Finally he’d been cleared to work again. Though the rest had been nice for his injuries, Wren was the sort of person who liked to move and do. So by the time the cast came off of his ankle, he was practically champing at the bit to get out in the field again. Luckily, the mission he’d been tasked with seemed easy enough (well, without the risk of poachers, anyway.)[break][break]



Astride his gogoat, Wren trotted through the layer of snow now covering the ground. Juno, newly evolved, followed along behind them, mossy green paws stark against the snow. He’d visited the strange new icelands once before, when he was far more weighted down by his injuries from Littleroot. So it was definitely an improvement. It helped that his spirits had since been bolstered again now that he’d reconnected with Levy Alinsky . That gloomy cloud that had been hanging over him dissipated, and he was largely back to his typical, cheery self. Granted there was still some apprehension that followed anything close to Littleroot.[break][break]



In the near distance, he spied a buzzing beedrill flitting about above the icy ground. And…was that a woman riding said beedrill? Was that his partner for today? He’d never met Shalin personally, but her name had been listed, and he was pretty sure she’d been both at Littleroot and the diving expedition, so at least they had some things in common. Urging Basil forward, Wren’s hands lifted to wave at the woman. “Hello up there! Are you, uh, Shalin?”[break][break]



His eyes were wide as he stared up at her, the beedrill even more intimidating up close. “Sorry I’m late! I’m a little slow on my feet!” He pointed at the medical boot. At least it was smaller and more suited to movement than the old one.




[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]

Shalin Nariya   [break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-leafeon"]

Wren’s own search from the other end of the tundra had yielded little results as well. He’d only read a bit about what had happened with Kyurem—mostly public report. But it was plain to see the effect it had left behind in the display of dozens of frozen up Pokémon along the way. The ones who hadn’t been so fortunate to take cover. It made his own heart ache to see. And it was a little frustrating that even if they, as rangers, did their utmost, it could still pale in comparison to greater forces.[break][break]

But wow! The beedrill was definitely a big distraction from his dour thoughts. “Yep! That’s me! And this is Basil, annnnnnd Juno!” He patted his gogoat in reference, then pointed down to the leafeon trotting alongside them. His eyes were still a bit wide as he regarded the rider and her massive Pokémon.[break][break]

She looked extra large, maybe that was important, but at the reassurance, he gave the beedrill a polite nod—figuring that maybe respect could go a long way. Then his gaze lifted back to Shalin. “I've just never seen anyone ride a beedrill before! That’s pretty awesome!” And also wildly daunting, but she looked way more up to the task than he was. As their discussion turned toward their task, Wren’s brows furrowed as he frowned lightly. “No, not a thing. They’re probably hiding? I would imagine it’s difficult to handle the cold.” [break][break]

But that begged the question— where were the rest hunkered down?

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]

Shalin Nariya   [break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-leafeon"]

Juno very clearly preened at the praise, prancing about in the snow in front of him. “That’s gonna go straight to her head!” he said with a laugh, though his bright energy faded a bit as talk turned toward the vague reference of Littleroot. There was still a lot branded into his own mind from that day. “Ah, yeah. That wasn’t…that was-” he hummed, struggling to find the right words and failing. “Yeah. The 18th. Not the greatest day. But I hope you’re able to get your Waft back soon.”[break][break]

When he smiled up at her, it was as genuine as he could manage. Earnest in his hopes for her leafeon’s safe return. Best to shake that day off quickly, and get back to the task at hand! “Can’t say I’ve ever been good with bug-types, but I have a…friend who seems to like them a lot! So I’ll have to keep that in mind!” Was Levy Alinsky still only a friend? He wasn’t sure how to define it now. But that wasn’t something to dwell on at the moment. He needed to focus.[/break][break]

“Oh. Uhhhh, sure! Why not? I’ve never flown before.” Not on a large insect-type, anyway. But she had a point. It was probably way different from riding on the ground, but there was a first time for everything, right? Wren slipped off the back of his gogoat, but left him out of the pokeball, alongside Juno. “You two can follow from the ground, yeah? That way we can keep up if any start to scurry.”


