the bats were not the immediate threat. up in the sky, perhaps even out of the head ranger’s field of vision, a roaring moon had appeared and decided to pursue lulu’s noctowl. the two bats struggled to keep up at the rear as the chase arced lower towards the ground, heading straight for lars’ position.[break][break]

as a flamethrower ripped from the dragon’s maw, lulu bailed off her bird into the sand. singed feathers floated down in its wake as noctowl then led the roaring moon back up into the air. it was too slow to keep any distance between them.[break][break]

with a groan, lulu sat up in the sand. when her gaze fell on lars, however, she was quick to get fully to her feet. her eyes passed between the roaring moon and him.[break][break]

it occurred to her that she could not take them both at once. however, anything he sent out to use against her would also be at the mercy of the very angry or hungry dragon.[break][break]

”damn paradox pokémon, right?”[break][break]

she wiped a bit of blood from her cheek and quit eyeing at him, gaze to the sky as she hoped for the best outcome—and that lars was too tired to start shit when he was all by himself. [break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Laurence Anderson [break][break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a RT Battle/Mission.[break]
+ 10 MP for spawning a paradox pokemon.[break]
total: 80 MP[break][break]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-noctowl"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-golbat"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-golbat"][break]

the flamethrower swept across the sand, and again, lulu was just able to dodge out of the way.[break][break]

”what’s that supposed to mean?” she called over, just as the ranger’s dusknoir appeared from his shadow. as lulu had hoped, their attack landed on the paradox pokemon–and not her noctowl.[break][break]

just as it was nearly within reach of the dragon, the owl maneuvered itself sharply to the side. the roaring moon passed, and a night shade sparkled around it.[break][break]

as lulu watched the battle, she calculated her exit.[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Laurence Anderson [break][break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a RT Battle/Mission.[break]
total: 90 MP[break][break]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-noctowl"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-golbat"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-golbat"][break]

”important, eh?” she sent a bloody grin his way, high off fiery heat and adrenaline from near-death. ”i’m blushing.”[break][break]

shit.[break][break]

there was a screech from her owl above as it was clawed into and dragged through the air for a distance before breaking free. she shaded her gaze from the sun with her hand to see it happen.[break][break]

”i’d rather not battle you, lars,” she admitted as she watched. ”why don’t we just pretend we didn’t see each other?”[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Laurence Anderson [break][break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a RT Battle/Mission.[break]
total: 90 MP[break][break]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-noctowl"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-golbat"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-golbat"][break]

”just glad to be alive, i guess. i’m tired of war.”[break][break]

she had experienced some close calls. in particular, against freya morningstar, her strange bow and arrows, and her fleet of lizards.[break][break]

”nab it? absolutely not. i’m tying to get away from it.”[break][break]

the bats, while slower than both noctowl and certainly roaring moon, managed to get close enough with patience to deliver a dual air cutter.[break][break]

”i have enough to study. they don’t belong in this world, and i’d rather they disappear, back to their realm.”[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Laurence Anderson [break][break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a RT Battle/Mission.[break]
total: 100 MP[break][break]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-noctowl"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-golbat"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-golbat"][break]

before she could answer lars, the roaring moon suddenly whipped around, choosing to take quick shot at the golbat that got too close. teeth found purchase on a wing proceeded to brutally rip it from the bat’s body.[break][break]

it spiraled down through the air, and lulu lunged through the sand to catch it in her arms. it bled profusely, though the solid black of the scientist’s clothing hid the growing stain well enough.[break][break]

her jaw set in anger. pain was in her eyes as the life faded from her pokemon.[break][break]

appeased by the blood and flesh, the paradox pokémon flew off, leaving the chaotic skirmish behind.[break][break]

roaring moons had been following her relentlessly, almost as though they were cursed. she wondered if it was not the work of the league.[break][break]

bitterness grew at the thought.[break][break]

”you’re right. i am,” she finally confirmed, eyes looking back up to articuno’s avatar. on top of bitterness, she realized her jealousy. ”maybe we should fight then.”[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Laurence Anderson [break][break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a RT Battle/Mission.[break]
+ 200 MP pokémon death.[break]
total: 310 MP[break][break]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-noctowl"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-golbat"]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-golbat"][break]

what remained of the mangled body of her bat was laid on the ground with more tenderness than she had given elsewhere during the war, for the death of a klinklang or magnezone.[break][break]

she realized that her flock had grown on her just as her dogs had, and as penrose had as well. they were companions.[break][break]

i’m sorry.[break][break]

a signal was thrown to the remaining bat, and it flew off into the sky, away from the island.[break][break]

her noctowl remained, a few feathers torn out here and there, a little blood, but otherwise doing well enough to engage in battle—and quite ready for it.[break][break]

”sure.”

a whistle commanded her bird, and its eyes glowed. night shade shot out of its gaze in two jagged black beams, carving swiftly towards its foe.[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Laurence Anderson [break][break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in a RT Battle/Mission.[break]
total: 320 MP[break][break]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-noctowl"][break]