a particularly small surskit sat perched atop the golden, cottony head of a mareep as the two made their way happily down the path. by the bounce in the sheep’s step, it might be clear that the two were good friends. trailing along behind them was nina, earbuds in as her eyes idly drifted over flowers.

while they walked, she became more lost in the voice in her ears. a podcast offering coverage of behavioral changes in ocean life at the barrier informed about the grave implications of such forced, drastic changes in migration patterns.

she didn’t notice immediately when her pokémon had decided to approach a new friend. indeed, symon had a way about him.

’mareep?’

sparkling eyes beamed up at him.

symon blessing

the surskit looked up proudly at symon. after realizing the expanse of the man’s shadow, however, the little spider burrowed closer in mareep’s wool for safety.

when nina’s eyes drifted over towards them again, she wasn’t too surprised to see they were making friends. probably nothing to worry about, so her attention was easily stolen by the audino that popped out of the bushes on the way over.

attracted by baby-doll eyes, nina veered off course, only to squat down and attempt to make a new friend of her own.

”it’s okay. don’t be afraid.”

a hand was offered to, and she was soon leading it up the path with her, towards symon and the group of pokémon.

”hi! sorry about that. they like to get ahead of me sometimes.”

catching audino

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he was tall, but with a friendly smile like his, he had that gentle giant sort of air that put her at ease. releasing the audino’s paw, she pocketed her earbuds and phone and smiled back.

”nope. just slow and distracted today, i guess.”

before any more small talk could continue, they were interrupted by an ensuing battle. she watched as the man interfered, protectively grabbing the wild pokémon. brave, really. she wondered if he’d become the quick recipient of a draining kiss at such daring proximity.

when the vermillion turned away, she chuckled. ”she reminds me of my mudkip. always picking fights.”

a cutiefly buzzed over to observe. nina held out her hand, curling a finger invitingly into the air to see if it might land on it by chance.

as she did, she asked with a tint of mischief in her face, "do you guys battle?"

catching catching cutiefly

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the cutiefly landed on her finger, earning the attention of her other two companions. she lowered it gently so the little blue spider could get a good look at their new fairy-type friend. it soon disappeared into a pokeball tapped on its head.

she grinned at vermillion’s antics, face softening some as she watched the exchanged between it and the pidgeotto. strong, and feisty. a worthy opponent, maybe?

”yeah? well, it’d be a good way for your comfey to blow off some steam. my mudkip too. i’m sure he’d love a battle!”

little did she know how many wild pokemon were watching them, fully prepared to interrupt anything they might try to start.

skipping

symon blessing

she grinned. ”great!” but not in the middle of the street, he said. not like a damn rocket.

”oh, of course not. we can go, um—” while she looked around with him, she was soon distracted by the nearing floette. her brows rose on her face at the comfey’s aggression, attempting to pluck the flower right out from under the small fairy-type, but a pokeball solved the situation.

her attention returned to symon, and she nodded. ”okay. sounds good.” how near, she wondered. ”lead the way.”

skipping

symon blessing