bottlecaplogs | CLOSED -「ROAD TO NOWHERE」

CLOSED -「ROAD TO NOWHERE」

Who: Emporio, Firepaw, Emmet, Ingo
What: The Third Expedition Team Sets Off
When: Late February
Where: Forest Beyond The City (South)
Warnings: To Be Added As Needed (Possible Psych-Horror due to Hallucinations)

Packing for the Exploration quest is an interesting experience. As pokemon, there are certain advantages and limitations inherent to all of them- Firepaw in particular is quadrupedal, lacking anything in the way of true hands. It means any packs brought along need to be fastened for him, and Emporio quietly wonders if they might be able to come up with some kind of system around that one day.

Ingo and Emmet at least aren't obligate quadrupeds, but the twins are also meeting them at the edge of the town rather than at Emporio's little house. It might not make complete sense- locationally speaking, the adults of this team will be coming from the farthest point, but then again maybe that's the reason in itself. Best to give them as much time to get ready and get there as possible, and who knows how long the boys themselves will take to put things together.

As it is, soon four pokemon prepared for travel are now standing there at the limits of the forest as covered and watched by the Cheri Berries Guild. Even looking forward into the woods ahead, things feel ominous. The canopy visibly creates a greater level of shadow the farther ahead into the woods one looks, and Emporio doesn't doubt it'll only get darker.

And thus, comes the first question to ask before they set out, Emporio slowly sliding his helmet into place with a swallow.

"...Did anyone bring a compass, or something magnetic?"

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Not only does Firepaw not have hands, but his back is very sensitive to the added weigh, so he had to pack lightly. Just a few berries, some bandages and a sewing kit that he can't use himself - he can climb without a rope, he figures, and if they're out long enough to get hungry then he can hunt the local Pokemon. As light as they are, the saddlebags are still making his fur itch, but he's holding it together for the sake of seeming serious and mature. He has to impress the adults.

"I don't know what those are." Although he thinks he knows what Emporio means. "Um... if we need someone to scout, I can climb one of the trees to see what's around us."

"Ah - I usually travel with a Probopass, but I have not seen any around here!"

This statement is probably somewhat obtuse to everyone except for Emmet. It's a moot point anyway, though. Ingo doesn't smile - by now, both the boys have probably spent long enough around him to notice that his expression never really shifts from its resting frown - but he sounds rather warm as he agrees, "Yes, some scouting would be much appreciated!"

His own packs contain much the same materials as he usually travels with, give or take some Pokeballs and Potions. Relying on berries will have to do if anyone gets hurt. They can use those for food as well, if need be, though of course he's hoping nothing happens to keep them out that long!

Edited 2025-03-02 05:13 (UTC)

"... Oh. Right. If the location function on the map wasn't working, and I really needed to check directions via magnetic field. I usually just relied on Klinklang. Or even Galvantula or Eelektross."

But he has also not had reason to get lost in a while. Unova's main routes are well established, and it's not like he makes a habit of traipsing though Lostlorn Forest. And the subway tunnels— well, he knows how to handle those. In any case, that's also a no from him, though his perpetual smile maintains its steady cheer.

Emmet just nods, though, at the suggestion of letting Firepaw scout; in the meantime he examines the shadows with some degree of interest. "The good news about it being dark here: if needed. I can also probably scout ahead if we expect trouble. Shadow Sneak is a decently quick way of getting around with less chance of being noticed."

Verrrry convenient, honestly; he's been utilizing it fairly liberally during the month or so they've spent here. The satchel slung across him also mostly contains berries and some other assorted first aid supplies that they hopefully won't need, as well as a length of rope. Otherwise, he's packed relatively light so not to weigh himself down too much if he needs to move at speed— they shouldn't be out long enough to have required packing for a more prolonged trip, right?

Emporio nods for a brief moment as he takes in each answer. It was probably a stretch- he has a bit more access to city resources and still didn't bring one himself- but it was worth asking.

He's taking note about the pokemon Ingo and Emmet mentioned though.

"Right. Well, for going ahead at least, shadows are good as long as you can always double back without ending up off path," he starts with a nod to Emmet. "...And as for climbing, it seems a bit high but..."

