The morning sun was bright, the breeze refreshing, and the clearing before us vast. Admiral blew some bubbles from his perch atop my shoulders, and croaked with laughter as they burst upon the ancient lodestone that marked the border of Viridian Forest.

The engraving upon the massive boulder was scribed in Middle Kanton, which I did not speak. The Professor had once told me it said 'Viridian Forest', but in the wake of Kanto's renaming, scholars had put much effort into educating the population of Taiheiyo that it was more accurately translated as 'Moss-Green Forest'. And while they may have been technically correct, people seemed unenchanted with the prospect of being named 'Moss City', so academia's objection to the Viridian interpretation had been cheerfully ignored.

Rather less academic attention had been directed towards the shallow etching beneath it, courtesy of more recent vandals, which read 'West Fucksville'. It had seemed apt a few years ago, when Viridian Forest had been little more than a wing of that forbidding region swarming with aggressive Pokémon, which still rendered impassable the old road between Viridian and Celadon. But on seeing that ancient stone standing before an idyllic clearing and surrounded by rows of saplings, each protected by a wire mesh, it seemed the height of arrogance to have inscribed something so crude and temporal in a monument so venerable.

We strode down the fresh-paved road, traversing the boundary between the forest and the abandoned outer limits of Viridian City. The cleared space beyond was as enormous as it was enchanting. The forest's treeline was about a kilometre away in every direction, and while I had seen larger open spaces before, I had never seen one with so many people.

Children ran across the field, chasing and playing with one another. Families sat on blankets without Pokémon to guard them. A young couple were being told off by a Ranger, standing in the shade of one of the few old, gnarled forest trees that had been permitted to remain. As we moved closer, I saw the ancient wood had been chiseled with a heart and initials.

Some part of me felt I should slow my pace, take the opportunity to breathe in this unique vista before we entered the forest proper. Relish the serenity, the peace, the warmth. The chance to enjoy a place, once common, that was now unique in all of West Kanto. But I had Pokémon to catch, and a badge to win, and I just did not have time for all this idyllic paradise crap.

Blue had a week on me.

We made good pace. Admiral was in high spirits, blowing bubbles over the heads of children as we passed and laughing at their excitement. He'd initially been walking beside me - I figured he and Nidoking could do with some time out of their Pokéballs - but his stumpy little legs had been unable to keep up with my impatient strides. Nidoking had the opposite problem - the moment I'd let him out, he'd started sprinting for the nearest patch of undergrowth. He was ensconced back in his ball now, restrained until I had some time to have Admiral sit on him again.

I was not looking forward to training that little fellow.

The clearing narrowed at the far end, trees closing towards the road as we approached the forest proper. They were still a good fifty metres away on either side, distant enough that any wild Pokémon would be spotted by patrolling Rangers before they could reach the road, but the forest's presence became more tangible. Not we had reason to fear an approach - the ground we now stood was where the Reclamation had struck hardest, and the local wildlife had learned, at great cost, the peril of venturing too close.

For an aspiring Trainer with two Pokémon, that was kind of a problem. Nevertheless, we set off on the path.

Quickly the hubbub of activity diminished, then vanished. Once you'd seen the first stretch of road, you'd seen its entirety, and the only purpose of venturing further was to reach Pewter. But there were no other wanderers with me - most chose to travel this road by convoy. Not so much for fears of security as for convenience - a notion I had casually dismissed as for the feeble of spirit.

As we walked, I began to teach Admiral the basics of my private battle code - something I had been developing in my mind for months. It was a terrible disadvantage to have your opponent hear your commands, so all but the most tragically inept Trainers made sure to establish a secret means of communication with their Pokémon. Admiral, being a fully-trained Association starter, was already capable of comprehending simple human speech, so he grasped the fundamentals quickly. With him, it took no more than simply stating a word in Kanton, then repeating it in our secret code. He took lesson well, and within an hour he understood directional instructions and commands such as attack, retreat, run, stay, move, and stop.

And, most critically, Rakka - are you okay? Swish tail twice for 'yes', once for 'hurt but can continue'. No response meant either 'no' or 'oh shit'.

I decided against a scream for 'yes'. Learning from Giovanni did not mean emulating him.

Before long he was off my shoulders, bounding forward and halting suddenly in response to a syllable that only we understood. But while he was a capable student, he was not an overly enthusiastic one. After I'd asked him to demonstrate yat-ruhr the eighth or ninth time, he ignored me. When I repeated the command he stopped, looked directly at me, and rolled his eyes. Sighing, I jerked my thumb towards my back, and gave the command for 'up'. He cheerfully obliged.

