By the time I make the chapter after this one a video game I've been waiting for will be released. Thank you Orceanos.
XXX
"Come out Staravia." said Anna, "try to get rid of the smoke with whirlwind."
Staravia flapped it's wings making all the smoke breeze away. However, the bird Pokémon still loomed over Randy while he was sickly green in the face.
"Thanks July...and Staravia."
The bird Pokémon, a Murkrow of all odds, grabbed Randy's bag during the distraction and flew away with it.
"Quickly Staravia, chase it." commanded July, she didn't want Randy to loose so much of his personal belongings.
Randy yelled in shock. "The Pokémon egg we found is still in the back."
"What are you waiting for?" David asked. "Follow that hat-esque bird Pokémon who looks like a shadow."
They quickly took their stuff and hurried after the stealing Pokémon. Randy was catching up faster.
"Give me my bag back!" he yelled.
"Murkrow!" The bird replied.
Before Randy knew it, he was running rough a stream to get to Murkrow.
He was happy to see Staravia closing in on Murkrow. Just when Staravia was getting close, the dark feathered Pokémon turned around and used Confuse Ray. Staravia tried to follow but was flying in a very odd pattern.
Staravia was the only flying Pokémon in the whole group. All that was left was the ghost Pokémon and Murkrow had an advantage against them. In that moment July rushed past Randy riding her Ponyta.
Randy knew July didn't have the strength to pull him onto her Ponyta, so he jumped on its back and held on tight to July like his mother did on his father when he rode his motorcycle. Ponyta brought them right underneath Murkrow.
Murkrow glared down at Randy while still maneuvering the trees in its way. Randy jumped and grabbed his bag. Although Murkrow was a small Pokémon, it didn't lessen how tight it's claws were.
"Let go! There's an egg in that backpack, other life."
Meanwhile Staravia had shook off the effect of Confuse Ray and was now on top of Murkrow, about to push it down.
Staravia looming over Murkrow gave Randy the oomph he needed to finally pull the backpack away. He fell, but he was saved from his butt hitting the floor from Ralts, standing on Ponyta's posterior, using Confusion to levitate him.
Murkrow didn't give up on the bag. It turned around after passing a tree and kept flapping its small wings to get the bag. However, it just stopped flying and just flapped in the same spot when Randy offered it mochi pounded rice.
Murkrow's whole focus was on the food now. It took the food, claws on Randy's knuckles, and gobbled it down. The tiny bird Pokémon flapped its wings up.
Meanwhile July had taken the backpack and was making sure that no Pokémon had access to it. Murkrow kept flapping its wings and making a screeching sound. When Randy walked it fluttered in his direction.
Randy was willing to give the Pokémon some more food. Murkrow moved its beak happily while swallowing. He hoped that a potential drama had been avoided now.
Then, Murkrow pecked Randy on the forehead too fast to count how many, and then flew away over the forest.
"Ungrateful bird." Randy grumbled.
July couldn't help but giggle at Murkrow's reaction.
"I think it's starting to like you." She giggled.
Randy rubbed his head. "Let's go back to the road."
Murkrow watched Randy leave with July. He kind of missed him now. Now Anna and David found Randy and July again.
"First Ghost Pokémon and now Dark Pokemon. Maybe you'll be attacked by a Psychic Pokémon next." David joked.
"I hope not." answered Randy.
Turns out they were in the town of the fourth Gym Leader, Crasher Wake. Randy was the gym in all its glory, sauntered up to it so he could peek inside, and he was almost there...when the door opened and Randy was hit in the face.
He held his nose and groaned in pain. Turns out the rambunctious person who hit him was Crasher Wake. He seemed to be in a rush. July, Anna, David, and Prinplup leaping out of its Pokéball came up to comfort him.
"How many of us are traveling together?" David asked, seeing if Randy had a concussion.
"Four." he answered unhappy.
"Good. No signs of a concussion." David hugged Randy, but then turned around to stare at Crasher Wake. "Want to follow that doofus?"
Randy needed a few more seconds. "okay"
David didn't wait for his friends, he jolted after Crasher Wake, Misdrevius flying after him. Randy was able to get back on his feet when two strong talons perched on his head.
"Ouww, not again" he groaned.
Randy moved one step before Murkrow raised its wings and flew away.
