[indent] [/indent][h3][hr][color=palevioletred]Eryn Montero[/color][/h3][hr][sup][i]Route 2: Outer Infested Woods  ||  Late Afternoon[/i][/sup][indent] [/indent]
Eryn realized only after issuing the challenge that, because of her front as her mute doppelganger, she wouldn’t be able to issue orders to her Pokemon like she normally did. Still, she maintained her grin while freaking out internally, trying to figure out her best course of action. If the youngster’s team wasn’t too strong—which Eryn guessed it wasn’t, seeing as her double had beat him, and she’d beat her double—she’d probably be able to get away with just having her Pokemon perform their default moves. If the youngster wasn’t significantly weaker than her, though, and the battle needed a more than a hand wave and some pointing, Eryn was in trouble. But she’d deal with that when she got there. 

The youngster called out his first Pokemon, a Shinx, which instantly worried Eryn considering the possibility of paralysis. The last thing she needed was being driven into a corner because of status effects.

Eryn turned to look at Kylie, pointing at her and waving her towards the field, remembering to mouth words after a second of empty hand motions. Thankfully, Kylie seemed to catch on quickly, skipping onto the field and waving at her opponent, who growled in response. Her lack of care encouraged Eryn to relax instead of obsessing about getting the right outcome, bringing Eryn back to a full grin as the battle started. Kylie looked back at Eryn, who mouthed ‘Bite’ as the youngster shouted his own command. Though Kylie likely had no idea what Eryn mouthed, Bite seemed to be her default move ever since she’d learned it, and she fell back on it now as she charged the Shinx, jaws wide.

To Eryn’s surprise, the Shinx seemed close to fainting after a single Bite from Kylie, telling Eryn that the youngster was probably a lot weaker than she was. This was supported by Dei’s easy one-shot of the Youngster’s Oddish and Zubat with Embers, which he’d defaulted to after multiple exasperated looks back at her. So, when the youngster called out his last Pokemon, a Purrloin, Eryn made the decision to call on... Tula.

After giving the Magikarp a reassuring pat, Eryn jogged back to her side of the field, waving her arms above her head and mouthing encouragements that the Magikarp could neither see nor hear. The battle was an arduous one, considering Tula’s hard carapace and the Purrloin’s lower level, but eventually, Tula managed to land enough Struggles to take the Purrloin out. Eryn jumped up and down in celebration, rushing over and picking up her Magikarp to spin her around. She even considered tossing Tula into the air before thinking better of it, mostly for the sake of her fingers when it came to Tula’s fins.

Then, realizing that perhaps she was celebrating a bit too much for a sure-win, Eryn walked over to the youngster and clapped him on the back, giving him a big thumbs up and a grin. Even without words, the message she’d sent was a universal one for trainers: Good battle.

After that, she stayed around for a bit longer, entertaining the kids with a few improvised tricks that she managed to get Dei and Kylie to do by sneaking in whispers while pretending to pet them. For Dei, a Smokescreen show punctuated with Embers was the plan, followed by an air-clearing Fairy Wind by Kylie. That Kylie burst into tears after surprised Eryn as much as Dei, who seemed positively baffled when Kylie pointed at him accusingly. But as it turned out, it was all fun and games, which Kylie revealed with a wide smile and cheery, sing-song cries as she danced around Dei, who by the second circle around had crossed his arms, snorting smoke.

With the sun now low in the sky, Eryn waved the children towards the path out of the woods, imitating walking motions with her fingers. After a lot of patting and hugging, she managed to send them along their way, giving her the freedom to finally—

 [color=palevioletred]“AGH!”[/color] Eryn yelled, then ducked and glanced back to see if any of the children had heard. She’d waited a bit after they left, but not being able to talk was way more frustrating than she’d originally imagined. Without words, she’d been limited to nods and shakes, waves and pats and some rudimentary miming when she wanted to convey actions. As an impatient person, she was just about at her limit towards the end.

