Aria at Route 1

[Aria]

<Aria?>
"What, Sadyn?"
<Are you sure you know where you're going?>
"Positively sure." Together with her newly gained companion, the Absol which now walked beside her, Aria had set out on the first stretch of road that had popped up; Route 1. Relatively simple. If it hadn't been for the unmerciful sun beating down her neck, and those annoying little bugs in her eyes, it would have been somewhat pleasant. She shifted her bag for the umpteenth time, surveying the trees, the rocks, the sky.

"Excuse my paranoia, but do you hear anything?"
<No. Relax, it's a beautiful day.>
Aria said something rather unpleasant, and Sadyn stopped to stare at her with eyes narrowed. <Now, that was uncalled for.>
"It was perfectly suited for the situation, if I may remind you. Are you not hot?"
<Come to think of it, maybe a little. We could always stop and wait to travel by night, you know.>
Cool relief flooded through Aria. She hadn't thought of that. And from the subtle vibes she picked up from Sadyn-- or perhaps the obvious body language-- she preferred the cover of nightfall as well.

"Alright, let's rest by that boulder over there." Sadyn gave a small nod. The two companions stretched out by said rock, and waited.

[/center]

[PBK]

Some rustling leaves could be heard from behind the boulder where Aria had stopped. Then, the rusling was no more. What sounded like tiny voices could be heard...or perhaps that was just the wind.

Silence.

<MEN! ATTACK!> A high pitched squeaky voice screamed. Thousands of smaller squeaky voices repeated this death cry, uncoordinated and filled with with hatred. Suddenly, the ground around Aria, as well as the rock, was flooded with Rattatas. The little pokemon seemed to be every where, blocking her way.

<We,> the smallest one said, <Are that Rattata Rigade!>

<You mean "brigade" Johnny.>

<You know what?> the little one, Johnny asked, <I don't care.>

Another one, obviously the leader who had spoken first screamed, <SHE! Is an invader from the lab!>

[Aria]

Aria was on her feet, right hand on the hilt of her dagger, before Sadyn could even blink. The Absol growled ferociously at the vermin, taking swipes at them with her forepaw. <Back! Filthy creatures!> Aria began kicking at them, more annoyed that their rest had been disturbed than fearful that they might actually hurt them.

"What is the meaning of this?!" She asked incredulously, having never before been surrounded by enemies that were actually smaller in stature than herself.

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[PBK]

<OHMIGOSH MEN! The invader has gone with a counter-attack! Run for your lives little micies!> the leader screamed. And with that, like a stampede, the rat type pokemon rushed out of the area, leaving a cloud of dust behind them. As the dust cleared, a single Rattata was left, injurred on the ground. It seemed to have hurt its leg during the commotion.

[Aria]

Having found this little display by the 'Rattata Brigade' very amusing, Aria bent down on one knee to interrogate the one remaining. Sadyn placed a forepaw on it to hold it down, crimson eyes aflame with anger. "The purpose of that was what, exactly?"
<Kill it now! It does not deserve to live!>
"We must give it some credit. That was a very brave, if not very stupid thing to do."
<It suffers. Let's put it out of its misery.>
"Oh, come off it."

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[PBK]

<Eeeeeeeeeeeee!> the Rattata screamed when she felt the larger pokemon's paw on her. <The Rattata Rigay-brigade will have your pelts!> the little thing screamed. The thing had quite a bit of spunk left for something so small and now injurred, <They'll have your pelts I say!>

[Aria]

<It is your pelt I would worry about, you-->
Aria silenced her with a wave of her hand, then whipped out her dagger to hold it level with the Rattata's throat. "How long have you been following me? Say something useful!"
Call her hopelessly paranoid, but her life was too rocky to be kind.

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[PBK]

<I....will...not...tell...the...in...trud...er...a..ny...thing,> the poor Rattata said. She was shaking now. The rat's normally purple fur was turning pale, with a vague sense of red and green. <I...am...loy...loy...loy-> The pokemon fainted. Whether out of fear of the dagger, or the pain coming from her leg, it was hard to say. Either way, the pokemon was knocked out cold.

[Aria]

Sadyn snorted with contentment, and Aria was reluctant to do anything for the repulsive creature, but an unconscious Rattata would make an easy meal for something else, and her heart wasn't too far gone.

"I guess we better get it to a Center," she said, and scooped it up.
<What are you doing?! You don't honestly-- oh. No. No, no, no. You are not considering taking it along? Like, in your team...?> The Absol hung her head low.
"Only if it wants to, which I doubt."
<You couldn't have rescued a nice Houndour, no. It had to be one of those vermin.>
Aria rolled her eyes, and walked briskly along.

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[PBK]

Funny the Absol should mention that, for at that very moment, a Houndour appeared on the route. He was strutting along, walking the perimeter of his territory, growling at those pokemon who dared get close, warning them not to go any farther.

He was a cocky fellow, growling, even when there weren't any to direct his growls to. That is, until he saw Aria and Sadyn coming near.

<What do you want?> the pokemon barked, <This is my land!>

Hmm...Route 1 sure seems to be full of territorial pokemon these days.

[Aria]

OoC:// You pick up hints easily enough.

BiC:// <I... um...>
"Good Lord, Sadyn. You're supposed to be a Dark type, not Psychic!"
But now, as she she thought of it, a Houndour would be quite nice to have along. She was fond of its evolved form.
"Alright. Sadyn, use scratch! Give it all you've got!"
<With pride.> The Absol lunged.

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[PBK]

ooc|| Normally I ignore them. But on account of you being one of the few members on here who can type up a decent post and punctuate correctly, I'd probably give you a lugia if you asked for it. jk. I don't even think I'm aloud to do that.

bic||

The Houndour wasn't expecting the attack; usually his growls scared off all others. He let out a yell of pain when he was scratched. <You'll pay now! I'll elliminate you, then that pesky human friend of yours!> the Houndour screamed angrily before letting out an ember attack.

[Aria]

OoC:// A compliment? In the place of angry mobs? I worship the very ground you walk on.

BiC:// Sadyn went to dodge, but a moment too late; the attack sheared her foreleg, causing her to leap back. <You accursed maggot!> she screeched, and sped forward again, a fire in her crimson eyes.
Aria grinned. "We have him now! Scratch for all you're worth!

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[PBK]

The Houndour screamed when he was hit with the scratches, but quickly retaliated with another ember attack.

[Aria]

"Ahaha! A tough one, aye? We'll break him yet. Don't let up!"
The Absol continued to slash furiously at the Houndour, but began to show signs of weariness, this being her first battle, however simple it was.

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[PBK]

The Houndour was also getting weaker. He mustered up his last bit of fire power for another ember attack.

[Aria]

Finally getting fed up with battling the accursed thing, Aria chucked a ball at him.

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[PBK]

The ball shook violently for a while before going silent.

Congrats! You caught Houndour!

Name:
Level: 6
Gender: Male
Persona: Territorial
Ability: Flash Fire
Attacks: Leer, Ember, Howl

Sadyn gains 2 levels!

[Aria]

Aria picked up the ball, smiling slightly. "Good job, Sadyn." The Absol nodded silently, a bit tuckered out.

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[Professor Gravon]

A road to the Berry Forest appeared up ahead, branching west.
Another road to the east headed towards the Breeding Farms.
Hmm... They must be nearing Route 2, unless Aria wanted to catch some more pokemon?