Lost and Found

Pecha Forest was bathing in beautiful golden light as the sun shone brightly in the cloudless sky. It was a rather warm day – just like it had been for a couple of days now. The days had been warm and dry with nary a cloud ruining the smooth blue of the sky, though luckily the actual heat wave had been quite short. While there still hadn't been any rain and it certainly was warm, the heat wasn't unbearable and scorching. That most likely was why despite the warmth and no rain, the plant-life was still more or less green and vibrant. There were some signs of them drying up however, as the more sensitive leaves looked a bit droopy as they hadn't gotten enough water...

Varda had traveled a bit deeper into the forest than usual. He was still on a hunt for berries for Violet, the kind Dojo owner he had met earlier. As she had helped him in his time of need, he really wanted to repay her by finding rare berries for her to grow in her garden! However, the bird hadn't had too much luck in finding those. Maybe it made sense that all the berries close to Grassveil Town were either already picked or were very common so Violet didn't really need them as many Pokémon lived there – Violet included... So clearly the smart idea would be to wander further into the forest to find what others hadn't found already.

The Swablu waddled on the path, though he did notice how it was growing thinner and less well-traveled as he continued his journey. It had to mean that not that many Pokémon walked this far, which was a good sign! He just hoped that it wouldn't completely disappear, in fear that he might accidentally get lost as the path was the only way he could get back to Grassveil Town. Varda had heard of another forest that less Pokémon went into, but he decided that he will give Pecha Forest one more chance to give him the berries he needed...

Cautiously, the bird Pokémon walked, stopping every now and then to check the bushes close to the road, never wandering too far from it. He had learned his lesson last time and he was quite careful so he didn't get stuck in a bush again!

Greg grumbled. He had taken a wrong turn on the way to the Grassveil guild and ended up getting himself lost in Pecha Forest. It was NOT fun. Greg groaned again. "Why'd i have to get myself lost? I've been walking around in circles for a couple of hours!"
Greg then begun beating himself up about it. "How does a Grass-type even get lost in a forest? Isn't it supposed to be our natural habitat?"
Greg moaned and walked off in a random direction, looking for a sign, ANY sign, as to where the heck the guild is.

Energy: 11/16 (5 lost on entry)

Varda still had found nothing. While it was true that he hadn't been looking for all that long, it was strange how the bushes this far seemed to be just as empty as the ones closer to town! Maybe he just didn't know where to look. Maybe berry bushes looked very different somehow? The bird didn't really know, he hadn't done much berry-picking in the past. Despite his setbacks however, the Swablu seemed to be cheerful and his steps were springy as he hopped from bush to bush, sticking close to the path.

A noise caused the bird to look up, confused. He was unsure what it had been, but he was very sure that he had heard something – and it wasn't just the normal ambient sounds of the forest! He had already gotten used to those, after all. Still, Varda wasn't entirely sure until he heard a slightly different yet still similar sound repeated... Right on the other side of the tall bushes!

The Swablu didn't waste any time getting closer, pushing the thicker undergrowth aside with his wings as he made his way through the bushes. Poking his beak outside first, Varda pushed the rest of his face out into the open as well, his soft down slightly ruffled and his head feathers drooping down. He blinked a couple of times, his beady eyes seeing something he hadn't expected to see. It was a Pokémon! Another Pokémon in the middle of the forest, quite far from Grassveil Town! It was strange, the Swablu thought he had wandered into an area with no one else!
"Hello," Varda gave a little cheerful chirp, still just poking his face outside with the rest of his body hidden by the leaves of the bush.


Current Energy: 14 (19 -5 from entering)

Greg blinked when he heard the voice. He looked around, then sees the Swablu poking its face outside the bush. 'Another Pokemon?' Greg thought to himself. 'Perfect! Maybe he knows the way outta here!'
Greg speaks to the Swablu. "Hey! I know this is kinda sudden, but do you know the way out of here? I'm kinda lost, even though i shouldn't be, because i'm a grass-type inside a forest."
Greg felt a wave of relief wash over him. If there was another Pokemon here, they could help him find the Guild.

Varda tilted his head to the side as the other Pokémon started speaking. He could definitely understand getting lost in Pecha Forest, as he had done that himself before too! No wonder the other Pokémon was all the way out here if he was lost. As to whether or not he could actually help in this case... It all depended on where this new person was heading!
"Oh, well, where are you going?" The bird cooed in return, sounding rather happy and curious. He didn't really mind having to stop and talk for a while.

"There is a path behind these bushes! It's a bit overgrown but it's still easy to follow. I don't know where it goes if you walk in this direction," the Swablu extended one of his wings to wave in the direction he was walking in a moment ago before he was stopped,
"But if you go in the other direction, you will find Grassveil Town!" he continued as he looked back at the other Pokémon.

"I'm searching for the Guild.", Greg replies.
"It was my goal to become an explorer, helping people in need, finding new places, discovering something, getting to know the world, and meeting new people. That's the reason i want to find the guild. To sign up as part of an Exploration Team!"

