BREAKFAST AT VIRIDIAN FOREST
After a light breakfast of berries and leftover stew we packed up the tent and continued our journey through the thick woods.
Soon the trees opened up, and we reached a wide river.
The river rushed past us, fast and loud, slamming against the sharp rocks with heavy crashes. White foam sprayed high with every hit, and the current looked strong enough to drag anything (or anyone) under in seconds.
There was no bridge.
No fallen log.
Nothing.
Just a wild, raging river blocking our path.
"What do you think?" I asked, turning to Meowscarada and Lopunny. "How are we going to cross? That water's moving way too fast… it looks dangerous."
While I stood there staring at the roaring river, trying to figure out how we'd ever cross it, a low rustle came from the bushes behind me. (slow, deliberate, too heavy to be a Rattata).
Something big was coming.
The leaves parted.
Out slid the Arbok from yesterday (four meters of dark-violet scale and muscle, hood half-spread, eyes locked on us).
It stopped a few steps away, tongue flicking once… twice… tasting the air.
Its narrow yellow eyes glowed under the wide hood. The scary red-and-black face pattern stared out from its hood and belly, twisting a little as it coiled up. Its long forked tongue flicked the air and it let out a low "Hsssss… charbok…"
I wasn't scared. I knew it had been following us for a while. That's why no wild Pokémon had come near our camp; this big snake had quietly kept them away like a silent guard.
It came closer eyeing the raging river then turned those sharp eyes on me. "Hssss arbokkkk…?" it hissed its body undulating in slow waves as if asking a question.
I froze, not understanding, "Uh... what?"
Meowscarada and Lopunny stepped forward.
They listened to Arbok's low "Hssss… arbok… ssskree?" and quickly talked back.
"Nyaa… nya…"
"Lopuu… Pun… luu!"
A few more hisses and purrs later, Meowscarada looked toward me and pointed at the river, then at the Arbok, and mimed swimming while holding something tight.
Lopunny nodded, patted the snake gently, and made a cradling motion toward me.
I got it right away.
"So… you want to carry me across the river?"
The Arbok lifted its head, hood dipping in a clear nod.
"Arbok… hss…"
It sounded almost eager to help.
For a moment, I hesitated.
Wait… there are three of us. How was Arbok supposed to carry all of us across?
My eyes widened, then I almost laughed at myself remembering.
"Right… Pokéballs. I keep forgetting we have those."
I reached for them on my belt.
I haven't used them much since catching them. Buneary was easy, but Sprigatito… she just played with the ball like it was a toy before it finally clicked.
I exhaled, steadying my nerves.
First, I recalled Meowscarada and Lopunny (two quick flashes of red light, their forms vanishing safely into the Poké Balls).
They looked at me until the very last second, big eyes full of worry, like they didn't want to leave me alone with whatever was about to happen.
I gave them a small, calm smile and a nod (trust me, I'll be okay).
Only then did the beams pull them in completely.
The clearing felt suddenly bigger… and quieter.
Just me, the river, and the Arbok watching me from the shadows.
I looked at the river again. The wind was cold, blowing mist across my face.
To keep everything dry, I took off my clothes one piece at a time, shirt, pants, folding them carefully and packing them tight inside my backpack.
Soon I was left standing in only my boxers, backpack strapped firmly to my shoulders, the morning air cool against my skin.
I took a slow breath.
"Alright… I'm ready."
Arbok moved closer, lowering its long, thick body like a living bridge, waiting for me to climb on.
I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around Arbok's thick neck just behind the hood, hugging it close.
My bare chest pressed against its smooth, cool purple scales. I swung a leg over and straddled its wide body, thighs gripping the firm muscle.
With only the thin fabric of my boxers between us, my half-hard cock rested right against the slick scales of its back, shifting slightly with every breath.
As soon as Arbok slid into the river, the force of the water hit me like a wall.
The current pushed hard against my legs, trying to pull me sideways even though I was holding on tight.
Arbok's body tightened under my hands. I could feel every muscle working as it fought the flow.
The water slammed into us again and again, heavy and fast, like someone shoving me from all sides.
Cold rushed up my chest, stealing my breath for a second.
Arbok pushed forward anyway, cutting through the current in a smooth, steady line.
Its tail whipped behind us, keeping balance each time the river tried to twist us around.
For a moment, it felt like we weren't moving at all, like the river wanted to drag us backward.
But then Arbok surged forward with a strong pull, and the pressure slowly eased.
Bit by bit, the far bank got closer.
When Arbok finally reached the mud and dragged me out, my arms were shaking from holding on, and the weight of the river still felt like it was pressing on my chest.
But I was safe…