I still can't believe how weird this forest was.

The ground feels sturdy enough but inappropriate for the environment. Too dry. Similar to a fine gravel or grainier sand. My foot sink leaving imprints on the soil at each step. It leaves imprints of my sole with it weird zig-zag and dot patterns engraved behind me. Small dust cloud falling back down soon after to cover them of a film of loose particles.

The repetitive nature of the forest made it more unsettling than any other I walk in before. Trees were always four to five steps apart with a small plant in between. Unnatural feels like an understatement. It felt manufacture or rushed, the same feeling that I got when watching bad TV or a video from a decaying chanel on PokeVideo. Yet those feeling also felt wrong, or more illogical. There wasn't a Pokemon strong enough that I knew of that could make an entire forest. Pokemon would also try to make it look good at the lease.

I couldn't help to question what I saw in my descent. My mind otherwise distraught by the lack of distraction, the lack of noise.

But me being distracted also wasn't the best thing.

I fell again on the dusty soil. Catching my fall with my hand by instinct. My involuntary action reintroducing a new-found friend in my existence in this forest. Pain scream, sharp and sudden, stinging with passion before mellowing when the pressure left my wounds. More dirt lodged itself in between the loose skin of my right hand. The wound darken once again while my skin change colour neared my knee. Another bruise join the others.

The forest may have been repetitive but the roots that cause my fate sure weren't.

They aren't always uncovered. When going down you only need to worry to fall on one side. But in the flat area that was traversing in the moment, the roots were unpredictable. It only took me to not lift my foot high enough to get caught or a lap of attention to slowly drift closer to trees to stumble on a bigger obstacle.

I stood back up.

My legs were tired already. The sun was now over castes from the glimpse I caught of it in a hole through the greenery. I stared for a moment.

I smelled of sweat. My hoody hot and bothersome. I removed it, exposing my belly under it. My habit of not wearing an undershirt coming back to spite me. To cool more I decided that a break was in order.

The climate here was way too hot compared to the Sinnoh spring.

Taking my backpack and stuffing my piece of cloth in exchange for food. I came to a sudden realization.

Amongst the food that I took. There was mostly fresh berries, with Bluck and Razz berries being the most prominent, and canned food. The former will rot quickly if I didn't eat them now. The latter, I could not access because of its design. Finding a way to either open cans was now a high priority. Otherwise, I had at most, a week of food left. Things were looking bleak.

Not that they weren't before.

So I ate until I felt full. Resting my leg for the walk ahead. As I took the last handful to my mouth as a movement on the trunk of a tree took my attention.

A cylindrical body made of multiple segments. Coloured with blunt red spike to ward off predators. Yellow horns used in scratching the hard bark off the brown plant. It fed of the sap dripping slowly out of the wound it caused. Taking his fill before claiming ever higher amongst the branches. A Wurmple.

The second Pokemon I had seen in this forest.

Something loosened in my chess.

I took a big breath.

I didn't realize that the lack of Pokemon was stressing me. Finally seeing one reassure me that I am not alone here. Wurmple was even more of a relive. It is a peaceful Pokemon. One that we often saw in Jubilife. Wurmple was generally the first Pokemon we were thought to interact with for their general safety. They posed the biggest threat when scared. Patience was recommended with them. Even if you ware too forthcoming with then, at most of your skin would sting from the poison and turn purple. Needing rest and a trip to the center. Most often, you would just have a bunch of sticky silk all over to slow your grabby hand.

He hasn't seemed to be aware of my presence.

Should I catch it?

I didn't really have the answer. As a Bug type, Wurmple would grow fast and food didn't seem to be an issue for the little guy in this forest. Beyond his poison sting and bite, he would make a good first compagnon and allow me to have a partner to defend against other Pokemon beyond my bag pack. The encounter with the Rattata still fresh in my mind.

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

It climbs slowly, undulating his body slowly in a crawl. I stared until he vanished from my sight.

In the end, it wouldn't be my first Pokemon.

Back on my feet I continued my journey.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

After a few hours, the plateau ended and I could continue going down.

The walk wasn't very event full. No other Pokemon stumble in my vision. The silence returned to oppress my mind left with no distraction. I made my way downwards. I reached a cliff and was now following along until I could find a passage that wound not kill me if I trusted my foot in the wrong place. The roots warned me to watch where I was going enough already. I eventually found a narrow crevasse where the earth made a ramp.

