The Doomed Sprout
Chapter 2
Despite an evident lack of knowledge of the surroundings, the strange newcomer did hold out on her promise to save a hostile Shinx, bringing him a good amount of Pecha Berries. She was standing proudly, confident in herself, as well as ready to crush anyone that'd ask about the various bruises and cuts that were all over her face. It was most definitely from a hard-fought battle with a Garchomp for the berries, and absolutely not from repeatedly falling over on the rough dirt because she still didn't know how to walk. Turns out climbing a vertical tree is a completely different skillset to that of moving paws forward on the ground, which quickly killed the Nidoran's confidence in being in control of the situation. Not that she'd let her new guide ever know.
« Alright, I hope you've enjoyed your meal from your oh-so benevolent savior, but now I'd like to ask you a few questions, if that's alright », she said sternly, which made the Shinx growl at her, though without moving and continuing to nibble on the berry. « First one being.. what is your name ? »
The Pokemon paused as if lost in thought. This, she hoped, was a good sign that she'd not need to pick a name for him. Her hopes were quickly dashed, however.
« I am Shinx »
« I know what your species is, thank you. I was asking you about your personal name », her voice was barely restraining her annoyance as she had already realized how the discussion would go.
« In a hunt, there is no need for individual names, everyone knows their place ».
That was kinda robotic, the Nidoran remarked, I guess I'll keep that for later. For now, name and food, I'll learn more about this guy later.
« Alright, well, I'll just give you a temporary name because I don't know anyone's place, and we'll probably find more of your species around, if you're here. I need to differentiate you from them during any combat or escape. Unless you can guarantee they won't attack me on sight ? »
At that, the Shinx nodded negatively, earning another sigh from one exhausted Pokemon.
« Well, I guess… I'll just call you Lumin, since you can make light and all, and you're supposed to be my guide. Sounds good ? ...Don't answer that, just take the name, please »
The Shinx, now known as Lumin, simply tilted his head and said nothing. She took it as approval, mostly because she really wanted to be done with this rather than any care for the Shinx's interest.
« And as for you.. Please stop calling me an outcast, and call me Fen ». The newly named Nidoran let out, before adding, « Actually, no, tell me what an outcast is »
« An Outcast is a Pokemon that does not follow instinct and cannot hunt properly. Outcasts are difficult to train and a liability to any family. Outcasts must be removed for the safety of the family », said the Shinx. Fen looked surprised at this.
« So… Outcasts are people that do things differently than what most Pokemon's instincts say ? So there are more of.. well, Pokemon like me ? »
Lumin growled, giving Fen a worried look, still unsure if the Shinx would keep his word. « Yes », he answered, « Outcasts are quite obvious and poor fighters, making them easy prey, but they can appear in any family's litter ». He sighed, before regaining his focus and standing back up, looking towards the forest. The Nidoran looked at him, before getting back on her paws, determined to follow. At least so long as he wasn't trying to cook her again.
« Hey, where do you think you're going ? I still have a lot of questions ! »
« You had asked for food, I am going to hunt », Lumin said, not even looking back, as he marched on to an entrance between the trees »
Fen stopped, afraid of the implications. « I said non-sapient ! I don't want to eat meat that could've been friendly ! ». Her face was pale.
« What- », Lumin started, surprised, before biting his tongue and starting again. « I do not know what non-sapient means »
« That means not a Pokemon or Human ! », she retorted. « A sapient is a creature that can think and act based on their own decisions rather than instinct, like me with climbing the tree, but also you with accepting my help with the berries. »
Watch me become a Pokemon teacher when I know literally nothing of this place, The Nidoran thought smugly.
« I do not know what Human means ». The answer interrupted her train of thought before the weight of these words resonated within her mind. Humans weren't a thing here. There would be no human scientist to help her figure things out. Was there even civilization ? Please let there be civilization, she prayed.
« It doesn't matter for now. Just.. can you just find berries or fruits, and we eat those ? There weren't many Pecha Berries ». While saying this, she noticed the Shinx's teeth flare up slightly, though he didn't do so much as turn around.
