Tyrrier Reven Hollow

[Chibi Pika]

It had been four days since the crisis at the Shining Congress. Ralsen and Vesta had made their way north in that time, by air when the weather permitted, and by train when it didn't. The last stretch of the journey was beyond the reach of the train lines, over the dense wood and jagged cliffs of Revenia. Ralsen would have preferred flying Kaida for the last stretch, but with Vesta's Pokeball having been shattered, there wasn't much choice. She'd have to brave the rain either way.

The onset of spring in the southern regions had brought temperate skies, but Reven Hollow was still just as cold and dreary as ever, the winter snow having been exchanged for dense fog, clouded skies, and a near-perpetual drizzle. Now, the two of them sat in the same tavern where Ralsen and the Wayfarers had met Lord Seir months ago.

Ralsen leaned back in his seat, grateful for the warmth of the tavern's fireplace while Vesta helped herself to the stew he'd ordered. Now it was just a matter of when the Wayfarers would arrive...

 

[Jackie Cat]

I intend to keep the promise we made to share information for mutual benefit.I have discovered a lead on the whereabouts of the missing relic from the Isle of Light.Meet with me in Reven Hollow four days from now. Bring your party if you like.Recovering the relic may be an ordeal.-R

And indeed Laura had brought her party – starting with Malachai, then moving on to Jade, and everyone else who'd become familiar with Ralsen and his dealings. Which didn't technically include Malachai, but he made all her business his business at this point... Right now, the dragon was waiting in the tavern's 'barn' – a wide open-plan enclosed area for larger species – while the 'mon more suited to chairs, stools or benches entered the tavern rooms proper.

Laura shook off some of the rain she'd hurried through in their slog through town from their nearest waypoint. She put her hood down and hung up her cloak, then ventured in to order something warm and vaguely alcoholic. She caught a glimpse of their contact and his charizard, and swallowed self-consciously.

So. The missing relic, huh? This was all very helpful of Ralsen. Then why did Laura have a bad feeling about how this was ultimately going to go...?

"Everyone get a drink and a bite if you want one, then we'll go sit with Mr. Mysterious over there," she sent over the comms.

 

[Chibi Pika]

Jade shook the rain from her travel cloak as she and Laura entered the tavern, her eyes automatically scanning the various patrons for the Grovyle they came here to meet. She spotted him sitting at a table in the back, alongside his Charizard, and found herself automatically tensing up the way she did every time she saw him. She'd been trying to forget that he was even here ever since that night at the Ranger HQ. She'd hoped to never have any reason to remember he was here.

She hadn't been part of the northern expedition but Laura had filled her in about the stolen relic that she and a few others had been investigating along with a few knights of the Covenant. Apparently at some point Laura and Ralsen had met up in a museum and agreed to swap intel? Jade still wasn't sure how she was supposed to feel about that.

Feathers ruffled next to her as Virga shook the rain from her plumage. "So, that's him?" she asked, fixing her eyes on the Grovyle. "The human Sebastian, from our world?"

"He goes by Ralsen here," Jade replied in a flat voice. "Also, he doesn't know me, so it's not the same version of him that we knew."

"Not 'the same version'?" Virga repeated skeptically. "What does that even mean? Could that not simply be an act?"

Jade's brow furrowed, and her eyes fell to the wooden floor. "I don't... know why he would." For as little as she trusted him, pretending to not know her didn't feel like the sort of thing he'd do.

Virga clacked her beak. "Mm. Well, I'll leave the matter of negotiating to you, then." The Corvisquire made for the larger room in the back where Malachai was. Jade watched her go, then veered over to the bar so she could order a warm spiced tea with milk. Something to beat the chill, and to delay the inevitable conversation with Ralsen by a few minutes at least.

---

Ralsen glanced toward the silver Meowth as she approached. "Ah, Laura. I trust you've been well? Vesta and I had to depart the Congress in a hurry, so I didn't have the chance to see how things resolved there." He was no longer wearing his silver lantern pin. He didn't need it anymore.