13 Mysterious Deaths In Devenor Forest 1/2 (1/2)
***** The Day before Karls Night Hunt*****
~Morning~
A Squad of 3 Humvee like Offroad Cars and 5 ATV's (Quads) are driving down an asphalt road. Just exiting Fari City.
The surrounding Area is an open plain with some bushes and tall gra.s.s here and there and a big river there aren't many trees and the convoy won't find more trees until they reach their destination, the Devenor Forest.
Until then a few hours will go by.
The Traveling Team has seen the landscape a lot of times some of them grew up in Fari City so it's not really a sight to behold.
The ones who moved here later found it impressive once, the view towards the horizon was a sight to behold at first, not being blocked by any hills and maybe only a tree sometimes.
But times changed and after years of living in the city like the others, it has become a normal sight for them as well.
The convoy speeds along the road and the landscape flies by. The speed limit is rather high here because wildlife becomes visible early even if they are far away.
Meanwhile in the back of one of the Humvees a muscular Man with black hair, purple eyes and a short trimmed beard, in his late twenties opens up a conversation, his Friend Tom is strong looking and tall, has red Hair and red eyes and is in his mid-twenties.
Evan: ”Hey, Tom! What's all the fuss about? I barely had any time to drop my daughter off at school!”
Tom: ”What? Oh right, you weren't at the emergency briefing. Sorry, Evan. I thought you didn't listen earlier. Well, there was a call from a Pokémon Ranger that asked for help. Tons of wild Insect Pokémon were attacked and killed. Way more than normally, and while we don't know why we know that many of them were apparently killed just for fun. And-”
Evan: ”Wait, wait, wait! Is the HQ kidding? I told them a ton of times I don't want to do any that dangerous anymore, I thought they were fine with that? Why are they sending me in too?”
Tom: ”Evan! Calm down. Apparently, we just need to search for more dead and insured Pokémon for which it's not too late to get revived at the Pokémon Center. That's why the Ranger asked us for help. There are just too many for him along to make it in time.”
Evan: ”Oh! Ok! Sorry, Tom for getting all riled up...”
Tom: ”It's ok, I know you only react like that because of your daughter.”
Evan: ”Thanks, Bro. How many Pokémon are we talking about?”
Tom: ”The last call of the Ranger confirmed forty-four Kills.”
Evan: ”Forty ...four? That is a lot, ... so guessing by the ATVs in the convoy the place is not easy to reach? Devenor Forest?”
Tom: ”Yes, you guessed it.” *Tom nods*
Evan: ”Well I haven't been doing this job for 9 years for nothing, it's the usual procedure for cases like this and we are only here with the Cars because of the sheer number of Pokémon.”
”I guess you still know your stuff even after becoming such a doting father Evan! Good for you!”
- a young woman with blonde long hair and green eyes turned around in her pa.s.senger seat and smirks at Evan ironically.
Even though she is rather Tall she looks misplaced between the older bulky men.
The driver beside them is about his mid-forties and just smiles, he seems to enjoy the youngsters rambling about.
Evan: ”Haha. Tessa. The joke doesn't get funnier the more you say it.”
*even though he just said that is smiling back*
Evan: ”Well, you know Guys things change onc-”
Tom: ”-once you become a parent. We know Evan you told us a thousand times. Hahahaha”
Tessa: ”Hahaha” - *leans in to fist b.u.mp Tom*
*They fist b.u.mp and both smirk at Evan*
”Well,... I guess you guys really know that after me talking about it so often. Hahaha”
Evan: ”Anyway do we know what killed them?”
”Naah -” *both Tessa and Tom*
*they both look at each other until Tessa turns to the front again closing her eyes*
Tessa: ”You tell him, Tom you did a good job informing him until now.”
*she waves her hand left hand showing her withdrawal out of the conversation*
Tom: ”You are too kind, Tessa.”
*Tom smiles in her direction, Tessa only smiles as she tries to take a nap until they reach the meeting point*
*Tom turns back to Evan and begins to answer his question*
Tom: ”Well, no the Pokémon Ranger wants to look into that as soon we arrive and can cover saving the Pokémon for him, he says the footprints he found are the closest to the ones a Poochyena leaves behind. Weird thing being that they don't live anywhere near the Devenor Forest. The footprints are too big for a Poochyena as well.”
Evan: ”That is weird. Well, I'm interested in what he will find out.”
Tom: ”I guess we all are.”
The conversation switches back to friends and family and carries on for a few minutes before the both of them decide to take a nap as well, leaving the inside of the off-road Car in quiet.
********* Later on a Miltank Farm *********
~Noon~
Lizzy steps out of the Farmhouse stretching her arms after taking care of most of her family's Miltanks.
Bird Pokémon are twitter in the distance. Susi naps next to the barn door, yawns from time to time just to fall back to sleep a few seconds later.
