[color=black]Mori's Poké ball hit its mark without issues because its target was barely able to move. The Zorua turned out to be rather stubborn as it would not let itself be captured so easily. Zorua broke free![/color]
[hr]
Hiro's voice was hoarse and raspy from the repeated yelling by the time afternoon came to pass. Luckily, his shouting had served to scare most pokémon away, though there was one incident where he barely escaped from an angry fearow. If the bird hadn't been so large, it might've maneuvered between the trees more easily and Hiro might really have been in trouble, luckily this wasn't the case. As Hiro sat down against a tree to eat lunch with his team, he realized this wasn't working. Not only did he have close to no response with every call, but his throat was killing him. [color=8dc73f][i]Perhaps this was a bad plan?[/i][/color] Hiro thought to himself, his confidence starting to shake. [color=8dc73f][i]What if Mable was right? Maybe Marlene had indeed made her way to the capital already and I'm just wasting time?[/i][/color] Hiro sighed, continuing to ponder what to do as he silently ate his lunch. 

Hiro made up his mind when his eyes met Petilil's. He couldn't go on like this. If he could make his way through the forest, then so could Marlene. She was strong after all, perhaps stronger than he was, too. Maybe it was arrogant of him to think he could help in the first place? [color=8dc73f][i]Either way, I can't keep putting my Pokémon through this.[/i][/color] Hiro decided and got up. He'd get out of the forest, make his way to the capital, register himself and heal his Pokémon. He'd just have to go back if Marlene still wouldn't be there.

With new vigor in his step, Hiro continued traveling north, to the capital. He kept up a good pace, despite his sore throat and shaken confidence. Soon enough, Hiro found himself outside of the forest, essentially having taken a shortcut by not walking around. In the distance he could already see another forest, which he decided to walk around after consulting his map. 

As Hiro continued to traverse the grasslands to the capital, he noticed odd boulders to his right. Some of them were mainly just large and oddly shaped, others seemed to crackle with electricity. Hiro did not have a lot of time to wonder why this was, as the answer quickly revealed itself; a geodude...sort of? There was plenty of material for comparison as soon another one leapt up, followed by 3 normal geodudes. He'd run into a horde of geodudes!

Considering the typings, Hiro knew it was time to rely on his first partner; Petilil. Leading off with [b]Absorb[/b], the first (regular) Geodude was knocked out already, though the brunt of 3 [b]Tackle[/b]s was a lot for Petilil to take. The final (alolan) Geodude used [b]Defense Curl[/b], not dealing any damage. A well placed [b]Absorb[/b] on the second (alolan) geodude dealt some good damage and recovered some of petilil's health, though this was quickly removed again by another two [b]Tackle[/b]s. One remaining geodude used [b]Mud Sport[/b], the other [b]Defense Curl[/b]. With another [b]Absorb[/b], the (alolan) geodude went down, leaving 3. The regular Geodudes used [b]Mud Sport[/b] and [b]Tackle[/b], as the last (alolan) Geodude [b]Charge[/b]d up electricity. Spamming [b]Absorb[/b] as if it could solve all their problems, Petilil knocked out the third (regular) Geodude. The Geodudes tackled Petilil and she was on the brink of fainting.

Returning Petilil to her Luxury ball, Hiro switched to Buizel, which was greeted with a splash of dirt as the (regular) Geodude used [b]Mud Sport[/b] again and the other (alolan) one once more [b]Charge[/b]d. Looking to settle things quickly so Buizel wouldn't have to suffer an electric attack, Hiro instructed Buizel to use [b]Sonic Boom[/b], but the Geodude hung on with sturdy! The (regular) Geodude used [b]Defense Curl[/b] as the final (alolan) Geodude [b]Tackle[/b]d Buizel. With another [b]Sonic Boom[/b] Buizel defeated the (alolan) Geodude, leaving only one (regular) Geodude remaining. The Geodude tackled Buizel again and called for help, but the battle ended there as it was knocked out by another [b]Sonic Boom[/b] without any help arriving.

With the Geodudes defeated, but his Pokémon badly hurt, Hiro increased his pace. He'd really need to get to the capital fast.

[hr]
Level Progress:
Petilil		-> Lv7
Buizel		-> Lv7
Carvanha		-> Lv6
Fletchling		-> Lv6

Special Notes:
[@Raddum]'s old post with Marlene will still be in effect.
In short; She was attacked by an Ursaring, but saved by a stranger who lives in the woods.
Currently heading to said person's home.