[Ch2] You're a Dead Dog

[xiaria]

"I swear I'll strangle you! Annoying little dog.." Kindle grumbled, sticking her tongue out at the Houndour walking beside her. Cimeries just rolled his eyes.

<Why couldn't I have gotten a good trainer?>

"Well, maybe that good trainer would be a human!"

<Hah! No pure human could be a good trainer, fool. They don't have the instincts, the commanding air.> His eyes slid sideways, looking Kindle up and down. <Not that you do, either, Growlithe.>

Kindle stomped her foot. "For the last time, it's Kindle! K-I-N-D-L-E! I'm not a Growlithe, I'm a morph!" Arceus, she was unlucky. She was stuck with this irritating little piece of prejudiced dog meat. And their arguing was probably scaring every pokemon with self preservation out of their way.

After leaving the lab, she'd let Cimeries out. That was a mistake. The Houndour had automatically spat something out about ignorant and incapable humans, and the two had been arguing ever since. And he insisted on calling her Growlithe, saying he wouldn't stain his mouth with human names. He was going to be a dead dog soon if he didn't shut up. Maybe they would find a pokemon and he would tire himself out. That'd be nice.

With that idea in mind, Kindle took a new interest in her surroundings. Trees. Trees. Oh! More trees! And grass. And there was a flash of something that looked like water. Probably something to avoid with a fire pokemon, at least at the start.

"Come on, Mr. High-and-Mighty, why don't you make yourself useful and try and sniff out an opponent," Kindle said, poking her companion with her shoe. He snapped at her foot, and she narrowly pulled it away, making a face at his back.

<I'm not some little scent Growlithe doing whatever I'm told. Why don't you use your nose and sniff something out,> he snapped.

The girl rolled her eyes, and then smirked.
"Well, if you don't think your nose is good enough..." she sighed, trailing off uncertainly. A smile lit her face when Cimeries glared at her, sniffing the ground and trotting off into the grass. She followed, noticing he didn't even bother to slow down for her.

[Lacilia]

An angry squeak came from the grasses, and a tiny purple rodent shot out, towards the other side of the trail.
"Rat tat tata! <Watch it!>" she squeaked, and stood on her haunches. She glared at the Houndour, large teeth showing threateningly. Then, her glare darted the the trainer. "Rat tata rat! <You have a trainer!>"
The tiny purple rodent Pokemon began squeaking, which was actually laughter. Pokemon who had human trainers were pathetic, and wouldn't ever live in the wild like herself.

A Rattata has appeared! What will you do?

[xiaria]

After realizing the Ratatta was laughing (and not, as previously assumed, choking) Kindle was torn between laughter and anger. On one hand, the look on Cimeries' face was priceless. On the other hand, the stupid rat was making fun of her and the idiot Houndour! Maybe she just attracted human-haters? Now that was a scary thought.

The glare directed at the Ratatta could have boiled the ocean. Cimeries was already incensed that he was stuck with the girl (granted, she wasn't all human), but to have that little..Urgh! say it, ticked him off.

<Hmph. Let's see how you like this,> Cimeries howled. That should at least make the little chit nervous. Readying himself, he charged towards the Ratatta, spitting out fire for an ember. Roasted rat sounded really, really good.

"Cimeries!" Kindle huffed. Stupid Houndour didn't even bother to listen for a command. Of course, that little voice in her head told her that she was already going to tell him to use howl and ember. But it was still a matter of principle!

[Lacilia]

"Rat tata tat! <Nice try, fiery!>" she sqeaked, and scurried out of the way, then charged forward in a Tackle attack. Her open mouth showed her large rodent teeth, sharper than Rattatas who lived their lives with trainers. Her right hind leg had a scar, where the fur was shorter than the rest, proving that she had lived a hard life in the wilds. She'd been born in the wild, and she would die in the wild if she could help it.
"Ratta tat rat tata! <Go home with your trainer!>" she taunted. "Rattata ratta tat! <While you still can!>"

[xiaria]

<While I still can?> Cimeries repeated. <While I still can? What about while you still can? I'll burn your tail off, little mouse. Want some more scars?> He grinned, leering at his opponent. At least she wasn't some little weak rat. That'd have been disappointing.

Oh, Arceus. Kindle could already see the fire bursting between Cimeries' teeth. It's not like he would listen to her anyway. That was definitely something to work on. Maybe some trust exercises? And something for his taunts. They needed work too. Her tail twitched anxiously. The determination and the pride just oozed off of the little rat. Even if she couldn't smell the emotions coming off of her, it was pretty obvious. Of course, so was the determination and indignity coming off of Cimeries.

Yeah, this was not going to go well. Kindle really didn't think so. She also wasn't sure if she could stop the Houndour from completely roasting the Ratatta. He seemed pretty ticked. Investing in fire-proof clothes would maybe have been a wise choice.

Just like Kindle thought, Cimeries let loose another ember aimed towards the Ratatta. He growled, twitchy and ready to burn the little rat to a crisp. He was the only one that was going to complain or do anything about his situation, being stuck with dog-girl and all.

[Lacilia]

The Rattata lunged forward in another Tackle, this one right at the Houndour's head. She shoved off of her haunches and sailed forward, teeth bared once again.
"Rat tata rattata. <Yeah, flame-brain.>" she growled. "Ratta tat tata rattata. <While you still can.>"
The tiny rodent Pokemon knew she was outmatched, but her skill in this habitat would make up for her size. The plan was already forming in her head...

[xiaria]

Cimeries lowered his head, taking the attack on the skull on his forehead. Growling, he spit more fire at the rat, hoping that the closer proximity from the attack would mean she wouldn't be able to dodge. She was definitely a determined little thing. But he was more determined.

"Why won't you listen, you Arceus-danged pokemon!" Kindle said, tail swishing irritatedly. Why couldn't she have gotten a pokemon that actually listened? Or at least a non-human hating one?

<Just shut up, idiot,> Cimeries growled. <I'm trying to fight, and you're distracting.> Would she ever shut up? Maybe an ember 'accidentally' aimed her way would get her to be quiet. Of course, he doubted it, really.