He looks to the trees. "If you can safely clear the canopy Firepaw, that might be a good idea for when we need to turn back. At the very least, it should be good for orienting ourselves in general- if we can't see through the trees right now though, I don't know how well we'd do using them to properly scout..."

That's one issue down. He brings out what he's been thinking about then. "While we're out here though..."

The cubone goes silent for a second, before nervously offering his idea. "...Have any of you heard of a 'cairn'? They were how a lot of older human cultures marked paths, so that they could more easily navigate between two points. It might be harder here, especially if it's not too rocky going ahead, but I want to try making them as we move forward. Though we can probably only make them so often..." Emporio mutters to himself as an after thought.

There's sheer confusion on his face when all three of them voice their ideas. He barely knows what a map or a magnetic field is, let alone a cairn. But... trees, he can definitely do.

"These trees look a little taller than the oak trees in my old territory, but they still have enough branches to climb safely." Or at least, if he fell out he'd have plenty of opportunities to catch himself. "I'll take a look now, and make sure there aren't any surprises."

Firepaw jumps up and grips his claws into the nearest tree, and climbs quickly enough that it honestly looks like he's just running up it. Once he gets to the branches he starts jumping between them, until he disappears into the leaves. He can't quite get his head above the canopy, but he's high up enough that he can see through the trees in a few directions, and he can smell the ocean breeze coming in from the bay. Several minutes later, he comes back down with much slower and more careful motions.

"I can see the Cheri guild base from here. I didn't see any big landmarks in the direction we're going, but I should be able to help us get home."

Ingo sits up on his haunches, craning his neck back to watch the smaller fire-type climb. He cannot imagine being so sure-footed up there! Typhlosion can climb to a degree, but he's too heavy to venture that high in the trees. "Bravo!" he calls out at the report. Ingo has an excellent sense of direction himself, and he typically relies on that rather than Probopass, but landmarks are a great help!

To Emporio, he replies, "Yes, I am familiar! That will certainly be useful! I can leave some small scorch marks along the way as well, if needed!"

It is fairly dark, so the spots ringing his neck start to burn like dull purple embers. No full flames yet, just light and heat!

There goes the little Litten... and huh, so he doesn't get stuck up there like sometimes Purrloin do. Emmet could probably climb too with some effort, at least as far as what his form might be capable of, but certainly he wouldn't be as lightfooted about it as Firepaw, nor so practiced.

"All of that sounds like a good idea," follows up Emmet, to all of the preceding. Given the darkness the color of his pelt probably makes him at least a little easier to see simply due to contrast, to say nothing of the faintly phantasmal tinge the redder portions of his fur have to them. "No issue with redundancies. Though. To double check. They just want us surveying, right?" The trail markers, are they just going to be for them to get back with later? "Or should we also be marking a more proper trail for other people to use later on?"

He'll cover you Firepaw, don't worry-

For now, he's got to watch the litten at work. It's rather impressive- not the least because he's not sure he could climb much of anything with the body he has now. Beaming, he nods and shouts out to his friend. "What he said- that's amazing! I think we have about everything we can use to mark a way back then...though I might have one more thing..."

Mulling the thought over, he focuses on the other two. "Scorching the cairns themselves might help in case the rocks are tampered with too- I'm not sure if we should risk burning any plant life, but even the ground should hold a mark right?"

Emporio nods, now looking to Emmet. "That's right- but I think any kind of trail markers that others can use after us will be a good idea; more than likely, other teams will start moving out this way to at minimum investigate what we report back with."

The cubone's eyes glance over Emmet's fur. That white and red really does stand out, even away from the dark. And from what he's talked to Firepaw about before...

"I think I have a good idea for more basic markers between any chances we get to set up cairns or scorch marks too. All of you have better senses of smell than I do, right?"

He's pretty sure anyway. Well.

"I don't know if it's really viable but...how easily does your mane shed, Emmet?"

What if they just tie fur to stuff??? Huh???

"Oh, I can make scorch-marks too if we need to."

Although it sounds like they have plenty of ways to mark their trail, so he's mostly mentioning it because he also forgot he can burn things. Again.

