Erika nodded and gave Ewan a smile. "Yes! I managed to convince a Gible to join me." Erika said, still feeling elated from her previous accomplishment. "Ready to go on to Lakewatch?" Erika asked in a more of rhetorical fashion as it seemed like both Joshua and Ewan were already marching on with that same intent.
Erika had other temptations to wander off and explore other bits of the cave but she still remembered that she had intended on meeting Claire and pushed aside those desires for the time being. After all, she could return later. "Alright let's proceed!" Erika urged her friends, taking the right path.
Okay with that post, I might be gone for a week or so. I'm not sure when I'll readily be able to post but I figured this should close Erika's first chapter rather nicely, no?
Erika's heart swelled as she saw Gible's positive response, her own eyes matching the spark of the Gible's eyes. "We'll make a good team, I promise." Erika gave Gible another pat before pulling her new team member in an embrace. It was amazing how different of a perspective that Erika discovered by not battling to catch a new Pokemon. This felt all the more organic and wholesome and maybe that was the point Lesley was trying to illustrate, at least Erika thought so. Speaking of which...
"Yes! Everything is fine, Lesley. Thank you!" Erika turned to address the arrival with an easy smile, though she didn't get to her feet. "Oh!" Erika suddenly expressed turning to her Gible and patting him on the head. "I asked and this little Gible decided to come with me. Isn't that right, Gibs?" Erika asked her partner to which he nodded, looking assured and confident in his response. "Anyway, thank you, Lesley. This was actually unexpected but taking the time to convince Gibs to join without battling it was actually more... fulfilling. So thanks!" Erika nodded, giving Gibs one more pat before gently brushing him off her legs in order to get to her feet. "Well, I suppose it is time to continue on my journey because I've still got a ways until Gibs and I will challenge you, Lesley. You can count on that one." Erika gave the Gym Leader a friendly thumbs up...
After her business with Lesley was wrapped up, thanking her again of course, Erika made her way down the mountain, with Gibs right behind her, to return to where the ladder was. Assuming Joshua and Ewan had waited, Erika would introduce her newest member Gibs before returning him to a Pokeball. "Alright, sorry for the wait guys and thanks for waiting but let's get to Lakewatch."
Otherwise if Joshua and Ewan weren't there, she'd just return Gibs and try to navigate the through the Wet Caverns, backtracking to where she thought she remembered where the ladder trio passed them before taking the other, wetter route through the Cavern.
Underneath it lay a resting little clan of a multitude of pink scary-faced dog-like Pokémon either chewing on berries themselves or standing as if guarding the trees