ToT Chapter 2-4: Connected Destinies

It was starting to become night time as the wind started to pick up some speed. The afternoon sky was clear as the sun shined until it dissapeared into the ground, leaving the sky in a colorful orange. Mooswood was completly calm now after the night started to break out, only the ones that were still helping out with the sick Pokemon, the Transporting Pokemon and the Trackers that will head out to Darkhowl Woods were awake. Nox was a bit nervous once he woke up from his slumber *It's time... I didn't got much sleep but I have to do this task.* He thought about past encounters with witches, which didn't always went well as he took a deep breath to calm himself down. Soon did he headed out of the room he rested into to head out of the hospital.

But before he was out was Cris spotting him "Nox, can I talk with you for a moment?" The grey furred Eevee blinked a moment before walking over to the Glaceon "S-sure Miss Cris, what do you want to talk about?" She took a deep breath before speaking up with a very worried look "I know you're going to Darkhowl Woods to catch that shiny Woobat..." "Yeah, I'll try to catch her, even if there might be a witch in that forest." was his response to that as her blue eyes widened a moment to hear him say that. The Doctor looked thoughful for a moment before turning her body around to pick something up while she responded to him "Nox, before you head out do I want you to take this." Her paws placed a First Aid Kit into his white paws, which caused his eyes to widen now.

"A-are you sure about this?! Don't you need it for the patients here!?" Cris shook her head softly to that protest "Things are starting to get calmer here thanks to everybodys work, and I'd rather want you to have this First Aid Kit then seeing you in the operation room." Nox was shocked to hear such honest words from her, but soon smiled softly yet brightly towards her "Thank you so much Miss Cris, I appreciate this a lot." He stored the First Aid Kit into his little black pouche, that was thankfully big enough to fit it as the Glaceon nodded her head with a two-fanged smile in return "Just be careful out there, okay? And good luck!" "I will, I'm heading out now... and thanks!" with that said did he headed out to meet up with other Trackers to Darkwood Woods.

His black eyes instantly noticed two familair figures in that crowd, Yang with her usual nervous look on her face who was standing next to Sonya, and it kinda surprised him that she kept her ears lowered like that. They noticed him too as the shiny Mienfoo got a nervous smile, while the ears of the female Eevee were about to perk up, but instantly lowered down again for some reason as she looked to the side. He approached the females with a calm look on his face, trying to hide his nervousness in return as he spoked up towards them "Looks like we're all ready to head out to Darkhowl Woods, right?" But before the females could respond towards him did the former Trackers Leader Gunnar showed up to the little group of Trackers with a clear intention in his mind.

Nox stopped in track and sitted down in a manner that only someone who went to military knows. "So this is the night group that goes to the Darkhowl Woods?" was the old dog speaking up as his blind eyes looked above their heads, yet was the nose of his still top notch as he noticed two familair scents within them.  "Heh... so you're headin' out to the forest with the others, Private?" It was directly adressed to the male shiny Eevee as Nox spoked up loud and clear in the same way Yang heared him last night around the Arcanine "Sir yes Sir!" An aknowledging nod came from Gunnars side "Then you know what you have to do, right? Do not mess it up, greenhorns. This is the only chance we have right now." "We won't!" responded Nox to that with a loud and clear voice.

This time was a Tauros going to pull the wagon as he called out rather eagerly to the group "Catch a Riiiiiiiiiiide to Darkhowl Woods!" Gunnar started to head off from the group as he said "Good Luck, ya'll need it." Only a handful of Pokemon were starting to mount the wagon and take a seat to be carried to the mission place. The male shiny Eevee looked over to Yang and Sonya "Allright, we heared the former Trackers Leader and I really don't wanna screw this opportunity up. Let's do our best out there." Yang smiled softly towards him and nodded in agreement, then looked over to her partner "W-We'll try. Right Sonya?" Sonya took a deep breath that concerned the shiny Mienfoo, before the female Eevee responded casually with "Yeah. Let's get this over with."

Sonya walked quickly towards the wagon, shortly followed by Yang before Nox headed as one of the last few Pokemon to jump on. *Man... I'm nervous about the possible witch encounter...* were his thoughs as the Tauros speaked up again "C'mon now! Last chance before we're rollin'!" Once everyone was on the wagon was he heading out to Darkhowl Woods. The male shiny Eevee was leaning on the edge of the wagon to check what lies ahead of them, trying to calm his mind down from the nervousness that started to get him. *Calm down Nox, this is only a search and capture mission that you have to do... and rescure mission if you meet the childrens first before Yang and Sonya do...* A quiet sigh escaped him while his eyes were focused on the road ahead.

Nox wasn't showing any signs of nervousness despite feeling that way, but his toughs soon drifted towards the two females *I pray for them that they won't meet the witch while we're in that forest...* He soon caught himself thinking that and leaned more onto the edge of the wagon to hide the light blush that got on his face. *Seriously... why am I thinking of HER a lot lately... I don't get it...!?* The density of the forest started to change as more and more of the moonlight got shielded away from the leaves of the trees. His black eyes kinda reacted to that after he closed them for a minute, only to make them focus on the new density of darkness. The male shiny Eevee felt comftable in night times, because his grey fur made him hard to spot.

