As Karama walked, she found herself start to worry, and get a little frightened. She longed to go back. She started to turn and walk back towards the others. ~No,~ she thought, stopping dead in her tracks. She turned around and kept walking, further from the group...and deeper into an unknown danger. "I'm glad you started taking my advice! Least now i won't have to hurt you!" Dreama grinned as she stepped in front of Karama. "And you better stay away from him! He ain't your kind! He should be with me!" She was jealous Loki had given her flowers. Dreama didn't know Loki had done it out of friendship. Dreama saw it otherwise. She snorted at Karama. "Now! Where can I find Heero-ki. I have a score to settle with him! Ebony swore to punish him for what he did to me! When I deliver Loki to her I get Loki and my revenge!" She stamped her foot. Karama paused and narrowed her eyes at Dreama. "So, YOU'RE the one that Heero-ki killed, eh?" she muttered. "Musta been awful for you, huh? When he shocked you and dropped you off that cliff. Wonder what that Ki-ki character thinks 'bout that, huh? What do you think your sister thinks of that?" She paused. "How do I know that YOU were the one Heero killed...? Maybe your just pulling m'leg!" Karama Growled, sparking slightly and wincing. "I don't care what anyone else thinks! All I care is about my revenge! Heero should die as horribly as I did!" She growled back. "And Loki is mine! So back off now before I hurt you!" Dreama snorted, she hated the Ko's! Always thinking they were better! She was still burning from seeing the two hug and the flowers! She narrowed her eyes. "Where is Heero! Tell me now!" "Go *beep* yourself," Karama said, walking past the Midrevious/Mareep. She paused, and glanced at Loki. "Oh, and, Loki isn't yours. He's himself's. And I'll talk to him and walk with him as much as I fancy, so what do you think of THAT?" Karama shook her head and walked away, laughing. ~Stupid ghosts...~ she thought with a chuckle. "I'm warning you! Stay away! I think you can *beep* yourself and also you're a *beep* and a *beep* and Loki is mine! What can a sheep offer a ghost? Stupid goat! You got fleece for brains! I'm warning you to stay away from him! He is going to be my mate!" Dreama ran in front of Karama sparking and growling. "What do you think of that! Stupid goat!" Dreama only saw red whenever she looked at Karama. What Loki did out of friendship sparked this rage inside of the misdrevious. Karama chuckled, rolling her eyes. "Dun think he wants to be your mate, butthead. No run along and play with spiders or something." She paused, and looked at Dreama. "Oh, and stay away from Loki. I think that if you get near him again, Chirin will kill you...I wouldn't put it past him. She pushed past the ghost in sheep's clothing (>___>;;) and walked away. "He will! You'll see! And as for Chirin! Wait till Bossa and her boys..." Dreama shut her mouth! Had she let that slip out? Keep talking Dreama! Don't let her realize you messed up! "Loki will be mine! What other ghost is as beautiful as me? And no goat is gonna catch his eye!" She stuck her head high and let out a long threatening snort. She pawed the ground. She smelled something. One of the sneasals was nearby. She smiled. ~ Bossa was out searching for a den. It was coming soon, she knew it and she had to find a den. Ebony's contract would just have to wait a few days. The gengar shouldn't get too upset, especially since Vinny and Lucca would continue to follow the pharos. She sat down looking at her swollen stomach. She burped and rested her tired feet. She panted and looked about. She was tired! So tired. She had to find a den and nestle down! ~ Karama ignored Dreama, continueing to walk on. She paused, however, when she said the word, "Bossa". She felt a lump rise up in her throat, and she spun around to look at Dreama. "Chirin's in danger, isn't he," Karama hissed, walking up to the ghost Pokemon. She grabbed Dreama by the wool on her neck. "Tell me! Now!" She sparked warningly, so worried and angry she even forgot to wince. If Chirin WAS in danger...she would kill Dreama here and now and see if... she could help. Karama was begginning to feel really bad about running away like that...and yelling...and...Karama gulped...and making Weedu feel so...bad... Ah well. Who cared? Weedu was not one of them. Once a Mure, always a Mure, in her opinion... "You better back off before something bad happens to you." Dreama narrowed her eyes and smiled wickedly. "If killing you is eliminating competion for Loki well....don't think I wouldn't do it!" Dreama snarled and was ready to call out to Bossa if she had to. ~ Dosha was getting tired of following. Too tired of it. It had been days now, and it was driving her a bit nuts. She enjoyed the hunt, but this was pushing it! Things looked brighter since it seemed the rather dense ewe had run off on her own amist a forest of preditors. All that much easier for them then. The sooner this ewe was killed, the better. Her new 'Master' had power, power that she wanted. Power that she was worthy of, power that was so close, and yet... It helped also that the ewe and..someone else after all?...were both yelling quite loudly. Good. Their stupidity would make it just that much more easy to find them, and deal with them. Karui had fallen into step behind the Sandslash, as normal. He didn't seem to be Mure material in his mind, though