'Your past does not dictate your future.'

There was a blink, of course by this point Altra had already scrambled back up onto his feet. More than ready to move to another spot consider it was the Boss himself. Sure.. Team Skull may have been a 'laughing' stock to some.. But Altra wanted to make sure people showed respect even in the ranks.

The Boss deserved that much at least.

"No.. not this time. Spent some time in Jhoto for a bit. Trained a little bit and.. came back." As he usually did. He tried to bring back trinkets, things from his travels. Stuff he found and maybe the team could use. "Found some cool rocks this time." He motioned to the nearby side table. There were some moon stones, a few fire stones, and a weird.. looking green plate that looked way too smooth that was set down.

"The slab felt funny, sooo.. I brought it along." He rubbed his eyes a bit as he tried to rub the sleep out of them.

"Maybe others can use em' or.. something." He did his best to help the Team with what little he could find. And that mattered, in Altra's mind.

"When their creators lived, they were meant to be completely servile to them, and guard the Dragontorch—the source of this land's limitless energy. So when Wyveria fell a thousand years ago, they . . . were put into a stasis." A pause. " . . . Then, within the past few years some of them have inexplicably woken up."

That word.. Artificial.

It felt like it struck through him for some reason. It.. oddly.. hurt to hear. He winced, though Altra attributed it to the pain he felt all over his body from the fight.

".. Artificial.. Why.. would people 'make' Pokémon?" He frowned at this words. It felt.. wrong, but it also bothered him to the core. Especially how it was said these artificial Pokémon were made to be used. On one hand.. he felt bad for the poor things.

On the other, he also felt disgusted that someone would do such an act.

"I noticed. It hit.. really hard. And even my punches barely kept it down for long.." He rubbed the top of one of his hands. The one he used to deck said Ursaluna twice.

send one to have our muses meet for the first time.

“Sorry, were you just talking to me?”

“I think you dropped this.”

“You look lost. Need some help?”

“I don’t usually talk to strangers, but…”

“You’re sitting in my spot.”

“Whoa! Careful!”

“We’ve never met, right? You seem familiar.”

“Is that seat taken?”

“Sorry, I think I just spilled something on you.”

“You’re blocking the doorway.”

“Were you just staring at me?”

“Excuse me, do you know the time?”

“Wait — are you the person I’m supposed to meet?”

“I’ve been sent to find you.”

“Please don’t be alarmed, but I think we have the same bag.”

“Do you work here?”

“I’m fairly certain that’s mine.”

“You’ve got something on your face.”

“Sorry, I thought you were someone else.”

“Do you know the way to ___?”

“You’re hurt. Do you need help?”

“That’s a fine ___ (cloak/hat/book/etc.). Where did you get it?”

“This might sound strange, but can I hide behind you for a moment?”

“You look like you could use a friend.”

“I think your dog just stole my lunch.”

“Hey, you dropped your coin purse.”

“I think we’re stuck in here together.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to overhear, but…”

“Are you the new neighbor?”

“First time in town?”

“I’m not sure if this belongs to you, but…”

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I’ve been hearing a lot about you.”

“Do you mind if I join you?”

“I think you’re in the wrong place.”

“You seem… out of place.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but are you following me?”

“That was a close call.”

“Not to alarm you, but someone’s watching you.”

“Mind if I walk with you?”

“You look like you’re in trouble.”

“Was that your doing back there?”

“You don’t look like you’re from around here.”

“That was impressive. How’d you manage it?”

“I’m guessing you’re not here by accident.”

“Do I want to know what just happened?”

“You might want to keep your voice down.”

“Is it always this strange around here?”

“I have a feeling we’re about to become acquainted whether we like it or not.”

"One of the Guardian Ursaluna . . . I was foolish. If Altra hadn't shown up when he did, I'm . . . not sure what would have happened."

"A guardian ursaluna, this close to the outskirts? Why would it've—" Distressed, Alma gives a small shake of her head in reply, and glances away thoughtfully. She could have continued to scold the boy. She probably had half a mind to, and Nata wouldn't blame her if she did.

