#runninglightning

KUBO HE HASN'T BEEN THIS ANXIOUS about a pokemon since Akio got sick three days after the cyndaquil had first came home a little over a year ago. Now he has a pokemon egg balanced in his backpack and a level of uncertainty layered over the already existing stress that had been stirring his emotions for several weeks now. Perhaps it was a good thing Kubo had been focusing more on tending to a pokemon egg than everything else -- his ordeal with Hanzo, the growing divide between him and Thunder, and the closeness to Poni Island -- so close, he could swear he could feel the canyon breeze against his face.

    The boy's hands clenched the strap of his shamisen and his backpack, twisting them out of nervous habit. The egg had been wiggling around constantly. It would probably hatch soon. " RAIKO? Question...when a pokemon hatches, they don't imprint on the first thing they see ... do they? "

RAIKO And she can sense it. WHO wouldn't be anxious over an incoming infant, let alone an EGG. It did not help the carrier and caretaker wasn't exactly the creature's rightful parent, blood-wise. Raiko would have been nervous herself, had it been her responsibility, of course. Sure, the dubious mythical was always willing to help her companion with it every now and then, but nothing else aside from questions like the one given to her seconds ago

" Depends on the POKEMON, I'd say, do I look like a mother to you to have knowledge on this? But in most cases, yeah, of course, silly. Hence, when that egg hatches, don't count on me to be before it when the little one comes out squirming out of its shell."

Her smile is briefly replaced by a yawn, and a look of amusement at Kubo. Sometimes she felt like he worried too much, and it was fun said times, others...she worried too.

KUBO He sticks out his lower lip at her, frowning even though the two of them barely made eye contact. The two of them were staring at the road ahead -- Kubo was cutting through the outer edges of Blush Mountain again, towards Malie City again, where he could properly stock up on supplies and prepare for that final trial the island had to offer. Just his luck that he happened upon RAIKO while doing it.

" I DUNNO. I mean, you are a pokemon, and a female. I thought you might have that sort of instinct..." Okay, that was pretty naive of someone to say, especially from him. " ... Not long ago when I started, I thought, maybe, yeah, by the time I'm near the end of my trials, I'll be ready to raise a pokemon from an egg. But here I am and I'm still... " Kubo trails off, NERVOUS ... " I just don't know if I'm the right person to do that, you know? Souns' like a lot of responsibility, even if its just a pokemon."

    He's practically forgotten that Akio was the same way -- small and only three months old when he was first given to Kubo.

RAIKO Oh, she'd knew that her words would get a reaction out of him, otherwise, she would've not said a thing. Kubo was a boy, and that lead to many ways for Raiko to mess with him and often times, give him a hard time for the sake of good fun. Nothing too harsh though, he had always worried about her, and he deserved more than to be pestered by the likes of an annoying pokemon.

"A female that might be the last if not the only of her kind, remember? Father always reminded me that. Never explained why though, but raising an egg and whatever comes with it or how it happens...? Not my sort of jam anyways. I'd rather have teeth scattered at my feet than soft blankets and food to fatten these muscles, y'know?"

Not that she was muscular, or maybe she was underneath that fur, but it was hard to tell. She was lithe and fast, but Raiko and mostly anyone knew that the thundercat could very well scatter someone's teeth with a single punch.

"You'll be fine, Kubo! Chin up, this female has got your backs if you can't handle a little baby~" More jabbing at his pride, teasing for the boy.

KUBO " HMMPH. " An indignant huff from the boy as he pulls at the backpack strap slung across his chest. Words of encouragement and confidence were appreciated, evident by the small, playful smile that graced his features, but it hid uncertainty and doubt. What kind of person saddles a child with a random pokemon egg? And doesn't even know what it is? Sure, it allowed plenty of opportunity for him to guess and get excited about the possibilities, but his mother had also told him that too much optimism could lead to easy disappointment.

" Well, if I can't take care of it, at least I know not to give it to you then. " The boy deadpans.

    They were reaching the tall grass now, where the rocks and craggy canyons making up the outer rim of BLUSH MOUNTAIN shaped a maze. The breeze here was strong, easily picking up the scent of dried wild grasses, clay, and smoke...

    ... SMOKE?

    " Raiko ..." Kubo pauses and takes his nose to the air.      " Do you smell something? I smell smoke. "

RAIKO The smirk that had taken place in her features due to his response, comes as quick as it had arrived, gone by the scent Kubo mentions. Smoke...