His nose twitched a moment as it kinda had a familair air for him to mumble "Darkhowl Woods..." as it triggered a nostalgic memory of his *Smells like the Forest that was far away south of my home...* Nox expression soon changed to detemention *I'm gonna find that shiny Woobat and catch it unhardmed... and maybe the kids too...* before his head turned over to Sonya and Yang that were sitting at the opposite side where he was, beeing able to see their forms just fine. The shiny Mienfoo was still nervous while the female Eevee had the same expression as usual *And I'll aid them should they get into trouble... especially Yang.* The grey furred Eevee preapred himself to move out once the wagon started to slow down in the middle of the forest road.

As soon as it stopped spoked the Tauros up to the small Trackers group casually "Allright folks, here we are. Just holla at me if ya need to catch a ride again!" They all jumped off the wagon one by one, Nox having no problem to get off, but he didn't moved out as his white paws were feeling the ground underneath him. The grey furred Eevee actually waited and looked if Team Pathfinders got down too, which they did in the end. It looked like Yang wasn't sure about it as she tapped her paws together while her tail slightly curled up on one of her legs. Sonya on the other hand was standing up onto her hind legs very casually, which kinda impressed Nox without showing that towards her *Wow... I didn't knew our kind is capable to walk on our hindpaws like Yang does.*

He soon focused onto the mission as he remembered himself what his father told him to do during such situations *Remember your training Nox, be like a Ghost in the darkness. Stay aleart and move swiftly and quietly.* His black eyes looked towards the females as they narrow from the though *And keep an eye on your aliies and friends... Friends...* The male shiny Eevee was still doubting if he'll become friends with the female Eevee in particular who was looking towards him with a painful looking smile *Why am I getting an odd vibe from her right now?* She soon headed off towards the forest as the grey furred Eevee heared Yang gasp for a moment, before she smiled soflty towards him with an honest "B-Be careful Nox." as she rushed after her teammate.

He nodded calmly towards the two of them once they were heading into the forest before he headded out on his own. He immidiatly dissapeared into the forest from the view of the others as all his senses were shaping up to high alert. The male shiny Eevees paws were moving on the ground with almost no sound given off as he starts to look for the shiny Woobat that had to be caught alive. *Judging from the wanted poster might she still be a kid... but why is she stealing things then? I can't help but think that the witch is behind that... I just hope that they won't get concact with that witch.* He was more concerned for Yang then for Sonya, but it still frustrated him a bit that he wasn't focusing completly onto the search and capture mission like he should do.

Nox wasn't aware yet that he wasn't far away from the two females as he was searching for the wanted Pokemon. Ironically was the shiny Woobat flying around at the searching side of Team Pathfinders while the two childrens were dangerously close to the hut of a witch that was actually living in this forest. Said witch was currently waiting impatiently for her little apperenctice "Where is that stupid little bat right now?! I swear if she's lost AGAIN will I use her little wings for a recept!" The grey furred Eevee closed his black eyes and focused onto his nose in a try to find any scents in the forest that were still fresh. He caught Sonyas and Yangs scents first as he kinda could tell the distance of them, but it was very hard to keep track of their scents.

*Rougly 550 yards away from me... they're not far away from my position... yet is it hard to keep track of the scents due to the air here... it's really that darn forest all over again.* Nox soon started to sneak very carefully around after having spotted a tripwire trap that leaded to a trapping cage. His father taught him how to disarm such traps, which he just did by disarming the tripwire trap very carefully with his paw. There were all kinds of traps, starting with simple pitfalls that sometimes were filled liquids that caused the victims to be paralyzed, asleep or even confused, over to tripwires that were connected with a trapping cages, capturing vines/ropes or dart firing devices that had the tip coated in the same liquids that were used in the pitfalls.

Flying type Pokemon had it rough too because of the web traps they could fly into, especially if they had trouble seeing with all the leaves and darkness around them. But the most leathal trap were the witch enchanted leg-holding traps hidden very well in the ground that could catch even steel-resistant Pokemon and make them bleed or even worse then that. It just depended on how devious the witch was, but luckly was the old Vulpix witch more of the defending her hut side and capturing her targets alive then an instant kill. She preparated all her traps, including the leg-hold ones, with a spell or liquid that gave an extreme fire weakness to the ones that get caught by one of them along with the usual paralizing, sleep or confusion liquids that were all homebrewed.

Nox started to have the same guts feeling again that he had in the hospital before *This feeling again... there's defenetly a witch around here... I need to be very careful now...* He stopped in his tracks as his ears twitched from the sounds of footsteps that were heading towards his way *Footsteps?! I better hide incase they belong to the witch!* The male shiny Eevee went to conceal himself in a thick leaf bush incase it was indeed someone hostile that was on their way towards his position. Soon were his ears twitching again as he could hear a young female voice speaking up "H->Handle, I don't like this place anymore... can we go home please?" as a young male voice responded to that in a calm matter "I know that Griddle, but I think we're lost by now..."