Firepaw pauses to sharpen his claws on the tree, which also leaves a fair amount of scent marks behind. He figures he'll also be able to smell if they accidentally double back on their trail, but even for a cat that's easier said than done.

"I think scouting ahead is probably the best thing to worry about right now... but we can always mark things more clearly on our way back, if we find something interesting."

The tone in his voice is similar to a student answering a question in school, checking in with the twins to make sure he's on the right track. And, also like a kid, he's starting to get antsy about wanting to go explore but trying to hold it together.

Ingo nods along. It sounds like they're fairly set on ideas for marking their path. For that matter, he might be able to follow scent trails as well; he keeps on forgetting exactly how keen his nose is now.

"We can scout just far out enough that we are not walking back home too late, hopefully!" All they're seeking is information, at present, so there's no call to push themselves. Presuming they can clear the beginnings of a path, they or others can follow up with a greater expedition later. "The sun will be gone very early beneath these trees..."

Fortunately, there's two fire-types and also...Emmet's slightly spooky ghostly glow. Between the lot of them, they ought to be able to light the way! Still, best to get started, if they're all ready.

Well, he was asked a question, so: "... Do not expect to be pulling out clumps of loose fur, if that's what you're thinking. The texture and tangibility is also a little strange towards the ends. But it does shed a bit, if this is a track you want to pursue."

Like, how viable is it? Maybe not overly so, but it's on the table for 'can work, probably, if needed'. Emmet isn't the most keen on having this done to him, but he'll put up with it if turns out it's something they'll need to do.

Still, it seems like Firepaw is getting antsy, and Emmet is also ready to start moving. All right then. The Zoroark will fix them all with a cheerful grin before he continues, his tone pitching itself just slightly more authoritatively, "Final checks. Everything's ready? Because if so, then let's go: all aboard!"

Good, good, great-

"I was actually hoping anything that comes off would be long enough to tie to something; so it sounds like it'll work as a scent marker at least."

They've got their scorching, their plans in check! With a nod and a tap to his helmet to make sure it's secure, he nods. "All Aboard! And full speed ahead!" he adds, quite familiar enough with some train stuff to tie into the lingo.

Perhaps one adult in front and behind as they go though, to make sure no one's separated-

Sorry Emporio, Firepaw's bouncing off ahead. He's trying to stay within sight range of the party, and frequently stopping to sniff the air, but he's overcome with excitement at being out on patrol in the woods again, finally back in his element.

At least he's covering a lot of ground, bouncing back and forth between the group and various interesting plants around them. And he'll come back and tighten up the formation, once someone tells him to.

"Ah! Be careful not to come uncoupled from us!"

Ingo had indeed intended for himself and Emmet to be the lead and rearguard, but Firepaw taking off immediately makes that a little harder! He automatically trots after the younger fire-type, even though he'd really intended to bring up the rear.

And then there were two—

"Please stay behind the yellow line!" calls Emmet after Firepaw, before briefly glancing sidelong to Emporio. More precisely, at Emporio's (lack of) stature and short legs, before glancing at the other two getting ahead of them and then nodding to himself. "... Hmm. Okay! For your safety, please remain seated!"

That is all the warning the Cubone will get before being unceremoniously scooped up and deposited onto the Zoroark's back and mane, which he should be able to cling onto for a probably-necessary grip because Emmet is also going to be taking off after the two fire types. Which, as he catches up to Ingo...

Can he just do a child handoff real quick before like, ducking into a shadow to get ahead of Firepaw's current position, just in case.

"Huh!?"

Wait no Firepaw!?!

"F-Firepaw we can't just-"

In a flurry of motions, Ingo and Emmet have things covered far quicker. Which is to say that while Ingo's running ahead, Emporio himself is abruptly up in the air in Zoroark paws. "ACK-"

And he's not got a lot to say about that, nor about being handed off if that happens, other than- "FIREPAW WE CAN'T JUST RUN OFF!!!"

Firepaw's ears twitch, and he crawls backward out of the brush that he was half-in. Ingo and Emmet managed to catch up with him very quickly, and his fur immediately heats up with embarrassment at making everyone concerned.

