Split Trails: Running point root (p. 6)

Sally had finally come across other mon. Over a ring of heavy barricades flew a banner with the orange and red mark of the Artisans' guild.
Groups of Tabiran residents of all shapes and sizes were filling in the openings between the barricades.
A little large eyed Espurr stood out, jumping up and down while waving forth a small group of huddling bug types. Her upbeat demeanour at odds with the whole situation. Sally sent the little soft purple pokémon a wry smile, as she headed for the nearest entrance guard. The little Espurr beamed back at her.
"Little Vulpix, o' five tails, wears a black stone in this midnight ribbon?"
Sally inquired. The Lairon seemed to ignore her at first, more occupied keeping an eye on the traffic, and somewhere beyond.
His head shook slowly.
"Nope." Was his answer finally, while he waved over a heavy laden Skunktank.
A reverberating boom caused all activity to cease, eyes turned towards the trees and homes that shrouded their view towards the sea.
"That, that wasn't Pokémon moves."
The little Espurr hugged her sensitive ears.
Another boom followed. The faded orange Buizel stood lean and tall, nose to the wind. Her ears swivelled at the echo.
"I kenn that noise. Them brought a cannon, actually brought a cannon."
Sally shook her head, sounded mildly impressed.
"Artisans'll need to know. If you're running the gauntlet for your friend, could you go by the guild halls?"
The Lairon's words fell to Sally as he himself sent a worried look in the general direction of the docks.
Sally stood as if struck by lightning.
"Them guild halls!"
The guard was graced with a mock salute and her trademark smirk, before Sally was off in a puff of dust.
She vaulted a Tauros heading for cover and still airborne, sent an encouraging wink to a certain wide eyed Espurr.
The barricades were quickly left behind as Sally bounded through the undergrowth of some mon's backyard.
She made good speed, bounding through gardens, over low house roofs, skipped over streets and passages. Her tour took her in a leap over a noisy Lilligant clutching a large sack of sewing tools. Sally slid under a skittish, and overloaded Ponyta, almost tackled a young Gothorita in a blue dress, coming the opposite way.
The echo of cannon fire reverberated through every now and again.

The Artisans' guild was a flurry of activity. Pokémon running every which way, yet, undoubtedly with purpose. Something white, black and yellow caught Sally's eye over the crowd.
"Perfect."
She dove right in, weaving in and out between legs, torsos and over heads. Several swerving to avoid the fluffy torpedo. One lanky Combusken girl was sent sprawling on her back. A Machoke carrying some heavy looking boxes, found himself a sudden jump board as Sally leapt from the ground, unto his crates, sending the large buff Pokémon toppling back.
Free from the chaos she contributed to, Sally flew over several busy heads.
"'Oi Addy!"
The butterfly wearing Emolga turned mid air, in time to see a faded orange blur pass right under them. Said blur meet the ground and went into a roll that stopped abruptly up the wall of the guild hall.
The upside down Buizel got several displeased gazes her way, not that she seemed to notice.
Well she definitely got Addy's attention.
"'Ey Addy. One; Cannons on them ships, spread the word. Two; have 'ye seen Blanc around?"
Addy blinked once, twice, at the break neck Buizel.
"No, can't say I have. Cannons? You came from the harbour?"
Somewhere from Addy conjured up a notebook and a pen. As pen danced over paper, Sally, feet up the wall, reported what she knew.
While Sally got her feet under her, dusting dirt off knees and shoulders, Addy were biting their lip, fiddling with their red butterfly.
"Piercy must know, but -."
"But?" Sally butted in.
A small spark went off between Addy's ears.

A water-vortexed Sally torpedoed down street, past barred windows, past mons huddling for safety, past eyes of those stubborn or battle worn enough to stay and defend them and theirs.
Sally didn't miss a beat as aqua jet ran its course, she bounded on with the momentum. A turn was taken by leaping a tree trunk before another veil of water embraced her an she shot off in yet another aqua jet.
A scribbly line of vaporising water-droplets was all she left behind.
Sally crashed into the courtyard of that multi-winged two-store high guild-hall of the researchers.
She didn't miss a beat, slamming the doors open and brushing past a radiant green Bayleef with enough force to leave a tail wind.
Said Bayleef seemed very preoccupied keeping bandages and first aids kits from falling off a tilted table between her vines.
Sally's targeted Glaceon was all the while standing with her back to it all, fussing over a list between her blue paws.
"'Ey Doc, delivery."
Sally brought out a rolled up map from its spot under her trusty roll of moss green rope.
Cris absent-mindedly took the parchment, first really noticing Sally when her eyes passed over the top of said parchment.
"Sally?! Where's Blanc?"
Cris looked behind Sally, as if expecting the elusive fox to suddenly appear. Sally had to disappoint the doctor.
"Hoped ye'd say. Looking for him."
"Sorry. Haven't seen him since his last delivery yesterday. Which is too bad, could use all able Pokémon. We're relocating to the tunnels."
Cris gestured at the map Sally had brought, by then it lay unrolled on the table beside the doctor's list.
Sally shook her head dismissively.
"Need a message brought somewhere? I'm running the gauntlet for Kindle anyroad."
Cris looked questioningly at Sally for a moment, but she didn't seem to budge, which prompted a sigh out of the doctor.
Said doctor turned to one of way too many a fancy glass embedded cabinet.
"Too bad. You Buizels ain't half bad at first aid. Got some medical supplies here, going to Sinclair. She'll be up at the Great Tree."
Two red boxes with the classic little white cross on them were brought out of the cluttered cabinet.
Sally accepted the kits and task with a crisp salute, to the cacophony of stuff clattering to the ground.

.......