JULIE GETS TO SHAMOUTI

Julie gave a screech of triumph as her objective came into view. She flew towards Shamouti Island, giving the three other islands nearby a wide berth, she didn't know why but she needed to stay away from them. She dropped down so she could see features on the island, and began looking for her master, or a place she might associate with him. She flew over the island several times, landing briefly in the Main Square, at the Slowking's shrine, and a couple of sandy beaches that seemed familiar. She even went to the small uninhabited island with a hut on to look, but her master wasn't there.

On her final pass over the island, she spotted a hut that looked familiar. With a screech, she backwinged and landed in front of it, and made for the door.

Tobias was discussing this very situation with George, who had come to tell Tobias that a Shadowed and potentially dangerous Julie might be approaching the island. When they heard the screech, George went over to the window, and pulled back the curtain. When he saw Julie, he breathed in sharply, then turned to face Tobias.

"It's Julie." He said, holding back the curtain so that Tobias could see. "She's got here already, and she looks mean."

"I will answer the door." said Tobias. "She has never been harmed here, and has always been welcome here."

"Okay." said George dubiously. "If she gets aggressive, just back away slowly and try not to look threatening. If she breathes in deeply, get out of her way, because that means she's about to blizzard." Tobias nodded, knowing that having changed Julie and trained her, George had an intimate knowledge of what attacks she was capable of.

Tobias opened the door, finding the oddly-coloured Julie the other side of it, and though he felt intimidated by her blank stare, he smiled in what he hoped she would recognise as a friendly gesture, and said "Hello, Julie, do come in."

She blinked and hesitated, but the blankness in her eyes, which were glowing an eerie red colour, didn't change. Then she took a deep breath, and Tobias turned his face to the wall and flattened himself against it, as a freezing cold wind rushed through the corridor and iced up his kitchen. He felt something pass by, and shook off two inches of snow, turning in time to see Julie's tail disappearing into his living room. Concerned for George, he quickly followed her in, wincing as his feet sank into the layer of snow Julie's blizzard had created. He thanked the Guardian he only had rugs rather than carpet, and followed Julie in.

George had sensibly stepped out of her way, and was watching her as she studied a photograph on the wall. Tobias realised she was looking at a photograph Lawrence and Julie had given him as a gift not long after he, as Headman of the Island, had the pleasure of presiding over their marriage: one of their wedding photos. Lawrence and Julie stood in the centre, with Lugia, who had given Julie away, on one side and Lu, as the ring-bearer on the other. He himself stood next to Lu, while Lawrence's parents looked a little uncomfortable as the parents of the groom next to Lugia. Next to them was Cyril, as the best man, while further along, at the sides, Rachel, Donna, Fiona, and Karina were the bridesmaids. Mr and Mrs Faraday, George, and John were just regular guests, but such good friends that they'd been asked to join in the photo.

Tobias didn't make a sound as Julie raised her head from studying the photo to peer first at himself, then at George. Then she turned back to the photo, and he could see her comparing their faces to those in the photo, then returning her gaze to the images of herself and Lawrence. George moved over by Tobias and said "I think she's searching for Lawrence, and recognises us as friends of his."

Julie turned to them again, and George shut up, focusing his whole attention on her. She let out a little querying cry, and turned back to the photo.

"Are you looking for Lawrence, Julie?" George asked. She looked puzzled. "Lawrence?" he asked, pointing to his image in the photo. She gave a confirmatory chirp, and half-spread her wings in assent.

"If you come with Tobias and I, we'll take you to somewhere you can talk to him and see him, but he's not actually here at the moment." George took Tobias by the arm, and they made their way out into the hall. Julie turned, and began following them.

"We're going to the Poké Centre." George told Tobias. "We've got good long-distance radios in there, with screens, and I know Lawrence has a visual system in his machine. Let's just hope he's still in."