{Picks up from -Cleomie's Gang-}


Yuoa swallowed the grass she had been chewing and looked at Cleomie. 

"Yeah," she said, "Trail..." She felt a bit uneasy, and it showed. "Err...Cleo, I can call ya that right?...What if Fluffy uses that freaky attack to you or one of us?" 

" How much more do these woods go?" Rudy thought in an almost frustrated way.
It seemes like it just keeped going and going. At least he didn't need to
lead the whole flock/group through or it might take them days. With him
scouting ahead it might be faster.

An indentacion on the ground caught his eye. Could it be the flaffy tracks?
Leaning down he saw that it was a track, but it had claws. That scratched out
the flaffy idea.

Cleomie gave Yuoa a pat. "Sure you can call me Cleo.
And...eh...that's kinda what we're trying to get a plan for. That's
why I wasn't gonna head out after her alone. I need you guys." She
nodded back towards the field where Striper and them were. "That
dragon could come in handy too. I think he's not buying it though...I
think Striper's been talking him up faster." She spat some cud to the
side. "Who gave him the right? What does he think he is, our mother?
I swear, if he gets in the way when we're trying to waste that
b****...And YEAH, we're gonna waste her."

"Hey, whoa, there goes our flock!" Striper wolfed down a last scrap,
tossed the bone down and took off into the forest after them with his
muzzle still bloody. "Rudy, Cleomie, fellas, wait up!"

Yuoa nodded. 

"Yeah...After we waste that murderer Fluffy all he would have to do would be carry her off and...I dunno...Eat her? But not before I get hold of her head and...," Yuoa made a violent gesture in midair. 

~

21146
Artemis ran out far into the woods, and once the houndoom finally did stop
she was panting like crazy. Artemis didn't reconize this place, had she went
farther than she thought. Artemis only ment to go a little ways...but it
seemed she had left the flock far behind. The houndoom couldn't even smell
them anymore, but she did smell more, and they weren't too far. Artemis
decided to investage....the houndoom went off, walking far, and her legs
weary. Artemis managed to snag a small baby rattata along the way. But it
didn't satisfy the hunger that rumbled inside the larger stomach of Artemis.
Artemis continued to run till...suddenly, the large houndoom ran into
something, something fuzzy anyways.

Erik whirled around on his hind legs and bounded after
Artemis. "Artemis" he called frantically. "Wait!"

He saw her up ahead. She was with a Pokemon, but he
couldn't tell what it was from that distance.

A feeling started to grow inside of him. He growled
softly. If that thing hurt Artemis...

He took off at a run. 

Artemis looked behind her, she didn't even bother to look to see what the 
Houndoom had run into. Artemis eyes filled with happiness and she ran to the 
houndour. Nuzzling him, and licking his face...although when she licked him, 
he rose up off the ground due to their height differences.

"Erik, you came!"

A blush came across the confused young pup's face. He
gave an answering lick, rising slightly on his hind
legs as he did so. "Of course I came." He still wasn't
quite sure of this new emotion bubbling up in him, but
he knew for sure that the newly-evolved Houndoom was
the cause of it. "Artemis, I..." He stopped, not sure
what to say next. 

Artemis blushed slightly, but didn't say anything. The large houndoom's 
curousity took over and Artemis grabbed Erik by the scruff and put him on 
her back. Artemis ran back to where she bumped into the furry thing.

~

Cleomie strutted down the path, stopping only to rub an eye. "Come on 
guys," she said with her voice cracky from being tired. Her 
companions were straggling out a bit. Not good, not good at all, not 
in the dark when she was already tired. "Let's kinda stick together? 
You know, like, that's why we came as a group? You know if there's 
any enemies around or any--"

The smell of an enemy, and even more, the sounds of one...or more 
than one...just up ahead, sent a bolt of alarm into her tail. It made 
a loud pop, briefly stifling other sounds to her ears. Along with it 
came a flash of light that, in the open, would have warned anyone 
else around, but in this friggin thick forest...

Cleomie turned and ran back.

