Contents:
Wesley
Obvious exits:
Way around City <WAC> leads to Pokemon Route 3: Pewter City.
North <N> leads to Pewter City: Southern Pewter.
South <S> leads to Viridian Forest - Route 2: Almost Out.

Everything is grey, veiled by mist. It's chilly and the air feels damp. There is no wind. In the forest, only the nearest tree branches, half-bereft of leaves, show their full color; more distant trees and branches are colorless and indistinct in the pallid grey fog, looking ghostly and not quite real. While at the coast, the sea is sluggish and grey as fog lays on its surface like a thick wet blanket.

A Retwa flares its wings and protects the database. (Saving)

It was, perhaps, the rainiest, coldest, and most overall miserable summer the island has experienced in a long time. It almost makes one glad to see the season end - but it can only get worse from here as summer changes into fall and fall into winter. For most of the depressing season, Melissa Barlette has been out and about. A tournament here! A rare pokemon there! For her, it's a treat to finally be back home, resting upon her favorite rock and simply reading a book. And that's precisely what she's doing this afternoon. The light is terrible outside - it's foggy, damp, and cold, and she seems ill-dressed for the weather. Still, she doesn't seem particular uncomfortable as she leans back slightly, getting into the climax of the book. Around the boulder bounces her little Nidoran, Puff, apparently bored and trying to find ways to amuse himself - and failing miserably.

>> Oo, Hyper looked at you. Why not write a book about him? <<

From the trees of Viridian Forest, Wesley walks. He emerges out into the more open, familiar landscape...which would be much more familiar if there wasn't all this mist in the area. The boy walks with his hands shoved into his jean pockets and his head bowed, presumably to make sure there are no rocks underfoot that he could trip over, which he could just do, as he's not particularly sticking to the path - more like sort of walking onwards oblivious to it. Wesley could be spending his time keeping an eye on the many pokemon he has out, though he doesn't do that either. Apparently his own safety takes priority, that cruel and heartless fiend of a trainer! That's right! You only care about yourself! ..Actually, it seems that none of the pokemon on his team care about him either. There's a Charmander who skips in front of the group with a young Nidoran by his side, and the two chit-chat happily with each other. Beside Wesley slithers a blue Ekans, and beside the Ekans lopes a lanky Hitmonchan. Both pokemon are silent and watchful. A Farfetch'd and Meowth bring up the rear, the cat striding huffily while the bird waddles its odd little duck waddle.

Her light blue eyes scan the pages so quickly it's a wonder she's even absorbing the information she's reading. Very, very softly she makes a gasping noise as she takes in a gob of wet air, her eyes widening behind her glasses as she reads on. Puff perks up, boinging around to the front of the rock to wonder what in the world his trainer's reacting to. Is it a pokemon? Is it a... no, it's just that book. <Melissaaaa,> he whines softly, his eyes looking so sad in the mist. <I'm hungry.> His plea goes ignored - but Puff pretty much expected this, so he just gives off a tiny sigh and continues his pointless circling, mumbling and grumbling under his breath. Through the fog, the poison pokemon does just barely notice a few silhouettes, but he lacks the keen sight, smell, or hearing of other most highly evolved pokemon, so he simply peers worried up at Melissa. <Uhh, Melissa? Who are they?> And yet again, he goes ignored. Now Puff's a little scared.

Wesley can't answer Puff. Neither can Leochardo the Charmander, or Spike the young male Nidoran, or Skysnake the Ekans. Quickstrike the Hitmonchan cannot alleviate the Nidoran's fear, nor can Lieutenant the Farfetch'd or Minnaloush the Meowth. There. I've completed Wesley's Cast of Characters list. The boy continues to walk, though he slows his pace as he glances back at the now unseen woods. "What do you think that thing was?" he asks thoughtfully. <A Bulbasaur,> Lieutenant replies. <Those were vines.> Wesley visibly winces at the species-name. "Hate those things..." he mutters, not as angrily as one might expect, given the nature of his comment. "Well, not really, but...uh, they're annoying..because I can't catch them." Quickstrike snorts. <Trainers,> she mutters. Wesley's gaze returns to the ground. ..Boy, way to shoot him down, Quickstrike. "I'm sorry," the boy murmurs. There's a lull in the conversation as the troop - in all its grass rustling, ground stomping, babbly (from Leo and Spike) glory - continues its slow move cityward.

