The Pathfinders

The Pathfinders are a group of Sneasel that have drifted from Slasher's gang, and are led by Rhodes.

Rhodes

He used to be Slasher's right hand Sneasel, but after Slasher's demise, he has defected and become the leader of his own group.

Background

Slasher Gang

In his early youth, Rhodes was a 'star member' of Slasher's brigade of Sneasels, known for accosting and robbing passersby in Creeping Forest. While he was too timid to actually shake travelers down, he had an unrivaled ability to sniff them out within their home forest, no matter how quiet or low-profile they were trying to be. Due to this natural talent, as well as his naive innocence, Slasher took great interest in the young Sneasel as a potential tool for his use. Many of the successful robberies the gang made were due to Rhodes's tracking. At least, since he was old enough to do it.

Rhodes continued to follow Slasher closely and without question, no matter how bad things would seem to an outsider. To him, it was all part of what they needed to do to survive, and their leader knew best. However, he was always uncomfortable when another Sneasel was punished or scolded. It never seemed like they deserved it, but he stayed quiet, not knowing any better. He and one other Sneasel simply followed Slasher along, always acting as his two bodyguards and almost never leaving his side.

As a result, Rhodes accompanied Slasher as the Weavile made secret business meetings with Shroomsworth. His job in this case was to ensure that no one interrupted their meeting. Unfortunately, Rhodes was not able to detect PK on their last meeting, resulting in a blunder that cost them their leverage on the Merchants. Slasher later scolded Rhodes harshly for this.

Things would come to a boiling point as Slasher took his bodyguards to have an audience with Merlot, who refused to speak to anyone but Slasher himself. After an exchange that left Slasher angry, Rhodes attempted to calm him down. With built-up anger, Slasher struck Rhodes across the face, giving him a bleeding wound that would form into the scar on his right cheek.

A day later, Slasher instructed his gang to kidnap Sandy from the Merchant HQ at dusk and bring her to the biggest waterfall in the forest, appointing Rhodes as a distraction as punishment for all the problems he had allegedly caused. This ended with him 'disguising' himself with a green scarf over his face and walking up to PK's stall. The scarf was pulled down over his neck shortly after, as PK was not fooled. Embarrassed and lost, Rhodes began to cry and told PK what he was doing. Though Rhodes gave up on the distraction in progress and tipped PK off, the other Sneasels managed to break open the window and steal Sandy in that time.

Upset at being treated so lowly, Rhodes divulged all the information he knew about Sandy's whereabouts to PK and Shroomsworth, even leading the two to the waterfall. Thanks to his lead, Sandy was rescued just before a group of Sneasels hurled her unconscious body over the cliff.

Unfortunately, having guessed Rhodes would betray him, Slasher was lying in wait. He took a risky leap, taking Shroomsworth with him over and down the falls. They would both survive the fall, but with an ensuing fight in which Slasher was the close victor. Fortunately for Shroomsworth, Rhodes lead PK and Sandy down the quickest path to the bottom of the waterfall, reaching him just in time despite being hindered by some of his more vicious brethren. Though they saved Shroomsworth's life, Slasher was fatally wounded by Sandy and did not survive.

Rhodes, Sandy, and PK tried their best to heave an unconscious, nearly-dead Shroomsworth back to Tao Village, but made very slow progress. It was thanks to some of the more amiable members of the former gang happening upon them that they could transport him in time. However, they would not set foot into the village proper until the next day, despite Rhodes begging them.

Exhausted after this trek, Rhodes fell asleep right in the Merchant HQ while the village doctors did what they could for Shroomsworth. He was transported to Missy's hatchery from there, since he was technically an orphan.

Aftermath

The following morning, Rhodes exited the village briefly, attempting once again to reason with some of his old friends at the forest's border. He managed to convince some to come with him, but many, many other young Sneasels still aimlessly tried to survive in the forest. The ones that did enjoyed the comfort of Missy's hatchery, and were both content and welcome to stay, at least for a while.

Filled with gratitude for the freedom he now had, Rhodes convinced his friends that they should help the Merchants out somehow. They eventually settled on making their own group, coming up with the proper paperwork to present to PK and Shroomsworth thanks to a little help from Missy herself, since none of them could write particularly well. PK ultimately accepted the deal, allowing Rhodes and his new crew to affiliate themselves with the Merchants as pathfinders.