It had come as a surprise, really. A sudden burst of violet-colored energy had slammed into the ground before Ettie and Duchess both - and it was more than enough to grab the duo's attentions, the manectric unable to help a surprised yelp. Glancing ahead, the two could now see that there was another trainer and their pokemon right on ahead - and that they were on a bit of a collision course..!

Fight or flight may have kicked in a slight amount for Ettie - and though the two likely could've easily just swerved around, her brain would derail completely as she blurted but a single word. "UP??"

Thankfully, Duchess was quick to figure out a solution here - and indeed, it was to go up. Using Magnet Rise, sparks would gather around the manectric's paws as she leapt as if to jump over Morrigan and Callista both..! But instead of coming down, Duchess would begin to hover at the peak of the jump - using electromagnetic energy to remain hovering, just above the duo! The electric wolf, however, proved to be clearly unused to this move - as without the ground beneath her paws to stop her momentum, she simply kept going..!

And it did not help that, when Duchess attempted to bring herself to a stop and turn around, she'd end up overdoing the rotation - and instead proceeded to begin spinning wildly! "Wooaoooaaooooh?!" Ettie yelped out - as she ended up being brought along for the ride, as the poor wildchild and wolf alike continued to spin like a top through the air..!

However, a nearby tree was more than enough to put a stop to this wild ride - the two sharing another yelp as they crashed into the boughs with a cacophony of rustling leaves and broken twigs. Slowly but surely, a dizzy Ettie would stagger as she hopped down from the tree - nearly falling on her face in the process. Duchess in turn slowly floated back down to the ground right behind her, although would slump onto the ground with a soft whine.

The two would remain like this for a short while as they regained their bearings - Ettie hunched over with her hands on her knees to steady herself, and Duchess just practically pancaking on her side. But as coherent thoughts and straight vision returned to the wildchild's head, she'd glance up to Morrigan and Callista. And with a dumb lopsided smile, she'd greet them with her usual "F-friends! Hello..!"

This certainly was one hell of a way, to greet someone.

Present:

Morrigan Anderson

Safe to say, being yelled at after that whole mess was not entirely what Ettie had expected - and she blinked owlishly, admittedly still a bit dizzy from the whole ordeal that had occurred but a couple minutes ago. Duchess, clearly not wanting to start any confrontations or fights, just whined softly in response - her ears tilting back and tail half-tucking, as she rolled back onto her feet.

(It was probably a good thing that Princess wasn't here, Ettie noted to herself as she pat Duchess reassuringly - even if not in those exact words. Else, the Granbull would not be afraid to give Morrigan a piece of her own mind.)

It took a second for Ettie to reply, mostly cause it took a second for her to process Morrigan's words. After yet another blink, she responded "Oh - sorry. Ettie-Duchess practice-ride, is-new!" It was a shame they hadn't been able to clear a lap, before things went awry - but at least that meant it wouldn't take long, for this other girl to get to meet Ettie's pack once they caught up!

But, for the time being, Ettie would smile to Morrigan, and tilted her head - questioning "Who-friend?" Other humans were usually good about introducing themselves, before starting a conversation... But then again, this wans't the same as most conversations she had with people.

Present:

Morrigan Anderson

Morrigan's mention of practicing elsewhere actually made sense, in hindsight - though the space surrounding Rustboro was relatively clear of obstacles, there were also people around here. People who could wander out, and onto the path that they had been using to race about! Nodding in acknowledgement, Ettie would respond with a simple "Okay! Will-move." and a smile, agreeing that relocating was probably for the best.

However, the smile faltered a little, at the other girl's further icy reception - though Ettie did her best to remain optimistic towards this stranger, even she could tell that Morrigan was not a pleasant sort. It wasn't of any comfort to Duchess, either - the manectric making a soft and uncertain whine was she glanced between the two. Ettie, reaching over, would give her a gentle scritch behind the ear to try and reassure her.

When asked for her name though, Ettie would simply nod - mentioning "Am Ettie, is Duchess," as she gestured to herself and the electric wolf in turn. A sight caught her eye though - namely, that of the rest of the pack coming into view as they caught back up with the duo. Ettie would lean a bit to look beyond Morrigan - and her smile lighting back up, gestured to them and mentioned "And is-pack!"

