Ahoy there. It's been a while, or maybe not. Anyways here's another chapter for you
Day 5
Daniel has been creating a routine for himself. Or at least a rough guideline. He tries to scavenge and fish on the beach during the morning, when the sun is not so harsh. At midday he moves into the forest and as night falls he returns to camp.
Today is just like yesterday, the day before, and the day before that; clear, breezy, and annoyingly bright. Daniel enforces the routine on himself by slowly climbing coconut trees on the beach. His morning is full of a healthy respect for the ground, sore muscles, and coconuts. As noon approaches and the sun burns brighter, Daniel forages into the forest. Wonderfully colored bushes bear bouncy, bright berries against the green forest floor. Blue oran, red razz, and purple chesto berries find their ways into Daniel's pockets and stomach. Daniel continues collecting fibrous plants which he believes could make good rope while his specimens from yesterday dry out near camp. Each time he returns to camp, Daniel spies the pineapple-headed oddish who spies him right back. Its body and movement have relaxed to Daniel's presence, however the man cannot approach the walking plant so easily. That is what the berries are for.
"Hey there buddy. Care for some berries? I saved them just for you!"
The man leaves some oran and razz berries for the walking plant and takes a step back. The oddish walks over and starts munching. Carefully, Daniel extends his left arm to pet the pokemon's head. He feels the oddish tense up when the hand meets the head. The wild pokemon quickly retreats into the grass, its leaves sway behind it.
"That's okay, you can enjoy the rest later." Daniel says with a tinge of disappointment.
He picks up his stone hand axe and returns to the forest for vines and sturdy greenwood. Daniel hacks away at the vines dangling from the canopy, severing and yanking them down to the ground. He rolls them up and leaves several feet of cordage at camp. Next he spies a young tree. Its bark is soft and thin like a few pages of paper. He can just about wrap one hand around the trunk.
This is soft wood... probably.
Daniel takes his stone hand axe, kneels at the base of the tree, winds up, and strikes. He strikes and strikes, the thuds and knocks dissipate into the forest. His right hand begins to hurt. He violently thins out the base of the tree until it is half as thick. Daniel stands up, places two hands on the tree and pushes it with the full weight of his body. The exposed base cracks and rips as the sapling comes down. Once on the ground, Daniel starts shearing the leaves and branches off the lumber. Soon enough, he drags the head height lumber back to camp. His right hand lingers in shallow pain.
Shit. I have to do that a few more times.
Daniel arrives at camp. The berries he left for the oddish are gone, and so is the presumed consumer. The man takes a seat near his sleeping spot and takes a long break. His hands are starting to form blisters from the constant rubbing it takes to make fire. His feet also sport some blisters which no doubt come from his flip-flops. His hair isn't just dirty, its filled with dirt, on account of his bed being the forest floor. Dirt hides beneath his nails too. Daniel decides to wear his t-shirt on his head. Both to keep dirt out of his scalp, and to get a nice tan.
At least I'll lose this farmer's tan! Daniel Chuckles to himself.
His face is starting to sprout an annoying amount of stubble, which he can't help but feel up in his downtime. Shaving with a stone blade is not a risk worth taking is what he tells himself. His legs, arms, back and pecs are all sore. Climbing coconut trees for safe water is really getting to him. Daniel sits around, making excuses to himself so that he can continue lazing around.
Just a few more minutes. Just a few more. The bed can wait.
Day 8
Daniel rises from his vine-wood cot. Next to him planted in the ground is a walking radish with pineapple shaped leaves. The oddish has warmed up to Daniel ever since he started feeding it berries. Daniel has tried giving it commands, but it either doesn't understand English, or doesn't know vine-whip, razor leaf, solar beam or poison powder.
"Alright Wilson, How do you feel about a stroll on the beach?"
The oddish stares blankly into Daniel's eyes. It has no idea what this human wants.
"Okay, okay. You don't have to stare at me like that you know. I get it."
The simple act of "conversing" with Wilson raises Daniel's morale somewhat. Although hunger still haunts him, Daniel feels that his foraging and hunting routine will keep him sustained for a while. It usually takes all day to feed himself.
Day 12
Daniel lies half-conscious in his bed. Not the vine cot at the pond, but a mattress and metal frame in a carpeted room. It's his apartment. However, his vision is false. No image hits his eyes yet his mind still sees.
Goddamned sleep paralysis. This is bullshit. I sleep at regular intervals now so why the fuck is this happening.
Daniel lies on his bed, unable to move yet able to visualize his room. The walls are painted grey and the ceiling is high and sports a white ceiling fan. The floor is littered with laundry both dirty and clean. His computer desk sits in the corner along with his piano keyboard. Its as if he really were there, suffering sleep paralysis from an erratic sleep schedule.
Come on, just wake up. Get this shit over with.
Daniel wills himself to move, but he lies there helpfully.
JUST WAKE UP ALREADY
He remains still. His chest begins to sink. He is alone. No one can help him.
Come on... WAKE UP. MOVE. Move. Get up. It's all on you. Just START moving.
Daniel begins to panic. He knows he isn't trapped, but he doesn't feel free. Something is holding him down and no matter how hard he tries, his body remains limp.
Please... just... end already.
Daniel's chest begins to feel something. Not a sinking feeling of anxiety or fear, something more physical. It starts more as a suggestion, then becomes a physical bouncing. Daniel's eyes shoot open and are filled with light. It's morning under the island canopy. The sea breeze weaves through the trees to caress the man and the oddish using his chest as a trampoline.
"Oh. Good morning Wilson." Daniel says in a wobbling voice.
The oddish stares at Daniel's face. Its face appears sad and concerned.
"Did you notice I was having a nightmare?" Asks the man, His voice now more level.
The oddish nods up and down. It did indeed notice.
The man is surprised by the pokemon's actions. This is the first time he has ever gotten a definitive response from Wilson after asking a question. More than that, Wilson went out of it's way to wake him up. How did Wilson learn all this human behavior in such a short time? Did Daniel underestimate pokemon intelligence? Do all pokemon just know human language at birth? Is this world actually magical? A grumbling from the man's stomach realigns his focus.
"Well I'm hungry. How about we go foraging together today?"
Wilson nods once more as it hops to the ground and Daniel stands up. Relief and hope wash over Daniel. His stay on this island won't be so lonely after all.
"You're gonna love it out there. There's so much food when you know what you're looking for. I don't know if you've ever left the pond before, but I'll be sure to make your first outing with me a sweet one!"
The pokemon's face beams upon hearing the last few words and Daniel can't help but smile back.
