CH21 (82), Route 4 (2)

The place my stalking has brought me to is an area that has a cave entrance. I can currently see 3 Ursaring and 7 Teddiursa relaxing in front of the cave mouth. It seems like the Ursaring are keeping an eye on the Teddiursa, while they are playing around.

Two of the Ursaring are slightly smaller than the third one, so I assume that they are female, while the taller one is male, but I could be wrong even if I don't think I am.

Now the question is, are these 3 Ursaring parents with a grown child, or does the sleuth compose of two or more families. I am actually leaning more towards there being more than one family, because of the high number of Teddiursa that I can see.

I could be wrong and those 3 could actually be 1 male and 2 female Ursaring. In that case good for him, but I still think that the sleuth is made up of multiple families. This would mean there could be more Teddiursa and Ursaring inside the cave, or that some Ursaring are currently out either procuring food or patrolling their territory, maybe both.

I have to consider all these points if I don't want to experience a bad surprise while trying to approach them. Now, one would think, "are you out of your mind? Why would you try to approach an area with so many Ursaring?" And I can only say that I want to check the potential of the Teddiursa.

Now that I am here and have seen so many Teddiursa, I want to see if one of them has good enough potential to be worth any risk. I have already given up on the Ursaring, because they are too strong, which means not only that I can't beat them, but also that they have lost multiple chances to increase their potential.

This means that they would have to have really good potential to be worth catching. For me the stronger the Pokemon before capture, the higher it's potential needs to be. The lower its strength, the lower the potential requirement. At least it's like this for Pokemon that I want to join my team.

If it is just for the sake of having them, then my requirements are a bit lower. Personally, for a bronze stage Pokemon, I would prefer deep green potential, but if it is from a rare species I would reluctantly accept green potential as well.

If it's at the silver stage then green potential won't make the cut for my team at all, but I could capture it as a gift for my parents, or to sell it.

Anyway, I decided to observe the cave, the bears, and the area for a while to see if I can find an opportunity to check out the Teddiursa and to see if I could capture one of them without getting caught by the Ursaring.

For the next 20 minutes, nothing different happens. The Teddiursa are playing around and the Ursaring are relaxing while keeping an eye on the Teddiursa. Then I see one of the Ursaring looking at the sky, and I think it is checking the time because it calls out to the others afterward.

The Teddiursa hearing the yell and gather in front of the Ursaring. Once all the Teddiursa stand in front of the Ursaring, the Ursaring start to talk to each other before one of them addresses the Teddiursa, who sit down. After that two of the Ursaring walk into the cave, while one of them stays behind to watch over the Teddiursa.

A short while later, I see the two Ursaring returning with multiple things in their arms. The smaller one sets down the large leaves she brought, and the larger one puts down the berries in its arms on them. Seems like they don't want to eat dirt or earth. They return to the cave and upon seeing that I release a relieved sigh.

Their behavior leads me to believe that there are no more Ursaring inside the cave. A few moments later they return once more, this time with the bodies of 3 Raticate and 7 Rattata, that are swiftly deposited on the leaves as well. Once they are done with that the group starts to eat.

The Teddiursa eat a Rattata each together with some berries, and the Ursaring do the same just with a Raticate instead. After everyone has eaten his portion, the Ursaring dig a hole and put the leftovers inside before refilling the hole.

Then they gather together and walk in a certain direction. I discretely follow them, and a few minutes later I start to hear the sound of running water. A bit later I see the bears drinking water from a small creek and I have to say they have chosen a great place to live. Access to water, a nice cave, and most likely no one strong enough to harm them.

What is confusing me is that the trainers working for the alliance that are tasked with patrolling the routes are allowing them to stay around. I mean I understand that this area is only in the fringe area of the routes, but according to what I had learned the Pokemon in these areas are supposed to be below the gold stage.

Still, that could be deliberate as well. Something like mini-bosses for the Routes. If that was the case then there could be other Pokemon at other parts of the route, that were just as strong as the Ursaring. Maybe that was the way for the alliance to stimulate and challenge those that want to be challenged like that.

I mean, no one forces trainers to walk along the fringes after all. Anyway, a few minutes after the group returns to their home, I get my opportunity to check their potential, in the form of the 4th Ursaring returning from wherever it had been.

Now, most people would ask how the return of the 4th Ursaring gave me any chance to check their status. Well, it is what followed its return that gave me the chance. After it came back, it spoke with the other Ursaring, and shortly after 2 of them followed it back where it came from.

Seeing that there is only a single Ursaring around I decided that the risk of approaching them is low enough for me to risk it, so I quietly approach the Teddiursa. A hundred meters away from them, I decide to use my telekinesis to lift myself up a few centimeters and levitate myself the last 60-70 meters, to avoid making any sounds while walking.

In the same vein, my use of telekinesis helps me keep my smell from spreading. I cautiously approach the group and once I am near enough to check their stats, I stop. Then I wait for a short while to see if they will detect me or not, and once I am sure that I am in the clear I start checking their status.