"Guys! Striper! And--Dragon--Dante!" Her tail still flashing she 
rushed back in among Yo Tea and Jasmine. 

"Up there," she pointed and for the first time in a while she sounded 
truly scared. "Don't know what the hell it is but it's big." She 
flicked her tail around at the trail ahead, shining it all over the 
place. "Dammit what's going on! I can't *see* anything!"

~

Striper knew what Cleomie shouting like that meant. Big trouble. He 
tore up the trail, barely able to keep from bumping into things in 
the dark. He blundered through a bush and reached the cluster of four 
sheep, panting. 

"I hate the forest, i HATE the forest, i HATE the dark..." Cleomie 
was sort of chanting as Striper arrived. Like of like Chirin would 
have...but much more hatefully. "Striper! Thank god. There's enemies--
right up there. Can't you smell'em?"

Striper sniffed. But barely had he smelled them and begun to 
say "yeah..." than the lights of the flaaffies revealed a flash of 
something dark and alive far up the trail.

~

Artemis saw the light, and instanly thought it was Chirin. Realizing the
furry thing she had hit was just a large, juicy, gunky, cold, wet, glob of
moss. Artemis looked disgusted at it, and walked on to where the flashing
light was seen, and the voices were heard. Once the houndoom came up to the
little group she looked confused.

"Ok, now I'm lost..."

Cleomie screamed. She outright opened her jaws and let it rip...but
of course, it came out bleaty.

"FLA-A-A-A-A-A-A-AH!" A bolt flew out from her tail on instinct. It
went to ground far short of the houndoom and houndour.

"Grrrr!" Striper leaped in front of them snarling.

"Don't you lay a paw on my sheep. I got a charizard on my side."

Striper hoped that Dante would now return very, very quickly.

Cleomie kept trying to breathe and not faint. She wouldn't failt, she
couldn't! She had to whoop some enemy butt! If Striper wasn't scared
of'em...

"You touch a hair on that growlithe's head'n you'll be pumped full of
amps!" Cleomie clenched her flippers into fists and let the sparks
fly, pricking over her skin and leaping from her wool like fleas.

Artemis gave a half smile at the bunch. They really tried hard to prove 
themselves worthy of a battle with her.

"First of all, I could make your little amps fly off of me. So those won't 
do much, your growthlthe here isn't much of anything to me...and well, ya 
the Charizard I would fear. But did I say I was going to hurt ya?"

Artemis sighed...

"I hate it when pokes judge me before they know me. Grrrr....Chirin know's 
I'm not evil. Just b/c I'm big, scary lookin', and a dark type doesn't make 
me evil."

"Yeah, well you just watch while I--" Cleomie lowered her sparking 
fists. "Did you say *Chirin?*"

"Chirin?" said Striper. "You know Chirin?"

They both looked at her with screwed up faces.

Erik stepped up beside Artemis. Although she was a bit
younger than himself, she was now much taller. "We
won't hurt you," he said. "Just because I'm a
Houndour... you judge me for it? And Artey here, a
Houndoom..."

Artemis laughed and looked down at the two, laying down so the houndoom was 
more level with them.

"Ya, Chirin and I are good friends. I protect his flock. I'm guessing you 
know Chirin...right? Of coarse...everyone knows that little lightbulb. Ya 
know he's quite the little Amp now."

Artemis looked up at Erik who was on her back.

"Wait a minute, wait a minute," said Cleomie. Whether they knew 
Chirin or not, she was gonna hammer something home to them! "You 
blame ME--a friggin SHEEP--for getting scared of wild dogs? Let's 
just think about this now, shall we? Could it be, maybe, that your 
kind--kinda snacks on our kind? What, you think we're just gonna 
waltz up'n say how do you do?" She stood back behind Striper as she 
spoke. 

"Cleomie," Striper tossed a growl over his shoulder. He faced the 
dark dogs again. "You say you know Chirin?"

"Whoa, hey, you too, there's lambs here," she nudged Tea with her 
foot, grinning. "Okay...so we're buddies. Any buddy of Chirin's a 
buddy of mine."

