In the wake of the duo, sand was kicked up every which way - and the pack would collectively shake themselves off, Anne staring off in the direction of the twin beams with clear bewilderment. What in the world had that been? Was that from a couple of pokemon, or something else..?

(Duchess, wrinkling her nose, would begin to have a brief sneezing fit from the sand - bringing a paw up to try and wipe away the grains.)

Off in the distance though, the pack watched as the light gradually faded - somewhere just beyond the ruins. But, then the duo begin to circle back around - and as they approached... Ettie's eyes lit up in recognition. "Josh! Friend!" She'd cheer in greeting, hopping down from Anne's back to approach the two gym trainers. Duchess was happy to join in the greeting - yipping happily and bouncing about as she approached.

At the introduction of Shawn, Ettie would peer to the young man in question with a hue of curiosity, before nodding. "Hello Shawn! Friend! Am Ettie!" She spoke, introducing herself with a bright smile. Though, he looked kind of dizzy - and tilting her head a little, she'd glance between the two, before asking "... Is Shawn-friend okay?"

Once introductions (and checking in on Shawn) was out of the way though, Josh presented Ettie with a Tera Orb - something that made Ettie blink curiously. "Ooh... Shiny..." She murmured - reaching a finger out to gently poke it. Princess, too, would regard it with vague curiosity - the little Snubbull cocking her head. It had a bit of a crystalline shine to it, one that almost made Ettie think of...

"... Oh! Right! Josh-friend! Shawn-friend!" Ettie spoke up, remembering what the pack had been up to. "Ettie and pack! Following glowy-shiny pokemon! Like shiny rock!" She explained, gesturing animatedly - trying to seemingly gesture out some approximation of what the pokemon was, but... At the same time, she just could've been excited. Tilting her head though, she'd glance to the ranger and ask "Josh-friend Shawn-friend see glowy-shiny-rock-pokemon?" Maybe they'd seen where it was, or otherwise had seen something like it?

Anne - seeming keen on providing some actually helpful information - would let out a gentle 'whuff' to get Ettie's attention, before drawing a line in the sand, which...

"Oh, yeah!" Ettie chirped in response - catching on and crouching down in the sand, she'd begin to attempt drawing the pokemon that she had seen. "This!"

Josh Devlin

Elite..? Gym Leader..? Ettie would cock her head as Josh introduced himself - mulling over the terms that he referred to himself with. Ranger she recognized - Julia Davis was a ranger! Rangers were friends to wild pokemon! And she understood that Josh was a leader to... Well, a gym. And obviously also his pack! She kind of knew that gyms were a Trainer thing? Something that had been mentioned to her before, but she otherwise didn't grasp it very well. Nonetheless, with the introductions, Ettie smiled brightly. "Hello Josh! Hello Blinky! Hello Inky! Friends good!" She spoke, nodding sagely.

The comment about Ettie being good with pokemon though, would have Ettie blink briefly, thinking over the compliment. She guessed she was good with pokemon? She grew up around them, after all! "Why not? Blinky friend. Ettie trust Blinky." She'd respond easily - nodding to herself. Blinky was clearly friendly; even if she did get hurt, it would be by complete accident - not from any ill-will from the Jolteon. All Ettie had to do was be careful about where and how she pet Blinky, to not get poked by the wiry fur.

However, then came a wild pokemon who had caught Josh's attention - a cyclizar! At the gym leader's call, the pack was on the hunt - chasing towards the wheeled lizard without hesitation, although... The dragon-type, seeing the Eeveelutions, would make a full 180 to face the pack. Did it see them as a challenge of some form, Ettie wondered? It seemed as though if the cyclizar thought itself to be in true danger, it could've turned tail and ran without hesitation.

Nonetheless, Ettie watched the hunt as it went on - the beasts clashing as the cyclizar stood its ground with impressive furor. It had been able to hurt some of the pack - and it was only with Pinky's help that cyclizar would be stunned and weakened enough, for Josh to throw a pokeball and catch it. The hunt was over.

Ettie and her pack would soon catch up to the group - the young wildchild jumping off of Anne's back as she did. She'd make her way towards the injured Eeveelutions; moving slow and careful, but making no attempt to obscure her presence - as if she were approaching an injured wild pokemon. "Is okay... Ettie help." She spoke gently and soothingly to them, pulling out some bandages and gauze from her bag, that she had gotten at Fortree.

