Magma got my signal. He used confusion on the Aron, and I grabbed the coins Hudson had dropped before we escaped into the bushes. I was surprised at how fast Magma could run; it was difficult keeping up at first. Before long, though, he looked to be out of breath, so I slowed down and stopped soon after.
	"So..." Magma said in between breaths, "What was up with that bug guy? Why did he betray you like that?"
	I sat down, frustrated with my own stupidity. The only items I had left were my stick and the few coins Magma had knocked out of Hudson's hand. "I'm an idiot, that's why," I said more to myself than anyone, "I was in the town nearby and put down my bag for a second. I guess I wasn't thinking. That Wurmple, Hudson, he took it while I wasn't looking. And me being the idiot I am, believed him when he said he was an explorer who'd help get my stuff back."
	I glanced up at Magma then pretended to be more interested in a leaf on the ground, too embarrassed with myself to make eye contact. "Anyway, I still had the money from my bag, so he lured me in here and took that, too. I managed to get this back, though." I held up the stick. To me, it was one of the most important items I owned. It reminded me of the practice battles my friend and I used to have and made me feel like I could take on the world, despite how bad I am at battling without it. Even Hudson didn't seem that intimidating when I had this.
	"Thanks for your help back there, but can I ask you something?" I stood up, looking at my stick in both hands then to Magma. "I know you just met me, so you can say no if you want, but I really want to go after Hudson. I don't think I can do it by myself." If Magma agreed, I might still have a chance at getting my stuff back. Hudson couldn't have gone far with the warp seed he ate, but I still had no idea how we'd be able to find him in this forest.