#sharktoothshinx

we’ve been worried sick! gabriel was about to send out a search party, you know.

yeah, sorry, cherub...

it was sharktooth’s idea!

hey!!

[cherub clicks her tongue, about to lead the shinx kids back to the den when she notices byul standing a ways behind them.]

[byul stares her down, not poised to attack but aiming for intimidating nonetheless.]

that glowing rock deeper in the canyons. how do i get there?

er... um... y-you see, you can’t really go there without permission... it’s guarded by a totem pokemon, as well.

hhhgh. fine, i’ll find it myself.

[continued from here]

i’m not... mad or anything. just shocked to find you here, i guess.

[byul shuffles his paws awkwardly, perhaps even looking a little apologetic about his outburst.]

then, since you’ve been hanging out with these guys, maybe you could help me find someone who’s actually willing to talk to me? there must be someone from the covenant who can answer my questions.

hey, we can get home by ourselves just fine! besides, there’s no way gabriel’s gonna let you into our den!

i wasn’t planning on it, twerp! i just need to find someone who isn’t gabriel to talk to.

might as well look around if they’re not gonna chase me out...

[meanwhile, in the tall grass nearby...]

what are you...? don’t tell me you’re in with these guys.

hey, answer my question! if all of us beat you, tell us why you won’t join the covenant!

didn’t you hear me, kid? i don’t fight weaklings. now run along home before i get mad.

so that’s the stranger who gabriel doesn’t like? he doesn’t seem that special.

but wasn’t severus talking about how he’s the reason why the altar was lighting up? maybe that means he’s even stronger than gabriel!

...

no way, gabriel said he can’t even control his strength yet. but if he’s here, we should ask why he doesn’t wanna join our clan! you’re coming too, right?

[sharktooth turns to their fourth companion expectantly.]

[severus’ eyes follow the light glowing in between the cracks of the altar before turning his attention to the main pillar. the sun-shaped symbol seems to glow briefly before the lights disappear altogether.]

the altar is responding to something... could it be an intruder?

we should probably report this to gabriel right away.

you’re right. something is happening somewhere on the island.

alright, you two. hop on my back and hold on, we need to hurry.

[continued from here]

luci! yeah, doesn’t he look like joshua?

well, they’re both small...

hey!

anyways, we’re gonna patrol by the altar. do you and your friend want to tag along?

lucifer, know your place. this is an outsider.

don’t worry, severus! do they look like they have bad intentions? and besides, this way you can keep an eye on sharktooth, too.

...very well. but joshua and masa stay here.

sunny will handle him from here. however, there is another cause for concern. i found strangers speaking with the kits. off-islanders, i presume.

i see. it’s getting close to the season where tourists flood our lands, so we’ll have to keep a closer eye on our borders. we’ll also have to patrol the path to the altar more often.

of course. i’ll see to it myself.