Renard insisted on taking a few minutes to get settled before continuing the conversation. It was immediately apparent that both parties had a lot of information to share with one another, and the short break would provide Astrid with the opportunity to better organize her thoughts and concerns in the wake of the informational bombshell that Renard had just dropped on them.
Leaf likewise had no complaints, as the brief halt allowed him to continue basking in the patch of sunlight without any distractions, an activity that Astrid observed with mild interest. It must be wonderful to be able to stretch out in the sun and let one's worries fade away for a while. That was not to say that Astrid felt constantly burdened by the world around her, but the ability to sense impending disasters made it difficult to completely relax and distance herself from the stresses of everyday life.
She wondered, for a moment, whether Renard had an ulterior motive when selecting Route 208 as the rendezvous point. It was a relatively close destination to their starting point of Solaceon Town, something the Ninetales was bound to have known, since A/C had relayed the message, and at the same time, it was a beautiful and tranquil environment. It had a lush, sweet-smelling meadow, fresh water carried down from the mountain, and plenty of sunlight to lounge around in while they waited for him to arrive. The only downside the Absol could think of was that the route saw relatively frequent traffic. Novice and intermediate-level trainers passing through Mt. Coronet from Oreburgh City would have to come through here in order to reach Hearthome City, and city residents would come out here if they wanted to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a while. It was also not uncommon for young couples to meet here, away from the prying eyes of authority figures or their peers.
Renard lay down in the shade of the large honey tree a short distance away, but he seemed oddly distracted. His mesmerizing red eyes were focused skyward, searching the clouds in the sky with an impassive expression. It might have been the Absol's imagination, but she glimpsed a hint of sadness within his eyes, a yearning in his gaze that she couldn't quite identify.
Astrid averted her gaze quickly, her stomach squirming with embarrassment, as if she had walked in on something private or personal that she wasn't meant to witness. It was actually a little funny when she thought about it. At this point, there were very few things she hadn't witnessed another person or Pokemon doing when they otherwise thought they were alone. Remaining undetected while observing others was part and parcel with being a nocturnal huntress, and it wasn't like Astrid purposefully sought out such situations. Humans especially seemed to have a knack for behaving in an absurd manner whenever they thought no one was around to bear witness. Brian used to watch himself flexing in the bathroom mirror after showering, would randomly voice his thoughts aloud (often to the mirror, occasionally arguing with his own reflection), or break into song on a whim, inventing alternative lyrics in the process. He eventually learned that he needed to either assume that the Absol was ALWAYS in the same room, or to stop getting flustered whenever she caught him acting weird.
Then again, she supposed the main reason for feeling embarrassed was due to the incredible amount of respect she had for Renard as a friend and teammate, and the Ninetales always preferred to keep his past and emotions to himself whenever possible. Getting an uninvited glimpse behind his stoic mask felt like more of an intrusion into his privacy than more standard examples.
Renard cleared his throat politely, and Astrid promptly refocused upon him. The Ninetales was still lying down, with his stomach against the grass, but his head was lifted above his forepaws, giving him a vaguely regal appearance, like a sphinx. His nine tails fanned around his prone body, almost like a multi-layered protective ring. Astrid had to stifle a giggle, finding the positioning an amusing contrast to her companion's usual solemn demeanor. His red eyes still shone with a hypnotic gleam that challenged foes to maintain eye contact, so there really wasn't the risk of someone taking him lightly.
That said, it was sometimes difficult for Astrid to remember that without the bulk of his tails fanned out behind him, Renard's body was significantly more sleek and slim than it appeared at a glance. It would be immeasurably foolish to judge the fire fox's battle capabilities on that alone, but it certainly helped explain why Astrid had always been considered the team's strongest battler, despite Renard's decades of experience and knowledge. She was only a little larger than him, but she outweighed him significantly, and close-range combat was not his forte.
Recognizing the cue, Leaf reluctantly got up from his sunlight patch and made his way over to where the elder two quadrupeds were sitting. In spite of his visible annoyance over changing locations, Astrid noticed that Leaf was giving Renard his undivided attention.
