Acquaintances no more

Deimos calmly approached the stepping stones to the island dungeon of perptual Autumn, his mind sharp and clear. He lacked real information in regards to where Russel would be exactly, the one little flaw to lacking a means of long range communication. All the Absol could do was hope The Burmy would be here.

The Absol began stepping across, one swift movement at a time. Behind him rested a makeshift Sack, an improvised use of the Reaper Cloth he typically kept in his possession. Being exceptionally careful, Deimos moved the sack across one at a time, until he finally got it off the stepping stones and onto the Island itself.

He stretched somewhat before glancing around, his once bloodied wound having finished healing during his period of respite since his last escapade into a dungeon. "Time to begin searching..." Deimos muttered under his breath before he began to glance around. He knew that due to the one he was searching for being a Burmy he'd have to pay greater attention to find it.

The autumn plant cloaked Burmy was currently to be found relaxing in one of the numerous trees of Fallen Leaf Copse. In a rare lapse of concentration, the warm rays of sunlight that filtered through the leafy canopy of the forest had just perfectly shined upon Russell and had lulled the Burmy into a light sleep. Despite this, his bag hung on a tree branch nearby, containing his precious journal as well as other objects and notes, allowing anyone in the know to recognise him for who he was.

The forest had been rather quiet recently, and Russell had been left in peace to do as he wished, thoroughly enjoying the environment that was technically his home. It was likely this fact that contributed to his current sleeping situation. Russell was also not a snorer, and so wasn't likely to attract the attention of any unsavory types whilst he rested.

Deimos moved forwards at a slow pace, carefully examining the terrain around him in his search for the Burmy. He knew it could just be a giant goose chase but he wasn't the type to just leave the area unexplored. The Absol kept a careful eye on the treeline, recalling their previous meeting. It'd been the breaking of a branch and the falling of an item, or was it a bag... One of those that resulted in their prior encounter.

Deimos eventually paused and took a seat next to a tree with the makeshift, improvised sack besides him. "I can search for as long as it takes... But I need to avoid tiring myself out too much" The Absol muttered to itself before opening the sack. Inside were a multitude of items he'd collected, but first and foremost was a recent production, a report that the Absol itself has spent a good while of his reprieve writing. The Absol looked through the Sack carefully, checking if he's forgotten anything, before getting back to work.

A short while later Deimos noticed a bag hanging from a branch up above. It most certainly appeared familiar... It was Russels most certainly. The Absol began carefully examining the Treeline above him, managing to eventually pick out the Burmy. The Absol approached the tree, looking up at the Pokemon.

"Russel, mind waking up? You've got a delivery " The Absol called out, preferring not to knock him down if he didn't have to.

Russell blinked as the sound of a voice nearby disturbed him from his light but peaceful slumber. The autumn cloaked Burmy glanced around blearily, before his gaze landed on the white fur of Deimos which stuck out quite a bit against the background of browns, oranges and reds.

Eyes widening, Russell immediately glanced over to where his bag was, checking that it was still there. It was, and so he held in a small sigh of relief, looking back to the Absol who had woken him.

Honestly he couldn't believe he'd just fallen asleep out here, but at the same time he felt rather warm and cosy now after napping in the sunshine, so maybe it had been worth it. Shaking himself to wake his body properly, Russell disentangled his one curly antennae from the branch he had clung to and dropped rather ungracefully to the ground with a small grunt.

When Russell got back up onto his tiny feet, he immediately turned his attention to Deimos.
"Hello again!" he smiled, his voice not quite as cheerful as he'd intended due to the last vestiges of sleep clinging to him, but it still sounded rather bright and joyful.
"How have you been?" he asked the Absol, his expression curling into a small smile at the familiar face.

