[FIN] Tales of (not quite so much) Joy

[Tori Honoo]

After the helicopter had departed with its patient and crew, the riverside catastrophe was slowly cleaned away, nearly every trace gone before it was suggested--much to at least one of the witnessing party's relief-- that they continue on toward Sandalwood, in hopes of being met there there with positive news.

And so, with very few words, Jace found himself atop Aurora's back, clinging to the arcanine's fur, his face buried in her mane as she quickly but carefully led the group toward the tree-top city.

The abrupt appearance of a group bursting from the treeline on two massive fire breathing dogs and a Rapidash was surely a sight, though the riders showed no signs of cruel intentions. Within no time, guided by the two responders atop their Pidgeot and Altaria, the little trio would find themselves outside the hospital where, somewhere inside, their friend was being saved.

They hoped.

Now, two days later after contact had been made with the proper people and their things had been stowed away in a safe place--Dove had been to Sandalwood a few times now, and had been sure to find somewhere for Henrietta, Jace, and herself to stay together-- they would again find themselves just outside of the hospital doors in a courtyard of sorts, waiting.

Dove sat silently on a bench, looking much worse for the wear, her hair in a loose ponytail over her shoulder, her sweater large and baggy over her leggings, watching Jace absently and attempting a smile as he brought Diana to her lap. "Thanks, Jace..." she spoke softly, reaching out to ruffle his hair a bit with the hand that didn't currently hold her phone. "How are the swablu today, you two?" she added, asking both Henrietta and the boy. Her chest hurt terribly, and she still, even after two nights, felt completely drained, but she wouldn't allow the children to suffer as fully if she could help it. They didn't deserve it at all, and she still wasn't one hundred percent sure about how they were taking everything in.

Jace had, for the most part, been quiet, though very, very obviously worried and terribly shocked. Aurora had done her job in keeping him sheltered from most of the scene, though, of course, he knew what had happened just as well as the other two. Thankfully, he wouldn't have the visuals to dream of at night, aside from his friend lying motionless on the ground in blankets and the medical teams moving in--which, in Dove's opinion, was far more than any eleven year old should ever have to encounter. The first night, he had barely let her go, refusing to stay in a room alone, and sobbing into a pillow--though he fought it, almost violently, and at first refused to let anyone comfort him-- whenever he had a moment to his own thoughts.

Dove, to anyone who passed by, would appear terrifyingly without emotion.  

[Gwennythe]

Henrietta had been quiet on the ride back, though she'd managed well enough to stay on the fire type.
As soon as she'd could she'd washed, again, still feeling like she felt the slickness and stickiness encountered in blood.

She'd stuck close to Jace and Dove for the past couple of days, to the former a little more than the latter, except for whenever she'd been called upon to help with some thing or another.

Left to her own thoughts, for the past two days, Henrietta was most often found with a thoughtful frown rather than her bright grin.
Things hadn't really been explained well, and Tymiko, as far as she knew, was still out there somewhere.
Gummy, who currently sat at her feet, hadn't been much help in informing anyone about what had happened.

She blinked as she heard the question, and brought up a smile too, reaching up to pet the wings of the bird that currently occupied her head.
Her new friend had been given a name, and registered and now 'Bistra' was Henrietta's hat for the moment, by the Flying type's own choice. The pokémon was aware that something had very much changed in the children, since she and her friend had been caught but she also, perhaps, sensed it to be emotional, and likely temporary.
The bird fluffed up and warbled at Dove just before Hen' answered.
"Bistra's 'kay."  

[BlackPidgeot]

As soon as he had gotten the word from Dove, he had left as soon as he was able. Packing a few things and getting the fastest transport to Sandalwood available. He had never seen the city before and could only admire it's unique beauty for so long before arriving at the hospital.

It took some searching but Flynn eventually found the three in the courtyard. His soft footsteps approaching as the man who was the same height as Yuri but with short blonde hair and blue eyes came over to them.

"Miss Dove," he said, announcing his presence with a wane smile.

He was dressed in civilian clothes, a pair of khakis and a blue shirt. Looking more casual than he did in his uniform.  

[Tori Honoo]

Jave hovered for a moment, then went to sit with Hen, his own swablu perching on his arm as he lifted it for her. "Dawn is good. She says she's real good," he informed the woman, 'translating' the bird's soft trill. Dawn then hopped to his shoulder, fluffing her little wings of cloud against his cheek as she peeped at Hen in greeting.

