The capture battle was on. Ash sent out Quilava, his own Fire-type specialist, to face the Houndour Alpha. Up close, the Houndour was a sight to behold. Its face and the bone armor on its forehead were covered in scars—badges of honor from a lifetime of combat.
"Let's go, Quilava! Burn bright!"
Flames erupted from Quilava's head and tail. The Houndour didn't hesitate, lunging first with a searing Flamethrower.
"Quilava, use Flame Charge!"
Quilava's sleek body ignited as it slammed into the ground, transforming into a high-speed fireball. The move boosted its speed, allowing it to easily weave through the incoming fire and strike the alpha from the side. However, the Houndour was a veteran. It tracked Quilava's scent and vanished just before impact.
"What?" Ash frowned. Against Dark-types, he had to expect the unexpected.
Suddenly, the Houndour reappeared at Quilava's flank, slamming into it with immense force. Misty cried out in confusion, but Ash recognized the move. "Foul Play." It used Quilava's own momentum and power against it.
"Quilava, are you okay?" Ash asked. Fortunately, Flame Charge wasn't purely power-based, so the damage was manageable. "This Houndour is sharp."
Just as the battle intensified, a pained cry echoed from the other side of the forest. The alpha immediately disengaged, spitting out a thick Smokescreen to mask its retreat.
"Follow them!" Ash commanded. He bolted after the pack, his enhanced physique leaving Brock and Misty in the dust.
He tracked them to a cave where his stolen backpack lay discarded alongside empty food wrappers. Inside the cave, another Houndour lay weakened. It was just as large as the alpha but looked pale and exhausted. It was currently under attack by a Golem, whose Rollout was easily crushing the Houndour's desperate Flamethrower.
Just as the Golem prepared to strike a finishing blow, a blast of fire intercepted it. The alpha had arrived. The four Houndour formed a protective ring around their fallen comrade as the alpha stood its ground against the Golem.
"They weren't just stealing gear," Brock said as he and Misty finally caught up. "They were gathering food to help their sick friend recover."
"They look so fierce, but they're actually very kind," Misty added, her fear of the pack vanishing.
The alpha growled, eyes glowing scarlet as it launched another fire attack. But Fire-type moves did little against a Rock/Ground-type like Golem. The Golem simply rolled through the flames, knocking the alpha aside.
Ash stepped down into the fray, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Houndour alpha. "Houndour, let's finish this fast so we can treat your friend! Use Beat Up!"
The alpha roared, and the eyes of all five Houndour began to glow with a menacing red light. Dark energy surged as they struck the Golem in rapid succession—one after another, four, five, six times. The sheer number of coordinated strikes finally sent the Golem tumbling back, defeated.
"Brock, check the injured one!"
Brock quickly examined the fallen Houndour. "Its back leg is badly infected, and it has a high fever. We have to get it to a Pokémon Center immediately."
The nearest center was five kilometers away. Without hesitation, Ash hoisted the heavy Houndour onto his back. "Brock, Misty, grab my bag and follow when you can!" He took off at a full sprint.
The pack followed him. After the first kilometer, as Ash's pace flickered, the alpha barked and nudged him. It insisted on taking a turn. By rotating between the five Houndour and Ash, they reached the center in record time.
Nurse Joy worked her usual magic. By the time Misty and Brock arrived, the patient was already stable. The group stayed the night to let everyone recover.
The next morning, the pack was waiting at the edge of the forest. The alpha stepped forward and gently licked the healed Houndour. A chorus of soft howls broke out as the healed Pokémon shared a final look with its leader before heading back into the deep woods.
The alpha then turned to Ash. Its scarlet eyes were no longer aggressive, but filled with a bright, expectant joy. Ash smiled and pulled out a Poké Ball.
"In that case, let's do our best together, Houndour!"
Houndour Sync: 135 / 185