Out and in Alola, bonfires or any sort of fire source was never good, or viable. The canopies and forests were dense, and a spark was enough to light an entire section of a region if placed properly. It gives way to worry, and she can only expect that Kubo will worry the same as well.

The uneasiness can be read by the look in her eyes, under that dark cowl that never leaves her.

"I do."

She remains silent, stopping in her tracks. "A fire around here...it can't be a good signal. Let's take a look, Kubo." Unable to be stopped, Raiko advances, wary.

KUBO FIRE WAS NEVER GOOD AROUND HERE. With this much breeze, it could easily pick up and spread. While Alola was humid, small fires could still prove to be a threat to the local wildlife. He had done more personal research ever since he had met Chirp's former trainer, to better understand the region's environment.

    Kubo zips up the open compartment of his backpack, keeping the pokemon egg and its incubator hidden. Tentative, he trails after Raiko, squinting. The smoke was hardly visible, but now that he thought about it, there was a growing stinging sensation in his only eye, which was causing it to water. It smelled strongly like a bonfire, and like singed grass. The scent trail would eventually lead the duo to a small pass, away from the well-beaten trail, hidden from frequent passersby. Here the grass was incredibly overgrown, thick and prickle-like. The wild grasses poked and prodded Kubo's legs and sleeves.

    Thankfully, they were well hidden, because they'd be greeted by an AWFUL SIGHT.

A TURTONATOR, struggling against the binds of a rope that were digging into its neck, in a virtual tug of war with three men. The fire-type had spouted flames from its snout and was now desperately trying to break free, but the several gashes it sustained indicated that it had grown weak from battle.

    A greninja and a clawitzer were working to put out the flames. Nearby the sight was a small truck--hardly big enough to house a decently-sized dragonite but still formidable. A small group of Charjabug had been corraled by other pokemon, and they were being herded like mareeps into a glass-like tank.

    " THIS IS A WASTE OF TIME. Beheeyem, psychic. " A harsh voice cuts in through the chaos. A Beheeyem, beside the two men who were struggling to contain the weakened turtonator, raises its digits up obediently. Like a leaf, the fire-type cripples, its body lurching and its head rearing up in an agonizing cry. The beast stumbles to its knees, and then crumbles to the ground, slumping in the dirt in defeat.

    ALL THIS. All this -- Kubo's tawny eye widens in horror. It only takes him a moment to realize what was going on. The charjabug being corralled into a pen, and the fainted Turtonator being dragged into a truck. It's Malie all over again --

    " AKIO! SMOKESCREEN! " Such an impulsive, reckless, but determined boy. His blood had boiled so quickly that one could swear Kubo's entire demeanor had taken a 180 degree turn and never looked back. The anger shook in his eyes. No, not again -- he cannot let this happen again. Suddenly his cyndaquil is released from his pokeball, and a plume of smoke consumes the entire field.

RAIKO The scene is horrible, not to her surprise. It had taken her mere glimpses to understand what was happening here, and while it was the first time she had ever experienced one of these situations in person, Raiko takes no time to realize that they must act. She just wishes Kubo had given her some sort of warning or cue to his recklessness, disguised as bravery and as...something else she does not exactly know about Kubo.

"Kubo, wait! -- damn it..."

She could have let him learn from his mistake, or simply not act on behalf of being smart about this, stop him even. But Raiko is certain that the boy is counting on her to not merely spectate, and in reality;as his friend, he leaves her no choice.

Following from behind, Raiko takes out from her cloak a small, cylinder like object, fine and silver-made. Without further ado and with little effort, the object clicks, and from both ends, emerges two medium sized poles. The before harmless artifact had become a battle staff in seconds, that Raiko imbues with electric energy, charging ahead with the staff posed behind her back.

She remembers all she knows, and has learnt, and once inside the blur of a smoke, her eyes get used to the darkness, and for minutes, the crackling of energy and power dances from silhouette to silhouette, leaving bruises and pain behind as the thunder feline's staff collides with flesh, time after time after time...

The battle rages, but not for long.

KUBO " WHAT THE?! ” A startled grunt hollers over the sudden commotion as smoke swallows their field of view. Stunned, the three pokemon -- Clawitzer, Greninja, and Beheeyem struggle to figure out what just transpired, but the latter is the first to act. From the smoke, Pikake, Kubo's determined little Amaura, charged headfirst for the psychic type, but all it takes is a motion of the hand for the Beheeyem to tear the ice-type from the ground and toss it into its own comrades.

