Ettie was in agreement with Toki; there wasn't any sustenance to be found from this strange metallic pokemon. So perhaps, she'd be lucky enough to find it hungry enough to be put in a good mood with food!

Either way, she smiled to Toki - "Ettie careful," she promised, before slowly, cautiously, descending from the ridge. So far, the Gouging Fire did not take notice of her... Although, when she finally reached the level that the Paradox was on, it would raise its head to glance to her, and growled lowly.

Ettie, however, was not deterred. She was quick to remove a wrapped bundle of preserved meats from her bag - and unwrapping it, set it forth for the beast - cautiously stepping back as she did.

Which, the food seemed to get the Gouging Fire's attention. It regarded the meat for a few long moments, before stepping forth. Though it occasionally cast glances to Ettie, its attention was turned to the prospect of food - which it gobbled up readily.

And Ettie saw this as an in. She smiled a little as she play-bowed to the much-larger Paradox - wiggling - and made a sneezing-like sound to convey that very same playfulness. She was putting her all, in trying to convey friendliness in a way that any dog might understand!

The Gouging Fire did not seem interested in this extended olive branch, however. Because as soon as it finished the provided snack (because for as much as Ettie tried to provide, this beast most definitely ate more than what she could carry by herself...)

... It would turn its attentions to the friendly wildchild - and with a snarl, charged!

Though Ettie herself was taken by surprise, she was not alone. Sheathed at the small of her back, Scarlet stirred to life! The sheath would be used like a shield - brought in front to intercept a swiping claw from the Gouging Fire! And as the strike landed, the Disguise fell away - revealing the twin blades within..!

This all seemed to whip the pack into an instant fury - as a chorus of Howls would rise from the pack, emboldening not only themselves, but also Toki's pokemon as well! And leaping down from the ridge, the canines readily joined Ettie's side - prepared to protect their leader.

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Toki Akiyama

As Nikita describes his target, Ettie listens close. Though, the mention of a daycare being destroyed - even if it takes a second for Ettie to process through it - seems to get a soft growl from her as she gazes ahead. A certain protective side of her bristled at the idea of young being endangered. The desire to sink one's fangs into whatever threatens one's younger packmates.

Thus, as Nikita mentions the Skuntank, Ettie nods. "... We track." She speaks simply in response, glancing and gesturing to Yip and Anat. The Smeargle and Lucario both step forth - Copycat-ing the Mightyenas' Odor Sleuth to aid in the tracking. The rest of the pack falls in line, following after.

Though, the detective is not the only one to notice marks in the environment. While he gazes to a stone, Ettie's own takes note of crisscrossing marks on one of the walls. A fight had happened here, at some point; the nature of the fight was beyond her, however.

Still - she thoughtfully traces some of the marks as she passes, before glancing to her pack. "Stay alert." She instructs - more a reminder, than anything. "Scratches from fight." She adds, with a gesture to the marks on the wall.

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Nikita Sokolov

Toki's fear would indeed be palpable to the pack. Those most sensitive - Anat and Haru, being a Lucario and a Psychic-type respectively - being the first ones to notice, and the others gradually catching on one by one.

The Lycanrocs seemed to take it in stride - as did Barbara and Madame. But Zeek, Yip, and Haru all seemed unsettled - both at the sight below and in picking up on Toki's emotions. This was a strange pokemon. This was different from what they knew and understood.

Anne would make a low huffing sound that had the pack perking to attention, though - seemingly to snap them out of their unease. The pack gathered closer to their leader, as if to find comfort in eachothers' numbers.

In turn, Anat would place a paw on Toki's side in a reassuring touch. Ettie, too, would reach over to hold his hand. "Is okay," She whispered, with an ironclad certainty. "Pack protects."

But then, her gaze drifted back to the Gouging Fire below, thoughtful. She recognized that this wasn't the sort of pokemon she was familiar with, but... "... Have food. Could befriend, maybe?" She suggested. Most wild pokemon could be made more amicable with some food - and as far as she could see, there wasn't anything that would imply this one would be any different.

As long as she was careful, surely nothing would go amiss, right?

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Toki Akiyama

As Ettie proceeds through the safari zone, a flutter of wings catches her attention - and above, she catches sight of a Bombirdier. She has seen one before, out on Route 120 - but to see a shiny variant is interesting, even if only briefly...

... She is quick to decide to bail, however, when it begins dropping rocks onto anything that moves below..!

With the new puppy in tow, Ettie was curious to see the next pokemon - which, in this case, proved to be an Oranguru. Human and primate were content to observe one another, Ettie's curiousity being plain to see here...

