With a shattering roar, lightning split the sky and brutally struck a towering tree. The massive conifer burst into vibrant flames; the only light in the wind-whipped forest. Torrents of rain poured down on it, sending puffs of steam filling the air. The other trees groaned in the furious wind, as if mourning the loss of their mate. An unfortunate traveler slowly walked away from the tree under which he had taken shelter. Bullet-sized raindrops and sheets of sleet fell on his back, but were immediately shaken off by his shivers. He cursed his bad luck under his breath as he stumbled to the edge of the forest. Beyond the trees lay a vast field. The storm rolled great waves of grass over it. Dotting the plain were small burnt pits from which clouds of smoke billowed. The man looked at them cautiously: it seemed that nothing was certain. He thought he would soon freeze to death and ran under a couple of gnarled trees. Streams of rain fell from the branches and along the trunks, yet they protected him from the strongest storm. With a thud he fell onto the soaked grass. He stuffed his hands into his soaked pockets and waited for his shaking to subside. Light shone through the leafy branches as lightning arced across the sky. An annoyed grimace crossed the young man's face as he vanished. He took off the backpack he was carrying and poured out about an inch of water. A few small balls fell onto the grass, 6 of them in a variety of colors. He glared at one: the one with large green spots surrounded by a black button with red. There was another crack of lightning, making the man jump. He picked up the green and black ball and also a white ball... in the center of the card.... She could defeat those many times bigger than her and was well aware of the fact. Dan stroked her head, trying to calm her furious trembling. Maybe it was because of the freezing weather. He screamed as something burned his left toes. He fumbled and finally managed to tear off his boot and throw it into the undergrowth. He peered anxiously at his sock: it was burnt black and fell apart at the slightest touch. Dan's head shot up – Tetra whimpered and pressed herself against him, trying to hold him back. The darkness slowly solidified into shapes, but they were only ghosts. Or at least that's what he hoped. A scorched, smoking trail remained in the ground. The grass directly around his had been burned to a crisp, but the trail itself had ripped through the ground a good few feet below. A crackle of electricity made Dan's heart leap, but it was only Tetra, gathering her energy.