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

Stormy had taken heed of the village's worries. Yet another year had passed and with it, another threat of dragons. It felt like only yesterday she had helped drive back and eventually capture the rampaging Drampa that had been causing trouble last year. And yet, once again, she found herself faced with another dragon-related attack. Or, suspected dragon attack.[break][break]

She had mounted up her Charizard and pursued another young man who had, at the time, agreed to look into the threat. He rode his Garchomp into the storm that hadn't yet been a storm. One minute the weather was sunny and clear, not a hint of rain or wind to disrupt their journey, and the next, Stormy was pulling her jacket over her head and mouth to prevent drowning mid-air.[break][break]

The Charizard seemed only mildly put off by the sudden weather change, her black scales slick with rain as she pursued the now fuzzy image of Remiel and his Garchomp as they flew not too far ahead.[break][break]

"Be careful! Don't let the wind grab you!"[break][break]

She yells this as they grow nearer inland. The waves seem to crash relentlessly against the shore, pulling debris and fallen trees and the like into the dark and mysterious depths. Wadjet is mindful to drop them off further inland, and she pulls her hood up over her head to cover her rain-soaked hair.[break][break]

"This weather is definitely unnatural."[break][break]

She says this breathlessly as she glances over at her partner who she assumed had landed not far away from her.[break][break]

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[break]

Rain hung from her chin, dripping endlessly down her neck and into her shirt under her rain coat. She looks bedraggled and small in comparison to Remiel, to his Garchomp, to her own Charizard. Their darkness seems to swallow her whole almost as she pales in comparison. But it's the fire in her eyes, the passion and determination that makes it reasonable she's even here.[break][break]

Her hand presses against the warm skin of her own Pokemon, and Wadjet's rumble is comforting and quiet, barely heard over the rumble of thunder in the sky. [break][break]

"I've never been good at taking hints."[break][break]

Stormy winks at her comment, glancing up at the Charizard. The Pokemon's focus is on the mouth of the cave and she seems to breath heavily, steadily.[break][break]

"What do you think, girl? Is there something scary in there? Think we can handle it? Cause I know for damn sure we can."[break][break]

She gives the beast a pat and the Pokemon shifts her weight, her tail sweeping around her trainer protectively as steam rolls off of her scales.[break][break]

"Of course we're prepared. Let's get in there."[break][break]

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[break]

Stormy is impressed, genuinely, by the silent and confident orders he gives his Garchomp. As the dragon-type Pokemon buries itself in the damp earth to almost certainly reappear later, when he was needed, Stormy looks back to Remiel. [break][break]

She follows him quietly as the trio make their way into the mouth of the cave. The moment they're out of the rain, Wadjet shakes the water from her scales and huffs, her flaming tail blazing stronger and brighter to help illuminate the cave.[break][break]

With a loose tug, Stormy pulls her hood down to reveal her damp hair and cheeks. She tucks squid-like strands of hair from her face and neck as she takes in her surroundings.[break][break]

Everything within seems muted and intense. There's a serious sense of foreboding and unease. She can feel her skin prickle with goosebumps the further they go in. It's almost as if the cave itself is breathing.[break][break]

Remiel turns to speak to her and Stormy's mouth hangs open in shock at his blunt and surprising suggestion.[break][break]

"W-what? I don't think that that's any of your business."[break][break]

It doesn't even occur to her that he's joking, and she completely forgets the first part of his questin - she's been caught so off guard.[break][break]

[nospaces]

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[break]

There's no time to focus on an odd choice of words because something screams from deep inside the damp and muggy cave that sends shivers down her spine. It doesn't sound natural, and it sounds full of pain and confusion. It lumbers toward them, its eyes glassy, unseeing, unfeeling. And yet it feels, it feels nothing but pain.[break][break]

Remiel seems to recognize the beast, speaking confidently about what it is we're facing, warning her against its strengths. Wadjet rumbles, her weight shifting as her tail curls around Stormy's feet. Her warmth is intense, as if she's literally heating up in preparation. It makes the humidity just a little bit more disgusting.[break][break]

