A javelin? A weapon, made to be thrown at others... Ettie's gaze of curiosity would remain on the weapon, but she'd nod as she absorbed the information that Callan and Josh both provided. Maybe they were old and outdated - but something like that... Could Ettie make some, the next time she went hunting with her pack? Though she liked to think her nails - kept sharpened as they were - and her teeth sufficed, maybe she could learn from watching these spirits...?

Wanting to learn more, she'd continue to wander amongst the spirits - and glancing back to Callan and Josh, asked "Teach Ettie more-weapons?" with a smile. All the while, Haru and Anne both followed after - one out of a similar intrigue and the other out of the usual protectiveness.

Barbara and Madame, on the other hand, would linger near Johanna - as if to keep her company. Though, they'd also be having a discussion, if the chuffs, half-barks, and rumbles that they exchanged with one another were of any indication. Namely, they were talking of the night before.

Madame was unimpressed with the night before - being on Johanna's side more than anything (though she was quite the biased canid, considering her upbringing.) The mightyena made this apparent with a scoff and an exaggerated roll of her eyes as she gestured a paw in Josh's direction. She had heard from their packmates what he did, the last time - imagine scolding someone for a lack of control, when you had no control yourself!

Barbara, honestly, was mixed - raising an eyebrow at Madame, before shaking their head with a huff. The communication could've been better - but the scare had been an ill-timed one. Right before bed, it was no wonder people got cranky... But really, gossiping wasn't going to help anyone. As if to emphasize this point, they'd nudge at the mightyena's shoulder, in Johanna's direction.

Thus, the two canids would approach Johanna proper whilst she was knelt - Barbara giving a gentle nuzzle on her shoulder, and Madame patting her on the back with a paw.

However, the group would not be in one place for much longer. As the spirits finished their preparations - fully garbed, weapons gathered, and the like - they began to grow seemingly restless, looking to one another as if waiting for something. Which, that something soon proved to come from their leader - the spirit glancing over the army, before pulling out and blowing on a horn. A single note rung out, echoing and hanging in the air - though even if it was but a simple sound, there was something about it that was enough to chill one's blood.

To Ettie, it made her think of the howl a packleader would make, to rally their packmates before or during a hunt.

And with that, the soulmarchers began to move - some mounting up on pokemon, others remaining on foot. Nonetheless, they moved all as one - the flow of their movements almost like water as they drifted onwards, towards a valley pass between two mountains. Ettie and her pack would follow after - the wildchild hopping atop Anne's back, as if to mimic some of the spirits - although, as they moved, she noticed something else.

Namely, that even for such a large army, they left nary a trail. Not even the dirt or blades of grass they passed over was disturbed, looking the same even after the army passed through. If it hadn't been for Angelica's guidance, it's likely that the group wouldn't have ever known that the army had been here.

But for the trek itself, it was unclear as to where the army was going specifically - even though they seemed to move with purpose. And for a good portion of it, as they ascended up a worn path that wound itself towards the valley - (though, what made this path so worn out, if the spirits couldn't make one?) - it'd prove to be relatively uneventful, save for Ettie's continued curiosity for the different types of equipment the warriors bore.

At least, that was until they came across what looked to be a battlefield. It had been long-forgotten - anything left behind having either since rusted over or worn down to nothing. Adrea would peck at one idly - though she found that there weren't even any bodies left behind, not even bones. Lingering wisps would make themselves known as the army passed by - clinging to suits of armor, or weapons - and every so often, one of these sets of equipment would shudder...

... Before rising, forming into another spirit that picked up their weapon or donned their armor, before wordlessly joining the march. And as if the spirit had always meant to be here, the army shifted just enough to make room for them - the flow uninterrupted and smooth all the same.

However, something else would grab Ettie's attention - and she'd hop down from Anne's back. Set against the wall of what might've once been an outpost or rally point, a pair of blades sat sheathed and crossed together - looking strangely intact, compared to everything else. Going off the sheaths alone, the blades were perhaps somewhere between that of a dagger or shortsword, measuring roughly a foot in length. Additionally, the silken tassels at the pommels were long and flowing in length - though they only slightly drifted with the breeze, not being quite enough to fully lift them from the ground.

