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There are a myriad of reasons Gavin trusted Emma as much as he did, and none of them simple. Rocket had gone through a great deal of change, and its members were no different. He dares not divulge his deeper thoughts on the matter. Honestly, he's not sure he could find the words.[break][break]

Instead, he says, "Rocket needs unity between the new and the old. She's not the first to come back, she won't be the last."[break][break]

Emma approaches, and Gavin greets her with a curt nod. His brow knits into a frown as she relays her findings: they're troubling, to say the least.[break][break]

"There's quite a difference between the prints of Pokemon and humans." Were the farmers mistaken, or was something more nefarious at play? His natural tendency toward suspicion sours his mood. "Were there any tracks beyond what you found? Trainers using their own Lycanroc, perhaps?"[break][break]

He doubts it, figuring she would've mentioned as much, but asks for the sake of covering bases.
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To Priam, he says, "Have your Pokemon guard the herd, just in case. It would be downright reckless for them to attempt anything with the three of us here, but sometimes stupidity knows no bounds."

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Priam's disgruntled whispers do not go unnoticed - the first tell was his elbow pressing gently into Gavin's side. The woman does not, however, comment on the secrecy between them, though she has a fair idea of what it was about given what she heard from the last bit of Gavin's statement. [break][break]

The man's curt nod is well-received despite the indifferent expression she returns. She dips her head subtly before delving into the matter at hand. Gavin's frown is a mild relief, as it appeared he believed her.[break][break]

"It's hard to tell - the tracks I found were scuffed and nearly destroyed. Whatever or whoever it is is working hard to cover their tracks. Which is another reason I don't believe wild Pokemon are behind this."[break][break]

While not uncommon for wild Pokemon to cover their tracks, the rushed manner in which this situation had been covered up seemed too strange to be natural.[break][break]

Gavin relays an order to Priam and Emma glances up as he does so. She blinks, eyes knitted together just slightly as she works to consider their options.[break][break]

"They'll try it."[break][break]

She gestures for Gavin to follow her, then, as she intended on showing him the tracks she had found.[break][break]

"We have time - the tracks I found are old. Whatever comes, comes at night when they know the family is asleep."[break][break]

A thought crosses her mind then, of how deliberately planned out and coincidental that sounded.[break][break]

"Hmmm..."

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Priam seems to bounce back effortlessly from his troubles, and Gavin elects to leave the matter alone for the time being. He'd talk to him about it later, perhaps, if they had a moment alone. No member of Rocket deserved to feel like their concerns weren't being taken seriously.[break][break]

An intimidating Pokemon is released from its ball, and the youth seems content to settle down next to it on guard. As Emma beckons him toward the tracks, however, Gavin gestures for Priam to follow them. Three sets of eyes were better than two, even if those two were well-trained, and any amount of insight into what they were dealing with could prove valuable.
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"You seem confident they'll try something," he comments as they walk. Emma seems to be thinking of something else, as well, but he figures she'll elaborate on that if she wishes. "What makes you so sure?"

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Priam's demeanor changes from skeptical and suspicious to more relaxed, an expression she's familiar with. Emma glances back to Gavin before her footsteps lead her away. The sooner they figure out this mysterious Wooloo situation the better.[break][break]

She eventually leads them back and around to the gate near the barn entrance, and another strange coincidence shows its face. The woman appears lost in thought as she glances between the gate and the barn door. [break][break]

"Hmm.."[break][break]

The woman's thoughts are dispersed as Gavin speaks up, and she glances back to him quickly. She gestures to the gate and the scuffed up footprints leading into the barn.[break][break]

"Take a look for yourself. We aren't dealing with Pokemon - at least not entirely. I'm fairly certain Lycanroc don't have opposable thumbs, they wouldn't be able to unlatch and relatch the gate."[break][break]

It was becoming abundantly clear that they were dealing with people, more specifically, people who knew the most efficient way to get in and out of the barn without being seen. That required familiarity with the property.[break][break]

"Did they not also inform us that there's been no uproar in the night? No blood spilled. I don't sense fear or struggle."[break][break]

Her sharp-eyed gaze meets Gavin's, holding before shifting to Priam. She's waiting for them to piece the puzzle together themselves.

