Night Whispers -- [Pluto//Private]

[Rookie]

The sky rippled with crimson and dark orange waves, the ball of flame known as the sun beginning to retreat behind the horizon as it made way for the dark. The dark. Although Rookie didn't necessarily have a fear with the dark, his orange fur crawled at the thought of entering a dungeon. Alone. And in the dark. A few hours before, before he had decided to climb up a mountain, he had been resigned to taking a short walk around the lands to satisfy his adventurous air. After a mishap with a previous 'adventure', he made the decision to wait until he could have someone to accompany him on his travels before he would go out to really explore. It felt like the worse decision he had ever made. Despite this, Rookie kept his choice firm until the explorer air had wafted around him grew so strong that he thought he could feel it crackle in the air like lightning. Taking the hint, he packed a small bag of essential exploration items and left the Moonlight Village, his temporary residence, in an attempt to satisfy himself.

He ended up climbing a mountain, explaining his current problem as he trotted hesitantly alongside a gorge. At least, it looked like a gorge, but shadows stretched from it, disabling him from seeing how deep it truly was. To add on, wispy mist had settled on the lands, creating a spooky setting for him. The only sound was the constant click, click of his foreclaws on the rocky terrain as he made slow progress, halting once he realized the ground began to slant. Thrusting his muzzle upward, he scented the air, fresh irritation flooding him as he realized he could smell nothing but the air before a storm. It was fresh, but had a wet feel to it. Am I lost? The thought drifted in his head as he glanced all around, appalled as he realized he no longer had his scent of smell on his side. Not only that, but the place was growing darker the minute, the only source of light coming from the shimmering stars. With a snort, Rookie refused to panic, gripping all of his senses, turning around and straining to sense anything. Or anyone. Before he had strayed so far, he had felt carefree, happy that he wouldn't confront any pokemon. But now, all he wanted was a confrontation... but that would be a bad thing. Weren't all pokemon here hostile? Not only that but--

Too late. Rookie took a step back, completely overwhelmed with his thoughts and felt his hindlegs scrabble against the slanting stone. With a yelp, he plummeted, only to do a barrel roll down and land on his side, eyes wild with terror. He waited for stars to speck his vision and find that he was dead, but that never came. After a few minutes or hours - he couldn't tell - of darkness, he opened his eyes. Cautiously lifting his head, he looked up and noticed pale light pouring down onto him. The moon was out, half of its face in shadow. He must've been knocked out for quite a while. Rookie blinked, noticing that his back was to a wall of rock. More upward, the rock began to slant and there were some claw marks scored into it. He must've fell from there. Scrambling to his paws, all terror forgotten and replaced with curiosity, he looked around. The skyward entrance to the cave seemed to be an only light source now and he lifted his chin, facing the dark.

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Pluto

gawd i suck at intros and titles

Sorry that took so long! I had to transition it from mobile to laptop~

[Pluto]

    While sitting behind his food stall Pluto had begun to think of the last time he had visited a dungeon. It had to be at least a month ago. It was sat really how little he went exploring anymore. So there and then the little mudkip decided that he was going exploring that night. When it was finally time to close Pluto sprinted to get a bag ready. He packed a blanket in case he was there too long and some food for the same reason. He packed a few other items that might be helpful and then made his way to a Dungeon. The Cliff Caverns to be specific.
    Pluto walked steadily. His tail fin would twitch every now and then. He kept looking up at the sky. It was getting darker and it looked like a storm might be coming. If it was just rain Pluto could deal with it, but once lightning started was when Pluto had to get worried. Him being a water type made lightning especially worrying, but Pluto trekked on. As he had already decided to go dungeon exploring he wasn't going to stop now. 
    Climbing a mountain wasn't as easy as it seemed though. Pluto knew the way and managed didn't lose his sense of direction, but his smaller legs weren't the best for climbing and every so often he would slip. Pluto was set on doing this though, so he kept going. Once he got to a more level area the mudkip rested for a second, then continued. A crevice was beside him as he walked and the moon was out now. It was almost pitch black, but thanks to his extra sensitive fin Pluto was still able to get around.
    Then as he neared a cave entrance Pluto sensed something moving and breathing. Another pokemon. Pluto paused and got down low. Was he going to have a battle before he even got into the caverns? The pokemon was down a steep incline. Pluto silently sent an ice beam down the hill. He then stepped onto the ice and flawlessly slid down the terribly steep hill. He gained too much speed and at the bottom Pluto stumbled and was sent head over heels into the opposite wall. It had been going so well before that.
    Pluto got up and shook it off. The pokemon was looking around now. From the small amount of light he had Pluto could just barely see a faint outline. They looked like a dog pokemon. Maybe a poochyena. Pluto crept closer until he was sort of close. "Friend or foe?" Pluto asked, trying to sound intimidating. He probably had the upper hand in the dark night, as long as the other pokemon didn't have some sort of night vision. He could always use his fin as navigation.

