Probably a bigger bike, too.

Does Garnet want to visit her dad before they leave?

Yeah! She can introduce Loyal and show off the badge, and it'll be nice to say goodbye before heading out.

While Flareon is doing that, Ellie gets a text from an unknown number. It suggests she and the eevees stop by a certain farmhouse on the way to Saffron City.

Sounds very suspicious. 

That it does. Though looking at a map, it's practically right on their planned route...

They'll have to stay on their guard. Flicker doesn't like the feel of this. 

Yeah...

Is their chosen route the one everyone normally takes? 

It's one of two, for people traveling on foot.

So that the farmhouse is along it is probably planned, for convenience, but might not indicate someone was spying on them. Or at least not that well.

Saffron is the next closest city with a gym to Cerulean.

Yeah. It's a pretty obvious next stop.

So they could just be a little cautious as they pass by, and check it out if things don't seem too sketchy.

Hm... Maybe, yeah.

They can see what happens.

They can beat up anyone who tries to give them trouble. 

That's the spirit.

Snicker. "Being the coolest team comes in handy, sometimes."

"A lot of the time," Ellie counters. "Well, shall we go?"

"Yeah, let's," Intrepid says, followed by a chorus of agreements from the others.

Then off they set.

Near the middle of the next day, they approach the farmhouse's location.

The Ellievees are so leery of this, but nothing looks very suspicious... 

Except maybe the espeon laying along one stone wall, possibly sleeping.

"Hello?" Ellie calls.

She lifts her head and chirps, perking her ears up some.