Collax kept pushing, hoofing it forward for quite some time, but eventually failed to catch up by a wide margin. Eventually, any trace of the Diglett's horde's passing was erased from the desert sands. The only thing in sight was the rock formation behind him, and in front... nothing but endless rolling hills. He wouldn't be able to find her out here, no matter how hard he looked. He'd just end up mummifying himself if he went out too far without water, food, or shelter. As much as Collax wanted to push out even farther, just to see if he could catch even the slightest glimpse of what scrambled off with Madison and her party, he knew his only real decision lie behind him. Wherever Madison was, Collax hoped she could take care of herself, because he wouldn't be able to reach her yet.
He eventually turned and began heading back towards the rocks. He had to come up with something. What if Madison was just caught up by a rush and wasn't actually being captured by Pokemon? She'd end up in the middle of the desert. If not, who knew where those Diglett were taking her. Collax sure as hell didn't, and there was no reasonable way for him to figure it out. He didn't have the capability to chase after the Diglett or try and track them down. It just wouldn't be possible in this desert.
He didn't want to abandon Madison to the desert, but he didn't exactly have a say in the situation. He made a promise to stick by Madison's side and help her, but how was he able to help her when he had no idea where she was or how to find her? What was he to do? All he could do was return to the rocks and bunker down for a bit to gather his thoughts. So that's exactly what he did. He didn't mean to ignore Aura or her help, but it happened anyway. It was almost as though he couldn't register her existence at this time of stress.
By the time the dejected boy made it back to the rocks they were camping at not long ago, he was starting to brain out an idea. He'd light a fire and create smoke signals just in case Madison was able get away from the Diglett. Wait, no. That was dumb. That would bring those people chasing him right to him. The person with the axe, or the sword. They'd see the smoke and make a beeline directly towards him. How stupid could that be? He was trying to avoid them, not magnetically attract them. Leaving a trail was out, as given by the passing herd of Diglett hardly leaving anything to follow so quickly. There seemed to be no easy option for him. He'd need to think of something different. If there was anything else he could do.
The boy clambered over the rocks, followed by his team of Pokemon. Skorupi might have had the best chance to go and scout out what was happening, but Collax didn't want to risk leaving the insect on its own to scour the desert, because of the people after them. Besides, as much of a natural habitat the desert was for the little Skorupi, it seemed hesitant to try and step out too far into the dunes. Collax remembered that the insect lived in this very region. There was a chance this bug would know more about what was around them than anything Collax or his team could brain up on their own.
It was then that he recognized some movement nearby. Movement that caused rocks to crumble slightly and trickle down around the formation. Something that was nearby, perhaps listening.
Collax was really not in the mood to run into either of these team members again. Without Madison, he was already at a loss of what to do next, but now these guys were hunting him down in the desert? This wouldn't go well for him.
Barkley had noticed it at the exact same time Collax did. The Phantump was just as depressed as his partner at the loss of Madison, but was still as attentive as Collax. Already floating up to get a better view, the little ghost peered around the rocks, looking for the disturbance. Collax stood and joined him.
"Who'sit? C'mon. Get out 'n the open. If it's you people again, I swear-"
His request was answered mid-sentence as the creature responsible for such a disturbance clambered its way into view. A distinct row of five red horns flared out of the white tuft of the larva's head. Piercing blue eyes shone out through the makeshift cowl of the very-much-not-shady insect. A Larvesta. And a moment later, almost appearing from thin air, a second Pokemon. A more ghostly Pokemon, of which bore a snarky grin and raggedy, dark, cloth-like appearance. A Misdreavus.
This explained the help he received while trying to escape from Griffin. Skorupi chirped at the sight of them, almost familiarly. The scorpion had noticed their following since they had left the pyramid. These two were responsible for helping Collax, Madison, and Aura get away to begin with. They hadn't stalked him to attack, they followed to help. Or possibly, to receive help. Perhaps the rushing tide of water Collax was unconscious to experience was what finally released them from the old temple. And now they had gone out of their way to follow him all the way here.
What to do, what to do with these odd Pokemon.
