The councilman trembles, heart still racing from his brush with danger. They'd been warned there might be a little bit of danger going into this tour, but this was not what Orion had expected. Though he wishes nothing more than to demand they turn back, pride keeps him quiet as they forge ahead.

Releasing his purple-hued Swampert provides some small comfort, for the mud fish was a veteran of war and a stalwart companion. Orion rests his hand on the Pokemon's damp flank and wills his heart rate to slow.

"Follow their lead," he urges.

Swampert's muscles tense as it builds up power, releasing a high-pressured hydro pump toward the molten rock.

Orion laughs at Kazimir's question, the sound strained. Secretly, he's grateful for the other's ability to inject humour into the situation. When he glances over to see the other without his shirt, his cheeks flush red and he looks away. "If I close my eyes, maybe I can pretend we're in Lavaridge."

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon swampert shiny"]
HYDRO PUMP / SPECIAL WATER-TYPE / 110BP

[break]

Kazimir Wynter Valerio Dachev Adrian Malcolm

The region was short-handed in the aftermath of war, and volunteers were in high demand. The partner that Leo had been promised had, perhaps, fallen to other commitments... or a worse fate. Not all of the Megalopolans had been flushed out of their hiding places as of yet, and their cannibalistic nature meant that many of the missing were presumed to have been captured.

Regardless of the circumstances, the intended partner had not showed.

"I've got contacts in the Rangers," another volunteer pipes up. "I'll see if they've got anyone free."

It's under these circumstances that, disheveled and looking as if he'd been roused from a midday nap, Orion teleports on the scene. He stifles a yawn against the crook of his elbow and straightens the collar of his dress shirt, offering a sheepish and apologetic glance.

"Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long; Rangers said you guys were looking for an extra pair of hands?" They'd neglected to tell him the finer details, and so he addresses the bespectacled man. "What's the job?"

The Alakazam who'd brought him here vanishes in a flash of light, returning to its ball.

"Oh, uh — Orion Lykos, by the way."

[break]

leo del río

The tension in Orion's muscles only worsens as the ground trembles, his attention diverted from the Ninetales to focus upon the fissure in the earth. As the floor begins to fall away, Orion yelps in alarm and loses his footing, falling—

A bright flash of light reveals his Silvally, the large chimera breaking his fall upon its back and leaping clear of the magma and sharp spears of rock to land on safer ground. Winded by the impact, Orion's thanks comes silent as he winds his fingers through Silvally's mane, wheezing.

"Percy," he chokes out, when he has breath enough to speak. Then, "I-Is everyone all right?"

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon silvally"]
SILVALLY / LEGENDARY POKEMON

[break]

Kazimir Wynter Valerio Dachev Adrian Malcolm

Harvesting x3 SALAC from 12/12.
Purchasing x3 SALAC for 150PD to replant.

The councilman's Chandelure was of a lonely nature, drifting toward its fellow fire Pokemon upon being released from its pokeball as if to share in their warmth, their company. Orion eyes Kazimir's aggressive fox with evident trepidation, beckoning the spectral chandelier back to his side.

What's wrong with it? None of his other Pokemon seemed so... But, then, how well did he know Kazimir, really? Aside from their foray into Space, during which time they'd been under immense pressure, he didn't know the man or his Pokemon at all.

He finds he can't draw his gaze away from the fox as his Chandelure whirls in place, the spinning fire from its candles leaving scorch marks on the stone.

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon chandelure"]
FIRE SPIN / FIRE-TYPE / 35 BP
shop request for the temporary move swap

[break]

Kazimir Wynter Valerio Dachev Adrian Malcolm

from my PC
LEVEL TUTOR to teach Chandelure HEX -> FIRE SPIN.
LEVEL TUTOR to revert FIRE SPIN -> HEX.

Just needed Fire Spin for Adventours, so temporary change!

It's with relief that the councilman returns his Tentacruel in favour of a Hydreigon. Its heads growl and snap and bicker amongst themselves, but the ire is no longer directed at him.

"Might want to stand back."

He takes his own advice, backing up against the farthest wall as Hydreigon summons draco meteors to slam against the vulnerable points of another.

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon hydreigon"]
DRACO METEOR / DRAGON-TYPE / 130 BP

[break]

Kazimir Wynter Valerio Dachev Adrian Malcolm

from my PC
MOVE TUTOR to teach Hydreigon BREAKING SWIPE -> DRACO METEOR.