"Okay. Be careful, yourself."[break][break]

She breathes quietly, before gesturing silently to her Pokemon for it to follow her. Wadjet doesn't need more encouragement, but there's a subtle prickle of fear in the beast. Water has never been a friend of hers.[break][break]

The Dracovish's roar is nearly deafening, and as stalagmites drop from the ground and crumble on impact, it makes the entire cavern feel a little bit too close quarters. This would be a dangerous mission, surely. [break][break]

And then Stormy witnesses Remiel stand there, open armed, waiting for apparent death. Stormy feels her breath catch in her throat, horror filling her as the imagination of his ravaged body enters her thoughts.[break][break]

"Wadjet!"[break][break]

The black Charizard moves, putting herself behind the Dracovish as it charges Remiel. The mouth of the cave remains open and now is her chance. The dampness makes it more difficult, but she begins to charge a powerful

solar beam

while Remiel distracts the Pokemon.[break][break]

"When I say duck, you duck. Do you hear me?"[break][break]

Stormy shouts as Wadjet's mouth begins to fill up with pulsing green energy. It will take her a moment without the help of the sun bearing down on her body, but once it's charged, she fully intends on blasting the Dracovish out of its hole in the earth and outside where they can tackle it properly.[break][break]

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[break]

Stormy covers her ears, because the rattling of the cavern and the bellow of the Dracovish and the upturning of the earth is deafening.[break][break]

A blur appears from the ground just in front of Remiel, the Garchomp's body acting like a shield as it's arm comes up to knock the wild Pokemon out of it's attack. The scream of pain is ear-piercing as the Pokemon is blown backwards in the impact. [break][break]

It staggers and recovers quickly, fully prepared to go at it again. It charges for the pair but they move like liquid. Remiel and Garchomp take heed of Stormy's earlier warning, and Wadjet takes one careful step forward as her

solar beam

finalizes.[break][break]

"Don't stop moving!"[break][break]

Stormy screams just as the solar beam sears through the narrow opening, blindsiding the rampaging monstrosity. It is sent forcefully out of the cave and onto the damp sand. It doesn't move for several moments and Stormy is left breathless and visibly shaken, having nearly witnessed Wadjet annihilate everyone in her path.[break][break]

The Charizard pants, chest rising and falling heavily as her mouth hangs open and her eyes stare straight forward. [break][break]

"We don't have much time, it might get back up."[break][break]

Because, after all, this was a Pokemon she had never encountered before. She didn't know what to expect. It seemed to have recovered quickly from the Garchomps earlier attack - who knew if this solar beam had even injured it at all.[break][break]

Stormy reaches for Wadjet as the pair blast out of the opening, Stormy pressed flat against the Pokemon's back as they reappear outside, hovering above the scene and giving themselves some space in the air to catch their breath. [break][break]

In the meantime, they wait to see what the Dracovish might do.[break][break]

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[break]

The Dracovish writhes on the ground outside, fighting to regain control of its limbs and its thoughts. He's rattled, confused, angry.[break][break]

Stormy and Wadjet hover overtop of it, watching with muted expressions as it fights itself. Remiel joins her not long after, and the woman glances at him. [break][break]

"You called it a Dracovish? What is that? It doesn't even look.. real. It looks wrong."[break][break]

Surely this couldn't be an actual Pokemon, one of natural birth.[break][break]

And then the Dracovish collects himself and bursts from the ground, lunging for the low-flying Stormy and Charizard. The black beast bellows in surprise, wings widening as she attempts to steer clear. Fortunately, Remiel's Garchomp responds quicker, and the Dracovish's feet get lost in the sand as the

sand tomb

hurries to bury it.[break][break]

It's enough for Wadjet to narrowly dodge the wild Pokemon's attack, and the two catch their breath a fair distance away, visibly shaken.[break][break]

"That thing can't be natural. Nothing I've ever seen is this.. feral and unstable."[break][break]