Cori shot a glare at Nathan as he laughed, her grip tightening around the shattered stump that remained of her branch. One good what to the head, that was all it would take… But in the next moment they were dropped in front of the crumbling mansion. That kid had better be here. Cori just wanted to finish this job and get home to wash the mud from her skin. Tossing the branch to the side, she dusted her hands off and started walking forward. Her leg throbbed whenever she put weight on it where that stupid quagsire had all but inhaled her foot. She hissed a bit at the unexpected pain the first time, but gritted her teeth and pushed through it after that.

[color=pink]"I really hope this kid's here,"[/color] she said, her sour mood cooling a bit now that they were out of the mud. They had work to do. Plus, this old building had always given Cori the creeps. The wooden floor creaked with every step, the wind whistled through the frame and made it always sound like there was something else inside, and the light flickered through the cracked windows, always tricking the eyes. 

[color=pink]"Jaspor,"[/color] she called out along with her partner. But there was no response. Careful to stick close to Nathan, she crept through the house. The first few rooms on the ground floor were empty save for crumbling furniture and years' worth of dust. Every now and then a loose floor board bent just a little too much, or squeaked a little too loudly, causing Cori to jump and quickly move to another area. [color=pink]"Jaspor!"[/color] she called again. 

Cori and Nathan moved on to the last door on the level to check before it was timing to climb the staircase. The door was already open, slightly ajar like most others in the mansion. Reaching out, she pushed it open, and it swung wide with a creek, the hinges grinding on each other. A shiver ran down her spine, but she stepped forward.

[color=pink]"Hello?"[/color] She froze when she saw a gaping hole in the middle of the room, the floor splintered and crumbling around the edges.

[b]"H…hello?"[/b]

Cori's eyes widened at the sound of a faint, fragile voice coming from the hole. She turned up to look at Nathan before hurrying forward. Running to the edge of the hole, she stopped closer than was wise and bent down to peer through.

[color=pink]"Jaspor!"[/color] And indeed, in the shadows of the basement sat a young boy in a yellow shirt, a trusty zigzagoon curled around him. [color=pink]"Jaspor, your mom called us, we're here to help you,"[/color] she called down to him. Worry was written clear on her face, her previous bad mood forgotten. [color=pink]"Are you ok? are you hurt?"[/color] Jaspor squinted up at them before turning back to look at himself, as though he had to take stock of everything.

[b]"My… I fell. I think I broke my leg or something."[/b] His voice quavered with every word, and upon closer inspection they could see tear tracks cutting lines down his dusty face.

Cori looked back up at Nathan before continuing, [color=pink]"We're gonna get you home, alright?"[/color] Then she pulled out a pokeball and in a flash of red light her spritzee appeared. [color=pink]"See what you can do,"[/color] she said, pointing down at Jaspor [color=pink]"He said his leg might be broken, but there could be other things too."[/color] The pokemon bobbed in understanding before fluttering down to the boy. [color=pink]"We'll be right down, ok Jaspor?"[/color] she called as the protective zigzagoon stood between its trainer and the foreign pokemon. [color=pink]"Enif will stay and help you until we get there."[/color]