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What had looked to be an aggressive, quick moving shadow, had rushed up steadily behind the angry Houndour only to hop up from the air and pop open into the friendly shape of a curious Spheal - its round body plopping against the frosty ground to wave a cheerful flipper toward the pair, oblivious to the tension permeating the air.[break][break]

With a twitch of her ear, Sirius wheeled around, using a hind paw as her pivot point as she spun to turn her maddened glare toward the friendly pokemon, jaws yanking open wide to snap viciously at the air. Spheal shrank back quickly at the unfriendly greeting, eyes wet with tears as it pulled its fin in toward its ball-shaped body, lips hanging in a discouraged frown.[break][break]

There was no warning as Sirius lashed out with her teeth, her stiff posture giving way to an unexpected ғᴇɪɴᴛ ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋ. The razor points of her ivory teeth gauged at the ᴛʜɪᴄᴋ ғᴀᴛ of the little pokémon's body, the frightened Spheal's small tail slapping to the ice to hop it a short ways back as it reached its short flippers to shield its face, ducking its spherical shape into a ᴅᴇғᴇɴsᴇ ᴄᴜʀʟ as it braced for another bite of fangs.[break][break]

Fins dropping cautiously from its eyes, Spheal peeked over their edge toward the demon-eyed hound, shrinking itself further at the sight of Sirius' bristled black fur and the aggressive twitch of her muzzle at the corners of her sharp rows of teeth. The Houndour took a sudden step forward, Spheal's short-furred coat spiking in fear as it nearly jumped at the gesture, sure the dog would lunge forward again. The pokémon ducked its head again, narrowly missing the sight of the dog rising her paw to crash it into its side in another ғᴇɪɴᴛ ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋ - the blow striking hard enough to send the round pokémon slipping across the ice to bounce back and forth between the narrow passage like a pinball, spinning wildly from the impact.[break][break]

Spheal dropped its weight forward suddenly, the sudden rotation of its body burning the ice from under its form to find traction against the stone hidden underneath. Sirius opened her jaws to prepare an onslaught of wicked flames, but as the heat built in her throat she clamped her jaws shut. Her wariness of melting the ice didn't escape the attention of the quiet trainer still standing patiently behind her, observing the battle in silence through her mask. It was then that it hit the Houndour - she had initiated the battle without a command.[break][break]

Just as the realization found her, so did Spheal. The ice type's body collided with the hound in a ʀᴏʟʟᴏᴜᴛ, its stone hard body given extra strength by its previous defense curl. The hit tore a startled yelp from Sirius, feet snatched up from the ground by the weight of the impact as she was sent sailing back into the legs of her trainer. Ten didn't budge, her helmet turning downward to watch the dog intently.[break][break]

Sirius was determined not to lose focus on her fight now - fiery gaze snapping open as she righted herself to her feet, hunching forward in a feral display as her eyes tracked after the wheeling Spheal's movements - its round body already ripping around to come barreling at the dog for another hit. The Spheal was coming in fast, having picked up strength and traction from its first strike.[break][break]

''Feint attack.''[break][break]

The dog's mind went blank, a searing white of rage as her paws raced a step forward before planting firm against the ice, claws gripped to its cracked surface. Her muscles tightened as she braced herself for the hit, waiting in eager anticipation for the Spheal to come within range of her attack. The tears at the pokémon's coat were clear, it would only take one last strike on her part. All the same, the hit from the rolling Spheal would be more than enough to take her out of commission. Ten had calculated the battle carefully - certain that its outcome would be determined entirely by speed.[break][break]

Sirius darted toward the side just as Spheal came rolling to meet her, her head ducking before forcing its skull-capped forehead into the pokémon's side with all her might.[break][break]

The blow from the ғᴇɪɴᴛ ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋ sent Spheal's curled body racing back toward the wall, the thick layer of fat on its body adding to its ballistic potential as it bounced back and forth through the corridor wildly, sailing farther and farther away before finally swirling to a stop, the pokémon unfurling itself to lay slumped in defeat.[break][break]

Sirius turned her head sharply toward Ten as the battle was won, eyes narrow as she glanced about the expressionless mask of her helmet. The dog didn't understand. Why had she been given an order?[break][break]

Ten simply knelt down, a knee set to the ice as she searched one of the pouches at her hip. Easing an ᴏʀᴀɴ ʙᴇʀʀʏ from inside, the berry rolled to rest at the center of her palm as she held it out toward Sirius, waiting for the dog to accept.[break][break]

The Houndour was wary.[break][break]

''If you're ready. We can try my way now.''[break][break]

Taking the berry into her teeth Sirius gave a quiet grunt, eyes locked carefully on her trainer as she righted herself back to her feet.

