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**Luna and Thief

The Orange Isle's Chapter Nineteen: A Quiet Day**

If time slowed to a tread when everything went to hell, then Seo wondered if being stuck in a blaze of mid-day sun - without any knowledge of time - had been a slice of heaven. Stuck in a usual scene with a different coat. A wind fought from the sea air; this excellent scent of black pine, elm, and zelkova touched her nose. Mainland had been much closer now, in Sevii, than it had been in the Orange Isles. With this hard-fought squint, Seo wondered if the speck she could see on the horizon had indeed been Cinnabar Island.

They say that Arceus formed this pocket of Islands in Seven days, hence the name Sevii. Her cheek had uncomfortably rested against the warm sand - the heatwave fluttered along with her pelt. Her neck stiff, all she had was her off-centered angle of the ocean and that strange island in the distance. Silk-gold, every grain had the appearance of that and finally nestled glass. The whole thing felt and glowed like a starry sky. A thick disillusioned sound crossed paths with her. A wingbeat...? The call and trill of a bird, Seo couldn't tell the type, had sung over her. It sounded like singing - to her, it was more community 'white-knight' that barked and nagged her. Seo hadn't much a mind for them while the sand under her ribs shifted.

"Seviper, I know you can hear me. I swear on my lame leg that I'll pick you up and beat you against a tree like a filthy rug."

"W... well, that certainly sounds unappealing, but you know what doesn't?" The emphasis of his S's still clung; it left her eyes to tiredly look away. "I'm thinking of fried pheasant. That'll certainly taste better than any Vulpix." He'd give a one-toothed grin, and the squeamish sounds from whatever above her left Seo with a smaller smile.

"Thanks, it wouldn't quiet." The snake had moved around her, Seo felt the grains shift and change along her stomach. The sigh.

"I feel if... I hadn't hit you on your left leg earlier... you'd still be all feet planted."

"If you didn't, bind would've stuttered," Seo muttered back. "I would've been killed in the fights much earlier on." She'd explain again. "In fact,... the only fight I had my back into was Sandslash. He was the fastest opponent out of all of them." Seo muttered again and huffed. "That was the only one that I actually had everything thrown into." _I used Perish song for a reason; he fought with way too much risk involved. They have a proper healer; that's what it told me.

_

"There isn't any need to worry now; I must say I had my curiosities about you." The Seviper said, "Seeing you out there reminded me that it may not be too late to fix what I've done wrong." The Absol snorted, a partial lull stuck in her throat. Seviper only flicked his tail against the sand.

"I did nothing of the sort." Absol said in turn. "You simply needed a kick in the ass, you all do." She continued to speak. "I just hadn't felt the desire or need to die there." Seviper grinned somberly

"So you did everything you could. Yet that doesn't excuse the feeling I have, and I'm thankful for that." He'd mention, and it left her to bat a tired eye.

"I can't tell if you're being menacing or just kissing ass." The Seviper made a bit of a gag

"Is that what this mushy crap is for!?" It partially stunned Absol until she found a laugh that crept up her throat. This odd sense of surprise came over her when his somber smile turned warm.

Thankful...

That word clung in her head for a while as she aimlessly watched the cold, ice blue ocean and the gold crusted clouds that hung in the distance.

A world full of color

She glanced out at the water more and more.

_Regardless of anyway, I think about it, trying to reason motivation with the name I've been given... it's no different than being there. There's no need to be thankful to me.

I can't fight efficiently anymore._

Seo tenderly coughed; the pain responded and left her to wince. An eye already dared to tear up.

"Is there... anything I can-"

"Leave me." The Absol mentioned back casually, the Seviper simply tilted his long neck with eyes.

"Only to your privacy." The Seviper mentioned back gingerly, gave this rattle of a sound - Seo couldn't tell if it was from him or a trick with his tail. He left quietly; hardly the grain made noise when it shifted underneath that slithering, writhing thing. It left Seo to exhale. A wind just brushed down the remains of her pelt. It was Griffin's face when she saw it last that confused her the most - it's the reason she stayed down.

I couldn't even decipher the expression. Dread, fright, or relief? You did nothing; I chose to.

"Have you seen Bandit?" Luna's voice trickled in from around the beachside.

"Uh... no." Marill's voice came through.

"Wheyey! Get you're paw away from my nose." There was this awkward silence; Seo had half a mind to push to her feet.

"Huh... you're actually not sleepwalking?" Marill commented back, this sound of shock in his voice. It left Luna to make a sound only she was capable of creating. "That's a first since like... Fuschia or Vermillion."

"I talk to you!" Luna half fumbled back. "Didn't think you required attention."

"I - I don't!" Marill called back out, but Luna laughed.

"You're too obvious. I guess you haven't seen Bandit or... Shadow?" There was a soft tinge of hesitation that clung in the back of Luna's tone.

"Bandit was the last Mightyena we all saw. I haven't seen Shadow for a bit... Hey! Wanna swim?" Marill commented.

"Uh... not... really." Luna mentioned back, and that had been followed by 'What do you mean no? You swim in the lake in the Pokeball all the time!'

Seo grumbled to herself. There wouldn't be any silence with those two around. Her leg pushed out. Yeah... no, I don't have a choice right now. I guess the view of the ocean is what I get for now. I never thought a look like this could feel this imprisoning. I can't move from it at all. Seo had to question if it felt or was peaceful, but the truth was undeniable. Restlessness settled in at any chance it could, even as she could hear Luna's dismay over Marill's addiction to soaking anyone two feet from any water source. That at least left her calm. It's been a while since I've heard her laugh like that, however. Melody had been right, it did feel like a good time to see her father. I'm just glad everything seems to be... tensely okay. Seo watched the grains of sand gently roll down the smaller mounds near her cheek with her sigh. The dust had kicked up and carried away with the breeze, which turned by her. Tassels of patchy white fur stretched out more; the shift of sand had left the Absol breathless.

That hurt a little. I think I've been lying down too much. Absol's paw went to dig in, but there hadn't been anything behind it. Fantastic, all the action is going to happen around me while I'm down for a while. The sigh dared to touch her muzzle, but she caught herself mid-breath. An outspoken thought, much like the ridiculousness of karma, left her in tears from laughter. That's right, I don't think I want any more luck to slip away from me. Seo felt her eyes shut when the sand tussled again...

"Seviper..."

"You look terrible." The voice left Seo's spine stiff. "You honestly thought... was it worth it?" Her voice still felt cold, Seo felt the light blind her as she fought off the clutches of sleep.