    While his cyndaquil, amaura, and Raiko battle in the shroud, Kubo was searching for the rope that was tangled around the fainted turtonator's neck, determined to cut the fire-type loose. " KAZE! Help me with this! " The boy brings his scyther out from its ball to aid in his intention.

    Unfortunately, creating a shroud of smoke also means that he can't exactly see through it either. One of the grunts had found him through the smoke. He was a tall fellow, with spiky, dirty blonde hair and striking blue eyes. They narrowed as they found the wiry twelve year-old struggling to free to the poor fire-type slumped in the grass.

    " AH -- HEY!! " Everything is moving like a blur. Next thing Kubo knew, the the grunt had tackled him to the ground and was trying to scoop him up in a bearhug, but between Kubo's violent writhing and Kaze's quick actions, that only lasted for a moment before the grunt was shoved aside.

" SCYTHAAAH! " the bug-type had elbowed into the young man with one of his scythes.

    Seeing that its comrades were occupied with a cyndaquil and amaura, the leading BEHEEYEM focused on attacking the stronger of the attackers, that being the electric beast wielding the battle staff. The smoke briefly cleared between them, revealing the psychic type with a darkened expression and its digits raised, glowing various colors. " BA-AA-AAAAH... " It drones a monotone, metallic sound before firing Shadow Ball. 

RAIKO She cares oh, so very little about the one who regards her with a ghost type move, seeking to foolishly stop her and wound her. Raiko dodges the attack with much ease, and with no further thought, she zooms in on her attacker, using... "ORA!" ...THUNDER PUNCH, finalizing the beheeyem for good, she hopes. The smoke has began to lightly clear, and not too distant, Kubo's pokemon fight and stand opposing the rest of the enemy's pokemon. Because that is all they are to her, enemies.

"WHO'S NEXT, ORA?!" Flourishing her staff and twirling it at ready, she launches herself ahead once more, like a lightning bolt. The blunt massacre continues.

KUBO Though briefly dazed from the grunt's attempt to tackle him to the ground, Kubo eventually pushed himself up onto his knees, spying the equally dazed grunt stretched out in the grass. All it takes is a squint and quick stare for him to notice a familiar feature on the man's clothing --

    A CIRCLE ENSIGNIA, CONTAINING A LUNALA WITH ITS WINGS RAISED TO THE MOON. The Lunar Circle. " You ... ! " The slow realization strikes horror and disgust, sinking deep into his already steepened bones. Between the boiling rage driving his reckless behavior and the adrenaline coursing in the child's veins, he was almost tempted to lash out and strike with his own fists. But his better judgement tells him not to -- for the sake of the poor creatures being corraled into the nearby truck. 

    Kaze was currently the only barrier between them -- growling and hissing, eager to defend the boy that he had once hated. His actions was testament to how their friendship had grown...and how Kubo had earned the fierce elder's respect.

    Unfortunately however, being the distraction also meant being occupied. From behind the dazed grunt, a DELPHOX had appeared, looming over the bug-type as it emerged from the smoke. The two glared at each other, before Kaze initiated battle.

Darn it, darn it, DAMMIT! " くそ! " Kubo snarled under his breath, stress fueling his words. That left him to try and free the Turtonator on his own, which was tricky because his hands and fingers were shaking so much. His digits struggled to wedge themselves under the binds and pull, to little to no avail.

    Meanwhile, the Beheeyem is thrown aside by the Zeroara's strength, seemingly stunned by a direct hit. Raiko's thunderpunch leaves static radiating across the psychic-type's body. It's comrade, the greninja, had been temporarily occupied by Kubo's Amaura. Their battle concealed by black shroud, Pikake had gotten thrown aside against a nearby tree. The water-type was now advancing on Raiko from behind, preparing to attack with Water Shuriken. 

        Now if only either of them noticed that the flames on the grassy edge were growing stronger...

RAIKO The fire was indeed spreading - had Raiko not been consumed by adrenaline and the ecstasy of battle, she would have taken advances towards this, but now...another opponent approaches, and despite the type advantage, these pokemon were not to be fooled with.

     Greninja were horrific assassins where she came from. She wonders if they are as deadly when puppets to a trainer.

