Growing noticeably colder almost the moment the sunlight was left behind them, Ryusuke was immediately grateful that he often took his coat wherever he went - it would not have been pleasant to explore this part of the city while cold and damp. It was, however, significantly brighter than it was several nights ago even with Vega's neon lit atmosphere, and that allowed the trainer to take in several more details than he'd been able to previously. While not exactly covered in litter, what little there was looked like it had been trapped in the street for a long, long time. A layer of filth and dirt seemed to cover most everything in what was otherwise a well cared for area, with the sidewalks and road otherwise undamaged and uncracked - it didn't look like the buildings were in any state of disrepair, either, which was an odd contradiction to the earlier observation. Something about the place was off, but it wasn't anything Ryusuke could immediately put his finger on and that only served to deepen his unease.
And right on cue, the DexNav app would begin making sound, alerting the trainer to the presence of another nearby Pokemon and one that Ryusuke didn't immediately recognize. Unlike the previous, however, this time around the Pokemon in question wasn't going away - quite the opposite, in fact, as the sound of a low growl made itself known just ahead. Having apparently been hidden behind one of the stairways leading up to a building's front door, a canine Pokemon that Ryusuke had never seen before would stalk forward, eyes locked on himself and Treecko. Despite being an unfamiliar species, though, Ryusuke had spent enough time dealing with Mightyena and Poochyena over the last year to recognize what was being conveyed. Hunched back, hair standing on end over the shoulders, the fairly obvious growl - whatever it was it didn't want visitors.
"Hey, easy now..." Ryusuke said slowly, voice as low and calm as he could make it as both hands were raised in a placating fashion. As that was done the blond would begin backing up the way he'd come as well, Treecko immediately looking that same direction to make sure that another Pokemon wasn't already there and waiting for them. Running away outright wasn't an option - enough Pokemon would take that as a sign of weakness that it'd almost be begging for an attack, but at the same time staying there was asking for a fight as well. Were it a Pokemon that Ryusuke was familiar with he might go with that option, but blind fights weren't his style. Three steps in, though, and it apparently wasn't fast enough as the canine's growl picked up in pitch before the Pokemon suddenly lunged forward.
Treecko's response was immediate as the Pokemon suddenly vanished from the blond's shoulder, the push off from Quick Attack strong enough to push the trainer back another step as the Wood Gecko came down on the dog's head with a kick strong enough to throw the surprised Pokemon off balance as her chin slammed into the pavement and staggered her. On moving to disengage, though, a new development would suddenly dictate a change in tactics as the wild Pokemon quickly recovered, mouth opening to spew several familiar globs of flame in Treecko's direction. Unable to entirely avoid them in mid air, several would graze past the Wood Gecko with a small handful landing painfully on his center of mass.
Uh oh. Fire type? Ryusuke seemed to be running into a lot of those lately, but thankfully he had the perfect solution after the last encounter.
"Treecko, switch!" Ryusuke called, backpedaling himself to gain some distance from the fight and one hand dropping to the Pokeballs on his belt. Not needing to hear what was said twice as he landed with a wince, Treecko kept his momentum going as he sprang backwards with a jump and one barely quick enough to avoid another hit from Ember. Whatever this Pokemon was it clearly wasn't intending to let Treecko have a breather or disengage, and it wasn't until a red and white orb landed between Treecko and his opponent that the wild Pokemon momentarily backed off in surprise. Popping open to release Froakie in a flash of light, the Grass type took advantage of the split second breather to hightail it back to Ryusuke.