"I don't know that answer yet," Seo replied back to Lycanroc, a raspy breath shot down her.

"I guess you can't move."

"Not since I first laid down here on the grass and sand." It made Lycanroc snort. "If I knew where they brought you, if I could've found it... I would've done the same for you." Seo muttered back, the Lycanroc responded back with her usual rough-edged huff.

"Let me guess, you want to move?" the Lycanroc quipped her brow, it left Seo raspy.

"Very much so. At least help on my paws." Seo mentioned back. "Have... you seen Bandit?" The Lycanroc nodded in a direction, but it hadn't helped that Seo didn't feel the power or urge to turn her head upright to face the nodding rock wolf.

"She hasn't left the Pokeball, same as that little Growlithe." Lycanroc pointed her snout up. A snarl caught in her throat.

"Do I need to get up myself?" Seo strained.

"No. Vibrava, stop buzzing around like some little spy!"

"I'm just flying around!" The Dragonfly's thorax had puffed subtly, as though he tried to inflate and seem big, but he wasn't anywhere close to large. "Anyways... uhm... Bandit and Shadow - or... Shadow told me that she wanted to be alone for a bit." Vibrava buzzed. "Since I fly around everywhere, I guess I'm the fastest to tell anyone anything." The Vibrava made a boldly meek attempt at emphasis, something which left Lycanroc's head to tilt. "He thought it was best to tell me say something to you."

"She's safe?" Seo said.

"I... I'd call it that... I think. I don't really know, from what I've heard bit by bit; it wasn't a nice place." Vibrava mentioned back and stalled a little. His wings fluttered soundlessly for Seo.

"Why are you stalling?" Lycanroc returned while Vibrava laxly hovered.

"Uhm... A - Seo?" The Vibrava managed out. "T - Thief asked Moonlight about those numbers." He swallowed. "Uhm..."

"Eleven, right? It sounds to me that you may have heard it thrown around with your other trainer." The Vibrava fluttered up and down as though to nod.

"T - they have unlocked a lot of cages," Vibrava mentioned back. "There's always a pocket or just one or two that asked us if that number sent us." He'd mention. "I... guess there's a tale or two where... we may have lied because they looked hopeful. Because... I may have looked hopeful" Seo coughed out a faint, dry laugh.

"At least now, I have a proper story that lives up to that tale." She said back as Lycanroc uncomfortably twitched her nose. "Someone talking of you?"

"I doubt it." Lycanroc snorted back. "Either way, stop being a snoop!" She replied, "It's bad enough with that Lucario, I can barely find her half the time; Seviper is a little easier." Lycanroc mentioned, "I don't need the other half finding you and that Pikachu on top of it!"

"Then you haven't seen that Pikachu, yet." Absol mentioned. "I know you're there Scarf." The Pikachu sighed and stuck his head from above the shrub line.

"I was actually looking for all of you. Griffin has lunch." He said in reply, calmly and slowly lowering his head down. "I just felt it wrong to interrupt outright."

"It's lunch already?" Seo murmured, "I talked to Seviper this morning."

"Yes, you've been asleep for a bit." The Pikachu responded with a bristle of his long whiskers. "I have a strange story about those Chesshira's to tell too." Seo twitched her ear as Lycanroc tilted her head.

By the time Seo found herself by the beachside, the sunlight had been on a full peak. Uncomfortably her weight leaned into Lycanrocs mane. Unlike the unfortunate fight with a Lycanroc, Griffin's Lycanroc had been a red and pale-sandstone mix. Her fur slowly transcending from her midnight form to her midday.

It's like ink, slowly changing ink. Seo stared at it closely, but she couldn't physically see the change. It just happened throughout the day, a thing you noticed bit by bit as the hours droned on. Lycanroc adjusted herself stiff, Seo had to glance over her back when the softer splash of water touched the air. I guess Marill did talk her into a swim. The Redwood pelt had partially splayed out in the water like a mossy log, her head drenched. Luna stilled when she saw them both. Her sappy orbs had this almost ecstatic, relieved, and all-around gratuitous stare amongst them

"Marill! Lunch!" Luna called out and began her all too iconic swim after diving under. Her body moves like a Buizels, I see that in her tails. Seo felt the sunshine against her irises, the strain left her to stare down against Lycanroc's darker pelt. She simply tilted ahead back.

"You better not throw up on me." Seo shook her head.

"No, the worst of that is gone." The Absol muttered back. "The rest is just... exhaustion." Lycanroc warily glared down, Luna had scampered from the water and trailed the salt towards them.

"Sure."

"Seo, Lycan," Luna mentioned softly. "Are you feeling better now, Seo?" The Absol quirked a brow.

"What about your injuries, your head?"

"Nothing like Griffins!" Luna stuck out her tongue, Marill gave a little giggle

"See! Make light of it! Everyone's okay!" The balloon had called out with a strange positivity, Seo tried to angle an eye and noticed that Scarf had slowly crept out of her view.

I get it, being electrically positive as always. It made Luna giggle as she softened those vibrant auburn eyes.

"I guess... after getting home, that's the end of our journey," Luna mentioned and smiled a little. "Scarf keeps making a HUGE deal about those hot springs in Hoenn. He's been doing everything to make sure Griffin knows." Seo laughed a little.

"The writing in the sand..."

"Blame Thief for that one!" Luna huffed. "Even Brad recorded that..." Luna snickered and flicked her tails, the saltwater wicked off. Seo angled her scalp.

Vulpines don't produce oil in their pelts. How is the saltwater...? "Luna... are you... dry?" Seo narrowed her eyes, it partially left Luna to puff up. The Vulpix looked utterly confused with the question.

"Well... I feel dry. Why? It's so hot out that I bet the waters already went." Seo blinked more.

No... I saw the water runoff her like oily fur. Could it be the salt? I've never seen that. Seo gave a small smile. "You're strange, you know that, right?" Luna laughed in reply

"I don't think I really care anymore." The Lycanroc batted an eye at her response.

"Well, who knows, it could offend me; your strangeness." Luna pulled her head back as that half-shaded Lycanroc lowered her neck. "Ever think of that!" It left the Vulpix to drag her head to the left and plume white smoke back.

"Doesn't mean I need to change everything." Lycanroc stalled and found a chuckle creeping up her throat. Seo stalled. The snicker led to laughter, just enough that the Absol knew it was genuine.

"You sound simple." Luna shrugged

"What's wrong with that? It is nice." She had her eye on Seo.

There's the look. "You better not be blaming yourself for what happened to me."