"Since when did you--" Striper cut himself off. Anything could get 
Cleomie riled up and right now, riled up wasn't a good thing. "What 
she says. I know the little devil too." He made his voice 
pleasant. "Always kinda wondered where he got to...good to hear he's 
alive. How'd you meet him?"

Artemis looked at Erik, the houndoom had so many confusing feelings for the 
houndour, how could it be? They both hated each other to begin with. Which 
reminded Artemis of the time when she protected Mimishi from Erik, by 
threatening Erik. Those times have passed though, by many moons. Artemis 
looked over at the little group that threatened her, they really didn't know 
that she had experinced worse then what they could deal. Besides, a 
charizard isn't much use in a forest. Plus in the dark, it'd rather much 
sleep then much anything else. This was Artemis's element, darkness...and 
that's what the houndoom was made of, whether she enjoyed it or not. It was 
a fact she couldn't escape. Artemis looked at the sheep.

"You say sheep...theres like only one of you. You realize that don't you. 
Besides..you jumped to conclusions. Ya my kind eats you, but do I look 
hungry? And did I attack you yet."

Artemis smirked as she looked at Cleomie.

"Your not very brave...you use big words, but it shows nothing when you hide 
behind the growlthe here. And that anger doesn't help, I don't mean to be 
rude or anything...but it's true. Pride's what I call it. Plus were not 
wild, do I look wild to you, I think I'm rather calm. For your attitude 
anyways."

Artemis looked at Striper, a more worthy adviousry.

"Ya, I know Chirin, I know where he is located too. To tell ya the truth, I 
didn't mean to end up here, was actully....well, I ran b/c my emotions were 
to high."

Artemis turned and ear to Erik, and spoke in her mind, but didn't noticed 
she made a mind link for the first time.

~What's this emotion I feel for Erik? I mean, I felt it for my 
brother..before he died...could it be? I love Erik?~

"It's actually quite a long story, that I don't really have time for. But 
I'll try to make it breif."

Artemis took a deep breath and began.

"I was with Kuroirihi, and Erik on that small island in the lake, we were 
lookin' for a meal...and well, just happen to come upon Chirin. He led us 
inland as we chased him in a Dark Energy Ball. We attacked, he ran I ran 
after...tryin' to protect Chirin, he had showed me soo much, and he showed 
me my true path.....light. So I'm with him now."

"What the f#@% you talking about? You blind?" Cleomie gestured to: 
Tearose, Jasmine, and Yuoa. "Count'em. 3 sheep. Plus me. Four. And 
you're doing a hell of a lot more talking than me you priss. And 
why'm I hiding? You're ten times my size is why! And my anger helps 
ME plenty." She was getting red in the face--on top of the usual 
pink. "Least I'm not the one telling YOU what YOU're doing--and 
getting it wrong, labeling all my emotions--"

"Cleomie..." Striper growled.

"--and you think I'm gonna just sit there and try to figure out if 
you're hungry or not, eh? Oh gee, two giant black dogs in the middle 
of a dark forest, hm, let's sally up to'em and ask'em if they're 
hungry--"

"Cleomie," Striper growled louder.

"--And go ahead, attack me, you're outnumbered, it's five to one--"

"CLEOMIE!" 

Cleomie stopped as Striper whirled on the flaaffy, whose head wool 
was standing on end. He stared at her, she stared at him.

"You know, you keep that up you just might end up in a fight you 
can't handle one of these days."

"I didn't ask you."

Striper blew out a sigh. "Um, fellow hounds...I'm, er, really sorry 
about her. She's been through a lot of stress...we've been traveling 
a long time. and now you say, you know Chirin?"

"Well, that's...understandable," Striper said, not sure how to reply to 
that but just glad they seemed to be with him not against him. "You 
wouldn't happen to know whre he is? He used to be with us, you see..."

Striper studied her words carefully. So Chirin was still at it...he 
was even managing to convert his own predators to his little 
cult...frightening. He'd taken his preachings to the lake...who knew 
who else had joined? Striper had to admit it--the little mite had 
something going for him all right. 

