Skarmory lowered her head in guilty submission as the Oracle approached, feathers rattling with nerves.

There had been no way to dissuade Hikari from coming along, Temari knew that, but it did nothing to ease her conscience.

Gligar scurried into his partner's hood with an aborted whine, obviously not wanting to face what they were planning to do, and Kankuro twitched at the feeling through their bond.

"Konichiwa, Temari. Kankuro." Hikari greeted them, polite as ever.

Cyndaquil eyed the elder Sand Siblings quietly, steam rising in a shimmering veil from his back, and Totodile snapped his jaws like a steel trap, a warning in those dark eyes.

Temari wished, not for the first time, that Pokemon were not so perceptive.

Nidorino shifted at Baki's side, widening his stance the slightest bit, just before Gaara appeared in a swirl of sand, Aron already safely nestled in his gourd and Riolu standing at his side, glaring up at the other Suna shinobi with narrowed red eyes.

"Are we ready to go?" Hikari wondered, shifting a pack onto one shoulder as Cyndaquil hopped onto her other shoulder, Totodile bouncing into the girl's arm with a chirp.

Baki nodded once, and Nidorino lowered his head in silent apology, careful not to meet any of their eyes.

Gaara and Hikari immediately took the lead, barely sparing even a backwards glance to be sure the others were keeping up, and it was a great relief.

None of them wanted to be the focus of an enraged Oracle.