Snippet #2806648

Kyla trotted over and sat down by Ako's side, sliding her Glaceon tail underneath hers and wrapping around it.

"I think it's a sweet sentiment," she said.

Bubba didn't look Ako's way, but he did lower his head, clutching his forehead in between his palms.

"Well..." Kyla broke the silence that followed, "Michael doesn't usually get up until late morning...and since he was woken up in the middle of the night, it'll probably be even later. We should probably focus on figuring out where to search for your friend."

At that moment, they heard a door creak open. The way that Kyla, Leila, and Bubba turned to face indicated it was the front door that had opened. And their looks of fear and resentment would tell Ako that it wasn't anyone they wanted to see.

Kyla and Leila stepped in front of Ako as a familiar-looking Sneasel entered the room, that sneer crossing his face ever so smugly.

"Ah, good morning!" SteelClaw announced his presence into the room, "I take it all of you slept well?"

His voice wasn't so loud as to wake up the humans upstairs, but loud enough to wake up almost everyone else. Susie the Chatot blinked her eyes open to see who it was and immediately looked away. Kip the Floatzel hazily came to, finding his way to his feet. Gourge stirred for a moment before continuing his sleep.

Kyla let a low growl slip through as she bore teeth, "Aren't you and your vandals supposed to be sleeping?"

"Depending on the day, sure..." SteelClaw spoke cleanly, though there was a tinge of bitterness on his tongue as he continued, "But given what happened last night, this visit had to happen sooner rather than later."

"Though I must say..." he raked a claw on his chin, "I'm not used to seeing you all out and about this time of morning, either. Nor did I expect you of all Pokemon to speak first." He faced Kyla with a dark look in his eye, "Considering I'm only here to talk to Bubba and not you, I wouldn't speak out of turn again...unless you want him to be gone. I will have no problem telling Vintrell you all were insubordinate. He's already unhappy."

Kyla had to bite back a second growl from slipping, remaining silent at this. No one else spoke.

"Good. Now..." he stepped in between the two, laying his eyes on Ako for the first time, "I thought there were two of you I'm supposed to be taking today. You're not hiding the Mudkip from me, are you Bubba?"

This bit of news turned some heads, Kip and Kyla especially giving surprised looks at the Abomasnow. But Bubba didn't even turn around, "He escaped. There wasn't anything I could do."

SteelClaw tsked, "And still you continue to waste Vintrell's time and resources. I see. Shameful. Maybe you don't want to stay with your trainer after all." He let the threat hang dangerously in front of his ear. Bubba didn't even move, much less respond.

"Hmm..." the Sneasel looked at him in mocking disdain before continuing, "In any case, you'll be hearing from Vintrell soon enough. He'll tell you what you'll have to do to make up for these...little 'incidents' you keep having. For now..."

He was now taking steps towards the Eevee in the center of the room, "I suppose you will have do. He'll be most excited to see you anyway. So...are you going to come quietly or do we have to drag you out of here forcefully?"

That line was more than a threat, as he already began Honing his Claws, letting them gleam in the orange light of the morning sun.