They made Ettie think a bit of Yagyu - though the proportions and colors seemed quite different - someone could describe them as ornate even, though the young wildchild lacked the vocabulary for that. She didn't see any signs of visible eyes, either - which made her wonder... Were these just made to resemble something of the same species as Yagyu, rather than being an actual pokemon?

She didn't notice the quizzical gazes some of her pack gave her as she began to stray from the path - approaching the sheathed blades. Crouching down nearby, she reached out - wanting to get a closer look. They looked pretty - maybe one of the others would find it neat?

However, Anne was quick to realize that something was amiss - as her eyes fell upon the dormant doublade, she'd let out a snarling bark to Ettie in a warning to get away-- But before the wildchild could even process that the call had been made, and before she could even yelp in alarm, the ghost pokemon's eyes snapped open - tassels shooting out, to wrap around Ettie's forearms.

And at first, all was quiet and still. Anne would rush to Ettie's side - trying to assess - but, the wildchild showed no signs of distress or hurt. Instead, slowly, awkwardly - as if on strings - she'd begin to stand, drawing the blades from their sheaths. She'd glance over her shoulder, towards the group and the rest of her pack - eyes wide and wild, a grin slowly growing across her face.

The canines' ears folded back, and a couple of them began to curl their lips and snarl. Above, Astus and Adrea crowed as they circled above - making warning calls.

"Hey, everyone..." Ettie spoke up finally, as she gradually began to turn towards the group. Slowly, her stance shifted to that of a readied swordsman - both blades wielded in either hand. It was a strange stance, for a wildchild who should have no expertise with swords. "... I want to fight."

Complete:
'10 become possessed by a spirit attempting to return to life.'

Present:

Callan Young , Josh Devlin , Johanna Joy

Mauville Gym? Or Mauville Zoo?

Ettie's curry entry

[break]
thread summary: For a few days, Mauville Gym is closed for maintenance in preparations for New Years - the perfect opportunity, for Josh to introduce Ettie to his pokemon (and vice versa, as she has obtained a number of pokemon since they last interacted) as she desires to meet his pack. In the process, they briefly talk about a number of things - including legendary pokemon and avatars (albeit not by name,) and Ettie gets the opportunity to try riding around on a number of Josh's pokemon.[break]
why is it important?: Overall, the main reason why I'm choosing this, is that this was just a generally fun thread to write for - trying to think about and imagine what it'd be like for someone to ride on a manectric moving at top speeds with Quick Attack, or on a dragonair doing flips and loop-de-loops. You can't go wrong with doggos playing tag, either.

But this thread also lays some of the groundwork for things such as Ettie's awareness of the existence of legendary pokemon, as well as her desire to meet them - mainly out of the innocent desire to want to make friends with them (partly because of her hearing that for some legendaries, there is only one of that species in existence, which sounds lonely to her.)

Finally, it also touches upon Ettie realizing just how fun it is to go fast, and her general excitement to properly race Josh sometime in the future, once her electrike - Duchess - evolves. Safe to say, she particularly enjoys getting to ride on Josh's own manectric - Saber - for this reason, both a mix of practice and an opportunity to get a taste of what to expect once Duchess is ready.

One by one, everyone began to settle down for sleep - although it seemed that moods were a bit soured, between Josh and Johanna. Ettie frowned gently, glancing between both gym leaders - wondering if there was something she could do to help, but... At most, she felt as though she and the pack could just provide company for either of them. Pago was certainly doing well on that front, snuggling up to Josh when he laid down to sleep, and Barbara laying down with them as well.

Meanwhile, Ettie, Duchess, and Princess would move to Johanna - the pups climbing up into her lap, whilst Ettie simply curled up and leaned into her side, getting cozy. Anne, too, would lay down nearby - if only to better keep an eye out for Ettie, whilst she kept watch.

And though Ruffian and Rascal seemed too proud to outright snuggle up to Callan, the fact that they slept next to him likely meant something, right?

