Dark business in Shadowhue

[Energy: 19 - 10 = 9]

Yigo was returning from the Blacktooth Kingdom with a brand new item that would help him become more powerful. His stained and ragged Stamina Band, a scar that went from his eye to his nose and a bag hanging from his belt full of goodies were proof of his adventures. Grassveil was barely in his reach since he just needed to get past Shadowhue forest to arrive there. A nice relaxing day at that town was something he´d certainly use, perhaps hanging with certain Skitty or Jigglypuff while at it.

Yigo decided to get the main route, following the signs that he could now read thanks to some studying. It would be nice to avoid getting into trouble now that he was about to finish his journey. Now that he didn´t have to worry about wild pokemon, the sandshrew could enjoy the peace and the warm breeze that accompanied him. The darkness could get a bit annoying at times but, with senses as fine as his, there was no way that anything would be able to catch him by surprise. At least, that´s what he was thinking when he was about to enter a specially thick grove where barely anything could be seen; after all, if it was on the main road, it couldn´t be so bad.

[Energy: 20-10 = 10]

Four muddy little paws slapped the ground in rapid succession, again and again in rhythm to her thumping heart as the terrified Fennekin tore across the forest floor as fast as she could. She'd been running for so long now that she'd lost all sense of direction, as well as the whereabouts of her pursuers. Her recapture had seemed almost certain back at Monochrome Falls, but in the desperation of her near loss, Tina's Blaze Ability had temporarily blinded her foes.Now she was on the run for her very life.

The Pokemon that had initially abducted her for her keen item-detecting senses, now clearly wanted her dead. Perhaps she'd refused to do their bidding too many times, or maybe she just wasn't worth the trouble anymore. In either case, their treatment of her had gotten worse, to the point she was almost certain they'd lost interest in exploiting her 'talent'. Luckily at the same time their attention had begun to wander as well, which opened a new avenue for escape.

For what had felt like months she'd been held captive in that cave, fed only scraps and brought out into the forest during the day where she could be watched and forced to sniff out rare items. Even when those items belonged to other Pokemon. And it didn't matter who. The brutes that accompanied her were dual-purpose bodyguards, intent on keeping an eye on her as well as battling any foe she identified. But that actually only made it easier to enact her carefully concocted plan.

When the time had come to go out and search for new victims to mug and threaten today, Tina performed for her captors as usual, sniffing out a few berries here and there. However, she avoided announcing her discovery of nearby Pokemon carrying valuable items. At least... until she found what she was really looking for. It wasn't easy to determine another Pokemon's strength just by looks, but a muscle-bound Machop like the one she eventually stumbled across was the best hope she had.

She picked them for a number of reasons really, but most importantly of all, because he was clearly there in search of a fight. The Pokemon had no items on him, rare or otherwise, and when the tiny Fennekin drew her kidnappers into his field of view, she saw that look of fire in his eyes. There was no doubt an intense fight would ensue, especially considering her entourage inevitably threw the first punch.

It was when their 'victim' was starting to win that Tina saw her opening, though. Of the Pokemon who'd been accompanying her, only one remained to actually keep an eye on her. And with the fight quickly going south, they eventually had to join the fray too. Of course, she was threatened with death if she tried to run, but that didn't stop her. As soon as their eyes were off her, she ran.

And she hadn't looked back once. Her feet were aching now; her fur was a terrible mess from months of uncleanliness. But as terrified as she was, she was also exhilarated. She did it! She finally escaped! Now all she had to do was--

The sandstone wall of brick that she slammed into came out of nowhere as Tina burst through the foliage ahead of her. The Fennekin collided with the Sandshrew with such force that much of the energy was deflected across the other Pokemon's course body, sending the blazing red and yellow furball into another nearby bush. Tina was instantly dazed from the impact, her head reeling as she stumbled backwards out of the underbrush and, wobbling awkwardly, turned around to drop on the ground.

It took several moments for her vision to clear before she saw what hit her, or rather who she had hit. She had no idea who they were, but in her frightened, confused state of mind, she assumed he was one of them.

"Please... please don't hurt me," she panted breathlessly, struggling to stand up only so she could back away. "I'll go back, I'll... no... no, I won't. I'll never go back, you--you can't make me!" The Fennekin babbled nonsensically, briefly conflicted about her own stance on the freedom she was fighting for.

