[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

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

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","post"]

The opportunity to strike presented itself in the form of a rustling patch of grass. Rhys tensed, ready for an attack, and a Yamper wearing a broad, happy canine grin bounded out across the path, carrying itself with dubious grace on its stubby little legs. Rhys sighed, relaxing, as the little dog caught sight of him and waddled over, sitting happily at his feet.
[break][break]
Rhys glanced from the Yamper to the inscrutably pensive Alakazam at his side, and back. He felt badly about using this particular pokemon for training, and it seemed somehow unfair to consider it when the thing was just as happy to approach him and park itself as it was to dive right back into the grass where it came from.
[break][break]
Looking around for the Safari Warden, Rhys lifted a foot and nudged the Yamper experimentally with the toe of his loafer. "Come on, little guy, you have to make this look good. Can you play dead?"
[break][break]
The Yamper offered a cheerful bark tinged with static and promptly flopped onto his side, tongue lolling out dramatically. 'Well,' Rhys thought to himself as he tossed a Safari ball at the 'incapacitated' dog, 'If only some people listened as well as that, mm?'

[attr="class","pkmn"]

[attr="class","credit"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

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

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","post"]

While the Yamper hadn't offered the training he'd have preferred to give his Alakazam, Rhys found himself quietly charmed at the canine's readiness to travel with him - although he wouldn't tell anyone, not that he particularly had anyone to tell, now.
[break][break]
An Oranguru was next to block their path, the simian lazily fanning itself with a cluster of leaves. Rhys slowed to a halt some distance from the pokemon, aware of its penchant for mental attacks, and gestured for the Alakazam to take care of the seemingly unmotivated roadblock. Floating forward, Alakazam paused before the Oranguru and offered a stern, "Zam."
[break][break]
The ape blinked, nonplussed, and furrowed her brow. From his vantage point, Rhys could see the air rippling as waves of psychic energy converged around Alakazam. The yellow pokemon closed his eyes in concentration, sparks snapping into life in the air as he launched a counterattack.
[break][break]
After moments of a seeming stalemate, one of Alakazam's spoons contorted at a crazy angle, and the Oranguru abruptly reeled backwards, overwhelmed by a sudden surge of power. Satisfyed, Rhys nodded approvingly at his pokemon and they set off on their journey.

[attr="class","pkmn"]

[attr="class","credit"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

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

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","post"]

A whistle sounded behind him, causing Rhys to duck and just barely avoid being clawed by a strangely-colored Bombirdier. He looked around in alarm, attempting to locate his airborne assailant.
[break][break]
Fortunately, Alakazam was not nearly as disoriented, glaring up at the offending avian and launching a SHADOW BALL that slammed into the bird; though the blow seemed to have little effect, it startled the Bombirdier into dropping a handful of heavy rocks from its payload, causing Rhys to take another step to the side as they came thudding down to earth.
[break][break]
"Watch that, would you? Some of us are trying to walk."
[break][break]
Alakazam offered a dry sniff, sending another SHADOW BALL at the bird, who neatly swooped around it, apparently decided that the pair below were more trouble than they were worth, and wheeled off into the distance.
[break][break]
Rhys sent a sideways glance to his Alakazam, though a rueful smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Moving on..."

[attr="class","pkmn"]

[attr="class","credit"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

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

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","post"]

Perfect, Rhys thought to himself with a grin as the next pokemon to cross his path revealed itself.
[break][break]
As a general rule, Rhys was careful about which pokemon he displayed when he was on duty with the public - he didn't necessarily have any social skills that came to mind in a positive way, but he'd heard from previous patients and colleagues that he had a friendly, easygoing manner, and that wasn't a boat he wanted to especially rock.
[break][break]
A pokemon like Koffing offered virtually nothing positive to the environment around it, let alone in a professional medical setting, but Rhys couldn't help that he'd always been fascinated by Poison-types, and that fascination had carried on into various side projects in his current capacity.
[break][break]
With this philosophy in mind, he glanced to Alakazam, lifting an eyebrow. "Please don't kill it," he murmured. Alakazam let out a soft scoff, as if to say 'no promises', and fired a SHADOW BALL that burst against the Koffing, sending it spiraling to the ground in a twisting miasma of smoke.
[break][break]
Rhys wasted no time in throwing a Safari Ball, snapping the fallen pokemon up in a beam of red light. "Thank you," he quipped dryly.

[attr="class","pkmn"]

[attr="class","credit"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

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

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","post"]

Pleased with the capture of the Koffing - and his Alakazam's ability to hold back against an outclassed opponent, which he was certain would come in handy somehow even if he couldn't quite come up with a viable scenario at this particular juncture - Rhys nearly tripped over a small obstruction on his path, drawing back as he saw the small purple shape sitting in the middle of the walkway.
[break][break]
He peered at the Toxel unscrupulously, and the small pokemon stared back with a blank gaze, blinking slowly. "Hey there, little fella, are you lost?" The Toxel responded with a loud coo, blowing a purple bubble that drifted a few inches before popping in a small wisp of smoke.
[break][break]
Rhys stared at the spot where the bubble popped, then back to the Toxel, who was currently occupied making grabby-hands at the irritable man. Alakazam eyed the tiny pokemon suspiciously, but Rhys stood and shook his head decisively. "Nope. Don't even think about it. I'm fairly sure you could be brought up on charges."
[break][break]
He was nearly out of Safari Balls, but this was a wise choice to make, and besides - he thought as he tossed the ball - it didn't seem as though the small thing had any family to miss it.

[attr="class","pkmn"]

[attr="class","credit"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

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

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","post"]

Absurdly pleased with his capt- er, rescue of the small Toxel, Rhys was lighthearted and light-footed on the way back to the entrance of the Safari Zone, Alakazam floating behind with his arms crossed petulantly.
[break][break]
"Here, now," Rhys encouraged, "You did wonderfully, but not everything is an excuse to push combat. Know your strategies, see?"
[break][break]
A small Froakie hopped out of the water from a nearby pond, and Alakazam looked at Rhys expectantly, raising an eyebrow.
[break][break]
"...fine," Rhys allowed, "But hold back again. Careful."
[break][break]
The psychic pokemon hummed an assent, closing his eyes and concentrating. A single spark of pink energy from what had to be the worlds tiniest PSYCHIC winked into existence and tapped against the Froakie's head, sending it flopping backward, eyes spinning.
[break][break]
Rhys grinned, throwing his final Safari ball at the fallen amphibian. "Well done, very well done. Focus is key, I've told you."
[break][break]
Patting the Alakazam absently on the shoulder, he continued on toward the entrance, whistling softly.

[attr="class","pkmn"]

[attr="class","credit"]