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Caleb was tired. Overworked, really. On top of all the other bizarre anomalies taking place in Hoenn, poisonous gas and swamps had started cropping up all over the region. The Rangers were run ragged, scrambling to evacuate civilians and Pokemon from the corrupted areas. It reminded him all too much of the toxic sludge that had plagued Motostoke when he'd been...king?[break][break]
Nox clicked a warning, and Caleb shook himself from his reverie. Expecting to see a patch of poisonous bog in front of them, instead he saw...a girl? A girl laying in the grass. A girl laying in the grass unmoving.[break][break]
He didn't think twice: he began sprinting. Within seconds, the Ranger and his Lokix were crouched beside the girl. Caleb gently turned her over - was she dead!? No...no wait, she was breathing. He let out a sigh of relief, glad he wouldn't need to test his CPR skills.[break][break]
She was alive, but what the hell had happened to her? Examining her a bit closer, he could see that she had a nasty bump on her head, but that seemed to be her only injury. Concern coloring his expression, he turned to Nox, who shrugged, pointing at three figures nearby: Pokemon, Caleb realized. The girl's Pokemon?[break][break]
"What happened here?" He asked the trio, looking between them with obvious anxiety. He glanced back down at the girl, gently shaking her by the shoulders.[break][break]
"Hey! Can you hear me?"[break][break]

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Caleb stared, slack-jawed, at the trio of Pokemon. They were attempting to explain the situation, he knew, but it wasn't making a ton of sense. Was the girl's Wigglytuff laughing?[break][break]
Nox hopped over to the Primeape, chittering animatedly and gesturing with his thin arms. As they tried to communicate, Caleb glanced back down at the girl - only to see that she was starting to move.[break][break]
She was clearly disoriented - and in pain - so the last thing he wanted to do was startle her further. He backed up slightly, trying to look totally unassuming, like there was no way he could have been involved in her "accident" - or worse, like someone trying to rob a defenseless, passed-out child.[break][break]
"Hi there," he said, keeping his tone friendly. "My name's Caleb, and I'm a Ranger."[break][break]
Seeing her try - and fail - to stand, Caleb took out another Pokeball, releasing Comet. The Lucario, keen as he was, immediately sensed the need for aid. Lowering his head, he generated a HEAL PULSE, directing it towards the girl and hoping it would make some kind of difference.[break][break]
"I, uh, found you laying on the ground while I was passing through this area. How did that happen, exactly? Do you remember?"

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Caleb looked between the girl and her Primeape, obviously still bemused.[break][break]
"He...punched you," he echoed, making sure he'd heard that right.[break][break]
But then she continued on with her explanation, and the title martial artist finally set things straight. She was training with her Pokemon, and it had gone too far. That made sense, he supposed.[break][break]
He was relieved to hear she hadn't encountered anything dangerous in these woods, at least. Not yet, anyway.[break][break]
Which, actually, gave him an idea.[break][break]
"If you're looking to train, maybe you can help me out with something," he offered.[break][break]
Technically, he wasn't supposed to let civilians get involved in Ranger business, but she was already here and if he walked away, what if she did end up getting attacked? At least this way, he could keep an eye on her.[break][break]
"There are supposedly poisonous crystablooms growing in this forest, causing toxic swamps and gas to ruin the ecosystem. Might even be rampaging poison Pokemon about. I'm supposed to clear the area."[break][break]
He shrugged, glancing at her trio of Pokemon. Nox clicked, as if in support of Caleb's idea.[break][break]
"Would probably go faster if you and your Pokemon tagged along."

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Her enthusiasm was admirable, considering she had just recovered from a nasty punch to the head. It was the sort of grit the League needed right now, he realized. She might be young, but they were living in an "all hands on deck" sort of timeline these days.[break][break]
"Elite Ranger out of Slateport," he confirmed. "We're recruiting right now, if that sort of work interests you. No pressure, though."[break][break]
He wasn't going to force anyone to join their ranks, didn't sit well with him after being coerced into Team Rocket in his youth - even if becoming a Ranger was a far more altruistic path to take. Caleb felt strongly about personal choice.[break][break]
"Anyway, if you're all good to get going..." He eyed her, just to make sure she could actually keep up. "Follow me."[break][break]
He motioned for Nox and Comet, whistling softly. The two scurried off to scout ahead, and Caleb began walking in the direction he had originally been heading before he'd run into Thea. His nose itched, an acidic scent to the air as he continued deeper into the forest, confirming that he was getting close to the epicenter of the poison outbreak.[break][break]
After a few footfalls, he glanced back to see if she and her Pokemon were actually trailing after him.

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Thea's obvious passion for training brought a smile to Caleb's lips.[break][break]
"Well, if you can convince him, you'll make a good Ranger someday," he decided. "Being a successful Ranger starts with having the right attitude, and you strike me as a hard worker."[break][break]
Perhaps too hard, if she regularly trained with her own Pokemon to a could-get-knocked-out degree.[break][break]
For Caleb, becoming a Ranger had been a pretty dismal affair. He'd still been depressed back then, fighting through the traumatic aftermath of his escape from Kanto. It had taken a lot of kicks in the ass, patience, and the right connections to push Caleb to become the man he was now, with the sort of attitude he was advising Thea to adopt.[break][break]
He would always be imperfect and irredeemable, but at least now, he was making more of a difference. That's what mattered.[break][break]
"I don't know a whole lot about Crystablooms," he admitted, as they neared a patch of noxious flowers dripping with a purple sludge. The acidic scent hung heavy in the air, wrapping around them like a thick fog. Caleb's nose scrunched and his brow furrowed as he considered how to clear up this mess. "They have something to do with Illumina Pokemon - you know, the glowy ones. Ever seen one? Anyway, we need to get rid of these."[break][break]
A hiss sounded from behind Caleb and Thea: a pair of Seviper had emerged from the underbrush, teeth barred and eyes red with rage. Either the poisonous environment had heightened their aggression or they were simply pissed two trainers had stomped through their home.[break][break]
"Watch out," he warned Thea, taking a step back to allow Nox and Comet more room to defend them from the angry serpents.

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Caleb's Pokemon were seasoned fighters; they didn't need to be told what to do, they simply rushed right into battle.[break][break]
Nox punched the first Seviper with a FIRST IMPRESSION, knocking it backwards in a flurry of green energy. Comet streaked like his namesake, shining with gathered aura and EXTREME SPEED, to attack the second snake. Together, they pummeled the wild Pokemon into the ground, making room for whatever back-up Thea's Pokemon would be able to provide. Poison acid sprayed forth in retaliation, but Caleb ducked quickly - pulling Thea along with him.[break][break]
"Allright, let's see what you can do," he encouraged the girl. "But don't over do it. I don't want you fainting again!"

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