Without our lessons as distraction, however, time began to pass much more slowly. I had hoped to spend this time either finding errant Pokémon, or taking in the sights. But the Pokémon around here were fearful enough to avoid the road, and I quickly learned the sights could be more accurately described as 'sight'.

An hour passed. Eventually, another did. Admiral grew bored. So did I. I returned him to his Pokéball after a while, the ridge of his shell creating a small welt in my shoulder. Route One had an exciting landscape, active Pokémon, and plenty of the small challenges that make a journey interesting. A hill to summit. Potholes to avoid. Wind to brace against, cliffs to stand atop, tall grass to keep an eye on. Here, there was nothing but a long, straight, paved road. Trees too distant to worry about.

At one point, the path inclined upwards for about a kilometre. That was fun.

Every now and then, a truck or a convoy would pass. I cursed myself not for hitching a lift, even as I waved them on with a smile. Call it pride. It had been a beautiful day, and I'd made the decision to walk. The distance hadn't seemed so great when it had been an inch on a map. But once I was on the path, accepting a lift would involve admitting I'd made a mistake, and some part of me didn't want to be seen as a fool.

Third hour. Legs were beginning to ache. The fierce pace I'd begun with had slowed to a regular walk, unable to sustain the pumping enthusiasm I'd started with. I let Admiral out again, just to have someone to suffer with. Every now and then I'd get him to douse my face with water, to wash away my fatigue under the beating sun. When he wasn't blasting my face with rather more pressure than was strictly necessary, he ambled along by my side, as bored as I was. Every now and then, he would sigh theatrically.

We stopped in at a Ranger waystation for a spell. The air conditioning was nice. We sat. We stood. I filled my canteen from the drinking fountain, since Admiral had given me a look of disdain when I'd asked him to fill it himself. Apparently I'd broken some taboo.

I declined an offer to wait until the next convoy. Thanks, but I'm having a great time.

We left. Fourth hour. Fifth.

I let Nidoking out. He ran. I returned him. Let him out again. Ran. Returned. Admiral guffawed. It became a game. The sixth time, he started to duck and weave, so I pulled him back and stopped playing. Didn't want to actually lose him.

My feet were really starting to hurt. Hip felt a little funny. Started lamenting how old I was getting, in that way only 18 year-olds can.

Sixth hour? Something like that.

FUCK, A BIRD.

It wasn't a particularly interesting bird, or an unusual one, or even one that I particularly wanted. A Spearow, like I'd seen thousands of before. But it was movement, it was life, and it was on the grass and distracted by a worm or whatever and wasn't one of those flying assholes who wouldn't let me catch them, and I was here for some goddamned Pokémon and here was a goddamned Pokémon and I was going to catch the shit out of that goddamned Pokémon.

I froze, not wanting to alert it. Nearly fell over doing so, as by this point I'd stopped walking in the traditional sense and was now more rhythmically throwing my legs out to catch me as I fell forward. The Spearow, thirty-odd feet away and with its back to me, took no notice of the stumble. I raised a hand to Admiral in a 'halt' gesture, then placed a finger to my lips and pointed to the Spearow. He followed my gaze, perked up, and nodded like a bobblehead, broad toothy grin spreading across his face.

I drew a Pokéball. We advanced, slowly. Twenty-five feet. Twenty. Fifteen.

The Spearow twitched. Turned around. Saw us.

It flew away.

If there were any other birds nearby I hadn't spotted, they were banished by the tirade of profanity that ensued. I hurled the Pokéball wildly, cursing it to hell as it sailed merrily through empty air. Admiral briefly fired a torrent of water at the escaping bird, but stopped to learn some of the more colourful anatomical terms I was spouting that the Association hadn't taught him.

Upon his first amused croak, I stopped. But I wasn't done. I'd had enough of this empty road. I'd had enough of mown grass and Ranger stations and amicable travellers and not getting poisoned. This was Viridian Forest. I was going to spend some time in the fucking forest.

I strode towards the treeline. Admiral cheered.

He raced ahead of me as I stumbled. I called out his name and he returned, literally bouncing with enthusiasm. Every step was agony, and I didn't care. MY LEGS ARE MADE OF WOOD AND I AM GOING TO REUNITE THEM WITH THEIR BRETHREN.

