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


Her footsteps don't echo quite as loud as they used to - maybe she's stepping lighter today. Her thoughts are jumbled, her mind is ticking but she can't seem to sit still. She's restless.[break][break]

And now frustrated and mildly annoyed to find that there's not just a person in her way, but a giant sleeping Steelix. It's body is completely motionless as it lays there, blocking the path. There's no way around it.[break][break]

The man speaks to her, throwing an apologetic frown over his shoulder. Her expression remains muted and moody and she offers no relief.[break][break]
"Rangers asking random civilians for help? How short-staffed are you?"[break][break]

She says this mostly under her breath, a fleeting comment that she mildly regrets the moment she's said it. With a small sigh and a roll of her shoulders, she closes her eyes and shakes her head from side to side slightly in exasperation.[break][break]

The regular routes had been blocked up with terrible drivers and citizens desperate to get home for the holidays and the like - so she had stuck with using underground traveling routes and keeping a low-profile. She was listless, bored, anticipating something, anything. I guess this was her sign.[break][break]

"Fine, fine. I can't guarantee as little damage as possible - I'm no ranger."[break][break]

From her belt she releases a Noivern. The Pokemon's eyes adjust easily to the dim light and she crouches next to Emma, waiting for orders. There's a poise to her shoulders, a determination that is unlike a regular trainer's Pokemon. [break][break]

"Make that Steelix move."[break][break]

And so, Noivern begins to send supersonic noise bursts down the tunnel, her clicking impossibly annoying and hard on the ears. Her own ears quiver atop her head as she performs her duty.

mission
Emma Wolfe

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


Emma is quickly aware that Orion had heard her backhanded comment - but she offers him no apology or indication of remorse. Instead, she remains stone-faced and placid. [break][break]

It doesn't surprise her that the league is unable to hit all the bases. They've never been good at spreading themselves thin, never willing to ask for help. Perhaps that's why she reacted so coldly, she was surprised that he had even asked for help at all. It was very unleague-like.[break][break]

Which is probably why she agreed to help despite not particularly feeling generous. [break][break]

So when he accepts her help, she once again responds with silence, because she doesn't really care if he's grateful or not. She will do what she wants to do, and that's all.[break][break]

Noivern's boomburst seems to have been effective, and as the dragon reclines back and adjusts her wings, she stands stoically as the man's Absol leaps in front of her to protect her from the Steelix's retaliation. Emma feels gravel mark her cheek, a thin line of blood stretching across her cheekbone.[break][break]

Orion makes a comment that goes ignored, because she's already reaching for two more pokeballs. A Houndoom and Umbreon stand at either side, the demon dog's mouth froths with anticipation, his eyes wild as his wickedly hooked horns angle down, illuminated by the fire between his teeth.[break][break]

"Deal with it, quickly."[break][break]

Noivern sidesteps as the two canine Pokemon launch past the bat. Houndoom's howl reverberates the room and he slides to a halt before blasting an intense flamethrower down the tunnel, it's power boosted by some mysterious power granted by Umbreon's helping hand. The flames lick angrily up the side of the Steelix's metal hide, melting it.[break][break]

The wild Pokemon's scream is ear-piercing.

mission
Emma Wolfe

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


The Umbreon, following his partner's flaming attack, notices immediately the feminine and elegant presence of his evolution counterpart. For a moment the dark type Pokemon is distracted, intrigued. Emma's energy seems to radiate irritation or a warning, however, and her focus on his body forces the Pokemon to refocus and pointedly stare at only the Steelix.[break][break]

"Do not lose focus."[break][break]

Emma's Pokemon continue to repeat the same strategy because, despite the Steelix's attempts to defend itself and fight back, it has begun to retreat.[break][break]

It's impressive to watch the Espeon psychically redirect the wild Pokemon's tail into the ground instead of crushing the Swampert, and Emma watches cautiously as her Houndoom launches forward to snap his jaws tight at the base of it's tail - flames licking between his teeth as he contines to utilize his fire fang attack. Umbreon is focused only on his helping hand, it seems.

mission
Emma Wolfe

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


Emma is neither kind or unkind. Her Pokemon are assigned to protect her, and they know their jobs or she leaves them behind. There is no love from her, and whether or not they feel any emotion stronger than a desire to complete their task - is lost on her.[break][break]

The Steelix's screech is deafening, and for a moment Emma's ears ring terribly. Her jaw tightens as her posture crumbles, ears clasping to her ears as pain makes her entire body tremble. They needed to get out of this cave before their eardrums burst. [break][break]

Noivern seems even worsely affected by the noise, her gigantic ears swallowing the grating noise more effectively than most. She, too, crumples under the noise and cries out in agony, her ears shaking as she struggles to recover.[break][break]

Orion's command for his Swampert is muffled as the woman blinks her eyes open in time to watch the dual-type charge. She doesn't catch if the attack lands, but she witnesses the Pokemon disappear under the earth. The cave trembles for a moment before falling deathly silent. She can hear her own heartbeat pound in her ears, her breath slip past her lips. Emma sucks in a breath just as the Steelix re-emerges, and she takes a step back, arm rising to shield her face.[break][break]

Noivern has slapped her wings back, protecting Emma from debris that threatens to crush her, but the Steelix isn't interested in them. It's pinned and slammed the Espeon before retreating. Umbreon's ears flatten as he watches the Pokemon lay motionless. One paw moves forward, as if he's considering coming to her aid.[break][break]

His trainer misses this moment of hesitation because her focus is rattled. The ground is unsteady and she's overstayed her welcome. It's become dangerous and unstable and the Steelix has only grown more aggressive.[break][break]

"Drive it back, Noivern."[break][break]

Muscles are taut in the dragon Pokemon's shoulders as she drags herself foward. Her ears pivot to face the Steelix just as it acts out, preparing to slam and decimate the wounded Espeon in her vulnerable state. Moments before the Steelix could retaliate, deal what might have been the final blow, a flash of black and gold charges between it and the Espeon, his teeth sinking hard into her purple fur as he uses quick attack to grab hold of her and pull her from harm.[break][break]

Noivern has generated an incredibly hot and uncomfortable heat wave in that window, the powerful fire-type attack forcing its way down the tunnel and culling any oxygen. The air is tight, humid, painful.[break][break]

Umbreon breathes heavily, as does Emma and her Noivern. It's unclear in the mess if Steelix still moves.

mission
Emma Wolfe

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


Umbreon stands over the broken figure of the Espeon for a long moment, only moving when she seems to regain conciousness. By that time, he's retreated, eyes unreadable and posture stiff. There's the subtlest tail movement at Orion's thanks. [break][break]

The dark-type Pokemon nimbly crosses the tunnel to return to Emma's side when the Espeon is returned to her pokeball. He averts his gaze, staring down the tunnel after the Steelix that had since disappeared.[break][break]

At the mention of her Noivern, Emma glances at the Pokemon whose head hangs low - eyes dim with pain. Orion seems concerned, something that surprises her. Emma remains quiet for a moment. [break][break]

"She'll survive."[break][break]

As she says this, she returns the Noivern to her pokeball and the tunnel seems to swell with more light from the other side. The dragon's body and wings had been blocking it. Umbreon remains a mere shadow at his master's heels. His glowing gold hoops blink softly.[break][break]

The woman watches Orion's face for a moment as if looking for something. It's unclear what her thoughts might be as she makes her way past him, following the direction she had previously come from. It seemed she had changed her mind on following the tunnel as she had originally intended.