ToT Chapter 2-2: Little Steps

Nox arrived with Yang at dusk in Mosswood, right when the sun was starting to set down as the wagon stopped by now. He waited until most of the Pokemon that were bigger them him were off it before he jumped down too to get some distance to it, then streched his body. *Finally in Mosswood... I just hope that Miss Cris won't scold me for beeing too late...* He doesn't know her personally yet, but heared from Alice that Cris was a Glaceon and her mentor when it came to medicical studies and medicine. The male Eevee did looked behind him for a moment to see if the shiny Mienfoo got off the wagon too before wondering where he should spend the night for tomorrow, since it was starting to get too late for him to do something, even if Nox was able to work night times.

"U-Uh N-Nox." his ears twitched as he heared Yang calling out his name, making him turn around with a calm expression "Yes Yang?" She took a deep breath to calm down before asking "D-Do you have a place to stay? I-If not would you mind I uh.... R-Remain with you for a bit until Sonya gets here." Nox head shook his head softly a moment after she asked him that "I don't mind if you wanna stick around with me tonight, infact I don't have a place to stay either right now." He could notice that she was first surprised by his respond, then relieved. Luckly did he read a little bit about Mosswood and kinda knew where the unlike duo could stay over for the night until her partner caught up with them "Mosswood might have an inn to stay somewhere due to the high traveler traffic..."

A moment of pause occured after he said that, before he frowned since he doesn't know how much it would cost for the night. "Or we could try and look for the old Trackers building here, since this place was originally an outpost before it became like this." It seems that he caught Yangs curiousity and interest with that knowledge as she commented on it "Y-Your quite knowledgable Nox." A soft chuckle escaped the male shiny Eevee from that as he explained why “My mother always told me to read about the locations you have to go.” The shiny Mienfoo looked down and seemed to be in thoughs as she spoked up "I-I usually don't do well at night alone if there's the possibility of..... b-b-bandits." before she looked rather scared "A-Anywhere we won't run in to one is fine. I-If that's ok."

Hearing her say that she's not doing well in nights made him nod calmly for a moment "I could take guard for the night if you want me to. Besides that, I don't think that bandits will appear here tonight. Not with the epidemic that is currently going on here after all." The grey furred Eevee was waiting very calmly for Yangs decisions and where they should go to. He rather let Yang lead so she won't get scared of him then taking point of lead, feeling that they don't trust him that well yet but he's fine with it, since he doubted that they'll trust him fully. Her timid smile told him that it's better that he should take point instead "C-Can we see the trackers building? S-Sonya and I stay at an Inn back in Tabira. I-I'd like to see something else for a change. I-If that's ok."

Nox nods with a calm smile on his face, even if he was surprised to hear that they lived in an inn from Taberia "S-Sure, I think it was that way." and with that was he starting to lead the way to the old Trackers building, not knowing that it was in use of the old Chief Gunnar. He was leading in a calm pace for Yang due to her timidness and insecureness without her partner. As soon as they arrived at the place did an old, male voice spoked up towards them "What are you two pups doing here?" Nox flinched in surprise from that, but then cleared his throat as the old, blind Arcanine appeared out from it. "I-I'm sorry Mister, I didn't know that the old Trackers building was still in use." A quick look over to the shiny Mienfoo showed him that she was nervous and looked down.

Gunnar was looking towards where Nox position was as he talked up again "I'm waiting for your response, rookie." which made the two youngsters sweatdrop for a moment as Nox though *I-Is he blind AND partially deaf? Oh well... might be the age...* as he talked up the same words again, only a bit more louder before a calm chuckle escaped the old Dog as he heared him that time. "It's in use for the transportation services. I'm Gunnar, former Trackers leader, and top dog of that service. We have runners, flyers, and swimmers willing to assist any teams with quick and efficient travel. You're on your own if you need to go off-road, though." Nox responded in the same loudness then before once he got to known that a former Tracker leader was infront of him "My name is Nox, Sir!"

