DAY 7
I look in shock at my saviour. A big, beautiful pearlescent white seal. Maybe she mistook my cries for one of her offspring.
Maybe those of the same species look out for each other?
I for one thank my lucky stars that she was close enough to hear my cries, likely assuming them to be a desperate plea for help.
I certainly wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth, with gratitude I voiced my appreciation for saving my bacon “Seeeeeel”
Dewgongs mouth arches into what I can only believe to be a smile. She is clearly happy to be of help.
I am just frustrated that I don’t have any thing to repay her with. My only possession in this world being a Shellders Shell buried at the bottom of a deep hole beneath many kilos of sand and jagged ice shards. Maybe i'll just try to be the perfect 'gentleseel' in front of her?
Patiently waiting outside of my hole she looks at me inquisitively “Gong”?” potentially asking if I intend to stay inside my cave which I was obviously trying desperately to escape only moments before.
Well no time like the present, I think to myself as I hesitantly exit my cave to behold the full size of my saviour. Yep that's what i'm naming her and if you got a problem with that tough shit I'm not great with naming even at the best of times.
She’s huge! But not in a bad way. She’s all curves in all the right places, not an ounce of fat out of place. Mentally whistling to myself in appreciation for a thing of beauty. She really should thank her parents for her good looks although i'm sure she likely has some insane excercie routine and shampoo to keep that luster so good.
She lets out a little chuckle of laughter. I couldn’t have been any more obvious. It’s kind of embarrassing but i’ve never been great in social situations and definitely not after just being saved from certain death. I must say thats a first for me, even in my previous line of work.
I’m scared to Appraise and Identify her further as that might seem impolite and i’ve eyeballed her enough for comfort i’m sure already. No need to make it more awkward.
Curiosity satiated I wonder what’s next. I obviously can’t stay here. So I shyly look back at the inquisitive saviour to see if she has any ideas “Seel?”
In response she looks away from me and slowly swims upwards. Oh I guess she’s done with me. My hope dies as I prepare to find a new home. I watch in sadness as she slowly swims away from me.
She turns around and looks at me mid swim. “Gong?” She inquisitively asks. Gesturing for me with one of her flippers as if asking ‘so are you coming?’
My heart has a warm fuzzy feeling inside and I rapidly scramble to catch up to her, big puppy dog eyes plastered on my face. Glad for the company and protection and lets be honest she was very pretty for a seal.
With no clue as to where we are headed we travel further and further upwards.
Monoliths of massive ice hang suspended in the water potentially here since the last ice age. I don’t see any legendary Pokémon frozen in ice and I for one am grateful for this small blessing, I’ve had enough chaos for one day.
We travel higher and higher as the darkness of the water slowly turns to shimmering light from above.
I look in wonder as the glint of the light catches on the submerged icebergs, glimmering like massive multifaceted diamonds. Rays of sunlight break through the murky water in spots which I can only assume is magnified by the reflectivity of the ice? I was no physics major so i'm gonna go with that for now until proven otherwise.
The further up we travel the brighter the light becomes. Thankfully my guide is smart, either worried about my apparent lack of stamina and poor swimming capabilities or knowing that I have been in the dark depths for far longer that a seal probably should be.
At least in my world that is. Not sure what habits Seels have here, for all I know they all live below the surface of the ocean. Unlikely considering the direction we are travelling... yep.. up.
Being blinded by bright light isn’t a passion of mine. Althoughhhhh… I mean I did kind of swim towards a blinding light when I was apparently dying. Who knows what I do and don't like these days, I was kinda appreciating Dugong’s curves more then I would a Seal from Earth.
As we swim further in silence I have the time to gather my thoughts. Not exactly like we are going to be the best conversationalists with just “seel” and “gong” sounds no matter how expressive either of us are.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
So my plans to capture a new Pokémon and see what my skill actually does is going to be put on hold for now. I don't want to freak out my saviour and make a bad ... second? ... impression. Caus I sure as shit sherlock know my first impression wasn't the best.
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What feels like an eternity later, we slowly break above the surface. My first breath of fresh air in this new world.
Okay don’t judge me but I kind of always wanted to do this trick if I ever got the chance. Ignoring the questioning “GONG” from my new friend, I quickly dive back under the surface and then PROPEL out of the water gracefully like in all those nature documentaries. Breaking the surface and flying into the air like free willy on wayyyyy too many steroids.
However what happened next was anything but graceful. For those not aware, I don’t have wings and I will never learn to actually fly.
So to say I plummet back down into the water and belly flop loudly *Whack* (-10 HP), would be an understatement of the of the century.