Melissa Barlette and Puff the male Nidoran. Well, that was easy! Puff fidgits a little more, his head rearing in the direction of Wesley's part a little more, his fear obvious on his face and his shaking body. <Meliiiissa,> he whines with a little more force, <Somebody's out there!> The teenage girl sighs softly, closes her eyes, shakes her head, and slips the bookmark into place. "Puff," she mumbles, not with anger or frustration, just mild annoyance. She doesn't hate Puff, but he sure can be a bother. "This had bet..." But Melissa notices the pokemon strolling through the mist as well, and all kinds of thoughts go through her head. What if it's one of those Team Rocket people? ... Or perhaps they're all wild pokemon? ... Maybe it's Wesley and his band? Sure, none of the shadows look very Machop-y or Drowzee-y, but... Melissa gives her Nidoran a little nod. "I wouldn't worry, Puff," she says, gesturing north to Pewter. "The city... um, it's, ah, it's not very far away. Just in... just in case, I guess." She gives the party in the mist one last glance, before popping off of her rock and starting to approach them. Puff peers hard at her, before scampering off a step or two behind the girl. <Do you know what you're doing?!>

Wesley takes a deep breath and sneaks a glance out of the corner of his eye at his Hitmonchan. "You..you don't have to be like this, you know. I'm sorry about everything. I'll try to find you a good fight." <Surprised to hear you say that, since there's no Techno-Dome tournament,> the fighter shoots back. Maybe it's her time of the month? Wesley's face is creased by a frown of guilt. </I/ will battle you to ceassse your whining,> the blue Ekans announces. <And I would be happy to provide you an opportunity to see your own guts,> says the feline, with a predatory gleam in her slit-eyes. <I heard the word battle!> says an interested Spike. His partner in speech, Leochardo, harumphs. No one every wants to talk about him and his drawings. He's so lonely! <I'll help as well,> adds Lieutenant, to which the fighting type smiles. They're friends, the bird and the, uh, bipedal beast. "Great, so we've got a..four on one battle," Wesley says. He actually pauses to do the math. He's been away from school too long. "Let's find a good spot." With that, the group begins to head towards...woah, coincidentally, Melissa's rock! And, hey, isn't Melissa walking towards them? Freaky.

Puff sprints up and hops between Melissa's ankles, and with a peep, she stumbles a little, barely keeping herself from falling to the ground. "P-Puff!" <They sound really, really mean!> the Nidoran cries loudly, practically wailing his grief. <I think I hear something really bad! Let's go back to the rock and hide!> Because, of course, the rock is such wonderful hiding spot. "Don't... don't be ridiculous, Puff." Waving her free hand in the air (her left one cluthes her book), the girl tries her very best to be friendly as she calls, "H... hey there! Would, um, would, um, want to battle?" She doesn't even know who she's talking to through the fog, but she supposes it's as good a way as any to hail the trainer.

Wesley keeps his pace slow and meandering...until it stops all together. It stops...because someone is speaking. Oh, but it's not Melissa - Wesley first stops because of Puff's words. Spike's ears perk up. <Hey!> he says in surprise, settling down onto his haunches and rising upwards, front paws off the ground as he peers through the mist. He doesn't keep the position for long, and his front paws drop down. <There are two someones coming!> he says happily. "Thank you, Spike," Wesley mutters, but not by way of a compliment - he already knew that. The Nidoran wilts at his trainer's tone, but Leochardo steps forward, easily talking through the first part of Melissa's greeting. <Hi, my name's--> "Shh!" Wesley hisses. Now /there's/ a familiar voice. Why, it sounds just like his best friend Melissa! He opens his mouth to speak, but closes it, struck dumb by the terrifying thought of 'what if it's not?' How stupid would he look then? Shy people are oodles of fun. <I'll battle!> says the Hitmonchan quickly, stepping forward towards the girl as the rest of Wesley's pokemon catch up with him and form a sloppy half-circle around him.