With the sleeping arrangements figured out though, sleep would be uneventful - save for perhaps the vague impressions of fleeting dreams, the sorts where you are aware that they happened and yet cannot recall their details. One by one, the pack's older canids - as well as Astus and Adrea - would take turns keeping watch throughout the night, and even maintaining the campfire for warmth.

And with time, the strange nighttime of the Border would give way to dawn. With the gaining light, the group would awaken - lingering long enough to eat breakfast before they were off once more, through the Border. To meet with the soulmarchers, they would be led deeper into the mountainous terrain that made up the northwestern parts of the island - with Angelica leading the way. Astus and Adrea, as well as any other scouts, were able to confirm that they were on the right path though - even if they lacked the human tongue to communicate specifics about these soulmarchers.

But before too long, it would be at the top of a cliff that they'd spot them - a ghastly looking army of humans and pokemon alike. Some looked to simply be living sets of armor and barding, while others looked 'whole' - and yet, missing features such as an eye, a limb - or even their entire faces - appeared common. It was inconsistent and strange, and sometimes one may swear that some of the ghosts were changing in appearance when you looked away and back again. Nonetheless, they appeared to be preparing to move - donning armor, putting barding on some of their pokemon...

... At least, that was until they noticed the presence of the group.

When one set of eyes fell upon them, every set of eyes turned to them - as if in sync. And near-immediately, a strange feeling of unease would fill the air, tension building as the warrior spirits seemed to be preparing for a fight, some even drawing their weapons. But, one of the souls present - perhaps some form of general or leader, judging by the garb - would gaze upon Angelica. Their eyes flashing in recognition, they would raise a hand in a wordless gesture to stop. Which, that seemed to be enough for the army to pause in their preparations for combat, even as their eyes remained locked upon the group for a few moments longer.

And slowly, the tension leaked away, as the warriors - one by one - returned to their preparations. If spoken to, it would quickly become obvious that these spirits were not much for words - though they would nonetheless respond to the best of their ability with gestures, nods or shakes of their head, shrugs, and the like.

Ettie, for one, seemed awed at the presence of this army - and she'd take to wandering amongst the different warriors, her pack (which, the pups had been returned to their pokeballs shortly before leaving camp,) trailing behind her all the whilst. "Oooh... What is?" Turning towards the group, she'd point towards a set of javelins, that one of the warriors seemed to have strapped to their back.

Completed:
'21 encounter soulmarchers, marching parades of warrior spirits (pokemon or human) with feet that do not grace the ground.'
'🗺️ a soulmarcher may identify one of you and prevent the parade from attacking you, or may discover you and call upon the parade to attack you (OPTIONAL).'

Present:

Callan Young , Josh Devlin , Johanna Joy

The bouncing strides of Wiley were certainly something new for Ettie - and though there was a certain predictability to the ups and downs of the furret's movements, it was definitely a little dizzying. Still, he appeared overjoyed at getting to ferry someone around - and so Ettie would hang on the best she could as she allowed the normal-type to run about as he pleased around the Sector. This was plenty fun though, even if it was definitely gonna be her last ride for today. So what was the harm in letting Wiley do as he pleased, as long as she took it easy afterwards?

And well, that was the thing - cause presently? Wiley was holding back, if only to let Ettie get a chance to settle into the rhythm of his stride whilst he warmed himself up. For all the innocent look that his face had though, Wiley had quite the trick up his sleeve for an exciting ride - and he was prepared to show it off to Ettie and Josh both..!

Thus, Ettie would find herself yelping in surprise - when seemingly out of nowhere, Wiley would begin to make a U-Turn, a full 180 in the opposite direction that he was already running! Ettie would nearly fall out of the saddle from this, holding onto the reins as she had to pull herself back upright - her eyes wide and startled, even as she was half-giggling from it all. And then, Wiley would do it again - but this time Ettie was more prepared, managing to remain something close to upright as she leaned in close to the furret's body.

With the speed and agility that Wiley had on display, it was like the land equivalent to Resheph; and he shared in the dizzying twists and turns that that came with, even if he was (thankfully) not making crazy flips through the air like the dragonair could.

