[attr="class","orion"]


No sooner has Orion deposited the Growlithe's ball into his back than a Growlithe demands their attention with a howl of its own.

"Not you, too!"

Orion's more amused than annoyed, shaking his head. What was with the Pokemon today? They were so full of fighting energy! Except... when it howls again, Orion thinks there's something mournful in its tone.

"Hey... you OK, bud?"

It sniffs the ground at his feet as if looking for something. Orion's busy puzzling over what might be the matter when Katas appears at his side, nudging the bag into which he'd just deposited the safari ball. Confused, Orion opens it and allows his Absol to get at its contents. His horn carefully scoops the recently-filled Pokeball and drops it on the group, where the white-furred Pokemon carefully nudges at the button.

Poochyena reappears, and it's like watching dawn break in the Growlithe's expression.

"Oh, they're friends." That was one of the cutest things he'd ever seen. "Well I can't split up friends, can I? Do you want to come along, too?"

---

notes:
catch!

[attr="class","sbody"]

[attr="class","sbody"]

[attr="class","orion"]


"Oh... did you get separated from your flock?"

A lone Wooloo ambles about the grass, rolling lazily into a ball before flopping over. It doesn't seem to have any issue with his approach, nor that of his Pokemon, merely offering a quiet bleat of greeting.

"I ran into another group of Wooloo back there." He thumbs toward the vague direction from whence they'd came. "Got a real grumpy Bouffalant in charge, but I bet he'd keep ya safe."

It doesn't seem fussed one way or another, but it follows him as he loops back around to where he'd been before. He's careful to maintain a safe distance from the flock and its protector, smiling slightly when the Wooloo wanders curiously over to the others of its kind. Unlike the black sheep he'd rescued from their bullying, they seem to accept this stranger just fine.

Typical.

---

notes:
pass~

[attr="class","sbody"]

[attr="class","orion"]


The second Treecko they spot, Orion's a lot more careful with. He holds out a hand to silently stop Phantom from approaching and startling the little guy out of his tree, and he creeps up slowly.

And then he steps on a branch, because of course he does.

Crack!

The sudden sound startles the lizard and alerts it to the approach of a human and three of his Pokemon, and the little guy disappears in a flash.

Orion sighs. Strike two.

---

notes:
pass~

[attr="class","sbody"]

[attr="class","orion"]


The next Wooloo they encounter seems perfectly happy on its own, tumbling around in the grass and nibbling on the leaves of a nearby bush.

Orion decides to leave it be.

Glancing up at the sky, he can see that the sun is beginning to dip toward the horizon. They turn to retrace their steps. It'll be harder to navigate once it gets dark, and he doesn't want to get lost in the safari.

---

notes:
pass~

[attr="class","sbody"]

[attr="class","orion"]


Orion's jaw cracks with a large yawn. He'd been getting far less sleep since accepting a position on the Council, and he can feel it in the way his muscles begin to protest with every step.

It's worth it to see his Pokemon having a good time. It would seem that they've befriended a Riolu during the walk, judging by the excited yips and barks. It doesn't seem to mind Phantom's presence, perhaps sensing the surprisingly positive intentions of the haunted chandelier.

After a time, it leaves their group to return to its territory. Orion waves farewell.

---

notes:
pass~

[attr="class","sbody"]

[attr="class","orion"]


Orion's still got a single safari ball in hand when the entrance to the preserve looms ahead.

"It'd be a shame to waste it," he mumbles to himself, looking down at the sphere in hand. "There's always that trading forum that Alexei Ivanov mentioned..."

It just so happens that an eager Poochyena stumbles — quite literally stumbles — into their path. Orion blinks at it, then can't help but to laugh. It looks younger than the one he'd encountered earlier, still finding its feet.

It proves ferocious, however, astonishing his Absol with a sucker punch. Katas stumbles back from the force of the blow, then snarls and retaliates by smacking the pup with an iron tail.

"Ohh," Orion mumbles, wincing sympathetically as he crouches next to the fallen pup. "Poor thing!"

Katas looks unamused as Orion taps the pooch with the ball.

---

notes:
catching/close