« Berries are not very filling, unlike meat. And fruits are guarded by Grass Type Pokemon »
« So… how about you look for fruits, get them, and if there's any Pokemon, they're your meal ? ». Fen internally hoped that his fears were unfounded as she really didn't want to see the result of a hunt, though she wasn't really in a position to complain.
« ...Yes », Lumin answered with a hiss, earning a concerned glance from the Nidoran.
« Did I say something wrong ? I get the feeling you're close to attacking me, yet you never do »
Right after saying that, Fen slammed a paw into her face.
Stupid, she called herself. Don't tell the scary thunder cat you're scared of them, way to tell them you're an easy meal...
Paying no mind to these worries, Lumin turned around to face her, sitting down.
« Outcasts ask questions. Pokemon do not. I am used to attacking those that ask questions », he simply said, before turning around and walking into the forest, the shadows of the trees quickly hiding him from sight.
Fen stood there in surprise, before laying down near a tree to think. Huh. So questions are some sort of taboo ? That'd explain all the growling and such, but then why isn't he attacking me now that he's healed if even his instinct tells him to ? He's.. weirdly docile now, not that I should complain... Whatever the reason, I get the feeling Pokemon settlements aren't a thing, if their onlook on intelligence is that bad. I need to figure out a plan, and quickly. I can't just go into things blindly.
As the hours pass, and Lumin still isn't back from the hunt, Fen's thoughts slowly die down, as boredom fills her mind. She grazes her spikes, having a moment for herself to fully grasp her new situation. She was in a different world than her own, alongside a different body, and a different level of civilization. Her own species didn't seem to exist there, and she had no clue how to even live here. That's a lot all at once, and having to relearn basic necessities after 20 years of human life is not really enticing. Still, Fen thought, I've managed to survive a night, got the hang of an ability, and seem to have an.. ally ? Pet ? Slightly murderous food service ?
She stood up, taking in her surroundings.
I need to learn about how things work here, starting with where the heck I am. If I'm right, a Shinx hunts for his pack, so his family should be nearby. It also seems like there isn't much food in these plains, since both Lumin and the Spearows attacked me on sight, and I've not met any other Pokemon around.. Could it be because his family lives very close to here ?
She sighed, eyeing the forest. There is no way I can set up camp here. Lumin's already made it clear any new Shinx would attack me on sight, and apparently any other Pokemon too, as soon as I act different from a Nidoran. I don't even know how they normally act ! ...No, I guess moving out is better. After I know the basics, I'll go.
As Fen was coming to a conclusion, she heard the rustling of leaves a few meters away, before being hit with a strong smell that her mind seemed to really, really want to get away from, right now. Her logical side resisted the urge, realizing that, sadly, Lumin was indeed right about fruits being protected by Grass Type Pokemon. He appeared before her, bringing a couple of lightly burnt Oddishes in his fangs, while somehow using his tail to latch onto a few dates and blueberries. The Nidoran was genuinely impressed by how he had managed to stack everything and keep it steady, not expecting that degree of expertise. Still, she noticed that a few blueberries had fallen on the way there, and the pile was likely a lot bigger at the start. Oh well, food is food.
« I don't suppose you'd mind letting the Oddishes go and eat the dates instead ? »
Upon hearing the growl, Fen quickly corrected. « I mean, I recommend a vegetarian diet for now, so we could share the fruits », she said, smiling awkwardly while staring at the Shinx's eyes, refusing to look down.
« I'll bring the meat to the nest, and come back for my portion of the hunt », he answered, seemingly perfectly okay with the decision. While it wasn't what she wanted, Fen at least appreciated that she'd not need to see what was next for the poor Pokemon. She eyed the dates, noticing how they were exactly the same species as back home... That seemed like a strange occurrence, though she doubts she'll get the explanation for how this could be a thing. Ethan would be so thrilled…
Tears welled up in her eyes. Despite how alien this world was to her, so much of it would remind Fen of her world, from the trees to the grassy plains, and now even the fruits. Of all the things that she kept through this, it was the most mundane ones, and she knew she should be happy to have that much, but it didn't stop her from remembering all that she'd lost. Her friends, her family, her home… Even her plushies were now gone, or rather, she was gone, to all of them. The thought that they'd be looking all over for her didn't make it any easier in the Nidoran's mind.
