21 A plan with obstacles.

**** Cate's Perspective **** "What the hell happened to you? And what's with the Heatmor?" - He starts off sounding really excited - "Oh, of course. So I was scouting out the area. And found a group of heatmors at the Durant Den. After one was alone in the cave I decided to take the chance and defeat it, in hope to get a fire move." After a second he continues: "I did tell you that I can learn moves based on the Pokémon I defeat right? I hope I did. Anyhow. I found the Durant Den and we can start with the plan. Do you have more questions?" "Yes. Yes I do. I hope all that blood you are covered in isn't yours? God, you are a f*cking idiot. And I'm not asking this. This is a statement. A group of Heatmors? And a whole den of Durants? You really want to die, do you? - by this point I seriously am mad at him. I would say it's like he was born yesterday, but most newborn Pokémon have a better survival Instinct than this guy. If there ever was the question of this guy being human before it's answered now. Either that or he's just a Pokémon with a death wish. *** Karl's Perspective *** „Blood?" - I say looking into the reflection the water of the river provides me. „Ok. Wow I look terrible. Scary." - I look up at Cate, „Ah no it's not my blood, must be from the Heatmor I carried." She just shakes her head. I should definitely wash myself soon. Damn. She is right. I tried to be careful at the beginning of this life. What the hell happened? How did I get the idea to think this was a good plan? Did I get used to the danger after all this time? Or is it because I got much stronger that I'm already getting less careful? Those heatmors would have toasted me if they all attacked at once... „Cate, I'm sorry you are totally right. I should have been more careful and waited for you to wake up. This really was just plain idiotic." - is everything I can tell her in this moment. I really feel sorry, I was just able to find a friend in this world only to rile her up like this. Cate sighs, still looking a bit annoyed... „Well, at least you get my point. I still am mad at you. But can you at the very least tell me that your suicide attempt was successful in case of defeating the heatmor and getting an attack that helps us against the Durants?" „I at least believe so, it should work out." „You believe so? Well, that sounds terribly convincing you know?" - Kate says and to her defense, I have to admit, yes that totally did not sound very convincing. "Ok. Ok. Let me see if this works like Thunder Fang it shouldn't take me long to figure out how Fire Fang works. But first, I need to eat it. So you want any of it for breakfast?" "You don't really have to ask me that, all that walking yesterday and I just woke up, of course, I'm ready for breakfast." "Great, I doubt I can finish all of this myself. Then let's eat, I brought all of this here because I hoped that you would eat some too." We start eating and a couple of minutes later we finish our meal. I have to say even though it's not cooked it tastes quite good, it's like a mixture of sheep and pork. We eat exactly the right amount so that we don't fall asleep after finishing breakfast. "Ok, let's try out if it already works, normally I have to wait a bit or sleep for the powers to manifest." "But let's just try it, it's been a few minutes maybe it's already enough time." "If you say so. When it works doesn't really matter to me, as long as it does sooner or later." Is it just me or is she getting annoyed? Well, whatever. *** A few seconds later *** I washed my face and started to concentrate on the task at hand. Oxygen, heat and a few sparks, I crunch my teeth and the friction together with some of the sparks I get with thunder fang, some of the sparks actually turn into a few flames. I stare at Kate in wonder. "Wow, this actually worked out better than I thought!" "It surely worked, I could see that much. I just hope that you can actually use it in Battle. You seemed to have to concentrate a lot for it to work, you don't have so much time in battle." - Kate says, with relief but doubt swinging in her voice. "Ahh, that's going to be ok. I'm pretty sure about it. I've used thunder fang in battle before that that worked out. Once you get the hang of the attack it's fairly easy to achieve again I have to [I'm not trying to flex on anybody here, it just is much easier after the first try, I guess this really will turn into one of those overpowered Main Character Stories if I keep at it.] "Well, if you say so Karl. But don't let it fail when we need it." "Sure it's on me then." "Alright, so aside from the dumb stuff you already did today, what's the plan for today?" "Ok so first we need to see if we need to dig to weaken the Durants den structure, I was inside the entrance of the den. It doesn't seem to be supported from the inside in any way, which means we either get the Durants themselves to support their den with some wood or try to get the wood in there ourselves. So I would say I will do the digging and you see that there is enough wood that the Durants can use to support their den. You can help with the digging too if you want to?" "No no, that works with me. I don't really live for digging holes into the dirt beneath Kilometers of Durant tunnels. I'm fine with getting enough wood ready." - Cate adds if she would have arms she surely would have used them to support that with fitting gestures. „After getting everything ready we wait for the Durants to fill their cave system with the wood as support. If we find any lone Durants we can go for the fight too. Some extra experience and training against them can't hurt. When everything is set, I will light the wood in the cave on fire." Cate just listens to the plan again at this point and nods as she seemingly checks of everything that is part of the plan. „It's good when the fire does everything, but I doubt it will, we don't know exactly how many Durants live in this colony but I doubt the size will be small. And with that many Durants I doubt all will be defeated by such a fire. So we will take positions at the most used exits and defeat the ones that try to escape. Everything understood so far?" - I ask. The plan is simple enough, and Kate is smart so I doubt she didn't understand something. „Sure. It's not that complex. Good plan. With them being in a panic and confused because of the fire they just