'Species: Teddiursa

Gender: Female

Type: Normal

Potential: Deep Yellow

Stage: Iron-stage (mid)

Genetic variation: None

Abilities: Pickup

Talents: None

Affinities: Neutral'

The first does not notice my telekinesis coming into contact with its body and after checking its potential, it turns out to be a dud, so I directly move on to the next one.

'Species: Teddiursa

Gender: Male

Type: Normal

Potential: Deep Yellow

Stage: Iron-stage (high)

Genetic variation: None

Abilities: Quick Feet

Talents: None

Affinities: Neutral'

This one is a dud as well. I simply continue with the rest of the Teddiursa.

'Species: Teddiursa

Gender: Male

Type: Normal

Potential: Light Green

Stage: Iron-stage (mid)

Genetic variation: None

Abilities: Pick up, Quick Feet

Talents: None

Affinities: Neutral'

This one turns out better than the previous two, but just light green potential is not really worth the risk of kidnapping him. At least not for the current me.

'Species: Teddiursa

Gender: Female

Type: Normal

Potential: Deep Yellow

Stage: Iron-stage (high)

Genetic variation: None

Abilities: Pickup

Talents: None

Affinities: Neutral'

-------

'Species: Teddiursa

Gender: Male

Type: Normal

Potential: Deep Yellow

Stage: Iron-stage (high)

Genetic variation: None

Abilities: Quick Feet

Talents: None

Affinities: Neutral'

-------

'Species: Teddiursa

Gender: Female

Type: Normal

Potential: Light Green

Stage: Bronze-stage (low)

Genetic variation: None

Abilities: Pickup, Honey Gather

Talents: None

Affinities: Neutral'

Among the next 3, the first 2 are totally uninteresting, while the 3rd is a bit more interesting. She is at the (low) bronze stage with light green potential, and she has a hidden ability instead of one of the standard ones. Nonetheless, while that is interesting, it is still not enough for me to risk anything.

After that, I have pretty much written off this group of Teddiursa, but I still decide to check out the last one. It's a matter of principle, and who knows maybe I'll get lucky and that one has at least green potential.

'Species: Teddiursa

Gender: Male

Type: Normal

Potential: Deep Green

Stage: Bronze-stage (low)

Genetic variation: None

Abilities: Pickup, Quick Feet

Talents: None

Affinities: Neutral'

'Yes! Hell Yes! I was starting to think that these guys were having a severe case of inferior fertilizer, but thankfully at least one of the Teddiursa turned out to be not a disappointment.' I think to myself. Happy with my find I quietly retreat for the moment to wait for a good opportunity to nap that one without dying in the process.

Around 20 minutes after my retreat the 3 Ursaring return with the bodies of 1 Fearow, 1 Seaking, and 5 Raticate. It looks like the returner called them over to carry over its prey. They directly carry them into the cave and after they come out again, they deliver me my second opportunity.

It looks like they are planning to collectively hold a nap, which seems a bit reckless in my opinion, because they could be ambushed while they were sleeping, but it seems like they were confident in their safety. Most likely because of their strength.

The largest one lays down at the entrance to the cave, effectively blocking it. The other three lay down in such a way that they form a triangle with the Teddiursa in the middle. As for the reason why they are napping outside and not in the cave, I can only speculate that they want to nap under the sun.

I am really starting to believe that they are overconfident like this because they know that they are the strongest group of Pokemon around this place. Otherwise, this kind of seemingly reckless behavior makes no sense, but it provides me with a great chance, so I am not complaining at all.

I wait for a bit more than 5 minutes to make sure that all of them are asleep, before quietly and carefully approaching the group of Teddiursa. Once I am in range for my psionic abilities, I use my psionic energy to carefully cover my target in my energy, so that I can pull it in my space without waking it up. I am naturally keeping an eye on the napping Ursaring while doing that, in case they wake up while I am busy.

I don't want Teddiursa to resist my energy, because that would keep me from taking him in. Not to mention that any struggle would most likely wake up the others, which would be pretty bad. Just as my energy finishes covering the Teddiursa's lower body, he turns around.

I freeze, stopping any kind of movement, even holding my breath, and my heart leaps up to my throat. I slowly relax again seeing no further movement, and I resume my effort. My energy keeps covering more and more of Teddiursa's body.

From its lower body up to its upper torso. Once my energy reaches his throat one of the Ursaring twitches, making me freeze once more. Mentally cursing it for scaring me like that. After waiting a moment to make sure that it is not waking up, I resume covering the Teddiursa in my energy.

3 seconds later I am done, which allows me to place him inside my space.

'Those were the most nerve-wracking 40 seconds of my life,' I think to myself. Happy with my success I briefly contemplate if I should leave them something in exchange for Teddiursa, like a mountain of berries or something like that, but I decided against it.

Since I achieved my goal I quietly and carefully retreat away from the area, and once I am far enough I call out Xatu, to have him Teleport me home. As for the reactions of the Ursaring, after waking up from their nap, once they notice one of their Teddiursa missing, that's not my concern.

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