Training Hard (Open)

[Umbra]

Umbra- level 100
Suchi- level 71

"<Dang it Suchi... How many laps does that make around the city square?>" Umbra asked, panting heavily. The male umbreon, despite being tired, was going strong as they raced each other around the outskirts of the city. Lean, well toned muscles rippled underneath Umbra's black fur coat which was slick with green sweat that came from his toxic pores. His cat-like red eyes were narrowed in absolute concentration as his long legs ate up ground like it were nothing, his blur going past astonished cyclist who instinctively veered their bikes away.

"<Twenty-three.>" Suchi answered simply, as she buzzed besides Umbra, yellow eyes alert. The female scizor's wasp like wings vibrated in a metallic blur, giving off excess heat and speeding up her steps. Her steel-like shell sparkled in the sunlight as she ran beside Umbra.

<"Glad we are almost done, but dang... Ever since that event with that Rain girl and the black haired trainer, Silver has gone a little crazy with all these workouts...>" Umbra stated as the two teammates started to catch up on the forest outside the city(Then they would go through the fields, and meet back at the square, and do two more laps.)

"<Any self respecting warrior draws his blade when they are challenged openly like that. He is preparing for a future encounter.>" Suchi replied in a quiet, raspy voice that was almost lost in the wind that blew past them. "<With the rumors of sickness, can you blame him? It's his way of coping... To reinforce himself that he's a great trainer, and we great pokemon.>"

Umbra would have replied, but near the edge of the forest, a figure he couldn't yet discern was on the horizon, and the umbreon suddenly stopped, black paws skidding through the dirt as Suchi slid to a graceful stop. Umbra grinned nervously. "<Anyone there?>"

Suchi didn't answer, just cleared the dust from her yellow eyes that was produced from the sudden stop.

[Rain]

``R A I N
``L I L Y the espeon ~ level 100

A couple seconds passed before the figures -- or actually, two figures -- appeared from the forest. A black-haired, blue-eyed teenage girl, an Espeon with gold eyes at her side, emerged from the forest, looking completely unsurprised of the presence of Suchi and Umbra. Stopping a few feet away from the two, Rain nodded. "Umbra. Suchi. A pleasure to see you here."

Lily, meanwhile, tilted her head. <"Hello Suchi...Umbra...What are you two doing?">

[Umbra]

At the site of the espeon, the umbreon got a big, sheepish grin on his face as he attempted to groom himself to cover for his sweaty coat. "<Well my angel, on this fine day it is normal for me to improve my physique in order to woo yo->"

He didn't get to finish, a large red pincer gently, but not without too much restraint, conked the womanizing eveelution on the head.

"<OW! Dang it Suchi! I was wooing you her just now...>" The umbreon grumbled as he rubbed his head with a black paw, ring on his forehead glowing purple in irritation.

The female scizor rolled her sharp yellow eyes. "<So you have said Umbra.>"

The scizor's cool, indifferent gaze lighted on Rain. It was a calm, respectful gaze... But it was also stern. "<Greetings Rain. The pleasure extends also. We were just training...>"

Umbra smiled a charming smile as he turned around, so they could see the small, beeping mechanism on his flank. "<City laps. Our trainer is receiving information about our progress from the edges of the city several miles away. He takes his training extremely seriously. In fact, we can only talk a little while, or he will think something is up and come looking for us. He made us do this while he works with Kriss and Theo.>"

[Rain]

Rain was silent for a moment, azure blue eyes fixed on both Umbreon and Scizor. However, what came next was possibly more surprising; instead of pretending she didn't understand and letting Lily answer, the girl spoke directly to the two. "Training, hm?" the girl replied, sounding completely calm and nonchalant. "That's good...I wouldn't want to hold you up. We were on our way to the Lab anyway..."

Lily, meanwhile, was now completely speechless, staring up at her trainer with wide gold eyes. <"Rain.."> the Espeon finally managed to say, using telepathy directed only at the girl, <"Um...was that really wise?">

Rain did not turn her gaze to the Psychic type, but replied with her mind as well. "Does it really matter?"

[/i] she said, "sounding" almost tired, a contrast to her seemingly emotionless exterior. "It's obvious they already know, and even if they didn't, it's not like they can tell a human. What's the point in lying when it accomplishes nothing?"[/blockquote]

[Umbra]

Umbra's black ears twitched and he tilted his head to one side, red eyes focused after what Rain said. He could gauge psychic wave lengths... Thats how dark types were immune to them, or at least some dark types. They were able to predict a psychic attack before it hit them by feeling out the wave of thoughts.

Of course, that didn't mean he could read them... Just notice them.

Suchi tilted her head at Umbra's intense red gaze that stared at Rain and Lily, before she too studied them with her sharp yellow eyes.

