ToT Chap2 - Friend or Foe? Pt1

Sonya raises her ear, then lowers it quickly to try to make her bell ring. Her bell once more rings like something is wrong with it. The sound ringing like it’s broken though physically it looks just like it always has.

She looks annoyed to it when it won't ring correctly. She is standing at the transport building holding a spot for her and Yang. Waiting until her teammate finished her cleaning at the medical building while she came to make sure the transport didn't leave without them.

She felt like this was the hundredth time she tried to make her bell ring correctly like it usually does. Yet ever since she finished talking to Nox and started thinking about Darkhowl Woods her bell started sounding weird.

She tries once more only to have the same broken sound come out.

"Dang it...." She mumbles giving up for now. Her concern now showing on her face.

Why is it acting up now? I didn't overuse it. Yet it's sounding like this. Not good. I need it especially for this task. she thinks as her ears lower at her concern. Only for an irritated frown to come as the broken ring sounds again as her ear moves.

She tried to calm down but now with her bell like this her concern only grows.

"Sonya."

Sonya jumps when suddenly Yang appears next to her. Yang jumping with a soft yelp too looking surprised at her teammate.

Sonya sighs and Yang looks nervous. "S-Sorry..... "

"No it's fine. I wasn't paying attention."

Yang looks curious as she sees something is on Sonya's mind. Sonya keeping her ears lowered so the bell doesn't ring again and Yang doesn't question its sound.

Sonya not having an explanation why yet and rather keep it a secret until she figured it out.

Soon was the male, grey furred Eevee join the group heading to Darkhowl as well. He notices both females as he approached them. "Looks like we're all ready to head out to Darkhowl Forest now, right?" his black pouch that Nox usually wears during long missions was a little bit bigger then before too.

Sonya and Yang look to Nox when he comes next to them and speaks. Sonya's ears about to raise up when she notices him but she quickly keeps them back down. Preventing the bell from ringing again.

She looks to the side as Yang smiles to Nox nervously. Though before she could answer Gunnar arrived and begins to speak.

"So this is the night group that goes to the forest." His blind eyes looked above their heads, yet was the scent of the old dog still top notch as he noticed two familiar scents within them. Nox stops in his tracks and sit down in a manner that only someone who went to military knows.

"Heh... so you're heading out to the forest with the others private?" Gunnar directly addressed to the male, grey furred Eevee as he spoked up loud and clear in the same way Yang heard him before around the Arcanine.

"Sir yes Sir!"

An acknowledging nod came from Gunnar "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!" was Nox responding to that as this time was a Tauros going to pull the wagon as he called out rather eagerly to the ones "Catch a Riiiiiiiiiiide to Darkhowl Forest!" Gunnar started to head off while saying "Good Luck, ya'll need it." Only a handful of Pokemon were starting to take a seat to be carried to the mission place.

Yang looks nervous but smiles when Gunnar speaks to Nox and the way they talk to one another.

Sonya looking confused but also curious seeing the interaction. She seems to recall that behavior somewhere but it's definitely different than her family. And that in a way intrigues her since the way Nox speaks it's obvious he's showing a superior respect. Yet Gunnar isn't intimidating him in a threatening way at all. Nox just does it out of respect.

She makes a small face as past memories of her family and their habits come to her. She sighs through her nose and looks forward again. Waiting with her left ear still down as they begin to load up the wagon.

The male Eevee looked over to Yang and Sonya "Alright, we heard the former Trackers Leader and I really don't wanna screw this opportunity up. Let's do our best out there."

Yang smiles softly to Nox and nods to him. "W-We'll try. Right Sonya?"

Sonya takes a deep breath. Yang looking concerned again when she feels Sonya's aura giving off the feeling of nervousness.

"Yeah. Let's get this over with." Sonya says casually yet tries not to show her nervousness. She quickly walks forward and gets on the wagon. Yang looks concerned to her weird behavior but leaves it be getting on as well. Nox following in after them.

Tauros speaking up again "C'mon now! Last chance before we're rollin'!” The last few groups pile in to the wagon along with them and soon the wagon takes off to Darkhowl Woods.

Yang continues to watch her treammate from the corner of her eye. They're sitting beside each other across from Nox as the wagon moves.

Sonya closing her eyes as it appears she lightly dosed off. Really she's wide awake and just trying to get her thoughts together. Her left ear still lowered down so her bell doesn't ring.