The old Arcanine nods aknowledging with an approved look on his face "Heh, been a while to hear someone responding in a proper military manner." Soon was his gaze over to where Yang stands while she flinched from that "And the Mienfoo what's your name pup?" “Y-Y-Yang...” was she responding nervously with a squeaking voice. As soon as Yang told her his name would the former Trackers Leader nod a moment before speaking up "T’be honest... I'm a bit leery on so many greenhorns being trusted in such important works. But, well... the guild leaders are howlin' your praises, so y'all must be the real deal." Nox cleared his throath a moment before spepaking up again "Sir, may we stay in for tonight before tackeling the epidemic problems tomorrow?" Gunnar thoughs for a moment about that.

"Ya both are Combat Medics, huh? Back in my day were combat medics rare in guilds, so you both are welcomed to stay in this old building. Either way, good luck in your missions tomorrow." A rather relaxed sigh escaped Nox as the former Chief of the trackers accepted his request, soon looking over to Yang to see her smile softly as the old dog went his own way. *She properbly haves some questions towards me right now...* before speaking up to her "Let's go and find the room to stay in today... oh and uhh... I'd like to have the one near the door if there is one." to see her nod in agreement to his request. Nox sometimes can't sleep during nights due to nightmares that can occur randomly, which causes him to be awake for the whole night while he can't stay in bed because of that.

Besides that was it better for him to be near the door should something happen while Yang can rest calmly because of the fact that she'll be secure in the building. The male shiny Eevee soon lead the way into the old Trackers building, but now Transporters Headquaters to see a big map of the whole island fo Taberia "Whoa...." was his reaction to that. After a moment of studying the map was he commeting "So many places that I don't know at all yet..." on it before ears twitched as soon as Yang was asking him "U-Um Nox. Mr. Gunnar mentioned military. I-I was wondering, have you seen a military base before? W-What's it like? I-I've never met someone from a military background. I-I'm a bit curious if I may ask." *Now that she asked me that... I wonder if Taberia does have a military here...*

He answered in complete honesty towards her "Not really... my father did used to work for the military as the ones who knew that called him by 'Captain' or Sir." Nox soon realised what he'd said and became pretty quiet by now, scolding himself in mind for givng away such an information towards someone who he doubts will become a friend to him. "Anyway... we should head to sleep now so we'll be in full energy to help out Miss Cris tomorrow." Yang seemed to be sad as her voice had an undertone of worryness and guilt when she responded towards him "I-I'm sorry if I made you say something that you didn't want to remember. I-I won't ask anymore I promise." Nox turned his attention from the map towards her to see her smile softly towards the ground despite her crossed paws.

"I-I appreciate you putting up with me. A-And I don't wish to upset you so if I'm being a bother you don't have to stay with me. H-Here I am telling you my concerns yet I'm disregarding yours by bringing up unwanted things. I-I'm really sorry Nox." The male shiny Eevee blinked a moment while hearing her words as he nods after "It's okay... you didn't knew that Yang. I just... don't like talking about my past... I have to focus on the here and now, and maybe the future later on should I..." Nox became quiet again and clutched onto the wornout, blue scarf, since he wasn't sure either if he even had a future in his life. For some odd reasons was Nox thinking that he wasn't wanted in life, that the only thing that makes him appreciate to be alive was to help others and make their lifes happy again.

He could see how Yang was curious for a moment before looking to the side to lower her eyes, as if she was remembering something from the past. Soon was the shiny Mienfoo lookings towards him sympathetically as she hesitated for a second to take calming breaths. he male shiny Eevee gave out a sigh for a moment, then looked rather surprised towards Yang as she started to speak up "O-Our pasts are like chains..." with a little but of pause did she then continued "Our Mentor would tell us that it is our choice whether to let those chains hold us back. I-If we allow it to then we'll never move forward." She looked down ashamed first "We still struggle with those chains despite what she said. A-And I can see you are struggling just like us." then looked up towards Nox with a hopeful smile on her face.

"Y-Yet, it's not impossible to do. I-It takes time, but there's a secret to finding a way to help you get rid of those chains." and Nox noticed how brightly she smiled by now as she continued to quote what her Mentor told her "It's by not being alone. A-Alone you can't accomplish enough. W-We all have our limits of what we can do on our own. H-Having a partner, friend, loved one, anyone to help you push through life. T-That's how you can gradually loosen those chains and find your future." She seemed to be fond with that smile as she continued on "My friends are what help me break my chains. I-I have a long way to go. Yet I'm learning to make new friends and Sonya pushing me to try is helping. T-That's why I want to be strong again. O-Or at least find a new strength."

