Welcome to Gaia! ::

((OOC: I goofed on which name I was using for the character-gotta go back and change it, lol)
"Your what?" Shikari asked, befuddled. So many strange things here! "What's a Ponyta? Is that anything like the uh...what did she call it...the 'Growlithe' I met yesterday?" She hadn't heard any paws, and the sounds had been made by something...heavier. Her first reaction was to be concerned, but the other person seemed calm enough, so perhaps there was nothing to worry about. She attempted to approach but forgot to watch where she was walking and hit a rise in the dirt, falling on her face for what seemed like the ten-zillionth time. She wanted to cry, but she bit her lip instead and held it in. She was so tired of all this!

Shina blinked. Not knowing what a Ponyta was? Well, there was a fast way to fix that. Shina tugged the reins and Rasha stopped. Shina swung down from the saddle, making sure to scuff her feet a bit when she landed so the girl could hear her dismounting. "A Ponyta is a riding pokemon, mine is named Rasha. I'm Shina. Rasha's a fire type, just like Growlithe, but she is much bigger. If you like, I can let you see her with your hands. She won't mind." Shina reached out and touched the girl's shoulder, then ran her hand lightly down the girl's arm to her hand, resting her fingertips against the back of the girl's hand, letting her know where Shina was.

Edit: ((Hi DJ!)) Tenka scrambled onto Rush's broad back. "" Tenka said to Maya.

"Only way to get to know someone is to spend some time with them," Shina said sensibly. Gently, she tugged the reins a bit. Rasha lowered her head, and Shina carefully guided the girl's hand over Rasha's long face. "She's wearing a bridle, that's the leather straps you feel. The bridle lets me tell Rasha which way I want her to go."

Shina ran their hands down Rasha's neck. "This is her neck. Feel how strong it is? Ponyta have manes of flame, but somehow it never burns anything or anyone the Ponyta doesn't want to. Rasha likes me, and she's a very tame Ponyta, so she's perfectly safe to touch."

Reaching Rasha's shoulder, she guided their hands down her foreleg. "Rasha has long, strong legs that can carry a rider over long distances. Her hooves here are very hard and strong, so she can walk on many types of surfaces without hurting herself."

Back to the shoulder, and then along her belly and over the saddle. "Her back is broad and strong. This is her saddle, where I sit. You can ride bareback, but it is more comfortable to ride with a saddle. This is the pillion pad, where you can sit. Her hind legs are even stronger than her front legs, and are powerful enough that they can let her jump things as tall as my shoulder, even with me on her back."

"Some pokemon can be dangerous, but tamed pokemon are wonderful partners. I met another blind person, a man, with an Espeon who acted as his eyes. Espeon are closer to the size of Growlithe than Ponyta, and are psychic. The man's Espeon could sometimes connect with him and let him borrow her eyes. Even pokemon that can't do that can act as guides and helpers," Shina explained. "And you are welcome to travel with us. As you felt, I already have a seat ready for you on Rasha. I'd be happy to have you along on our trip..." Shina trailed off, waiting for the girl to provide her name.

"I uh...certainly hope she doesn't jump when I'm on. I'd probably fall off!" she laughed, starting to relax. "She feels beautiful. How do I get on...?"
As she was helped up, she remembered something. "Oh, oops! I'm Shikari." It felt wierd saying her own name. Everyone usually knew it already.
She settled onto the pad. This was going to take some getting used to, but the warm, powerful body underneath hers fascinated her. "Wow."

Shikari nodded; she was ready to go. "Wooow. This is incredible." She shifted a bit, trying to get centered, trying to take it all in. The breeze on her face felt wonderful after the sweat she'd worked up trying to get here. Wherever 'here' was. "So what's this place?" she inquired, her voice shaking a little from excitement as she wrapped her arms firmly around her new friend's middle.

Shina squeezed Rasha's sides, and Rasha flowed into the smooth, brisk running walk that Kanto Steppers were so known for. "We are in the Pilkiras Plains. This is a large, open area with tall grass, low berry bushes, and low rolling hills," Shina told her passenger. They swung around the outside of the caravan, heading back towards the front of the group. "Eventually we will reach the Great Lake of Zatao, and travel north along the coastline. This caravan is going to explore a good portion of Zatao, before we are done, including visiting all three major cities on the continent."

"" Tenka said, his tail also fluffing a bit before he gave a small lick to Maya's cheek. ((Eeeeee! Snuggly lovebird Emolga! heart ))

Both Cetus and Deneb Algenubi made a noise in unison; an audible squawk of snobbishness. Their eyes met, evergreen upon gainsboro grey, and a look of disgust registered itself on both of their faces. Cetus twirled a loose, brown lock and her Pidgeot fluttered his tail feathers and they descended in opposite direction; Cetus to the new gal and her Pidgeot, well, he just wanted to get away from her.

The Galactic Grunt waved at Shina and the other, a smile (as always) evident on her face. "Ah, a new member to the caravan?" she said with a hand to her cheek. "Hello young lady, I'm Claramay Pearls. Please call me Mrs. Pearls, aheh~"

Flint turned to see the new girl riding with Shina and gave a little wave, unaware the girl was blind. " Hey there! I'm Flint, nice to have you along miss." he said pleasantly.

Maya nuzzled Tenka then yawned <" oh, guess im not entirely rested after last night"> she said with a small giggle, remembering their shenanigans in the Pokemon center the previous night.