"<Well, okay then.>" Umbra said with a small smirk. "<I was wondering when you would talk to me directly... Thats SO cool... But I guess it would have to wait later you know? Got a lot of work today...>"

This time, Suchi said something. "<Have you made a plan about exploring the Tree yet Rain?>" She asked simply. "<I don't mean to interrupt your walk, but Silver is training us as well as himself just in case some dark event rears it's ugly head. Are there any preparations?>"

[Rain]

Rain ignored what Umbra said and instead turned to Suchi. "We're ready as soon as Silver is...Lillian will be accompanying us, as will...a guide, let's just say. I have to meet with Umbra though...to go over the details and some important things. The Tree and its defenses are not to be taken lightly..." The girl tilted her head. "Do you have any idea when Silver could be free for a meeting?"

[Umbra]

Umbra looked genuinly surprised at Rain's statement, but didn't comment on it... Just shook his head curtly, red eyes wide and curious.

Suchi nodded slowly. "<He can be talked to tommorow... Though I wish we waited a bit to form a plan.>" A pause. "<But I suppose your doing that.>" Suchi rasped.

The scizor turned to Umbra. "<I'll go on ahead and complete my excersizes... Follow me when your done Umbra.>"

Umbra grinned as the female scizor blurred past, stirring up dust and dirt... It was like she wasn't even there. "<Will do.>" He stated to noone, as Suchi didn't wait for an answer.

The male umbreon tilted his black head at Rain, grin on his face, "<Well speak up girl. There is more to this isn't there?>"

[Rain]

The girl nodded to Suchi as the Scizor left. Rain hoped Silver had plenty of time, because there were a lot of things to talk about...At Umbra's words, the girl turned her attention back to the Umbreon, blue eyes unblinking. "More to what?" she asked, her voice sounding rather emotionless. "More to the plan, or more to my freak ability?"

OOC: Sorry, short, but I gotta go soon. ^-^"

[Umbra]

"<Freak? Nah... The ability of yours isn't a detriment Rain. I mean the plan. There is something else isn't there? You wouldn't be talking to me in particular otherwise.>"

Umbra looked crestfallen. "<Or I could be blowing the whole thing out of proportion, like I did when discussing what is causing the tree to be sick...>" He murmered.

[Rain]

Rain shrugged. "Obviously there's more," she said, her voice slightly sarcastic but also a bit amused. "I barely told you anything. If that was the entire plan, we wouldn't exactly be doing anything except taking a nice little stroll through the Tree, and there's no way I'm going to pull strings to get you guys in for that."

Lily, meanwhile, tilted her head. <"You weren't blowing that out of proportion, Umbra,"> the Espeon said. <"Actually, you might be on the right track."> The Psychic Pokemon glanced at her trainer before continuing. <"The Tree's aura has been strange lately...but we assumed it was just because the disease had started affecting it and because Mew was gone. But it could be that the real reason is because the disease originated there. Of course, we could be wrong..."> Lily then smiled. <"But there's a good chance you were right.">

[Umbra]

"<Something recently has been wrong with the tree...>" Umbra confirmed thoughtfully before grinning. "<So NOW you tell me I'm right. There's a brain underneath this thick head of mine you know, despite what people may think of me at first.>"

A pause, and Umbra grinned wider. "<Of course, thats how most of my winning battles start out.>"

The umbreon then grew serious and tilted his head at Rain. fox-like ears flicking slightly. "<Tell you what... Why don't you give Silver a hello or two in a few days, we'll meet with whomever you also thought of bringing on this trip, and then get supplied together and head out?>"

[Rain]

Rain paused, a small frown appearing on her face. "Would it be possible to have Silver come to my cottage instead?..." the girl asked. "You see, my "guide" would rather not come into the city. If need be, I suppose we could drop by your apartment...but my cottage isn't too far...It's on the Sapphire Lake shore."

[Umbra]

"<Let me guess...>" Umbra stated with a grin. "<It's another pokemon isn't it? Only you could come up with something like that.>" Again, the umbreon's unnerving perception was being used, which showed into his surprising intellect. "<You mentioned a Soul, a lucario... Makes sense you would be looking for him.>"

[Rain]

Rain unexpected chuckled, azure eyes filled with mirth. "You really are perceptive, Umbra," the girl said, smiling at the Umbreon. "You're not completely right...but you're pretty darn close." However, the Aura Guardian suddenly became serious. "But yes...Soul is helping us." Rain frowned slightly. "I just hope Silver won't react to Soul the way he did to Caly and Ragnarok..." Her tone was not angry or annoyed, just slightly curious.

[Umbra]

Umbra sighed. "<Close is no protein enchanced military ration no tasting pokemon food Rain...>"

"<Lets say Soul is yours... That would do everyone present a world of favors.>" Umbra said with a grin, then looked thoughtful for a long time before finally asking, "<Is it your cousin who is our guide to the tree?>"