The VICTORY team

The sound of the demon was rumbling near them, the ralts couldn't do anything but cling to Yoru. But her strength was fading, adrenaline had been keeping her going for the past night but she was young and her energy was being spent. Her grip on Yoru's fur loosened as her head drooped.

Scarlet didn't excpect Yoru to stop as they came out of the cave and when he did she flew right off and down. Down onto something big, brown, and furry.

She looked up right as the monster roared and she screamed.

She was glad to see that Oliver managed to make it down with ease, the only part that could be defined as unfortunate would be when he almost bumped into the taurous. She had half a mind to place corks on the ends of the bull’s horns when around the young’uns, but that would most likely come back to bite them in the butts if an infected suddenly showed up. The other two made it down fine, but Scarlet’s grip on Yoru’s fur must have faltered because she went flying through the air, luckily she landed on Pyth’s back. These young’uns were eventually going to give her a heart attack, she knew it. Lola wanted nothing more than to calm her down, and replace her back on the umbreon’s back, but that wretched steel snake was causing havoc.

A rockslide started to form above them, the large boulders that would fall down would hurt the majority of them, though it appeared as though Pyth was as hard headed as expected from a tauros. Being near this cliff was dangerous, the undead snake had the advantage from above. Their best bet was to get as far from that area as possible. She urged the umbreon and growlithe on, “It’s not safe here, we need to run, I don’t think Pyth can hold off all the boulders forever.” She would wait till the others started running, then she would bring up the rear, their safety was more important than her own.

((Skip me, Ferrox is continuing his tantrum.))

As the boulders rumbled down the jagged slope, a cry sounded from above Pyth. His eyes shot up, just catching sight of a small white and green creature flying over his head. The thing plopped down on his back with a dull thump and gave off a high-pitched shriek as he felt it clinging tightly to tufts of his fur.
A blood thirsty roar sounded above him and more and more boulders started to tumble down. Hurriedly, Pyth lowered his head, making the the little creature tumble between his horns as he gently tossed her into the bovines' arms.

"Here! Take them out of the ravine!" He yelled over the deafening roars, not waiting for a reply. He snorted and bolted back towards where they came, ramming and shattering boulders threatening them. The Miltank ushered the others away.
“It’s not safe here, we need to run, I don’t think Pyth can hold off all the boulders forever.” He heard her say as they ran off.

A large piece of debris fell from the side of the mountain, striking Pyth on his broad shoulder blade. He bellowed angrily as he fell to his knees.
Using the mountains' strength to conceal its own hide...pathetic!
"Alright, you coward, let's see how you like a taste of your own!" He growled as he pushed himself back up and shot several dark purple pulses in the direction of the high-pitched shrieking.
"A little Payback will do us both some good!" He roared as the energy blasts shook the ground. Without looking back, he turned on his hooves and ran as fast as he could from the avalanche of stones, whipping his back with his tails as he ran.

Yoru watched in horror as Scarlet fell onto the form of Pyth. With ease and precision Yoru made his way down to the others and nuzzled Scarlet softly before following behind Pyth. Turning around, Yoru let lose a powerful shadow ball that struck rocks and sealed off the area behind them.

"That'll keep it preoccupied at least for a little while. We need to get out of this cave and quickly." Yoru's voice echoed along the walls as he bounded after everyone. His red bands lit up and shot light ahead of them.

Oliver was the first to reach the top again. He briefly paused to check that everyone was following safely before running back in the direction of the hole they'd made. The cool, crisp mountain air filled his lungs as he skidded to a halt outside at the edge of the cliff, brushing snow over the steep side.

He cautiously peeked over the edge. It was a long way down, and he couldn't see many ledges that they could use as footholds.

He decided to see what the others would think; he patiently waited for them all to reach him before gesturing over the edge and asking, "So where are we going now? The only way out is down, but I don't know if we can make it down there without getting hurt."