*Wait... aren't these the voices of childrens? They might be the ones Yang and Sonya were looking for!* were the grey furred Eevees though as he heared the male speaking up again "Keep holding my hand and stay with me sister, okay?" which the female responded to with "O-okay brother..." At the same time was an old vulpix which weared a purple witch hat growing tired of wating for the shiny Woobat "That's it! I'm gonna find Molly and will capture the two childrens on my own! After that will I decide what I'll do with these children" The evil witch rubbed her paws together when she laughted her trademarked evil laugh, then headed away from her hut towards the direction of the childrens presence. Nox was still in concealment as his black eyes spotted the small twins.

*There are the kids... thank god that nothing bad happened to them... they look allright too.* The male shiny Eevee checked the path they are taking and barely managed to spot a pitfall trap that wasn't far away from their position *OH HELL NO!* With a bursting kick from his hind paws did the grey furred Eevee rushed in top speed towards the childrens and the trap, causing the bush he used as concealment to rustle it's leaves. The childrens got startled from that noise as they could hear pawsteps and the soaring of wings getting closer towards their position "D-did you heared that brother?" was the Plusle asking scared as the Minun responded with "Y-yes sister, stay close to me, I'll try drive them away should they try to attack us two."

To make things worse was the shiny Woobat spotting the childrens too as she mumbled "T-there they are, but how can I make them follow m-eeeep!" She became pretty scared as she noticed something grey rushing towards that direction, which was Nox in the end. Her mind started to panic very strongly as she remembered that she was wanted "N-no! I don't wanna be caught!!!" With that did she flied as fast as she could away from her current position, not knowing that she was bumping into Team Pathfinders very soon. At the same time was the old vulpix witch closing in as she could smell everyones scents "Hell in a handbasket, more unwanted visitors! But I smell two young Eevees." Her grin got wider by that while rubbing her paws together "And I need them for my latest project!"

Nox on the other hand just managed to stop infront of the twins, who flinched from that sudden apperiance of a grey furred Eevee that just spoked out to them "Don't move children!" The Plusle hid scared behind the Minun who looked ready to attack "D-don't come closer o-or I'll shock you!" The male shiny Eevee sighted as he felt bad to startle them like that, then slammed his tail onto the ground that caused a hidden pitfall trap to reveal itself. Luckly was that one without any liquids inside them as Nox spoked up towards them "You two almost walked into a pitfall trap." The twins looked to the side of Nox's body to see the mentioned trap now, then sighted releaved that the stranger wasn't agressive nor hostile towards them as they both spoked in unison "T-thank you Mister."

The grey furred Eevee nodded calmly with a soft smile towards them "Don't thank me yet. Are you two Handle and Griddle?" They looked at each other before Handle responded a bit confused to that "Yes Mister Eevee... were you... looking for us two?" Nox nodded softly again after the question "Yes, my name is Nox and I'm from the Trackers guild. I'm here with a small group of other Trackers to find you both and bring you back home." Griddles eyes started to tear up as she heared that "W-we're finally getting home brother!" She couldn't hold it anymore and started to cry very releaved, which made the brother hug his sister softly "There there sister, I told you that we should never give up hope that easly." Nox smiled very softly and calm towards the twins to see them releaved.

*I'm glad that they both are safe and sound... just a fright from this place which will pass once they're back at their homes.* was Nox thinking before asking "Are you both perhaps hungry?" before they could respond to that did their bellies started to rumble, which made the male shiny Eevee chuckle softly as they both were embarresed from it. "For now can I only give you an apple, but once you both are home with your parents will you two be able to eat well again." With that said he did give them both a halved apple that were cutted perfectly in same sizes for both childrens. "T-thank you Nox." was the female responding timidly as the male now asks "Where are the other friends of yours, Nox?" Nox flinched internally from that question that caught him off guard.

"I think they'll be here soon. Just take your time eating the apple pieces before we go home, okay?" "Okay!" were both responding in a happy tone by now while the Eevee got thoughful again *Friends... are both Sonya and Yang my friends? I wonder if they are okay... hopefully didn't they walked into the witch...* Speaking of the witch was she approaching the position of Nox and the twins very fast "I better catch that Eevee and the childrens before the other two show up! Then I'll deal with the other Eevee and the Mienfoo and then Molly. And I WILL punish her very badly for beeing too late again!" The grey furred Eevee was watching over the twins as his guts feeling got about the witch got worser when she was getting more and more closer towards their position.