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Sirius stepped back in her reluctance, bowing her muzzle toward the ground as she gave a shake of her head in half-hearted defiance. The sweetness of the berry on her tongue was lost as she gulped it back, her tongue moving briefly to sweep whatever of the flavor might remain from the sharp points of her teeth.[break][break]

Ten rose back to her feet. The refusal didn't matter. The earlier sounds of battle had brought a newcomer to the scene, and the pokémon wasn't quite what the trainer had expected to see.[break][break]

Curious and concerned, Growlithe crept in cautiously from one of the narrow passageway's tunnels, leathery nose hard at work analyzing the scent of the defeated Spheal. Its eyes kept to the unconscious ice pokémon as it moved carefully forward, leaning toward its fallen from as it debated over whether the pokémon had truly fainted or not.[break][break]

''We need a larger room to practice.''[break][break]

Her words rang in the wild pokémon's round ears, its head jolting up as its ears stood stiffed, head turning sharply to face the trainer and the fiery hound at her feet.[break][break]

''We'll take Growlithe out here and move on.''[break][break]

Growlithe's lips peeled back from its fangs as it turned to step toward the duo, a warning growl rumbling in its throat, looking to ɪɴᴛɪᴍɪᴅᴀᴛᴇ the two. The shiver that spidered its way down Sirius' spine only fueled her fiery temper. The Houndour didn't shrink at the threat, her head turning sharply to bare the sides of her teeth toward Growlithe as she locked eyes with it in a wild, blood thirsty stare, daring the pokémon to cause her trouble. She hadn't yet moved to face the pokémon, and though it may not have been the wisest choice to leave her back to an enemy, Ten could at least appreciate she hadn't initiated the battle at first sound of danger.[break][break]

''Your instructions are feint attack, roar, and pursuit.''[break][break]

''Begin.''[break][break]

Claws skate clumsily over the ice as the dog tore up from the ground, ripping itself around to rush down the hall at full speed toward Growlithe, her trainer following at her own comfortable pace behind her. The striped pokémon responded with a step forward of its own, teeth drawing open to shoot a burst of crimson ᴇᴍʙᴇʀ toward the enemy sprinting his way. The flames simply rolled off the Houndour's back, their heat lighting a blaze in her eye as the temperature of her own flame was inspired to burn hot, licks of flame scattering at the edges of her teeth in ғʟᴀsʜ ғɪʀᴇ as she raced to meet her enemy still standing at the end of the corridor.[break][break]

Her leading paw pressed abruptly to the frosted ground as she lurched to a stop right at the dog's face, eyes locking with Growlithe's to convey the certainty of her victory as she sloped around suddenly, dipping to one side to edge around her opponent's body just enough to bring her shoulder to it's own, foot stamping to crash its sturdy build into the softer-furred Growlithe's in a ғᴇɪɴᴛ ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋ.[break][break]

Growlithe stumbled to the side from the force of the hit, an wild snarl ripped from its throat as it caught its weight at its paws and turned its head sharply, sinking its jaws into the fur of Sirius' back as she moved to continue rushing by him, his ʙɪᴛᴇ gauging at her coat until its teeth came to met with one of the sturdy, bone-like ridges at her back, forcing it to withdraw its attack.[break][break]

''When you roar -''[break][break]

The trainer had just barely begun to speak as Sirius whipped around to open her fangs wide in a powerful ʀᴏᴀʀ, the mighty sound sending a tremor that cracked the ice of the walls, icicles overhead chiming a dangerous song over the group's head.[break][break]

''Growlithe will run away.''[break][break]

True to the woman's words, the Growlithe's eyes pulled open wide as it abruptly shrank back, fearful. Its paws hurried to put what short amount of distance it could between itself and the Houndour before finding its shoulder trapped to the wall, its feet already racing to dart itself forward, aiming to bypass the trainer entirely in its escape.[break][break]

