A rustle from the bushes caught Ettie's attention - bringing the wildchild's steps to a stop. She cocked her head as the bushes fell still for a moment - and would take one, two, steps forward...

... Only to yelp, as a little yamper pounced forth, sending her tumbling back! The electric-type's tail was a-wagging as it licked her, and Ettie couldn't help but giggle with glee at the friendly pup's playfulness!

Yes, this one would absolutely fit in with her pack.

At the sound of a familiar voice, a number of the pack would come to a stop - namely, those who recognized said voice - followed shortly by the rest of the hunting party. A number of tails were wagging at the sight of none other than Toki...

... And safe to say, Ettie's expression would light up as well. "Toki-friend! Hello!" She'd greet in turn, hopping down from Anne's back to run up and give him a big hug! "Is good! Pack tracking!" She chirped - continuing "Found pawprints - pack doesn't recognize. Is big! Has claws! Ettie curious!"

Jury was still out on whether this pokemon was something like another canine, something more feline, or even some other form of mammalian beast altogether - such as a bear. But, it was most definitely a predator; prey didn't usually have claws like the prints had implied.

But, at the offer to come with, Ettie nodded eagerly. "Okay! Friends come with!" She glanced to her pack - and in particular, her gaze fell upon the azure Midday Lycanroc that had accompanied her, the she-wolf being around the same size as the already large Anne, large enough to bear a rider. "Maria help friend?"

The Lycanroc - Maria - approached, her verdant eyes studying Toki for a few long moments, as if to get a read on him. There was that same sort of wild-pokemon-wariness that Anne tended to display towards strangers, but... After a shared glance with Anat, she'd nod, coming close and crouching down - as if to let him onto her back.

It seemed that whatever she was looking for, he passed the test.

Ettie, meanwhile, had let her attentions drift - happily patting pat Azura on the head. "Azura-friend, hello!" She chirped cheerily.

Once everyone was situated and ready to keep moving though, the pack would continue onwards with Toki in tow - navigating the strange landscape that was the Giant Chasm. Ettie watched as Zeke and Madame used Odor Sleuth to keep tabs on the scent trail that they were following - although...

... It seemed as though the further along they went, the brighter and hotter the sun shone down on them. And off in the distance, roughly in the same direction as the pack was moving, a deep and bellowing Howl of some sort could be heard.

ROLL A 50. - Experience the weather becoming HARSH SUNLIGHT or the ground turning into ELECTRIC TERRAIN.

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Toki Akiyama

Ettie had been down in this chasm for awhile now. She had explored alongside Andrea Vaneau and Josh Devlin , and she had gone hunting alongside Nikita Sokolov ...

... Now, it was her turn to lead a hunt of her own.

It had started, when she and the pack had stopped by one of the many rivers of meltwater running through the Giant Chasm to drink. Whilst they refreshed themselves and Ettie restocked her stores, she had seen prints in the soft earth surrounding the stream. Pawprints, with sharp claws, from some large unfamiliar beast...

... Her interest had been piqued. Neither she nor any of her packmates recognized it, and nobody could identify the scent trail left behind - when they were otherwise familiar with a lot of the mammalian pokemon hanging around here by now. Who was this? What was this?

She wanted to know more.

Thus, her pack was on the hunt - moving at a steady pace as they followed the movements of this mystery creature. Ettie sat atop Anne's back, using the large wolf's height as a vantage point to better spy the surrounding area...

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Toki Akiyama

"Is dangerous..." Ettie agrees, with a gentle nod. Any venture outside of one's den had its risks, she knew quite well. Many a time in the past, in the original pack she grew up amongst, hunting parties would return with at least one injured packmate. Sometimes - and most often - these were injuries that could be healed off, scrapes and bumps and the like.

But there was the rare time that a packmate returned with a more serious injury - one that rendered them unable to hunt - or didn't return at all.

With the varied nature of Ettie's own pack, and the healing aptitude of packmates like Anat, these risks were greatly reduced. Even if Ettie did not form this pack with the benefits of variety in mind, everyone was able to fill different niches and cover for eachothers' weaknesses much better than a pack of a single species could. And with the pack together...

"... But safer in numbers." She concluded, smiling to Nikita. She trusted in them - and they trusted in her. And Nikita would be safer, too, with the pack at his side. "And Ettie like here more. Deep Sea more dangerous." Nihilego toxins, as Ettie learned quite well, could cause mayhem if even one of her pack got stung.

With her confidence and awareness well established though, the subject shifted to what Nikita was up to - which was that of hunting. Ettie perks a bit at this, curious. "What prey?" She questions, cocking her head. Glancing ahead, her eyes narrow in brief focus - scanning the path ahead for any footprints or other such clues.

And seeming to share in this curiosity, a few of her packmates would begin to sniff about for any interesting or strange scents. Madame in particular would step to the front - barking for Zeke to follow. The two Mightyena employed Odor Sleuth together, clearly eager to go on a hunt.

So far though, the closest thing to anything of interest that the pack could find, was a small cluster of Joltiks, who scatter as the group passes by.

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Nikita Sokolov

Ettie's expression shifted into something thoughtful, as Josh mused over the relation between this place and them being calmer. Aleph she was less sure of the origins of... But didn't these weird funky metal paradoxes come from here, from what she'd heard?

Were they calmer here because it was home, she wondered? Familiar? She only knew so much about of things like Infinity Energy - which was to say not much - so her own theories went in a different direction from Josh's own.

As far as Sigmund and Tyrfing went though - it became quickly apparent to Ettie, that these two were not ones for physical contact. Which was a shame - she wanted to reassure them, if that call had them spooked! They were moving as a pack, after all, so neither of them had to worry!