    It doesn't stop her instincts, she hears the faint steps, silent, but not enough. Not attuned, she still doesn't dare let them attack. Their domesticate affairs would be their downfall. Raiko skillfully leap sbackwards, driving the rear end of the staff against the Greninja's features, to leave a nasty bruise in their tongue and nose. She is not done, following up with PLASMA FISTS for a quick finish, various times as she rids herself of her staff momentarily.

It had been thrown up into the sky, so when she's done, the weapon falls right onto her paws, so she can witness another enemy down.

It's now that she takes a look at her companion and his battlers, spotting a struggling Kubo, and Kaze, entangled in a battle dance with a Delphox.  Distracted enough for her. Lightning speed, Raiko powers on and ahead, not deeming the Delphox dangerous enough to utilize her energy on a move, but her staff trusty enough to take them out with blunt force.

She's panting by the end of it all, retaining her staff and pocketing it, hidden behind her back once it has been retracted into the small cylinder. Kubo needed help she could provide, and off she goes,  over to his side. She draws her claws, sharpened by nature and her very being, so she can cut the binds with a bit of effort, one by one and procedurally.

The fire advances, and Raiko is too preoccupied still to pay attention to the now normal smell of flames and smoke... 

KUBO The GRENINJA is easily rid of, its water-typing ultimately doing it in in this battle. A finishing blow with PLASMA FISTS Sends it flying into the craggy canyon wall nearby, where it comes to rest, slipping out of consciousness.

    That just leaves the CLAWITZER, whom, as far as Kubo knows, is being dealt with by Akio. Fidgeting with the ropes still, the boy tries to work as quickly as he could while his scyther is trying to fight off the delphox but with the former at a clear type disadvantage, it was slowly becoming clear that KAZE was being overpowered.

    Thankfully, Raiko rushes in to aid just at the right time, blowing back the fire-type before rushing to Kubo's aid. It's become apparent now that the two of them had the upperhand -- OR AT LEAST, THEY THOUGHT.

    Neon eyes flicker through the smoke, full of fire. Suddenly, the smoke is blown away entirely, revealing the BEHEEYEM. Its hand was raised and flickering vividly, and its pupils were narrow like daggers. Behind it, its master, a middle-aged man, watched stoically.

    " I must say, boy, you're quite reckless for getting tangled for the likes of us. Let's end this child's play. "

    A sudden numbness consumes his and Kaze's entire bodies. One moment he's on his knees, the next, Kubo was being pulled into the air, and made hardly able to move. The Beheeyem's psychic energy worked to briefly incapacitate the trio. Raiko included, the three of them would be blown back, thrown towards the edge of the field, and mere inches away from the wall of flames that had steadily grown in their negligence.

He can feel the heat growing on his skin. But despite his efforts, he found that his muscles refused to respond. The BEHEEYEM was still holding them.

    " QUI-IL ... ! " A shrill cry grabs Kubo's attention for a moment, distracting him from the new feeling of fear that had overtaken him at being paralyzed. The smoke had cleared to reveal -- much to the boy's horror, his loyal cyndaquil pinned down and held at the neck by the Clawitzer's massive claw. The fire-type had a number of bruises on him.

" A - AKIO!! "

    " Normally, we don't take hostages, " Hisses the older man. " But my orders are to collect pokemon for a certain ' test of strength ' if you will. I suppose we could do with a few extras... " His indifferent expression briefly falters to allow a darkening smile.

    Kubo tries to twist his body, but finds that he cannot. The final unopened pokeball on his backpack strap was wiggling, as though the pokemon contained inside was fighting to escape it.

RAIKO Against her anger and her now boiling blood, it is all over as fast as it had began. Raiko is subdued by an opponent she had thought had collapsed for a decent amount of time if not permanently, the might of the psychic type enough to forcer her to her knees, and then, to her certain doom, had the force been enough to toss them into the flames.

      But they are instead left mere feet away from the flames, and briefly, the heat does graze Raiko's skin, earning a pained growl from her as she barely manages to pull away, retracting her hurt arm before being forced to the ground once more. She tries and tries to stand and overpower the psychic type, to no avail.

"D-DAMN IT! I C-CAN'T--!"

The fury that burns in her eyes towards this stranger is unfathomable. Were she to break out of the invisible hold, she would truly show what her claws were capable of...