"N - no. I'm not. I just feel it be nice if none of us have to fight again." A sigh grasped at Seo's throat.

"Good luck with that thought," Seo muttered back. "You sound a little less obnoxious." That made Luna tilt her head while her pelt dropped flat. She seemed a little shocked or speechless before she smiled.

"Then I guess it's an improvement." Lycanroc nodded

"So, her positive mood is a bonus." Seo nodded at Lycanroc

"I'd say so," Seo mentioned softly and shook her head. I think it's the potion they gave me this morning. I can't fully wrap my thoughts up. It hadn't been until they got further into the treeline that a waft crossed her nose. The sound of distant voices scratched her head.

"Seo?" Luna pushed against her forepaws. "Lycanroc."

"I have her." She'd mention. "Spend all that time sleeping in the sun, at your age..."

"I'm alright." She managed out, but Lycanroc seemed every less bit convinced than Luna. The shade, water... everything helped.

"I mean, I'm still a little... uneasy." Brad's voice came up. "T - there's... a lot I'm uneasy about."

"We'll keep to professional trainer routes only, check-in at stations along the way." A stranger's voice explained. "Unfortunately, major traffic routes pose a risk."

"My partner is right." Another voice said. "We've both been briefed to bring you on foot. We can't risk air or vehicle travel. The only way to really fight a Pokemon is with one." They mentioned. "We go from Island two to the mainland, cross into Johto to drop off Melody, and travel to Hoenn for Griffin." The voice said.

"You'll be brought to the main GPPI Headquarters in Sinnoh." The other mentioned, "With good time, we'd be in Sinnoh in two weeks."

"That's not possible."

"It definitely is. With the amount of distance traveled according to all of your Pokenav's? You do treks like this every week." Seo huffed bitterly.

More noise... I could do without it for a minute. Seo huffed, gently cleared her throat, and finally had the strength to straighten her back. It felt like all the blood ran from her head for a moment. Her leg uncomfortably sprawled against the grass. It's a fresh scar now. Seo panted at the sight of it. I would've bled out if it wasn't for Thief. I don't see the Growlithe.

Griffin gave a sigh that caught Seo's ear, She glanced at him.

"Don't look so glum, we're simply on the job."

"W - Wait... Griffin?"

"Shogayaki."

"It is." Brad went quiet. "H - how much did you make?"

"Well, I thought our two new friends wanted some." He'd say. "Enough for six... I thought a certain someone would want seconds."

"Nope, fourths." Griffin went limp, half protective of his wallet as Brad let out a laugh. "Hey... Melody!"

Seo tilted her head. Smokey caught her gaze before he quickly looked away. His body language made him seem small. It took Seo a moment to realize her heart had been trying to race even with his 'I'm trying not to be seen by you' act.

"Hmm? You're heart rate picked up, are you okay?" Seo felt a bristle of her fur rise. Seviper half clung around her tail. If anything, it made Smokey look guilty, it was hard to miss Seviper's iconically gentle hiss.

"I'm... okay, yes." Seo muttered back. "I guess I haven't entirely calmed down." She'd say. "What happened to you?"

"After you and Thief poofed because of an Abra? That Mr. Clarke and that other stranger played with their phones." The Seviper mentioned, "Then the floor shook, fire. It got pretty confusing. All I know is that it got hot, I grabbed the sparky thing and the Houndour and slithered away." He mentioned. "Eventually, I ran into a Shadow Sceptile; she said that Moonlight was outside - didn't look happy, I guess." Seviper said. "Eventually, we found Marill, and he brought us to Scarf." Seviper continued, "I was pretty freaked because the moment I got near Scarf, everything felt still. Concrete. Then Moonlight got defensive, and a Spearow flew off." Seviper chuckled. "Scarf tossed up his paws but, if there was a Chesshira, I hadn't seen it." For a moment, he dangled his tail, Seo noticed one of the strangers move or shift.

They're wary of Seviper's tail. "I don't like those Officers with us Seviper. Try not to point your tail around them." She tried to focus on the pair, but they seemed distant or distorted - even their voices mimicked what she saw. Strange changes in pitch or plain warbled speech, but every Pokemon had been crystal clear. That was a clear sign the medication worked among everything else.

That still left her uneasy.

Who wandered up to them hadn't been Melody, this strangeness ran through Seo's head when she realized that the Fourteen-year-old girl with brown-reddish hair and blue eyes approached them. It left her to tilt her head and shake it.

That's strange... no, that is Melody. She's blonde, not brown-haired...

"Hey, everyone." Melody began to say as Seo confusingly glared at her.

"Did it all go okay?"

"My father hasn't any clue where she's been." Melody brought up, "It's... actually a little dreadful." Griffin tilted his head.

Much to Melody's dismay, her father had revealed that what the police told her was correct. Her younger sister had been kidnapped years prior.

It left everyone shocked and quiet. "Sorry if my... the tone is a little rough I've been yelling for the last hour."

"Oh my god," Griffin muttered. "Mel..."

"With all the craziness at home over the fighting and the... the divorce, they were terrified to tell me." She nervously shook, Griffin and Brad went quiet. "Even... even my half sister's mother, I guess my stepmother. They wanted to tell me before I left on my journey. I didn't know. I thought she had been here this... this whole time." Melody giggled; it had been a bizarre sound. "She's actually sixteen. I thought she was two years younger. she's only a few months." Melody mentioned softly. "I guess him taking that new job, really..." She clenched her jaw while Smokey gave a residual whine.

He's covered in soot. Melody must've torched half the beach down with him.

"Never mind... My head is spinning, but I think I wrapped my head around it." Griffin sighed softly.

"Are... you okay now?" Melody went quiet and simply shrugged while Griffin set out the food.

Seo couldn't fully decipher everything they chatted about, but she knew that those two strangers moved further away from the conversation. Melody stayed upset, the kind where there hadn't been much actually said about why or how. Just an evident emotion and the type of look which said, 'I want to take my mind off it all.' With whatever Griffin had made for lunch, Seo knew that the feat would be easily accomplished.

Like she would've expected, Griffin stayed quiet - kept his thoughts to himself. That left Seo to glare at her l-

"You're upset because he was there whenever he could be, right?" Seo felt a shudder run down her back. Griffin wouldn't flat out say that, but Seo looked up at her trainer. Melody went quiet. "It's not easy to just blame the one side, and you're stuck hating yourself for it whenever you do. There's never some flat out answer, right?" Griffin sighed, "And everyone just expects you to have high hopes about it all. I'm not really one to talk, I guess. But as misplaced as I think it is to say, I feel that the hopes you made let you become a Pokemon Trainer," Griffin said, Seo couldn't tell exactly how it felt to her, but she had the distinct impression that he had his tail between his legs as he said it. "I guess I'm just... saying stupid stuff."