But, she gets the message - and thus, she gives the two Paradoxes their space. Instead, she's content to check on the other pokemon, particularly her own pack.

It's when Aleph begins to stir and get back up, that the pack in turn begins to gather back together - ready to continue onwards. "Mhmm! Am ready." Ettie confirmed, as she hopped onto Anne's back - continuing onwards through the crystalline caverns...

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Josh Devlin

Ettie nodded eagerly, as Josh mused over asking Saber. "And packmates like Janus or Dashie, and friends of Aleph, Tee-... Tyr-fing, and Sigmund!" She agreed. Having a Psychic pokemon like Haru helped a bunch, in better understanding her packmates - and surely, those three had friends amongst Josh's other pokemon, too, right?

As far as that mysterious call went though, Josh was right, in that the only way to know for sure was going deeper. Ettie was curious as well - though she also wasn't sure if she wanted to deliberately bother a pokemon that had already found its place in these caves.

Regardless though, it appeared that Aleph wanted to rest - and thus, Ettie was happy to give the pack a breather as well as they set up a perimeter. In the meantime, she'd turn to Tyrfing and Sigmund, asking the two Paradoxes "Friends okay?" It seemed they had been put off by the call in some way - and carefully raising a hand, she'd offer them some reassuring pats.

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Josh Devlin

Safaris seemed interesting. They also seemed like fun! Lots of pokemon that Ettie hadn't seen before tended to show up, and each month appeared to be a different pokemon.

Today, she was particularly interested in getting a new packmate for herself, as well as for some friends. So, it was with zero hesitation that she'd dart off into the wilderness of the Safari, balls in hand!

Buying:
- Warden Safari Ticket (150 PD)
puppy time

VCT: OLLIE & ETTIE

character's curry entry

[break]
thread summary: Another day, another VCT fight - this time between Ettie's Smeargle, Yip, and ollie morales's Pikachu, Tofu. Though Tofu's electric attacks give Yip trouble - and his abiity to Dynamax proves imposing - Yip is able to grab a narrow victory in thanks to her unpredictable nature and ability to Copycat![break]

why is it important?: The VCT event in general was real fun for exploring how a pokemon who - by default - has no true attacking moves might fight. But, I was especially fond of this fight for the sheer fact that Ollie's use of Dynamax not only let me write a funny post of Ettie's and Yip's reactions...

But also perhaps touch a little bit on how it may have reminded Ettie of less-than-pleasant things, namely the dangerous parts of the 20 year dream of Goodbye Galar. It's also worth noting that she recognizes Ollie... But only from that ethereal and hazy dream.

Ettie's eyes lit up with curiosity and awe at the coin - and with a giggle, she'd chirp "Good for trade! But Ettie also likes collecting. Hard to decide trade or keep, sometimes." Though she may be a wolf at heart, perhaps she also had a little bit of corvid in her.

Andrea mentioning the mission to be a success would be met with a happy nod from Ettie though. "Mhmm! Ettie like exploring! Might keep exploring - pack not tired yet." She mused out loud - briefly scritching Anne behind the ear. "Wanna see lots! Is big place!"

Indeed; once Andrea left and went her own way, Ettie and the pack would descend further in to the Chasm. Yip knowing Teleport meant that they could easily leave whenever - so the wildchild had no concerns about delving its depths. She wanted to see everything that this place had to offer, one way or another...

Andrea Vaneau

Ettie smiled bright at the notion of him visiting - she'd love for her friends to be able to meet her pack in full, with how big it's become! "Pack-den near Meteor Falls. In rocky-ridgey place, with easy path to forest for hunting!" She explained, adding "Can show, later! Yip makes travel fast!"

Having a pokemon that could teleport, as it turned out, was quite helpful.

The talk of Aleph, though, would make Ettie hum. "Maybe Josh-packmates understand?" She suggested, glancing to him. There was the language barrier, for certain - but pokemon knew pokemon best. "Ask what your pack thinks."

On the other hand, Vital City made her perk up and giggle. "Playfights was fun!" She chirped, adding "Raikiri strong!"

Yip would blow a raspberry - but it all seemed well-natured, if the smile she cast Josh afterwards was of any indication. From the Smeargle's perspective, it was a friendly rivalry. She was looking forward to the opportunity to get the upper hand on that feline, if a rematch ever came along!

Though, as the group moved, there came a cry - distant, electronic-mechanical, and strange. It echoed from somewhere deep - and the pack, as a group, seemed to take note; ears perking and twitching. "... Is not here." Ettie soon stated in observation. "From far. Like howl."

Though, the meaning intended in this call was not clear to the pack. Perhaps an announcement of one's territory? With all the pokemon and people coming in and appearing around here, it only stood to reason that there'd be wild pokemon eager to tell their competition for territory and food to go away.

Distant Miraidon(?) call prompt

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Josh Devlin

The earth shook, and the pack was briefly alarmed at the tremor - Ettie in particular holding tight to Anne's mane. Once the quakes finally began to settle though, the wildchild glanced over to Andrea - nodding to her own friend. "Pack okay!"

Although, a little static shock would make her jump - and she'd look to find a Joltik, who must have clung to the nearest safe vantage point amidst the tremors (which happened to be her.) Smiling gently, she'd carefully pick the little electric-type up, murmuring in reassurance "Is okay, is safe."

Hopping down from Anne's back, Ettie would set the Joltik down to let it scurry on its own way - before turning her attention back to Andrea. Whereupon she'd notice something shiny in the dragon-girl's hand, catching the child's attention. "What find? Pretty-shiny object?" She asked, bouncing on over to take a look.

(Spider prompt :3)

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Andrea Vaneau