"Sorry. I wasn't thinking." He returns to the group, and dips his head down apologetically. "I'll try to stay closer."

And he'll actually do a good job this time, staying between the twins where he's supposed to be even though there's so many interesting smells to smell.

"It is alright!" Ingo assures him. "We must simply mind our safety checks! We may move with speed, but not haste! That said - Emmet, would you like to be the cab?" Ingo's the bulkier of them anyway, so he might as well bring up the rear.

"No objections here!" chirrups Emmet back. Well, for whatever it's worth, they're definitely considered within the forest by now... Emmet tilts his head back to glance up at the dense canopy for a moment, where sunlight doesn't filter through the leaves. You'd think it wasn't bright out before they set off...

Is that lack of sun and warmth the reason for the moisture in the air? Or something else? Hmm. Good to have someone who isn't weak to water take the lead then.

"We're all sorted, right? Are we continuing in the same direction we've been traveling so far? Because if so, then we are departing once more! Both of you stay close, okay?"

Because the pace Emmet will set is brisk, but not excessively so, on account of the others' legs being somewhat to substantially shorter than his.

"J- just don't do it again..." he manages to mutter, shaking his head once he's set back down.

He looks back, if only to see that they can still see the way they came. So far so good...

"Once it looks like the entrance to the forest is about to go out of sight, we might want to leave a small marker," he determines as he starts walking, doing his best to keep up.

These legs were Not made for running, whoof.

"Sorry." Firepaw mumbles again to Emporio, and bumps his head against his helmet as a friendly gesture.

Firepaw's used to moving quickly compared to his size, so he actually has to put some focus into keeping to a pace Emporio can handle. Still, his focus keeps being pulled by the smell of the forest, and the scents of strange Pokemon in the distance. It's surprisingly dark out here, darker than the oak forest back home ever got, but the fog that's starting to settle in is very familiar. His short fur has puffed up against it, and his body temperature slowly rises to keep himself dry.

"Um... Ingo, do we have to worry about getting sick from the fog? I mean, since it's water?"

"I hope not! Fire-types I have known do seem to handle foggy weather much better than actually going into the water, but this is the first fog I have seen in this form." Maybe there were effects he just couldn't see from the outside?

Either way, the sudden fog is putting him a little bit on edge. It didn't seem this damp out earlier...he lets his spots glow brighter, licking into points of actual flame. "I agree, a marker at that point would be excellent!"

(Oh, he really is the only one here not weak to water, isn't he. Well. Hopefully this fog is just natural fog from the humidity of being so close to the coast and not something like the product of a Poliwhirl's Damp, or something...)

"I'll slow down in a bit then, so we can set that up. We are rapidly approaching that point, it looks like. Considering our current visibility and all." Especially because the fog seems to be thickening surprisingly quickly... it's not all that easy to see through, to the point where he finds he's carefully watching his step to not trip on anything as they forge forward.

So, glancing back every now and then to check on both passengers and the direction they came... sooner rather than later, Emmet ends up stopping abruptly, shaking his head. "Okay. Here, probably. Might be a good idea to mark before going further."

The boy lifts his helmet just slightly, nodding in return. It's...Alright, at least for now.

The fog however makes him a little nervous admittedly, though of course, not for any reason he can particularly describe. As the others discuss whether or not the fog will harm them, he finds himself looking around them with anxious eyes. "I know I'm at least able to shower, so it shouldn't be that much of a problem...a light rain shouldn't be an issue either, but..."

Hmmm.

Well, marking time at least. "Right- can I try to see if some hair sheds from your mane, Emmet?" It's no good if they have to start tugging it, that's just needless pain in his opinion. But if the human head sheds as much hair as it does day-to-day, surely a pokemon with that much mane does similar!

Firepaw lifts his head to sniff around, trying to see if anything around them is an active concern. The darkness and fog is starting to get to him, even if he can still see pretty well in the gloom. For now.

A moment later his head dips down to sniff the ground... he smells Litten and Cubone smells, and the musky Oran berry scents that he hasn't quite smelled enough to pick them apart. Did they already manage to turn themselves around? Or are there other Pokemon like them out here?