Though he'd neglected to address it at first due to his own anger and discomfort, the councilman rubs at the back of his neck and finally insists, "You, ah, you can just call me Orion." Second-guessing himself, he adds a quick, "If you want."

He's grown accustomed to being addressed as 'sir' and 'councilman' and 'Mr. Lykos' over the last year, but he thinks it'll never feel right.

He doesn't say more on the subject of Annie, for his eyes burn and his throat closes up at the mere thought. That she'd lost her life to her own Pokemon, a member of what she'd have called her family, was so much worse than if she'd died in the war like so many others.

Focusing on the task to divert his train of thought, Orion directs his Pokemon to carefully position the Braviary at the base of the tree. He didn't want to put it up with the nest in case it panicked upon waking and hurt itself, or worse, its eggs.

"Thanks for the quick response," Orion says at last, breaking a silence he found awkward.

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon espeon"] [attr="class","pokesprite pokemon slowking"] [attr="class","pokesprite pokemon silvally"]

Raziel Beckett

As the Braviary succumbs to slumber, Espeon and Slowking carefully lower it to the ground before releasing their psychic hold. Orion crouches down next to the unconscious bird to check it over for injuries, comparing the tail-feather to those still intact. They were of similar length and colouration, leading him to believe it had definitely once belonged to the avian.

Espeon chirps at him, and Orion finally lapses into a smile as he hands her the feather. She takes it daintily in her jaws, tail waving happily.

The back of Orion's neck prickles uncomfortably when Razz brings up the elephant in the room; Orion had been hoping he wouldn't. With his anger fading, embarrassment takes its place. You're a Ranger and a councilman. Your public image is important.

"Your plan was a good one." Though his tone suggests a reluctance to the admission, there's something genuine in his eyes when he forces himself to look at the younger Ranger. "I'm protective of Percy. I know everyone's heard what happened to Annie—"

His voice breaks, slightly, and he looks away as his cheeks flush with colour. It was still an open wound. He swallows hard, clears his throat.

"Frankie. That was the name of her — her Pokemon. They were friends. I still can't believe —" He cuts himself off and shakes his head. "But that happens, sometimes. You hear stories of those Pokemon that get corrupted by the Ultra Beasts, and all. Turn on the trainers who raised them. Doesn't mean we should treat 'em all like villains." He pauses, awkward. "Sorry, I, uh, didn't mean to get preachy."

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon espeon"] [attr="class","pokesprite pokemon slowking"] [attr="class","pokesprite pokemon silvally"]

Raziel Beckett

It's the onset of threat and battle that sees Orion's attitude shift toward something more cooperative; Razz gets a curt nod in response as Orion takes shelter behind Silvally's bulk.

But though Espeon does her best to hold the Braviary back, Orion's partnered with her long enough to recognize stress in her expression and in the frantic twitch of her tail. She's putting herself under too much strain.

As a veteran of the recent Lilycove battle, Slowking was in the Ranger's reserves, but Orion reluctantly calls him out for a task of such importance. His psychic terrain spreads across the battlefield in a rippling wave of energy that bolsters its psychic allies. Espeon trills her thanks, and Slowking adds his own psychic force to the mix. Braviary caws furiously as it wars with an invisible force, eventually pinned in place.

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon espeon"] [attr="class","pokesprite pokemon slowking"] [attr="class","pokesprite pokemon silvally"]

Raziel Beckett

Orion continues to sulk in silence as he listens to the other; there's a petty part of him that wants to contest the suggested plan simply for the sake of being difficult, but he doesn't give in to the urge.

Instead, he swaps out his Absol for an Espeon who's helping hand sought to bolster the feline's pyschic powers.

It's his Espeon, too, whose future sight alerts her to the incoming threat. She chirps in warning, deflecting the diving Braviary with psychic energy. Silvally shoves Orion out of the way and growls low in its throat, the fur rippling along its white mane.

"We're not here to hurt you!" The Braviary shrieks and lunges for him with its talons, only to be intercepted by Silvally's iron head. The chimera does not attack, shoving the bird back and digging its claws into the earth as it hovers between the wild Pokemon and its Ranger allies. "Or your eggs!"

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon espeon"] [attr="class","pokesprite pokemon silvally"]

Raziel Beckett