Dove nodded at both, concern for both of her young friends wracking her mind. When Flynn approached and offered his greeting, obvious relief flickered through her entire being as she looked up to him, her eyes tired but oh so glad to see him. While so very fond of the two with her, she desperately longer for someone her age to be with them as well. His greeting was returned in a soft voice from a somewhat parched sounding throat. "Flynn..."  

[Gwennythe]

Henrietta smiled at Dawn as she peeped at her, moreso as she heard an answering peep from on top of her head; they were very kindly pokémon.

Flynn's arrival got a wide-eyed blink from Henrietta, as she watched him approach, and greet Dove, while Gummy opened and closed his mouth twice.  

[BlackPidgeot]

As his presence was acknowledged, his smile warmed a little more.

"I got here as quickly as I could. How are you?" He asked. "You look like you could use some rest." He doubted she had much if at all.

Flynn then looked to the two children who looked understandably solemn. "Hello."  

[Tori Honoo]

Dove only looked on at Flynn for a few moments, then shook her head a little at his question, letting her eyes fall from his.

Jace looked at Henrietta again, almost as if for confirmation before he actually spoke his thoughts. "Hey, you're that guy from the fair that a Yuri beat at ring toss," he said, realizing kind of quickly that the other piece if that story had still yet to be seen. Dove had been to see him, but the lady from the hospital had told him he should wait until he woke up. ...and then had gotten him to talk about what he had seen himself.  

[Gwennythe]

"Hi." Henrietta offered a little wave, as Flynn greeted them, then nodded as Jace remembered him.
"Hey, yeah... You are." She confirmed, then moved to put her arm around Jace if he'd let her; she supposed it was likely he was feeling the same kind of thing that she was right then.
Bistra made a quiet warbly noise.  

[BlackPidgeot]

"Yeah, that's right," Flynn said a little more cheerfully. Both from the kids recognizing him and the memory.

They were really quite the sad looking bunch and with good reason.

"From what I heard we might be waiting awhile. Are any of you hungry?"  

[Tori Honoo]

Jace leaned into Henrietta, opening his arms to Dawn so she could comfortably sit in his lap instead. Flynn's question earned a nod and a long, quiet look. This guy was Yuri's friend... That meant things would be okay, right?

Dove looked at the others, then lifted herself from her seat slowly, feeling as stiff as she had been sitting. "We should go get sormething to eat. They said they would give me a call if anything changed before his surgery ended..." she said quietly, still without much emotion, the latter half more intended for Flynn.

Lovey, from her place on the bench next to where her girl had been sitting, sat up, tilting her head as she looked for any signs of pokeballs on Flynn's belt. Diana stayed in Dove's arms, warm and slightly confused.  

[Gwennythe]

"Uhuh." Henrietta said, without nodding, partially because she didn't want to dislodge her Bistra-hat.
Her stomach let out a little growl, though; she was definitely hungry.
"We should get Yuri something too, cuz he'll wake up and be even hungrier, right?"  

[BlackPidgeot]

"I'm sure he would like that," Flynn said to Henrietta's suggestion. "But his stomach is one of the places he was hurt so I don't think he will be eating normal food for awhile." Infact he could already hear his friend complaining about it.

"What do you kids like? There's a lot of places to eat around here."  

[Tori Honoo]

Jace gave a small shrug. Anywhere was good for him, so long as dawn and Chester could come too.  

[Gwennythe]

Henrietta frowned.
"Oh."
She'd seen injuries before, but not quite like this... She'd had no idea that it would stop Yuri eating, despite where the injury was.
"We should get him something." So he couldn't eat; they could at least let him know they'd thought of it, and get him something even if it wasn't food.
The girl looked at Dove, remembering she liked salads, then looked at Jace, and figured he probably ate things like she did.
"McDonphans?" She suggested, after a moment.  

[BlackPidgeot]

Well since Henrietta was the only one to give a suggestion, Flynn nodded.

"Okay, come on," he said motioning for them to come with him. He then looked over at Dove.

He then walked with them through the hospital and out the front door. There Repede greeted them and followed as Flynn took them across the street to the little fast food restaurant.

"Get whatever you want. It's on me."