"I acknowledge that A/C provided me with a synopsis of the present matter, but I may require a more detailed understanding of the circumstances," Renard intoned. Leaf twitched from beside Astrid, and she looked over at him, doing her best to keep a neutral expression.
"He's saying that A/C told him the shortened story of what happened, but he wants more details," she explained in an undertone. Renard nodded to confirm, offering the Leafeon an apologetic smile, which was promptly met with an upturned nose.
"I apologize, little one," Renard murmured softly. "I am overly accustomed to my style of speaking, and it is sometimes difficult to translate my thoughts accordingly. While I admittedly indulged in teasing you a few times previously, provoking you is presently not my intention."
"He's just used to talking that way, and he's not trying to annoy you on purpose," Astrid translated promptly, unable to keep the playful bounce from her words, nor halt the wagging of her tail.
Leaf grumbled in irritation, but faced forward once more, although he adamantly refused to meet Renard's eyes. The Ninetales was overall unfazed, and simply nodded to Astrid.
The Absol took a deep breath. She had spent a considerable amount of time thinking about the most efficient way to get Renard up to speed on the latest events of the past few weeks, while avoiding the usual trap of getting sidetracked by unnecessary tangents. Shadow's disappearance was vital enough information for A/C to have relayed in her message to the Ninetales, but there were several aspects of the group's visit to the Solaceon Ruins that Astrid felt were still worth bringing to Renard's attention.
She started off by giving a vague explanation as to why the group had decided to investigate the Ruins in the first place, admitting that it had mostly been her own decision to pursue the possible lead involving Diablos or one of his associates. The reality was definitely a little more complicated than she was letting on, but the omitted details weren't especially important to the main points she needed to get across.
"Shadow insisted on accompanying me there," she continued with a sheepish smile. "And um...Leaf insisted on coming, too."
"Yup!" Leaf confirmed. "Shadow wanted to make sure she'd be okay, and I wanted to make sure they'd both be okay," he explained, flashing Renard what Astrid could have sworn was a smug grin. "And she didn't lecture me about not being strong enough, either."
Astrid blinked, slightly curious about the context behind the Leafeon making this remark, but quickly remembered that she was trying to avoid getting onto pointless tangents, especially when she still had so much information left to cover. Renard seemed fully aware of the point Leaf was trying to make, because he smiled politely and nodded to indicate that he was following the story so far.
Astrid proceeded to describe how the group had descended deeper into the Ruins, guided by the Unown text inscribed upon the entrance tablet, and how she and Shadow had noticed a peculiarly sweet, alluring fragrance hovering in the air. Renard had creased his forehead at that mention, but otherwise proved to be a fantastic audience, listening patiently as the Absol recounted the events as they unfolded. Leaf occasionally supplied some commentary of his own, but he otherwise nodded in agreement.
"When we got down to the last floor, we saw a Quilava fighting against um...some sort of a Marowak," Astrid continued, hesitating for a moment. This was one of the points she really wanted Renard's input on, because she wasn't convinced the Marowak had been completely honest back then. "She called herself Seraphina...didn't you say you've met her before?" she wondered, tilting her head uncertainly.
Renard blinked, but nodded. "Yes, she's an Alolan Marowak," he confirmed promptly. Seeing the Absol's perplexed expression, the Ninetales chuckled. "You know how Sinnoh is home to two variants of Shellos and Gastrodon, based on which coast of Sinnoh they originate from?"
"Yeah," Astrid answered slowly.
"In the Alola region, certain Pokemon have adapted to different environments and habitats than members of the species normally would in other regions," Renard explained patiently. "As a result of this adaptation, those species take a different form, with different abilities and traits, than the normal variation."
"Just like Eevee!" Leaf suggested, his tail flicking. Astrid giggled, but Renard tilted his head thoughtfully.
"Actually...that's a solid parallel," he admitted. "Eevee evolve in order to adapt to their environment. The Alola regional variants are similar in that regard. I've never personally been to Alola, but to my understanding, the Vulpix born there are Ice-types."
