The last guess to arrive at the trio of earthy Pokémon around their camp, Shannon found himself also the most eager. This team was professional, and it was in operation. It was a learning opportunity to which Shannon was assigning mental notes with haste. [i]Extras. They're carrying supplies in excess- For wanderers, likely. Or did they collect that here? All these Pokémon must have a food source... And water? Waterbags, they're with the rest of the supplies. Very practical. ...Nothing useful in this bag, I- Oh, no, it's glowing. Crammed full of crystals, ha. Put your mind where the money is, of course. With all these wilders, mining this place is hardly feasible. Or moral.[/i] Shannon raised his head towards the rest of Team Scarab. Sufficiently restocked, their footsteps were growing quiet and stealthy again as the protective ring of firelight was crossed. He did not intend to be left behi[i]ah no wait who is this?[/i]

One of the triplicate mole's faces had been sitting still behind the shade of the larger heads, facing the frost-gilded newbie as he poked around the bags. Sitting still until he started nosing around the loot sack. The Dugtrio vanished. The Dugtrio reappeared. The Amaura caught glimpse of the Explorer who had not been there, but was now. To her inner satisfaction, Shannon jumped. "Don't poke your head too far into Team Rabbit Hole. Go scurry along with your buddies, sparkly, they're getting the head start." The dinosaur dipped his head for a moment. The bow's apology was accepted. "Certainly. I'll do that. Question, however." She didn't twitch, but Shannon didn't assume stillness was an objection in this case. "Your fire, how is it fueled? No tree nor branch nor leaf grows here."

"...Blast seeds and any flammable trash. Food scraps. Useless items. Organics." Shannon lingered, but the Dugtrio was silent again, and he was not one to outstay a generous welcome. "Then thanks and best of luck." The Dugtrio vanished into the ground again, and he set off after companions already several seconds ahead. The adrenaline-induced grin attempted to return, but this time Shannon's face didn't support it. This stretch of cave was emptier. There were lurkers, but little traffic, and the Geodude horde was blissfully absent. [i]But... It's more menacing for that.[/i] Every footstep made a subtle echo here, every breath whispered that there was no-one to help you. The extra ground could be easily covered in theory, but Shannon was averse to challenging the unsettling silence. [i]...The silence. It's growing. Whatever keeps the hordes out in here, it's...[/i]

A motionless body and a far wall was the only cover Shannon had when the Tyranitar's footsteps became audible. He went unnoticed. The colossus thudded past on all fours, following Team Scarab's trail, and following as quietly as such a massive body would permit. There was murderous intent in that lopsided four-legged prowl, but Shannon was too stunned to pray to his gods.

[i]...I'm cut off.[/i] The lord of this cave was between him and his team. Trailing the Tyranitar closely was suicidal. The tail alone looked able to swat Shannon aside. Waiting until it was gone would leave Team Scarab to encounter the beast without their adopted fifth member. [i]Dance, Carrol, dance,[/i] thought Shannon giddily, but he danced- Somewhere just beyond the Tyranitar's awareness was a space balanced haphazardly between discovery and delay. A heartrate soared and stopped again- This Amaura wasn't the only follower. A Sableye was nearby, and yet another Mawile, all three trailing around the wake of the Tyranitar. Shannon backed off. [i]...Folly to storm ahead, folly to risk engaging another Mawile. Oh god of song, help them, please. I'll be too late.[/i] Shannon gently incised his foot on a quartz shard and let a drop of blood flow for a hopeless prayer. Seconds ticked past.

The Sableye vanished somewhere. The Mawile followed, chasing a fragment of flying stone. There was rushing wind and water and voice. Fear for others broke fear for himself, and Shannon stormed into the room, trailing auroras of blood and heliotropes that hummed with electricity. He skidded and broke his gallop short of colliding with the Tyranitar, but the glowing streams of ions continued forwards, spiralling over the colossus's armour and dissolving into its body. 

There was surprise mingled with the fury of the ensuing bellow- "You [i]cheeky shit[/i]!" Shannon attempted to escape the swinging tail he expected, but the beast was not so predictable. A pulse of malicious aura flowed outwards, filling the chamber. The burst of malice focused its worst into the Amaura's body, flooding his brain with terror, shame, regret, loathing. He colllapsed into horror and shock, crying like a hatchling.

[i]Bitches need to learn their god-damned place,[/i] the Tyranitar mused as his tail gave a useless spasm.