She was half a second from just losing her patience and just walking into the jungle when she heard the approaching steps of another person. Turning around her gaze fell upon Shizue.

She sent the woman a pleasant smile as she said. “Hola, would you perhaps be here to help with the Absol?” Her approach was direct, and it didn’t seem like the woman had been lost so really, it was the only logical conclusion she could draw.

Though it didn’t take long before she realized the rudeness of just jumping straight to matter without even offering a name or asking for one. “Oh, where are my manners? My name is Altagracia Contreras, but Altagracia is fine. And what may I call you Ms.?” She now waited patiently for a reply, gauging the woman’s reaction as she did.

A sense of relief washed over Altagracia as this Shizue confirmed that she was here to help, shortly after introductions followed, she found the choice of subject research curious but figured asking further into it might be better for another time.

Now with that in order, there was nothing to do but get to the task at hand. She turned her attention toward the Jungle. The howls of the Absol moving about in there, some of them getting closer. “Before we head in there. Do you have any experience with Absol?” Altagracia had to admit her own experience was woefully limited to things that she had read, rather than actual on-hand experience.

The clashing songs of two specific Absol began to deafen the rest of the choir, clearly responding to each other though from here Altagracia could not deduce whether they were in agreement or debating their points of view.

It seemed they were in the same boat then. No direct experience. They would just have to make do. Altagracia gave Shizue an enthusiastic nod, once she had finished explaining where her competencies lay.

A chuckle escaped her as the woman joked. It was true, it seemed the Absols were about to make it easy to find them. “That does seem to be the case.” She spoke, her accent apparent. “Well, no use in standing around here.” She spoke and then began to head into the jungle, following the song of the two Absol.

Though as they would walk toward the sound, it would become more and more apparent that they weren’t alone. They were being watched by a group of three Absol, though the group did their best to hide. The sound of paws gently threading upon the jungle ground, leaves rustling as something moved through them, all these small signs would alert the women if they listened.

Altagracia noticed though she could not deduce exactly how many there were. She still found it curious that Absol an otherwise solitary creature seemed to have gathered here for some reason, and what made it all the more confusing was that the direction from which the songs were coming from hadn’t changed, so the ones following them weren’t a part of the howling currently going on.

Altagracia gave the woman an acknowledging nod. It seemed she hadn’t been alone in noticing their watchers. Though she it peculiar that what she assumed was Absol, watched them but didn’t take engage in contact. Absol was known for doing just that. So maybe they didn’t want them to interfere in a territorial dispute?

The ideas were many, but the answers were few. And they didn’t grow any more knowledgeable as they went further and further into the jungle towards the sound.

After having walked for a while, the jungle began to thin, making a place for a clearing of some size. Two Absol stood opposing each other, though they were both lost in their song of Despair. From here it was clear that around the two singing Absol, laid a group of Absol of various ages. Though before they got closer and were able to get a clearer look, the three Absol who had been following blocked their path. Though it was clear they were little more than pups themselves, they stood opposing the two trainers. The largest of them growled.

Altagracia’s steps came to a halt. Not wanting to provoke them. “Seems like they don’t want us to come closer.” She spoke quietly to Shizue. “I am all ears if you have a suggestion that might convince them to let us pass.”

Whether the Absol understood what Altagracia said or not, she didn’t know. Yet the biggest one still growled. The others, however, stood solemnly, with saddened expressions on their faces, clearly less enthused about their task for one reason or another.

Violence was an option. One she hesitated to employ, though she could maybe force her way through three Absol. Given the strength of her Tyrantrum. But she figured it wouldn’t give the best example to the pack of Absol up ahead. And if they wanted to help, these poor creatures, then they needed to earn their trust.

“That’s a good idea.” She stated, then slowly bent down on one knee and took off her backpack. She made sure her movements were clear and non-threatening to the Absol. She opened the backpack, and after a bit of rummaging found some Poké Poffins carefully packaged to protect against weather.

Slowly she unpacked them and made a small display of offering them to the Absol as a gift of sorts by placing them on the ground in front of them. The biggest Absol seemed skeptical, but the others were inclined to accept the offer. The Skeptical Absol looked towards Shizue expectantly though whether it expected betrayal or food was uncertain.

The two Absol ate the offerings, leaving one behind for their brethren. It stared at Shizue for a moment longer but decided to accept the offering. Altagracia slowly got up again from her position. The eyes of the Absol were quick to be upon her, before they looked between each other, seemingly having a small debate. The two trusting Absol nodded. The third one reluctantly followed.

Altagracia slowly took a step forward, and then another. The Absol did nothing. She gestured for Shizue to follow. Their offering had been accepted. “Well, so far so good.” Everything had gone surprisingly smoothly for now. She glanced back at Shizue, to see if everything was alright.

And as they would walk closer to the clearing. The song continued. The howls which created it set a tone of despair, ushering in calamity with their PERISH SONG. The Blood red and black sound waves that flew back and forth between the two howling Absol grew more visible the closer they got.

Altagracia halted just short of entering the clearing. She gazed out onto the scene. The two singing Absol were the only ones still standing. Though she couldn’t quite see whether the others were conscious or not. As far as she knew Contests of PERISH SONG prowess, weren’t exactly common among Absol. Turning to her only other option for information right now. She asked. “What do you make of this?” she gestured towards the sight. From the greying fur on one of them, she deduced it was much older than the other. Was this perhaps a strange way of fighting for territory?