Only a few clouds streaked across the sky. The deep orange was giving way to the yellows and blues of the day. Even here, there was a gentle sea breeze that passed through. The soft rustling of leaves wafted in the air. It was quiet. A few chirps of a Taillow trying to find a mate pierced through. The rustling of a Zigzagoon was heard for a few minutes as it foraged for nuts and berries. A long buzzing was heard in the distance - a Nincada signifying the quickly increasing heat of the day.
	Forrest looked up and watched a cloud of Swablu follow an Altaria northwestward. He always enjoyed spotting these Pokemon in the wild. They always helped calm and comfort his mind. He took a deep breath to take in all the forest smells he could. They were notably different than the Petildale Forest. Of course, Pyre Woods was its own ecosystem. Even still, he found comfort in it.
	A ping of relief washed over him as he saw Tristan apparate nearby. He was worried he might have given the wrong coordinates to Shaq'ti. He didn't move from the tree he was leaning against. His foot was up so his knee stuck out in front of him. His arms were cross in front of him, but just one over the other as he took another drag of a cigarette and put his hand back down over the side of his elbow. 
	It seemed he was wearing the same thing as he did yesterday. A plain white short-sleeved shirt that only reached the bottom of his shoulders. The jeans he wore were a lighter wash than they were yesterday. They looked notably older though, somehow, more comfortable. He wore boots similar, though a discerning eye could tell they were were not the same ones that heeled in Jonton's head. This time he had his hunting knife clipped to the side of his belt - curious that he didn't bring it to the Wharf when he knew he was going to fight - or did he? All eight of his pokeballs were clipped to one side of his belt instead of divided evenly on both sides, perhaps due to the knife. A rucksack rested on the ground next to him that appeared to be full of gear. 
	Damselraed rushed out from behind a tree toward Tristan when she spotted him. She chirped and blew a few bubbles and twirled around him joyfully to say 'hi.' Shaq'ti appeared from behind another tree if only be seen by Tristan. Her eyes were closed and she was meditating on their surroundings. Her mental reach was rather far, but sometimes imprecise and usually not specific. 
	She immediately connected to Ether to relay what she had felt since they had gotten there ten minutes ago. Small entities meandered through the trees and underbrush. Some things hovered in the air to alight on trees a few times. Nothing got too close or seemed to be focused on them. Nothing out of the ordinary in a place like this. It was calm and quiet. She shared the brief relief she felt considering all they had gone through recently.
	This flashed a few images into Ether's mind that she hadn't shared before. It was before the Mauville attack. A young woman curled herself around an egg in the pouring rain in some woods. A Scyther slashed, and a large red X appeared across her back. A Rhyhorn collided with a smaller-than-average Corsola that managed to sustain the charge but at the cost of most of her branches. A Granbull and Scrafty fought back a Fearow and Tauros. Four men surrounded her as if they wanted the egg. She then showed herself and her party mates descend upon them and knock them all out quickly and barely rescue the young woman from death.
	The other memories of the Mauville Attack itself and what she witnessed at the Wharf flashed in her mind, to which Ether was already familiar. It would have been intriguing, however, to know that the same Pokemon that attacked this young woman were the same as the ones Jonton had at his sides at the Wharf. Possibly a clue to look into later if it didn't become relevant during their investigations now.
	"So, what's the plan?" Forrest said flatly.
	His voice was low - grumbly. It was also quiet. It seemed strange since Tristan was familiar with his normal speaking volume considering how Forrest got his attention in the Comp Lab yesterday. Now that they were outdoors and some distance away, he decided to lower his voice?