Mightyena weaved through the underbrush with nimbleness and agility. His paws thundered against the moist soil underfoot, and his nostrils worked to pick up the pup's scent. She couldn't have gone too far, not only because her short legs would have failed to carry her long distances but because she was a curious kid who would have gotten distracted by a Caterpie as easily as she would a squeaky toy.

[break][break]Within a matter of minutes, Mightyena came upon the pup at the base of a tree, yipping frantically and tail wagging with great fervor. Clinging to the trunk some ways up was a Larvesta, alone and out of reach from its tiny assailant. In any other situation, Mightyena may have joined in to terrorize the local wildlife — watching wild Pokemon flee at the mere sight of him was something that filled him with great joy and pride — but he was here to retrieve Houndour, not to play.

[break][break]He stopped a couple feet away and chuffed twice to catch the pup's attention. Her ears swiveled backwards at the sound, but she kept her gaze fixated on the frightened bug above. The air was filled with more barks as she pawed at the tree, fruitlessly trying to scale it in order to catch her prey. Seeing how the pup wasn't going to come willingly, Mightyena stepped closer with the intent of grabbing her by the scruff and returning her to Zilla.

[break][break]This, unfortunately, proved enough to spook the poor Larvesta. Its abdomen wiggled a bit before searing flames erupted from its horns, engulfing the nearby branches in red-hot embers. Houndour's yips, which previously seemed to say "C'mon down here and fight me, ya big coward!" suddenly turned into angry snarls and fearful whimpers. Mightyena was quick to react. He picked up the pace, closed the distance, and snatched up the young pup before any of the flames could reach her.

[break][break]As the dark dog fled from the scene with the whelp in tow, the fire raged on, swallowing the tree Larvesta had been resting in and hopping to neighboring trees. Despite the area being humid and the ground being fairly water-logged from the nearby river, that didn't stop the flames from spreading. The heat evaporated any moisture that may have prevented the inferno from spreading, and the thicket of trees provided it with ample tinder.

[break][break]Zilla saw the smoke before the fire, and she saw wild Pokemon running for cover before her own Pokemon returned. Panic began to set in as she wondered what may have happened. The obvious answer was Houndour. With no supervision or instruction, the pup probably started a fire. Forest fires happened all the time, she thought, so there was no reason to feel guilty. It's not like someone could pin it on her... But two members of her team were missing. They were somewhere in the forest. And she was starting to worry for their well-being.

[break][break]Zilla unclipped a pokeball from her belt, and Talonflame emerged in a flash of light. "Go find Mightyena and the pooch. They're in there somewhere," the grunt said while motioning toward the billowing smoke on the horizon. The bird let out a confident cry before flapping its mighty wings and taking to the skies. With any luck, they had gotten out before the fire got too bad.

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+ Isaac Merlo in Fire Force

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Talonflame glided over the forest, using the updraft of the fire to his advantage. He rode the aerial wave and seldom had to flap his wings to stay airborne; the steady current helped him hover in the sky and scan the area below for either of his missing comrades. There were plenty of bugs and birds, and even a colony of Woopers, but no sight of the mischievous dogs. Talonflame let out a loud cry, one that pierced through the chaos of the forest and echoed for miles in all directions.

[break][break]If Isaac looked up, he would have been able to spot the red-and-tan bird coasting overhead. He also would have heard its call, followed almost immediately by a tiny, eager howl some distance away, coming from the direction his Kabutops had fled.

[break][break]Mightyena heard the bird's call too, but he dared not let the pup go in order to answer. His job had been to procure the Houndour, and that's exactly what he did. The Kabutops was an unexpected surprise — one that instinctively caused his gait to slow, his hackles to raise, and his tail to lift in a show of dominance — but the ancient creature seemed more preoccupied with battling the hungry flames than picking a fight with the dark canine and his noisy pup.

