After safely making their way through the Onix Tunnel, Ash & Co. have decided to stop for a picnic before continuing on their journey to Goldenrod City. As Misty and Brock set the table, Ash returns with some water. Brock asks him to get the bread and they can start their meal. As he goes to get it from his backpack, he notices that his backpack is missing. Ash asks if they think someone stole it, but Misty tells him that they have been there all morning and haven't seen anyone. Brock asks what was in it that would be worth stealing. Ash tells him that he had his Gym Badges, his Pokeballs and his PokéDex in it. Brock then notices a footprint on the ground, leading away from where Ash's backpack was. Ash becomes determined to track down whatever stole his backpack.

In town, Nurse Joy comes out of a shop with Chansey. She notices an ice cream van, and decides to buy a couple of ice creams. She puts her bag of shopping down while she gets the ice creams. As they have their back's turned, Team Rocket appear behind a wall and lower Meowth down, stealing a lump of ham from the bag. When Nurse Joy turns back, she notices it missing and begins to wonder where it could be. Not far away, Team Rocket are about to dig into the ham, but they get into a fight about it. As they argue, they accidentally drop it and it rolls away, only to be picked up and carried off by a Pokémon. After the fight ends, they start to wonder where the ham went. Noticing Wobbuffet stood next to the empty wrapper, Meowth assumes he ate it. Wobbuffet protests his innocence. Hearing the argument, Nurse Joy comes around the corner as the Trio run off. She notices the empty wrapper, wondering who would do something like this, when Ash & Co. run up to her, wondering why she's there. Brock goes up to her and tries to chat her up, but Misty drags him away. Ash asks her if she is having some sort of problem, so she explains the ham theft to him. He tells her about the theft of his back pack. Misty asks what the thieves looked like, then describes Jessie and James. Joy tells her that she didn't see them, when Pikachu notices the same kind of footprints they had seen before leading away into the woods. Ash & Co. follow them, as Nurse Joy shouts after them, telling them to be careful. Team Rocket, watching all this from behind some boxes, become interested.

They follow the tracks to the middle of the woods, where they stop. Brock suggests they stay the night at that spot, but doesn't explain why to Ash and Misty.

That evening, as Ash makes the fire, Brock carves a sausage out of wood. He puts it into a pan with a real sausage and puts them on to cook together.

That night, they hide in the bushes and watch the decoy sausage in the hopes that the thieving Pokémon comes for it. The wind blows the fire out and the clouds cover the moon. Pikachu hear something. As they asks it what it heard, a black shadow jump and steals the wooden sausage, running off with it. They try to give chase, but it gets away. Brock doesn't seem too worried; reasoning that the thief took the decoy and that if it's really hungry it will come back for the real food. Suddenly they hear a sound and are soon surrounded by a group of growling Pokémon. The clouds move away from the moon, revealing the Pokémon to be Houndour. Ash looks them up in his PokéDex (which was apparently in his backpack at the beginning of the episode). The Houndour with the fake food throws it back at them. Brock begins to think the decoy may not have been a good idea. Misty then notice another Houndour on a cliff overlooking the forest. It orders the pack to attack, but Ash & Co. manage to dodge them. Ash sends out Cyndaquil and Chikorita as Misty tries to send in Staryu. Psyduck pops out instead as Brock sends in Onix. The pack attack again. Cyndaquil manages to dodge every attack. Misty orders Psyduck to use Water Gun, but it doesn't do anything. Ash orders Chikorita to use Razor Leaf, saving Psyduck from a leaping Houndour. Another one leaps at Ash, but he gets out of the way. Brock orders Onix to use Tackle, but it misses and the Houndour jump onto it. Ash orders Pikachu to use Thundershock, causing them to jump off. The Houndour battling Cyndaquil manages to land a hit, but this just warms it up. Ash orders it to use Flamethrower, causing all of the Houndour to jump back. The pack leader then jumps from the cliff. It challenges Ash to a one on one battle.