The ralts had started crying again, she didn't know where she got the 'water' for all the tears that kept running dry but maybe they just formed out of fear. She clung desperatley to whatever it was she had fallen onto but she was given to the milktank who she immidiatly clung to despratley. crying into into her shoulder about demons and mothers.
Yoru's gentle nudge calmed her down a bit but she couldn't ignore the terror and anger that came from the demon iron snake. Yoru shot some attack at it.

"That'll keep it preoccupied at least for a little while. We need to get out of this cave and quickly."

She bumped around in her grasp as they ran, she was clinging tightly afriad of flying off again. She shivered at the cold, using her scarf to try and keep warm.

The overzealous tauros and the over protective umbreon charged straight up towards the steel snake, claiming they would preoccupy it while they got out. She hated the idea that Yoru, who the baby Scarlett had gotten herself so attached to was charging straight to the large beast, if something happened to him, she would be devastated. Little Scarlett had been thrust into her arms, where she quickly clung to Lola’s neck and began crying, all the while mumbling incoherent words about demons and mothers. She had half a mind to walk straight on up to that steal beast, and slap it silly with her wake-up slaps till its nose and spikes fell off and it went crying home, but that would leave the young’un’s unattended. So she settled with saying words of encouragement to her, “Now don’t yah worry, it’s all gonna be alright.”

She didn’t know if she sounded entirely convincing or not, but it was really all she could do for now. Lola took off on two legs to follow Oliver away from the commotion. She wasn’t entirely sure where they were going, but any place was better than near that beast. She looked back to make sure the others were still safe to see Pyth shoot out some strange purple energy towards the steel one, a move she had only seen twice before, payback. But by using it would have to mean that the tauros had to have taken damage. Even if it was effective, allowing yourself to get hurt just to attack was horrible, it leaves friends and family worrying about them afterwards.

Gone.

Not here.

Can't feel.

Ferrox struggled now to tear himself free of the ceiling where he was so firmly rooted, screaming in rage as he attempted to carry on the chase, but too late.. they had escaped his wrath twice now. His hunger still not sated, Ferrox whipped about until he pulled his body free of the stone that had collapsed onto him.. when did it?..

It mattered not. But now he had to close the distance. His prey was escaping, and he didn't know where... so once more, Ferrox took to the earth, slithering about, searching for a sign..

Seeing Oliver stop up ahead, Yoru bounded after with ease on the mountaintop. He had done a lot of climbing in his younger years and they seemed to be paying off now that he is actually on a mountain. Surveying the area, his ears twitched in the night air. Down was such a long way but if they didn't make it down, nothing could save them right now. A sound caught Yoru's ears over a small ridge near them and he hopped up the rock to survey the other side. A path, silver and dim in the moonlight, cut through the rock and turned a corner ahead a little ways. Turning back around to the others, Yoru had the air of happiness around him so much that his red bands glowed even brighter.

"There's a path just over this ridge. I can help the smaller ones over if need be but it isn't too steep up here. I wouldn't suggest this unless I thought we would all be safe. Trust me."

Padding back down to them, he stood at the base of the ridge. Scarlet had tear streaks down her face and Yoru padded forward to nuzzle her once again. His heart went out to the small little Ralts and without thinking, he used Protect around himself and Lola so that Scarlet was also inside of its barrier. You could tell how weak Yoru had begun to get because, a little after he had used it, Protect faded like a wisp in the night. Sadness stole his gaze for a few seconds before he looked to the others and smiled, every trace of sadness replaced with courage.

"Now Scarlet." Yoru began to her as he nuzzled her again. "You're going to have to hold on tight to Miss Lola's arms as she carries you. She'll protect you and I swear I will be alright and so will you." His glow intensified for a few seconds and he turned to gaze at the others. "I can stand at the bottom of the ridge to help keep anyone from falling. What does everyone think?" Urgency coated his voice as he slowly realized how fast they needed to do this.