He closed his eyes to focus onto his nose and the hard to track smell This scent... it's a Vulpix... and that might be the witch too...* before realsing were she was heading to *Shoot! She's closing in very fast towards our postion! I have to bring the kids to safety asap!* He soon noticed the scent of Yang, Sonya and the shiny Woobat he searched for *They're close by too... and they properbly caught the Woobat... no, don't tell me!* his mind was quick to analyse that he actually looked over to the twins that finsihed up eating the apple pieces "Get onto my back, we don't have much time left!" Griddle looked over to Handle who nodded to that, but asked to be sure about it "Are you sure you can carry us both at the same time Nox?" "Yes, now hurry up befo-"

Noxs words cutted off when his ears first caught the helping cry of a young female voice "HELP! THEY CAUGHT ME!" shortly followed by the shout of Sonya that was calling out for the witch. "Hey witch! I got your shiny Woobat here and the potions she had! Don't know if they're important but if you want them back better come out!" It caused him to worry for Team Pathfinders safety now *Is she buying time for Yang and the childrens?! I have to get to Sonya before something bad happens to her!* As soon as the childrens were onto his back did he spoked up to them "Hold on tight!" which they did as he quickly dashed towards the hard to track scent of Yang at least. The evil witch heared the shouts of both the shiny Woobat and the female Eevee as she released a "Tsk!" first.

"Don't think you'll get out here alive just because you got my usless deciple!" was her response to the call out, which caused Noxs ears to lean onto his head while his worry for their safety grew stronger. The twins were thankfully too focused to hold onto the grey fur of the male Eevee as he spots the figure of the shiny Mienfoo. Nox kept rushing towards Yang as he didn't noticed that he walked into a leg-holding trap that he setted it off with one of his hind paws. His speed was too fast for the trap that the metallic snap rang through the air, barely missing his grey coloroed tail as he was very close to the shiny Mienfoo by now. Seeing her in pain and shaking in fear like that made him call out worrieid for her "Yang!" which caused her to gasp in shock from his voice.

As soon as he was exactly infront of her did he asked her "Yang, are you okay?!" The shiny Mienfoo was relieved to see him as she spoked up shakingly "N-Nox..." "Childrens, stay with her please, okay?" was the male shiny Eevee aking them as they got off his back after nodding to him. Yang kneeled down the ground in front of the kids and holds out her arms to signal them that she'll keep them save. As soon as the twins were with her was Noxs black eyes focusing back onto the shiny Mienfoo that was looking with fear and concern towards him. "Listen to me closely please. Take the kids and keep them safe, okay?" her nod was all he needed before he dashed off in full speed towards the direction Sonya and the witch were as he caught himself getting very worried by now.

*Tch! Keep it together Nox! Sonya's a capable fighter after all! But the witch...* The grey furred Eevee triggered some traps on his way that all barely missed him as he kept on pushing himself to keep his top speed. He was soon to arrive at the scene, only to see a metalic cage was about to fall down onto the female Eevee. *I WON'T LET THIS HAPPEN!* were his thoughs as he used Quick Attack to strike the trapping cage in the last minute away from Sonya. The strong collision between him and the metalic cage caused it to alter it's flying direction directly towards the shiny Woobat. She gave out a desperate "ACK!" from her position as she tried to evade the said cage, but was too slow to do so as she got caught in it instead of the female Eevee.

"The calavary have arrived!" was Nox speaking up to Sonya once he landed near her onto his white paws, before asking her quietly "Are you okay?" "I'm fine." was her response with a hint of frustration as both her and his look were focused towards the old vulpix witch. The witch only started to laugh evily as soon as she spotted the male shiny Eevee next to the female Eevee "Hell's Bells! I knew that you were around but I wanted to deal with you later!" which causued Nox to respond to her "Too bad old hag, today's not your day!" He could feel the glare of the female Eevee for the words he said towards the evil witch, who seemed to be rather pissed by his words. "What did you say you-!?" was her voice cracking loudly as she took some few steps forward towards both Eevees.

Noxs black eyes kept track of the movements of the old Vulpix witch as she approached them for a moment to get a closer look on him with her yellow eyes that were squinting. She was studying both Eevees closely, which the male shiny Eevee noticed *I don't like that look of hers towards me...* His stance changed into a position were he could quickly counter an attack should she attack them both at the same time. A low warning growl escaped him as he could see the eyes of the evil Witch widen up as she started to snarl towards them "This! You two youngsters! You're witch-hunters! Both of you!" His ears twitched from that and the sudden gasp of Sonya that was quickly looking towards him as he looked back to her rather confused about what the old Vulpix witch said.

The male shiny Eevee soon returned his focus towards the evil witch "I'm NOT a hunter or whatever that stuff is!" yet could they see that he's starting to get rather pissed from that as the old vulpix witch started to growled in anger. "So you lied girly. You were just buying time so your witch-hunter partner could catch up to take me, Morgan, down!" As soon as Morgan started to stand up onto her rear paws with flames in her paw was she yelling out "WELL THINK AGAIN!" She released a strong flame burst towards the Eevees, which Nox tried to dodge by jumping from his position into the air. At the same time could he hear Sonya growl out during her jump to the side "I'm not a huntress witch! I left that behind me so stop calling me that!" But it only angered Morgan more.

"LIARS! I won't fall for your hunter traps to let my guard down! You both have the same look in your eyes and the feel of a hunter! I've dealt with your kind plenty of times and I won't fall here to the likes of you!" The grey fur of Nox was getting hit by some of the searing sparks from the flame burst as he yelled out in anger "My name is Nox, and I am NOT an ice cold killer! But I'll stop your plans to harm innocent Pokemon!" Sonya on the other hand snapped as she yelled out in an angry tone "Enough!" to attack the evil witch on her own. Morgan growled annoyed to have to deal with two witch-hunters at the same time, even if they denied it. "SILENCE! I'LL TAKE YOU BOTH DOWN!" With that did she throwed two vials of fire weakness portions towards them.