[Rookie]

As much as Rookie would've liked to move, even blink, he couldn't. It was as if his paws had suddenly decided to become a plant and take root into the solid ground. His golden eyes, slightly glowing in the darkness, glared out into the shadows that bore before him, his breathing becoming rapid. What was I thinking... this place... Heart rate quickening, his shoulder fur began to lift as he noticed the shadows, slowly lurking forward. They were closing in on him, the space that used to be rapidly deplenishing. He took a hesitant step back, fear undisguised in his eyes and his breathing quickening as well. His claustrophobia had begun to get the best of him. I shouldn't have come here! His thoughts began to shriek, tail beginning to tremble, his earlier courage evaporating like morning dew in the dawn sun. Not alone! Now down here, he wouldn't be able to get out without spraining a paw or ripping a claw and possibly plummeting to his death in the process. And no one could help him, unless some random pokemon turned up all of a sudden. But they might attack him, since pokemon here were generally considered to savage or tricky in their ways. He would be smothered to death by shadows all alone!

Swallowing down a wail of distress, he got a hold of himself and gave his pelt a rough shake. Though Rookie couldn't count on the thought that someone may actually appear, since he wouldn't exactly call the dungeon popular, he knew that freaking out would be no good. That would be the last thing he needed. Besides, he could always light up the place with an ember. No biggy. Still slightly trembling, his former bravery returned and he pushed negative thoughts to the back of his mind. No need to pollute his courage with fear. Now fully in control of himself, he peered at the darkness once more. It was back in its original place. He could begin exploring.

The growlithe bared his fangs, sparks appearing at his furry maw. He held a small fire inside of his maw, lip slightly curled to reveal it, and got ready to fire it. It would prove decent if he could see what was in front of him.

Before Rookie got to do this however, the scent of frost bathed his senses and blocked out the smell of smoke. His fur rippled and his ears perked. The light sounds of paws... feet on the stone ground sounded from behind and a menacing question from whomever appeared. Friend or Foe? His fur tingled with apprehension and he turned around. In the pale spotlight stood a mudkip. His fur laid flat. The pokemon didn't look particularly wild, like something that would attack him on sight, but the greeting question slightly disturbed him. In which case, he got his guard up and turned around and took a confident step forward, revealing himself. He gave his fur a shake, his blood red bandana scarf slightly swishing in the process. Hopefully the accessory would make him look at least a bit civilized. In that moment, he realized out scruffy his fur must look after the fall, and gave his small mane a lick in embarrassment. It wouldn't do no good. Locking eyes with the stranger, he wondered how exactly he could answer that question. Even if he did answer friend, he didn't know if the stranger would think the same. Pondering for at least three heartbeats, he dipped his head. "Friend." He replied steadily, eyes holding a question. And you are...?