It was just as he expected, it was all clear. Yigo´s advance was slow and calm. Why? Because, for once, he didn´t need to worry about anything at all that day. No need to run, no wild pokemon to run away from, no errands to run... just a small stroll through that dark road. The sandshrew was optimistic for once, his nose enjoying the smell of the berry bushes nearby that he didn´t even care to gather and his ears humming at the rhythm of some pidgey´s song.

His tail wagged at each passing moment. Wasn´t this place exciting? Maybe he should come here more often, digging a burrow for himself if he ever needed it. It was then when a reason not to settle down in that dungeon hit him... literally. Something had struck him from his side, making him squeak, stumble and regain his footing before he fell. How could something escape his senses? He had been distracted, that´s how. The ground type quickly turned to the direction of the powerful bash, teeth showing, front legs landing on the ground in front of him and tail high to show that he was not afraid of facing whatever it was that came his way. He had the crystal now! With it, there was no reason to be afraid anymore... right?

As a slow growl came out of Yigo´s teeth, some other sound managed to get to his ears. It was no roar to signal a pack of pokemon to strike down at some prey neither it was the battle cry of an overconfident fighter that just wanted a punching bag, no. It sounded like someone was begging for forgiveness, probably out of fear. His eyes took some time to accustom themselves to the sight of the newcomer. It was like an Eevee but with golden fur with some strikes of fiery red. They had fallen onto the ground, probably taking the bulk of the impact, before trying to find a stance that suited their approach. It... didn´t look too threating to Yigo who was mostly interested rather than annoyed by that encounter. Could this pokemon be in need of help?

Yigo´s stance relaxed, standing on his two back feet before looking around to make sure that they were alone and she wasn´t referring to anyone else "Go back where?" he said, his voice somewhat reflecting his confusion "Are you lost? Where are your parents?"

For Deimos, his lengthy trip away from his mountainous home had originally been going well. He initially had departed from his dungeon home several days prior, having wished to pay his respects to the one who was the very cause of his adventures. He had of course made certain to leave a note, carved into a tree, to alert his boss that he would be away for a period of time. In truth he had originally only planned on being away for two days, to perhaps send some time alone with his family. His parents however had intended otherwise. They had of course insisted that he stay from the very moment he arrived back to his old home, but his new role as a member of the Windrose made that an impossibility. His only concern had been paying his respects and alerting those that remained to his well being. Regardless, he obliged them, having chosen to extend his visit , so as to placate their fears and get all the time needed to pay his respects.

He had noticed some improvements to his old home, specifically around the site where his brother had been laid to rest. He had in particular noted that they had, through some help from a small group of Gurdurr, a small structure be constructed around the grave, so as to allow one to visit without being disturbed and to reduce the likelyhood of one disturbing the grave accidentally. He greatly appreciated the change, what with the state he was in last time he'd come here. His last encounter, his last visit, was not long after his brother's passing. Most of his time away was spent within. He had taken on a habit of reciting details of locations that he had witnessed on his travels. Hills cloaked in white, jagged mountains, towns and forests, all locations that he quietly recited. Even his new position as a scout, he had gone in length with his mutterings. He knew no one was listening, but that wasn't his intention. He missed his brother greatly, he knew well that he would have loved to have witnessed what Deimos had with his own eyes. This, Deimos perceived, was the closest his brother would ever get to seeing it.

It was two dawns prior that Deimos had departed his old home, quietly and without incident. His time within the mountains had renewed him, his belief in his journey in particular. Of course, his first port of call upon having left was the base, so that he could leave a second note like the last to indicate that he had returned for the time being. It would be a long trip however, though one he was glad to undertake. He hadn't heard from his boss or from his Houndour friend for a good while, he felt it would be nice to see another friendly face once more before getting back to work. From his home however, he understood that he would have to pass by the town of Grassveil. Due to his strong natural preference for quiet locales, He had chosen to skirt the edge of town entirely, to stick to the forests instead of crowded towns. He knew the forests well previously, though he didn't doubt the possibility that changes could have occurred.

The sound of leaves being crunched underfoot felt familiar, refreshing to hear to the cold stone amidst the mountains he once called his only home. It was this feeling that he enjoyed the most, change. To live ones life going only off of what one was told was never the kind of life he had wanted to live, such feelings reminded him why. New experiences drove him forwards in life nowadays. Deep down, he was hoping that something might have changed, perhaps a new rumour or mysterious event to observe.

