"Okay... so now where do we go?" Hybrid asks, with a small yawn. It feels like they've been walking down endless streets for hours. She has no idea exactly where they are, and she highly doubts that Daniel knows either. Despite the fact that he keeps saying that it'll be just around the next corner. "We're lost..." she says, as Tammy laughs in the back of her head. Daniel's ears flicker and he gives a small glance back, but refuses to say anything.
She sighs shaking her head. Before sitting down stubbornly. Her tail curling around while Obi pants beside her. She gives a small glance to her companion before blowing out a couple of embers. Ahead of her Daniel stops, his tail quivering and ears swiveling. Eventually he turns around and seats himself. Sighing he shakes his head.
Before lowering it down onto his paws. He closes his eyes and Hybrid softens just a little bit. Raising her head up to look at the distant clouds that she can see up in the sky. Closing her eyes she takes a deep breath before blowing it out. Shaking her head she stands up on all fours. Her eyes narrowing and she huffs out another small stream of embers.
She slides her pack off and searches through it. Before rolling out one of the cans of dog food. It's late enough.
"Might as well camp here!" she says looking over at Daniel who watches with empty eyes. "It's getting late... and we're out of sight... well immediate sight!" she explains and he sits up. He slowly nods his head and Hybrid returns her focus to the can. Before she huffs and uses one of her fangs to open it. Not the traditional use for them but it works. As soon as it's open she slides the can over to Obi who gives an appreciative bark before chowing down.
"I'm sorry..." Daniel says when Hybrid offers him some of the berries that she's carrying.
"Don't worry about it!" she says with a small smile. "We'll get there eventually, there's still time. We still have supplies!" she says, before pulling out her own IPhone and narrowing her eyes at it. "And... there's this app here..." she adds and he peers over her shoulder as she gently taps on the app in question, Talking Pikachu. "Pokéuman Power!"
The Pikachu on the app happily screams its name before the app slides away and a small blinking icon appears on a map. With a small smile Hybrid looks at Daniel who stares at her with wide eyes. She lets out a small chuckle before shaking her head.
"I was messing around with it!" she explains answering his unasked question. "Anyway, from here I think that it's just a matter of..."
A nearby crash and the screech of a cat cuts her off and she whips her head around. Daniel follows her gaze as a pretty calico cat stalks around the corner hissing all the way.
"[Stupid fire lizard!]" they hiss stalking past. And both of the Pokéumans allow their gaze to follow the cat. Daniel with confusion and Hybrid with narrow eyes. Before she hops up on all four paws and trots after the cat. Obi barks at her but she ignores the canine.
"Hey! Hey you cat!"
"[Stupid hound!]" the cat hisses tail flicking up in the air behind them. Before the feline moves, and momentarily startled Hybrid falters. Almost tripping over her paws, before she growls and launches herself forwards.
"Hey wait! I need to ask you something!" Hybrid howls, huffing as the ground passes beneath her feet. It's a somewhat merry chase that the feline leads them on. Racing around until Hybrid finally slows and stops panting. Ears lowering to the side. "Well... bye..." She turns around only to freeze.
'{Look at the mess you made, you impulsive idiot!}' Tammy's voice in her head makes her wince. '{Now what! You won't be able to just turn a corner and-}'
"[Fine! Stubborn stupid canine!]" the cat jumps back down and lands in front of her cutting off Tammy's tirade. "[What do you want?]"
"You said something about a stupid fire lizard right?" the cat huffs, tail twitching before it gives what could be a nod. "Where! Me and my friends... we're looking for..."
"[Follow me! Stupid hound!]"
Hybrid perks up and trots after the calico. The cat meows under its breath all the way, and they only deviate to pick up Daniel and Obi on their way by. Hybrid beams, entirely too proud of herself as they follow the annoyed cat. Who eventually stops by a seemingly blank wall.
"[Here!]" they hiss before disappearing with nary the flicker of their tail tip. Hybrid stares at the wall alongside Daniel while Obi begins to bark after the cat. Hurtling insults, many of which Hybrid had never heard before. Probably because they sounded so... species specific.
"It's a dead end!"
"I can see that Daniel..." Hybrid tilts their head, before raising it into the air. "And yet..." Her ears twitch and her tail curls. She springs to her feet and there's a flash of something in her eyes. Daniel allows one his ears to twitch glancing towards her before looking back at the wall and narrowing his eyes. He takes a deep breath before standing up. His muzzle furrows up, lips pull back into a snarl and Hybrid blinks. "What... what is that?"
"[Blood...]" Obi barks and Hybrid gives the dog a single momentary glance before refocusing on the wall in front of them.
Hybrid's nose twitches and she recognizes the scent. The coppery tang of fresh blood, familiar from all the times that she'd hurt herself. But her eyes couldn't see anything to match the scent, there's only the wall in front of them. And yet, her ears lower as Daniel crouches beside her and she bares her teeth.
'{We got company...}'
"Incoming!" Hybrid snaps her head up, a heat already rising in her mouth and Daniel seems to flash in place for a moment. Almost seeming to be doubled before the effect fades and he snarls. Hybrid feels the heat rising in her mouth as the stranger moves and takes a deep breath at the same time that Daniel moves. Embers spew out as they come into view and Obi growls.
Before they can react the canine shoots forwards, the collar around her neck beeping and a strange glow forming around her teeth. The stranger, yelps, rolling under the canine and finally Hybrid gets a good look even as Daniel skids to a stop turning back around to glare.
Hybrid...
Doesn't know what kind of pokémon is in front of them. But to be fair, they never actually finished exploring the Kalos region, the newest one, so... but they didn't know, what this pokémon was. All they could really say was that it looked like cotton candy. Daniel snarls, before leaping again, his mouth wide this time, the same strange glow around his teeth.