"Yeah," he nodded fondly, "sounds like old Chirin, he showed his 
great wisdom to my own flock way back when...glad to see he's doing 
okay. You say he grew?" Striper nodded again. "Hope I can see him 
some time."

"You haven't seen--a silvery flaaffy--have you?" said the wispy voive 
of Jasmine, as she gestured with a slender flipper. Cleomie sulked 
behind her. "We're kind of looking for one."

"Aw, yeah," said Striper. "We are."

"He right ya know, Celomie(sorry if it's spelt wrong), your big mouth will 
get ya in a BIG heap of mess, just b/c I'm out numbered by a few mareep and 
a grouwlthe doesn't mean anything. And your actin' isn't the greatest around 
the babes ya know."

Cleomie nodded sideways to Tearose again, the lone mareep among 
them. "Tea may look little but she ain't no babe, you big b--"

Striper cut her off with a snarl. Cleomie actually shut up, as is 
realizing, finally, that she really might get herself killed if she 
kept it up.

Learning came slower to some than others, Striper thought to himself.


Artemis looked at Striper.

"Anyways, my name is Artemis...and I can take ya to Chirin if ya like, but 
you little loud lightbulb, I don't think Chirin wants her around, her loud 
mouth will disturb Thyme who was attacked. Yes, I know Chirin...as he says, 
were all beacons."

Artemis laughed.

"Their planin' to head out, so if you want to get to them, we best of go 
now. The suns risin' soon."

"Cleomie...well, you gotta forgive her. You see, her best friend was, 
well, murdered, apparently, and she's been traveling all this way to 
track the killer down. She never used to be this--well, like this. 
You're not seeing her at her best." He cleared his throat. "Nice to 
meet you, Artemis, I'm Striper. The mareep herding growlithe. As for 
Chirin, if he's anything like I remember him he'll be delighted to 
see'em all...even Cleo."

"That's Cleomie please," said Cleo/Cleomie. Striper swung his head 
round.

"Excuse me, Miss Cleomie."

"That's 'Ms. Cleomie to you." A hint of a smile played over her face 
but it winked off fast and she never brought her eyes up to roam 
anywhere near the houndoom.

~

Char was rudely awaken by sounds of commotion everywhere. He was 
having a great time sleeping and dreaming about the times when he was 
with his trainer. But when he opened his eyes, he saw the others 
running off into the forest. "Wait for me!!!" Char shouted, as he 
stumbled along, trying to follow before he was left behind.

Striper barked so Char would know where he was. "Another one of our 
little pack," he said to Artemis. "I mean...flock...I think..."

" Whoa, whoa, is everyone all right?" From behind one of the trees steped 
Rudy. Seeing as how They weren't fighting he guessed that it was alright.
" I heard some yelling."

"Ah, Rudy, yeah, everything's fine, now," said Striper, "Artemis, 
Erik...this is my friend Rudy. Rudy...Artemis and Erik."

" Nice to meet thee." he bowed to the new pokemon knowing that he had screwed 
up. Thee wasn't plural.
" It pretty much looks just like trees in this reigon," he filled Striper in 
on the scouting." but I haven't found any sign of Fluffy and the pokemon with 
her."

Kitaki was about to say something to Char when he suddenly jumped up and ran away. A confused Kitaki darted after him. When she caught up to him, she got in front of him and, hand on her knees and panting, she looked him in the eyes. 

"What...Why the...Why did you run?" Kitaki managed to gasp.

Striper glanced down at Kitaki, praying she didn't try anything, and 
if she did, that the houndoom and houndour had less mercy than he had.

"She's another one of...the pokemon we sorta found along the way."

"Sorry Kitaki," Char panted, trying to keep up with the others. "It's 
just everybody.(pant)..everybody started running and I..(pant)I had 
to keep up." Char really needed to catch his breath.

Erik gave a start as he heard the voice in his mind.
-What?- he thought. What was this? Could it be...
Artemis?-

~Artey?~ he tried tentatively.

" It couldn't be...." Stavros stared with amazement." It can't be." Could by 
some miracle he had ran in to Rudy!