[break][break]The initial tension in Mightyena's body was slow to settle as he gave the fossil Pokemon a wide birth. Bright red eyes remained locked on the stranger, however, as there was no telling if or when the Kabutops would turn its attention away from the wildfire and begin attacking the duo instead.

[break][break]The smaller canid, still held at bay by the scruff of the neck and not seeing any reason to remain silent, was quick to answer Talonflame's cry. She howled, barked a couple times at the Kabutops, then began howling again. She whimpered a bit and snarled as she tried to free herself from Mightyena's grip, but the large dog did not loosen his hold even a bit. He couldn't risk her running off again or picking a fight with the fire-fighting Pokemon.

[break][break]As the search and standoff continued deep in the forest, Zilla was met by a Dracovish, a horrifying monstrosity of a creature that proved humans were never meant to play god. The grunt instinctively took a couple steps backwards as the beast crashed through the treeline and came to an abrupt stop. In a matter of seconds, it stood up and gurgling something incomprehensible.

[break][break]Zilla stared for a long moment, thumb hitched on her belt, as she waited to see what the fossil Pokemon would do next. It didn't seem to be fleeing from the fire, or else it would have trampled over her in a desperate attempt to escape. Or perhaps it was a dumb creature, easily distracted by a human and just as easily forgetting what it had been running from. That was a possibility. Either way, Zilla was out of Pokemon so she needed to avoid doing anything that would set off the Dracovish.

[break][break]She slowly lifted both hands in front of her chest and turned her palms out so it could see that she wasn't a threat. No weapons, no nets, and no Pokeballs. "Alright, buddy. Take it easy," she murmured. There was no way for her to know that the towering beast was tamed, so she erred on the side of caution. Much like her Mightyena with the Kabutops, Zilla gave the Dracovish plenty of space and stepped out of the way, allowing the Pokemon to continue to the other side of the road without anything standing in its way.

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+ Isaac Merlo in Fire Force

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Despite the pup's best efforts, her cries were drowned out by the sound of splintering wood and panicked Pokemon fleeing from the raging inferno. The scouting falcon's voice was loud and his eye-sight was sharp when not obscured by dense canopies and billowing smoke, but neither trait helped him detect the young dog's quiet response. Talonflame called out again, hoping it would prompt Mightyena to loose a familiar howl. But it didn't. The bird was at a loss...

[break][break]Or he would have been if a foreign howl hadn't responded instead. The avian scanned the foliage below for the source and quickly located a man looking up at the sky, hands cupped on either side of his mouth to help project the sound. It wasn't the response Talonflame had been expecting, but it was a lead nevertheless. The bird tucked his wings and dove toward the ground, zipping past branches and closing the distance in a matter of seconds.

[break][break]Things were more chaotic below the canopy. So many sights and sounds. So much unseen, especially when compared to a view from far above. How did Pokemon survive down here? Something could easily slip out of the thicket, and they'd be none the wiser. And the fire. They wouldn't be able to feel which way the wind was blowing or how the fire was spreading. Talonflame felt blind and helpless.

[break][break]To maintain some control and a vantage point over the situation, he opted to perch on a sturdy branch near Isaac, who called out two water Pokemon to help combat the hungry fire on the horizon. The male trainer took a moment to break up a rivalry between the Totodile and Blastoise, which inadvertently make Talonflame grow impatient. Perhaps this human couldn't help after all, he thought, the human was too preoccupied with his own party to lend aid.

[break][break]Talonflame let out another cry, the sound piercing and almost painful for all those standing directly below. It was answered almost immediately by a low, familiar howl. Without wasting another second, the red bird hopped off the branch and disappeared over a wall of fire. The Houndour, it seemed, was just on the other side. If Isaac wanted to investigate the situation further, he'd need to first extinguish the flames.

[break][break]As the pup howled and twisted, pawing at his own nose in a feeble attempt to strike Mightyena's maw, the larger canine noticed Kabutop's shift in attention and instinctively went on the defensive. Hackles raised, teeth bared, and a low growl sounded deep in his throat. He couldn't risk letting Houndour in order to fight off the outside, but he may not have had another choice. The Kabutop motioned at the fire then at the rowdy whelp, silently accusing Houndour of the wildfire.

