Synope's Pursuit(open)

[Umbra]

It was dark out tonight near the springs... The cloudy warm pools of water gave out continuos steam that warmed the area around it regardless of the current season... In fact, the nearby plants around the pools were still green as if it was still Spring. Normally a hot spot for trainers and coordinators trying to relax, there didn't seem to be any humans about today... No... Something else was slinking in the grass.

Synope hissed softly as he slithered through the long grass near the pools, making his way to them. The long seviper blinked his red reptilian eyes once he was at the edge, coiling up as he looked around... He wasn't hunting right now... The pidgey he had a week ago was still digesting inside his body... No... He was here for the warmth. Although sevipers weren't cold blooded like common reptiles, they didn't control their temperature very well, and needed at least temperate enviroments to survive...

The rest of the world outside the springs were freezing... The unpredictable weather was getting warm, to absolutely freezing in a manner of days... Winter wasn't through yet apparantly... Synope gave a small hiss as his long black body settled into the cloudy steamy water, gently swimming on it's surface... After a while of settling near the top, sending out small ripples as he closed his red eyes in contentment... Enjoying the warmth the water was able to provide.

[+~*Snowy*~+]

The only trace she had arrived was a a shadow hidden in the shadows. Slowly, carefully, a lone Grovyle made her way to the edge of the water. This was Nanali's first time venturing into human terriotry and she didn't plan on it being a permanent trip. The female scowled at the thought of being a human pet. The thought was so revolting it felt like a bad taste in her mouth. As if to prove her point to herself, the Grovyle spit into the pool, pretending it was a human's face and getting a vague sense of amusement at her own antics. Returning to the task at hand though, the tree gecko made sure to stay hidden while she scanned the area.

The forest was much too cold for the herb that she was seeking. It was a bitter plant that was rumored to have the power to repel bug pokemon. Rubbing the leaf pulp on a tree could keep pests away for a week, or so they said. After spending a whole week trapped in the branches of her home tree in an effort to defend it from hungry bugs, she was willing to try anything for a break from the onslaught. The problem was the only place warm enough for the plants to grow this time of year was the hot springs.

There, she saw it. A dark, fuzzy-leafed plant with tiny pink flowers. The leaves smelled faintly of mint and the hairs on the plant caught sparkling dewdrops, making the leaves shimmer in the moonlight. It was all the way across the water, which would be no problem if not for the huge, menacing Seviper floating the in the pool in front of her. The pool that she had just so happened to spit in...

[Umbra]

Synope frowned when he felt a glob of saliva smack his scaly face, and for the longest time the large seviper just sat there with a frown on his face... red reptilian eyes still closed. His red tongue flicked out of his mouth, tasting the air around him... Without opening his eyes, he could tell anothe rpokemon was present.

Then, without a word, he dived beneath the water, barely leabing a ripple on it's surface... A few seconds later with a surprisingly might splash, the male seviper burst through the surface water near the edge of the pool where Nanali was at, red eyes wide with rage, red fangs glinting in the moonlight as he coiled to strike. "<You DARE mock Sssynope!? Pathetic prey! My fangsss will be your undoing an->" he cut himself off as he glanced down at the female grovyle, whom he towered over if he stayed risen.

"<...>"

The seviper finally narrowed his red eyes. "<You ssspat on me didn't you?>"

[+~*Snowy*~+]

Nanali~ Level 24

Nanali jumped back from the edge of the pool as a huge Seviper shot from its depths. It completely towered over the Grovyle, casting its long shadow over her and blotting out the moon. Its ruby fangs glinted in the moonlight, their sharp edge threatening as they were deadly. Yes, this was a worthy challenger indeed. Nanali drooped on all fours and bared her teeth at the serpent, ready to fight. Then, in the middle of the Seviper's tirade, he paused and looked down at his opponent, almost seeming to deflate. The Grovyle growled in indignation. This serpent dare think of her as weak!?

Standing up on her hindlegs the female thrust an accusatory claw at the Seviper, who's bulk was a mere step away, and glared right back into his golden eyes. <"Want me to do it again, Scalebelly?"> She shot back at him. <"Go on then, strike me you lisp-lipped, snaggle-toothed, overgrown garden snail, I dare ya!"> And just for good measure, Nanali reared back her foot and kicked the serpent.

[Umbra]

Synope's face was completely expressionless , though he did raise a golden scaly eyebrow at the spirited little female's rant. When Nanali kicked him, he merely narrowed his red eyes as the weak attack bounced off of his yellow scaled bellow.

Synope tilted his black head at the female grovyle, taking note of her green scales and seemingly fierce spirit, which more or less, impressed him somewhat. Ignoring the past insults, Synope hissed softly, "<I don't waste precious energy fighting pointlessly grovyle... If I fight you, then it means I plan to eat you later. I don't eat other reptiles.>"

Synope smiled silkily, red tongue flicking out near Nanali's face. "<Do you have a name you chicken legged, fish bellied, tree hugging shrub head?>"

[+~*Snowy*~+]

Nanali crossed her arms defiantly and glared up at the snake pokemon before her. <"Nanali, and you seemed plenty ready to fight before you saw I was a Grovyle."> The hostility never left her voice. She was looking for a fight and here was a strong, carnivorous opponent who didn't want to fight her! She mentally 'harrumphed' and continued to glare.