at least he was keeping up. That had to be good, right? Hopefully...he didn't know what he'd do if his destiny truly didn't lead to his being the best of the Mure yet. ~ Karama stopped, spinning around and glaring at the Mareep/Midrevious. "Shut-up!" she hissed. "Unless you wish to die again, I would highly suggest shutting your trap!" "Stupid Kos! Always think you're better!" She kept laughing. "What does that gastly see in you! Stupid Loki and stupid you!" She laughed and trotted up behind Karama. "Those should have been my flowers! Stupid goat!" She huffed. "As if you Ki's are any better," Karama Growled, rolling her eyes and pushing past Dreama. She paused, and looked at the ghost Pokemon. "Hey wait...you were only a newborn when you died...HOW DO YOU KNOW ALL THIS??" Karama was starting to believe that this Midrevious was not really that lamb at all! "Hello! Ghost ring a bell! I've been floating about and listening! I swear I don't know if you have a brain in there!" Dreama cracked up as she rolled about in the grass again. Despite the current situation, Karama muttered, "Stupid ghost" and then continued running for her life!!! ~ Dosha couldn't help but admire the fleeting talents of this ewe. But that wasn't enough to escape her, not by a long shot. How the ewe had been able to tell that it was them in particular was beyond her. Perhaps a sixth sense of a sort. Whatever the case..."We'd best catch her while she's still nearby at least." If anything, she wasn't about to let a ewe like THIS damage her pride by escaping! Her muscles tense and loosened, sliding more easily now than ever into Agility mode. It seemed easier every time she did it. A sadistic grin crossing her pink face, the small Sandslash went after her at a speed that wasn't normally achievable by her kind. No one kicked dirt onto her pride... Karui hung back, a bit nervous on just what to do now. He was destined to be the best Mure maybe, but he wasn't even evolved yet. Just a Mareep ram, left for a moment in the dust of one determined Sandslash. In spite of herself, Karama turned her head and saw Dosha running at her, obviously using Agility. Karama bleated. There was no way she could outrun that kind of speed! There was just no way! Karama felt tears forming in her eyes. What can I do?!!? Karama thought desperatly as she ran. Dosha was getting closer by the second... If I don't find a way...any way to go faster, I might as well consider m'self dead! Dead meat! "I...can't give up that easily," Karama hissed to herself. Then it struck her, and Karama couldn't believe that to took her so long to figure it out. "Rollout!" Karama curled into a tight ball and sped off. She kind of matched Dosha's speed...but, although Karama wasn't sure, she still thought that Dosha was faster, and had a good chance of catching her anyway...especially with even more Mure with her! Flash easily kept pace with dosha and karui, gaining on the ewe. "*Aaaaampa!*" He sent an electric shock from his head jewel towards her, not a huge effort but enough to give her a good slap. Dosha was growing angry. The chase was an enjoyable part of the hunt, true enough. But she longed to see if the ewe could do anything besides flee at a high speed. There had to be some fight in this sheep! "Coward!" she hissed, sending out a jagged bolt of electricity aimed at the silvery flaaffy in hopes she'd accepted the sandslash's challenge, barely noticing that Flash and Karui were close by. She didn't care by this point. It was about HER pride now! The mareep ram didn't bother to send out a shock...there was more than enough with Flash and Dosha's attacks to hopefully gain the ewe's attention. At least, that was what he'd planned until he realized this was another chance to prove his strength in a way. So, he sent out a small thunder shock of his own, one which would normally be nothing to an electric type. Anything to prove himself! Karama ignored Dosha and continued to flee. She heard an electrical attack miss her, but it was close. What am I gonna do?!!? Karama thought desperatly, weighing her chances. Dosha obviously wants me to fight...I fight, I die. I don't fight...I just might die...sigh...not good choices...on the other flipper...okay, run...very fast!! "Dammit," Flash raced alongside Karama, trying to keep even with her. He fired a bolt from his tail to the side, trying to whip her on the flank. The bolt hit home, and Karama bleated in pain, and stopped rolling. With another bleat, she stumbled away from Flash and started rolling again. Dosha's anger was reaching it's pinnicle. How dare this ewe ignore her! "You %^%$%$*$#^$& coward!" she yelled, coming up closer to her target and unleashing a true thunderbolt attack. A chase wasn't what she wanted anymore. She wanted battle, and she wanted it now! Karui did his best to gain on the ewe, though Flash and Dosha made it look easier than it was for him...if only he was evolved! "That's it! KILL HER!" Dreama laughed insanely! "Get that *beep*! Kill her!" Dreama ran alongside of the attacking pokemon. She wanted to see Karama die! She wanted that more than anything! If she was dead she had nothing to worry about and Loki would be all hers! "Kill her! Get her!" The black mareep/misdrevious kept cackling wildly. She stopped in her tracks. Loki was somewhere. She smiled and ran back towards that sappy happy group of sheep! She forgot she was working for Ebony. She