Nox bad position didn't allowed him to dodge the incoming vial that was about to strike onto his head, but a sudden glow underneath his wornout blue scarf was starting to be bright enough to be spotted by Sonya and Morgan. The male shiny Eevee unconciously created a magic barrier with he help of the Warding Charm that appeared infront of both Eevees and deflelcted the vials in last second towards the ground. His eyes flared up crimson red color due to the rage that was builded up inside him, while the evil witch snarled in anger about the situation she's in right now "Darn you hunters!" As soon as his white paws touched the ground did Nox used an angered Quick Attack that was leaving a trace of fine, red lines behind his eyes as his voice yelled out "I'M NOT A HUNTER!"

But Morgan swift enough to fire off another flame burst that caused the angry grey furred Eevee to dodge the attack. It covered her enough to use another vial that was filled with paralizing smoke as she yelled out a very annoyed "I'LL BE BACK FOR VENGANCE, HUNTERS!" She very quickly digged away under the cover of the smoke, escaping the witch-hunters without any harm while Nox looked angry towards the smokescreen. The male Eevee still had crimson red eyes despite that the presence of the witch wasn't around anymore. He wasn't in the greateast mood anymore but he was still able to think for himself. *DAMNIT! I could have knocked her out!* "Sonya! Nox!" the sudden desperate shout full of fear from a familair voice caught his attention as his ears raised up from it.

*Yang!* His concern for her made him quickly turn himself around to actually burst from his position with Quick Attack to the direction where the shiny Mienfoo and the twins were. He even surpassed Sonya who rushed back before him while his expression on his face turned to concern. At the same heigh with the female Eevee did his eyes shifted back to black again as he pushed himself to his extreme *C'mon!* Unfortunatly did whatever happened during the fight with Morgan used up a strong ammount of his energy, which he could feel with each rushing paw step he does *C'mon! C'mon! C'mon!* Soon were Noxs eyes able to spot the forms of the shiny Mienfoo as well as the Minun and Plusle from the distance, and that were protected by a blue and green colored shield.

As he got closer to their spot could he spot the metalic cage that Yang was fending off with all her might despite her soft whimpering *She's using Protect... I only have one shot with this* Noxs tail started to get coated in a soft, metalic grey glow as he used his last strenght to ram the cage with his tail as soon as he was in range to get it stuck from closing. The male shiny Eevee was panting heavily by now before coughing up strongly while he saw Yang letting herself go as she fell onto her knees *They... are safe... thank...god...* He soon fell onto his side because he couldn't stay onto his paws anymore because he felt very weak from all the things that happened today. The male shiny Eevee couldn't really pay attention to what was going on right now.

He wasn't able to move from his spot, but his breathing was starting to become more regular as he caughted one last time before having normalised his breath. As soon as Nox tried to get up from his spot were his white paws giving in, which caused him to fall onto his side again with a loud thud onto the ground. Yet he was still conciousness as he spoked up weakly "I'm glad... you're all okay..." but his thoughs instantly drifted off to the words Morgan spoked not long ago *So Sonya's... a witch-huntress...even if she denies that? I need to be careful then...* He soon opened his eyes again as his ears caught Sonya mentioning to Yang what the evil witch mentioned about him as he spoked up weakly, yet hearable towards them "I'm NOT... a hunter... not that I know..."

The grey furred Eevee was indeed a witch-hunter, but he never was aware that he was the 7th generation of his witch-hunter family tree, which his father also belonged to. His black eyes were closing softly as he remembered about the shiny Woobat that they had to catch "But someone... needs to get Molly... that shiny Woobat..." while actually thinking about the safety of the others. *So if Sonya wants to take me out... then she should do it now* "You can end me now... if you don't belive me..." was he mumbeling quietly for the female Eevee's ear only, which were in pure honesty while his body was still laying onto his side. At least was he able to see them as he smiiled very weakly after his words *At least will I die knowing that I saved lives...*

He barely managed to see Sonya standing up onto her hindpaws and walking over towards him to stare at him with narrowed eyes before scowling with soft voice "Even if I did believe you or not, I'm not a killer. Not anymore. I threw that life away and I won't go back. Don't insult me by giving me the option of ending you just because you know what I once was." The female Eevee walked past him as a confused and alearted Yang was speaking up "S-Son--" only to be stopped with "Im going for the shiny Woobat. Be right back. Don't move from here incase there's more traps. And don't move him either until I get back." Nox had to deal with his own emotions that boiled up from the whole situation, especially how the female Eevee reacted towards him when he offered her to mercy kill him.

