"Hey, miss. We're here."

The taxi driver finally spoke after a while of silence between us. The abruptness of it was enough to knock me out of my trance of music, and I turned to look up at the front seat, pausing my cassette player and taking off my headphones.

"Beautiful Windsea. I've heard it's a gorgeous place this time of year."

Looking out the front windshield, I could see the seaside town, the sun glistening on the waves and illuminating the town and the lives of its peaceful occupants.

Well, at least most of them were peaceful…

The car came to a stop next to a hotel made of brick and the taxi driver looked at me.

"Alright, you stay safe, miss. It'd be a shame to see a pretty Absol like yourself get caught up in the madness that's been happening around here."

I couldn't help but smile at the compliment as I grabbed my bag filled with various rations, documents, as well as my makeup bag and slung it around my neck.

"Well, sorry to say it, but…"

I tapped the badge attached to my bag, which reflected the sun's light with its golden luster.

"That's exactly why I'm here."

I stepped out of the vehicle and waved the driver off before beginning to make my way into the hotel.

Heading inside, it was a lot less lively than you'd expect, although with the recent murders that have been happening here I could see why that was the case. I walked up to the clerk, a Pidgeotto with an egg sitting next to her in a small nest. With a smile to put the sun to shame she greeted me.

"Hi there! Welcome to the Southclaw Hotel! How can I help you today?"

"Well, I need to book a room for the next while… probably not more than a few days."

The Pidgeotto nodded and looked at her clipboard.

"Alright, I can set you up for two days, and if you need longer then I can book you for more when the time comes. Will that be alright?"

"Oh, yes, that's perfect."

"Well then, for two days, and…"

She looked at the badge on my strap and then back to her clipboard.

"With the guild member discount… that will be one hundred and sixty Poké, miss…"

I was digging around in my bag for my coin purse and barely registered that she was trying to get my name.

"Oh, Angelo. Sarah Angelo."

I put the Poké on the counter and waited.

"Angelo. Well then, here's your key, your room is number 116."

She handed me the key and I hung it on my bag before nodding at her.

"Thank you. Oh, and congratulations."

She gave another smile and chuckled.

"Thank you! Have a nice day!"

"You too!"

I walked off towards the rooms, eventually finding mine and entering. It was a nice place, with a bed, a washroom, and a view of the sea. I set my things down and pulled a paper out of my bag detailing the job I picked up. I'd read it a few times before, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to look over it again.

"Alright… three victims brutally mauled to death, corpses found half eaten. All three were criminals… even so, that's a terrible way to die."

I read further down the page. No sightings of the killer, so that made my job more difficult, but not by much. The victims were mauled, so the perpetrator most likely had large claws, and the fact that the corpses were eaten meant that this was most likely done by a Pokémon with sharp teeth. That narrowed down potential species by a large number, so I just had to look around town to see if I could find something. I nodded and put the paper back in my bag before walking out of my room and out of the hotel.

I questioned a few of the local Pokémon with the features I was looking for about what they were doing on the nights the murders took place. They all had rather solid alibis, especially with the recent curfew that had apparently gone into place. There was one that stuck out, however. An Ursaring that was apparently out jogging after curfew and forgot that the curfew was in effect. Luckily for him, his wife was there to confirm both his hobby and his forgetful nature. I noted it down just in case, though.

But he was probably the best lead I had for a while. No one else had anything about them that would set off any red flags. I was about to head back to find that Ursaring again when…

I felt something.

I didn't know what it was, but it resonated with me. My horn specifically. Which could only mean one thing. Something bad was about to happen. And in this town, at this time? That meant I might just catch my culprit in the act.

I ran off in the direction I felt the disaster approaching, and after a few minutes I arrived at an alleyway. It was dark, dank… but there was one thing about it that immediately set me off.

The smell.

The smell of blood. It stung my nose and told me one thing. That I was too late to stop the killing. But the sound told me something different. Something a bit more hopeful. The sound of chewing told me I wasn't too late to bring the killer to justice. I stepped into the alley and called out.

"Alright, paws, claws or hands where I can see them. I'm taking you-"

I froze as I saw the figure in front of me. It was something I'd never seen before. I couldn't identify what was in front of me… it was an odd, quadrupedal creature covered in bony armor, its gray skin just light enough to clash with the darkness of the alleyway. It stood taller than me, but it had its head lowered down to something on the ground, a mass covered in dark feathers. From what I could understand… this thing's latest victim. Then, probably in response to me calling out to it, it turned its head to me, its mouth dripping red as it turned its gaze to me.

Or at least I assumed so. The thing didn't have eyes. Or if it did, they were covered by a macabre mask of bones.

"…In…"

In my time as an explorer, I had never seen something like this. It looked alien, but at the same time just enough to look like a Pokémon. It bridged a sort of uncanny valley I'd never experienced before. And right now, I was worried I got in over my head.

The thing, whatever it was, lowered itself, and I could tell it was about to pounce. I shook myself off and got ready as it leapt towards me.

I dodged to the side, taking a look at the arena I had found myself in. A narrow alleyway, but not too narrow. It could fit both of us facing each other on opposite walls. It was also a comfortable length, as long as I made sure not to get cornered. Watching its movements, it was clear this thing was driven by instinct… which meant I could exploit it with a more tactical mindset. I tackled the beast, making it crash against a nearby dumpster as it regained its balance. It roared at me before its forelegs seemed to open up to reveal… blades. Something similar to a Gallade's, coming out of the front of its legs. And a trick quite literally up its sleeves I wasn't ready for. I stepped back as it swiped at me, the blade catching my side.

"Gah!"

The stakes were high. This thing wanted to kill me, and one slip up would give it the opportunity to do just that. I had to end this fast… but I had ways to do just that. The thing barked at me like a wild Pokémon, and that was my chance. I took a seed out of my bag and threw it at the thing's mouth as fast as I could, watching as it flew down its throat. It stopped barking and gagged a bit before running to attack again. It slashed again, but this time a bit slower. The next one was even more so. As the drowsiness began to take it over it could barely stand and, eventually, it fell over.

I took a deep breath and winced, holding my side. Yeah, that would need a bandage… I took a few large ones out of my bag and stuck them across the wound before looking back at the beast

"Alright, let's get you-"

I blinked and looked down. The thing, the beast that was eating a Pokémon about five minutes prior to this was gone. Instead, it was replaced by…

An Eevee.

An Eevee with silver fur, laying there, fast asleep. I tilted my head to the side, very confused about the current situation. They were in the same spot and position that thing was, so… did they turn into that thing?

Right now all I had were questions. Questions I don't even know if there are answers for.