[ti]spawn[/ti]second lesson: the electric boogaloo

Sprigatito leads the charge, oblivious apparently, to the low humming that has appeared in the area. Kazuki presses his fingers to his temple, trying to ignore it. Tinnitus hasn’t broken out of its ball yet. Actually, it's been quite docile, which is alarming in of itself. He never figured out if the damn thing is capable of disrupting his avatar even at rest, but if it can, then that just cements his need to get rid of it as soon as possible.

He thinks of the absent shrine as he watches the mint cat investigate some pebbles, noting how Sprigatito is carefully weaving their path away from the burrows along the hill. There is that function… exalt? No, a quest. The professor has been requesting for metallic pokemon. He can trade in two, if she'll let him step in the tent.

“Should probably ask her,” he mulls to himself. If anyone knew what went down with the Prince, it would probably be the NPCs, right? And Professor Ash is, well, a professor. If the information he wants isn't with her, he'll just have to shake down some players. Maybe experienced ones like Domino. Or he could just tag along with Verai again, seeing as the guy's a magnet for trouble.

He hops and steps across the strange rock formations dotting the Steppes, his kitten weaving in and out of his shadow as they search for the next pokemon.

<How come we didn’t fight the metal thingy?> Sprigatito asks, watching his paws dangle in the air. He finds that pretending to walk makes it seem like he’s still on the ground, except in his eyes, he’s just very, very tall.

“Because UNOVR doesn’t cover medical expenses, and I already take enough pills these days,” Kazuki answers, carrying his starter on his hip like a sack of flour.

<Why? Why don't they, and why do you have to take pills?> Sprigatito asks, looking up at his trainer. His tail gently waves, eyes shining with an eagerness to learn. The fact they can actually hold conversations now is a pure novelty, and he looks forward to knowing more about the man who’s raising him.

“Because life sucks, and then we die.” With that display of wisdom and excellent parenting, Kazuki walks, searching for wildlife.

Sparks briefly scorch the ground he steps on, but Kazuki manages to disappear down the route. He hears the ticking fade as the Klink leaves his immediate vicinity.

<Can we visit Kitten soon?> Sprigatito eventually pipes up as they resume a leisurely pace.

“You’re real attached to that cat, huh?” Kazuki kicks a stone, watching it bounce across the dry field. “And you’re not close to anyone from the team like that?”

Sprigatito pouts. <’Cause Kitten is my best friend! Um, Mudbray and Buizel are my friends, but they’re being annoying lately.>

Kazuki snorts. “You ran away and disappeared across the island. If they’re being more annoying than usual, it’s because you scared the shit out of them.”

<Well! That’s not my fault!> Sprigatito wiggles, popping out from Kazuki’s grip and climbing up the man’s arm to perch on his shoulder. He tilts his nose up, looking a bit snooty. <They can feel bad, but they shouldn’t baby me.>

The trainer chuckles quietly. “You really are a brat.” He rolls his eyes, continuing on with the weight on his shoulder. “But no one ever believes me when I say so.”

<Do you know how to fight?> Sprigatito asks as they scale a small rock formation, trying to find a good vantage to scope out the area.

“Course I do,” Kazuki snorts, holding a hand over his eyes to block out the flashes of light from the thundering skies. “It’s my job. It’s what I live for.” Of course, he hasn’t been able to fight in person lately, but that’s entirely out of his control.

Sprigatito mulls this over as his trainer climbs back down. <You’re kind of bad at it though!>

“Oh? And why is that?” Kazuki asks, glad he had both hands preoccupied, else he might’ve chucked his starter halfway across the route.

<Remember when we got captured by bandits?>

Kazuki’s expression sours. “The only reason they got the jump on me was ‘cause of the numbers. I’m trained to fight one-on-one, not against groups.”

<But Purrai managed!>

“Because that guy is a monster,” he says it as if it’s praise. “He's good, but I’ll beat him, just you fucking watch.”

<Mm, okay!> Sprigatito says, and though he seems to mean it genuinely, it still brushes Kazuki the wrong way. He’ll have to prove him wrong.

They don’t escape unscathed. A stray bolt manages to graze his arm as he dodges, electricity spasming through his muscles, alarming enough that he uses a burst of strength to throw his weight forwards.

They end up crashing, tumbling down a slope. Not a graceful fall, but not as disastrous as some of their previous reunions with gravity.

Kazuki opens his eyes and stares at grey clouds. He’s lying down. Sprigatito is whining in his ears as if he’s already dead.

“Will you calm down?” Kazuki waves his hand, trying to shoo the cat away. It’s annoying enough to get electrocuted and fall down a hill.

<Wh- What!> Sprigatito says, bewildered, offended, and worried out of his mind. <You’re hurt! Again! Why do you always get hurt!> He shoves his fur in his trainer’s face, exuding as much of a healing scent as he can.

Kazuki chokes, trying to push him off. It smells like moth balls and rubbing alcohol. “Get that out of my face!”

<Smell me! Smell me and feel better!>

“GET OFF!”

Kazuki watches as his cat dives for the bird screaming, crossing his arms as the tussle begins. The doduo’s heads flail wildly like giraffe necks as they try to reach behind them, but the cat is so small, their long beaks end up smashing into each other than doing anything productive.

Sprigatito holds on, sinking his teeth and claws into his prey. It’s a bit tricky; the doduo’s fast, and with so many heads, there’s a lot of movement and noise to keep track—but all he really has to pay attention to is touch!

“Wrap it up!” Kazuki calls, wanting to head back to civilization already.