The Unwanting Jungle, and the Explorer's Base

Black. Pitch black was all that Jasper could see. The darkness of the forest sent a cold shudder down his body. The forest grew with vines drooping so low, Jasper could feel it on his face. His wrinkly skin twitching from time to time.

The explorer had been walking for about 15 mins due East. It was night, and it was biting cold. Jasper had only been wearing his explorer's outfit which consists of, a sandy grey shirt all buttoned up, a velvet belt, and some kaki pants. He had some running shoes, but they too looked as old as he did. He began to feel shivers constantly throughout his body, not only because he was cold, but because he felt unwanted.

Jasper rubbed his hands on his arms, signaling that he was cold.

"A few more steps, and I should be going back", said Jasper in a terribly low volume. He felt that he was being watched, eyes that were leering at him, with every crunchy step he took on the Jungle's floor. The old man began to slow down, he needed to go back. It was too dark to tell where he was going, and he knew he was incredibly lucky that he didn't fall on any of the loose twigs and vines that were creeping underneath him like packs of snakes. The pain that he would have to go through to getting up, the pressure building up on his knees. Jasper stopped completely. His chubby face looking around.

"Damn it. First I lose my beloved Vulpix, now I am lost in a natural maze with no light... what now? He hit a vine away from his head, as he began to think, his fingers scratching his scull.

" I guess the only thing to do is wait it out until morning." The old man groaned and sighed. He sat down where he was, he was too afraid to think where he was sitting. The pain in his legs shot up to his arms this time. Jasper was aching pretty badly.

The aching had started a tear, and soon it ended up in a faint sobbing. He was worried that his Vulpix was killed or, kidnapped. How he remembered her with her playing grin, the burning embers in her eyes, he tails all woven and matted. He was meaning to comb it out.

Dear, dear Vulpix, my sweetie. Oh please, oh please come back to papa. I swear if you come we shall leave back to the base, and get a good night's rest.

He day dreamed, or in this case, he night dreamed, about his very cozy cot he slept in. The blankets soft and flannel like. It was like his home away from home. He dreamed about his fellow explorers sitting having a coffee inside. His friends. His loyal friends. The old man wiped a tear from his eye.

"Why do I make it seem like I am dying?" He chuckled. Jasper reminded people alot like Wattson, the Gym Leader of Mauville City. They resembled the same characteristics, especially how they both liked to laugh. Jasper's mind began to change.

"Hah! Dear ol' me. I make this seem like a tragedy. I know I shall find Vulpix, I mean I did go through much worse than this." He had a smile on his wrinkly face.

Although, he convinced himself everything was going to be all right, something in his gut told him, it will not.

Explorer's Base

The small miniture clock showed 11:39 pm, and the kettle had just went off. A younger teenager had gotten up from the couch. It made a small squishing noise as she did so. The blue-coloured leather still had the indent of her body left in it. She was alone. It was her in that cramped room that housed a sofa, a chair and a small coffee table. The T.V was on a small wooden stand, across from the couch.

The rosey cheeked girl walked over barefoot to another smaller room, that was branched off from the "lounge" space. Her blue hair was strangely fascinating. She untied her ponytale as she walked, showing that she was almost ready to turn for the night.

The kitchen held only the basics. A small 70's fridge, a small counter (where the kettle was perched on), a small microwave and a few sinks. The counter space was very limited and it only had one cupboard hovering on top. Everything mixed and matched, and nothing looked co-ordinated and decorative.

The rosey cheeked girl unplugged her kettle, and poured herself some coffee, into her little "exploring is fun" mug. She looked very worried and frustrated. You could tell as her hands were slightly shaking.

"Don't spill it! Of course, it won't be the first time you were to be clumsy, dweeb!" The slim figure of another teenager could be seen at the doorway, bewteen the living room and the kitchen. He had a mohawk, a green one to be in fact, and looked rather creepy looking. He was still wearing his explorer's outfit, that still had a little crest that read "In Training" in the middle of his chest. The blue haired girl, was in fact wearing her pajamas.

"Don't give me that look! You know you like me, and you were so waiting for me. That's why you were up" The boy unbuckled one of his buttons on his shirt. The blue haired girl rolled her eyes in distgust. She poured some sugar in her mug.

"Coffee, this late Bridgette? You know you won't be able to sleep. I mean coffee keeps you --- Oh...I get it." He licked his lips. "You wanted to be awake, for some Ovin' Lovin' time." The boy unbuckled another one of his buttons, revealing a white shirt underneath. Bridgette turned around to get some milk, completely trying to ignore him. As she began to fetch the milk in the fridge, he kissed her neck. There were small goosebumps that littered her skin. She felt very uncomfortable.

Bridgette turned around to shove him away, but instead she accidently knocked her mug on the floor, through all the hustle. The small shattering sound really drove this peaceful girl mad. This was the last time.

