the trees can't grow without the sun in their eyes; and we can't live if we're too afraid to die

Rather than the awkward maneuver Elijah had performed to move past an outcrop of stalagmites, Remiel had chosen a different route. His slender body permitted him access to the narrow ledge running alongside the cave wall, and he crossed over it as cautiously and expeditiously as possible. One wrong step could mean impaling himself on the aforementioned stalagmites below. Thankfully, though, it didn't come to that and Remiel instead found himself on a raised path running alongside the bottom trail.

His Galarian Meowth, in the meantime, preferred Elijah's much more direct approach. It forcibly squeezed itself between the rocky spikes and past them, causing some to chip and crumble in parts but not enough to cause a racket. It grumbled to itself as it caught up to the male. It knew it had to be quiet for now, but tearing these things out of the way with its claws would be so easy!

"I was under the impression I'd been very forthcoming about the details of this venture." Remiel replied, glancing down at his new Rocket contact as they walked further into the caverns of Meteor Falls. "It's a mutually beneficial undertaking, is it not?"

Of course, he'd likely have been lost or unable to find an entrance past the rangers without Elijah... but payment for his troubles was no doubt hidden somewhere in this mountain. They needed only to unearth it and work together, should any unexpected trouble come their way.

"Regardless, I will be there if you— or the organization— need me. To the best of my ability." One couldn't go owing just any caliber of favor, after all.

elijah gardner

made by nette of gs!

the trees can't grow without the sun in their eyes; and we can't live if we're too afraid to die

It was hard to imagine Meteor Falls not having an abundance of mushrooms hidden away somewhere. He supposed the ones at the entrance were of little importance to Elijah. "Nothing up here," Remiel answered after taking a brief glance around. He was about to ask him what he needed them for anyway, but was soon spoken to again after his associate spotted something ahead. "Great. But I think I'll come down myself, thank you." The black-haired youth whispered back. A 'maybe' never inspired much confidence, he found.

Finding a space where two rocks jutted out from the side of the raised path like steps, Remiel carefully dropped down with his hands firm against its edge and found his footing before climbing down. He landed on the ground below a little bit too loudly for his comfort, however, even startling Thorgrim (his Galarian Meowth) with the thud he'd made. The echo traveled down each direction in the corridor, but he couldn't imagine it traveling far enough to reach the ears of any rangers. At least, he hoped so.

"Mm... sorry about that." He muttered, turning towards Elijah and his imposing figure. "Let's continue." Then, wihtout another beat of hesitation, he strode forward into the darkness of the tunnel. From what he could see, strange colored patterns that denoted mineral deposits did indeed pattern the cavern walls. What the glistening light ahead could be was a mystery to him, though.

"I don't suppose you know what's up ahead either... do you? I find it strange for so much of Meteor Falls to remain uncharted." He spoke in a hush, Thorgrim following closely behind and bumping into his leg on occasion. Or maybe it was charted... but just restricted?

elijah gardner

made by nette of gs!

the trees can't grow without the sun in their eyes; and we can't live if we're too afraid to die

Remiel wasn't at all surprised that his large, temporary companion was disconcerted by the tight and often narrow passageways of caverns. The confession, however, was quickly marked by the individual stepping forward and taking the lead. Though, whether this was born from an impatience or eagerness to obtain what they wanted and get out, the Galarian native wasn't all too sure. Regardless, he moved aside as Elijah braved the path ahead. Thorgrim, in the meantime, seemed eager to keep up with the man and even walk past him for the lead.

Eventually, they reached the cavernous chamber in which the light they had seen previously shone. After assessing the stability of the boulders above with his blue-grey eyes, Remiel turned to look down at the geological curiosity Elijah had pointed out. Just as he had done so, the man in question made a misstep and tumbled down a slope. Remiel was quick to back away. When the chamber went quiet again after a thud and an echoed cry of pain, only the sound of Thorgrim's raspy chuckling could be heard.

Remiel carefully kneeled down near the edge of the pit, unclipping a luxury ball from his belt before releasing a uniquely colored (and confused) Phantump. "Are you dead?" He casually asked, loud enough for the echo of his inquiry to travel downward and reach Elijah's ears. Turning towards the Ghost-type he'd summoned, whose glowing orbs of blue provided some degree of illumination, Remiel issued his command. "Ephet, Ingrain. I want a way down." He explained, pointing down into the pit.