''And you can use this to your advantage.''[break][break]

The sight of the frightened Growlithe so desperate to escape filled Sirius with anticipation, head dropping low as she fixed her furious glare on the terrified pokémon, taking off to follow after in ᴘᴜʀsᴜɪᴛ.[break][break]

The hound seemed to move in a flash, the shadow of its body flickering as it raced forward with unprecedented speed, paws meeting with the ground with precision as it rushed in to catch up with the frantic Growlithe. There was a gleam in her eye as her jaws spread wide, speed kept all too naturally as she craned her neck to take the scruff of the striped hound into her teeth, biting down and tearing her head sharply to the side.[break][break]

Growlithe was swept off its feet, the sudden pull at the fur of his neck taking him off balance and sending him flying toward the wall as its attacker released her hold, sending him to crack against the hard, frigid surface of the cavern wall. The impact quickly stole the dog's consciousness, its body dropping to rest limp against the ground as Sirius' steps found themselves at a halt, posture alert.[break][break]

''This way.''[break][break]

Sirius turned her head to gaze after her trainer, the flames tickling at the sides of her mouth slowly dying away.[break][break]

''I have something else to teach you.''

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A sharp snort echoed through the cavern as the dog expelled a hot breath through her nostrils, the heat taking the shape of a thick cloud against the cool air of the frozen cave. Sirius stepped forward to follow slowly, the weight of her assignment dragging her shoulders down low. Pawsteps were heavy as she grumbled along, wary steps keeping a distance from Ten as she lead them deeper into the cave.[break][break]

They reached their destination without interruption, coming to a large, open room with a floor built thick of ice. The cavern yawned out before them in a show of dim light, the sun from outside refracted off the network of frozen, ice mirrored walls to keep the darkness at bay. Ten's boots came to a stop just by the entrance - Sirius paws carried her just a short ways in.[break][break]

The Houndour stopped once she had managed to put a couple feet between herself and her trainer, her eyes scanning the room warily for any signs of trickery. A flash of orange turned her attention quickly to one side as another wandering fire type slipped its way about the room, its image passing briefly between the different angles of the ice frosting the stone of the cave walls.[break][break]

''There's water under the floor.''[break][break]

Ten's word brought the dogs eyes down toward her paws, a padded foot lifting from the surface of the ground to check underneath.[break][break]

''If the ice melts, it will be easy to recognize.''[break][break]

Sirius paw set back to the ground with an angry growl, the fur at her back ridging higher as the corners of her mouth twitched in irritation, jaws parting as she lowered herself closer toward the frozen lake serving as her solid ground.[break][break]

''The goal is to use your toxins.''[break][break]

The trainer spoke all too casually as she pulled her phone from its holster at her side, pressing her thumb to its face to wake it from its slumber. The dull glow of its screen lit the flecks of ice in the cool air, a foggy mist hanging about the device as she brought it in front of her to check its information.[break][break]

''Use smog until your opponent is on its last leg. Do not breathe poison anywhere you would not want your flames to reach.''[break][break]

The image of Chimchar was on her screen by now, the pokédex loaded to her phone working to parse its data as she swiped the screen from view, drawing up a separate app to begin in her own work.[break][break]

''When I give the word, you will use your embers to light it. The better you link your smog, the more effective your attack will be. We'll call this 'ignition.'''[break][break]

Her opposite hand rose to meet with its opposite at the other corner of her phone, fingers suddenly set at a blazing pace to type down the data their trip had uncovered. The migration was proving far more extreme than the geneticist would have expected.[break][break]

''Your target is Chimchar.''[break][break]

''Begin.''[break][break]

The orders made enough sense to the Houndour, her nose lifting toward the air to test its scent before pressing to the ground in ᴏᴅᴏʀ sʟᴇᴜᴛʜ as she left her trainer to her devices. Her nostrils were met only with the scent of ice, the freezing temperature making it difficult to lock in on a scent.[break][break]

Chimchar's exploration of the icicles draped from the cavern's vaulted ceiling brought it just over Houndour's head, the playful fire type's shoulders bouncing in a childish giggle as it carefully broke the tip of the massive thorn of ice that it was holding to, reaching out its hand to drop the frozen chunk to land on the hard-working dog's head.[break][break]

