Ettie perked up at Dorian's acknowledgement of Josh. After a momentarily blink though, she'd smile and nod. "Mhmm! Josh is-friend!" She confirmed, as she let her hands idly scratch Fluffsworth behind the ears. "Meet at 1-2-0, has BIG pack! Lots pokemon!"

Pausing in the attention she was giving the pyroar, she'd briefly reach into her bag - pulling out to show a Quick Badge to him. "Ettie race-with, too! Is fun! Duchess fast!" Even if she hadn't gotten first place, she had done well enough to earn a badge - and judging by the bright grin on her face, it was something that she was quite proud of.

Which, Duchess would agree to this with a couple of happy barks, the manectric's tail wagging eagerly. There wasn't anything in the world better than getting to have a good run with friends and family!!

Once the Leafeon was accounted for - being brought into a pokeball, so as to be someplace quiet and safe - Ettie would give Dorian a quizzical glance. "Friend know-Josh?" She'd ask in turn, cocking her head.

However, once more there came an arrival of a pokemon that caught the pack's eye. Namely, that of a pokemon that Ettie still had in a pokeball - Aurien the Primarina. The water-type would come out with eager bwarks - much to Ettie's surprise - and ran off, up to...

... Another Primarina? Ettie blinked a bit at this, watching as Aurien and this wild Primarina began to mingle - wondering whether there were any bodies of water nearby. Having to move across land wasn't always the comfiest for her pinniped pokemon, after all!

But, the sight of the two quickly warming up to one another brought a smile to the wildchild's face. They were finding a good couple new packmates here, weren't they?

Catching Primarina
Present Pokemon:

SPOILER: Click to show

- Relevant -

- Others -

dorian westcliff

A rustle in the undergrowth - initially, Ettie jumped a bit at the noise, having been lost in her own thoughts. Though, slowly - but surely - she creeps forward, pokes her head past the bushes...

... To see a Bibarel - completely in its own little world, chewing at a tree!

Ettie blinked a bit at the sight, before giggling softly, especially when Duchess would poke her head through the bushes to bark greetings at the beaver pokemon!

Which, once the Bibarel noticed their presences, he'd blink - before scampering off, clearly startled by the sight of an entire pack standing before him!

Once the normal-type was out of sight, Ettie couldn't help another snicker as she walks off. What was that silly Bibarel doing all the way out here, she wondered? It was a bit of a way's away from any water, wasn't it?

The grass and leaves are laden with dew from a recent showering of rain, when Ettie steps out onto Route 116 one early morning. It's - as per usual - her typical wandering from place to place. Although today, her wanderlust has taken on a different goal - one other than exploring that of Hoenn.

Rather, that she's looking for a den. Or perhaps to be more specific, a place to settle. And this was not the pack's usual routine of finding temporary places to sleep, before moving on to the next destination, either.

With the pack growing larger and larger by the day, and Ettie becoming more familiar with how trainers usually operate, she's coming to find why people usually only stick to 6 pokemon maximum; it's easier to manage a pack of six, than a pack of 15 or 20. And while Ettie isn't worried about her ability to provide or lead...

... Having a permanent spot to come home to would certainly make things easier for everyone - and it'd especially give her packmates a place that they can rest, when not out and about with her.

Thus, she moves - particularly in the direction of Rusturf Tunnel, to check it out. But that requires her to move through 116 proper, first!

Ettie's excitement to see the pokemon were plain to see - and she'd make a happy giggle at some of the names given. They sounded like they'd be fun to say! "Happy-to-meet! Am Ettie!" She chirped to the pokemon, introducing herself to them in turn. "Lots-fire," The wildchild added thoughtfully - curiosity flickering across her expression. Did Dorian like fire-types?

Stepping up to one of them though - Sir Fluffsworth Hotsman, to be specific - she'd lift her hands up to pet the fire lion. "Ettie know Pyroar! Josh-friend has Pyroar!" She commented happily, clearly proud of being able to recognize the species. But how was Josh Devlin doing right now, she wondered? Maybe she'd have to loop back around to Mauville at some point, to go visit him again.

The appearance of a Leafeon grabbed Ettie's attention, however. Initially, the grass-type seemed a bit spooked at noticing the presence of so many fire-types - looking ready to bolt! But the wildchild would approach; going into a crouch, to make herself seem smaller. "Is okay," She spoke to the eeveelution - pulling out a few berries, to offer to him. "Is friends!"

The leafeon's gaze flickered to the other pokemon, and then back to Ettie. The pokemon, then Ettie. Slowly, carefully, he approached - prowling low, ears twitching back and tail half-tucked, trying to make himself appear as a non-threat... But he'd quickly take the berries, scrambling back a few paces to eat them.

