{PKMN} Here's to Us {Reserved}

Kalista seemed to deflate after he'd finished answering. She had looked so excited about it as well. He felt a little bad. If he could just wish it up, he would have. He wondered how long she'd been searching the Purrloin out.

He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a little bad. It wasn't as if he couldn't delve into it at a later point. Maybe if the Purrloin wasn't cause, he could seek it out for her. Most were wiling to provide information to those of the Elite Four, after all.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be of any help to you." He answered, letting his hand fall back to his side. "You seem pretty determined to find it though," he offered, a smile gracing his lips. "I'm sure you will, some day."

She shook off the disappointment rather quickly. Grimsley was glad about that. If she bounced back in this manner, then she would be fine.

"Kalos?" He echoed. "Anything in particular you're looking for there?"

The question was a short one. Her words to continue on inside were quick. He spared a smile and a nod. Pushing the door open, he waited on her to walk in first. It was only polite. He'd follow in after.

They would be here a while, no doubt. The kids would have questions and some rather liked seeing him set an example in motion. These, and many other responsibilities, he was used to.

----|x|----

Snow was rather glad he understood what it felt like. A lot of people left without saying goodbye or convinced they'd simply meet again. She hated partings, honestly. They made her feel alone, far too isolated at times.

She wasn't sure what he meant however, when he claimed he had little to run off to. Did he not have a home or family? She was almost afraid to ask him. Both could be very personal things.

Instead, a smile graced her lips. "Well, you've got us now." She answered. "We'll just all be merry little drifters for a while."

It seemed the best response to his words. Honestly, there was a lot more she was seeing in him, something much deeper than the surface. While she was curious, she decided not to pry. Those kinds of things had gotten her in trouble in the past.

She blinked, glancing at Tehanu when N seemed to appose the idea. It was almost as if he was rather afraid of the thought. Snow tilted her head, watching as he ducked his head.

Something really had to have happened to make him like this.

"Alright," she answered after a moment. "If that's what you'd like."

Snow didn't say it out loud but she was still adamant about the idea. She figured she could instruct her Pokemon to get closer with him in time, as friends. That way, he wouldn't have to be lonesome either.

It was a little hard not to get discouraged when all she'd gotten was negative news about any oddly colored Purrloin sightings. For as stubborn as Kalista was there was only so much repeated failure a person could take! It might be best not to get her hopes up and keep chasing the little feline around Unova.

She shook her head, gesturing for Grimsley to get a move on. She got the answer she'd asked for even if it wasn't what she wanted to hear. There wasn't much point in standing around and dwelling on it. Still, that disappointment settled down on her harder than she'd like to admit.

"Yeah, yeah, we'll see," Kalista said dismissively, putting on her best aloof attitude on the matter.

It was easy to pick at Grimsley a little as they headed inside. The air was chillier here than outside though her hoodie did well to combat the change. Romulus' nails clicked on the tiled floor as he trailed along after them. With his thick fur he'd be little effected by the air conditioned place.

"Hmmmm, nope," she admitted simply. "Buuut there's not a lot here either!" At least not anything that she could afford though Kalista didn't point that out.

Despite the halls being familiar Kalista would follow Grimsley. She was merely tagging along as it was or she wouldn't even be here. It was a little weird being back in the halls anyways. For all Kalista knew, too, they could have changed up the classrooms.

----[x]----

N found himself growing uncomfortable again as Snow and Tehanu watched him, feeling as if he was being studied. He was finding more and more that he didn't quite like the feeling. N figured he couldn't do much about it, however, considering his penchant for people and pokémon watching, observing from afar. It felt a little hypocritical to think to ask them to stop.

He spared a nod in return to Snow's words. It still baffled N just how people could accept a stranger into their midst to travel with. There were all sorts of people and not all of them with good intentions!

"Something like that, at least," said N. It was a simple answer though an answer nonetheless.

Sharing pokémon startled him out of his thoughts and his somewhat content mood. He could feel Snow and Tehanu's eyes boring into him and he ducked his head, rising to his feet to pace a few feet away. From behind him he could hear Snow's answer though he wasn't so sure about the way they sounded. There was an undercurrent of something there, determination or something else?

N shook his head. What could he do about it? If he grew to uncomfortable he might end up having to drift away despite his promise. He was still awkward around people as it was and this wasn't helping.

"Where were you headed to here to find these emotion pokémon?" he interrogated instead.

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She seemed to be a little better now that they were moving. Grimsley wasn't sure how long that would last. He hadn't known her to be one who got down on herself. Really, the most he recalled was her being rather stubborn.

He hoped she held true to that. It rather showed how determined she was. Getting discouraged would do her no good.

It wasn't long before they were walking through the halls. Some of them were changed, painted a new color. Drawings and posters still decorated them, however, brightening up everything inside.

"I see," he answered lightly. "So you're looking for a new adventure, hmm?"

True enough, seeing the same old thing did cause other trainers to go to other regions. Kalista seemed to be one of those restless ones. If he was honest with himself, she always had been.

Still, something nagged at him about that. Grimsley tried to quash it for now.

They were silent afterward. It would be one classroom and then onto the next. This pattern would repeat for some time until the day was over. That didn't count the kids who would like to see him afterward.

"If this becomes too dull, you can wander." He answered. "I rather would like us to spend a little time together,afterward. This might take quite a bit of time."

----|x|----

Snow wasn't sure what to make of his behavior. One moment, he seemed fine, rather calm and friendly. The next, he looked uncomfortable. She wondered what she'd done to cause that.

She gnawed at her lip briefly, unsure of what to say. His reply was short enough. It almost looked as if he was withdrawing in some way or another. Snow shook her head.

A moment later, he was on his feet. A frown tugged at her lips. Momentary nervousness washed over her. Was he going to leave as well? She didn't want that. If it was something she did, he only need to say.

The thought was quashed when he instead asked her a question. She blinked before it dawned on her. Glancing in the general direction they needed to head, she nodded slightly.

"It's mostly through those woods," She explained. "Each reside at one of the lakes. This lake is called Lake Valor."

If anything, that broke any awkwardness in her. She just hoped this wouldn't go on. She really didn't want to be the cause of chasing another person off without meaning it.

Their footsteps seemed louder on the tiled floors. Really, Kalista could only guess that it sounded that way because it felt she hadn't been here in forever. In a way she hadn't been. It was more than a little strange if she was being honest, all new posters and announcements and the like littering the walls.

Kalista carried on trailing at Grimsley's side, he knew what he was here for at any rate. Romulus followed a little further behind as it was, his nails still clicking along loudly. While they went from room to room they could at least talk a little.

"Something like that, I guess," she admitted.

When she spared a quick glance at him it seemed like Grimsley was mulling something over. It was impossible to guess at what exactly was running through his head. Kalista didn't have much time to ask either.

Kalista took to keeping near the doorway as Grimsley visited the various classes. From those just starting this year to older kids, they all seemed attentive to what Grimsley would say, their chosen pokémon partner at their sides, assuming they weren't too large for the classroom.