It was a manic fury, without thought or cohesion. The road was so uniform and identical that walking had ceased to be progress. It was endless, a treadmill without an 'off' switch. The only change was the gradual progression of the sun across the sky, and the occasional hints of clouds that had threatened, then promised, and ultimately denied rain. I didn't care anymore, I just wanted to experience something.

The treeline beckoned, and as I approached, it welcomed. Even before we reached the wavy line of tall grass, the forest began to make its presence felt. A root inched over cut grass, chipped green by a lawnmower's blade. I heard sounds made by others, sounds beyond my own tired breath and the plodding monotony of shoe on stone. Chirping, buzzing, creaking, rustling, living. A world, not a way.

The first blades of grass brushed my hands. I slowed briefly, to relish the touch of life, but a forest is not grass. The first tree loomed before me, a gnarled titan of dark wood and grand canopy. Massive, thick branches heaved without unison, swaying slowly, starting low and sprawling out wide and far, their aspirations to the sky denied by their immense weight. Roots radiated from the base chaotically, twisting and winding over one another without plan or foresight. I tried to walk along one, but my steps were marred by uncertainty and fatigue. I wrapped myself backwards against the trunk, feet awkwardly splayed at differing heights and angles to find purchase, exhaling hard as rough bark scratched across my open palms and sunburnt neck.

It existed. It was real. I was real.

Admiral indulged me for a moment, but the sight of his Trainer anchored to a tree quickly grew tiresome for him. He jerked his head towards the forest, urging me on.

I raised a placating hand. The minor effort of taking a small step upon a root had sent jolts through my legs, and I knew there was no way I could endure a journey through rough terrain in this shape. Exhilaration would not carry me far. The responsible thing to do would be to sit, rest, and recover before continuing. Fortunately, I had a plentiful supply of Potion and didn't have to bother with that crap.

Pain receded as the spray settled on exposed skin. A thousand PSAs decried me as uncool, but those bejacketed actors shaking their heads at me belonged to another world, and they could not touch me here. The numbness was only slight, the euphoria barely registering - yes, I was using Potion to treat muscle fatigue, but I'd set the nozzle to the lowest setting. I wasn't a complete idiot. Withing a moment the ache had faded from my legs, replaced by a faint tingling sensation. It wouldn't revitalise my tired muscles, but it would make walking that much more bearable.

I nodded to Admiral, and we set off into the forest.

We stayed parallel to the road, probably. The sun appeared to be about where we left it, on those occasions it peeked through the canopy. And while the uneven terrain defintely slowed us down, the variety made it feel like a journey again.

I had been awed by the first tree I had embraced, but it was a sapling compared to some of these behemoths. Ancient, twisted, and colossal. I felt as an insect, walking amongst gods. The forest floor was thick with bushes, discarded leaves, twigs and fallen branches. Sticks snapped as we stood on them, foliage scraped and scratched along my jacket and trousers as we brushed past. At one point, we came upon a rock - wide, but only knee-height at its tallest. Admiral leapt upon it, and I jumped up after him - only to feel my knees buckle under my own weight. Potion could only treat the pain of my muscles' exhaustion, it could not rejuvenate them. I reminded myself that I was not as strong as I felt - my legs no longer hurt, but the weakness in them was undeniable.

Still, though, Pokémon were scarce. We had remained close to the road, and I dared not venture too deep and risk getting lost. Weedle and Caterpie were common enough, but they fled at our approach. The trees were absent nests and cocoons, the noise of chirping still deeper into the woods. It was peaceful - and that was probably for the best - but I couldn't pretend I was entirely thrilled about it.

Oh, go on. A little deeper.

…

…let me just preface this by saying that I know it wasn't a wise decision. Geographical convenience wasn't the only reason Viridian Forest had been selected by the Reclamation - it was well-known as a dangerous place for even skilled Trainers. I was deeply fatigued, with one unblooded starter to protect me. I know it was stupid so let's just move on, okay?

I listened to the voices in my head, and dragged my small water turtle into Fucksville.

The forest grew denser, not in flora, but in fauna. After only about ten minutes of walking perpendicular to the road, Pokémon had gone from scarce to abundant. The tweeting of birds was no longer in the distance, but now above us. In the space of that short journey inwards, we had seen numerous Oddish, a few Bellsprout, a Doduo, and two Sandshrew, as well as copious numbers of Weedle and Caterpie. They all still scattered at our approach, mind. We were still outsiders, and outsiders did not have a good reputation in this place.

