While Mac's Mudsdale had paved a path of destruction in his wake, Caroline's approach to the ranch might as well be trailing delicate flowers. Rapidash's flames flared out behind her as she trotted the dusty path along the sturdy wooden barrier. Each hoof was carefully placed and her mouth was free of restricting leathers.

It didn't take long for Caroline to notice that the Mudsdale who had nearly driven them off the road a moment earlier had managed more trouble in its path. "Somebody needs a little bit of training," Caroline mumbled to herself as her Rapidash slowed to a walk and clopped cautiously over the broken fence pieces and beside the Mudsdale. Rather she was referring to Mudsdale or trainer was indetermined.

The Mudsdale towered over Daisy, who cautiously huffed a breath of his air. Caroline had just managed to catch the tail-end of their conversation. "Nearly." Caroline confirmed the farmer's sour words with a slight chuckle. "Don't worry about the fence, sir. It's no worse than the damage the storms caused. We'll help you patch it up once we round up the Mareep."

The farmer huffed in displeasure, his arms held firmly in a cross against his chest. Caroline ignored it and shifted her weight to look at Zac. "I'm Caroline Foster and I'll assume that you're the one I'll be doing this task with?"

Zac Ramsay

"To be fair..." Caroline leaned across Daisy's neck and faced the farmer, her features shadowed in the glow of her Rapidash's flames. "I don't think you asked for our names, either." She waved a hand in the air, dismissing the conversation. "But, doesn't matter anyway, we're here now and we'll fix the problem, sir."

Four. That's how many Mareep were missing, scattered into the gorge on a fear-driven escape. It was apparant by the farmer's short tone and frustated responses that futher discussion was nothing more than time-consuming. "We'll bring them all back." Caroline promised as Mudsdale and rider began to move and Caroline quickly moved in step beside them.

"No worries," Caroline reasurred with another wave of her hand. She was less interested in conversation of the farmer than conversation of the Mudsdale. "Mudsdale are known to be a bit hard-headed. Compared to Pokemon like Ponyta, they're much less receptive to training." She patted Daisy's neck, the horse nickering in response. "Oh, this girl?" She gave an appreciative laugh, "Thanks. I'm sure she's happy to hear you say that. I've had her since an egg. She had quite a bit of a rough start, but she's really starting to blossom in confidence since becoming a Rapidash. I don't know where I would be without this good girl. And my Lycanroc. Their intelligence and understanding really impress me every day."

As their conversation trailed on, so did their path to the gorge. Rocks carved by a river's flow had begun to cast shadows over their path, but there was still no sign of the lost Mareep. "You know," Caroline leaned back and rested her hand on the hindquarters of Rapidash with a sly glimmer in her eyes. "I could give you a few pointers, if you want. I'm a bit of a natural with Pokemon."

Zac Ramsay

"A child isn't born knowing how to read or write or speak," Caroline motioned an aimless circle in the air with her hand. "Nor are they all born to learn in the same way. Pokemon are kind of the same. Do you really think that Rapidash was born knowing how to ride bridle-less or bow with a single touch? She had terrible separation anxiety as a Ponyta. I couldn't go anywhere without her breaking through fences or knocking down shelves to be with me. I know some trainers like to use the term 'breaking' them in to refer to training stubborn Pokemon and that might be the easy way, but it doesn't create a bond with them. I can always tell when Rapidash is nervous and I won't push her to do anything she doesn't want to do, but I know that I can always trust her when I really need it."

As Caroline spoke and Zac questioned, their ride trailed on through the midst of towering rocks. Although Caroline spoke, she trusted that her Rapidash would listen for any sounds of Mareep that she might miss under the sound of her words. "Sometimes it's not about getting across what you want, but knowing and saying what your Pokemon wants to hear. And sometimes that means giving them the illusion of a choice that guides them to what you want. Or being as descriptive as possible in a command." Rapidash's ears had pricked toward something rustling through the dried underbrush ahead, but she relaxed once she saw the Rattata poke it's head up and stare cautiously as they passed. "I don't keep my Pokemon in balls nearly as much as some people do. I like to walk through town with them. Do a little shopping together. Maybe even get our hair done together." She laughed at the suggestions, "Personally, I think that people are too preoccupied with just using their Pokemon to battle and then tossing them back into the balls when they're done. That would make anyone stubborn and stir crazy, don't you think? Who wants to go through the same thing again and again all the time? Give them air to breathe!"

