Lost in the Sand of Time

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SPOILER: Click to show

Pokemon
Electrike] Caught at Level 15 Nickname: Cort Gender: Male Type: Electric Ability: Lightning Rod Height: 2’ 01” Weight: 33.6 lbs Health: Scrawny EXP Rate: Slow EXP Gauge: (51/60) EXP Gained: Level: 15 Division: D8 Total Stats: 165 Attack: 35 Defense: 19 Sp. Attack: 46 (28%) Sp. Defense: 19 Speed: 46 (28%) Vitamins Used: None	Moveset: 1. Tackle 1. Thunderwave 4. Leer 7. Howl 13. Spark Unique Moves: - - - - Item: None
Ralts Caught at Level 5 Nickname: Ray Gender: Female Type: Psychic/Fairy Ability: Trace Height: 1’ 04” Weight: 14.6 lbs Health: Weak EXP Rate: Slow EXP Gauge: (7/9) EXP Gained: 0 Level: 5 Division: D10 Total Stats: 45 Attack: 5 Defense: 9 Sp. Attack: 13 (29%) Sp. Defense: 8 Speed: 10 Vitamins Used: None	Moveset: 1. Growl 4. Confusion Unique Moves: - - - - Item:
Pidove Caught at Level 5 Nickname: Airon Gender: Male Type: Normal/Flying Ability: Big Pecks Height: 1’ 00” Weight: 4.6 lbs Health: Low EXP Rate: Medium Slow EXP Gauge: (6/8) EXP Gained: 0 Level: 5 Division: D9 Total Stats: 50 Attack: 14 (29%) Defense: 12 (25%) Sp. Attack: 7 Sp. Defense: 7 Speed: 10 Vitamins Used: None	Moveset: 1. Gust 4. Growl Unique Moves: - - - - Item:
Morelull Caught at Level 9 Nickname: Gwen Gender: Female Type: Grass/Fairy Ability: Rain Dish Height: 0’ 08” Weight: 3.3 lbs Health: Scrawny EXP Rate: Medium Fast EXP Gauge: (9/12) EXP Gained: 0 Level: 6 Division: D8 Total Stats: 55 Attack: 8 Defense: 11 Sp. Attack: 18 Sp. Defense: 17 (32%) Speed: 1 (3%) Vitamins Used: None	Moveset: 1. Absorb 4. Astonish Unique Moves: - - - - Item:
Pokemon Egg Grey w/ White Center Caught at Level 1 Nickname: Unknown Gender: Unknown Type: Unknown Ability: Height: Weight: Health: EXP Rate: EXP Gauge: (0/0) EXP Gained: 0 Level: 1 Division: Total Stats: Attack: 0 Defense: 0 Sp. Attack: 0 Sp. Defense: 0 Speed: 0 Vitamins Used: None	Moveset: 1. Unique Moves: - - - - Item:

The bright sun shone on a baked land that could not support much life. Sand as far as the eye could see, and little to no vegetation to provide shelter from the merciless sun. Gentle winds provided little reprieve, and no water to be found. A single man stands on the flat land squinting in the bright light. Why the heck am I here?

James was on his way back to Durskim in order to confront his past and move on. It was suggested by his uncle, and after some thinking he eventually agreed. He had left Durskim at a young age to escape the wrath of his parents, and lived with his uncle for several years to recover. Now he had to go back and put the past behind him. So why did I choose to go through the desert of all places?

A slight tap on his cheek broke his contemplation, and James glanced to his shoulder where a small Pokemon rode. It was a Ralts, though a different color than normal. Her head was more of a blue than a green color, and her body had a slight darker shade of white. Her name was Ray, or at least that’s what he called her. An annoying Pokemon to be sure, but also very loyal.

James felt an emotion of disapproval in the back of his mind. It wasn’t his own emotion; he had learned a long time ago to tell the difference. This was actually from Ray who had the ability to read emotions in others. She could also project emotions as well, but only to James and other Pokemon. It’s what made her annoying. This projection meant she knew he was feeling like an idiot and he should stop it. He gave her a tired smile and pushed his own feelings to the back of his mind. No need to drag her into his misery.

In his pockets James carried her Pokeball and three others. Gifts from his uncle, who had given him the Pokemon as a way to make his own way in the world. Right now his other Pokemon were comfortable in their Pokeballs while he and Ray were sweating out in the heat. Briefly James wondered what would happen if he died out here with his Pokemon still in their Pokeballs. Would they still live until someone found them?

Another emotional ‘slap’ broke his concentration again, and James discarded the idea. Ray was right; he shouldn’t think about death in the middle of a desert. He looked back the way he came and frowned. Even though the wind was gentle enough to keep the desert from gathering dunes it was still strong enough to erase footprints. He didn’t know how to get back even if he wanted to. What he needed were some landmarks that would help him get his bearings. I should have paid more attention to geography class.

A different emotion came to James’ mind; one of the freedom of falling through the air. It was the feeling he had in dreams when he was flying in the air like a gliding Pokemon. He looked at Ralts and gave a grudging mental acknowledgement. ”You’re right. We should have used him when we entered.” He pulled out one of his Pokeballs. ”To be fair we didn’t know how strong the winds would be, and you know he’s not that strong of a flier.”