And when Ettie offered a few more, he'd take them as well - but this time, without stepping back quite as far. "Is okay... Pack-safe. Pack-protect friend." She promised the wild pokemon in a soothing tone, smiling gently.

Befriending Leafeon
Present Pokemon:

SPOILER: Click to show

dorian westcliff

As Ettie places the berries on the trough, she blinks at the sight of a feather clinging to the trough. Carefully, she picks it up by the quill - gently twirling it. It makes her think of Astus or Adrae, looking at it - though she isn't sure what to make of it quite yet. For now though, she carefully puts it away - with the other miscellaneous trinkets she sometimes picks up along the way in her travels.

But after some fighting amongst some of the other trainers (during which, the still-hurting Anne protectively sticks close to her size, letting out a soft growl of unease) two pokemon would appear - a Calyrex, and a Spectrier.

The psychic-type would speak through the mouths of a few trainers - something that Ettie couldn't help but find unsettling, and something that has her packmates drawing closer to her. The Calyrex would introduce itself, all the while making a request. A request for... Stories of heroism? All the while, the Spectrier partook in the water and treats offered - noisily drinking from the trough.

Of the four locations that they were asked to choose from, only one really caught Ettie's attention. "Ettie go... Ball-on-le-a?" She spoke - slowly, carefully, trying her best to pronounce the town's name. The surrounding woods seemed similar to the woods she once called home.

At the offer of answers though, the wildchild perked up. "He-ro-ism... What-mean? What-kind friend-want?" She asked, tilting her head. She didn't exactly understand what heroism was - or what what Calyrex wanted would look like - but maybe it would clarify for her..? It'd surely make going home easier, right?

TLDR / NOTES :
- Ettie picks up the feather, it makes her think about her honchkrow and murkrow, carefully puts it away.
- Chooses to go to Ballonlea
- Ettie asks what heroism means - and what sort Calyrex wants.
m49XLkZi

With the Litleo agreeing to come with and being caught, Ettie was once more in motion. This time though, the wildchild stepped closer to Dorian - glancing to the other pokeballs on his belt. "Friend show pack?" Ettie asked, before smiling up to Dorian. "Ettie want-meet friend-pack!"

Anne, the large lycanroc, would follow close behind - the wolf giving Dorian an appraising look, as if to judge his nature from a glance alone. Up in the trees, Astus and Adrea - a honchkrow and murkrow - would roost, watching the interactions with distant curiosity.

It seemed that a few of Ettie's pokemon were interested in meeting Dorian's pokemon as well; after having watched a florges beyond the undergrowth, Duchess the manectric and Duke the jolteon would step up towards his magmar, curiously sniffing, tails a-wagging. Not far behind, Princess the granbull followed after her 'sister' - briefly nuzzling Duchess. How would the fire-type regard the friendly reception, though?

Skipping
Present Pokemon:

SPOILER: Click to show

- Relevant -

- Others -

dorian westcliff

At Dorian's explanation, Ettie nodded with understanding. "Friends good. More packmates good!" She spoke, watching as the now-freed Cinccino disappeared into the undergrowth. "Big pack safe. Cause big pack strong! Pack protect pack!"

Safety (and strength) in numbers, after all.

Off in the distance, a rustle caught Ettie's attention - as well as the attention of a few of her wilder packmates. Though when it only turned out to be a deerling - who darted upon being spotted - Ettie turned her attentions back to Dorian...

... Who looked to be befriending a litleo! Ettie smiled brightly at the sight - wiggling in place, but remaining quiet to avoid interfering by accident. Instead, she simply watched - the other packmates idling with her to see what would happen.

The ground below everyone heaves, and the pack split from one another. Distantly, Ettie can hear the startled yelps and caws of the others cut off from the fighting - only a handful, those closest to Ettie, are still within line of sight. But even then, the earth seems keen on further splitting them - and when Anne moves in an attempt to regroup with those still present...

... She and Ettie both let out a yelp as jagged earth rises up, slamming into the wolf's chest, cutting at her wiry fur, and sending them both tumbling to the ground...!

Ettie's eyes widen, and she scampers to Anne's side. "Sister?!" She barks with alarm, a soft whine of concern plain to hear in her voice. She can smell that metallic copper - sees where it had struck Anne, where it split skin and drew blood...

... And yet, when Anne draws in a breath - even if it trails off in a pained whine - it's still something that Ettie finds relief in. She'll be okay. She just needs healing - and likely some rest. But as the wildchild glances up to Anat, opens her mouth to call to the Lucario--

-- Something reverberates through the air. Something that reaches down to her very heart, and chills it. The world around her twists and shifts dizzying and wildly - before going dark...

