The forest floor is dark and damp covered by the huge canopy of trees that tower above, small streams of light break down filtering down onto the paths below. It hot and humid in the summer months, flying type zip in and out of the tree lines creating a breeze which is a welcomed relief. I had been headed towards Goldenrod after winning my badge at the Azalea gym. We had won quite handily, I had considered using Lapras to try her out but I hadn't had much time to train with her so I went with my three starters instead. Quilava and Bayleef easily dealt with Metapod and Kakuna but Scyther was another story, luckily Quilava managed to burn it and Croconaw was eventually able to over power it with Ice Fang. Bugsy had directed me toward Goldenrod however there has been an incident with a rock slide blocking the southern route so I have to head towards Ruins of Alphs first and then catch the train to Goldenrod. The forest trek is long however, it something like 27 miles and while I am used to walking now, I still only look to walk about 4 miles a day, it was easier back in Kanto when I had the free passes and could just get air taxis and train rides free. My legs were much more used to it now but I was getting stronger.
"Oh wow Quilava, we have got a lot of ground to make up today, there's no river either yet so Lapras can't give us a ride just yet"
"Quil…"
"Don't worry about it buddy, I can make up the ground. We've been walking for two miles now I can cover more "
My phone buzzes violently letting off sirens noises
"ALERT ALERT! ROGUE STRONG POKEMON APPEARING IN THE LOCAL AREA!"
I pull it up and hit the alert
"Please be aware, a strong Flying type Pokemon has been injured in the area close to you, it was last scene entering into the north of Ilex Forest. There is no confirmation on it species or typing, please do not approach, we ask trainers to keep to their routes and proceed to their nearest Poke Centre."
"Sounds dangerous, lemme check the map"
I look at the map and the centre are pretty far apart, the centre which is back down the road is 1 and a half miles away while the one further to my destination is 2 miles away.
"Well its only half a mile it won't hurt" I think to myself
"Come Quilava, we need to head this way" I say beckoning it to follow
It nods and follows after me, the path is dead quiet, there are a few trainers heading the other way back towards the centre, I did get a few odd looks but I continue on my way. Eventually the rain begins to pour down on us, I return Quilava to avoid it getting too wet. I come round on the path and arrive upon a scene
"Sudo….Sudo!"
"Krow! Krow!"
I come round a corner and see a Sudowoodo on its haunches being attacked by four Murkrow
"Croconaw go!"
Croconaw slams down on the ground
"Water Gun!"
He takes a deep breath and blast two of the Murkrow away, the other two turn quickly and zoom towards Croconaw.
"Ice Punch!"
Both of its fists glow a bright blue and its slams them both away, they regroup with their other friends and zoom off into the undergrowth
"Sudo?"
The Sudowoodo pulls itself and looks at me with deep concern
"Are you okay? Why were they attacking you?"
"Sudo….." It whimpers trying to shield itself from the rain
"Are you alone?"
It jolts upright, in realisation before sprinting off the opposite way though the undergrowth
"Hey wait up!" I shout chasing after it
It's a quick sprinter and clearly knows it way through the undergrowth, I just manage to keep up with it as we come into a large open area. The Sudowoodo suddenly stop and rushes to a group of Pokemon. There a Machop, Flaaffy and on the floor struggling is a Poliwhirl. It's writhing around in pain on the floor thrashing about while Machop attempts to hold it down. Sudowoodo rushes in, fumbling around in its hands, it has a collection of herbs and berries. It mushes it and rubs it on the Poliwhirl's head but it thrash about more
"Croconaw help them out"
Croconaw rushes up and helps the Machop hold the Poliwhirl down
"I can't really get involved, they always said to not touch injured Pokemon in the wild but to alert a ranger. But if I alert a ranger then they will know I'm not heading toward the centre"
I look on as the Poliwhirl continues to struggle
"I have to help"
I rush up and jump to my knees, I pull my bag around and rummage around. Sudowoodo looks at me with anxiety
"Its okay I want to help" I say to it with a nod
"Sudo…..Sudo!" It nods
I pull out a Cheri and Chesto berry, I mush them together
"Poliwhirl don't eat though there mouth they absorb nutrients, the best thing to do is rub it in"
I begin to rub it up and down its arms before noticing a cut, it not deep but looks infected. I pull out some ointment and rub it on the area before wrapping it with a bandage. It finally begins to calm down as it falls asleep. Flaaffy and Machop thank us before carrying Poliwhirl away
"Nice work, you are a bit like a field nurse" I say to Sudowoodo with a laugh
"Sudo?" It looks to me inquisitively
"Uh well, its people who explore and help injured Pokemon" I say with a smile
"Sudo!" It nods and smiles
It then begins to shelter itself from the rain before trotting over to some branches hanging over
"Can I sit with you?" I question
"Sudo" It nods and I take up a place on the log next to him
Upon closer inspection of Sudowoodo, it looks as if it been in a recent battle, it has scratches and marks plastered all over it
"Oh your hurt? Let me help you" I say looking to get a closer
"Sudo!"