"Didn't think you were mushy." Griffin laughed warily in reply.

"S - sorry, I'm bad at this stuff; I'm sure I said something stupid."

"I know you did, but I can't expect you to know," Melody mentioned back, her tone seemed strange. "I... have a picture." She brought up, "Actually... it's a locket." Brad perked an ear.

"Ya hear that, Griffy?" His back went stiff. "I guess since you owe me one, we're going to help Melody find her elusive sister!" Griffin tossed his head down.

"..."

"Griff?"

"Y - yeah," Griffin said, nervous at first. "When you first mentioned your sister..."

"That one young local won the Ninth Centennial, right?" Brad mentioned

"Yeah, hadn't... Hadn't the runner up beaten her?" Melody softly commented

"Yeah, and handed her the third-place position." Griffin nodded again, trying to remember the vague clips he got while he was in Hoenn.

"Then I think we have something better than just catching you a few Pokemon, Melody. When we cross into Johto, we'll see if we can help you find your sister too." Griffin commented and smiled.

"Your food... is getting... cold." The voice made her jolt.

"Thief?"

"Y - Yeah..." The Growlithe expressed while Seo had a good look over him.

Nothing else seems broken, but that Lycanroc's Rock Throw did a good number. I can also see the burn marks from the Houndoom. If I didn't do what I did, even fully healed - Thief had no chance in hell.

"I'm sorry. Sorry... I'm sorry." Seo lightly pulled her head back. The Growlithe went into a light tizzy, wide-eyed, and teary. His apologies left a cold feeling in her gut, one that let her glare away.

I hadn't looked at you scoldingly.

"Thief, she's okay." Scarf mentioned gently, his voice left her ear to twitch. "You... are correct?"

"I hadn't glared at him with intent. He did more than fine. We're both alive, after all." Seo nodded. "I'd trade my leg for that any day." Seo nodded. "He's more than proved his worth to me."

Thief had refused to move from her forelegs as she ate and glared at anything and everything. He's overly cautious. It took her a moment mid-bite to realize that Marill gave her a distinct look.

"If you don't get the context, don't get anything off in your head." The Absol half snarled, it left the Marill to chitter nervously while Scarf tugged him off by the ear. "Are your injuries...?"

"Healing, my old ones are healing really well." Thief muttered out meekly.

"Eat."

"Moonlight wants me to watch what I eat." Thief mentioned softly.

"It doesn't mean you don't eat at all. Eat." She replied back. "All because you add a little pudge to the muscle you put on, it doesn't mean you're any weaker," Seo stated Luna had looked up at her with a tilt of her scalp.

"If that's true... it's going to be a pain eating more than what I already do." Luna mentioned with a weary sigh. "I still don't get how Thief can eat so much sometimes and other times so little." Luna laughed gently, this sound filled argument between that Pikachu and Marill sprung out. Most of it back and forth banter about worries - it sounded like endless chitters and squeaks to the Humans. "I'd rather you eat like you're eating for a dozen then just half of you, I know everyone can agree to that. In fact, I think even Halley would" The name left Moonlight to perch an ear before he softly nodded at Luna, even while a small shriek came into the air. "I know all of them would. Autumn too," The Espeon said softly, and that left Luna to warmly nod. He gave a moment to sigh, or breathe - clearly, the conversation prior had been vital to him.

"H - Hey, watch the ear! The ear!" Marill commented shrilly

"I'm watching it plenty! It's in my paw after all!" Scarf commented back with a delightful laugh.

"And it hurts a little!" This run of nervous laughter crossed Luna's cheek.

"Are you going to pull it off?" she interjected as the Pikachu dared to twitch an ear.

"Hardly! But if he keeps acting up, I'll zap him a little!" That left Seo with a chuckle in her throat as Marill's gasp came into the air followed with a sharp 'You wouldn't dare!'

The Pikachu warned to lift those two dangerously active ears high before Marill gave into the bluff.

"I never had the chance without-" Seo stalled while she stared at him. Now he's eating? Seo shook her head. He's definitely hopeless... "If you get heartburn because you're eating so quickly, I'll bite you." That stalled and slowed his pace reasonably quick. "You don't need to be so jumpy. Even if Bandit is in that Pokeball, I'm wondering if she's doing that to protect us." Seo muttered. "When I got out of the situation I was in, I went rampant. Wild." The Absol mentioned, "I'm just worried she's fighting that part of her."

"Like Lycanroc?"

"I'm not fighting anything about myself." She commented from the other side of the group - Haxorus had tiredly looked at them. His silence left Seo to stare at a collection of fresh claw marks against his stony hide. "I rationalized pretty quickly of the situation, Griffin is a trainer - not a criminal." Lycanroc continued.

"No. Bandit's not like you or even Shadow, even physically. I think she acts the way she does to remind herself - you always play, you'll feel a little less inclined to bite." Seo mentioned, "It sounds draining to me, always trying to act like the safe one when you just want to go wild." The Absol mentioned softly. "The fact that it's the way she is tells me this won't beat her," Seo said again. "I just hope her partner doesn't piss her off."

"Good luck..." Lycanroc muttered, "He's terrified of the idea, by the by." Seo tilted her head. "In regards to their courtship. It's plain easy to see." She sighed while Seo rolled her eyes.

"Not every male is focused on that alone." That left the Lycan to snap her jaw, but she ceased any further banter about the subject.

They both had plenty of lengthy conversations in the lake biome regarding that. "I was surprised to see you out of your capsule."

"Our lead can't handle the situation at this current time." She mentioned back, but Seo huffed in retort.

"Are you relaxed?" The Lycanroc dug her paw down a little, she gave a sigh.

"No."

"Gunoil?"

"Yes." Absol huffed. "Even though it's faint, those two have the smell. Maybe a spill got on an outfit from cleaning." The Lycanroc muttered. "I can't relax entirely, but I'd say... ninety percent." Seo passed a half-convinced grin.

"If you say so," Seo mentioned back while the Lycanroc went for her food. Her half red, half stone-beige tail wagged. Seo guessed she asked her the wrong kind of question. That's about the most she'll open up, but seeing her out more often tells me that someone got through to her.

"O - ow..." Thief muttered out while Seo stared at him. She tried to avoid immediate eye contact. "That stupid firecracker..."