Focus Sonya. Just as Mentor said. The bell is apart of me. My feelings influence it........ But what feeling is making it act up? Am I really that nervous? She thinks as a frown comes to her face without her realizing it.

Yang sees her frown and grows more concerned. She reaches out to Sonya and opens her mouth to say something. She pauses midway changing her mind then goes back to her place, looking to the side unsure.

The density of the forest started to change as more and more of the moonlight got shielded away from the leaves of the trees. Nox's eyes reacted to that as he closed them for a minute, to open them up again and his nose twitched a moment at the familiarity. "Darkhowl Woods..."

Sonya's eyes open once their terrain starts to change. She and Yang look over and around the area as the wagon moves.

Yang looks slightly curious at seeing such dense forestry. That only adding to the darkness around them as night comes. Yang also looks worried as she knows she and Sonya have decent eyesight at night, but with the dense forest making it darker it might prove a problem.

Sonya's eyes narrowing as she too takes this fact in. Even if she hates to admit it, the training she had with her family prepared her for an event like this.

Father always did want us ready incase we had to hun- track an enemy at night. She looks angry at the thought. Not liking to admit it at all.

Yet she sighs and calms down closing her eyes. Remembering the training she had with her Mentor instead that helped her to go past what she was originally taught.

Remember Mentors words. Things are different now. I'm not fighting or.... tracking an enemy. She opens her eyes and glances to her teammate beside her. Seeing Yang looking nervous as they continue forward.



I'm here to assist others and defend my friend. Suddenly her eyes shift from Yang and seem to land on Nox's form without her even trying.

Seeing him have a kind of nostalgic look on his face as he looks out to the forest. A look of concern goes through her eyes as she observes him.

Friends.....  She thinks looking uncertain. Then her eyes narrow in determination as her ears raise and the bell doesn't ring in a broken way this time. The bell ringing out normally instead of broken like it was before.

No matter what happens. I will keep my friends safe.

The bell ringing makes Yang look to Sonya. The soothing sound soft but helps Yang to calm down.

Sonya smiling to her softly also helps as she says, "Relax Yang. Everything will be fine. Just find the kids and get them back safely."

Yang takes a deep breath then smiles back to her nodding. Yang still nervous yet seeing Sonya act like her usual self and not nervous anymore makes her feel a little better.

Right. Focus on the children. Yang thinks to herself.

Sonya feeling a little better, especially when she heard her bell sound normal once more. Glad it did since she forgot to keep her ear down.

The wagon begins to slow to a stop. Yang bringing her paws up to her chest nervously as Sonya's eyes narrow ready.

It soon stopped in the middle of the forest as the Tauros now spoked up. "Alright 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 as he actually waited for both Yang and Sonya to get down.

Sonya jumps off the wagon once it's her turn. Then looks up as Yang slips off the end and stands on the ground softly.

She taps her paws together nervously looking around. Her long tail slightly curled by her legs.

Sonya tried not to let her nerves get to her as she knows Yang will feel it and only get more nervous. Standing up on her hind legs Sonya puts a paw on Yangs shoulder to make her look at her.

"Ready?"

Yang isn't sure. Deep down she worries if she is. Yet, the determination of her teammate and reassurance makes her take a deep breath then give a small determined look of her own.

Sonya smiles to her friend seeing the look. "Good. Let's find the kids."

Yang sighs out and lightly narrows her eyes upward to the forest. Fear still grips her but she knows if she wants to change she needs to try to use what courage she used to have and grasp it again.

Sonya takes her paw off then looks over to where Nox is at. A small look of concern flashes on her eyes. Apart of her wanting to tell Nox to be careful yet the fact she says that would show she is actually worried for him prevents her.

Yet, she does give him a specific look and one of recognition. Knowing he's strong enough to take care of himself. And perhaps, someone else.

At least, should anything happen. I'll know there might be someone to keep an eye on Yang for me. Sonya thinks.

She can't help but give Nox a slight painful smile at the thought. She meant it when she reassured herself she would do anything to keep her friends safe.

Yang feels something from Sonya again as she gasps and looks to her. Sonya having turned and started to walk forward to the forest.

"Let's get started. The information said the kids were around the middle of the woods. We'll start there." Sonya says still on her hind legs as she walks with determination.

"Y-Yes...." Yang says uncertain. The feeling she felt almost making her think Sonya was preparing for something. And that worried Yang.

She looks to where Nox is and gives a soft smile. "B-Be careful Nox." She says honestly then rushed after her teammate.

Nox giving them a small concerned look then walks off in the other direction.