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in all honesty, uriah has no idea what they're doing here. this is out of his realm of expertise despite his many months with the military and later the police force. but perhaps it is those connections that lead him back into danger.[break][break]

guess this will be a trip for the boys. oh, the boys and calla roth, which makes him constantly anxious because the last thing he wants is for her (or anyone, really) to get hurt.[break][break]

"uh, out of everyone here i think you have the most experience, greyson."[break][break]

he turns to look at the ex-gym leader.[break][break]

"wanna lead us?"

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How did this happen again? Calla can’t claim to know. For all of the thinking and re-thinking and re-re-thinking she is prone to doing, she still comes up blank. But there isn’t really any sense in picking it apart to ascertain an answer now, because she’s here (they’re all here, which is…nerve wracking,) and the only option is to move forward.[break][break]

If she feels self-conscious for being the only girl there, she doesn’t show it. One time, when she and Kieran were kids, some other boy on their street said that she couldn’t come in his crew’s super secret hideout because she was a girl, and because he was with her neither could Kier. She kicked him in the shin, pushed him in the creek, and walked inside, with her brother in tow.[break][break]

And that was the end of that.[break][break]

If anything, she’s a little more breakable now, but that’s hidden away too. As Uriah speaks, her attention pivots away from him and over to Greyson. She’s never met him before, and she likes to lead (read: she’s bossy,) but Calla is sorely out of her element here in a place where everything seems to be a ratcheted up a notch on the intensity scale. So she’ll relent, keeping quiet for the time being in simple observation. “…”

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"Oh wow!" He's a little distracted and, by a little, that meant a lot. "Isn't this amazing?" Kieran says, not quite reading the room because he's not matching the apprehensive energy in the slightest. True, this isn't the intended trip that calla roth asked for and they are probably all in way over their heads, but this weird colored plant is cool! Maybe it gets the hue from a foreign chemical in the soil? He isn't entirely certain, but he still writes it down anyways.

[break][break]

Maybe he should have invited other rangers on the trip with him instead of his sister. And these other two guys. One guy he definitely doesn't know, but seems very cool. The other guy is Calla's boyfriend-boss-somebody (he doesn't know), but seems nice, which makes him wonder why he'd want to be around Calla who is meaner than a beedrill.

[break][break]

Having assessed most of the immediate area, he returns to Calla's side. "This is pretty cool, huh?" The last time they tried something like this bad things happened, but he's sure that won't happen again. This'll be, undoubtedly, the best expedition ever. Even if that means traveling through a jungle with his cranky sister.

[attr="class","bottom"]URIAH BLACK calla roth Greyson Connors [break]

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the expanse went on for miles, the pale, mustard color sky and its horizon becoming the only thing he could see, at a certain point. his mind threatens to wonder, before URIAH BLACK's voice holds the inklings of familiarity - his own name.
[break][break]
"uh, yeah, i don't mind." he gives in reply, ending it with a small smile.
[break][break]
he turns his attention from the alien world, and onto to those around him, ensuring to make eye-contact with each of them. he hadn't worked with a single one of them, at least, to his recollection, so their skillsets were something of an unknown to him. still, if they were here, they must've been good at their duties.
[break][break]
he speaks again, eager to begin their tasking.
[break][break]
"our number one concern should be shelter. we still don't anything about this place, its weather, or how dangerous it is, so we'll need some place to fall back to as we branch out further. [break][break]i also recommend mount pokemon, as it'll make this journey more comfortable. anything you all think i missed?"

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out of four of them, two are related (twins), and one is an ex-gym leader who holds much more expertise, knowledge, and wisdom, so it's only natural for uriah to begin to feel anxious, worried that he definitely is the odd one out.[break][break]

though not a new feeling, it still stings all the same.[break][break]

"nah bro i think you got it all!"[break][break]

he nods in agreement, then shrugs his backpack to the front.[break][break]

"oh right. i brought food slash rations with me so if you need one just give me a shout."[break][break]

"and if anyone needs a mount pokemon..." he looks at calla roth in particular "...let me know. i have some on me that can fly as well."