Given yet another moment, Rapidash's ears pricked forward. But this time, the fire horse abruptly stopped and stared at a cluster of something muddy and fluffy. They were huddled together with each other in a tight circle and something red was speckled across their woolen coats. They looked afraid but...of what?

Zac Ramsay

Caroline grinned at his response. "Well then, you're already one step closer to a better bond with your Pokemon." Her body shifted as Rapidash stepped aside to avoid a fallen rock in their path. "Okay, imagine this. Imagine you're a three year old kid and your mom keeps you cooped up in a little room all day making you study. You never get to play or do anything fun. You'd go crazy." She waved a wild circle in the air with arms above her head. "Pokemon are the same. Maybe we could let ours have a little play date after this mission? You'd like that wouldn't you, Daisy? You can play with the Mudsdale." Daisy shook her head and nickered in response. Her excitement was obvious. It wasn't often she got to run with other horses, although being with Caroline was typically enough happiness for her.

Back to the present, Caroline eyed the bloodied Mareep cautiously. While Zac dismounted, she remained on top of Daisy with observant eyes. "Wait Zac," but it was too late, he was already approaching the group. His foot steps seemed odd against the typically solid turf they'd traveled. "Something doesn't feel right."

Then, as if summoned by the accusation, the ground began to creak and shudder. Zac let out a yell as a Tangrowth emerged from the earth and grasped the Mareep in it's thick vines. "The Mareep!" Caroline cried out as Daisy's hooves scrambled to safer distance. "Watch out!" came her next cry as chunks of rock sailed through the air and exploded around them. Caroline raised her arms in defense as one of them struck her forearm and hurled past. Daisy whinnied in panic, rearing up and lashing out powerful hooves at approaching rocks. "FIRE BLAST, Daisy. FIRE BLAST, now!"

Immediately on command, Daisy parted her jaws as a giant ball of flame began to appear before launching it at the Tangrowth. It's long tendrils shivered and shook as it let out a pained screech. However, it did not back down. Scrambling from the back of her horse, Caroline dropped to the ground and pulled a pokeball from her belt. "Titan! Use ICE FANG!" A crash followed the glow of light as Tyranitar fell to the ground. It let out a roar that echoed through the rocks as it pounded towards the Tangrowth and latched a pair of ice cold fangs into one of it's arms, it's chill a deeper freeze than even that of the cold snow that often accompanied Christmas this time of year (in other parts of the world, that is, not this tropical place).

Zac Ramsay

Almost as soon as the battle had begun, it came to an abrupt end as Zac's Steelix and Heliolisk leapt into battle. Steelix's powerful steel-type attacks, combined with her own, left the Tangrowth screeching and reeling in pain. It released the Mareep and allowed Heliolisk to swoop in and retrieve them. Easy done as easy goes.

Against her own advice, Caroline did return Tyranitar to his Pokeball. Having been recently evolved, the ground dragon was still having trouble controlling his power. It would be a pain in the ass for all of them if Titan decided to take down the gorge with them inside of it.

"Those are some powerful Pokemon you've got." Caroline complimented, as Daisy knelt to one knee and allowed Caroline to climb on her back. A thin stream of blood trailed from her forearm where the rock had hit, but wiping it away revealed nothing but a simple scratch. A day and two more would leave her with just a bruise in memory of the mission. "Let's get these Pokemon back to their owner and then talk plans for that play date." She smiled, but a sudden memory popped into her mind. "Oh, and perhaps we should fix the fence your Mudsdale broke." This comment was accompanied by a laugh.

It'd been fun.

Zac Ramsay