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Pluto

[Pluto]

    Pluto became aware of a fire. Fire almost always meant fire pokemon, which meant that if they were angry or trying to see. Pluto kind of hoped they were angry so he could get an easy battle out of a fire type pokemon, but he waited to see. Besides, going into a dungeon, even one where he had a type advantage, was dangerous if he lost some health. Pluto didn't have to wait very long though because the light soon shined in his face and a growlithe stepped forward. Pluto quickly inspected the pokemon in front of him. They were wearing a bandana, so Pluto assumed they weren't wild, but the question remained of friend or foe.
    Friend. Pluto instantly moved forward to circle the other pokemon. His fin would flick the pokemon every so often, just to get a feel for them. It was a common habit of his to prepare for if he ever went blind, which would almost never happen, but Pluto liked to be prepared. So touching new pokemon had become a habit. Finally Pluto came to a stop in front of what books would describe as the puppy pokemon. If Pluto was attacked then he knew that the growlithe wasn't really his friend, but if he wasn't then Pluto could probably put up with them. Pluto was shorter than the other pokemon so he tried to look a little bigger. "I'm going into the dungeon. Are you planning on going in as well? I wouldn't mind having somebody to enter with if you are okay with it." Pluto smiled at the growlithe, still waiting to see if he would be attacked.

[Rookie]

Well that mudkip certainly looks taller in the distance. Rookie inwardly mused, his eyes flashing as the stranger instantly advanced as soon as he replied to its intimidating question. Gaze following the stranger's every move as it circled, he stiffened as he felt something flick him. Rookie's gaze strayed to the mudkip's fin as it flicked at him once more, his ear twitching to signal that he was uncomfortable. Did this mean that it would attack? He had met one of its kind once, but that encounter was short-lived, for the wild mudkip instantly disappeared underwater upon sighting him. Ever since that, he had guessed that all mudkips were passive or just plain cowards. He even went as far as to neglect any studies or info given to him about their pokemon species. So now, while the stranger circled and flicked, he had no idea whether it was trying to navigate its way around because it had no night vision or if it was attempting to find his weak points. The fur along Rookie's spine threatened to rise, but he forced it flat, sniffing at the stranger but not in the same manner. He simply stretched his neck out, sniffed at the mudkip and withdrew.

Despite being a whole foot smaller than Rookie, the stranger attempted to make himself look bigger, in which Rookie's reply was a passive flick of the tail. As the mudkip spoke -- judging from his voice, he guessed that it was male -- he was quite taken back by the offer. And I thought it would take a miracle for someone to come in here! Rookie's golden gaze traveled to the incline in which he fell from, and his claws itched. Well, it doesn't look like I'll be getting out. But at least I can do what I came in here to do. And with company. Instantly resolving his answer, he gave a friendly grin and nodded. "I am going in as well." He stated, jerking his muzzle at the incline. "I sort of got stuck down here," - he refused to mention how he fell - "so I was praying for company. I'd like to join you." He resolved with a slow tail wag. "I'm Rookie, by the way. I come from the Moonlight Village."

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Pluto

[Pluto]

    By some miracle Pluto wasn't attacked. He knew that most pokemon didn't enjoy him getting that close, so anybody that could deal with it was okay in his books. It was just a matter of if the growlithe was going back to town or if they were going into the caverns with him. Pluto wouldn't mind some company going along, but if he went along it wouldn't be that bad either. He'd collect more supplies that way. He also wouldn't have to share the findings with another pokemon, but on the other hand he'd have to watch his own back and if he got overwhelmed then there wouldn't be somebody there to bail him out. So mostly Pluto just hoped that the growlithe would come with him. Apparently his wish was fulfilled.
    Rookie was the growlithe's name. Pluto nodded his head. He could remember that name easily enough. "Okay Rookie. I'm Pluto. I'm from Moonlight village as well and I'm fine with you joining me, as I said earlier, but you have to promise not to attack me in the middle of the dungeon. That would put a damper on things." Pluto was pretty sure he would be fine with Rookie, but it never hurt to joke a little. The mudkip gave a wide smile and the wandered over to the entrance of the caverns. If the other pokemon was ready then Pluto was happy to leave anytime. He was just excited to get going, Rookie or no Rookie. Pluto adjusted his bag before calling, "Are you coming?" He stared into the mouth of the caves, almost twitching with excitement.