It was only a matter of time before things went a bit awry, however. Though Ettie had been holding on decently well for awhile, there wasn't much warning to the U-Turns that Wiley made - and on top of that, the young wildchild was definitely tuckering out. Thus, the furret would make a series of sudden twists once, twice, thrice--

-- Only for Ettie to end up losing her grip, and tumble out of the saddle onto the ground. "Yeek!" She yelped, only barely managing to catch herself before she proceeded to faceplant. The other pokemon were concerned, to say the least... Though, any worries would be washed away in the wake of giggling from Ettie.

Slowly, carefully, she pushed herself up onto her feet - reaching up to pet Wiley, as he came close to check on her. "Ettie okay - Ettie done." She spoke with a laugh, deciding that that was a sign that it was time to rest. Giving the furret a scratch behind the ear, she'd take the time to take a deep breath and throw back her head in a howl. And it didn't take long, until Ettie could hear the distant calls of her pack howling back - call and response.

Trusting that they would likely be coming over to this sector soon, she'd plop down next to Josh - snuggling up against his side, and against Barker as well. Today was fun, to say the least - perhaps, sometime in the future, she'd get a chance to play with everyone here, together...

Ettie was all grins and giggles, as the game of tag ensued - sending the four in every which direction across the Sector. Though it was a bit awkward to figure out and adapt to the slow turning speed for Craggro at first, one thing was for sure -- you didn't necessarily need to commit to your turns, or even make a turn at all, to dodge. Sometimes, she'd fake a turn to throw Josh and Braver off - other times, all it took was a good hop to the side for them to let Josh and Braver dart right past, and force them to make a 180 to get back on track. Either way, Ettie was putting the more mischievous and clever side of her mind on full display here - and she was having a blast doing it.

Still - it was definitely making her muscles ache at points, having to adjust to the sudden shifts in inertia, and having to hang on when Craggro really got moving in one way or another. Josh was not the only one getting tuckered out - even if adrenaline, excitement, and pure childlike joy were the sorts of things keeping Ettie going. Perhaps she went a little too hard in the game of tag though, if only because poor Braver didn't have many chances to properly catch Craggro, before waning endurance demanded that they stop and take a break just as they coasted into Sector 6. Whoops-!

Ah well... At the very least, it looked that they had fun. Ettie would smile to Craggro and give him plenty of scritches and praise - "Good Craggro! Move lots!" - before hopping down with a slight sway on her feet, and approaching Braver to do the same. "Good Braver! Chase well!"

And with that, she'd turn her attention towards the other pokemon - which, seemed to be the last of Josh' pokemon that he could introduce. These ones didn't seem to fit in any one specific category - but they were ride pokemon all the same, each one sporting riding equipment and being plenty large enough to ferry someone atop their back! Much like the prior pokemon, she'd greet them - "Hello, friends!" - and offer each of them a bit of attention.

Josh appeared quite breathless though - and Ettie, casting him a sympathetic smile, would reach over to pat him. "Josh sit-rest. Ettie ride one-more, call-pack, rest-with?" She spoke in suggestion - figuring that they could have a big ol' cuddlepile as a group, once they were all done goofing off. You could never go wrong with a good cuddlepile, after all!

But first, Ettie wanted to pick out one last pokemon to have a ride with - and in this case, it seemed that Ettie had an idea of who she wanted to give a try. "Can-ride, Wiley?" Ettie questioned the Furret, asking for permission as always.

Yep - much as Ettie expected, Komainu wasn't exactly keen on touch, and the wildchild knew better than to force the issue. Instead, she'd just simply smile and nod to the houndoom - not taking it personally - before moving on to the next canine to greet. All the whilst though, Josh mentioned the arcanines to be brothers - which, as Ettie glanced to them, she'd nod. "Ettie not-surprise," She spoke with a giggle - with her poor understanding of regional variants, she figured that the difference between the two arcanines was akin to the difference between lycanroc forms.

Once she got around to choosing to ride with Craggro though, he'd lean down to give Ettie a big lick across the top of her head. She accepted this easily - giggling at the gesture, and taking a moment to lick Craggro right back, on the cheek! With that, she'd climb up onto the hisuian arcanine's back with relative ease - it wasn't too different from getting up onto Anne's back when she was standing, or climbing over a big log, after all. There was something almost powerful-feeling about being on the back of such a large pokemon - larger than most other pokemon she'd met thus far.