"Hm?"

"I screwed up the dumb move, with Flamethrower and my ember. It made my stomach burn a bit..."

"The fire whip?" Seo blinked a little

"Yeah, and the stupid embers cracked near my paws - the pad tore." Thief commented while Seo nodded.

"Do it again, but swing it further out," Seo said back to him. "I think that bomb-rope of yours may be pretty damn helpful in the future." The Absol noted, "That's the only thing I can think of, you just need to figure out how to chain the moves together again." Seo commented softly and continued her food. Scarf doesn't want to talk until Bandit comes out. Seo felt that toss in her mind while he tossed a warm, or thankful, look at her.

"Thief..." The Growlithe perked an ear while Moonlight trod closer to them.

"Moonlight?" He replied half-interested, or the pain had still bothered him. "Are you healing, okay?"

"I'm fine, my bruises are healed. I was more worried about you."

"Why?" Thief mentioned back. "I don't get what troubles you."

"I know... and I think Autumn would be more concerned about you too." Moonlight mentioned softly. "I know he'd be worried sick - not concerned about himself." The Espeon softly wheezed, and it led to a lighter cough. "I never thought they hit that hard..." Moonlight coughed again. "I'm glad nothing broke, but it made me just..." He lowed his head a little - the tassels around his neck, aimlessly drifted. "Are you both okay? Can you let me try helping you?" The Espeon mentioned softly, "You know my owner, Thief. I've spent my life with him, I may not be a native healer, but I do know of some things a lot of Pokemon don't."

"Will it fix my leg?" Seo said out loud, interrupting Thief entirely.

"If I have enough time, I could theoretically use your own body's natural systems to repair itself. Granted, you'd still be limp; but I might be able to save feeling in the leg. It's why Nurse Joy kept trying to tranq me." The Espeon muttered

"You've already been tending to this."

"Yes." Moonlight mentioned. "It's a matter of time - for a human, no way in hell - not unless something is holding it. I could find a way around that." The Espeon sighed. "I don't like doing it - I did it with a Scarf because it was an emergency." Moonlight mentioned, "But I know that if you give me an hour, I might be able to get you on all fours again... vaguely" Luna softly chirped

"Wait... so Maidens Peak...?"

"The gash on Griffin's leg actually cut deeper then he realized, he didn't know, and Melody didn't get a close enough look. I spent the night healing it for that reason." Moonlight muttered back, "He did jump between Haxorus and me, after all." Moonlight mentioned again. "He has a bad habit of that kind of crap." Luna nodded her head fiercely

"He's absolutely nuts!" She mentioned. "although I did get cornered pretty quickly, and he did get me the opening, I needed to pull off a 'glancing blow.'" Moonlight squinted

"You were paying attention!" He'd say with a happy laugh, "I'm glad it helped." Thief tilted his head while Moonlight nodded.

"The move Protect is a little more will mind and body then Pokemon take it for." Moonlight mentioned. "It's only classified as 'Normal' because every Pokemon's type of Protect is different. It's based on the Pokemon." Moonlight mentioned and nodded, "also how you want to train it." The Espeon said.

"Moonlight kept pestering me when I tried healing Thief." Luna mentioned out loud. The Espeon nodded.

"There wasn't any way of taxing your body further, you were already drained out entirely." Moonlight mentioned back. "So, I taught her a little of it." Luna laughed a little, the thick bushy pairing had flicked Lycanroc across the nose. It left her to growl.

"Get those under control first." Lycanroc snorted and sat further back; hoped to be out of range of them, Luna nervously giggled.

"I don't think I can." She'd say with a softer nod and dared to yawn. "but I know this much, I could definitely get used to the leisurely side of things." Moonlight softly nodded and stretched until his shoulders cracked.

It left him breathless and relieved.

"So, of my leg, you think you can fix it?" Seo brought them back to the point

"Yes." Moonlight mentioned back. "I may not have the native ability of a Chansey, but that also lets me work better with long term healing." The Espeon expressed. "It may take a while, and I only need a few hours in the morning - but I can see what my Psychic can do for your leg." Moonlight expressed. "I... do have one of the best teachers and patients." He'd mention with a chuckle.

"Can you do anything for me... Moonlight?" Thief mentioned

"I could... mainly help you with your posture and breathing. You've had a lot done to you, I'm worried I'd ruin something."

"W - when... I evolve do... do my ribs come back?" Moonlight blinked.

"Yeah...?" Moonlight mentioned, "Only in ungodly rare cases will evolution fail..."

"Do the growing pains hurt then? Is it all at once?" Thief muttered out while Moonlight looked left.

"I... My experience with evolution was strange."

"Did you evolve while sleeping?" Moonlight immediately nodded to Luna's comment.

"Yeah! I passed out with Autumn, my owner had been tending to our herb garden - everyone knew it, but me." Moonlight laughed softly, yet Seo twitched her brow. His statement sounded very simple and ordinary. But she knew that everything he said then had been a half-truth.

"You're a little more comfortable with the name now?" Moonlight shook his head

"..." Seo glanced at them both like she missed something.

"I am, sorry, Seo - it was the other night. I spoke to everyone I could, but you had been fast asleep." Moonlight shook his scalp. "With everything going on and... I didn't know it felt like that." Thief tilted his head

"I thought you've broken something before." Moonlight nodded

"Nothing like..." Moonlight sighed. "I want to keep being hard on you." The Growlithe twitched. "Cold shouldered... Rough." He sighed, "I was worried that you couldn't face the reality of all of it." Thief nervously shook his head.

"I don't want to." The Growlithe said back. "I just want to go home with everyone too, I'd like to know more about Halley." Luna giggled when he mentioned that.

"I'm glad I'm not the only one..." Luna said softly, it left the Espeon to soften his posture. "I think we're all ready." She continued to speak and shuddered. It left Seo to twitch her brow.

I want to say that 'you've shocked me,' but I know that look now. You know how easy it is to hurt a human being. You have entirely swallowed your urge to show off any flames.

"Hmm? No fire show with lunch? You usually fumble your will-o-wisp around." Luna shyly nodded.

"In all honesty, my temperature feels middle ground. I think it's because I drained myself while recovering. I can still use hex." Luna mentioned, "I'm wondering about that curse thing from the cave that you all were worried about."

"It's superstitious nonsense." Seo mentioned, "But the move Curse can't be taken lightly."