There is a dirt road in front of Lizzy which separates the barn from the field that belongs to her parents as well on the field there are some more Miltanks which are having a meal.
Lizzy starts crossing the small road, Susi wakes up out of her half sleeps and makes some leaps to close in on Lizzy.
Now both of them walk beside each other over to the other Miltanks which still need to be milked later on. But first comes Lizzys well-deserved break.
Lizzy stops at a big tree that stands proud right in the middle of the field on of the few shadow spending trees on the field, the other smaller trees standing way of to the sides of the fields.
Lizzy turns around and lets herself fall against the tree with her back now slowly sliding down.
Not even a second goes by and Susi sits beside her. Putting her head into Lizzys lap. Ready to be pet by her.
Lizzy: ”Ah Susi, it's really good to know that you are there.”
Lizzy starts running her fingers through the fur of her Growlithe. Susi closes her eyes visibly enjoying Lizzys attention.
”I know you understand me even though you can't talk with me. And it somehow makes me sad that I can't understand you as good as you do me.”
Lizzy s.p.a.ces off a bit watching the gust of wind carrying a group of leaves over the field. Until they all fly into a sleeping Miltank.
”Feels like it's my fault I can't understand you quite as good. Although I know that you only want my best right?”
Susi now looking at Lizzy with open Eyes barks once in answer to Lizzy's question.
”~Growlithe!~”
”~ Of course, Lizzy!~”
Susi smiles at Lizzy happily.
*ruffling through Susi's mane and fur on her head*
Lizzy: Of course you do! I know Susi!
A few minutes go by like this when the peace and quiet gets broken by the roaring sound of engines and exhaust notes of big cars and dirt bikes going by. To fast for Lizzy to spot how many there are exactly. But while her curiosity still gets higher, Susi already jumped up and ran 2-3 meters towards the gate. Only stopping for Lizzy. Susi now looks back over her shoulder at Lizzy waiting for her to say what to do.
Lizzy lets her shoulders hang and waves both her hands.
”Alright, Alright. I get it, Susi. I'm curious as well but let's not rush after them ok? Not like last time you get me right?”
Lizzy knees down. And looks towards Susi.
”Come here, Susi.”
Susi looks down but walks towards her stopping right in front of Lizzy.
Lizzy grabs the head of Susi carefully and pets it with her right hand.
Holding Susis Head up looking at her directly she says:
”Listen, Susi, last time went ok. But if you rush off like that again, both of us don't know what could happen right? What if something happens to you? And I can't find you because you can't bark anymore?
I know you can smell me nearly everywhere except for the barn but I can't ok? I don't want to lose you, Susi. You are family for me, alright?”
Susi looks serious now. Not as down as before though. More like someone who steeled their resolve.
”~GROOOW~ ~GROWlithe!~ ~Growlithe!~”
” ~Oookaay~ ~Got it! Sorry!~ ~Love you too Lizzy!~”
Lizzy happily rustles through Susi's fur.
”I'm glad you get what I mean! I really don't say this to be mad at you Susi you know? I still want to have lots of fun with you.”
Lizzy stands back up and stretches her back.
”Alright, Susi! Let's go!”
After rus.h.i.+ng back to the barn and house to tell her parents where she is going, Lizzy and Susi's jog down the road towards the Poké-Center. Knowing that in that direction lies only the Poké-Center and the nearby Resort.
******* Back at the Convoy *******
The Squad arrives. The cars and ATVs stop in front of the Pokémon Center. It doesn't cause too much commotion, all there is in the surrounding area is a resort and a Farm about 10 Minutes from here so the only people trickling in and out of the Pokémon Center are trainers that went out into the forest to catch new Pokémon. Also, most people in this region know the white Humvee like cars and white ATVs so it's not that special seeing them. Maybe the number of vehicles is special but other than that, nothing special to look at.
Evan, Tom, and Tessa jump out with the rest of the team and walk towards the waiting Pokémon Ranger. The PWO-Team Captain is a middle-aged woman, average height and black hair, not really long but not short either. She is wearing the same uniform as the other members of the organization. They are dressed in olive green pants and jackets, some neon yellow reflective accents are thrown in at some places on the jackets and pants. Well if you can call it a uniform. Most of the money the organization earns is from donations with only side income from Pokémon contests and charity Pokémon fights.
Although the organization is trying to help wild Pokémon it's hard doing that everywhere in the region if you don't have strong Pokémon yourself. So those fights help the members while helping the organization as well.
So the group starts building a half-circle around the Ranger and Team-Captain.
*Team Captian walking up to the Ranger*
Team Caption: ”Good Morning Sir, we came as fast as we could. I'm the Team Captian Claudia Garcia whats the situation? How bad is it?”