Battle of the Bramble
Singo chuckled as he watched the cub struggle. Good, good, keep moving. Leonidas might well do all the work himself- Singo wouldn't have to lift a single finger. Infact, hell, the shinx probably wasn't getting down from there any time soon... and it didn't sound like Dingo needed any help. He probably had that wannabe hounddog in a similiar trap.
"Pat pat patraaaaaaaat" he cooed as he turned his back to the electric, still chuckling in conceited glee. The rodent began to walk away, back towards the way the pair had arrived in the clearing... only to stop halfway there.
Those sounded like... voices. Human voices. And that smell... "Paaaaaat..." The snarl was barely audible enough for Leonidas to pick up. The rat obviously had it's attention elsewhere...
perhaps if the cub was careful enough... quiet enough...
Dingo meanwhile uttered a vast torrent of curses as he sailed through the air right with Lara, the puppy digging her fangs deep into his shoulder and clinging like velcro. An crash resounded as they both tumbled into the tangle of barbs, each of them feeling the burning sting as brambles tore at their fur and sliced any exposed area on them. They seemed to become lost in the utter maze of undergrowth. In the tumbling, Lara lost sight of Dingo... until...
"PAAAAAAAAT!!!!" The rodent screeched from behind the pup, clawing at the branches and slicing them away, as he stormed towards dark type, eyes flaring as his breath seethed out in nigh rabid puffs, Fangs glowing with power most sinister and black as charged, aiming right for the hyena's throat...
This little bitch... she was a crafty one, he gave her that. But he would make her pay for this... dearly.
She could not stop him or try to get in an attack like her own like she had the first time, this much was obvious as dust clouded the air and his legs began to accelerate like a freight train as he closed more and more ground. At the speed he was going, with the rage flowing in his eyes... she'd likely get swatted away... or worse.
But if the pup looked behind her... she might've noticed a small opening in the thicket of brambles. A tiny, rough little semicircle of vacant space in between the bushes and the ground. It looked like... it went deep.
And even better... it also looked like it would be just big enough for her to squeeze through- painfully, but doable nonetheless. Dingo though...
Either way, she'd have to act fast. or else... She was gonna have a BAD TIME.
Katie and Jack
The two could here a faint crash in the distance. Followed shortly thereafter with the resonating screech of a wild creature... it sounded.... quite pissed, from the guttural, rolling nature of it. Unfortunately, it seemed they would have less than a... nice little walk to get there. As they progressed further and further into the wooded lands the bushes they had passed by without so much of a thought until now seemed to be steadily increasing in number. And density.
So dense infact, that up ahead lay a thicket of the stuff- more like a virtual wall really... lucky for them, they were humans, they would probably have an easier time parting the stuff than a small and weak mon might...
but they probably would suffer a few scratches and pricks... unless of course, they had skin hard as stone or hands that were glorified scissor blades. But given that rock skin and bladed limbs weren't exactly features common in humans... eh well, that wouldn't be much help here.
The screeching continued...
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The Den
Big Boss Hog rested his cheek on his knuckle as the trusty captain finished the report. The Watchdog's gaze drifted from the blue and gold eyed patrat kneeling before him to the one kneeling at the base of the small clearing. He rose from the throne of brambles, tipping the wide-brimmed hat as he ground the single strand of straw between his fangs. Ringo did not meet his eyes. Only shook. Shook and whimpered as the Bosses eyes lit with a terrifying light, feeling cold begin to take hold of his entire being. he couldn't have moved now even if he had thought it would've saved him. It was Terror. Pure and utter in form. Virgin as the fresh snow...
"Waaaaatch...." Boss Hog snarled as he neared the underling. Not only had the fool endangered his men out of ambition and foolish pride, he'd also brought back about half of them injured and in no condition to fight... one of them even with an injury that would definitely keep him out of the field until that fang regrew... if it ever did. Bird Jesus... the things Hog wanted to do right now... but he couldn't. And he knew it. He'd be no better than that bastard if he led like that...
No... he couldn't kill Ringo for this. But he could give him a fate that would feel almost worse than death, at least in the Patrat's mind... "Wat. Watchdog. DOG!!!!" He shouted. Ringo looked up in surprise, the terror in his gut barely even faded before something else took it's place. Dread.
"Pat-pat patrat!!!" He sunk his upright knee to the ground, hands trembling as he placated the bigger meerkat. Hog's eyes did not change.
"DOOOOG!!!" the brilliant, sterling radiance emanating from his body grew even brighter, almost blinding Ringo, standing like some ancient god bathed in light as he stared down the fool. He knew why boss was doing this; He knew this type of intimidation from when underlings had committed transgressions or hoarded food for themselves...
boss would not fight him...he knew that. but yet still he felt terror as he looked up into those burning eyes. And he would not challenge this god. Any god, Arceus, Bird Jesus, Lord Helix himself, any other god, fine... but not... not this one.
"P-p-pat..." Ringo whimpered, standing and turning heel in the same motion. Hog let his radiance die as he watched the former Lieutenant turned Exile leave. He turned his attention back to Bingo once the cast-out was gone.
"Watch." How far were the humans from here.
"Pat pat, rat trat..." Not far... but Ringo and Singo were both still missing. Chances were the humans would find them before-
They stopped. Something faint carried in on the wind. Muddled, but loud enough Hog to hear it clear as day. A war cry. The humans... had indeed found the Twins.
"Watch, Doggy Dog, Waaaaaat." Prepare the Lieutenants for battle. It was only a matter of time until those interlopers turned invaders would be here. And it wouldn't be pretty when they did...
"Pat." Bingo nodded, bowing as he rose. He looked back up at Hog as he noticed the evolved form leaving "Pat pat trat pat...?" Where was he going? What was he going to do.
Hog paused at the opening... turning for just the briefest of moments.
But he gave no answer. Only sighed and started walking again.