Before Nox knew was he actually starting to cry silently with a very confused and scared look on his face. The male shiny Eevee was showing fear for the first time to someone else that wasn't from his family. Especially about himself since he doesn't know what he really was while it was kinda ironic that the shiny Mienfoo who headed towards him that could clearly see that expression by now. Nox was able to see her as said weakly towards her "Don't... please don't come closer to me... I don't... I don't wanna hurt you nor the kids!" Seeing Yang getting closer towards him despite telling her to stay away caused his body to start trembleing. He wasn't concerned about himself, but more about the her and the childrens "Don't... I'm a monster... a ticking time-bomb..."

His pledge towards her was useless as she kneeled down next to him while his vision was getting more and more blurry from the tears that he's shedding silently. Yet was able to see her beeing infront of him now with tears running down her cheeks and an actual soft smile as she sniffed and whiped her tears away. She wasn't showing any fear, hestiation nor resentment as she spoked up towards him with a raspy voice and not stuttering at all "Thank you... You helped Sonya. I couldn't be there for her but you were instead. Like Sonya said, that means the world to me. And You saved us. I was so scared. But I knew you or Sonya would come. Thank you Nox." Nox's black eyes widened from that, especially when his ears caught her thanking him with complete honesty "D-don't..."

It was at this point where he realised what's going on right now: Yang was accepting him, the grey furred Eevee that lived a life on his own for the most of the time. The tears on him got stronger as he started to release the tension inside him, his head only turned around to muffle the crying sounds he was giving out by now. Despite the confusion, fear and sadness that he felt was something else growing inside him, a feeling that he haven't felt a long time ago... gratitude. His voice was weak as he hiccuped from the crying to speak up the words that carried the emotions in them "Y-yang... t-thank you... t-thank you so much..." His paw clenched onto the wornout blue scarf of his as he continued on "Y... you're the first one in a long while... who I can truly call.... a friend..."

Yangs eyes widened in surprise from his words, before her smile growed as she spokeds softly and a bit timidly "Y-yes... w-we are friends..." With the words Yang spoked towards him did he lost all doubts towards her, she truly was a friend for him by now and he really appreciated it while continung to cry until he couldn't anymore. And boy, he really bottled it up until now because it took a while until Nox started to calm down from all the crying. He caughted a moment before whiping the last tears from his eyes away with his white paws. "Yang..." was he speaking up in a weak, rough voice that was still noticable for her "Thank you... for beeing there for me..." The shiny Mienfoo smiled and giggled happily when he thanked her and nodded softly to him "That's what friends are for!"

"But what about Sonya..." his ears were onto his head when he mentioned the female Eevee *She won't trust me...* were his thoughs while he felt sad about that... even to the point where his heart was paining from that though which surprised him a bit. Yang turned sad for a moment when he mentioned her teammate, causing her to sigh softly before giving him a rather sympathetic look "I-I'm sorry Nox. I-I can't say for sure what Sonya will do." "I... don't want you to get in trouble... with her... because of me..." spoked Nox up in complete honesty again towards his new friend. Only to meet her reassuring and confident smile that caught him rather surprised "T-That doesn't mean I won't be your friend anymore. Y-You both are my friends and i might be... weak at times."

Her head turned to the side for a moment as she took a deep breath, before looking towards him with determention  "T-That doesn't mean I don't care for all my friends and their well-being. R-Right now you are my friend and you need help. I-I won't leave you or get rid of our newcfound friendship." The words the shiny Mienfoo told towards the grey furred Eevee made him look a bit to the side. His ears were still beeing near his head as he shook his head softly "Yang... you're not weak... not at all..." Noxs eyes soon looked directly towards hers when she reassured him that she won't abandon the new friendship between each other "You're strong... actually, is your heart very strong... almost golden with pure innocent..." Hearing such words of him made her smile for a moment.

But she soon looked sadly down to the ground as she started to tell a bit about her teammate again "S-Sonya just..... needs time. Like us, she has a past that has hurt her greatly. I-It didn't leave a scar physically. I-It left it in her heart." At the same time did Nox looked down to the ground once she mentioned Sonya's name "So even she haves scars in her heart..." "I-I know that sounds cheesy, b-but it's true." was Yang speaking up a bit nervous, which made him look towards her as she had a rather nostalgic look on her face now. "S-Sonya was betrayed by her loved ones. I-I can't say much since that is her story to tell. A-And due to that I can't say what she'll do... She used to be much more distant than she is now. N-Never letting anyone close so she wouldn't be hurt again."

Hearing his friend saying why Sonya's the way she is made him sigh for a moment as Yang continued "I-I showed her she could trust me. N-Now with all this uncertainty, I don't know what she's thinking. B-But I will say this..." He blinked a moment to see her giving a hopeful smile "S-Sonya... does in a way... trust you. I-I can see it." Nox gasped in shock to hear that the female Eevee does trust him in a way or another "She... I don't think so..." The shiny Mienfoo kept smiling towards him as she kept speaking about her teammate "S-She wouldn't of let you get away with keeping me and the kids safe while going on her own if she didn't. A-And if you noticed, she went off on her own to get the shiny Woobat and left me here with you again." It was a true fact yet was he denying it.

