Shades of Black & White [Pokemon Au]
"Well, Hylli, I think you've gotten us well and truly lost."
"Sni!"
The pair of voices belonged to a tall man in black and green and an oddly colored Snivy, and they presently stood in the center of a very thick forest. He had a map out, holding it in one hand, and a compass in the other. The needle was pointing him north, but the path fell away well before then. He pivoted on the spot and tried to point himself in the right direction.
The Snivy--Hylli, apparently-- stood on the ground glancing up at the trees and the forest around her with red-brown eyes. Her tail twitched in thought, and she glanced back at the man, frowning and pointing west.
"Sni!"
"Yes, I am aware, thank you." Although he could not directly understand his pokemon, it was easy to understand what she meant--- the sun was setting and they were losing the light. They had to breach the forest before nightfall or risk spending the night in uncharted territory. Sighing and folding up his map and sliding the compass around his neck like a pendant, he lowered his arm for her to run up it and perch on his shoulder.
"We'll make due. If we have to, we'll press through the foliage." He mused, and she chirruped affirmatively, holding on to the high collar of his jacket. He began west, towards the fading light, and followed the small trail-- likely blazed by Sawsbuck and Deerling-- as far as he could before he had to begin pushing through the bushes and thick branches of the trees.
In the process he scared up a few bug pokemon and an angry few Pidove, but they flew and crawled away as he passed with small murmured apologies.
At last, his efforts found him the main road, and the edge of the forest just in time. The sun was dipping low beyond the distant hills, painting the sky with fiery colors and deep purples. Somewhere overhead, a Fearow cawed as it made its way back towards its nest for the evening.
"See? I told you it would work." He glanced sideways at his Snivy, who stared at him and plucked a twig from his hair, tossing it off to the side without breaking eye contact. She said nothing.
"Oh come off it. We didn't get hurt." He gestured before him, "And look. I even found us a Pokemon Center to stay in for the evening."
Along the road, before it forked off to wind in separate directions, was a lone Pokemon Center, and he made towards it briskly.
It was dusk by the time he entered, earning the attention of the nurse.
"Oh! Welcome!" She chimed pleasantly from behind the desk, followed by the resident Audino.
"Good evening. Is there... somewhere open for me to stay tonight? Hylli and I are very tired." He gestured at his Snivy, who made an exaggerated sigh and slumped on his shoulder. The nurse giggled at him.
"Yes, I can see that from the leaves in your hair. We do have a room with four beds, since we don't get much traffic out here... If no one else comes along, you'll have the place to yourself!"
"Audino! No!" Chimed in her helper. The trainer attempted to subtly pluck the leaves from his hair, his cheeks darkening.
"Ah... thank you." He murmured. Hylli snickered on his shoulder, and he shrugged it to make her stop. Her retaliation was to climb on top of his head. Nurse Joy giggled.
"Make yourselves at home. What name should I put down on the books?"
"Loki. Thank you." He carefully dipped his head in thanks before shifting the weight of his knapsack over his other shoulder-- the one Hylli stayed off of-- and headed back for the rooms to decompress for a bit before pursuing food.
