Ettie would be patient as Josh glanced about and made his decision - curiosity plain on her face. But, this curiosity would only light up further as he revealed his secret pokemon - a Gouging Fire, named Entei. Safe to say, Ettie was impressed - although perhaps her expression wasn't the same level of awe that one might expect, and the reason for that became quickly apparent. "Oooh... Is like Apex!" She chirped. "Hello, Entei-friend!"

Anne would eyeball Entei a bit - mostly getting a read on him. Given how hostile Apex had first been in Area Zero, she wanted to make sure that this one wouldn't go picking fights close to the den. Above, the Flock observes - seeming to be waiting to see what Entei might do.

But, it seemed that Apex had heard their name being mentioned. Because from the den, the Gouging Fire would stroll on out and into the clearing. He carried himself with confidence aplenty - as if he knew himself to be worthy of the namesake.

... Though upon catching a glimpse of Entei, he paused and narrowed his eyes. Considering. Who were these interlopers, upon his territory? Clearly, they were not unwelcome, if the others were not raising a fuss.

He would still rumble at Entei though, holding himself high. Even if Apex wasn't being outwardly hostile, their body language read that of prideful superiority.

Josh Devlin

Graci visibly enjoys the attention - her stubby tail giving another wag as she tilts her head into the petting. Really, the pack was a great place to be. A lot of the members were thankful to each other in one way or another - it was an environment that they and Daea both apprecaited a bunch!

And as if to express her own gratitude for the positive attention, she carefully perches herself on Josh's shoulders and nuzzles him, not unlike an affectionate cat.

Ettie meanwhile, smiled and nodded along. Sometimes, someone wasn't a good fit for the pack - and vice versa - and that was okay. She was just happy that she was able to provide for the packmates she had thus far. (And speaking of pack, it sounded as though Josh's was only getting larger by the second!)

As Josh asked about the 'outside part' of the den though, Ettie hummed. "Here good," She mused - it wasn't quiiite at the entrance, but the Flock did a good job of keeping watch, and outsiders tended to keep their distance to avoid agitating the pack. "But can move to den! And can keep quiet!" Ettie smiled bright and nodded eagerly with this. She wasn't sure why this special someone (Another packmate of Josh's, she guessed?) was to be a secret, but she would keep her word for her dear friend.

This shift in conversation seemed to get Anne's attention though, the wolf cocking her head to glance at the two. Who - or what - did Josh bring with him, she wondered?

(Zeit and Yip, on the other hand, were currently more content to continue playing with the two Arcanine. Playtime was a big deal!)

Josh Devlin

Ettie's worldview was a simple one; a person came in one of four categories; friend/family, foe, predator, or prey. Someone was a potential ally or packmate, an intruder or competitor, something to be avoided and feared, or ultimately something to be hunted down and eaten. Those four categories were all that a wolf needed to worry about, after all.

The strange monkey pokemon, that came down the elevator, was a predator. Something that became quickly apparent, when said simian made an example out of one of their fellow prisoners. Ettie, though somewhat shaken at the sight, was not necessarily sickened. She was no stranger to blood and gore; although to understand that this one could end a person's life so easily...

... Munkidori was a predator - and Ettie could only hope that she wasn't to be prey.

Thus, as the mochi is dispensed, she eats. She does not trust the food, knowing the troubles that had occured in the days that led up to this, knowing that vague sense of ill that the poisonous anomalies had caused... And yet, despite the pattern recognition telling her that this was something to be avoided, the alternative - to starve, or even die - forced her to push down those instincts.

And as the way forward became clear with a tethered chain, Ettie would follow Andrew Fisher to the pile of shards and stones.

In contrast to him, Ettie had a somewhat easier time in plucking out the shards. Her fingers were deft - being no stranger to plucking berries from bramble bushes and the like - and when she did get scraped or cut, she'd manage to keep her reactions to a wince.

But, this did not spare her from her own shards mysteriously disappearing, when she turned away from the pile she had accumulated for but a moment. She is left glancing around in confusion, until she hears Munkidori's snicker - and she understands then. She dares not even meet its gaze though, simply allowing herself to appear small and uninteresting as she ducks her head to try and start up a new pile of shards - this one more carefully kept.

As Andrew speaks, she glances to him - and it's hard for her to place what sort of expression she must have right now, besides the need to avoid drawing the warden's attention as much as possible. "Is okay," She eventually responds - her voice low, soft. "Will stay safe... Will avoid being prey..."

But, there soon comes the sounds of a tumble; and Ettie looks to the side to see as another young girl is picking herself up - scraped from the rocks and shards that she had fell upon. Sympathy fills Ettie, and she spares Andrew but a brief glance - "I help friends," - before making her way to Eris Halla .

Her approach is careful, ginger, as if Eris were as much a skittish prey-animal as Ettie felt in this place. But as the wolfchild nears, she settles in next to the other to help Eris sort out the shards. "Is okay?" Ettie asks, briefly looking her up and down. "Ettie help."

Perhaps Ettie could keep an eye out, so that the both of them would be better prepared the next time Munkidori tried to interfere.

