At first no one appeared.

But a breeze picked up, quickly turning into cold gusts. It was no wonder the champion's pokemon were on edge.

Then a wicked looking pokemon stepped out of the trees and passed through the bushes. He moved onto their path and held out two leafy arms. He was brown with shaggy white fur on his face and down his back. He had a long pointed nose and long pointy ears. He was a little short and seemed to hunch as if he was about to spring. He glared at them with black and yellow eyes and gritted his teeth. The breeze gusted from his direction though he didn't appear to be doing much except blocking their path. 

He was not alone.

Nearly as soon as he appeared a regal Sawsbuck formed out of the darkness too. He was in his Autumn form, with heavy pink leafage decorating his antlers. He was not glaring, but looked down on the others like he was ready to trample them if they stepped out of line. He too passed in front of the group and moved into position to block their path.

Neither pokemon took matters into their own hands by attacking. But after a moment, the Sawsbuck lowered his head a little and then jutted it up, his way of gesturing behind the group. He waited a second then repeated the gesture and stepped forward with one hoof. The Shiftry made a similar movement with one arm--waving his leaves to shoo them back. Then the breeze picked up again, like it was trying to blow them away too.

For the moment no one and nothing else seemed to be around.