Between rooms he'd spoken up again, catching her attention. Kalista scoffed, shaking her head and looking amused. "Are you kidding, and miss all the kids clamoring for little Grimmy's attention? Wouldn't miss it for the world!" And really it was strange to see, after years of him being a bookworm and keeping mostly to himself with his studies.

----[x]----

It felt better when he was standing, stretching his legs again. Maybe he'd subconsciously felt that being unable to move was keeping him rooted in thoughts he dwelled on. In any case it helped to be able to move, even if it was just a few steps here or there.

He glanced around, spotting the woods she spoke of. They weren't far from the trees, the plants growing denser towards it's edge. N wondered what kind of pokémon would be found hidden inside.

"I see," he said absently. "Lake Valor, hmm? It seems like a suitable place for a pokémon like that."

The sun was still fairly high up though N wasn't sure why he felt so tired. He'd been traveling for so long that maybe he was getting 'jet' lag. He was originally from Unova, he wondered what time it was there.

N paced here or there, merely moving to move. It wasn't much, only a few feet one way or the other. If nothing else he found he got a little restless when he thought, tapping a finger or bobbing his leg. It was something that had developed over the years until he found he preferred to pace a little.

The sound of their footsteps was somehow a little nostalgic in these halls. Then again, everything was a little bit nostalgic here. It was hard not to get taken back, a drift in old memories.

She was close at his side, something that he didn't quite mind. In the time he had become a member of the Elite Four, he was used to people being rather close. It wasn't something that people could be squeamish about.

A chuckle escaped him when she answered. "I'm sure you'll find one." he responded. "You always had a talent for finding something to occupy your time."

The stops and talks between classes was always interesting. Grimsley loved seeing these trainers, both younger and older, all gathered to learn. It was a treat as well, being able to be an influence on them. He was a little proud about his position if he was honest with himself.

Kalista often lingered by, watching him with a little amusement on her face. When he excited another room, she was quick to joke about. He spared a light grin down at her.

"Oh, I am sure," he answered lightly. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, a chuckle leaving his throat. "You seem to take quite a bit of amusement out of all of this awe. It's quite endearing, actually."

He glanced at her face, noting the expression before he turned his attention in front of him again. A little amusement overtook his expression but other than that, he didn't prod her too much. For the moment, he was merely testing the waters.

----|x|----

N's reply was a brief one and Snow frowned at that. She'd met some odd people here and there but never this closed off. She spared a glance toward Tehanu, wondering if he understood better than she did. She only offered a shrug before she pushed herself to her feet.

Motioning toward Tehanu, the Ninetales moved over to N rubbed his snout on his leg. If that made N feel any bit of comfort, Snow was glad about it. She spared a smile and pointed in the direction she would be heading.

"Lake Valor is that way," she explained carefully. "We're going to head there now. If you'd like to come along, you can. We won't chase you off."

He seemed like he was anxious about something though Snow didn't ask. It was best not to, she figured. Asking something too personal might just cause him to close himself off more. Snow had run into people who were less guarded than this and it was a strange change of pace to be so careful.

She toyed with her camera before she started in the direction of Lake Valor. They still had day light to burn. Snow could take her time if she wished to but that would risk a trail going cold. She wanted to avoid that as best as she could.

Tehanu lingered beside N, waiting to see if he'd follow or not. If he chose not to, she knew that Tehanu would eventually return to her side.

She didn’t mention it but it was so strange to her to be back in these halls again. Honestly, Kalista hadn’t thought she’d have run into Grimsley again after all these years anyways, much less at their old school. The only changes were that Grimsley was taller than her and she was the one trailing after him this time around. She might have been a little closer to his side than necessary but then he didn’t seem to mind much.

In between classes was when they talked, piecing their conversation together. He seemed a little amused by this though he didn’t mention it. At her side Romulus trekked along, his claws clacking over the tile floors.

“I suppose,” Kalista said absently, “I’ve been all over Unova though.”

That topic had dropped at the next classroom before Grimsley could answer. Kalista had hung around near the door, leaning against the jamb. Watching the littler kids was pretty amusing, their eyes full of awe because Grimlsey was there and he was an Elite Four member. Kalista had to bite her lip to keep from smiling about that. She couldn’t help but to feel proud about Grimlsey’s accomplishments, even if she had missed out on seeing them for herself.

Quicker than it felt they were back out in the halls, however, heading to the next classroom he was going to speak in. Even then he seemed to take his time in getting there, turning back to their conversation as they went.

Kalista blinked, taking in what he said. Endearing? That was definitely the last thing she’d have expected to be said. Was her face turning red? It felt like it might have.

She cleared her throat and then said “you think that’s cute, huh? Next thing I know you’ll be asking to marry me!” It was a quick prod, merely to level the playing field again. Kalista hadn’t missed the amusement on his face when he’d said anything about it, after all.

----[x]----

N was no closer to understanding Snow now than he was minutes ago. She was frowning again, a common occurrence during this conversation, N had noted. Had he said something wrong? It seemed oftentimes he did and it drove other people away. It were those times that he wondered if he was ever going to really understand people as much as he did pokémon.

He paused in his pacing when Ninetales approached, rubbing his muzzle against N’s leg. Pausing in his pacing, he smiled down at Ninetales, reaching out to pat him behind his ears. If Snow wasn’t near he might have tried to carry a conversation with Ninetales but he’d also found that many people were unnerved when they saw he could communicate with pokémon much better and quicker than they had been able to.

N’s gaze drifted back to Snow when she’d spoken. So she was planning on heading out now? Perhaps that was best, even if he did tag along. He’d grown a little restless, after all.

“If it’s no trouble I would like that,” N admitted.

It was a short wait, allowing Snow to gather her bearings and lead the way. Sinnoh was not a place that N knew, after all. She might point him in the right direction but chances were without a guide or a map and compass it would do him little good unless he ran into another pokémon or trainer to ask.

Ninetales seemed content at his side though N wasn’t sure why that was. Most pokémon preferred to be nearer to their trainers at first, at least that was what he’d seen. Perhaps he might be able to ask Ninetales later.

She seemed to take her time and spare a glance around every so often. In between classes, Grimsley could only imagine what might be on her mind. She was always a bit closed off and she still might fall into those old habits. He couldn't say that she had changed. She might have gotten a little taller but it was hard to say anything in her personality had come to change.

Still, stringing the conversation together as they went on was a nice change of pace for him. Actually speaking to someone he knew well from his childhood was a rarity anymore. He was always rather busy with his position, after all.

"Well, when the time comes, I'm sure you may go other places." he answered, his tone holding a lightness to it. Most trainers did, after all. It was a wonder why she stayed within Unova so long other than to track down that odd colored Purrloin.

Before the conversation could continue on, he stopped at another class and talked there as well. There would be a few others he would have to visit until he was done for the day. Even then, he knew that there would be some who would want to speak with him afterward as well.

After he had stepped out and spoke again, Kalista had looked taken aback by his words. She blinked, her cheeks warming a tad before she cleared her throat. Grimsley offered a chuckle. He'd picked at girls before, of course, but this felt a little more natural. He knew her, after all, and complimenting her went a longer way to him.

"Yes," he said, glancing down at her again. "Do you not feel you're cute, Kalista? Shame on you."

