There were always those who wondered how Amity Square had been able to cultivate such recognition and status, even among those in the most far-flung reaches of the region. To them, it seemed like any other park: trees, grass, pathways criss-crossing between, through and around what landmarks were offered, maybe a few benches to break up the walk for those who needed it. Nothing that outwardly made it seem all that special.
Perhaps it was the stark contrast it offered to the rest of Hearthome City in which it was nestled. A welcome respite from the bustling, sprawling metropolis just outside the treeline boundary, always able to attract a good handful of visitors any time of year looking to pause an otherwise hectic day. Perhaps it was the history the place had, being the oldest park that was still around in the region. Or maybe it was the fact that so many people, whenever they got the chance to visit, seemed to leave feeling as though they had forged some kind of connection, to a companion, to the world, or even to the park itself. Such a thing happening so often had almost certainly given the place a reputation in the broader world.
That was likely the reason Skye had been spending so much time there since arriving in the city. Hours every day drifting from path to path, finding spots to meditate, giving nature the chance to direct her, seeking the voice of Cresselia once again. And every attempt so far had given her the same result, not quite silence, but only the faintest of whisperings on the breeze, barely discernible as a reply at all. Certainly not the clear voice she yearned for.
"You feeling any better?" came a more immediate voice from alongside Skye as she meandered. The park itself may have been a haven of green space, but even so, the stadium still loomed large in the nearby skyline, peeking over the canopy as a reminder to Roisin of her own journey. The tournament, however, was still a week or so away, leaving the Staraptor more than enough time to get herself into the right mindset, heal up from the bruising practice with Laurie, and - importantly - try and pull Skye out of her funk. They might not have seen eye to eye on everything, but the Staraptor knew that Skye didn't deserve to feel the way she was.
The Lanturn trudged to a stop next to the large fountain her wandering had taken her to. "I don't know..." she lamented, gaze falling into the rippling surface of the water. Maybe she hoped to see a reflection of some kind looking back, a sign to help guide her on her way once again. Instead, there was nothing but mirrored clouds and a handful of scattered coins that had been tossed in. Passers-by seeking good fortune, she supposed. Not unlike herself. She only hoped they had at least found theirs.
"Still not hearing anything?" pressed Roisin, joining Skye by the fountain's edge. For the efforts she had been making in her own right, she was still well aware Skye was a lot more attuned to this sort of thing.
Skye's brow furrowed in concentration, as if attempting to unravel a code without a key. "...something?" she mused with a gentle shake of the head, bringing a hand up to the seashell around her neck. "I can't make it out, it feels like it's really far away."
The big bird's interest was now piqued. "Better than nothing, though," she replied, slipping a hand into the back pocket of her jeans. "What was the last thing they told you?" Roisin asked, "Do you remember?"
A sigh escape the Lanturn, her mind swimming through the sea of formless whispers, beyond the desecration and disputes, the towns and troubles, all the way back to Lake Verity. That memory still ringing in her head, voice of her deity still resonating, clear as day. "Walk with you."
"Well, let's do that, then." the Staraptor told her, stepping back momentarily to allow a jogging Emolga to pass by. "Stick with it until something else gets through," she added, fishing out whatever the lowest value coin she had on her was. An idle flick of her wrist sent that coin into the fountain to join the others with only the lightest of splashes.
Skye watched the coin as it slowly sank, tumbling down through the swirling waters. End over end it fell, until it finally hit the bottom of the fountain, a small glint of sunlight glimmering from its surface before it gradually tipped over to rest alongside its bretheren. Or...was it sunlight? It looked almost like the twinkling in that gemstone from...no, she couldn't think about that. It couldn't have been that. "I guess so..."
"I mean," Roisin added, "I'm not gonna complain about us hanging out more."
A brief, forlorn smile crept across the Lanturn's face. An admission that in the rough times, she had tried her best to be there for Roisin, and now the big brute of a bird was repaying that kindness for her. Two polar opposites that had somehow come together, and somehow stayed together.
And just as quickly as it had arrived, the sorrow pulled it away.
"C'mon, Skye, sulking doesn't suit you," said Roisin, putting a hand on the Lanturn's shoulder. "You're bound to hear back from them sooner or later."
Her eyes flickered over to the touch of the Staraptor, content as she was to simply exist in that moment. "Thanks, Roisin."
"No problem," the Staraptor replied, giving a soft squeeze to keep the Water-type grounded, feeling a little of the Lanturn's lingering tension. "You wanting to head back yet?"
Skye turned her attention back to the fountain, this time taking in the peak of the spout arcing delicately into the air. "...I think I'll stay here a little longer, actually." she admitted, trudging a little way into the grass nearby, and sitting herself down on the ground, legs crossed and eyes closed in that telltale meditative posture of hers.
Roisin had never managed to reach that same kind of state that the Lanturn could so easily slip into, but nevertheless, the big bird still ambled over to join her, settling down on the grass much more haphazardly, content to watch the fountain's gentle cascade, the resulting mist creating a faint rainbow alongside the mid-afternoon sun. The world would keep on moving like it always had, the Staraptor thought to herself. Skye had always tried her best to help her through it, and in turn, she would try her best to help Skye through it. Even if she couldn't tell where the roads her friend walked always led.
In time, though, Skye was sure to find a way back to Cresselia. Of that, Roisin could be certain.