But instead, she takes in the breadth of his words, and returns her gaze to Altra. "Thank you for keeping Nata and Opal safe. Let's get back to the pop-up camp. We can look after Opal then."

Of course, he nodded. He only did what he had to do. Leaving Nata and Opal to fend for themselves was just.. well it was wrong. And no amount of bickering was going to stop Altra from trying to be helpful. Especially since he could only make a few dents in it, at best.

That Ursaluna was a force to be reckoned with.. and he was thankful that Malamar had been there when it was. Or else that all would have gone far differently.

Gemma's help was greatly appreciated. Altra winced getting back up onto the Dodtrio, but grit his teeth through it as he was helped up onto it. Breathing a sigh of relief once he was settled on the large bird.

"I'm going to be feeling that for a week.. owww.." He grumbled a bit. Any looks he got, he simply responded with a shrug.

"That Ursaluna managed to hit Opal right into my gut, and I got a few good punches on it too.. so.. going to be sore for a bit." He brushed it off like it was no big deal. And to Altra.. well it wasn't. He was used to getting roughed up. Though usually it was not by a massive, shambling horror of a Pokémon.

Normally it was something dumb like.. miscalculating his footing and tumbling down some rocks, or forgetting a source of light in a dark cave and running into several walls and boulders.. Normal stuff.

"ALTRA, WHEN I SAID THE POKEMON HERE AREN'T LIKE OTHERS, that . . . that's what I meant." The clarification is broken gently. "That thing . . . i—it's hardly even . . . and there's more like it." He would have gone on, despite struggling to find the words to say. However, a feminine voice calls from further down the tunnel, echoing with worry.

"BOYS!" It sounded like Gemma! Nata stumbles as he tries to push himself to his feet, once again resting a palm against the wall in a feeble effort to disguise his injury. From further down the tunnel, two Dodtrio emerge, ridden by familiar faces. Alma practically throws herself off of her mount and bolts towards Nata, only slowing down as she closed the gap to keep herself from practically barreling into the child.

"Nata!" The Handler breathes a sigh of relief, and plants her hands on Nata's shoulders. "Are you boys okay? Are you hurt?!"

"—Alma, I'm okay, I—" "You ran off without a word! Don't ever do that! You might be a trainer now but that hardly means you're prepared to take on a guardian!" "I know . . . I'm sorry, Alma . . ."

"Arceus, you two gave us a scare," Gemma said after her own breath of relief. "Altra, do you know how long its been?" Her scold is clear, but not harsh. "You've been gone over an hour, buddy. You had us really worried."

Once the two adults arrived, Altra.. for now.. remained sitting. He needed a moment to breathe. More so as he saw Alma almost launch herself from the Dodtrio, he couldn't help but chuckle a bit. Still, hearing Nata downplay his injuries, the teen shook his head.

"Nata's ankle might be a bit bruised up, it got caught under some fallen rocks. But.. shouldn't be too bad." Not even bothering to mention his own as he slowly pulled himself to stand up. His limbs were starting to get sore, and his abdomen was definitely going to be bruised come morning.

"Opal and I held off that.. thing until a massive Malamar showed up and finished the job." He was straight and forward with them at least on that, and as he finally got himself to stand up, he used the wall to elan on, but winced at Gemma's words.

"I.. lost track of time. It's hard to track it when you can't see the sun. I thought I was only gone for like.. twenty minuets." He sighed, looking down sadly. Of course, he also got heavily distracted by the humming coming from the Wyrmway.

Even if he hadn't seen the blows that Altra had taken, the older's exhaustion was quite obvious, so Nata grants him a few feet of space, at least for a few moments, so that the other could catch his bearings. Slowly, the boy sinks onto his rump, taking the opportunity to do the same.

Guilt so easily bubbles up in him. Nata is forlorn and remorseful, and such a feeling is plainly written across his face. He glances at Altra thoughtfully, and then breaks eye contact, gaze falling upon the ground with shame instead.