"I wonder if all the curses are different somehow."Luna mentioned, "Usually, the Pokemon Clinic can fix them... but..." She rolled her eyes down, Seo saw the strands of her fur blind her. A residual blow, left the mess to stay in front of her view. "With Griffin in the cave, and what I saw... it's like Vermillion." Seo twitched her head, her shoulder acted up. Moonlight had taken a moment to sigh and looked over her. "Some jerk of a Pokemon showed up. A lot of antlers." She sighed, "They told me I needed to go home and tend to the shrine." The Vulpix sighed, "It's crap that Frosty keeps showing up too!" Moonlight tilted his head

"That Keo Keo, right?" Aura interjected, her tail flicked to a still "He's a total ass! Leaving a lady alone to fight, really..." The Lucario laughed. "Even Scarf jumped in to help me!"

"Only because you helped me." The Pikachu's soft tone cut in before he let off a long sigh. "I guess Bandit is difficult with food today..." Scarf continued to say before he let out a sigh.

The Pikachu began his story after Marill had left him alone with the Chesshira. While everyone continued to eat and listen, the occasional comment or question came from the air. Seo gently looked at the smaller basin of water near her.

They can't see water... like me? Her eyes glanced down at the bowl. It's utterly still, but I can see it when it waves. Seo looked back at the Pikachu as he continued - her muzzle continued through the bowl of food. It was much too easy to clear it.

"It's odd, but I don't believe that the jacket they have is supposed to be like that. The quills, I mean." He mentioned, "Then how it talked... I think it was trying to rationalize words through a poorly understood nursery rhyme." The Pikachu sighed, "I told it that the 'big water' isn't right to drink, that it's saltwater. Began talking about... Esi."

"What?" Seo twitched an ear.

"I was strongly cryptic." The Pikachu mentioned again. "I dare say that our Chesshira problem is because of the environment it's in. It adapts to survive, yes... but the one that bothers us isn't in a normal environment like we are." Scarf sighed, "I hate to say, but the one I ran into is more curious about den making, and I believe it may have seen a proper den when it first appeared here." Seo sighed as Scarf continued. "If it's anything like how we ran into Esi earlier, then it's clear they have a seasonal gathering." Luna shook her head, made this disturbed look

"Don't mention that..." The Vulpix lowered her head. "I already feel queasy..."

"Sorry. I worded it as lightly as I could." Luna nodded back at him softly.

"Great, let's buy the one track male a thesaurus and a few English classes - maybe he'll clean up his act." The voice left them all silent, Luna's ear and eyes twitched up before she forgot about her food. Her paws strayed from the bowl while Seo straightened her back; a pair of red-yellow eyes, like a blood-red harvest moon, warmly looked back. The speckles of dots - like an iconic spray of concrete mud littered down her chest and stomach. She twitched an ear, while Lycanroc gave an affirming grunt. The Mightyena had stalled and stilled when Luna pushed against her foreleg.

"Heya... Sis." The Vulpix said softly, "Are you okay... now?" The larger Mightyena had softly raised her paw and flattened it on Luna's scalp.

Seo simply watched it 'plop' on her while that smaller Vulpix tried to hold her head up against it.

"I'm still short-tempered." The Mightyena mentioned as Seo's back twitched.

"Had they hurt you?" The question came past her lips unwillingly colder then she wanted them to. Bandit softly stiffened.

"I got plenty of baton whips, bites, and burns... They couldn't..." The Mightyena softly looked down and away from Luna. "Let's just say that claws aren't nice." Bandit mentioned back to her, the Mightyena's eyes shone a little. "I don't... I can't talk about it here, but all they could do was hit me." Lycanroc nodded again to her, she refused to keep eye contact with Bandit.

"... There's a lot I could say, but I feel it would be something you've heard plenty of already." The Lycanroc expressed, "I just have no need to yell... right now." Bandit wearily folded her ears back; Luna's face appeared to worryingly sour. Seo's ragged breath cut through.

"Seo?" Thief softly muttered.

"Sorry, I'm just reviewing your breathing." Moonlight mentioned, his gemstone had a light incandescent shine to it - he 'read' her pelt like an ancient tapestry. "nothing utterly major is out of place; the swelling on your gallbladder looks like it's healing nicely - I can definitely strain your energy to try and repair your leg. It may sting and drain your breath, might even pull a month or a year off your life..." The Espeon mentioned, and once Seo had laid down, Moonlight sat nearby her hind paws and focused on the scarring.

Bandit couldn't keep eye contact with the Absol.

She wants to talk, but I know she can't say a word here. Seo dared to bite down on her lip while something strangely icy touched against her inner diaphragm. Her entire body locked up, the whine passed her mouth before she caught her breath. I'm not sighing out anything worth it.

"Bandit. You gave me an offer before." Seo said while the Mightyena looked up from her food. "I have a name to give you, and before this, amateur locks my lungs and suffocates me." 'hey!' Moonlight muttered loudly near the end of her chatter. "I'd like to tell you that name." Bandit lightly locked, her paws rigid before the pads softened into the golden sand. "As selfish of time as it is for me to ask, I want to tell you that name."

"Selfish...?" Bandit shook her head. "No... No, honey, no. That's not being selfish. You haven't been." She shook her head, "You don't honestly see it like that, do you?" Lycanroc twitched an ear. "I can't see it that way; selfishness doesn't take your leg..."

She's gotten emotional. How haven't I been? Seo softly chewed at her lip. There... Everything I've done has been, it's been for my own... Thief gently nudged her.

"Seo...?" She looked down at the Growlithe, but his entire pelt and color in the sunshine was a water smudge of melted orange treats.

"I'm fine..." She said back. "You should eat, Bandit. I hadn't meant to upset you." The Mightyena simply shook her head.

"You haven't..." She mentioned back while another icy thing crawled underneath Seo's skin and touched her chest again. Seo felt that lock and the whine before she caught her breath. The Absol decided it is best to lay down her head.

"Are you okay there Thief?" Luna's muddled voice slithered over Seo's back, and it took her a moment to gather that the Growlithe had gone to the beachside with them.

"I am, I can leave my paw out of the water here. It stings too much for me to swim out." He'd mention.

"Alright. Hey Lycan! I guess you can show me a little!" Seo twitched her ear. "I don't think Thief will be downrange!"

"Sounds good!" The Lycanroc called out from a distance, Seo hazily stared at the grass near her nose and the blue sky beyond her. The sound of Rock Throw echoed around the water, Absol could hear the stones skip.

"Whoa... Wait... how'd they skip, though?"

"It's a Flattened Rock Throw!" Lycanroc commented, "It's tough to use, it sprays them in an arc." Luna giggled

"How far do the rocks go?" The Lycanroc tilted her head.

