"She's just tired Jirou.  The cut wasn't too bad and it's only been a few hours."  A whistly voice called out, a man's.  It sounded familiar, but. . . 

"And I'm sorry for worrying so much about it.  A father will worry for his daughter.  Even if it isn't by blood."  This. . . Must have been Jirou Yunohana.  Marie's adoptive father.  His gruff voice was hard to mistake.

The other man chuckled a bit, "And here I thought Ol' Jirou here was a cold person.  I hope you're not too worried though, she seems to have gotten a wonderful companion with her."  The voice was coming back to the slowly awakening Marie. . . Right! The mayor.  The man seemed to care for everyone in town. . . "Isn't that right, Little Vulpix."

A small yip of [color=800000]"Pix"[/color] sounded out, raising the girl from her sleep. . .

[color=b22222]"What happened. . ."[/color] Marie sputtered out.  [color=b22222]"I remember running. . . And running, making sure that Onix never caught up. . ."[/color]  Marie caught herself though.  Her speach was becoming slightly erratic.  She calmed herself and took note of her surroundings.  A plain room, some posters of some cuter looking Pokemon. . . A desk with a lamp and about a dozen books spewed about on it. . . Her room.

"Oh, you're up Marie.  Glad to have you back with us." The mayor smiled. "Can you te--"

Jirou cut in and asked in a bit more of a desperate tone, "What happened to the rest of your group? Did an Onix attack you?"  The mayor rolled his eyes, it was never fun being interrupted still, he wanted to know as well.

"Your group was expected to return earlier, but when we went to look you were passed out on the ground with your little Vulpix here watching out."  He petted the small fire fox on the head before continuing.  "Can you tell us what happened?"

[color=b22222]"Very well."[/color]  Marie said before telling of what happened. . . The Onix attack and the dispersal of her travel group.  It didn't take too long since she decided shorter was better in this case. [color=b22222]"And then I woke up here."[/color]

"I see. . ." The mayor said, shaking his head. "Well, I'm glad you're okay.  You should stretch your legs and get your Vulpix looked at.  I'll discuss the matter with Jirou and we'll tell the town."

Marie nodded and stood up. . . She had a new hoodie on. . . Shirt as well.  She looked to Jirou with a somewhat questioning raised eyebrow.  "Yulia changed you. 'Blood does not befit a young lady,' she said." The man joked, obviously trying to diffuse the mood, even a little.  Marie didn't mind.  He was a good man that tried to take care of his adoptive daughter.  "If you don't want to continue with this delivery you don't have to."  Marie's eyes spoke for her to the man, though.  He gave a slight smile and nodded.  "Alright, just don't be afraid to call.  I know you can do it."

[color=b22222]"Thank you, father.  I'm going to get Lune checked on at the Pokemon Center.  I think she took a light hit earlier, and all the running we did couldn't have been good."[/color] She nodded at the two men and left for the town Pokemon Center with the Vulpix following right behind her.

. . .

Not much later, and they arrived. Actually, it was fairly busy.  It was a bit surprising, though, there was another group. . . Marie had actually forgotten all about that. [color=b22222]"Perhaps I could join them when they leave.  What do you think Lune?"[/color]  The small fox agreed with a small yip of the second part of it's species name.  Looking around at who she could see in the party. . . One person caught her eye.  Green hair, with a height shorter than herself. . . This girl was in her earlier travel group. . . Before the Onix attacked of course. Perhaps she knew more?

Marie found herself next to the girl, [color=b22222]"Greetings, maybe you don't remember me. . . But I was in your travel group earlier.  You seem to be. . ."[/color]  Marie took note of the girl's attire. . . If she were forced to describe it in a word she'd use, "Mess".  Of course, that would be rude to actually say so she went with a more elegant solution, [color=b2222]"In less than pristine condition.  I doubt all of those injuries came from an Onix."[/color]  Lune just stood around, waiting next to Marie.