For the moment, Altra was just happy to relax and have a break. Letting everything catch up, even if the pain in his gut was quite annoying. He knew it'd pass in time, some good rest and a chance to recover would be all he needed in the end.

So for now, he relished in the silence, just happy that it's over and that Nata was safe. But once the silence was ended by the other speaking up, Altra couldn't help but frown.

His brows furrowed as the other spoke, more so what he had to say. At this point, he'd cooled off. He figured the other was just worried for others and had his reasons.. he didn't expect any apology.

"It's fine.. I was just worried about you getting hurt by running into something." He sighed, arms resting on his knees as he sat there. Though Altra looked up, looking for any source of light that might indicate what time it was.

"Ah! Wh—" Nata barely has the chance to protest or even mentally prepare for being lifted up and heaved over Altra's shoulder. Initially, he squirms and kicks instinctually for a moment, then realizes the other's intent. In fairness it wasn't the first time he's been scooped up like this, and it probably won't be the last . . .

As Altra clambers up the ledge with Nata in tow, the sounds of carnage slowly fade into the muffled churning and crunching of bone and muscle. Beneath the strange malamar's mass, the guardian Ursaluna had been reduced to a lifeless corpse. It's foe—nay, predator, slowly grapples a tentacle over the fallen pokemon's abdomen. It seems to lift its head, and Altra would get a clear glimpse of it as it studied them.

It's a gnarled, grisly, tree-like creature. It was similar to malamar and other cephalopod pokemon in its tentacle like body, but it looked wicked, its mantle twisted up like the branches of a tree. It's eyes glow a bright gold color, and seem to have a strange 'film' to them, like light peering through a grill. It lets out a peculiar sound of acknowledgement . . .

And then, it coils its tentacle tighter around its prey, then slinks off towards the awaiting depths, carrying its kill with it. Even if it wasn't necessarily friendly, it had found a far more satisfying meal than two human boys would have presented. In the end, its presence had been a mercy.

As Altra would make his way through the tunnels they went, Nata dangles from his shoulder, feebly trying to keep himself from falling forwards while attempting to cleanse his mind of the grotesque noises that had sounded from the malamar's feasting. He squeezes his eyes shut, and swallows. A few more minutes pass, and all that fills the cave is a cold white noise.

He took that sound of acknowledgement as his time to book it. Not caring for any protests from Nata as he boke into a run. More than willing to get away from the Malamar and leave it to it's well captured prey. Sure, it was not a friendly sound. More... neutral.

And honestly, in this place, at least compared to the top predator Pokémon of the plains? Altra would take it. The right place, the right time for both parties.

Once they had managed their way through the tunnels, Altra's pace would eventually slow and.. as per the request, Altra moved to the side to set Nata down. Letting them use the tunnel wall as support.

Either way.. they were out of trouble.. and Altra needed a moment anyway.

The teen propped himself to the tunnel wall and exhaled deeply, sliding down before falling into a sitting heap on the ground. He was sore, all over. His adrenaline was finally catching up with him, thus fatigue.. and pain were setting in.

"I've.. taken a lot of hits from Pokémon in my life but..." He grumbled, arms over his abdomen where he got gut-checked by a flung ball of steel and fury.

"NNGH—!" Unfortunately, his injured ankle protests against his weight as he pushes himself to his feet, causing him to stumble into the taller. While he'd emerged from the rubble relatively unscathed, he'd twisted his ankle, much to his own dismay. Nata's leg buckles for a moment, and then he pushes himself upright again—similarly, pushing through his own pain as Altra did. He could be stubborn when he wanted to be about his injuries, and frankly, he didn't want to have to rely on Altra more than he already had.

"I'm okay, let's go!" He swiftly cuts off any potential for questions. Even if he wasn't, Nata would have to be, so he grits and bears it. He clutches Opal's pokeball on his backpack strap. She had done her part, and took quite a beating while doing so, so she's quickly returned to it—it would be safer for all of them for her to be inside rather than risk carrying her back up the ledge.