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Gavin scrutinizes the scuffed footprints, trying to glean as much information as he could from the botched cover-up effort. Identifying a partial print along the edge that hadn't been completely scuffed out, he guesses that at least one of the culprits is male — or else a female with large feet. The neatness of the profile suggests their suspect was walking, not running. Not in a rush.[break][break]

Gavin frowns.[break][break]

He straightens up as Emma continues to ruminate upon what information she had. Her gaze falls upon sharp amber.[break][break]

"Someone the animals are familiar with. Someone they'd leave with willingly." His earlier suspicions about the family were not entirely incorrect, then. Perhaps not the couple themselves, but... "We ought to ask them about any family that live within reasonable distance, former employees, anyone their flock might trust. And they weren't entirely wrong about the Lycanroc." His toe marks a line next to the faint impressions of canine paws. Lycanroc were light of foot, their prints near-invisible. "Presence of a pack and still no panic. They were here, but they didn't do the thieving."[break][break]

In the distance, where Priam's gaze wanders, shadows slink through the undergrowth. Scouts, sent by their would-be thief, the Lycanroc close in. Silent paws carry them through familiar hunting grounds toward their human prey.

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Emma remains quiet and thoughtful as Gavin muses over her findings. The man eventually comes to the same conclusion as she - but he appears far more willing to wait until morning for more answers. It wouldn't be necessary because they were get them tonight.[break][break]

Priam and his Luxray would be the first to notice the pack of silent Lycanroc encroaching on the farm. The Wooloo in the field show no sign of fear despite the fact the wolves weren't moving downwind. She could smell them herself, even, with their damp fur.[break][break]

Her sharp eyes look up but find nothing because it appears the wolves have dipped out of sight.[break][break]

"They're here. Priam, send your Luxray after them."[break][break]

As she says this, however, the woman reaches for her own Pokeball, retrieving Hades.[break][break]

The midnight-form Lycanroc breathes deeply, crimson eyes glowing with some degree of intimidating hunger. He opts for an ODER SLEUTH, detecting several Lycanroc trails as they retreat. They're going to lead them right back to their master.[break][break]

"Follow them, Hades."[break][break]

Emma glances back at Gavin and Priam - if the boy hadn't already given chase, before she ultimately follows after her own fleet-footed companion. The Lycanroc had not gone far, but it would be crucial to remain a fair distance away, make them think they had escaped.

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Gavin's nose twitches as the smell of wet dog is carried along the breeze. Emma reacts in kind, issuing an order to Priam that Gavin backs up with a sharp nod. He's not concerned with ranks or hierarchy in the heat of the moment — only with results.[break][break]

Alongside Emma's hulking werewolf appears Gavin's own Lycanroc, who drops into a low crouch and slinks after Hades at Gavin's wordless command.[break][break]

In pursuit at a distance, they now have the advantage of being downwind. Their prey remain unaware until it is too late, the pack congregating around the lone figure of their master. His posture is languid as he absently scratches one behind the ears; he is confident, expecting no resistance against what had become familiar routine.[break][break]

Gavin signals to Emma and Priam in turn, directing them to flank the man.[break][break]

His own Lycanroc creeps around behind the target as Gavin approaches from the front. By the time the pack take notice, ears perking up and fur stiffening along their spines, it's already too late. His Lycanroc lets out a rippling growl that transitions into a frightening ROAR of sound, forcing the man's wolf pack to retreat to the safety of their pokeballs. The man stumbles in his haste to leave, but would find himself penned in by the trio of Rockets and their Pokemon.[break][break]

"I wonder if the family you've been stealing from might recognize you." Moonlight catches on a threatening smile. "Surely you wouldn't be that stupid, though, right?"[break][break]

To Emma and Priam, he says, "Grab him, and take his Pokemon — we don't want him trying anything."

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Their footfalls are nearly silent in the soft grass, their scent masked by the wind as it carries it away from the pack. Emma watches as Priam and Gavin break off, each of them and their Pokemon widening their arc to close in on their target. [break][break]

The man in question appears unafraid, confident. Perhaps a little too confident. His pack of wolves do not notice they're doomed until it's too late. In response to the Lycanroc's snarl of unease and warning, Hades growls in return - tossing spittle from his lips.[break][break]

But it's Gavin's Lycanroc that sends them back to their pokeballs.[break][break]

Emma glances at the man briefly as he speaks, fixated on his threatening smile. She can smell the fear coming off of their target as he stumbles back, fumbling in the dark as branches trip up his path. He's not practiced, he's just stupid.[break][break]

Gavin issues orders and Emma steps up in kind, aiding Priam as they pin the mans arms behind his back and prevent him from reaching any of his pokeballs. Emma unclips the mans utility belt, tossing it and the capsules aside. He wouldn't be needing them anyway.[break][break]

"Care to explain what it is you're doing out here?"[break][break]

She nods to the lead rope attached to his hip, the perfect size for a Wooloo's tiny head. It even has fibers of wool stuck in it.[break][break]

Hades stays back, baring teeth and doing what he does best: intimidation.

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