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It's not much of a surprise to find her brother's attention flitting about, as he ping pongs around their meet-up spot with unbridled enthusiasm. There's a touch of exasperation in her expression, but something undeniably fond and hen-ish. He's been this way all their lives, she's used to it. He's got the spirit, at least?[break][break]

A...mount pokemon? Her brows furrow as her glance shifts between Greyson and Uriah when he offers, and it probably betrays how much of a city she's become since she and Kieran Roth moved to Slateport. Does she even have anything capable of carrying her? Oh. Well... from her bag she released her abomasnow. "If Rufus will cooperate, I should be good on that front." Rufus, plopping down on the ground beside her, grumbles.[break][break]

"I've got some other things as well--flashlights and batteries, some basic first aid. Stuff like that." Not really because she's an expert when it comes to venturing out into the wild. Life has taught her to carry these supplies anyway. All the time.[break][break]

Kieran drifts back to her side, and she nods even though she's not quite as enthralled with the whole beauty of nature aspect yet like he is. "Yeah. Totes cool," she agrees before her tone slides toward nettling. Just a little, "You got something to ride? I'm sure Siv won't want to."

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"Totes cool."
[break][break]

He laughed at that. Kier didn't need to be her twin, or even her sibling to know that was a lie. Yet, maybe she would develop an appreciation for all of this by the end? Who knew? "Yeah, I do. Of course. Ha... no Siv would not appreciate that at all." She was already getting that tone, oh no. Maybe it was a terrible idea to have her come along, not that it was exactly his idea, but still...
[break][break]
He returned Siv back to her pokeball, knowing she wouldn't appreciate being put back. Then, he lobbed out the next pokeball, releasing Grunt, his Tyrantrum. "HEY THERE BUDDY!" It had been a little while since he let Grunt out, but the once little guy was now no longer so little. But he was still like a big puppy, so not much had changed. Looping his arms around the large lizard, he gave him a quick hug before attempting to find a way on top.
[break][break]
It was just a matter of climbing on top of him and not falling on his face in the process (something he was prone to doing). Kindly, Grunt hunkered down, looking for a moment like an over-sized scaled pidgey, so that he could clamber on top of him. "Good boy."
[break][break]

[attr="class","bottom"]URIAH BLACK calla roth Greyson Connors [break]

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greyson furled his lips inward, trying not to chuckle at the unfolding events. an abomasnow, a machamp, and a tyrantrum. unconventional, if not unique, mounts. they would work.
[break][break]
"good, we've got a lot of our basics covered, then." he says, revealing an ivory coated g!rapidash, her mane a mix of cream and mint tones. the shiny psychic-type leaned into his palm as he pet her gently.
[break][break]
"let's see if we can't find something close to water, preferably on flat, or high-ground." if the league were to operate a forward-base here, vision for miles would be vital to ensuring their safety.
[break][break]
swinging his leg over the mare's side, he mounts the rapidash comfortably. sensing his intention through their psychic bond, she sets off into a steady pace.
[break][break]
"keep up," he shouts behind him, before his attention shifts to the unknown ahead.

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with Greyson Connors leading the front, naturally, uriah drifts towards the back of the group, furthering his isolation from the group even if it's only in his mind for now.[break][break]

where the others ride their actual mount pokemon, uriah sticks with chad his machamp. two of its arms shape into a makeshift chair in front of its body. uriah sits relatively comfortably, being carried by his machamp while the fighting-type also carries his backpack.[break][break]

the backpack being on its back, however, explains why a little pansage is able to swing down to rummage through, stealing all of their rations without them even realizing.[break][break]

after a while, he notices how the jungle seems to be growing thicker. does Greyson Connors know what he's doing?[break][break]

"things are starting to look quite dense!"

