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River drags his heels, socks damp and squelching against the soles. There are bags under his eyes, his cheeks are hollow and his stomach gurgles in complaint every few paces. How long had he been here, again? Too long. How had he even gotten here? He couldn't remember.[break][break]

For a while he'd carried a rock with scratches in it that dictated how many times he wanted to go home - but he'd lost it along the way. His attention span was moot, after all. [break][break]

That is, until he hears a familiar voice call his name and he pulls himself out of his homeless-looking stupor to peer up at the girl staring back at him. Cloudy vision clears as he blinks, standing up straight to make out the vaguely familiar face of Iris Foster.[break][break]

He blinks again, squinting, as if unsure if it is who he thinks it is. Was this a mirage? A dream? Was this his guardian angel come down to guide him back to civilization? God, he sure hoped she'd brought a home-cooked meal.[break][break]

"Am I dreaming?"

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[attr="class","ithread"]when he doesn't move, iris takes the initiative and walks towards him. as she gets closer, she begins to notice his state of appearance better. "what happened to you?!" she shouts, half in surprise, half in worry. now standing directly in front of him, she peers up at his worn-out face and makes another sound of concern.
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"come here." she beckons over the togekiss whose name she never bothered to learn. "i think this one's got a healing move..." pulling a scrap of paper from her pockets, she reads through its moveset before letting out a sharp huff. "seriously?!" no luck there. she'd just have to get river back to base, then.
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speaking of... "you really don't look good, you know. how long have you been here?"
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River tenses as she approaches, thoroughly convinced that she's nothing but some super-realistic mirage that he's come up with. He's seen her in passing several times now and every time had been sorely disappointed. It was bizarre now that she was approaching him, as every time he had seen her he had followed her but never gotten any closer.[break][break]

Now, though, Iris stood in front of him with wide eyes full of concern. The warmth she expresses tugs warmth from his own expression as his cheeks flush and he struggles to come up with something intelligent to say. Unfortunately, his tongue is heavy and his mouth dry, and he merely stutters in response.[break][break]

His clothes are muddy and the stitching unravelling as if he'd gotten himself caught on branches or similar. He looks like he's gone on a serious bender and come out half-drowned.[break][break]

When she beckons for the Togekiss, however, River mistakes it as a command for himself. In response, the boy awkwardly moves forward after she rummages for her Pokemon's moveset list. He lays his forehead against her shoulder and lets out a sigh.[break][break]

"If I'm dreaming or makin' this shit up, this is a really cruel joke..." his voice is a strained whisper.[break][break]

She asks him a question and he shrugs half-heartedly, but mostly because he doesn't actually know.

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[attr="class","ithread"]iris yelps in surprise as river rests his head on her shoulder. luckily for him, she was able to stop herself from instinctively pushing him off just in time. "i don't really know what you're talking about," she admits, gesturing a few commands to her marshtomp from over his shoulder, "why would this be a dream?"
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as blue goes slightly ahead to check for any threats, iris tries to coax river onto the togekiss. "get on," she says, "we're going to have to carry you back."
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blue returns from amongst the bushes, indicating the way they should be going. "good. i think it's clear for now..." she didn't fancy hanging round waiting for that to change, though.
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If she is tense or uncomfortable with his closeness, River is oblivious to it. The boy heaves a relieved sigh instead, nestling his forehead in the curve of her neck and shoulder.[break][break]

"Because angels usually come to me in dreams."[break][break]

He whispers this, eyes closed as he rests. It's clear that he's a bit delirious and exhausted. If he did remember what he'd said, he'd almost certainly kick himself for being so stupid and cliche.[break][break]

But he blinks himself awake when she moves and guides him to her Togekiss. The option to lay down and not have to walk anymore was too tempting to pass up, and he awkwardly and clumsily clobbers his way on. He is not elegant in the slightest.

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[attr="class","ithread"]it's a slow trek through the deeper parts of the wilderness. at least it meant they were close--iris could recognise the trail she'd walked along earlier. with blue by her side, and the togekiss handling river, it seemed as if everything was under control, if oddly peaceful.
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that soon changes with a rustling from the bushes. a scyther leaps out, and iris commands blue to attack. as its reflexes kick in, the togekiss sends an AIR SLASH powered by SERENE GRACE. iris has to scramble to support river, saving him from falling off the pokemon's back. the syther flinches thanks to the attack, buying them time to get away.
[break][break]"be careful next time!" she hisses. to river, she's significantly less antagonistic. "um, are you alright, river?"
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In the brief moments that their trek is peaceful and quiet, River snores quietly against the back of the Togekiss. In all honestly it's quite relaxing and comfortable, surprisingly secure.[break][break]


That is, until they get jumped by a wild Scyther and his portable bed turns into a war machine and shirks him off of her back in order to defend their honor. Meanwhile, River's honor is damaged in the fall as he's caught by Iris' swift hands.[break][break]


Once again, however, he misinterprets her tone directed for her Togekiss as being for him, thoroughly given whiplash when her tone changes to something kinder when actually aimed at him. River blushes as a result, but he's also just come to the realization of who, exactly, was rescuing him. In his delirious and exhausted state, he was unable to recognize his own reflection likely.[break][break]


That, and Iris looked different, just a little bit.[break][break]


"Uhh--- yeah, kind of. Mostly."[break][break]


He scratches the back of his neck before squinting at the girl, recognition quickly pulling his eyebrows into his hairline.[break][break]

"... I-Iris? Oh god.." how embarrassing, he had called her an angel? Awkward.. "You look different. It's nice.. er."[break][break]

The boy blushes, awkward and overwhelmed by the situation as a whole. Where even was he? How had he gotten here to be found and rescued?

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[attr="class","ithread"]she's surprised the realisation comes so late, but remembering the state he was in not too longer ago, perhaps she should reconsider. "oh." she finds herself just as embarrassed as him. "thanks."
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they finally reach the centre, and the rangers standing out front walk over to them curiously. once the situation hits them, there's much more of a rush as the resident health staff run out to tend to river. iris gets several pats on the shoulder for a job well done and she can't help but smile.
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"i've got to get back to work..." she says regretfully. she wouldn't be of any use now; patrolling was what made full use of her skills. before she turns to leave, she adds, "i'm glad you're alright though."
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Her embarrassed response encourages warmth in his cheeks. River clears his throat awkwardly and looks away, suddenly regretting what he'd said. Had he been mistaken? Was there nothing different about her? Damnit, man.[break][break]

And he had called her his angel, how fuckin' pathetic and embarrassing.[break][break]

Fortunately, their connection would be severed temporarily as rangers take him in to make sure he's okay. Other than a few bumps and bruises and dehydration, he's fine. He glances back at her as she's being pulled away. For reasons he can't explain, he feels a sinking, disappointed feeling in his chest.[break][break]

"Yeah.. thanks."[break][break]

Smooth, River. Smooth.

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