Ettie knew from her upbringing amongst the lycanrocs the importance of staunching a wound - though it had been Julia who helped her learn a little bit about how to apply proper first aid. If the eeveelutions allowed her to touch them, Ettie would take the time to bandage them - the young girl continuing to speak softly and reassuringly to them all the whilst. "Is safe... Ettie help... Pack will protect..." Stop the bleeding with the gauze, hold the gauze in place with the bandages...

All the while though, the pack would be present - Duchess gently sniffing and checking over the Eeveelutions with a soft whine of concern, Ruffian staring down the ball that the cyclizar had been caught in, and Anne and Princess both standing around, as if they were keeping watch over the hurt Eeveelutions.

Skipping

Josh Devlin

ollie morales 's approach and almost-offer for help would be met with a curious glance from Ettie - the young wildchild briefly tilting her head to regard the taller man and look him up and down out of intrigue. Her verdict: friend! (Disregarding the fact that just about everyone was friend-shaped to her.) And also tall! Or at least, definitely taller than herself. Would he be taller than Julia, too? How tall did other humans usually get, again...?

In any case, once she brought her thoughts back on track... She wasn't sure what he had been about to ask - but apparently something here had been positive! So, smiling, she'd nod to him - the young wildchild gesturing to indicate him and responding "Friend nice!" with a brief happy-wiggle and a light giggle.

Princess, meanwhile, certainly worked hard whenever she decided to put her mind to it. Bit by bit, she chopped through the trunk with surprising amounts of fervor - the look in the Snubbull's eyes intense and determined. This tree was but an obstacle - and like all obstacles that found themselves in her way, it would be overcome.

Thus, the evergreen would soon begin to tip - slowly but surely... Before hitting the ground, with a pretty satisfying thud, even for its smaller size.

This thud would make Ettie jump a little - clearly having been distracted by Oliver. But with her attentions now back on the task at hand, she'd smile brightly - running over to Princess' side. "Good Princess! Did good!" She'd praise, reaching down with both hands to pet the Snubbull and briefly squish her cheeks.

Princess, in response, would simply chuff and hum contentedly - lazily, as if she hadn't channeled her inner lumberjack just moments ago.

But, with the tree finally cut down, the pack would work to bring it back - ever so slowly but ever so surely, like the verdant iceberg that it was.

For the most part thus far, the trek was a pretty ordinary one - even if the pokemon that pack was trying to track down was anything but. Though they'd briefly linger to look at the different sights of the desert that they'd pass by - the remaining fragments of some ruins, a cluster of cacnea, a talonflame passing overhead... The pack moved ever-forward, eager to see what had Ettie just so excited.

Thus far though, though the trail was still present, there were no signs that they were getting any closer to their quarry.

But, their exploring and hunting would soon be interrupted by the distant sounds of twin booms. Or, at least, they thought the sounds to be distant. The sound startled the pack, bringing them to a stop as they glanced about in an attempt to see the source. However - they'd soon see twin beams coming from just over a dune back the way the came, off towards the horizon. And these beams, safe to say, were approaching fast.

Realizing the danger for what it was, Anne would bark a command to the pack and - diving forward - picked up Ettie, to bring her out of the path of whatever this ambush was. "Wh-huh?!" Ettie yelped in surprise, alarm clear in her eyes. The rest of the pack would scatter to the sides, meanwhile - eager to avoid being trampled by whatever in the world this was. It was nothing they'd ever seen before..! "F-Fast?!?"

Josh Devlin

As the pack circled the tree, figuring out how to go about bringing it back to town... They'd be met with a helping hand - in the form of DEREK HOFFMAN 's little Riolu, who had an axe in his hands! At first, Ettie would accept the axe simply because it was a gift being offered to them - not so much that she recognized the significance of this odd object. It was hefty to say the least - she'd need to hold it with both hands to keep it steady. "Thanks, friend!" Ettie chirped with a bright smile - setting the head of the axe on the ground to free up a hand, so that she could pat the Riolu on the head.

However, when she turned her gaze to properly regard the axe, she realized that she had very little clue what this was - besides that it looked like some form of tool or weapon. What was this again? What was she supposed to do with it..? She'd stare at it for a few moments, her expression somewhat vacant and confused as she tried to figure out the puzzle that she had been presented with...

... At least, until Princess approached - the Snubbull taking up the axe. Even though her comparatively smaller size made it slightly unwieldy to handle, her strength meant that she could swing the axe like a champ - hefting it over her shoulder with both paws as she slowly toddled over to the tree, and began chopping. They'd have this tree back at Petalburg in no time..!

