As both pokemon came to a stop from their little tumble, Ruffian - to say the least - is filled with a sense of satisfaction. He's a little puzzled at Bert's giggling - wondering briefly what was so funny. But in the face of the praise that he overhears from Ettie and Uriah, he nonetheless stands over the flapple with an aura of smug pride, nose tilted up and chest puffed out. He could fight even dragons, clearly - what couldn't he stand up to? The world should watch out, for this little lillipup!

... Although, with all of his overconfidence, Ruffian was also letting his guard down - and there was something that a wise man once said, about triumphant pride and what it precipitates. He wasn't even paying any mind to the ever-creeping roots, of Bert's Leech Seed...

All the while, Ettie would nod at Uriah, smiling brightly. "What Uriah-pack like?" She asked - curious as to what other sorts of pokemon he must be friends with, for Bert to play with.

URIAH BLACK

So Toki's original pack... Wasn't all that big? Ettie cocked her head a little - somewhat puzzled, feeling as though his dad being a conservationist (which to her, meant lots of friends) would mean that Toki came from one that was at least decently sized. But, maybe Toki and his mom were their own pack...? Either way, as Toki seemed to become down over second thoughts regarding his decision to set off on his own, Ettie would reach over to pat him. "Is okay!" She spoke, with a gentle smile. "Can visit!" There wasn't much stopping him from just, coming back every once in awhile, right?

(Granted, Ettie didn't exactly know - or consider - the sheer scale of distance that may have separated the two.) Nonetheless, Malik was there to help snap Toki out of his negative thoughts - and as the young man lamented over having them, Ettie would smile gently. "No-fear, with pack. Pack helps pack." She reassured - even with just Toki and his own pokemon, they were all in it together. There was strength and safety in numbers, and even counsel in having others around.

And all that aside, Toki certainly seemed to have a brave side, if he was willing to square up against that crawdaunt. Though Ettie had initially been content to just turn around and walk away - feeling like it wasn't worth the trouble to try and fight the crustacean - Toki identified it as a potential threat that shouldn't be left as-is. Which, as Ettie listened, she'd come to a stop to mull it over - cause he made a good point. If it stayed here, it'd just bully the next group to come down the road!

And really, it was impressive seeing Malik get right to work in dealing with the threat before them. The young fomantis moved like a well oiled machine, quickly reacting to the situation at large - as well as each direction Toki gave him - with an air of grace. Even when the grass-type got struck in turn, there was a plan that they put straight to use - setting up Sunny Day, so as to immediately use Solar Beam right after...! Which, that final display of lights was enough to defeat the hostile crawdaunt - the large water-type keeling over, to faint on the spot.

Immediately Ettie ran over with a bright smile on her face. "Good Malik! Protecting good!" She praised excitedly, doing her usual no-tail wiggling like none other. Though, the little grass-type was understandably tuckered out from the whole fight. As Azura took the time to tend to Malik, Ettie joined in as well - pulling out some gauze and bandages. "Where hurt?" She asked attentively, wanting to see if there had been any wounds left behind by the fight that needed bandaging. (Though, would a plant pokemon like Fomantis need bandages, Ettie wondered? Or was water and sun enough?)

But all that aside, Toki's actions did not go unappreciated. On one hand, there was the tandemaus duo that had been disturbed from their hibernation by the crawdaunt's rampaging about - and with the bully crustacean being down for the count, they could've easily chosen to just go back to sleep. But instead, it seemed that they were more than happy to follow after Toki and his group - allowing the ranger cadet to catch them without any fuss or mess.

On the other hand though, there was a raucous crowing, like laughter. Up in a branch, a murkrow seemed to be making merry over the fact that the crawdaunt had gotten its rear end kicked by a much-smaller pokemon, and was having an absolute laughing fit - pointing their wing down at the crustacean in what might've been a mocking gesture. Ettie blinked as she regarded the dark-type up above - her eyes lighting up in recognition as she saw it.

Did she specialize in corvid pokemon, the same way she did canid pokemon? Perhaps not as strongly - but corvid pokemon like murkrow were potential friends for any pack. Having eyes in the sky always helped in tracking down prey or food to gather - and in turn, the pack provided protection and a share of the food gathered. Even if this little crow was a rude little stinker, Ettie was willing to try and make friends - pulling out some dried berries from her bag, and holding them out to the murkrow. "Hello, friend!"

Which, in response, the murkrow would blink - pausing mid-laughter to instead glance down and regard the other humans and pokemon present. The offer of food, on its own, seemed plenty tempting enough - and without any hesitance, the crow pokemon would hop down with a flap of their wings to settle on Ettie's arm - plucking each berry right out of her palm. Hm - not bad, they could see an opportunity when it showed its face - or her face, more accurately. Perhaps they could stick around?

