Sparks in the dark

Tao felt himself smiling at the antics of his fellow travellers friends. He wasn't sure why he was smiling, for Pichu exhibited the same characteristics of the newborns that so disturbed what little peace he could find, and Crewe was showing all the intelligence of the humans who tended them, but something about the way the Gryphon held the little mouse was almost, what was that word... Cute. He'd never used that word before, though he'd been called that by some of the doctors that passed when he was young. He felt compelled to say it aloud.

"Cute..."

Pichu tried once more, a determined look on her face and fists clenched in front of her tightly. "Ffth! ...Th. Breathe." An astonished blink and a triumphant grin later, and she cuddled happily into Crewe. "Pichu pi! Pipiii!"
She still had a lot to learn, of course, but the new vocabulary she was learning seemed to be making her more confident.

Crewe rubbed the back of his head embarrassed, with his free hand. "Heh- well done!" He praised, lowering his hand back down to give her a brisk stroke on the head, before lowering his other hand to lower her to the ground incase she wanted to get down. Suddenly, Crewe froze as a voice echoed in his mind. His eyes widened but he stayed completely frozen as he listened to the voice. When it finished, he stood up properly and held his head. "..Please tell me you two heard that too" He said, seemingly a bit shaken up and confused as to what just happened.

[He's refering to the Temple Voice btw. C: didn't see the point of reposting it when its in the side bar xD]

Tao had heard it too, that eerie voice from nowhere. It reminded him of the P.A system in the labs. His tail twitched back and forth in agitation. "Temple? Tributes?" He looked to Crewe, then to Pichu, and back down to the rock under his hands. "Nebula Heights..." At least the place had a name now. That was somehow comforting.

"Pii-!" Her ears rigid above her head and twitching slightly in order to pinpoint the source of the voice, she stayed completely still until it was over, confused as to why she couldn't tell where it was coming from. "...Pi... Pichu? Pipii Pichu chu Pichu!"
She looked surprised, but unafraid. Pichu seemed to be gaining confidence in general as well as just because she had others with her; she'd learnt a lot since she got here.

[ Anyone got plans for this place? If not, where to next? :3 ]

Crewe sighed relieved that he wasn't losing his mind, or was he? Had he hit his head and this was all a dream? Pah, even if it was he was going to make the most of it. "Nebula Heights..yeah" He mumbled, in echo to Tao. Looking down at Pichu, he was impressed how calm she was staying, he himself feeling uncomfortable and rigid, making him feel a weaker person than Pichu. "What should we do now?" He asked, "She talked about an altar right? Well that can't of been us, maybe other people are here?"

[No idea xD]

Tao pulled himself out of the water and shook his head, making his hair stand up in odd places. "Should we find them?" He took his tail in his hands and smoothed the fur, wringing out most of the water. Looking around the cave, the only way out he could see was back the way they came, at the top of a sheer cliff. Of course, he hadn't gotten the chance to explore underwater, perhaps there was another tunnel...

[I've got no plans, pick a place]

Pichu blinked and tilted her head from side to side as she pondered on what to do next. Her tall friends seemed to be confused as to what to do next, but how was she to take the lead? She didn't know where she was going...

Pichu frowned and flagged her ears again. No. She was going to take initiative! She was a smart Pokemon, she was not a Magikarp, she was a leader, yes! Pichu struggled to free herself from Crewe's arms and leapt down, doing a little hopping movement to one side as she regained balance and then holding her paws up in the air to pose like a gymnast.

After this display, she sparked once, yelled a quick "Pichu!", took a deep breath and then threw herself forwards into the water, allowing herself to sink briefly before paddling with her arms to right herself and begin moving forwards, towards what she hoped was the opposite edge of the water. Maybe there was a shore. She wanted to see how long it took before she had to come up for air.

Crewe's mouth hung open as he watched in shock as Pichu leapt in the water and began to swim away. No clue to what she was trying to do, he simply panicked. "H-hey! Get back here!" He yelled, hopping on the spot, and flicking his wings up and down. "D-Dont make me come in there!" He shouted, not taking into account the fact she was underwater and may not hear him anyway.

Tao watched Pichu dive in, then turned to watch Crewe squak at her indignantly. "She'll be fine." He stood, stretched, and leapt in an arc into the water. Only for a moment did he surface to look back at Crewe. "Are you coming?"