He was more than ready to help the other move, not sure the extent of Nata's injuries from the debris almost burying him alive. He moved with them, keeping on alert even as they slowly... very slowly.. but surely would make their way from the gruesome sounds of the massive Malamar.

At this point, he just wanted to make sure Nata got back. And with Opal safely in her ball, it'd mean she'd get the chance to rest.

"That thing was horrifying..." Altra frowned as he spoke.

"Like I was watching a corpse try to emulate life." Brows were furrowed, he'd of course offer his arm for the other to lean on incase walking became too rough on the other's leg. He could see that limp a mile away after all. There was no way they'd get anywhere in a timely manner at this rate.

They weren't even out of earshot of the carnage before Altra huffed, and.. with a crack of his knuckles and ignoring any means of saying 'I'm fine' Altra snatches Nata and hoists the other over his shoulder to then start a jog away.

It was like barely picking up a sack of flour for the teen, and he'd certainly exerted more strength not just decking that twisted Ursaluna twice, but also pulling that slab of fallen rock off Nata.

That was unusual. His Cyclizar was the very definition of a loose canon; the most stubborn, unruly bastard he'd ever managed to tame, holding some degree contempt for even his closest companions, including him, his own trainer. He just shouldn't care about some kid, unless his instincts were giving him a very good reason to.

That... certainly came out of nowhere. But for now, Ignacio judged it wiser to trust his Pokémon and defuse the tension. That was the least he could do to honor the mutual courtesy he and Zephyr were showing each other.

"Hmph. Fair." He responded laconically. "Though I'd argue you're more likely to get trampled by a herd of Rhyhorns than my partner is to send us careening down the mountain. But thank you for the warning."

With a little push on the handle of Zephyr's harness, Ignacio had his Pokémon gently approach the kid. Taking a better look at him, he spotted some Poké Balls at his belt, and finally spotted the Teddiursa by his side. From there could only assume that he was a rookie trainer on his initiatory journey... Probably.

"You don't seem that well equipped for camping. Do you need a ride? If you know of an inn or of a Pokémon Center nearby, I can drop you there on the way."

And because he could tell the other was more interested in his partner, he felt the need to add:

Naturally, Altra really didn't pay the adult much mind. He was expecting some sort of snappy response of them being older and that he's 'just a dumb kid' or a myriad of other things. But he hardly cared, noting the way the Pokémon in front of him stood and stared at him.

Well.. they were quite polite.. weren't they? At least the stance they had.. Maybe they'd taken Altra's words to heart about the sharper turns on the mountain.

Though.. when he heard the scoff and quiet acknowledgement, he glanced finally to the adult. A brow raised wearily.

"Rhyhorns aren't native here. Though you're more likely to deal with a rockslide by the local group of Graveler, they find it 'funny' to drop rocks on unsuspecting travelers and close common routes off.." He started, moving to correct the person.

"There's also a troupe of Gabite and Gible led by a very territorial Garchomp matriarch in the lower tunnels." He glanced toward the Pokémon curiously. Hearing they had a name did make him smile. That's good.. He'd been about to ask them directly for one.

"Oh? No I'm quite alright. I go along the trails up here every so often on purpose. I live down in Eterna Forest, you see.." He motioned off one side of the mountain. Even from here it was neigh impossible not to see the sprawling forest far, far below that spanned between Celestic Town and Eterna City.

"Luna and I.." He glances to his Teddiursa. "We're just taking a hike up to the Spear Pillar to skywatch tonight." Altra took a moment to adjust the bandolier under his coat where the Pokeballs sat. They looked like 'Luxury Balls' but it was clear they were heavily modified. With some weird filigree or spider web like pattern stemming from the hinge over the whole ball.

"Hmm... Cyclizar? Can't say I've ever seen one before. It's nice to meet you, Zephyr." He offered a hand out to the Pokémon.

In the time that had spanned between his fall and now, Nata had been trying to muster the strength necessary to free himself, pushing against the large slab of rock that kept him pinned. A younger him would have panicked to no end, until he'd been reduced to nothing but a limp, shocked deerling in a trap, but he at least has the courage to rein in his terror up until now.

