The Seventh Chapter of Team JR-Z is up!
Ramses's point of view:
I slowly opened my eyes and groaned, man my stomach was killing me...it's as if I got punched in the gut and threw it up.Last night's run in with the thief sudden came back to me and I looked around. I was tied to a tree in the forest in front of a dead campfire. I'd certainly been kidnapped by that Zoroark Jackson and I had tried to catch. Of course mom's not worried- but Jackson might be. Man, I gotta get out of here.I struggled to get free of the tight rope around my chest. My arms were bound to my side and the rough tree bark scratched at my legs as I tried to move them. Well, no use trying to use my power, I'd probably just past out again. I struggled some more just to make sure I couldn't wriggle free of my bindings. I froze, hearing a creepy chuckle from behind my tree.A green eyed and sneaky looking Zoroark stalked out from behind the tree and stood in front of me. They were intmidatingly huge! This one just as big as what the books I'd studied from told me; about 6 feet tall and as lithe as an Ekans. Thieving and stalking creeps that only care about themselves. This one had a mischievous glint in her eye that annoyed me, she was probably all trouble and totally untrustworthy. She smirked a sly smirk at me.
"Glad to see you're awake, little runt. You and your older brother had caused me much trouble last night, I think it's best if you don't go back home to tattle to your Chief. Although, it's not like they'd believe you anyway. Us Zormads are "long gone and out of the forest" right? Just like that dumb guard had said."
Wait, this thief thinks me and Jackson are brothers?! Okay, she may be wrong but boy do I wish me and Jack were siblings!!
"You know, it's too bad I couldn't catch your brother- or whoever he is. He's probably more likely to tattle to the Chief. But no matter, they won't find us. And you'll be out of my hair soon, once I send up tumbling down the nearest cliff. Move, and I'll water this tree with your blood."
Geez these Zormads really know how to drive your blood cold, huh? Maybe I should use power— no, then how would I run away?! Sure it would incapacitate her but she'd probably wake up before I did if I were to faint. I tired to look less fearful than I already was, but it clearly didn't help cuz the Zoroark's smirk only grew wider as she untied me. Before I could run away, she shoved me face first to the ground and used the same rope to tie my wrists and ankles together.
"There we go. If you even cry out for help once, I'm shoving a bitter Mago berry down your throat."
She took the other end of the rope and hauled me over her shoulder like luggage, put the rope in between her teeth and leaped into the trees, zipping around like some crazy Apomm on a sugar high.It took me all of my courage not to scream like hell as we went, like, Zebstrika fast, and I tried to hide my face in my captor's long curly mane to shield my face from the whipping tree branches.
Minutes must've past before we were violently shoved out of a tree we were about to leap from. Roars and hisses of laughter surrounded us, but with my face full of dark Zoroark fur, I couldn't see a thing. I felt my captor tense, fur rising as the howling ceased. I felt her shove me deeper into her tangling locks of fur as if trying to hide me. Why she was protecting me, I have no clue, but I'd strangely rather be in here than out there with howling mankey. A heavy mass lept down from above and in front of my captor, shaking the ground as it stomped and circled us.
"If it isn't Zakkuro! Long time no see, thief!"
My captor, Zakkuro, began to circle the opposing Pokémon, keeping her guard up, her hackles raising in defense.
"Primeape. I am no longer in business with you, ever since you drove my Mother's clan from our camp in the forest. This isn't your forest, and you have no right to stop me from traveling back to my mother."
The opposing pokémon only chuckled.
"Oh, I think I do have that right, especially when you're kitnapping a child. Is that's what's behind your back? Hmmm?~"
Zakkuro hissed, and in a split second I was being ripped from her fur and thrusted around. I was being tossed around by a horde of mankey, my rope being loosened in the process.Crap! If I was going to escape, I'd have to escape these blockheads first! There's too many!
"Primeape, that runt is none of your business. He got in the way of my work, and I'm disposing him! Return him to me, now!"
