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?

The second set of howls couldn't be too far away if Josh could hear them over the roaring winds. They were familiar, too. Only one pack of Pokémon in Hownn howled like that. They had to belong to Ettie . The wild child was one of the few friends he had that he trusted as much as his fellow Gym Leaders. It pained him, as he was having the time of his life riding around the plateau at dizzying speeds, but he had to keep his secret airtight. The only cue she would get would be another loud, thunderclap-like roar as Swift reared from being commanded to perform a sudden stop. The Champion's knuckles turned white as the monochrome tiger's claws reached higher than the hooves of any horse Pokémon.

Josh tapped the Rainbow Feather to Swift's crown, the Raikou's ashen body scattering to the four winds. Taking to the back of his Arcanine, Braver, even his high speeds felt like slow motion compared to how fast he was going on his Beast. The two Arcanine followed the howls to find... Anne. His wild child friend had to be near, and might have many questions about the RAINBOW FEATHER pinned to his shirt.

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.

As Josh suspected, it was Ettie's pack. It was a good thing he had thought to return Swift to the ashes that composed the Beast. He would give Ettie as much companionship with Swift as she wanted when the time was right. Just not now. Not until after the Sootopolis invasion, where deployment of the Johtonian legendary Pokémon could wreak devastating havoc upon Rocket.

"Couldn't be happier," Josh answered the cheerful-looking child as he slid off Braver's back, exposing the Arcanine's saddle to light. "I don't know if you saw it on the news, but I'm a Champion now. Only Hoenn's fourth Champion Ranked trainer." That alone wasn't the reason he was so upbeat. He wished from the bottom of his heart that he could share the true reason for his joy.

The two Shaymin zipping through the air indeed caught Josh's attention. "Those Pokémon are cool! I've never seen them before!" he remarked, having only seen the species in its Land Forme before. If only they could grow large enough for Josh to fly on... but alas, they were simply too small, even at the maximum size genetically possible for them.

Josh froze for a bit when Ettie brought up the storm. Part of that storm was his doing; even a storm cloud of ash remained a herald to thunder and lightning. "Supposedly it's going to be over fairly quickly," Josh answered, "but you know how how forecasting the weather is. With a sudden change of the wind, they could linger for a while. Anyway, how you been since the tournament?" he followed up as Braver and Craggro would be at play with Anne and Zeit if they felt like it.

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

Josh returned the hug, likewise embracing Ettie. Their friendship was strong despite their vastly different ways of life. "...Thank you. You have no idea how much it means to me." The wild child may have been able to tell that Josh was bursting to share his secret with her... almost to the point where it was painful for him not to blurt out what had happened within Kyle's chamber. He had to keep it airtight until the time was right. A secret even from his most trusted friends.

If one of the Shaymin landed, Josh would give them a gentle pet. "Great job on tracking them down," he complimented. "They're really rare. I got ahold of one myself, but they weren't happy with me. Now they're in Evette Moreau 's hands. I still need to get the Slither Wing she traded me fitted..." It was low on Josh's priority list, too. He had to tame Tyrfing and Sigmund. Not to mention Entei and Suicune. Raikou seemed to behave outside Area Zero, but he also had to keep the Raging Bolt under wraps until the time was right. He wondered what Raikou would think of Swift, the two not having met yet. As convenient as it was for his ashen Raikou to be wholly obedient, there were days he wished the Beast had a personality of its own.

At least he didn't have to be airtight with the "Hoennian Beasts" as he did with Ho-oh's blessing.

"Can't wait to meet them!" Josh chirped, having noticed a few of them already. "My own pack's doubled in size since the last time you toured the Gym. There's over a hundred of us now. Where's the... outside part of your den? I've got someone very special to show you, long as you can keep quiet about it to everyone else."

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

In a way, Josh and Ettie were much alike; they were both empaths for Pokémon, understanding them well. They just interfaced with Pokémon in different ways. Josh laughed upon Daea's nuzzling. "Hey, that tickles!" he protested. He wondered how his Shaymin would have been had he kept it. Alas, he couldn't; his career prevented him from raising such small Pokémon effectively. Bit and bridle were the bridge that united Josh with his Pokémon partners.

