Craw sighed and looked at the names. Just nine of the Pokémon they took to the jobs made it to the second round. He actually expected more. He sighed and stretched himself. "Good. Tomorrow we will take a free day. I think we all need it. The day after tomorrow I want to see all nine of them in our training room. Can you arrange that Fletcher?"
The Fletchling nodded and took the name list.
Craw looked to Brighton and Kathrin. "You two will prepare the paperwork for them."
Brighton nodded. "Don't worry. I will."
Kathrin nodded.
Craw sighed. "Next point on the list is our stock. Luckily our request for support in that manner was accepted and we will get a good amount of berries, seeds and orbs. They should arrive today and I trust that you will take care of that Damion."
Damion nodded.
Craw smiled and looked to Ariela. "Also we get a good amount of money for us to buy equipment like move items and scarves. I want that you take care of the money and tomorrow we all will go to the market and each of us look out for some items that you all could need. Everyone of us should have at least two items beside those who are already in our stock that we use. Oh and Damion Please put the mobile cloak and the invisible cloak into the treasure room. They are pretty rare as far as I know and I only want that they are used for harder jobs."
Damion and Ariela nodded.
Craw nodded. "OK. That's all for today but I would like all of you in the living room in an hour. I would like to do that at least once a week in future. That we speak about what bothers us and about our hopes and dreams together. We didn't do that since some time now and I want to change that. We are all friends here and we should act like that."
The others nodded.
Craw smiled. "OK. Till later."
They all left the room and Craw stretched himself.
Ariela smiled. "Let me check your arm please."
Craw smiled and nodded.
Ariela took his arm. She was very gentle stroking over it and pressing on some points. Every time she pressed on his arm she looked at his face with curiosity.
Craw smiled calmly and looked into her eyes.
She smiled as she finished. "That aura exchanger really worked wonders. It is completely healed."
Craw nodded. "After we finished with the recruitment I will come with you all on jobs again."
Ariela nodded. "Fletcher is doing pretty well again too. Soon he should be fully recovered."
Craw chuckled. "Did you know that Serene sent him to a brothel?"
She looked to him surprised. "Really?"
Craw nodded. "Yeah. Bot don't worry. It is only for him to calm down his instincts. He was a bit stressed out lately. You know why."
Ariela giggled and nodded. "Yeah. It's good that he now has a way to calm himself down. I just hope that he won't stop searching for a female now..."
Craw chuckled. "Nah. I talked with him about it and he said that Serene explained him that they will never form a family with him and he said that he will never give up on finding a real mate."
She giggled. "That is good. I hope that he and Damion will become happy too."
Craw nodded. "Damion is the one I worry most about. He seems a bit better since we gave him more responsibility and since we make the boys night but I think what he really needs is someone he can be together with in times he feel lonely and even though he and Fletcher are best friends Fletcher won't be able to understand him all the time and can't really help him when he is lonely."
Ariela sighed and nodded. "Yeah... Maybe our new member in the team can help him."
Craw nodded. "Yeah."

Craw smiled. "I don't want to talk as team leader right now. Even though I am the team leader I want that you still see me as your friend."
Brighton smiled and nodded. "Don't worry. Even though you play the leader role pretty good I still see you as my friend."
Craw smiled. "Thanks but what I actually meant is that you should can speak freely to me. So if we are not in a meeting then please talk with me as if I am not the leader."
Ariela giggled. "I don't care if you are the leader or not. I will treat you like always."
Brighton smiled and nodded. "Yeah."
Craw smiled. "I know that you two do so already but you Damion and Fletcher act like if I am on a different level. I don't want that you act to me different just because I am the team leader. Fletcher I know that you look up to me like if I am the swarm leader but I am your friend too. Don't hesitate to come to me if you have a problem or if you want to spend time with me. And you Damion don't need to think you are less than me or Brighton. You are as important for us all like everyone else in the team is."
Fletcher nodded and chirped looking to Craw with big eyes while Damion seemed to be a bit embarrassed.
Brighton smiled. "I think what Craw wants to say is that even though we are sometimes busy with work and even though we both are in relationships we will take our time for each and everyone of our friends if they need us."