"I haven't got a clue, I don't count the distance - I just like seeing them jump off the water." The Lycanroc made a yawn-howled sound. Seo knew that it meant Lycan had stretched. "All I know is that its clear skies, clear horizon... I think it's safe for me to hit that Island way down there."

"Is it too loud?" Moonlight's voice softly cut in. "How do you feel? I tried to alleviate the stress on your chest too." Seo twitched her ear.

"Am I safe to move?" The Absol mentioned

"I'd prefer it if you let me help." The Espeon mewl'd and while Seo put pressure on her legs, aware of her limp one - that cold icy thing took hold around the joint in her thigh. A soothing gel...? Seo put pressure on her injured leg, the numbness surprisingly stung underneath her paw pads.

"It may sting, but if I catch it early enough, I can undo some of the nerve damage. A Chansey can do it all, but they don't have the time to focus just on one person alone." Seo twitched her ear but hadn't made any comment to Moonlight's wording choice. She simply felt this strange cold-burn against her hind paw... A feeling of moist grass ran against it.

"How long was I asleep for?" Moonlight nervously laughed

"A few hours, I believe it's just around three in the afternoon." He continued to say with a slight stretch of his neck. "I think I have some of it back in order. It could hurt for a bit." Moonlight commented softly "My guess is the beachside, right? I think a little more sunshine might help my head too."

"How are you?"

"Fighting the urge to store energy." Moonlight commented back as Seo sighed.

"You helped me, so I'll help you. Balance it. If you get too used to one style of fighting, performing any other will become more difficult." Seo muttered as she walked, assisted by Moonlight's psychic. The Espeon simply nodded and mew'd back. "You can store as much power as you want, what happens when you need explosive muscle? Something faster than a charge? Balance that." Seo said, "It's why I told you to train your stamina. One good shot... isn't useful unless you can find a way to place it. I'd rather throw a ton of little rocks if it means I can hit you before you throw a big one." Seo continued to ramble as the sunlight jabbed at her, it left her eyes to tighten and nearly close.

"I think there's some better shade over here."

"Seo!" Luna called out. "Her leg...?"

"Not yet, I'm just using Psychic to cradle it." Moonlight commented back, "I still have Thief to look over, see what I can do with him."

"This isn't one of those 'Hey, now you have half a decade less to live deals, ' right?" Seo mentioned, but it made Moonlight tilt his head.

"Hardly, using Psychic to unravel and reconnect tissue while encouraging your natural healing process won't change anything but how it heals, mitigating internal scarring. If needed, I could accelerate the process - that could be taxing and involves more risk." Moonlight gently cleared his throat as if he fought a stupor of nervousness. "I wouldn't say it be a year less to live, but more a year wasted in extended recovery." Moonlight sighed, "And that would imply me too, as I need to continue monitoring how the body heals and takes my micro-adjustments." The Espeon sighed again, "I could fully heal the leg in theory, but in practicality - the surface area I'm covering for healing gets too large, I can't focus on so many cell structures at once." Moonlight shrugged a little, "By the end of the year, your near-fatal and cauterized injury could look more like a bad mistake with a hotdog fork and a campfire... honestly." Moonlight mentioned again as Seo tilted her head.

"Experiences from home?" Moonlight nodded and sighed

"We had our own share of being caught between Pokemon territory disputes. The town had to be put on notice for a while." The Espeon said, "I didn't see the 'action' fortunately enough, but I watched the long-term healing process for a few Pokemon; my owner made it a bit of an educational venture." The Espeon mentioned and pushed against the tassel purple on the purple fabric around his neck. His pale pink eyes studiously glared against the marking on her side. "It's relatively straight forward, I'm just grateful you only had internal organ bruising, nothing... more complicated."

"I would've been dead if it hadn't been for Thief snapping to, even for a minute." Seo mentioned back, "He gave me my opening." The Absol mentioned and grinned. "Reminds you of someone?" Moonlight partially nodded.

" Although you hadn't been there last night, Thief... he gave me a new reason to look upward." Moonlight admitted softly. "His injuries are vast but not as deeply settled as yours are." The Espeon shook his head. "But I know it's something Halley would want me to do." He mentioned again. "I put myself down to protect Griffin, but I left everyone else behind when I did. I didn't think two rounds would hit that hard with a vest on." With a lowered head, he tossed his gaze towards the borderline between shaded grass and sunlit sand. "I honestly thought I'd be standing and moving... helping. Then I realized that we're not even in the right spot. It's crushing and confusing." Moonlight swallowed in some quirky way before he coughed to clear his throat. "Thank you for bringing my friend back to me. Even though it doesn't always seem like it." The Espeon narrowly sighed. "The moment I could focus on everything around me, I realized that the air was surrounded by Abra traffic. It's how I knew it was like a large transfer hub for Pokemon." Seo laughed a little

"I still don't get how we found her and got back," Seo muttered as Moonlight tossed his look up and around while the ground softly vibrated. It felt like a pawprint parted the sand nearby them.

"Back in Saffron City, Shadow and I helped out some Pokemon Team Rocket got a hold of. I didn't realize that one of the cages had a family of Ditto." Bandit mentioned - it left Moonlight and Seo quiet. Moonlight's expression went from a soft-eyed shock to a warmer shudder. Like he finally let out a breath. "I guess word got out pretty quick that I got caught while I was in that strange place - all the fighting. A few days near a fish market... I met the first Ditto." Bandit shook her head; this visible illness touched around her gut - Seo could see that from the distaste in her maw. "Sorry, I just don't..." Bandit sighed a little.

"Losing a little luck yourself?" Seo commented as Bandit chuckled, it made Seo's face warm more.

"The Ditto approached me in the shape of an Abra - in fact, it looked similar to Luna's assailant. It told me that they found a lot of Abra digging and that they had a plan... but things changed when I ended up fighting Golem and the Houndoom twerps. They tossed a cub in eventually... After another day, they transferred me out, one of the Ditto hid into my fur and escaped." Bandit sighed. "Then it was a few days in that gross place until I heard Griffin, the Ditto had come back that morning with their entire family group." The Mightyena sighed softly. "You know the tale from there, I guess..." She replied, "I just need to wrap my head around all of it."

"That always takes time," Seo mentioned back while Moonlight nodded

"I'll leave you both for conversation; I should look over Thief more in-depth anyways." Moonlight mentioned as the Espeon left his pawprints to imprint in the sand below him while he moved to the waterline. Bandit kept her smile on them - noticed Luna happily bounce her saltwater covered pelt in return to the Mightyena's look.