With both riders situated though, Josh would suggest Ettie lead the way this time - to which, the wildchild couldn't help but giggle, seeming to already have an idea. "Any way?" She'd ask Josh - just for clarification. But with the confirmation, she would grin, before leaning down to whisper something to Craggro. The hisuian arcanine's tail would give an interested swish at whatever it was that Ettie was murmuring into his ear - and he'd chuff in affirmation, briefly turning around towards Braver...

... Before raising a paw to boop his larger brother on the nose, then wheeling around on the spot to run off! All the whilst, Ettie would erupt into playful and mischievous giggles - calling to Josh in encouragement "Chase! Catch!" Ettie wanted to play tag, from the looks of things - and Josh and Braver were it!

The duo were not going to make this an easy chase, however - as Ettie would nudge and direct Craggro through evasive maneuvers and fake-outs a-plenty! She was no stranger to playing tag with her packmates, both in her original pack and her current one - and with that in mind, she wasn't about to let Josh and Braver catch them too quickly!

As Marina clamped her fangs down upon the female liepard, the feline would send her on a rodeo ride - bucking, flailing, trying to get close enough to even just catch the end of the huntail's tail. But, it was clear that this struggle wasn't doing the liepard any favors - for even as she continued to try and fight back, she was beginning to visibly tire, breathing heavily through bared teeth.

And the male liepard saw this plain as day. Leaping back to disengage from Anne, he'd dart for Marina. As he came in close, the female liepard began to hold still to allow him to aim a Night Slash at the water-type, in an attempt to try and force Marina to let go!

Though Anne attempted to intervene, there'd come trouble - namely, in the form of of a certain zoroark. As Ribbon squeaked out a warning, the lycanroc would abort her charge to instead duck out of the way - but she'd still find herself grazed by the shock-wave, drawing a faint growl out of the wolf. She'd bark for Ribbon to keep tabs on the zoroark, before running at the male liepard - bringing out another Stone Edge to try and chase him away from Marina before he could do further damage.

. . . . .

As Julia called to Ettie, the young girl would sit back on the poor man's torso - the tips of her nails and her teeth visibly bloodied. Her gaze and demeanor was less that of the stray puppy that the ranger would likely be familiar with, but more that of the wolves she was raised by. And as Ettie turned her gaze to the other thugs with a low snarl, it was like she was assessing who her next prey would be.

The thug that she had attacked, meanwhile, would have a number of scratches - particularly around his upper arms, shoulders, and the front of his chest. On top of this, he now had a crooked nose - the cartilage broken from Ettie's biting - that was bleeding profusely, but thankfully not bitten clean off.

Which, the sight of a feral Ettie and her wild nature did no favors in the morale of the thugs. As the other man had Hellion use Smog to create an escape opportunity, the houndoom would let out an eerie howl as he was being recalled - the purpose this action served being unclear at this moment.

The seviper, too, would disengage to be recalled - and though Princess attempted to give chase, she'd be forced back by the smog. With her fairy typing, she wasn't exactly keen on diving straight into what was essentially a cloud of pure poison.

As they ran though, Julia made the call to not let them get away - and Ettie turned her attention to Duchess. "We chase." She would speak in a growl; and wasting no time, she darted off - skirting around the edges of the cloud to try and stay on the thugs' tails.

The hunt was on.

Duchess, however, would take in a deep breath - propelling herself forward with Quick Attack to try and just dart through the cloud entirely! It burned at her eyes and nose even as she held her breath - forcing her to squeeze her eyelids shut, even as she moved... But with her high speeds, she wouldn't remain in the cloud for long at all!

(Disregarding the nausea that was rising from the lingering smell, but well, that wasn't important now! She had to chase - to runrunRUN!)

Princess, meanwhile, would simply sit down on the chest of the bitten thug - affixing him with an intense stare and growl with Scary Face. He would not move, by her decree, unless he wanted to lose his nose completely.

. . . . .

