The shift from night to morning changed little in Helix Port. As the nightowls and boardwalk roamers finally turned in, they were quickly replaced by early morning shift workers. Baggy-eyed and caffeine-deprived employees shuffled out of their homes, the horizon lit in a pale gray-blue color, the sun not yet visible over the horizon.

Genevieve checked and double-checked her supplies and gear she’d purchased from an out-of-the-way handy shop. She’d found it almost by chance when roaming the streets the night before, when searching for a place to stay the night, and got a few good deals on some slightly used camping gear. Allura helped carry the old tent and some of their food supplies in a backpack bigger than she was.

“Map says we need to go north for a few miles,” Genevieve said, examining a fold-up paper map she’d scrounged up in a tourist shop. It was the sort of thing most people wouldn’t bother with in this time and age, because of smart phones and such. But she only had so much juice in her portable charger, so wasting battery life on a map was not ideal. Besides, the Rangers would expect her to know how to read a map.

“Once we hit Helix River, we should follow it upstream until we reach the bridge crossing. About eighteen, twenty miles according to the pamphlet here. Then another twenty-five miles to reach the forest. We’ll need to camp before then. Maybe after the crossing? What do you guys think? Mars? Allura?”

Allura looked up, holding onto the little pack with both claws and smiling. She stamped her feet in a marching motion, already excited to get going. Mars, as always, was quiet, but she thought she heard a discontented rumbling from within his cocoon. She had no idea how to interpret it. Mars the Weedle used to be a joyful and animated little bug, but now...well, Genevieve wouldn’t begrudge him for growing up.

“I guess we’ll figure it out when we get there,” Genevieve said. She checked the time on her phone, then started on her way to the city’s north exist. Helix Port was a big place and easy to get lost in for someone unfamiliar with the place. Waterways were a common feature on the main roads, and those were often filled with the more docile Pokemon. A Hoothoot perched on a street lamp a short distance away, and it gave her a soft hoot as she walked by.

A few minutes later, as she moved past a series of short alleyways and off the main part of the road, she noticed Allura perk up. Frowning, Genevieve stopped and cocked her head, listening. Just faintly, she could hear a man’s voice in the distance, though she couldn’t make out the words. Curious, she moved towards the sound, creeping on her toes to stay quiet.

“I’m tellin’ ya, boss man,” the man’s voice kept saying. “Mick and Chelle just popped like fireworks! The others are still out there, we gotta go bail ‘em out.”

[i]Criminals?[/i] Genevieve wondered. She glanced to Mawile, but her diminutive friend just shrugged her little shoulders and pointed to the giant maw behind her, which grinned menacingly. Genevieve shook her head.

“The others are just gonna have to figure it out on their own,” another man said. “I ain’t about to go toe-to-toe with some rampaging beastie.”

“There’s lives at stake here, boss!” the first man urged.

“Yeah, boss,” a female voice added. “You sayin’ yous don’t care about us?”

“I’m saying it’s too risky,” the ‘boss’ said. “I ain’t risking more lives to get back what we lost.”

“More like you ain’t riskin’ your life to help out your family,” the man said, the woman sounding firm agreement. “I’m gonna help. Mick and Chelle might be gone, but their partners are still out there, prolly scared outta their wits. And let’s not forget Lil’ Dee. You care about Lil’ Dee, don’t you, boss?”

There was a pause. Too long of a pause. “I forbid you from going after them,” the boss said, his tone exasperated but controlled and careful. Genevieve knew immediately it was the wrong thing to say.

“Yeah, well, I guess you ain’t my boss anymore then. I’m done.”

“You can’t quit the Howlers, Brian,” the boss said.

“Fuck you, Mark. You comin’ Bridget?”

“Yeah,” the woman said. “Lemme go wrangle up some of the others an’ we go save them pups.”

Hearing footsteps approaching, Genevieve hurried back out the alley the way she came before she was discovered and resumed a casual stroll down the street. She acted the tourist, gawking at all the buildings around her, so she could throw a glance over her shoulder and see two people step out of the alley together. They had black leather jackets and gray undershirts on, though the woman’s was lower-cut. On the back of those jackets was the face of a wolf howling.

Gang members. The Howlers? Genevieve had never heard of them before, but then again, she wasn’t exactly native or familiar with this place. Still, the things they said in that alley concerned her. A rampaging Pokemon? What was all that about? She paused in the street, glancing back towards the retreating figures. They didn’t look like thugs. They were going to meet by the city gates, was it? Maybe she could learn more through them.

“On guard, Allura,” Genevieve said.