It was a look that faded when she looked over Seo. The Absol simply matched Bandit, look for look.

"Selfish...?" Bandit repeated the word. "No... I'm selfish for feeling the way I do, especially around you." It left the Mightyena to clench her jawline. "I don't... know I hadn't..." She shook her head. "I feel like I acted selfish of it now, knowing that she didn't make it out with me." Bandit commented softly, "And I feel it's wrong to bring that up with you because I don't want to stress you any further. I d-"

"Oracle."

Bandit went silent as Seo mentioned out a name, it let the Absol compose herself and clear her throat.

"I feel it's selfish of me because when I first met you - the only thought I had in my head was if my daughter had been anything like you." The Mightyena softly tilted her head up as Seo talked. "I feel selfish thinking and believing endlessly that she'd have all the things I've wished for her." She continued to say, "And to do what...? Prove my and her worth to them?" She softly realized that her voice had caught in her throat like webs layered the inside of it. Seo felt the air rush down her throat, her cheeks hot. "How can I find strength in that...? When you keep thinking that at the end of every fight, she'd be there, and she'd have everything you wish for her." Seo took in a ragged breath, the air felt hot around her now, warm enough that her lungs lightly burned and head slowly spun. "I look around, and I continuously know I'm in an endless trail that I'm near the end of." Seo gritted her teeth. "Please... selfish as I feel asking now, name... name your daughter after the one I've been searching for. Please promise me that because I feel now that it's all led to my being here."

Seo hadn't expected Bandit to lay and feed her snout underneath her own jawline and tilt her head a little higher.

"You've always made a fuss about Luna's posture... you don't need that guilty look." The Mightyena said in turn and warmly smiled. "With all that weight on your back, I feel it be easier if someone helps carry it, I've known you well deserve that." Bandit nodded her snout while Seo slowly blinked. "There isn't any promise I need to make, Seo; I know I will." Seo let out a ragged exhale, blinked while Bandit lifted her jaw higher, it let Seo have a better view of everyone in the distance. "So, I feel that you're not selfish, nothing you've done has, so don't you dare be unhappy about where you are now because of that." She'd mention with a soft, tired voice. "You helped bring me home, I don't think any selfish person would give up that much for someone else. Regardless if it's the daughter, they picture their own to be." The Mightyena continued to say, her eyes had an allure of stained glass, "I'm honored that you'd see me as your own, so all I ask is that you continue to show me the person I still wonder my mother would be." Bandit retorted from underneath Seo's jaw. "Even though you hadn't been there, believe me - I heard it all from Thief eventually." The Mightyena softly stretched herself, held her snout underneath Seo's jaw still.

"He is noisy..." Seo muttered. "I'm lucky he's still naïve, I fed him a little bull crap about Razz berries." Absol mentioned.

"Oh, lord... you do that too?" Bandit laughed softly "I didn't know how much it would help him."

"I heard the idea from my mother," Seo mentioned in return.

"I heard the idea from a mother." The Mightyena rolled, it put faint pressure against her chest. "Griffin never got into fruits. Eventually, his mom got so upset that she got Logan to convince him to eat berries we eat." Bandit softly laughed. "It's the reason why he carries so many Oran berries now and why he can spot a poisonous Oren berry out of the bunch." Bandit nodded, "Those ones are the ones he can eat, or minds eating. Most humans are like that, though - it's like a sweeter blueberry to them."

"Where'd you hear that...?" The concept or idea had felt entirely new to her

"A market." Bandit mentioned, "It's the first time I saw a huge one, I mean now they're a dime a dozen." The Mightyena grinned a little. "Just gossip." Seo twitched an eye, still red or matted.

"You believe it?" Seo said back with a gentle nod.

"I don't need to, I know it's true for them." She'd say softly in return. The shade softly rolled and tilted while each grain of sand illuminated with a precious veil of sandstone gold. The ocean had been a dark blue, the wind fussed the water into touching the shoreline. Seo felt the ground rumble, something skitted across the sand. "I'm glad your okay, Seo." The Absol nodded

"I believe that line was mine." It made Bandit crack a grin.

"Right...?"

Seo felt the shade rush over them, her eyes squinted at the expansive sky above. Smaller groups of clouds aimlessly drifted by.

"I think that one looks like butterfree."

"Did you say something...?" Seo muttered, as an old voice slipped in the air.

"Hm? No, just wondering what you see." Bandit returned her words in turn while Seo rested against the larger Mightyena. "I just felt that if Shadow - as hot-headed as he can be - would spend all this time doing what I am now... well. You get the rest." Seo softly blinked, the sound of everyone past the sand played over them again like ocean spray. All Seo had done was stare up at the clouds. What she certainly saw had not been any butterfree, but it did make her feel a tinge of familiar warmth and connection.

"I certainly do." The Absol muttered out as the clouds slowly followed along a bright blue horizon. Seeing them had undoubtedly been made easy, yet Seo hadn't any need to thank her. The Absol had a feeling Bandit was already sure she was. Even without any word said between them from there, Seo only watched the air. Heard the sounds - some of the faint laughter, others of lighter conversation just licked by their hides. The wind carried it away from there while Seo let out a silk edged huff. Sunlit warmth against her scalp - Seo felt for once in a long while - she could breathe. That the air had been just perfect enough to take in. When a blur passed by them, Bandit twitched.

"Luna?" It left Seo to grumble. So much for her peace and quiet.

"I have her, she used Hex on Thief for some weird reason."

"Is he okay?"

"Didn't hurt him at all! I have it." Moonlight called, laughed, and it left the beach quiet again.

"I was beginning to like the dull moment." It made Bandit giggle, Seo felt the urge to reply with her own, but the laughter had been caught against her lips. Bandit had pushed her maw up

"I was already enjoying it." Bandit softly muttered in return, and even though Seo partway threw a look behind her, she really only met with the Mightyena's ear. Seo wondered how strange it was for her to do that. Raise an ear, and gently press it against the Absols eyes, cover them - Bandit's neck exposed to her muzzle. A strange hug, or a distant one; the two thoughts crossed by her head, the fluff of that ear pressed closer down as though saying 'Stay awhile.' And even without any word spoken between them both, Seo felt that plenty had been told in the silence.

She had been there after all, curious of her emotions and questioning why the emptiness in-between them felt warm - felt like a lifetime since it ever had. Only an ear, an outreached paw, and actual words had filled an otherwise quiet day.