**Seth and Belle – Ayero – Ladyl Woods** 

Seth was blasted against the wall of the cave at the gust of wind created by the Skarmory's massive wingspan, the 'feathers' themselves whizzing around, as sharp as any half-decent knife. There was a reason why blacksmiths prized the plates of the bird-Pokemon as a material for crafting both armour and weapon. He couldn't let that happen, even if the creature was stealing children to eat – every beast had its reasons.

The moral dilemma would have to wait, however, because first he had to take it out.

The razor feathers that the bird produced were harder to dodge than they looked, more accurate and deadly than throwing knives would be; however, Seth ensured that his mask was covering his eyes during the assault – who'd ever heard of a blind archer? – and stayed as still as possible. One embedded itself in his arm joining an impressive collection of other scars, some coincidentally from the very same attack in years gone by.

As the Luxray charged in with unusual determination to save *human* children that set him on edge, Seth drew and readied another arrow. They weren't the most useful weapon against a Skarmory, no doubt about that, but there would be weak-spots somewhere. And if there weren't, he would just have to make one. The Skarmory reeled back, wings and legs spasming unpredictably as the electric current passed through it's body, and before the blood-haze of battle set in he was able to realise that *this was not typical behaviour of this Pokemon*. “Something's not right with this Pokemon. It's not... in it's right mind!”

The Skarmory's wings were dented and bashed, moreso than any other he'd seen. Seth could only presume that its natural cycle was disrupted, that it wasn't able to regenerate it's steel feathers to a healthy condition. That would be where the weak point is, then, he reckoned, sending the arrow flying at where he guessed the joint would be. With a crack, it embedded itself into the creature's body, causing it's eyes to roll back blankly in pain. The metal plates around one of its eyes had been dented already by another's arrows, no doubt limiting its sight if not making it impossible to see clearly.

Uh-oh. That was *not* good. Those razor sharp wings, even pinned by arrows and dents, began to slowly pull the body of the creature above the ground. While not able to fly properly, the Skarmory's frantic, panicked movements – combined with its natural power and speed as it beat its wings – was causing the dirt and dust around the cave to rise up into the air, whipping around the small clearing in a circular motion.

“Belle!” Seth shouted, the winds rising in ferocity to the point where his cloak nearly tore off from around his neck and he had to keep his head down to keep his eyes intact. With a sharp cry, the bulky Pidgeot rammed into the Skarmory, though to little success, moving between it and the Luxray in the centre of the growing storm.

Seth was glad his companion had understood his urgency. He didn't want what he suspected to be a Morph getting hurt and, after what happened to Featherheart Tower, he assumed Belle felt the same.