Pokémon: A Tale Of Time (Volume One: Zephyr)

Chapter Eleven - Poochye-Nightmare!

Raido's heart pounded like a drum in his chest, each beat echoing the urgency of their desperate flight through the dense forest. He and Nidoran scrambled over roots and rocks, the pack of Poochyena hot on their heels. Their snarls and barks reverberated through the air, a constant reminder of the danger that pursued them. Nidoran, though tired from the day's events, pushed forward with relentless determination, her small legs moving as fast as they could.

Branches whipped past Raido's face, scratching at his skin, but he barely noticed. His focus was solely on escaping the ferocious pack behind them. The forest was a blur of green and brown as they weaved through trees and leapt over fallen logs. The ground was uneven, but Raido's adrenaline-fueled strides kept him from stumbling. He could feel the heat of the Poochyena's breath on his back, the occasional nip at his heels when they got too close.

Their sprint continued, the forest growing denser with each step. The trees towered above them, their canopies blocking out the sunlight and casting an eerie gloom over the path. The ground began to incline, a steep slope that led them higher and higher. Raido's legs burned with the effort, but he couldn't afford to stop. He knew that slowing down meant certain doom.

The slope grew steeper, and soon they were practically climbing. Raido's fingers dug into the dirt and roots, pulling himself upward. Nidoran followed closely, her claws providing the necessary grip on the rough terrain. The Poochyena were relentless, their growls growing louder as they gained ground. Raido's heart sank as he realized they were running out of options.

Finally, they reached the top of the slope, only to be met with a sheer rock face. The cliff rose high above them, its jagged surface impossible to climb without the necessary equipment or Pokémon. This natural barrier was a common feature of the more advanced routes in Johto, designed to protect newer trainers from the dangers that lay beyond. Only those with Pokémon capable of scaling such obstacles could venture further, into areas inhabited by higher-level Pokémon and more experienced trainers.Raido's breath caught in his throat as he turned to face the advancing pack. They had been cornered.

The Poochyena emerged from the underbrush, their eyes glowing with predatory intent. The leader, a particularly large and scarred Poochyena, stepped forward, its lips pulled back in a snarl. Raido's back was against the rock, and he felt Nidoran press close to his leg, her body tense and ready to fight despite her exhaustion.

Raido glanced around, searching for any possible escape, but the cliff face behind them was impassable. The pack spread out, forming a semi-circle around them, cutting off any routes of retreat. The leader growled low, a sound that sent shivers down Raido's spine.

"We're trapped, Nidoran," Raido said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But we won't go down without a fight."

Nidoran nodded, her eyes fierce and determined. She stepped forward, her horn glowing with the same venom that had defeated the Sewaddle earlier. The Poochyena pack watched with predatory interest, their muscles tensed and ready to pounce.

"Alright, girl," Raido continued, trying to keep his voice steady. "We'll have to be smart about this. Wait for my signal, and give it everything you've got."

The leader Poochyena growled again, this time a signal to the pack. Two Poochyena lunged forward, their teeth bared and eyes gleaming with malicious intent. Raido's heart skipped a beat, but he kept his focus.

"Nidoran, use Poison Sting!" he shouted.

Nidoran leaped into action, her horn glowing brightly as she launched herself at the nearest Poochyena. The attack connected, sending the Poochyena yelping in pain and retreating. But the second Poochyena was quick, dodging the initial strike and closing in on Nidoran with a vicious bite.

"Nidoran, dodge and use Scratch!" Raido commanded.

Nidoran narrowly avoided the bite, her agility saving her from the sharp teeth. She countered with a swift Scratch, her claws raking across the Poochyena's face. The Poochyena yelped and backed off, but the rest of the pack was undeterred. They advanced as a unified front, their growls echoing through the clearing.

Raido's mind raced, trying to come up with a strategy. They were outnumbered and outmatched, and Nidoran was already showing signs of fatigue. The odds were against them, but Raido refused to give up. He had to protect Nidoran and himself, no matter what.

"Stay focused, girl!" Raido called out, his eyes darting around for any sign of escape. But the pack had them surrounded, their growls growing louder as they closed in.

As another Poochyena charged, Raido felt a surge of desperation. "Nidoran, Tail Whip!" he commanded, hoping to lower the Poochyena's defenses.

Nidoran spun around, her tail lashing out and striking the Poochyena across the face. The wild Pokémon staggered back, momentarily dazed, but the others were undeterred. The leader barked a command, and the pack tightened their circle, their eyes locked onto Raido and Nidoran.

"There's too many of them," Raido muttered, his mind racing for a solution. "We need something more powerful..."

Suddenly, as if answering his plea, Nidoran's body began to glow with a faint blue light. Raido watched in awe as she crouched down, her muscles tensing with newfound strength. She glanced back at him, her eyes filled with determination and something more—something new.

"Nidoran...?" Raido whispered, his eyes wide with realization. Proud tears welled up in his blue eyes, as a warm droplet run down his dirty cheek.

"You can do it, girl! Use Double Kick!"

Nidoran nodded and sprang into action. She leapt into the air, her back legs glowing with energy. As the nearest Poochyena lunged at her, she kicked out with incredible force. Her hind legs struck the Poochyena square in the chest, sending it tumbling backward with a pained yelp. She landed gracefully and immediately spun around, delivering another powerful kick to a second Poochyena, which was sent sprawling to the ground.

Raido's heart soared with excitement and pride. "Yes, Nidoran! That was amazing!" he shouted, his voice filled with joy.

But the pack, though momentarily stunned, was not deterred. The leader growled louder, rallying the remaining Poochyena. They advanced once more, their eyes filled with a relentless hunger. Raido and Nidoran stood their ground, ready for the next wave.

Nidoran panted heavily, the toll of the battles evident in her weary stance, but the fire in her eyes burned brighter than ever. Raido could see the exhaustion in his partner, yet she remained defiant, her body poised for another attack.

The leader Poochyena barked again, and three more Poochyena lunged at once. Raido's mind raced as he tried to think of a strategy to fend them off. "Nidoran, Double Kick again!" he commanded.

Nidoran kicked out with all her might, striking one Poochyena and sending it flying. She spun to deliver another kick, but the third Poochyena dodged, its jaws snapping dangerously close to her leg. Nidoran yelped and hopped back, narrowly avoiding the bite.

Despite their valiant efforts, the pack continued to press forward. Raido's excitement from Nidoran's new move was tempered by the grim realization that they were still outnumbered. The Poochyena were relentless, their growls and barks creating a deafening chorus of impending doom.

The leader stepped forward, its eyes locked onto Raido with a predatory gleam. Raido could see the intent in those eyes—this battle wasn't just about territory or defense. The pack leader wanted to finish them off for good.

"Nidoran," Raido said, his voice filled with a mixture of fear and resolve, "we can't let them win. We have to fight with everything we've got."

Nidoran nodded, her gaze never leaving the advancing pack. She crouched down, ready to spring into action once more, despite the exhaustion weighing her down. Raido clenched his fists, determination flooding through him. They had come too far to give up now.

The pack lunged as one, their bodies moving in a coordinated attack. Raido and Nidoran braced themselves for the onslaught, knowing that this was their last stand.