17 CHAPTER 16
In the Depths Of the Viridian Forest, A Loud, Buzzing Sound was heard as countless Pairs Of Red, Glowing eyes lit up in the shadows.
The Pokémons Nearby Trembled with fear before running away in Every direction. A Big storm Is now Starting To brew.
• • •
On a log House In the Viridian Forest, A Man stirs up in his wooden bed. His amber Like eyes Appearing as his eyelids went up With his wake.
Another day, Another Work. It's been Three days Ever since he Completed the 'Laborous' Side mission that was given to him by the PokéSystem. It's also been three days Since Larvitar Joined their little Group of Forest Dwellers.
And Oh boy, It would be an understatement to say that Raphaela or Raphy, The Larvitar that he got from the PokéGacha, Is a huge troublemaker.
When the three of them arrived at the House After going to the stream, Muez decided to make A Kiln With Clay to make Bricks, Tiles, And Potteries, Which will also be made from Clay. However, When Muez Tried To Make One, Raphy would Walk straight to his Work and start Smashing or stomping it into Pieces. Muez Tried reprimanding Her For her actions But she will just cock her head to the side before walking away to find bew amusement.
Muez Tried many Different Ways to keep her from Destroying his things and the only thing that works is with the Help of Ratata. The day after Muez Got Raphy, He tried to Feed The Pokémon With rocks that he found on the Trail Between His house and the stream but who would've known that Someone can even be freaking picky when it came to rocks.
According to the Larvitar Biology that he'd once read In the past, The Rock skin pokémon Spent their entire Life Hidden inside the Mountains, Feeding on the Mountain rocks That contains Some Sort of Energy that helps them Evolve To another Stage. Upon Evolving into a Pupitar, The "Larval" Stage of Larvitar, They Either remain in the mountain Or Leave to find their Own Mountain if the Tyranitar that lives there is Far too territorial to Accomodate them.
Muez Was having a bad headache that day so left with no other choice, He asked Ratata to Ask around if The It's Pokémon buddies can help him find Mountain rocks Or anything that Can Be eaten by Raphy in exchange With cooked food And friendly Battles.
The Pokémons agreed and Immediately Went out to look for Said rocks. Later that day, Some return Carrying Various sizes of rocks and Muez Later then found Out that Larvitar liked to Eat rocks That is Buried 5 feet Below surface. Muez can't really understand the difference between a regular Rock Found Everywhere and The rocks That was Buries 5 feet below surface or the ones in the mountains.
It's Not like Mountain rocks have Shining Things Or something attached to them to indicate that they're different and special, Right? Right?!
Later that day, With the Amount of rocks That Raphy needed to Appease her humongous appetite, The pokémons Managed to Create A small cavern That Eventually became The home of some Pokémons. The Nidoran Line, Some Geududes and Even a Graveler came to Inhabit the cavern. Some Ekans Also Came to take refuge In the Holes There. All in all, The cavern now serves as a Habitat for the pokémons and Food source to his gluttonous Raphy.
today, After Finally making A Kiln made out of clay, Muez whistled to Call Escanor. Behind him, A Dozen small baskets made out of fiber was neatly Arranged in a Row.
These baskets will help him Transfer the Clays that he needed to Make Bricks, Tiles and other potteries. And who will carry them? The Pokémons in front of him.
In front Of him was six Nidorans, Three males and three females, three mankeys , Two Paras and One Sandshrew. The Nidorans Stood In pairs, staring at him curiously and was waiting for his Instructions. The three Mankeys is another Thing, Though. The three troubleMakers Were Jumping around, Smashing The baskets in their Hands towards each others' Face. The two Paras and The Sandshrew Were more subdued and Behaved compared to the Mankeys, Just like the Nidorans. However, Unlike the Nidorans, The two Paras were Just staring at each other, Refusing to Break Eye contact. The Sandshrew, On the other hand, Seemed to be a little bit Nervous. Being it's Constant Nibbling to it's Claws and repeatedly looking around it A Huge give away.
"Alright, Fellas. Today, We have a Mission to complete. And that Is? Guess what, We're Going to the stream and Collect clay to make Pots! Yay!", Muez said, Clapping to himself Without any embarrasment.
The twelve pokémons Stared at him as if He was some sort of Idiot. Ratata saw how Awkward it's Friend looked so it quickly Clapped Loudly while Motioning to them to do the same.
"No Cheers? Come on, It'll Be fun!"
All that he received was just blank, Emotionless stares.
"Fine fine, I get it. Jeez, I was just trying to cheer you guys up. So anyways, Grab your Baskets and follow me To collect some Clay. Your Payments will be Given after collecting 5 Baskets Worth of Clay. Am I understood?", Muez Asked While Picking Ratata up to Put it on his shoulder.
The Pokémons nodded and Took their respective baskets before lining up behind him. Muez Saw this and Nodded in satisfaction.
"Alright, We're Now good to go! follow me, Fellas. Be careful not to get Snagged by some Arboks, Alright?!"
• • •
It was Already after noon when Muez and the others Finally finished collection Clays. the human and pokémons were all Extremely Exhausted and hungry.
Muez Rubbed his grumbling stomach and Walks inside the house to grab some Boiled sweet potatoes. He made sure that he Took enough amount for him, His pokémons And the Twelve Pokémons that helped him collect clay.
Upon Exitinf the house, He saw the Neighboring Pokémons now taking their lunch, Which Consists of Berries or Fruits. In the Past, Muez once saw an Ekans Swallowing A Ratata whole while He and Everyone else were Gathering in the Area to take Their Meal like they've always do. Just that sight alone was enough to Terrify the other Ratatas around them including the one on his side so, After Taking a Long talk with the Ekans, Muez Established a Rule That If others wants to Continue Eating his Dishes, Then they have to abide and follow the rules that he created. Which was To not eat Other pokémons In his Territory nor Were they allowed to eat the ones That they've met here.
The Pokémons Had a hard time Accepting his rule at first, Especially the ones that came For an easy meal. However, Some 'slight' thrashing from both Haribon And Escanor was enough to Keep these guys from Causing trouble.
After giving Everyone their Own Sweet potatoes, Muez Grabbed a Handful of Rocks under the table and Went to look for Raphy. After a few moments of looking around, Muez Saw her Sitting in the entrance of the small cavern, Watching the Pokémons inside Do their things while munching On a Rock the size of her head.
"There you are, You little Munchkin. Let's Have Lunch together, Alright?", Muez said before Picking up Raphy with all his might. The Rock skin pokémon Cheered in his arms, Jerking here and there In happiness. Making Muez Dodge the Huge spike on her forehead to avoid getting Poke to death.
Muez took Her To the table before lighting the Bonfire up to cook the promised meal For everyone. Notong after, A Simple Stew made from Salmon and Vegetables was cooked and presented In front of everyone to eat.
It was a Peaceful afternoon, Had One pokémon After another started Stumbling In their direction.
Stunned by the Sudden arrival of these pokémons, Muez Took a careful look and found that These guys were actually poisoned. Given how Their bodies are somewhat purple, Just the Odd smell that they excretes was enough to Confirm his suspicions.
Behind them, The Leaves on the trees rustled and Turn, Startling Muez For a moment before Immediately Returning back to normal.
Muez Swears that he has heard some sort of Buzzing sound In the trees that eventually Vanished in the blowing wind.
What the heck just happened to these guys?