Puff is actually boggling at Melissa. No, seriously - his eyes are wide and the pupils are just sort of googling at her as he practically stumbles over himself, staring at his trainer. <Battle?> he squeaks. Then louder: <Battle? I don't want to battle! I don't-> "Hush, Puff, I'll use someone else then!" This seems to shut the poison pokemon up (at least, for now) as he starts to lag behind, and Melissa turns her head to the approaching party one again. Quickstrike steps up to the plate, but it only causes the trainer to come to a stop. Puff crashes into her legs, but she takes no notice. "I, um, I don't speak Hitterchon," she admits quietly, shifting her legs slightly. "Was... um, was that a yes or a no?" Though nobody will probably be able to see it through the fog, Melissa is blushing softly with an embarrassed smile on her face.

A Retwa flares its wings and protects the database. (Saving)

Everything is grey, veiled by mist. It's chilly and the air feels damp. There is no wind. Wesley is silent as he listens to the human's voice, mostly ignoring poor Puff's words. It..is Melissa, right? As the human speaks, Wesley gains in confidence and he laughs bravely (and fortunately for the scene, inwardly) at his former fears. Of course it's his best friend! The boy opens his mouth to speak. <Don't worry! I don't like battling either!> calls Leochardo to Puff. Maybe he could make a new friend that /doesn't/ ignore his talents? <I do,> says Spike the Nidoran, with a grin. <Because then I'll be able to--> <--Evolve, I know,> Leochardo deadpans. Woah. Someone turned up the snarkiness levels on Wesley's team today. The boy opens his mouth to speak. <Enough of the dissention, boys,> the Farfetch'd instructs, to which Minnaloush replies with a hissed, <Take your commands and stuff them up your feathered rump!> Quickstrike nods once, curtly, folding her arms over her chest in an impatient gesture. <It'sss...the girl,> says Skysnake to her trainer. "I know!" snaps Wesley in frustration..before closing his mouth. Gee, all he meant to say was 'hi!'

Melissa furrows her eyebrows behind her glasses, Wesley's voice sounding awfully familiar in her ears. Is that who she thinks that is? The voice sounds familiar, and Wesley's all-too-known for being with all six of his pokemon at once... With a little blink, Melissa sort of asks the fog, "... Um, Wesley? Is that you?" Perhaps he didn't recognize her voice? The thought that perhaps he didn't say "I know" but, rather, "no", meaning he doesn't want to battle, does hit the girl's mind, but she doesn't think much of it. Wesley obviously doesn't know it's her - right? Puff, noticing his trainer's confusion, huddles into her even more, simply whimpering with fear. <We should run! Now!!> Of course, he doesn't, and nor does his trainer.

A Retwa flares its wings and protects the database. (Saving)

The ever changing pearly mist doesn't respond. The pale, turtle-neck wearing child hidden by the mist does, however. "...Yes, Melissa, it is me," he says slowly, scuffing a shoe against the grass, somewhat embarrassed. "And I think my Hitmonchan would like a battle," he adds. "But if you don't want one I have...well, lots of stuff to tell you. I've seen so many things lately!" he says, excitement spilling into his tone as he leans forward. There must be a leak in Wesley's emotional control units! Wesley speaks a bit more loudly than he normally would. After all, he has /pokemon/ to contend with.

Though she can see none too clearly through her fogging glasses and the mist of the world, Melissa knows that Wesley's pokemon are bickering and perhaps fighting. Her embarrassed, nervous smile becomes one of almost... amusement? Perhaps she's imagining the fights his pokemon have had in the past. "It's..." Melissa separates her arms from her thighs, her palms facing outward (though her left one holds the book). "... Sort of been a while, hasn't it? ... I've been busy..." She seems to trail off for a moment or two, before coming right back with a brand new topic. "What? Oh, no, no, I don't want to, um, to battle you." She blushes, letting out a half-laughing exhale. "I'd... I'd lose, and I can hardly see in this fog..." Puff, in the meanwhile, is no longer frightened... but he is worried. <I want to talk,> he whimpers softly. <Not fight.> Even though he's not the one fighting...

Lieutenant the Farfetch'd responds with a Slash of his own, using his wing-hands to swing his leek forward and draw it across the cat's face. It actually knocks Minnaloush across the head, sending her sprawling. "All right! Calm down!" Wesley snaps. With a sigh, he takes some pokeballs from his belt. Flash! Minnaloush is recalled. Flash! Leochardo is recalled. There's a pause as Wesley minimizes and reattached the balls. "Are we all going to be civil?" the boy says tersely. <Might as well put me in too..trainer,> Quickstrike says in a mutter of disgust. Wesley frowns but does as she asks, recalling her. There's a pause as Wesley figures out what Melissa just said (he wasn't entirely paying attention), and formulates a response. "Well...maybe when it's sunnier out, then?" the boy asks, a slightly hopeful note in his voice.