"Nyoho~, you're in no position to be giving me orders, Zakku. I think I'll keep this kid. Hold him for ransom, and get the tribe of Lucario to move out of the forest in exchange for the runt. Hmm~? Isn't that a much better plan? Too bad you didn't think of it— your Zormads could've finally had a permanent home here in the forest."
Primeape bared his teeth in a wicked grin and Zakkuro dug her claws into the bare earth in fury.
"How can we even live here when you and your band of misfits are looting and destroying the forest?! Give the boy to me!"
Zakkuro lunged at a Mankey that was throwing me into the air, but she was quickly snapped back as it used Sucker Punch. I was tossed to another Mankey, and boy did I feel like losing my lunch...!Zakkuro lept to her feet and morphed into a Malamar and a thick fog suddenly surrounded the clearing. Mankey howled in confusion and bumped into each other, the raging Primeape slashing at air, trying to clear the fog. Glowing yellow lights blinked as the Malamar slowly came closer to me. I tried to wriggle like a caterpie to escape, cuz this nut still wanted me dead! Suddenly the rope around my wrists and ankle snapped free, and I stumbled to my feet to run, but was grasped my a tendril. I struggled and kicked, but her grip was tight. The Malamar hissed in my ear,
"Hey, stop struggling! Would you rather be left in the hands of these destructive apes or safe with me?!"
I thought for a second before I stopped struggling, and I was lifted back into dark entagling fur. It was oddly comforting. Then she zipped past the horde of Mankey with Primeape and raced through the forest, the fog long gone. But it wasn't a smooth escape. As we fled, Primeape howled,
"THEY'RE GETTING AWAY! CAPTURE THEM!"
Zakkuro was pouring in more speed as wave of mankey nearly crashed down upon us from the trees. They were aping mad! Haha-
We made a sharp turn as Primeape suddenly appeared in front of us, foaming from the mouth.
"Damnit, damnit damnit...where is it...!"
I heard Zakkuro say with rising fear in her voice. She made another sharp turn, fully turning around to go back the way we had left! What is she doing? At times like this I really wish I knew how to use aura!
"There!"
Zakkuro was now taking long strides as she sprinted right into a cave. She race around stalagmites and stalactites, and soon we were at a dead end. Just great...
"No! There was supposed to be a way out!"
"You've cornered yourself, Zakkuro!! Now it's time to dispose of you. I'll make sure you're buried with your old hag!"
Primeape swung from stalactite to stalactite, howling with laughter, hordes of Mankey sitting atop each other in front of the entrance to the cave, our only exit. Now we're in deep dung! This sounds like the best time to do it...I jumped out of Zakkuro's thick mane of fur and stood in front of her, my legs were jelly as I took a deep breath. Zakkuro growled,
"Runt, what are you doing?"
"It seems like the runt wants to join me, hmm? Give him here, Zakku, and I won't completely maul you to shreds."
Primeape chuckled and lept to the cold cave floor, his massive weight causing a small tremor. Okay, focus to one point...breathe...I tuned out the howls of the mankey and their stench, Zakkuro's shakey breath as she felt trapped and anxious to flee, and Primeape's heavy feet stomping towards me, his knuckles crackling as he prepared to pummel us. I tuned in the sound of the trembling branches as they swayed in the wind, the drip and tumble of an underground river beneathe the cave, and the slow movement of the earth beneath my feet...breathe...I suddenly was able to feel...everything. Zakkuro's anxiety and defeat, Primeape's lust for power, the droning of the mankey and their greedy desire to devour the forest; the Pokémon around us and outside the cave, and I could faintly feel Jackson's determination and worry to find me...breathe...the feelers at the sides of my head rose and I concentrated my aura within my focused point...Primeape's level of fear spiked and the Mankey ceased their hungry howling... I poured more of the aura around me into my focused point and released it at my foes.Primeape's roar and the mankey's cries were drowned out as I fainted.