Chapter 119:

In the early morning, Cain leapt down from the lofty boughs of a towering tree, his feet landing solidly on the dewy grass. The refreshing moisture in the air invigorated him, and as he stretched, a cacophony of popping and cracking emanated from his body.

Following his lead, his trusty Pokemon companions gracefully descended from the canopy, one by one.

This forest was different from the one outside of Goldenrod City; the Pokémon here were generally of a higher level, so for safety, Cain and his companions slept in the trees the night before. Despite having had a good rest, Cain couldn't forget the feeling of being watched by the dark shadow the day before, and while it had not made an appearance since, he remained on high alert.

The journey to the ice mountain had been long and arduous, but today it finally felt within reach. The dense foliage of the forest had already begun to thin, revealing glimpses of the jagged rocks and crags that dotted the base of the mountain. Similarly, the temperature dropped sharply, and the air grew thick with a biting chill.

With renewed vigor, Cain and his Pokemon set out once again after a quick breakfast. But progress was slow, as navigating through the territory of powerful Pokemon groups was always a challenge. They were fiercely territorial and would stop at nothing to protect their land. Even accidentally stumbling upon their domain could result in ruthless expulsion or even being hunted down.

But what really gave Cain a headache were the Beedrills.

These pesky Pokemon were native to the Kanto region but were still a common sight in Johto. Their populations could grow out of control in no time, making them a force to be reckoned with.

If it weren't for their natural enemies, Beedrills could easily dominate the entire Pokemon world with their impressive reproduction rates.

Thankfully, there were a number of natural predators that kept their numbers in check. During their Weedle stage, they were often preyed upon by Pidgeys and Spearows. After evolving into Beedrills, their honey became a valuable source of food for Ursarings and other Pokemon, while flying-type Pokemon made quick work of them as well.

Despite this, Beedrills were still one of the largest Pokemon groups in the forest, and their numbers could be overwhelming.

Cain had accidentally entered their territory and was forced to flee. The colony he encountered was larger and more powerful than the one he had faced on the trial island. Despite gasping for breath, Cain and his Pokémon managed to outrun the Beedrills and escape unharmed.

"Phew, that was close," Cain said, panting heavily.

"Miltank!" his trusty companion, Miltank, came to his rescue, delivering a refreshing cup of milk just when he needed it the most.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Cain flashed a grateful smile and gently patted Miltank's head, feeling the warm fuzz of her fur beneath his hand. He quickly drained the cup of milk, feeling more energized with each gulp.

But as he wiped away the remnants of the sweet liquid from his lips, Cain was once again struck by the feeling of being watched. This time, it was even more palpable, and he knew that the shadow in the darkness was drawing nearer.

"It wants the milk," Cain muttered to himself, eyeing the empty cup in his hand. To test his theory, he produced another bottle of milk from his ring, and he felt the gaze immediately shift from the cup to the bottle.

As he thought back to the previous incidents, he realized that every time he and his Pokemon consumed milk to replenish their strength, he had felt this same sensation of being watched.

It was unsettling to think that some unknown entity was lurking in the shadows, keeping a watchful eye on their every move; but there was still a sense of relief that the target wasn't them specifically.

After carefully placing the milk bottle on the ground, Cain led his Pokémon away and signaled for them to stay inconspicuous and keep a watchful eye from a distance.

Ten minutes passed, but there was no sign of the mysterious shadow that had been watching them. Just as Cain was about to abandon the experiment, a blur of movement caught his eye.

In a flash, a shadowy figure darted down from a nearby tree, snatching up the bottle of milk before disappearing into the underbrush.

Cain strained his eyes, catching a glimpse of something red and a faint glow of white.

"Murkrow, follow it!" he commanded, and without hesitation, the bird Pokemon took off after the mysterious figure.

Cain, accompanied by Slowpoke, Miltank and Gastly, followed closely behind as they made their way through the dense foliage, the sound of Murkrow's wings flapping guiding their path.

As they chased. they remained vigilant for any potential threats from wild Pokemon that roamed the forest.

Strangely enough, the shadow had fled in the direction of the ice mountain. It was unclear if this was intentional or merely a coincidence.

After a grueling half-hour of running, Cain and his Pokemon were exhausted and in dire need of rest. They settled by a small lake, taking a moment to catch their breath and recuperate.

Despite downing another cup of milk, Cain's body had reached its limit. He had pushed himself to the brink, and even the restorative powers of Miltank's milk were no longer enough to sustain him.

"Caw Caw ~" Just then, Murkrow returned, embarrassed that it had lost track of the shadowy figure.

Cain, however, remained unfazed. "It's okay, Murkrow," he reassured his Pokemon. "It will come back for more milk, and when it does, we'll find out which Pokemon it is."