His doubt towards Sonya trusting him was too strong as he spoked up "I'm not able to move right now... otherwise would she defenetly have asked you to walk with her and the kids..." which kinda took Yangs words out of her mouth when she said at the same time like him "E-Even if you can't move, she would still think you'd try something and make me come with her if she didn't trust you." A soft sigh escaped her after they both mentioned it at the same time "I-I know that trust isn't lost yet. A-And I'm sure your also suspicious of her now due to what she once was. I-I don't know much on hunters either, a-and I can see you don't either even though the w-witch called you one. B-But Sonya does and she truly despises them. Even if she was one, she's not anymore i assure you."

Nox looked away when the shiny Mienfoo mentioned that he's also is suspicious of Sonya "It's... because of the same reason Sonya's suspicious of me... even before that old Vulpix witch mentioned that... I'm a witch-hunter..." It looked like Nox didn't had any other choice then accepting the fact that he was one of them. He knew how cold-blooded and corrupted witch-hunters can be once they had enough power and it kinda worried him *I pray to god that I'll never turn into one of them...* Nox body flinched as he felt the sudden paw fromt he shiny Mienfoo on his shoulder, since he wasn't used to be touched by someone else that wasn't his family. Especially when it was in a friendly and reassuring way, ontop of that was it from a female which he never letted happen before.

"G-Give it time. M-Maybe once that trust comes back Sonya will tell you about it better. J-Just know, I am still your friend either way." was Yangs voice speaking with firmness and a soft smile on her face, which caused him to smile weakly in return. "Y-Yang I... I saw too many things during my 20 years of living that I... rather keep distance to others then risking getting... betrayed or hurted again... nor do I want to see you getting hurted..." His words made Yang look sadly towards him as he lo9oked sadly with pain towards his wornout blue scarf. Noxs white paw towards the wornout blue scarf again to grip onto it, which accidently ripped off the used up warden charm from it's cord and caused it to land right between him and the shiny Mienfoo, which made her gasp softly.

The black eyes of the male shiny Eevee blinked a moment, then widened to see that the Charm have lost it's colors once Yang picked it up to look at it too. *Wait... isn't that Warden charm that Miss Curry gave me? It lost it's color... was it the one who deflected the vials?* which made the grey furred Eevee look a bit confused because of that. Yang soon looked back towards him with sympathety and a reassuring smile "J-Just give it time Nox. A-And don't worry. I-I may not know you fully, and you don't know everything about me either. T-That's ok. F-Friendship takes time and efforts." Noxs thoughs were clear about that *No matter what happens... I won't give up this friendship either... but Sonya... will she accept me too or will we struggle with each other...*

His thoughful look made her fidget nervously for a moment before she continued on talking "T-There are some things I don't feel.... comfortable talking about yet. A-And im sure there are things for you as well. Just... I can't help but feel all three of us.... are connected." "Right... we all have things we don't wanna talk about yet..." was Nox agreeing to that, which reassured him about that he should tell about his past when the time was right. His ears twitched when she mentioned something about the three of them "All three of us... are somehow connected?" was Nox asking rather confused what Yang ment with that. *Does she mean our fates with that? Or... the past events that happened to each of us individuals...?*  it only made him much more confused then before.

Yang tapped her paws nearvously together as she brought clarity in what she ment with beeing connected to each other "W-We..... w-well. W-We're the same. We have troubled pasts we came from that influences us. A-And we're trying to figure out how to get past them.... or get stronger to get through them. J-Just promise me something Nox." Her green eyes looked with pleadingly towards him as she mentioned with pleading voice what he should promise her "D-Don't think of Sonya as an enemy or someone to avoid because of what someone else called her. A-And just give her some time. A-As her best friend I know her better than most and you just trust me when I say, deep down, she will learn to see what I see. A reliable and kind friend. D-do that a-as my new friend, p-please."

The male shiny Eevee sighted for a moment to look a moment away as he thought about what she asked him. He still had some doubt regarding to Sonya, yet deep down would he be glad if the shiny Mienfoo was right and that it was only his instincts and wisdom from several encounters with others that he kept doubt and distance towards others. "I... hope you're right about it..." was his honest answer to that, before realising that he spoked alot with her which calmed him down a lot too "Yang... thank you..." Yang nodded and smiled softly and happily towards him when he thanked her "Y-your welcome Nox... w-we're friends after all..." What no one knew is that the female Eevee Sonya was already back with the caged shiny Woobat and eaversdropping their conversation behind a tree.

A sudden ratteling of the cage and Sonyas call out to her teammate that jumped from her voice made him flinch from his position. Nox was too worn out that he didn't really noticed that the female Eevees presence before *Oh dear god! I hope she didn't heared me talking with Yang!* Soon could he see her passing with the caged shiny Woobat towards the shiny Mienfoo to hear her ask "Can you carry the children while levitating the cage?" Yang stuttered some unreconisable words unsurely about that as he saw Sonya shook her head before responding rather calmly and reasssuringly "Relax. I'm carrying Nox back." His eyes widened in surprise when the female Eevee suggested that, even Yang was surprised as she squeaked while her teammate placed the cage down to ask "Y-You are....?"

