Regret

The cold water quenched my overwhelming thirst allowing me to fully focus on the future.

Lounging by the back I reviewed and re-organized the plan.

1. Find something to eat

2. Catch Pokemon

3. Get out of the wilderness

4. Find a way to safely integrate into the league in the event I'm marked as a fugitive

As I arose the trees began to cast longer shadows and the sun started to droop. With night on the horizon, I regretfully departed from the comfort of the riverside in search of a suitable tree.

The knot made from my shirt secure I drifted into slumber ready to face the morning's challenges. Pokemon even with all the dangers seemed to be a world I could live in.

I abruptly awoke to loud cries and booms. Pokemon were beginning to crowd around a newly formed clearing dangerously close to my tree. After I undid the knot I descended from the tree and against normal common sense followed the Pokemon at a low crouch towards the noises.

Two Pokemon were locked in combat. The first is a pale purple collection of compact muscles and a stocky build sporting a belt around its waist a Machoke. The second Pokemon had a green segmented carapace with thin wings and razor-sharp claws that whistled in the wind, I recognized the Pokemon as Scyther.

Both Pokemon were rather even. Their moves glowed substantially more than the two Kricketots. 

Glowing seemed to be an indicator of how trained or strong a move was.

This particular Machoke seemed inclined to kicks. Their legs glowed a subtle brown as they performed a sweep only for the Scyther to deftly evade with a flutter of its wings and respond with a slash before swiftly retreating.

This continued for a while before the Machoke collapsed on a knee unable to significantly wound the Scyther.

Despite not using any buff or debuff moves this Scyther seemed to have a pretty good foundation. I thumbed my Pokeball considering how to persuade it.

Meanwhile, Scyther with an air of swagger went to make the finishing blow. I watched intently determined to get used to the reality of my new home. 

Only for the Machoke to suddenly glow an ominous amber before delivering a fatal uppercut to the Scyther's chin exploding the bug into a shower of green gore.

The Pokemon roared in excitement from the battle taking an unexpected turn. Feeling the atmosphere I quietly cheered too.

The Machoke injured raised its fist to the crowd before it glowed a blinding white. I turned my eyes away from the Machoke needing to rub my eyes. 

The thunderous chorus continued to climb as I veered my eyes to the clearing I saw the former Machoke now with four arms and a significantly larger stature fitting of a champion.

The crowd dispersed as the Machamp left the carcass of the Scyther untouched. 

Oddly enough bug type Pokemon of various species began to gather in the clearing and eye each other challengingly. I decided I wasn't strong enough to hang around to watch.

Despite losing a potential Pokemon I wasn't all that sad. I got to witness an underdog secure a victory against impossible odds, got more insight into Pokemon culture, and witnessed evolution.

I felt my stomach growl and I was reminded about the original goal of today. Find food, I looked at the Scyther's corpse before swiftly denying the thought I'm not sure if the locals would take kindly to me eating it.

I'm surprised as it is that I haven't been swiftly attacked and eaten the moment I stepped foot in the wilderness. More food for thought it seems.

I moved while thinking of how to go about my goal. From my understanding, I had two options for securing food.

The first while significantly hard was more reliable. Eating Pokemon as unpleasant as it sounds to eat sentient creatures there weren't any mundane birds or animals. While mentally eating Pokemon is already challenging finding a dead uneaten corpse that I can acceptably consume without repercussions is harder.

The less reliable option was berries. Somehow through all my travels, I haven't managed to find any berry trees.

Maybe I wasn't looking in the right place? What special spot is there in a forest?

Feeling an inkling of inspiration course through me I groaned forming a plan. Then I did something that opposed all rational thought for the second time.

I went back to the clearing.

My breath hitched I crept as slowly as humanly possible. Peeking from the forest I saw the once battleground turned into a bloodbath. Various claws and carapaces were strewn around the clearing but interestingly enough the still untouched Scyther body was closely guarded by several other Scythers held an almost imperceptible sprout.

I inched forward to gain a closer look. 

Before a twig cracked. A Scyther was upon me instantly I hastily raised my hands intent to protect my head and somehow reacted only for the Scyther to slice my abdomen disemboweling me then with a flourish flicked my blood to the ground.

I toppled over and realized one thing.

I'm going to die. Miserably at that. Tears began to spill from my eyes as I quietly accepted death.

I felt my mind replay from the beginning of my arrival in the Pokemon world to my subsequent death.

Careless. I had been too careless.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I must've still expected Pokemon to be nice and friendly. Even with all the death. I strutted around in the wilderness with a certain air of superiority.

It dawned on me. The only reason I'd never been eaten or killed was simply because I was too weak. 

Humans don't bother to squash every ant they come across why should Pokemon?

Despite my claims of being cautious and careful everything I did was the epitome of recklessness.

Going back to a battle zone on a hunch. It's almost like I was pleading to die and maybe I was.

Though my memories are oddly hazy I know for certain where I came from was no better than death.

I needed to be better. Running on the half-baked hunches I called plans could only result in death.

I lacked the wariness you should have when prancing around with creatures that could kill you with one move.

Able to carefully devise a plan and the ability to carry it out to perfection. That's what I aspired to be like. I wanted to thrive in the Pokemon world besides my well-disciplined companions. To battle trainers and gyms in a bid to prove who the superior trainer is. To settle down after carving my legacy content knowing I had done all that I desired to accomplish.

Unfortunately, life has a way of giving awful surprises. 

On the bright side, I did find out how berry trees are formed.

I temporarily snapped out of my death-bound trance to confirm I was indeed dying albeit very slowly. For someone with their organs slowly slipping out of their body I felt oddly fine.

Enough introspection though I slowly felt my vision darken.

Maybe in my next life, I'd have a tiny bit more wisdom.