KUBO While the two of them struggle, the rest of the pokemon that were being corralled from the start are slowly being loaded into the truck. The terrified Charjabugs scratch at the glass walls, fearing the fate that might await them. The Turtonator is heaved into the truck's hull, caged in a fireproof container with holes for it to breathe. Meanwhile, the leader of the small band of grunts looms, looking indifferent to their toils and the growing flames nearby. His BEHEEYEM maintains its psychic grip on Kubo, Kaze and Raiko, glare steeling.

    " You're a strong looking pokemon. You might be of use to us. " But as the Beheeyem encroaches on the trio, a flickering red light catches Kubo's attention and a snap is heard. WHAM.

Proud, sharp antlers gleaming with electric energy, Thunder bursts from his pokeball and slams into the clawitzer keeping Akio pinned. The impact is enough to send the water-type flying. It collides with the truck -- and while not enough to even tilt it, the collision does leave a small dent. While Akio tries to catch his bearings, Thunder charges for the Beheeyem next, eyes filled with fire and antlers glowing.

    THUNDER USED X-SCISSOR!

The Beheeyem braces itself, but finds itself unable to counter quick enough before the VIKAVOLT strikes. The attack is enough to tear its focus away from the three individuals it kept immobilized: suddenly, Kubo feels mobility regained in his body again.

    The boy's first instinct was to dive for his cyndaquil. The poor thing was terribly wounded and semi-conscious. The boy scooped him up, cradling him in both arms and keeping Akio close. He would have to tend to his wounds later, however. They had to focus on the task at hand. 

    " NAMI! Dowse those flames! " Now that awareness had come back to his brain, he decided to do something about those flames next. Raiko could use this opportunity to attack the Beheeyem and Delphox -- the latter of which, had recovered and was now charging back into battle. Kubo brings out his LAPRAS, who starts spouting water from her jaws in an attempt to fight the growing blaze.

RAIKO She'd been forced to drop her weapon of choice the moment her knees had found ground, the strength and will to even hold it snatched from her as if it was nothing, but, just as easy as it had been taken from her, it had been returned. Nonetheless, the staff was several feet away from her, and to run for it would require time. Something she did not have plenty of. Her own paws would have to suffice, they always had anyways.

If the fire was being taken care of now, that meant she could continue to focus on what was next. On WHO. The Delphox is standing once more, and Raiko assumes her battle stance before them, blocking their path from Kubo and his wounded. A hiss; the Zeraora using all four of her limbs to charge and impulse herself forward to use PLASMA FISTS against her opponent.

The searing pain in her arm is a reminder that someone has to pay for this, there where fur was burnt and the skin exposed, Raiko found the need for retribution against the one who was responsible, and such did not mean the pokemon she currently fought, slaves to a twisted cause.

KUBO Overwhelmed by both Raiko's plasmafists and Kaze's Wing Attack, the Delphox is quickly dealt with for good, the mythic's attacks finally knocking it unconscious. Grunts retrieved their pokemon -- all but the BEHEEYEM, who was still having a final tussle with Thunder. The lightning beetle had locked his antlers around the psychic type's neck, shocking it violently.

    " SIR! We should retreat! "

    " Agreed. We already have what we need here. We needn't stir up anymore chaos. Beheeyem! "

    The Beheeyem finds just enough strength to tear Thunder away from its neck, and before the lightning beetle has the opportunity to strike again, his foe is transformed into red light and returned to its pokeball.

    The truck was already beginning to start, its engine spouting and wheels grinding into the dirt. The sound makes Kubo's stomach twist, as he quickly realizes that they still hadn't rescued the pokemon inside.

    As the truck begins to move, he shouts. " RAIKO! THE TRUCK! "

    It's headed right for them!

RAIKO Had she been on her lonesome duty, Raiko would have leaped up and onto the truck to cause further mayhem among these villanous people. But alas, she was not in the presence of solitude, and as she realizes this, she comes to understand that the truck seeking to pulverize her, is seeking too, to pulverize Kubo and the aching pokemon in his arms.

