[attr="class","Battlepost"]

Beyond the sounds of her pokemon munching away at the food, a sudden rustle from behind her pulled her attention away from the happy dratini. Eyes spotted a dark colored blur disappear behind a crevice and curiously she slowly got onto her feet and followed. Though when her eyes rounded the corner, she was met with nothing, even though she swore that she saw something.
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Perhaps she was seeing ghosts, but the trainer didn't want to believe that. Furrowing her brow she glanced around for any sign of a said hiding object or being, and was blessed with a pair of small tracks. They were odd, quite tiny, and reminded her of a feline or canine's and she could only sum it up to be a pokemon.
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With a grin she went back to her Dratini as she was finishing up the food given and reached for the canister only to find it missing. It took Haruka everything she had not to bust up laughing, as she had been had by the disappearing pokemon, but left behind was a trail of pokemon food that must have fallen from the container.
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Curiosity led the cat; the girl following the trail as it carried on for a few meters and a bit more into a small cave. It was darker inside than outside, but there was enough light to see the petite frame of the pokemon as it munched on her pokemon food. Holding up her pokedex, Haruka scanned for its information, and the voice of her dex alerting the pokemon to their presence.
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Blue hues glimmered as they looked upon the Riolu, the joy on its face growing with each bite it took, however it seemed to be distressed at the sight of Haruka and Aoi. Slowly, as to not scare away the pokemon, the girl sat upon the ground and reached for something in her bag. She had a tendency to react the same way when greeting new pokemon, and this was no different as she pulled out a candy bar. [removal of candy bar x1]
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Opening it up, she smiled before taking a piece of it and placing it on the ground for her Dratini. Aoi, pleased with the gift, purred happily and Haruka went to offer a piece to the Riolu as well. With the enticing smell of the candy, it must have been hard to resist and despite it's hesitation, two small black paws wrapped around the piece before licking it and ultimately sticking it in it's mouth.
[break][break]Haruka smiled before leaning back on her hands with a heavy sigh. Eyes lingered on the figure of the pokemon, noticing just how young it was, and it even seemed to act so as it inquired about more candy. Haruka laughed before breaking off another piece for both Aoi and the Dratini. It's expression was pleasing, and taking the moment she looked around the small cave, coming to the conclusion this is where it mostly lived. In the corner she even happened to notice a pile of apples, leaves and other oddities.
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The way it appeared though, was that it was quite hungry, so just who or what was the stockpiled food for?
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"I think we can make camp here Aoi," she said before pulling the remainder of her pokemon from her belt and opening their capsule to greet the Riolu. It was scared at first, of course, but ultimately the friendly demeanor of her playful pokemon caused it to warm up in no time and as the hour passed they were all playing together in the small cave, and just in time as it appeared to rain outside. But at the crack of thunder, Haruka looked over to see the small Riolu standing at the mouth of the cave, as if it was waiting for something to return. Along side her, Genbu, Honou, Usagi, Hime and Aoi all looked confused and a bit disheartened to see the wild pokemon act so.
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Not wanting to pry, the trainer stood and stretched her eyes falling naturally to rest on the remaining food pile, and she grew curious as to just who or what the Riolu was waiting for. Perhaps a friend, or even a guardian like pokemon, but either way whatever it was, it didn't look like it was coming back. "Just how long had this poor Riolu been left waiting for it's friend?"
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With the setting sun she found solace among her pokemon and got her much needed rest before the morning where she still found the riolu awaiting patiently. It was at this time where she got concerned. Previously looking at the bedding and food pile, it had not been disturbed for quite some time, and she couldn't just sit here and wait. Stepping up to the pokemon, she was met with a weary expression. It was an empathetic pokemon and if it sensed her concern, it might have grown scared, so she did her best to suppress her feelings about the pokemon.
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"Listen to the storm, and all the falling raindrops. You'll hear a song, whenever you are sad, know I've got your back. --That was a saying that my father used to tell me when I was younger. It was like he was telling me to never fear, because he was always there for me. I am sure your friend felt that as well, but you don't have to stay here by yourself."
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Pulling a pokeball from her bag she set the capsule on the ground, "If you are by my side, it doesn't matter what will happen next, just let me share that burden with you." Unsure of just what to expect, the girl turned her head to her already friended pokemon that also gave their approval as well as consoling gesture. They understood it's pain, but assured the pokemon that Haruka was a kind and gentle friend.
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There was an awkward silence as the pokemon hesitated, considering its options, before glancing back at the awaiting food and bedding. Haruka's words resonated with it's heart however and willingly it nudged the pokeball to enter the capsule, hopefully being accepted with minimal effort. Battling was not the only way to convey your feelings with pokemon, and that was a lesson that the empathetic pokemon had taught her.
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NOTES: Attempted to capture the Riolu via friendship.