As Grovyle was about to say goodbye to its kin, the Sceptile with the injured arm from earlier was the first to approach.
It extended its right claw and gently patted Grovyle on the shoulder, its golden eyes full of encouragement.
"Cha." (Do your best.)
Grovyle nodded.
The other Sceptile and Grovyle also gathered around, bidding it farewell in their own ways.
Some lightly touched its shoulder with their claws, some offered words of encouragement, while others simply stood quietly before it and watched with familiar eyes.
The smallest Treecko slipped out from behind a Sceptile and scampered over to Grovyle's feet. It raised its little head, its round eyes filled with reluctance.
"Cha..." It let out a thin, trembling cry, its little claws gripping Grovyle's leg and refusing to let go.
Grovyle crouched down and gently stroked the little one's head with its right claw.
"Cha." (I'll come back to see you if I get the chance.)
The little one nodded vigorously and finally released its claws.
Grovyle stood up and was about to turn away when Old Sceptile let out a deep cry behind it.
"Cha."
It stopped and looked back.
Old Sceptile slowly turned around, its thick tail swaying gently beneath the moonlight.
It slipped the tip of its claw into a gap between the scales at the base of its tail and carefully took out a stone.
The stone was not large, about the size of a thumb. It had a deep green base, with brown patterns at its center resembling the rings of dead wood.
It glowed softly beneath the moonlight, like a colored marble polished by the passage of time, resting quietly in Old Sceptile's palm.
Old Sceptile held the stone out to Grovyle and let out a low cry.
"Cha." (Take it with