Eager to be of use, the Phantump nodded and summoned a bed of roots from the ground that steadily began to grow and venture down alongside the hazardous slope.

elijah gardner

made by nette of gs!

the trees can't grow without the sun in their eyes; and we can't live if we're too afraid to die

"He finds humor in the pain and injury of others," Remiel informed Elijah unabashedly, turning to look at his chortling Meowth while his Phantump continued to form a would-be ladder from roots. "Trying to kill him would only make him happier." And likely wouldn't end well for the man anyway, but the lad didn't care to mention that.

Before long, Ephet was finished with his chore and Remiel began to cautiously test the reliability of the overgrown roots as he prepared to climb down. By the time Elijah had finished poking around below, the Galarian native was already past halfway down. He stopped when he passed by some unusual looking fulgurite, hanging from the side of the pit with one hand while the other reached out to touch the strange anomaly. As Thorgrim chuckles from up above, looking down just to tease Elijah despite the sharp glare, Remy makes a startling revelation and responds.

"Yes, I... I believe I do. They're exactly what I've been looking for... rock fulgurite from a rare lightning strike. It's remarkable..."

Realizing there's more— much more— down below where Elijah waits, he quickly finishes climbing down before setting boots on the ground again. He drops down to one knee beside a particularly impressive piece of lightning blue rock fulgurite before taking off the bag on his back and rummaging through it. After tossing Elijah some gauze and a 50ML bottle of antiseptic, he pulls out what appears to be a DVD carrying case before unzipping it and revealing a small assortment of excavation tools.

Without another word, he gets to work retrieving a sample from the magnificent find.

elijah gardner

made by nette of gs!

the trees can't grow without the sun in their eyes; and we can't live if we're too afraid to die

"Ful-gu-rite." Remiel replies, a bit more slowly this time as he carefully removes a piece of it with his tools, depositing the sample into a small baggy. After turning to regard the large man, observing his first-aid practice for a moment, the black-haired royal eventually looks up to regard the barricaded opening far above them. He was about to offer the apothecary a few of his hypotheses... before settling on inquiry about the aforementioned scientist instead. Elijah likely wouldn't have taken his theories seriously, anyway. Or understood most of it.

His calm expression flinches into surprise for a moment when the man drapes an arm over his shoulder. Rather than expressing his distaste for physical interaction, however, Remiel simply continues packing away his tools and his finding as he speaks. "I see..." He mutters, zipping up his backpack before rising and shrugging off the other man's arm. As he swings his backpack back onto his shoulders, he continues. "This 'Lucas Lane' you speak of... is he affiliated with our mutual benefactor? do you know this man personally? I've been told to reach out to @magnolia , but I haven't been able to locate her yet. I may need assistance in the realm of scientific study..." He admitted.

elijah gardner

made by nette of gs!

the trees can't grow without the sun in their eyes; and we can't live if we're too afraid to die

Remiel listened as Elijah spoke on about the two potential aides in his endeavor. Though it didn't necessarily sound like he had anything good to say about either of them. It amused the black-haired royal to imagine the sort of impression he left on the man himself. Surely something about him being 'uptight' or 'pompous' or the like. Outside of Hammerlocke University, he was prone to having that sort of impression on most people. Nevertheless, Elijah still proved to be useful when he suggested another.

Remiel nodded in thanks. "I appreciate that. I'll ensure you have one of my phone numbers before we part ways tonight. Please ring me if she can help."

Suddenly forced to brace himself when the larger man grabs the handle of his backpack and hoists himself up, Remiel sighs as he looks up at the ladder of roots. It was a long climb for sure. Thorgrim stood at the end of it, chuckling hoarsely to himself. Only now Remiel felt like he was being laughed at, too. Just when Elijah regarded the cat, however, it suddenly turned away. Still able to see the back of its head, Remiel's blue-grey eyes widened a bit when he realized its ears were slightly twitching.


"We need to get out of here. Now." The lad stated in a whisper, climbing onto the roots and beginning his ascent. Once he was several feet up, he paused to turn over his shoulder and look down at his temporary partner. "Are you able to reliably climb with your injury?"

He appeared to have enough muscle to set his weight on one arm as he did, but Remiel couldn't be sure.

elijah gardner

made by nette of gs!