A chuckle escaped him at her next words. Now that would have been something of a surprise if he actually taken that suggestion. A little prod here and there would be interesting to see, however. She'd opened herself up for that much.

"Now, don't tempt me." he joked lightly. "I may have to do just that."

----|x|----

Snow did her best not to worry about the anxiousness she'd seen in him. He might have not picked out her taking notice to it. She'd become a little observant with people as she did pokémon so picking out discomforts had become a little easier.

Tehanu made him comfortable however and she would let the Nintales remain by his side. Tehanu might have done so anyways, just to make him feel better. She tried to allow her pokémon as much freedom as she could manage.

"It's no trouble at all," she answered lightly. "We'd quite like the company."

She motioned for them to follow or fall into step with her. She didn't have such a long stride, so it would be an easy thing to catch up with her. From there, it was merely getting to the lake. There was a bit of forest they would have to get to.

"I don't plan on getting there today," she explained as they went. "But I'd like to get close before evening. The woods are thick enough to get lost in and I'd rather avoid something like that."

She had a map and a compass just in case she ever got lost. It was rare but it did happen. She wasn't always familiar with the terrain of new regions.

"I hope you don't mind that," she carried on. "Camping out with essentially a stranger. Don't worry, we're not as bad as we look."

Snow spared a friendly smile in his direction. Beside him, Tehanu lifted his head, staring at the green haired male for a moment. She couldn't begin to understand what was drawing her pokémon closely to him. Snow tried not to question that kind of thing. They happened for a reason and she did her best to accept them, already chasing strange things as it was.

Kalista didn’t dwell too much on the idea of leaving Unova. The thought hadn’t been a new one to her though she’d always found something to stay in the region for. As of the last few years it had been mostly to track down that Purrloin though when it really got down to it she found that it was hard to leave something one was so familiar with. It was something of a crux for her, often neglecting any opportunities to better her life because of it.

She was a little thankful for the brief lapse in conversation as he’d talked to another class full of trainers. Kalista was able to draw away from that thought. Grimsley had been rather perceptive when they were kids, the last thing she needed was for him to prod at half-formed ideas she still shied away from.

Talk had become a little more playful after that anyways, if a little at each other’s expense. Maybe a little more hers than his, what with the way he so easily retaliated.

There was a moment where Kalista struggled for something to say. He’d gotten quicker with his rebuttals over the years, that was for sure. It left her surprised and wondering how else he might have changed.

“Well,” she finally said, “you’ve gotten cheeky!”

It didn’t seem as if he wished to stop just yet, carrying the teasing forward. Though she knew he was joking Kalista felt as if her heart skipped a beat, accompanied by butterflies in her stomach. She hoped it wasn’t too obvious that it happened.

“Okay, wise guy, you’ve had your fun,” Kalista pointed out, “you can cool it now!”

----[x]----

N found himself grateful that they weren’t chasing him away. Not many did thought it was becoming steadily clearer that many didn’t quite enjoy his company. Some outright told him he was too odd for his own good. Instead Snow allowed him to trail along after despite that.

He spared a small smile, keeping a few paces behind her. Snow was the one who knew the way, after all. N might end up getting them lost and having to rely on the pokémon around the area for help. That was usually when he was pushed away from trainers.

N nodded absently when she spoke. There was nothing wrong with heading out and getting as close as they could to the place. It definitely would be better than lazing about and letting the day pass by with little done.

“I’m sure we’ll cover good ground,” N said, if only to keep the conversation going.

It seemed that Snow had other worries, however. N blinked at the mention of camping out with strangers. A moment after he shook his head, unconcerned by this. True, he claimed he had no pokémon but he did have Zekrom at his side if she was more dangerous than he looked. Not that she needed to know that, however.

“I am sure things will be fine,” he said shortly. There really wasn’t anything more to say on that matter, not that N could see.

He returned the small smile Snow had sent his way. At the very least she was friendly, that certainly helped matters for N.

A short laugh left him at her baffled expression. She didn't seem to realize he'd gotten a little quick in rebuttals these days. It helped to be a little witty, carrying himself rather well. He admitted that he was a little prideful of that as well.

He found her cheeks warmed a little. She wasn't one who was so bashful in the past. From what he had remembered, she was a bit more aggressive back when they were kids. Perhaps she had cooled a little over the years.

Grimsley waved off her words rather easily, a short chuckle leaving him. It was easy to find that she was caught off guard with what he had said.

"Only if you're asking," he replied lightly. "I would have never believed you to be so bashful."

It was a light prod though, true for him. People changed through the years, that much was for sure. Perhaps she'd gotten in touch with a little more of her softer side. She hadn't often showed it when they were kids.

"What do you plan on doing after this, Kalista?" he inquired instead, if only to save her a little face. "Where do you plan on heading?"

If anything, he would like to keep in contact. It wasn't often these kinds of meeting just happened again. He would have preferred to have her number or address, if only to visit when he could.

----|x|----

Snow toyed with her camera as they walked. It wasn't something difficult to use, being used to it for so long now. Eventually, she left it dangle around her neck until it was needed. If anything caught her interest, she might pick it up and snap a few pictures again.

Tehanu's steps were quiet, barely noticed as they continued on. Snow spared a smile back, nodding at N when he spoke up. At least he wasn't worried about staying out. She ran into some paranoid people here and there.

"Good, I'm glad to hear it," she replied lightly.

Conversation died down a little after that. Snow wasn't much of a talker most days, so used to being on her own. She preferred it this way, out here without the crowds.

Snow had to wonder what was on his mind or what he thought. If anything, he was quiet too, not leaving a lot of room for her to figure him out. Only at one point did she catch discomfort from her actions. She would be careful not to step on his toes later on.

She lifted her head, watching as the they grew closer to the forest. In there, they would find the lake sometime tomorrow. That was if the legendary pokémon wasn't already on the move. She'd have to pick up the trail all over again and for the time being, she'd rather avoid that.

He had laughed then, sounding louder since they were in such an empty hallway. Still, Kalista liked the sound of it even if she wouldn't mention it out loud. Her face still felt warm even when his laughter subsided. Whether he noticed or not she couldn't say, if he did he mercifully didn't mention it.

It was a little strange to have this change in dynamic after so many years. Kalista had always been the one picking on him when they were little. Grimsley might have liked the change, able to tease her back so easily. She cleared her throat, turning her face away so that it wouldn't be so obvious that she was so caught off guard. It was probably still obvious though.

"Yeah, yeah," she muttered, glancing back at him discreetly, "you seem to love though."

It was something of a relief when Grimsley changed the topic. Only then did she turn back to him a little more fully while they walked. She wasn't sure which classroom he had to speak in next though it must not have been close if he was asking something like that. Even when they'd bee piecing together their conversations they'd seemed to keep questions at a minimum before those lengths in time where it was put on hold.

She thought about it for a minute still unsure about it herself. That Purrloin couldn't have gotten far unless someone had managed to catch it out from under her and what were the odds that she'd find another one that color if that was the case? Kalista hummed still no closer to an answer now then she had been before.

"I was planning on staying home for a few days," she said finally, "after that I'm not sure..."

