109. [Video/Action for Mahogany] Mid-afternoon on the 10th

[foolishwren]

<sub>[clop clop CLOP CLOP CLOP CLOP CLOP CLOP]

[A set of creamy hooves trot past, stirring up dust and leaves on the forest path, before the camera is adjusted by a big scaly blue hand-- and then, after a moment's though, plopped into the hand-owner's lap. It's a Croconaw, judging by the legs crossed in the bottom of the camera's view.]

[And the fiery hindquarters of a Rapidash and its rider are just visible, disappearing up the path.]</sub>

She's getting much better, isn't she?

_{[The voice, which to human ears sounds only like a few happy chirps (but will be perfectly understandable to any Pokemon), belongs to someone off-camera-- and is answered by a much louder rumbling growl that is clearly coming from the camera-holding Croconaw.]}

I dunno... she's bouncing a lot, and when Carousel stops she pitches forward really sharply. She could fall off. And... and she's been so jumpy after she came awake in the middle of the night like that... I'm worried. Maybe I should...

_{[A tiny brown paw appears and pats the Croconaw's knee comfortingly.]}

Don't, she'll be fine! Carousel will take care of her. Just enjoy the nice weather!

_{[The speaker, a little Eevee with enormous flop-ears, pads into view and then stretches out on her belly in a dappled patch of sunlight, evidently happy as a clam. A rumbling, reluctant sigh follows from the Croconaw.]}


But... I... well, okay...

<sub>[Then he trails off into silence. They're apparently sitting on some pine-needle-covered boulders in the forested paths just north of Mahogany. The camera rolls in silence for some time, during which any Pokemon wanting to talk to Cheryl the Eevee or Godzilla the Croconaw will be answered!]


[Around fifteen minutes later, though, the hoofbeats sound again and the Rapidash comes trotting back into view with Heather aboard her back, holding onto a pair of makeshift reins. She's bareback but straightbacked and keeping steady-- well, until Carousel comes to a halt anyway. Then she can't help but pitch forward slightly before righting herself.]</sub>

Whoof. Thanks for waiting, guys-- ... what, were you recording the scenery or something?

_{[She dismounts and takes the camera from Godzilla, giving his spiny crest a pat before lifting it up to her face. It's ruddy from the exercise, but there's also some dark, bruised-looking shadows under her eyes. Like many... she apparently did not sleep well last night. But when she speaks, her voice is the usual I-dare-you-to-question-my-enthusiasm volume. Because everything's totally okay, right? Everything's super duper okay right now.]}

This has been the Forest Zen Channel with Heather and Co. Hope we helped you all feel super tranquil and shit. Peace!

_{[Boop, end feed.]}

Comments

[lieutenantantichrist]

Yeah, it's not so tough once you figure out the magic butterfly gang hierarchy. [He shoes his hand through his hair. It doesn't look real combed.] Nah, you know what they made me do? Pick up trash by the side of the road. Honest to god.

[He shifts his jacket on his shoulders.] I still don't trust riding on anything that's on fire.

Can that thing even drink water? Doesn't that put its head out?

[foolishwren]

_{[She snorts-- both at his description of jail and at the question.]}

She doesn't need to dunk her entire HEAD in to drink. Her mouth isn't on fire, y'know.

_{[As for trusting things on fire... well, she's still working on that part...]}

[lieutenantantichrist]

Yeah, yeah. Just don't try to brush her. I think that's how the Chicago fire started.

[Blake's distracted. He looks over at the Gallade to make sure it's still there. That it is doesn't make him feel any better.]

[He cocks his head.] You been doing okay?

[foolishwren]

_{[Another snort. She's pretty sure no Rapidash has ever seen the streets of Chicago. But the mental image is great.]}

Yeah, fine.

Little overtired, but what else is new.

<sub>[Actually, she didn't start being overtired until sometime last night. She'd been doing okay for awhile there... no nightmares aside from the usual ones. And then something new had struck out of the blue.]

[But she's not about to say any of that.]</sub>

[lieutenantantichrist]

[If it did, somebody'd try to catch it and sell it to the circus.]

Yeah. Everybody looks pretty beat today. Must be a bug going around.

[God knows Blake looks like crap, but he's not exactly fresh as a daisy at the best of times.]

[foolishwren]

Y'think so? Well, 'tis the season, I guess.

<sub>[It had better not be. If it is, she probably caught it from Henry. He's always kind of sickly. She'll have to punch him in the shoulder later. >8I]

[At that point, Carousel gives her a gentle but insistent nudge on the shoulder, and Heather rolls her eyes.]</sub>

All right, all right, I know, you're thirsty. C'mon, there's a stream down the path.

_{[She starts to head in that direction, but glances curiously at Blake over her shoulder.]}

What're you doin' out here anyway? Didn't think you were the type for nature walks.