It's probably a mistake on his end, not worth bringing up to the group quite yet. But he's rubbing his side into one of the trees, getting a proper scent marker onto it so he can recognize himself on his way back.

Ingo's far less experienced with scenting than Firepaw; though he can certainly smell far more keenly than he did before, the newness of the sense makes it a little overwhelming sometimes. He doesn't think twice about the fact that he can smell the other's trails. He's been bringing up the rear the entire time, after all.

Despite Emporio's ground typing, he's obviously the one here most suited for digging. He puts his blunt claws to use in finding and unearthing some rocks to use for the marker.

"Fire-type attacks are weakened in the rain," he remarks as he does so. "If it does begin raining, we should all stick close." A good half of them are fire-types, after all, and that's to say nothing about their collective water weakness. They've been given no indication of any threatening water-types in the area, though.

"One of us knowing Defog would've been useful right now..." muses Emmet. "Sunny Day, a decent second option! Too bad we don't."

But he'll just exhale a breezy sigh and dip his head a little lower to allow Emporio better access to the fur at the nape of his neck, collar and mane both within easy reach. This might as well be something that happens now, apparently, considering how Shoka attacked it all back when A.B.A pulled them all into the same den that one time... If Emporio wants to comb through it, he can come away with a couple of gossamer, oddly delicate seeming strands for his trouble.

His ears are pitched high, though, leveling out and swiveling around every now and then to keep at least part of his attention on their surroundings.

"Sunny Day huh..." It sounds like something that would control the weather, which in turn makes him think of, well...

...Hmm. He focuses on combing his odd mitt-hand and thumb through the mane instead, coming away with a few strands and nodding. "Thanks Emmet," he says with some relief for the plan, before moving to tie it to a bush nearby.

"I'd make the same guess about Ground moves, but I honestly haven't figured out any of those still..." Which is...Depressing, if he thinks about it. More than usual, actually, the fog is practically weighing down on him.

"Okay, this part's done." A look to where Ingo is digging, before he adds- "I guess I should try that too..."

He should be good at this! Why can't be be good at this-!

Firepaw is similarly keeping a lookout, unsure of how else to help. His ears are on the swivel, and he keeps lifting his head to sniff around the area while Emporio builds his markers. He thinks he can smell Ghost Pokemon, but they're the hardest ones to scent-track so far. Especially in the fog... everything here seems to muddy and move around in ways that animals shouldn't be able to.

"I'm gonna scout in the trees before we keep moving." He mentions, mostly to keep himself busy, and runs up the tree he was scent-marking.

He comes back down, from a different tree a few feet away, and looks just as puzzled as everyone else about it. "Um... there's a clearing up ahead, maybe twenty fox-lengths.... uhhh.... that way? Emporio, what's a fox-length for Twolegs?"

"I ought to be able to learn Sunny Day! Not naturally, but maybe if I met another Pokemon who knew it already?"

Digging up the rocks is easier than actually collecting them in a pile. Ingo's carefully rolling them along the ground as he speaks. "I'm sure that you could as well, Firepaw - it is a fire-type move. Fire is more powerful in harsh sunlight! Emporio, you could probably learn Sandstorm, but that would be a bit more dangerous!" It's all moot, of course. None of them know any of those moves right now, so the fog is staying.

"Meanwhile. I get the feeling that I probably can't." Learn Sunny Day, that is. Emmet straightens up once Emporio's done collecting what he has to, giving himself a good fullbody shake as he does. "Maybe Rain Dance or Hai— well, no, they prefer Snowscape these days..."

His attention is caught, however, by Firepaw coming back down somewhere he certainly did not go up from, the general... wispiness of his body quickening just a little in heightened alert. Maybe the Litten had crossed over a branch or something in the canopy layer? But if that was the case then he shouldn't seem so surprised by it, right?

"A clearing, up ahead? Hmm. Maybe more visibility might help." If the break in the trees allows for more sunlight to shine through to help with the fog, or something... or they could get surrounded by thick fog on all sides... "Would have to remember which direction we entered from, though. Or we might really get turned around."