Another glance was tossed Grimsley's way. Her home in the city wasn't a shabby little apartment and she'd rather keep that on the down low if she could. It had always been something she'd been embarrassed about as kids and it was something she was still embarrassed about now, especially so when Grimsley was still doing so well for himself.

----[x]----

Snow seemed to appreciate N's words and for that it he was grateful. At the very least he was making some progressive dealing with people in a whole. It was something he was still struggling to comprehend and take into account but even the small steps felt large to him. N had to wonder if it showed or not.

From the corner of his eye he saw Snow lower the camera, allowing it to swing from her neck freely. Ninetales had taken to leading the way a bit, his steps almost completely inaudible. It was interesting to see the nine tails swaying as he walked. Occasionally he could see Ninetales glance back at them perhaps to make sure they were following closely enough for his liking.

His and Snow's steps were louder than Ninetales by far, crunching over dirt or dried weeds and twigs. Any pokémon nearby scurried away though some he spotted as they retreated. It was interesting trying to figure out what kind they were before they were gone entirely. When N couldn't spot any others in the immediate area he tried to think of something to say, that was something that people did as far as he knew especially so when they were getting to know each other.

"What is it you do when you're not off photographing pokémon?" he started finally, wondering if it was the right thing to ask or not.

All N could do was wait for her answer. Maybe she'd be asking about himself next but he wasn't even sure how he'd answer to them. It wasn't like Snow would react happily if he mentioned he'd been part of Team Plasma in the Unova region. That was even assuming that she knew about the goings on there months ago.

The trees came closer with each step, looming up high above them. It would be in there that N would be able to spot more pokémon before they hid himself away. In the very least Snow might be able to get a few photos as they went as well.

He didn't make mention of how easily it was to prod her now. Something told him that she was well aware of it now but was trying to deny it.

She turned away from him briefly, if only to cool her face, he was sure. Grimsley rarely got the upper hand as kids. It was clearly strange for it to be switched. He brushed it off rather easily, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Sure I do," he replied lightly, "it's been a long while since I've been able to play with you."

Grimsley resisted a chuckle as she shot him a look. Shooting her a charming smile, he offered a light shrug. The playful attitude on his part was a nice change of pace. He was quite used to carrying himself a little more professionally, given his status to most trainers.

There was a bit of silence between them before she told him her plans. Returning home and nothing more after that. Grimsley hummed in response to that, nodding.

"I'd like to keep in contact, if you don't mind," he brought up then, "so I can visit some time."

It would be a simple enough exchange after that, albeit she was hesitant on the matter. The day would wear on quickly after that before they would part ways. Grimsley would return to the place he was staying before moving on in the next few days.

----|x|----

It was a little quiet though Snow didn't mind. She kept an eye ahead of them. Sometimes her gaze would wander to a pokémon that would run off, moving too quickly for her to snap a picture. She wasn't really trying to remain subtle as it was, so it was no big loss.

Tehanu remained ahead, if only to search for potential trouble. This was a normal habit, one Snow was used to. For N, it might have been strange behavior.

She glanced at him when he finally spoke. N didn't ask many questions, she found, and it left her pondering for an answer briefly. She hummed, tipping her head to one side slightly.

"It depends where I am, I suppose," she replied, "Sometimes I'm taking pictures of people in cities, others I'm just bumming around until I get restless again and leave. Sometimes I go home. I suppose I don't really have any set plans aside from searching out the legendary pokémon."

That was true enough. All she wanted to do was see them and allow others to see them through her pictures. It was quite the goal to strive for, especially when some were merely stories.

He'd only given a brief response before things quieted down again. They would travel on through the woods for quite some time before settling down for the night.

Even if she'd turned away to hide how red her face must have been she still smiled at Grimsley's light prod. It'd been a long time since she'd spoken to anyone from this school she'd been on good terms with and it was something she hadn't realized that she'd missed. Nonetheless Kalista shot him a look, more amused then annoyed to which he'd flashed her a rather charming smile.

She cleared her throat, unwilling to admit that she found that smile to be rather cute. No, that'd just give him more ammo to use against her and he already had enough of that it seemed. Romulus' claws clicking against the tile flaws was rhythmic though he yipped softly as if to remind them that he was there. Thankfully it was then that Grimsley had changed the topic.

"Uh, y-yeah! Sure," she said hesitantly. Despite her feelings on the matter she made sure to jot down what he'd need to find or contact her later. Kalista hoped it would be the latter, there wasn't any reason for him to see that shabby little apartment building she called home.

It seemed that the day moved quickly after that and soon enough they had parted ways. Romulus kept near to Kalista's side on the way back home as he always did. The walk was a slow one, there wasn't any need to rush. The sun was starting to set but the areas would be will lit with street lights. Even the area Kalista lived in had a reasonable about of people lingering outside on the sidewalks after the sun set, assuming the weather was nice enough for it.

The closer she got to home, however, the more alarmed she grew. Sirens had reached her ears and in the distance she could see smoke rising. She didn't even need to spare a glance down at Romulus to know that he would follow after as she darted ahead, feet pounding hard against the pavement. The closer she got to the source the more her heart dropped into the pit of her stomach, all of the streets and buildings were ones she had to pass to get home.

Eventually her run slowed, finding herself before a large crowd. They were pushed far enough away to be out of danger as the firefighters and their pokémon worked to put out the blaze. Kalista was quiet, unable to form any words to the fact that her home was now nothing but fire and ashes. Everything she had was now in the bag at her side. Romulus whined, nudging her with his nose as she merely sat back on the pavement, staring at the fire in disbelief. If she bothered to look around she would have seen many of her neighbors gathered around nearby as well, clutching to their loved ones.

----[x]----

It was nice to see a pokémon going to such lengths to protect his trainer. N had to wonder how he'd been so blind to this behavior before. He'd clearly been used because of his ability to communicate easily with pokémon but had Ghetsis done something without N even realizing to make him that way? He'd heard about things like that, been accused of being 'brain washed' once or twice. Was that something that actually had happened?

A frown had tugged at N's lips at that. In an effort to shake the thought away he'd asked about Snow again, hoping to make some progress with how to deal with people. From the way Snow answered he must have been doing alright about it. He had to wonder if his bought of silence were frustrating for her or not.

"Sounds like you keep yourself busy," he'd said finally, unable to figure out what else he was supposed to say. With that they had grown quiet again.

N wasn't sure how long they walked after that with Ninetales leading the way the entire time. They'd made it inside the forest where many more pokémon could be seen darting around. As N had predicted many were brave here, lingering long enough to inspect them before they scurried away. It was always fascinating to see what kind of pokémon a region had but Sinnoh's were unlike anything N could say he'd seen before.

Eventually they had stopped to set up camp however. N had no tent to use though he had to wonder if Snow kept one for herself. Some did and others didn't, it was always a little interesting to see who did or didn't. At least, to N it was. Nonetheless he got to work, helping out with what he could. There was plenty of dry wood around to use for a fire in the very least and he busied himself with that.

The day had passed by quickly, much to Grimsley's displeasure. He would have to be moving on soon, having a busy schedule to attend to. Being able to see Kalista would take time though if anything, he had her number. It wasn't as if ties were completely broken, after all.

