Red and Imari kept running, as the flock took wing from the trees and headed in their direction. He had heard many roars in his life, but he couldn't place which Pokémon had made that roar. Even so, he suspected the work of a poacher.
But there were no rare Pokémon on this Route that he knew of. Unless… "!" Red's eyes widened as he continued running beside Imari. Of course, he thought, remembering. The Braviary flock. The boy felt stupid for forgetting the most recent arrivals to the Route. The poacher had to be after the Braviary.
He narrowed his eyes as he thought of a plan, while fleeing. As soon as they reached Viridian City, he had to warn Officer Jenny and tell her about the poacher.
Imari panted as she started to fall behind. "Red, I… I can't keep up." She could feel a stitch forming, hurting.
Red slowed a little. He wasn't going to lose his childhood friend, not today. They were almost at the city.
"We're almost there. Come on." He offered his hand as support, watching anxiously as she stopped, trying to get her breath. The boy kept one eye on the flock, worried.
The flock was steadily gaining ground as they flew towards the two trainers. Red began panicking, thinking there was no chance for them to escape now.
"Please, Imari." He pleaded, reaching for her hand again, only for her to smack his away.
She glared at him. "I'm in pain, okay?" The girl snapped at him. Imari had known of other people saying that stitches hurt, but experiencing it herself was another matter entirely. It was rough; even breathing hurt a little. "I know we have to keep moving, but I can't go anywhere right now. Sorry..."
Red sighed. "It's okay." He had been hasty to try and get her moving, but only because they were losing time to flee. Red glanced up one final time and dread crossed his face.
It was too late now. The flock were pretty much on them.
"Not a chance!" An older male voice declared, whistling to his partner. "Ampharos, Thunder!"
Red jumped from the shock of hearing the unexpected voice. Both he and Imari looked up as two Rangers jumped off a pair of Stylus-captured Staraptor. The trainers watched the Rangers in action, working together, instructing their Pokémon to take down the flock.
"Wow..." Imari uttered, at the sheer elegance the Pokémon had when attacking in unison. It was a matter of moments before the flock was decimated and lying on the ground, burned or electrocuted beyond saving.
"Normally," the male Ranger began, "we would capture them for rehoming. But we received the order to finish them off so there would be no more attacks on unsuspecting, new trainers."
"Seems cruel, I know." The woman added. "But that's the law of the wild. Survival of the fittest. Plus the League didn't want any more new trainers to be caught unaware."
Red and Imari shrugged.
