Geology at its Dullest (Open)

[Hoss Palkan]

Could this trip be any less interesting? This was a question that had been racing through Hoss' mind ever since he had first set foot on Gurwaz Island. He had come at the request of the Gurwaz Volcanic Warning Center, which had received a few sporadic reports of minor tremors being felt around the island be various sources. These 'sources' were more likely, a part the superstitious minority of the islands population, which attempted to preach to the rest of the island that they should be wary of the volcano, and that it was only a matter of time before it became active again. Unsurprisingly, the rest of the island never paid them any attention, and went about their business as though there never had been a volcano in the area.

And now, because of this outspoken minority, Hoss had been sent to the island, by the Ranger Union, was now climbing up the slope of the volcano, to an area, which the Center had informed him, had a history of being among the most seismically active areas on the island. If the volcano presented any sort of danger, it would almost certainly be detected there. In his right hand, Hoss carried a large black plastic case, which contained a specialized seismometer, which was obviously meant to help detect any tremors coming from deep in the crater of the volcano.

All of this had obviously not been in Hoss' interests, and he hoped that he would quickly get this over with. He felt that the possibility of the volcano presenting any sort of current danger was extremely remote, and that this venture was a waste of time. He wouldn't complain however. He was here at the behest of the head of the Southern Ranger Union, and anything that the Head of the Union said was to be followed to the letter.

As Hoss continued to climb towards the seismically active area he couldn't help but wonder if there were any Pokemon in the area that he could catch. If there were, it would likely make this hike far less boring, which would only be a good thing for Hoss.

[Mizumaki Hideko]

Mizu had heard rumors of tremors from the volcano in Gurwaz Island. She doubted there was any trouble there but she thought it was better safe than sorry. Nova her Braviary flew over the volcano several times before landing near the most active area in the volcano though even here it was mild. Jumping down from Nova she called her back. "Ok Xain come on out." A large Noctowl came out of the pokeball and stretched it's wings. "Fly over the volcano looking for the slightest hint of activity if you find any come straight back." Mizu watched as Xain took off. He was soon out of sight. Next she called out Blink her Castform. "Look for any hot spots and use Rain Dance. But no matter what don't use Hydro pump unless absolutely necessary." Blink to soon flew off.

Now all there was to wait for her pokemon to return. Or so she thought until she heard foot steps crunching on the volcanic rock. Turning she looked down the path people could use to walk up here and spotted a ranger. "I guess I wasn't the only one who heard about the activity. Greeting Ranger." Mizu threw her hood off her head letting him see her face. She always kept it covered out in public just to be on the safe side.

[Hoss Palkan]

The higher Hoss climbed up the face of the volcano, the heavier the case seemed to feel. Perhaps the altitude was affecting his mind sooner than he thought that it would, or maybe it was mere exhaustion. Either way, he figured it was the reason that he could see someone else up ahead a little ways, with a hood covering their head and face. He had been sure that there would be no one else this far up the mountain. What would anyone else gain from coming up here?

However, it soon became clear to Hoss that what he was seeing was no illusion. As he got closer, he heard a voice coming from the figure, inquiring about the recent seismic activity taking place around this area. Hoss was about to wonder why this person was inquiring about the seismic activity, other questions immediately sprang up when he saw the figure remove her hood. This person was none other than the Champion, Mizumaki Hideko. This was even more of a surprise. The Champion, deciding to visit Gurwaz Island at this exact time. What were the odds of that?

Knowing that the proper thing to do would be to introduce himself, Hoss walked up to Mizumaki and said, "I must say I'm a bit surprised. It isn't everyday that you run into the champ, least of all in a place like this." Hoss then held out his hand and said, "It's an honor to meet you. My name is Hoss."

[Mizumaki Hideko]

Mizu couldn't say she was surprised to see the ranger. For if she had heard the rumors than rangers most certainly have. The heat up here made sweat bead on her forehead and the back of her neck. She brought her right hand up and wiped her forehead. She laughed softly as the ranger spoke. "No I find myself going out more. There haven't been any challengers for a while. So when I heard about the volcano I thought it would give me a chance to get out and help some how. And it's a pleasure to meet you Hoss."