The Absol quietly advanced through the woods, moving slowly and cautiously due to recalling past incidents with traps. He didn't want a repeat of being stuck upside down, that was quite unpleasant. He personally however, wasn't expecting trouble. Though externally appearing cautious, he felt relaxed, familiar territory, the sounds of the forests and of nature running its course without a hitch felt soothing, compared to the somewhat chaotic welcome home he'd received most recently. If only it weren't close to town, he might have even chosen to frequent this locale, though there was nothing he could do regarding that.

Despite feeling relaxed however, what sounded like a sudden collision in the brush close-by put him on alert. Couple that soon after with what he could only presume was panicked babbling and questions, Deimos let his curiosity take control. Slowly and quietly, he moved towards the thick brush, forming a long set of spectral claws upon his frontal paws. Once he felt close enough, he began attempting to clear away some of the brush, to get a clearer look at the situation. Though not the social kind, he also understood that if they were locals, they could potentially alert him to any events that had happened during his period of inactivity. He didn't want to appear threatening however.

After cutting down a large branch to get a clear look at the situation, he made out two figures, both naturally smaller than himself. Not wanting to cause a potential incident, he dismissed the spectral claws he summoned only moments prior, believing that any sign of danger could cause panic and an incident. He carefully eyed the two, attempting to make sense of the situation.

As the Sandshrew's posture relaxed from his initial feral stance, Tina winced. Her thoughts were all a jumble now, so she couldn't effectively determine if she should be scared of grateful for the Pokemon's presence. The poor Fennekin hadn't seen another friendly face in a while. And they rarely lasted long before her aggressors emerged to assail them. It had been a terrible sight to witness over and over, and even now she still feared she would see it happen again.

When Yigo spoke, she flinched and stood up, looking around just like he was, only much more paranoid. It took her a little longer to process what he had said. The Sandshrew began to question her then, but it was only after he mentioned her family that she reacted. With apparent alarm.

"My... my parents...? Oh Arceus!" she whined, her legs weakening in revelation. "Th-they must think I'm dead! Oh... you... you're not here to... hurt me?"

She still seemed a little unconvinced of the random stranger's innocence, but after a good hard stare she changed her opinion quite starkly. "Then... you have to... we have to get out of here! B-before they--!" There was a distant crack, like a snapping twig, or something scraping against bramble, and Tina stiffened, head raised and sizzling ears on high alert.

"Oh sweet Arceus! Is that them? Th-they found me, how did they find me!?" she whispered frantically, starting to spin in a circle as if she might spot her assailants in the bush. Even if she'd wanted to run now, though, her whole right side was bruised and aching from crashing in the Sandshrew.

The words of the Fennekin had left Yigo perplexed. Why would her parents think that this Fennekin was dead? She has probably been spooked by whatever creature has jumped on her way... or worse. Stepping in closer, his ears twitching and ready to spot any additional threads, the ground type offered a hand to the lady "No... I-I won´t hurt you. H-here... come with me"

Yigo felt the stranger examing him. That wasn´t exactly good since his appearance was not exactly the one of someone trustworthy: he was sweaty, smelled a bit, he started off the conversation aggressively and he wasn´t holding a shiny badge to prove his intentions. He´d just have to pray that the fire type could put her trust in him. After some time having a bad time in the awkward silence, some gears began to turn on this lost child. She was giving him a warning: they had to go. Yigo´s eyes darted to the side, his ears twitching as they caught some suspicious sound. It looked like something was moving. Was that what she was warning him about? He could sense a presence... no... it wasn´t alone "Uh? W-Who´s there?" he mumbled, stepping back a little and withdrawing his hand. That scent...

His nose began to track down the position of the unknown creature. In the bush on their back... on the tree right above them... the side of that rock... inside the tree trunk... they were many and all around them. "C-Come out! Y-You are starting to creep me out" he said aloud, stuttering and getting his paw to his Z-stone "Someone is above us, little one" he said in a much quieter voice so that only the fire type could hear it "Calm down and focus on that branch. I-I´ll I´ll protect you, alright?"

Not even himself could take that seriously, his legs shaking and his eyes giving out an unsettled gaze. He finally decided to get on his battle stance again but... this wasn´t like the situation before. They weren´t just a single creature, he hadn´t felt the force of their strikes and he didn´t know whether they were allies or foes. "W-We just want to go to the town. We were leaving..." he said, sound and clear so that anything near could hear it.

[Energy: 9 - 9 = 0]

PrimordialPrim carried out 9 launched of one Shadowhue Forest :

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Deimos felt confused by the Duo. From the panicked ramblings, He definitely understood that something was hunting the Fire type, what however, wasn't clear. It seemed for the most part his confusion was shared by the ground type, especially so considering his natural reactions to the event.

