"Of course! Just a minute!" The mienfoo rushed back to the kitchen
to deliver the order, and put it on Jericho's tab (that was a good
thing about this diner, you could pay all at once at the end of the
week, or month, just so long as you did). Meanwhile, next to
Jericho, the purloin gang was laughing about some sort of plan...
"It will be really fun! Youre a genius!" One said. "Of couse, I
am," Said the one that looked like the leader of the bunch. "Let's
go get the paint after we finish our meal..."
Jericho shifted as he heard what the purrloin gang was saying. He
was slightly uncomfortable as to what they might've been speaking
of. Where they planning on graffiting a building? That was kind of
rude, wasn't it. He didn't want to confrontthem, so he decided to
listen in instead. If it seemed like they were going to do
something wrong he would try and follow them he supposed.
The purrloins were muttering very quietly, as if discussing little
details to their plan that they didn't want others to hear. Jericho
only managed to catch a few words, like 'paint' again, 'steal' and
'mural'... Just then, the mienfoo delivered the pancakes, and the
purloins, snickering, began to pack their things, intending to head
out soon.
Kiwi found herself greeted to a full family hungrily waiting at the
table very soon after arriving. Echo, the female Espeon of the
group, had obviously helped Nova set up. Kiwi set the pancakes all
around the large table, allowing each member to have three to
themselves. Each of the twelve members; Kiwi the Vaporeon, UwU the
Espeon, Silver the shiny Sylveon, Echo the female Espeon, Buttercup
the shiny Leafeon with a flower under her ear, Roxie the non-shiny
Sylveon, Floofy the Flareon, Dandelion the male Leafeon, Shard the
Glaceon, Spike the Jolteon, Shadow the Umbreon, and Nova the Eevee.
(Going to admit that seeing the name Echo threw me through a loop
XD)
Jericho started to shovel down the pancakes. They were good, and he
wanted to enjoy them but he couldn't let the Purrloin's cause
trouble. He waited for them, planning to follow behind, far enough
they couldn't see him, but close enough he wouldn't lose them.
As nova dug into her pancakes with a large smile on his face, Echo
asked: "So, do you all have plans for the day before the town hall
meeting?" She swished her tail calmly. "Remember to be on time with
that, you were almost late last time!" Floofy gave a wholesome
grin. "Oh! I think I'll head to the park today! Its a bright day,
with lots of pokemon around to play with!" He wagged his floofy
tail, fitting with his namd. Shadow spoke after some silence. "...
I might head to the library... see what books are reccomended," She
murmured. Echo turned to Kiwi. "And you?"
The purloins headed to what looked like an abandoned shop, heading
in, and coming out of it quickly, with cans of colourful spray
paint in their maws. They laughed, and ran off down the side of the
street towards Mount Eternal.
Jericho quickly followed behind them, though he struggled a little
to catch up. Yeah, this definitely seemed illegal. He didn't head
out of town much anymore, so he didn't get much exercise often.
Just outside of town stood the town's prized artwork: A grand
mural, depicting scened of the battle that had taken place right on
Mount Eternal. The purloins stopped in front of it, and huddle in a
group, maybe discussing their plan a little more.
"Hmm...don't really have plans yet...I'll go for a walk...maybe
swim." She shrugged. She had stopped making plans to reduce stress.
If it was for Rescue work, then she never went without one, but
when it came to the days...she preferred to just...go with the
flow, like she did when relaxing in the current of a swimming
river.
Echo nodded, and checked in with the rest of the family, as they
all enjoyed the buttery meal. Floofy stood up and stretched. "Well,
I'm gonna head out now! See ya!" He strutted cheerfully outside
into the sun. The rest of the family began finishing off, and going
about their day.
Seeing them stop at the artwork, Jericho simultaneously felt
relieved but also more stressed, if that was even possible. Maybe
they were just refreshing it, keeping it looking nice and new. On
the other hand, maybe they were going to destroy the prized
artwork. He figured he'd watch from afar. He'd only step in if
things looked bad, he didn't want to act on any assumptions.
The leader looking one of the purrloins stood up. "I'll do the
honors," He stated, loud enough for Jericho to hear. Then, he took
an orange paint can, shook it up, and sprayed the mural that had
been so carefully carved, painted and preserved with streaks of
messy orange paint.
Jericho's heart shattered as he watched them do this, and before he
thought about it he stepped out of his hiding place. "H- hey! What
are you doing!" He shouted angrily, his cheeks puffing out, the
scarred one slightly tugging.
Kiwi called to Nova to join her for the day. "I think you should
get a treat for helping me out today." Kiwi told her as she came
near. "If I find something on our walk, I'll buy it for you." Kiwi
grabbed her sack of cash on her way out, heading through the city,
Nova eagerly following. The little Eevee had been named Nova for
the birthmark on her head, a star with four points. Kiwi thought
that was significant, but wasn't sure how...the Eevee didn't react
to evolution stones at all.
The leader of the Purrloin, Daren, you recognise (the town's local
trouble maker) turned to Jericho with a Smug grin. "Ah, just giving
the mural... a makeover, let's say. Come on, its so old and
unimportant, it needed a revamp," He swished his tail obnoxiously.
"And come on, what are you gonna do about it?" He sneered.
Nova grinned. "Really?" She asked, hopping excitedly. "Thank you!"
She grinned. "Lets go, then!" Nova began walking out to the shops,
and looking excitedly at all the wares salespokemon had to offer.
"I- it's not unimportant! It's had a lot of hard work put into it,
and it's the town's most prized artwork!" Jericho said, he meant to
sound argumentative and brave, but it came out as more of a
whimper. "I'll stop you, I'll fight you!" He was shaking as he
stared at Daren, taking a hesitant step foward.
Kiwi grinned at Nova's enthusiasm. "Is there anything in particular
you want? A snack, a book, a plushie?" She prompted the Eevee as
she sped up her trot to catch up, careful not to scrape herself on
the gravel sidewalk as she called to the Eevee. Kiwi had no
particular idea on where to go, as previously noted, so she let
Nova lead. Slowly, the memories of the Xatu's vision returned to
her head, disrupting her thoughts.
"You?" Daren let out a rude 'hah'. "You, the weakling?" He taunted.
"Well, boys, lets show this runt what we do to pokemon who
interfere with out buisness..." The purloins grined, and surrounded
Jericho. One swiped at him, letting out a loud yowl of glee as he
did. Thankfully, his aim wasn't on point, and he barely missed...
but the others were charging up attacks too. There seemed to be 5
of them, including Daren.
"Hmm...." Nova tilted her head to one side, making her ear flop
over adorably. "Can... can I please get..." She didn't finishe the
thought. Nova jumped back, a little spooked, as she heard a loud
yowl come from the mountain. "Umm..." She turned to Kiwi nervously.
"Kiwi, what was that?" She asked, with trusting eyes.
Kiwi stiffened, ear fins perked. Her old rescue instincts kicked
in. "Let's go check it out." She commanded in a leader's tone, and
ran toward the noise without hesitation, trying to pinpoint the
source, checking back over her shoulder once to make sure that Nova
was following.