spoke. “He’s real clever,”
“Why don’t you and Tony go and play, hm?” Jack interrupted with a rare kindness, nudging the door open as the child obediently trotted into the building. With the Riolu out of the way, the Beartic leaned closer to the confused Ursaring. “Tony’s his imaginary friend. Kid’s got some problems. It’s easier if you play along,” He managed an awkward smile, ashamed of what he considered a most severe problem in the child. But he could sympathise. Isolation did strange things to people, it was only natural a child invent such a companion to deal with the loneliness. Then again, Danny had spoken of Tony for years…

“He’s real clever,”

Clever wasn’t really the word that Theo would have used to describe Tony, Wise maybe, but clever? The shuckle always seemed more scatterbrained to be clever. But what lacked in that, he more than made up for it in wisdom, and unpredictability. He was just about to offer his condolences to the two when the older bear stopped him, making sure Danny was well out before even muttering his next lines.

Imaginary Friend?

He never had one, well, more like never had the need for one, he always had Lexi, his twin sister to keep him company. He had heard of them before, but to actually find someone who had one? That was a new experience. He really didn’t know how he would even play along in that situation….Should he try talking to his imaginary friend as if Theo could see it? Or maybe just direct all questions through Danny…he didn’t know.

“Oh, just that….Tony was the name of the shuckle I was with. Before the…..the plant thing came.”

Theo didn’t even bother to hide the look of sadness and guilt that passed through him at that moment. It was still eating at him.

“I thought that maybe, you two knew him, but I guess not.”

Them not knowing would mean ti would save others the pain of losing a loved one, which should have made him feel better. But it didn’t. In a weird way he kinda hoped these two had known Tony, the none imaginary Tony. Because in the end he didn’t even know anything about Tony, just that he liked to cook and sleep a lot. Now he’ll never know anything, and the shuckle would have died as a sleepy cook,


((short post is short :\))

“Oh, just that….Tony was the name of the shuckle I was with. Before the…..the plant thing came. I thought that maybe, you two knew him, but I guess not.”

Jack gave a limp nod of his head in understanding, naturally aloof to the sadness infecting the bear’s demeanour. Still, the idea of a demonic plant creature seemed pretty hilarious to the hardened battler – the desire to bring it back to the house without its roots was becoming a greater temptation with each passing moment. Heaving a sigh as he trudged into the building, the Beartic thought it best to give the guy at least some kind of response.
“He’s better off dead,” It came out a good deal darker than Jack had intended, the bear not used to providing a shoulder to cry on. He was blunt in his nature, even with little Danny to care for, and nothing could avert such an unappealing quality. Looking over his shoulder to the Ursaring, a feeble attempt at a smile on his face, Jack led the way into the living room.

However, it was Danny’s absence that soon evoked an exasperated groan from the giant bear. Scanning the room, he gestured for the newcomer to make himself comfortable as he went off in search of the young canine. Peering around doorways and down halls, Jack found manoeuvring about the building fairly difficult, this only heightening his growing anger at his son’s childish games.
“Danny?” He called up the stairs, naught but silence answering his cry. Frowning to himself as he returned to where he’d left Theo, Jack only then noticed the back door swinging open, creaking on old hinges.

Trudging up towards the door, the Beartic sniffed the air, catching the scent of the canine on the wind as he noticed marks in the wood indicating the door had been wrenched open. The claw marks weren’t deep and there was no sign of blood. There had been no noise – he and Theo would have heard it. As he stared out in the open, Jack caught reflection of himself in a broken mirror hanging limply aside the door. Grady said it was Wendy.
“Wendy…” Jack repeated to himself, the word coming out in a growl. The illusory gentleman soon explained that Danny had been snatched away by his overbearing mother, the female whisking her son away from his dangerous father. The Beartic’s fur bristled, furious at hearing such news. Grady was rarely wrong. “That bitch…”

Storming out of the building, running on all fours, Theo was forgotten as Jack’s mind was engulfed by the fear of losing his son. His hallucinations told him of Wendy’s wicked plans to steal Danny away and Jack had every intention of stopping it. Stampeding into the distance, the Beartic soon disappeared in search of his son and scheming mate.

(( I’m so sorry to be leaving but I need life to calm down a bit before I can handle all my characters. It’s been lovely , Try, and I hope to return as soon as I can! <3 ))

“He’s better off dead.”

Was he? Normally it would be something that Theo would be appalled by, and immediately reject in his heart, but…..he had seen so much death lately, and most of which by undead pokemon. He could remember the fear, and pain, and the pure horror in each of those events. Maybe it was better that someone die early off, least then they wouldn’t have to put up with this deadly world. To have to live every day looking over one’s shoulder. Maybe it was just a form of freedom, an act of mercy as to keep them from suffering…

Theo was too busy brooding that he barely noticed the white bear’s fright. The riolu who was just outside playing with….something named Tony, was now missing. That white bear was a scary fellow, made Theo sort of weary, but there was no denying the protectiveness that radiated off the bear for his son, even if it seemed a bit possessive at times. So no matter how much he wanted to run off after the giant scary bear, to make sure he found his son okay. Theo knew, no matter what, that polar bear was going to make sure Danny came out okay, no matter what. So in the end Theo would only slow him down.

It was just best to let them be, because he knew that he would somehow manage to make things worse for the two, it was just what happened to those around him. And although he wished it wasn’t so, it was just better for everyone that he remains alone.

So that’s what he did.

The new “family” that he wished for since this plague had started was now just a pipe dream, he knew this now. Just the wishful thinking of an innocent child who still believed that things would someday return to normal. But it wasn’t going to, and he wasn’t going to change back to normal also. The world had changed, and he had changed, there was nothing anyone could do about that. To even try would be useless. The best move he could make was to take what had happened and accept it.

The only thing he could do was continue on, continue to survive and to continue to use what everyone he had ever met had taught him; how to find food, how to defend himself, and how to just get by.

Basically, just live, live so that the deaths he has seen didn’t go down in vain. Live so that someone was still around to remember all of them. Live so that the memory of his friends wouldn’t die like they have.


((I really love Theo, and i loved the UNION team, and really wished it didn't have to be taken off. But i guess that's what happens after a while, things change and people move on. But it was fun while it lasted, and hope things ended on a good note.~))