Ya skipped me...I'll post soon, so whoevers next don't go. ^^:

"I can stand at the bottom of the ridge to help keep anyone from falling. What does everyone think?"
Pyth looked at the others, then stepped forward.
"I for one, think it's a good idea, kid. That snake won't stay stuck for long. As long as we stay in the caves, we're going to be stalked by this thing." He snorted with annoyance as he flexed his shoulder muscle. The boulder had sheared off the topmost layer of skin, and it was left raw and slightly bloody, but it didn't seem to bother the Tauros that much.

"I'll stay behind until everyone is down and watch our flank." He said confidently.

Fueled by both panic and excitement rolled into one, Oliver fought the urge to bounce up and down and shout at Yoru to hurry up and get down there. But that carried the risk of re-attracting the attention of the Steelix, and it certainly would not help to calm little Scarlet. He was no longer the youngest; he had someone to look after, to set a good example to. His father would've been proud of him...

He twitched at every sound, however slight, that issued from the cave. He turned urgently to Yoru and said, "Mr Yoru, go! I'll be OK, don't worry about me! I'll come down with Miss Lola and Miss Scarlet. Mr Pyth ... be careful," he added to the Tauros, shuddering in fright at the idea of losing another friend.

Scarlet curled up into a ball using her scarf as a form of protection. From what it could protect her from nobody knew. She calmed down a bit when Yoru neared and she looked up from Lola's shoulder.
"Now Scarlet." Yoru said to her as he nuzzled the scared child "You're going to have to hold on tight to Miss Lola's arms as she carries you. She'll protect you and I swear I will be alright and so will you."

Scarlet was still crying but nodded "oo... Okay Yoru...." Calming down a bit she wrapped her arms around Miss Lola and burried her head into her shoulder. She could barley comprehend what was going on around her, Scarlt wished she could just dissapear.

((Skip me.. again. Ferrox is stalking the group from underground.))

Pyth nodded at the young Growlithe before the pup made his way down.
At least I found a considerate bunch here; and respectful too. I haven't been called 'Mr' ever since the herds' calves were around...

His expression turned grim as he turned to stand watch, while looking back once in awhile to make sure the others were doing okay. Their footfalls and voices bounced off of the walls, making it near impossible to listen for any hint of danger coming their way.

The cavern was large and damp; which meant there was water somewhere nearby. And where there was water, there might be a way that it came in from the surface. Concentrating hard, he blocked out the sounds of his new herd. He heard a low, deep rumbling from far within the cave, along with squeaks and chittering from the ceiling.
Maybe those are Zubat or Golbat up there...definitely don't want to piss them off.

Turning his back cautiously to the darkness, he followed them down the steep path trying his best not to dislodge any rocks on his way down. Once to the bottom, he turned to the others.

"Alright, so who knows a way out of this death trap?"

Oliver gulped. It was a long way down, and very steep. He knew that if he lost his footing he could really hurt himself. He couldn't afford to get injured; the group had enough problems keeping little Scarlet safe to take care of him as well. He didn't want to be a burden to the group; he wanted to be helpful to them. And to do this, he knew he had to be brave.

Plucking up his courage, Oliver slowly crept to the edge and carefully lowered himself down to an outcrop, then another, and another. He tried to follow the path that Pyth had taken; if a big Tauros could make it down without hurting himself, then surely a small Growlithe like himself could do it?

He slipped when he was almost at the bottom and slid the rest of the way, halting next to Pyth. His fluffy tail shook excitedly; he'd made it! Picking himself up and shaking the dust off, he waited for the others, hoping that they'd make it down safely as well.

The ralts was silent now, feeling tired beyond measure just form all of her tears. It was sickening how much water she must be using up just from her tears. And her stomach was roaring at her for 'food.' whatever that was. Maybe it had something to do with that milk that Miss. Lola had showed them.

"Hungry..." She managed to mutter as she stared up at the crumbling rocks, then down at the steep drop that awaited them.