We made a left turn in what I was fairly sure was the direction of Pewter, and continued. I started rolling a Pokéball between my hands, excited at the prospect of finally getting an opportunity at capture. I was ready. Admiral was eager. I just needed something to not run away.

It didn't take long. After perhaps fifteen minutes, opportunity struck.

The Venonat was sleeping, furry bundle expanding and contracting slowly as it snoozed. Nestled in between two thick roots of a large tree, it looked quite cozy. A signal to Admiral, and we stealthed closer. Its breathing continued uninterrupted, undisturbed by our presence. A more attentive Bellsprout hastily waddled off at our approach.

We were close. Ten feet, maybe. No movement. I threw the ball.

It connected, and the Venonat was pulled in with a wincingly loud noise of static, shattering the peace of the forest. The ball landed, lay still for a moment, and then wobbled slightly.

A second wobble, harder this time.

A third. Urgent now, panicked.

And then a noise - a squeak trying to be a scream, a roar of tiny rage, as the other Venonat jumped from its place behind the tree and raced at me. It took a few steps closer, and jumped at my chest.

Admiral slammed into it in mid-air, throwing it off-course and sending the two of them crashing to the ground. He landed atop the Venonat, raising his webbed little first and landing a punch down into it. A noise of electrical distortion alerted me that the capture had failed. A second punch rained down. I glanced to the first Venonat - it wasn't moving to attack, but had rather buried itself tightly between the tree's roots. Back to Admiral. He grabbed the Venonat's tiny, vestigial hands, held them tight, and headbutted the creature. It thrashed about under him, making a high-pitched gurgle of rage. Admiral opened his mouth and blasted it with a torrent of water - not the thin, deadly jet Jasper's Golduck had used, but rather a broad, blunt attack.

Admiral rolled backwards, still holding the Venonat's hands, pulling it through the air and slamming it into the ground. Upside-down, beaten, restrained, and with arms far too short to provide any sort of leverage, the Venonat could do naught but flail wildly. It kicked helplessly into the sky, struggled vainly against Admiral's grip, spit and screamed and raged. But Admiral did not relent, nor did he move. He was holding the creature in place.

I took the cue. Unclipping a second Pokéball, I threw it at the drenched fluffball of fury. It hit, and the Venonat was ensnared with its electrical confines. This one wobbled furiously, halfway dancing across the earth - but after a few tense moments, the ball clicked.

Without time to celebrate - shouldn't have taken the time to watch the capture at all, really - I spun back to the other Venonat. It was still ensconced between the tree roots, shaking violently. I pulled a third ball, rearing back to throw. It sensed the danger and jumped, vaulting over one of the roots, squeaking in terror. It took two steps, saw Admiral, and froze. It swung around, searching, squeaking desperately. Admiral shot a volley of water - it dodged, the blast just clipping it, and bolted as fast as its tiny legs could carry it.

Not fast enough. I threw the ball as it ran, connecting cleanly. The ball jerked about with violence, rolling and swaying. Moments passed, and the jolting diminished into twitching - and finally, the unmistakable click of a successful capture.

Admiral cheered. I smiled. He picked up the Pokéball of the Venonat he had subdued, walked up, and presented it to me with a grin. I took it, and gave him a playful rub on the head. Together we walked to where the second Pokéball lay. I claimed that too, clipping both of them to my belt and giving a long, satisfied sigh.

Admiral, on the other hand, gave a croaking roar. I spun around.

They have few facial expressions, and their physical construction makes it difficult to gauge their emotions, but I felt quite confident in asserting that this Venomoth was pissed.

Without command, Admiral fired a volley of water at it. Before the water even struck, the Venomoth flapped backwards, placing itself on an angle and bringing in a wing to block the shot. The water glanced off, most of it sliding over the wing, what little struck making no notable impact. As the water stopped, the Venomoth rose into the air and swept down towards Admiral, who leapt to meet it.

As the two met, it became clear that the Venomoth was heavier than it looked. Admiral's tackle barely slowed it as it drove him into the ground, hard. It pulled back up, but Admiral's struggling attempt to rise was slow, and the Venomoth slapped him with its wings. The strikes weren't terribly hard, but each blow was accompanied by a burst of spores. Admiral opened his mouth, but what emerged was little more than might come from a garden hose. Harmless. He pulled back a fist to strike, but his movements were clumsy, shaky, and the blow fell short of his opponent.

