Soon, the path narrowed, as imposing rockface met them at their sides. The descending temperature forced the party to huddle into their backpacks as they walked, unsuitably equipped for this leg of the journey.

"I don't like this," said Totodile.

"It's almost like the quiet before the storm," added Louis. "We better get moving."

Tracey's eyes locked onto a specific peak in the distance, the tallest amongst the rocks.

"That's the one," he said.

What is?" asked Taki.

"Before I was webbed up, I was trying to find a peak to draw from," explained Tracey.

Louis rotated his head to respond.

"Do you think we should go with him?" asked Louis.

– "Well, we can't just leave him n-"

Taki stopped as a sudden, rapidly-barreling sound thundered from above, alerting her ears.

"Louis, LOOK OUT!" she shouted.

"Huh?" replied Louis.

Above, a boulder with eyes and arms, a Geodude, careened towards the group. A worried voice emanated from the tumbling rock.

"WHOA!" yelped Louis.

On instinct, Louis dove down, flat onto his stomach, just as the Geodude hit a nearby rock and became airborne, sailing over the group.

"Sorry!" it exclaimed, apologetically.

Landing with a thud, it continued its downward descent and cornered out of view.

"That's gonna leave a mark," said Louis, brushing dirt from grazes.

"You ok?" asked Tracey.

"Yeah," answered Louis.

– "Do they always do that?"

"I think the Geodude just...fell," said Taki.

Totodile giggled.

Eventually, the group struggled to the top and found a flat precipice jutting from the peak.

"This is perfect!" said Tracey, retrieving his sketch pad and pencils.

The sun waned and began to dip in the sky. Its bright light faded to an amber that caressed the landscape with a golden hue.

"So, what are you going to draw?" asked Taki.

"You'll see," responded Tracey.

From behind, a clattering of utensils emitted, drawing Louis' attention. Taki arranged three plates and began cooking.

"Taki, what are you doing?" questioned Louis.

Taki glanced at the sunset, and then back to Louis.

"Hey Tracey," called Taki.

"How long do you think you'll need?"

The first of the mountains already sketched, Tracey estimated.

"About forty-five minutes," he said, smiling.

"We probably won't get down before nightfall," replied Taki, to Louis' question.

"I'm setting up camp."

Louis acknowledged her answer, nodding.

'She's right,' he thought.

"And it's gonna get cold," he added.

The two adventurers struggled to produce a flame for a campfire, while the artist continued to sketch. Totodile watched the sunset, humming to herself cheerfully.

Eventually, the scent of freshly cooked rice emanated from the pot and wafted down the mountainside.

"Hey, the food's ready!" called Taki.

In a flourish, Tracey added the final strokes to his work.

"Almost done!" he replied.

Nearby, Louis stared at the first of the evening stars.

"Are you alright, Louis?" asked Taki.

"Y-yeah," answered Louis.

"...I've just been doing some thinking."

"Anything we should know about?" questioned the girl after shovelling a mouthful of rice.

Tracey ate like a devil. Numerous 'slurps' accompanied his frenzied assault on the food, and he barely looked up from his plate.

"It's uh...regarding my parents," explained Louis.

"Louis, don't worry," reassured Taki.

"I'm sure that letter will reach them in no time."

"That's not what I've been thinking about," said the boy.

– "Huh?"

"I've been trying to figure out which side of their families were a part of the tribe," described Louis.

"It's been boggling my mind since Chief Tanaka told me the whole story."

"Maybe it was someone on your mother's side," suggested Taki.

"I don't know," said Louis.

"My mom was born in Unova, a-"

A sudden rotor-whop, beating the air, interrupted Louis. The noise drawing the group's attention. Taki squinted her eyes toward the object, as Louis blurted…

"Aww man, not Team Rocket again!"

The helicopter lurched in the sky. A small trail of smoke bellowed from the tail rotor. It struggled, fighting the atmosphere around it. As it was about to leave view, the machine began to descend around the mountain, just out of the group's vision.

"Those clowns always do something when we're around," grumbled Taki.

The sound dimmed and eventually stopped.

"That's where we're going," said Louis.

"What?" questioned Taki.

"...tomorrow," added the boy.

The plan made, Louis turned to Tracey.

"Oh, Tracey," called Louis. "How'd your drawing go?"

Tracey's eyes widened.

"You guys wanna see it?" he asked, surprised

"Of course," answered Taki.

In a movement, Tracey flicked through the sketch pad and found tonight's art. He held it with both hands and stretched his arms out.

Before them, the youth gripped an image identical to the mountains displayed, while behind the sketch Tracey smiled, proudly. The trio of Louis, Taki and Totodile couldn't believe their eyes, mesmerised by the boy's artwork.

"...that's amazing!" the group said in unison.

Totodile poked the image, confused that a two-dimensional drawing could look identical to real life.

"You guys like it?" inquired Tracey.

"You bet," answered Louis.

"Who taught you how to do that, Tracey?" questioned Taki.

"My dad's an expert..." answered Tracey.

"...but he says that I'm getting better than him."

Taki gasped.

"That's right, your parents!" she squeaked.

"We'll get you back to them, soon."

With tomorrow's direction in mind and the moon rising, the group made for their sleeping bags as the last of the fire embered out.

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