((skipme.))

(since the others are away, I guess I'm moving the team on?)

As Pyth looked around at the small group, he noticed that the youngest one was whimpering for food.
We need to get out of this cave...the kid won't survive long without any food...and I doubt the others have eaten anything recently...
"Come on, let's hop to it."
Pyth lowered his nose to the ground and sniffed the moist soil carefully. The ground within the cave held its scents for a long time; he could smell many different creatures, some of their scents at least a month old. Among them, he smelled the musk of a human.
Pyth snorted as his eyes grew wide.
Human!?
It was very faint, but it was unmistakably human.
Augh...this...this is too old...I can't follow it.

"Hey kid, I bet you have a better nose than I do- what do you smell here? Do you think you can follow it?" He muttered, gazing at the young Growlithe.
Humans make their homes outside of caves...if this kid can follow the trail, it might lead us out of this damned place.

Oliver's heart leapt in the excitement of helping his friends and ... actually leading them. Him! The leader! He'd never felt this sense of responsibility that was now filling him up, inflating him with confidence.

"Yes, sir, My Pyth, I'll try my best," he beamed at the Tauros, wagging his tail rapidly.

He lowered his head and sniffed the spot where Pyth had investigated. Indeed there was a scent; a strange, musky scent that was unfamiliar to him. He sniffed harder, determined to identify it. Indeed, he and his brothers had come across a few humans during their travels in Johto, and had enjoyed playing tricks and stealing food from them. But why had the thought of humans suddenly popped into his mind?

Of course! He had come across this scent before - it was from a human! Oliver raised his head and addressed the group.

"It smells like a hoomin," he said, looking down a narrow, rocky path that led a little further down the mountain. "But I thought that all the hoomins were gone now? Anyway ... we should follow it, maybe it'll lead us out of here!" Lowering his head again, he followed the scent towards the path and started to carefully traverse it while keeping his head down. "I think it's this way."

(Skip)

((skip me again. I'd go after Scarlet, but I know that'd end up killing her, so I wait for Yoru. ;w;))

"It smells like a hoomin, But I thought that all the hoomins were gone now? Anyway ... we should follow it, maybe it'll lead us out of here!"

Pyth grinned at the young Growlithe.
"I thought that's what it was, but I needed a grade A snout like yours to make sure." He turned to the others, his frown returning. "I haven't seen any humans ever since the disease swept through the plains. I suspect the same can be said everywhere else?"

As Oliver continued to sniff at the ground, he began to follow the trail. "I think it's this way."
Glancing back, he motioned that they follow the pup.

(OoC- we need our team back...this is getting a little hard)

Oliver couldn't help but blush at "grade-A snout". He was happy that he could actually do something to help his new friends. He continued down the trail carefully, kicking small rocks over the side so that the others wouldn't trip over them, all the while keeping his head down. His nose started to go numb as he dragged it through the snow, determined not to lose the scent, which was getting stronger.

At the bottom of the cliff, he noticed something that looked like a large piece of cloth propped up to make a small room. A ... tent, right? "Hey guys, this way," he called behind him, traversing the last bit of the cliff down to the bottom. "Be careful, it's really steep here!"

He managed to make his way to the bottom of the gorge and gasped at what he saw. Indeed, it was a tent, but it had been torn apart by wicked claws. The tent itself was stained with blood, and a foul smell was wafting out from within it. On the snow-sprinkled ground around it were a variety of complex gadgets. By the way that their screens were blank and unresponsive when Oliver pushed a button with his paw, they appeared to be broken.

The blood stains on what was left of the tent scared the little Growlithe, and the putrid smell coming from inside the tent made him feel sick. As soon as Pyth got to the bottom of the gorge, Oliver retreated behind him.

"Those poor hoomins must have been killed by the Infected," he said, his ears drooping. "I wonder how long its been since this happened? I hope that they aren't still around here..."