got into the excitement of attacking Karama. Karama's anger was reaching it's point. But, she thought, attacking Dreama, or one of the Mure could cost you your life. But Karama just couldn't take it any longer. She made a sharp turn and rolled towards Dreama as fast as she could. Oh, how she wanted to just rip that stupid ghost to shreads... "Oh *beep*!" Dreama ran as fast as her legs could pump. Cussing and spitting threats. Her heart pounded as Karama had suddenly bolted at her. "It was a *beepin* joke you dumb butt!" Dreama just kept thinking of Loki and that kept her running faster. "It was a friggin joke!" Dosha threw a glare at the black Mareep, as if to say that if she didn't shut up then she'd be the next to fall. Then again, the petite Sandslash didn't know that the sheep was already rather dead. As the ewe ran off, Dosha smirked for a moment...Kill her. That was exactly what she was going to do if she could help it. Preferably, slowly. Slow enough that the silvery ewe would scream to be killed, to end it. That would make this all too worth it... Despite this very pleasurable thought, part of her seemed to shudder at the idea. NOW! Dosha lunged towards the silvery ewe, claws ready to slash apart whatever flesh they came in contact with. Eyes narrow and sparks dancing from the very tips of her claws, she just hoped she would make impact. No, she WOULD! This ewe would die, here and now! No more games! Karama bleated as the claws made contact. She saw and heard her own blood splash onto the ground. Luckily, the wound was not fatal. She rolled, bumped into a tree, stopped, moaned, and looked up at Dosha. That Sandslash...had she not been one of Chirin's friends? Karama Growled, slowly, shakily getting to her feet. She looked at the pink Sandslash, and felt tears forming. Karama wiped them away and glared. "Why, Dosha?" Karama hissed. "Why did you turn against Chirin? Wasn't he your friend?" Karama Growled again. She just wanted to rip that dumb thing to pieces! But, no...if she did, she would die... On the other hand...if she didn't she would die anyway... Well, might as well teach that stupid thing a lesson... No! Might be a trap... What could she do????????? Dosha's eyes flickered. "I..." Those same blue eyes narrowed into a glare "I don't have friends!" Along her pink flesh, sparks jumped "Friends are nothing more than weakness!" If only she could convine that part of her mind. Now, more than ever, Karama wanted not only to attack, but kill Dosha. She snorted, and, before rolling back into a ball, and away, she bleated, "How very wrong you are! Chirin was your friend you idiot! Friend's aren't weakness! Why can't you see that?" Then she rolled away. "Friends leave you open to attack. They hold you back in battle." Dosha stated cooly, though her eyes gave away that not all of her thought that way. "If a 'friend' was in danger in a battle, you'd gladly give your life to save them wouldn't you? All to gladly...but who's to say that 'friend' will do the same for you." Yes..friends were a weakness. They couldn't be more than that...and the Sandslash hated the fact that she might still feel that weakness. She was angry at Karama, angry at herself for not being stronger! ~Good job distracting her,~ thought Flash, Dosha was pretty smart. He dashed around to the other side of Karama and fired off a strong electric shock, aiming for the ewe's back. For some reason she seemed pretty vulnerable to attacks. "Flaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Karama bleated as the electrical attack hit her in the back. She stumbled, then fell to the ground, breathing heavily. The water Mokoko looked up at Flash, and then looked at Dosha with a hurt look on her face. It was now planted firmly in Karama's mind. Dosha was one of the Mure. Dosha glared back, smirking as larger sparks replaced the earlier ones "So...what will you do now, little ewe?" Another thunderbolt attack, like before, emerged, aimed towards the poor silvery ewe. And with that, the part of Dosha left with a scrap of kindness wept, locked deep within a cold shell. "FlaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Karama screamed. She looked up, and slowly got to her feet. She looked at Dosha, and tried to attack. But only two small bubbles that would have been a Bubblebeam attack escaped her mouth. "Ohhhh..." Karama moaned, falling onto her stomach. She glanced at her little blue flippers. They were stained with blood. Dosha walked towards the silvery ewe, chuckling "Well well well...looks like you won't be running anywhere fast, will you? Too bad there wasn't much else you could do." As the smirk faded, she glared once again, charging up for a final assault against the ewe. "Game over." Karama looked up at Dosha, feeling completely helpless... But this was not over yet! Ohhhhhhhh no...Not by a long shot! Karama rolled out of the way, wincing slightly as a new pain course through her body. Dosha hissed in frustration, then smiled "Well then...if I can't kill you that way..." She moved in closer, claws ready to kill the silvery ewe. She couldn't have too much fight left in her! Flash stood back, letting Dosha do the work. All the same he didn't want to watch...but to show weakness in front of thr ground type would be to let hre take charge and dominate him. There was only a thin veneer over her instinct to kill him. Karama Growled. There was absolutly no way that she