The Venomoth pulled its wings inwards, falling, spinning at furious speed. After a few rapid rotations, it extended one, slamming into Admiral at high speed and flinging him into the air. He crashed into the tree with a sickening crack, barely managing to pull himself into his shell before connecting. He hit the ground, and though he managed to extract himself from his shell, he could not bring himself to rise.

The Venomoth turned to me, rising again with a few flaps.

Run.

I dashed, ducking under the Venomoth as it ascended. I reached down to grap Admiral, legs stumbling as I slowed. I took him with both hands, wrapping him tight against my chest and sprinting as hard as I could. He ducked back into his shell. Even as I tucked him against me, I could feel the powder numbing my hands - I tried to adjust as I ran, touching his shell only with my covered arms, fingers rapidly growing clumsy and unresponsive.

My legs were weak, and the terrain was uneven. I ran as hard as I could, but every step was half a stumble. I crashed through a wall of brittle branches and twigs, the corpse of a long-dead bush. The paralysis was travelling into my forearms, my neck and chin growing numb where Admiral's shell was shedding powder. My mouth began to hang open, lower lip not responding to my commands to close.

Rock. Bound over it. Roots. Jump over. Fuck, nearly tripped. Keep running. Branch. Duck.

A gust of wind struck me from behind, hard. Venomoth. It propelled me forward, very nearly falling over. My legs scrambled to find themselves under me, buckling, almost collapsing. I kicked up a pile of dead leaves as I pushed forward, slipping, stumbling.

Tree. Dodge.

I careened to the right, arcing around the tree. A shelf of dirt rose abruptly from the earth. Jumped up, the toes of my trailing foot catching it. Kept going. Admiral slipped down, my arms almost asleep. He was now pressed mostly by my biceps, forearms barely controllable. My tongue was lolling, any tastes it might be collecting undetectable. Tears were beginning to stream from my eyes - not of emotion, but because nothing was restraining them any more. Vision blurred. Couldn't wipe them away.

I have no idea how long I ran. It couldn't have been more than a couple of minutes. Stumbling, crying, constantly adjusting my arms with what little control I retained to keep Admiral from slipping out.

Tree. Dodge. Rock? Dodge. Elevation? Jump. Fuck, no elevation. Landed weird. Legs in wrong place. Down to knees. Admiral slipping. Get him. Stand. Run. Run. RUN.

Tree. Dodge. Ground slippery here. Why? Adjust. Rock. Dodge. Elevation TRIPPING. Catch. Running. Tree. Dodg-TREE

I'd jumped to the side to avoid a tree, but the dodge had sent me careening, desperately trying to keep my legs beneath me. Too much momentum, I couldn't stop.

I tried to adjust, to swing around the next tree, but I was too slow, my legs too clumsy. My right shoulder slammed into it as I tried to pass, my arms lost their grip, and Admiral was flung out. The blow twisted me about, my feet lost their purchase, and what strength my legs possessed wasn't enough. I fell, the left of my waist crashing into a thick root, and pain shot through my side.

My legs kicked about as I tried to rise, blinking with what little muscle control my face still had to try and dislodge the tears. My arms flailed from the shoulders, trying to push me up but too weakened and unresponsive to take any weight. I struggled on the ground, panicking. I managed to take a knee, wobbling, and with tremendous effort pushed myself upright with my legs. Blinking, I swung my head around, trying to see where Admiral had landed.

Nothing nothing fucking leaves and roots and dirt where is he WHERE IS HE?

There, ahead. I lurched over to him, his shell gleaming through my weeping eyes with shimmering powder, half-buried in a clump of leaves. I floundered over to him, falling again. I landed next to him, face down, leaves crunching beneath me. I heard a croak by my waist. Groaning, I flung my hand to my belt, the back of my palm slapping uselessly against it. My fingers barely responded to my commands. Rolling, adjusting, I managed to prop my forearm against Admiral's ball and shove it off the belt.

If Venomoth was here, there was nothing I could do about it now.

I raised my knee towards me, catching a pile of leaves and a hard sphere, pushing them closer to my core. I heaved my right arm towards the ball, slapping my thigh and then falling to rest on the ball. I rolled my shoulder, trying to make the useless hand scoop the Pokéball to me. I could see Admiral, head slunk from his shell, breathing, eyes open, but not moving.

With clumsy, swinging movements, I managed to get my hand resting atop the Pokéball. Pulling with my torso, I rolled it further up until it was pointing at Admiral.