Whether if he would have reacted or not, Raiko takes no risks - her leap is decided, and within seconds, she embraces Kubo, tackling him out of the way and into the ground, to her unfortunate skin, through foliage and down a small diagonal hill of which she takes the hurt of after taking a beating's worth of two to three seconds, rolling. Just when she'd thought that she'd be leaving without the possibility of bruises. It didn't matter, the situation at hand was too dire for her wounds to really be her priority. Once her body has absorbed the collisions, Raiko sprawls her arms out and releases Kubo from the safety of her arms, somewhat exhausted after all this. Perhaps not the phsyical strain, but the one caused by the now gone Beheeyem. She remains silent, hoping they are now safe, and expecting Kubo's words to eventually come as they lay there, the ground their very temporal home.

KUBO Everything blurs past. Suddenly, Kubo finds himself engulfed by fur, his face buried into Raiko as she tackles him, with Akio still sandwiched in his arms. With muffled yelps, the three of them roll downhill into the safety of the foilage, narrowly dodging the speeding truck. The rest of Kubo's team that might have stood in the way had moved out of its path long before then.

    After a final tumble, they roll to a still and the battered thundercat releases him and his pokemon from her embrace. Kubo takes a few moments to orient himself. He's dizzy and disoriented, and quite frankly, his stomach was feeling a bit nauseous. Raiko had taken the brunt of the fall, leaving him with only a few minor scratches.

    Kubo lays there, gasping, trying to catch his breath. When the dizziness finally begins to clear from his head, he starts to push himself up on his knees, shaking free leaves and twigs that might have gotten stuck in his hair.

" RAIKO... " With Akio resting between his arms, Kubo prods her, double checking that she was still conscious. "Are you all right?" 

RAIKO She was laid on her side, truthfully awake, yes, squirming some as she rises up right eventually. Her form is rough, beaten - the many scratches and cuts Kubo didn't endure, Raiko did, and it shows by the many little red gashes on her arms, back, abdomen. But those aren't her main worry. On her arm, something that shouldn't be there had found its way into her bare skin, where no fur was. A sharp enough rock had cleaved skin, and pierced it, small but still somewhat broad enough to the size of two fingers. She removes said intrusive object with three of her own digits, and the crimson dribbles. It hurts more than it appears to, and it shows by the way she responds, grasping the one wound that stung the most of them all.

"I-I'm fine."

Kubo seemed okay enough, he had had no trouble so far, but the pokemon in his arms...it's what worries her. "I-Is Akio okay?" Her teeth grit, both in pain, and in anger. All for nothing it had been, and she wishes her pride hurt more than the situation itself. So many innocent lost...

KUBO

" Shh, hey. Take it easy... " He speaks with a softness unheard by most, urging her to be gentle with her own wounds. A tawny eye danced over Raiko's figure and had to keep itself forced open when he spied the rock piercing flesh. Ultimately it wasn't a fatal wound, but it definitely looked like it hurt.

    In the distance, NAMI could be heard, letting out long, terrified moans, probably worried about her trainer. The rest of his team, which had ducked for the foliage, was already making their way to them -- Thunder, Kaze, and Pikake hobbling close behind.

    Their trainer was about to ask if any of them were hurt -- besides AKIO of course, where the pain was obvious. But that reminds him -- his backpack -- the egg! Kubo had completely forgotten about it in all his reckless adrenaline. Feeling regret surge in his chest, the boy throws his backpack off of his shoulder and unzips it, digging out the incubator.

    Momentary relief rushes through his chest. Miraculously, the egg had remained completely intact, unscathed -- though the incubator glass was a little scratched. " I'm sorry... " He hummed in remorse. " I must have scared you, didn't I...? "

    He places the incubator down and takes his cyndaquil in his arms again, cradling his companion. " He'll be okay. But he needs to rest... " Kubo fishes out a potion from his backpack and applies some around Akio's back and neck area. The poor fire-type seemed to go limp in his trainer's grip -- although Akio was alive, he was clearly exhausted.

    A painful realization seeps into his thoughts then, as he recalls the  fainted TURTONATOR that they had witnessed earlier. With dread in Kubo's voice, he grimaces. " RAIKO ... the truck. They got away with them... "

RAIKO The egg.  She feels a wave of dread run down her veins and spine- they both seemed to have realized it at the same time; remembered, with Kubo rushing to check, and Raiko's gaze snapping to the backpack. Luckily, it was fine. Thank the heavens it was. Raiko feeld as if half the tension in her shoulders had rised and left her be, but only momentarily.

Using but her legs and feet, she pushes herself backwards, so she can bring her back to rest against a fresh, cool rock. Thank Arceus she had left her poncho behind, otherwise, the tattered mess it was already would have not made it out of this. But it is the least of her ponderations, for the boy's reminder pierces her pride like a bullet, a look given to the red that stains her paws.

