o.o (open)

[Maru]

I was sitting on a hill, overlooking the pond below. A smile was on my face seeing how peaceful it was. I loved quiet places like this one. Although it was boring just sitting in one place. I needed to get out more. So I rose off my lazy butt and took a step forward. Accidentally, I crossed my legs and they got tangled. So, I ended up tripping and falling down. As I rolled down to the bottom, all I could think of was how stupid I would look if someone saw that. Oh man, I thought.

Looking around, I noticed that it didn't seem anyone saw my clumsy action just now. Calming down a bit from my nervous breakdown, I reached over and started drinking from the pond. The water was good, but it was surprisingly warm. Like the one in the Fire Region. Odd. It was good nonetheless. So after drinking to my fill, I plopped back down on my lazy butt and lied down.

[Riolu]

Warm day today, wasn't it? Yes, it was. Though these plains were warm and sunny today, all these plants had to have plenty of water. An underground source was to thank for keeping everything so green and healthy, but it comes with a very heavy rainy season. However, those rains have ended and long periods of sunshine with only few scattered showers now and then. The water deposited from the rain would help contribute to the underground water springs. It was then these springs that would well up from the ground and create ponds and lakes, just like the one we have here. As a result, the water was always fresh and full of nutrition.

In the distant, a spec appeared. It didn't seem like much, maybe just a Pokemon. But it didn't stay a spec for very long and it was coming up quick. Within a few minutes, it seemed to have crossed over some of the hills in he distance and came right to this very location. It was hard to tell what it was, the only thing noticeable about it was a blue streak. It passed by the pond with a swish and was about to keep on going. But after some distance, it stopped and came rushing right back. Overtaking the hill that lowered itself gently to the pond, this Blue Blur had jumped up at the peak of the hill and came to a land on the opposite shore line of this water source.

That's when the figure stood; a Riolu. What impressive speed this Pokemon had! And he wasn't out of breath, either! He stood with his back to the Eevee, not even taking notice yet, and instead opened up the small sack he held in his hand. A few things spilled out, mainly berries, but he took out a canteen.

"I can't believe I forgot to pack water. An empty canteen won't do me any good," the Riolu said to himself, unscrewing the lid. He then turned around and put the open bottle into the water. "Good thing I noticed this... wouldn't want to leave the plains without water."

After filling up his water bottle and getting the lid back on, it is when he noticed the Eevee on the opposite shoreline directly across from him. This kid didn't look familiar; Cody was fairly sure of a lot of the Pokemon who lived in the plain. Regardless, he gave a smile and a wave.

"Well, hello, stranger!" he shouted. "What brings you here?"

[Maru]

OOC: OH THANK GOD! I though it was first person only. hehe

---

Blaze enjoyed his drink of water and picked his head out of the pond. He licked his lips, trying to catch the dripping water before the all fell off his face. When he heard a voice shout out, he let out a small, startled yelp and looked up. He didn't expect to see someone else here. Yet here he was, staring at a Riolu.

"Oh, hi there," he called back, calming down. Then he figured that calling back and forth from beyond a body of water would be stupid. So he turned to the left and ran around the whole thing to be face to face with the other pokemon. "How is you?" Blaze asked. Not the best vocabulary, but he was fine with it. "I is Blaze, by the way."

[Riolu]

((I didn't see anything about having to RP in First Person format in the rules, but sue me if I'm wrong. I think the admin just likes to use that format herself, personally. Me? I've been a third person kind of guy for countless years.))

---

"Blaze, huh?" Cody said with a smile, putting his canteen back into his little sack, all nice and full with fresh and nutritious water. "I can probably take a good guess on what you want to evolve into someday... a Vaproeon, right?"

The last part he said with a hint of sarcasm and a smile. He was just being a little silly here.

"Nah, I jest. Flareon, most likely. Now, my name is Cody," he spoke again, pointing to himself with his... uhh... well, the closest thing you can consider a thumb. "I'm from around here. Most like to call me 'The Blue Blur.' I can tell you're not from around here: I know most everybody who lives in the plains. So, you need any help? If so, I can most likely be of use!"

[Maru]

Blaze looked at the Riolu and raised an eyebrow when he guess that he would be a Vaporeon. Ew, he thought. Then he heard Flareon and his face lit up. He let the Riolu finish speaking before opening his own mouth. "Nice to meet you, Cody," Blaze said, sitting as a dog would. "And yes, I is not from here. Fire Region. And I is a little lost." Blaze looked down with embarrassment. Then, he looked back up at Cody. "Does you know where it is?" Standing back up on all fours, Blaze eyed Cody closely. His tail started wagging a bit. "If yes, can you take me?" Blaze was willing to get help from whoever was from this region.

[Riolu]

"Do I know the way back to the Fire Region?" Cody asked, his arms crossed. He then avoided eye contact and looked up to the sky. His face was then colored in the expression that he was thinking. One thing that he didn't bring with him was a map. Well, a real map, anyway. All that he had right now was a blank piece of paper with only details of the Plains sketched in, all done by his own paw. He did consider getting a map of the surrounding regions, but what fun would it be if he didn't get himself good and lost? Not knowing where he was going or when he was going to get there... doesn't that just sound exciting?

"No, I'm afraid I don't know the way to the Fire Region," Cody then replied after a few moments of thinking. "I'm from these grasslands, but I've never left them before. Actually, I had plans of leaving just today. I am just winging it, though." Cody then looked back at Eevee, putting one paw at his side and extending the other in basic body language. "Though I do know an Arcanine pack that lives near here. They're fire type Pokemon, right? So they might have been to the Fire Region a time or two. Want me to take you to them?"