It was easy to find a place to stay that night. He often didn't have trouble and most were willing to find him a room in a hotel. He settled down for the night, turning on the TV to a local news channel.

Most of the evening was rather uneventful. He spent a little time looking over where to be tomorrow and what to expect. He had long since adjusted to his life as it was, busy with little breaks.

His eyes flickered to the screen when a breaking report was brought up. A fire had broken out in an apartment building. For a long moment, he was baffled by how the address seemed so familiar to him. Only when he dug out the paper Kalista had given him did he realize what was going on.

Grimsley dug out his phone, quickly pounding in her number. Several long rings passed and he wasn't sure if she would pick up. He sat on his bed, his heart pounding hard against his chest.

Is she alright? he wondered quietly. Please be okay...

----|x|----

The conversation had more or less fallen silent after that. Snow didn't push N into any more of it. After a bit of frustration earlier, she figured it might be for the best. Something had happened to N but she couldn't be sure of what that might have been.

She left Tehanu to tread around the area they would camp at. Typically, he did so often just to ensure it was safe. Rarely was there any issue out this deep in the woods.

N was collecting would and Snow had placed her bag on the ground. She didn't carry much, just the essentials for out here. She spent a lot of time away from cities and towns.

"I hope you don't mind but I don't have a tent," she explained, watching as N he gathered kindling, "it was a little too much to carry along with my camera equipment and the other essentials. I've only got one sleeping bag as well, so if you're not partial to it, we can share."

If anything, it was an offer for him. She'd rather not leave him in the cold, that just seemed rude. She had to wonder why he carried so little way out here. Snow decided not to ask. If he wanted her to know, he would tell her in time.

Kalista wasn't sure how long she sat there on the pavement. Romulus had taken to leaning heavily against her side, his furry body warm against the night chill. Many people had been shooed away that didn't live in the apartment complexes though that still left a hefty amount of people and pokémon lingering about and waiting. At the very least everyone was evacuated or had been gone at the start of the fire though people were still being checked over who'd been inside at the time.

At one point the elderly lady that lived to the right of Kalista's had come to check on her, a little Pidove perched on her shoulder as always. After some hopeful or halfhearted reassurances, Kalista still wasn't sure which, the little elderly woman had drifted back to her husband's side.

The cell phone in her bag began to ring at some point though it was muffled and it wasn't until Romulus moved, glancing at her bag curiously did Kalista become aware of it. Blinking, she fished for it feeling as if she were moving in deep water. When she did manage to pull out the phone the number on the screen was unfamiliar to her. All the same she answered, ignoring Romulus' curious gaze.

"Hello?"

The voice on the other end was Grimsley's. Startled at the questions she glanced around, brow furrowed. Only after she glanced the nearby reporter and his cameraman did the pieces click. She shuffled in place, unsure of what to feel. Earlier she'd been embarrassed at the idea that Grimsley might see how poorly she still lived but now she had nothing at all and she wasn't even sure what had started the fire. Had someone had a fire-type pokémon they couldn't handle?

"N-No, I'm okay," she reassured, turning back to watch the fire. There was no way that place was going to be salvageable anytime soon. At her side Romulus whined, ears flattened along his skull as he peered up at her.

----[x]----

Ninetales had taken to wandering the area, sniffing at this or that. Occasionally N saw him stop, ears swiveling this way and that. Whatever he heard was too quiet for N to hear as well though he did grow curious. Were other pokémon in the distance, speaking of something interesting? He shook the thought away, now wasn't the time for them.

He'd busied himself gathering wood for the fire to distract himself from those thoughts. It didn't help much though it gave him something to do rather than just sit around and let Snow do it all. That just didn't seem right to him, especially so when he was getting to know how to cooperate with people.

Eventually she'd spoken, drawing his attention. By this time he'd gathered up what he'd picked in clear area. It'd be easy to keep an eye on the fire through the night, he had plenty of practice by now. He arranged what they needed to start the fire, glancing up at her.

"That's fine, don't worry about me," he assured, waving her off.

He wasn't quite comfortable with the idea of sharing a sleeping bag. Usually he'd have befriended a pokémon or two and they'd help to keep him warm through the night. It wasn't like he could just call out Zekrom and alert Snow or others to the legendary's presence. No, that might be problematic even if Snow's intentions were solely for her photography.

"It's not too bad out tonight especially when we get this fire going," N pointed out, smiling a little, "I've been through worse places as well."

The phone rang for a long while and Grimsley almost hung up to try again. Eventually she had picked up, hesitance in her tone when she spoke. He ignored it, immediately asking if she was alright.

Relief washed over him when she started to speak a little more openly. He puffed out a sigh, pushing himself up from the bed. Pacing helped clear his head a little. She had no home to return to so where would she go?

"Do you have any place to stay?" he inquired finally, pausing in his pacing. "Look, you can stay with me if you don't have anywhere to go."

Grimsley knew he'd worry less if that was the case. He didn't know if anyone would want to tend to her or if she had family to return to. Did she have a good relationship with her family? He couldn't recall.

"It won't take me long to get there," he pressed further, "just tell me what you want to do."

For all he knew she was in shock. Returning to her apartment only to find it burning would be devastating for anyone. He would wait as patiently as he could allow himself, for her sake.

----|x|----

Snow waited patiently for N to speak up. He looked a little caught off guard by her words but it didn't bother her. For the most part, they were only acquaintances and the suggestion would have been strange for most.

"If you're sure," she replied, sparing a small smile in return.

The night wouldn't be too bad but early morning could be chilly. If she took notice to any chill in the night, she would direct Tehanu to him. If anything, he would be able to keep N warm.

She let her bag hit the ground, sparing a glance toward Tehanu. He was quiet, trotting about carefully. On occasion, he would stop and listen. There seemed to be no danger out there otherwise he would have alerted her long ago.

Her attention turned to him again after he'd mentioned being to worse areas. She tipped her head, moving to help gather kindling.

"Where have you been?" she inquired after, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, "have a love for traveling, hmm?"

She couldn't be sure but it sounded like he'd sighed on the other end. It was so noisy where she was at that it was hard to tell. For the small stretch of silence that followed Kalista imagined he had taken to pacing. Even as a kid when he'd been worried or stressed he'd taken to it, had that habit changed? It was hard to imagine him doing otherwise.

She hesitated when he spoke up next. All of the others she considered friends were more akin to loose acquaintances, ones she met with whenever she was near their homes on her travels but she couldn't ask them to take her in. Likewise she'd lost track of her family sometime in those first few years of traveling, their numbers long since erased from her phone.

For a long moment Kalista didn't answer. She wanted to tell Grimsley not to worry about it, that she'd figure something out or that she could easily just keep traveling though that wasn't a permanent solution to the problem at all. Just a few hours ago she'd been worried about him seeing how poorly she lived but now she had nothing and that just made that feeling of embarrassment and shame all the worse. Whether or not it was rational to feel that way Kalista never bothered to dwell on it.

Instead of any of that she said "uhm, o-okay. I mean, if that's not a problem for you."