Catching the Murkrow

Perhaps, were it any other moment, Ettie would've had the thought to stop and look on at the surrounding land with awe. The wide and open expanse, so lush and green in its flora - and yet filled with the spirits of fauna who very much weren't. And yet, instead, her surroundings would be but a blur of colors and shapes as she was ferried along by Braver, the arcanine doing well in keeping pace with Resheph - even if from the ground, as opposed to in the skies. For as dizzying as the speed may have been to try and make sense of, Ettie held on tight - trusting in the instincts of her friend's packmate.

But before too long, Josh and Resheph would come to a stop - and with that, Braver would, too. And as Ettie finally lifted her head from the arcanine's fur to properly regard their surroundings, she'd realize that they were in the company of a number of spirits. Spirits who had passed relatively not long ago, at the hands of a rampaging pokemon that Yagyu had given her life fighting. With the chase no more, Ettie's pack would come back out one by one - the canids gazing about themselves with mixes of awe, bewilderment, and a certain melancholic understanding.

Though the concept of spirits, limbo or purgatory, and the afterlife, all were unfamiliar to Ettie... It didn't take long for some of it to click for her - that these individuals that were gathered here were dead. And that Josh was giving a proper farewell, to one of his packmates. The idea of such brought a visible sorrow to Ettie's expression - and for a few moments, she'd simply watch as the souls of those passed began to drift upwards, ascending to someplace unknown. But when the emotions grew strong - too strong...

... She'd tilt her head back, and let out a keening howl; a sense of grief for a friend - many friends, in fact - that she never got a chance to know, and yet was gone. And without missing a beat, the pack would join in - a chorus of howls both mournful, yet also gentle farewells of their own. Perhaps, in the ever-so-distant future, they'd all get to meet again - if death brought one to a place as peaceful-seeming as this...

Johanna Joy Callan Young Josh Devlin

Well, so far so good - Ettie was pretty sure that the incense might be working? More often than not as she rode along with Anne, Barbara would linger closer than usual - clearly seeming to like the smell of it. And in addition to such, the first wild pokemon that they'd come across - a purrloin - was a dark-type as well!

The feline pokemon did not seem very keen on lingering, however. For she would take one look at the pack - which was, of course, a large number of dogs - and decided to immediately turn tail, darting back into the surrounding foliage. Anne would raise an eyebrow as she watched the disappearing tail of the feline pokemon, but shook her head - deciding to simply move on, and see what else they could find.

Though before they continued onwards, Ettie took the time to switch mounts, moving from Anne's back to Barbara's - if only so that the houndoom could better enjoy the smell of the incense, without risking tripping Anne up by straying too closely.

Even when it was cold, taking a midday nap in the garden was nice. Curled up amongst her pack, as the sun was shining down at its peak, and soaking in the rays? There was nothing quite like it, being able to simply find herself surrounded by the soft breaths of her packmates sleeping alongside her - of being able to hear Anne's heartbeat, strong and steady, when she rested her head against the lycanroc's side.

It was hard to feel chilly, surrounded by the warmth of one another - and really, the only complaint that Ettie had, was that she had to keep her skin covered - lest she end up with a sunburn. It was one of those little things that she'd long-since adjusted though, paired with the light sensitivity she had thanks to her albinism.

The only thing she could wish for, as time passed, was that she'd be able to see her pack grow - as big as her mom's, and perhaps even bigger! A big and strong pack, where everyone worked together - overcoming any troubles that came their way...

There! The snowboy was coming along nicely once more, thanks to Princess' aid - and it even looked really nice, streaks of shiny ice helping to accent the snowballs that the pack rolled together (this time being far more careful about the size and where they were pushing it, so as to avoid causing Snowboulder 2: Electric Boogaloo!)

As Ettie was hard at work though, the laughter of other kids would draw her attention - and she'd glance up to see a trainer leading their stantler along, as a few children took turns riding on the deer pokemon's back. All the whilst though, a couple of them were singing something - something about jingling bells? Ettie listened for a few moments, curious about the song...

... But they'd eventually wander out of earshot - and as the song faded, Ettie would return to work on the pack's snowboy. Even if, all the whilst, she'd find herself trying to hum the song - just from the portion that she had been able to hear.

As Bert is pushed back, Ruffian would come to a skidding stop upon landing - little claws digging in for traction. He'd let out a low growl of satisfaction at both the clash and Uriah's praise, briefly shaking himself off - as if to let off excess excitement. However, the presence of the Leech Seed reminds him he can't remain idle for long, the roots continuing to try and sap away at his energy.