This simply left the Absol with a small connundrum, he could in theory bypass the issue completly and move on, to leave the two to fend for themselves but gain no information. The other option of course was to step in, try to work out the situation and assist accordingly. His gut was telling him to take the second option.

Upon realising that, somehow, he hadn't been visibly spotted by the Sandshrew despite standing out like a sore thumb, Deimos shook his head. He cautiously moved forward, emerging from the brush into clear view. Not wishing to appear as a threat, he made certain to restrict himself from any threatening advances.

"Are the two of you alright? I heard a collision and panicked rambling while passing by" Deimos openly spoke in a calm, collected tone. He understood that it would of course be possible to misunderstand him to be whatever was pursuing the smaller four legged Pokemon. It was as of such that he wanted to make his intentions clear that he wasn't there to harm them. He was also aware however that it was possible he might get dragged into a fight by doing this, though he couldn't in good conscious leave them to an ambush without support.

Considering that Tina was already doing well enough freaking out on her own, it certainly wasn't helping that the poor Pokemon she'd just stumbled upon was beginning to share in the terror. Though she was all but convinced the Sandshrew wasn't a part of the group coming after her, the fact still remained that they were in danger. Both of them now.

She watched with dread as the ground-type too began to detect an encroaching presence. He called out to the shivering bushes and creaking tree branches. All around them were the tell-tale signs of what Tina had come to expect from previous escape attempts. They were being surrounded.

In a growing panic, the Fennekin scooted backwards, nudging up against the Sandshrew with a whimper. "I--I'm so sorry, this is all my fault..." she said in a tiny voice, her wide eyes scanning the bushes for movement when Yigo directed her attention to the trees above.

He wanted her to focus on the foliage overhead, offering to protect her, but as he got down into a battle-ready stance, she pleaded, "No, w--we can't fight, we need to run! Please!"

She tried to lean against the huskier Pokemon, urging him to give up the idea of taking on her pursuers, but he continued to attempt reasoning with them. When it seemed like he wasn't going to budge, Tina groaned worriedly. Taking a stance beside him, she flexed her aching muscles, attempting to turn up the heat of her inner flame until the fur in her ears glowed dangerously hot.

Wounded and malnourished as she was, Tina was still prepared to fight. And actually, she was more confident with someone else by her side. Especially after spending so long all alone and afraid. However, when a rustling nearby produced an Absol, standing several heads higher than her, the little Fenniken's spark was snuffed out in an instant. The glow quickly faded from her ears, leaving small plums of smoke in its wake, and Tina cowered beneath the imposing Pokemon's figure.

With a yelp, she ducked behind Yigo as the Absol attempted to explain himself. The Fennekin wouldn't hear any of it, though. It had been a seemingly benign meeting that got her into all this trouble to begin with. And with a Pokemon far less intimidating than the one in front of them. So it almost didn't matter that she'd never seen him before.

"H-h-he's one of them!" she whispered frantically to the Sandshrew, but was already doubting herself. "I... I think... I don't recognize him, but... th-they told me they had stronger Pokemon working for them."

Running. That was indeed the best option they had. Yigo himself was trained and raised to do so by his mother in case that he got surrounded or ambushed. Yes, he definitely wanted to follow the fire type´s advice to run; however, there was no opening in the enemy formation. The sandshrew could curl in and take a few hits while he rolls away from danger but his partner didn´t look like she could afford to take a hit while escaping. The fact that a stranger showed up in front of him didn´t exactly make anything easier.

At first, the ash-furred Pokemon looked to be on the same page as Yigo was, showing some concern for their wellbeing but it didn´t take long for the fennekin to identify it as one of "them", whoever they happen to be. It didn´t take a genius to figure out that they had to do with the people surrounding them and that they were a threat to both. "W-Who are you? S-Stay away from her!" He shouted, trying to have his impulse overcome his fears. The foe that just showed up in front of them had a regal appearance, calm and determined, not showing any sign of fear as opposed to Yigo, fearful and unnerved by the situation played. What were his options? He could run, that was true, but he had given the little one his protection meaning that he couldn´t leave her now.

