Matt had his reasons. If Josh asked, he'd tell him. Otherwise, he didn't touch the subject. Right now though, it was time to run!

And run they did.

Nana kept up her speed, eyes focused forward as the giant canine ran. Paws kicking up dirt behind her in her wake. As the turn came up, Matt leaned his weight to the side- into the turn. A nudge of his heel, as Nana dug her claws into the dirt, switch caused her to jerk to the side of the turn, reangling herself to send her back into the correct direction.

Matt wasn't trying to show off- he had been practicing turns!

Josh Devlin

Matt looked far to relaxed. Watching as the new bird was introduced and chased Oto. Who cawed and then went to land next to Matt. Nudging his face with his beak, then staring at Josh with piercing eyes, then snapping towards the new people who showed up. Puffing out it's chest, a proud bird!

Looking over, Matt's mood went south. Seeing Julia, the flashback of the meeting came to his head. Remembering how he was lucky he wasn't fired. A friendly flick of two fingers were given to the newcomers, before he shoved his hands into his pockets. Slouching and stepping back behind Josh, letting him take the lead on meeting the friends he had.

Though another glance was given to Isaac, he must have not been a ranger. "Nobody." He muttered to himself under his breath, before giving a fake smile. "Name's Matt."

Isaac Merlo Julia Davis

"Uh-huh."

Matt may have been half listening. There was a reason he didn't go on the rangernet for it, but he was not going to say way. "Flying? I'm better at that than swimmin' pokemon, even though I was one during Splashfest." So flying was a-okay for him.

"Let's go."

A soft nudge to Nana's side and the arcanine veered around to start following after Josh and Braver. The competitive pokemon let out a howl, as she started picking up her speed. Matt looked a lot more in control than he used too. As he hunched himself down, he actually had on goggles this time, so he pulled them down over his face.

Josh Devlin

Matt nodded, he could understand that. His mom was like that sometimes with the other siblings. "I get it." But he let the conversation move on, not wanting to bring Josh down.

Eating his own food, it wasn't too bad! Beer was good too, he leaned back and laughed. "Knock 'em dead." He teased, seeing the crowd cheer as Josh started to go up with his 'Raikou.' It had him thinking if he should bring out Kazzy when he goes up. If the pup didn't bark everyone's ears off.

Josh Devlin

Matt had to pause a second. Seeing the lopunny, that made him remember something.

He owned the Aura pokemon.

Digging to his belt, he let out Dagger. The riolu shook out his fur, looking around, then up at Matt expectantly. "Look for Josh, and let us know what's coming." Dagger gave a firm nod, the red eyes lighting up bright as they tapped into their aura power. Seeing many shapes of nearby pokemon. One in particular it was looking at was a Machamp, before looking at Matt, shaking his head.

"Danger?" Dagger nodded. "Threat level?" Dagger paused, then looked at Nana, pointing at her. To indicate it was probably just as strong as her. "Mmm..." Nodding, he motioned for Dagger to get on top of Nana. "Lead us, try not to engage a battle unless they attack us first."

Nana nodded as the canine went forward, with Dagger on top of her head, guiding them through the tunnels. They did come across the Machamp, that stared at them. Flexing it's muscles with a growl towards them. Matt watched, his step angling in front of Norma- a protective stance he took to anyone he was with. Nana growled towards the fighting type, she wasn't backing down. "No, Nana." He commented, not wanting a fight to start.

"We just want to pass through and clear the cave in, has that disturbed you?" The Machamp stared, snorting towards him, and nodded. Pointing with a pair of it's arms further down the tunnel, a longing whine escaping it's throat. Matt arched a brow, looking towards Dagger. "What's wrong?" He asked the canine, as the Rilou looked at the other fighting type, the two commutating between each other. THen Dagger turned to him, making a motion with it's paws as if something was separated.

"Did you also lose someone in the cave in?" He asked, the Machamp nodded. "We can help, if you can lead us to it."

Josh Devlin

Looks like Matt was spotted before he even got a chance to spot the other ranger! Jogging over with Nana, he rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry! I was a last minute call in." Nana barked next to him, looking around, she was ready to get to work!