Soon was she looking semi hopeful towards him again "S-So I can protect my friends." A frown formed onto his face once she said that it were friends in her case who'll be able to break her chains *Friends and love huh... I wonder if I'll ever be able to have them again...* He thought a moment about it before giving her a clear respond towards that We're different in this case Yang..." and after a sigh did he continued to explain why “The things I've seen... the things I've witnessed... the things that happened... it all impacted me strongly. The way I am right now." only to pause again while looking to be conflicted. "I'm fine the way I am right now, and the road I am walking on isn't that bad either." The shiny Mienfoo didn't looked disheartened by what he said.

*The road to dusk that is... I'm not strong enough to be engulfed by the light, but not weak enough to let darkness consume me. Besides that, something was inside him. Something that is still slumbering and haven't awakened yet. He got that feeling when he had that sparring with her partner Sonya on the morning, and ever since that point did he never stopped feeling it. Instead did Yang gave Nox an understanding smile and a nod as she ansnwered "T-That's understandable. E-Everyone is different. A-And it’s easy to say than do." A reassuring smile towards him showed him how much she cared by now "J-Just remember there might be someone out there for you Nox. A-And it might take time, but we just have to believe our chains will be broken. We just have to hope and keep moving forward as best as we can."

And it seems by now that the shiny Mienfoo talked a lot this time as Nox noticed that she rubbed the back of her wrapped leg with her other nervously while looking to the ground timidly. "S-Sorry. I-I'll stop now." She soon looked up and started to walk to the direction their room was. "I-I'm sure your tired. T-Thank you again for putting up with me." A calm nod was all the male shiny Eevee gave to hrt after having talked a lot this time before responding to her "No need to be sorry about that, I know you mean it well with me. Actually..." and it was the first time he actually smiled towards her in honesty "... do I think that you'll break your chains before Sonya, before I'll even break my own chains." Yang seemed to be in a shocked surprise about the words he said towards her yet smiled both happy and sadly.

With that said was Nox streching his body before moving over to the room where they could rest for tonight. As soon as he entered the room did he actually headed right over to the bed that was near the door, beeing it out of habit to be near it while letting Yang take the bed that was further inside the room. "I wish you a good rest Yang." As she was crawiling into the bed and curl up too before looking towards the male shiny Eevee. She smiled timidly towards him and nodded before saying without any stuttering or nervousness "You as well Nox. Thank you." before she layed down onto the bed with her back facing towards him. The grey furred Eevee was looking calmly to see the shiny Mienfoo drift off to sleep and smiled softly once she was sleeping *I think she needed the sleep more then me*.

For a strange reason was he not tired at all despite the long day that was after him. He was curled up in the bed, yet his eyes were wide open so his gaze went towards the window that allowed him to have a clear sight on the night sky. *So many stars... it almost look like back at my old home...* Home... Nox wasn't born in Taberia yet it felt almost like he was back home called Raven Woods. A soft sigh escaped him because he clearly wasn't able fall asleep tonight... actually he didn't wanted to fall asleep at all due to the nightmares he sometimes got and that he didn't wanted to wake up Yang with that. Nox slowly stood up from the bed without making any noise during that, then slowly heaed out of the room towards the rather nice temperatured night with a place in mind that he saw before.

*If I recall right did I saw a little hill from the edge of my view when I went with Yang to this place.* and he did walked to the direction where he saw it in the first place. It was just a small hill that was still inside the borders of Mosswood, but it was good enough to give Nox a better view over the little lake and the night sky full of Stars. "It really looks like home right now..." was he mumbeling quietly for himself as he clutched his wornout blue scarf for a moment. Nox thoughs started to drift away from home and ended up with someone who he thought he wouldn't think of *I wonder why Sonya is so supicious about me... is it because of that strange feel that I have with me? Wait... why... am I thinking of HER right now?!* as he could catfch himself having a rather soft blush because of that.

The male sighted a moment and frowned at the same time "Darn it!" was he mumbeling for himself before he remembered what his mother said to him in such situations *Singing always calmed me down when I had something in mind that I didn't wanted to think about. Even if it's just mumbeling of humming for yourself, it'll help you calm down my son~* "Mother..." was Nox mumbeling quietly for himself as he took some deep breaths for himself right now. *Right... she always knew what was best for me.* His head looked around to make sure that no one was around right now, before closing his black eyes to focus onto his own voice, clearing his throath while hoping no one will appear right now. Since the grey furred Eevee was on his own and didn't felt any other presences nearby were his eyes closed and focused onto his voice.