Tongue too useless to form the voice command, I tried to press down on the pressure sensor atop the ball - but there wasn't enough control, not enough strength to exert the pressure needed to activate the mechanism. I dragged the Pokéball closer to my face with my upper arm, barely feeling as it connected with my cheek, digging my feet into the earth and pushing at an angle, rotating myself to face Admiral. I heaved my head up and rested it on the ball, clumsily using the underside of my chin to rotate it.

I pressed my chin down, and the red beam struck out, connecting with Admiral and pulling him in.

I collapsed, Pokéball resting against my cheek. My arms couldn't push me back up, and at any rate there was nothing left to do. If Venomoth found me, that was that.

I'd done everything I could.

Venomoth never came. Knowing what I do now, it's unlikely I managed to actually outrun it. It probably only sought to chase us off, and then returned to search for its young. Being wild, it would not have comprehended that its Venonats were now ensnared within a pair of Pokéballs. That lack of understanding is likely the only reason we survived.

I lay there for a while. The tears ceased to be pure physiology, and turned to those of self-loathing and despair. I had come so close to death, so close to killing Admiral, so close to being exterminated in some distant tract of forest, so close to leaving the Professor and Daisy and Blue worried, then scared, then crushed. The Professor would never have forgiven himself. Neither would Blue.

All because I was bored.

The paralysis extended, then receded, rendering my arms and shoulders completely immobile for a spell before returning some crude function to them. After a period of time I cannot guess at - probably something short of an hour - I was able to prop myself up on my arms. Shortly thereafter, I regained enough function to clip Admiral's Pokéball back onto my belt, and unclip the medkit ball.

I opened it, pulling out a Paralyse Heal. With some difficulty, I flipped the cap and sprayed it onto my hands, then arms, then my face. Pins and needles surged through the affected places, paining me for a minute. But control returned, pain faded, and within a couple of minutes my arms were functioning fine again. I tested myself gently, poking and prodding to make certain that nothing had broken. Then, releasing Admiral, I sprayed him with the same.

We sat for a few minutes, silent. It was beginning to grow dark, and while we had repaired the worst of the damage we'd suffered, we were far too exhausted to continue the journey. It wasn't just physical fatigue, either. Psychologically, emotionally, we were just drained. Even Admiral wasn't larking about. He just sat, lost in whatever thoughts run through a Pokémon's mind.

I broke the silence, looking at him and saying "Hey" gently. Slowly, he looked up at me, and gave a little smile. I returned it, and he laughed softly, lowering his head and raising a fist in the air.

We couldn't make the rest of the journey to Pewter that day, but nor could we linger here. The sun was getting low, but I could still tell what direction it was in. With a groan, I heaved myself up and offered to return Admiral to his ball. He shook his head. Brave little guy.

We needed shelter - simply pitching a tent in the middle of Viridian Forest seemed like a sure way to a quick end. I wanted to head straight back to the road, but I wasn't sure what path we'd taken to flee the Venomoth, and I sure as hell didn't feel like running into it on the way back. Given that the local Pokémon didn't seem to be aggressive unless provoked, I opted to continue heading north for a while and take a wide arc around the path we'd taken.

The forest still bustled with Pokémon, but they were still as frightened of us as before. Whatever the Bloom had done to heighten their aggressive instincts, it had faltered in the face of the Reclamation. We were left unmolested as we walked, though we both kept a watchful eye on any Pokémon that failed to flee on sight. While I might academically have regarded their fear as a terrible consequence of a brutal atrocity, at this particular moment I was rather thankful for it.

The sun's light began to vanish, and a sense of urgency gripped me. I dared not use any artificial light - Venomoths were attracted to it, and they were the last damn thing I needed right now. How far had we walked? What was a Venomoth's territorial range? What about a furious one seeking its young? Could they track by scent? I didn't know, and we were far beyond any hope of getting a signal to my Pokédex.

The terrain was growing rockier, more uneven and sparsely vegetated. The ground grew harder, trees grew scarcer, and Pokémon grew less numerous - eventually vanishing altogether. It wasn't surprising. We were not more than a couple of hours from Pewter, and they had been enthusiastic participants in the Reclamation. Few Pokémon would now regard this area as a safe place to be, at least until nightfall. The Reclamation only did their work in the light of day - once night had truly set, it would be a different game altogether.

Grass gave way to gravel, and between the rising incline and the vanishing of the last rays of daylight, our progress slowed. But before energy deserted us entirely, our way was halted by the emergence of a great, rocky hill. Its sides were far too steep to ascend, forming something of a miniature cliff. Accepting that this was as far as we could get, and that the Venomoth likely would not be able to track us this distance, we finally turned left towards the road.

