How long had it been since she'd looked up Pokemon strategy guides? Cleo purses her lips, scanning the skyline. "You know, I hope you know, it's not a you thing," she says, taking a short break from her scanning to look at the Mudkip at her feet. "I hear this event comin' up, I need to sacrifice some Pokemon and all."

<And I'm among those sacrifices?> Is that fear in his beady little eyes? Or maybe disappointment?

"Of course not. No, no. You're my starter! The cherished partner! Plus—!" She rocks back on her feet, lips clamping as somebody passes by with an odd glance in her direction. Their gaze drops down to Mudkip, then back to her, and then eventually, finally, away. Still, she holds her tongue until they're gone. "Plus, um, you're pretty strong. Or will be strong."

<I suppose I should say thanks, then.> He says drily.

Cleo nods. "Course! You're welcome!" There's something about Mudkip's tone and posture that tingles in the back of her mind, but it's hard enough reading between the lines with others of her own species, much less the 1s and 0s that make up this entirely digital species. Well, if he wanted her to understand, he'd just have to say it a little more clearly.

The rock smacks straight into the Woobat's snout, its frantic cry of pain twisting with the sound of impact and Mudkip's pleased chirrup. Though dazed, the Woobat stays afloat, beating wings keeping it well out of their reach.

"Just a couple more and we've got 'em in the bag! C'mon, you got this, uh," she trails off. Would it be weird to just call him Mudkip? It would, wouldn't it? Like, what if they encountered another Mudkip? He should have his own name. But a name is an important thing. She couldn't just decide it willy-nilly here. "You've got this!"

The Mudkip readies another rock. <Not even a please?>

"You've got this, please!"

Cleo fumbles around her UI, looking for the Pokeball that she knows is supposed to be somewhere in there for capture. A little pre-emptive, sure, but Mudkip has undoubtedly proven that he's got pretty good aim. Oh no. She pauses in her rush, grimacing. What if she misses? That'd be so embarrassing.

In the background, bat and not-quite-fish continue their deadly showdown. <Just drop already!> Mudkip's tiring arms are struggling to pierce through the winds the Woobat is summoning, but stubbornness (or maybe the fear of being sacrificed if he fails to show off his strength) keeps him going.

Cleo scoops up the pokeball as the light show comes to an end and remains squatting, contemplating. One out of three done. Easy peasy! She can do two more before the event deadline, right? A quick summon of the UI, and a distinctly-less-quick hunt for the clock, tells her… well. It'd be tight. But she can. If she really, really tries.

Mudkip sniffs, shuffling around her. <I was pretty strong there, wasn't I?>

She snaps out of her thoughts, peering down at her starter. "You were!"

A nod. <And the Woobat was weak, and that's why we're sacrificing it.>

She responds to his nod with a nod. "Yep!" She pops the 'p' as she unfolds, stretching out her legs. Her gaze trains on the signs for Route 1. The Grove. Surely there'd be plenty of leafy types there.

<And since I'm not weak, you're not sacrificing me.>

"I—" She groans. Maybe it had been a mistake to tell him her plans. "Look, I promise I won't sacrifice you regardless. You're fine."

Mudkip remains unconvinced, probing her the rest of the way as they journey to their next battle.