As the soft golden light of dawn filtered through the thick canopy of the forest, Kay and Player 27 slowly stirred from their rest.
The night had passed quietly, and as they stretched their tired limbs, their Pokémons approached them with calm expressions, indicating that no dangers had appeared during their sleep.
That alone was a small relief; they had survived the first night in the wild, where danger lurked behind every tree.
The forest was still, save for the occasional chirp of distant bird Pokémons, and the cool morning breeze carried the scent of wet leaves and soil.
Both players sat up and reached for their small rations: dry, bland cookies that had been provided by the organizers at the start of the competition.
The cookies were barely enough to fill them and tasted more like sawdust than food. As they munched on them, they exchanged grumbles, joking bitterly about how the tournament expected them to fight for their lives on such pitiful meals.
But before their complaints could go any further, Cubone, Player 27's Pokémon, wandered away from the group without a sound.
A few minutes later, Cubone returned, and both players were caught off guard. The small Pokémon was gripping the tails of five dead Rattatas, dragging them behind it as if presenting a gift.
It had somehow tracked and retrieved the prey without even being told. Player 27 looked at Cubone with surprise, and then a proud smile crossed his face.
He reached down, ruffled Cubone's head affectionately, and said, "Nice job, Cubone. Thanks to you, we won't have to suffer through these crappy cookies for lunch, too."
Kay gave a small laugh and nodded. "Yeah, not to mention the protein in these Rattatas. We need the energy. We don't know how long we'll be moving today or if we'll have another chance to eat properly."
Kay couldn't hide his admiration. Cubone had shown a rare level of initiative and independence, something Kay knew his own Pokémons hadn't yet developed.
It was a reminder for Kay that Pokémons weren't just tools; they had minds of their own and could act smartly when trusted.
He turned his gaze toward his own team, curious to see how they'd reacted to Cubone's display.
Eevee stood nearby, its large eyes fixed on Cubone and the Rattatas. There was a clear flicker of jealousy in its gaze, especially after Kay had voiced his praise.
Kay found himself smiling again; he liked that look. He knew Eevee was competitive and would probably try to impress him next time.
That kind of healthy rivalry between Pokémons could push them to grow faster.
Then Kay's eyes shifted to Growlithe, and the sight was something else entirely. The fire-type wasn't concerned with competition or recognition.
It was staring at the Rattatas with wide eyes, mouth open, tongue out, and saliva practically dripping onto the forest floor.
It looked like it hadn't eaten in days. Kay chuckled and shook his head. "Growlithe couldn't care less about Cubone's skills or praise. He just wants to chow down."
Kay stood up and clapped his hands. "Alright, I say we give the Rattatas to the Pokémons now and cook the rest for ourselves. We'll need real food if we want to keep moving strong."
Player 27 agreed without hesitation. "Makes sense. We should eat while we can. We might not get another calm moment like this."
Cubone passed two of the Rattatas to his trainer, then casually tossed one toward Growlithe, who pounced on it like a hungry predator and started devouring it right there.
Before Cubone could throw the second one to Eevee, Kay quickly stopped it. "Wait, give me that one. Eevee prefers cooked meat." He gently took the Rattata and set it aside.
Kay then gathered some dry sticks and twigs scattered nearby and began building a small fire pit.
Once it was ready, he nodded at Growlithe. "Just a small Ember. We don't want to start a forest fire."
Growlithe obeyed with precision, releasing a gentle stream of flames that quickly lit the sticks. The fire crackled to life, providing a little warmth against the morning chill.
While Kay handled the fire, Player 27 prepared the three remaining Rattatas, skewering them on sticks and placing them over the flames.
As the meat began to cook, releasing its distinct smell, Kay walked over to a tree with wide leaves.
He cut off a large one and held it above the fire, letting the smoke rise into it and dispersing the scent.
He looked at his teammate and said seriously, "If the smell spreads too far, maybe a strong wild Pokémon might catch it and come looking. This should buy us some time."
The two players sat near the fire, keeping an eye on their surroundings. A few weak Pokémons from the forest watched from afar, too cautious to approach but clearly curious.
The smell of roasted Rattata filled the air, making even the dry cookies seem like a distant memory.
Once their meal was finished and the bones tossed away, they poured dirt over the fire and stomped it out carefully.
With their bellies full and energy restored, the players packed up their gear and got ready to move.
Then, they turned toward the direction where they thought there would be a water source, from what Player 27 had spotted from above the giant tree.
After walking for a while through the thick forest, Kay and Player 27 could tell they were getting close to the water source.
They still couldn't see it, but Growlithe had been sniffing the air and was sure it was nearby. His nose twitched, and he gave a low bark, signaling that water was just ahead.
The forest around them was quiet, and so far, they hadn't run into many dangerous Pokémons.
The only serious encounter they had was with a Hypno, one that was at the Inferior Bronze Stage.
It had suddenly appeared on the path, and although it wasn't extremely powerful, it was strong enough that Kay and Player 27 had to team up to take it down.
They each gave quick orders to their Pokémons, and after a short but intense fight, Hypno fell to the ground.
As they continued walking, Player 27 slowed down, then turned to Kay. His expression was thoughtful. "I think we shouldn't go straight toward the water source from here; that place is probably full of powerful Pokémons. If this is the only water source in this area, then it makes sense that many Pokémons live nearby, and they won't be weak."
Kay looked back at him and nodded. "I was thinking the same thing. If we keep going down this open forest path, we'll be completely exposed. We should go off the trail and deeper into the trees. It won't be as easy to move, but at least we'll have more cover."
Player 27 agreed, but he didn't seem fully convinced. He looked around, then asked, "Okay, but what about the smell? Strong Pokémons don't need to see us. Some of them can track us just by scent."
Kay gave a small smile. "You're right," he said. "But I have a way to deal with that."
Player 27 raised an eyebrow, clearly interested. "And what's that?"
"We'll use the soil," Kay explained. "We cover our bodies and our Pokémons with dirt from the forest floor. It'll help hide our scent. We're not trying to disappear completely, but it should make it much harder for any Pokémon to track us."
Player 27 looked unsure. "Do you really think that will work?"
Kay nodded with confidence. "I've done it before. Back in the second game, I was trying to ambush another player who had a Houndour. You know how good their noses are. I couldn't get close without being detected, so I covered myself in blood. It was everywhere in that place, so I just used it to mask my smell."
Player 27 listened carefully. "Did it work?"
Kay smiled. "Perfectly. Houndour didn't notice me until I was right on top of them. If it worked then, it should work now, especially with just wild Pokémons."
Hearing that, Player 27 finally looked convinced. "Alright, let's do it," he said.
The two players and their Pokémons stopped and began gathering loose soil from the forest floor.
It was damp and stuck easily to their skin and clothes. They rubbed it on their arms, legs, and even their faces, making sure not to leave any part uncovered.
Then they did the same to their Pokémons, who stood patiently, trusting their trainers. Eevee twitched its ears in discomfort at first but stayed still. Growlithe, used to the wild, didn't mind at all. Cubone barely reacted.
When they were done, both players looked messy, covered in dirt from head to toe, but they didn't care.
If it helped them survive, it was worth it. With their scents masked and their bodies camouflaged, they quietly moved forward again, heading toward the water source, but this time, not on the path.
They slipped between the trees, moving slowly and carefully, watching every step. The forest was thicker here, but it also gave them safety.
See you in the next chapter...
Drop some Power Stones...