Craw nodded.
Ariela smiled. "I think I speak for Kathrin too if I say that the same counts for us two too."
Kathrin sighed. "If you really need my help with something I will be there."
Damion looked to them embarrassed and nodded. He sighed. "I thank you that you worry about me so much..."
Craw smiled. "You are our friend. Of course we worry about you."
Damion sighed. "Yeah but I worry about you as well..."
Craw looked to him surprised. "What do you mean?"
Damion looked to him. "You are worrying so much about everyone else... But you forget yourself. You are working too much."
Craw chuckled. "Did you plan that? Brighton told me the same today already..."
Ariela smiled. "Craw... We can all see how much you overwork yourself. You always try to be the best and that is something good. Also you always take care of everyone but you don't do something only for yourself. Sometimes you just need to be selfish. Otherwise you will lose yourself."
Craw sighed. "You won't give up right?"
All of them shook their head.
Craw chuckled and shook his head. "OK. I give up."
Kathrin grinned. "And don't worry. If you get too lazy Brighton and I will remember you to go back to work."
Craw chuckled. "Thanks. I am sure I can trust you with that."
Kathrin smiled. "Yeah."
Ariela smiled. "I like this meeting here. I think everyone of us should say something that bothers them right now. I will begin. I am worried that one of us goes too far in a dungeon and dies. Everyone of us me included are taking too many risks in the dungeons."
The others looked to her.
Brighton was the first to talk. "I know what you mean Ariela but it is our job to take risks. We became explorers what means that we risk our lives to save the lives of others..."
Ariela sighed. "Yeah but... Just remember what happened at the dungeon training and the exams... Especially you Craw are taking too many risks... Like if you wouldn't worry that you could die..."
Craw looked to her nervously. "I am really sorry that I worried you so much... You are right... I should be more careful and I promise that I will be more careful in future. I also planned on taking some training sessions from Sam... I think that his fighting style is very impressive and I think I could adapt it to my own fighting style."
Ariela took his paw. "OK... But I still don't want you to take risks that you don't need to take."
Craw nodded. "I promise. OK I will do next. I am worried that I don't fit as leader of the team. I make too many mistakes and I am bad with paperwork. Also I often think too much about what could happen..."
Kathrin shook her head. "No. You are a good leader. You are strong and you know what you are doing. That you think so much about everything makes you the best leader I met so far."
Ariela nodded. "We know that you are not comfortable with paperwork and if you want help with it you just need to tell us. I would always help you with that and I bet Kathrin and Brighton too."
Brighton and Kathrin nodded.
Brighton smiled. "I chose you as leader because of two things. First of all I didn't want all the attention but that isn't important to me anymore. The second thing is that you are a natural leader. Pokémon follow you just because you tell them. But I see now how good you are at this. You do it better than I ever could."
Damion chuckled. "You are caring for everyone of us and you are taking care that everyone of us has the same amount of work. None of us have more or less things to do than the others."
Fletcher nodded. "You are a good leader that I can assure you. My swarm leader as I was still living as feral was egoistic and kept all the females and the best food for himself. You on the other hand gave me everything I needed. You took care of me and you are still."
Ariela smiled and looked to him. "See? You are a good leader. Everyone is sure of that."
Craw sighed and looked to them. "Thank you. That means a lot to me."
Kathrin sighed. "I think-"
"OK. I am next." He looked to Kathrin. He seemed to be more worried about what Kathrin would say than about what he was about to say.
Kathrin looked to him angry and nervously.
Brighton sighed. "My biggest worry is that I would be alone again." He looked to all of them. "I fear that everyone of you could just play with me... That you are just using me to get something from me... I am sorry for that since I know that not everyone is like that but my father... He did some things that made me lose my trust into everyone. The first Pokémon that I started to trust again was Craw but even now I have this fear. I just can't stop it and I am worried that some day this fear will make me lose you all again..."
Everyone looked at him uncomfortable.
Craw sighed. "You really don't need to worry Brighton. I don't know about the others but I don't care that you are a prince. You are my friend because you helped me as I needed it and I know that you would do it again. You are a good Pokémon and you are friendly. You want to help everyone and that are the things that I appreciate about you not that you are a prince."