Thus, Ruffian would once more charge forwards - leaping at Bert and attempting to use Play Rough!

Ettie would curiously glance to Uriah as he clapped, meanwhile - not quite understanding the gesture due to her wildchild origins, but being able to guess at its meaning from context. Giggling, she'd mimic the gesture, clapping as well! "Watching fun!" She spoke - adding "Bert strong, too!"

URIAH BLACK

"Johanna! Callan! Good-friends!" Ettie spoke with a bright smile, nodding eagerly.

Some of Callan's briefing would end up ultimately going over Ettie's head - terms like 'spacetime' or 'spirit worlds' being a bit beyond her. But from what she could understand, this rift was created by a pokemon of some sort named Palkia. It led into another place - a place that could be potentially dangerous, not only to explore in, but to Hoenn as a whole. And the others were here to explore, figure it out, and close it.

While Ettie wasn't sure about the potential forms this danger might take, though, she wasn't alone - there was strength in numbers after all, and Callan and Josh both intended to be here to protect them. "Pack help Pack!" Ettie mentioned to Callan with a warm smile - she was ready to lend a hand however, to aid in this entire endeavor.

And speaking of pack - Josh would send out more of his pokemon - including an arcanine, a large canine that caught Ettie's attention near-immediately. He was large, larger than even Anne - something that was a source of awe to the pack as a whole. Anne would chuff and dip her head in respectful greeting, whilst Ettie eagerly approached - reaching up to let Braver sniff her hands, and unable to help but bark in greeting in her excitement! "Arf!"

However, it seemed that Josh was getting increasingly bothered by something, and was continuing to hear sounds that noone else could. And not only that - he was beginning to see things. As he called the others' attentions to the rift, Ettie glanced up - and yet... "What?" She questioned - because no matter where in the rift she looked, she didn't see anything that stood out or was particularly different from a minute ago.

But despite it all, Josh was off - racing ahead and into the rift, chasing after someone - Yagyu? Ettie blinked, visibly alarmed and confused - though glancing to Braver, she already had a plan. "Josh-pack fast! Hide now, come out after." Ettie spoke to her pack - pulling out their pokeballs and offering them to each pokemon. If she tried to chase after now, a lot of the pack would be left behind - it was better that they remain in their pokeballs, as much as Ettie preferred them to be out and readied.

One by one, her pokemon returned to their balls by their own volition - even if Ruffian and Anne both were reluctant at the idea. And once the pack was accounted for, Ettie wasted no time in mounting up - not even waiting for Braver to crouch before she leapt onto his side and pulled herself up onto his back! "Follow Josh - help Friend!" She wasn't sure how to properly use the cocoon saddle that the Arcanine bore, but she'd brace herself against the front of it - laying close against Braver's body - and hung on as tightly as she could with her arms and legs, hands gripping the reins.

She would make no attempt to control Braver's pace - she was happy to trust his judgement, and this was not the time to try and direct a pokemon she didn't yet know the cues of. All she knew, was that she wasn't about to let a friend go into a supposedly dangerous place alone.

Johanna Joy Callan Young Josh Devlin

Tradition... That was a bit of a strange word - one that Ettie didn't wholly understand, either, but... She'd nod. That was one she could figure out, another time; but maybe once she learned the meaning of 'tradition', she'd be able to understand exactly what Josh meant by it all.

In the meantime though, there were the Eeveelutions - namely, her looking after Blinky until Josh recalled her, and then switching out to Pinky!

As Pinky came out, it was safe to say that the sylveon was immediately friendly - coming up to Ettie and Duchess both, and immediately attempting to tickle them! Ettie would end up tipping over onto her side - from her knelt position by where Blinky was but a moment ago - giggling and squealing with laughter as she attempted to push back the feelers (not out of wanting Pinky to stop, but more just out of sheer reflex!)

Duchess, meanwhile, would manage to dance just out of reach of the sylveon's feelers - before going into a playbow and barking at Pinky, as if trying to encourage the fairy-type to try and catch her before she could be tickled!

Once Ettie had a chance to catch her breath after the ticklefest though, Josh would speak to her - namely, about her concerns regarding the prior battle. As Josh spoke, she'd mull it over thoughtfully. "... But... Why hunt alone?" She asked, as she got up and dusted herself off. "Safer with pack. Less hurt." And making sure you reduced the risk and severity of injuries was important, in Ettie's mind. Not even solely for survival reasons (though those reasons existed, too.) Even if pokecenters were there to help expedite a pokemon's recovery, an injury caused by hunting alone was still pain inflicted that they could be spared.

As the group moved on though, Ettie would hop onto Anne's back once more - the lycanroc falling in line alongside Pinky, and the pack following at their heels.

Josh Devlin