The sound of an amused Dewgong can be heard but in all honesty, I don’t really care all that much.
Thats was freaking EPIC!
Although I could continue to do this for days on end I don’t think Dewgongs patience will last that long and honestly i'm not willing to put her to the test, in that way.
So with my last vestiges of respect gone from my system and ... yep.... a bad second impression... I follow Dewgong out of the water and onto a nearby ice flow flopping down with an *oomph* onto the hard icy surface.
What follows is memorable, truly memorable.
”Gonggggg” “Gongggg” “Gongggg” “Seel” “Seel” “Seel” what I can only explain as a shit ton of Seels and Dewgongs greet her and myself upon our arrival from further inland of the water. Small holes of ice have been removed here and there around the perimetre of their own version of my "safe zone" however the scale is far far larger than just one football field. And also far more inviting, given all the family members present.
This is the closest to home I have felt like since coming to this world.
The herd flock around us, although a few of the Dewgong keep an eye on the herd creating an invisible ring of 5 around us.
Protection at its finest, these GONGS would make great... hehehe NAVY SEALS, so disciplined in their behaviour. Stops predators getting in and unwary Seels getting lost and separated from the group. Through the cacophony of sound I slowly count the number of Pokémon in this large posse. I count 10 Dewgong, of which there is one scarred Alpha male who is twice the size of the largest female in the group who just so happens to be my saviour and ... yeah.... no clue... at a quick estimate maybe close to 60 seals in various stages of maturity and sizes.
I watch in disappointment as Saviour goes up to Alpha to give him a little cuddle on her return. I see them discussing (no clue how) my arrival as I can clearly see both of them looking my way. Alphas frown deepens, potentially sensing my initial interest in his partner whilst Saviour just smiles and gives me a happy little flipper wave.
As I slowly walk around the group of juveniles I inspect what I hope is going to be my new home.
I pass a small female dugong who just looks towards me in what I can only describe as a look of pity and sadness.
Well shit is it that obvious? She must feel bad for how i've been living on my own in the wilds for all this time. Bless her soul.
Apart from that I can see the Seels playing and racing each other around the large space on this iceberg which stretches into the distant expanse. Always within view of the NAVY SEALS on duty though. I assume they have a rotating shift?
I get swept up in the excitement of being with those of my own kind. Playing and I dare say frolicking with the best of them.
FINALLY safe in the knowledge that i'm loved and protected by Adults many times my level. Not invincible but surely not something to be easily trifled with either.
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A few hours later.
Amongst the older and larger seels I can see a yellow coloured one instead of white.
Oh my gawd.. is that a SHINY of our species. I hate to admit it but i'm a tad jealous, however with that colouration he does look a little (just a little) like someone just urinated on his pristine fur to cause it to discolour.
I chuckle as I look his way. He takes this as an opportunity to come over and inspect me.
Shit... am I about to get my arse kicked as an introduction to the heirarchy of the herd? He inquisitevely looks over as he circles me, obviously measuring up the competition and likely using appraise on me, honestly i'd do the same i'm freaking fashionable, the new kid on the block.
"Gong?" The small female Dewgong calls him over and he gives me a final look a hoot of approval "SE!" then runs off to who I can only assume is mother, considering the attention and affection she showers on him.
Well that went differently from what I was expecting.
Inspect reveals our cute little shiny in the herd to be lvl 31 so certainly not far from evolving looking at his physique and size, from memory Dewgongs in the game evolve at Level 34?. Although from the other seels around the same level as him he honestly towers over them. He's gonna be a 'Bik Boi' when he evolves for sure.
Potentially the new Alpha, not quite sure how that works but it should be entertaining to witness.
I just hope nobody gets hurt as looking at the scars on the current Alpha I can only assume not all those wounds are from defending the herd from predators and other animals vying for territory.
As night settles over us I notice the Seels celebrate as one of their kin evolves into a Dewgong! CONGRATULATIONS! He must have just hit LVL 34 recently and was biding his time and accumulating enough energy for his push to evolution. I don't really know how Pokémon evolve here and this is my first opportunity to witness the blinding flash of light and the change in shape and size. At least in real life that is and not in some childrens anime. It certainly takes far longer then in the anime and certainly couldn't have been done mid battle.
Five of the Elder Dewgongs including the Alpha crowd around him congratulating him on his promotion to "one of us, one of us, one of us!" and they usher him away into the distance in what I can only imaging as a night of wild debauchery!
Ohhhhh how juicy.
I think i'm going to like it here!
Time to REST!
STATUS - no change to status all skills and HP/MP are at max.