A/N: It's been so long… XD;;
Pikkle: Icanhas PID naow? :U
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I'd been wrong to think that there was one, simple, quick route to the outside. In actuality, there were at least ten different tunnels that branched away from the main cavern; I ended up choosing which way to go randomly at each fork in my path.
Aside from the occasional Zubat, the place was relatively deserted. Humans clustered together in some areas in hopes of finding a way out of the darkness, but instead of actually trying to leave, they hovered around a small pool of water and discussed trivial matters.
Though I didn't have much trouble seeing in the dark, the desolate feeling this place gave me was unnerving, and I found myself looking over my shoulder more than once to make sure I wasn't being followed.
Even when I found that there was no one there, I wasn't convinced in the slightest that I was alone.
A voice suddenly echoed through the cave; it was high pitched and annoying, making my skin crawl at the sound.
"Meowy," the feminine voice whined, drawing the word out. "I'm scared."
I heard a deep rumbling purr just before the girl and her Persian, Meowy, came into view. The large cream-colored feline's eyes locked with mine, and I felt my fur stand on end and my heartbeat quicken.
"Meowy, what are you looking at?" the female human pestered, her auburn head-fur bouncing as she tried to identify what her Pokemon was fixated on. The cat only murred in response as it positioned itself into a hunter's crouch.
Crap, I cursed mentally as I turned and tried to get away as quickly as my paws would let me. My eyes were glued to the Persain's form as it gave chase, the mighty bounds it managed in moments allowed it to catch up.
Because I wasn't watching where I was going, I didn't see the dip in the cavern floor in front of me until I stepped into it and, not realizing it was there, lost my footing, and I didn't see the rock I hit my head on after that. I sure as hell felt it, though.
Unfortunately for me, I didn't see what happened next as I blacked out, but I could swear I heard a high-pitched yelp and a defensive roar before I was gone completely.
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"Wake up you will now?" a sweet voice asked again, gently petting my side. "Wake wake time."
"Mmph?" I blinked my eyes open groggily. Aside from a dull ache on the spot where my head had hit the rock, I didn't feel any pain as I gazed around me.
I was sprawled out on a bed of straw and something soft that I couldn't identify. The room around me looked human-made, but something told me it wasn't. It was dome-shaped and had colorful little stuffed toys scattered across the floor. The rounded walls were painted with random, bright colors. At last my gaze landed on a Cleffa; the sweet-looking child was staring up at me with excited eyes and a broad smile.
"Mommy! Mommy! Awake Ratatta is!" she called ecstatically. About a minute later, a Clefable danced into the room.
"Welcome to our home," she said warmly, nodding her head to me as the Cleffa reached up to her mother for a hug.
"… Where am I?" I asked respectfully.
"In a chamber near the top of Mt. Moon." The Clefable grinned when my eyes lit up happily. Some of the excitement faded, however, when my memories came rushing back all at once.
"How did you find me? Where did that Persian go…?" I muttered curiously.
"The friend-eater was chased away," she assured me. "Our protectors saved you while they were out gathering food." I didn't comment on her odd choice of words, and simply nodded in response.
"Have you seen a group of Pokemon trying to climb the mountain at all?" I asked hopefully as my train of thought strayed to my companions.
"The ones being lead by the angry one?" She tilted her head and put a paw to her mouth in thought. I sighed; "the angry one" could mean either Cody or Timothy, depending on if the rude Vulpix had come across the group again or not.
"What did the angry one look like?" I inquired.
"She's very roundish, and her back throws up fire when angered," she explained. I sighed in relieve; it was Cody. Hopefully she'd been able to keep the group together after I'd gotten separated.
"Is the group here now?" I asked expectantly.
"They're eating in the storage chamber."
"Mommy, food I can have now?" the Cleffa asked, clapping her tiny paws excitedly together. The Clefable nodded and picked the child up.
"Follow if you wish to meet the angry one and her followers," she said over shoulder. I quickly scrambled to my paws, hissing slightly at the pain it caused my head, and followed the pink Pokemon as she lead me through an intricate system of tunnels. The structure and complexity of them gave me a sense of comfort and homesickness at the same time.
Eventually, we made it to the end of a hall where a large stone arch formed the opening to a room; I could hear Pokemon chatting inside, as well as smell the enticing berries' aroma.
Without a word, the Clefable put the Cleffa on the floor, and, almost immediately, the little girl shot off into the room.
"Hello?" I called in after a moment, receiving an approving nod from the celestial Pokemon before she followed her child.
"Faith?" four voices piped in unison, a muffled one that I didn't quite recognize following.
"Yeah?" I replied, padding into the room for the first time. Ikaru, Cody, Float, and Jerry were all sitting around a huge pile of assorted berries. They all waved as I came in; Float, however, didn't stop at that. He stood up and gave me a tight hug.
"We thought you were dead! We held a funeral and everything~!" he exclaimed almost happily before plopping right back down and munching on a Pinap Berry. I scoffed.
"You should have more trust in me. I wouldn't die," I snorted, only half-joking. I didn't want to die.
"That's not how things looked last night," an annoying, now recognizable voice chimed from the corner of the room. None other than the golden-furred Vulpix himself sat there smugly, nibbling idly on a Sitrus Berry as I glared at him. Jerry, obviously not liking the idea of a potential fight, stood and blocked my view of the stupid vulpine.
"We're guests here; show some respect, please," Her usually-timid voice was commanding, though it still had a gentle, quiet ring to it. An awkward silence fell over the area.
"… So, who wants to share this Cheri with me?" Ikaru asked brightly, turning to Cody and offering her half of the fruit. She took the piece gingerly, smiling softly at the Pikachu, who grinned widely back.
The Cyndaquil then proceeded to mash the spicy berry into the poor, unsuspecting Pikachu's eyes.
"My eyes! Oh sweet Arceus, it burns!" he howled, rubbing desperately at his fruit-covered face to try and get the sting out. Cody merely chuckled under her breath.
"I told you I hate Cheri's…" she said under her breath. An awkward cough interrupted the spectacle; Ikaru even stopped scratching at his enflamed, bloodshot eyes for a moment to see who'd just arrived.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but there are introductions to be done."
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A/N: I'mma try to get on top of these again… XD;;
Pixii out~!