A number of canids of just about every shape and size, with Anne at the lead - the lycanroc initially appeared puzzled that Ettie and Duchess had stopped, but... Upon seeing Morrigan, and noticing Duchess' unease, Anne's gaze hardened with the usual suspicions she held for strangers. While the pack idled about, the wolf would take her place at Ettie's side - staring down Morrigan.

Ettie seemed to either not notice this, or was taking this in stride - just smiling as she idly ran her fingers through Anne's mane and mentioning "Is Anne-sister!" with a much more cheery smile.

Present:

Morrigan Anderson

Anne gave Morrigan an unimpressed stare - both at being referred to an 'it', and at her denying that they were sisters. But glancing to the salazzle, she'd simply regard Callisto with a exasperated huff - she had no bad blood towards the fire-type, but Morrigan was visibly getting on her nerves.

Ettie, on the other hand, just tilted her head a little - as if the statement that Morrigan made was odd, even if inoffensive. "Ettie-Anne grow together, with Mama. Is family! Is sister!" She explained, smiling brightly. She recognized by now that she and Anne were not related by standard definition. But the fact that they grew up together - Ettie's original pack even considering her a part of the litter Anne was born from - still made them family, right?

Anne, to emphasize that point, nodded with a gentle chuff.

And even with that being said... She was close even to the pokemon she didn't grow up with, like Duchess or Ruffian, too! They were family, also - and plenty of other folks usually felt the same way about their own pokemon, from what Ettie had seen! As if to make this point, Ettie gestured to Callisto - asking Morrigan "Is-family, for you?"

Present:

Morrigan Anderson

"Oh..." Morrigan's icy reception, safe to say, seemed unbreakable - even in the face of a subject like one's family. And neither Ettie nor her pack were the only ones to be bothered over the other girl's statement, either. Ettie's eyes glanced over to Callisto with a hue of sympathy, and Anat - being a Lucario, and thus relatively sensitive to the emotions of others - would give the poison-type a light chuff of encouragement and comfort.

For a moment, things went quiet - Ettie seemingly having nothing else to say to Morrigan. In fact, the pack milled briefly as if they were getting ready to move on... Until something occurred to Ettie, that was.

She didn't exactly know how to feel about Morrigan... But she was definitely more than willing to socialize with Callisto - and she did just that, offering the lizard a warm smile! "Friend, want-play?" She offered, tilting her head with curiosity.

Pokemon were their own people - so it might not have necessarily been weird for Ettie to just sidestep Morrigan to talk directly to Callisto. But given that pokemon were usually behooven by their trainers in some shape or form, wanting to invite Callisto and not Morrigan might be a little odd!

As if picking up in the changes in Ettie's approach and demeanor though, Duchess would join in - approaching Callisto carefully, before dropping into a playbow with a friendly bark! She wasn't sure about the other human, but maybe Callisto was okay! They could play together whilst Morrigan did Morrigan things, right?

Present:

Morrigan Anderson

It seemed that it was Morrigan's turn to go unnoticed - because Ettie was perfectly happy to pay more attention to the comparatively friendlier Callisto.

Even if there was still the language barrier to be contended with, Haru was happy to help - the Delphox stepping up, and using telepathy to help convey Callisto's words to Ettie. Namely, by expressing a number of concepts and imagery upon Ettie's mind. Play, fire, shaping and molding...

Ettie smiled brightly as the meaning clicked in her mind, and she nodded to the Salazzle. "Fire dangerous - but pretty, and keep-warm!" She commented with a smile - adding "Haru good-with fire! Astus, too! Can play-with!" as she gestured to the two pokemon in question. "Barbara-use, too, and Anne can-use when shiny-glowy-pretty, uhm... Tera-stal-ize?" She paused for a second - glancing to Haru for confirmation that she got it right. When the fox nodded though, Ettie's expression brightened further.

But there was also the question of what Ettie liked to do - to which she stated "Ettie like chase - tag! And hide-seek! And wrestling! And explore!" It sounded like Ettie was quite the sporty child, all things considered - which, with her seemingly boundless energy, was that truly a surprise?

Duchess, meanwhile, would make happy barks and chuffs to Callisto - expressing that she loved to run. Like, really loved to run. She loved running lots and lots and lots! Maybe they could run together? Or even ride, she was pretty sure she was big enough to carry Callisto! That could be fun! Noone says that someone has to be a human to ride her, after all!

Ettie, visibly endeared at the manectric's enthusiasm, would giggle and scritch her behind the ear.

Present:

Morrigan Anderson