Hearing the rhythmic crunching of spiky gumballs, I gleefully stomp on another. Loose gravel rolls down the incline. To my right is a small clearing right at the edge of the hill, so I nab a quick detour. Nearly tripping, I back up a tad. Then I take in my surroundings: scraggly trees, thorny bushes, sharp and fat leaves fighting for the bright sunlight - movement near the edge catches my attention. A brown rabbit with darker tufts of fur and buckteeth skitters away, bounding into a nearby hole. Waiting a moment longer, I drink a swig of the warm miso soup in my canteen. Thirst quenched; I continue downhill.
To my right is a wall of yellowish clay. Touching it reveals how crumbly and dry the dirt is. Thick roots poke out here and there, leading up into an even taller tree as well as various holes and patches of soft, dry moss. In all honestly, it's a wonder how the tree hasn't fallen over its own weight or through the soil that's looser than the clay, but then I catch sight of another thinner tree practically holding it up. Every other while, I'd spot these watmel-patterned leaves with a small red bud, or waxy yellow flowers in tiny clusters along the wall.
Chirping from around the corner sees me quickening my pace. In front of me are two paths: one leading to a precarious staircase going up for a view of another hill and then around a bend, or a sharper incline covered in sharp gravel, semi-hidden holes, and a strange pink wall ahead. Eyeing the blue-and-yellow ball of feathers preening on the first step, the cream ferret shuffling about the top messing with the nails on the staircase, and the racoon-badger smacking said nails back into place, I chose the smart option - down the incline! Luckily my boots are good enough to handle the jog without impacting my face with the ground. A cheeping laugh sounds from atop my head as the other two scramble down the steps.
I wait in front of the strange wall, idly dusting yet more dirt from my hands. With how soft it is, I could definitely imagine someone nabbing some of the clay and using it to make vases or pots or even dishes - a peck on my head brings me back. Smiling at the normal types, I gesture towards the wall. Getting the memo, all three pokémon pose ridiculously.
A snap of the camera later, we were on our way.