Sudowoodo immediately moves away and cover some of the marks
"Are you sure? It looks bad"
Sudowoodo fumbles around in it left hand and produces a small gleaming yellow orb, he rolls it around on the newer marks, it gleams as it manages to clear the marks
"Oh wow, you really are a forest healer!" I say with a laugh
"Hounch!"
My eyes dart up and standing before us are three Pokemon; a Honchkrow which bellows at us, a Xatu who floats next to it and a Houndoom which stands on all fours growling at us. Sudowoodo hides the orb and jumps up cowering behind me
"Are these the one that hurt you?" I question to which Sudowoodo nods
"Well then we will protect you!" I shout throwing up a ball as Croconaw move in the way, Lapras touches down and calls out
"Honch!"
Honchkrow bellows and Houndoom charge Croconaw
"Rock Smash!"
Croconaw with a glowing fist slams Houndoom back flying into the treeline behind
"Honch!"
It gets up and bellows out a plumage of fire
"Block it Lapras with Water Gun!"
Lapras fires of a stream of water which puts out the fire which slams Houndoom.
"XATU!"
Xatu eyes light up seizing Croconaw and Lapras who are unable to move
"Guys break out!" I shout as I get grabbed too
They struggle but are unable to do so
"Sudo sudo!"
Sudowoodo flashes bright white and slams Xatu with a strong Rock Slide which releases everyone as Honchkrow screeches at it two subordinates
"Ice Punch Croconaw!"
Croconaw dives forward and slams it glowing fist into the back of Honchkrow who is slammed into the ground
"Now you three get out of here now!" I shout at them
"Houch!"
They speed off again into the undergrowth, as Sudowoodo drops down and eyes well up
"Hey are you okay?"
He hold the small orb to it chest and wipes it face away
"That orb really precious to you isn't it?"
He nods
"Who gave it you?"
"Sudo…"
He wipes his face again before speeding off away the opposite way into the undergrowth
"Hey wait! Lapras return!"
I shout returning Lapras before chasing after it into the undergrowth, Croconaw stumble and bumbles after me. I can see Sudowoodo in the distance as I skip and jump over the roots and vines
"Sudowoodo, we shouldn't split up! Those bad guys could come back"
He continues to sprint away
"Sudowoodo wait AHHHHHHHH!"
As I go to jump over a root I trip and slam into the ground, I feel a sharp shooting pain fly all the way up my leg. I begin to pant and my eyes fill, Croconaw stumbles and catches up panting
"Ah my leg, ah" I mumble as I try to bend it but the pain is too much
"Croc!" Croconaw shouts
"Croc, I can't move" I wince
He peers over my leg, he glows his fist white and holds it next to my leg, the cold helps but it still throbs
"Thanks Croc but I don't think it will work long term, I need to get to a centre" I say trying to pull myself up, I try to weight on my leg but immediately can't and push against the tree behind me
"I don't know what to do" I say eyes filling again before slumping down to the ground
Its getting pretty late I think to myself as I pull out my phone, it nearly 6pm and with the rain still pouring down it going to get cold out here. There nowhere to pitch a tent and with my leg I'm not going to be able to make it anywhere to get a camp set up, plus there still this rogue flying type Pokemon around. I sit quietly
"Croconaw return! I don't want you getting cold"
"Bayleef wouldn't be strong enough to carry me, Lapras would be but it wouldn't be able to move in this environment. Quilava could maybe burn a path for us but its raining so the flames would get put out"
"I need help"
"Dustin! How are you doing buddy?" comes Ryans voice from my phone
"Uh hi I'm sorry to bother you" I stammer
"You're never a bother kiddo! Whats up?"
"Uh well uh I've hurt myself and I can't get myself to somewhere safe" I say as I begins to weep
"Hey wow okay, first take a nice deep breath for me okay?"
"I, uh yeah okay"
"Right, where are you?"