was going to let Dosha kill her this easily! Seeing that the Sandslash was ready to finish her off, she, rolled again, ignoring the pain that surged through her body, and got up to her feet. "I'm...not giving up that easily!" Karama bleated in anger and fear. "Good!" Dosha said, her tone harsh and mocking. The same cruel smile as before was firmly planted on her face, her blue eyes glittering in a rather frightening way. "I'd have it no other way, ewe!" She laughed, slashing at the flaaffy ewe once again. Karui stood near Flash, ears flat against his skull. There wasn't anything he could do, and he knew it. And even if he could, he wasn't sure he wanted to be too close to the ground type when she was like this... With a frightened bleat, Karama jumped out of the way, suprised at Dosha's sudden attack, though she knew that she shouldn't have been. With a Growl, small sparks jumping from the Flaaffy's body, she rounded on the Sandslash and shot a stream of bubbles at her. Bubblebeam. Karama, having spent so much time with humans, knew perfectly well the ground type's weakness to water attacks, but seeing as Dosha seemed to be more of the electric element, Karama wasn't sure if this would really work out the way she planned to to. It has to work! Karama thought desperatly. It just has to work! A silent scream escaped the pink Sandslash's body as the water attack hit dead on, sending her stumbling back. Doubled over, and mouth still gaping and gasping for air, Dosha was in obvious pain. Her small body shaking, she looked up from the ground, blue eyes still glittering with the fire of battle, though it was giving way to an almost insane expression. The corners of her mouth twisted into a grin "I-impressive...little ewe..." She pulled herself straight, body still shaking furiously in an attempt to meet her harsh demands "You really are worth battling...worth the chase...". The grin grew. "I shall truly enjoy killing you..." Maybe she would even make it mostly painless. Mostly. The sparks lit her flesh again. Karama's eyes widened slightly as she saw the sparks jumping from the pink Sandslash's body. She prepared herself for the attack, and knew well not to attack now while she was sparking. That could cost her her life. The sparks lept high again, showing the signs of another impending thunderbolt. The grin kept its hold on Dosha, as she prepared to unleash it yet again...just before lunging, top speed, at Karama, claws still lit with electricity and aimed directly at her heart. Karama bleated and jumped out of the way as Dosha lunged for the strangely colored Flaaffy ewe. "Why can't you just leave me alone?!!?" Karama bleated in anger. She turned to Dosha. "Why not forget 'bout these dumb, sensless Mure? They know nothing of good! Can't you see? Can't you understand what I'm trying to say?" "You're the one who doesn't understand anything," said Flash. "No one who cooperates with the Mure ever comes to any harm, at least not by the Mure. We protect and help all those who are on our side. That's more than the world outside our new order tends to do for others." "You want me to just leave you alone, hmmm?" Dosha muttered, in a silent tone meant for the Flaaffy alone to hear, nearly a whisper. She stood proud, still shaking slightly from the last water attack, and continued in the same tone "I'm not here for the Mure. I'm here for my reasons...and my reasons alone. Can't you understand what I'M trying to say, ewe? Or are you so much of a lamb?" "He's right!" Karui bleated "What we do is more than world would ever do on its own for others." He looked rather proud of himself as well, but for reasons completely different from the pink Sandslash. "Fine!" Karama bleated in fright, forgetting everything and just wanted to save her own precious hide. "I'm on your side. Just. Leave. Me. Alone!" "Alright?" Karama panted. "I'm on your side...just please leave me alone!" Karama looked at the Mure, hopefully...if they said yes, then, well, she was alive...but if they said no... Karama shuddered, not wanting to think about it. "Let's go," said Flash, shoving Karama roughly. "get to your feet and stay with us--we won't kill you till we get back, anyway." He was giving her three or so more heartbeats to get up and moving-- he sure wasn't going to carry her. Karama hastily got to her feet, a tear or two trickling down her cheeks. What had she done? Well...she couldn't really turn around and...start again...What's done is done. She wondered if they would really kill her when they got to...wherever they were going... She wouldn't put anything past the Mure. Karama stood there, hardly even breathing, waiting to see what Flash would say... Dosha smirked, chuckling silently under her breath "We're not stupid...if you are, indeed, switching sides, to save your own hide...there's no way, whatever you choose, that you will be walking away from this unless you are walking with the Mure." Her eyes flickered "Though killing you would be fun...." "Let's go," Flash continued to herd Karama, pushing when she didn't walk fast enough, towards the fields that lay the south. It was going to be a long hike. Karama continued to walk. She went faster whenever Flash pushed her, but making sure not to go too fast...she didn't know that he would do if she did that. She smelled Snake and paused for a fraction of a second before she hurried on. Snake...but she had been hibernating! ...Well, Karama hoped that for the arbok's sake, she didn't come this way, and dearly hoped that she got OUT of the way. Karama kept walking whenever Flash would push her. She sometimes slowed down a bit, thinking about Snake and wondering if she was okay, but then, remembering Dosha and Flash, would quickly start to hurry again. *I AM being a fool!