"If that bird attacks you one more time, I knock it out with my Pokémon." said July
Murkrow stopped flapping but it didn't leave Randy's head. Randy tried to push the talons off his head. Murkrow seemed to be dancing as it raised one talon after the other so his hands missed. Seeing this July tried to help him
"Staravia, help Randy with his Murkrow problem."
Staravia helped Randy to push off Murkrow. Murkrow flew over the marsh and the ponds, the same place Crasher Wake and David disappeared to.
July checked Randy's head for injuries. "How are you feeling?"
"Still feeling a little woozy. Headaches. I think that's more Crasher's fault than Murkrow's."
July caressed his head, "poor Randy" she said.
He felt warm and cozy now.
Anna watched them with a smile. "Let's find that hothead that is my brother."
XXX
David had Roselia out and was even holding Roselia. What better Pokémon to get through grass and wilderness than a grass Pokémon?
"Wait for us!" yelled Anna.
David heard her, but something prevented him from staying still. So they had to hurry more to catch up to David. What stopped David was a Carnivine. They were usually found in the Safari, but it made its way out to reek havoc. It started by plunging towards David, its fly trap mouth wide open, but Roselia jumped off and used Poison Sting on it.
Carnivine quickly closed its mouth to protect itself.
Roselia kept firing those needles at the flytrap Pokémon while David rushed the humanoid rose Pokémon out holding it by the stems/legs.
Just in case something more dangerous would happen he sent out Magmar.
"Magmar, use..."
David could hear the sound of wildlife, streams of water, and Pokémon quenching their thirst near the stream and playing together near the trees. If Magmar fired one wrong shot...he could start a forest fire. If he missed with Spew...he could endanger a Pokémon's breathing.
"Your really a hazard on organic life, Magmar. Just punch that Carnivine before it eats us."
Magmar loaded its fist with fire to punch the plant Pokémon. Carnivine felt the punch as smoke coughed out its flytrap. David was happy that everything worked out.
"Good job, Magmar. Now return to your Pokéball."
Happy to leave the moist grass Magmar jumped into the Pokéball David saw Carnivine hide in the forest just when his friends decided to show up. With even more people around Carnivine didn't look like a threat.
Anna was the only one without a grass Pokémon onhand, and a scared but intimidating Pokémon looked so right for her to catch. Anna was someone who always thought a lot before she made decisions. While she fiddled with an empty Pokéball and thought of all the big battles that would come and asked herself if a plant Pokémon was the right choice for her sixth and final Pokémon.
She thought too long and before she knew it, Carnivine was gone.
A bit upset she put her Pokéball away.
"Is everything alright?" asked David.
"Yeah. I just don't know which Pokémon I should capture to be my last. You have Roselia, Machop, Magmar, Nidoran, and Scyther. What would be your last Pokémon?" She asked.
"Not Misdrevius. Maybe a bigger, tougher Pokémon."
Both siblings groaned in unison. "Why is this so difficult?"
The siblings turned around to see July and Randy watching them, waiting for them to catch up.
"Finally we got you." said July.
"Yeah. Still no sign of Crasher Wake. Maybe he stopped running somewhere really fast and ran back to his gym." David said.
"While we're here we could also actually go to the Safari Zone. " suggested July.
"Good idea." Said Anna. "I can use a break after playing hunter to a gym leader."
So it was decided, the four friends would visit the safari zone. When they got there, they were given a lot of Safari Balls and had to leave their Pokémon inside. They received some high rain boots, before they were lead into the safari zone.
Another person walked into the Safari entrance after them. Too old to be a trainer wearing a handkerchief over his mouth, goggled over his eyes, and a concealed weapon in his pants.
They didn't see him though, because they were so overwhelmed by the nature around them. He gave the Nurse three Pokéballs in exchange for thirty Safari Balls. He had different used for them, with the plastique in his jacket pocket.
After just a few minutes Randy got already stuck in the mud.
"Why does this day feel like nothing but a curse?" Randy asked himself.
To make matters worse, Murkrow came back and perched on his shoulder. It raised its beak up high, Randy shut his eyes.
"Murkrow (Two for flinching)!"
"Don't hurt him!" yelled July.
Murkrow luckily flew off him, but silently vowed to peck him twice in one time later. July helped Randy to get out of the mud onto a more stable ground.
"That Murkrow is going to be the end of me. Thanks July." Randy said.
She hugged him, "don't worry I'll help you."