"This is Nana, what can we do? I got some other pokemon that can move stuff and carry stuff as well." Ace could work with Nana to transport supplies and his scraggy could lift heavy things.

"Just point me in a direction."

Greyson Connors

Matt had put flyers everywhere- well, yeah, everywhere. Honestly he hoped someone would answer. Asking if anyone had heard about some poached growlithe pups. Trying his absolute best to try and bring Nana back to seeing her pups, even if it was one, he knew she would be overjoyed. So here he was, at this small park, waiting to see if anyone showed up.

Wanting to meet publicly helped Matt feel safer. Plus, it let him have Nana out of her ball. So the arcanine sat at the foot of the bench Matt had plopped himself onto while waiting. Scratching her head softly, he hadn't told her why he even brought her here. Not wanting to ger her hopes up for nothing, so he felt it was better this way. The only thing know was to do... was well, wait.

Kyrenai Black

Being back in Fortree felt so right. To see his family felt great! Well, he couldn't say that about Nico, maybe.. he knew how he got with his dad. Not that he liked Torolf either. But before Nico could even get to see his dad, he was bombarded by his two twin best friends. Aki and Ash had flooded the Vice house and talked Nico's ear off for hours. So Matt let it be. Instead, he went off to his old room. Looking around at the old posters, of rangers he idolized, old racers...

A frown came to his face, a... odd feeling. In his chest. Like a hole. As he stared at the ranger poster for a few moments, before shaking his head. He had things to do. Hearing the twins die down in laughter meant it was time for him to head back out there. Walking over to Nico, he gently nudged him. "Hey babe, you should probably head over to your dads, yeah? Sure your sis and sperm donor want to see you."

nicodemus unken

nicodemus unken

As they sat and Matt got his beer, he looked at Josh. "Did you say vittles?" He was trying to stop himself from snorting in laughter. Not a word he ever thought would come out of Josh's mouth at all. Oh well, was funny to him, at least.

Josh also was right, that price could hurt the soul. But if it was as good as Josh said, he would forgive him for this. Otherwise, he was for sure getting a earful later! So Matt grabbed his food, going to head to a more isolated table, looking at Josh. "So how'd yo ufind out about this place?"

Josh Devlin

As Josh kept looking to see if anything had been left behind, a gust of wind would blow behind him. A shadow of a large bird passed over, and the sound of a heavy thud behind him. Matt had landed on his feet after jumping off Oto, his shiny Pidgeot's back, as it circled the sky above.

"Boo." Matt teased at him, looking a little... smugger, than usual. More relaxed, as if care free, and not ... all there. Eh, maybe he was just loosening up around Josh?

Looking around, Matt looked impressed already with what was the gym. "Damn bro, you really wanted to go all out, huh?" Spinning in a circle as he looked around, a lazy smirk on his face. "Maaaan, I'd love to see a race in here."

Julia Davis Isaac Merlo

Matt couldn't help but smirk at the text back from Josh. 'I'm comin', chill your butt.' Looking back to Nroma and the clearing whismur, well this made it fairly easy. "Good job, Gauntlet. Return." The scraggy went back into it's ball. Without much of a word about Norma's question, Matt started to follow the tunnel deeper underground.

Reaching to his belt, he produced Nana's pokeball. Letting out the fire-type, he shrugged off the backpack of supplies he had brought with him. Even pulling out a torch! Looking at her, he held it up. "Light this, we have to go help Josh." Nana snorted, blowing a flame onto the torch to light it.

Looking back to Norma, he motioned ahead of him. "Coming?"

Josh Devlin

Relief washed over him as Josh agreed to go get the gear for him. Made him feel like stressed out abut it. Glad to let the conversation roll on by, he made a face at the mention of riding a dragonair... if this was anythign like Nico's milotic, he was gonna have some words. Matt didn't like water about as much as half his team did.

Nana was looking at Braver, sniffing towards him. Giving a tough stare at him. Something came over her face, like a look of hurt. Head hanging down as Matt frowned at her. Reaching down to pat her head softly. "It's okay... I won't stop looking for them." He knew what she was upset about, before a quick glance at Josh.

"Random question, but has... anyone reported anything about some stolen growlithe pups?"

Unless Josh asked he was not going to explain much else. "But yeah, let's get going."

Josh Devlin