Force's paws met the smooth, cold dirt beneath him as he stood in the mouth of the cave. He turned to look at Kylie, his best friend, his trusted companion. "Are you ready?"
"As ready as I think I can be." She said, a nervous smile playing at her lips. She was trying to remain stern, calm, cool, collected. She was trying to take as much control of this situation as she could. Force knew this.
The plan was simple, sneak in, ambush the criminal, and bounce out either when the criminal was apprehended, or when they needed to call for help.
They didn't plan on getting interrupted so many times by so many civilians. They didn't plan on seeing so many new faces. They didn't plan on making any friends or trying to be sold goods right outside of the Ninetale's den.
There was a part of Force that wished he could have some of those people by his side as he turned back to head deeper into the cave. This abandoned Ninetales den. Their help could have lead the duo straight to victory...
His chest tightened when he realized Kylie wasn't next to him anymore. His eyes going wide when he realized the shadow that had passed by them had knocked her out of the air. His only sign of where she went being her scream.
It was too dark in here, they had omitted using torches in favor of stealth. He couldn't find her.
"You have to go! I'll be-"
Force's heart sunk when she didn't finish her sentence.
"Kylie?? Please, answer me!"
No response from her. Only the low, gravely laugh of the thing before him.
"Pathetic. This is the best the guild has to offer me?"
"It's dead, Leafeon. And you're going to be next if you don't give me a good chase."
Force's ears dropped. For the first time in years... He felt fear. Deep within him. Kylie wasn't responding. She couldn't be dead, she had to have been knocked out. If Force could just get to her, if he could feed her a healing berry, a root, something, anything...she'd get up.
She'd be by his side again.
"No," The Leafeon said, standing his ground, holding himself high. "I will not run. I will not give you that plea-"
"I guess you'll just have to die here then." The Aggron shuffled forward, and shoved at the incapacitated Leafeon. The rocks cracked under the pressure and broke from the ground.
Force fell. And for a moment... His eyes met the limp form of Kylie on the distant side of the cave. His mouth fell open, he had something to say, some final words to let out...
But all that came out was a choked cry.
Chapter One: Mission One...End
Force and Kylie are unavailable for asks
