(mid-week)<br/><br/><br/><br/>Eleyna watched Naomi run off with Steven while Aisha, humorously dashed off with Pokemon underarm. Brollem, talking to Jake, probably wouldn't be back to work or need her help for some time. She glanced off toward the festival grounds, not far away. It was genuinely begining to look like a festival. The posts were raised, the stage being floored. A few of the villagers were carrying large stones up from the village and arranging them in a circle - likely a place for a large bonfire. She could even see paint being slung.<br/><br/>Growlithe, quite sick of all the pleasantry that was being directed at Eleyna, wandered off back toward the coast. It took Eleyna  moment to realize he had disappeared. In all the ruckus and congratulations, it dawned on her that the Pokemon responsible for the victory had received none. She stared at his black and orange striped back as he sat down, looking out over the water. She gave Brollem, Jake, and Lydia a brief glance then headed his way.<br/><br/>His ears perked up for a moment as she approached and he gave her a long look before returning his gaze to the water. Eleyna sat down beside the Pokemon so that he was as tall as she was.<span style="color: blue">You uhm... well, good job, I guess.</span>She tried.<br/><br/>Growlithe gave her half a look then looked back out at the water. Eleyna did too, feeling awkward, like she should say something, but couldn't really fathom what to say. After all, she didn't have any Pokemon, and while she'd grown up around them, those had all been trained, domesticated to some extent. Growlithe was yet wild; educated, but wild. She watched the water in the vast bay in silence.<br/><br/><span style="color: blue">You get angry easily.</span>She spoke at last. the Growlithe looked at her.<span style="color: blue">When you get hit, I mean. You get angry.</span>Growlithe's eyes dropped.<br/><br/>Eleyna turned her gaze on the Growlithe. He was looking at the ground, a distant look in his eyes, a vacant expression. There was something curious about this Pokemon, Eleyna decided. Or perhaps all Pokemon, to some extent. She hadn't understood why he was following the group, but Brollem had seen it right away. She wondered what else Brollem knew about Growlithe that she couldn't see yet. She wondered what made him so distant, so reluctant.<br/><br/><span style="color: blue">You don't want a trainer.</span>Eleyna realized as she spoke to him.<span style="color: blue">But what about a partner?</span>His attention fell on her.<span style="color: blue">You don't need me to train you. You already know how to fight. That's obvious. But when you get angry you lose you orientation... you stop seeing the battle. I can see the fight for you, see what's going on. Give you clarity in the chaos. In return... you help me become a great trainer.</span>She looked out across the water to the sharp rising mountainside on the far coast.<span style="color: blue">We're out here all on our own... and if what the villagers are saying is true, I don't think we'll get very far on our own.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: blue">So what do you say?</span>She opened her hand, and holding it you to him. The Growlithe gave her a long look, contemplating for a long while as Eleyna sat waiting. He gave a wary look toward the spirit forest, his eyes transfixed on it for a time, then looked back at Eleyna. He set his paw in her hand and gave her a nod.<br/><br/><span style="color: blue">Ok.</span>Eleyna smiled and looked back out over the water.<span style="color: blue">But I think we're going to need a bigger team.</span><br/><br/><br/>***<br/><br/><br/>Brollem gave Jake a nod and grin.<span style="color: red">Alright, then! Makka!</span>He called to the Machoke who looked up.<span style="color: red">We've got a challenger!</span><br/><br/>Brollem took up his post on the other side of the field and waited for Jake to situate himself. Makka stepped out before Brollem as the selected Pokemon.<span style="color: red">Alright, it'll be a singles match! One Pokemon only, unless your looking for a team bout, but I'd warn ye against that one!</span>He laughed.<span style="color: red">Are you ready, trainer?</span><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><b>Kenjiki Flower Quest:</b><br/>(Naomi, Steven, Aisha)<br/><br/><br/>Aisha, Steven, and Naomi had to run to catch up with the departing group of villagers. They talked among themselves merrily and when when the three trainers joined them, spirits were set high.<span style="color: darkgreen">Ataa... no need for guards, haha!</span>They joked and laughed.<br/><br/>The group set into the southern wood. The treetop canopy wasn't near as dense as the forest which the group traversed against the mountainside. Sunlight cast down to them through the leaves, pollen and dust dancing in the rays. There were a few heavy patches of undergrowth here and there, but the forest floor was mostly grass and brush with strokes of colorful flowers and berry bushes growing about.<br/><br/>The villagers laughed and joked to themselves. Two of the men stroked their chins with eyebrows raised as they debated how Aisha's breasts managed to fit in her Yukata. Above, a half dozen Metapods hung from the tree branches, their large eyes watching the passing villagers curiously. A Caterpie skittered across an upper branch, nibbling on leaves while small insects zipped around between flowers and trees. Were there any threats, they could not be detected from a mere cursory glance.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>