Chapter 7: Field Trip
I don't own Pokémon!
(Derick)
Beep! Beep! Beep! I groaned as I reached over and slapped the alarm clock off. Shocker and Amber both shifted positions at the foot at my bed clearly unsettled by the sound. The alarm was set to 5:00 am, much earlier than when I usually get up. I fought the urge to go back sleep as I tried to remember why I needed to be up so early. Coming up with nothing I reached to my bedside to grab my phone to see if I left any alerts for myself. Let's see… Next week is Josh's birthday… Need Pokéfood, got that yesterday so cross that off the list… Remember the Academy field assignment… aw shoot, TODAY is the Academy assignment!
I jump out of bed startling both Amber and Shocker as they leaped out of the bed and looked around in shock before shaking themselves off then proceeding to stretch. I quickly scramble to get in my police training uniform. Today us trainees are going to be tested on our outdoor survival on the field. I wasn't just joining the local police force, I was joining the International Police force so we need to know how to survive on the land as we will be traveling often or in case we get stranded on an operation. Being a experience trainer and having earned a few master ranks in my travels, I was pretty experience in surviving the wilderness so you could say I was confident for this test.
I finished putting on my uniform and quickly rushed down to the kitchen, Amber and Shocker in tow. The others were sleeping in the living room, normally they won't be up for another hour although once I started pouring food into their bowls all of them were up standing and stretching and they began to eat their early breakfast. I had warned them last night that I was getting up early to prepare for the three-night trip so they all ate without question as I began packing my bags. I was allowed to take 4 Pokémon with me, so I was packing some food for Amber, Shocker, and Stone Claw. Then after packing some food for me as well as some survival gear, I left the kitchen and went outside.
I entered Groudon's barn to find him still sleeping. I filled his food dish, making as much noise as possible to alert him of my presence, but despite that he was still out cold. I placed the large bowl near him and then gave him a slight tab on the nose. He woke with a start and growled his displeasure about it at me, which I simply ignored.
"Hey you should eat as we got to leave early today." He gave a grunt but leaned towards the bowl and began eating. I watched him for a second before taking a large carry bag and scooping up some of Groudon's food into it. I hadn't gotten three scoops in when I heard the Groudon had stopped eating. There was no way he could have finished this quickly, I peered at him and sure enough he still had little over half the food in his bowl. Hell, he hadn't even swallowed the food in his mouth when he had stopped eating. He was watching me packing his food and was giving me the glare of death, as if he was being territorial over it. Although I think I may have just forgotten to tell him that I was going to take him with me.
I sighed, "Yes, your coming with me on the camping trip to the mountains. I thought I mentioned that? I thought it would be great to get you out of the barn and bond with everyone." At that Groudon instantly sunk himself into the ground. He rarely makes an effort to communicate with me, but I perfectly understood what he was getting at here. He didn't want to go on the trip with me, and wanted to let me know there's nothing I can do about it. Which is wrong of course. But let's try reasoning first,
"Listen, Nurse Joy instructed me to feed and monitor you every day to keep tabs on your injuries. And you haven't given me a reason to trust you to leave you to take care of yourself without getting into some form of trouble. So, the options are that you ether stay in a Pokémon Daycare where others can babysit you, and you can socialize with a bunch of random Pokémon staying there, or you can come with me and bond with the few Pokémon you already met. Your choice."
Groudon hesitated, then with a low growl he eased up and continued eating. Despite his natural stubbornness, I found being able to make deals and giving him the option to choose can usually get what I want from him. And by the looks of it he decided to come and 'put up with me'. The big reason I had wanted him to come with me was because like every Pokémon, I think he needs some time out of the house, or barn in this case, and so I can try to build up trust with him more. Amber, Shocker, and Stone Claw are due for some training so I'll use them for any battles along the road. I figured Groudon and I can build up in some trust by spending some quality time with each other. Even if it will just be one sided conversation and death glares the entire time, I will make some form of progress. Right?
(Groudon)
I swallowed the last bit of my food and glanced over at the human as he finished packing food into… I don't know what half of these human things are, portable intestines? Whatever, it doesn't matter what it was, it's the human's way to store and transport my food and therefore I need not question what it is. After all, it is one of the many odd things humans use in their daily lives. He zipped up the item than reached behind his belt to grab the ball that imprisons me. He then swiftly shot a beam of light from it to transport me inside. I was soon brought into the familiar surrounding that the ball provided.