Deimos paused and merely waited for the Burmy to awaken for a moment. As the Burmy awoke and moved itself to awaken it's physical form fully, Deimos stayed paitent. As it finally dropped down, the Absol respectfully bowed it's head before puling forth the Sack behind him. The Absol fished out the Report and lay it on the ground in front of the Burmy and then repeated the process for a small bag, the sound of something clattering about within.

"I'm fine for the moment, few scratches and bites but they've healed well enough" The Absol answered, his tone a calm and composed. From his Preparations and what he brought it was clear enough the Absol had been hard at work since their last meeting. Tying the makeshift sack shut, the Absol turned it's focus back to the Burmy.

"Here's your report... the Bag submitted contains additional evidence to support what has been written" The Absol spoke, preferring to get down to business sooner than later.

The Burmy's still somewhat sleepy expression brightened as the Absol brought out what appeared to be a report, confirming this to be true a few moments later. Deimos had completed his challenge! Russell almost couldn't contain how excited he was as he accepted the report and the bag that the Distaster Pokemon had submitted with it.

Peering into the bag first, he identified the objects as some form of teeth or fangs. The autumn cloaked Burmy wasn't well versed on the differences in the canines of various pokemon, so he could not pinpoint exactly what species they had come from, but assumed those details would be within the report.

"You've certainly been working hard," he commented, noting in his mind the length of the report. Using his Hidden Power move, the Burmy psychically lifted the paper so that he could read it properly. Russell was a fast reader, and so it only took him a few minutes or so to read the Absol's report and look back up at him.

"I must say, your report is certainly in depth," he smiled, "I think you'd be perfect for the Windrose Scouts!" he continued, his smile broadening to the biggest grin a Burmy could achieve.

The Absol kept it's head bowed as the Burmy began to react to what he had produced, The Absol didn't want to somehow mess things up. Though the Absol had been completely truthful in his report, he was hoping there was one specific part the Burmy wouldn't ask about. Deimos still personally regretted what he had done in that state of confusion, pain and rage... He didn't want to do that... His body had acted on it's own.

As the Burmy quickly read through the report, Deimos was a little anxious, worried that he'd messed something up. When the Burmy stated otherwise, the Absol let off a faint sigh of relief, before raising his head to meet the Pokemons gaze. "Glad to see that you approve... For a moment I was worried I'd messed it up somehow" The Absol replied... So he may finally have found a true answer... A true means of learning and seeing more safely.

The Burmy had seen a fair few things in his time, despite being such a small pokemon and demeanor that Deimos sported as Russell had read the report said everything he needed to know. Although the Absol's actions were not the most admirable, they were in a circumstance that was not entirely his fault, and he truly seemed to regret what had happened in the fight. That, and Russell had deemed his honesty about it within the report rather admirable.

"Nope! Everyone learns from their mistakes, but the depth and honesty of your report tells me that you'll do great as part of our organisation," he smiled.
"Now that you've passed my little challenge, I actually have a little gift for you~" the Burmy added, glancing up at his bag in the tree. More often than not Russell got a little overexcited at the idea of someone joining the Windrose Scouts and jumped the gun a little bit, but in this case it seemed to have paid off as he'd had his special gift ready for the Absol.

With a look of concentration on his face, the autumn cloaked Burmy removed his bag from the tree and placed it in front of him using his psychic type Hidden Power. He then began rummaging through it's contents until he found what he was looking for.

Removing the item from his bag, he held it out to Deimos with his tiny little feet. It was a book, or a journal to be precise. It's cover was sturdy and black in colour, but the front had an intricate spiraling pattern in white originating from the bottom corners and spreading up the page.
"I make one of these for everyone who joins the Windrose Scouts," he smiled, offering the journal to the Absol, "I thought the colours suited you well, so I hope you like it! It's a journal for you to keep your exploration records in!"

The Absol listened quietly and paitently, thoughts racing through his mind about how things could've gone... About it he truly should have been accepted after his mistake. The Burmy seemed to understand well enough he had been honest about regretting what happened to the Seviper and had given him just as good a shot as presumably any other, something he was happy to know. When the Burmy mentioned a gift, Deimos was confused for a moment... Some form of authentication to prove he'd joined?