[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]

Shalin Nariya   [break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-leafeon"]

That day in Littleroot had really done a number on him. Physically and emotionally. Though he hadn’t been quite as invested with the overarching goings on as some others had been, that hadn’t meant it hadn’t all taken a toll on him. “Yeah, I was. I’m only just getting back on my feet, really,” he confirmed quietly. “Definitely firmly on the ground, though,” he added with a dry little laugh, nodding his head at her two, winged mounts.[break][break]

Taking the offered earplugs with quiet thanks. Though he had no experience flying, at least he wasn’t going in totally unaware. “I think I can manage that!” he chimed after listening to her explanation. It sounded similar enough, anyway. Climbing up into place, Wren popped the earplugs in. “Let's find those little guys!”[break][break]

As they lifted into the air, the loud drumming of Flit’s wings was still noted even with the earplugs. It was definitely a different sensation, but neat! Something he might enjoy if he were to practice more. He pulled up on the yanmega’s reins just enough to even himself out alongside Shalin and her beedrill, before looking to the ground below.[break][break]

They had to be somewhere. The surviving squirtle couldn’t have just disappeared. A flash of tan movement caught his eye on the stark white ground below, down a slope. He waved over to the other, and then pointed down. That had to be a squirtle spinning along the icy ground in its shell.


[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]

Shalin Nariya   [break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-leafeon"]

So Shalin had been there too. Obviously the event had left as much of an impact on her as it had on Wren. Maybe more so, even. He hummed in thought, brows knitting together as he tried to piece it all back together. “I do think I remember seeing one at some point, but after a while, I was too far removed from, er, the terrain to see the sky.” Meaning he’d fallen in the sinkhole and had only been paying attention to what had laid beneath them. “I’m not much of an expert in megas either…but I hope you’re able to figure it out! There must be something.”[break][break]

The distant, lingering buzz doesn’t bother Wren one bit. If anything, it reminded him of his childhood– hours spent running around and exploring Petalburg Wood in the summertime. Though, it was a little jarring, having Flit twist and turn around in the air. But at the same time it drew bursts of laughter from Wren. It was almost like being pulled around in a roller coaster cart. “I’m still impressed,” he commends the giant insect, after his trainer chides the independent actions. It was definitely a strange sensation, but fun.[break][break]

When the two bug-types clashed wings, Wren grimaced, face pulling in distress. Hopefully that hadn’t hurt them too terribly. The sensation of their wings tangling had all of the effect of a box fan being knocked on its side while running.[break][break]

Wren and Flit descended after Shalin, drifting back toward the ground, he watched as the massive beedrill handled the squirrel with care. Despite its prior fear, the squirtle chimed its appreciation once it had been righted. “Do you think the rest are nearby?” he asked, looking over at Shalin. “Maybe this one will lead us to the rest!”

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]

Shalin Nariya   [break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-leafeon"]

Sure, despite the fun and the laughter, it was making his stomach feel a little topsy-turvy. But Wren didn’t mind it much. Somehow, he felt a little more adept to the air. Wasn’t that interesting? Plus, it really helped that despite Flit’s antics, the yanmega was great at navigating with little instructions.[break][break]

True to his guess, the squirtle tottled forward, leading them straight to the group. While Shalin and Queen Zing got the rest back on their feet, Wren looped around on Flit’s back, looking for any stragglers that had split off like the first half. One by one, he was able to flip the last few back onto their feet with Juno and Basil’s help. “Excellent work, you guys!” Also quick to praise the team before they rounded back to the group.[break][break]

“Only a few more! I think that must be all of the group.” Wren pointed over to where his two pokemon on the ground were ushering the small group of squirtle back toward the others. “Guess we should get them to the lake.” He patted the back of Flit’s back. “He’s really good at this!”

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]

Shalin Nariya   [break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-leafeon"]

Even with their need to return to the ground sooner rather than later for a break, they were still able to get the work done in far less time with the help of the two oversized bugs. Wren couldn’t imagine trying to move all those squirtle with just the two of them.[break][break]

“I can tell! He’s really well trained,” Wren answered as he removed his own earplugs and slid off of the yanmega’s back. His feet felt a little wobbly on the ground after being in the air for so long, but he steadied himself with a hand at the large bug’s side. “You know, I never had thought about it, but I might just have to now!” Bug-types had always sort of been more Levy Alinsky’s thing than his own, but after managing to ride the yanmega with surprising ease, Wren found himself far more curious.[break][break]

He laughed– “Yeah, I guess being short has at least some perks apparently.” At only 5’6, he supposed that made things a bit more advantageous. His attention shifted, though, to the little group of squirtles, expression brightening up in delight at their showy display of thanks. “That’s so cute!” Within moments, his phone was out to snap a photo of the heart before it was gone. Then he smiled at Shalin. “Sounds like a good plan. I could eat.” Who knew flying would make him work up an appetite?

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]

Shalin Nariya   [break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-leafeon"]