Melissa catches the eagerness in Wesley's tone, and she can't help but smile very, very softly at her young friend. "D... Definitely." She pats the balls on her belt, before bringing that hand up to rub through her long hair. She's trying to make herself look like she's not really bragging, just saying as an off note. "You... might be surprised at how much better I am!" She nods, scratching the back of her neck. "Although... I don't know... if the weather will get much, um, much better. Even in Cinnabar..." Unspoken goes, '... the weather was miserable.' Puff, peering into the mist, sort of squeaks a little, <Who's left? Who wasn't recalled into his or her pokeball?> He really hopes that Charmander stayed. He's the nicest one! ... Well, judging from what the Nidoran just heard from the whole scene that just unfolded before him.

Everything is grey, veiled by mist. It's chilly and the air feels damp. There is no wind.

The misty light dims slightly.

Wesley gives a grin in the foggy air. Like all of his smiles, it doesn't last long but soon fades into neutrality, though not in his eyes. There's a smile there, even if there's no one around to see it. Melissa's boast makes the kid tilt his head in confusion, but he shrugs it off soon enough. Hey, people can improve, right? "That's good! I'd really..really like to see that," Wesley says softly, imagining (gasp!) the thought. It'd be really fun! "And as for the..uh, weather? Well, I think it was sort of windy a few days ago. Windy, but not foggy." The boy pauses. "And the pokemon that are left out are my Nidoran, Spike, my Ekans, Skysnake, my Farfetch'd, Lieutenant." Wait, he just responded to Puff. The boy then takes a few steps forward, to better talk to Melissa. But then he stops at the second step. A thought hits him. It's a clever way into what he wanted to talk about! Yep, Wesley physically reacts to his thoughts. "But I've been in some really bad weather these past few weeks," he says proudly. "..Do you want to hear my story?" he asks suddenly. Confidence drains from this boy like water through a sieve.

"I don't know," Melissa whispers softly, her arm dropping from the back of her head and crossing across her chest. The other arm follows suit. "I... I wish for just a, um, a little sunshine. I feel so pale... and the pokemon must, um, must be very uncomfortable." She's referring to wild pokemon, of course, but her statement is considerably vague. "I..." A pause. "Story?" This quite obviously caught Ms. Barlette off guard, but the teenager recovers quickly enough. "Why, yes," she nods softly, a delicate smile forming on the corners of her lips. "Was it a story you read, or did you, um, have an experience?" Puff, in the meanwhile, doesn't like Ekans, doesn't know Farfetch'd... but does like Nidorans. <Spike!> he squeaks, bouncing forward into the mist and peering around intently for any sign of the other male. <Spike, are you here?>

Spike grins and hops forward as well. <Here I am! I'm here!> he calls out as he moves, looking around for his new friend. Wesley brushes some of his shaggy hair (he hasn't been to a barber yet) away from his face and tucks it behind his ear. His shoulder length hair makes him look a bit like a girl, actually - the defining features of masculinity haven't set in yet. "My pokemon don't really mind, though I..suppose others might," the boy says slowly. Melissa thinks up some many things he doesn't. "As for the story?" he sounds pleased she wanted to hear him out! It's an experience." The faint touch of pride doesn't leave.

A Retwa flares its wings and protects the database. (Saving)

Melissa listens intently to Wesley's fascinating story, nodding at particular intervals and perhaps giving a little "Oh my!" and a "Yes" where "Oh my!"s and "Yes"es are due. She doesn't say anything that should distract Wesley from his story, however, and as he concludes his story with words that are sure to shock and horrify the average trainer. Melissa's inspiring words? A perplexed, "What's a Retwa?" There's a pause. "Ah... the, um, the, ah, the name does sound somewhat familiar... The, uh, the news pokemon, right?" Sure, she can write a detailed description on paper, but when it comes to real life...