Coated in a fine layer of grit and ash, Nata tries to sit up, attempting to twist onto his back a bit to glance upward. He hears Altra call him, just barely overcoming the gutwrenching sound of the new pokemon's feasting—and he lets himself lay flat on the ground again, attempting to ignore the hot spike of pain that was digging deep into his ankle. "Altra!"

He winced as the other clambered down to meet him. "I'm sorry, I—I went looking for you, and I didn't mean to wander as far, I—" The apology tumbles out clumsily and desperately, even he knows that deep down this probably wasn't the time for it. "Th-the guardian appeared, and Opal tried to fight it off, and—"

The sounds hardly phased Altra, quickly climbing down the short ledge and landing just shy of Nata. He was quick to set Opal down before moving to the slab of rock and finding places to wedge his larger than normal hands into in order to get a solid grip.

"Are you crazy!? I was only gone what..." He huffed, finally finding a solid grasp of the slab of debris and beginning to lift it up.

"Twenty minuets or.. something? I don't know.. I'm not good with time.." He grumbled as he started lifting it off the other boy.

"Can't see the sun down here.. hard to tell but STILL-!" He pulled and eventually pushed the heavy slab of debris off the other then reached out to help him up.

"Opal and I managed to get a few hits on-.. what ever that thing was. But something else showed up.. thankfully." He was one hundred percent going to be sore in the morning. He's had to defend himself from Pokémon before but not like this. And especially not after getting pummeled by a heavy steel 'ball' at insane speeds.

He was pushing through the pain in his gut at this point, running high of adrenaline as he tried to support the other and get them all the hell out of there.

There's a pregnant pause that follows, the eerie abiding silence thick with tension and suspense. The pokemon's silhouette seems lost in the shroud, but then, from the dust, Ursaluna simply emerges again, stumbling sluggishly on all fours again. It snuffles and huffs as its shoulder is enveloped in that same, strange glow that Altra had witnessed before; flakes of strange crystal solidify and mend the skin with ease, shrinking the wound until it was nothing more than a tempered scar.

The Bloodmoon Ursaluna roars and rears up. The work they had put in seemed all for naught; it had consumed just enough of the wylk to heal its injuries! The wylk has also restored its strength as well, it seems—for the light builts in the core of its jewel again. Opal takes initiative, darting forwards before the awaiting beam could strike—but unlike before, the Bloodmoon Ursaluna tries to shoot with precision, and stops firing its beam when that fails.

Opal is just about to rush in with another headbutt, but a claw races up to meet her, seizing her small frame with ease like she were a football. Opal hardly has the time to register before she is suddenly thrown back at Altra like she were a bowling ball.

Altra would feel the immense weight of a steel-type pummel him in the stomach. The Bloodmoon Ursaluna continues to encroach upon them both, slowly closing the gap between itself and its foes. Its mouth gapes open, and it lets out another horrible, ursine cry—

Was he mildly hoping the blow would give them enough time to act? To get Nata out of there and run..? sure. but sadly that was not the case. Seeing the thing lumbering back up onto it's feet, Altra gave a huff of agitation.

Fine.. that was how it was going to be.

Of course, Opal charged forward, but instead of the solid blow.. It was like time slowed to a crawl as the little iron Pokémon was hurled right into his gut. Knocking the wind right out of him as the force caused him to tumble backward with the steel types weight with it.

"OUGH!" He flew back, hitting the ground but at least having half the instinct to 'catch' or hold onto Opal so she didn't go skipping over the ground like a tossed stone.

Though as the Ursaluna loomed, Altra snarled out, almost hissing before something else came out from right behind him. Watching as tendrils shot out, wrapping around the giant bear-like Pokémon.

Altra used the opportunity to slide under the tendril, Opal in his arms. Her weight hardly impacting him. Taking a moment to look back at their 'savior'.

"THANK YOU!" He called out at it before quickly rushing to the ledge where Nata had fallen into. He was wasting no more time to jump down and help the other boy.