Usually, whenever the pack went on a hunt, it was for the sake of food. You couldn't always survive on nuts and berries alone, after all - especially when there was a full pack to feed. You needed something else - anything - to supplement it, to help give one's diet some variety.

However, sometimes, Ettie went on a hunt out of curiosity; not to catch something, but to instead investigate it.

It was in the desert, north of route 111, that Ettie could've sworn she'd seen something. It was a pokemon that had looked like it was made out of crystals, glimmering and shining in the light. However, she had taken her eyes off of the pokemon for one second to try and point it out to her pack - and as soon as she did, it had practically disappeared. As if it had never been there in the first place!

What was that? What had happened? Were it any other season - where the sun was beating down hot and the air seemed to shimmer - it could've been explained off as a trick of the light, a mirage. But this was still the midst of winter, and during the unusual cold that had gripped part of Hoenn - which meant that the desert was practically freezing instead. Whatever it was that Ettie had seen, it was real.

At the very least, the pokemon in question had left behind signs of its passing - footprints in the frosted sand and a scent trail to match. These were both traces that the pack could work with - and with this in mind, Ettie was sold. she wanted to track down the pokemon, to see it again and show it to the rest of the pack!

Thus, off they went - traveling through the dunes and plateaus of Route 111's desert to try and catch up to whatever it was, that the young wildchild had seen.

Mission

Josh Devlin

Today, Ettie was going to fetch a stick. To be specific, she was going to fetch a really, really big stick.

Anne was a little skeptical about the entire event - namely in regards to what sort of effect it might have on the woods at large. It was too easy for someone to accidentally cut down a tree that belonged to another pokemon, after all. Ettie, too, had thought about the troubles that'd come with such. But, the solution then was simple - they'd just pick one that wasn't someone's home, right?

However, as the pack departed into the woods and began looking at the different trees, they'd quickly realize that they... Had no clue, how to pick out the right tree for this. Did they want to pick out one of the big old ones? One of the easier-to-carry ones? How about picking from the ones that were really lush-colored, or the ones that had an interesting shape or pattern to them? Indecision truly was their greatest enemy here.

It didn't help that Ettie was one for getting distracted, either - be it following random trails left in the snow (which, sometimes ended up being the pack's own trail,) or getting sidetracked sharing berries with a pichu and its family. Duchess shared in similar troubles - chasing after the snowflakes that drifted down to try and catch them, or perking up at every little sound from a wild pokemon moving just beyond the pack's range of vision.

But, before long, the pack would find a tree that spoke to them. A strong and sturdy looking tree, with thick boughs and - after Ettie took the time to actually climb it and explore amongst its branches - no signs of any occupants. This tree was perfect! (At least, in their opinion.)

But now came the question... "... How bring back?" Ettie asked, cocking her head and glancing to Anne for the lycanroc's input.

Anne, in response, would simply sigh - they'd figure something out, surely.

A rustle from the bushes caught Anne's attention - her ears pricking up, as her gaze turned towards the foliage that surrounded the clearing by the entrance. It was clear to see that she was no longer alone here - a braixen emerging from the leaves, and briefly brushing themself off. Slowly, carefully, they'd gaze at their surroundings - but as soon as their eyes fell upon Anne, they'd jolt in surprise, as if a rattata who had stumbled upon an ekans.

Anne, however, would express no aggression towards the visitor. Instead, her eyes lit up with interest as she chuffed a greeting - gesturing with her head to invite the braixen over. Canid pokemon - even if the braixen was not of the variety that she was familiar with - were stronger, and safer, in numbers. And on top of such, Ettie was sure to be happy to meet a new potential friend once she woke up.

Which, the fox pokemon was somewhat uncertain at first... But seeing no hostilities or deciet in the lycanroc's eyes, they'd accept the invitation - sitting down nearby. The braixen's body language read of uncertainty and nervousness - they knew they were a bit of an odd one out in this equation, and yet the notion of a friendly face was a welcome one.

It did not take long though, for the rest of the pack to begin stirring. First came Princess, who would give the braixen a gentle 'whuff' in greeting as she settled down next to Anne. Then there was Duchess, whose greeting was far more energetic - a happy yip as she ran up to investigate the braixen.

The wild fox would blink owlishly at this - clearly caught off guard by the enthusiastic greeting, but... Slowly, as if unsure as to whether this was the right response, they'd reach out to pat Duchess on the head.

(The electrike, in response, began vibrating happily.)

But finally, Ettie would step out - Ruffian still groggy and half-asleep in her arms. "Hello pack," She'd greet with a warm smile - briefly sharing a nuzzle with Anne as they neared one another. "Ettie wanna eat. Pack wanna eat?" She'd question as she sat down - pulling out her bag to pass out food... At least, until she noticed that they had a visitor, a braixen.

