"Let's stop here for supper, Cami," Chira said, looking around at the open field they were currently traveling through. They had left at sunrise that morning and had been traveling all day. Chira effortlessly set up a small fire while Cami grazed on the field grass. She got the oatmeal that her mother had sent along cooking, and leaned back against a log to rest. She had tried to act normal this morning, but she couldn't think if she had or not. Her friends had been real happy for her that she had her trainer's license, though most of them had already been on their trainer's journey.

Chira pulled out the picture of her birth family. Her dad had caught a dragonite. Amazing. I really want to find them. But… Why did they not want me? Are they even alive? They look really happy together. I don't think they would have given me up by choice.

Cami came and laid down beside her. "Where are we going?" She asked. The two had just headed West toward Viridian City. They weren't sure where they were going after that. Chira kind of wanted to get badges, but she also wanted to find out about her parents.

"I'm not sure," she said at length. "I don't know where to start looking for my parents, so I guess we can just work for our badges." She sighed. "I really want to find them, if they're still alive." She looked up at the darkening sky. "Do you have any ideas?"

Cami shook her head. "I'm afraid I'm at the same point you are. What is the nearest gym?"

"Pewter City, probably." She moved the oatmeal off the fire and kicked some dirt over it. "But the gym leader there specializes in rock pokemon. Fire won't do much against him."

Cami looked to some bushes about seven meters away. She stood up. "Who's there?" she nickered. The bushes shivered. Chira stood up as well.

"Cami?" she asked softly.

"Stay put," Cami ordered, approaching the bushes. "Show yourself if you do not want your home to become ashes."

A muffled voice came through the leaves. "This isn't my home!" It came lunging out at Cami just as Chira discerned the voice to be from a raticate.

"Cami!" she called. It used Quick Attack to get close enough to latch onto Cami's neck and hung there, swaying gently. Chira stared in shock. Cami blinked and used Fire Spin to envelop the raticate in flames. Chira cringed at the scream of pain, and stepped to the side as it came flying out of the flames. Cami slowly followed it out, her eyes whirling angrily.

"That attack was the mark of a desperate, pathetic excuse of a pokemon," she said, snorting. She bent down to look it in the eyes, her lip curling at the smell of burned fur. "Now leave before I become carnivorous."

It scurried away, and Chira gazed at Cami in awe. "I didn't know you could do that," she said.

"All you have to do is be intimidating," she said. "Are we going to camp here or somewhere else?"

Chira pulled out the map. "Well, there's no way we can get to Viridian City tonight. If we camp here, we should get there early evening tomorrow. Let's just stay here." She shifted on her feet uncomfortably, wishing for a tub of water to soak them in, not caring whether hot or cold. She had insisted on walking with Cami, not riding, saying it wasn't fair to ride leisurely while Cami did all the work. She was now paying the price, her feet feeling swollen.

She sat down and took her shoes off, wincing. "Okay, next time we're camping by water, agreed?"

Cami whinnied in agreement, though there were undertones of laughter. "You should have told me your feet were hurting. I would have let you ride."

"Made me ride is more like it," Chira said. "I wonder why that raticate attacked us."

Cami looked away. "Not all pokemon are like the ones back home. Some hate trainers and their pokemon enough it becomes their life's mission to inflict as much pain as possible on them. And," She looked Chira in the eye. "I'm afraid that if they knew you could speak pokemon, they would hate you even more."

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Okay, that one wasn't all that long. The attack was basically a space filler around the other important parts like the events of the morning. Next chapter she'll get a pokemon to join her on her journey. Guess which one it is…

I will try to update on a fairly regular schedule, but a lot is happening right now and I don't know if I will be able to or not.

Would it be possible to review? I only have one! Seriously, it doesn't take long to review, I'll even be happy for one or two words. And much as I want nice reviews, be truthful. I won't mind, I'll be thankful for it. Please? I would really appreciate it. Thanks in advance.