Opal's strike hits its mark, but the Ursaluna's hide is tough, and she bounces off of it upon collision. The ursaluna recoils, and Opal lands a few feet backwards, digging her stubby claws into the floor to keep herself from drifting further.

Snarling with derision, the Ursaluna steers its focus back onto the little Aron briefly. It rears on its hind legs, and the dull red jewel on its forehead begins to light up, white energy building within its core. It was about to fire a Blood Moon beam!

Opal braces, and sprints out of the line of fire. The beam erupts forth and trails after her, sweeping slowly and uncontrollably across the field. As it does, the wayward strike makes contact with one of the wylk structures, and the crystals suddenly erupt forth with a violent red color.

BOOM!

Another catastrophic explosion rattles the earth, causing a few chunks of rock in the ceiling to dislodge and litter the battlefield. As a shroud of grit fills the air, the Ursaluna stoops back onto all fours.

Miraculously, Opal had not only survived the strike, but emerged completely unscathed, tumbling clumsily across the floor before she digs her claws in again. Before her and her new ally, the Bloodmoon Ursaluna would suddenly twitch, and its claws bury into the ground, soaking up the mirror-like substance at its feet.

It was like throwing pebbles at a monolith. But right now, that was the only choice in Altra's mind. Was he still a little bitter that the other valued their safety so little? Oh most certainly... But just running and letting Nata remain at the mercy of this abomination?

Not on his watch.

But Altra curses as the attention is pulled away from him, watching as that beam uncontrollably pulls across the area and into one of those strange crystals. Then.. the eruption. The same sound he heard before. The blast erupting through the area as the sound bounced off the walls. The sheer force was absurd.

Altra managed to avoid the falling debris and started bolting at the Ursaluna, determined to get it's attention again, but seeing it beginning to bury it's claws in the ground.. He snarled out.

"The bigger they are.. the harder they fall..." Altra mumbled. He aimed for that same spot Opal struck out at. The shoulder that had hit the ground after his first initial blow was his target, and with it leaned into the ground meant it was open to hit.

She paws the ground, eager to ready another charge when Altra's soft voice catches her attention. She side-eyes him, listening with intent . . . and she steels herself after a moment's pause, letting out another small huff of acknowledgement.

'We keep . . . brother safe.'

At Altra's taunt, the peculiar Ursaluna lets out another roar of challenge, lowering back on all fours. It stalks forwards, as if sizing up its foe for a moment, and then suddenly, its sluggish, zombie-like facade is gone, replaced with the natural and brutal strength of a proper Bloodmoon Ursaluna.

The guardian lunges forward, and as it charges toward Altra, a bright violet energy begins to snake into the veins of its forearms, trickling down into its claws. As it makes its final stride towards its foe, white mist comes pouring from the tips of its talons again. Whether or not Altra dodged, when the Ursaluna's claws struck the mirror-like puddles on the floor below, something spider-webbed forth into the air from them.

He nodded, hearing her voice for the first time, without that shriek was refreshing. But right now, it was no time to stand on any ceremony or sentiment. Right now, it was him and Opal, against this.. thing. This horrible, mangled thing.

His taunt landing made him motion to brace. He wanted to give Opal ample time to rev herself up, to get a solid blow against this thing. Even if they could at least distract it long enough to do anything to help.. it'd be worth it in Altra's eyes.

Watching it seem to shake off it's shambling daze, watching it stalk toward him.. starting to size him up.. So too did Altra's eyes lock onto it. Watching each motion. He had to wonder if the blow knocked something back into place.. because it was move with more 'life' now.

That didn't change how.. wrong.. it all felt.

Then came the charge, that he was expecting. Ready to bolt to the side to side dodge it, and try to use it's lumbering frame to his advantage. But then it did something unexpected, it brought it's claws into the ground just in front of him.

"What the-"

That eruption of energy, pulsing.. white hot.. and terrifying. A familiar hum to it? And once it formed and solidified.. He bolted to the side, doing his best to roll away from the massive structure. As fast as his feet were able to carry him.