two. tactical experience [WILD]

A rustle in the bush.

One, two.

Three.

Out of a bush, a fluffy little head poked out. Looking this way and that, the pokemon slowly crawled out of the bush. The buneary had probably been scared by the tall human, and hid until they couldn't be seen anymore. Instead, there was a black lump on the ground. With a small dash, she bounced onto the lump, finding it pleasantly squishy. With a small, happy squeak, the pokemon ended up nuzzling herself in the nice squishy thing. The bunny pokemon loved squishy things! They were always so nice, and sometimes they were bouncy, and sometimes they were warm. That fascination got her into trouble a lot, but maybe today it would be fine. Although she did wonder where the scary tall woman went.

That's when Hades began to bark. Loudly, mixed in with a few growls. The pokemon wiggled further, trying to hide in between the squishy things, so that she couldn't be seen. Then something weiiird happened - the squishy things rumbled. ''Oh dear, seems like I have a guest.'' was the rumbling noise. Confused, the buneary turned around, and saw the tall blonde woman's face. And froze. Oh no, this was a giant right? It was going to eat her right? Like some of the other pokemon she'd seen before. The pokemon wanted to tremble, because she had not listened to Mama again, and was probably in big, big trouble! But the small pokemon was surprised when a hand rubbed the top of her head, and the squishy things shifted.

But that nice hand kept her from falling out, even as she snuggled more.

Jessica was just smiling softly at the Buneary, as it seemed to really like being in her cleavage for some reason. Maybe she could befriend this one? The blonde started to slowly rise, when something weird happened. The pokemon in her bossom started to wiggle madly, and before she could steady it, fell out of her cleavage. It had curled up, using a DEFENSE CURL to protect itself, landing on the ground with a cry. And before Jessica could even more towards the pokemon, Hades barked at it again. Slowly, the pokemon tipped it's head back, letting out a HOWL to motivate itself. The blonde ranger was a bit stunned, as the buneary seemed to get angry, and flailed angrily at the houndour. Obviously, Hades didn't expect that either, taking around three POUND attacks to the face.

With a snarl, the fire type countered with two EMBER attacks, the poor bunny falling over. ''Alright enough! Stop it both of you!'' Jessica said, heading to step in between the pair. But not before her little hound released another EMBER making the buneary faint. ''Really Hades! I had told you to stop!'' scolded the ranger, the dog's ears dropping. With a sigh, she took out a pokeball and gently tapped the Buneary, letting the red beam take the fainted pokemon away into the ball. ''Honestly, you can't attack random pokemon because you're jealous...'' she said softly, even as the Houndour came over, doing a soft whine. Unable to stay mad, she slowly pet the pokemon.

She'd have to heal the Buneary after she left the area, if it got caught that is.

One shake. Two shake. Three shake.

It was caught. The blonde strode over, picking up the pokeball. ''Come, Hades.'' she said softly. The houndour barked happily, totting over to her side. Checking for injuries, she didn't find any. Just some tiredness. ''You will be good for at least another, yes?'' she said softly. Her pokemon confirmed with a bark. Her fingers threaded through the pokemon's fur, before the blonde strode forwards. It was time to get out of this route, more then likely. Shifting her stance, the woman took another look around, before nodding to herself. It was a beautiful place, and she had to go continue on. There were people trying to hurt pokemon out there, still, so she couldn't just stay here and rest now could she?

Her steps brought her back to the main road. Slowly, she walked, but after a while, it was getting to her. The crowd on the road was thick. She felt as if she was back in the city, hidden amongst the mob of people, trying to bring the groceries home. Her hands reached down, and grabbed her pokemon, carrying her faithful companion. He of course, let out a small questioning bark, but settled after that. Perhaps he could feel how anxious she was. The blonde just kept walking, not speaking to anyone, but eventually, she had to get off the path. Letting her stride get faster, she went past a few people, and headed into the wilderness of the route. Walking a bit longer, her stride finally ended, a sigh falling from her lips.

Gently, she placed her pokemon back on the ground.

But the moment she had, something seemed to shift wildly in the bush. VICE-GRIP landed on her pokemon, the fire-type letting out a surprised bark, and then a pained whine. The pokemon was scrapping it's claws against something, a pair of gears rising. ''What is a pokemon like this doing out here.'' she muttered. Maybe someone had released it. But it's obvious aggression mean it had to be put down. ''Hades, Ember.'' she said, her voice calm. The hound turned around, maw springing with fire. And with a exhale, the EMBER hit the steel type right in the face. That finally let go of the houndour, the pokemon landing on it's paws.

With a bark, the pokemon was charging another EMBER already. The opposite Klink was using CHARGE, electricty sparking around it. With a snap, Hades' fire reached the other pokemon, landing on them, as the electric charges fizzled out. With a final vibrate, the pokemon collapsed. Without hesitation, she threw a pokeball at it. She did hope she would catch it, simply because she wanted to give that obviously lonely and hurt pokemon a better home. But her steps hurried her to her pokemon's side, a worried frown on her face. ''Hades?'' she said softly. The partial dark-type had fallen over after the last attack, and lifted his head towards her, whining. She took out a potion from her pack, seeing the wound at her pokemon's side. With a few sprays, finishing the whole bottle, it was healing nicely.

''You were very brave.'' she said softly, stroking her pokemon's head.

