While Josh was waiting on the results of Nala's pregnancy test, he had to make sure to get the Pyroar as much love and care as he could before she couldn't go on adventures due to it being too late-stage to do so. The Gym Leader looked forward to a fifth member of his pride joining. Those were thoughts for another day. Today, he needed to get an ice Pokémon. He also needed to find another scientist to replace illeana reyes for the final injection and the synthesis process itself. The noble scientist had seen enough after being unable to restart Valoo's heart. Several of Josh's younger Gym visitors were devastated when he had to explain to them that the Drampa had died.

Seated on his Shiny Pyroar, Aslan, three others flanked the young Gym Leader: Nala, Kovu, and Simba. Dressed in his blue Ranger uniform as he tilted his head toward the pinkette, he introduced himself. "Elite Ranger Devlin or Gym Leader Devlin, but you can call me Josh." He then introduced his four Pyroar, who all purred upon their names being mentioned. It may have been loud and intimidating for one not used to the species. "If you don't have a fire Pokémon with you, feel free to saddle up. You'll be a lot warmer this way."

"Great to meet you and your Doom Squad, Zakuro," Josh replied, reaching toward her for a handshake with his Z-GLOVE. "When they grow up, they'll be fearsome Pokémon. I have an Ursaluna myself. His name is Moosh, and he's no joke. Of course, I couldn't bring him out here; he doesn't take to the cold well." A gust of wind bit at Nala, causing her to shiver before turning up the heat from her mane. At her remark about the lions being warmer, Josh smiled and answered, "It's a little of both. Mostly that they're fire-types, though. Don't be shy - hop on!"

As to further convince Zakuro to stay warm, Simba walked up to her and let out a loud but innocuous purr, followed by a cute nuzzle if she allowed it. Regardless, he would take a seat on the ice, giving her the opportunity to easily swing aboard. Despite contact with a warm to hot underside, there was no sign of melt. The terrain beneath their paws truly was NEVER MELT ICE. Even if she didn't care for Simba, the other two lions would be more than willing to let Zakuro occupy their saddles. "If I may ask, what brings you out here? Most of the time when I see people out here, they're here to visit their Pokémon that died in Operation Meteno."

"Long as you raise them right, they'll be just as loyal, if not more so, than they are now!" Josh smiled back, observing Zakuro's balance as she sat astride Nala. The lion's fur may have felt refreshingly warm in the chilly environment. Though she wanted to run, Nala respected the pace of Zakuro's other Pokémon. It may have been apparent to her that the lioness was holding a lot of speed back.

Though the special saddles the Pyroar wore helped, their gaits were quite bouncy when they went faster than a walk. After all, they were predators, not typical beasts of burden; their bodies were designed to chase down even the swiftest of prey. Without the saddles designed to mitigate their flexing backs, though, staying on one would be difficult for even experienced riders. It was a testament that Josh really knew what he was doing.

The sharp claws of the Pyroar made them incredibly sure-footed on the ice, as well. He silently observed Zakuro's tag-team battle style. It was effective in the wilds, but would not be so in regulation environments where only one or two Pokémon were permitted to battle at a time. A startled Kovu let out a loud purr when Panda embraced his leg, though he made no effort to dislodge him. The little ones had to stay warm, too!

[attr="class","wildtemp"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD BASTIODON APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildpkmn"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","wildtabox"] FEMALE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] STURDY
[attr="class","wildtabox"]METAL SOUND	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]TACKLE
[attr="class","wildtabox"]ENDURE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]ANCIENT POWER
[attr="class","wildtabox"] ---	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] ---

[attr="class","wildtag"]ZAKURO MORINOZUKA Josh Devlin

[attr="class","wildnote"] WHAT WILL YOU DO?

[attr="class","wildtemp"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD VANILLUXE APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildpkmn"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","wildtabox"] MALE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] WEAK ARMOR
[attr="class","wildtabox"]ICICLE CRASH	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]ACID ARMOR
[attr="class","wildtabox"]MIRROR SHOT	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]FREEZE DRY
[attr="class","wildtabox"] ---	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] ---

[attr="class","wildtag"]ZAKURO MORINOZUKA Josh Devlin

[attr="class","wildnote"] WHAT WILL YOU DO?

ZAKURO MORINOZUKA CAUGHT THE AVALUGG!

"Great catch," Josh complimented as the Pyroar continued to run and slide along the thick sheets of ice, their red fur radiating heat behind their heads and right where the riders sat. It made the frigid Icelands feel like a cool, fall day. "Avalugg aren't fast, but they're reliable for crossing any body of water that has a consistent current. They're not my style, but you'll be glad you have one, especially if you ever travel Hoenn's northern seas. They're surprisingly cold." He spoke from experience, having made several trips to Shoal Cave himself.

Neither the Bastiodon nor the Vanilluxe caught Josh's interest, the wide Pokémon retreating after seeing the violent battle Zakuro's team engaged the ice-type in. "Having a good time?" Josh asked after the pinkette's Poké Ball flew toward the floating blue wild. "If you want, we can go a bit faster! These Pyroar can put on some real speed."