[Umbra]

Synope grinned silkily, flicking a red tongue out from his serpentine mouth. "<And why would I do that?>" He asked with a slight, raspy accent to his voice. "<I fight to feed myself Nanali... Fighting another reptile is akin to cannibalism in my mind.>" A thoughtful pause. "<Reptiles are superior beings...>" Synope said with an unnatural conviction. "<Mammals serve as my nourishment... Other beings are food or lesser.>"

[+~*Snowy*~+]

Nanali crinkled her snout at the mention of killing and eating meat. True she always valued scales over fur or feathers any day, but she valued foraging over hunting as well. To kill another living creature with the intent of devouring it just seemed... <"Barbaric."> She stated plainly, her nose still wrinkled, <"Berries will serve just fine as my nourishment, thank you very much.">

[Umbra]

"<I can't eat berriesss Nanali.>" Synope hissed plainly, and even looked slightly disgusted at the thought. "<I cannot change what I am, and who in the right mind demands that I should? Would they prefer that I ssstarve and end myssself ssslowly? Pleassse... I don't fill my head with such pathetic and weak willed liesss. I kill to feed... There are othersss in this world that kill to merely kill. They are wasteful... They are the monstersss.>" The seviper hissed as he slowly slithered out of the warm pool, water leaving a sparkling effect on his black/purple scales, blood red blade glinting in the moonlight on the end of his tail.

Synope turned to Nanali. "<Keep your prey food... I will eat meat like I'm meant to.>"

[+~*Snowy*~+]

The Grovyle gave Synope an incredulous look and put her hands on her hips. <"Okay, so back to fighting. What would you have done if I'd been a Rattata, huh?"> Nanali poked the Seviper with a claw, <"And who said you had to kill after you fight. You just have to knock the living daylights out of them is all. Besides, I spat on you! And this is how you respond?">

[Umbra]

<"If I was hungry I would have eaten you if I could have. I am quite partial to rattatas... Tasty little morsels, and a decent source of food.>" Synipe glanced behind at Nanali with a raised scaly eyebrow. "<And there, your implying I like to fight in the first place. Why would I waste precious venom if I could be using it to subdue and end my prey or defend myself againssst Other predatorsss? And I try not to bruise what I eat too much. I make it quick and painless as possible... It makes it easssier on me>." The snake pokemon hissed. "<And I'll get over the spit. And before you think of anything, here are 3 factors against you, I am higher leveled, I am a poison type, I am a predator, and you look like a sore loser anyway, making it 4. Go bug someone else.>" Synope went on knowingly.

[+~*Snowy*~+]

<"I am not a sore loser!"> Nanali growled indignantly, kicking a pebble at the Seviper. <"You know what, fine, I don't need this. Good for nothing viper."> Without warning the Grovyle leaped up and launched off Synope's head to land on the other side of the pool. With a quick cut she claimed her herb and held it up to the light to inspect it. <"Of course, you wouldn't know the value of plants."> She grumbled.

[Umbra]

Synope gave a throaty sigh as he felt the grovyle launch off of his head... His HEAD... The indignity of it all. The seviper turned around to face Nanali with an unamused expression on his reptilian face, red tongue flicking out in agitation. "<It's a repellent herb. Normally used for bug pokemon. My mother taught me some basic plants and their effectsss... Though I hardly ever use them or sssee the need.>"

"<And out of curiosssity, why are you antagonizing me?>" He asked neutrally. "<Why do you ssseek fightsss and power?>"

[+~*Snowy*~+]

<"Why not?"> Nanali replied casually. <"To be stronger than everyone else, to have power, it's really its own reward."> The Grovyle leaped on top of a boulder so she was eye level with the other saurian. <"By the way, I've told you my name, but I never caught yours.">

[Umbra]

Synope smirked, red tongue flicking out of his mouth at Nanali. "<Really? Mossst ssseek power for personal reasonsss... It would be fair to sssay that thossse who ssseek power ssseek sssomething elssse entirely. Power is jussst a way to achieve what they really want.>" The seviper's red eyes seemed to cloud at some distant memory... "<Perhapsss it is the ability to protect family...>" He then grimaced and hissed, baring his bloodred fangs. "<"Or the ability to exact vengeance on hated enemiesss...>" He stated venomously.

Synope blinked his reptilian eyes before he focused he faced the female grovyle entirely now. "<Point... Mossst ssseek power because they have a different caussse they want. Power isss a way to achieve this caussse. This grovyle... This Nanali soundsss like she doesssn't have a caussse hmm? But one day she will... And she is getting prepared for it. Ssstrangely, I disagree and agree at the sssame time.>"

The large seviper tilted his head at Nanali, for the first time, slight amusement on his black and purple face. "<What? You didn't hear me sream it into the heavensss when I got ready to kill you? The name isss Synope... At your serviccce.>"