Ficool

Chapter 43 - 43. The Jungle

If you see someone mention kael name then it's referring to him Pokemon form.

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The island was massive, roughly circular in shape.

A ring of towering trees formed a dense forest along its shores, where exotic bird Pokémon flitted between the branches, chattering and playing.

But the deeper one ventured inland, the stranger the terrain became slowly rising, the vegetation thinning until, at the very center, a mountain thrust into the clouds. Somewhere in that mist, a low, rumbling roar echoed.

Crunch.

Black boots sank deep into the sand, leaving heavy footprints behind.

"Allen, this is Eagle Island, right?" Trevor's voice was bright with excitement.

Allen glanced toward the distant mountain half-hidden in mist and nodded.

"Given the terrain… it has to be."

They secured the yacht, checked their gear one last time, and headed into the treeline.

The moment they stepped under the canopy, the golden sunlight of the beach vanished, replaced by shadow and damp, heavy air. Birdsong rang from above while shafts of light pierced the thick leaves, scattering across the undergrowth in bright, coin-shaped patches.

Allen inhaled deeply the air was cool, humid, with just a hint of sea breeze. He motioned for Trevor to keep alert, and together they pressed on.

Rustle!

A sudden noise from the dense foliage made them both freeze. They gripped their Poké Balls, ready to release their partners at a moment's notice.

Most trainers would keep their Pokémon out when exploring dangerous terrain. But Allen and Trevor weren't most trainers.

First, as members of Dark Star, they had top-tier professional training and years of field experience. They could detect and avoid many dangers before they even appeared.

Second, in an unfamiliar habitat, bringing out strong Pokémon too soon could be a mistake. Many wild Pokémon were fiercely territorial.

Two humans alone might be ignored, but add a few powerful strangers to the mix, and a fight would be inevitable.

In the dim jungle, they kept their breathing quiet and their focus locked on the source of the sound while also staying aware of their surroundings. After all, feints weren't just a human trick.

Rustle-rustle!

The grass shook violently before revealing a small red figure its body ladybug-like, with three pairs of blue arms.

Two black antennae twitched as it tested the air, and its big, bright eyes stared curiously at the pair.

"A Ledyba…" Allen murmured.

"Man, you scared me!" Trevor let out a breath and patted his chest.

"It's so cute!" He took a step forward.

"Wait." Allen held out an arm, his tone sharp. "Don't move."

The Ledyba turned and chirped toward the trees behind it.

Rustle! Rustle!

From the canopy, from the bushes, from behind the trunks more red shapes emerged.

Bzzz! Bzzz!

A deafening hum filled the air as a massive swarm of Ledyba lifted off, forming a red cloud that passed directly overhead.

A bead of sweat ran down Trevor's temple as he realized just how close he'd come to disaster. If he'd startled the swarm… they'd be done for.

He gave Allen a grateful nod, staying perfectly still until the Pokémon were gone.

The trek continued.

Over the next three hours, they narrowly avoided a Vespiquen hive, sidestepped a Golbat roost, and kept moving, stopping often to listen and scan ahead.

Only their experience and quick thinking kept them alive.

By dusk, they decided to stop for the night. The forest was far more dangerous after dark any rookie knew that.

Pushing through a thick patch of grass, they stepped into a breathtaking clearing.

A round lake lay still as glass, reflecting the orange glow of the setting sun. Gentle ripples spread where a breeze brushed the surface.

Beneath the clear water, faint shapes of small Pokémon darted in play.

"This'll do," Allen said.

They set up camp quickly, getting a small fire going before night fully fell.

The scent of warming rations filled the air. After hours of tense silence in the jungle, they both sat quietly, catching their breath.

Splash!

The sudden noise from the lake snapped them both to their feet. Poké Balls in hand, they scanned the shoreline.

In the fading light, something strange emerged from the water.

It was a bird Pokémon, its deep-blue feathers dense and glossy like silk. Its large green eyes stared blankly like a Psyduck's at the two humans.

Most unsettling of all, its long, sharp yellow beak was clamped around a still-flopping brown fish.

Allen narrowed his eyes.

"…What is that?"

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