Maybe this was a job a ranger would typically pick up given it's relation to wild Pokemon, but Gwen had agreed anyway. Police officers weren't only limited to jobs surrounding people and the community - in many ways this was related to the community.

Besides, maybe these 'attacks' on the farmer's flock of sheep was staged. Perhaps it wasn't really wild Pokemon attacking these poor sheep. Wool was expensive and sometimes hard to come by, and Galarian Pokemon were still sought out even if their value had decreased since they had been formally introduced to the region.

Regardless, here she was, coaxed into a day spent in the hot sun rather than in the shade of some nice trees or inside of a cool grocery store grocery shopping until her arms fell off. Surely, though, she had time to pick up supplies for dinner later tonight anyway.

"You should avoid wearing black, miss! It might help, since black or dark-coloured objects absorb sunlight and heat. Do you have sunscreen on? You might end up with one of those.. um.. farmer's tans! Is that the phrase? Where your arms tan but your shoulders stay pale? It's quite funny. The sun is quite a danger!"

mission: wooloo who cry wolf

Ann Nickolette

☉

Frustration is picked up on immediately, but Gwen knew how to choke a flame. Provide it no oxygen, no fuel, no attention at all. She overlooks it, ignores it, chooses to smile instead of encourage unfriendly feelings.

"Yes, of course, miss. My apologies."

With her own set of shears she's been given, Gwen kneels next to a Wooloo closest to her. She sets to work, choosing to be quiet to appease the girl with the volcano on top of her head. While she works, she smiles, efficiently shearing through all of the thick wool until it falls right off.

The girl shouts and Gwen glances up, eyebrows raised, to glance where she is looking. The farmer shouts back in kind, and eventually Ann returns her attention back to her, offering a greeting and a harsh inflection or suggestion.

"My name is Gwen! It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Ann. Let's work efficiently then, oui?"

Once again, she dismisses Ann's rudeness in favor of kindness. Although it does sadden her a bit to hear her harsh words, she chooses to look past it. Some people were quite irritable in the heat, she had come to learn. Perhaps after, the pair of them could work the horses too with a nice horseback riding venture on one of the trails.

mission: wooloo who cry wolf

Ann Nickolette

☉

She exhales, sweat beads on her brow, and she lifts her arm to wipe it away. But as she does, there is a chilling sense of foreboding. The energy in the herd has changed and their legs are stiff with fear. As she stands and turns, the Wooloo at her feet remains on the ground, quivering.

"Umm.. yes!"

She answers the girl's question distractedly, her gaze shifting rapidly as she scans the horizon. Nothing seems to be amiss, but she has learned to pick up on the energy of the crowd. While she feels safe, evidently the herd does not.

But she fishes in her pack to find a water bottle. It is even chilled thanks to the freezer packs she's brought along. Always prepared. She offers a smile before tossing it to the girl, but her eyes return quickly to the Wooloo.

And then she hears it: faint howling.

mission: wooloo who cry wolf

Ann Nickolette

☉

Over the crest of a small hill, just tall enough to hide the flattened bodies of three Poochyena and a mother Mightyena, she sees them. Had she looked the other direction for too long she might have missed it before it was too late. But observational skills are her strong suit because of who she was raised to be.

She was the shield to protect those who could not protect themselves. It was why she had taken up the duty of being a police officer. It was why, when she sees the panic in the young girls eyes, she moves immediately.

"Hey, hey, shh, shh.."

She doesn't dare touch the girl, but she does move closer and even in front of the teenager in a protective fashion.

"It is okay, Ann, it will be okay. Just stay behind me and follow my direction, okay? I will keep you safe."

The snap of teeth and the growling bellies of hungry, starving Pokemon are masked by the savage growling they emit from between their teeth. The puppies fight with one another, desperate to be the first to arrive. It appeared that they were anticipating a feast, let alone the pair of them as payment and appreciation later.

But it is not them they should be worried about. It is the mother whose eyes are wild with desperation, crazed with hunger, that they should be worried about. Fortunately, there are two brave souls on the front lines, dedicated to protecting the panicked little girl.

"Ann, are you able to command your Zorua?"

Slowly, carefully, Gwen begins pulling out the pokeball on her person, slowing whenever the Mightyena reacts aggressively. The Wooloo huddle close to one another, scared stiff. In a flash of light, a Lopunny appears and assesses the situation.

mission: wooloo who cry wolf

Ann Nickolette

☉

Gwen doesn't flinch. Not even in the face of an angry, scared teenager. Because she knows and understands the fear coming off of the girl in waves. She knows how hard it can be to feel calm, how important it is to feel in control.

So she allows her to be angry and to bite back.

"I know you can, Ann."

However, watching the girl walk away aggravates her own unease and agitates the encroaching Mightyena. She can hear them bark and snarl louder, egged on by movement and by the fear they can smell.

Fortunately, Ann is a brave girl.

She commands her Zorua to act and it does as any loyal, competent Pokemon would. It draws the attention of one of the three Poochyena, taking it out of the equation. Which left two more pups and mother dearest. Lopunny steps forward, and when the puppies approach, effectively knocks both of them out with a swift DOUBLE KICK.

The Mightyena howls.

mission: wooloo who cry wolf

Ann Nickolette

☉

Gwen spots the brief scuffle between Zorua and Poochyena- but she misses the part where the tricky little fox bested the pup and came out appearing as the pup.

Unfortunately, the illusion is not effective in convincing the Mightyena. Ann's Pokemon is blasted away and bowled over, revealing her true colours.

Fortunately, it is a distraction enough for Fleur to intercept. She bounces forward on flat feet, poised as she crashes down to take down the Mightyena with a HIGH JUMP KICK. With a yelp, the mother recoils and second-guesses how easy of prey the two trainers are.

Deciding it was more effort than it was worth, she gathers her limping pups and they take off, ending the battle.

With a sigh of relief, Gwen's smile returns and her stiff, authoritative posture relaxes.

"Well! That was quite a fright. I believe it is now time to head back, yes?"

The Wooloo and Mareep had all managed to run back to the barn to safety, and the farmer who had hired them for this task was now waving for the two ladies to come back. It appeared that supper was ready.

mission: wooloo who cry wolf

Ann Nickolette

☉