Champion? It took a second for Ettie to consider and recall - but once it clicked, she soon nodded with a bright smile. "Good job! Did great!" She praised Josh with an eager giggle, reaching up to hug him as he got down from Braver's back. "Friend is strong!" And a good packleader, too!

(Though, it was likely a good rule of thumb to assume that everything Ettie learned was from hearsay and experience, rather than from media.)

As Josh commented on her two Shaymin, Ettie perked up and nodded. "Mhmm! Graci and Daea! Are Shay-min!" She chirped. Indeed, the names came from the Gracidea flower - it seemed that Ettie liked the name, and the fact that the Shaymin were linked to it. "Can change, with pretty flower!" And they enjoyed flying about with the flock like that, as she found.

It seemed that Daea lost interest once they'd gotten a good look at the trio - flitting off to find something to do. But Graci would hang around, the flying terrier perching on Braver's now-empty saddle with a wag of their stubby tail. Tucked behind this Shaymin's ear was, indeed, a Gracidea flower - lush and beautiful.

Whilst the canines played amongst themselves though, Ettie continued speaking with Josh. "Pack been good! Spring coming - lots plants and prey soon." Which meant that Ettie could restock the pack's stores. Winter was always a bit thinner pickings - but keeping a stash of preserved foods, and maintaining the berry trees in the woods below, did well to make sure noone went hungry. "Pack is big, strong! Lots new packmates."

Josh Devlin

Though Ettie gets responses, they're not in the forms she wholly expects.

The first response is from Andrew. As he speaks up, she jumps - visibly startled - and blinks for a couple seconds before she responds "Pack is missing... Alone isn't safe," She's on edge, visibly fidgeting. She doesn't know what's going on with the strange people outside the cells, the Megalopolans - and her gaze keeps flicking to the guards as they pass by. Sure, that she isn't the only one in this cell is of a little comfort...

But, the biggest thing that seems to calm her down is when she hears Andrea's voice - and she's distracted from her explanation, to instead perk up and try to spot her. "Andrea! Friend!" She calls back, audibly relieved. "Is Ettie! Is friend okay?"

Anything further, however, was cut off when Andrew proceeded to lunge at the bars, and shout at the guards! Ettie yelped a bit - startled - as she takes a couple steps back. She watches with an alarmed and bewildered expression, wondering what in the world was up with him...

... But when he gets jabbed, she reacts with instinct - growling at the guard, teeth bared under the mask, and backing from the bars to take up a protective position next to him. When the Megalopolan soon moves on and leaves line of sight, Ettie's gaze slowly drifts back to Andrew, where her concern is apparent. "Is okay...?"

When a distant chime rings out though, and the platform begins to move, Ettie's attention is drawn back towards it - her body language tensing, as if readied to pounce or bolt at a moment's notice...

By finding Anne, the group would also find the den - the entrance tucked into a crevice big enough for even Ettie's largest pokemon to pass through. Just outside the crevice was an open clearing, which appeared to more or less be a 'commons area' for the pack to idle about and mingle with one another in. On the ridges above, Ettie's corvids - a couple of Corviknights and Honchkrow - can be seen roosted, watching the visiting trio closely.

As the two Arcanine approach, Anne's gaze falls upon them - sharp, assessing, judging who they were. It seemed that being so close to the den also had gotten the attention of the other canids. But once she took notice of Josh, and got a whiff of their scents, she relaxed - recognition shining in her eyes. And in turn, so too did the rest of the pack present.

Though Josh's approach had been unexpected, he was welcome here.

Ettie, too, would take quick notice - and with a happy giggle, she waved. "Josh! Friends! Hellooooo~!" She called, from her spot next to one of the Corviknights. She carefully hops down to meet him proper - continuing to giggle with visible glee. Tailing behind her were a few packmates - including a Hisuian Arcanine that appeared big even by Arcanine standards, and a Smeargle. "Happy to see! How is?"

(What would likely be an interesting sight, was the presence of two Shaymin - Sky forme, no less - that followed her down from the ridge, flitting about here and there as they examined these newcomers.)

Ettie's gaze would briefly drift to the Rainbow Feather - and the curiosity was plain to see. It was pretty, if you asked her! And on top of that, she didn't recognize what sort of bird it might belong to. But, she didn't immediately comment on it - instead glancing to Josh once more and offering "Storm coming - can hide with pack, when is-here." She wasn't sure how long it'd be, but it was definitely on its way.

It's cold.

That's the first thing that occurs to Ettie, as she begins to stir. Though the sweat on her skin is hot and clammy, the air - and the hard floor beneath - are cold. Everything - touch, smell, sounds - feels wrong, she recognizes distantly past a disorienting and hazy grogginess. Something is horribly, horribly, wrong - even if it takes a second for it all to filter in properly.

The next thing she notes, is the mask. Her initial instinct is to take it off - but no matter how she pulls on it, all she feels is the press of the Toxic Chain wrapped around it. She whines at the back of her throat, quite uncomfortable with all of this - but as her eyes adjust to the darkness, and the grimy visor... "Sister..? Anat..?"