The houndoom's distant howl, though, would prompt the combatants at the pen's edge to stop their fighting. The liepards shared a glance and - with one last swipe at Marina to force her away if the Night Slash from before wasn't enough - they would turn tail and run, disappearing back into the woods. The Zoroark, too, would withdraw - picking up the unconscious Umbreon and making her departure.

Anne blinked at this - glancing towards the others to check on them - before realizing something was amiss. Nudging the unconscious Ruffian towards Marina, she'd bark for the huntail to bring him to safety - anywhere that he could sleep off the poison from the Toxic in peace. Then glancing towards Ribbon, she directed for the cutiefly to follow and keep an eye out, as she gave chase after the felines and fox alike..!

Julia Davis

Once more, they were high above the gym - and even if the altitude wasn't the same as with Resheph before, it was still plenty enough to provide a view of the zone as a whole. Ettie couldn't help but smile widely as she admired the view for a few long moments - Bladestorm's wings opening out so as to catch the wind and glide, with only the occasional flap to maintain altitude. Though she had initially thought that she'd prefer having her two feet on the ground - being so high up, feeling as though she could reach up and touch the clouds, was freeing in a way that she never expected...

Josh's voice would break her from her thoughts, though - and she'd glance over to him and Meteos both with an initial blink. Once she processed what it was he had asked her though, she'd nod and smile. "Ready!" She called back in confirmation, her hands lightly twisting where she was gripping the Skarmory's reins in anticipation...

And with that, Meteos would go into a dive - bringing his wings in all the whilst. Downwards the Aerodactyl shot like a bullet - propelled by his Agility, down towards the earth below.

Not one to be left in the dust, Bladestorm would make a shrill call, bringing his wings in to dart down after Meteos. If the Aerodactyl was a bullet, then Bladestorm was an arrow - the angular and pointed shape of his body cutting through air resistance as he allowed gravity to do its work. The wind seemed to almost whistle, the way it rushed through his folded wings and along the grooves in his natural armor - and the whistle became all the more shrill, when the Skarmory used his own Agility to propel him onwards...!

Much like Josh's excited whoops, Ettie couldn't help a howl of her own as the duo rocketed along - her hair flying every which way above her, in the face of the rushing wind and gravity alike. She felt almost as though she were floating, in a sense, even if it was not the case at all - and this had the same rush-appeal that riding Saber did!

And then, Bladestorm's wings would snap outwards once more - and no longer were they diving, but instead drifting and gliding along by the sheer inertia built up from their freefall. The inertia hit Ettie like a truck for the briefest of moments - making her blink owlishly, even behind her goggles, as she had to take a second to steady herself. Still, she giggled and laughed with delight at the thrill of it all - watching as they sped along just above Sector 5, which almost looked to be an open prairie.

Bladestorm wouldn't land immediately - instead looping once around Meteos and Josh, as if to show off for Ettie's sake, before he finally came to a full stop. Ettie was definitely starting to feel the drain on her energy from all of the different rides she'd been taken on - but it was much too fun for her to just stop!

Especially not when Josh's canines were gathered here - prompting the wildchild's eyes to light up as she ran over to get a closer look at each one. It seemed that speaking was not going to be a thing for Ettie at the moment - for in all of her excitement, she'd greet the canines with a cheery bark, rather than words! Smiling brightly, she reached up to pet any of the canids that accepted her touch - wiggling happily all the whilst. So many different kinds of canids, especially ones she hadn't met before - and apparently Arcanines came in two varieties? Who knew!

Noting Komainu's and Twilight's more distant demeanors though, she'd briefly glance to them - as if gauging something - before just smiling, and making a chuff to them in her throat as a calmer greeting. She had a feeling they may not be quite as social as the rest of Josh's pack, but that was okay!

She'd turn her attentions to Braver and Craggro once she had given everyone a proper greeting, though - the comparatively large sizes of these two arcanine being quite the source of awe for Ettie. That, and she found the similar-yet-different apperances of them to be quite fascinating - Craggro's in particular making her think of Anne! And it was for that reason, that she'd turn to the hisuian arcanine - reaching up to pet him once more, as she asked for permission. "Can-ride?"