After giving it some thought, I figured that the whole purpose of this simulated environment was to make Pokémon feel at home by giving them surroundings that they could live in and adapt to. Sure, in some levels it's comforting but it isn't home, it's a bribe. I waltz over to the pit of lava the ball simulated. It was not as satisfying to nest in as the lava in my volcano but it was better than nothing. I watched through the window the ball provided as the human fetched the other Pokémon before heading to his car. I settled down for a nap, the trip to wherever were going might be long so might as well sleep to pass the time.
(Derick)
Dropping off Sasha, Beauty, and Buffy at the daycare was quicker than I expected. They weren't busy so I was in and out in under five minutes. Since I was an officer in training I am able to store more than two Pokémon at a time. Saving me time from finding a sitter or trying to improvise a system to take care of them while I'm gone. I just got the official assignment and was heading to the location of my assignment. I had the choice of choosing my camp site as long as it was anywhere in a 5-mile radius of a mountain pass that I was assigned to. I would report my site and they would send a ranger to evaluate my camp and survival skills at random intervals during the assignment. I choose a clearing that was not too hard to get to but more or less an uncommon spot to find without the aid of a map. That way I could let Groudon out to stretch and what not without too many prying eyes.
The bumps in the road increased as it switched from asphalt to dirt as I turned off the highway and towards the Mountain range where I'd be staying for a while. I slowed down to 15 miles an hour from my 70 for both the safety of myself controlling the vehicle and for the safety of trainers that might be traveling in these parts. I can remember when I was still a young trainer I would sometimes have to jump out of the way of some vehicles that traveled the same roads you hiked. It's funny to think that the adults are always worried about kids getting mauled by some Pokémon but in my experience the only biggest threat I had to face while on my travels were other people. Not just with drivers too, but that's a story for another time.
Regardless I made extra sure to slow down whenever I saw a trainer on the road and gave them plenty of space as I pass by. Sadly, being slow and careful costs time, and it was nearly sunset by the time I found a place to park and hike to the planned campsite. I let out Shocker, Amber, and Stone Claw to get to work with helping me set camp. I tasked Stone Claw and Shocker to go and find some fire wood while amber was tasked with clearing the area of anything sharp or of any tinder that could alight if too close to the fire pit. While they were busy doing that I worked on setting up the tent and building the pit. By the time they finished we had enough wood for the night so I got Amber to start a fire and I got out the utensils to start a meal for all of us.
Although I packed kibble for them, I like to cook them regular food whenever we traveled. Of course, this food was a treat that was earned by doing chores or otherwise being helpful to the camp. If you don't make the effort to help out, I won't make the effort in making additional food (unless they are ill or injured, in which case I make an exception). I let out Groudon shortly to feed him, but ended up returning him shortly as he didn't wake from his sleep and I didn't feel like waking him. He had been sleeping a lot since I caught him and I suspect it was how he was coping with his injuries before they were being treated. Rest would do him more good right now anyway.
The rest of the evening was more or less uneventful for the night, Amber and Shocker had their usual bickering that eventually led to a game of chase around camp. Occasionally I had to break them up, and they will separate themselves for a while before making up and continuing their love-hate relationship. Stone claw was often perched up at a nearby tree keeping watch over the camp, only coming down to socialize or help me manage the chaotic pair. I decided not to let Groudon in the ball for tonight rather than wake him and go through the ground rules of the camp. I felt it would be better for the both of us to get somme rest before we address the new experience. And frankly, I was too tired to deal with his grumpiness had I wake him.
Soon I put out the fire and entered the tent with Amber and Shocker, Stone Claw preferring to sleep outdoors and help keep watch. As I usually do when sleeping with my companions, I left the tent flap open so they had easy access to the outside and arranged some blankets in the corner of the tent so they would have something to curl up in should it get cold tonight. I wrapped myself up securely in my sleeping bag, with Amber and Shocker curling up at my feet, and slowing let the darkness of sleep drift over me.