* Karama thought crossly. *Snake is a strong, smart arbok -- she can take care of herself, I'm sure.* But she wasn't so sure. Flash marched Karama out into the fields again, turning south. He paid the arbok little heed except for veering away from it. It looked pretty badly injured anyway--not a threat. Karama hurried on, too busy worrying about Snake to really notice anything else except that if she stopped, she died. So she didn't stop. Karama was overwealmed by worry. What if Snake was hurt? Then...that would have been yet another friend she had lost. Calima, Fluffy, and now Snake... Tears trickled down her cheeks. And what if she never saw Chirin again? Or ChiChi? Or Selden? Hiro? Mel? Izzy? ...Would they come? Dosha glared at the flaaffy ewe, almost daring her to try something. The very second that she did, then she'd truly regret it! Sticking close to the silvery ewe in an attempt to keep her from running, Karui felt much better about the whole thing. They now had the ewe..and if they got her back, then maybe he really would be a Mure! But he hadn't evolved.... Karama glanced at Karui. He was a young mariipu! And they had him in with the Mure? Karama felt sorry for him, having been steered in the wrong direction. As Karama walked, she thought sadly about Karui. Poor guy...so young, and who KNOWS what he had been through with the Mure? ... ...did they hurt him? If Karama got the chance, maybe she would try and help him... Karui kept a careful eye on the silvery ewe, making sure she wouldn't run off again. Her wool was sorta pretty...it made him a bit glad they hadn't killed her. If they allowed her to live once they got back to the Gardens, despite the whole running off thing, maybe she would eventually see the light. It would be a waste to kill her, wouldn't it? Maybe she was just misguided and a bit stubborn... Still looking at Karama with that look, the look that dared her to do anything that would provoke her, Dosha walked along as silently as the rest. Her claws were ready to be used again in an instant. One wrong move... Karama glanced at Dosha and gulped, shivering slightly. How was it...that one of Chirin's friends...could just...go all evil alla sudden? ...She remembered Fluffy telling her about some strange rattata named Moonscar that got all evil and joined up with the quilava, Cinder... Karama gulped as she remembered Cinder... But the Mure were much, much worse... Dosha returned Karama's glance with a fierce glare, an eerie smile on her face. The ewe had gulped...was that a sign that she was truly fearful of her power now? Good. ~ Blood was in the air, blood and recent sheep. Flash's nose pulsed with breath as they came down the field into a place that had recently seen killing. "What happened here?" Marowaks--he smelled their ilk too. Not long ago, washed somewhat by rain. The last thing they needed to have happen was an attack now. If anyone was going to kill this ewe it would be the Mure! He would let the sandslash do it--fitting punishment for an enemy to kill and consume her, as she wasn't a denryuu if she wasn't of the new order. Andhe could tell Dosha was dying to get into an amp's hide...better Karama than him. Dosha looked about carefully, the scent of blood quite tantilizing to her. She shrugged "It may not matter. If anything's still here, if we can move fast enough maybe we can avoid it." If anything did come, she would sincerely enjoy killing it. And the ewe if she tried to run again. Karui gave a slight shudder, though he tried to hide it. There was no need to be afraid...not with a Mure like Flash here. And if he evolved, then it would be that much better. Still, he couldn't help but be a bit nervous. Even if he was destined to be the greatest Mure Bua had ever known. Karama shivered slightly when she smelled the marrowak scent, and the smell of blood. She gulped, shivering again as she walked. So many attacks... ... ...Lots of bad things had been happening lately... ...Was Chirin alright?... Flash prodded Karama ahead of him, givingher back a shove. "The last thing we need to do is linger around in this place," he said, wanting to be past the apparent kill site quickly. When Flash pushed her, Karama started to hurry. Best do what these Mure want...unless you wanna die! Which she didn't. ~ After getting them away from the area and into cleaner fields again, Flash decided they'd better sleep. It was getting too late to keep going. "Dosha, I'll take the first watch if you sleep right now. We've got to rest." "Alright then, if you're sure." Dosha couldn't care less who slept first, so long as it didn't make her appear weak in any sort of way to the Ampharos. A bit of rest would be nice however... Karui noticed that he didn't seem to be called on for any sort of watch. Was it because he was a Mareep? Well...it wouldn't be this way when he was the best. Things would be totally different then! Flash kept his eye on Karama for a while, watching her every move. He knew he couldn't kill her like he'd set out to do. Dosha would have to. The young mokoko was such an unusual