Rei had walked for what felt like ages before she felt safe to settle down for the night. Scrounging up enough leaves and sticks to make a large, leafy roof, she leaned it against a tree and used it for protection. Settling down a little once that was done, she collected leaves to add until she had enough to make walls as well. By the time the sun sank on the unfamiliar horizon, Rei had a makeshift place to call home.

She felt like she'd been surviving before, like she knew this feeling. But for now, all she could do was hope it was enough.

It wasn't actually that fun when you were on your own. No one to talk to was one thing, but sitting and watching out for danger made one barely able to sleep. Rei made an effort to distract herself with the objects she'd collected earlier.

The Scarf - the pink one, the first one - had been referred to as a Pecha Scarf. She checked it over, feeling the silk move across her skin. Uh, fur.

Darn. That was going to take some getting used to, looking down and seeing two little brown paws. She'd hoped she wouldn't have to get used to it for very long. Calming herself down once more, she turned back to the pile of things stuffed inside the makeshift bag. TMs... it had been a long time since she'd used those. They were rare and expensive, and not something used lightly, even if they were multi-use thanks to her technical skills. These she got for free, although their significance in her quest for normal was questionable.

Well, better than nothing.

She tapped the TM with one paw, letting a foreign electrical current flow into her. Suddenly everything clicked, and she tested what she'd learned by carefully pointing herself at a tree outside and charging gently, going just over the edge of what was needed.

Hyper Beam.

BOOM.

Okay, not the best choice, even if she was being careful. But everyone has to learn somehow.

She decided to test a safer one. Deciding to read the covers before she used them, she looked along until she found one she decided was a good idea.

Rest.

Yeah, that would be helpful, and it wouldn't hurt another tree.

She moved on to the scarves - she used this term loosely, as half of them were bows, and there was even the odd bracelet and necklace, and a really weird tie with small dark blue dots. A few were similar materials to the scarf she'd used to carry everything, so she put those aside as Pecha scarves. Sorting through once again, she began to make piles - piles of bands, piles of scarves, piles of things that boosted strength and defences and piles of things that negated attacks, until she knew where everything was.

A few Friend Bows, about four coalition scarves, and some other items only groups of people - or Pokémon, in Rei's case - were set to one side. What could she use them for, anyway? She was on her own.

Moving outside once more, she sat down to stare at the moon. At least that was the same. At the very least, she was somewhere very similar. The moon even looked the same. She couldn't be wrong. This world was indeed at the very least one like her own. Which hopefully meant there was a way back.

Hopefully.

Her ears, instinctively trained to listen, heard the approach of two intruders. Getting up, she moved into the bushes, a bit away from her camp. If they were following her, they would conclude she was heading for support, not away from it. She could always find a way to escape later, and she could keep her camp...

As she'd expected, the shapes followed her. slinking past a few small burrows, she managed to find her way to a path etched into the undergrowth. Deciding it was her best bet at this point, she went inside and fuddled with a few leaves until she was expertly hidden in the leafy arc that displayed the dark forest.

Snatches of speech could be heard, and her heart beat heavy as she listened in, trying to keep her overeager ears from perking up and down at each noise.

"Tauros, are you sure? If a child came through here..." A voice, gentle and feminine, yet with a deep and foreign quality, ran through.

"Then they'd be in danger!" Another, rougher voice snapped, and she heard a sound similar to a whip cracking, presumably his three tails hitting the ground in frustration. "Miltank, you know how I feel about this! We can't just let this go!"

The Miltank sighed. "Yes, I know. But it's just too much to hope for. I know you want to help the lost, Tauros, but we've only had two successes so far. Remember Vulpix? The poor girl." The Tauros flinched, his hooves carving his feelings into the ground.

The two snuffed around a bit, trying to find her, but soon the Miltank gave up. She sat down to one side, watching her friend snuff around hurriedly, hoping to regain the scent. After a few minutes, he gave up, and came to rest next to her.

"Tauros, we should go back." The Miltank argued.

"No!" He growled, but he soon regained his posture. "Miltank, I need to do this. I guide the lost."

"But we almost always fail." Miltank said, sad. "They always end up lost again. Succumbing to darkness..."

"Miltank." Tauros said, as if to get her attention. "If a confused Pokémon walks along a sidewalk, with a wall to one side and a cart-road to another, Pokémon would say he was headed to the cart-road. People would say that he was bound to eventually walk out there. The closest we can get to success is to head towards that wall, even if it looks like we should be headed for the cart-road. To me, success is merely being able to protect them, even if we end up on the cart-road in the end. We tried, and that, to me, is success."

"I guess you're right."

Rei considered. These 'failures' were somewhat worrying, but... the way this Tauros spoke, it was as if they lived in a violent world. It might be safest to join these Pokémon. Rei made a decision.

They didn't even notice her when she stepped out of the bush. To get their attention, she said, "Hyper Beam that wall, then."

Their heads suddenly snapped up from where they were resting, and for a few heart-wrenching moments the two stared at her as if she were everything they had ever wanted. Then the Tauros's tails began to sway gently, and he creeped over, carefully trying to seem smaller than he was.

"Hello, young one. Where did you come from?" he said softly, as the Miltank moved to join him.

"Elsewhere." Rei said. It was true, at least. "Who are you?"

"We are Pokémon who live in the village just over that hill and through the forest." the Miltank replied. "I am Miltank, and this is Tauros. Who might you be?"

"I am Rei." Rei supplied, wondering what this was leading to.

"Are you lost?" the Tauros asked, concerned.

"Well." Rei looked around. "If you count amnesia and lack of idea where to go or where I came from as lost, then yes, I count as lost. Probably." She glanced at the moon once more, peaceful and calm as she remembered it.

The pair looked at each other, eyes wide. Then, Miltank moved forward, and gripped my paw in one hoof. "Child, you must not stay here. Are you aware of the Mystery Dungeons here?"

Rei cocked a head. "No, not really. Are they dangerous?"

"Yes, very," Tauros said seriously. "I couldn't get through one alone, and I'm a local."

Rei considered. "Where is a good place to stay, then? I can't very well stay somewhere unsafe."

"Out in the village is the closest, but we have to head through a Mystery Dungeon to get to it," Miltank admitted. "Don't worry. We'll keep you safe."

Rei blinked. "You mean... you're just going to go through there and risk your lives to try and help me?"

"Well, yes," Tauros said, as if it were obvious. "That's what we do."

"I see." Rei considered. "I will join you, but please, if you find yourselves in danger, save yourselves for another time. I'm not worth this." Rei leaped away quickly, and a bit later came back with her things, her scarf once again wrapped around her neck in such a way that she could carry her things.

"Are you ready, child?" Tauros asked, tails flicking about restlessly.

"Yes. Lead the way." And so, they moved into the arc of leaves, into a dark forest.