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Early morning scouting was the worst, but it was the only way to avoid the Ghost Pokemon of the Howling Forest. The sun's rays burned them back into the darkened depths of the trees but made it easier for investigation through the thicket. Of course, like her other advances, Cetus was unsuccessful at finding the Mewtwo she had been tracking since the caravan expedition. Much to her chagrin, it seemed to up and vanish after the grasslands. Maybe the Rockets already got back their runaway? Even if, Cetus never stopped looking. To her, it was out there until she captured it.

Nearing the end of her search, she had hopped to the eight winds upon her Pidgeot, Deneb Algenubi, to make a quick round of the area before heading back to Carona Coast and the bile of her ex. Traveling low, the bird Pokemon skimmed over the body of the unnamed lake with a stiff Galactic Grunt on his back. He kept his speed a swift pace. Unfortunately, the wind torpedo could not hold up to the current obstacle in its way. A large, mauve Lapras seemed to be its wall and he showed no signs of letting up.

"Algenubi, hey, slow down!" Cetus warned as she tugged at his throat feathers. "Oi!"

The Pidgeot flapped his wings and cried a, "Geooot!" into the air. He grunted at the pain of pulled feathers and bucked before he made contact with the Lapras. Cetus lost her grip and made a harsh splash into the water right behind the larger Water Pokemon. The Pidgeot smiled grimly at his drenched owner threading water beneath him. Serves her right.

"You feathered flocker!" Cetus cursed in the water. "Arceus damn it-!" So much for getting back to base quickly. Even worse, someone was going to find her in uniform. Great.

"On the contrary, you were in my path of travel. It most certainly is not my fault your hardened rock of a rump was my obstacle." The Pidgeot fluttered low circles around the three below, having not the wingspan to just flutter freely like a Ledian. "So, the rude one must be you, for being born so big."

Cetus coughed a little and gave the Lapras a neutral but clearly annoyed expression. It was an excellent creature for a Water type and had she been a Rocket, she would have snatched it up in a jiffy. Unfortunately, she fought for a different team and different time. There was an unlikely chance she'd make the change anytime soon.

"Tell that to him." the older woman sternly replied as she cocked her chin to the overhead, spiraling bird. "It's not my fault." The Galactic Grunt stayed immersed in the water, braving hope and bounds that the shallow tide hid her team's logo. It was still visible, though cut to a third by the lake's depths. "What are you doing out here anyway?" Cetus added. Of course, it wasn't odd to see random trainers out and about in the Zataon wastes watching the flora and fauna. There was nothing different about this one, but Cetus inquired nonetheless for a possible recruitment.

Deneb Algenubi promptly became pissed off. Of course, a courageous gentleman only knows one way to respond to idiosyncratic attitudes and responses: a Hyper Beam to the face. His verdant eyes fell to narrow slits and he opened his mouth readily to vomit a fluid stream of energy onto the opposing Pokemon. Unfortunately, or rather, fortunately, his act was halted when a stern, "Deneb Algenubi," broke his concentration. He stopped swiftly and turned his gaze at his owner who was still threading water like a slowly decaying Tentacool. How funny she looked to be soaking wet . . .

The giggle was nauseating to the point where Cetus spat out a bit to the side. A parfait of lake water, swelling algae, and pond reeds was the current taste in her mouth. Since she wasn't a Water Pokemon, the tang was not favorable. With a sigh, she beckoned her Pidgeot downwards to retrieve her. Her legs were quite tired from needless stomps at the water's depths.

"Really." Her tone was flat and uninterested, quite common in her speech. "Well, I guess I'm just out and about seeing the sights too." The Pidgeot hovered above her with long, thick slaps of his wings. She caught onto his outstretched foot and was pulled upward. She than proceeded to climb up his abdomen, throw a leg behind his wings, and fix herself into a comfortable sitting position.

"The name's Claramay," It came out on a whim. She was Claramay this time, might be Julie the next, possibly Vivianne, perhaps Mei-Zhen or Nora. There was too many. What was her first name anyway? Ah, that's right, she couldn't lose the memory too soon. It was stuck with her just like the past- oh, the past . . .

"Smoke?" she offered and felt around her body for an untouched carton of cigarettes. Heck, she didn't know if the gal was even old enough for tobacco. Ah well, at least they were in good shape. It was the one good thing about Galactic uniform thermals. Not only do they keep you warm, they keep the good stuff dry. She lit it in a swift movement and breathe is out nice and slow. Really, where had the time gone?