color--even mareep were never a blue that blue. It was strange,but pretty. Too bad it had been put on such a foolish ewe. Dosha curled up to a side somewhat, a bit farther from the others. She was almost hesistant to let her guard down, even to sleep. Despite that feeling, she was soon in a deep, dreamless sleep. ...So, the Mure WERE smarter than they looked...oh goody... Karama shifted uneasily. Her stomach growled. She was hungry, and her throat was dry. She looked around. Only a small puddle seemed to be the only source of water, but there was plenty of grass around... ...She didn't know what the Mure would do though. Karama sat down, and looked up at the stars... ...Where was Chirin? Karama felt like she had been a bit harsh with him... Karui lay down firmly beside Karama, determined to make sure she wouldn't escape. His light grew a bit brighter before he rested his head on the ground, still watching Karama. Karama looked round. Not taking her eyes of Flash, she nibbled on a small leaf, nervous as anything. Karui kept his own eyes firmly planted on Karama, eating whatever he could reach nearby while still keeping his eyes on her. She'd better not think she was going to run anywhere.. Karama looked at Karui, a look that looked remarkably like pity on her face. So young...yet tangled up in this whole Mure thing, and from the look on his face, deep. If Flash and Dosha weren't here, she would've talked about it with him. But with them here? She didn't dare... Karui threw an odd, but almost sympathetic look right back at her. It was too bad the ewe had made such a terrible choice as to run away from the Mure in the first place. And she was such a nice color too...it was almost sad that she'd most likely be killed. But it should be with all who defied the light, shouldn't it? After all, anyone who was not with the light was against it... ~ Sunup brought a bit of shame to Flash, who had fallen asleep on watch. He shuddered--a leader like Boro would've smacked him and berated him good for a lapse like this! He snapped to, trying to look fuly awake in case Dosha saw. He was afraid of showing weakness to the sandslash. Fortunately for Flash, Dosha awoke soon after with the Mure ram with the rising of the sun, half groggy for a moment and wondering where she was. Nearly blushing, she soon remembered exactly what had been happening. And she'd fallen asleep after it it seemed. Ahh well..it was most likely for the best that she'd gotten a bit of rest. She sat up, stretching slightly. Karui rolled over in a deep sleep, muttering something about the Mure to himself. Karama herself, despite the present situation, had managed to sleep for a while, despite her fear. But she quickly jerked awake when she remembered what was happening. Karama stood up, eyes wider than normal, waiting for Flash to start ordering her around again... ...Not fun, but better than dying, she supposed. Flash looked around, it was time to go. The sun was long up already. "Come on," he said, seeing Karama was already up and waiting to go. He got behind her and nudged her southward. Karama quickly started to walk southward, not too fast and not too slow, just like before. Best do what these Mure wanted and then maybe they would let her go... ...Maybe... Karui, awake by now (and feeling as though he'd slept on a sharp rock), kept close to Karama again, still suspicious that she would run. Though she'd made attempt to so far..maybe she finally understood? Dosha kept close, yet a bit distant at the same time, wondering why they were bothering to bring back the ewe at all. One less ewe running off would be best, wouldn't it? The going was steady, with Karama willing they were making their way up towards the mountains. The air had grown cooler around them and up ahead were snowy peaks. Soon they would be back at high elevations...back by the lake where it was chilly as anything. Flash wished he'd taken more time to enjoy the weather here. The wind was a nasty hint of worse to come. Karui shuddered, sparking slightly to puff up his wool just a bit. He'd be rather glad to arrive back in the warmer gardens...though the outside was something indeed. When he was a Mure, he'd come again, not worried in the least about the cold. Why would he need to be? The strongest were never cold, were they? Dosha gave a very slight involuntary shiver, grumbling to herself mentally. Stupid upperworlder cold weather...why couldn't it be just a bit warmer? Stupid cold weather, stupid rain, stupid snow... Karama shivered slightly, not from cold but from fear of the cold. Soon they would be south and they would be met by a fierce blast of cold. Karama's teeth chattered slightly at the thought. Wherever these "Gardens" were, Karama sincerly hoped that it was warm. Karui nearly jumped at her shiver, startled that she might run off at any moment. Luckily, she didn't appear to be doing so...good. It would be a waste of such a pretty color if she did. Flash kept his eye on her tail light...when he wasn't taking in the sight of her backside as a whole. The light told more than anything else about an electric sheep's mood and thoughts. a sudden idea, hearing a sound, getting spooked--even a little, it showed in one's lights. Karama glanced at Karui one last time. If she could have, she would've talked to him, tried to make him see the light. If anything what he was seeing was darkness. She pitied the lamb. When Karama