CHPT 2 – STRANGE MON, STRANGE WORLD
Samuel stood around 6'2. His shoulders firm, his hair messy from his time in the cryo-pod, hanging just below his shoulders. It was a dirty blond, matching his bright green eyes. Soft freckles dotted his cheeks, something his mother had always told him were "Mesprit Kisses". He tried to distract himself from thoughts about his mother and father, the door pushing open after a brief struggle and allowing him to see the world for what it was. Vines had grown up and around the door, camouflaging it from any would-be attackers, the houses seemingly in ruins around his former home. Unova had never been one for a climate like the one he felt, the wind chilling him to the bone as he stepped into the sunlight. It hung low, purple and pink lights beginning to dance across the evening sun. Samuel's thoughts scattered as he realized he didn't quite have a source of food for the time being, glancing to the dilapidated buildings, before deciding to focus on the woods nearby instead. With luck, he would be able to find some berries or something… provided they too had survived his long nap. He gave another look at the lab, turning his back on it as he began to walk in the direction of the next town, its path buried in the years since his awakening.
Samuel walked, the weight of his found backpack hanging against his shoulders. It had sat in the lab, something from before he awoke, thankfully still intact. In it was a few things, nothing of terrible importance, a few poke balls, some paper and pens, and what could be called a Poke-Dex in the loosest of terms. It was a ramshackle collection of papers, printed no doubt off a bootleg website. Either way, there was… technically a set of information there, even if it was a little difficult to decipher. He walked towards the woods, careful as he glanced around, still reluctant to properly greet his partner pokemon after the time in the pod. It wasn't so much that he was scared, he thought, even if the thought of seeing her again, and trying to make it all make sense caused him to shiver. No, it was worse. He was afraid that she might no longer be inside, as well. His parents had already been taken from him, as well as any semblance of normalcy. This was increasingly evident as he stepped into the grass, the trees tall around him. He knew that there might be something out there, waiting for him, but it was a risk he had to take. Samuel walked, albeit slowly, attempting to not raise too much suspicion about his movements. His head was still over top the blades of grass, trees hanging low as his mind began to play tricks on him; The sound of a twig crunching underfoot here, rustling of leaves that sounded a bit too much like someone walking forwards there.
In the end, the grass proved… uneventful, which was a blessing for the stressed man. With a sigh, he walked to the nearest tree, leaning against it, and sitting down. It wasn't until the blinding red light of a pokeball activating next to him that Samuel realized what he had done, a twig having pressed the button on the singular ball snug on his belt. The long, white fur of his partner fluffing up as she stood, glaring down at him, eyes full of worry, rage, and confusion.
"S-Samuel…?"