The distance between the two put its aim a short ways off, the ice falling to break against the ground just at Sirius' side.[break][break]

The black fur of the dog's neck bristled high as her head lift slowly from the ground, not the least bit startled by the sound of the scattering clatter of ice. Her gaze locked onto the smiling form of the Chimchar looming overhead, one of the pokémon's hands lifting from its place on its supporting icicle to give Sirius a teasing wave alongside its toothy grin. The greeting it received in turn was the sharp sound of an angry bark, the Houndour managing enough volume to make the icy walls of the room tremble.[break][break]

Chimchar's hands reached quickly to cover its ears, teeth clenched into a grimace. Removing its arms from the stalactite of ice proved to be a severe mistake however, the heat of its body having rendered the ice too slick for its legs alone to support its weight. Suddenly Chimchar was falling toward the ice, body tumbling through the air. Sirius didn't waste any time.[break][break]

Taking a small hop back the dog breathed a deep breath in through her leathery nose, lungs swelling with air before pushing it forcefully through her jaws as Chimchar dropped within range, filling it with the deadly toxin her breed was known for. The dark cloud of sᴍᴏɢ missed its target entirely as Chimchar suddenly took command of its fall, the playful act of feigned inability quickly revealed to be just another of the pokémon's jokes as it turned to plummet sharply to the ground, springing off its hands to flip backward just in time to narrowly avoid the poison. With a cocky smirk, Chimchar hopped right over the cloud of slowly dissipating poisons, the cold air causing the toxin to hang in the air as the pokémon sailed down to assault the Houndour with a sᴄʀᴀᴛᴄʜ of its claws.[break][break]

Sirius' right eye pinched tightly shut as its opponent's claws raked over its eye, its angered growling rumbling louder as the flame-wielding ape pushed down on her muzzle to use her as a point of balance as she cartwheeled her feet to the ground at the side of the looming toxin. The Houndour's teeth grit with spite as she ducked her nose away from Chimchar's hand just a second too late, another breath pulled in through her nose to be breathed toward the pokémon as sᴍᴏɢ. Chimchar choked and gagged at the scent, eyes watering as it stumbled a couple steps back.[break][break]

The monkey put a hand to its nose as it stumbled out of the cloud, thankful not to have breathed in enough to poison itself - but just as it broke free so too did Sirius come rushing to meet it - eyes red with rage and lips peeled in deadly threat as her body barreled through the plume of toxin, jaws pulling open abruptly to shoot another cloud of sᴍᴏɢ. Ten's phone was returned to its holster, eyes turned up to check her partner's progress.[break][break]

''Light it.''[break][break]

As the last of the poison rolled from her throat, the flames of ɪɴғᴇʀɴᴏ came spilling out to fire, the fiery pillar shot from her jaws swelling to swallow the poison surrounding the pair in an explosion of churning, red hot flames, their bright color lighting the room in a crimson glow. Chimchar was scorched, poisoned and black from the painful bite of the toxin and the searing heat of the flame, its body falling back to lay against the still frozen ice, defeated. The flames vanished into the air after devouring the last drop of poison, leaving only Chimchar's soot-covered body in its wake.[break][break]

The augmented inferno wasn't enough to sate the hound hunched at Chimchar's body, narrowed eyes locked onto the blank surface of the pokémon's eyelids as it debated further attack for its trickery, but as she stood there her body suddenly lit with a bright glow, her shape disappearing in a blinding shine of light.[break][break]

''You'll only improve from here, Sirius.''[break][break]

The light disappeared suddenly, the small dog's shape lost to the tall, powerful figure of a Houndoom. The horned hound turned her head slowly, tail rising stiff from her body as she turned her jaws toward the side, her gaze pulling to meet with Ten's from over her shoulder.[break][break]

''As long as you keep this control.''[break][break]

Ten's helmet nodded to the small, still hovering cloud of poison nearby. The Houndoom turned her head to gaze over the smog and, immediately, she understood.[break][break]

Righting her posture, Sirius turned carefully on the ice, certain to throw a final growl back toward Chimchar before stepping back toward her master. The ice was still firm, meaning her mission had been a success.