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Loneliness was a sludge that clung to someone and grew, grew and did nothing else but weigh one down. Kaida was usually good at staving off the feeling, so she wondered why the twinge grew in her chest. Maybe having a taste of contact had ruined her carefully maintained solitude. She remembered that the door was always open, and she had said she didn't need a big reason to visit, correct? [break][break]

In the interests of trying to stay hidden, Muspel dropped them off only near the home, and Kaida walked the rest of the way. An odd new family member walked by her side, an almost mindless hustle to the strangely independent Durant. Ormr stared at it and clung closer to Kaida, I'm sure how to communicate with the steel being, nothing like a rocky Onix, it's expression could scarcely be determined. Svart needed the walk, to get used to Kaida, so here she was. [break][break]

Mandibles clicking, the Durant reached the home first and, before Kaida made any attempt to order it, pounded her head against the door. This was where they were trying to go, right? She was just making it easier for Kaida!

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A softened smile escaped Kaida as she stepped out of her shoes, bouncing around for a few seconds from heel to toe as she enjoyed the mats. Like grass, but less messy. It was perfect for a challenge. [break][break]

Her shoes safely deposited, Kaida made to climb the tower, nodding at her two fellow Rangers. [break][break]

Upon the challenge start, she tossed out Muspel, who wisely chose to hover over the ground, warbling in confusion before she dropped a little to allow Kaida to spring on. Kaida clung on tight, patting Muspel's side as she barked out, "Attack it!" As the Earthquake roared across the floor, Muspel flapped her wings, sending an Air Slash at the earth dragon.

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The end was in sight, not literally, but Kaida could feel both Francie's grip and Ormr's tightening wrap. That could only mean that they were getting close. [break][break]

She moved faster, almost in a run as she darted forward, trying to get out of the smell she could only really smell in a cavern and the like. She didn't like it, much preferring vegetation and the open skies. None of that mattered anymore, though. [break][break]

The end was in sight, literally. [break][break]

T476ct|l

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Two streaks in the sky. Kaida should be watching, she really should be watching what exactly Muspel is capable of unleashed, With a tilt of her wings, she screams through the air, roaring and flashing with flame in the skies...but the conversation is more important, she can't just ignore Illeana in favor of Muspel, can she? [break][break]

"Comparing, it's not...I'm not comparing, there's no comparing this." Kaida sucked in a breath, she didn't look people in the eyes normally, and such an action was even more pronounced as she avoided Illeana's face with all she had, "I wandered into Slateport more than ten years ago, and I never thought to be kind to people I don't know. Still don't." Why was she telling her this? Perhaps it was because Illeana wasn't a friend, wasn't family. Easy to be honest with someone you don't expect to see often. Or perhaps she just didn't want to feel like she was tricking Illeana. "Just Pokemon. Isn't that strange? Wearing the skin of a human, I'm still not as kind as Hema here...a Pokemon protects with all they have, anybody, even us humans." What had possessed a gaggle of Pokemon to take along a human who was not doubt useless to them? She could only conclude kindness, "That's kind to me...I'm not comparing, I just can't believe someone can be so kind to those that hurt them." The burning in her side only completed those words in her mind, she was going to kill whoever took her life, because they traumatized her family. [break][break]

She listens, and takes Illeana's words into her head, not heart. She wouldn't blame normal civilians for being unable to act, but defense and stopping power was the guard's job. Who did a job that they were incapable of completing or, worse, got in the way of? Still, she didn't argue. Maybe she was completely wrong, she didn't know what guard work entailed. I know what it should be though! "Depends on how large Sludge Wave is, and whether it left Freya's sight." Kaida answered quickly to Illeana's question, this she knew by heart. What Ranger didn't know Pokemon? Unfortunately, it had left her sight, and proceeded to spread everywhere, she assumed. She only hoped it caused some misery for her enemies. [break][break]

"I don't know him either. You might be right." She didn't know the man, not any better than Illeana. Until she knew more about everything, she had no right to snarl until her breath. Nothing but an invitation for attention. Still, her face didn't match her words, eyes narrow and frowning slightly, but she hoped that it could be read as nothing but her normal expression. [break][break]

So neither of them could tell what the outcome of the incident would have been. Well then, no use running it through her head for the millionth time. Dying, coming back, and all her Pokemon surviving was probably the best case scenario. Better to think that way. "Then nothing to do about it anymore." Kaida stretched and shook like a disgruntled animal, "We'll have to test our ideas next time. Stay near me, help me, and we'll bite the enemy. I'll be there when something happens again, will you?"

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