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[break]


The water is choppy, with random pieces of ice tossed into the mix. For the most part, their trek is silent and steady, with only the occasional thud and jostle that means they should readjust their course.[break][break]

At some point River contemplates the reason he was asked to assist Gavin all the way out in the middle of nowhere. It had been a sudden and strange request at the time, for the older man to ask him to look for and capture fossil Pokemon on route 124. Maybe the weird part of the situation was that he'd agreed.[break][break]

The two of them had been on the shore of the little nowhere island for a while now, lifting rocks and kicking sand. Gavin had released two of his fossil Pokemon and River raised an eyebrow, as if mildly irritated.[break][break]

"So, you already have a handful of fossil Pokemon, but you want more? That seems a little greedy if you ask me. And.. isn't that cruel? Didn't they like.. die for a reason, and all that?"[break][break]

River squints at the Cradily as an example, as if trying to fathom how something so ugly and strange-looking could even survive.[break][break]

His Shinx high steps out of the water as it touches her paws, a look of disgust plain on her face. Gavin's question remains mostly unanswered because River's a snot.

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River blinks, perhaps realising and putting two and two together that he probably, definitely, shouldn't have said that. Was he trying to loose some teeth?[break][break]

Just kidding, this guy looked like one of those spindly, nerdy, weak little scientist freaks that couldn't pull a punch let alone knock his teeth out. Probably.[break][break]

He sneers at the man's response and rolls his eyes.[break][break]

"No, I couldn't care less."[break][break]

A small lie.[break][break]

"I'd just hate our precious scientist getting in over his head reviving Pokemon that should have been kept dead. They could kill you, you know."[break][break]

He watches as Gavin's Omastar takes care of the Rhydon. Meanwhile, a Floatzel seemed to have bumped into Shinx, quite literally. It's curiosity is piqued at the adorableness that is River's lion cub. Shinx, however, is not so kind or friendly, and promptly startles at such a big and unknown Pokemon. She doesn't hesitate in electrocuting the poor sucker.[break][break]

River throws a pokeball at it not long after Shinx hops away, dipping and dodging and thoroughly soaking herself in the tussle. Floatzel fights hard but ultimately is no match for Shinx' quick wit and trickiness. [break][break]

capture attempt on floatzel

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[break]


River rolls his eyes. He nearly mocks the man aloud but he bites his tongue for once.[break][break]

Maybe it's because he's taken the warning to heart. This is a very secluded island in the middle of nowhere. River could very well become apart of a river somewhere and none would be the wiser.[break][break]

Gavin moves on quickly to a wild Marill. The plump mouse seems oblivious to the incoming attack and soon falls victim to the Rocket scientist. Shinx, however, has found another plaything - or rather - has become it.[break][break]

With a shriek, River jerks around to find that Shinx had disappeared down the gullet of a bizarre and unfamiliar bird. Shock riddles River's face before the bird realises he's picked a right with the wrong crowd.[break][break]

Electricity surges from his mouth and he projectile vomits Shinx back into River's chest. The bedraggled kitten jumps out of her master's arms with fervor, leaping back to deal her finishing blow.[break][break]

River throws another pokeball. He isn't sure what the bird was, exactly, but he's sure he wants something with enough balls to swallow his spitfire whole.[break][break]

capture attempt on cramorant

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Shinx retrieves the pokeball reluctantly. It seems she isn't too thrilled to be gaining a member of the team that eats anything smaller than it. Regardless, River lifts the ball from his Pokemon's mouth and rolls it in his hand, satisfied.[break][break]

While Gavin grows distracted by what appears to be a pile of dusty old rocks, River has paid more attention to the small bit of blue on the shore. It seemed something had become stuck in the sand and unable to return to the water. And the Stonjourner crumbling is bound to land on the poor Pokemon and crush it.[break][break]

"Shinx!"[break][break]

River calls out to the kitten as the Pokemon instinctively runs to intercept. Her tiny teeth sink painfully into the slimy flesh of the Mantyke, pulling it out of harms way. She's incidentally battered around by the crumbling Pokemon, but otherwise unharmed. The Mantine held in her mouth seems weak and unconscious, likely as a result of her stranding.[break][break]

The boy kneels to inspect the Pokemon, running his fingers along the Pokemon's drying skin. He promptly makes the effort to put it in a pokeball.
[break][break]

"You should really pay more attention to what's around you. That stupid rock-thing almost crushed that Pokemon."[break][break]

capture attempt on mantyke

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"You should be natural selection, freak."[break][break]

It's not a good insult, but it's all he can come up with at the moment. River frowns visibly at his indifference. Maybe River's cold, asshole heart isn't as closed as he puts on - he really does have a soft spot for Pokemon in need, apparently.[break][break]

Gavin turns away from him to deal with a wild Lycanroc that's clearly looking for its next meal, and River is therefore left alone to whisper empty curses and threats to the guy standing across the beach from him.[break][break]

How and why did he agree to hang out with such a total prick?[break][break]

Shinx mewls as she steps closer to the water. Her eyes are like saucers as she stares into the water. She's looking at something swimming back and forth. Its scales are so shiny, mesmerizing, glorious.[break][break]

River approaches slowly, his steps soft as he intends to not scare away whatever treasure has caught his Shinx's attention. Her own predatory instinct supersedes her, however, and the tiny lioness splashes into the water to retrieve her prize.[break][break]

Between her teeth is a flapping, angry Finneon that River promptly wrestles away from his Pokemon and strokes comfortingly.[break][break]

"We don't eat fish, Shinx. How many times do I gotta tell you?"[break][break]

capture attempt on finneon