I was perfectly fine back home. I'm not an explorer, I'm a med student ! Who the heck decided on that... She paused for a moment, before resuming her thoughts. If anyone even did. Nature seems harsh here, and if it's harsh even to other worlds, I promise I'll invent flamethrowers just to spite you. She glared at the date angrily, as if it was responsible for warping her in this place, before sighing and lifting it up awkwardly with her front paws, taking a bite. As soon as she did, Fen realized just how starved she'd been, after a day and two fights on an entirely empty belly, and quickly shoved the rest of the date in her belly, before a second one, and a few blueberries. She had to restrain herself to keep some of it for Lumin, half due to respect for his efforts, and half due to fear of being the target of his fangs again if he were to lack food. Still, what she did have was enough to at least appease her belly's appetite for a few hours. The Nidoran gently shoved aside the last date and blueberries, while remembering that weird tail hold her ally did. I wonder just how Pokemon move things around. There seem to be creative ways to bend my body, but what about abilities that can be used in a non-combat manner.. Man, I wish bags were still a thing... even saddlebags !
As Fen pondered the problem of a lack of movable supplies, she noticed her Shinx ''friend'' had come back, walking slowly back to the admittedly small pile of fruits, nibbling them without even a glance at the nearby Nidoran.
« Sooo… you went back to your nest ? », started Fen, trying to strike a conversation.
Lumin growled, before answering curtly. « Yes »
« And… ehm- Sorry, it's going to be hard not to ask questions all the time. You know I'm an Outcast, so can you just stop doing that ? ». Fen stared at the Pokemon in frustration.
« I will »
Some silence followed, before the Nidoran started again.
« Orders are what you listen to, huh ? »
« Yes ». No growling this time, she noted.
« Alright, well, I'm going to sleep. I want you to tell me if I can come to your nest or not »
At this, Lumin tilted his head in confusion. « Only the Shinx line or food enters the nest »
« I don't suppose you have blue and yellow paint with you ? »
« Wha… I do not know what that is ». Lumin seemed almost ashamed of slipping up. Fen shot him a smile she hoped was reassuring.
« Questions are fine with me, Lumin. I do them to you, so you can do them to me. Ask. »
The Shinx seemed to stare off in the distance, before sitting down pensively. It was the first time Fen saw him actually consider something intensely, rather than straightforward answers. Something must've struck a chord with him. When he answered, his voice was quieter than normal, almost getting to a whimper.
« ...What is paint ? »
« Paint is something you can use to change a thing's color. Like changing your coat from blue to yellow, or changing an apple from red to purple ». Fen was doing her best to be as educational as possible, though seeing the previously frightening Shinx appearing so timid about something as simple as paint was very funny in her mind.
Also adorable.
« From blue to yellow ? And… yellow to blue ? »
The Nidoran nodded affirmatively. « Paint can be removed, usually with water. But otherwise, you could color yourself any way you want ! »
« Are you using paint right now ? »
The question took her by surprise. « Well, female Nidorans are blue, so no, I'm not »
The discussion mostly died down from there, with both Lumin and Fen yawning one after the other. Realizing it was soon time to sleep, Fen walked back up to the edge of the forest, grabbing a few of the palm leaves and bringing them back to the Shinx, packing them together in a small, untied bundle, while Lumin looked at her curiously.
« I'll be sleeping in the tree again. I don't know if I'm safe down there. Come back to me tomorrow morning », said the Nidoran in a commanding voice. If she seemed assured, she was anything but, imagining in her mind how the Spearows could return, or Lumin finally coming to his senses and realizing he has no reason to listen to his ''prey''. Still, he nodded and simply stood still as Fen started climbing again, the leaves in her mouth. As soon as she got to the top, she replaced her leaf bed, before laying down and closing her eyes, hoping for a sound and, most importantly, undisturbed sleep.
Down on the ground, Lumin stared at what Fen was doing. Eventually, he came to a decision and stood up, before walking towards the forest.