With the Pokémon encyclopedia in hand, I felt a sense of accomplishment wash over me. I had a wealth of information at my fingertips, and I was eager to put it to use. After skimming through various entries, I set it aside and decided to check the bulletin board for new missions.

As I walked over to the bulletin board in the Pokémon Center, I noticed a few trainers milling about, sharing stories of their adventures. I scanned the board, noting several requests. My eyes landed on two specific missions that caught my interest:

1. "Help! We’ve lost our Pokémon! Last seen near the river. Reward: 500 Poké Dollars."

2. "Looking for a skilled trainer to help catch a wild Surskit. Reward: 500 Poké Dollars."

Both missions seemed straightforward enough, but I felt drawn to the lost Pokémon mission first. I could potentially earn 1,000 Poké Dollars, bringing me closer to my revised goal of 6,000 for camping supplies.

I approached the trainer who had posted the request. “Excuse me, I saw your note about the lost Pokémon. Can you tell me more about it?”

The trainer, a young girl with worried eyes, looked up at me hopefully. “Yes! It’s my Poochyena. I was training near the river when it ran off after a wild Pokémon. I haven’t seen it since!”

“Do you know where you last saw it?” I asked, my mind racing with thoughts of how to find it.

“Just past the big rock near the water’s edge,” she replied, pointing in the direction. “Please, can you help me find it?”

“I’ll do my best,” I assured her. “Let’s go to the river together.”

As we made our way to the riverbank, I felt a sense of urgency. I wanted to help her, and I was eager to see if I could find the lost Poochyena. The sun was bright, casting shimmering reflections on the water.

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When we reached the location, I scanned the area carefully. “Is this the rock you mentioned?” I asked, pointing to a large boulder nearby.

“Yes! Right around here,” she said, looking anxious.

I crouched down and examined the surroundings. “Let’s call for it. Poochyena!” I shouted, hoping to attract its attention. “Come here, buddy!”

For a moment, there was silence, but then I noticed some rustling in the nearby bushes. “Did you hear that?” I asked, excitement bubbling in my chest.

The girl nodded eagerly. “Yes! That must be it!”

I approached the bushes cautiously, ready to reassure the Poochyena. “It’s okay; we’re here to help you,” I called out softly.

As I peered into the bushes, a small, frightened Poochyena emerged, looking around nervously. Relief washed over me. “There you are!” I exclaimed.

But just as I was about to reach for it, the Poochyena darted back into the underbrush, startled by a passing flock of Wingull. “No, wait!” I called out, feeling a pang of frustration.

The girl and I exchanged worried glances. “It’s scared,” she said, her voice tinged with concern.

“We need to be careful not to spook it again,” I replied. “Let’s try to lure it out.”

We moved slowly, creating a small distance between us and the bushes. I fished out a few berries from my bag. “Maybe it will come out if it smells something tasty,” I suggested.

I placed the berries on the ground near the bushes, hoping the scent would draw the Poochyena back out. We waited quietly, holding our breath in anticipation.

After what felt like an eternity, the Poochyena cautiously emerged, sniffing the air. It spotted the berries and edged closer. “Come on, little guy,” I whispered, staying as still as possible.

When the Poochyena finally reached the berries, I took a slow step forward. “It’s okay. We’re here to help,” I assured it.

Just as I was about to reach for it again, a rustle came from the bushes nearby, and the Poochyena froze, eyes wide. I held my breath, hoping it wouldn’t run away again. Thankfully, it seemed to regain its confidence and began munching on the berries.

“This is our chance,” I said quietly to the girl. “On the count of three, let’s move in and grab it.”

“Okay,” she whispered back, her eyes focused on the Poochyena. “One... two... three!”

We both lunged forward gently, and I managed to scoop up the little Pokémon before it could escape. “Got it!” I exclaimed, feeling relieved.

The girl beamed with joy, tears of relief welling in her eyes. “Thank you! You found my Poochyena!” She took it from my arms, cradling it against her chest.

“I’m just glad it’s safe,” I replied, feeling a warm sense of accomplishment.

“Here’s your reward,” she said, handing me a pouch with 500 Poké Dollars. “I can’t thank you enough.”

“Thank you! I’m just happy to help,” I said, tucking the money into my bag.

As I turned to leave, I couldn’t help but smile at the day’s success. I had helped reunite a trainer with her Pokémon, and it felt good to contribute positively to someone else’s journey.

With the first mission complete, I felt energized and ready for the next challenge. The Surskit mission would have to wait for tomorrow, but I was confident I could handle whatever came my way. I was getting closer to my goal of 6,000 Poké Dollars for camping supplies, and I looked forward to what lay ahead.