...

... When Ettie comes to, it's someplace else. Civilization - but not the sort that Ettie is familiar with. It is larger - much larger - large enough that the surrounding walls of the stadium feel like they could encompass what she knows of Mauville all on its own. And yet, it is dead - so very dead, in a way that makes the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. This is not where she belongs. This is not where anyone belongs.

But for the time being, her focus is on her pack - or at least, those that are present. A glance around shows that only those who had remained near Ettie before the earth began to encompass them were present - though she could still feel where Scarlet is sheathed at her back, and her shadow wavers with Delle's presence as well. Already, Anat is checking on Anne - a Heal Pulse tending to the wolf's wounds. Duke and Aurien, meanwhile, are both unsettled - glancing around, on guard.

Ettie smooths out some of Anne's fur though - watching as Anat is able to stitch her back together. "Is okay?" She asks softly.

And Anne, in response, considers the question - before nodding. Her chest hurts - there is still a bit of pain, when she takes in a deep breath. But she can stand it, for now - all for the pack. But even that being said...

Glancing to the others - namely Duke, Aurien, and Anat - she barks for them to return to their pokeballs, where it's safer. And though her packmates are unsure - they agree, allowing themselves to be recalled.

With this, Ettie nods - satisfied - before glancing to her surroundings once more. Nearby, a statue stands - a statue with a trough before it. She recognizes the trough for what it is - Josh Devlin had some set up, for some of his pokemon, back at his gym! Usually they had food or water in them - but she'd blink as DEREK HOFFMAN had his sobble fill it with water.

Briefly, she glances to the statue. Then back to the trough. Briefly curious, she'd pull out some food - berries - and lay them along the edge of the trough, like an offering. Maybe someone or something else would appreciate some food and water?

TLDR / NOTES :
- Dusk Lycanroc is struck in the chest by some jagged earth whilst trying to regroup the pack.
- After being yoinked into the stadium, Lucario uses Heal Pulse to heal Dusk Lycanroc.
- Afterwards Lycanroc tells the others - Jolteon, Primarina, and Lucario - to return to their balls for their safety.
- Ettie notices the trough - and since it's already filled up with water by DEREK HOFFMAN , leaves some berries on the edge. Someone'll appreciate em, right?
jklRyiSB

The girl's smile brightened as Dorian confirmed that he was, indeed, a friend. "Am Ettie!" She introduced herself, briefly wiggling - almost as if she were trying to wag a tail she didn't have. But, it seemed that this Ettie had an interesting way of speaking. "Who friend? What doing?" She asked with a curious tilt of the head, her broken english becoming quickly apparent. "Ettie-pack playing!"

And the two electric types were not the only packmates Ettie had. A number of canid pokemon began to emerge from the same undergrowth that the wildchild had come from - Herdier, Granbull, Mightyena, Rockruff, Houndoom, and so on - led by an imposingly large Dusk Lycanroc. The lycanroc walked up to Ettie and gave a gentle chuff, nuzzling her - to which she giggled and nuzzled the wolf back.

But, the sounds of squabbling caught Ettie's attention, as a Cinccino and Brambleghast appeared, looking to be tangled up in one another! Ettie would approach to try and pull the Brambleghast away - but seeing as the thorns made pulling it away manually a bit tricky... The young girl would pull out a pokeball, to tap against it instead. She was pretty sure that there was someone looking for a pokemon like this in the next town over, anyways!

It was as if Arceus had looked upon the Mad Dog strolling through this route, and went 'You know what this place needs? More dogs. Just an absolute fuckton of them.' For one of the first things that'd announce that he wasn't alone was the sound of barking, from somewhere beyond the undergrowth.

The second thing he might notice, was a Jolteon and a Manectric running out onto the road - an unusual sight, even if Eevee could very well appear here.

And thirdly, came what looked to be a young girl running after - pale skin, pale hair, bright red eyes - giggling gleefully. There was a doublade in its sheaths, resting at the small of her back - but it appeared to be dormant, presently.

The jolteon barked at the girl, and the girl - strangely enough - barked back! The Manectric, in turn, would yip and drop down into a playbow, tail a-wagging. It seemed that they were caught up amidst some sort of game, the three of them - perhaps tag? And going off the rustle in the bushes that the trio had come from, they weren't the only canines present.

But, the game would come to a pause when the girl noticed that someone else was here. She came to a stop as she glanced to Dorian. Cocked her head one way, and then the other, before smiling brightly. "Hello!" She chirped, perfectly friendly and welcoming. "Is friend?"