Fletcher nodded. "I couldn't care less if you are a prince or not. A month ago I didn't even know what a prince is. You are a good fighter and you protect those who can't protect themselves. That is something that I can respect and you cared for me as much as Craw did. That is why I consider you my friend."
Ariela smiled. "Brighton I never care about money or power. You know how I think about Pokémon like your father or my step father. I can feel your emotions and I know you have a pure heart. That is why you are a dear friend to me."
Damion looked down a bit embarrassed. "I have to be honest... At the beginning I just wanted to join the team because you are a prince and because Craw was so cool but that changed... I learned how much you care for others and how hard your life was. I learned that we have some things in common and that we both lived our lives lonely. You were forced into being lonely by your father while I was lonely because I lost my parents and never really had friends... You two were the first really close friends I had and that you shared your secrets and thoughts with me and that you helped and cared for me that... that is the reason why you are my friend. Sure it started for me because I wanted to be a friend with the cool prince and his friend but now you are my real friend and even though it is still cool that you are a prince it isn't important anymore. I would still want to be your friend even if you weren't a prince."
Brighton nodded and looked to Kathrin nervously.
Kathrin sighed and looked to him. "What should I say? You know my opinion about that. I couldn't care less that you are a prince. In the beginning I even didn't want to know anything about you because I thought you would be a snob like all the nobles. But now..." She softly cuddled onto his side blushing a bit. "I love you... You can ask Ariela if you want to. She surely can feel it." She looked down embarrassed.
Brighton nodded and nuzzled her softly. "I know Kathrin."
Kathrin sighed still looking down. "I think it's now my turn... My biggest fear is..." She sighed again twitching on her seat nervously.
Brighton nuzzled her. "If you really don't want to speak about it you don't need to."
Kathrin shook her head. "No... You all were honest with me so I should be honest too..." He looked up nervously. "I fear that you could think that I am weak... You all know already what happened to me... What you don't know is that it already happened in my past once... Back then... I lived in the streets after my parents disappeared... There was an Umbreon that took me in... She was living in the streets as well and we... we did many things that I am not proud of. We stole food and wrecked some things because we were angry about the world but mostly because we couldn't change anything or because we thought we couldn't change anything. She was like a big sister to me. At least till the day when she sold me to a scumbag. The next day I ran away from her. I don't remember how long I ran... I just ran and stole food to survive till one day an exploration team caught me. They brought me to the guild and they helped me. I remembered what my parents taught me and I lived in the guild for some time mostly helping out there. I had a problem finding someone that I could trust enough to accept them as partner to form a team till Ariela appeared. The rest you know." She sighed. "However... I only became so strong because I don't want to be weak ever again. But even though I may look tough on the outside... In the inside I am weak... Every time a male comes close to me I just... I am so extremely nervous and want to run away... It is just horrible..." She was shaking and pressed herself on Brighton's side like if she was searching for safety. "I can't control these feeling... But now..." She took a deep breath and looked to Brighton nervously. "Now I am together with you Brighton and you are the first one that I feel safe again since a long time..."
Brighton smiled calmly and nuzzled her softly.
Kathrin seemed to calm down a bit and the others waited for about a minute silent looking at Kathrin pityful.
Brighton was the first one who said something. "Kathrin. You know how I feel about you and you don't need to worry that my feelings for you would ever change. I will be there for you whenever you need me and you can trust me. I will never think that you are weak. You are really strong. What happened with you is terrible and that you fear others because of that is just normal..."
Craw nodded. "I think that you are strong. Others in your situation would have given up themselves. But you became stronger. You fought and didn't give up. You did everything you can to overcome your past and that is something that makes you really strong."
Ariela nodded. "I sensed it from the day we met. You feared the males so much but even though that you overcame your fear every time. You didn't stop doing your best and that is all that matters."
Damion smiled. "You are strong! You are the strongest Pokémon I know. You don't let others look down at you and you say what you are thinking. You don't bend yourself so others would like you. That makes you stronger than me."