"LOOK. Do not, and I mean DO NOT try to ever make a move on me again or I shall purposely send you back to the underworld where you belong. I don't know why you were being such an ass today, and I know you don't like me, so why are you hitting on ME?" The rosey cheeks spread throughout her whole face in frustration. It was red from anger. She pushed him against the wall.

"Look the only reason I am here is because I am studying to be a proffesional explorer, like you are as well. I am not here to like anyone, or kiss anyone, and I am definately not here to clean up any messes." At that she signaled her finger to the shattered mug that layed on the floor, with the black coffee spilled around.

"I am not cleaning this up, so I expect someone to do it... Owen!" She stuck her tongue out at the green haired boy. He looked up and smiled funny. He was kind of confused. The boy moved towards the counter grabbing some paper towel that was in a roll on top.
He kneeled down and began his work.

"I still don't know how you always manage to do this to me..." He looked up and smiled at her. Bridgette went to smile back, but then she was interrupted by a loud gasp.

"Oh my, did you hear any news of Jasper, Owen? Did you find him?" She was back in her worried look, the way she was when she was pouring her coffee.

The boy now picking up the glass, went to take it over to the garbage can.

"Banette and I, looked all around these parts. We couldn't see him or hear him. It was deathly silent. I felt like I wasn't suppose to be there." He went over to the sink to wash his hands. "I mean, It really takes a different look in the dark- the jungle I mean.

Bridgette looked down in fright. She had a very bad feeling. Owen continued.

"Lucila went to bed in the room across from the lounge, she fell asleep waiting for him." Owen dried his hands with a white cloth he had found underneath the sink.

"Why?" Asked Bridgette. "Does she not care for her husband?"

Owen laughed lightly, and put away the sugar that Bridgette had left behind. She was a forgetfull person.

"Because she is old, Bridgette. It was hard for her to keep her eyes open after a while, even if she is his wife." Owen walked past Bridgette so that he could sit on the couch in the lounge room. She followed behind, closely listening.

"We are the next generation of explorers, me and you. They are starting to get a little too old for the job, that is why they are training us everything they know. He even treats us as his co-workers." Owen went to lie down on the couch, but Bridgette was stopping him from stretching.

"Me and you? I mean You and Me?" Bridgette began to worry again. "How can we pull off such a big job? I mean exploring takes more than 2 people..."

She got up from the couch and began to pace, Owen was finally able to stretch out his legs. The two teenagers have been really tired, and worried for quite some time.

"Comon' Bridgette, we will think about this tommorow, right now it's time for us to hit the hay." Owen got up from the couch and walked over to the closet, he was trying to look for the beige thin bed sheets. Bridgette sat on one of the chairs. She yawned, but she tried to hide it from Owen.

"I am not tired," she replied quite snobby. Owen stretched to the top shelf, and found what he was looking for. He closed the closet door and began to walk back.

"If you insist, but I am going to bed. My eyes are closing and I don't feel so good." He began to layer the couch with the sheets. It was a sign that he wanted her to leave.

"I guess I could go to bed," Bridgette said after she saw him making a comfy bed. I am just really worried about Jasper and Vulpix. Owen layed on top of his little blanket mess. It was very comfortable though.

The young boy turned his head to look at Bridgette.

"I am going to let out my Banette now, and I know how much you don't like him. I don't see why though. I guess you should get to bed." Bridgette began shudder.

"Ugh! I swear if Banette comes into my room while I am sleeping again, and makes little gurgling noises... I will skin you alive. I hate that thing. It's so creepy." Owen made a little chuckle. He wrapped his body up more in his blankets. He looked like a cloth mummy.

"I promise, Bridgette, no scary anything tonight. Well I should say everynight." He picked up his little travelling bag beside the blue couch, and enlarged a pokeball.

"Ok! I am leaving goodnight." Bridgette scurried to her room and closed the door. You could even hear that she locked the thing.

"By the way, Bridgette, just for future referance...ghosts can go through walls. A locked door won't stop them." Owen chuckled again.

"Comon' Buddy!" The pokeball was thrusted into mid air, and a whitish red light appeared, soon to take form into a shape.

"Banette!" The little puppet spoke his name. It was a ratty creepy little black thing, with sharp piercing eyes, and a zipper for a mouth. The pokemon levitated towards the corner of the room, and turned around facing the wall.

"Goodnight Banette," Owen spoke. "Do turn off the lights for me." The puppet didn't even turn around. It still faced the wall, but all of the sudden the lights were off. It was silent, and creepy, with Owen sleeping on the couch, and Banette facing the corner getting ready to sleep. It was sort of eerie. Owen was already drifting to sleep; while Banette's eyes turning beet red. It had an unsual way of sleeping.