"How do you know that?" Astrid blurted, forgetting for a moment that she had been trying to avoid getting too far off-topic. Renard was silent for several seconds, and when he spoke again, it was in a resigned tone.
"Because Serena appears as the Alolan variant of my species," he answered. Leaf and Astrid exchanged blank looks.
"Who's Serena?" Leaf asked curiously.
"Serena is the subconscious manifestation that represents my inner darkness," Renard replied, the flatness of his tone making it clear that he was only grudgingly revealing this information. "I can address the subject more thoroughly later on, should you so desire, but it is immaterial to the topic at hand. Astrid?"
The Absol blinked. "Right, um," she began, fumbling over her words as she scrambled to remember where she was with the explanation. "Oh! I recognized Seraphina's name, but I guess I didn't remember what you said about her," she admitted with a sheepish shrug. "I thought you told me she was a mercenary or whatever."
"She is," Renard confirmed blandly.
"I asked her about that, and she said she wasn't!" Astrid protested, but shrugged it off for the time being. "Anyway, she was picking a fight with me, while going on about how I killed the Sigilyph guardian, or whatever, and that she had to fight me to avenge it or something."
Renard stiffened and his eyes widened slightly. Astrid did a double-take, concerned by the Ninetales' alarmed expression. She could practically see the wheels turning in his head, but his eyes revealed nothing to her inquisitive gaze.
Renard slowly exhaled. "Do you have any idea why she was there?" he pressed.
Astrid hesitated. This was around the point when her memory of the incident started to get foggy. "Not sure, but she wasn't alone. She was with another Pokemon...a Salazzle, I think?"
"Another Pokemon native to Alola," Renard confirmed solemnly. "I presume her to be the source of the fragrance you mentioned earlier?"
Astrid nodded, then cocked her head. "How did you know she was female? I didn't even mention her name yet."
"Salazzle are exclusively female," Renard answered impatiently. "Please continue."
The shadow of a frown flashed across the Absol's muzzle, and she shifted her weight slightly, as if trying to find a more comfortable sitting position, but in reality, she was trying to soothe the sudden twinge of annoyance stirring within her chest. It wasn't that she took Renard's clipped tone personally or anything like that, but she had already been making a conscious effort to stay on topic, and Renard's impatience felt like he was reprimanding her, while in the same breath referencing information about a Pokemon species she had never encountered before.
Swallowing a frustrated sigh, Astrid took a moment to gather her thoughts together before summarizing the encounter with Seraphina and Circe, being sure to mention how the Salazzle claimed to have fashioned the replacement Absolite bracer, and then describing as much about the ensuing battle that she could remember, which honestly wasn't very much. Aside from her initial struggle to achieve Mega Evolution, and Circe's underhanded method of forcing Shadow to act as a living shield, Astrid didn't feel there was anything about the battle worth talking about. Renard didn't interrupt or ask any questions, but it was obvious that he was mildly perturbed about something, even as he listened to what she was saying.
"I don't really know what happened after that," Astrid concluded sheepishly. "The two trainers we passed earlier in the Ruins ended up escorting me to the Solaceon Pokemon Center to get my injuries treated, and A/C insisted I stay overnight because I had a head injury."
"A wise decision, but when did it come to your attention that Shadow was missing?" Renard wondered.
"A couple hours later, maybe?" Astrid guessed. She had still been in one of the Pokemon Center recovery wards when Raze and Leaf had dropped by to share their concerns with A/C that Shadow hadn't come back from the Ruins yet. According to them, Raze and Ember had stayed behind their trainers in order to administer a healing potion to Shadow's injuries, because Leaf had adamantly refused to let the humans go anywhere near his unconscious brother.
After his injuries had been treated, Shadow had insisted on proceeding to the innermost chamber of the Ruins to question Cecilia and her Togetic companion, and the Charmander had accompanied him because she was also seeking information from those two. Leaf had wanted to leave the Ruins and get back to his nap, so the Buizel had offered to take the Leafeon back to A/C's den and watch over him until Shadow's return, which never happened.
