It wasn't long before they found Tamao again. "Why do you constantly want to leave? We just want to be friends!" Red yipped, confused. "Does it matter!?" Tamao demanded. He really wanted to be left alone, and he felt as though these 'friends' of his wouldn't let him.

"Yes." Coal nodded. "Give us a good reason. You seem lonely, and we, as friends, can and will help." Coal added. Tamao rolled his eyes and snarled. "Because friends always betray each other!" Tamao snapped, his heterochromic eyes glaring at Coal.

Coal glared right back, Red watched with caution. "No? Friends don't betray each other! That's not what friends do!" Red responded. The rockruff was gently patted on the head by Coal. "The pup has a point. Friends don't betray one another. They help each other." Coal added.

Tamao huffed, and just walked away. He wasn't going to reason with these two, so why bother? They were just going to follow him anyways.

After a while of walking, they eventually came across the forest. The same one Tamao and Sakura often went through with Star'Gazer. 

The thought of Star'Gazer left a sour taste in Tamao's mouth. 

Coal and Red followed innocently behind Tamao, not knowing what went down. Of course, Tamao didn't expect them to know, yet it still hurt knowing what did.

Tamao's paws trotted on the earth, Coal's claws tapped, and Red's paws bounced on the earth. It was quiet all around. No pidgey, no corviknight or rookidee, nothing. 

It was a strange silence, broken by their walking. Tamao partially wished it was completely silent.

Then, a loud crash echoed between the trees. "Tamao! Back away!" Coal shouted, as a leek blade plunged into the earth in front of Tamao. Red bounced away from the blade, and Tamao stared at it.

He looked up at the culprit as the blade was removed from the earth and pointed directly at him.

"Who are you? Why are you here?" The Sir Fetch'd demanded. "Who I am is none of your business!" Tamao hissed. The other Pokémon held the sword closer to Tamao. "Answer my question." The Pokémon stated. 

The red-blue and amber eyes stared at one another for a long moment, neither of the two speaking. "I'm Red!" Red introduced from behind Tamao. "Silence, pup. You're not who I am concerned about. Go play." The amber-eyed Sir Fetch'd responded. Red seemed surprised and confused, yet Tamao could feel him back away.

"You, umbreon, answer me. Or at least tell me if you have rabies or come into contact with someone who does." The Pokémon sighed yet kept the sword still at Tamao's face. 

Tamao rolled his eyes. "No, why would I!?" Tamao spat. The Sir Fetch'd nodded and put the sword down, keeping his eye on the extra-large umbreon. "I deeply apologize for my actions. I've just had too many problems with rabies in my lifetime. My name is Knight, now please do answer my question. Who are you, and why are you here?" The Sir Fetch'd apologized.

Tamao let out a low growl, the name seeming to be oddly familiar. "My name is Tamao. I'm here on my own accord, just trying to find my previous place of living until I find somewhere else." Tamao finally answered.

Knight seemed surprised, especially as Coal then spoke up. "Uh- hi? I'm here too! I'm Coal!" Coal greeted. "Ah yes, my apologies, Coal." Knight apologized. "Tamao is an oddly familiar name. I believe I met a Tamao in my dreams once." He stated but shrugged it off. 

The umbreon rolled his eyes and started to walk. "I shall accompany you, as I myself have nowhere to go as of right now. I hope I don't come off as... Odd? You seem like an old friend, Tamao-" "We've never met. Probably never even seen each other on the same streets." Tamao interrupted the leek wielding Pokémon.

Knight nodded as Red ran in front of Tamao, stopping then running forwards again. Tamao eventually saw the tree and sat down in front of it. He didn't dare go inside. He didn't want to be anywhere near this tree, but it was the best place for him to be right now, even if he didn't want to admit it.

"Tamao! How about, we all build a treehouse, just for us group of friends! We'd have a place to stay, and-" Red paused as Coal sat down. "We're not friends and will never be friends. A treehouse doesn't seem like a bad idea, though." Tamao responded. His dark gray fur fluffed before he laid down, the sun's rays of light beaming down on him. 

Red grinned as he ran inside the den. Knight climbed up the tree, finding a branch and perching before cleaning his sword.

Tamao hated this, yet it reminded him of his relationship with his first Cage Partner... He couldn't remember who she was anymore, but he still had hope. He'd meet her again.

Then, Tamao thought about Knight a bit. He remembered there was a Knight in his dreams, too? Was it possible they both dreamt of each other without knowing? How?

Nothing made sense, yet Tamao was curious, even though he didn't press for questions or answers.

With a deep breath, Tamao closed his eyes and thought of Sakura. He wondered how Sakura would respond and react. Would she trust these new Pokémon, or would she be against them?

Thoughts swirled Tamao's mind as he listened to the others. Knight seemed to be talking to Coal and Red now, discussing plans and possible locations for the treehouse. It was an odd conversation to be having in the middle of a forest near sunset, but Tamao had no objections.

He occasionally contributed to the conversation, giving input or feedback on ideas and whatnot. After the sun had completely set, Tamao stood up, and left to get food, finding himself hungry.

As his paws walked against the earth, he caught sight of a familiar figure. A glowing entity, stuck in evolution. "Sakura?" Tamao asked the entity, tears welling in his eyes.

The figure stared for a moment, then vanished. "No! Sakura!?" Tamao cried out. Why did she appear so suddenly, and was that really his sister?

All Tamao could think of now, was how much he failed her.