Edited (snipes a typo) 2025-03-13 00:21 (UTC)

A blink, and Emporio glances to Firepaw. "Huh? Oh, Fox? Depending on tail or no tail...2 feet, or one foot? Maybe stick with two..."

Maybe he should stop muttering? Anyway. Weather is quite the antsy topic for Emporio, putting it lightly, so he just figets under his helmet at the idea of learning...Sandstorm. "Er...h...hopefully I don't learn something like that then, if it's dangerous..." Ahem.

"Anyway, we've got our markers here, so as long as we mark off where we enter the clearing it should be fine right?"

"Twoleg feet are that big?"

Not the important part. Firepaw clears his throat.

"If we mark off the start of the clearing, then if we get lost we just have to follow the edge until we find that marking." For once, his warrior training is coming in handy, and he's thrilled about it. "I don't think it looked big enough to get lost in, but the fog is definitely worse deeper in, so who knows."

"Hm...yes, we can make a marking."

Ingo glances among the other members of the group. Did he miss something while he was digging up rocks...? Well, it's probably alright. It's been a fairly uneventful journey. He's pretty sure he knows which way they've been going anyhow; he's always had a good inherent sense of navigation!

"Well. If the clearing is not that big. Then there is less to worry about, at least." Of course, they'll still mark their entry even so. No reason not to, reasonable precaution no matter how big the clearing is or isn't, considering.

Emmet watches the assembly of the cairns with his attention still more on their surroundings than otherwise, working through a stretch as he does. Once everything is in place... "If we are all ready to resume, then let's go."

Onwards through the dense foliage and the denser fog.

"Not really, they kinda vary..."

Ahem.

"I think we should be good...I don't see anything, but I get the feeling we shouldn't stay here too long either..." So indeed- onward, and onward, into denser fog.

...Where it's...a little more unnerving the more they go.

It feels like they're being watched. Being followed. He can't help but try and glue himself closer to whoever is nearest him, as if trying to hide behind them from. Well, everything. Which of course makes that difficult.

And he swears.. "...Did anyone say something..?"

He swears he can hear whispering.

Emporio ends up moving closer to Firepaw, who in turn bumps into him by accident, but he just touches his nose to the Cubone's shoulder as a silent apology.

"I don't think so... but I think there's other Pokemon out here. Somewhere nearby."

At least, that's his best idea for why he keeps smelling their species ahead of them. And it's a great idea, until they travel in the direction he thought the clearing would be in, and instead end up right back in front of the bush with Emmet's fur tied to it.

"...How...?"

There certainly is a vibe out here. It feels not unlike the sensation of having an Alpha Pokemon's gaze upon you...Ingo sticks close behind the others, eying the brush around him distrustfully. He's so focused on watching for external danger that he very nearly trips over whoever's in front of him in turn.

"What?" He turns, and sees the trailing white fur over the heads of the shorter Pokemon. What? How did that happen? He's quite certain they have been walking in a straight line; frankly, he doesn't think they've even gone far enough to loop around again yet no matter which way they were headed. "That is...exceedingly strange."

He lowers his head to sniff the earth again. Yes, it still smells like them.

"... We have been proceeding in a straight line. Yet we have somehow missed the clearing. And looped back to here."

He's just going to say what they're all thinking out loud, his smile somewhat fixed. Just to get it out there.

Ingo's already ahead of Emmet in trying to check for scent; the Zoroark, on the other hand, is going to look in all directions (including behind them, because didn't they agree to mark this spot right at the edge of where their entrance to the forest would go out of sight? can they still make it out? ... ah, but the fog now...) before trying to approach his own shed fur to see if he can actually touch it.

Huh. Yep. It's real. Well then.

"... So. What do we think it is? Trick Room, twisted dimensions? Illusions? ... Psychic Pokemon who are somehow verrrrry sneaky with hitting us with Confusion?"

Emporio tries to resolve his panic by focusing on the one thing he can pick out of Emmet's questioning.

Which of course, he panics over. "Th...Pokemon can do that?" he asks, voice shaking somewhat. "How are we supposed to navigate at all if they can do something like that..?!"

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CLOSED -「ROAD TO NOWHERE」

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