Pokémon Warrior: Lost Adventures

Kenji played with the small turtle beast for a while before standing.

The time was largely spent helping the Pokémon familiarize itself with him and vice versa. The creature quickly became less fearful and even went so far as to nimble on his leather apron before Kenji lightly scolded him. He remembered his father's lessons, and it was important for him to establish boundaries early. It would make later training easier and hopefully engender a link to form. The small creature was currently far too young and lacked the necessary amount of Energy to sustain such a bond but it would make forming one easier.

He also spent the time studying the Pokémon. While he was unfamiliar with the species, his parents' teachings were extensive. As the son of not one but two Warriors, his education revolved around Type Beasts, from how to identify various beasts to proper care. Even creatures of the same Type often varied wildly, and his mother was insistent that he learn about the other Types that existed beyond Greenleaf's borders. She was surprisingly knowledgeable and, when she spoke, even his father sat down to listen.

Looking closely at the timid beast, it was clear at the first glance that it was reptile. There was soft, scaly skin that suffered from sores and open scratches where scales were peeling off. Its shell was thin and soft to the touch. A light powder covered it, as if soil left too long in the sun. The skin exposed to the sky was a faded green while the underbelly and stumpy legs were a rough yellow.

It was likely that the green skin would allow it absorb sunlight much like a plant. His mother's lessons taught that plants and Grass-Type Pokémon were more alike than most believed. Green was not just an indication of its Type but a sign that it's body could process nutrients much like a leaf would. Kenji theorized that the shell would harden over time and perhaps eventually allow it to host plant life upon its back.

The edge of the shell was raised slightly and supported his theory. The only issue was the state of the turtle's back. He doubted that even a weed would be able to grow in the handful of powdery dirt. Perhaps when he had time to spare, he could help the beast heal.

When the Pokémon was familiar enough with him, Kenji scooped the small creature up. It tensed at first but as he started to scratch its head, the beast slowly relaxed. He was surprised at how dense the creature was. Instead of picking up a small turtle, it felt more like he was hefting a log. Pokémon were far tougher than people and had the body to prove it. Blows that break a man's body would leave a only bruise that quickly faded.

Only when he was sure that it would not fight him, did Kenji stand up. The scared Pokémon was alarmed at the movement but he helped it relax as he started walking. He made a short stop to coil up the vine rope and collect the loops of smaller vines before continuing on.

The additional weight slowed him down when he needed to move quickly but there was no other choice. The turtle was far too slow to keep up with the pace he needed if he wanted to reach the river before he grew too weak to move. Not only that but he was going to have to make wide arcs to avoid the potential territories that he spotted earlier.

Nor did it escape his attention how easily the Pokémon seemed to tire. After less than half a bell, the turtle could barely remain standing despite the meal it just ate. Perhaps lulled by the rocking set by his pace, the beast fell asleep in his arms.

Constantly adjusting his course, Kenji foraged for food along the forest floor. There was a wild vine growing berries that bore a strong resemblance to strawberries and he sat his new companion down as he ate his fill of the fruit.

The movement awoke it and the turtle joined in him feasting. The red fruit marred their faces, making the both of them appear as if they spat blood. Kenji's finger's where likewise tinged red while his new companion escaped with only a splattered beak.

Only after he was full to bursting did he gather the remaining ripe fruit. Since they grew from a sprawling vine, Kenji was able to collect nearly all the remaining berries and hang it from his shoulder. He had to scold the young turtle several times before it learned not to snap at the swaying fruit.

Kenji found several more fruits and berries along the way. All too soon, he was forced to eat his freshly foraged food or abandon it. He broke off several branches to drag behind him with one hand as he walked but, while carrying the turtle, his previous pace was reduced to a crawl.

Looking ahead, he spied at large tree collapsed and laying on the dirt ground. The upturned soil was still fresh to air, appearing damp and rough. The surrounding trees were damaged by the fall with cracked or broken branches hanging loosely. Suddenly wary, Kenji hid behind a nearby trunk.

Unlike the other fallen trees he came across, this one was still green with the exposed inner bark untouched by rot. Most of the damage was hidden from him but from what Kenji could see, the thick wood had indentions up and down its length as if something had stuck it repeatedly. The bark was caved inwards and cracked. Eventually, the damage grew too great and must have caused the tree to fall.

Either that or whatever monster hitting it grew strong enough to break it down.