Hoss was very handsome with his shaggy brown hair and his gorgeous blue eyes. He had to stand at about five feet and ten or maybe eleven inches. She couldn't help but blush slightly. So she quickly turned her back on him so he couldn't see the red blush on her cheeks. Taking a deep breath she calmed her beating heart. "I have send Xain and Blink out to look for any active or hot spots. Xain will return as soon as any are found while I have ordered Blink to use Rain Dance if he finds any hot spots. But I don't think there is any need. The volcano is dormant and has been for years. There is a very slight chance that it has become active again."

[Hoss Palkan]

No challengers? Hoss couldn't say that he was surprised by that. The privilege to challenge the Champion certainly wasn't one that was easily earned, and only a select few had ever made it far enough to challenge her. It was easy to see why it would get boring to wait around for challengers. Although Hoss certainly didn't think that it could be more boring than this was right now. Both of them were probably searching for something that would never be found. Mizu was correct in that the possibility of this volcano becoming active again were extremely remote.

Hoss then noticed Mizu turn away from him suddenly. He was so focused on his thoughts on the volcano that he barely even noticed it for a split second. He wondered why she had suddenly turned to face away from him. He thought about asking her for a second, but then decided against it. Hoss had always held a deep respect for other peoples privacy, and that to intrude upon it was one of the most rude offenses one could commit. Instead, he decided to comment on Mizu's statement, "Well you're right about that. It's because of that superstitious minority of people in the town who claim to have felt some sort of tremor, that I'm even here right now. If I had to guess, the earliest that this volcano could erupt again is in 500 years."

[Shirotsuki]

Shirotsuki stood upon the dark rock of the volcano that was supposedly dormant. She had come on this trip as a request of Team Dark Shade. Since she had set foot on Gurwaz Island, she hadn't thought about what could go wrong about a digging trip, a mission to find Clear Rocks, known as The Glowing Star. Soon, after coming, she was making her way up the steep volcano. So far, the activities of Team Dark Shade had ended up setting off small tremors through the volcano, as it was said. But to Tsuki, this was a minor issue. What was important was getting the mission done, as bizarre a mission it was. It appeared that their actions would probably make this volcano an active volcano once more. It didn't matter to her what happened to the volcano. All that really mattered was getting those Clear Rocks, for whatever plans their leader had for them. She didn't feel she was one who preferred to get herself covered in dust while digging and excavating rocks and stuff, but a mission was a mission. Really, what could be so important about a bunch of glowing rocks anyway? Tch... She thought to herself as she climbed the rocky landscape. She hadn't expected to see or experience anything out of the ordinary on this trip.

Tsuki soon climbed to where she could see a large group of Team Dark Shade grunts. Without a change in facial expression, her cold, emotionless expression remaining on her face, she joined them, searching for Aurora. She had heard Aurora was in charge, and she needed to find out exactly what she was to be doing here.

[Aurora Defraine]

Aurora Walked into the small cave that led deep into the volcano. Chelsea had said the grunts had caused a few small tremors and wanted her and a poke'morph to come and make sure everything continued as plans. She climbed up the steep underground path to the dig site. There where at least one hundred grunts through out the tunnels doing different job. Some taking Clear Rocks to transport to be shipped to base others taking dirt and rock to the lava river and dumping it in there. When she finally reached the main dig site she smiled. There was a large pile of Clear Rocks to the side. Walking up to the pile she picked up a stone and examined it. It glowed brightly. She knew not what powers it held but only knew it was powerful and very valuable. She also knew Chelsea wanted it and what Chelsea wanted Chelsea got. Soon she spotted the poke'morph and walked up to it. "Shirotsuki isn't it?" She asked as she walked up to the meowth poke'morph.Shirotsuki

[Mizumaki Hideko]

Mizu glanced behind her back. She had finally shaken off the fluttery feeling she had felt and was back to her normal self. "Well it's still better safe than sorry if you ask me. I would rather make sure it's just rumors and nothing else than ignore it and have her blow killing everyone on the island." Just than she heard a loud screech. Looking up she spotted Xain. Holding her arm out the Noctowl landed on it and cried out again flapping it's wings like crazy. "Xain what's wrong?" She could think of only one thing lots of activity. Not good. Just than the ground quaked and she fell to her knees while Xain flew up into the air a few feet. The tremor lasted only a moment when it ended she stood back up. "Well that answers our questions this isn't good Hoss."

adminnote:Admin Note: Posting Order: Hoss, Mizu, Shirotsuki than Aurora! Please stick to the posting order and don't post out of it starting now.

