Was it any surprise, for Ettie to come along at the news of Manectric? She was always eager to make new friends, and perhaps even bring in a new addition to her pack - and these Raiju were lovely creatures. She wasn't sure where the Electric Terrain had come from, but it certainly had a few of her own pokemon feeling good!

Duchess, in fact, was practically vibrating at the notion of new friends, and was perhaps getting a bit hyped up off of the electricity as she bounced aboutm looking for someone to play with!

Ettie once more considers Onyx's words. Though some of what he says goes over her head... She understands enough of it, for things to click in her head. League, Rocket...

... For the longest time, she didn't really worry about the faction conflicts - and she was content to simply not think about it all too much. It wasn't as though she needed to understand it, to live as she always has, as a wolf. At best, she simply understood that it was two packs at eachothers' throats from time to time - conflicts over resources, territory, and the like.

But especially after the prison, especially after the time spent with Josh Devlin... She felt the calm before a great storm on the horizon. Something was coming, even if she didn't wholly fathom what.

That was something to think about another time, though. Because in the now, it did not matter. All that she knew was this was a man who has killed before. And if she allowed Onyx to do as much, the man would be killed in turn. Ettie didn't necessarily judge either person for that - she was no stranger to bloodshed either.

But it sounded as though the man didn't want to kill anymore, so...

"... No." She decides eventually - voice firm, her lips curling back a little to show her teeth. "Ettie made promise. Ettie protects." If he truly was a man deserving of death, she'd be the one to decide it. Not this intruder.

And as if to back up her words, the canines at her side would begin to growl - a clear warning for Onyx and his pokemon to leave.

onyx straub

Ettie distantly recognizes Onyx as well, from the tournament; remembers the generally pleasant time she had letting Yip playfight with his Pinsir. And it is, perhaps, due to that recognition that she doesn't immediately act upon her agitation. That she hears him out, rather than chase him away - despite her instincts desiring otherwise.

But, that doesn't change the sharp look she has as she stares Onyx in the eye - stepping forward. The bouncy and friendly demeanor that he might have remembered from her is not present here, instead being the careful yet firm countenance of a wolf weighing whether Onyx and his accompanying pokemon were friend or intruder.

As he speaks, Ettie listens and considers for a second, before asking one simple thing in response. "Why?"

onyx straub

With Cassandra having been escorted proper, Ebon would reach down to fondly ruffle Ettie's hair, then head back out to rejoin the patrol.

The notion of berries makes Ettie perk. "Berries good!" She chirped, briefly nuzzling Cassandra before she turns to glance over to the cake. It looked good. Smelled good, too. While a lot of the pack may prefer a more meat-leaning diet, Ettie was still looking forward to sharing it with anyone who was interested!

Which, included Anne. Though the Dusk Lycanroc gave the cake box a brief sniff to make sure nothing was amiss with it, it'd pass her inspections - prompting her to settle down and wait with anticipation. Though she did not display it often, the wolf proved to have a bit of a sweet tooth. Ettie giggled knowingly, all the same.

"Hmmm..." Humming thoughtfully, Ettie would glance to the cake, then towards one of the tunnels leading deeper into the dens, and then to Maria. "Mama, ask Cassie, Aurien, Penny, Pago, if want cake?" She'd ask - to which, the Midday Lycanroc nodded, and got up to head down the aforementioned tunnel.

A few other packmates already present in the chamber would already be approaching, meanwhile. Yip would, well, yip happily as she bounded on over to the group - and close behind were two Yamper pups, Aludra and Sirius, who were eager to greet the newcomers even if they weren't here for cake. As quiet as a ghost, a Marshadow would appear as well - Delle, settling in next to Ettie as she gazed to the cake.

And strangely enough, was also a pair of Dubwool, heralded by the click of their hooves against the stony ground of the den as they pranced on over!

Ettie giggled at this, smiling bright to Cass. "Cass and Cass-pack welcome, long as like!" However long they wanted to stay, Cassandra and her pokemon were welcome guests.

Cassandra Kubrick

Were it not a matter of life or death, perhaps a few details would have been seen as strange to the target. Corviknights and Honchkrow, roosting together on the ridges above the den. A thick fur curtain over the entrance keeping out the elements. A multitude of tracks, belonging to vastly different canids.