Fletcher chirped. "As I still lived the life of the feral Pokémon I saw females as weaker than males. They only could lay eggs and gather food for the children. When the swarm was attacked they only helped if the foe was strong and mostly stayed back on the eggs taking care of them. They didn't help protecting our territory from other flying types and accepted the intruders if they would defeat us males as their new mates. I still thought so as I became civilized but then I met you. You were a female not letting males telling you what to think or to do. You fought for your own and you knew so much. You are smart. That is something that I would consider as strong."
Kathrin looked to them embarrassed. "You are so nice to me... I thank you all for cheering me up..."
Ariela smiled. "We are not just cheering you up. We are telling you the truth."
Kathrin nodded still a bit embarrassed leaning on Brighton's side.
Fletcher looked to them. "My biggest fear is that I have to go back. At the beginning I was just curious but now I really like this life. It is wonderful to have friends and the life in civilization is wonderful. Every day I learn new things and every day I enjoy the life here more. It has so many benefits compared to the life as a feral Pokémon. As a feral I was always in danger. I had to fight nearly every day and risked my life more often than I can count. I had to fight for Pokémon that didn't care for me and even if I fought hard I couldn't be sure to have enough food for the next day. Here I feel save and I know that when I work hard that I get something for it. The first time I feel that someone cares for me and I don't want to miss that. I fear that if I am not strong enough or if I am lazy that I have to go back..."
Craw looked to him. "Fletcher we will never send you back. You don't need to worry about that."
Damion nodded. "You are my best friend and you are always so strong and since I know you I have someone to pit my strength against someone. I grow every day a bit just by that! You are important to us."
Kathrin sighed. "Fletcher you are strong and you know how to fight. You are very good and you saved our lives back in the exam. You are reliable and we trust you. We wouldn't want to give you up."
Ariela smiled and looked to him. "You are our friend and we would never send a friend away. Also I feel how happy you are here and I would never want to see you sad. Also I would be sad too if you would just disappear."
Brighton nodded. "You are my friend as well. I would never send my friend away. I want that you stay."
Fletcher chirped. "I thank you for that."
Craw smiled and stretched himself. "You really don't need to thank us. We all had some worries and that is the reason I wanted to speak with all of you. I want that we remember ourselves why we are a team and friends."
Ariela looked to him. "That was a really good idea. Like I said I want to do that some more times in future. At least once a month would be good I think."
Kathrin nodded. "To remember why we are friends... And to remember that we are not alone."
Brighton smiled widely. "And to help each others with our worries."
Damion and Fletcher just nodded.
Craw sighed. "Also I would like to use this to just talk. Chit chat if you want so."
Damion looked to him with curiosity. "What do you mean for example?"
Craw grinned. "Like how are you doing Damion? Already found a new love interest?"
Everyone except for Damion started laughing.
Damion on his side widely blushed. "Why are you so interested in my love life?"
Craw chuckled. "Well we care for you. We want that all of our friends are happy and you seemed to be so sad the last weeks that you were so lonely."
Damion blushed. "That is nice of you but... I don't really want to speak about that now..."
The others chuckled.
Craw rubbed the Buizel's head. "We are just mocking you a bit. If you want to speak about it then it's fine but if you don't want to speak about it then just don't."
Damion nodded still blushed.
Ariela giggled. "Craw how about you tell us what you planned for tomorrow?"
Craw grinned. "Oh right. I thought that everyone should have one or two items that would be their personal items..."

Brighton looked around with curiosity. He went to a market stall and looked at some scarves and coats. "What can they do?"
The Leavanny smiled. "They are special band items. They push your special attacks making them stronger."
Brighton nodded looking at them.
Kathrin sighed standing right next to him. She already got herself a coat and an armband. "You still looking around?"
Brighton smiled. "A decision like this needs to be thought of carefully."
Kathrin sighed.
He went to the next stall. "What are you selling here?"
The vendor smiled. "We are selling move items. They are status moves only. Are you maybe searching for something?"
He smiled. "Well I am searching for a Double Team move item maybe."
The vendor smiled. "There I can help you. This vest is able to let you use the Double Team move."