[break][break]Mightyena could have shaken his head and refuted the claim the best way he knew how. He could have kept calm to show that they weren't a threat to Kabutops or the forest. Or he could have showed submission by expressing passiveness and regret for their part to play in starting the fire. But he didn't. Instead, his snarls grew louder, and he would have given a warning bark if his mouth wasn't currently filled with the bristled black fur of a Houndour.

[break][break]A wildfire was raging and the culprit wasn't as important as getting to safety or stopping the flames from spreading. So if this Kabutops was going to waste time persecuting Houndour, it would have to go through Mightyena first. Fortunately for the canines, backup came in the form of a furious bird.

[break][break]Talonflame emerged from the smoke and ash, talons bared, and attempted to land a critical hit against the Kabutops. He hadn't been around to see how the conversation started, but he had gotten close enough to witness his trusted ally going on the defense. Obviously the fossil Pokemon was the enemy here, and Talonflame wasn't just going to sit around helplessly and let it attack his canine friends. Arceus be damned, he was going to do something about it.

[break][break]As a heated battle raged on in the forest (pun intended), Zilla was desperate to get away from what she perceived to be a rampaging Dracovish. It charged at her, and her gut instinct told her to run, so she did. She darted behind a couple trees and peered out just in time to see a massive blue face approaching, tongue lolled out of its goofy mouth. Zilla jogged away a little before looking back to study the creature's demeanor again.

[break][break]It wasn't charging, exactly. It was following her. Like a duckling. And was that a smile on its face? It even appeared to have a jolly little bounce in its step. She took another few steps backwards, always keeping a few feet between herself and the creature, while digging around in her bag for one of the dog treats she'd brought with her to the training session. She pulled one free from the satchel and held it out so the Dracovish could see it better.

[break][break]"Can you... uh... sit?" she asked with hesitation in her voice. If it did as she commanded, she'd toss the cookie toward the beast's mouth for it to catch. If it didn't, she'd throw the treat anyway. Ultimately, she hoped the gift would keep the beast at bay. She didn't want it coming any closer, or else she risked being in real danger of bodily harm.

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+ Isaac Merlo in Fire Force
[break]+ Not the cleanest post I've ever written. Please let me know if you have any questions!

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Talonflame crashed through the treeline like a comet destined to wipe out all prehistoric creatures. He was hellbent on defending his allies and vanquishing the beast which stood in opposition to them. Despite the type disadvantage, his attack landed a critical hit, which not only dealt an impressive amount of damage but also sent the Kabutops flying backwards.

[break][break]The bird wasted no time rising into the air to avoid close-range combat, which would have been an inevitable outcome if he remained low to the ground. However, he didn't want to risk leaving the battlefield to launch another Fly attack, for he feared that the fossil Pokemon would retaliate against the helpless canines if he did. So instead, he stayed in sight of the Kabutops while gaining altitude and preparing a follow-up attack.

[break][break]As the Kabutops stood and launched a barrage of rocks into the air, Talonflame loosed a volley of embers. Flames rained down mere milliseconds before the bird was struck. With a screech of pain, he was stoned mercilessly. He managed to stay airborne after the first hit, but as subsequent rocks continued to strike his head, wings, and frail body, he eventually plummeted to the forest ground far below. He wasn't out of the fight, but it would take him a minute to shake off the pain and reengage, assuming the enemy didn't finish him before then.

[break][break]Kabutop's display of violence against Talonflame sent Mightyena into a frenzy. He dropped the Houndour without second thought, sprinted through the cinder-filled clearing, and attempted to clamp down on the Kabutops' leg with a fierce Thunder Fang. Houndour sat a few feet away, howling pitifully. She was frightened by everything that was happening and desperately wanted her mama.

