"We here are all from different corners of what we know of this world. We work together, but it takes work. And talk. And even that does not always fare well." An image of Ever Grande, of their attack at the turn of the year, springs unbidden to her mind, before being cast aside. They would have slaughtered this one without batting so much as an eyelid, caring only that they did not match their perfect ideal of pokémon.

It should not work. But it does. There is a heavy THOOM as Wagner the Salamence sets down in a whoosh of dust and air, striding heavily forwards until he is behind Gwendolyn and arching his neck so that he can regard the gathering as a whole. His voice is deep and gravely, and there's an impatient flick of his tail. Witness it for yourself. Then, make your choice, for it will be respected, whatever the outcome.

Gwendolyn resists the urge to rest a hand against his shoulder. He is not the most personable of dragons, and it's already a good sign that he trusts at least her enough to close the gap between them this way.