[r] holding back

[2tsunz]

"It's fine," Thalia said. "Stories don't determine your worth."

vertigo

[vertigo]

ismael smiled behind fennekin's fur. "i can't wait for this thing with the scourge to end," he said, "then another story can start ... things will get better."

his head felt heavy; he leaned upon charizard's back and let himself get used to the slow rhythm of walking.

2tsunz

[2tsunz]

"The scourge will end soon," she said. "I'm going to make sure of it."

8oueZKcU 40 - 100 ignatius' advice helps guide them nearly to the edge of the forest
10 - 40 they're still in the middle
< 10 at the amberwell

vertigo

[vertigo]

ismael nodded. "good luck," he whispered.

they neared the edge of the forest, and one could see ...

M|trV8FL
<50 proserpina
>50 di manes

... thankfully, proserpina in the near distance. the red roof of the pokémon center was hard to miss.

2tsunz

[2tsunz]

Thalia was privately very relieved. She had not been entirely sure they were going the right way.

"Would you like me to drop you off somewhere specific?" Oh wait-- "I met someone earlier who was looking for you, Hisham. Do you want me to call him?"

vertigo

[vertigo]

ismael opened his mouth to form an answer, but thalia's words elicited a strangled sort of yelp from him. he nearly fell off charizard's back at his surprise, but managed to hold himself together.

"... please, don't. please don't let him know you found me by the amberwell."

2tsunz

[2tsunz]

"I won't, if that's what you want. Is he not your friend? He said he uh, saved you from a scuffle or something, but."

vertigo

[vertigo]

"he did; that's why he shouldn't worry about me. i--" ismael stopped himself.

"can't we go somewhere? not where he is?"

2tsunz

[2tsunz]

"Where would you like to go?"

vertigo

[vertigo]

nJ8NKr6s <30 ismael passes out

there was no response, for ismael had lost consciousness upon charizard's back. fennekin glanced expectantly at thalia, its nose sniffing at the air.

2tsunz

[2tsunz]

Shit.

"Don't look at me like that," she said to the fennekin. "Okay. He didn't want to see Hisham, and I know Hisham was looking for him at the Pokemon Center so I guess that's out. I can't just dump him anywhere either, look at him."

Thalia was going to have to book a hotel room.

"I'm gonna have to book a hotel room."

vertigo

[vertigo]

the fennekin blinked once, then pulled a face at its former trainer.

it squeaked in hesitant approval.

2tsunz

[2tsunz]

"Okay guys," she said. "Let's just get to Prosperina and see if they let me carry an unconscious boy into a hotel room. Better look for a seedy one."

She strode out of the forest.

vertigo