He could try with the usual strategy: getting a handful of sand to blind this immediate thread and open the way for them to leave but this stranger came from out from nowhere. If they broke through there, Arceus knows where they´d end. Cornered, he began stepping backwards, growling and showing his teeth at the absol while at the same time checking his surrounding area. The noises became clearer as time went on and they were being pushed back. Wings flapping, screeching noises and some mumbling. It was at this moment in which Yigo broke, his fierce show disappearing in a second and starting to sob shortly thereafter "S-Some one! Help us!" he screamed out of fear "Please!! Anyo-"

"Don´t mind if I do"

His plea for help was interrupted by a terrible headache that made him fall to the ground and scream of pain so loudly that the tailow and spearow near them got startled and flew away in a flock. The pain slowly turned his shouting into crying. Someone was messing with his head from afar but the damage sustained prevented him from doing anything but lie down and moan while his vision started to blur and fade into black as a violet mist was starting to cover him entirely. It was moving slow enough that anyone that capable of seeing it could easily get away from its trajectory... but Yigo was not someone with such privilege.

[Status ailment: Poison]

Deimos had merely sat still and waited quietly during the Duo's state of panic and fear. He naturally didn't want to appear threatening, as of such he made no external reaction to their initial remarks. Despite their panic, Deimos had already gleaned some helpful information. Whatever had been hunting the smaller quadruped had allies, one particularly strong one at that.

Judging the physical reactions and fear of the Sandshrew, along with reports gleaned from his own sensory capacity, he knew there were foes amok. From his calculations, he concluded there must have been an equal number of them to the trio currently assembled. One to their rear flank most certainly being airborne. The Absol feigned ignorance, wanting to maintain any advantage possible if and when a fight broke out.

Upon witnessing two various mist like powders envelop the Sandshrew however, he knew there wouldn't be a diplomatic way out of this one. Then again, diplomacy was never his Forte. Deimos began to pace back and forth, as if waiting for them to be captured. He figured using himself as a distraction could lull the foe, whatever its species, into a false sense of security. He also however, was delaying to allow him to pick the most suitable hostile to engage.

Once he felt the time was right, he suddenly slammed his frontal left paw into the ground, having calculated an appropriate angle to take the offensive with. His immediate target was the one on their rear flank, especially so considering he had every reason to believe it would be vulnerable to the move. He intended for the razor sharp, jagged blade of stone to emerge suddenly, much closer to the target and to aim for the primary torso.

"Get him on his feet if you can. Three hostiles" Deimos spoke, his tone still as calm and collected as ever. In comparison to the sheer terror the smaller duo had shown prior, Deimos felt as calm as an undisturbed ocean. He was used to fighting and putting himself at risk amidst peculiar circumstances. To engage in such a pitched battle, felt quite refreshing.

Unfortunately for Tina, her would-be rescuer wasn't inspiring confidence anymore. In fact, the Sandshrew seemed to be losing his mind and succumbing to terror. Of course, she wasn't much better off. With her only hope of survival just as frightened as she was now, their chances of getting out of this mess alive dropped greatly. The poor Fennekin was almost ready to give in too, when she heard a familiar voice whispering a silky reply to the Sandshrew's frantic pleas.

A dense, purple cloud of poisonous gas began to emerge from the bushes and quickly proceeded to consume the ground-type Pokemon. Tina recognized the attack immediately, but her reaction was purely instinctual. With a shrill, panicked squeal, the Fennekin trembled on the spot as the fur all over her body began to glow brightly in ever increasing pulses. Then she suddenly jumped away from the offending gas, the built up energy discharging in a spherical shockwave as Magic Coat blasted away the toxic plumes.

This hadn't been the first time she'd been attacked from the shadows, only this time someone else took the blow in her place. Tina immediately returned to the downed Sandshrew, even though his screams made her ears ache. There was little she could do, but the Absol had suddenly taken charge, and assumed a battle stance, calm and collected. Completely unafraid.

For a few moments Tina could only stare at the Absol, flinching at the sudden strike to the ground that singled out an area of foliage nearby and proceeded to tear it to shreds with a tornado of tiny rocks. There came a startled cry from the same region as the intended victim narrowly avoided the assault, then Deimos addressed her and the Fennekin jumped.

" R-r-r-right," she stammered in fearful confusion. She'd thought for certain the Absol was working with her pursuers, but he had clearly just attacked one of them. There was no time to really process what was happening, so she just blindly followed the larger Pokemon's instructions. "C'mon... y-you have to get up," she grunted, pushing up against the Sandshew in a hopeless attempt to lift him from the ground.