... Although, otherwise, this pokemon did not pique her interest. Thus, she soon continued one once the two had gotten a good enough idea of one another.

Ettie nodded in agreement, as Toki commented on the size of this mystery beast. With the pack nearing the suspected location, their pace slowed to that of a stalking prowl - as if they were tracking down a skittish wild Stantler. Which really, a potentially aggressive pokemon should be treated with much the same sort of care and caution.

But as they moved, things became apparent - slashes and scratches in the environment, gashes that told of conflict. So, too, was there scorched patches of earth, burnt undergrowth, and the like. The source of it all became apparent as the group proceeded forwards though - as below, on a lower ridge, two pokemon could be seen.

A beast that meshed together dinosaur and mammal, with a clear resemblance to Entei; a Gouging Fire had another Paradox - an Iron Crown - pinned down. Though the mechanical cervine struggled, it wasn't in good shape - one of its horns torn off, the other flickering as it tried and failed to use Tachyon Cutter...

... Only for the Gouging Fire to finally crunch its jaws down around the Iron Crown's neck - bringing the machine's struggling to an end.

Ettie was low to the ground as she slipped from Anne's back to watch, visibly awed. She didn't know much of Entei or Suicune - she was most familiar with Raikou, but even then that was via osmosis from time spent with Josh Devlin . "Strong..." She observed, speaking in a hushed voice. "Lone... No pack?"

The Gouging Fire - in Ettie's eyes - felt canid enough; and so, to see one on its own - with no clear pack - was curious to her. Could this one be a potential addition to her own pack?

ROLL A NUMBER WITH A 3. - Encounter sword-like slashes on various rocks, trees, and more.

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Toki Akiyama

A rustle from the bushes caught Ettie's attention - bringing the wildchild's steps to a stop. She cocked her head as the bushes fell still for a moment - and would take one, two, steps forward...

... Only to yelp, as a little yamper pounced forth, sending her tumbling back! The electric-type's tail was a-wagging as it licked her, and Ettie couldn't help but giggle with glee at the friendly pup's playfulness!

Yes, this one would absolutely fit in with her pack.

At the sound of a familiar voice, a number of the pack would come to a stop - namely, those who recognized said voice - followed shortly by the rest of the hunting party. A number of tails were wagging at the sight of none other than Toki...

... And safe to say, Ettie's expression would light up as well. "Toki-friend! Hello!" She'd greet in turn, hopping down from Anne's back to run up and give him a big hug! "Is good! Pack tracking!" She chirped - continuing "Found pawprints - pack doesn't recognize. Is big! Has claws! Ettie curious!"

Jury was still out on whether this pokemon was something like another canine, something more feline, or even some other form of mammalian beast altogether - such as a bear. But, it was most definitely a predator; prey didn't usually have claws like the prints had implied.

But, at the offer to come with, Ettie nodded eagerly. "Okay! Friends come with!" She glanced to her pack - and in particular, her gaze fell upon the azure Midday Lycanroc that had accompanied her, the she-wolf being around the same size as the already large Anne, large enough to bear a rider. "Maria help friend?"

The Lycanroc - Maria - approached, her verdant eyes studying Toki for a few long moments, as if to get a read on him. There was that same sort of wild-pokemon-wariness that Anne tended to display towards strangers, but... After a shared glance with Anat, she'd nod, coming close and crouching down - as if to let him onto her back.

It seemed that whatever she was looking for, he passed the test.

Ettie, meanwhile, had let her attentions drift - happily patting pat Azura on the head. "Azura-friend, hello!" She chirped cheerily.

Once everyone was situated and ready to keep moving though, the pack would continue onwards with Toki in tow - navigating the strange landscape that was the Giant Chasm. Ettie watched as Zeke and Madame used Odor Sleuth to keep tabs on the scent trail that they were following - although...

... It seemed as though the further along they went, the brighter and hotter the sun shone down on them. And off in the distance, roughly in the same direction as the pack was moving, a deep and bellowing Howl of some sort could be heard.

ROLL A 50. - Experience the weather becoming HARSH SUNLIGHT or the ground turning into ELECTRIC TERRAIN.

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Toki Akiyama

Ettie had been down in this chasm for awhile now. She had explored alongside Andrea Vaneau and Josh Devlin , and she had gone hunting alongside Nikita Sokolov ...

... Now, it was her turn to lead a hunt of her own.