[Maru]

Cody answered that he didn't know where the Fire Region was. Blaze's head went down in sadness. But what made him more upset was why he took so long to just say no. His head went back up when he felt Cody's hand on his shoulder. Looking at the Riolu, he heard him say something about a pack of Arcanine. A smile came across Blaze face and he nodded happily. "Really?" he asked. "Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy!" Blaze was almost jumping up and down with joy. "Thank you so much." He ran around in circles, as though he was trying to catch his tail and stopped when got dizzy. Falling due to not being able to stand straight, blaze laid on the ground with his gaze on Cody. "Lead the way."

[Riolu]

Cody watched the little Eevee run around in circles: He must be younger than himself, he guessed. Chasing your own tail? But hey, whatever floats your boat. He can't judge how others get their kicks, especially since his own simply means to wing it no matter where he goes.

"Alright, alright," Cody said. "Settle down for a moment first. I need to know, how fast can you run? The pack should only be south of here and shouldn't take long at all to get there. For me, anyway. The last thing I want to do is leave you stranded out here by yourself."

As he was speaking, he started to crouch down to the ground and begin leg stretches. First he would start with his left leg, then switch over and stretch out his right leg. Then left, then right. Left. Right. Left. Right. He really made sure that he wouldn't cramp up and his muscles were always warmed up enough to run like mad hell.

[Maru]

"How fast I can run?" Blaze asked, repeating to make sure he understood. Nodding, he stretched out his paws and got ready. I know I'm not very fast, he thought, looking at Cody. And he might be way faster than he looks. But maybe I can keep up with Quick Attack.

Blaze watched Riolu exercise. He wondered how it would be to does things like people. Or 'Two-Foots' as he heard from his mom. He chuckled as he remembered that name. "Come on, come on," Blaze said, losing patience. "Let's go, let's go, let's go!" He really wanted to get going it seemed.

[Riolu]

"Alright! Now that is what I like to hear!" Cody said as he got down onto all fours. Though not in a quadrupedal running stance, but more like he was going to set off running like a human does on the track field. One moment he was bracing himself to run, and then the next he seemed to have all but vanished. Looking around, there didn't seem to be much of a sign. Until you looked up on top of the hill, that is. He had already reached the top where Blaze was standing earlier before he took a tumble down; Cody had reached the summit within a few mere moments! Wow.

"Well?" Cody shouted back down to Blaze. "You were the one all ready to go! Pick up the pace and let's get moving already! If you're going to talk some words, you should always be ready to back them up! Get yourself up here!"

[Maru]

Blaze got ready to take off and he looked to his side to see Cody still preparing. Oh forget this, Blaze thought as he took off. He didn't get far before feeling a breeze of wind run by him. Blaze stopped and looked back to find nothing behind him. He blinked and stood there. What the? Where'd he go? Looking back, forth, and all around, Blaze didn't know where he went. Until he heard his voice from afar. Damn him. Blaze ran to where he was and glared at Cody when he got there. "Is that why you're the Blue Blur?"

[Riolu]

Cody gave a thumbs-up (well, sorta) and a smile as he looked back at Blaze. With a wink, he spoke "The fastest thing alive in all these plains. The Blue Blur; that is me alright."

Cody then ran ahead just a little bit and looked back and forth. He was getting his barrings straightened out and figuring out exactly where they were. To those not from here, this location seemed to have looked the same as that location over there in this large bed of grass. Just a few hills with little trees dotting the landscape. For someone like Blaze, where everything looked the same, surely it would be easy to get lost in a place like this. Soon, Cody came speeding back.

"Yeah, just as I thought," he spoke, pointing south. "The pack of Arcanine live right over that hill. It is further than it looks; flat lands can trick you. But if we keep a good running pace on the normal average, we should be able to get there in maybe... oh, I dunno. Forty-five minutes. Ready to run?"

[Maru]

Blaze looked at Cody and tilted his head. He watched him go and come back in a few minutes, if not second, and just stared blankly. He was either very impressed or annoyed. Nonetheless, the blank stare said nothing. "45 minutes?" he asked, jumping slightly. "That's way too far for me. Can't you just carry me and run there in less time?" Then, he remembered how fast Cody was. "Or is that the time you would get there?" Even so, the little Eevee was not going to run for that amount of time.

[Riolu]

"I did say a normal running pace, didn't I?" Cody said, shaking a finger. "I was just thinking of how long it might take the average Pokemon or, to be exact, Eevee to get there. For me, I can probably get there in a fraction of the time if I just go at it!" Cody had started to stretch his legs again. "So you want me to carry you, eh? I guess I could do it..."

Cody turned back around and put his paw over his eyes, looking back to the south again. He was probably quickly thinking if he could. Sure, when it came to leg power, he was above the norm. But what about carrying someone? That doesn't happen a whole lot. Cody turns back around to Blaze.

"Alright Blaze," he continued. "I think I can. It'll weigh me down a bit, but I think I can get us there in 15 minutes."

And without waiting for a reply, Cody dashes behind Blaze and then scoops him up. Picking up the pace now, you can start to get a taste of what it's like to begin running at such an incredible speed. The landscape around seemed to rush by as a blur! Going this fast, you'd probably need some killer reflexes, too.

[Maru]

15 minutes sounded good. Or at least that what Blaze showed by his big smile. Cody went behind him and grabbed him without him able to say ready or anything. They stared traveling at super high speeds and Blaze kept wondering, How good is his grip? Scared to be thrown off, Blaze bit down on Cody's arm. The speed they moved in made the wind hit Blaze's eyes really hard. Not use to it, he began to tear. Hopefully, he won't be mistaken for crying.