As the houndour, and houndoom had met the flaffy and growlithe he had waited 
beyond, wondering what was going to happen. The wolf like ones probably had 
contributed to his hiding, but in truth even if it was just flaffy and a 
growlithe he would have stayed back.

He debated with himself whether to make his appearence known to Rudy but 
decided to wait until Rudy had gotten the responce he had wanted.

Striper thought he saw a flame off in the distance, further up the 
trail from where the dark dogs had come. "Who's that up there?"

Upon hearing Striper, " It's now or never time." Stavros said.
He stepped out of the bush and walked up to Rudy.

" Rudy it's me! Stavros!" I'm so glad to see you." The charmander hugged the 
abra as the abra was wondering.

" Who?"

" Who?" Could it be that Rudy didn't remember him! 

" Oh, of course. We met back in the lab." Stavros explained.

" Lab?" Could it be that this charmander knew his past Rudy wondered.

" Yes. We were held captives there untill you escaped. I foloowed you but we 
were seperated."

Rudy wasn't quite sure what to think of the charmander.... until he saw his 
necklace. On the end of the string was a stone almost exactly the same as his.
" Stavros." he said hugging the chamander. He did seem familier.

Lab? Striper gave the newcomer inadvertantly clueless looks similar 
to Rudy's own. Rudy'd been in a lab? No wonder he knew so much human 
stuff! But--from what Striper'd heard of labs, why in the world would 
Rudy want to return to humans after something like that?

"Um...you two know each other, I see," he said, nodding. "Um, nice to 
meet you, Stavros." He felt, as one the group's spokesdog he should 
say something. He sat down and scratched a flea.

Rudy turned to Striper. " You're not the only one who's suprised. Something 
when I escaped must of caused me to lose my memory but he's telling the 
truth." " I think." rudy thought.

" See." He held up the stone on Stavros. " It's the same as mine." Rudy 
wanted to talk to Stavros more but with these houndour and houndoom there.... 
he didn't trust them. It would have to wait until they had a chance to sit 
down by themselves."

Cleomie wanted to say she was sorry to Artemis. Her explosion had 
left her embarrassed, not to mention a bit afraid. This dog could 
snap her neck in a second! Her smaller friend looked pretty mean too.

But all she did was nod her head as Striper talked, yada yada yada. 
They could go on like this all day.

"So, um, guys? This is the situation...for everyone new...I'm taking 
this crew to the lake, or wherever the trail leads. We're following 
after a group of mareep or...evolved mareep...to find one of'em who's 
like going around killing people, or at least she did. I don't know 
when we'll find her or if we will, but well, let's find her first. If 
we can find Chirin too his help would probably be appreciated."

"Great, let's go," said Cleomie keeping on the other side of Striper 
from the houndoom. Striper sniffed the air, smelling and hearing 
unfamiliar pokemon.

"Hm...spooky night."

" Come on," Rudy gestured to Stavros, trusting the chamander to take his 
side.
" Kitani, Char, Dante, we're heading this way." he called incase they didn't 
realise.
" Oh, and we've got a charmander with us! His named Stavros!" He yelled.

While walking he turned hsis head over to Stavros, who was walking to the 
right of him. " Kitani is a pokemon known as a sneasel, Char is a chamander, 
and Dante, Char's father, is a charizard."
 
"Oh that's right, yeah, Dante!" Striper was in high spirits now. For 
the first time he felt like he was in a pack, especially with the 
dark hounds here. "He's eh, a friend of ours too. A charizard. Say... 
if we go too far and stick around in these woods he might not see us. 
Even with your lights," he said to the sheep.

"Don't worry about that, we're coming to the lake," said 
Jasmine. "Can you smell it?"

Now that Striper sniffed the air, he did smell all kinds of new 
stuff, in addition to the many hidden creatures around them. And he 
remembered that the lake was not far from here. "Great, we'll get out 
on the shore and Dante'll have no trouble seeing us there."

And he'd have no trouble getting some sleep already!

Yuoa grinned when she thought about what Fluffy would look like when they were done with her - Like a bloody pulp most likely. She sniffed the air and smelled a few Rattata close by, but nothing more - Except for a few Spearow that just soared overhead, screeching.

