Now that I'm thinking about it, following an unfamiliar scent in the woods wasn't exactly my brightest idea. Why? Because I'm being chased by rather angry giant bees! They were not thrilled that I managed to get so close to what I could only assume to be their nest. Not even here for a few hours and I'm moving as fast as my little body can take me. The only bright idea I had was getting a handle on how my body moves.

Dodging between trees, a few of those giant bee's huge spike like arms trying to skewer me, hopping over a blue and cream-colored rat looking creature who chattered something I could only vaguely understand with my heartbeat thumping in my ears. I did however hear something akin to a shriek of terror a moment later. I was sorry for that, but I am not yet equipped to deal with five enemies at once and trying to breath fire at a time like this does not sound anywhere close to a great idea.

Spotting a small opening under a tree, I skidded to a stop and jumped into it curling myself up as small as I could make myself. I took long deep breaths to steady my heart. That was when my nose alerted me to a new smell, it smelled stale though. Like it had been some time since they had been here. Turning my head, I take in the hole I found myself in.

There were a few things in here with me but as far as I could tell they are various items. One looked like a nearly empty bottle of some blue liquid. I can make out some symbols on the side of the bottle, but I haven't the faintest idea what it says. A few various other bottles similar in size but with different colors are in here as well one is yellow, one is red, and one is a sky blue. Tapping them with my forepaw I can tell at most they might have a least a bit of liquid by the sound of liquid sloshing inside my ears pick up. The old timer didn't say anything about these but from what I can tell from smelling them closer they might be medicine of some sort.

Shaking my head I look over at the opening and perk up my ears listening for the buzzing of the bees. It seems they had lost interest in chasing me now that I disappeared. With a shutter I returned to my investigation of the stuff in here. A broken device that looks like two halves of a ball sits to the side one-half red the other white with what looks like some type of pressable switch connected to it. Either I stumbled on some stash another Pokémon collected, or I found something a human left here. It would explain why the scent seems older and very faint like they haven't been here for a while.

I suppose if I waited around here for a bit it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Perhaps I may get lucky and find a less hostile Pokémon to speak with or a human to feed me as humiliating as that sounds. I should have asked about what local plants are okay to eat. I should be okay for maybe a day or two without food but that doesn't change that I'll need to turn this place into a proper base of operation.

=============

Fortunately digging comes naturally, perhaps a bit too naturally. I managed to make myself an actual den under this tree. I shifted the items over by the broken device away from where I dug out my cubby for sleeping. Now that I'm thinking about it more perhaps the fact an assumed human sent was here it's unlikely another Pokémon was using this a a home or it would probably smell stronger. Im unsure about that, but I can afford to wait.

A slight feeling of hunger starts to gnaw at my stomach making me look towards the exit hole. With a sigh I poke my head out of the hole slowly taking a cautious look around starting with up, then to the left and right before stepping out to a reasonably quiet ambience of the wind ruffling through the leaves over my head. I stick my nose up and start working on finding something that smelled like food? I wasn't sure what I was looking for but something a bit bitter caught my nose. It oddly reminded me of one of my fellow Knights love for chocolate. That bitter stuff never sat well with me, but I would grab some if it was all there was to eat.

Following the smell and instead of bursting through the bushes I peak out of them to take note of a bush of some kind with a greenish fruit? No seemed too small to be some fruit, perhaps a berry? Well, it smelled edible and from what could see and hear nothing was around but me right now.