Brighton looked at the vest. It looked rather simple in black and with golden buttons. "Can I try it on?"
The vendor looked at him for a moment. "Normally I would say no but because of your reputation I allow it."
Brighton nodded and took the vest trying it on. "It is a bit too small... Could you broaden it a bit?"
The vendor nodded. "Sure I can. I will need a day for that."
Brighton smiled as he took it off again. "Then I will take it. Could you let it bring to the guild?"
The Vendor bowed down as he took the vest. "No problem."
Brighton gave him the money and looked to Kathrin. "OK. I have one already."
Then Damion ran to them. "Brighton! I found one!"
Brighton looked to him. "Where?"
Damion smiled. "Follow me!" He ran ahead followed by Brighton and Kathrin.
On the other side of the market Craw was trying on a harness. It fit well. "That is good..." It was completely in black and he could append other items on it. "And you say it has the Agility move?"
The vendor nodded. "Yes."
Craw sent some energy into the harness. He smiled as he noticed that everything started to move slower. He nodded. "I will take it." He paid for the harness and smiled. "How about an item that can let me use protect?"
The vendor sighed. "Sadly I don't have one but I know a vendor I often deal with. He maybe has what you are searching for. He is normally near the main street at the east edge of the market place."
Craw smiled. "Thank you. What do I owe you for the information?"
The vendor shook his head. "Nothing. It was a pleasure to deal with you. Maybe you can tell others about me and my wares."
Craw nodded. "I will thank you."
Fletcher was hopping around with Ariela. He had problems finding something for himself. Ariela had found some gloves that allowed her to use strength and a scarf made of weather resistant material that pushed her special attacks. "How about this one?" She pointed to a ring.
Fletcher looked at it. "What should I do with that?"
The vendor smiled. "That is a move item that allows me to use Shadow Claw. It's a ghost type move that has a high chance of a critical hit."
Fletcher nodded. "That sounds interesting." I would like to try it out.
The vendor looked at Ariela and nodded.
Fletcher put the ring around his claw and tried it out onto the ground sending a Shadow Claw out of his claw. He nodded. "It is a bit big but with some training it should be fine. It should fit better once I evolve."
Ariela looked to him surprised. "You are thinking ahead."
Fletcher nodded. "I thought about what Craw would think about when buying an item like this."
Ariela smiled. "That is a great idea. Maybe I should try that too."
Fletcher chirped proudly and ruffled his feathers showing that he was pleased by Ariela's words.
Ariela giggled. "You are funny." She stroked his head.
Fletcher chirped looking to her confused. "What do you mean?"
Ariela looked to him. "Some of your behaviors are cute."
Fletcher ruffled his feathers in embarrassment.
Ariela smiled paying the vendor. "How about we look for something else for you? Maybe a scarf or a neckerchief?"
Fletcher shook his head. "That would just hinder me flying. I wouldn't be able to fly as good as I would want to. I would need something small that wouldn't change my aerodynamics."
Ariela nodded and looked to the vendor. "Is there maybe a vendor for flying types?"
The vendor seemed to think about it for a moment. "Hmm... Maybe Gene... He is a trader who often gets wares from the western regions. Since the Avian Nations are northwest from here he could have some things."
Ariela nodded. "Thank you."
The vendor bowed down. "No problem miss White."
Ariela grimaced. "I don't have that name anymore. But thank you anyway."
The vendor nodded and Ariela left together with Fletcher.
Near the middle of the market Damion was looking on a pair of blades. They were shaped like sabers and they were move items with the Razor Shell move. "I will take them!"
The vendor smiled and nodded. "Sure."
Brighton smiled and paid the vendor. "A mach scarf and a move item with Razor Shell. They will fit very good to you."
Kathrin nodded. "They fit your fighting style. You should train them a bit."
Damion nodded. "I have everything for now. I would like to train using them a bit later."
Brighton grinned and nodded. "Let's meet with the others."
Kathrin sighed. "Finally."
They went to the little café to meet with the others there like they planned.
Craw, Ariela and Fletcher were waiting for them already.
Brighton smiled. "Damn you were faster."