She still had her reservations on the matter though she couldn't bring herself to voice any of them. It was easy to hear the worry in Grimsley's voice and it made it hard to argue against him. Though the worry was already digging itself a little spot in the back of her mind Kalista knew that down the road she'd be stressing about imposing on him or seeming like she was leeching off of him.

Romulus was staring up at her, waiting to be filled in on what was happening now. Around them others were on their phones or still being looked over. The elderly lady that had come to check on Kalista was being met with a younger woman, maybe her daughter for all Kalista knew. At least the others seemed to have someone to turn to as well.

----[x]----

N glanced back up at Snow when she spoke again, returning the smile briefly before he'd turned back to starting the fire. Eventually her Ninetales had come back around to assist, seemingly coughing up a few embers to light the timber aflame. N had moved out of the way before Ninetales had done this, patting the pokémon affectionately afterwards in thanks.

He continued to tend to it, fanning the flames carefully. It wouldn't be a long process as it didn't seem to have rained anytime soon. N had been lucky because of it, dry wood didn't burn nearly as easily and he'd rather not end up smoking away any pokémon hiding in the treetops above them.

Eventually Snow spoke up again, asking more about himself. He offered a shrug at first, gaze drifting down to the fire. There wasn't a lot to tell honestly, not that he felt. For all he knew she was seeking more from him than what she really asked though N couldn't say for sure. He could only wait and find out.

"Just Unova," he answered simply before he floundered for a minute about how to answer the next question. He'd been all over Unova but would that be counted as a long time? N couldn't be sure. "I can't really say... Not sure, really."

He glanced back up at her, smiling a little in apology. She didn't seem to be deterred by the lack of a real answer or rather a detailed one. That was good, N didn't have many detailed answers to give for the time being. It would be a lie if he said that he wasn't worried about the time when she'd begin pressing for more detailed ones.

Kalista had taken her time replying to him and he patiently waited on her to speak. If she was in any amount of distress or shock, rushing her wouldn't help. He didn't want to be the cause of any more panic if he pushed her.

He forced himself to sit back down, his old habit not helping the situation. Pacing was merely keeping him busy while his thoughts raced. If he was this worried he could only imagine how Kalista might be feeling now.

Eventually she agreed and he nodded. Realizing that she could not see the motion, he cleared his throat before carrying on, "it's no trouble at all. I just want you safe."

Having a roof over her head and a place to sleep would make him feel better. Kalista had already expressed that she wasn't traveling further out of Unova and really, she couldn't just spend all her time traveling without a place to return to. That seemed more like an avoidance of the issue.

He pushed himself off the bed, getting ready to exit the room. Grimsley tucked the key into his pocket after locking up.

"It shouldn't take me terribly long to get there," he explained, having noted the address wasn't far from the school itself. Grimsley had settled into a hotel in the nearby city. "Just sit tight, alright?"

It wouldn't take him long to flag down a driver. He'd pay for the expense there and back, just as long as Kalista was safe. If he could help it, she could stay as long as she needed to.

----|x|----

Tehanu had helped at least start the fire. N tended to it for a bit and Snow sat back, observing. If he needed help, he would ask her. She didn't like to hover around when people were at work. It just seemed rude and she didn't care for it herself.

In a short time, N had managed to get the fire going. Snow crossed her legs, content where she was for a time. She'd worry about getting something cooking soon.

Instead, she focused on what he had to say. His answer was short, much like it had been before. She didn't press for more of them. That seemed a bit rude and if he was simply naturally closed off, she didn't want to over step any boundaries.

"I'd like to get there some day," she replied, focusing more on a lighter conversation, "that and Kalos. I've heard they have some interesting pokémon and legends there too."

If he was only coming out of Unova, maybe he didn't know them. Snow would be willing to share some of what she had heard, if he was interested in it. N was a baffling one, however. Most people weren't so unsure of just speaking. She didn't inquire as to why that was however. Everyone was a little different, after all.

If she hadn’t known any better Kalista almost would have thought she’d lost the call with Grimsley considering how quiet he was on the other end. Before she’d answered she had enough mind to check the phone, noting that it had not. It was still quiet for a second or two longer before Grimsley spoke again.

What he said was enough to cut through her shock momentarily, her heart thumping up in her throat. She could hear some sort of background noise from his end though she couldn’t make out what it was from everything happening around her. Before she could even think of anything to say Grimsley was speaking again, sounding rushed.

She nodded mutely, remembering to talk a second later. “Y-yeah, I’ll be here…”

The phone was kept in her hands, lowering to her lap as she stared at it for a long minute after. Romulus was nudging her arm with his snout, whining lowly. This was enough to draw Kalista’s attention to the worried Mightyena. Her hand felt heavy when she reached up to scratch behind his ears.

“Grimsley’s coming, Rommy,” she mumbled.

Romulus licked her cheek reassuringly, another low whine escaping him. They sat like that while they waited, Kalista leaning heavily on the large canine pokémon. At one point a medical team checked her and Romulus over, breaking the wait up a little though otherwise they sat and watched the firefighters and their pokémon go about their job.

----[x]----

N was glad that Snow didn’t seem to be the type that pressed for answers. Instead she seemed to mull over what little he told her, Tehanu hovering near the two of them. If N wasn’t mistaken it seemed like the Ninetales wished to remain between the two, perhaps curious of N and wishing to remain near his trainer at the same time.

“Kalos?” he echoed, head tilted to one side. He thought he’d heard the name once or twice before but couldn’t be sure. “Perhaps there are many new pokémon to see there too…”

Each new region seemed to house ones that N had never seen before. Many he learned about in his books long ago but he’d loved to see them and meet them in person. Perhaps in time he’d be able to though for now it was merely a dream of sorts.

“Perhaps you may yet reach it,” N said after a stretch of silence had passed. This seemed to be enough to pick Snow’s mood up a bit and he smiled briefly at that.

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands together. Talk had drawn to a halt as he wondered what sorts of pokémon might be hidden within Kalos. Perhaps he’d make a trip there himself one of these days. It was at least a plan, one he hadn’t had before now. ’Better than wandering around aimlessly,’ he reasoned to himself.

N gestured to Snow after a while and asked, “Do you plan on heading towards Kalos after photographing the pokémon here?”

Grimsley moved as quickly as his legs could carry him. He hated the thought of his childhood friend alone, unable to stand on her own two feet. She didn't have much when he knew her a child. Everything she owned was burning now.

Minutes seemed to tick by like hours. The car didn't seem to move fast enough despite feeling as if he was putting the pedal to the floor.

The smoke was clear in the sky when he approached the area. His heart hammered against his chest as he finally brought the vehicle to a halt. He was quick to get out, slamming the door shut behind him.

Fire officials were scattered about tending to the injured and what was left of the fire. It had died down considerable since he'd seen it on the news.

"Kalista!" he called, hoping that his voice would carry over the noise. He looked about frantically, worry on his features, "Kalista, where are you? Are you alright?"

That seemed like a stupid question. Of course she wasn't alright. With his mind running a mile per minute, it was the only thing he could think to say.

----|x|----

The Kalos region didn't seem to be wildly known, at least not to those who traveled away from news so often. Snow had only heard of it in passing and wanted to see it herself. It didn't surprise her so much that N didn't know of it either.

