Hey, everyone! Ta-Ni here. Sorry for the long wait; just try to imagine raising young ones at my age. Anyway, now that they've given me a bit of a break, I can resume uploading. Enjoy!

As darkness fell after leaving the den, I realized just how dangerous the world outside could be. I've never been outside after dark; Nana always called me back in before the sun went down. True, I could see the night through the cave entrance, and hear all the nocturnal creatures and Pokémon talking to one another. But always from the safety of the cave, never outside. The thought of spending my first night away from home scared me a little.

I keep jumping at every rustle in the brush, expecting some large predator to leap at me and snatch me up for dinner. Then, I remember I'm evolved and much larger than I was before, so few predators would mess with me. Still, the fear lingers, setting my nerves on edge. Even the hoots of Noctowls startle me, so much so that I cannot sleep never well.

The next morning, I woke unrefreshed, but determined to keep going. After a quick breakfast of a couple of Pachurisu, I continue walking toward the distant mountains. The forest is much larger than I thought, since I couldn't go much farther from the den than a day's walk; it seemed to stretch on forever. I spent another couple sleepless nights under the trees before I noticed a change in the scenery. The tree seemed to get thinner, more spaced apart. Sunlight began peaking through the canopy of leaves above me.

Finally, by the seventh sunrise since I started my journey, I reached what appeared to be the edge of the forest. The trees just stopped, and a large. Grassy area lay out before me. However, there were also dirt paths weaving among the grass, well-trodden and dusty. I hung back for a few minutes, afraid of how open and exposed it was, but it stood between me and my goal, so I had to risk it.

Then, as I took my first step from the trees, a familiar sight appeared: a tall figure with a red cap and backpack. A trainer, I realized with dismay, jumping back into the shelter of the trees. That's why the dirt parts are so well used; it's a road for trainers! Suddenly, the grassland seemed even scarier than before. I couldn't risk getting caught by a trainer, not if I wanted to reach the mountain.

Cautious, I decided to wait until nightfall, in hopes that the darkness would hide me from them. Sure enough, the area seemed devoid of them after the sun went down. As I snuck through the tall grass, darting across the dirt paths from grass clump to grass clump, a bizarre thought occurred to me. Nana always taught me to not trust humans, but what if I could talk to one of them? If I explain my mission, maybe they could help me.

Something inside told me it wouldn't work; that humans can't understand us. How I knew that, I don't know; the reason just popped into my head. Still, I might be able to use an illusion to try and communicate with them. The question was: could I trust them to help me? My mind turned to the trainer who caught Nana: his cold and callous demeanor toward us and his own Pokémon. Surely someone like that would never help a wild Pokémon.

Then, there was the young trainer before that. He seemed innocent, but that could be because of his age; he hadn't grown into someone like the other one yet. Also, he still seemed more eager to catch rather than understand. Maybe Nana was right; maybe all humans are cruel and uncaring. As I finished crossing the grassland and re-entered the trees, I reaffirmed my resolve not to deal with humans, and walked away.

And there you have it. I know, it's not much in the way of progress, but I was pressed for time. Speak of, I can hear Flame calling for me; guess it's my turn to watch the kits. Don't forget to check out my forum topic, Eon Village. We need more members!

Take care to read and review, and may your Ember never fade!