After being led to an appropriate spot, the Gym Leader scanned his surroundings one more time out of paranoia. It seemed the coast was clear. Detaching a Cherish Ball from his belt, he clicked it open. From it materialized a Beast-like Pokémon, the multicolored crown from his head expelling great heat. Between the white spines on his sides was a comfortable-looking cocoon saddle similar to the ones on Braver, Craggro, and the Champion's other extremely fast Pokémon.

"Ettie, meet Entei," Josh gestured toward the Gouging Fire before her.

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

Unlike many of Josh's Pokémon, no saddle or reins adorned the Gouging Fire. The way he treated the paradox, it seemed apparent that he really did believe what he was about to tell Ettie. "I have to be so secretive because he resembles the Entei that's known in Johto so closely. I think he might be an undiscovered form of Entei. For now, I'm referring to him as a Hoennian Entei. My homeland reveres this legendary Pokémon and his two cousins. I could never give him a nickname; he belongs to--"

All of a sudden, Apex appeared from around a corner and into the clearing, Josh just as confused as his loudly-purring Gouging Fire was on edge from seeing a second of his kind. Ettie may have been able to feel it was a stern but overly cautious response. "...A second Hoennian Entei?" were the first words out of his mouth after a long pause. Even Braver and Craggro paused in awe of seeing what the Champion believed to be a shard of the Johtonian fire god.

Ettie wasn't all that sure what Josh meant about Hoennian Entei and whatnot - was this like how Braver and Craggro were different but the same? She wasn't sure if Apex was a Legendary, like the true Entei he spoke of, though...

But, as Josh questioned there being a second, she'd smile bright. "Mhmm! Is Apex! Met Apex in big chasm." She chirped. "Apex is big and strong! Big as Zeit!" Sure, a lot of Apex's size was thanks to the crest - but he, overall, was still around the same body size as Zeit - who was a pretty big Arcanine was it was. "Kinda grumpy, like Ruffian, but plays nice with pack."

Perhaps partly cause the pack proved itself against him quite sufficiently.

Apex, though, seemed satisfied at the more cautious response Entei gave him - letting out a smug-sounding huff. He'd waltz off to laze and lounge about at the opposite side of the clearing - wanting to sun himself for whatever much time he had left before the storm arrived.

Seeing this interaction though, Ettie would give a reassuring smile to Entei and Josh both. "Is okay - won't fight." She soothed - if a fight were to start, the pack and flock alike would've been ready to break it up.

Josh Devlin

"The same place as I met Entei... and Suicune and Raikou too..." Josh mused, referring to his Walking Wake and Raging Bolt that he had left inside their Cherish Balls, secured in a special vault inside Mauville Gym. It was a vault only three people knew the combination to, its contents Josh's truly special Pokémon that he wanted to keep a secret from those that weren't League personnel. Swift the Raikou was, of course, the top secret, but he kept Raikou, Entei, and Suicune on the down low, too. Ettie was one of only a few people not League personnel to know about even one of them.

"Raikou listens to me, but Entei and Suicune can be... moody, too. Like Apex, kinda. They're perfectly obedient in the big chasm and in Area Zero below it, but once I take them outside, they're... less obedient. I'm sure it'll just take time." Apex seemed unusually well-behaved for a legendary Pokémon. Thoughts swirled within his mind - thoughts of great speed. He had seen how fast the Gouging Fire was in battle, but not on a trail. "You been able to ride Apex yet?" Josh asked. "Because I... I'd love to see how fast Hoennian Entei are compared to, say, Arcanine." Perhaps Anne would be interested in a run behind the den, too.

Ettie hummed as she glanced to Entei. He didn't seem too moody at least right now - although, perhaps he was a bit of a proud sort like Apex? It was hard to say - but Apex tended to have a mind of his own for certain, more often than not. It took a little bit of arm twisting to get him to cooperate, from time to time.

But, at the question of riding and speed, Ettie perked up a bit and hummed to herself. "Ettie not try yet, but.... Think Apex not-like," She'd remark. She usually preferred sticking with Anne or Duchess when it came to riding - although Zeit also proved to be good. But with Apex's tendencies, she had a feeling he wouldn't appreciate the attempt. Though, that being said...

... "But can run-together!" She chirped, adding "Don't need-ride Apex, to race!" And something competitive like that might hold his attention!

At the mention of running together - of racing - Zeit pauses from his play to perk up and glance over to Josh and Ettie both. It had all the same energy, as a dog perking up at the mention of walkies.

Josh Devlin