Tiernan straightened, dusting dirt and mulch from his pants. It was soothing, here, among the earth and wilds. He closed his eyes, feeling the breeze on his skin and through his hair. And he heard the calling of pokemon- birds high up in the trees, distant foxes, the rush of grass under Fal'inrush's talons. It was peaceful, and true, in the way that only old woods could be.

Fal'inrush squeaked, rushing towards a fallen pile of garnet leaves, prodding at it with wing and beak. "What's down there?" Tiernan called, not terribly concerned. He watched the shifting of the leaves, trying to pick out what had Fal'inrush so interested.

The attack struck true, the vulpix knocked back with a soft creel. Fal'inrush fluttered to his feet, glancing towards Tiernan for approval. Before Tiernan could call out in warning, the vulpix retaliated, sucking in a quick breath- and releasing a gout of flame, aimed straight for the little rowlet. The bird squeaked, scrabbling away, tumbling as his feathers were singed.

Tiernan winced as he did so, gaze turning back to the vulpix. This was doable- it was something he could sense, the vulpix's furtive heartbeat quicker than rowlet's, quicker than the forest itself. This was winnable. "Fal'inrush, try to catch her off guard."

Rowlet nodded, and zipped towards the nearest patch of fallen leaves. The vulpix stared at it a long moment, nosing at it, and slowly started to relax, tails lowering. After another moment of silence, Fal'inrush exploded from the leaves with a fierce cry.

They returned, back to the grove where they had explored before- where the vulpix waited, tails lashing and irritable. "Is this what you want?" Tiernan asked, but Fal'inrush had steeled himself, and hopped down. He would finish this- one way or another. With a focused breath, he launched himself at the vulpix once more, mentally shielding himself against whatever she would do. He could endure it, now.