And it didn't took long until he actually started to sing quietly with a rather deep voice for himself first.

"Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains within the sound of silence"

Nox started to feel more relaxed because of the singing, not knowing that someone was approaching his position and was able to hear his singing voice by now as he started to sing in a talking tone by now about something that he'd dreamed about.

"In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp

When my eyes were stabbed
By the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence"

At this point was he completly relaxed and confident with his own singing voice, as it became louder to an actual singing tone about what he whitnessed on a certain day that happened during one of his traveling in his rather young life.

"And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening

People writing songs
That voices never share
And no one dare
Disturb the sound of silence"

Before Nox continued to sing the last verse of the song he was singing did his ears twitched as they picked up the sound of someone falling into a brush and wince from it. His singing voice silenced from itself as he turned his head towards the direction as he was rather embarresed now. "W-Who's there? A-and are you okay?" To his surprise was it Yang who was appearing out of the brush with an extremly nervous look on her face. She had some leaves on her head and a small twig stick in her pulled back bangs as she was stuttering out incoherent things, which caused his ears leaned down onto his head that was turning red by now because of the embarresment. He was actually shocked that it was her, because no one else besides his family have heared him sing, so she's the first one who might have heared it but he tried to distract her.

"W-w-what are you doing here Y-Yang? C-couldn't you s-sleep?" he quickly stood up and started move, but tripped over his own paw that caused him to roll down the hill into the little lake that was nearby with a loud, hearable splash sound coming from it. Shortly after that did his head resurfaced with a very bright red face that met the stare of the shiny Mienfoo for a second, before she suddenly started to snicker. She brought up her paw as she tried to hide it while some giggles started to escape her mouth, which soon erupted in to a full blown laughter. Yang holded her stomach while laughing into her paw that was, which was true, honest and quite loud too. His embarresment from his silly situation and the sudden, honest and loud laughter of the shiny Mienfoo kinda broke the tension between the two of them as he started to smile.

*I wonder when she laughted the last time that honestly like now... at least is she laughing instead of having a timid behavior around me...* "Come on in, the water's surprisingly warm!" was the grey furred Eevee speaking to her in his current situation before giving a silly remark of him without really notecing it "I'd be a Glaceon by now if it wasn't!" which caused her to get tears in her eyes from laughing so hard. He didn't really waited for her respond because he slowly got out of the lake, both his fur and the wornout blue scarf were drenched in water. A moment later was he shaking his body like a dog to get himself sorta dry before taking off the scarf for the first time around Yang to wrench the water out of it. Despite the embarresed blush on his face did he kept smiling, but he didn't really noticed it nor was he denying it.

He could hear that Yang was still in a giggeling fit before she was whiping a tear away infront of him. It took a while until she calmed down with an apologetic smile on hher face as she speaked up "I'm sorry Nox. I wasnt spying on you I promise." before she looked embarrassed to the side. "I-I just.... you left the room and I didn't feel your aura anymore. It scared me so I came to look for you. I-I think I got s bit lost along the way and stumbled here." *Wait... she can feel aura?* "O-oh, my bad. I uhhh... I didn't told you that I sometimes tend to be awake during nights and that I sometimes go and take some fresh air during such nights." was he telling her with an undertone of apology while placing his scarf back around his neck. Nox blinked a moment to see Yangs ears perk up, which made his ears twitch a bit from that.

"You have a wonderful voice by the way." a sudden gasp from her made him realise that she did heared him sing as she looked down ashamed "I-I wasn't stalking or trying to make fun of you. Just I followed the voice I heard and it lead me here. I-It was lovely." Nox face turned red from that praise "P-p-please stop, I-I'm n-nowhere n-near a-an a-actual s-singer..." despite denying the praise and trying to hide his face from beeing embarressed did his tail wagged side to side. Nox grey fur was sparkeling softly from the few water drops between them, as well as the stars and the moonlight that was shining down onto the region they are right now. Despite all that was he starting to open up to Yang after having warmed up to her already. Yang looked excidted with a soft smile on her face "Y-You really are amazing Nox. D-Don't downgrade your gift."