"The moment I heard the news, I wanted to run back to the Ruins and investigate," Astrid told Renard, scowling slightly. They had gone to the Ruins in the first place to try and get a lead on what Diablos and his allies might be planning, so if Shadow had confronted them in a weakened condition, there was no telling what might have happened. "Unfortunately, A/C had given me strict orders not to overexert myself or whatever, and wouldn't let me leave."
"I suspect she was more than adequately prepared to deal with an unruly Absol under her care," Renard commented, a teasing smile curling the corners of his mouth. Astrid nodded grudgingly. 'Prepared' would have been a dire understatement. Not only had the Kadabra applied Miracle Eye to nullify Astrid's natural immunity to psychic abilities, but she had also confiscated the Absolite so that Astrid wouldn't risk subjecting her body to additional strain while recuperating.
A/C had relayed Raze's message about the missing Charmander to the human trainers, and offered to accompany them to the Ruins when it became clear that they intended to try and look for her. Leaf and Raze decided to stay behind to give Astrid company and fill her in on the things she had missed. The search party had eventually come back empty-handed, although that was at least a reassurance that they hadn't found evidence of foul play.
Immediately after being discharged from the Pokemon Center, Astrid had focused on finding Cecilia's scent trail, tracking the Quilava and her fairy companion to a campsite two or three miles north of Solaceon Town. It probably would have been more diplomatic of her to approach openly and politely request answers, but diplomacy was never one of Astrid's strong suits, and she hadn't been in the mood to deal with evasive responses. Before either of her targets had even realized she was there, the Absol had pounced upon the fire weasel, forced her onto her back and pinned her to the dirt, smothering the Quilava's flame vents before she could ignite them. Then the Absol had demanded honest answers to her questions, promising to turn Cecilia into her next meal if she smelled so much as a hint of dishonesty during the responses.
Astrid honestly adored how the overwhelming majority of Pokemon became significantly more cooperative when interrogated in this manner, and Cecilia had been no exception. The Quilava adamantly insisted that they hadn't done anything to Shadow or Ember, and that the missing Pokemon had definitely departed the room ahead of them. Cecilia also denied knowing anything about whether Ember or Shadow had gotten lost, suffered crippling injuries, or willingly remained in a separate chamber of the Ruins. Lastly, Astrid got Cecilia to admit a number of embarrassing personal secrets, among other tidbits of random information, which admittedly was a line of questioning that served no practical purpose beyond confirming the accuracy of Astrid's scent analysis.
In the present, however, Astrid decided it was best not to tell Renard about that little venture. Although her methods had been effective, the Ninetales was unlikely to approve, and she hadn't thought of asking questions about Diablos or the group's agenda until after letting them go, so she couldn't even justify the excursion as providing valuable intel.
"A/C and I later ventured into the Ruins so that I could check for scent trails," Astrid informed the Ninetales. "Thing is...both trails abruptly ended without explanation, like they vanished into thin air or whatever. A/C speculates that some sort of Teleportation was involved, because it's a room decorated with Unown sigils."
"Hm, that's a distinct possibility," Renard murmured, his eyes glazing over in thought. "Although taken to its logical extreme, it's possible that Shadow isn't even in Sinnoh anymore."
"Huh?!" Leaf wailed, his eyes wide with fearful anxiety.
"Especially if we factor in the Solaceon Ruins itself," Renard continued solemnly. "There is a great deal of ancient energy connected to many of the ruins found across Sinnoh, but similar energy has been discovered within other sites and relics spanning across the globe. Some experts have put forth theories that these sites are connected in some way, but nothing concrete has been proven."
"A/C thinks it's more likely he instinctively Teleported," Astrid interjected with a giggle. "She admitted that one of their recent tutoring sessions touched upon the subject, just not to the point of attempting it."