noticed Flash watching her taillight, her indigo taillight blinked slightly in suprise. She drooped her tail, almost as if she was trying to hide her light, which was of course impossible. While she walked, Karama remembered something that a Mure had told Chirin...doh...she had forgotten his name, it had been so long...If someone with the Mure or a prioner of the Mure wasn't killed, they had their taillight cut off. Her light blinked rapidly when she remembered this. ...Would they cut of hers? Karama wrapped her tail around herself and shivered violently, her taillight flickering. Flash met her eye and smiled at her startled, fearful look...he liked that in a ewe. Karui didn't seem to notice the exchange between Flash and Karama, more intent of just making sure she wouldn't run off. As long as she stayed with them, he could care less what happened. Though it would be nice if she saw their cause and respected it... Dosha just rolled her eyes at Flash's grin. Males... Karama too met Flash's eye and she quickly turned away and kept walking, shivering madly, still clutching her tail and her light blinking slightly, though not as much as before. Suddenly, Karama's fear seemed to leave. She let go of her tail, and the light stopped blinking so much. What was the point in being scared anyway? Chirin would come. Of course Chirin would come... ...He had an denryuu to kill... Karama's ears twitched as a houndoom in the distance howled it's eerie howl. She shivered slightly, her light blinking. Then a new thought came to the mokoko ewe's head. She had yelled at Chirin before leaving... ...maybe he wouldn't come... Karui shuddered violently, though he tried to hide it. It was in the distance...the houndoom wouldn't come over here, would it? He hoped not, even if he could take it out. Hopefully. Dosha didn't bothered to pay any real attention to the howl. What was there for her to worry about? If it came here, it was nothing more than fair game, asking to be killed. Anything that would dare attack her asked for it, sooner or later. Flash watched Karama with a skeptical eye. "don't even think about sending up a beacon," he said. "You'll die on the spot and so will anyone who comes to your aid." He had seen ampharos dung just north of here around that battle area. They were around somewhere and if someone struck thunder it would be heard by fellow lights. "I'm not sending no beacon," Karama muttered. She knew that these Mure would kill her if she did so... ...best to what they want... ...for now... "Good then." Karui said, his first words in a long while. He lifted his head high, trying to look a bit older than he was and a bit more menacing. Of course, that was a bit difficult when he was a cute little Mareep. Dosha just rolled her eyes again, though she was discreet about it. She swore to herself that when she did manage to kill Bua, she'd distance herself from these damned sheep for a good long while. At this rate, she'd start thinking SHE was a sheep! A nice trip to the underground would do her some good..this sheepy smell was fast grating on her nerves. And she couldn't eat one of them! Karama glanced at Karui and had a sudden urge to give him a good shock. But she couldn't do that, for her own electric attacks could kill her. ...unless these damn Mure killed her first... Flash threw sparks overhimself in the cold. his flippers wrapped around his back, the tips by the base of his tail. His meager shoulders hunched. He was thankful for the face of the mountain that shielded them. It was cold. He scratched at an icy bush, trying to nibble twigs off of it. With a sniff and a shudder, Karama quickly snatched a leaf off the ground and inspected it, her ears and tail drooping. It was almost all brown... Sulkily, Karama dropped the leaf. "There would have been plenty of good grass down in the Gardens had you been willing to join us the first time," said Flash, following directly behind her. Just wait till she evolved into an ampharos, maybe the other Mure would let him keep her for himself for a little while. Karama chose to ignore this. As Karama walked, she felt a strange sensation, and a white-ish light surrounded her. "No," Karama whispered, shutting her eyes and concentrating hard. What if the Mure killed her after she evolved?! She kept walking, struggling to hold back evolution, but failing miserably. She began to grow taller... Her wool dissapeared, and an indigo head jewl formed on her forehead. When the light dissapeared, she had evolved into an ampharos. She was still blue, and her taillight still purple, as was her head jewl. She rings on her neck and ears were silver, and her belly was white instead of cream-colored. The rings on her tail were the only ones that were black. She stood there, taillight flickering. Now what would happen? Having already gotten over the shock of evolving, she decided to just wait and see what these "gardens" were like. But it'd prolly be quite a long walk, as denryuu were not exactly the fastest of pokees... Karui, after recovering from the initial shock of this silvery ewe suddenly evolving out of the blue, he shot her an almost dirty look for a moment. How was it that SHE could evolve at a whim it seemed, for no apparent reason that he could think of (except perhaps a slight inward desire, while HE was still a Mareep? Why had she been able to do it so easily, and apparently without thought of motivation? He'd