[attr="class","sbody"]

[attr="class","orion"]


An unfamiliar bird catches Orion's attention. He stops to admire it, chuckling a little when it puffs up and pulls the scariest face it can muster.

It's more adorable than frightening, really.

Katas is far less amused by the Rookidee's attempts to scare his trainer. The Absol steps forward and glares right back, fur rising on his shoulders, and a low growl from his throat startles the bird from its perch and into the skies.

"That was unnecessary," Orion points out, but he can't help but to smile. His Absol always has been overprotective.

---

notes:
pass~

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[attr="class","orion"]


Treecko were relatively rare in Hoenn, despite being a signature Pokemon for those starting their journey.

Orion catches sight of one and smiles to himself, waves at the curious reptile when it peers out from a barrier of leaves.

"Hey, little guy! What's—"

He breaks off, interrupted by a sudden and loud screech. The ranger flinches, hands instinctively rising to cover his ears, and when he looks back to the trees, the Treecko is gone.

He realises the problem as his Chandelure drifts dejectedly away from the treeline.

"Aw, Phantom." There's sympathy in Orion's tone as he addresses the lonely specter. "I've told you, a lot of Pokemon are scared of ghost-types. But it's not your fault! He's just a jumpy one, that's all..."

---

notes:
pass~

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[attr="class","orion"]


Riolu begins to approach the trio of Pokemon and their trainer, but something seems to give the little creature pause.

It stops in its tracks, watching Katas carefully. The dark-type glances over from where he had been walking with Delphi, canting his head curiously.

Orion's Pokedex provides a clue: It doesn't approach dangerous opponents.

It's almost endearing, the way the Riolu regards the Absol with a quiet respect and understanding. Orion smiles at it, and the Riolu flicks its ears before turning around and dashing back from whence it had came.

"They're really quick, huh?"

---

notes:
pass~

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[attr="class","orion"]


Orion lets out a quiet noise of delight as the chubby piglet wanders up to their small party, curious and fearless.

Taking care to call his Chandelure over to him so that the spectral Pokemon wouldn't startle off another Pokemon looking for a friend, he watches fondly as Katas and Delphi interact with the creature and speak their own language.

Not for the first time, he wishes he could understand. He knew his Pokemon well enough to sense relaxation and friendliness in their body language and vocal tones, but there was no inkling of what they might be discussing. After a time, the Tepig lets out a cheerful squeal and dashes off, and Orion watches it leave with head tilted.

---

notes:
pass~

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[attr="class","orion"]


Orion's seen Wooloo before, but the appearance of the literal black sheep of a herd is enough to give him pause.

She seems to be shunned by her brethren for her odd colouring; he can relate to that, in a way. He was the black sheep of his family, as well. Perhaps that's why the downtrodden and disliked Pokemon are so drawn to him.

He clicks his tongue to get the Wooloo's attention, and she looks up from her melancholy to meet his eyes. It takes quite a bit of coaxing and an offer of a few berries from his bag, but she hesitantly curls into a ball and rolls herself toward him.

Her wool is dark, but just as soft as any Wooloo he's met. (Admittedly, that number was not large.)

"Nothing wrong with you being a little different," he assures her, stroking his fingers through the fluffy wool as she carefully selected berries from his other hand. "We like different, don't we?"

It's his Chandelure that drifts over, flames unlit, and the Wooloo doesn't shy from him like most Pokemon do. Orion can't help but smile, at that.

"You'd be more than welcome in our herd."

---

notes:
catch! :heart_eyes:

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[attr="class","orion"]


Speaking of herds...

Apparently, a Bouffalant had taken up the mantle of protector of this little herd of Wooloo in the Safari.

It snorts and stamps the ground, and Orion takes a few steps back in trepidation. Katas growls low in his throat, the Absol stepping in front of his trainer and their merry band of misfits, and there's a long pause where no one moves.

Orion lifts his hands, a gesture of surrender.

"I'm not here to disturb your, uh, flock." They seem more at ease with the removal of their literal-and-proverbial black sheep, who now cowers behind Orion's Espeon away from the staring buffalo. "I'm going to go this way, and we're going to leave you alone, and no one has to get into any fights."

It snorts at him, he backs off a few paces, then breaks into a light jog once he's sure the buffalo isn't following him. Just in case.

---

notes:
pass~

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