*sigh* M-my Pokemon still haven't gotten back yet.
Nagi's been hovering above the Pokemon Center all night. I know she doesn't really sleep, but I hope she's alright, y'know?
She told me that she can feel which direction Gina's in, and Gina's kinda following her directions and leading the main group back. I still dunno where Immy, Riley, and Bor are, and Cola's been missing since he ran off. I know he's trying to find Imogen, but... shit, I hope they all make it back alright.
Oh thank Arceus I found Parker, Cyril, and Bella in the Forest right outside snowbelle None of their pokeballs worked, so I had to recapture them, which was a good use of extra pokeballs, I guess. Still fucking ridiculous that they got released though
Hauteclere, unlike most other released Pokemon, was not entirely displeased with her situation. She reveled in her newfound freedom, happy to finally not have Clovis watching her at every given moment.
The Meowstic at her side was very annoying, though.
"Hauteclere, we should find the others," he would say occasionally, his big eyes staring straight through her.
"Hmph, I don't wanna~" the Aegislash would reply, and continue floating wherever, Natsuki following behind.
"Can we please go home?" the Meowstic asked quietly, only his second question since they'd found each other.
Hauteclere turned to look at him, her eye narrowed. "You can go home. I'm happy out here," she huffed.
"In the wild?"
"Yes."
"With no buildings, or Poke Puffs, or anyone to take care of you?"
"Yep!"
"I see."
If Hauteclere had a mouth, she would've scowled. She found the Meowstic impossible to read, and it absolutely frustrated her that she couldn't tell what he was thinking. No…all she got from him was an expressionless stare, and perhaps a slight huff of disapproval.
"Ugh, if you wanna go home, then why don't you just go yourself!?" she grumbled, though she had a feeling she knew the answer. She was trained for battle, whereas Natsuki wasn't. If he stick around her, his chances of survival increased. If he didn't, he's most likely get defeated, or maybe worse: captured.
She most certainly wasn't expecting to say what he did.
"Because if I leave you, you might not come back."
Hauteclere blinked, and looked at Natsuki suspiciously. "And what's that supposed to mean?"
The Meowstic stopped walking, prompting Hauteclere to stop drifting. He kicked at the ground thoughtfully, his tiny paws coming together behind his back.
"I don't know you very well, because I don't spend much time with any of you. But Clovis seems to like you, as does everyone else," he said slowly, deliberately. "I think they'd be sad if you left them. Not that I think you really will, but…"
"Hmph! And what if I don't like them?" Hauteclere practically sneered, hands on her 'hips'.
"Then I guess I'll stick around you a little longer. I can't just leave you on your own," Natsuki persisted.
"Alright, alright, I get it!" Hauteclere huffed, turning away from him. She crossed her 'arms' defiantly, eye averted. "Fine. Let's go home. But I'm only going home because they'll miss me so much if I don't."
"Heh. Bashful, aren't you?" Natsuki said with a small laugh, a small smile sliding onto his usually-blank face. "Come on…let's go."
"Ugh, shut up!" Hauteclere scowled, feeling herself blush internally - swords couldn't blush outwardly, really. She started floating away, arms lifted as if she were ready to push something - or someone - away.
Natsuki only chuckled a little louder, and followed.
A strong breeze whipped across the shoreline, sending a few loose grains of sand into the air and over the small inlet. The clumps of tall grass lining the edge of the beach whipped around, mixing with the sound of a sleeping bag being stepped on. Russet flopped down onto the soft fabric and grumbled, kicking his legs a few times against the ground. “I’m getting hungry again. Where’s Bill?”
"He left to get something in town," Chiffon answered promptly, and the grass type perked up, glancing over as the fennec folded her arms and seated herself next to him, her ear fur brushing against his shell. Both Pokemon watched their two other teammates on the beach, attempting to bury each other in the sand at the same time. "Besides, if you’re hungry, you can get something from his bag."
"Mmmm..." The Quilladin's stomach grumbled loudly as he thought about the pokepuffs Bill had stashed away, and he grinned at the look his friend gave him. Russet rolled onto his feet and walked over to his trainer's bag, peeking inside of it.
