The descend was fraught with debris and dust; now that the underground chamber was open to the inferno above, small tongues of flame flickered over its wooden ceiling. It wouldn't be long, Skyler thought, before it collapsed under its own weight, bringing the temple down on them.

Not that the captain would let something like that ever stop her.

There was nothing to cushion her fall, so Skyler absorbed the impact by rolling away, letting out a small groan when something sharp sliced through the skin of her arm. Her fingers went to inspect the injury, and teeth ground together in annoyance when they came away wet - and red. The curse that was spat into the air was foul, quickly followed by a second one when Lu's Blaziken appeared not too far away from her, the burst of flame immediately giving away the captain's position.

Shit.

Skyler scrambled over dusty crates, silver eyes searching the still darkened chamber; Svernos the Garchomp stood by her side, bladed arms at the ready. A low growl escaped her at the Blaziken's approach, clearly a threat.

The glint of jade caught her eye - but then she hesitated when Lu followed after her Blaziken. Heat curled low in Skyler's stomach, a sort of breathless anticipation. She hadn't seen Lu in months, and yet... "Did you miss me so much, Lu, that you'd follow me into hell?" A secretive smile curled her lips, equal parts teasing and - daring. 

The ominous groaning of burning wood echoed in the cellar; flaming debris from the burning chamber above floated down to where they were. The flash of teeth preceded Skyler's bold step forward, fearlessly positioning herself between her Garchomp and their opponents. She didn't seem at all worried about their precarious situation, silver eyes boring into Lu's. "I'm flattered."

Lulu Flint

Disappointment tasted bitter on her tongue.

Captain Skyler watched Lulu look around, perceptive eyes studying the situation in a flash. Watched the decision making, the cogs working behind sharp eyes, poking at the line Skyler had drawn, at the challenge she had presented.

Her mouth stayed shut at Lulu's parting words, silver eyes following the woman's movements sharply as she backed away and exited the room. And then the captain was a flurry of movement, stepping away to reveal what her body had hidden: Svernos chipping away at the wall, revealing soft brown earth.

The Garchomp didn't need to be told what to do. Ferocious claws worked hard, DIGging into the dirt at an alarming speed; swiftly clearing out enough earth to make a passage. 

Soon after, part of the temple collapsed amid a violent inferno. Scarred ruby-red wings flapped once, twice, and took to the air, the Salamence flying over the tops of trees with a blonde treasure hunter on its back; a glint of jade catching on moonlight as Skyler secured her spoils. 

Lulu Flint