But exhaustion was now bearing down on me, ruthless. The painkilling effects of the Potion were beginning to fade, and the dull ache in my legs grew sharper with every passing moment. Lifting each foot was an effort, every rock shelf and elevation, an ordeal. I was starting to nod off - the reprieve I'd had lying in the leaves had sapped the energy for further travel.

When we saw the cave mouth, Admiral and I were both too tired to pass it up.

We entered it together, my flashlight turned on low. It was a large opening, wide enough to spin a Meowth. We moved cautiously, careful not to make too much noise. Ten feet in, we stopped while I scanned the cavern with my light, searching for Zubats. It was an expansive tunnel, clearly a natural formation - the ground was far too rocky and hard for it to be the work of Digletts. It seemed a fine enough place to spend the night. I returned to the cave's mouth, retrieving a Repel from one of my Pokéballs and spraying it thick around the entrance. Admiral's nose wrinkled. I could detect nothing but a vague chemical scent.

Content that we would remain undisturbed from the outside, we turned back inwards. Venturing a little further, it became clear that this cave went some distance into the hill. Uninterested in going on a spelunking expedition, I layered a bottle of Repel around a section of tunnel and went about setting us up for the evening. Bedroll, portable gas stove, a small lantern and some extra blankets. Everything I'd need for a…well, an adequate night.

I contemplated letting Nidoking out - definitely not the Venonats, not while there was any chance of their mother catching their scent - thinking that sharing a meal with him might begin to make him a bit more comfortable with me. Given the amount of Repel I'd used, I doubted he could bring himself to flee. But while it might have been a reasonable notion, the truth is I was just too bone-tired to deal with him right now.

It was only once I'd fired up the stove and started rummaging through my supplies for something to cook, that I heard the tapping.

tap

It was faint, and distant. I looked up, trying to identify a source. None were obvious. I listened closely, but heard nothing further. Turning off the stove, I stood, slowly.

tap

Again. I motioned to Admiral, beckoning him to get up. He did - sleep had not yet claimed him, but he was already groggy. I placed a hand to my ear, cupping it. He grasped the gesture, frowning and looking around.

tap

Barely audible, but definitely there. Coming from deeper into the cave. Once about every six seconds.

I wasn't sure what to do. We were in about as secure a place as we could hope to be, and I didn't want to find another place to camp. We were completely drained, and the prospect of packing everything up seemed monumental in itself. But the prospect of staying here…

tap

Venture into the depths of a cave, exhausted, to confront an unknown force? You JUST learned this lesson, Red. Don't be a fucking idiot.

tap

Go to sleep in an unsecured location, with that same unknown force lurking below? Rely on a bottle of Pokémon repellent and a sleeping Squirtle for protection? Don't leave your flank unguarded, don't place yourself at the mercy of dangers you cannot protect yourself against. You can't sleep here. Don't be a fucking idiot.

tap

Go wandering through Viridian Forest, at night, without energy or protection? In the dark? You can't use a light, you'll pull every Venomoth in the region. It's dark, it's dangerous, you'll tire yourself out even more - and for what? In search of a hypothetical shelter that may or may not exist? One which may well house something DEFINITELY threatening? You don't know that you're in danger here. What malicious Pokémon makes that sort of tapping noise? Go staggering through Viridian at night? Don't be a fucking idiot.

tap

I sighed. When there isn't a right decision, you make the less wrong one.

But I wouldn't do this blindly. If we were going to do this, we were going to do it carefully, and cautiously, and with what defences we could muster.

tap

I opened a Pokéball, and pulled out several bottles of Repel, clipping them to my belt. Spray at regular intervals as we progress. If it IS some dangerous, aggressive Pokémon, this will at least slow them down long enough for us to get out. Probably. I contemplated giving myself another dose of Potion, but figured it'd probably be best for my legs to be painful and functional, not anaesthetised.

tap

Keep Admiral's Pokéball handy. Even in your current state, you can run much faster than him. He'll slow you down, especially if he has to force himself through layers of Repel to get back. If there's a threat he can't handle, put him in the ball and leg it.

tap

Pack everything you can't afford to lose. Do it now, there won't be time if we have to flee.

I did so.

tap

Go outside for a moment. Orient yourself. If we run from the cave, we'll be turning right. Check for boulders, ridges, anything that might trip you up. Plan a path that avoids them.

