As each basket was finished, Jordan collected them and fastened them to both tacks, if one could really call them that. With the short notice and limited supplies on hand, the most he could really put together for cargo-carrying was a couple of makeshift harnesses. It wasn't pretty, but it was functional and able to support the baskets and the weight within. As he worked, he was impressed at the integrity of the basins; even though they were made from grass and other natural materials, they felt pretty tough and durable. Even so, he needed to be careful not to put too much weight on either side to throw off the Thorne or Lefty's balance; too much jostling would weaken the baskets or the makeshift harnesses themselves, and he wanted the pair to be comfortable. It was a long trip to Logger's End, after all, especially considering that a good portion of it would be spent climbing.
Once the baskets were fixed, he moved to begin loading the bug-types into their containers, listening to Jake and Lucas's efforts to come up with a plan as he did so. Thorne's long vines were perfect for reaching the ones higher up in the tree, and with Andy's help it didn't take long before they were loading the last of them into the baskets. The tough carapaces were warm to the touch he noticed, but the feeling wasn't necessarily unpleasant, just a reminder that the creatures were very much alive and working tirelessly within, just like they themselves were. Jordan grinned as he placed a particularly moody Kakuna into one of Thorne's baskets. It wasn't strugging, of course, but it sure was glaring at him something fierce.
He looked up in sudden surprise as he was assigned to the Logger's End team to direct Thorne and Lefty. He understood their reasoning, but couldn't help feeling a little uneasy. After all, he'd dropped, quickly and quite unceremoniously, into their group, and with Lucas staying behind for the time being that left him with a small group of unfamiliar recruits fresh out of bootcamp. Talk about pressure. His momentary uneasiness was interrupted as he registered movement to his side, and he turned to see the weaver stand, movements fluid and steps delicate as falling snow as she performed a unique and graceful Ranger's salute. The elegance was short-lived, though; her skin soon darkened to a flushed crimson, and with the way it stood out in sharp contrast to her frosty hair, Jordan couldn't help but snicker at the image. He was quick to regret the slip, however, as the trainee abruptly turned and fled into the forest.
"Wait...!" Jordan called, but she'd already disappeared into the brush. He winced at his own thoughtlessness, but it looked like that was their cue to head north as well. He followed in the same direction, tugging lightly at one of Thorne's horns and bidding a quick farewell to the twins. He led the Gogoat and Rhyhorn through the trees, scanning for their missing teammate and assuming that Andy would soon follow. Predictably, their pace was more slow-going than it would've otherwise been; even though the pair could easily carry a load of this weight, Jordan needed to keep the Pokémon from moving too fast and jostling their cargo. Soon enough, he caught a flicker of white, and he sped up to a more brisk walk. "Hey, wait up!" He called. "I know we've got a long way to go, but no need to rush."
