Chapter 5: Camp Starts

The next day Ark was outside early morning continuing his training, he finished with just enough time to wash and get ready for the new arrivals. A bubbling excitement was brewing in his stomach as he knew this moment in life may very well define his future. Just remembering one of his goals made his harden his heart as he knew that his actions in this camp could make it a lot easier for him in the future and a lot happier.

He went back to the cabin, prepared himself and awoke ash. He had known that ash was not a morning person as shown by his constant late starts in the anime. After a grueling ten minutes of pushing Ash to do the bare minimum required to be presentable, they left the room together following the memorized route to the dining hall. In the distance the sound of laughter and talking blocked out the usual tranquil silence that covered the forest.

Approaching the crowd, he realised that there was around 18 other people ranging from early teens until Arks age. As they stopped to observe the group a soft clapping was heard from beyond the crowd.

"Settle down everyone, thank you. Welcome to my Pokemon Camp. For the duration that you are here you will be learning together about the Pokemon we know and love. It will be dangerous at times so I will need everyone to listen to everything an instructor says"

With those words, Professor Oak smiled and nodded seeing that everyone understood.

"Well then I'd like for everyone to follow me to the dining hall, so I can explain our schedule and then the various instructors will guide the pairs to their abodes."

With this he turned around and left for the big building across the square.

Everyone was sat listening to the Professor describe our itinerary and rules of the camp. Ark was listening lightly, but he was more focused on searching the mob of campers for a few key individuals. Since everyone is older than the anime, it means that they do not look exactly like their anime counterpart, well except Ash but thats basically an established fact that all Pokemon fans agree on. As a result, Ark was scrutinizing everyone to make sure the two people he had identified as his key goals of the Pokemon Camp are indeed who he thinks they are.

Once the Professor had finally released everyone, they all split up to follow their instructors. While Ark wished to follow so that he could start getting closer to the two he had highlighted, he knew that rushing things will just make everything too forced. Thus, Ark and Ash headed back to their room waiting for the afternoon where they will find out their exploration group. These groups will consist of 2 pairs who will go out together with an instructor following them, they will complete various activities as a group.

"I wonder who our group will be, I am guessing they will assign each cabin by gender. Its certainly convenient that it is a 1:1 ratio of boy to girl this year"

Ark spoke to Ash who was sat on his bed looking at a magazine called Pokemon Life. It was a new one that would feature a few pokemon each week, giving facts about the Pokemon and any notable trainers who use them.

"Well we still have a little bit of time until we have to go back, do you want to play cards?"

Ash put down his magazine and nodded. Since they were still young, they did not play anything serious, after a while of thinking they chose to play PokeSnap with Ash's snap cards.

Time flew by, and they were now sat waiting for the Professor to read out the group numbers. After reading two groups out, Ark's number 1 was called alongside number 7. Looking around, he could not see who his group was. He frowned as Professor Oak also seemed to not be able to see them. Regardless, he carried on while asking an instructor to check their cabin to see if they fell asleep.

"I have a bad feeling about this, lets just hope i'm paranoid"

Ark murmured to himself as his focus shifted from the Professor to thoughts of where his group members were. Unlike Ark, Ash was listening intently and did not seem to notice the oddness of the situation. Though looking around, Ark seemed to be the only one worried amongst the children.

"Right, now that all of the groups are settled, I would like you all to head back to your cabins with the instructor. I ask that you do not leave unless you need a toilet. Just for today"

Professor Oak smiled like usual. At least that's what it seemed. To Ark who was very good at observing subtleties of others behaviours, he noticed that a small amount of distress was clouding his usual vibrant smile.

Ark walked with Ash back to the cabin but just as they stepped inside Ark spoke to Ash.

"Hey Ash, stay here I will be back in a bit. I really need a toilet so I might be a while. Make sure to listen to Professor Oaks words to not leave while I am gone!"

Ark smiled to Ash and pretended to squirm around slightly to act his role.

"Ok sure, it's better to go now than during dinner."

With those words, Ark left the room and headed towards the forest path closest to the 7th Cabin.

The path was dark, there was no lightposts and the trees canopy above blocked all of the natural sunlight. Ark walked along the path follwoing a pair of fresh footsteps. While Ark has no prior skills or ability in tracking beforehand, he assumed following the freshest tracks of corresponding size will give him more of a chance of bumping into them. Despite his calm decisions, his heart was beating rapidly as disastrous scenario's plagued his mind. He had no responsibility for any of the children at camp but, that did not mean he would turn a blind eye to his group members who may be in trouble.

"Please be safe, try to hold out!"

Ark sped up his pace into a light jog so he didn't lose his footing in the rough terrain and sped into the forest.