"Your in no shape to carry anything heavy. But your focus with Hidden Power is good enough to lift at least one heavy thing. I'm not sure you'd want to lift Nox up with it though." was Sonya speaking towards her teammate, who shook her head vigorously with a franatic look as it made her nervous again. Soon was Nox looking towards the emotionless face of Sonya again "If you have any objections say it now and make it quick. We need to get out of here incase the witch decides for round two." He tried to get up onto his white paws quickly, but was still weak to be completly steady onto them as he grumbles a bit reculant from that "Fine..." His answer seems to statisfy her as Yang picked up the cage with her Hidden Power Psychic, which caused her eyes to glow softly.

The shiny Minenfoo soon kneeled down to the rather confused and very tired twins that were rubbing their eyes right now. She reassured them that everything was allright before they climbed onto her back. At the same time was the female Eevee checking onto the male shiny Eevee for any wounds on him. Besides the light burned spot on his right fur side was Nox body completly fine, but he was still worn out which could be seen by his unsteady stance. Sonya frowned a bit, then sighted as she warned him with "You may not like this but excuse me." "Not like what?" was his respond to that, but before he could react was he feeling her paws underneath him as she lifted him up. Despite the fact that the grey furred Eevee was a tad lager then her was she able to pull it off with ease.

"w-w-what are you doing?" was Nox demanding rather confused, but once he was steady could he feel that she pushed him up before he landed onto her back. Once his front paws were scoothed infront of her while his head was on her right shoulder did he realised that she was carrying him piggyback. Neither of the Eevees were really happy about the situation that they were in, but he apologized to her "I'm sorry..." His white paws holded close to Sonya as she reassured her grip on him so they were able to move fast. "Stay close. Well go out the way we came and find the nearest trail or transport." and it sounded like she was tensed up as her partner looked nervously towards them first, then smiled both apologetic yet reassuringly towards the forced situation the Eevees were in.

The group started to move out, Sonya with Nox on her back lead the way, shortly followed by Yang with the childrens that fell asleep on her back and the caged shiny Woobat that kept beeing silent the whole time. At the same time could the male shiny Eevee feel that his heart was beating oddly faster then before, which made him rather embarressed from that fact *Must be the current situation that I'm feeling this way... I'd rather want to walk on my own... but I can't...* He leaned his head onto Sonyas shoulder because he felt very tired by now as he gave out a soft yawn from him, before a quiet, yet very soft "Thank you..." slipped out of his mouth right into the ear of the female Eevee. After everything they went through did she not left him behind like that.

His own face was starting to get red once he realised that he letted himself go for a moment, but the sudden falter of Sonya and her stuttered "W-Whatever." told him that she didn't expected it either. The female Eevee looked away from him as she spoked up why she was carrying him "I couldn't leave you there alone. I owe you for helping me so this is me paying you back. D-Don't get used to it." Her response made him chuckle weakly "W-whatever you say." Nox's black eyes could see from the edge how Yang tried to surpress a giggle but looked rather happily, which only made him hide his almost red face. *This is too embarresing... if I was serving in the military like Father was would this situation give me a rather embarresing nickname for the rest of my life...*

The little group soon were about to arrive the same road they left from before, were the Tauros was still waiting with the other Teams for the return of Team Pathfinders and Exulibus. Nox sighted calmly once he noticed that they were almost beeing close to head home "I need a drink after this... and I don't even like to drink..." It was a very, very long day for him, his new friend Yang and Sonya that caused him to feel odd yet again. The grey furred Eevee was too tired to hear what was going on, but still was able to catch the spoken words that were very close to him "Load up the cargo first. Then the kids." these words belonged to the female Eevee, who after a moment spoked up again with "Hold him up a bit and I'll load him on." which could only be him after all.

Nox shook his head softly after hearing the soft voice of Yang saying "E-Excuse me Nox." "I'm fine..." was he responding to that as he felt his body getting lifted off the female Eevees back with Hidden Power Psychic. Soon could he feel how he was pulled onto the wagon to lean onto his side again next to the cage were the shiny Woobat was pouting silently. *We managed to do both tasks at the same time...* was he thinking as his tired black eyes looked towards Team Pathfinders to see Yang leaning softly onto the side of Sonyas shoulder, both of them beeing exhausted too. *I'm thankful that I met someone like Yang in my rather chaotic life* "Allright everyone's up, let's roll out! Back towards Taberia!" was the Tauros speaking up as he headed to the main city.

The male Eevee closed his black eyes as his ears twitched from the conversation between the females. A sudden sting in his heart started when Sonya first exclaimed that she won't be his friend at all... before it quickly faded away when his ears caught a whispered, yet surprising fact that she lied and just needed time for it. *I'm so glad that you're right Yang...* a soft blush formed on his face from that tough as he could hear Yang softly speaking towards him "R-Rest Nox. Y-You both have been through a lot. I-I'll wake you both once we've arrived." "Thanks Yang..." was Nox responding exhausted and quietly towards her as he letted the very, very long day resume in his head again. *Mother... I found an amazing friend today... I'm sure you and father are proud.*