The whole point of Wesley's story rested on Melissa's amazement at the shocking announcement of his meeting a Retwa. As she fails to display any, Wesley just..blinks and stares at her. "...Oh," he says. There's no hiding the disappointment in his tone. "Yes, they've been in the news a bit recently." It cheers Wesley up that she's not completely clueless; the disappointment is gone as he speaks. "Retwa are sort of like birds, except they have jaws. And they're dark blue on top and light blue on the bottom and they have big claws and spikes. And they have wings. ..Or flippers, since they spend time in water. I don't really know what they're called. Anyway, I was in the boat, and the Retwa told me where land was. But then, it got stuck in a mound of seaweed. I sent my Squirtle out to stick the Retwa in a pokeball, and it sucked the Retwa in and spit it out. Fortunately, it spit it out of the weeds and into the water. The pokeball spit the Retwa out, I mean. I heard later that it said thank you to me," he adds. Yep, that's definitely a favourite story of Wesley's, even if he doesn't tell tales well. As for Spike? He gives an uncertain <Uh...'kay,> as he moves slowly, sniffing his way along. The Farfetch'd shouts out an amused, <Oh, don't worry. If anything is going to eat you, it's the Ekans here.> He doesn't like cowards, you see. "Don't do that," Wesley says to the duck.

Twilight deepens the grey of the fog.

Now Melissa does seem rather impressed at Wesley, and, clutching her chest in a usual girly fashion, a little "Awww" escapes the girl's lips. "You let him go?" she asks softly, admiration now obvious in her voice. "Th... that so nice. M-m-most people would have kept it..." There's a tiny little pause. The girl's voice becomes ever-so-slightly more depressed. "I might have." Another pause. Melissa gives Wesley this shining little grin which he might be able to just see through the mist. "That was, um, really great of you, then." Well, he got her amazement - perhaps not in the way he expected, but hey. Meanwhile, down with Puffster, the Nidoran sort of squeaks, peering about as the Farfetch'd speaks. <The Ekans is going to eat me?!> the purple pokemon squeals, jumping up and diving right between Melissa's ankles. The girl barely gives him a glance - she's used to this. <Don't wanna get eaten! Don't wanna!> Puff's not a coward, he's just scared of everything. Really!

Now it's Wesley's turn to react in amazement...or bewilderment as the case may be. Some type of 'ment', at any rate. The boy's brow creases in a frown and he looks up at Melissa's face for a few seconds. Despite all the mist, light suddenly dawns! The light of comprehension. And it dawns for Wesley. "Oh! Oh, no, I can't have you think that. I didn't actually catch it. It was too strong, and my pokeball failed to hold it...but, it was lucky that it didn't, because at least it got the Retwa out of the seaweed. I /would/ have kept it if my pokeball had held." See, he's not empathic or caring in any way, really. It's now that he feels a bit guilty she would even think that of him. "I..would've kept it," he murmurs. "All though," he adds sensibly, or what he hopes is sensibly "I don't know what I'd do with it. I already have a water pokemon. And he's obsessed with the sea. I can't imagine what I'd do with another one." ..Hang around the sea, maybe? Silly kid. <Don't worry, pal!> Spike says to the worried Puff - and he's actually moving in the right direction. Soon, he approaches Melissa's..feet. <Skysnake's nice. So are her kids. They wouldn't eat us. Although,> he whispers conspiratorilly <..I used to think she would.>

Melissa doesn't seem very fazed by Wesley's reply; she simply smiles a little more at him, shaking her head. "Well," the girl thinks for a moment, before nodding. "You didn't... hunt it after you let it out, and... and you didn't leave it there to starve. I think you did the right thing." Because of course, the opinion of a silly girl should seriously honor a trainer much better than she is. "I need... um, a water pokemon," Melissa nods softly, gesturing very, very vaguely to the west. "I had a, uh, a Starmie in one of the tournaments. It was... very powerful." A small grin. "I liked her." Meanwhile, Puff is just sort of peering at the approaching Nidoran-shaped silhouette. <But she's an Ekans,> he cries softly, huddling closer into his trainer's legs. <And Ekans eat Niodran! And eating Nidorans means I don't live any more!> Three cheers for Puff's logic!

