every step a hop, every skip a jump [route 29/mod]

[sunflower]

A promise made - a challenge offered - and a vibrancy that extends down the pump of an arm, clutching an empty Pokeball in one hand and its sometime-resident, Mint the Bulbasaur, wandering near the other. Rowan beams out at the stretch of territory beyond New Bark Town's entrance, staring through tall grass and taller trees, and gulps down a breath of that buzzing excitement. It permeates. His face feels fuzzy, and warm, and its belayed nothing by the brightness in azure eyes. "Okay," he starts, working both himself and Mint up in a small proclamation.

He was far less nervous about this step than his first. Meeting someone new - in this case, both Bulbasaur and a fateful friend - was scarier than anything in a wild unknown. Adventuring might not be in his blood, but he was no more shy about traipsing about a forest without eyes on him. It was exhilarating, as most experiences were for the idol-to-be, tempered only ever by a social anxiety and no lack of will or ambition. He pumps the fist with Bulbasaur's Pokeball in it, attracting the eyes of the pleasant, simple-minded creature. A big saurus-like eye looks up with a friendly red hue, circled by a Bulbasaur's typical markings in the shape of a star. The rest, Rowan noted, were similar to little hearts, giving his Pokemon the perfect traits for someone more interested in performances and coordination with his Pokemon than 'being the best.'

That would be a happy side effect of his journey. He grins back at Mint, toothily, and his face is the picture of dreams being fulfilled and a giggle shared between conspirators. "Okay! Right, Mint?" He brought his little buddy into the amping conversation, stepping quickly between his feet as if tamping the ground until his energy was properly built. It was naturally easy to be himself around Bulbasaur; he found he didn't struggle as much with Pokemon as he did people, already settled into his general ostentatious enthusiasm.

It was moments longer before Mint managed to respond, its thoughts working slowly and its mouth slower before it popped open a "Ba!" in agreement. That was it, then. All Rowan needed -- and he scoops Mint up with his arm looped about its middle, hugging close like a stuffed toy, and sprints off into Route 29 together with it; bounding, prancing.

Maybe here they could add someone new to their troupe!

[☢korkcon☢]

As Rowan and Mint dashed down the road of Route 29, the noises of wild Pokemon could be heard off in the distance, as well as some flying Pokemon could be seen flying overhead off in the distance. As the young trainer and his Pokemon made their way down the Route, off in the distance a little red bug like Pokemon could be seen at the bottom of a nearby tree, just resting up against it. The little bug-like Pokemon saw the trainer coming, and turned and inched its way up the side of the tree, until it reached the 1st branch and inched its way out onto it, which now made it over the route, and facing the trainer.

The Wurmple saw the Pokemon tailing along with the trainer and shouted “Begon! Leave me be. I Won’t let you take me like you’ve taken all my friends!” The little bug said towards the trainer’s Pokemon. “I….I’ll defeat you if you try!” The Pokemon added as it took a gulp, hoping to be left alone.

A Wild Wurmple has made itself known!

Level 4. What will Rowan do?

SPOILER: Click to show

huF|0prmp_1-6p_1-3
Rarity Roll

p_1-42
Shiny Roll

1-6·1-3·1-42

[sunflower]

Elation brightens widening blue eyes; a reverent hush following a gasp. "Mint, look there!" Rowan exclaims, giddy in motion between the balls of his feet, and he lifts his Bulbasaur a little higher to find and meet where his gaze had wandered - a little red bug, wiggling up the branch of a tree. This filled a passing moment of a simple staring game, Mint wobbling with the sway of Rowan's hands around its midsection and its gentle, red eyes blinking slowly as it took in the view. Rowan continued to babble off his train of thought:

"Is that a Wurmple? I haven't seen one up close in awhile!"

"Doesn't it look neat? I love its color! And it seems so brave!"

"Is it talking to us? Do you think it wants something?"

"... Uhm, does it need help? Does it want to fight? C-can we even do that, Mint?"

Mint would respond only after Rowan had caught up to the end of his wonderment, taking the time it need to formulate its reply, and would offer it then. "Ba."

