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[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD SINISTEA APPEARED!

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[attr="class","illie b"]the warm air around them drops as they enter a particularly shadowed area. sunlight barely enters this part, struggling to make it past thick leaves and winding branches. a chill filters in on the next breeze and her skin is prickling at the sensation, shivers rushing down the vertebrae of her spine. and then she feels it. eyes, watching their movements, observing them like mice in a cage.

where is it coming from? what direction? there's a hint of a presence, that much is certainly known by now, but where?

deus is noticing before she is, quick to adapt into the shadows at their feet. the automaton slips away with a faint rumble and reappears moments later, settling happily behind a teacup. funny, she hadn't seen that there before... it looks familiar. perhaps too familiar and her mind threatens to retreat into memories. and then, a small hand made of ectoplasm is rising from the broken stem of the chipped cup and it's wiggling at her.

any lingering sensations of eeriness seem to fade into delight at the sight and illeana is drifting closer with a coo slipping from her lips. "you're precious," she's murmuring and the sinistea preens beneath the compliment. it rises from the stationary position it had been holding in the grass to meet her. that same little hand extends toward hers and an almost chirping sound follows. a greeting, a hello, a handshake. fondness creeps in as she gingerly accepts the gesture, giving a slight shake. "it's a pleasure!" she giggles and deus coos in response. the automaton is smitten, it seems, and she has to agree with this particular creature.

perhaps that's why the next words that escape her are inviting, hopeful, genuine. "would you like to join us?"

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]YOU CAUGHT SINISTEA!

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[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD ODDISH APPEARED!

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[attr="class","illie b"]they're pressing on, pushing through the bushes that surround them. the shadows are left behind for sunlight as the trees slowly begin to spread out once more and sunlight filters through spaces in the leaves. she's distracted by the way the greenery around them seems to practically come to life beneath the glow of the sun. so much so that her hand drifts through the bushes and brushes against something that's definitely not a bush.

a gasp escapes, followed by the stilling of her body. what did she just touch?

turns out, it's simply an oddish taking a nap in the comfort of a bush. poor thing got such a fright when her hand connected with its head. a shrill cry escapes the grass type as it startles awake. and then, it's darting away, nervous and afraid. oh she feels worse now...

deus rumbles beside her and she sighs in response. no sense in worrying about the little oddish now... it's already gone. they continue traveling through the bushes and into the next clearing, her eyes darting about at the contents held within each bush now.

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD RALTS APPEARED!

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[attr="class","illie b"]another rustle offers another interruption and she's sweeping her gaze away from bushes to find a small pokemon. it's tentative to approach, almost shy in a way she recognizes. the smile the rises to her lips is soft and welcoming but the ralts doesn't come closer. instead, it offers a small wave and disappears into the trees.

deus rumbles a soft goodbye before shuffling on. the woman spares a second glance back in the direction the ralts had emerged from before following her automaton deeper into the safari. maybe she'll stumble upon the ralts again and maybe not. either way, it had been awfully cute.

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[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD BARBOACH APPEARED!

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[attr="class","illie b"]the path leads them to a small lake, a small section she hasn't yet come across. trees part to make way for the body of water, for the sun to glisten across its still surface. somehow, it brings a smile to her lips and she's drifting closer with every intention of letting her fingers dance across the water. a ripple distracts her, however, and the movement draws her in further.

a barboach peeks out from beneath the water, head poking out just enough for her to see it clearly. her smile turns softer, a little apologetic even, and she's dipping her head in greeting. the water type blows bubbles in her direction before turning away and diving back into the lake. illeana lingers for another moment before she, too, turns away and heads back from where she came. deus rumbles a goodbye as they shuffle on, the automaton's hand finding hers once more.

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[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD SQUIRTLE APPEARED!

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[attr="class","illie b"]"oh, hello," comes out in a gasp of air, escaping from slightly parted lips. a small creature stands before the duo. it earns a soft coo from the golurk at her side, its large hand untangling from hers to extend in interest. the squirtle responds in kind with a small wave, noises of excitement leaving the water type. it shuffles closer, teetering on small legs as if it's wobbling on two feet. and then, it shifts and drops to all fours, scuttling over the rest of the distance between them with more ease.

the woman meets the excited turtle with a crouch, an extended hand, and a smile. "you're a cutie," she chirps and the squirtle practically preens beneath the compliment. a curled tail wags almost like a dogs and she's smitten. another coo from deus and she's certain both of them are putty in the wild pokemon's hands. her fingertips brush against hard material of a shell as the squirtle begins to brush against her hand. it goes from one small hand to one large, eager for pets and attention. both members of this duo are all too happy to oblige. and then, as deus plops down onto the ground, she's beaming with a question rolling off her tongue. "would you like to come with us?"

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]YOU CAUGHT SQUIRTLE!

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[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD GRUBBIN APPEARED!

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[attr="class","illie b"]deus drifts a little too far from the woman. large hand slowly slinking from her grasp, the automaton slinks further into the safari. she's distracted by the clouds again, humming a soft tune as she goes. of course, the golurk draws her in with its own movement but she's more preoccupied with the ground. something sounds almost... charged. "careful," she murmurs softly. deus coos back in response, a reassuring sound.

and then, one large foot almost steps too far, too deep into the ground. a grubbin emerges a moment later to snap large pincers toward the two intruders. it seems they have stumbled upon a small nest...? is that the right sort of gathering at their feet? a few more emerge before they scatter to the trees. scavengers in search of food, perhaps. she stares for a moment longer before drawing deus back to her side with a tilt of her head. it's time to go, she decides.

they disappear back into the bushes in the next minute, the small nest left behind while the grubbin begin to sip sap from nearby trees.

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD RALTS APPEARED!

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