MADE BY MIZO

[attr="class","calebtest2text"]



"All of them," Caleb replied matter-of-factly. "They will try and topple all of them. Rocket wants ultimate control and ultimate power." And he knew why, of course. They really thought their way was the best way. Strength before weakness, always. Most of Rocket's leadership thought of themselves as the rightful rulers of a realm sorely in need of strength. For some of them, wealth was where it ended...but Caleb had known those who's vision of success wasn't just about material luxury. No, he'd seen far worse than that.[break][break]
Together, Lyra and Nova pumped gallons of rushing water onto the roaring flames, until they did, finally, begin to quell. Relief flooded through Caleb at the sight, though their job was far from over.[break][break]
"I'm going to try and get inside," he said to Talia, tone decisive. "There could be people trapped in there. Once the flames are completely out, direct the Pokémon to help us look for survivors." He flashed the silvery-blue haired woman a determined grin and then leaped into action, running towards the main building that had caught flame, an old and beautiful farmhouse-turned-bed-and-breakfast by the looks of it - or what had once been one, anyway. Pulling up his shirt to block some of the thick black smoke from entering his lungs, he began searching for an entry point.[break][break]

[attr="class","calebtest2ooc"]
[break]

NOTES

+ Mission: Fire Fighter [Dawn of a New Day]

BY GUNSMILE

MADE BY MIZO

[attr="class","calebtest2text"]



Surveying the destruction before him, Caleb made a snap decision. Rather than spend precious minutes trying to find safe passage into the burning building, that was still smoking heavily and groaning as the wooden structure began to cave in on itself, Caleb would simply make an entrance. Grabbing a second Pokéball from his hip, he released his Haxorus onto the singed grass before him. "Hex, I need you to rip a hole in the side of this building for me," he explained urgently. The dragon roared and immediately began to claw at the already-weakened farmhouse wall until he had ripped a hole clean through it.[break][break]
Avoiding several long wooden splinters, Caleb deftly climbed inside, still holding his shirt up with one hand to hopefully prevent breathing in too much smoke. Hex clambered after his master with a growl of encouragement. Together, they began searching the ground floor. Furniture had been completely ruined by flame, smoke, and the water that Lyra and Nova had generated. What had once been a quaint and homey space was now an unsalvageable disaster. As his search continued, Caleb began to wonder with dread if they had been too late to save whomever had been living here.[break][break]
The sound of coughing caught Caleb's attention, and he rushed towards the sound. A family of four huddled together in a somewhat in-tact kitchen: a middle aged man and woman, a teenaged boy, and a young girl. The girl was attempting to shelter a scared looking Skitty with her small arm. They looked singed, battered, bruised...but alive. Caleb hurried forward, and kneeled beside them.[break][break]
"Hey, I'm here to help! Can you stand? I can lead you out."[break][break]
The man looked up, expression shocked, but then his warm brown eyes filled with relief. "Oh, thank you, thank you," He murmured with a rasping cough, and attempted to rise. Caleb pointed to the children, and Hex helped scoop them up, the Skitty leaping into the little girl's arms so as not to be forgotten. Caleb held out a hand to the woman. Together, the Ranger and his Pokémon began assisting the family in their escape.[break][break]

[attr="class","calebtest2ooc"]
[break]

NOTES

+ Mission: Fire Fighter [Dawn of a New Day]

BY GUNSMILE

MADE BY MIZO

[attr="class","calebtest2text"]



It was close.[break][break]
"We got here just in time," He agreed. Talia Celes looked utterly spent, but there was a determined look to her eyes that impressed Caleb - as if she would spring up at any moment if anyone else needed help, despite her condition. She wasn't the sort of woman to quit on a job just because she was tired and sore, and it was obvious that she cared deeply for the people here, even though they were strangers to her. You care, too, a voice whispered to him in the back of his mind. After all, relief had flooded through him at the sight of the family reuniting with their other child. Nobody deserves this, he thought. This is just like what happened to so many innocent folks all over Kanto...[break][break]
"Aye, Lyra," He called over to the Lapras. She had finished putting out the fire, and was surveying the damp, smoking ruins of what had once been a building. She turned her head to look at him when he spoke to her, a concerned expression on her face. He pointed at Talia, who was still collapsed on the ground. "Help Talia out, won't you?"[break][break]
Lyra trilled and crawled over, reaching her neck down so that she could touch her forehead to Talia's. A soft, pastel blue glow began to encapsulate both of them as Lyra used LIFE DEW to help Talia regain some of her strength. Caleb held out a hand to the woman once the Lapras was finished with her ability, intending to help her stand up.[break][break]
"I'm glad you were here," he murmured to her with genuine gratitude. "I couldn't have saved them alone."

[attr="class","calebtest2ooc"]
[break]

NOTES

+ Mission: Fire Fighter [Dawn of a New Day]

BY GUNSMILE

MADE BY MIZO

[attr="class","calebtest2text"]



Caleb considered Talia's words as the woman stood, her expression full of grateful relief. She was really quite pretty, he realized, despite the fact that she was covered in ash and had nearly over-exerted herself. But it was more than just her physical beauty that made Talia shine: it was obvious that the woman had a rather large heart, and a seemingly unending capacity for compassion. Some might scrutinize her worldview as naive or unrealistically idyllic, but after spending the majority of his life causing pain, Caleb could not help but drink in Talia's hopeful optimism and genuine belief in their work as if he were a man dying of thirst.[break][break]
When he'd first arrived in Hoenn, he had viewed the world through a decidedly cynical lens. But now? Three years later?[break][break]
"You're right," he answered her, letting out a long breath, one he did not realize he had been holding. "Knowing we're helping people does make everything we go through - all of our efforts - worth it." He was surprised to find that he meant it; the brokenhearted cynic was nowhere to be found.[break][break]
Caleb was also covered in ash. His hair was disheveled, his clothing torn in places where he'd unknowingly caught the fabric on broken beams of wood, his lungs felt tight from breathing in too much smoke, and he was sore all over. But the family - all of them - were safe now. They'd have to rebuild, but they had their lives, and that's what mattered.[break][break]
"We should do one more sweep of the area, double-check that there's nobody else that needs help," he remarked, surveying the scene. "Then we can help get the family to some medical care." He paused. "After that, we'll need to get some rest." His smile was wane, but he meant that too.[break][break]

[attr="class","calebtest2ooc"]
[break]

NOTES

+ Mission: Fire Fighter [Dawn of a New Day]

BY GUNSMILE

MADE BY MIZO