Chapter 8

"So, May, about your ankle.. how did that happen, anyway?" asked Brendan.

"To tell the truth.. I don't know," replied May. Now that Brendan mentioned it,

she wondered how it happened as well. Her parents had found her.. but at least

they let her go on the journey anyways.

May and Brendan continued to walk down the road to Oldale Town when they found a pond nearby.

It was also getting dark, and May suggested they camp out near there.

"You set up camp. I'm going to look for Pokémon," said May. She figured that

if her Dad was her first gym battle, she would need more Pokémon.

"No fair. It's not like Sandshrew, Mudkip, and Ralts are all of a sudden beat a leader

without any training," Brendan replied. "Hehe, very funny," said May.

She headed for the pond when she heard a herd of Pokémon crying for help. She rushed over immediately

and found a cage of Treecko and Mudkip. She didn't know what to do. The Pokémon looked as if they fought

over 100 battles without any time to rest. She heard the poacher approaching and she hid behind a tree nearby.

He made his way to the cages of Mudkip and Treecko and laughed. "I'll make good money off of you dumb Pokémon," he said and

laughed like it was the funniest joke in the world. The man got into his jeep and drove off with the cages attached to the jeep.

May didn't know what to do. Either go get Brendan for help, or go after the poacher herself.

She couldn't just head to Oldale knowing that a herd of Treecko and Mudkip were hurt.

She forgot about Brendan and followed the poacher.

They arrived at another clearing just by Oldale Town. May was panting by the time

she caught up to the poacher. He left and May approached the cages, and quietly let out

Torchic, Pikachu, and Taillow. The Treecko and Mudkip thought May was going to hurt them even more.

"Pikachu, Torchic, Taillow, try to get these Pokémon out in any way," May ordered. Pikachu's

Thunderbolt had no effect, and neither did any of Taillow's attacks. But Torchic's Ember had enough

power to melt down the bars of the cage. "Come on, before the poacher comes back," urged May. They quickly got out, and

every Pokémon except one Mudkip and one Treecko ran into the woods. "Well, what are you waiting for! Go!" May said.

The Pokemon said nothing, and they stayed where they were standing. "What? Why are you staring at me like that? What do you want?" asked

May. "Tree cko tree tree tree treecko! (I want to come with you!)" said Treecko. Treecko looked at Mudkip, to see what it would say.

"Mud mudkip.. (Me too..)" it said. "Well, okay. You don't mind, do you guys?" May asked her other 3 Pokemon.

"Torchic!" "Pikachu!" "Taillow!" All May's Pokemon replied eagerly. "Okay," May said, and was ready to pull out two empty

Pokéballs so she could catch Mudkip and Treecko. The two Pokemon were caught inside the balls. May

started to hear the poacher, so she ran back towards camp where Brendan waited.

"WHERE ARE MY POKEMON? WHERE ARE MY POKEMON? NOW I'LL NEVER GET THE MONEY I NEED!" cried the poacher, Damien.

May could hear it too and she had a strong feeling that that wasn't the last time she'd see him.