"That's right," she replied, "I've heard a great many stories about the region as well, so I'm a little excited to see it one day."

She smiled at his words as she reached out to scratch behind Tehanu's ears. The Nintales seemed to enjoy the contact, leaning into her hand as she did so.

"You can go wherever you want to," she noted after he'd spoken, "Provided you have the means. Don't let anything hold you back."

She leaned back on the palms of her hands, watching the stars above. It was such a quiet evening, the only sound breaking that silence were the calls of other Pokémon.

"I hope to, if I wrap up in this region," she replied, "Who knows, I might end up there sooner rather than later. Sometimes chasing a trail to it's end leads no where so I pick up and go somewhere else."

It was always a bit of a wild goose chase but one she loved. She wouldn't give it up for the world.

She couldn’t say how much time passed. Even when she checked the time on her phone the time didn’t stick with her, forgotten seconds after. It was merely a distraction, toying with the phone to avoid looking at the remains of the apartment complex. The remains still smoldered, belching huge clouds of smoke into the evening sky.

It wasn’t until Romulus picked his head up, ears pricked forward did Kalista really pay much attention to anything. She glanced at him, waiting for Romulus to react further. If it was nothing he’d calm and she’d go back to waiting, mind blank of many thoughts. It was still hard to think about how she had next to nothing now.

Romulus barked, all but leaping to his paws a moment after and startling Kalista. She didn’t have much time to wonder about what he was urging her up for before a familiar voice reached her above the noise of everything else around them. Kalista glanced around, brow furrowing until she spotted Grimsley.

“I’I’m over here!” she called out, rising to her feet. Her knees had grown stiff with how long she’d sat like that but it was a momentary distraction at least.

She managed a few steps towards Grimsley though his own were rushed and he’d reached her before she’d gotten far. Kalista attempted to spare a smile though it was a weak attempt at best. Romulus whining at her side made her very aware of that fact.

“Grimmy…? Thank you,” she mumbled, tentatively slipping her hand into his. She wasn’t bothered by the fact that his hand felt chilly against her own. Part of her was irrationally afraid he’d just leave her there with nothing and no one to turn to.

----[x]----

N mulled over Snow’s reply, nodding as he did. He wasn’t sure what kept her here if she was so eager to see this new region. Perhaps it was about the legendary pokémon she wished to photograph, it seemed like something to keep a person rooted to a particular region. N would trail along if only to make sure she was truthful in her endeavor.

Honestly, part of him was curious about her as well.

N’s thoughts were broken when Snow spoke unbidden again. For a moment he was too surprised to say anything, he could only shake his head. What prompted her to say that? He’d been wandering all over for some months now at this rate because of that after all.

Clearing his throat, he said, “I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you.”

Snow was eager to carry on the conversation it seemed, smiling when she went on. N couldn’t help but to tentatively smile back, a little glad to see someone so enthusiastic about something other than fighting other trainers. True, he had learned that pokémon battles weren’t always a bad thing, in fact many trainers took precautions to keep their teammates safe, but it was a nice change of pace. N couldn’t help but to admire her for it.

“May I ask what got you into photographing pokémon, Snow?” he wondered.

The bark that rang out was a relief to hear to him. He heard it clearly despite the noise around him. Kalista followed after Romulus, a little relief on her own features. She looked shaken up but otherwise unharmed.

Grimsley heaved a heavy sigh, turning a little more fully toward her. She was alright, that's what mattered. He didn't know what he'd do if she'd been hurt in that fire.

"I'm glad you're alright," he said as she reached for his hand. He gave hers a squeeze though it still felt as if it trembled in his grip.

"It's alright," he replied, "I wish I could do more."

He meant those words. If he could have prevented all of this from happening, he would have. There was nothing more that he could do other than offer her a place to stay and comfort.

"Come on," he urged, tugging her hand lightly, "We'll get you some place warm. You can take all the time you need to calm down."

The sooner he got back on the road, the better she would feel. She needed to be far away from this place. Staying here would only serve as a reminder.

----|x|----

Snow was content where she was. The night was comfortable, a light breeze brushing by here or there. The conversation was nice too. She had started to realize how long she'd gone without one.

She smiled as he replied despite how awkward he sounded. While the words might have meant little to him or confusing, they held a lot of meaning for her. She had always wanted to travel but never had the opportunity until she took off on her own.

When he asked about her interest, she hummed briefly. That was a question she had to dig for an answer for. There were many reasons, if she was truthful.

"Ah, when I was about in my teens a lot of people my age did the normal thing. They received their partners and went out for the league challenges," she explained, "If I'm honest, I was always a little passive so I didn't find appeal in fighting for sport. When I heard talk about catching rare pokémon to aid in that sport, I got a little stubborn. I didn't want to be an ordinary trainer so I decided to catch pokémon in a different way, through a camera lens."

Snow shook her head, leaning forward. She propped her forearms onto her knees. It might have sounded strange but she was incredibly proud of what she did.

"A lot of people don't get it so I don't often bother to explain," she continued with a smile, "But I like you. You're different somehow, so I'll tell you."

The squeeze Grimsley gave her hand was a reassuring pressure, comforting even, however brief it had been. Kalista hated the way her hands still shook this long after coming to see her home in flames but at least Grimsley holding her hand helped to steady her a little. It was something that she found herself immensely thankful of even if she didn’t express it in that moment.

She trailed along after Grimsley as he started them off, away from the people and the noise that still lingered about. She was grateful for this too, the noise making her anxious. In a way all she really wanted to do was sleep even when she knew she’d be unable to for hours.

“Yeah, okay,” Kalista murmured.

Romulus’s nails clicked against the pavement as he stuck closely to Kalista’s side. She wasn’t looking forward to letting the rest of her pokémon know what had happened later. She tried to push that thought away for later, when she was calmer and had a plan. For the time being she just followed after Grimsley.

Kalista found herself relieved when they were aware from everyone, closer to those that lingered near their own vehicles, perhaps waiting for loved ones. At the very least it was quieter here. Grimsley seemed to have parked as close as he could as well, another brief relief for Kalista.

“How far…?” she wondered, noting the vehicle Grimsley was leading her to. It was a nice looking one, obviously taken care of to some degree. If he’d driven here it had to be at least a little ways away.

----[x]----

She was quiet for a long time after N asked about her hobby, one that seemed to border more on a profession. He began to wonder if he’d overstepped a boundary and had begun to debate on apologizing. Before he could open his mouth to do just that Snow had finally started to answer.

He listened attentively, nodding thoughtfully before she’d even finished. It was an interesting thought process and not one he’d truly been expecting.

“I see,” N said finally and only after she’d leaned forward.

He couldn’t see why he’d be trusted with that sort of answer so soon, it seemed strange to him. Perhaps Snow was quick to trust once she liked someone. N shook his head at that, finding it hard to believe that anyone was like that. Perhaps it was just is own nature that made him think that.

“Thank you for sharing,” he said again when only the crackling of the fire had been his previous answer. “It’s more than I had expected.”