Eyes locked onto her new opponent, Houndour would slowly begin walking to the side, stance still aggressive and sizing her new and smaller still opponent up as Froakie did the same, his own stance wide and cautious. A moment later, however, Houndour would let out a quick howl to the sky before charging forward again, Froakie attempting to leap to the side but not quickly enough to prevent the larger Pokemon's jaws from clamping down around his leg with a lunge. More angry and embarrassed than anything else, the Water type's own mouth would open to spew thick froth into Houndour's face, the Bubble attack clinging to the Pokemon and obscuring her vision in a sudden surprise attack. Thrown off guard by the unexpected move, Houndour's jaws would slacken slightly only to outright open as Froakie immediately followed up the first attack with a punch to the Fire type's froth covered eye, drawing a sharp squeal of pain. Freed from her jaws, Froakie would immediately press the offensive as he climbed atop the larger Pokemon rather than dropping to the ground, alternating between repeated uses of Bubble and punching every sensitive area of Houndour's head that he could reach.
"Hey. Hey! That's enough!" Ryusuke shouted as Houndour began to falter, legs starting to give out but Froakie still attacking the other Pokemon with everything he had - at least until he was forcibly sucked back into his Pokeball. Breathing heavily and fur matted with wet spots and froth, Houndour was barely standing as she rubbed her face with a paw, trying to clear what she could of the bubbles away in an attempt to restore her vision. Taking a tentative step forward to place himself between Ryusuke and the still conscious wild Pokemon, though, Treecko would immediately regain Houndour's attention as her head snapped up at the movement. Unlike before, however, there was no growling but rather a look of careful consideration as the Pokemon's gaze lingered on the Grass type before making a subtle shift to settle on Ryusuke. Still in some degree of obvious pain, Houndour would continue staring Ryusuke down for several more moments before shifting her stance. An act that would immediately putting Treecko back on guard before it became clear that Houndour was simply laying down, stomach to the ground and head upright, the only additional movement coming when the Fire type brought her head low, chin touching the pavement in a show of submission.
("You win.") It was a quiet sound, almost too quiet to hear, but as Ryusuke looked to Treecko for translation and the Wood Gecko only gave a tentative shrug and nod in response he at least got the impression that the Pokemon wasn't going to be a threat any longer.
".... Treecko?" Ryusuke asked, verbally this time as he looked again to the Pokemon for input. Treecko's only response was to turn and walk back to his trainer before continuing past, heading back the way they came. Given the mild burns he suffered from the earlier attack Ryusuke couldn't blame him, and with only a second quick glance to the Houndour the blond would turn to begin following Treecko down the street, catching up in a few steps to scoop the Pokemon up. As Treecko was climbing up onto his shoulder again, though, Ryusuke found himself pausing and looking back again as he heard additional movement - and only about two meters back was the Houndour again, having gotten up. Despite a subtle limp the Pokemon had started to follow them both, and on Ryusuke stopping and looking back the Pokemon merely sat on her hindquarters and continued to start back at him herself, this time with a look more of expectation.
"... what? Do you want something?" Ryusuke asked, tone as cautious as his stance was given their initial encounter nor more than a couple of minutes before. While Houndour clearly heard him, though, her only response was to keep her gaze locked onto the trainer for another minute or two before Ryusuke carefully turned to face her, at which point the Fire type's gaze would very deliberately and very clearly drop to the Pokeballs on his belt. Quick to pick up on the shift, Ryusuke slowly pulled one of the orbs from a pocket and held it up where Houndour could see it, and as he did so the dog's eyes locked onto the ball and followed it with an intense focus. Unsure of what else to do and still hesitant to turn his back on the Pokemon now that she'd started to follow him, Ryusuke gave a gentle toss of the orb so that it landed near Houndour - and oddly enough the Pokemon would move as if to inspect it before quite clearly pressing her nose to the button, the Pokeball sucking the Fire type inside.
Treecko: Level 13. Overgrow. Pound, Leer, Absorb, Leech Seed (Signature Move, Paralysis), Quick Attack, Mega Drain.
Charmander: Level 5. Blaze. Scratch, Growl.
Froakie: Level 5. Torrent. Pound, Growl, Bubble.
Salandit: Level 5. Corrosion. Scratch, Poison Gas, Ember.
Rotom: Level 5. Levitate. Discharge, Trick, Astonish, Charge, Thundershock, Confuse Ray.