[break][break]Zilla, unfortunately, couldn't hear the pup's cries as she was too far away, trying to survive on her own against a terrifying Dracovish. It sat as commanded, but its reflexes were a little slow. The treat bounced off its wide, blubbery face and fell to the ground. A solid 5 seconds passed as Zilla stood frozen in confusion and fear, and the Dracovish continued staring straight ahead, processing what just happened. The moment it understood, it leaned down, picked up the treat, and tossed it into the air to try again.

[break][break]It caught the cookie and crunched it into dust with long, jagged teeth. In that moment, Zilla felt a chill run down her spine. She couldn't help but imagine the creature eating a living animal. Its mighty jaws and powerful bite would be no match for a human's soft flesh, and it would take a very brave Pokemon to face off against such a foe.

[break][break]And yet, this particular Dracovish seemed as playful and slow-witted as a Maschiff. Even the way it laughed and danced in place was innocuous. Still, the Rocket grunt felt intimidated and powerless in its presence. At least the treats kept it complacent. Zilla grabbed another and tossed it at the blue beast's face. With any luck, Talonflame and the others would return long before she ran out of food. She hated to think about what would happen if they didn't arrive in time.

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+ Isaac Merlo in Fire Force

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Mightyena snarled as he sunk his teeth into the prehistoric creature's leg, crunching through hard shell and electrocuting the soft meat within. It was super effective, but the strike prompted a counter of its own. The ancient sea beast exposed a pair of golden mandibles which sunk down through the canine's flesh. It drew blood and used his life essence to recover from the previous attack it'd suffered from. Mightyena yelped but wasn't giving up. He was determined to win the fight.

[break][break]With a shake, the dark canidae tore himself free from the shellfish's clutches. While it was distracted watching the Houndour cry out for help, Mightyena stepped around his prey in a wide semi-circle, hoping to get in a better position to land a critical hit. As he sneaked, Talonflame emerged from the bushes, slowly rising into the air as he pushed through the pain. Although only two of Zilla's Pokemon were actively engaged in combat, all three created a triangle around the Kabutops — with Talonflame to the north, Mightyena to the east, and Houndour to the west.

[break][break]Poseidon was surrounded.

[break][break]Talonflame screeched and, as if on cue, a powerful blast of water erupted from the treeline, cutting through the wood like a saw-blade. Though Houndour continued wailing, seemingly oblivious to what had happened only a short distance away, both Talonflame and Mightyena turned to look at what dared interrupt the fight. A Totodile emerged from the thicket. Mightyena's ears pricked and his hackles flattened at the outsider's familiar smell. He knew this Totodile!

[break][break]Unfortunately, the arrival of an unknown Blastoise made Mightyena go on the defensive again, and he let his disapproval show with a fierce snarl. Just before another fight could break out, the Totodile stopped the Blastoise and did his best to explain the situation. He pointed at Zilla's Mightyena, who perked up once more, and grumbled something in a desperate attempt to convey some kind of message.

[break][break]What followed sent Mightyena into a frenzy. It wasn't Isaac's words that made him giddy so much as the sound of his voice. Further proof of the man's identity came when he entered the smoky clearing. Blonde hair, brown eyes, a scrawny frame. The dark canine barked and wagged his tail before bounding over to the Rocket grunt, as if he'd been summoned instead of the Kabutops. Although the recognition was mostly one-sided, Isaac appeared to pick up on the sentiment. When he asked if the two knew each other, Mightyena barked again and jumped up, placing his forepaws on the man's chest while trying to lick his chin.

[break][break]By this point, Talonflame had fluttered over to Houndour and covered the pup with one wing, doing his best to calm the hysteric canine while still keeping a close eye on the procession. He'd met Isaac before — all three of Zilla's initial Pokémon had — but he didn't have the same kind of relationship with the blonde as Mightyena or even Zilla. Talonflame liked to watch and wait. Being overly friendly and excitable was definitely more of Mightyena's thing.