Ettie wasn't wholly sure what a 'tanner' was yet - but that there were people in Verdanturf that could make gear for her pokemon, she would nod in understanding to that. "Okay! Ettie go-Verdanturf, when Duchess-grow!" Ettie spoke with a smile. Though she was confident in her ability to direct pokemon without relying on reins and the like - she didn't need any equipment, to comfortably ride on Anne, even in the middle of a hunt - she knew that Duchess' fur tended to get a bit static-y. This was especially true when she got excited, like while running around... So, something to avoid getting zapped mid-ride would probably be a good idea, for the electric-type!

But in the meantime, there was the question of the avian pokemon - and which ones piqued Ettie's interest the most. Much like with the dragons, they seemed to come in quite the variety - but unlike the dragons, Ettie wasn't quite as familiar with a lot of the pokemon present. Nonetheless though, she'd look each one over with clear curiosity and awe - until Josh made the suggestion for her to ride Bladestorm, so that the both of them could... Go diving? Ettie hummed to herself as she got up into Bladestorm's saddle - wondering what that'd be like.

It definitely sounded like it'd be pretty fast, not unlike when Saber used Quick Attack - and the idea of such had Ettie unable to help a half-giddy grin. "Okay - we go!" She spoke - smiling to Bladestorm, and gently patting her. That sounded like it'd be fun, really! Thus, as Josh rose upwards on Meteos, Ettie and Bladestorm would follow with - rising onwards, the wind rushing past them.

• player/ooc name: Tsukistar
• character tags: Ettie, Makoto Kurumi, El Sunderland
• dropped characters' tags (if applicable): N/A
• ic posts for characters: Makoto, Ettie
• are characters in directories?: Y
• any notes/comments:

While the numbers of fighting-types had been overwhelming but moments ago, things were all the more equal now with Shalin's pokemon set loose onto the battlefield. The pokemon were able to hold their own against the enraged fighting-types for the most part - though Shalin's pokemon such as Serena were not the only ones left hurting in the conflicts. Ruffian yelped as he was sent flying and tumbling across the grass - and though Anne stood her ground the best she could, she'd still find herself pushed back by the fists of a particularly burly primeape...!

But, there was an ace in the hole - namely, Treble, who would draw the attention of many of the remainder fighting-types. And as the simian pokemon drew near, ready to gang up on him, the dragon would let loose an impressive Boomburst that sent them scattering..! The sound would cause a number of canines to yelp - their sensitive hearing doing them no favors - but otherwise, the large kommo-o had done well in avoiding friendly fire on his part.

And with the combined efforts of Shalin's pokemon and the pack, what primeapes and passimians that weren't unconscious would be sent packing - dragging their compatriots with them as they fled into the woods, hooting and crying out at one another all the whilst. Ettie let out a sharp exhale of relief as she flopped backwards onto the snow - decidedly glad that nothing had gone too awry...

... Although, there was still the question of the young woman here. Ettie would roll over to gently shake her shoulder. "Hello? Is okay?" Ettie questioned as she looked Shalin up and down, checking for any signs of injury. Hurting one's head usually didn't end well, so she wanted to make sure there wasn't anything wrong with this human...!

Present:

There were such a variety of pokemon out here, it seemed - Ettie had seen mammalian pokemon, ghost-types, and the like the other night. But tonight, she'd see as a gardevoir walked past - holding a couple bags of items in either hand, with some logo that Ettie couldn't quite interpret on the front. She was at least able to recognize that it was the same as one that she'd seen on a sign for some store - but reading things was still something she was struggling at.

What was the gardevoir carrying with them, she wondered?

As Ettie watched the psychic-type though, they'd notice her presence - and glancing over, cocked their head in curiosity. It wasn't hard for the gardevoir to guess at what had Ettie's attention though - given the species' usual sensitivity to emotions and thoughts - and smiling gently, they'd wave and pull out an apple, offering it to Ettie.

The wildchild's eyes lit up at this - ohhhh, the gardevoir was carrying some food, then? Smiling at the offer, she'd carefully accept the apple. "Thank you!" She chirped, putting the fruit in her bag for later. The pack - Anne especially - would love this!

In response, the gardevoir nodded with a warmer smile of their own - before continuing onward down the empty street.