Ettie's eyes lit up curiously at the sight of the vulpine pokemon. "Oh - Hello! Friend!" She greeted, smiling and waving. "Wanna eat, friend?"

The notion of food certainly got the braixen's attention - ears pricking, eyes drifting to the bag. When had been the last time they ate...?

The clear interest the fire-type displayed was enough of an answer for Ettie - and giggling, she'd take the time to pull out some of the food she had stashed in her bag. Some of it was rations that she had picked up in Fortree - dried meat, crackers, hard cheese, and the like - as well as some pokefood. But there was also a number of things such as fruits and berries that she had gathered in her journey. Sure, perhaps they were a little overripe by now - but there wasn't anything wrong with any of the food, otherwise.

Ettie took the time to pass the food out between the pack - attentive to each individual's needs. "Here, pack. Eat good!" They'd probably need to go hunting later today to help supplement it - but for now, this would be plenty to help fill their bellies. And to the braixen, she'd offer a couple of fruits and some jerky - smiling warmly. "Friend eat good!"

The braixen blinked at the offer - but in watching the other pokemon eating... Slowly, carefully, they'd accept it - setting the food on their lap and taking a bite of one of the fruits.

This brightened Ettie's smile, and she'd sit back and nibble on some cheese - leaning on her side against Anne's own, with a happy hum. "Food good. Eating with pack make food good-er!" She spoke to the Braixen. "Friend come with pack? Eat with pack lots! Play with pack lots! Explore lots!"

In agreement, Duchess would yip, her tail wagging eagerly. More friends was good! That meant more pokemon she'd get to play and run and hide-and-seek and run and race with! What else did a pokemon need in life, really?

Anne, meanwhile, would turn a calmer gaze upon the braixen, and give a gentle chuff. It was their choice, whether to come with - but they would otherwise be a welcome addition to the pack, if they so chose.

Catching Befriending Braixen!

Curiosity had grabbed Ettie's attention, with all the chatter from the other people around her - chatter about things she didn't entirely understand. Whilst the pack was still working on their own snowboy, Ettie would wander off to look amongst the other snowboys that had been built here, and the people who were mingling amongst one another. In particular, the chatter of a few young adults would catch the young girl's attention.

"What are you guys hoping for this year?" Spoke up one, as they worked together to put together the bottom of a Snowboy.

"Knowing my family, I'll probably be getting socks or a sweater - probably gonna need 'em, with the weather." Spoke the second, chuckling.

However, the third would notice Ettie's presence - and he'd smile, gesturing to invite her over. "Hey kiddo, do you got any holiday wishes?"

Ettie cocked her head. "Wish?" She asked - blinking a bit. What did that mean?

"Ya know," The first person spoke up once more. "What are you hoping to get this year? Any toys, or games?"

What did Ettie hope to find..? The wildchild would consider the question for a few long seconds - humming to herself, before settling upon... "Ettie want big pack!"

A couple of the trio would glance to each other, faintly puzzled - both at the response, and her manner of speech. "Like... A new backpack?" Asked the third person.

Which, Ettie shook her head - and instead pointed back to where her pokemon were still rolling the snowball along. (In fact, it was looking pretty decent sized, wasn't it? She should probably help direct them soon.) "Pack!" She supplied with a bright smile. "More pack! More friends!"

The second individual smiled at this, nodding. "Heck yeah, you can't go wrong with more friends." He agreed.

Ettie grinned and nodded at this, before turning back around - returning to her packs' side, resuming work on the snowboy.

The Eeveelutions' fast approach was met as a pleasant surprise - Ettie's pack regarding Josh's pokemon with equal amounts of curiosity. Who were they? What were they like?

Duchess, to say the least, was absolutely enthused over the whole matter - the electrike bouncing and yipping amongst the larger Eeveelutions, running circles around them with utter joy. Friends! Friends! Playtime!

Princess was a bit more subdued in her reactions - but she was friendly all the same, simply humming contentedly as she sniffed at the nearest Eeveelution - Clyde. Briefly, the Snubbull's attention would drift - glancing over towards a cacturne that was watching them from afar. Though, she'd soon look back to the Eeveelutions, letting out a soft and lazy 'whuff' of greeting.

Ruffian, meanwhile, was a little more feisty - letting out excited little 'rrrrruff!'s as he nipped at Janus' ankles, as if trying to goad the espeon into roughhousing with him. No matter how much bigger or stronger they might be, the littlest lillipup was always ready to throw down.