"Yeah!" Confusing from the outside, but Rowan would giggle and bury his face against the back of his Bulbasaur's head while squeezing it. "It is exciting, isn't it? Our first wild Pokemon together! Should we...?" During Rowan's ruminations, Mint would squirm itself free from his hold only to land slowly and safely in the grass as Rowan leaned to help it down. He would watch with interest in his Pokemon intentions, just to see its vines sluggishly peek from its bulb and lift up to the branch where the Wurmple was. Slow and steady, with a gaped and thoughtful expression. "Baaa."

It didn't speak in shared words, really, but in drowsy intent; from Mint's perspective, the Wurmple needed help off the branch it had gotten itself to, and the Bulbasaur would offer its vines to bring it down. The Pokemon didn't think fast or with enough understanding to 'get' what the Wurmple was trying to say, but it and Rowan could handle anything it needed. "Ah! Do your best, Mint!"

[☢korkcon☢]

The little bug Pokemon watched on as the Trainer and his Pokemon stopped and looked up at him. Was this his time to be taken? No this was his time to defend himself and stay clear of the trainer and his Pokemon’s tricks. “I will not come with you by choice. You’ll have to capture me in one of your devil balls, if you want me!” The little bug Pokemon shouted at the plant Pokemon down below. The Wurmple watched on as the Bulbasaur tried his best to help the Wurmple out of the try by reaching up with its vines to help it down.

The Wurmple noticed a nearby acorn on the branch it was on, nearby. The Wurmple quickly got an idea and quickly executed the plan he had come up with. The little bug had inched its way to the Acorn and swiftly kicked it off the branch and down at the Bulbasaur below. “You’ll never catch me alive!” The Wurmple said as it shot some of its sticky string from its mouth and used it to lower itself front he branch, down to the ground in front of the Bulbasaur. “Let's tussle, big guy!” It said as it prepared for a fight.

Wurmple wants to fight!

Level 4. What will Rowan do?

[sunflower]

The acorn smacks with a bonk and a bounce off into the grass, connecting with the middle of Mint's head while he was still moving it up to see the projectile coming. There's no reaction for the following seconds - save Rowan's surprise and a little wave of his arms in both confusion & consolation, making sure his Bulbasaur was okay - and then Mint's vines tremble, retracting in slack inches until they're returned to his bulb with a dazed "Ba?" No real damage seemed to be done, but trainer and Pokemon alike were coming to the conclusion that the wild one was itching for something more dynamic.

"Awh, man. It was a nice thought, Mint!" He pats across the 'saur, gentle taps and rubs that carefully avoid jostling it too much (for it had a tendency to wobble and move with Rowan's physical direction, as if offering no resistance). "I guess we just gotta ... uhm. We're gonna have to ... brawl ...? Ehe. Do ... do you have any ideas, buddy?" He continues in conversation, Mint still finding footing to turn and face the Wurmple - off by a few inches. It moves by fully lifting a leg and bringing it down again in sequence, alike to a turtle. Now both party's gazes have met, Rowan narrowing his eyes in thought - but not malice - at the challenging creature, only to laugh it off with that same easy-going expression. "Let's see here, then! You asked for it, little guy! We're gonna ... uh ... get'cha!"

He was still giggling, bringing out his Pokedex to both scan the Wurmple for any additional information and then tabbing through what Mint had available as a move list. A good option here would be ... Rowan didn't know that much about battling, but he believes grass wasn't great into bug ...

"Let's try ... a Tackle attack!" Rowan calls, earning only a moment for the request to sink in before Mint moves with surprising speed. Not that much faster than your average Bulbasaur, but jerky and sudden, a clear difference to its usual dull pace.

[ Mint uses Tackle! ]

[☢korkcon☢]

The Wurmple gave off a slight smirk when the acorn he tossed, connected right in the middle of the trainer’s Pokémon’s head. That felt kind of good, he thought to himself. The Wurmple knew he was going to be outsized, but that for sure wasn't going to stop him from trying his best to fend off this trainer and his Pokemon. Wurmple had seen his friends and family get attacked and stolen from their homes here on the route. This was more of a statement than anything. This Wurmple wanted to show that if he was destined to be taken too, he wasn’t going to go easy. He was going to go with a fight, and he was ready to prove that.