The strange pokéuman jumps back flipping up and around narrowing their eyes. And they open their mouth and...
All three canines yelp and duck down. Hybrid moving her forepaws to cover her ears while Daniel moans and Obi barks in pain and annoyance. The stranger lands easily and smirks. Before sticking out their tongue and taking a deep breath.
Before they can use their next move though.
'{Switch out damnit! Please, Jane said-}'
"No!" Hybrid growls, forcing herself back to her feet, and glaring. "I refuse..."
'{Hybrid?}' Tammy honestly sounds worried by Hybrid doesn't care. She only snarls at the strange Pokémon that halts in its attack and simply smirks at her. Hybrid growls again, small sparks flowing around her body and Tammy falls quiet. There's a burning in her gaze, and she's just so furious.
"NO!"
'{Rivalry triggered!}' it's the second voice again, but Hybrid mostly ignores it. Only allowing her ears to twitch in response. '{Hybrid!}' electricity whines, and Hybrid takes a deep breath. Feeling the fire in the back of her throat as she races forwards. The strange pokémon blinks, surprised before laughing.
And leaps forwards, before racing to meet her.
"Your mistake..." Hybrid snarls spewing embers into the electricity and the strange pokémon has only a moment to react before they collide. Hybrid lands easily on all four paws while the stranger slams back into the wall and...
"They disappeared through it!"
"H-how?" Hybrid stumbles back momentarily thrown before she rapidly shakes her head and there's more laughter before someone else walks out. This person a perfectly normal houndour. Who looks relatively unimpressed by their actions.
"State your intentions!" the houndour snaps and Hybrid bristles. Fur standing on end, Daniel steps forwards before she can put her foot in it though.
"We're here to attend the Roamers Meeting, and the Tournament!"
"You going to enter?" the strange pokémon jumps out, landing easily on the houndour's back and peering at them. "Because that was... well something. I was impressed anyway!"
"We only just finished our transformations..." Daniel says with a sigh as Hybrid blinks. Obi shakes her head beside them and finally the boy straightens up. "Besides, we're just... here to figure out our options!"
"Really!"
"You could always still enter the beginners section..." the houndour says with a yawn, as if she's bored. "Always interesting to see new comers compete..." they shrug before standing up. "Anyway, might as well get you both settled in then... no escort?"
Daniel shook his head before Hybrid could even begin to open her mouth. Before she could explain. The houndour simply inclines her head, accepting it. Turning to lead them inside. The pokéuman on her back laughing cheerfully. And finally something seems to click within Hybrid's head... or rather.
'{Oh, it's a Swirlix!}' The other figment. The one who Hybrid still doesn't know, and she can hear Tammy snorting in the background. '{Strange, didn't we catch one a few days ago... huh, I mean we just boxed it, so I'm not surprised we forgot what it was but huh...}'
'{Well, it's also been a rapid paced few days... You know... You still should have switched though!}' Tammy grumbles and Hybrid remains silent, instead slowly padding after the houndour and swirlix in front of them. Daniel walking alongside her with his eyes closed, tail swinging happily from side to side and a grin on his muzzle. On her other side is Obi, walking with her own grin. '{We need to test that!}'
'{Oh yes! We do!}'
Hybrid huffs, rolling her eyes before focusing more on where they're going. And tuning out the figments speaking in her head. It was not something that they needed to test. Not in the least. And yet, it did make her curious, would they change, or wouldn't they? How much fluctuation was their genetics in? Now that the main transformation's over. Yet she's not willing to test it out, not unless she can know for sure that it'll be safe.
Not just for herself.
But for those around her. Because she still doesn't know what she's lost, what the figments have. What they are.
As they walk down metallic halls that all feel the same Hybrid thinks on things, and drifts in her thoughts. Not entirely paying attention to what's going on, until they stop. She looks forwards and the other houndour is sitting down. With a continual unimpressed look on her face. The swirlix is laughing again and the houndour rolls her eyes.
"Well, welcome! This is the mess hall..." The houndour says, before pushing open the door in front of them and...
Hybrid's mind momentarily blanks. There's no commentary from Tammy or the mysterious other either. There is just stunned awe at the state of the room. While not filled, not overflowing there are still quite a few pokémon, pokéumans. Hybrid can see a ditto, a couple of rattata, a pikachu sitting beside a raichu, drowzee, minccino, charmander, there's a couple of grimer off in one corner... and there's quite a few pokémon that Hybrid just can't name. It's not too many, but seeing them all in the one place.
"Wow..."
"You really are new..." the swirlix laughs before jumping down. "Anyway, there will be more people coming over the course of the next month or so... This obviously isn't everyone! I mean the Event officially begins April 3rd after all!" they grin before hopping away. Hybrid blinks before shaking her head.
"You should be good on your own now right?" the houndour says, focusing on something else. "Dorms are through the west door, washrooms the north... you'll find your way around..." and without waiting for a response they're off. Quickly disappearing into the throng of strangers. Leaving Daniel and Hybrid standing there with Obi sitting beside them.
"Right..." Hybrid looks at Daniel who returns the look before they simply resume staring out at the room.
'{Two introverts... nothing's going to happen... just sitting here...}' the second voice sounds so amused, and Hybrid's ears twitch. Before she stands up taking a deep breath. And she trots forwards, with a stubborn resolve. Daniel glances back at the door before following after her. Obi loyal as always follows, tail wagging happily.
All they need to do is find a quiet spot, and gather the courage to introduce themselves to someone.
It shouldn't take too much.
They've finally reached their destination after all.