"They did..." "I-I'm sory Kubo. I...couldn't let you be hurt there."

KUBO

Kubo withdraws Akio as the realization sets in, letting the fire-type rest in his ball. As he reattaches it to his backpack strap, he watches Raiko rest herself against a nearby rock. " You just saved me though. Thank you... " Through the sorrow in his voice, the youth expresses genuine gratitude. Another desperate call from Nami beckons him. The LAPRAS was probably panicking. She was slow and sluggish on land, making it down here would not be as easy for her.

    " Raiko ... let me help you up. I think Nami's worried. "

RAIKO "It's nothing, kid. It's what friends are for, right...?" 

Had the outcome been any different to that of Kubo's safety, the possibilities that Raiko would have endured would have been much worse than some cuts and bruises. She could barely stomach the thought or the possibility of such a scene, so she prefers to snap back to reality. To Kubo's voice, which she eventually pays heed to, using her left paw to bring herself up, along with her feet and back still to the fresh stone supporting her weight at the moment. Whatever help Kubo was speaking of, she would accept it, as soon as it meant getting out of here soon enough. The place reeked of bad choices.

"O-Of course, let's get a move on, Kubo."

Her entire body was a sore, dull mess. After so little time, the aftertaste of battle and overexerting the capabilities of her body is strong, Raiko understands that she has some attuning to do of her abilities. For now, she hopes Kubo's Lapras won't be another sore sight. 

       She wouldn't be able to tolerate any more...

KUBO Kubo aided her up the hillside, stumbling every so often whenever he swore he felt Raiko's weight start to give in onto him or whenever the underbrush snagged and scraped his clothes and skin. As they made their way back to the clearing where the battle had been engaged, Kubo allowed himself to take in their surroundings.

    NAMI was fine, just panicking, having been slowly inching her way as best she could towards the slope where the duo had tumbled. Her cries eased as soon as she saw the little patch of red clothing and scruffy hair that distinguished her trainer from all the others. " URR-uuuuw. " She coos to the two of them as they are helped along by their trainers.

    As for the clearing, all that remained were scorched patches of grass and forest, and tire tracks, where the truck had sped off. No signs of the pokemon that had been gathered into the truck remained. They were gone.

" That's it?! That's all that's left? They're all gone... " The dread in his gut twists into anger and frustration. Monsters. He didn't want to believe how true his mother's words were, even as their reality played in front of his very eye. The Lunar Circle is just as disgusting as those other cruel organizations, rounding up pokemon and forcing them into inhumane conditions.

    LITTLE DOES HE KNOW, THAT IS ONLY THE LEAST OF IT.

    Kubo grits his teeth, and slams his fist into the dirt.

RAIKO The discouragement felt and that feel devoid of any satisfaction does too crush her, perhaps not in the same magnitude as Kubo, or perhaps, more. The boy seemed to have had a personal vendetta within this, but for her...this was more than a personal ideal. Those pokemom were her kin, her blood as the gods had made pokemon kind and humanity to exist. The former had been subdued before her eyes, and captured without a hint of humanity, or to begin with, morality.

"--I'll find them, Kubo. They're not going to get away with this."

She hopes her words do not fall in an empty promise, not because Raiko sought to disappoint or to be lacking in her efforts, but because sometimes, life gave not hope of succeeding in one's goals, no matter how hard you tried, or how she clenched her fists in anger - or how faster she ran and pursued. Sometimes there's too many heads to cut and not enough swords.

KUBO WHAT SHOULD HE SAY? Pursuit seemed like the most right choice to take in this situation -- to an outsider who knew little about this organization and its history. For him, this was personal -- for him this group was family, blood relatives, conspiring against the world and chasing after some unknown goal ... Kubo WOULD want to find out, except his mother's warnings lingered in his mind, and his own personal fear of being labelled as one of them if he shared is knowledge of them hung close behind that.

NO, THEY'RE MONSTERS. THEY KILLED YOUR FATHER, KUBO. THEY'LL TAKE YOU AWAY FROM ME!

He might just have come a little closer to accepting his reality, but it still stings like a wall. The twelve year-old slowly pushes himself up onto his knees, staring at the tire tracks left behind by the truck, which has long vanished.

 ... WHAT WERE THEY PLOTTING?