The battle begins with Houndour using Leer. Pikachu does the same. Houndour uses Flamethrower, but Pikachu dodges. Ash orders it to use Quick Attack, but Houndour dodges, then leaps at Pikachu. It jumps out of the way at the last second, but Houndour uses Flamethrower again. It only just manages to dodge this attack too. Ash orders Pikachu to use Thunder, but Houndour dodges again. Both Pokémon begin to tire. Suddenly the Houndour hear a sound. They use Smog and get away as Ash & Co. are distracted. They still manage to see them run off and give chase.

At a cave, a lone Houndour is being attacked by a Golem. The pack arrive, attempting to ward it off with Flamethrower, as the lone one collapses. Ash & Co. arrive. Upon observing the scene, they notice Ash's backpack and some other items the Houndour have stolen. Brock notices the injured Houndour, coming to the conclusion that they were stealing to help their pack mate. The pack's leader uses Flamethrower again on the Golem. It doesn't affect it, and Golem knocks it back with Rollout. As the Golem is about to attack again, Ash jumps in, grabs the pack's leader, and jumps away with it, saving it. The Golem charges at them, but Ash orders Chikorita to use Razor Leaf, sending the Golem running. Brock goes over to check on the stricken Houndour. Upon examining it, he notices a wound on it's leg. He gets ready to clean it out as it looks infected, but the Houndour growl at him, causing him to drop the medicine. Ash tells them to take it easy. He picks up the Potion, telling the injured Houndour that it may sting, and sprays it on. The Houndour yelps in pain, causing the others to growl at him but take no further action. Ash's Pokémon get ready to defend him, but he tells everyone to chill out, recalling Chikorita and Cyndaquil. Closely examining the Houndour, Brock notices it running a fever. Ash explains to the leader that they need to get it to the Pokémon Center, asking it to trust him. He lifts it onto his back, causing the other Houndour to surround him, barking. The leader calls them off, allowing Ash to take the injured Pokémon for treatment.

As he is about to set off, Team Rocket arrive reciting their motto. They order them to give them Pikachu and the Houndour, but they refuse. The pack rush in front of Ash & Co. defending them. The leader barks something to them, translated by Meowth as saying that they will take care of the three jokers and that Ash & Co. should go on ahead. They run off to the Pokémon Center, as Team Rocket send in their Pokémon. The Houndour surround them, using Leer. Jessie orders Arbok to use Poison Sting, but the Houndour dodge it. James orders Weezing to use Tackle and Victreebell to use Razor Leaf, but the Houndour dodge these attacks as well. The pack use Flamethrower, sending Team Rocket running for their lives.

Approaching the town, Misty and Brock are getting tired. Ash, carrying Houndour, refuses to rest, but tells them that they can if they need to. As he keeps going, he trips and falls. Misty and Brock go over to him, Brock offering to carry Houndour for a while. Ash says that he will be fine, but falls back down again. Suddenly the Houndour appear. The leader offers to carry it's friend, and they set off again. They arrive at the Pokémon Center, and Nurse Joy rushes it in to be treated.

A while later, Nurse Joy returns, telling them that Houndour's fever has broken and that it will be just fine. They then hear the other Houndour outside growling. They rush out to find Team Rocket in their balloon. Ash tells Joy that they were the ones who stole her ham. The Trio then launch a net from the balloon, catching the pack and float away. Ash runs after them, with the leader of the pack at his side and Pikachu riding on it's back. Since they are too high for Pikachu to be able to shock the Trio, Ash orders Houndour to leap into the air, giving it a bit more height. Houndour uses Flamethrower to burn through the rope, freeing the others. Ash then orders Pikachu to jump up and use Thunderbolt, shocking the Trio and sending them blasting off again. The pack of Houndour, grateful for his help, jump on and begin licking his face in thanks.

The next morning, and Houndour has made a 100% recovery. Brock gives it the real sausage he had cooked, to celebrate. After having his backpack returned, Ash & Co. set off again, with the Houndour howling them goodbye.

And over the edge of a cliff, Team Rocket are hanging around on an old branch, wishing they hadn't gone out on a limb.

This episode guide has been written by The Librarian.

Characters appearing in this episode

Ash

Misty

Brock

Jessie

James

Meowth

Ash's Pikachu

Pokémon appearing in this episode

• Pikachu belonging to Ash
• Meowth

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