... She realizes, that she's trapped in a strange, enclosed, room. And that her pack is missing. Where were they? Why was she alone? She could have sworn that they had been hunting in the woods not long ago! And yet- and yet--..!

She does not immediately notice Andrew Fisher 's presence; instead in an almost frenetic panic. She was alone. Alone was dangerous. Alone meant you could be picked off by predators. She needed her pack - she needed to find someone - she wasn't safe like this--

And following her instincts, her first thought is to howl. A keening cry, in hopes that maybe one of her packmates would hear and respond. Any sort of response, so that she can at least know they're somewhere nearby.

TLDR: Ettie is in Dummy Ward. She is spooked by waking up without her pack, and is letting out a howl in hopes of getting a response.

If you asked Yip, having a floating letter bouncing all over the place was weird. She didn't wholly understand the deal with Wulkos - it just sort of showed up one day, and Ettie happily accepted the psychic-type's presence around the den.

But, one thing that she did notice about them, was the move Hidden Power. Sometimes, whenever they had to chase off a wild intruder, Wulkos' Hidden Power seemed to - without fail - leave the foe smarting! And each time she saw it in action, she was more enamored with the move. Something that she could use in any situation, against any enemy? Sign her up!

Thus, the next time she saw Wulkos putting the move to use, she was quick to Sketch it for herself; no doubt, she'd find use for it.

Redeeming:

- Root of Pugnus (VCT)
- - Wulkos the Unown learns Close Combat

- Powder of Ferrum (Excursions)
- - Wulkos the Unown learns Iron Head

- Disc of Conversion (BBS)
- - Wulkos the Unown learns Conversion 1

- Poison Tera Shard (PP2)
- - Yip gains Poison Tera

- Starf Berry (2023 Advent)
- - Sirius the Yamper becomes Male

- x3 Free Evolution (Pokejob, VCT, PP2)
- - Zeit the H. Growlithe evolves into H. Arcanine
- - Mina the Greavard evolves into Houndstone; learns Last Respects
- - Snowboy H. Zorua evolves into H. Zoroark

- x2 Kasib Berry (VCT, Tales)
- - Scarlet the Doublade gains a moveslot
- - Anne the Lycanroc gains a moveslot

- Eligible Normal Move (BBS)
- - Zeit the H. Arcanine learns Double-Edge, forgets Crunch

- Eligible Fairy Move (BBS)
- - Anne the Lycanroc learns Play Rough

- Eligible Dragon Move (BBS)
- - Apex the Gouging Fire learns Dragon Cheer, forgets Lava Plume

- x2 Ability Capsule (VCT, PP2)
- - Garden Rockruff's ability becomes Own Tempo
- - Sirius the Yamper's ability becomes Ball Fetch

- x11 TM/TR (VCT, Tales, MMMM, PP2, Excursions)
- - Scarlet the Doublade learns Aerial Ace, Shadow Claw, forgets Rock Slide
- - Apex the Gouging Fire learns Temper Flare, Earthquake, forgets Outrage, Flare Blitz
- - Daea the Shaymin learns Zen Headbutt, forgets Leech Seed
- - Graci the Shaymin learns Tailwind, forgets Healing Wish
- - Gruff the H. Arcanine learns Power Gem, Solar Beam, forgets Head Smash, Thief
- - Haru the Delphox learns Psychic, Shadow Ball, forgets Psybeam, Mystical Fire
- - Maria the Lycanroc learns Trailblaze, forgets Rock Tomb

A storm was rumbling. On one of the ridges surrounding the den - where the Flock often roosts - Ettie sits, swinging her legs over the edge and looking out to the open cloudy sky and the distant horizon. Though the clouds in the immediate vicinity were pale, those towards the horizon were darker, a clear and visible portent - especially when paired with the distant rumble of thunder.

She isn't the only one to take note of such; the smell of approaching rain, though faint, is on the air. Ettie can spy down below, where Anne is sniffing the air - before gazing to the very same dark clouds.

When the duo's eyes meet, Ettie is the first to speak. "Call hunters?" She suggests with an inquiring tilt of the head. A hunting group had departed for the nearby woods, further down the mountainous terrain they lived upon. It wouldn't do for them to get caught in windy rainy conditions - they wouldn't be able to catch much prey like that anyways.

Which, Anne concurred - best to call them back now, before the storm arrived. Thus, throwing back her head, the Lycanroc would let out a howl - one that a few nearby packmates joined in. The chorus would carry far from here, far enough for those in the woods to hear.

And indeed, as the howls petered out, there soon came acknowledgement in the form of another set of howls, from far off. The hunting group would return soon, with whatever they'd been able to gather. Perhaps, a certain pair of Arcanine would recognize some of the voices behind either set of howls?

Of verdant treetops
Dotted with fruits aplenty
A monkey's delight

Mochi (20) :

SPOILER: Click to show

- x10 - Iron Moth
- x5 - Rabsca
- x5 - Amoongus

Rewards: x1 TM/TR, x1 Free Evolution, x1 Devolution Stone, x1 Gacha Ticket, x1 Abillity Capsule, x1 Premium Gacha Ticket, x1 Draught of Purification, x1 Poison Tera Shard, x1 Dynamax Candy