But her bashful side appeared again as she humbely mentioned "I-I can sing too.... b-but I can't be in front of others when I sing. I-I get nervous and my voice squeaks." The male shiny Eevee looked bashfully a bit away from the shiny Mienfoo right when he sweatdropped a moment as she continued to talk about his singing voice. He can't relate with the problem Yang haves when it comes to be in the spotlight "You might be suffereing from stage fight then." was he responding to the way she reacts when she was infront of a crowd, which caused her to look down again. But then did she giggled softly again as she seemed to have remembered something "Sonya is trying to teach me to be more confident and to perform for the Artisans since I can sing and kinda dance. I-I would like to but I'm not ready yet to be in front of others."

Soon was she looking back up towards him as sheh asked "A-Are you considering singing for the Artisans? W-Would you be willing to give me some lessons? Y-Your very good." Nox blinked a moment to hear that phrase from her "Err... the thing is that I don't like to be in the spotlight at all... so I won't interact so much with the Artisans Guild if you were asking that. As for singing..." he shrugs his shoulders a moment after thinking about it. "To be honest with you... is it a talent my mother had... she passed it down to me but I rarely sing just to calm myself down from thoughs that are bothering me." A calm sigh escaped him since he felt that he could talk normally with Yang by now "So I can't really give you any lessions in that... oh wait, I can give you a tip though... close your eyes whenever you sing and focus on your voice. At least did my mother told me that."

Yangs curious and interested look on her face told him that he got her attention as she smiled bashfully from his tip "I-I'll try that next time. I...." she fidgeted a little bit as her nervousnes returned "I-I would like to be a performer for the Artisans someday. O-Or even a dancing trainer...." A soft chuckle escapes Nox's mouth once the shiny Mienfoo told him her dreams, which is a complete different direction a Mienfoo was going to. The ones he met were more into the fighting side, yet it was a pleasent surprise that Yang had such a dream. Yang kept on smiling softly as she shook her head "B-But we'll see. I-I have a long way to go." before he notiiced her soft determined look "W-Whatever path we decide to take, I know we'll get there someday. I-I wish us both luck." Nox secretly liked it when the shiny Mienfoo was showing her determentation.

"Yep, we all have a long way ahead of us despite our young ages. But giving up is not an option, not for me at least." was the male responding to her with a rather calm smile *And maybe, one day, will I be happy again with a small family... along with friends like Yang and So- wait, why am I thinking that?!* The grey furred Eevee frowned for a moment from that though before seeing the eyelids of Yang starting to close down, which caused her to gasp softly "A-Ah! I-It must be so late. A-and I'm making such a rukus with your singing. I-I'm sorry." Nox noticed that she rubbed her paws together nervously as she asked "I-I can't sleep without someone nearby. I-If you wish to remain out here.... may I join you?" He realised what time it might be by now while hearing Yangs request that didn't surprised him at all, since she was a timid Mienfoo after all.

"A-ah... i-it might be midnight by now and we can walk back to the building if you want to. A-and don't worry about it, it was bound to be happen sooner or later that you might have heared me sing." was his respose to her as she yawned out while rubbing her eyes again. "I-If you don't mind going back then ok." Nox nodded softly when she indirectly said that she doesn't mind as his own tiredness was starting to get noticable for himself. A mumbled "Acquaintances..." escaped Yang before she giggled softly yet sleeply but all Nox could catch with his ears was 'Aqua' ass he asked a bit confused "What's with water?" He gaveg her another proove that he's not from Taberia as he didn't know that she said acquaintances because he was feeling sleepy too. They both were heading in a slow pace back to the old Trackers building that was now the Transporters Headquaters.

Once they arrived there did the male shiny Eevee headed straight towards the bed that was nearby the door to let himself fall into it. His black eyes were looking if Yang went to sleep too. She did went to sleep by falling into her bed with a soft sigh as she fell asleep first, and he was going to fall asleep too but not before thinking *I feel like she's starting to trust me... she never made me doubt her and I really want to support her dreams... I doubt that she'll become a friend for me... but she's an acquaintances... yeah... I wonder if her partner Sonya will trust me too one day...*. After that though did he closed his eyes and fell asleep pretty fast.