The Taillow were quite the lively bunch, weren't they? El smiled warmly as they watched the birds move about - clearly eager to stretch their wings and fly. And as a Ranger - even if only a rookie - they were here to help make sure that everything went as smoothly as could be, when it came time to release these Taillow. They wanted to make sure this whole summer bash the clinic hosted went well!

They weren't the only one enjoying the sight though. Whenever the Taillow began chirping, Akero would chirp back at them - the Togekiss watching the flying-types as well, and seeming completely enamored with the happiness coming off of the little birds. What sort of conversation were they having, El wondered?

Though Aubre's approach would briefly startle El - lost in thought as they were - they'd soon give her a warm smile, even if a hue of concern crossed their expression at the uncomfortable look that the doctor had. "Morning," They greeted in turn - glancing to the Taillow, who seemed happy to see Aubre. "They're in pretty good spirits - you and the rest of the clinic did a great job raising them."

Though, it seemed the doctor couldn't match those positive vibes - expressing her feelings about their eventual departures. El glanced to her once more, offering a sympathetic smile. "It's hard to not get attached to them - they're pretty cute." They spoke in agreement, their voice gentle. "But, uhm... The surrounding area still has plenty of forageables." Even after all of the fighting, the surrounding wilderness was relatively untouched. "So it's not like they'll all leave completely; I bet you'll hear birdsong from one of them tomorrow morning."

A wild pokemon had no reason to leave, if food, water, and shelter was easily accessible.

El blinked curiously at Alastor's writing - eyes lighting up at this alternative method of communication. Perhaps they should do the same, for their own pokemon? (Though, they had a distinct feeling that Behemoth would snap the pencil or pen, by virtue of being all gung-ho all the time.)

In any case, there came Aubre's modesty - which was met with a warm smile. "And you did a great job at, well, your job!" El responded, nodding gently. Baby pokemon could be a bit fragile - especially without their mother to help look after them. With how lively and healthy the Taillow flock looked to be - especially their excitement at Aubre - they were proof in-of-itself of how well she did. Even if the birds were interested in food more than the doctor, it was still a sign that they trusted her to take good care of them and provide for them.

With how excited the Taillow were getting though, Akero seemed to be on cloud nine - whistling eagerly and fluttering her wings. El made a gentle laugh at both this - reaching over to scritch the Togekiss - as well as Aubre's and Alastor's comments about having the Taillow around. "Yeah, they love to chitchat, don't they?" They responded to the Heliolisk. "Can't blame them though - they're still just lil happy guys."

The birdsong was sure to be beautiful.

The question of food, though, was met with a surprised blink from El before they waved a hand in a lax gesture. "Oh, it's fine," They reassured her with an insisting hue. "I - uh... - already had some." A lie, if the pause they made to think and the slight strain in their tone was of any indication.

But, it seemed that one of El's pokemon - an Alakazam - was having none of this. With a soft sigh, Bibibi would disappear from her place at El's side with a Teleport. And though it took a couple minutes, she'd soon reappear - a couple of plates with hotdogs upon them (likely from the barbecue,) one of which she passed to El.

It was the rookie ranger's turn to flush now, as they sheepishly accepted the plate. "Oh, uhm - t-thank you, Bibidi." More often than not, she was there to help make up for their usual unwillingness to trouble others.

Bibidi simply smiled gently to El - fond amusement in her expression. Before the Alakazam settled down to eat her own hotdog though, she'd glance to Aubre - reaching out telepathically with inquiry, gesturing towards the food. Did the doctor want some, too?

El couldn't help but smile a bit brighter at the blush on Aubre's cheeks - happy to see the positive effect it seemed to have on her, if the nod they gave in response was of any indication.

But, the mention of Leon was met with a bit of a curious blink - and then a sympathetic half-smile, at the sadness that talking about him seemed to bring up. "At the very least, I'm sure that you - uhm - will be able to rest for at least a little bit, once the Taillow are safely released, right?" They questioned, adding "I imagine working at a clinic is busy - especially when you have so many hungry mouths to look after. My mom works at a Pokecenter, and it wasn't unusual for her to have to stay overtime sometimes."

Which, of course, left Dad to do most of the parenting. For better and for worse.

