[Game Thread] Pokerole Mystery Dungeon: Primal Shadows

[Dragonstrike]

Daxter grunts in pain as the Voltorb zaps into him. Defeating them allows him to quickly pull the bottle of MooMoo Milk out and chug it down. He makes a face, grimacing at the taste. "Yech. Milk."

The weird shadows dispersing puts him on edge, however. He looks around nervously before he turns to Bunnelby and Dedenne. "Did you two see that? These weird shadows came out of the Voltorb and scarpered off into the forest!"

He then gets to his feet and takes a look around. "Why don't we go back down there? Take a closer look around?"

He then leads everyone back to the area that they had started off in (after climbing down the side of this wall) before leading them north and climbing the wall to the north.

"Wait, what?  That weird energy...went deeper into the forest?"

"Well, it's not the strangest thing we would have encountered."

"True...it couldn't possibly be as weird the Voidlands after all..."

"If you think it's concerning, Daxter, we'll trust you on that.  Lead the way."

(If Daxter would like to question Dedenne and Bunnelby about what they just said, they can give him a brief explanation while they're traveling)

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The group waves farewell to Grubbin as they head back the way they came.  When they reach the place they started at again, though...

...whoooooooosh...

...a faint gust of wind is felt and heard.  Bunnelby and Dedennes' ears immediately perk up as they feel and hear it, knowing exactly what that means.

"We need to get moving.  The wind's coming."

Daxter leads everyone to the north, chasing the shadows deeper into the forest.  Snom is very nervous about encountering this mysterious 'wind' she's been told about, wondering what it could possibly be.  It's a stark contrast to the still stoic Rowlet, though the owl's flight speed has notably increased.

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Eventually, they reach a clearing after climbing over several old tree stumps.  A few of the trees in the area, as if they'd been struck by lightning.  Dedenne is looking around, her whiskers twitching constantly.

"...we're not alone here...I can feel something powerful in the air...and it's not that wind, either.  Maybe they haven't noticed us yet, though."

"Look.  Signs of a battle."

Bunnelby pushes ahead and points out many scuff marks and footprints, broken branches, broken orbs.

"Someone was here."

"Correction: someone is here."

Dropping out of the canopy of the trees behind the party is a bright yellow, cat-like pokemon.  Parts of their fur and their whiskers are colored a bright, electric blue.  A long, scarf-like rope of fur trails behind them, and their fists crackle with blue electrical energy.

"Two groups of trespassers in one day?  I believe that's a new record."

Dedenne and Bunnelby take defensive stances.

"Who are you?"

"You're the cat that was mentioned in the mission description, aren't ya?  The one that pummeled that townsmon."

"Maybe I am.  What's it to you?"  They cross their arms, seemingly completely at ease.  "The name's Zeraora.  Guardian of Lord Raikou's domain.  And I have a job to do, see?  Keep out unwanted riff raff.  My Lord doesn't like being disturbed, you see."

That second name seems to ring a bell for Dedenne and Bunnelby.

"Wait, are you referring to that Raikou?  The one that tried to stop pokemon from turning to stone?"

"Maybe.  What's it to you?  Far as I know, you have no business here.  So unless you want to leave quietly, you better be good at convincing me to not eject you from this Mystery Dungeon by force."

Zeraora stares at everyone with narrowed, skeptical eyes, their fists continuing to crackle with blue electricity as they await an explanation, departure...or challenge.