"Hm, another valid possibility," Renard conceded. "It does beg the question why he hasn't found his way back yet, but if he Teleported by instinct, he probably aimed for a destination outside of a reasonable range. My first guess of what he'd aim for as a safe destination would be the territory I'm overseeing...hm, now I'm left wondering whether my protective wards distort Teleport attempts."
"What are we going to do about Shadow?" Leaf interrupted impatiently, visibly annoyed at how the conversation seemed to be excluding him by default. "I miss him...and he's probably worried about me."
"You think so?" Astrid wondered. "Why? He's the one who might be lost."
"Shadow always worries about me!" Leaf insisted, a tremble in his voice. "He's always looking out for me, even when I tell him to let me fight for myself. We're brothers, so I'm the only family he has left! And he's the only family I have left..."
The Leafeon's voice cracked during his last statement, and Renard grimaced. Astrid blinked, alarmed to see tears leaking profusely from the Ninetales' crimson eyes. The Key Stone hanging around his neck blazed to life, and Astrid frantically looked down at her foreleg to make sure that her Absolite wasn't activating. Renard shut his eyes tightly, a shudder of pain mixed with sorrow wracking his body.
"Renard? What's wrong?" Astrid asked, stepping forward to offer whatever assistance she could, but Renard waved her away firmly, already regaining his composure. Biting her lower lip, Astrid stepped back a pace, but continued to observe the Ninetales warily.
"My apologies," Renard murmured, wiping his eyes dry and taking a deep breath. "We can't really afford to spend our time waiting for Shadow to find his way back," he said solemnly. "Even while separated from us, I expect he will continue training to become strong enough to protect himself and those closest to him, and I feel we should focus on doing the same. Diablos is not a danger I can afford to ignore, especially now that he's regained his true form. However, I'm frankly at a loss as to what we should do to prepare ourselves to fight against him."
"Maybe we need to get more people to fight with us," Leaf suggested.
"Loath as I am to get other people involved in this, I acknowledge that it's only a matter of time before they get dragged in, regardless," Renard sighed. "The inhabitants of Eterna Forest, Echo, Rio, and the rest of us...it's too late for any of them to avoid being mixed up in the demon's game."
"Apathetic Citizen Syndrome or whatever is going to be an issue, though," Astrid pointed out, her tail wagging with ironic enthusiasm. "Most people aren't going to want to join a fight if the conflict doesn't directly affect them. And trust me, very rarely do people leap into action just because you tell them there's a big threat coming in the future."
"Unless we first go to Celestic Town," Renard said slowly. Astrid looked at him curiously. "Its proximity to Mt. Coronet, as well as the respect the residents hold for the ancient Sinnoh lore, makes it the ideal place to begin spreading awareness of the danger, at least with an Absol in tow."
"Ooh, that's actually a really good ide-ahhh!" Astrid nearly leapt out of her skin as a powerful jolt shot through her body, the sensation beginning from her horn and then rapidly spreading down to her tail, striking her nerves with the intensity of an electrical shock. At the same time, her Absolite glowed brightly, responding to its owner's ability.
Leaf and Renard stared at Astrid with visible alarm, and the Absol panted for breath, her body shaking from the sheer intensity of the shock. "What's wrong?" Leaf asked nervously.
"Oh no!" Astrid whined, a small part of her wanting to throw herself down like a child having a tantrum and sob into her paws. Not every Absol sensed 'regular' natural disasters, although it certainly seemed more commonplace than her particular brand of detection. Astrid was one of the 'lucky' Absol that had next to nothing to work from when she picked a foreboding vibe. She could pretty much pinpoint the location, but the amount of time she had to stop it, and what disastrous event was actually going to befall the area often felt completely arbitrary, although the intensity of the event was relatively accurate to how much her body spasmed upon detection.
"Let me guess," Renard deadpanned. "Celestic Town?"
"How did you know?" Astrid griped.
"Because I have a tracking curse on a particular object that coincidentally has just arrived near Celestic Town," Renard growled, his crimson eyes glowing with an eerie blue light for the briefest of moments. "I guess that settles any question of our next destination."
