Sasha held the nest clouse to her to help keep the eggs warm. Her eyes where always open for a breeder or someone kind enough to look after the eggs.

You walked along through the brush outside the cave until you finaly found a small dirt path. Following the narrow trail, you could see a very small figure in the distance. Man or poke'mon was a mystery, it seemed to be staying perfeclty still, and you weren't sure ahat it could be.

Almost on instinct, Sasha held the eggs clouser to her as she abroched the figure.

Growing closer to the shape, you saw that it was not a person, but a signpost. it was very beaten and the wood was exteremely wobbley on the single rusty nail holding it to the stake. You could just make out the words "No Hunting.... Nature Preserve" on the mossy sign.

She smiled. "Now to find an offical." She said to her vulpix. She walked on through looking around for anyone who might be an ofiier of the park.

You strided down the trail, now certain that you could find someone to take the eggs. After reaching the top of a hill, you could see a gate and small cabin up ahead. Beyond that, was a crystal clear lake witha small Island in it and a small town on the coast. You started down the hill and tripped on a rock. You fell painfully down the hill for a few seconds before instinctly putting you hands out to break your fall, letting the eggs roll down onto a step below you. You sat up and rubbed your head, the preserve swimming in your eyes.

When it cleared, Sasha picked the eggs up quickly and examined them to make sure they didn't brack.

The eggs looked alright besides that they were now covered in sandy dust. You continued down the hill slower and much more carefully than before, until you reached the locked gate at the bottom of the hill. You could see some people working through the cabin windows. You tried to open the gate, but no luck.

"EXCUSE ME!" Sasha called out. "Can You help me?"

Nobody seemed to notice you there. Blazey realized the problem and slipped easily trough the fence and started scratching on the office door. Soon, a man appeared in the doorway and looked at you angrely. "What are you doing in there juvinille??" he snapped. "Can't you read? The sign says 'No Trespassing!'"

"I'm sorry, but do you work on this Reseve?" She asked holding the eggs protectively.

"Yeah. Why?" Asked the man, suddenly noticing the eggs. "You little theif! Those eggs belong to the Poke'mon in this preserve!"

"I didn't steal them!" She said. "The Magmar in a lava chamber left them behind, I was surching for someone to take care of them!" She held them out to him.

"Very well, very well." the man unlocked the gate and nudged you out. I'll make sure the eggs end up with someone. He grabbed teh eggs and walked into the cabin, dismissing you with a wave of his hand.

She picked up Blazey and contiued walking on. "He was definitly grouchy wasn't he girl?" She asked Blazey when she was quite a ways away.

"Heh... Don't mind him." came a voice from ahead. "He's always grouchy because no one's told him about the cave yet. He suspects that someone in the security force is letting people in through the gate." A young man walked out from behind a tree ahead of you.

"Oh." She said. "That doesn't sound good, I mean porters could come in through that cave and leave before you have anything to say about it."

"Yeah." He grumbled, offering to shake your hand. "And it's puttin' a lot of guys like me out of work." he grinned and shook your hand. "I'm Ian by the way. I used to be a ranger on that preserve."

"I'm Sasha and this is Blazey." She said introduceing herself and her Vulpix.

"Aaah. Your from Cheltise town then?" Ian kneeled down and scratched Blazey behind her ears. "There's a lovely little shop in town that has some stuff that you might want to buy. I'm heading down the hill myself, if you don't mind me tagging along."

"Alright" Sasha said with a smile. She picked Blazey up and fallowed Ian.

As you were heading down the hill, not seeming to get any closer to the lake, Ian stopped abruptly and listened carefully, reaching towards his poke'balls on his belt.

Sasha hugged Blazey tightly after nearly bumping into Ian. She looked around trying to figure out why he stopped.

Ian looked at you over his shoulder and told you to be quiet. After a moment of silence, Ian tapped at one of his poke'balls and a beam of red light revealed an Arcanine. The enormous dog sprinted down the trail and Ian proceeded walking, although at a much slower pace.

Sasha did as told and just fallowed him.

"Poachers, no doubt." Ian muttered. "They're probobly heading for the nature preserve. We get scum like them, trying to hop the fences, all the time." You both walked along casually for a while, silent.

Sasha remaned prefectly quiet. A tiny skill she picked up when she was sneacking into class late.

After what seemed hours of silent walking, the Arcanine could be heard running alog beside you. Ian instantly sprinted along the road with the sound, until he hopped onto the Poke'mon that had just emerged from the trees. You watched in awe as the Arcanine skidded to a halt in the middle of the path and turned to face you, it's muzzle curled up as it showed it's deadly fangs. You could see Ian whispering into the dog's ear,his body inclined over the poke'mon's back.

Sasha watched holding Blazey clousely. She wasn't one to go near a snarling pokemon.

Ian whispered something furiously into the down-like fur of the Arcanine's ear. The dog licked him warmly, and continued to snarl at you. Ian bent very low over the Arcanines head, and was swallowed whole by the dense fur on the dog's shoulders. You heard a muffled cry of "NOW!" and the Arcanine stepped back and, with a great burst of speed, came charging directly at you.

Sasha yelpped and jumped out of the way keeping Blazey safe.

The Arcanine kept running, and lept well over your head, blowing your hair everywhere. You heard the Arcanine snarl and Blazey poked her head over your shoulder to see what was happening.

Sasha looked too. She was slightly confused.

The Arcanine was thrashing viciously at something. Ian had jumped off the poke'mon's back and wasn't more than 20 feet in front of you. He was yelling commands to the Arcanine, who had just moved a bit to the side, to reveal what he was ripping. A battered woman was standing, legs spread, in the middle of the road, her head covered with an enormous bag that she was using as a sheild.

"Have you questioned her first?" Sasha asked.

Ian turned ot face you. "Questioned her? Nah, I caught her trying to jump the fence into the preserve. Why else would she jump the fence with that huge fireproof sack? ENOUGH!" Ian shoughted at Arcanine, who bounded your way and sat obediently next to Ian. "That should have knocked a bit of sense into her." he whispered. The woman still had her head covered with the sack, but was peeking under it, and had straightened up a bit.

Sasha stood up and let Blazey near her. She was just confused and beliwdered.

"Well?" Ian growled. "Are you ready to go down to the station?"
"St-st-st-station?" the woman peeped shakily. "Wh-why wou-would we want t-to go the-ere?"
"That's not important. Now, let's get going."

Sasha watched not really know what to do.

Ian turned sharply to face you, and began striding briskly down the path to town, the woman and Arcanine at his heels. They were soon quite a while ahead of you, and Blazy didn't know if you should follow him or not.