ToT Chap2 - Speaking Up

At the transportation building in Mosswood, another transport stops with a new set of Pokemon being dropped off. Some looking ready to tackle the day. Though some appear exhausted since they had to stay up late guarding the crops in Rivercross.

With them is Sonya who leaps off the transport. She stretches out then gives a loud yawn.
A frown on her face at having to get up so early after staying up so late. She's not a morning person at all and having hardly any sleep and getting up early makes her not a happy 'mon right now.

She sighs softly then walks heading to the medical building where she expects to see her teammate.

Sonya looks around at the new area. Although sleepy she still manages to observe and keep in mind the things around here.

Slight curiosity of a new place to see, but she’s still eager to get to the medical building to make sure her teammate is ok.

Suddenly as she walks, she hears a commotion going on. Glancing over she can see a group of pokemon group together and talking quite loudly about something.

Her eyes narrow to the group, catching a few of the things they’re saying.

Someone’s being accused of stealing? She ponders to herself coming to a stop. From what she heard it appears there’s a commotion of things being stolen and this group has it in their heads they found the culprit. An old mawile who doesn’t seem to look very well.

She also sees the familiar form of an Emolga who called himself the reporter for the Artisans. He seems to be on the Mawile’s side of her being innocent while the others seem pretty sure she’s the one who’s stealing things. Most saying she is definitely the one stealing since she’s not from here and is apparently acting suspiciously.

She makes a troubled face, a memory from her past coming back to her at the familiar scene.

Sonya stands next to her older sister’s right side. The rest of their clan behind them as in front is their father and leader. He stands tall and proud while speaking to a large group of pokemon.

Beside him is a witch who is tied up, two clan members behind the witch to keep her from trying to escape. The witch being the most recent hunt they successfully captured thanks to her older sister.

Sonya’s father motions to the witch while speaking of witches and magic. How dangerous they are and how they corrupt those who learn and master it. Calling witches evil, vile, and a plague that need to be taken care of. And how their clan will stop any witch they come across for the good of all pokemon.

Sonya doesn’t smile as her father preaches, but deep inside she feels pride and inspiration from her father as he talks. Eagerness to grow stronger and make him proud of her making her sit straight and proud next to her sister who is situated the same.

Sonya scowls softly at the memory.

I was so naïve and foolish …… She thinks resentfully. Glancing back to the group as she can see Addy is trying his best to help prove the old Mawile is innocent.

Sonya looks unsure, glancing in the direction where the medical building is at. Not forgetting that she still needs to find her teammate.  She doesn’t like to be in the middle of things not her problem. Though she can’t help but feel like she should do something. Having seen enough false accusations in her time without saying anything.

She sighs in irritation then walks over to the group. Brushing past them quietly heading to the front where the Mawile and Addy is at.

She squeezes through then walks calmly to the front, getting a few weird looks from others but ignores them. She goes to Addy and the Mawile and stands up on her hind legs and crosses her arms over her chest.

“People are accusing this Mawile of stealing?” She asks Addy, ignoring the group behind her and focuses on the Emolga and Mawile.

Addy looks confused for a minute then clears his throat and nods. “Yes. This is Leite. She is Madras’s grandmother.”

Sonya’s eyes widen a bit in surprise to the information, then settle on the old Mawile named Leite. “Your related to Madras? She’s very nice, though always seems to be in a hurry.”

Leite nods softly to Sonya, holding her cloak together close with a few shivers wracking her body. Sonya’s eyes narrow noticing the shivers, yet she doesn’t look suspicious to the old girl. “Yes she is. Always busy for sure and same for me. I wish to be on my way.”

The group starts to get rowdy again, though Sonya ignores them still as she looks to Addy again. “What all has been stolen?”

“Small things here and there.” Addy says to her. Sonya looking curious then realizes what Addy is talking about. Recalling Nox mentioning in Rivercross about returning a few lost items for the Scholars. “Though there have also been a few Scholar’s books stolen as well.”

Sonya looks back to Leite who keeps her gaze down and seems both eager to leave while still shivering softly. Sonya studying her closely. Her actions, her body language, and her reactions. “So you don’t know what’s happened to them?”

Addy shakes his head. “No we don’t. It’s true the books have been missing and other things as well, but I know for sure it wasn’t Leite.”