It had started, when she and the pack had stopped by one of the many rivers of meltwater running through the Giant Chasm to drink. Whilst they refreshed themselves and Ettie restocked her stores, she had seen prints in the soft earth surrounding the stream. Pawprints, with sharp claws, from some large unfamiliar beast...

... Her interest had been piqued. Neither she nor any of her packmates recognized it, and nobody could identify the scent trail left behind - when they were otherwise familiar with a lot of the mammalian pokemon hanging around here by now. Who was this? What was this?

She wanted to know more.

Thus, her pack was on the hunt - moving at a steady pace as they followed the movements of this mystery creature. Ettie sat atop Anne's back, using the large wolf's height as a vantage point to better spy the surrounding area...

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Toki Akiyama

"Is dangerous..." Ettie agrees, with a gentle nod. Any venture outside of one's den had its risks, she knew quite well. Many a time in the past, in the original pack she grew up amongst, hunting parties would return with at least one injured packmate. Sometimes - and most often - these were injuries that could be healed off, scrapes and bumps and the like.

But there was the rare time that a packmate returned with a more serious injury - one that rendered them unable to hunt - or didn't return at all.

With the varied nature of Ettie's own pack, and the healing aptitude of packmates like Anat, these risks were greatly reduced. Even if Ettie did not form this pack with the benefits of variety in mind, everyone was able to fill different niches and cover for eachothers' weaknesses much better than a pack of a single species could. And with the pack together...

"... But safer in numbers." She concluded, smiling to Nikita. She trusted in them - and they trusted in her. And Nikita would be safer, too, with the pack at his side. "And Ettie like here more. Deep Sea more dangerous." Nihilego toxins, as Ettie learned quite well, could cause mayhem if even one of her pack got stung.

With her confidence and awareness well established though, the subject shifted to what Nikita was up to - which was that of hunting. Ettie perks a bit at this, curious. "What prey?" She questions, cocking her head. Glancing ahead, her eyes narrow in brief focus - scanning the path ahead for any footprints or other such clues.

And seeming to share in this curiosity, a few of her packmates would begin to sniff about for any interesting or strange scents. Madame in particular would step to the front - barking for Zeke to follow. The two Mightyena employed Odor Sleuth together, clearly eager to go on a hunt.

So far though, the closest thing to anything of interest that the pack could find, was a small cluster of Joltiks, who scatter as the group passes by.

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Nikita Sokolov

Ettie's expression shifted into something thoughtful, as Josh mused over the relation between this place and them being calmer. Aleph she was less sure of the origins of... But didn't these weird funky metal paradoxes come from here, from what she'd heard?

Were they calmer here because it was home, she wondered? Familiar? She only knew so much about of things like Infinity Energy - which was to say not much - so her own theories went in a different direction from Josh's own.

As far as Sigmund and Tyrfing went though - it became quickly apparent to Ettie, that these two were not ones for physical contact. Which was a shame - she wanted to reassure them, if that call had them spooked! They were moving as a pack, after all, so neither of them had to worry!

But, she gets the message - and thus, she gives the two Paradoxes their space. Instead, she's content to check on the other pokemon, particularly her own pack.

It's when Aleph begins to stir and get back up, that the pack in turn begins to gather back together - ready to continue onwards. "Mhmm! Am ready." Ettie confirmed, as she hopped onto Anne's back - continuing onwards through the crystalline caverns...

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Josh Devlin

Ettie nodded eagerly, as Josh mused over asking Saber. "And packmates like Janus or Dashie, and friends of Aleph, Tee-... Tyr-fing, and Sigmund!" She agreed. Having a Psychic pokemon like Haru helped a bunch, in better understanding her packmates - and surely, those three had friends amongst Josh's other pokemon, too, right?

As far as that mysterious call went though, Josh was right, in that the only way to know for sure was going deeper. Ettie was curious as well - though she also wasn't sure if she wanted to deliberately bother a pokemon that had already found its place in these caves.

Regardless though, it appeared that Aleph wanted to rest - and thus, Ettie was happy to give the pack a breather as well as they set up a perimeter. In the meantime, she'd turn to Tyrfing and Sigmund, asking the two Paradoxes "Friends okay?" It seemed they had been put off by the call in some way - and carefully raising a hand, she'd offer them some reassuring pats.

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Josh Devlin

Safaris seemed interesting. They also seemed like fun! Lots of pokemon that Ettie hadn't seen before tended to show up, and each month appeared to be a different pokemon.

Today, she was particularly interested in getting a new packmate for herself, as well as for some friends. So, it was with zero hesitation that she'd dart off into the wilderness of the Safari, balls in hand!