Makoto didn't see it straight away, dormant as it was whilst clinging to the ceiling of the tunnel. But with a sudden shift and rattle, a large centiskorch would stir from its slumber - a pair of eyes glancing down at them, as its antennae lit up in trailing flames. Initially, both insect and trio were startled - eyes meeting as either side stared one another down, waiting for the other to make a move. Nobody expected to have this close of an encounter, it seemed!

But thankfully, the centiskorch did not appear to be interested in fighting them. Slowly, carefully, it would begin to move away - before skittering off around a corner, once it felt far enough away. Distantly, the little tip-a-taps of its legs could still be heard echoing against the stone - though it grew fainter and fainter as the distance between them increased...

... And well, Makoto couldn't help but have a laugh over it all. "So much for us being more careful, hm?" They'd muse humorously - smiling gently as they knelt down to give Kuro a reassuring pat on the head. "Goes to show that not everything is out to get us, though - right Kuro?"

The little zorua didn't appear convinced - but nonetheless, it'd tilt its head into their touch - enjoying the contact.

With the surprise having long-since passed though, the group moved on - eager to see what else the tunnels had to offer.

In the wanderings through the tunnels, Tsume had been quite aware of something - and while he was sure Kuro had noticed it too, he was not sure if Makoto had. Namely, of the fact that they were being followed. Not by anything threatening - whatever he kept catching glimpses of, hiding behind corners and rocks, was relatively small and young-looking. But nonetheless, the pokemon had been following them around through Fiery Path for some time now - not long before they had that brief run-in with the centiskorch.

And Tsume, all the whilst, couldn't help but wonder... Why did this pokemon decide to tail them so, if it wasn't to fight or prey upon them? What was this pokemon, too - given the glimpses that he caught were only of bits of purple, and a tail or horns?

"Tsume? What's got your attention?"

The Zoroark blinked - and glancing back to Makoto, he simply chuffed and shook his head. It was nothing that they needed to worry ab--

MEH!

A sharp noise would make Tsume's ears snap upwards - and glancing to the side, he could see it now. The pokemon that had been following them, not only did it reveal itself, but it got closer! Close enough to lightly tug at Makoto's pantleg in fact, making cries for attention all the whilst.

And Makoto, smiling gently, couldn't help but be endeared to this. "Hello, little Toxel. Where'd you come from?" They greeted - taking the time to pull out a pair of gloves, so as to safely handle the poison-type. Carefuly, they lifted it up - a hand stroking over the baby pokemon's head. "Not safe, for you to be all alone like this." And they could use a poison-type, really. "Why don't you come with us, then?"