Sometimes, lurking through familiar wildernesses was comforting to Ettie - and route 121 was plenty familiar, given its proximity to Fortree. The wildchild hadn't expected much of this - perhaps find a few new flockmates, or even another Poochyena or Mightyena for the pack...

... But instead, what she found, were distressed Spoinks. Having Haru at her side was a blessing, in being the middle-fox to figure out what the trouble was - namely that of their missing pearls. Being the kindhearted child that she was, Ettie was more than happy to help! But that would then raise a different question: where did the perpetrators go?

Atop Anne's back, Ettie strode alongside her packmates - eyes scanning their surroundings while her canines sniffed about for any scent trails. Between the signs of brief scuffles, foliage tinged with electric burns, and the occasional footprints?

It'd only be a matter of time until Ettie found her quarry...

SIR YOU ARE BEING HUNTED

Yuan Wright

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Mille's Rotom in a tablet is transcribing Yuan's words and dee nods - it's still a bit weird to see der pronoun used like this, even if theoretically, dee knows that that's more than an uncommon choice (but it's kinda fun). Der Metagross can be said to be the most docile of der pokémon, but it doesn't have any hesitations to commit crimes either, having grabbed Spoinks with Psychic to swiftly remove the pearl from their heads after Bronzong's found them with its Extrasensory move.

"Thank you," dee signs at der Rotom for it to transcribe back, as it also quietly reads the message aloud. Dee nods at the comment about rangers - now that would truly be annoying. But, it turns out that Grimmsnarl doesn't alert because of rangers, but of another kind of intrusion ...

The Grimmsnarl taps Mille as well as Metagross and Rotom in a certain pattern, reading Intruder alert then on the Rotom's display screen. Quickly, dee turns around to see the source, as well as taking out another pokéball, but dee doesn't call for der Hisuian Goodra ... yet.

Ettie Yuan Wright

It did not take long for Anat to notice it - the auras of other beings, particularly human beings, and the surrounding pokemon. The Lucario took a moment to focus upon the auras, the feelings of the Spoink assaulted by the two Rockets... Before barking to the rest of the pack, gesturing.

Ettie nodded, understanding well enough. They were getting close. "Circle." She murmured.

Yip, Anat, Haru, and Alexander began to split to either side and dart ahead - leaving Ettie on Anne's back with Scarlet. As the pack neared the perpetrators, they'd attempt to surround the group whilst under the cover of the foliage - so as to try and set up an ambush, whilst cutting off potential escape routes...

(Not that they knew that Mille and der pokemon suspected their presences.)

Ettie and Anne, meanwhile, simply continued onwards - not bothering to conceal themselves, so as to confront the duo.

Yuan Wright Fenelle Miller

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Mille nods affirmatively at Yuan's question, pointing at the Rotom screen that reads Intruder alert. With the help of Metagross' and Bronzong's psychic abilities, they are able to get a read on ... and dee signs for the Rotom to translate, They set up an ambush right now. Let's continue and pretend we don't see it coming - how good are your pokémon in a fight?

Der hand rests on der ball for der Hisuian Goodra, the only one right now that hasn't been called to the battlefield, as well as a ghostly Shedinja that's perhaps able to at least run a bit of interference. If the typing works out ... but that's more of a gimmick.

There seem to be six of them, dee continues to sign to inform Yuan with the help of Metagross, before vaguely pointing in the directions ... We need an escape plan.

Grimmsnarl flexes, preparing for battle as he also continues to appear like they're still harvesting the pearls - well, he actually does grab some pearls from the pig pokémon that have been hit by Goldy's Thunderbolt.

Ettie Yuan Wright

As her other four packmates got into position, Ettie and Anne would make themselves known with a pair of sharp barks - likely to get Mille's and Yuan's attentions as they approached, emerging from the undergrowth.

It would likely be a strange sight, the small child riding atop the quite-large Lycanroc's back, with a Doublade sheathed at the small of her back. Her gaze was sharp and assessing as she looked the duo and their pokemon over, one hand gripping at one of the spikes of Anne's mane, and the other in a readied position to draw Scarlet.

Were this any other situation, Ettie would perhaps be a bit gentler in her approach, a bit kinder. It is not within her nature to immediately be suspicious of other human beings, after all. But in seeing the pearls in the Grimmsnarl's arms, her eyes narrow. "Not yours." She stated simply. Her gaze casts across the whole group. "Drop pearls, or Ettie hunts."

As if to punctuate Ettie's demands, Anne growls, lips curling back to show her teeth.

Yuan Wright Fenelle Miller

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Mille is still hurting severely for a personal teleport pokémon, having to rely on the ones Team Rocket would provide for bigger missions. Here, however, there's none of that - it's supposed to be fairly uncomplicated, but everyone knows how that always goes.

Mille nods at the reminder that indeed, Yuan is more of a thinker than a fighter, and that for now, bruteforcing might be der job. The duo of a child? and her Lycanroc with a Duoblade on her back is ... unexpected. It's also unexpected that they do not launch into an attack immediately, something dee considers a weakness.

Still, for now, Mille mirrors this, and nods slightly for the Grimmsnarl to carefully put the pearls on the ground. Dee would leave Yuan to do the talking, while readying for a battle with subtle signing and codes given to der pokémon to ready still. The Hisuian Goodra and Bronzong seem relaxed, not yet readying themselves to fight apparently. The Grimmsnarl stands up straight at the threat, opening its mouth to reveal sharp teeth as well - and slowly curling hair around the pearls on the ground nonetheless while drawing attention to the danger of the white edges in his face.

Once Yuan would decide talking's done, der pokémon would launch into the distraction battle.

Ettie Yuan Wright

Ettie, for a moment, furrowed her brows as she mulled over Yuan's words. Did the two Rocket members really need the pearls? To the same degree that the Swinub did? There were plenty of other places that one could find a pearl, out in the ocean, anyhow! She found one with Pagu and Penny before!

The Grimmsnarl's less than pleasant response doesn't do much to persuade Anne otherwise, either. The wolf snarls - a clear threat to stand down or else.

"... No." Ettie soon decides, curling her lips back a little, baring her teeth in a fashion not unlike that of her Lycanroc's. But rather than growl and snarl...

... She'd throw her head back to howl.

One by one, a number of Howls rung out from Ettie's canid pokemon - either by their own innate ability, or through use of Copycat. The pack was whipping one another up into a readied frenzy, taking the initiative in a loud and proud fashion.

And with this, Ettie drew one of the blades of the Doublade kept sheathed at her back - and pointed it towards the group. "Drop pearls." She repeats her demands, sliding down from Anne's back, the two advancing together.

Yuan Wright Fenelle Miller