The pokemon's breathing was easier now, the potion tingling through his system. That's when the sound of hooves caught their attention - breaking from the bushes, a equine pokemon stopped, letting out a whiny. Hades leaped to his feet, coming to the defence of his trainer, growling and snapping at the pokemon. The blonde ranger was slowly rising to her feet, noticing a large gash on the pokemon's side. She would befriend it, but the way it was tossing it's head, and letting out heavy breaths told her it wouldn't take help right now. She would have to beat it, capture it, and then heal it. Although, she was thinking of a safe way to do it.

Shifting it's weight, it all happened in a split second - the start of the next battle that is, despite what Jessica wanted to do.

The pokemon's small horns glowed, and then the air around Hades distorted. The wild pokemon was using CONFUSION trying to keep the small dog off balance it seemed. However, the dark-type didn't seem bothered, as with a bark, flames erupted from it's mouth, an EMBER sailing to the horse. With a panicked cry, it tried to evade, only to catch the fire on to it's flank. A jump, a shift, and the pokemon was charging ahead with a TACKLE. But Hades wasn't just going to take it - he had to pull through for his trainer. His maw light up again, a second EMBER taking flight. This time, it landed right in the face of the charging Girafarig, making it wipe out with a whine.

The blonde felt bad, picking on an already injured pokemon, but it was for it's own good. Noticing her dwindling supply of pokeballs, she knew she would have to get to the next down soon, as she easily tossed a pokeball on the poor pokemon. Hoping the ball would catch it, she wanted to move but didn't when Hades let out a growl. The pokemon was determined to keep her protected, so for now she would just let him do so. The ranger let a soft smile touch her lips, as her starting pokemon seemed to be taking his role seriously. She could only hope future members of her team would be just as determined as he was. And with a little time, she could definitely train him to help her with her job too.

But that was in the future, she had to get ready for the next fight - since she wasn't sure she could make it to town without another.

The crying call of the pokemon revealed it long before it came into sight.

With a burst, the bird type seemed to just burst out of the bushes, twins heads wobbling. It seemed to skid to a stop, noticing herself and her pokemon. The blonde was ready to just step away, but she noticed that Hades seemed to have a strange, purple fog swirling from it's mouth. With a bark, the fog sped towards the bird-type, SMOG being the attack he had used to defend her. One of the bird's heads was stuck in the fog, letting out a displeased squawk, whilst the other seemed to push the body forward, beak first. The dog pokemon only barely twisted it's body fast enough, the PECK hitting one of it's bones rather then it's flesh.

Jessica didn't speak up however, just keeping her mouth shut for now. If she wanted her pokemon to become a good partner, he would have to learn to think on his own feet. She didn't take mindless slaves. This time, a familiar fire filled up it's mouth, an EMBER disengaging right into the attacking head of the pokemon. A screeching squawk, as the pokemon tumbled back. But Hades wasn't letting up, another EMBER to the face that had been hit by the Smog earlier. With a trip, the pokemon went down in a bunch of screeching and twitching. The dog pokemon would just snarl at them, even as Jessica took out a pokeball. Her lips thinned, as she was running out of them. She'd have to go to the next town to fill back up, wasn't she?

Well, with a light toss she let fate decide. But Hades was getting better in a fight, so even if he was weaker - she wasn't sure about that - his trusty ember was slowly becoming a power house. ''Just a bit longer.'' she said softly to her pokemon, taking the ball if it was captured, and heading out. They were almost there...

It was like the universe wanted a laugh.

Barring her way to town? A floating star. They had stopped at the small river for a drink - it was more a small lake to be honest - when it had risen up. Hesitating, the blonde haired woman wasn't sure if she wanted to fight it. Hades however, was snarling and snapping at it. The Staryu trembled at each bark, and Jessica made a quick decision. With a snap of her fingers, Hades stopped and looked up at her questioningly. ''Down.'' she said softly. The dog pokemon whined, but lied down on his stomach, obeying her command. The water pokemon stopped trembling, and even twirled a bit. She was still worried, but the ranger in her wanted to see what was wrong.

Gently, she approached the floating star. ''Are you alright?'' she whispered softly to it.

It didn't seem to understand her, but it twirled again, before approaching her a bit closer. And then it started to move towards the other edge of the water, in a pair of bushes. Without hesitation - she was a ranger - she followed the wild pokemon. What she found was a pair of Starmies, held down by some sort of trap. It didn't seem to be harming them, but they couldn't leave either. The Staryu twirled and let out a twinkling sound, which the two trapped pokemon answered too. Hades had followed her, which was just as well. Kneeling down, she tried to seperate the nets with her bare hands. But they were too strong for her. ''Dammit. Alright, Hades be careful, but you need to use EMBER at the edges of the net.'' she said.

The trio of star shaped pokemons stiffened when the fire lit the fire type's mouth.

But with a controlled burst, the flames were on the edge of the net, melting away the rope - and freeing the first Starmie. Another burst, and the second one was freed too. Both pokemon floated, spinning happily as they circled around the Staryu. Jessica smiled, and pat Hades head. ''Good boy.'' she said. The dog pokemon seemed to be happy that she praised it, and as the twinkling noises stopped, she looked up. To her surprise, both Starmies were leaving, but not the Staryu. Frowning a moment, she extended her hand, and the star shaped pokemon floated over to her.

''With us?'' she said, almost questioningly. Hades barked, and the Staryu twittered. With a smile, she gently took out a pokeball, and tapped the wild, letting it get sucked into the ball. Uh, she hadn't expected that, to say the least. Hopefully, the Staryu would let itself be captured - she couldn't be sure, but she thought it wanted to. Withdrawing her other pokeball, she recalled Hades, and headed off to town to heal up and get herself sorted. Just another step forward, right?