[Hoss Palkan]

As Hoss was listening to what Mizu was saying, he suddenly felt the ground shake beneath his feet. This nearly caused him to fall over, although he was barely able to remain on his feet. The shaking quickly subsided after only a second or two, leaving Hoss somewhat bewildered. After all, only moments ago he had been firm in his belief that this volcano was still dormant, and would remain as such for hundreds more years. In only one second, it appeared that his belief had been completely disproven.

Hoss knew that he had to set aside the realization that he had been wrong for the time being. He needed to plot his next move, and figure out what had caused this shaking. Of course the natural assumption was that the volcano itself had caused it, but there were other possibilities. He turned back towards Mizu, and said to her, "Looks like we were both wrong about this. Obviously something is going on down there." Hoss then looked down at the volcanic rock underneath his feet, and pondered something for a moment before continuing, "Do you know if there are any caves that lead into the volcano? If we can find one of them, we might be able to get to the bottom of this. Color me skeptical that that tremor was natural."

[Mizumaki Hideko]

Mizu was worried they had to find a way to evacuate the island if they couldn't find out why the volcano was suddenly active again. "Yes and that worries me. If the volcano is active it may blow. We might want to think about evacuating the people and pokemon that live here off the island."

With Hoss's next question she thought about it. She had never climbed up the volcano before. Had never had reason to. She had been to the town more than enough but that was it. "No I'm sorry I don't know if their are any tunnels or caves leading into the heart of the volcano. But I can have Xain search for some." Looking up to Xain she held her arm out again and he landed on it. She quickly told him to go searching for any tunnels or caves that might lead to the heart of the volcano.

[Admin]

Shirotsuki made her way around the small cave, bustling with grunts running rocks here and there, taking cartloads of it to and fro from the depths of the cave to the rivers of lava heating up the atmosphere nearby. Every once in a while, another Clear Rock was dug up and dropped on the large pile of Clear Rocks, which were than taken to be transported to the base. Tsuki saw deeper in that the grunts had indeed dug so deep into the mountain that they might upset the dormancy of the volcano. Tsuki didn't know what powers could be found from the little glowing rocks, but just from their mysterious glow, she could sense that they must truly indeed by full of a mysterious power that their leader Chelsea knew about. Whatever the Clear Rock was about, Chelsea wanted it, meaning it must be really valuable and very powerful.

Then, Tsuki turned around and nodded in greeting when she spotted Aurora walking toward her. "Yes, but you may call me Tsuki. You are Aurora, I'm guessing?" Tsuki replied, giving a smile that really wasn't meant to show happiness, but simply friendliness towards a comrade working together towards a goal in darkness. More like a smirk than an open, welcoming smile, but not in any way disrespectful to this person who, like her, was higher in ranking than the grunts.

adminnote:Admin Note: This post is by Shirotsuki. It was moved so we could stay in order.

[Aurora Defraine]

Aurora looked around the area. She couldn't help but wonder why Chelsea wanted these stones other than the fact that they definitely had some kind of power what ever they where. And what would she do with them? "Yes I'm Aurora, so Tsuki you think there is a chance this volcano might explode or anything? One of the grunts say their have been a couple quakes." She wasn't sure but she wanted to get all the clear rocks out of there as soon as possible. As a grunt walked past her she grabbed his shoulder. "Do what ever it takes to get all the clear rocks out of here in the next our or two." The grunt looked shocked but nodded and ran off. Many grunts stopped digging and started working on transporting the rocks to be shipped.

"Better safe than sorry, Chelsea would never forgive us if we lost all these clear rocks."

adminnote:Admin Note: Hoss's turn!!!