Snatching one of them from the bush with my mouth and diving back into the bush I came from I took a few tentative bites out of it. Yup it was bitter, and I didn't really like it, but food was food. If I was to keep myself strong then I will need to eat regardless of if I like it or not. I look at the bush and make my way over to it after finishing the berry I had snatched. I should grab a few and take them back with me to my base. That way I don't have to come here for a while. I pulled a few off the bush and picked them up with my mouth by the leaves managing to pick up five of them but that was the max I was going to attempt to carry back.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

=================

It had been a few days. I found a pond where some other Pokémon clearly come to get their fill of water should they need it. Although I do find it odd that I haven't run into any of them. I managed to find a few other places with different flavored berries, from the different scents I picked up the blue ones that felt like biting into an apple were rather popular with the other local Pokémon. They had a type of revitalizing effect from what I could tell, as I felt a bit more energetic after eating one. Then there was one that made me wide awake after eating it. I should be careful with that one I remember what a coffee crash feels like, and I don't want to risk having one of those. Another one was pretty spicy, red with a green vine like stalk connected to the small berry.

Taking a seat outside my base. I started trying to breath any semblance of fire. I had managed a flew flickers of fire yesterday but that was it. I remembered how it felt but I couldn't replicate the action again since. Maybe I'm doing it wrong? Getting back up to my paws with a soft grumble I start to train my endurance instead. The winner in a battle of Knights is a mostly a matter of endurance and skill. Since I can't work on skill right now then I shouldn't tire before my future opponents do.

I continued for a few days longer like this, training my body until I felt the familiar aching in every part of me. It felt so good to get stronger and faster each day. The rate at which my new body is adapting is great! I couldn't have asked for anything better.

After about two weeks of being out here I saw a human outside the base. They seemed to be young girl, and they had a confused look on their face. A face I had seen countless times on someone who was lost and in need of direction. I called out to the child drawing their attention with a small cry of my species name. The girl's eyes snapped to me. She seemed a little alarmed at the sight of me and I could smell the emotions coming from her but i couldn't determine what they were. So instead of getting closer to the child I sat in place and tilted my head and gave another soft call to her.

The child looked hesitant but slowly approached me and with a shaky hand she let the back of her hand near my nose. It seems that greeting animals by letting them smell you is a common thing here just like it was in my old world. Not that I would have ever done it without a gauntlet on, but things may be different here. Moving my head towards her hand I sniffed it. She smelled strongly of something sweet, perhaps sugar or honey. I lifted a forepaw under the palm of her hand and pressed my nose on it. It was the closest I could think of that was reminiscent of a knightly greeting to a lady. It would be remiss of me to forget my manners, even if I am no longer a human.

I lowered my paw and bowed my head towards the child before looking up at her. She was giving me a surprised look.

[Wow, you were just like the Pokémon in the story books!]

I straighten my back at the child's words. Like in story books? So, it seems knights are or were a thing at one point that makes things easier.

[D-Do you think you can help me get home? A bunch of bullies chased me in here and I can't find my way back.]

This couldn't have been more of a boon. This child's scent should be easy enough to track through the woods right back to where she came in. Meaning I will know where civilization is as well as preform my duty to help the innocent. Giving a firm nod I get closer to her and familiarize myself with her scent. A bit odd to not use a hound for this but it is a bit convenient to be capable enough to do it myself. I gently bite on her shirt and give it a tug before letting go and leading the way for her to follow. I pause every few minutes or so and look at her to make sure she's still following.

This child must have some insane level of athleticism because I'd been following her scent for a straight hour, and we have yet to leave the forest. However, I am hearing different sounds not too far off. Although they are rather odd and not what I know as familiar I hop slightly when I stop to look back at the girl who had been following me quietly. She smiled at my hop and moved towards me.

[This area looks more familiar to me. I can probably find my way out now if you have to go.]

I shake my head and point with my nose towards where her scent and the sounds are coming from.

[Oh, are you saying you want to go too?]

I nod keeping my gaze locked towards the direction. I really hadn't to expected to be picked up, but I did my best not to squirm at the action of the child. I didn't want to risk hurting her. She's holding me like one would a teddy bear and it's humiliating, but I swallow my pride and allow the child to carry me. If anything, a child carrying a Pokémon might be a common occurrence. I remember children carrying cats like this back in my world. The must do something similar here, hopefully this won't draw too much attention.