Kenji was worried that whatever had destroyed the tree was still nearby but he convinced himself that it was unlikely. It was more probable that he stumbled across a Pokémon's training ground after it had moved on. Since the powerful beast was already capable of felling these trees, it would most likely move on in search of something sturdier. Perhaps this was a merely a warm up or test of its power.

There was a chance that the felling of the tree served as territory marker but he Kenji deemed it unlikely. While Type Beasts were destructive in their fights, rarely did they purposely seek to destroy their surroundings. Afterall, the beast had to live there as well.

Still, it would not hurt to be careful. Scrounging around for a rock, Kenji tossed it at the tree. A dull thump could be heard but after several minutes of waiting, nothing happened. Reassured by the lack of response, he looked the small beast in his arms.

"Sense anything, Sprout?" he whispered to the Pokémon. "Think it's safe?"

The creature chirped in question at his words and Kenji took it to be a sign that it was safe. The small turtle was easily frightened and if it had heard or smelled anything then it would have tried to hide. Instead, it was looking at him in curiosity, unconcerned with the fallen tree before them.

"Of course I'm not scared." Kenji responded in mock indignation as he stood up. "I'm just thinking of you."

Dragging the foraged goods behind him, he approached the tree. He dropped the berries and set his new companion down before walking the length of the trunk. While he did so, Sprout dug a shallow hole in the dirt before planting its stubby legs into the soil and settling in. The turtle took a moment to munch on some of the fruit but Kenji did not mind.

He inspected the wood with a critical eye and thought of the sleds used by the merchants and nomads. The wide ranging caravans mostly used durable wagons and sleighs that were capable of withstanding the rigors of travel. However, a few individual travelers used a simple sled that they were able to craft in less than a day.

The wandering people were especially fond of using an angled sled that could also double as tent with only some slight modifications. Rumor had it that Warlord Motonari heard of the design and was immediately taken with the idea. He ordered a part of his army to switch to use the sled tents only to discover that they functioned better on the plains than they did the in thick forests of Greenleaf.

His father was laughing for days at the poor fools who had to test out the new sleds until he discovered that his Warrior group was to be the fools. Then the only one laughing was his mother whenever she found Kenji's father struggling to set up the tent.

Regardless of their success, Kenji still remembered the basics of how to craft one. Or he at least remembered what they were supposed to look like. A simple triangular frame joined by expanding rungs to hold it together. A Warrior's sled could extend to be over twice their height, both to hold more materials and offer a larger tent to sleep in while the regulars were stuck with smaller tents but did not have to carry as much.

His would have to be short, both due to his lesser strength and the limit of wood available. There were long branches lower on the tree but they were far too wide for him to carry. Instead, he broke off the smaller, more supple limbs found at the top of the trunk. He had to walk up the tree to reach them as the trunk was not fully horizontal. The tough limbs served as useful handholds to prop himself up while he broke off the other branches.

After collecting several armfuls of the fresh wood, Kenji set them down and sorted through wood. He was able to easily pick out what would become the main frame of the sled but it was larger than he would have liked. None of the branches were naturally straight and only a few fit what he needed.

He stripped the leaves and offshoots of before laying them on the ground and tying them together with vines. Kenji had to search the surrounding forest for more as he quickly ran out when putting the support rungs in place. Once he had the basic sled created, Kenji made a small nest for Sprout to lay in. It was mostly extra sticks for the Pokémon to rest on with some leaves for cushioning.

When Kenji felt he was done, he picked up Sprout and placed the turtle in the makeshift nest. The beast inspected it and munched on the leaves but attempted to return to the depression in the earth it made.

"No, Sprout." Kenji said. "This is your nest." He placed the Pokémon back on the sled where it warbled in complaint.

"What?" he asked the turtle. "Do you not like the leaves? We can get rid of them."

He brushed the leaves off the sled but it seemed to only agitate the beast more. Kenji scowled at the Pokémon in aggravation but when it started trembling from his stare, he forced himself to calm down. With a deep breath, he took a mental step back and thought through the problem aloud.

"You don't hate the leaves but you don't like them either." He glanced over at the simple depression Sprout had made himself. "You want dirt instead? No," he immediately shook his head. "You want to be planted in dirt!" Kenji said excitedly. He turned back to the small Pokémon and grinned at it. "Of course! You're a Grass-Type, you want to be in the soil not out of it."

Kenji snatched up a stick and dug at the small hole until he had a small pile of rich, dark soil. Tearing up some leaves in his hand, he mixed them with the soil. Kenji scooped up the soil in his hands and packed it on the branches of the sled. He had to insert some sticks to act as wall and keep the dirt from falling off but soon the sled bore a tiny planter.