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Greyson Connors ’s rapidash is so pretty. It appeals to that side of her that liked to play with My Little Ponyta toys as a kid back in Viridian City. Not that she doesn’t enjoy riding her abomasnow—it’s unconventional but also sorta fun as he lets her climb up and sit on his shoulders. It also gives her a good vantage from up high.[break][break]

Though even then, she misses the sneaky little pansage yoinking their munitions from URIAH BLACK ’s bag. From the middle of the pack, she looks back over her shoulder at him and gives him a thumbs up. Maybe she could do this outdoorsy thing after all?[break][break]

At least for right now, she feels a bit more capable. Or at least plays at it. She doesn’t voice it, but the fact that Greyson Connors suggested mounts is a relief in and of itself. It means she has to worry less about her bad knee, or about falling behind because she can’t keep up when it inevitably starts to get overworked. It means she can worry slightly less about Kieran Roth because at least he’ll be corralled by his tyrrantrum.[break][break]

All little nettles in her side that she keeps pressed close so that they only prick at her, just the way it’s always been. Externally, Calla is all business as usual.[break][break]

“Yeah, it’s kinda all- ugh, in the way,” she added as she tries to duck low from the branches swatting her in the face. Rufus doesn’t help much either because when he pushes them aside, they just snap back harder at her. “Can we do anything to clear the path a little more?”[break][break]

Maybe they aren’t having as difficult a time down there on the ground. But it was also kinda hard to spot water with a buncha leaves in her face.

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This was supposed to be an adventure, right? Kieran sighed heavily, head lolling back. Next time he was going out with the rest of the ranger squad.
[break][break]
“You guys do realize how forests work right?” Okay, a little snippy of him, but he just couldn't help himself. Of course, he was also privileged enough to be shielded from the worst of the branches due to Grunt’s big head. Still, he laughed a little to himself, before fishing his other pokeball back out and releasing Siv once more. The serpent slipped easily across the back of the Tyrantrum and over its head to perch there. 
[break][break]
Then the Tyrantrum tossed its head, sending the serpent up into the air. “Leafblade!” A mass of violent blades cut through the foliage and the thick stalks of bamboo in front of them. Then, the serpent landed back down onto the Tyrantrum’s head, perching there again until needed.
[break][break]
Little did he realize, the slices had stirred something within the green.
[break][break]
NOTES. cut down bamboo stalks to find treasure (e.g. gold nugget) or danger inside.

[attr="class","bottom"]URIAH BLACK calla roth Greyson Connors [break]

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competence did not mean entirely experienced, greyson realized quickly.
[break][break]
on top of being dense and cumbersome, the thick foliage created a net of moisture and heat that centered on them. greyson felt a drop of sweat slide from his lower back, and he bit back a reproachful sigh.
[break][break]
the conversation had been light, with a small banter to carry alongside of it. being the odd man out of this trio of friends (?), greyson maintained a mostly silent disposition.
[break][break]
when the topic of clearing the path made rounds, he was too slow to caution his team of the fact they were in an unknown territory, potentially passing through the home of various creatures.
[break][break]
ever the patient predator, greyson had merely a moment to recognize a threat existed, before a massive vine wrapped around his waist. in one effortless maneuver, greyson was hurled across the corpse of bamboo trees, and deeper into the woods.
[break][break]
only a well-timed PSYCHIC kept him from being impaled on one of the tree's razor-sharp stumps, but the quick stop had taken the air from his lungs in one go. meanwhile, content with the larger prey, the victreebel lowers itself directly towards the massive rapidash, acidic drool spilling in anticipation.

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it's funny how Greyson Connors feels like the odd one out when uriah feels the same. he's glad not to be flung across the forest by a wild pokemon, though. that's something he doesn't mind being left out of.[break][break]

"what the hell is that?!"[break][break]

well, he knows it's a victreebel, but he's asking as to why it's that big and vicious? is it just a byproduct of existing within this realm? his thoughts are left aside for now as he focuses on controlling the situation.[break][break]

finding his MEGA STONE, he fits it into his ACCESSORY by his shoulder and slides off his machamp. the moment his feet hit the ground, his machamp's MEGA EVOLVED and rushing to engage with the victreebel.[break][break]

its STRENGTH holds it at bay, fending them off from the party.[break][break]

"we gotta move!"[break][break]

🗺️ utilize mega evolution in a pivotal way.

[attr="class","bottom"]calla roth Kieran Roth Greyson Connors[break]