“It has to be her!”

“She’s not from around here! No one else would steal others things!”

Sonya’s eyes narrow as the crowd starts to yell out. She looks to them for a second as they keep yelling out, then looks back to Leite.

She remains the same, looking calm and eager to leave. Yet not a flash of uncertainty, regret, or a shift in posture goes through the old girl. Sonya’s eyes lowering as she witnesses this.

She sighs softly then looks back to the crowd while raising her voice. “She didn’t do it.”

They all look to Sonya confused and a bit upset. Though before any more could argue, Sonya continues to speak in a high and firm voice so no one could interrupt her.

“For one, Leite doesn’t have anything on her that could store items in. Her hands can clearly be seen holding her cloak.” Sonya says motioning to Leite’s hands that are holding her cloak closed. “Not only that, there is no viable proof that she actually did steal the books or items.”

Sonya continues turning to face the crowd with a firm but skeptic look. “True she’s not from here, but is there any reliable proof that says she did steal it? Did anyone witness her stealing? Any glimpses of a Mawile taking something? Or is everyone just basing their belief on a rumor that she did steal them?” Sonya looks around to see if anyone can answer her question. Only being met with skeptic looks and lowered gazes.

“Alright. So if there’s no real proof that shows she did steal it, why exactly are you all accusing her based on false or unreliable accusations? You only wasting her time as well as your own. I suggest finding time to either go do your own business or try finding the real culprit. Or even retracing your steps. Maybe you all just misplaced the items.” Sonya says with an uncaring shrug. “Never hurts to check again.”

The crowd looks uncertain and skeptical to what she said. Yet Sonya can see they all know she has a point. Soon the crowd starts to disperse little by little, Sonya staring at them all as they leave quietly.

Once they’re mostly gone, she turns to look back at Addy and Leite who look relieved.

“Wow nicely done getting rid of the crowd! You have a way with words.” Addy remarks with a grin.

Sonya shrugs again in a non-caring away. “I only spoke the truth of the matter. There isn’t any real proof that she stole the items. Not only that basing accusations on rumors isn’t even believable.”

“Well they were mostly started by that scoundrel Xavier.” Addy says shaking his head and crossing his arms.

Sonya’s eyes widen in surprise then narrow. “They were huh. That makes it even less believable.”

Leite sighs softly then looks to Sonya and Addy, “Such a rowdy town. Yet, you have my thanks for getting rid of the crowd for me. Now I can be on my way.”

Sonya nods to Leite and goes back to being on all fours. “No problem. I have to go too. I have to find someone.”

Addy stops in front of Sonya, making her lean back a bit from him as he smiles at her. “You have my thanks too uh….”

“Sonya. Team Pathfinders.” She informs him.

“Sonya! This will make for a great news letter! Hopefully we can find the real culprit. Maybe you can even help us more often in the future. You really do have a way with getting your words to be heard.” He says with a smile.

Sonya shrugs then starts to walk off. “Whatever.”

She continues in the direction of the medical building. Taking a long silent breath as she relaxes. The whole time being in front of that crowd she was tense. Not nervous but the way she was in that situation reminded her of how she was in the past.

She was easily able to tell that Leite was borderline innocent based on her actions. Those who hold grudges or lie in a tense situation always give subtle hints that they’re guilty or innocent. Reason why she studied Leite so closely, trying to see any sign or motion that she was guilty.

Seeing none, Sonya could only conclude that Leite was indeed innocent or a really good liar. Believing the first option since after meeting Madras, Sonya can only assume her grandmother would be the same as her. Eager to keep moving and being busy with others things. Which is why she’s eager to move on and not be bothered by all this, not because she was hiding something.

At least, this is what she concluded and just acted based on what she observed.

Back then she wouldn’t even think twice about changing the minds of others. Yet now that she’s free of the confines of her family, she can finally speak up to be heard like she’s always wanted to.

Though deep down, she is upset that it’s only now that she’s learning to speak up and make herself be heard. Back then she wouldn’t even dare to speak up against her family, and that in itself was her mistake.

Still, she can’t help but feel somewhat proud of herself by helping someone else by mostly talking instead of fighting. She smiles softly as she returns to her original task at hand and heads to the medical building to find Yang.