He picked up Sprout once more and placed the turtle in the upgraded nest. The Pokémon chirped with interest as it played in the soil until it eventually settled down. Kenji grinned at Sprout and was pleased that he was able to correctly intuit the problem.

When he was sure the Pokémon was comfortable, Kenji picked up the foraged goods and set them on the sled. He looped the vine rope around Sprout's box and set the few loose vines left next to it. When he had time, he would craft a true planter box for the Pokémon to rest in.

Grabbing the sled handles, Kenji dragged it behind him. It was awkward holding the sled as he was but he had no other way to drag it. Due to the frame, the section of the branches that acted as handles angled away from each other. Already, he could feel how the strain in his wrists as they twisted. At the very least, he was now able to carry everything he foraged and more.

With how long he spent crafting his sled, the day was already growing late. Yet, driven on by his thirst, Kenji continued to travel until he could no longer see the roots catching his feet. Not bothering to search for a den or outcropping, he trudged over to the widest tree nearby and dropped the sled. Sprout tumbled his way out of the dirt box and pawed at the surroundings while Kenji worked the tightness out his arms.

Dragging the sled behind him at such an angle pulled at his shoulders. When the rough wood caught on an exposed root or large rock, it felt out though his arm was about to rip off. To make matters worse, he could feel the blisters beginning to bubble up on his hands and, judging by the pain, in his feet as well.

Rolling his shoulders, Kenji let out a low groan as he stretched them. He quickly followed it by stripping off his leathers and choked on the stench that radiated off him. The thick material trapped a lot of his sweat, resulting in it fermenting on his body.

Even Sprout warbled in complaint and retreated when he caught a whiff of Kenji's odor.

"You try dragging a sled loaded with food and an ungrateful turtle around all day and see how you smell." he muttered back.

When he finally pulled off the heavy apron, his mind stuttered in shock at what he found.

His mother's pendant.

It was a simple chain necklace bearing a red and white sphere. The ball was scratched and dented but she treasured it above everything else she owned. He never saw her without it.

Kenji clutched warm yet oddly cold metal in his hands as a sob started to close his throat. Terrified as he was at the time, he completely forgot her placing it around his neck. Only now did he remember his mother taking it off and tucking it under his shirt. He let the silent sobs shake his body as he remembered his parents. The tears were unbecoming of him as a future Warrior but the scolding only served to tighten his chest.

When he was finally able stop crying, Kenji found himself on the ground holding the large pendant. Sprout was warbling in worry from its hole in the ground. The fear was present in its eyes and Kenji forced himself to shakingly smiled at the young Pokémon.

"It's," he hiccupped out. "It's ok. I'm fine."

The small turtle like beast settled down but continued to watch him as he stood up and wiped his face clean. The tears and snot clung to his hands. Sniffling, Kenji wiped them on the tree trunk and struggled to control his breathing. When he felt that he recovered enough, he stepped back to the sled. The various fruits and berries he collected along the trek were carefully set aside before he picked it up.

He shuffled over to the tree and leaned the frame against the trunk to create a simple lean-to that he could sleep under. It was still easily visible to any beast that wandered by, so he disguised it as best he could with the vines and fruit laden plants. The berries were placed so that they were hidden from a casual glance but a second look would easily reveal them. It was difficult for him to see in the dark but the wood frame was obviously out of place.

He could only hope that any beasts close by were not hungry enough to investigate a bundle of plants and wood against a tree.

When he was satisfied with his work, Kenji crawled under his new shelter and took a moment to relax. He undid the straps holding his sandals on and tugged the socks covering his lower legs off. They stuck to his feet and he winced as he felt the skin peel off. He did not have to look to know that the cloth was cake with dried blood.

Left only in his pants and tunic, he laid down. He plucked a berry free from the lean-to sled and munched on it as he held his mother's necklace. Rolling it between his fingers, he was reminded of happier times. When life was easier and he did not have to wake up before dawn to train with his father. The nights spent as a child playing in the sand under the glow of the stars.

Staring up at the wood lean-to, he felt Sprout at his side. The beast was already asleep and he could feel himself begin to join it.

Unfortunately the call of sleep was interrupted by the stench of his leathers filling his nostrils. Gagging again, he tossed them outside the shelter. Strangely, the hard smell served to draw his mind away from his mother's pendant.

Perhaps the smell would ward off any curious beast as well.