But as it was, there was plenty of alarm amongst the pack as a stranger barged into the main cavern of the den. Some pokemon growled, some yelped, others grumbled or whined. There was a multitude of eyes upon this lone victim, hackles rising and lips curling back to bare teeth...

... But Ettie - groggy as she was - raised a hand, and the pack settled down. What would the stranger think, to see a lone child have such simple authority amongst beasts? "Rest." She spoke simply to the injured person, gesturing for a Lucario - Anat - to come tend to them with Heal Pulse. They would be ushered to one of the beds in the den - a nest of furs, feathers, pillows, blankets... "Is safe. Will protect."

To have an injured person flee in here, there must have been an intruder - another predator - in the territory hunting them. And though Ettie was a gentle soul towards humans, towards beasts she spoke the language of fang and claw.

She gestured to a few of her packmates for them to follow, secured Scarlet - her Doublade - at the small of her back, and began to march out of the den as a group. Behind her, trailed Anne - a shiny Dusk Lycanroc, Princess - a Granbull, and Alexander - a Houndoom. In her shadow, Delle - a Marshadow - lurked, quiet and watchful. Ettie was tense - and her only hope was that whoever she'd run into would be easy to chase off...

onyx straub

As Sarulf coughed, Ettie would pat his back to help him dislodge the stuck food. "Easy," She gently chided - though she soothingly pet him as well. "Slow, small bites, is easier." To help encourage this, she'd pull out another treat - taking the time to break it into smaller pieces for him.

But, at the mention of a play-fight, Ettie perked up - eyes lighting up not only at the notion of getting to spend time with a friend, but also that Josh used the same terms that she did! "Mhmm! Can play-fight lots!" Ettie spoke with a bright smile, although...

... "Ettie... Wanna play-fight, to be stronger?" She spoke after a moment, her voice a little quiet, as her smile gradually drooped. Her thoughts drifted back to the week spent, in the Prismatic Penitentiary. "Don't... Don't wanna be hurt again. Don't wanna be scared again." She didn't want to feel quite so weak and alone again...

Sympathetically, Cassie gently stroked her head - and she'd tilt her head into the Primarina's touch. And she, in turn, would pet at Sarulf's head - to soothe herself just as much as to keep him at ease.

Josh Devlin

Hound and dragon clash ferociously, trading blows. As the Breaking Swipe strikes Ruffian, he stumbles a hair - but remains standing strong and stalwart. He responds to Smaug's roar with a snarl, teeth on full display!

But, as the platform begins to shift downwards, and as Navy emphasizes the true point of these gym challenges, something shifts in Ettie's expression. Already having been a hint off-kilter emotionally from the prior subject, there's a flicker of surprise and uncertainty as he tells her to fight him for real.

A real fight isn't this, though, is it? A real fight is bloodier. It is of sinking one's teeth into the target's flesh and digging your claws in even if you yourself are not a pokemon. Of the pumping of adrenaline and the taste of blood on your tongue, one creature against another, a clash not only of strength but also the desire to survive-...

... What she thinks of when he asks for a real fight, Ettie isn't sure he'd want. But there isn't much chance to consider it, before Ettie realizes another dragon has joined the fight. A Salamence, circling above and bathing the battlefield in fire! She has to make a split-second decision, in this moment - and she glances to one of her packmates. "Zeit!"

And at her call, the Arcanine understands. He charges forth, his large size - even by Arcanine standards - allowing for him to easily stand over Ruffian, and cover the Stoutland with his body! Though the flames that wash over him sting, the damage is far less than it would have against Ruffian - and he barely flinches at it.

Ruffian, of course, is one to claim he has it handled in a disgruntled 'rrrruff!' towards Zeit - regardless of whether he actually did. But he does not squander the opportunity that his packmate offers. Getting out from underneath Zeit once the flames have cleared, he is ready to Work Up once more, in preparation for the next clash as Smaug descends upon them!

And Zeit, meanwhile, is ready to retalite. With a thundering and low baying, he lets loose a Rock Slide - raining stone down upon the dragons, in an attempt to force them out of the sky!

TLDR: Hisuian Arcanine joins the fight, covers Stoutland from the Flamethrower and retaliates against both dragons with Rock Slide. Stoutland, meanwhile, Works Up in preparation for the next clash.