Striper, heading towards the forest's edge, ducked back at the sound 
of the birds. "Spearows? In the middle of the night?" Striper waited 
till he heard the cries fade, then glanced at the others, making sure 
they hadn't lost anyone. Where was that Kitaki? Ah, there she was.

Rudy shined the metal...band on his arm as he walked. He had been rubbing his 
hand against it for a few minutes and it was starting to shine.
___

As they emerged from the woods Stavros's eyes widened. Water lots of it. He 
had seen the lake from the town and had even been down to the docks on 
ocasion but it was something he didn't like to think about. Thousands and 
thousands of gallons. If any came close enough to his tail flame....

Well, they'red be no more Stavros. That was most assuredly a bad thing, not a 
good thing.

" Hey, Rudy. I'll stay back here if you don't mind."
---
Rudy nodded in responce to Stavros but at the moment he had more to think 
about it. For one thing he was on a beach. A beach!
" Sure it's not the day time but a beach is a beach." So much of it was 
wonderous, footprints on the sand endless sand and beyond that the lake.

Rudy slowly approched it, taking in the ambeance as he walked. Something 
about the place appealed to his good side, the peaceful side. It just seemed 
so serene with the waves hitting the shore.

He reached the edge of the water and sat down.

Striper stepped out into the open, sniffing around. He felt less 
scared with the hounds here now, plus another charmander around too. 
He stopped beside Stavros, who looked kinda uneasy. Well, he was just 
a little guy. "You all right buddy?" said Striper. "I'm going to try 
to get those sheep to all stop here and sleep for the night, at least 
those of us who do sleep at night."

" Thanks." Stavros respinded warmly. If a fire pokemon like a growlithe could 
be calm near the water then so could he.

"Of course." he thought as the water becconed, seemingly meanenceingly," he 
doesn't have a flame that could be exstiguished killing him."

Artemis thought for a min....and looked at Striper.

"To think of it, I did see a silver sheep there...and a few others. 
Including Mimishi. We can head to where Chirin is, and if some of ya are 
tired. I can carry a few of you on my back. Don't worry, I don't bite..."

Artemis bowed to Rudy, it was her first time to see an Abra.

"Nice to meet you Rudy, and Char...sorry about back there. I didn't mean 
too, I really didn't. I thought you were a threat to Chirin and his flock."

Artemis looked about a bit.

"If you guys aren't goin' with Chirin, then I've got to leave ya. I didn't 
even tell Chirin where I was going. Now I'm not sayin' he owns me, but were 
pals and I promised to help lift the weight off his shoulders, more or less 
I'm better at protectin' a flock at night than he is, and their tails don't 
help any."

Artemis looked at Erik once more and smiled.

~Ya, it was me...~

Erik shook his head. The feeling of another voice
inside his head was unnerving. "I'm with you, Artey,"
he said out loud.

"You saw a silver sheep?" Cleomie ran over, but still kept her 
distance. "And--MIMISHI? Hey, Jas, wasn't she like the shy one who 
was like scared of everybody or something?"

"I think so," said Jasmine, "I think she was the one who talked to 
Nidorans through the fence."

"Yeah her. Huh. Be cool to see her, maybe she's joined a nido 
warren." Cleomie smirked. "She sure dug herself into a hole back 
home, not talking to anybody."

Striper stepped forward. "If you're going to see Chirin, so'm I," he 
said to Artemis. "We'll all be safer in a nice big bunch anyway...and 
I wanna see how the little ram's been doing. Been a while. And yeah, 
I remember something about a Mimishi--you're right, Cleomie, she was 
a shy one."

He looked round. "Well, let's go," he said, trying to stifle a yawn.

Artemis smiled...

"I'll lead the way, anyone want to hitch a ride on a houndoom?"

She laughed, it sounded funny.

"I got three seats. And more if your small enough."

Artemis just smiled, giggling sort of. As soon as they were by Chirin, she 
would go out with Erik to hunt, the houndoom was becoming hungry. Artemis 
began to trot off down the beach/wooded area.