But, that wasn't on El's mind. Instead, as Aubre commented on pokemon communication, El's eyes seemed to light up a bit. "Yeah! I'm sure a lot of pokemon would have plenty to talk about, if we're able to figure out ways to, uhm. To bridge that language barrier." They spoke, gesturing a bit animatedly. "Bibidi - my Alakazam here - helps a ton, being a Psychic-type. Even if she, uhm, doesn't use words in the same way we do, we still are able to understand eachother more or less perfectly when she has something to 'say' to me."

Glancing to Alastor and giving him a bright smile though, El added "Teaching my pokemon to write and draw to talk is a great idea, though. I'd love to be able to see what's on everyones' minds, without needing Bibidi to be the middle-'mon the whole time." She worked enough as she did, being their service pokemon and all.

But seeing the sadness that made itself known at the mention of the Taillow, well, that sympathy returned. El offered her another gentle smile. "Hey, it's okay." They spoke. "Seeing 'em go'll be sad - you guys took care of them, after all. But you, uhm, gave them a chance they otherwise would've never had, right? And we're here to help make sure they get a proper send-off."

As the Taillow seemed to startle from Bibidi's reappearance, the Alakazam blinked - seeming a bit sheepish at the disturbance she made. She reached out to each of the little birds mentally, to soothe them - to apologize for spooking them.

And though Aubre wasn't interested in food, Alastor was - and Bibidi was happy to share. Using Telekinesis, she'd take her share of the hotdogs off the plate and let them hover in place. Then, she'd pass the plate with the remaining hotdog to the Heliolisk, so that he had somewhere to put the hotdog down while he ate.

The offer for aid is met with a bright smile from El, who nods. "Yeah! I'll keep you in mind if I, uhm, have a hard time teaching my pokemon." Although, they imagined some of their pokemon would pick it up easier than others. For instance - though Behemoth wasn't stupid, El had a feeling he'd end up snapping whatever pen or pencil they gave him in half at least a good few times before he got the hang of even holding one. "I think it'll be a fun way to, uhm, bond with some of my newer pokemon, too."

As Aubre insisted to herself that this was a happy time though, El would offer a sympathetic smile. "I mean... It's okay to be sad. Like I said, you guys took care of them and watched them grow." They spoke, adding "But it'll be okay. It's not like they'll all disappear completely - I'm sure you'll see at least a few of them linger around, and maybe even start families of their own when they get big enough."

But in the meantime, they were content to enjoy some food alongside the others. Even if El couldn't help a somewhat surprised blink at Alastor essentially eating the entire hot dog he was given in one bite - was that how Heliolisks usually ate, they wondered?

With the announcement of the cake though, El wondered how much time had passed since they got here. "When were you, uhm, planning to set them free, again?" They asked - wondering if the time was fast approaching by now. They wanted to make sure they'd be fully ready - even if they had come more-or-less prepared as it was.

El’s expression was sympathetic, as Aubre mentioned being a mother – and the lament about having to let go. They weren’t a parent, unless you counted something like their turtwig Yggdrasil, so they didn’t exactly have a reference point to go off of. Yet, at the same time, that lament of having to let go of something you love…

They’d be repeating themself to say that everything will be okay, or that they were here to make sure of it. But it didn’t change the fact that they wanted to make sure these birds would be okay out there. Perhaps if the Taillow were cooperative enough, they could be tagged before they were released? That’d make tracking them and how they’re doing a bit easier!

But the conversation would end up drifting off, up until it was time for Aubre to leave for some sort of speech. ”I can save some for you!” El offered with a bright smile, waving back. It’d be a shame, if she had to miss out on the good stuff! And indeed, they’d get up with every intention to partake in some of the other goodies and festivities that this bash offered. But as they did, they’d hear the light flutter of wings, the click of tiny talons wrapping around a bar.

They glanced back to the Taillow as it stared out, desiring that great blue beyond. A strong sense of sympathy – empathy, even – crossed El’s face as they approached the cage once more. ”It’s okay, lil guys.” They spoke softly. ”I know how you feel - it feels like you’ve been waiting your whole lives for this chance…” Which, they had been. ”… But just a little longer, and you’ll get to see that great big world out there, okay? And it might feel a little scary sometimes... But it’ll be great.”

They’d let their Togekiss keep the Taillow company and entertained while Bibidi and they headed to the rest of the party proper. It wouldn’t be long now, before these little birds could start the next step of their big journey in life.