[i][u][color=deepskyblue]Wyatt Everard[/color][/u][/i]

Wyatt let out a squawk of protest when Lionella volunteered him as a sacrifice. It was more obligatory than anything – he knew everyone here wouldn't hesitate to save him from whatever hell he stumbled into. They'd just make sure he got at least a little singed first.

He let Lio grab him by the arm, not fighting as she strung her own through it. He'd grown accustomed to her constant touches and closeness, no longer blushing as he used to. He couldn't help a half-hearted rolling of his eyes, though. Lio loudly and proudly announced that she'd win her first battle.

[color=limegreen]"Yeah?"[/color] Haven said from Lio's other side, a smirking challenge clear in her voice. [color=limegreen]"I'm tempted to take that bet and be your first opponent."[/color] Wyatt shot the older girl a look. Honestly, it was a little early in their 'adventure' for the girls to start in on this already. Couldn't they at least make it out of town? Lio was a fierce trainer, there was no doubt. Wyatt wouldn't be surprised if she beat everyone they came across through sheer endurance alone. But while Haven wasn't a battler per se, she was certainly… a pain to go up against. This was mostly because her tactic was to be [i]as annoying as possible[/i] with status ailments and a whole lot of dodging, waiting out her opponents. If those two started a battle now, they'd never leave.

[color=deepskyblue]"Please don't."[/color]

Wyatt watched as Lio's Duskull retreated into his pokeball, and couldn't help but be a bit envious. With a sigh, Wyatt used his free hand to grab Cas' pokeball and recall her. He didn't know how she'd fare rolling around over a forest terrain. He didn't want her to get too worn out or hurt by any roots or rocks.

Haven caught the movement and shot him a smirk, though there was a softness to it that was rarely seen on her. A bright, genuine excitement at starting this journey together. Wyatt couldn't help the tiny smile he turned back to her, though he did his best to look annoyed by their antics. He looked over his shoulder to see Arlo, calm and steady, following after them. Wyatt turned his head forward, his arm tightening ever so slightly around Lio's.

If asked, he was being forced on this journey against his will.

But if it was just to himself… he could admit he was the slightest bit excited.

[i][u][color=limegreen]Haven Dao[/color][/u][/i]

It was a half hour walk from Faduli before they finally reached the edge of Ulu Forest. They'd spent the time easily enough – Lio and Haven messing around, Wyatt trying (failing) to be mature and above it all. Really, it was too easy to mess with that kid, with how hard he tried to be a grownup. And through it all, Arlo was the stable, quiet presence, making sure they went in the right direction. Haven always tried to bring him into whatever joke or silliness the rest of them got into, looking back at him to check his expression. A small trill of pride rang through her whenever she saw a smile on his face. Watching that stoic expression crack always felt like a victory.

Aside from their own company, the walk was largely uneventful. While the forest itself was almost always filled with trainers, they rarely had a reason to keep going south towards Faduli. And so, the four friends walked alone under the early morning sun.

And then they finally came upon the tree line. Haven had run away from home once, when she was younger (well, she supposed she'd actually run away from home [i]twice[/i] now). She'd been eleven years old, bratty and impossible to manage. And in the middle of the night she'd packed a backpack and taken off north. Her mom and sisters found her twenty minutes out of town, though, and she had never made it as far as the forest. Seeing it now, she thought even if she [i]had[/i] made it this far, there's no way she'd have had the nerve to brave Ulu Forest.

A thick mass of trees formed a towering wall of bark and leaves, spaced far enough apart for her to slip herself through – but only barely. A wider section of space was cut between two twisting white-barked trees, clearly meant to be a path. Haven let out a long whistle as she took it in. Without thinking, her hand strayed to her back pocket to curl around her phone and raise it to take a picture. But Haven blinked to see a dead, black screen. Right. Mom. She'd turned off her phone, lest her mother reach through the screen and throttle her for leaving without anything but a post-it note for explanation. Haven stared at the blank screen for a moment, frozen. Then she blinked away, almost guilty, and slipped it back in her pocket. Vice's lead 'accidentally' smacked the side of her neck and she shot the Bellsprout a look. Haven looked up to see Wyatt looking at her incredulously.

[color=deepskyblue]"Is… is your phone [i]off[/i]?[/color] Her phone was never off. If she wasn't browsing the internet or playing dumb games, she was taking reference pictures of environments for her artwork.

[color=limegreen]"Forgot to charge it last night,"[/color] she lied. Wyatt's eyes narrowed a bit at that. Sharp kid. [color=limegreen]"I'll just charge it in Ulu Town."[/color] Her mind scrambled for a change of topic, though outside she remained cool. Haven perked up when she saw two figures standing at the mouth of the forest, dwarfed by the trees. 

[color=limegreen]"Hey,"[/color] she said, gesturing to them with her chin. It was hard to tell from this distance, but it looked like two boys, maybe around their age. Some sort of bird pokemon looked to be perched on the taller one's shoulder. He scratched his head as he spoke to his companion. [color=limegreen]"Finally found some people. That bet of your's still on, kid?"[/color] Haven glanced down at Lio, the corner of her mouth quirking up.