As the Burmy went through it's bag and fished out a Journal, Deimos was a honestly surprised... It looked like something a specialist would make. "I see... Thank you then, Russel. The colours are fitting enough considering what i am The Absol spoke as it respectfully bowed it's head. Taking the Journal only when he knew it wouldn't be sure to do so, Deimos figured it'd be useful, especially with what lay ahead.

The Burmy's expression brightened into as broad a grin as a Burmy could achieve as Deimos expressed his thanks for the journal. Despite not being as excitable as Russell was, the Absolute seemed to have liked his creation, and for that the little bug was happy and grateful.

"Since you're a full member of the Windrose Scouts now, I can finally tell you about the Windrose Library! It's actually located in this very forest, but you wouldn't know it was there unless you were shown where it was and how to get in!" He grinned, clearly excited to show the Absol where his home base would be from now on.

Solilo carried out 2 launched of one Fallen Leaf Copse :

,

The Absol definitely noticed the way the Burmy was reacting, it wasn't hard to notice visibly. The Absol out away the Journal into his makeshift sack, doing his best to avoid scratching it with his claws. He figured that as it was a gift, it's be disrespectful to damage it after all.

As the Burmy began speaking once more, Deimos quietly listened once again, not making any move to interrupt. It spoke of a Library, a term I only had heard, it's real meaning never personally witnessed. He was curious about it now, however he still didn't interrupt by asking questions. Once the Burmy finished speaking, the Absol nodded.

"I see... Hidden in plain sight I presume then. Interesting tactic, Though I guess if there was a place for it, it'd be here" The Absol replied, understanding well the use of visual camouflage due to I himself being guilty of using it.

Russell nodded eagerly at the Absol's reply, his smile still evident on his face. He froze however when he heard the distinct sound of a twig snapping beneath something, and a short rustling noise. As eager as he was to divulge the location of the Windrose Library to Deimos, the Burmy knew he would never risk the safety of WS's members by revealing that information when it was clear that there was someone uninvited listening in on the conversation.

"Did you hear that?" Russell asked the Absol, not taking his eyes off the direction that he could have sworn the noses had been coming from.

Deimos became silent for a moment, his eyes closing as a sound was heard nearby... Someone or something might be listening. The Absol remained silent for a short while, mentally scanning the area for any kind of information. He could sense one imprint nearby.

Based off of the physical shape, one long form, clearly not a foot, it stood to reason that it may be a snake like or early insectoid Pokemon. "From what i can tell, it appears to be a snake like Pokemon in regards to body type... Might just be a young Bug type who lives here" The Absol spoke, his tone calm and collected.

Russell looked back to the Absol as he described what he thought that the intruder looked like. It was kind of amazing how different Pokemon were capable of different feats like this.
"Whoa. How can you tell?" The Burmy asked curiously, always eager to learn about things that he didn't know much about.

At least, if it was just a bug type from the forest then they posed no genuine threat towards the Windrose Scouts and their purpose. The Burmy was relieved at that. Most of this forest's residents seemed to take the coming and going of WS members in their stride.

The Absol chuckled slightly at the Burmy's response. Deimos had figured the natural sensory abilities of his kind were well enough known, it was one of the defining factors of the species after all. The Absol moved back a little, leaving imprints in the soil as he did.

"My kind wield the ability to sense disasters before they happen, that much is common knowledge. The capacity we do so through, is out ability to sense minute changes and differences in the earth and sky. With proper practice, one can scan the earth and sky for slight difference" The Absol explained, before exhaling and going further into an explanation. "The slightest differences others might miss can provide critical information of one of my kind when used properly. In a way I guess you could consider it like a makeshift radar, Detecting disturbances and changes, then relaying that information to the kind itself. Hopefully that makes sense" The Absol concluded.