Anne, however, would initially be paying more attention to Josh as Blinky neared - the lycanroc's eyes narrowed with suspicion. A larger and stronger pack, with another human at the lead. What would Josh's angle here be, Anne wondered?

As if noticing Anne's demeanor though, Ettie smiled down at the wolf - gently patting her on the neck, just between a couple of the rock spikes that made up her mane. "Calm, Anne. Is okay!" She spoke gently - this group seemed plenty friendly. And in response to Josh's compliment, she'd smile to him - responding "Friend has nice pack!"

Anne couldn't help a slight huff - she had no way to tell if it was truly okay, as Ettie said. But, it wasn't as though Josh had taken any undue actions or shown any ill will yet. Yet. Thus, she would turn her attentions to Blinky and Inky - letting out a gentle chuff in greeting to them, as she sniffed them in turn.

With the pokemon mingling amongst each other now, things looked to be plenty peaceful. "Who friend? Am Ettie!" Ettie would introduce herself to Josh - once more wiggling like a happy Granbull in lieu of wagging a nonexistent tail. She'd reach down a hand to pet Blinky - scritching the Jolteon behind the ear. She could note how the fur felt wiry and stiff - and she figured that it likely wouldn't be a good idea to pet against the grain, to avoid getting poked.

Skipping Cacturne

Josh Devlin

Slowly, surely, the sun would crest over the horizon - another day rising upon Hoenn, and by extension Route 111. Early morning frost that clung to fallen leaves and stone sparkled and glinted in the growing light, existing within that brief window before the sun's warmth potentially melted it away. Wild pokemon of the diurnal variety began to stir, awakening to the sounds of birdsong from taillow and the like.

Of the pack, Anne would be the first to awaken - the lycanroc stretching out her front legs and yawning widely. They were still curled up in a half-tangled pile within the cave that a ponyta-rapidash herd had led them to the evening before - and though the air was a bit nippy, the cave itself was surprisingly protected from the worst of the cold. (Though, of course, the snuggle pile that they were in likely helped.)

Slowly, carefully, Anne extracted herself from the pile - nudging her nose under Ettie's head, so as to gently lay her down. It wouldn't do, to have her sister hit her head on the hard ground - not when she was sleeping so soundly. Though the young girl would half-stir, mumbling something unintelligible, Ettie would simply roll over the slightest bit - cushioning her arm under her head, and drifting back to sleep like nothing had happened.

Satisfied, Anne took this as a chance to briefly slip away - heading just outside of the cave, to look out over the surrounding area. The herd appeared to have already moved on, and things were peacefully quiet - save for the natural sounds of the wilderness, sounds that made Anne feel at home.

For all the comforts of civilized life that she'd seen in brief snippets from wandering with Ettie, the towns and cities that humans gathered in were either much too quiet, or much too loud. The absence of birdsong and insect pokemon stridulating in some places sometimes made her feel as though she were being stalked by a great predator. Yet on the flip-side, the cars and chatter and hordes of footsteps in others felt like a wild stampede. Out here, even if the conditions were harsher, they were familiar.

And sometimes, what you knew and could understand was far better than what you didn't.

The building warmth of the sun was comforting to the lycanroc, however - and she'd allow her thoughts to drift off, as she settled down at the mouth of the cave. Enjoying the feel of the sunlight against her fur, she'd gaze at her surroundings with half-lidded eyes - standing guard diligently in case any pokemon wandered by, even if she felt comfortable and relaxed.

Bit by bit, the ball of snow would be rolled along - growing bigger and bigger by the second. Although as Ettie and Princess worked together to push it, a yip from Duchess drew their attentions over. In the Electrike's mouth, there appeared to be a scarf - and the little pup's tail wagged with obvious joy at having retrieved it... Not that anyone in the pack - excluding perhaps Duchess - knew where it came from!

Still, this would look cool on a snowboy! "Good Duchess!" Ettie praised happily - accepting the scarf, and loosely draping it around her shoulders for the time being.

Something else would come to draw Ettie's attention though - namely, chatter amongst a few other people. Something about Darmanitans, and.... Yetis? What was a yeti? Were the Darmanitans - whatever they were - yetis? She could see a few pokemon she'd never seen before who seemed to be looking over the different snowboys with an appraising gaze, but... The wildchild didn't exactly get it. "... Huhm."

Maybe if she kept listening in on people as she worked, she'd figure more out? There was a lot she didn't know, about this... Hoo-lee-day stuff.