The loud cawing noise coming from the rest of the armada assembled just beyond the perimeter fence would alert him that they were no longer alone.

He’d already fed Sam and all the other Pikipek, Trumbeak and fellow Toucannon so there was that part of the day done, and so he was now busy trying to get everyone else fed—this included his particularly large army of avianid and not-quite-avianid Pokémon that were either hanging around the outside of the reception building, or perched on the perimeter fence proper, or just. There.

His Archeops in particular would let out a caw of delight the moment he scented the little Archen that Alex’s visitor was carrying in her arms and make clumsy headway towards where the gate was—well, that perimeter gate was only ever opened for deliveries, so for Alex to open it for guests?

“Hey!” he looked up in greeting, waving a gloved hand as the other held a bucket of just-emptied birdseed where most of the silly Flying-type Pokémon were now fighting over the sunflower seeds and whatever else was mixed into said birdseed to peck over.

The Archeops let out a friendly little caw, before immediately fussing over the smaller Archen.

“Aww, look! Cute,” he said while tilting his head towards the Archen and Archeops interaction. He then shook the empty bucket of birdseed and then pointed with his other hand just behind him.

“Yeah, I just finished feeding most of the peanut gallery,” he continued in the same snarky, yet affectionate, tone as some of the avians let out a ‘CAW’ of dismay because… well, some of them were incredibly smart!

“…yeah, they know when I talk shit to their faces,” he added with a bark of laughter once she was inside and he closed the perimeter gate.

“So what brings you out here? Want to feed some of the calmer birds yourself? Or is there something else…”

“I did what I could,” he continued as he slapped a hand to the back of his neck with a reassuring chuckle. “Even if we have Pokémon to help with the injuries, sometimes there’s a point where… where human intervention is best.”

The memories of seeing people with broken arms and legs that time? It would never leave him anymore.

“It’s also why I always carry a first-aid kit on my person wherever I go. Because you never know where you might end up and someone needs help,” he added with a knowing nod.

“It would do you best to do the same, best practice I can share to you as well—which should be standard since you’re also a Ranger, right?” he confirmed.

He continued to watch the peanut gallery while they feasted on their ‘lunch’ before eventually dispersing—leaving the Archen and Archeops not too far away; the larger prehistoric Pokémon trying to teach the smaller one how to fly.

Oh, dear deer. There was this knowing look that flashed across his face.

“You know, your partner and mine are the same, in the worrying part at least,” he hummed.

“Have you tried to take them somewhere private, sit them down, and talk? Like, really talk about what’s on their mind. Communication with your partner is key to a healthy relationship, I’m sure you know this.”