Wurmple stood there as the trainer and his Bulbasaur were trying to process what had just happened with the acorn. By the time he had gotten to the ground, it was obvious that the Bulbasaur was ready for a fight, and it showed as it charged forward and collided with the little bug type Pokemon with a Tackle attack. Wurmple moved back a little bit from the attack and tried to shake it off as if it didn't hurt as much as it did. “I….Is that all you got?” The worm said with a cocky attitude in its voice.

The Wurmple then proceeded to shake it off a bit as it then moved itself back towards the Bulbasaur. “I’m going to fight fire with fire!” The Wurmple shouted as it charged towards the Trainer’s Pokemon trying to collide with it, by using a Tackle of its own.




Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Clear

[attr="class","qkt-bkgd"]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Wurmple LV 4
HP 72% [13/18]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
Mint LV 5
HP 86% [18/21]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

Wurmple [Ability]: Normal
Mint [Ability]: Normal

SP11 Mint used Tackle
A4Wh0HbUp_4-5
Tackle Damage

SP7 Wurmple used Tackle
p_2-3
Tackle Damage 4-5·2-3

[sunflower]

Like could only recognize like. There was a fire - an energy & defiance in this Wurmple - that Rowan and Mint could empathize, with the former brightening considerably in its show of bravery and the latter ... mostly feeding off the room, excited in its little way as it felt Rowan's. Still, Mint understood that the Wurmple was giving its all, too, and while a concept like this took some processing, the Bulbasaur would eventually take the chance to cock its head in a wide smile and praise for the other creature. This was a battle for Wurmple's fate in the bug Pokemon's eyes - but it was a friendly brawl, and a naive step all the same, for the other two. "Ba!"

Mint would skirt back across the dirt and grass at Wurmple's impact, skidding with the aftershock of a wobble. Damage took a moment for the 'saur to register and loose a slight noise, shaking both its head and its bulb out until its feet steadied again. "Geez! He's a spitfire, too, Mint! Just like you!" Really? Well, their obvious camaraderie came easily. No one else really needed to understand Rowan and his little buddy -- but the Wurmple soon would!

A hand of mirth lifted over an expression of the same, latching its fingers into a wool-green cap and pulling it down black tresses to shade the burgeoning smile below. "You know what, Wurmple?" The boy announced to his opponent, Mint circling in funny little stomps to rout the bug while sharing in the radiance of that grin. "I think you're amazing. Give me the chance to prove that, okay~? Mint - Tackle attack! I'll follow up!!"

Mint would launch itself in a stumble-run that straightens to a full body attack, only for Rowan to throw a Pokeball after his friend connects! He'd show this Wurmple what it could do with him supporting it. It certainly had their enthusiasm! Aha! His heart hit a crescendo!

[ Mint uses Tackle!

Rowan throws a Pokeball! ]

[☢korkcon☢]

The little Wurmple watched on as he collided into the Plant Pokemon before him and watched as it skidded back a little bit. Wurmple was small but it was able to pack a powerful punch in a manner of speaking. Wurmple stayed on its toes as it waited to see what the trainer was going to have his Pokemon do, but whatever it was going to do, the Wurmple was going to be ready for it. The little bug was soon slammed once again by the Bulbasaur with another Tackle attack, as it was flung back once more.

The Wurmple slowly got back to an upright position as it tried to shake off the attack it had just taken. The Wurmple thought the Plant Pokemon was going too fast, and it needed to be slowed down. The Bug type Pokemon, then attempted to shoot the Trainer’s Pokemon with a String Shot, but unfortunately the Bug wasn’t able to land his sticky string attack on the Pokemon, as he missed his target.

The Wurmple couldn’t believe they had missed the attack and stood there in awe. Before the Wurmple knew what was happening next, it had been wacked in the head by something. In a flash of red light, the Wurmple was soon inside of a pokeball, lobbed at it by the Trainer. The Wurmple wiggled once…..twice……three times! And the Ball went motionless. The Wurmple had been caught.


Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Clear

[attr="class","qkt-bkgd"]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Wurmple LV 4
HP 50% [9/18]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
Mint LV 5
HP 86% [18/21]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

Wurmple [Ability]: Normal
Mint [Ability]: Normal

SP11 Bulbasaur used Tackle
aJXkiQcBp_1-16
Crit?
p_4-5
Tackle Damage

SP7 Wurmple used String Shot
p_1-100
String Shott Acc
String Shot Missed!

Rowan Threw a Pokeball

Wurmple has been Caught!

-1 Pokeball

Mint Gained +2 Levels to [Level 7]

[img src="https://img.pokemondb.net/sprites/x-y/normal/wurmple.png"]
[b]Wurmple[/b]
Name: [choose]
Gender: [choose]
Level: 4
OT: Rowan Harper
Moves: Tackle, String Shot
Ability: Shield Dust
Nature/Personality: [choose]

Fill Out and add to the bottom of next post, and a mod will edit for you.1-16·4-5·1-100

[sunflower]

Mint was surprisingly deft on the battlefield, but the comparison was shakily drawn with its usual disposition and couldn't be relied on as evidence. If nothing else, trainer and Pokemon seemed more than in-tune enough to handle an encounter like this; the Bulbasaur races off at every command, skirting past the Wurmple's sticky response only to give that final necessary blow for the smokescreen Rowan needed. Deft fingers slid over the curvature of a Pokeball plucked from his waist, turning it in his hand with a giddy smile, and he couldn't help himself from offering a wink to no audience in particular. He turned a peace sign into a toss of his arm, launching the sphere with tact and pomp if not overwhelming grace (his first try at it, really) and it thankfully found its target.

A small burst of light is a planted flag signaled by the Pokeball and the creature that's scooped inside. They have to hold their breath - Rowan does, at least, watching with wide eyes and his arms balled at his chest; and Mint needs his help to be re-positioned when he notices the 'saur hadn't moved to watch the ball yet, picking it up and turning to face it before returning to bated breath. That final ding is like a curtain falling on the scene, Rowan gasping out loud and throwing his arms in the air. "A victory! We did it, Mint! We did it!"

He lifts his Bulbasaur again, this time to hug him and spin in time with their shared happy sounds, letting his legs carry him closer on every twirl to where the Pokeball landed and clutching it into the embrace. "Wa-hoo!" "Baba!" "Wow!"

He allows himself this elation for long enough for the situation to sink in, beaming cheek-to-cheek. "Our first new, new friend, Mint! And it has such a personality~! I wonder what else we can find out here before we meet back up with Sasha ... Me, you ... and Carmine!"

<<

Wurmple
Name: Carmine
Gender: Male
Level: 4
OT: Rowan Harper
Moves: Tackle, String Shot
Ability: Shield Dust
Nature/Personality: Brave

thank you for the cool encounter korkcon!! we'll keep looking for more! :3

also wanted to make sure that mint still gets the exp for this, if that's how it works ^, ,^ >

[Pixel]

It was rather well known that Spinda were a clumsy lot, toddling about drunkenly on feet that always seemed tangled up together. This meant they usually stayed quite ground bound and didn't do things like climb. Usually. However, it was getting cooler and pokemon were trying to forage before the hard freeze of winter set in and food became scarce. This meant that some were getting creative in how they handled gathering their food for the hard season. 

A certain little spinda spied ripe fruit in the branches of a tree that were too high to reach from the ground and no amount of tackling knocked them free. The birds mocked it with chirps and taunts for its efforts. But it refused to give up! Those fruits would be its one way or another!! With a huff, the spinda grabbed a hold of the trunk and managed to shuffle upwards, climbing to one of the branches with the fruit.

<Who is laughing now?> the spinda boasted before making a critical mistake. Instead of staying on all four paws and shuffling to the fruit, it pushed to its hind feet and started to wobble towards its prize. One unsteady foot after the other. Closer. Closer. And riiiiight before it reached its goal, it slipped, falling down and right on top of a certain trainer that was passing beneath the tree at that given moment.

---

A [LV 5] Spinda has appeared!

Shiny? qr3ucsZbp_1-42

Rare? p_1-6

ooc// You do get exp for battles and catches both. Please refer to our EXP Guide for more details!1-42·1-6