Craw chuckled. "Well I knew already what I wanted to buy." Beside the harness he bought and the Fury Cutter tanto he already owned he had a conical hat that was made of a dark blue fabric.
Brighton looked at the harness and the hat. "So what did you all buy?"
Ariela smiled. "I just bought a Special scarf and a pair of gloves with that I can use the move strength. That way I can easier daff blocking things aside."
Kathrin nodded. "Sounds like you. I got myself an armband with Ice Punch and a coat with Barrier."
Damion smiled. "I got myself a pair of sabers with Razor Shell and a mach scarf."
Fletcher chirped. "I took a ring with Shadow Claw and a choker with Sky Attack."
Craw grinned. "All of them sound pretty good. I got a harness with Agility and a conical hat with Detect."
Brighton smiled. "Yeah. I got myself a Double Team vest that still needs to be broadened and a this amulet with Fly."
Craw looked to him surprised. "Fly? That is really special."
Brighton chuckled. "Actually I had something similar back then in the kingdom. I loved it since it allowed me together with my speed pushed by Agility to attack an enemy from every side and to dodge nearly every attack."
Craw nodded. "That is really good."
Brighton grinned.
Craw smiled. "Well then. Let's eat something and then you are free to do what you want."
Brighton grinned and nodded. "Kathrin and I will spend some time together. Don't wait for us at dinner."
Kathrin blushed. "Brighton shut up."
Ariela giggled. "Don't worry. Craw and I will go on a date as well."
Craw grinned. "Yeah."
Damion smiled. "I planned to train a bit with my new items. Fletcher will you come with me? Attacking dummies isn't very effective as training."
Fletcher nodded. "I need to train flying with my new items anyway."
Damion nodded.
Craw grinned. "Well. Then let's eat now."

Craw stretched himself. He smiled and looked to Ariela as he stood was still sleeping. He scratched his side and smiled. He went to the table and looked through them. He sighed. He looked up as he heard Ariela moving in the bed.
Ariela yawned. "Good morning." She looked to Craw.
Craw smiled. "Good morning." He put the papers aside and stood up. "Did you sleep well?"
Ariela smiled as she slowly stood up. "Yeah." She went to him and kissed him softly. "Craw? The day yesterday was wonderful... But why didn't we..."
Craw smiled and kissed her back softly. "I want it as much as you want. Maybe even more... But I want that our first time will be something special Ariela. Can you understand that?"
Ariela looked to him and blushed. "OK... But please don't let me wait too long."
He smiled and stroked her cheek. "Don't worry."
She nodded.
He stretched himself again. "I am going to take a bath now. You wanna join?"
She giggled and winked to him. "This time I won't say no."
He smiled and together they went to the bathroom.
After a refreshing bath they waited in the living room for the others.
After some time Brighton entered the living room and yawned. "Why do we have to stand up so early?"
Craw chuckled. "Well we will have a long day today. It's better we start as early as possible."
Kathrin sighed. "You are such a lazybutt Brighton."
Brighton smiled. "Yeah I know."
Ariela giggled. "So what did you plan for today?"
Craw smiled. "I want to wait for Damion and Fletcher."
Brighton sighed. "Fletcher was still in his room and Damion was in the bathroom as we finished bathing."
Craw grinned. "Oh you already go bathing together?"
Kathrin looked to him confused. "Why you ask it like this? It's nothing bad."
Craw sighed. "Oh right... Things are different here. In the human world bathing with someone of the other gender is something... Very intimate."
Ariela giggled. "Yeah. And I think I understand a bit why."
Craw chuckled and kissed her cheek softly.
Brighton and Kathrin looked to them confused.
Craw chuckled. "That's an inside joke. You don't need to get it."
That was when Fletcher came to them. "No breakfast today?"
Craw shook his head. "Today not. We gonna speak quickly about what I planned and then we will call the recruits. We are just waiting for Damion."
"I am here." He was right behind Fletcher still scrubbing his fur dry with a towel.
Craw nodded. "OK. That's the plan..."

Author's note: I know I promised a bit more action but the chapter became longer than I planned XD Seems like the action has to wait for the next chapter sorry.