Erik turned and followed Artemis. "Wait up," he
called.

Rudy lay back and relaxed breathing in some of the cool air. Sitting up he 
held the stone. On it was small writing. He could read some of it. First it 
said

Luke Spencer Rudy Gunn

That must be his name.

"I'm right with ya," Striper trotted in her wake. He would let her 
lead him right to Chirin. 


Cleomie didn't reply to Artemis; she could carry herself! Especially 
now that the unmistakable glow of lights was way up the beach, in the 
distance. The one who'd slain Coddy in cold blood might be one of 
those lights. Time to find out.

She rubbed her aching temples as she called to the others in a hoarse 
voice and pointed. "Just follow the little lights."

Artemis grinned...

"Brave one I see...and whos this one your lookin' for? That you assumed 
killed your friend. What does he/she look like? I've seen many in my time 
here, I think I can give ya a hint where."

"She's a sickeningly cute--flaaffy, silver colored. Pretty. But don't 
be fooled. She packs a helluva punch. She got this nasty beam thing 
she tore my best friend's chest open with."

Cleomie's hair perked skywards, snapping with static. 

"Ring a bell?"

Ok, now he was lost...Char was following the group but now...where 
were they? In the dark, with no one around, it reminded him of his 
first night in this place. Now, he was scared. Very scared. "Dad?!" 
Char shouted. He hoped that Dante was around. "DAD?"

Dante still could not get over his anger. He searched the ground, 
looking for something he could kill. Then the thought came to him. 
Why was he so angry? Char, because of Char. He didn't want anything 
to happen to him. But wait a minute, in his anger, he had left Char 
behind! Noo! He hit himself in the head. He turned and went south, 
hoping that the group had not left yet.

Artemis's eyes flashed...she remembered....

"Ummm......no.....I haven't seen a flaffy like that."

Artemis thought of the one named Karama...but the large houndoom didn't want 
to risk the flaffy's life, b/c there may be another of it. The houndoom 
started to dash ahead of the bunch.

"Wait a minute wait a minute wait a minute!" barked Striper, looking 
all around. "Artemis! Cleomie! We lost Char!" 

Striper looked all around but he could hardly see in this dark. Oh if 
anything happened to his little buddy he'd never forgive himself!

There was also a small abra above his name. Rudy quickly turned his head 
around, to check on Stavros who was still sitting away from the water. Rudy 
couldn't blame him. He was parinoid.

By now it looked like a few more of the pokemon had made their way onto the 
beach, though neither Kitaki, Char, or Dante were there yet. They were in the 
furthest behind.
As he turned his head back to the lake something caught his eye in the 
distence. There was a group of lights a while away and one was heading this 
way.

" Well there's goes the peaceful rest." Rudy hopped to his feet and began 
heading north.
" Hey Stavros, I'll be right back." he called.

"Rudy--" Striper sighed. "Okay--yeah--you go on ahead but I have to 
find Char!"

Striper ran back towards the woods where he'd last seen the 
charmander. It was dark; Char would stand right out with his flame. 

Striper raised his head and howled as loud as he could. "Chaaaaar!"

~

"DAD!" Char wailed into the darkness. "No, don't leave me. No. Not 
again." Char wept. He looked around. Darkness, darkness was 
everywhere. "No, please don't leave me again." Char curled into a 
ball again. "DAADDDDD!!"

*********************

That scream! Dante knew it from somewhere. CHAR! Dante flew over the 
surrounding area, trying to find his lost son. "Where are you?!" 
Dante cried. He knew that Char was in this area but he could not see 
him. What had he done? "CHAR?!" roared into the night. Then he saw 
it. A small light in the darkness. Instantly he flew down. There he 
was, his child, his Char.

"Dad?" Char leapt into Dante's arms. "Don't worry now, everything's 
ok. How come you're here? Where are the others?" "I..I lost them, 
they were walking in the darkness and I tried to follow. Then I felt 
sleepy and..and.." Char tried to fight back the tears in between 
sobs. "Don't worry now. You're safe. Now lets try to find the others 
ok. Last I knew they were headed towards the lake. Maybe we could 
find them there." Dante stroked his son's chest. "Everything will be 
alright. I'm sorry that I left you behind."