Navy

As Sarulf snuggled into her arms, Ettie giggled - happily making cooing sounds and continuing to give him scritches. "Good Sarulf. No worries, is okay." She spoke encouragingly, getting out a treat for the Rockruff. Pups didn't need to worry about conflict and hurt; not when they were still learning how to be wolves! So, she was happy to keep him occupied.

But, she still listened to Josh speaking - and glancing up to him, she frowned softly, visibly thoughtful. She didn't understand what a cosmic chess board might mean, or even of the world beyond Hoenn all that well, but... Nonetheless, it did sound like there was a lot on Josh's shoulders. "Caring for pack... Is not easy. More hard, when pack is big. But... Big pack means... Not alone, right?" She mused out loud - glancing up to him.

Even if there were a lot of people looking to him... He had just as many people to back him up, surely. He didn't need to face this alone. "Ettie here, Ettie help friends." She added with a gentle smile. Whatever he needed, she was happy to lend a hand.

Josh Devlin

It'd be a patrol that Cassandra eventually ran into - one that consisted of a gruff-looking shiny Hisuian Arcanine, a scarred yet calm Houndoom, and a familiar shiny Midnight Lycanroc. While Ebon's presence was enough on its own - the werewolf perking at the sight of Cass... The mention of Ettie would get the other two's attentions as well.

With a gesture from Ebon, the group would begin to move - leading Cassandra and her pokemon through the rocky environment. The den entrance was covered by a heavy fur curtain, and nestled into a cliffside - a natural cave that had been carved larger by the pack's efforts. Just in front of the den entrance was an open space, where a few packmates idled; and above, a ridge where a few Honchkrow and Corviknights roosted.

While the Houndoom and Arcanine moved to return to the patrols - the latter barking for one of the other packmates to follow with - Ebon remained. He lifted the curtain out of the way - not unlike a gentleman holding the door open - and gestured for Cass and her pokemon to enter.

They would enter into the main cavern, where a number of nests - made with feathers, furs, blankets, and the like - were set up, for pack members to cozy up in. From this cavern, a few tunnels split off from it, likely leading to other sections. But it was here that a lot of the pack that wasn't idling outside could be found, mingling with one another, socializing, playing...

... And it was here that Ettie could be found, snuggled up between Anne and a shiny Midday Lycanroc - Maria. Hearing her name, the wildchild lit up - smiling bright at the sight of Cass and co. "Friends!" She chirped, getting up to give Cassandra a big hug! "Hello!"

Cassandra Kubrick

When Ettie had returned home, to her den, to her pack - the first thing she had done was cry. All she could do in that moment was sob, face buried into Anne's mane, as the emotions she had bottled up for the past seemingly week burst out in torrents. She was safe. She was home. Her pack was here. She didn't have to cower away from a toxic-chained Ogerpon in the pit, or spend another night craving a fresh breeze or the warm sun...

... For the first few days though, it was safe to say that the pack was protective of Ettie - not that she'd have it any other way. There was always someone there to keep an eye on her, to keep her company and ensure her safety. And she rarely ever did leave the den for long, craving the security of home.

But, as she acclimated back into the routines of home, there was someone she was waiting for. A friend, that the pack were keeping their eyes out for. All that friend would need to do is ask for Ettie, and the pack would understand - Ettie told them about her, after all.

The more Josh spoke, the more Ettie seemed to frown. Sure, it made sense - even if Swift's main goal was to get stuff around rather than fight, there'd still be danger afoot... But at the same time, was the solution really to put pressure on the Raikou?

Granted, she did not realize that it was a construct; but even then, it'd have rubbed her the wrong way either way. It didn't feel right, even if she couldn't articulate it - and the fact she couldn't always find the words she wanted to put to it frustrated her. "Why... Only Swift? Not have others?" Did Swift really have to be the only one fighting?

Sarulf's change in demeanor, however, soon grabbed Ettie's attention. Seeing the Rockruff's unease, her instincts demanded that she change focus. So, she would reach out to gently scritch behind his ear. "Is okay, Sarulf." She cooed soothingly - wanting to distract and reassure the little one. "Want play? Treats? Cuddles?"

Looking after the younger ones always did come naturally to her.

Josh Devlin