"Oh! I see!" Varda exclaimed happily as the other Pokémon told him of his goals. It was the Guild he was looking for. Probably the one in Grassveil Town, as it was probably the closest Guild around. It definitely was the only one the bird knew about! But even if it wasn't, the other Pokémon could probably sign up there anyways. The Swablu didn't know that there were so many others who were looking forward to joining the Guild and becoming and Exploration Team, as honestly, he couldn't remember anyone in his flock being too interested!

"I just joined a team myself very recently!" He continued, flapping his cottony wings in excitement,
"Though I'm not on any official mission right now. I'm just looking for some things for a kind Pokémon on my own time," Varda quickly added, not wanting the other Pokémon to think that he was getting in the way or anything by talking. As that was far from the case.

Greg perks up when he hears that the other Pokemon had joined a team recently. "Can you point me towards the guild? I kinda took a wrong turn somewhere and ended up here. Unless you need help with anything right now. I'm not really doing much right now. Aside from talking to you, that is."

Varda seemed to get quite excited when the other Pokémon asked him for help. Considering that he was in a team of Pokémon who were supposed to help others, this was basically the same thing! Even if it wasn't an official mission, he was still doing the job he was given. And it certainly made him happy to be useful!
"Of course! We just need to follow the path to Grassveil Town. The guildhall is right there," he chirped as he explained, motioning the other Pokémon to follow with his wings. He did come through the bush and the path was on the other side! The bird certainly couldn't make it to Grassveil Town if he didn't follow the path.

"I was looking for berries for someone, but I'm not having that much luck," the Swablu explained in more detail when he was asked if there was something he needed help with. Even if the other Pokémon didn't want to help him, he might have wanted to know why the bird was in the forest in the first place! That, or perhaps he just wanted to talk.
"Oh, and my name is Varda! It's nice to meet you."

Greg listened to the Pokemon, and introduced itself as Varda.
"Nice to meet you, Varda. My name is Greg." Greg pauses for a second.
"I could help you find those berries if you want."
Greg was eager to try and make a new friend. The more friends you have, the safer you are, generally. That's the philosophy he's going by.

"Hello, Greg!" Varda parroted the other Pokémon, repeating his name. Though the moment his newest friend offered to help him to look for berries, the small Pokémon's beady eyes seemed to light up and become bright, clearly excited.
"You would help me? Really?" The Swablu cooed, amazed that he would be getting help this easily from a stranger! He wasn't one to turn down help – especially when it meant he could both lead Greg back to Grassveil Town and pick berries with him!

"You should come over to this side," the bird used his wings to push the branches of the bush aside, showing the other Pokémon holes in the shrubbery one could easily use as a way to go through. Pulling his head back into the bush, Varda disappeared behind the leaves, scooting backwards to get himself out of it and onto the path. He waited patiently for Greg to follow.

Greg follows Varda through the bush. He makes sure to keep Varda in his sight at all times. He doesn't want to get lost, nor for Varda to get lost, as that would cause a lot of problems.
"I'm coming. Just don't wander too far or anything. Don't want either of us to get lost, after all."

"I'm right here," Varda cooed softly, waddling slowly and taking his time as he waited for Greg to catch up. It was rather difficult to see through the leaves after all, so they had to stay close. But once they got out and into the area with shorter grass and the path snaking through the forest, visibility wasn't going to be an issue! Well, as long as they didn't start playing hide and seek or just go too far so they couldn't see each other anymore. At least the Swablu's coloration made him rather easy to see. Greg's... Well, Greg had that strange plant-like growth on his back...

"Um, Greg," the bird started as he turned around on the path, his gaze lingering on the other Pokémon, clearly curious. The beady little eyes barely blinked as they stared, though the smile on the Swablu signaled that he was happy, at least.
"I have never seen a Pokémon like you before!" Varda suddenly exclaimed, his voice on the louder side and quite excited,
"I'm sorry, but... What are you?"

Greg suddenly stopped, as he realized the Pokemon didn't know what he was. He had to do a double-take.
"You don't know what a Bulbasaur is?"
Greg then mentally slapped himself. 'He's a Bird Pokemon, that's for certain, so of course he wouldn't know about a lot of plant-like Pokemon.' he thought to himself. He didn't exactly know what Varda is either.
"I'm a Bulbasaur. I suppose you could say it's rather uncommon for a Pokemon like me to be around these parts. I have to ask you the same question. What exactly are you? I know you're a bird of some kind, but i can't put my finger on exactly what you are."

Varda nodded with large, dull eyes and a content smile, confirming his obliviousness when Greg went ahead and asked it. He didn't know what a Bulbasaur was indeed! ...Nor did he know what Greg was, until the other Pokémon clarified. So that was what a Bulbasaur was! In hindsight, perhaps it was obvious what Greg had meant the first time, but the Swablu wasn't always the sharpest crayon in the box. Still, he nodded happily with a chirp.

"I see!" The bird smiled, not feeling awkward about asking the other Pokémon's species – especially now that Greg asked him the same question! He had never been quite sure if all the other Pokémon just knew everyone else and if he was the only one left out, but the Bulbasaur helped him to realize that maybe he wasn't the only one. Maybe others never just asked.
"I'm a Swablu. And I don't think it's common to find someone like me here! At least I haven't seen anyone like me before here and I came elsewhere..."