~

" Damn it." Rudy said to himself. He couldn't check that out while Char was 
missing. He headed over to Striper while shouting something to the nearby 
pokemon.

" BTW, there's some light coming this way." He pointed to it as he ran. Being 
nearly out of breath when he reached the growlithe.

" He's still that way." he pointed in the direction they had come." I think. 
I'm heading down there." Rudy continued to run that way. 

Cleomie had stopped to nibble some grass up by the woods. Lousy stuff 
compared to down south. Okay, so she could kill Fluffy then head back 
down there. And get her a nice ram. Yes, she would come into That 
Time of the Year pretty soon and Rye was the likely candidate. It was 
really a shame Willy wasn't around anymore. Now *there* was a ram.

What was Striper howling about now? "He must be looking for the 
little fire dude," she said to Jasmine's blinks of question. Cleomie 
pointed to the approaching lights--two sheep, one daaaaamn tall and 
looking like he had two lights or something. It was too hard to see. 
Well--she sniffed the air. And when she heard a male bleat come from 
one of them--the tall one, by the sound of it--she nodded to the 
others and headed on up. After facing that Houndoom she wasn't afraid 
of a couple of sheep!

"Thanks a lot Rudy," said Striper, doubling back up the trail. All of 
a sudden killing Chirin didn't matter. All he wanted was to find Char-
-his friend...he'd gotten so out of whack with everything that he 
hadn't even stopped to check where everyone was, only intent on 
rooting out that little ram. Since when was killing someone more 
important than looking after your friends? Striper headed on, ashamed 
and scared to death about the little guy.

"Hop on now, Char. With my wings we will find them soon enough," 
Dante placed Char behind on his back. "Don't worry about a thing. 
Ok?" "OK," Char could not keep himself awake anymore. Now that his 
father was back, he could finally get some rest. He hugged his 
father's neck, thankful that he was no longer lost. Sleep came soon 
after.

"You sleep well now, Char." Dante was ready for lift off when he 
heard a faint shout coming from somewhere. "Kitaki!" Dante proclaimed 
aloud. Was she lost too? True to what he believed, Kitaki stumbled 
out of the bushes too his left a few moments later. "Another lost one 
I presume. Come on, we need to find the others. Dante lifted her up 
and held her in his arms. Any anger he had against Kitaki, it was 
gone now. The important thing was to get the both of them back to the 
group.

With Char on his back and Kitaki in his arms, Dante lifted into the 
air. He hoped that finding the others would not be as hard as he 
thought

Dante thought that they would have a difficult time finding the 
others but after only a few minutes of searching, Dante realised that 
he saw them. Tiny little lights dotted the beach, they were the sheep 
alright. But a tiny red flame was with them as well. Hmm, what could 
that be? Dante flew lower. At that height, he could see the others 
quite clearly, now where should he land. "Ahh, there's Striper,and 
Rudy's just behind him." As he landed, he placed Kitaki on the 
ground. Char was still sleeping soundly so he didn't want to wake 
him. "Sorry bout the mess we three caused you," Dante scratched his 
head. His face began to redden. By the look on Striper and Rudy's 
faces, they must have thought that the three of them were lost. "Well 
problem solved now. We are back together again." But something caught 
his eye. "Well, well now, new friends?"

"Char!" Striper rushed up to the charmander. "Oh--Dante, thank god--
Char I was so worried! Don't ever--I mean--" He was hopping about 
like a puppy. "I am so sorry I didn't keep better track of everyone. 
Dante, thank you so much."

 It happened rather quickly. One minute Kitaki was standing next to Char. The next minute Dante had snatched both of them off the ground and put them down over by Striper. Kitaki was pale and shaking. She had been snatched up by a charizard.

Yuoa didn't care that Char and Kitaki had gone missing. She wouldn't have givin a care if they died. All she cared about was getting her flippers on that murderer Fluffy.

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