Chira stretched again, wishing she had a water supply nearby that she could wash her face in. She was exhausted and hurt all over. She stood up with a moan, glaring at a laughing Cami. "I don't see what's so funny this early in the morning," she said, not even pretending to be in a good mood.

"You should sleep on the ground more often. After a while, you don't even notice how hard it is." Cami was having a good time watching Chira's discomfort.

Insight came scampering over from where she had been exploring the forest's edge. "We go through Viridian Forest today! I'm so excited! I've never been on the other side of it. Do you think we'll get into a lot of battles?"

Cami nickered. "If we do, you won't be fighting in any of them. I'm surprised you are as alert as you are. I thought you would have been more tired than Chira here who happens to hold the record for sleeping in the longest."

Chira glared at the horse. "Oh, if you're so much more awake than us, why don't you go and find us something to eat along with this oatmeal?"
Cami motioned with her head to the endless fields of grass. "It's not my fault you don't like grass," she said wickedly.

"Har dee har har. You're soooo funny."

Insight burst into fits of laughter. "You two are so funny to listen to! It's obvious you have known each other for a long time. When did you meet for the first time?"

Chira spooned some oatmeal into her mouth. "My twelfth birthday was when Cami arrived at my home."

"I detested Chira at first. I didn't have that great an experience with humans. Eventually, though, Chira won me over, and it seems we've been friends for forever." Cami stood up and trotted around their small camp. "Now hurry up, Chira, I have an itch to get moving again."

"Hold on, I'm almost done." Chira rinsed the pan out with some water and quickly packed up the rest of camp. Within moments, they were on their way, all walking.

They entered the shade of the trees and before long Chira was shivering. "It's so cold," she murmured.

Cami replied smartly. "That's because you don't have fur to keep you warm. Humans are so pathetic. You don't even have any form of protection."

"Well, sorry. Not everyone can be born with a fire mane and tail." It was a debate they had had numerous times, enough that it had become a running dialogue that never really changed. It had become a kind of joke between the two.
Poor Insight, though, had no idea, so she was trying to stay out of it while feeling like she had to defend one or the other. The result was she ended up defending both sides at different times with comments like,

"Humans have adapted to their vulnerability very well" or "She has quite a good point there."

Finally Chira couldn't take it anymore, she started to explain to Insight, while fighting laughter, that it was a joke and neither side was serious. Insight huffed.

"Well, next time, could you explain that before you start arguing with each other?"

"Sure," Chira smiled.

Cami's ears flicked forward, and she stopped. Insight paused to listen and heard it too. "What is it?" Chira asked quietly.

"A group of humans, trainer's by their discussion, heading this way." Insight responded.

Cami asked, "Do we want to encounter them or not?"

"Your choice," Chira said. "Personally, I don't have a preference."

"It doesn't matter to me," Cami said. "I could use a battle to wake up a bit more."

They looked at Insight. She shrugged. "I'm too new an addition to have a say. I don't care."

Chira smiled. "It would be less work to meet them, we might as well."

Soon Chira could hear the voices as well. It sounded like the owners were in a arguing. It didn't take long before what they were saying could be made out.

"You don't stand a chance. Those other trainers will wipe the floor with you." One was attacking another one.

"Will not! You just watch and see! I'm going to end up winning and I'll get the prize match!" The other was defending.

"Yeah, right. In your dreams. I wonder who the prize match will be against anyway. Probably an Elite Four member."

"Well, that one I don't care if I win or lose. I'll still be able to say I battled someone from the Elite Four."

Chira speeded up. These voices were getting on her nerves. The problem was, Chira had always had exceptional hearing, so she always heard people before they heard her. She tried to ignore them and for the most part succeeded until they were right around the next bend in the path. Both parties came to a fork in the path at the same time. Chira stopped and studied the two trainers. One was obviously inexperienced, for he pulled his pokedex out of his pocket and used it on Cami and Insight. He had dark brown bangs that wouldn't stay out of his grey eyes. He looked to be eleven or twelve. His friend was about a half-foot taller with hair that was almost black. His eyes were also grey, but whereas the first one's were a silver grey, his were stormy. He appeared to be around Chira's age, maybe a couple years older.

The taller one studied her and her pokemon. "Interesting," he said. "I'm surprised you're going toward Pewter."

Chira leaned casually against Cami. "We're going to get the Boulder Badge. Like most trainers try to get." She gave him a smile.

"Well, I was just meaning that most trainers at the moment are headed toward Viridian and Indigo Plateau for the competition."

"Comp-etition?" Chira was taken aback.

"You mean you didn't know about it?" He was genuinely surprised. "I thought everyone in Kanto knew about it."

The trainer with the pokedex stared at her. "It's been all over the news! How could you not have heard about it?"

Chira looked at Cami. "I guess that's why the pokemon center in Viridian was so crowded." She nodded, exhaling.

"Everyone's talking about it!" The younger one continued. "Along with the regular competition prizes, the winner will be able to battle one of the most famous trainers of all time! And if they win, there's this surprise that they'll get."

"Who is the famous trainer?"

"No one knows," the older one said, shrugging. "We're guessing it'll be someone from the Elite Four."

Chira nodded, not bothering to tell them that she had heard most of their conversation. "So are you going to participate?"

The first one answered her. "I am, but Jordan won't. Says he doesn't want to, but I think he's scared."

Jordan gave him a noogie, while smiling deceptively. "You'll have to excuse my cousin, he's a bit eccentric."

Chira nodded, looking up at the trees. "Do you know if the Pewter City Gym leader is still there?"

Jordan nodded. "I think he's leaving for Indigo Plateau tomorrow. If you hurry, you might be able to catch him."

Chira smiled at them. "I will, thanks."

Jordan paused, then smiled. "Hey, how about a battle? My cousin's pokemon against your eevee."

Chira was shaking her head even as the younger one was protesting. "Why don't you battle her, Jordan?"

"Because you're the one that needs the experience if you're going to enter at Indigo Plateau. Besides, she doesn't seem to be strong enough for it to be a match if she battled me."

"I'm sorry," Chira interrupted. "But Insight can't battle." At their blank looks she realized her mistake. "My eevee. She's not strong enough to battle yet. I got her from an abusive trainer two days ago, and she's still regaining her strength."

Insight protested. "I can too. I'm strong enough! I promise."

Cami told her to hush as Jordan said, "She doesn't look like she's not perfectly healthy."

Looking at Insight, Chira was prone to believe him, but there was still something that held her back. She shook her head. "How about against Cami, my ponyta?"

Jordan faced his cousin. "Why not, Chris? It would be good practice."

Chris nodded. "Fine."

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Ooh, another trainer battle. Who will win? Stay tuned to find out.