be easier to pick off, too." - she adds. „True. Alright. So for my part, I guess I got to search for some Durants first. I am a hyena-dog like Pokémon but Evolving more for digging will probably make things easier. And this won't be done in a day so I guess we can make the tree trunk our base?" „If you say so. Sounds good to me. You think we get any stronger because of this? Experience Points wise I mean?" - she asks me for some reason. "I don't know. Would be nice but I doubt it. Defeating them like that seems too indirect in my eyes. So I wouldn't bet on it." - I reply while shrugging with my shoulders as best as I can. It's actually not that easy when you stand and move on all four legs. I continue with: "The sooner we start the earlier we find out I would say?" "Sounds good let's move. I will help you out with the Durants for now, or you'll get yourself killed before we even really start your plan." - Kate adds "Well thanks, I guess you are right about that, let's try two or three. That should be enough I think. Let's check the entrance that I found maybe there are some Durants checking what happened. When they are not too many, we can just get those." "Why not, it's not that I know any better spot than you." We start walking back to the Cave entrance where I fought the Heatmor. After a couple of minutes we arrive at the entrance and check for any durants. „I can't see or hear any. Are you sure this is the right place?" „Yes, I'm certain. Look over there do you see the burn marks? That's where the Heatmor burned the Durants." „Now that you say it, it does smell like molten metal. Do you want to go into the den? Or go around and check for different entrances?" „Let's check for other entrances exits, we have to scout those anyways." „I thought so. I have to say you aren't as dumb as you let me believe from time to time. Running into a dark den of hundreds, maybe thousands of Durants doesn't seem like the brightest idea." „Thanks, Cate. I guess? Should Understand that as a compliment?" „I guess you can understand it like one sure. Hahaha, Alright, let's go?" - Cate presses last words out as if she wants to suppress her laughter. „Sure"- I reply and start jumping onto the rubble the Durants spread everywhere when they build their den. As soon as I reached the top. This 10 Meter hill wasn't a natural hill at all. All of this earth was put up by the Durants. I looked around I could see the scale of the den for the first time. Next to tons and tons of dug-up stones and boulders were fallen trees. The whole view was as sad as it was amazing. The scale was beyond what I was expecting, as far as I could see was Durant-Den. I thought the Durant problem the Forrest had was created by lots of smaller colonies but it seems like we already found the main problem by pure chance. Well. It being this huge, doesn't really make it hard to find we could have followed the river another 1 or 2 Kilometers and still would have found this thing. Cate jumps up the den next to me and as she lands I notice my mouth is still wide open. „Holy Garbodor! This den is ginormous!" - Cate's jaw drops just like mine did. „Cate, I think this will take longer than a few days. If we do this properly we are lucky if it's just a few weeks. We need to rework our plan. There's no way we can light this whole thing on fire just with the two of us." Cate closes her mouth. „I think you might be right with that." - she turns and looks at me. „Any ideas?" „Yeah. Might work too. How well do you get along with Heatmors? I think them helping us is our only shot. Unless you wanna spend the summer in this Forrest." „I'm good with the Forrest? But I guess you want to get this over with and continue your journey correct?" „Yes. Definitely. Trying to scoop out metal Insects for half of my Life is something I can live without. Even if we find other Pokemon and Berries to eat." „Makes sense, sure we can try, haven't really had much to talk about with them, so I guess the talks should at least not be too hostile. Did they see you kill their buddy this morning? I bet that should decrease our chances with them otherwise." „Nope. At least not to my knowledge. Do I still smell like I carrier one for hours? If not I think we can do this together." „I can't smell any Heatmor on you, maybe it's because you washed it off relatively quick? Or because you walked through the river. Anyhow. Any Idea where the heatmors have their den?" - Kate asks, tilting her head in thought - „Because I have no clue." „Barely. The Heatmors pulled the Durant Bodies into that Direction." I point my right front paw towards the entrance I found and then correct the direction a bit to the left. „Around there. Either it's where they ate in safety or that's where their den is." - I know it's not much to go by but it's all I know too. I look at Kate as if she could correct me about my statement. „Alright, not much to go by, but how should you know any better you haven't been around here before. Nothing more that we can do but check in that direction if we can find them. Alright let's go."- she says, shrugs her shoulders, and begins her decent from the gigantic Durant den. I jump after her. „Hey Cate, mind telling me why it feels like you are taking me for a walk all the time? She shrugs her shoulders again, stopping her decent on one of the boulders around the den. - „Probably because you look at me all the time to check if I agree, and I wouldn't start moving we would never stop talking?" - she says, grinning at me. „Haha. You are hilarious." - Well... I guess my question was dumb and deserved a sarcastic reply. „I know. Hahaha, ok Mr. Grumpy you wanna grow roots here?" - she laughs and already starts to continue her decent, without waiting for my reply. "Mr. Grumpy? Argh. You are mean you know that right?" - I ... what can I say. I guess I deserved that too. I also continue jumping downwards and not soon after we arrive at the bottom. I overtake Kate and stop walking at the spot where the Durants got un-alived. "I guess this will be easier than we expected Kate." "Why?" - she follows my line of sight and spots the trail of molten Metal and Insect juice. - "Oh. I get it. I guess you are right." "Happens from time to time, too." - I smile and we start following the trail into the bushes away from the den... ***** to be continued *****

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