[break][break]In some ways, Zilla shared the fire falcon's temperament. She preferred to stand back and observe, especially if there was a perceived danger. Like now, with the Dracovish. Keeping her distance was optimal; unfortunately, the giant fish didn't seem to agree. It either became full or bored, as it was no longer satisfied with sitting and taking treats. It stood and lumbered in Zilla's direction. It wasn't running, exactly, but the display was intimidating nevertheless.

[break][break]A yelp escaped Zilla's throat as she lifted her arms up to cover her face. She prepared for some type of attack, to be tossed to the ground and trampled on like a scrap of meat thrown to the wolves. Instead, there was sniffing and then a series of licks. In a matter of seconds, she was drenched in saliva. Zilla couldn't help but giggle and playfully swat at the oversized Pokémon. "Okay, okay! I don't need a shower! Thank you!" she laughed while pushing the Dracovish's snout away.

[break][break]"You don't seem wild," she pointed out while using her free hand to wipe some of the slobber off her face, "So where's your trainer?" She felt her heart sink as her gaze shifted back to the treeline. Azurill and Wooper fled in seek of shelter, and smoke turned the sky dark with soot and ash. Zilla knew her team was in the forest somewhere, but was the Dracovish's trainer in there too? She looked back at the blue beast, fear visible on her face.

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+ Isaac Merlo in Fire Force

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

What was originally excitement upon seeing a friendly face in the middle of such a dangerous predicament turned into pure elation when Isaac uttered Zilla's name. He'd hit the nail on the head. Mightyena's tail begin wagging even faster and he broke into a frenzy of sharp barks that seemed to say, "You got it! I'm Zilla's partner! It's so good to see you again! I'm happy! I'm happy! I'm happy!" However, the noise came to an end soon after Isaac began scratching him behind the ear. The dark canine leaned into the man's touch and gently licked his wrist, show appreciation for the pets.

[break][break]When Isaac explained that this wasn't the best time for a reunion, Mightyena pushed off the grunt's chest and focused up. Right. Business first, play later. The forest was on fire, and though the inferno was being held at bay by the water-types, things were still chaotic and Zilla's trio were still caught in the thick of it.

[break][break]Mightyena cast a glance toward Talonflame and Houndour before trotting over to their side. As he approached, the bird lifted a sore wing to reveal the frightened pup, whose cries had turned into nervous whimpers and whose playful demeanor had been completely overtaken by wide-eyed fear. Mightyena silently reached down and gently grabbed Houndour by the scruff of the neck. The dark canine then met Talonflame's gaze, woofed deep in his throat, then looked in Isaac's direction. The man appeared distracted by his battle against the flames, so it was better not to interrupt.

[break][break]With that, Mightyena broke into a sprint, heading away from the fire and back toward the road where he last saw his trainer.

[break][break]Talonflame, meanwhile, stayed behind with Isaac. Though still aching from the fight with Poseidon, he pushed through it and flew into the air, not so far that he could no longer be seen above the canopy but still high enough to get a good vantage point over the wildfire. Isaac's Pokemon were certainly making a dent, though the flame were spreading almost as fast in the opposite direction. They'd need to pick up the pace if they wanted to quash the entire thing.

[break][break]The fire bird descended again, hovering only a foot or two behind the fire-fighters, and began flapping his wings rapidly. Despite this, he didn't rise or fall in altitude; he remained in mid-air, his wings beating ever faster and a small billow of wind gathering in the immediate area. To an inexperienced trainer, it may have looked as if he was preparing to attack the trio from behind — and, in a way, he was.

[break][break]Provided no one interfered with his efforts, he'd continue until the air grew lighter and a push of wind from behind made everyone's movements a fraction faster than usual (Tailwind). It may not have been much help against the fires themselves, but the new levity in the atmosphere would hopefully help Isaac's Pokemon extinguish the flames at an even faster pace.

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+ Isaac Merlo in Fire Force

[attr="class","pokeclass"]