A SANDSHREW JOINS THE TEAM

Rachel had left the hermit, after taking out her frustration on the wall of the wheelhouse. The hermit had been rather concerned that she was going out into the desert again when he saw her leave, and went after her.

"If you're going out into the desert, at least take this." He said, giving her a poké ball. "I found it down below, and if you see a Sandshrew, you might be able to catch it. If you do, they can dig for water-they can detect it, you know." He showed her a sketch he'd made of a Sandshrew, and she took it from him.

She had accepted the poké ball, and gone deeper into the ship, taking out some more of her frustration on one of the crates, which were marked POKÉ FOOD. It split open, and Rachel went down on hands and knees to eat as much as she could. Her head still ached abominably, and her memory had got worse. She could now no longer remember the name of that hateful pink-haired woman, or the organisation she belonged to.

She found a Sandshrew before the ship was even out of sight, and quite by accident. She disturbed it while going around a large boulder, and it growled and got ready to fight. Almost before she realised what she was doing, she attacked it, and it rolled back, looking dazed. She fought for control of her emotions and actions, and won, then remembered the poké ball she was holding. She threw it, and it rocked a few times, and then lay still. She picked it up, a bit confused, and let the Sandshrew out, for she was now thirsty.

"Find water." She told it.

It squeaked and began to sniff around. About ten feet out, it stopped and began digging. Rachel went over to watch. About two foot down, some muddy water began seeping into the hole, and with a few more swipes of its powerful forepaws, the Sandshrew had a respectable amount of water seeping into the hole. Rachel gently moved it aside, and drank the water, ignoring the gritty taste of the water. Once she had finished, she allowed the Sandshrew to drink it's fill, then put it back in it's ball, placing it on the belt next to the ball already there. She frowned. She'd forgotten about the first poké ball. She'd have to stop at some time and find out what it was. Perhaps she'd get it out for a look at her next rest.

She moved on, not realising or remembering that to get the Sandshrew to look for water, she'd spoken to it.