N grew quiet after that, unsure of what else to say. What kind of topic could follow up after that? Was Snow hoping to hear why he did what he did? A pang of fear ran through him at that, his blood feeling cold. He didn’t want to try to dodge questions that might lead to his involvement with Team Plasma or with his father…

He shook the thoughts away. ’Not now. I can worry about all of that later,’ he told himself.

She seemed to calm a little bit. It wasn't much but it was better than the state she'd been in moments ago. He could understand. Most people would be shaken by events such as these.

As they walked, she was silent. Grimsley didn't push her into speaking. There was no doubt a lot on her mind. He didn't want to over step anything by speaking when she needed to calm down.

The noise dimmed when they were further from the ruckus. In that sense, he was glad. That would give her time to clear her head. He made note not to turn to any local news channels tonight.

He glanced at the care, quickly pulling out his keys with his free hand. Pressing a button to unlock it, he opened the passenger seat door and let her slip in.

"It's not too far," he explained, "Though, I had my peddle to the floor, so I might be lying about that."

He opened the back seat allowing Romulus to hop in before he closed it. Slipping into the drivers seat, it was a simple matter to get the car started and pull onto the road. He sighed afterward, sparing a glance at Kalista.

"If you need anything, water or something to eat, tell me," he informed, "You look pale..."

Why wouldn't she be? What she just endured was a shocking event. He was glad that she wasn't injured or suffered any serious shock. In hindsight, the damage could have been much worse. She might have lost a home but at least she was alive.

----|x|----

Snow grinned cheekily at his words. While they were short, he didn't question much of why she did what she did. Some were fascinated by the hobby, others questioned it. Snow didn't mind so much anymore.

She wrapped her arms around her legs, comfortable where she sat. Tehanu had long since laid down nearby. They traveled so much but he never seemed to look like he was out of energy.

Silence overtook the two of them. On occasion, she glanced at N. He looked as if he was deep in thought though she couldn't say why that was. Snow didn't prod for an answer either.

Snow tried to think of something to start up conversation again. She glanced up at the sky, looking at the many stars that dotted the blackness and grinned.

"Did you know over in Hoenn, they have an entire festival surrounded by the anniversary of when Jirachi will wake up. Jirachi is a wish making pokémon and every one thousand years, a meteor passes our Earth. The next time it does, Jirachi will wake up again. Or at least, that's what local legend had told me."

There was a lot that people speculated. She guessed that's what made stories legends, passed down from generation to generation.

Grimsley had taken to opening the car door for her, allowing her inside before doing the same for Romulus. In a way it was a little surprising, cutting through part of her shock. Later, after she’d calmed some more, she would admit that it was a little charming.

A half-hearted sound left her, more like a scoff than a chuckle thought it had been made out of amusement all the same. Kalista hadn’t thought of Grimsley as the type to speed. It helped to drive home just how worried he’d been as he got into the driver’s seat. Romulus had already made himself as comfortable as he could, laying his large head on the center console as best he could from the backseat.

She blinked at Grimsley when he spoke again. For a second it might have looked like she hadn’t realized what was asked before she shook her head. She’d rather not ask a lot, it was enough that Grimsley had offered her a place to stay.

“I think I’m fine,” she said finally. When Romulus gave a soft growl she cringed and spoke again. ’Leave it to Rommy to intrude,’ she thought as she did this. “I think a bath will be fine for now… maybe something to borrow to sleep in.”

Romulus took it upon himself to whine after that, pitching in his two cents. Whether or not Grimsley understood the Mightyena as well as he would his own team wasn’t a question Kalista could answer yet. At one point he’d been able to, back when they were kids in pokémon school. It had been a long time since then however.

“Rommy might be hungry though,” she murmured.

It grew quiet after that for the duration of the drive. Kalista took to watching the buildings and people that passed by, some of the more nocturnal pokémon roaming the streets. At one point she was sure she saw a Meowth prowling around with something shiny in its mouth. This activity of sorts was punctuated by times where she caught Grimsley glancing at her from the corner of her eye though she didn’t mind it too much.

----[x]----

N’s attention had drifted momentarily to Tehanu when he’d curled up and looked to be making himself comfortable. At least he was happy with their arrangements at the moment, N still felt a little awkward about all of this. He hadn’t exactly been known for traveling with other people, especially so when it came to camping with them. He supposed it might do him some good though he wasn’t sure how yet.

It was quiet for some time after that with the crackling of the fire to keep him focused on something. Every so often N could hear pokémon in the distance calling out to one another though their words were faint and hard to make out from here.

He wasn’t sure how long they sat like that before Snow spoke up again, mentioning another pokémon he’d never heard of before. ’If the legend is true though there’d be good reason for that,’ he thought with a nod.

“That’s quite a fascinating tale,” N admitted, bringing his clasped hands to his chin. “You sound as if you’ve been there for quite some time.”

It was only an assumption and one he made to keep the conversation going forward. It seemed that this was what Snow want and it made her happy at least. It wasn’t like N was eager to get to bed either even if he wasn’t exactly eager for any topics that turned around to ask about him. He supposed he’d worry about those in time.

“One would be incredibly lucky to meet such a pokémon,” N continued.

Grimsley waited patiently for her to answer. For all he knew, she hadn't heard him. If that was the case, he couldn't find reason to blame her. She was in a bad way at the moment. He felt worse for not knowing the right thing to do or say.

Eventually, she did answer, denying what he'd offered. Romulus seemed to protest that kind of thought process. He didn't intervene. Grimsley had no right to pressure into anything she didn't want.

"A bath and something to wear. I think we can manage that much," he replied.

He wasn't sure he had anything that would fit her. Grimsley was already trying think if he had something or not. He couldn't recall anything that would fit her. If he was fine with one of his button down shirts, that's what he would provide.

Grimsley chuckled a little was Romulus whined again. "I think I have something for him as well," he reassured, "I won't let your or you pokémon go hungry."

The drive was rather silent after that. Grimsley figured she had quite a few things on her mind. If that was the case, he'd leave her to clear her head. That seemed like the best option.

----|x|----

N's attention seemed to fall onto Tehanu quite a bit. She didn't question it. For all she knew, a Ninetales was a foreign pokémon to him. Whatever might have been on his mind at that time were his thoughts.

After she had explained the tale of Jirachi, she could easily note the thoughtful expression on N's features. She shifted a little as he commented on it.

"I like to try and see it every year," she explained, "So I trek back to Hoenn and make sure I get there in time. My Pidgeot makes the flight easy."

She took the trip more times then she could count. Ever since she'd found out about it, her visit had been a yearly thing. She marked it down just to make sure.

"They would by," she answered, "One thousand years is enough time for a reality to become a legend. Sometimes I wonder if people at that festive really believe that pokémon exists."

Snow had seen some legendary pokémon in her time but she doubted she would ever see one like Jirachi. In some sense, that made her a little sad. It was a rare chance. Unless the comet was coming through soon, she had doubts she'd see Jirachi in her lifetime.

» [PKMN Rp] Gone, Gone, Gone [Reserved]
» (PKMN) Lights in the Sky ~Reserved~
» [AC] Just a Dream [Reserved]
» [RE RP] My Apocalypse [Reserved]
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