Even if she hadn't been smaller and severely wounded, she still wouldn't have been able to move him, but she continued to try until tears welled up in her eyes. She couldn't help feeling responsible for his condition. "Please...! You... need to--stand up...! We have to fight or... or they'll kill us!" she pleaded to the poisoned Pokemon.

"Don't hold your breath, Tiny," came another voice from the surrounding shrubs. The owner didn't hesitate to emerge from his cover though, an overly-confident Paras skittering into view with an angry scowl. Mad as he was though, he also looked quite pleased with himself. "Hello again. Did you really think you'd get away so easily?" The bug Pokemon chittered in amusement, his mandibles flexing boldly.

"That was a nice trick you pulled back there, but your new little friends can't save you now... Once we finish with them, we're gonna make you pay dearly," the Paras hissed threateningly. "Alert the others, let 'em know we found the brat!" he ordered the trees above him, then promptly addressed a nearby bush next. "While we take out the trash...!"

The Paras wasted no time in attacking the trio, swaying side to side and arching his small body as a potent cloud of Stun Spore began to drift dangerously forward. As it drew closer, Tina began to panic even more, stumbling backwards until her legs gave out under her. The Fennekin's heart beat fast and hard as she frantically scrambled behind the Sandshrew's body. "S-stay away from me! Just leave me alone!" she cried, resuming her efforts to rouse the downed ground-type. "Please... please get up! Y-you said you'd protect me...!" she pleaded softly to the Sandshrew.

Yigo was in a critical state. Thanks to his allies´ efforts, the cloud of spores around him banished which gave Yigo some needed room to breathe. However, the damage was already done. Yigo could feel the psychic attack diminishing until it was no more, being replaced by a sense of sickness. He could taste of iron while nausea and various other aches forced him to remain still. His head, getting dizzy each time he dared to lift it up off the ground could barely recognise anything but the little one by his side and a dark small figure in front of it. Where those... mushrooms? She was getting cover behind him as the confident assailant advance at a steady pace.

"S-stay away fro.... The boss doesn´t want you"

"Please... please get u.... Flee for your life. You won´t stand another hit like that"

Someone... who was talking to him? Was that his own mind? Slowly, Yigo´s strength began returning to him until he had enough to nail his claws on the ground and, with herculean resolve, get on his weak limbs. He was almost blinded by the last hit, small dark dots covering his vision. Both his tail and head were low and he wasn´t ready to launch a single strike. The only thing he could do was stand there, his mouth open and drooling. At least he could take some hits for the fire type, couldn´t he?

"This is your last chance. Give up"

That voice was echoing through his mind like a ghost possessing him. What it was saying was true. He couldn´t take another hit like that. Besides, it was giving him a way out of this battle. It was either that or facing whatever had happened before again...

Yigo started to step sideways, away from the attacker´s path, leaving them free to claim the Fennekin before curling in to the size of a ball and rolling away from the ambush. It seemed like his way was clear as his rolling sped up. No headache, no outside bumps or voices in his head! He was finally free.

"Fool! He´s escaping! We can´t let anyone ask for help!"
"Don´t worry, boss" A calm and ominous sounding voice replied before a Venomoth came out from inside a tree trunk, flapping its wings and gliding forth before circling around the two remaining victims "He´s been intoxicated. He won´t make it far"

The poison was getting the worst of Yigo. Rolling made his head spin in circles which didn´t help with the dizzy feeling. He wouldn´t be able to make it out of the forest, much less get to Grassveil town, before his strength runs out. That was fine, it wasn´t his plan anyway. His intentions were not precisely betting on having his movement end at the edge of the forest, no. Yigo was having the ground below him stick to his back, turning the sandshrew into a boulder made of rocks and packed dirt. It was time to come back for a Rollout.

It wouldn't take a master strategist to come to the conclusion that their wide was at a disadvantage. Where as the other two for the most part seemed frightened, terrified and near everything in between, Deimos in comparison felt satisfaction. Where as one normally might want to be on the side with the advantage, Deimos enjoyed the feeling of risks actually being in play, fate not being set in stone.

He was especially looking forward to shattering the foes resolve just as they had of his temporary companions. He understood well that if he wanted a greater chance of victory, inspiration and morale would need to be restored. He felt it neccessary to take action personally, believing no one else would.

Paying attention to the situation around him while waiting for his next opportunity, he gleaned some more information on the situation at hand. There were more than the mere three entities at hand to deal with. Such knowledge simply put a smirk upon his otherwise typically emotionless face, He understood what was neccesary now, especially due to a certain cerulean orb in his possession.