wanted to evolve long before she had most likely! It was his destiny to evolve and become the strongest of the Mure..he'd strived for it since he could walk! And now she, while just poddling along, had evolved?! With just that little thought, she'd managed to do it?! WHY?! He was still a pathetic Mareep even as he stood by the light, while the one who'd betrayed it had done it so..so...EASILY? His small wooled body shook slightly with rage. How dare she..how dare she just evolve like this! Dosha raised that typical invisable 'eyebrow' at Karama. Stress buildup? Meh...whatever the reason for her evolution was exactly, it didn't matter. Just one more fully evolved sheep to grate on her nerves. It didn't matter that she was evolved. If the ewe made one wrong move, she'd be just as dead as promised before. Ampharos or Flaaffy, both were mortal. Karama, still shivering, her taillight blinking, glanced over her shoulder at Dosha. Sure, she was stronger now, but Dosha...she had electric attacks that could kill her quite easily. Dosha just smiled back at the newly evolved Ampharos, in a very unnerving way. Hesistation wouldn't hold her back, no matter what the ewe may do to invoke her attack. Her fear was quite fun to see. Flash just wondered why she had evolved apparently out of nowhere. He'd never see anything like it! Had thre been some underlying illness? If so she was probably frail...but he wanted to keep her to himself for a little while anyway once they got back to the gardens. she was blue, quite different from the usual! Karama wanted more than anything to spin around and spit cud at Flash's feet. How could an ampharos get tangled with the Mure? ...And how could a different one START this whole buisness?... *It's actually quite simple,* Karama thought angrily, kicking a pebble out of her way. *These Mure aren't denryuu.* They had hiked steadily over the day. Now as afternoon rain fell icy on the rocks, Flash headed down ahead of Kawama, so that if she fell the bigger denryuu could stop her fall. It was still a long hike to the Gardens, but he was used to long traveling by now. There was precious little to eat up here. Flash nibbled some already well-browsed bushes, nipping off any succulent buds and twigs he found. Karama's purple eyes looked wildly about as they walked. The denryuu ewe caught sight of a medium sized stick with a few leafs and buds clinging to it. She snatched it up and examined it. Few of the leaves and only one bud was green, and those were turning brown around the edges. She nibbled on the leaves, desperatly wanting to get something into her stomach. ~ It had been a long, rough trip through the snow. Karama had been driven on relentlessly southward by Flash, dosha and even the snickering Karui. She didn;t have tears left to cry anymore. Her ribs showed. They hadn't given her much time to eat, and what there was she had to dig up through the snow. All in all none of the ampharos were looking very plump. "In," the ram planted his hand on Karama's back and pushed the much smaller denryuu forward through the hole in the mountain that they had climbed. The young ewe staggered in and the cavern inside was filled with a purple and red glow. Karui was more than happy to finally return to this place. It was home after all. It was nice enough outside, but this was where he had been born. Although she didn't know it, Dosha was almost thinking the same thing. This wasn't her home, but it was like it. The only thing that really bothered her was the stench of sheep on the air, and all those dmaned tailights. There were going to drive her mad one of these days..unless she killed them first. Which was getting very tempting. Flash didn't like the hungry glint in Dosha's eyes. He supposed he'd never get used to her. The ram, much taller than she was but knowing it was a ll a bluff, started down the tunnel prodding Karama ahead of him. Karama kept looking down the tunnels they passed. She had to escape somehow! She'd think of a plan...she'd get out of here somehow. Karui looked down a bit as he moved on with them, dissapointed about one thing. After such a long trip, he may have grown a BIT, sure..but he STILL wasn't the greatest Mure he was destined to be. He should have evolved by now, shouldn't he? It couldn't be too much longer before he was a towering Ampharos, doing all he could to spread Bua's light. Could it? Attempting to get her mind off the need for chopped Ampharos with a side of Mareep, Dosha took instead to studying the walls as she went. It was almost like home in sone ways, which was of course a plus. Though she still had to wonder why the sheep were down here of all places. Maybe there were finally getting smart and had figured out that the underground was MUCH more reasonable than the upperworld. Of course, this thought wasn't helping her to get her mind off sheep any. Karama was led towards the same cavern where Boulder and the others had got their briefing. Flash headed in and waited for the High Mure to be available. Two ram guards strode over to him. "Sir," said Flash, "this ewe was to be recaptured and brought back to the Mure. She escapd during a mission and we were sent to retrieve her." The guard grabbed Karama by her flipper. The young ewe put up no resistance. He was twice her size. "She's in good hands," said the guard. "Wait here and a High Mure will be in to receive your full report." (stopped at 43815)