#pokeaskchallenges

((Submission for ask-shrike.  I sort of went all out with this one SO it's a bit bloody and violent...  Sorry if anyone's squeamish!  Sure it won't bother Sparx, haha.))

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The air was hot and humid, the grass and trees burning with scattered flames. A Jolteon stood amid the dead air, his once yellow fur singed black in spots, his body low to the ground as he stared ahead and growled between pants.

Ahead of Shrike a Typhlosion stood, comfortable amid the fires it had created. Its arms were spread to its sides, claws long and sharp, covered with slick red blood. The beast growled and roared, baring its red-smeared fangs, tatters of flesh stuck between them. It took a step forward, foot coming down on a limp body that lay before it. The corpse gave a sickening crunch as the Typhlosion's foot landed on it, the beast stepping right over the body without regard for it having even been there.

No words were exchanged, it was pointless. Shrike knew the beast wouldn't, couldn't respond. He knew this was hopeless, that the fight was already lost. His eyes twitched from the Typhlosion to the corpse it had been feasting from before the Jolteon arrived. An Eevee... The goggles she had worn around her head were still intact, even as the rest of her body was not.

Shrike's eyes snapped back to the Typhlosion and he let out a roar of simple, primal rage. The Jolteon's howl echoed among the trees as lightning sparked through his fur, the air filling with static as that singed and frayed fur stood up into spikes. Without waiting for the Typhlosion to get any closer the Jolteon suddenly burst forward, his speed carrying him faster than the eye could see. He let loose a bolt of lightning while in mid-run, electricity arcing to the beast and running through its body, sending muscles into convulsions.

Shrike took this chance to come to a stop, a circle of red light appearing around his torso. A single red card of energy appeared, rotating around his chest for a moment before shooting out at the Typhlosion. The card shattered when it hit, the beast roaring as the raw energy seared into its body. It recovered from the paralysis and charged forward at the Jolteon, mouth agape and filled with flames.

Shrike was prepared, his limbs bent and waiting. Right as a jet of flame shot from the Typhlosion's mouth the Jolteon leaped upwards into the air, feeling the heat passing right below his paws. The circle of energy appeared around his torso again, but this time two cards rotated around him. Together they shot towards the Typhlosion, it reeling back from the hit and giving a roar of pain.

Even as he was falling downwards back to the ground, another circle appeared and spun around Shrike. He took advantage of the Typhlosion's reeling to fire off the attack, sending now three cards at his opponent. Smoke poured from its vents as the cards hit, hiding whatever effect they had from view. The Jolteon panted as he landed on the ground, pausing for a moment to regain his breath as he watched the smoke that obscured the beast.

That nearly cost him his life. With a roar the Typhlosion lunged out of the smoke, fangs bared and claws extended. Shrike's heart jumped in his chest as he quickly ducked to the side, feeling one of the claws scrape along his chest. He fell to the ground and rolled around before pulling himself back to his feet, his legs shaky as he tried to shrug off the pain in his side. Blood leaked out from the long wound, Shrike desperately shoving it out of his mind as he focused on the Typhlosion.

It was coming around for another hit, charging back at the Jolteon with rage in its eyes. Right as the Typhlosion was about to slash at Shrike again he leaped into the air, body spinning end over end as he opened his mouth, shadowy energy gathering out of the air and collecting in his maw. A sphere of ghostly energy formed only to be fired down at the Typhlosion, hitting it square on the head and sending it falling to the ground. It struggled to get up only to be hit by four cards now, the sheer force knocking it back several feet.

Typhlosion looked down over its chest to see the Jolteon running at him in full sprint, red streaking along his side from the open wound. The red circle of energy built around Shrike's torso once more, a total of five cards spinning rapidly around the Jolteon as at the same time lightning arced though his fur. Shrike's muzzle was pulled back into a snarl, letting out one final roar as all five cards shot through the air, followed by a bolt of lightning that made the cards shimmer with electricity.

The combination attack hit the Typhlosion without it even having a chance to evade. Its vision blurred as its body filled with pain, its head falling limply to the ground as it gasped for breath, staring up at the night sky. Then Shrike appeared above, the Jolteon panting heavily. Blood coated his side now, but it didn't seem to bother Shrike, his mind too focused. His eyes were filled with rage, his fangs bared in a snarl. Then his head snapped down, the Typhlosion gagging and choking, trying to reach up to grab at the Jolteon whose fangs were now clamped firmly around it neck.

Blood splattered as Shrike tore his head away, spitting out the flesh and meat he had torn from the Typhlosion's neck. His rage fell aside as he looked down at the dying Typhlosion, gagging for breath that now wouldn't come. Shrike watched with blank, emotionless eyes as the Typhlosion died at his feet.