He naturally however felt dissapointed when the intoxicated one merely seemed to flee at first instead of standing its ground. That sensation however faded once he felt a form of upheaval doubling over the territory the ground type had already passed. Though he was pleased by such knowledge, he made certain to keep it to himself. What the enemy doesn't know can absolutely hurt them.

The Fennekin's situation however, demanded far more immediate action. Action was needed and swiftly so if he was to restore any semblance of Morale to the terrified quadruped. Seeing how he wasn't immediately under fire, Deimos strafed around the Paras, debating his plan of attack. As the Venomoth came into view, he had a plan.

If he could force any form of panic amidst the enemy ranks, he intended to do so. He had in particular noticed a large, thick tree closeby. The environment might become a helpful asset, with a little encouragement. His plan was absolutely determined in his mind, to crush two birds with one stone, metaphorically speaking.

He walked forward in silence, focusing his mind intently. He knew it was risky, but would a better time appear to try this? He didn't believe so. Focusing on his frontal paws, Deimos felt a surge of raw power as he invoked his spectral talons. Where as normally they simply took a reasonable length, his ability had come to pass. A soft growl escaped him as the spectral blades extended, nearly doublig their typical length, sharper and far more deadly.

With his ability in play, he lashed out towards the thick tree, the lengthy claws splitting clean through regardless of the grain. Turning his head to get the Venomoth in view, he lashed out at the side of the tree, intending to make it fall directly in the direction of the flying insectoid Pokemon.

The tree itself however was intended as a large distraction and not a primary weapon however. The entire sequence was to him activating his sole psychic type offensive move. To engage his Future Sight upon the strongest foe.

While his companions had confronted their quarry, the last remaining party had stayed hidden, albeit not unnoticed by the Absol. Sitting on another tree branch, the ruffled Slakoth was still picking bits of stone out of his fur after barely escaping from the disaster Pokemon's attack. So far he was really living up to his species' calling of bringing trouble wherever they went, but that wasn't going to deter this group so easily.

Tina knew this very well, hence her unremitting terror. All she saw before her was a potential bloodbath. And though the Absol had made his intentions to stand up for her and the Sandshrew clear, she feared it wouldn't be enough. Even after his impressive pre-emptive strike, their opponents continued to advance. And as the cloud of paralyzing dust drew closer, her attempts to rouse the ground-type grew more frantic.

When he eventually regained enough sense to oblige, she did everything in her power to help him to his feet, although it felt like she wasn't doing anything at all for the sturdy Pokemon. Unfortunately, once he was on his feet, he just stood there drooling and completely unresponsive.

"Th-that's it, just like that," she said supportively, but frowned at his empty expression. "What's wrong... why aren't you moving? A-are you paralysed?" He remained silent, and then suddenly just... walked away.

Tina watched the Sandshrew abandon her, curling into a ball and rolling away. Fresh tears filled her eyes as she called out, "W-wait, where... where are you going? Come back!" The sudden sense of loss as he vanished into the underbrush was so overwhelming that as she rose to her feet, hoping to follow, she instead backed away to get closer to her only other hope.

Looking crestfallen, the small Fennekin had all but given up the idea of escaping from this alive. All she could do was sit and watch forlornly as Deimos entered the fray. He proceeded to kite around the Paras, who'd moved further into the clearing. The scowling mushroom-bearer gradually spun on the spot, trying to track the Absol's movements as he devised a plan of his own.

Meanwhile, the Slakoth continued to observe from above as one of his compatriots' victims had begun to wander off. From his vantage point he had a clear view of the retreating Sandshrew's trajectory, and had every intention of stopping him dead in his tracks if he got too far. But after a certain distance, the Pokemon made a U-turn, and came back picking up speed and mass. The lazy Slakoth scowled in frustration. He really hated having to move, but the Sandshrew was on track to run down their team leader.

There was really no need to strain himself by intercepting the attack, not when there was a better option. And the Slakoth only had to look down to find the perfect tool for the job. He lazily spilled over the edge of the branch he sat on, dripping like liquid fur onto a fallen log, half buried in moss. Then, with little more effort than it would've taken to eat or defacate, cracked open and peeled off the top half of the partially rotted log to produce a convenient channel with which to redirect the rolling Pokemon's aim.

So slow were his movements as he placed the obstacle into Yigo's path, positioning it such that it would redirect him towards the defenseless, fear-stricken Fennekin. Two birds with one stone. Grinning and pleased with himself, the Slakoth began to ascend into the tree once more, ready to watch the results of his miniscule labor.

