The forest clearing was eerily silent, save for the sound of ravenous chewing and the occasional rustle of leaves in the cold autumn breeze.
Elliot sat cross-legged on a log, tearing into a piece of Shredded Pokéblock on top a Pidgey.
To his left, Deino was happily munching away, its fangs crunching through the meal with ease.
To his right, Charmeleon hesitated, slowly eating the same food—but with far less enthusiasm.
And surrounding them…
Dozens of Pidgey corpses lay scattered across the forest floor.
It was a scene that would terrify any regular trainer. A slaughter.
But to Elliot?
This was just survival.
He glanced at Charmeleon, who kept stealing nervous glances toward the treeline.
Right outside the clearing, they were being watched.
A hive of Beedrill loomed in the shadows.
Their gleaming, needle-sharp stingers glowed faintly in the dimming sunlight.
Yet none of them attacked.
Not yet.
Elliot took another bite and spoke calmly.
"When they come, don't provoke them."
Charmeleon twitched but gave a reluctant nod.
"This is why we hunted the Pidgey earlier."
A Silent Agreement
Slowly, the Beedrill began to move.
One by one, they emerged from the shadows, their wings buzzing softly as they hovered over the feast Elliot had prepared.
They didn't attack.
They watched.
Waiting.
Then, their leader arrived.
A towering Beedrill, larger than the rest, flew up to Elliot, its crimson eyes gleaming with intelligence.
The same Beedrill that had acknowledged him before.
Deino and Charmeleon tensed—instincts screaming at them to fight.
Elliot?
He remained calm.
"Nearing winter, huh?" he said.
The Beedrill Leader nodded.
Indeed. The wind is getting colder.
Elliot smirked.
"I can give you all these Pidgeys... but I need an equivalent amount of Stingers, we both know you are behind schedule for Winter Supplies."
The Beedrill Leader studied him.
Then, without hesitation, it turned and signaled to the others.
A few minutes later, several Beedrill returned, each carrying long, gleaming stingers—at least 50 to 70 in total.
Elliot pulled out his Storage Backpack, stuffing the stingers inside effortlessly.
Deino tilted its head. Charmeleon blinked.
The bag should've been full by now.
But it wasn't.
Elliot didn't explain.
He simply secured the bag and stood up.
"Alright, let's go."
Deino and Charmeleon moved to follow.
But just as Elliot turned—
The Beedrill Leader shot forward, cutting him off.
Elliot raised a brow as the massive Bug-Type hovered inches from his face.
Then, it held out something.
An orb.
A Mega Beedrillite.
The gemstone pulsed with power, a DNA-like pattern swirling inside its core.
Elliot stared.
"This… is too much."
The Beedrill Leader shook its head.
And then it called out.
A smaller Beedrill flew over, carrying something in its tiny arms.
Elliot's eyes widened.
A Shiny Weedle.
The little Pokémon's golden body glowed faintly in the dim light, its beady black eyes staring up at him.
Elliot expanded his Aura, trying to understand.
And in that moment—
He could feel the Beedrill Leader's thoughts.
Not in words. Not in speech.
But in emotion.
"I cannot take care of him. He is… different from the hive."
Elliot clenched his fists.
He understood.
This Weedle was an outcast.
A misfit.
Just like him.