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[attr="class","bisc"]All around them, the woods were filled with the calls of bird Pokemon. Somewhere in the distance, a Chatot swore. Even though he couldn’t feel the itch, the bites begged him to scratch at them. As if his bitten nails could somehow get rid of the ugly, nasty red that surrounded them. Nope. Not today, sir. I know better. The brunette thought to himself as he shoved his hands deep into his hoody’s pockets. “It’s, uh, we just go North here, I think.” Biscotti murmured to Jangle as she slapped another branch aside.

She knew where she was going so felt zero need to listen to her trainer. The words of the gym leader echoed in his head—it was time to establish himself as an equal. And, he’d totally done it once. In the other world, his cat had listened to his orders. At some point, respect had bloomed between them. “Jangle—!” Biscotti called out to the Incineroar as he turned in the direction he thought was right. “We need to go this way. C'mon.” His eyes looked like a kicked labrador, begging his friend to listen to him.

With a suspicious glance at the sun—which was totally not pointing they were going north. But she wouldn’t stop him from wandering in circles if that’s what he wanted. As they continued onward, Biscotti jerked back with a noise of surprise. Something had just jerked his head back. “Jangle!” His scold sputtered as he realized the cat was nowhere near him. So, what had just—oh!


A quick glance behind him revealed a confused, yellow dinosaur thing. It was chewing on a patch of his hair. It looked distinctly dissatisfied. “You, uh, know that’s not food, right, bud?” The chewing continued as the Bayleef swallowed. Kind of creeped out by its determination, Scotti backed away from it into the woods proper.

SKIPPING

☉

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[attr="class","bisc"]When he looked up, the sun wasn’t where he expected it to be. But it was kind of hard to see it through all the branches. “So, uh, Jangle?” The cat turned to look at him with a raised brow. Her claws tapped against her crossed elbow: go on. With a sheepish grin, Biscotti finally made an admission. “I think we’re lost.” Rolling her eyes—black smoke snorting out her nostrils—the circus cat turned and walked in a different direction.

He blinked. Twice. Thrice. “Wait up!” The baker shouted after her as he followed, for all the world like a puppy tailing mum. After all this, there were angry scratches on his lower arms. Little beads of blood were already pooling on his skin. But he didn’t feel it. He couldn’t. Before long, his trainers touched down on a worn-out path. All the thoughts of him wandering the woods forever ended. A sharp noise of relief escaped as he took a moment to catch his breath. “Thanks, JJ! You’re a—”

Biscotti’s head jerked up as the bushes in him began to shake. Shoot! A little bit of white burst through. Then, a puff of purple fur. Big red eyes turned toward them.”Awwww! Lookit him!” Its faceted eyes widened as Jangle took a threatening step forward. “VENO!” With a terrified squeak, it dove back into the bushes. Grumpy, the Incineroar stomped off down the northward path. “What!? You know you’re adorable!”

He didn’t get time to admire his surroundings as he rushed to keep up with the Incineroar.

SKIPPING

☉