I did. There was a copse of bushes some twenty metres away, taller than me and dense enough for concealment. A route led to them, one was free of large rocks or elevation changes. If we have to run, run there. Get out of sight as quickly as possible. If it's a Pokémon that relies on vision or hearing, hide in them. If it uses scent, keep running.

I returned to the cave, and relayed my intentions to Admiral. Running through my mental checklist one last time, I motioned to him, and we started moving. When we reached the interior ring of Repel, he stopped short, covering his nose and waving his hand. It was some small reassurance that the stuff at least worked. I returned him to his ball, passed the threshold of Repel, and released him again.

We advanced slowly, stopping every twenty feet or so to spray another circle of Repel. We walked side by side, for the cave remained wide enough to allow it. It inclined downwards, not at a sharp angle, but sufficient to evoke a feeling of descent. One hand clutching a Repel, the other Admiral's Pokéball - Admiral himself carrying the flashlight, cradling it in the nook of one elbow while steadying it with the other hand - we ventured deeper into the cave.

The taps grew more distinct, but still faint. Regular, unerring, and rhythmic. I racked my mind, trying to think what Pokémon would create such a measured, stone-on-stone noise. Nothing came to mind. I took a deep breath, sprayed another layer of Repel, and carried on.

After about six circles of Repel, a smell began to manifest itself. Something foul, like a bag of trash left in the heat for too long. It grew stronger, quickly. Putrid and sweet.

tap

The taps were clear, now. They couldn't have been much further - but they still weren't loud. The cave must have been carrying the noise very well.

tap

The stench grew potent. Another circle of Repel - a thick layer, this one.

tap

We inched forward, a turn in the passage coming up ahead. We were close.

tap

Wasn't going to be a sharp turn. More of a bend. We stopped before we reached it, taking a moment to brace ourselves against the rank odour.

tap

We moved.

Down the passageway, not far, lay something. Presumably the source of the stench. A body, looked like.

tap

One last layer of Repel. I set the bottle down with care and unclipped a fresh one from my belt, brandishing it before me.

tap

The figure was large, too large for a human. Bulky and heavy, but humanoid. I gripped Admiral's Pokéball, pointing it at him. No sudden movements, but be ready to run.

tap

A Kangaskhan. Definitely not alive. Something horrific had happened to its head. Bile rose in my throat at the smell, and I barely suppressed a gag. My head was pounding, the sensory overload combining with raw fear.

tap

The top half of its skull was simply gone, the flesh of its cheek torn with no hint as to where the rest lay. Its chest, too, was covered in dried blood.

Dried. This isn't fresh.

tap

I looked closer, willing myself to endure the stench. Small holes, several of them, through its torso. I spent a few seconds trying to list what Pokémon might kill in such a fashion, before the obvious answer made itself known.

tap

Bullet holes. Reclamation.

tap

I still couldn't see where the tapping was coming from. I glanced at Admiral. His eyes were wide, his lip bitten.

tap

Behind us.

I spun around, swinging the Repel over to spray whatever was here. But nothing lunged. Nothing attacked.

There, a small figure, in the corner of the room. Maybe ten feet away. No larger than Admiral, perhaps even a bit smaller, sitting by the wall.

tap

I motioned to Admiral, to turn the light towards it. The beam found its mark, and the tapping's source was illuminated.

tap

Cubone.

It was huddled over, sitting with its arms wrapped tightly around its knees, clutching at some length of bone it held. The skull, still caked in dried blood, enclosed its head as it stared at its fallen mother. We took a step closer. It took no notice of us.

tap

The skull. It was hitting its head against the wall, bone striking stone. It brought its head back to one side, slowly, then drove it back against the wall. Metronomic. Lost.

tap

How long had it been here? How long had it been doing this? I looked at Admiral. He could only stare.

tap

Questions abounded, but at this moment they all led to the same path. Left alone, it would starve. There was only one thing to do.

tap

The room fell silent as Cubone was taken into the Pokéball. There was no wobble, no resistance. Just a cold, empty click.

I didn't bother to have Admiral weaken it. There was no point.

There is no sense in beating the broken.

Feedback is always appreciated - I am a believer that art must be criticized to improve.

I can be found on Twitter, under the username 'RadHominin'.

The final chapter of Arc I will be posted at 2:00pm on Thursday, December 22nd New Zealand Time (1am GMT, 5pm Wednesday USA Eastern Time, 8pm Pacific Time)

"Boulder"