Rush to the forest.

You’ve had enough delays this morning. “Sorry, sir but I’m terribly late.” You take off towards Viridian Forest without giving him a chance to stop you. You had done your research on the forest similar to how you thoroughly researched all areas of the Kanto region and some areas outside of the region too, but even with that knowledge you’re still a little surprised to see how dark it was in the overgrown forest. The light level was similar to that of right after the sun sets, which makes you slightly worried for how dark it will get at night. You could easily lose track of time here so you set an alarm on your phone for when you should stop to set up camp.

The Viridian Forest has always been a haven for bug type pokemon and bug type enthusiasts. However in recent years the variety of pokemon has grown in the forest due to local enthusiasts importing pokemon from other regions. You can hear the chirps and squeaks of various bugs all around you hiding among the trees and grass. You pull your compass out of your bag. You know that you need to be heading north in order to make it to Pewter City, and without the sun to guide you it would be very easy to get turned around. Your day starts slow defeating a variety of bug type pokemon as you make your way through the trees. You face off against some Nincada, Caterpie, Weedle, and even a few Spinarak. None of them really draw your fancy and you aren’t sure if you want any bug type pokemon.

Before lunch you only run into one other trainer, you’re able to easily defeat his weak team of bugs without much trouble. You also remember to collect your victory fee this time unlike your victory over Liam. Despite doing very well this morning you can’t shake a strange feeling. You can feel a tingle in the back of your neck that makes you feel like something bad is about to happen at any point. You eventually stop for lunch eating one of the boxed meals your mom had prepared. While being super delicious, the meal does nothing to relieve the tingling sense from your body. Trying your best to ignore the feeling you continue on your journey to Pewter City. Occasionally the feeling jolts through your body making you tense up.

The day continues on mostly uneventful. You stumble upon a couple of guys battling in a clearing, but Squirtle and Runt have had a long day so you decide to leave them be rather than risk taking on the winner. So you sink back away from the clearing and into the wooded area. With your pokemon in a weakened state and feeling exhausted from the tingle in your neck, you decide to find a place to set up camp. After half an hour of searching you find a flat spot that should be large enough for your tent. You pull out your compact tent, and in a flash similar to that of an activating pokeball your tent is fully set up. The small amount of ambient light available in the forest is quickly disappearing, so you get in your tent and turn on a light to see by. You let out your pokemon to play before bed. You consider healing them but with your limited number of healing supplies you’d rather them rest and heal naturally overnight.

What you really want is a shower, but the forest isn’t exactly packed with showers. You instead settle for brushing your hair. You remove your hat and Runt immediately grabs it trying to get you to play. “I’ll play in just a minute I promise.” A wave of relief washes over you while you brush your hair. It takes you a moment to realize why but then it hits you, the tingle that you had been fighting all day is gone. You pull your brush back and that’s when you see it. Sitting upon your hairbrush is a tiny Joltik. The mini electric spider had likely been sitting at the base of your skull all day. Runt drops your hat at the sight of the spider and starts snarling. “It’s okay, he’s been traveling with us all day. I think that makes him part of the team.” You reach across the tent and grab out a spare pokeball pressing it to the Joltik. The ball tilts a couple times before giving the affirmative clunk of your capture.

“I guess you aren’t the smallest member of the team anymore,” you say to Runt who lets out a bark. Squirtle seems interested in the Joltik but after a short shock resulting from touching the small spider, Squirtle returns to making himself comfortable in the tent. After a bit of playing tug-o-war with Runt and a small dinner, you decide to get ready for an early bed time to hopefully get an early start in the morning. You pull out an electric blanket to help keep you warm throughout the night. Your new Joltik quickly locates the battery of the blanket and attaches himself. Squirtle has already been sleeping for a couple minutes by now. Runt curls up next you tired from the day of battling in the forest. You take the chance to check your phone but realize that you have no signal and probably haven’t all day due to the thick tree coverage. You can’t text your mom to let her know you’re okay, hopefully she won’t worry too much.