But before going down, I took time to observe the view. The cliff allowed me to see slightly over the trees further down. The same sigh greeted me again. It didn't seem to have changed much. A large extent of green going behind the mountain who hid the horizon. The mountain was rather normal. Covered in trees, with the occasional scar of rock counted its faces when the elevation climb too quickly for the hardy tree to grow. My eyes search for a landmark or something that could hint at a food or water source. What my eyes saw seemed to be a hole in the trees. Maybe that is a small lake?

It wasn't a very big but large enough for me to let me slide down if I brought my arm near my chest. I slid for a bit before getting stuck by a pointy rock. It dug my shoulder painfully. I shifted around to my side which finally allowed to continue my decent. The earth providing loose enough to slide. Yet this crevasse wasn't letting me go unscathed. The floor drops suddenly in the air a few meters above the ground. Feet first I fell and hit the earth with force. I then rolled around until my momentum couldn't carry me farther.

Coughing from the dust in the air, I stood up to look around. My legs were fine. I was lucky.

It seems that I fell in a pile of sand like dirt. Which broke my fall. I could have been very injured, yet, once again, I was barely injured. The cut on my shoulder the only injury sustained.

Turning I continued following the curve of the mountain towards the hole in the trees that I saw earlier.

Careful step I slowly when down the incline. Repeating a careful and slow descent, more injuries is the last thing that I want. Even less now that I removed my hoody. Keeping close to trees to support my weight, I eventually arrive at another somewhat flat plane. It was hillier more than anything.

It didn't take me long to finally see a relieve sight. A small creek with clear water flowed away. Here nature actually felt... well, natural. Polished rock was everywhere directing the flow of water. Roots dripped into drink the life-giving substance. Moss covered larger rock to offer a comfortable-looking seat. Fern where everywhere the light touched.

A huge relieve...

I couldn't help but cry again.

Maybe I can survive here.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

''Water is the most important resource for us. It enables our survival and allows us many things. So in your journey, always make sure to keep more water than you think you will need. Even if there is a supply points along routes, you never know when having spar water will be useful. Beyond squinching your thirst water enables you to cook, clean yourself and clean injury you or your Pokemon may encounter along the way to the next city. This is why the routes are not made to be the fastest way to go in between two locations. Because we need so much water daily, routes follow rivers or joins lakes together allowing spare water wherever you go.''

''But water found in nature isn't the safest. Why is that?''

''I know! It is because there is Pokemon in it!''

''Partially true, because Pokemon also need water, where you can find some will generally be a meeting spot for large Pokemon community with Water and Grass type being the most frequent encounter there. Because of that, conflict is also rare. Pokemon are smart, they won't try to anger the locale community as they pass by. These communities will then generally let them pass. But it isn't always safe, communities are generally composed of large groups of weaker Pokemon. It only takes a few of them before trainers get overwhelmed. Yet in general, if you behave and don't seek conflict, you will be ignored. There is another reason why natural water in dangerous. Does someone have a theory?''

''Is it because there is dirt in the water?''

''Yes, exactly! Water in the wild contains a lot of different contaminants. Dirt, oil, rock, mud, trash and waste from humans and Pokemon alike. Even if it is the clearest water around, unless it freshly melted snow, will always contain a small amount that could make you sick. Not everyone will be affected in the same way. Younger, active and healthy people have a better chance at drinking it without side effect. In the past, when our ancestors spent most of their time in the wild, they even could drink it straight without danger. We because of our modern life are more sensitive to disease. So to make water safe to drink, we came up with multiple ways to clean water. The simplest is boiling. The heat kills of most of the dangerous invisible microbes. There is still a chance of it making you sick, but the risk almost becomes nonexistent.''

''Is the water in our home boiled?''

''Some is, but these days, water is filtrated by with the help of technology and powerful Grass type. With pluming, we are able to move the water around and deliver it to your home. It is convenient.''

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

I cupped water in my hand.

I was so thirsty. I could drink it right now. My memories now came to stop me from reliving my need. How cruel is my brain. I needed to wait more before the headaches would leave me. Sickest was worse.

I decided to wash myself instead. I'll figure out how to boiled water later. Shadows were already growing bigger. I need to sleep soon.