keychained | 020; [action for Goldenrod/Route 34]

[if one is brave enough to venture outside in the cold and snow and ice and onto Route 34 today, he or she may notice a feral child just outside the entrance to Goldenrod-- Johto's very own Mowgli is sitting cross-legged off to the side, hunched over with his arms wrapped tightly around himself. surprisingly enough, snow is pretty chilly when one lacks a winter coat.]

[it's not out of not owning one, however; Sora's coat is actually laid out on the ground in front of him. no... wait, it's haphazardly draped across about the top third of a Dratini, who is curled up with his head resting on Trainer's lap. the coat isn't much, but it's all Sora's got.]

C'mon... We're maybe ten minutes away from the Center. You can do it! We've made it this far together, right?

[a pitiful whine from the Dratini. Sora's momentarily defeated expression is obscured by his hair, and by the fact that he's staring down at the ground. though it's probably equally pitiful, that defeat hardens into steel determination-- he and Pokémon hadn't trudged around out in who-knows-where for two weeks, and finally back onto the route to wind up freezing to death now.]

All right. [his voice is unsteady, but warm.] I think you've pulled more than your own weight lately... I'll keep going for the both of us. Okay? Hold still; I'll carry you.

[... how Sora intends to pick up and carry what is essentially a 6-foot giant worm is questionable, but dangit, he's going to try-- once he picks himself up and actually gets going, anyway. good thing Dratinis are on the light side for their length.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ sadly, by the time Sora manages to get upright, it's just in time for Kairi to plow into him and almost knock him over again. But she's so happy to see him again after over a week of intense worrying and searching, and it definitely shows in the strength of her grip. She and Riku are both probably a mess, too. ]

You're here... finally, we're all together again.

[And Riku's totally gonna join in the dogpile by draping his arms over his friends' shoulders.]

About time, too.

S-sorry...

[that wasn't a teeth chatter, nope. he's not visibly shivering in their arms, either. that's just their imagination!]

I missed you guys.

[ ... oh, Sora. Kairi frees up an arm to get Riku fully in on the hug and she's content now. Except for this shivering derp. ]

... Let's get inside, okay? It's freezing out here, and your Dratini needs to get looked at, too.

Besides, the last thing we need's for you to get sick, Sora.

[Hah.]

C'mon. We can catch up once we get back to the Center.

[pft, like he'd ever-- Sora manages to let go long enough to bend back down over his Dratini. okay buddy, I'm totally going to wear you like a scarf for a bit. I'm going to attempt this.]

[ Kairi came prepared-- or, rather, Leon prepared her, so after a minute to fumble around, she's releasing an Arcanine, who's lying down. ]

We can use him. We're not that far, but he's a lot better than walking!

[ it... might take awhile for her to actually get up there, but dammit he's helpful. ]

[Well, if Sora needs help, Riku's there to lend a hand. He'll wait to get on until then.]

[Sora may need a boost up onto the Arcanine's back, but he's fine once he's up there. and a little warmer, too, thank goodness for fire puppies.]

Good boy, Romeo. [ Kairi bestows a few fond pats, then nods to Riku. She figures he can probably keep Sora steadier than she can. ]

[That's fine. He'll make sure Sora stays put. It's his job as the big, tough bff, doncha know?]

[thanks, biffles, Sora's not going anywhere at all for a while <3 he may have started to doze on the way to the Center, though. kid's tired.]

[ by the time they get there, Kairi's more than a little amused and peering over at Riku. ]

Do you think we should just carry him in?

Might as well. It's probably been a long day for him-- heck, it has been for all of us.

[Sora won't object either way, he's comfortably snoozing propped up against Riku-- he might complain about being tired if they wake him up, though.]

Yeah, you're right. [ feel honored, Sora, these two searched ENDLESSLY for you. ] I can pass him down if you want to take him first.

Works for me.

[He'll go ahead and slide down, then.]

[he's very honored, and he'll be refusing to leave them alone for even one minute for at least the next week or two. oh hi Kairi, you're pretty much just as comfortable as Riku right now.]

[ hi Sora, we can have a snugglefest once we've all collapsed on something. But Kairi's keeping him propped against her and slowly easing him down. Romeo lying down again makes this about ten times easier. ]