ToT Chap1 - To Be Strong Pt.1

Sonya's back and feet hurt.

An annoyed frown, more worse than usual, is on Sonya's face as she and Yang walk from the training grounds back to the Inn they're staying at. They finished their training sessions, Sonya mostly, and after taking a small rest started back.

Sonya trying her best to not let her soreness from tackling a day of training with Marble get to her, even though it's already evident on her face it is. Usually she's not used to having someone train her or push her like the Tacker's trainer did. And man did that Machoke really push her. She hasn't felt this sore in a long time.

Sonya tries not to complain (at least out loud) about the aches since the stern trainer did help emphasize on what she should work on in the future to get stronger. And any advice Sonya will gladly take. The quicker she can get stronger, the closer she will be to her goal. Still, that doesn't stop the fact she finds the pain annoying at the moment and they still have a ways to go before they reach the Inn they're staying at. Hence why she's frowning more than usual.

"Man, next time we're bringing a hot towel or something. Or maybe ask Marble to go easy next time I go to a session with her. Yeah right. That girl doesn't know the term 'go easy.' I'll probably have to do more laps if she ever heard me say that to her face. No thanks." Sonya sighs wearily. Mostly talking to herself and to her teammate.

Yet one thing Sonya now notices, is that something is up with her teammate. Sonya is used to Yang not being much of a talker since she's so timid and shy. Yet for some reason, Sonya noticed her comrade appears more unusually quiet than normal. She looks to her side, only to see that Yang isn't even walking next to her.

Looking behind her, Sonya now sees her Shiny friend who is lagging behind quite a length. Yang's gaze to the ground while dragging her feet. Obviously lost in thought she's just moving automatically, yet what makes Sonya concerned is the frown settled on her timid friend's face.

"Yang."

Yang jumps a bit when she hears her name. Interrupting her racing thoughts and worries, Yang stops walking just in time to barely avoid bumping in to Sonya who had stopped herself.

Yang looking surprised taking a few steps back at how close she was. "Ah s-sorry Sonya. I wasn't paying attention..."

"Yeah no kidding." Sonya turns to face her comrade with a stern look. "What's on your mind? Did Marble say something bad to you? Is that why your upset?"

Yang looks to Sonya uneasy. "H-How did you...."

"I was training, but I did spot Marble going to you and talking for a bit in the corner of my eye. I didn't hear what it was, but I'm guessing that's what your thinking about right?" Sonya eyes Yang closely waiting for an explanation. Already knowing her friend well enough to tell when she's lying and when she's telling the truth.

Yang looks unsure bringing her arms up and rubbing the back of her paw nervously. Not knowing whether to converse with her only friend on if she really is a good teammate to have or not bother her with silly thoughts. Sonya is the first friend she had after her accident years ago and being separated from her parents. Yang appreciates how easy going she is with her indecisiveness and shyness all the time. She knows it sometimes does annoy Sonya how too shy she can be, which is why Sonya pushes her at times. Hoping she gets out of her bubble and becomes more open.

Yang does appreciate her efforts, yet she also doesn't like to burden her only friend with her problems. Sonya will say she doesn't care and that's what friends are for, yet it still bothers Yang deep down.

Yang just forces a smile on her face, knowing Sonya won't buy it but tries anyway to look like nothings wrong. "I-I'm fine Sonya. It wasn't anything Marble did. S-She just gave some advice and like you I'm just thinking on what she told me. I-It wasn't anything bad I promise."

Yang rubs her wrapped legs together nervously while turning her gaze to the ground. Hoping Sonya would buy her excuse and leave it be. She looks up to her friend for a brief moment.

Sonya's eyes are narrowed right to her. Yup, she didn't buy it.

"Yang." Sonya's voice turned to a sterner tone as she is about to lecture her friend. Yang preparing for it as well.

"Oh! Excuse me!" Suddenly a voice rings out interrupting the lecture about to come from Sonya. Making Yang flinch and Sonya look over curiously to who spoke.

Walking towards them appears a Shiny Mawile carrying a quill and a parchment. Waving the quill in their direction with a smile.

Sonya looks a bit upset at being interrupted, glancing at Yang who instead looks relieved at the interruption. Yet still nervous since neither of them know the Mawile who called out and coming to them.

Once close, said Mawile smiles to them both. "Hi there. I don't mean to bother you both, but I'm Madras, the guild's archivist. And I have been seeking out the new members we've been accumulating recently to do a small interview. If you would allow it of course."

Both look surprised hearing she is the guild's archivist. Not knowing the guild's had someone like this. Sonya a bit curious as she figures with so many teams in Tabira and with it's rich history, they would need someone to record it all and sort it out. So this was that person.

Yang blinks curiously as well at her request. "I-Interview?"

"Yes dear. I am recording every new team's responses for later reference. So if you would allow it, can you tell me a little on where your both from? Or if you come from different places, where you came from individually."

The question makes both Yang and even Sonya flinch visibly. Sonya's ears lowering on her head while Yang brings her arms up to her chest looking surprisingly scared. Their reactions isn't missed by Madras who's smile goes away and she looks to them concerned.

"If you do not wish to tell me, then you don't have to." Madras tries to reassure both of them quickly, seeing how tense and nervous they have become. "I will not force you to. It's just an optional thing. How about instead, you tell me of your thoughts on Tabira? Have you stayed here long? Do you enjoy being here and if you have tried any guild tasks yet, how did you find them?"

The fact of having another thing to talk about than the first option makes Sonya relax. She doesn't want to be rude to Madras and outright tell her no, but the idea of talking about where she comes from brings up unwanted memories of her past she left behind. Same for Yang as they both know each other's pasts and would rather it stay between them for now. Still, the fact she is given a second choice to talk about than the first makes her ears rise back up and she appears normal again. Her bell once more tinging softly.

The sound snaps Yang out of her state as well. Painful memories from her own past coming up as well, yet the soft bell from her friend snapped her back to reality.

"U-Um, I-I apologize but I'm going to go for a walk." Yang says softly, looking apologetic since she doesn't want to be rude. Yet all these thoughts in her head is making her anxious and giving her a headache.

Sonya looking to her comrade concerned. The topic of what they were talking about before Madras came coming back to Sonya. Yet she can see clearly her friend wants to be alone for a bit.

Though reluctant to let her go by herself, Sonya nods to her friend. Giving her a rare smile in reassurance. Sonya only ever smiling truly to Yang. "Sure Yang. Go ahead. I'll talk to Madras here for a bit and catch up."

Yang smiles back to her friend grateful for understanding. She turns away from the two and heads down a random trail away from Tabira.

Sonya gives a brief look of concern to her friend disappearing down the trail before turning back to Madras.

"If you wish to go with your teammate then you can. I do not want to hold you both up if it's a bother." Madras tries to continue to reassure. Not meaning to make both of them upset with her questioning.

"No it's fine. Yang just needs some space. Oh yeah, intros. Sorry. She's Yang. I'm Sonya." She says to Madras politely. Her face back to it's stoic look as she sits before Madras who gets her quill and parchment ready. "We're Team Pathfinders. And I speak for us both when I say, Tabira is actually a nice place."

Sonya starts as Madras begins writing down her response.