"I'm somewhere in Ilex forest, I slipped in the undergrowth with the rain and I've hurt my leg so I can't walk"
"Okay, can you send me your location?"
"Uh yeah"
I ping it off to him in our messages
"Okay, you're not too far off the path, are you cold? How long have you been there?"
"Only about 15 minutes and not too cold"
"Okay, well I'm coming to get you so don't sweat it, send out Quilava and get him to sit with you okay, he will keep you warm"
"Uh you don't have to come, I can get a ranger or"
"Don't be silly! You're my student, you'll have to give me some time, I'm about an hour away by flight but sit tight and I will get too you"
"Okay Ryan"
I send Quilava out who panics like Croconaw, I calm him down and explain the situation. He gladly jumps into my lap and ignites his head flame to keep us both warm. After a short while, there a few rustles in the undergrowth and out pops
"Sudo?"
"Sudowoodo, are you okay?" I question as Quilava looks up to it
"Sudo?!"
It exclaims and rushes up, looking at my leg which has already started to turn a deep purple with bruising
"Its okay, I fell but my friend is coming to get me, don't worry about it" I say to him with a smile
"Sudo!"
"Its not your fault honest, I should have looked where I was going"
Sudowoodo takes a seat next to me pushing itself into me attempting to assist in keep me warm
"Thanks"
We sit there further, thankfully the rain begins to lighten up, I keep and eye on my phone, nearly two hours have passed since I had spoken to Ryan and the dark was starting to set in. Only when the sun has finally gone down does a voice come
"Ryan this way come on!"
I perk up at the sound of a familiar voice
"Daisy that's left, the map say its right, oh hey there kiddo!" Ryan shouts as he finally pops out through the undergrowth
I feel my chest get tight and eyes fill as I begin to cry
"Ryan!"
He crouches down in front of me and ruffles my hair
"Hey don't cry we're here now don't sweat it"
Quilava slight stiff jumps down and stretches
"Nice work Quilava, way to go" Ryan say as Quilava calls out happy at the praise
"Oh and this is?" Ryan says pointing to Sudowoodo who has fallen sound asleep
"Oh, Sudowoodo, I haven't caught him or anything. He was being bullied by some other Pokemon so we fought them off"
"Nice work, right lets take a look at the damage" Ryan says uncovering my knee as Daisy approaches from the back with Espeon on her shoulder
"Dustin! Are you okay?!" She bellows rushing up to me checking my forehead for a temperature
"I'm okay, I'm sorry to trouble you"
She wrap her arm around my shoulder and pulls me close
"You are never any trouble"
I swell and feel emotion fill up my chest
"Oh damn, you've done yourself proper here Dustin" Ryan says
"Oh my god its black" Daisy shrieks looking at my knee
"Thats it hun, really make him feel better" Ryan chuckles
She smacks his head
"Its not funny!"
"Ow, now we have two injured party members, Daisy you'll have to carry me out of here" Ryan says feigning injury
I burst out laughing at the situation, Ryan pulls himself up and dusts himself off
"Right Es, help me out and get him on my shoulders please" He says crouching down
Espeon jumps down from Daisy shoulder and I feel myself go weightless and I'm placed on Ryan back
"Right, we dumped our stuff in a clearing, we will set up camp for tonight, you best come too Sudowoodo, we will cook up a nice meal"
"Sudo!"
We walk for about 5 minutes before coming out into an opening, there a collection of bags all on the ground. A Lucario sleeps lent up against them while an Altaria pecks at a bowl of food
"Oi big guy, you are supposed to be keeping watch!" Ryan shouts as we move towards the bag
"Lu Lu!" Lucario jumps up shocked by the outburst
"Can you grab a chair please buddy"
It nods and grabs a folding chair and opens it up, Ryan has Espeon slowly lower me down into it
"Espeon, can you keep Dustin leg up please"
She nods jumping to my lap and settling down while keep my leg in the air
"Can't I help set up camp?" I question
"No, you rest that leg" Daisy says firmly
I nod and watch the pair as they set up the whole camp and cooking facilities. Ryan and Daisy quickly cook up a hearty meal and pass me a bowl. It hot and fresh full of veggies
"Wow this is great!" I say as Daisy take up the vacant seat and Ryan sit crossed legged on the floor
"Thank Daisy, its her recipe. You eat up too Sudowoodo"
"Sudo!"
Sudowoodo sits with Lucario and Altaria munching away at there food. I had returned Quilava to is ball to rest up
"Right, shall we discuss what happened today then" Daisy says to me looking rather stern