Pichu somehow managed to keep a steady rhythm of both paws, utilising a sort of butterfly style to keep pushing forwards. She had never done any swimming before, but it seemed Pokemon, like most animals, had some kind of natural reflex for learning quickly before they drowned.
"Bluh." A bubble emitted from her mouth hit the surface and broke with a vague 'pop'. She grinned up at it briefly, then blinked as she realised she was running out of air. Pichu made for the surface and took a deep breath. She hadn't made it far, but as she emitted a spark from her cheeks (taking care to keep her face above the waterline so as not to shock herself) she felt pretty proud of getting there on her own. "Piipii chuuu! Crewe, Tao!" She waved one paw above the water to try and get them to follow.

Crewe was about to reply to Tao before he heard Pichu, she was getting further away from the shore, which made him nervous yet with Tao in the water with her, he felt more safe. Why was he getting so protective? Sheesh. Fluttering his wings, he took off gently, hovering a few inches off the ground, staying slightly below the low ceiling. "I'll follow you by flying, i'm wearing clothes, I don't wanna get wet thanks" He explained, pointing at his poncho and beginning to edge out over the water.

Breathing steadily and focusing to hover briefly each inch he went forwards. This was tough, hovering on one spot took enough energy as it was, but having to do it each few centimetres? He could of briskly flew and swooped over, but where was he going? He had no idea, it was dark, the only source he could follow was Pichu who was currently ahead. The last thing he wanted was to fall in, which he would end up doing if he didn't land soon. His wings began to ache, as he silently cursed to himself, following Pichu as she swam. "I seriously hope theres a shore here soon.." He grumbled, straining, arching his back to make hovering somewhat easier.

Tao nodded and began to cut through the water after Pichu. He kept glancing over his shoulder at Crewe, wondering why he was flying in such an odd way. For once, he let Pichu take the lead, since she had been the one to get them moving. Something was wrong, he could see it in Crewe's strained expression. "Are you okay?" he mumbled in between strokes.

"Crewe?" Pichu peered over her shoulder, trying not to splash her eyes, and gave a brief frown up at her airborne friend. "Crewe, water! Water, water!" She patted the ripples ahead of her, indicating that he should just swim. "Pichu pipii, pichu-u!"
Why he seemed to have such an aversion to getting in the water, Pichu didn't know. After all, she'd never seen someone drown before and didn't really understand the concept.

Crewe groaned, teeth bared so it could hardly be heard. "Fine-" He replied briefly to Tao, mid flap. Listening to Pichu, he smiled fakely to try and reassure her, "C-crewe's fine!..huff..he's not good at swimming thats all!...puff" He replied, beginning to sweat now, as he became extremely hot as lactic acid burnt around his body. "Find a shore, find a shore, find a shore, find a shore!" He whispered to himself, edging forwards even more as he prayed for somewhere to land before he ended up dropping into the water.

"I can carry you." Tao reached a hand out of the water to tug on his tail. "You're tired." His face was worried, though he tried to keep his expression impassive. "I won't let you fall behind." He glanced at Pichu, a few lengths ahead, and craned his neck to watch Crewe struggle unhappily.

Pichu slowed down a little more, then reluctantly turned and started back towards the others. "Crewe, water, pipii." She splashed her front paws in the water, trying to prove it was safe. "Water... Water friend," she tried to explain, not having the right vocabulary yet.

(anyone know what happened to Kass? I thought it was her turn to post, like, two months ago... ^^;)

Tao glanced up again to find Crewe, but he wasn't there. He looked ahead for Chu, but her light had disappeared in the darkness of the cavern. He suddenly felt very... lost. Not that they had been traveling together for long, but... they were his friends, and suddenly they just disappeared. He stopped swimming, simply keeping afloat in the center of the lake.

(Ho-crap. Sorry guys! Bit laaaate. But better late than never? |D)

Crewe opened his mouth slightly, inhaling to reply to Tao just as cramp struck him. His stomach turned with pain as he quickly shut his mouth again, gritting his teeth, eyes clenched together as he withdrew his hands to hold his tensing stomach. "Gah!" He exclaimed, being knocked off focus as his whole body gave a startled shudder, he fell ungracefully into the water below.

A large splash erupted as he dropped into the water, slightly behind Tao and Pichu. Gargled screams escaped his mouth as he sunk into the dark water below, wings trying to fight unsuccessfully in a flying manner against the liquid. His stomach still cramping with pain, like an intense stitch from his flight.

(;u; you're alive!)

Tao heard a quiet splash behind him. He turned to see the unnaturally smooth surface of the water ripple and bubble like someone had thrown a boulder into it. He swam over, unconcerned with Pichu for the moment. His sharp night vision allowed him to see the vague shape of someone sinking in the water, clearly struggling to get to the surface. He dived down after them.