Before his grand plan came to fruition though, Deimos had come to a stop before the Paras, ready to enact his own plan. And if intimidation was the Absol's goal, he achieved it handily with the frighteningly deadly pair of spectral blades he summoned. The Paras at the very least had stiffened with worry. Fortunately the Pokemon decided to attack a tree instead, which itself was an impressive feat that sucked the luster out of the bug-type's mushrooms. But then he struck it in such a way that it creaked and fell towards his tactician.

"Look out!" he hollered at the Venomoth, but if Deimos had been expecting a distraction, it backfired drastically as the battle-ready Paras launched himself at the falling tree.

His small mass barely had an impact on the tree's chosen path, but it gave him the perfect launch-pad to target the Absol. He jumped straight towards him, seemingly fearless of the larger Pokemon's previous display with his sharp shadowy claws, however as he came within range, the Paras tucked in his legs and directed his mushroomy back downwards, the puffed up fungi suddenly ejecting a concentrated blast of paralytic spores.

Through all this, Tina had only watched in a mix of hope and horror, but when she saw the Paras deploying the very same attack which had resulted in her capture and imprisonment, she had to act. Despite the pain and terror, the Fennekin bolted into the fray, jumping to intercept the attack with Mirror Coat. Her feet left the ground, and her shimmering fur flashed brightly, discharging a cleansing blast that was just a little too late and too poorly placed to dispel the entire cloud, before coming back to the earth with a flop.

[Energy: 10 - 10 = 0]

Lumin carried out 10 launched of one Shadowhue Forest :

, , , , , , , , ,

Their boss was on the move and inspiring his henchmen with some impressive acrobatics that tipped the scales on their advantage. It had rendered the strategy of his foes useless and had used it to his advantage. That was the perseverance that had led their band this far. The venomoth didn´t want to stay on the paras´ shadow, flapping their wings shortly but intensely and ascending to get out of the range of the tossed tree. It was quite an impressive demonstration of power that had just stayed like that: a demonstration. Seeing how the absol knew a move that, if applied to themselves would have ended in a catastrophe, the venomoth decided to make of the absol his target.

Unlike with the sandshrew, their mind games were ineffective against a pokemon of the absol´s nature. However, it was such nature that makes him vulnerable to some other tricks that were at their disposal. Unfortunately, before even thinking about harassing the only combatant capable of reliably fighting back, they had to get rid of his annoying shield and rebellious slave that kept dispersing all the spore that they were sending over. The paras had taken the initiative, sprinkling some golden dust over their would-be prisoners. As expected, it proved to have little to no effect after the fennekin´s intervention but she could only maintain that protection for so long. As she was removing the cloud of paralysing particles, the venomoth decided to glide behind her and spread a second cloud of weakening toxins, similar to those spread over his so-called protector. Moreover, to prevent her from taking advantage of the lack of breeze, the poison-bug hybrid flapped their wings to make a gale of silver winds fall upon her so that their powder could reach her quicker with some extra added punishment. She would have to think about it twice before even considering escaping again.

The noble metal´s essence infused the chitin of the venomoth, making it lighter, more durable and making their wings sharp. The reflection of the few lights that were able to pass through the thick foliage made the venomoth harder to see. With all those advantages at hand, there was no way in which the absol could now face them. A super effective Silver Wind should be enough to take him down and claim a new slave.

The venomoth started to glide sideways after their first attack, trying to dodge any attack that the absol might have been preparing. Although, the absol was not the one the venomoth should have been worried about. They had been too indulgent by leaving the sandshrew leave after all since it had returned in the shape of a boulder three times the radius of the curled in ground type. Yigo was originally going to miss as a consequence of the raging battle´s strategical moves; however, thanks to the remains of a tree conveniently placed on his way. It was like if a helpful and hardworking pokemon had taken the time and effort to consider the mobility of the fighters and had decided to place such a commodity so Yigo could take the perfect shot at the venomoth. Way to go, Slakoth.

The boulder made direct contact with the flying bug, having it fall down like a bird hit by a stone... just to become the pillow on which the stone can land and break. The first impact had sent the venomoth straight to the dirt while the boulder´s collision with it generated a small cloud of dust and a crater before tearing apart into tiny bits. It´ll take some time for the smoke cloud to disperse on its own but, when that happens, it will reveal two fainted pokemon: a ground type with a skin as pale as the snow and a poison bug type with a cracked metal chitin and a ragged wing.