"Baimu!?"
Three startled cries rang out. None of them had expected Baimu to be with the larger Hisuian Growlithe.
The smaller Growlithe hurried over.
Its little eyes, hidden beneath coarse fur, looked at Baimu, then at the larger Growlithe. Finally, it barked at the Miss Fortune Sisters lying in the distance.
"Arf! Arf, arf!"
Irida and the others looked over and only then noticed the three women Shiny Gengar had put to sleep with Hypnosis.
Guana was glad she hadn't jumped to conclusions.
For a moment, she really had thought Baimu had taken Growlithe. It had been abducted in the middle of the night, after all, and they had no way of knowing who had done it.
"Hey!"
Baimu waved to the three of them. "You came looking for Growlithe?"
Irida nodded. "Yes. Guana's larger Growlithe disappeared yesterday evening. We searched all night and couldn't find it.
"After daybreak, this little one suddenly charged into the water and started swimming toward Firepit Island, so we followed."
Baimu asked, "Who charged into the water?"
Guana looked at the smaller Growlithe, guilt in her eyes. "This little one... To find its companion, it overcame its fear of the sea."
Iscan sighed. "We never expected that. Its father died at sea."
Both were Pokémon with a fourfold weakness to water.
The Noble had fallen in the vast ocean to save its child. Now the little one had braved the sea to find its companion.
Pokémon truly had boundless potential!
Baimu gave the smaller Growlithe an approving look, then suddenly turned toward the towering crater in the distance.
The next moment,
a faint howl carried across Firepit Island.
"Awooooo—"
"Awooooo!!"
The smaller Growlithe threw back its head and answered. Brilliant light burst from its body, and its small frame began to grow.
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