Tossing the Pokeball on the ground he called out another of his Pokemon. Aaron appeared stretching his wings and blinking in the bright light. He was a Pidove, and unlike Ray he had normal coloring of his kind. He hopped a little on the hot sand in irritation before taking off and landing on James’ other shoulder. James cringed as the little Pokemon voiced his complaints right near his ear. ”I know, we don’t like the sand either. Can you fly and see if you can spot anything?”

Aaron looked at him funny, as if trying to piece together what strange words were coming out of James’ mouth. Then he looked at Ray, and James could almost feel the Pokemon giving an emotional impression to the confused Pidove. After a moment Aaron took off from James’ shoulders and began to slowly circle higher into the air to spot any green nearby. James waited below with Ray watching the normal/flying Pokemon slowly getting smaller above.

[Word Count= 736]

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Encounter Request

With Airon in the sky James turned his attention to the land around him. He knew that anywhere in the wilderness was dangerous because of the wild Pokemon that lived there. His father had instilled in him a strong survival instinct when it came to predators, though many would consider it a cruel method. It took his uncle years to condition James to stop jumping at shadows, and yet the instinct remained.

Because of that it was a surprise when he felt a strong hunger. Stopping he felt at his stomach to see if the rumbling in his mind was him, but he didn’t feel particularly famished. He glanced at Ray who was looking out on the sand. The feeling wasn’t from her directly, but was projected to him from somewhere else. That’s odd.

James looked out among the sand in the direction Ray was facing. She couldn’t project emotions far; they had measured it about 20ft at most before it became a faint wisp. He guessed it was the same for detecting emotions, so he focused on that range.

And there James saw a slight movement among the sand. A grey among the yellow that could easily be mistaken for a rock. In fact if he hadn’t felt the emotion of hunger projected by Ray he would have never noticed the hiding Pokemon. The grey ‘rock’ (he guessed it was a head) quivered slightly under his gaze. It then suddenly became still, as if realizing that it might have been spotted.

Letting out a sigh James brought his pack around and opened the drawstring. It wasn’t like normal backpacks, but instead was a well worn bag with a simple drawstring closing the top. It was the same bag he took with him when he ran away from home, but almost more patched than bag now. Pulling out a canister he shook the contents and listened carefully. About enough for 1 more meal each. He glanced at Ray and sent a feeling of full to her. They didn’t communicate with words; she couldn’t understand him and he couldn’t understand her. But they worked out a rudimentary way to communicate. True it was like communicating with a child, but they had spent enough time together to know how to interpret each other.

Ray sent back a similar feeling, and James guessed it meant she was ok with giving the new Pokemon her food. He gave her a slight nod in respect and then unscrewed the cap. He shook a small handful of Pokemon into his hand before replacing the cap and putting the canister back into his bag. With food in hand he walked past the ‘rock’ and let the food dribble from his hand onto the sands. It left a small trail on the ground, and when he stopped a few feet away he let the rest fall in a small pile and waited.

While this was going on Airon kept flying in a circle above the hot sand. The steady heat rising from the desert created a nice updraft that allowed him to glide more than fly above the ground. Up this high the heat was a bit more bearable, and the Pidove could almost get lost in the heat. However the Ralts had given him the feeling of shade and refreshing water, so he kept his eyes out for anything green that might provide it. Between the relaxing warmth and the mission given he didn’t notice the figure gliding even higher than he.

[Word Count= 585]

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The idea worked even better than James expected, as the rock began to quiver even more at the smell of the Pokemon food. It waited until James had stopped a few feet away with his back to it before emerging from the sand and gobbling up the beginning of the trail. It then performed a snatch and grab; getting close enough to grab the next morsel and then jump back to a safer distance. It kept repeating the same movement, and each time it inched closer and closer to the human.

Ray kept an eye on the slowly approaching Pokemon, and James kept an eye on her. He didn’t feel any danger or alertness from the Ralts, but more of a curiosity so he didn’t feel threatened by the advancing Pokemon. He did glance back once to see what kind of Pokemon it was while it was focused on the next morsel. It was yellow and grey so it mostly blended in with the sands. He turned his attention forward again when the new Pokemon glanced to see if it could inch closer for the next morsel. When it saw James wasn’t paying attention it made another snatch and grab.

Up above a shadow suddenly passes over Airon. The flying Pidove let out a cry of panic and darted to the left as the figure flew down at incredible speed. It passed by Airon with only inches to spare before spreading its wings to glide once again. Now the normal/flying Pokemon could see it was a bat like Pokemon with light purple skin and a black membrane for wings. The Pokemon looked over its shoulder at Airon, and gave a bit of a wink before shifting and gliding to the right. Curious Airon followed.

Down below James casually reached into his pocket and pulled out the Pokedex and slid the screen up. He felt the impression of hesitation coming from Ralts, but after a moment it was replaced once again by hunger. With a smile James pointed the camera behind him and managed to scan the Pokemon as it was getting another morsel. He brought the device forward and read the screen. “Helioptile, a desert Pokemon. The frills are used for gathering solar energy….doesn’t need to eat?”

James was tempted to look back, but forced himself to look forward. If it doesn’t need to eat, then why was it hungry? He thought about it for a moment. Gets energy from the sun, but not the satisfaction of a good meal. He considered how it would feel to have constant energy, but an empty stomach for days on end. I would be starving too; no wonder he’s ravenous. And out here there wasn’t much in the way of food, unless you eat other Pokemon. He pulled out some dried jerky from his own stash and added it to the pile before walking a few steps forward. He looked up at the sky trying to find where Airon disappeared to.

[Word Count= 502]