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"I...well then."

Jude needed a few moments to let that roll around in his head. Definitely heavy thoughts. Thoughts a kid like Tails and his brother shouldn't have to think. Very definitely. And suddenly, to call Sub a dark leader seemed much more apt. As he pondered, he let his hand rest on the Torchic's head. Sipped from his tea. "If it makes you feel any better," he said. "I took that bath because Tails and his muddy butt made a landing pad of my back. And I narrowly escaped his Muk."

Another sip.

"I dunno. It really is heavy. Not the kid, I mean. I doubt he'd open up to me. After all, I don't even eat meat. He -seems- with good enough spirit."

"Mm. I bet if you have Tristen take a look a little south of here, you'll find out pretty quick," said Jude.

At the very least, his solutions were straightforward.

"If it were me in your shoes," said Jude but as soon as he said that he glanced down to Blizz's feet and shook his head. "Er. Talons. If it were me, I'd treat him seriously, not say anything about it but just keep trying to get him to say things. Anything." Then, rubbing his back, "And trust me, the boy's got a lot to say. Even if it doesn't sound like he's gonna change his mind until something happens, even if he doesn't think you understand, if he and Tristen know you'll always be there, they'll come."

He leaned back then, stroking the Torchic's fluffy crest pensively. "It's just, everyone's got these worlds in their heads. Really primal, native worlds that they get and that get them. And it sounds like Tails is stuck in one of his. Everyone gets like that once or twice. I was there, in my own queer way. I dunno about you, since I can't read your p-p-poker face."

He grinned.

"S'long as you don't bring anything up," said Jude. "Or look worried. And if you want to avoid eating mud, you might want to have Tristen lead to get Tails out of the trees."

Finally he glanced down to the Torchic in his lap with mild bemusement. "I think your little chick's gone and melted on me, too."

Ryan quietly enters HQ and he doesn't look all that happy. huh, what a way to come back.

"Yeah. I don't know if I can trust Varuna anymore. He's hiding something from me and by the way he was dodging my questions, I am getting the feeling it's something big. How do I learn from someone I can't trust?" Ryan comes out and says, his feelings rippling through his voice: anger, frustration and confusion.

"Maybe. But I feel like I have been left with far too many questions that he won't or refuses to answer. It felt like even though I was learning, that i was also being used as a means to an end. And I guess that is what bothers me the most." Ryan says as he slips his gourd off his back and rests it on the ground.

And not a moment too soon either. A certain Dwarf Dragonite flutters in and lands on his shoulder, hugging his head. This draws a smile across Ryan's face as he pats Ruth on the head. "Missed you too, little one." he says.

Cal made his own way into the HQ of Snagem, tired from the trek he took from Goldenrod to Mt. Silver. It was a good experience to take to get to know his own new pokemon and to learn of each others natures. However, Cal knew he would have new faces to get used to and to get to know. He knows new friends can be made, or enemies. However, making enemies is never a good thing unless someone makes themselves to be so, and Cal didn't plan on that happening. However, he wasn't sure how to exactly start a conversation asking about his new entry. "Hello, um, anyone know who to speak to when it comes to being a new member?" Is that really how he asked his question? Cal felt his few stuttered words were a bit too small to take much of a notice, but he could at least hope for the best.