Spike has to smile at the oddness of this situation. Usually it's people telling him to stop being afraid of snakes and birds, and now he has to calm down a grownup! <Well, this Ekans doesn't,> he says with a childish authority. Skysnake sure doesn't look like she'd eat Puff. She sure doesn't look like she's interested in the conversation, both between pokemon and between humans. The pale boy known as Wesley shifts uncomfortably at Melissa's praise, his eyes flicking around her head as he debates how to respond. "I didn't hunt the Retwa because it didn't reappear..and, well, I /was/ out in one of the worst storms the Island has had in the past couple of years." Too bad Wesley found that out after he got back. And that thought makes the boy wince. He wanted to share an experience with Melissa but it turns out all he's sharing is his utter stupidity. His friend's next words cause him to nod slowly. And then blink. "Oh! I..have a water pokemon you might be interested in. But he's not very strong. And he's very young, and I don't know if you want any more young pokemon on your team. I seem to recall you have..several. Or perhaps I'm recalling wrong," the kid says quickly. This interests Spike who turns back and stares at Wesley, completely horrified. <Cartwheel?> he whispers. Wesley just thought of...trading Cartwheel? The Nidoran is dazed, and the night seems a whole lot colder all of a sudden as he shivers.

Fog and darkness shroud the world.

Melissa nods very softly in reply to the storm part, automatically flinching softly and glancing up at the sky. "On Cinnabar the weather... could be pretty bad, too," she says gently, as though she feels his pain - even if she wasn't on a little boat in the middle of the ocean. "Oh." Melissa turns her head to glance at Wesley. She tries - she really tries - to not giggle, but she can't help it. "I love baby pokemon!" she squeaks, much too perkily, before blinking open an eye and calming down. "Even if I can't... can't battle with them..." The girl reddens, realizing how silly she must sound to a pre-teen boy, and turns her head to the left. "It's... it's late... Will you be staying, um, staying in Pewter tonight?" Puff, in the meanwhile, peers over at Spike, cocking his head slightly. <That's like saying a Charmander won't breathe fire,> he comments, <Or that a Squirtle won't swim. Ekans have to eat Nidoran. ... Don't they?> Obviously not, little man.

Spike would really love to comfort and get to know his new friend. Perhaps he'll do so some other time when he hasn't just heard his trainer consider giving his best friend to a total stranger. He stands, mouth dropped in shock, facing Wesley and shivering in the night. The boy nods his head though he does raise an eyebrow as Melissa notes that she just looooves baby pokemon. Then he thinks back to the Ekans trio; does he not like them? He does, and it's quite rewarding seeing them grow strong...but obviously he doesn't care for babies as much as the perky Melissa seems to."Maybe I could show him to you..uh, another time," Wesley suggests. "Because, as you said, it is late. And I am staying in Pewter tonight." Yeah, we know what's coming. And the boy doesn't take a long time with it either. "Can I walk you back to your house?" he asks. It's amazing - Wesley can forget so many things, but one little ritual stays with him.

Melissa smiles softly, giving a little gesture to the north. "I was hoping you'd ask," she says simply, plainly, as though she knows that's exactly what Wesley would offer. "Maybe I'll... see you around town," she suggests, turning her body and taking one step forward - accidentally kicking Puff in the process. <Hey!> "Oops. Sorry, Puff." <I-> With a surprisingly quick movement, Melissa's free hand whips the pokeball off of her belt. She proceeds to recall the Nidoran without a word, glancing back at Wesley with a grin. She reattaches the device onto her belt, and giggles softly. "Let's... get going, hm?" And with that, the girl starts off towards her home, moving slowly to allow for Wesley to catch up easily.

A Retwa flares its wings and protects the database. (Saving)

The world is dark and foggy. Everything is half-hidden, nothing clearly seen. It's chilly and the air feels damp. No wind blows.

Wesley looks almost surprised at Melissa's words. "You don't have to hope, Melissa. I...I always will," the kid says certainly. He then gives the smallest of surprised looks. "I will." Wow, certainty sure tastes odd on his tongue. It's not unpleasant, though. "Yeah - I'll usually be out here training, and sometimes in the..forest." Wasn't he worried about going into the forest a little while ago? Ah, he can't remember why at the moment. He'll figure it out in the morning. As Melissa recalls her Nidoran, Wesley moves and recalls his own. Spike, stiff and unmoving in his shock and disgust, doesn't resist. Will they have something to talk about tomorrow! He then recalls his Farfetch'd and his Ekans. That done, the pokeballs are put in their respective places on Wesley's belt and he catches up with Melissa in a few quick steps. He then takes his normal place on her left side, and as usual is a step or two behind the girl. Ah. Isn't it nice when things get back to...normal?