Present Pokemon: (there will be more and that is a threat /lighthearted)

SPOILER: Click to show

dorian westcliff

The fear that washed over everyone, it was a pressure that pressed down on Ettie's shoulders as she and her pack arrived upon the scene. It took the breath from the collective's lungs - Ettie tensing up from her spot on Anne's back, almost overwhelmed by the primal fight-or-flight need to lash out, or flee.

This was a clash between gods - the power of Legendaries on display - and it was something that Ettie could barely comprehend in that moment, even though she knew that Josh Devlin once told her about just how strong they could be. Even though she desired to protect what she regarded as kin - fellow wolves, even if not ones of the same pack - the group was frozen on the spot, by the reverberations that shook one down to the very bone...

But then, a Safeguard from SHEBA INOUE cloaks them in a soft green - and it's easier to breathe. Ettie sucks in a deep breath - can feel the heave of Anne taking in a breath beneath her - and on the exhale, the two's voices ring out in a Howl. This chorus is one echoed by the pack, as both a rallying cry against the fear, and a warcry to bolster those who'd fight against the Ting Lu.

TLDR / NOTES :
- On a flavorful level, Ettie's pack is here - but those not listed are offscreen.
- Pack is briefly frozen up by the fear, but Safeguard from SHEBA INOUE 's ninetales helps push it back enough for them to act.
- Dusk Lycanroc uses Howl to rally against the fear, and to bolster Everyone Protecting Zacian + Zacian themself.
- On a flavor level, everyone is howling as a rallying/war cry.
5c|oDY2K

It's in a little crevice in the wall, that Ettie is found - the little wildchild having nestled herself within, bleeding from scrapes on her limbs, eyes staring wide at the entrance beyond. Her hands clutch her throbbing head, a soft escapes her - confused and pained. She didn't know what was going on anymore.

Having followed Nikita to the entrance, the pack that had given chase lingers - the crevice is much too small for Anne or Duchess to fit in. Anne barks to Ettie, trying to call her over, to encourage her to come out - but the child only whimpers softly in response...

When Nikita is silohuetted at said entrance though, Ettie's demeanor suddenly shifts. She snarls - a warning noise, that of a cornered beast - and bristles visibly, trying to make herself appear larger in the limited space that she has. She doesn't regard his words, at least not at first - and instead, lashes out at the air with her nails like claws, figuratively rattling the saber.

It's the mention of family though, that gives Ettie pause. Family. Pack. They're worried. Why was she hiding? They - they needed her...

Anne, seeming to see a chance to get through to Ettie, barks to her again. Duchess makes a soft whine of concern, yipping softly to Ettie. Delle and Princess both gently pull Nikita back, to give Ettie some breathing room and the space to leave on her own.

Slowly, unsteadily, Ettie lopes out from the crevice - eyes darting between her fellow packmates, before settling upon Nikita. Initially, she stiffens - as if looking ready to dart again...

... But then Anne is there - nuzzling Ettie, chuffing softly. Duchess comes around to the opposite side to lick at the wildchild's cheek, tail wagging with an almost hopeful hue. Delle sinks back into Ettie's shadow, as a silent and hidden protector.

Ettie seems to settle down, at the affection and safety offered by the pack. Slowly, carefully, she sits and leans back into a little nook between the manectric and lycanroc both - enough space left for Princess and Nikita both to come in.

The granbull glances to Nikita, before chuffing - sitting down next to Ettie, and pulling up one of the sleeves for him, holding the wildchild steady.

Meanwhile though, those of the pack that remain at Johanna's side is there to help hold the line. Lucky Chant from Haru and Safeguard fron Penny both arise to protect the pokemon and gym leader alike. Pago charges forward with a Headbutt to slam one of the Veluza away. When Nikita's Alakazam helps deal with the Sharpedo, Aurien is quick to join in with a Play Rough to fend it off, calling valiantly all the whilst.

The line would hold, for as long as Nikita and Ettie needed.

TLDR:

SPOILER: Click to show

- Ettie is hidden in a little crevice, too small for most of her pack to squeeze in. She's in a state of pain and confusion.
- When Nikita attempts to approach, she reacts like a cornered beast - snarling and swiping at the air to try and scare him off.
- The mention of family - as well as the pack calling to her - is enough to reach her.
- Princess + Delle pull Nikita back a little, so she can come out.
- Anne and Duchess help calm Ettie down so she doesn't bolt again - Princess pulls up Ettie's sleeve for Nikita + holds her steady, once she settles down.
- Haru and Penny use support moves to help Johanna and co., while Pago and Aurien directly help fight off the Veluza and Sharpedo.

Johanna Joy , Nikita Sokolov

vssGqZ0p