[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD MAGNETON APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD LILEEP APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

Kinnick had been chasing some small Pokemon; her prey darted through the underbrush, bobbing and weaving at breakneck speed. It darted past a big rock and so Kinnick leaped over the rock to try and catch up--

--and landed right on the Lileep. Its flowery head bent over with the force of her weight, then sprung backward, flinging the Jolteon through the air and back the way she’d come. Kinnick hit the dirt and rolled, right to CJ’s feet.

“Oh, look at that,” CJ said, bemused, “dinner and a show.”

Kinnick hopped up, pissed, and sprinted back in the direction of the Lileep. She once again sprang over the rock, but this time, jumped over the Lileep, and aimed a fierce double kick at its stem to knock it from where it clung. The powerful piston of her back leg caused the yellow, corally midsection to fracture, and the Lileep tipped over, petal-like protrusions dragging in the dirt.

CJ came around the boulder just in time to see Kinnick standing proudly over her downed foe.

“Touché,” they said, sealing the thing in a Pokeball.

No one in their group had noticed Oliver Shrakes .

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD SKIPLOOM APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD YAMPER APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

Once Kinnick had gotten out her post-Lileep bounce anger, CJ had transferred Agate to their Jolteon, and they pushed on through the brush, eventually come to a thin but well-worn path CJ recognized as a Ranger’s patrol trail, what with being one themselves and, also, having been assigned to this particular boring-as-hell backwater beat when they’d first enlisted. Then things had looked up for a bit… then they’d dropped half of Mt. Pyre on a couple of rampaging Shadow Pokemon and it was back to the sticks.

They noticed Oliver, then, coming towards them with his Dragonite. CJ paused to allow them to pass first-- the on duty Ranger should always be given the right of way, they figured-- and gave them a polite smile.

“Hey--” they said, distracted briefly as Kinnick went to chase a Skiploom floating nearby, “--this your patrol? Mind if we walk it with you?”

Kinnick pounced on the Skiploom and brought it down, batting at it like a cat with a mouse for a second before CJ shooed her off with a nudge of their foot and zapping the slightly bruised Skiploom with a Pokeball to collect it.

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD CHERUBI APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD VIKAVOLT APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

CJ wasn’t expecting much of an acknowledgement. It wasn’t like all the rangers knew each other and greeted with Hello, fellow Ranger! But ‘as long as you don’t get in my way’ seemed a tad harsh.

Still, they played along. Pantomimed drawing an X over their chest and said, “Cross my heart.”

Kinnick seemed less excited that her marvelous misadventures had struck a chord with their new traveling companion and bared her teeth.

“Yeah, she’s fun like that,” CJ said, ruffling her spiky hair and, somehow, not getting shocked.

She decided to take out her anger on a Vikavolt that had buzzed in nearby. She launched at it, sinking her teeth into its v-shaped head, and unloading a thunder attack into it at close range. Its buzzing wings faltered and it dropped to the ground, after which she dragged it back over to CJ, pleased with herself.

“See?” CJ said, after a beat. “Fun.”

They zapped the Vikavolt with a Pokeball and their grin only faltered a little.

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD TOGEDEMARU APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD VILEPLUME APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

“She’s spunky, that’s for sure,” CJ said, once again ruffling Kinnick’s spiky fur and, once again, receiving a powerful, disapproving glare. “She’s always been spunky. She got picked up as an Eevee for biting her trainer, back home.” Home being Snowpoint, Sinnoh-- the beautiful land of four seasons and moderate humidity that danced through CJ’s dreams at night while they sweated their bodyweight into the freakin’ mattress.

The red-haired stranger name-dropped a few of their other Pokemon and CJ listened dutifully, following along behind them. “Oh, Sharpedo. Nice,” they said, even though they were absolutely terrified of them. “Hey, we never introduced ourselves. I’m CJ, this is Kinnick, and Agate,” CJ pointed to the Jolteon and the Joltik clinging to her fur, “and Yazmin is back here-- oh.” They turned to find Yazmin had attracted company-- a little Togedemaru, who was wearing a portion of Yazmin’s flower-crown around its head. The two little Electric-types were playing skip-rope with the daisy chain, giggling and laughing and having a grand old time.

“That’s-- that’s Yazmin,” CJ finished, smiling even as the Pichu tripped over her own two feet. She jumped up and seemed to notice her trainer was talking about her, as she ran right over, with her new friend in tow. Once standing by CJ’s boots, she made introductory motions and gave the Togedemaru a big hug.

“Guess you’re part of the family, now, bud,” CJ said with a laugh.