[color=palevioletred]“Well, hopefully I never have to do that again. Ever. Or I’m going to tell them flat out,”[/color] she said, sighing, then exhaling, then coughing to make sure all her vocal cords were still there. Then, reassured, she looked at her Pokemon with a wide grin, bending down to pat each of them. [color=palevioletred]“Thanks, guys. Dunno what I would’ve done without you, miss smarty-pants,”[/color] she said, rubbing Kylie’s jaw, [color=palevioletred]“and you, ya grump,”[/color] she said with a rub on Dei’s head. [color=palevioletred]“And, of course, our one and only MVP, Tula! Arceus I’m so proud,”[/color] she said, hugging Tula against her. In her arms, Tula gave a strong wiggle, nearly dislodging her from Eryn if it weren't for Eryn's quick reflexes. [color=palevioletred]“Woah there. You keep growing and battling and one day you’ll be the strongest of us all. Kidding, kinda,”[/color] Eryn said, winking at her other Pokemon.

[color=palevioletred]“But, take a rest for now, Tula. I’ll see if I can get you healed up sometime soon,”[/color] Eryn said, returning her Magikarp. Then, looking around, she pointed in a random direction into the woods. 

[color=palevioletred]“That way, until we find my double!”[/color] she said, bending down to scoop up Kylie before setting off. Ducking to avoid a spiderweb, Eryn shivered, tightening her hold on Kylie. [color=palevioletred]“Fingers crossed we find her quickly this time, though. These woods give me the creeps.”[/color] 
[indent] [/indent][hr][hider=Actions][u][b][color=palevioletred]     Actions:          [/color][/b][/u]
Battled the youngster (health deductions? Did a -50% for Tula), played with kids, and is now heading deeper into the woods to find her Double. [h3] [/h3][/hider]
[hider=Pokemon][u][b][color=palevioletred]     Pokemon Party:          [/color][/b][/u]
[hider=Dei — Charmander][h3][color=palevioletred]Dei[/color][/h3][hr][img]https://www.smogon.com/dex/media/sprites/xy/charmander.gif[/img]
[hr][sup][color=silver]Charmander  [color=palevioletred]◼[/color]   Level 12 [color=palevioletred]◼[/color]   ♂   [color=palevioletred]◼[/color]  Blaze   [color=palevioletred]◼[/color]   90%[/color][/sup]
[list][*]Physical — Scratch
[*]Status — Growl, Smokescreen
[*]Special — Ember
[/list][h3] [/h3][/hider]
[hider=Kyllene — Mawile][h3][color=palevioletred]Kyllene / “Kylie”[/color][/h3][hr][img]https://www.smogon.com/dex/media/sprites/xy/mawile.gif[/img]
[hr][sup][color=silver]Mawile  [color=palevioletred]◼[/color]   Level 12 [color=palevioletred]◼[/color]   ♀   [color=palevioletred]◼[/color]   Hyper Cutter   [color=palevioletred]◼[/color]   90%[/color][/sup]
Holding: [b]Occa Berry[/b]
[list][*]Physical — Astonish, Bite
[*]Status — Taunt, Growl, Fake Tears
[*]Special — Fairy Wind
[/list][h3] [/h3][/hider]
[hider=Tula — Magikarp][h3][color=palevioletred]Tula / “Tutu”[/color][/h3][hr][img]https://www.smogon.com/dex/media/sprites/xy/magikarp.gif[/img]
[hr][sup][color=silver]Magikarp  [color=palevioletred]◼[/color]   Level 8 [color=palevioletred]◼[/color]   ♀   [color=palevioletred]◼[/color]  Rattled   [color=palevioletred]◼[/color]   30%[/color][/sup]
[list][*]Physical — (Struggle)
[*]Status — Splash
[*]Special — N/A
[/list][h3] [/h3][/hider][/hider]
[hider=Inventory][u][b][color=palevioletred]     Inventory:          [/color][/b][/u]
Pokédollars — 4240
[list][*]Potion — 1
[*]Pokeballs — 4
[*]Old Rod
[*]Silk Scarf
[/list][h3] [/h3][/hider]
[@PlatinumSkink]