Just past the unmanned chain-link fence surrounding the perimeter of the research facility, the damp undergrowth beyond reeked of age. When not enough light entered the bottom, it stifled the saplings. The old proven trees stood the test of time in this place, but with too much old life, they seemed to stew in their own rot.

Small insects buzzed, and from somewhere deep, the call of a wild rattata went unchallenged.

A concerned Ryan spoke alongside Richard in a low voice, "This is too unorthodox, I only have enough supplies for myself. What is this... 'Jared fellow' going to eat or drink? What tent is he going to sleep in on the journey? "

Waving a small dragonfly away, Richard grunted a reply, "I already told you I'll take care of it. I have extra water and food; he can sleep in my tent for all I care, whatever it takes to shut you up."

Seeing the humans arguing, Ryan's poliwag was inflating its mouth in concern. Meanwhile, the unbothered growlithe kept its head down, and its feet moving. It lifted its head from time to time as if it smelled something interesting off the beaten path.

The pokemon they found on the way was nothing substantial. Small rattatas, or darkly colored pidgeys. Before they passed a tree full of caterpie, Ryan warned that noise would agitate them.

Not a big talker, and having experienced what a tree full of caterpie can do to him first hand, Jared made sure to keep his mouth shut while they passed by.

However, upon seeing those wild caterpie, he couldn't help but imagine having a pokemon of his own. It would be nice. When he lived in the prison, he didn't have many chances to have real companions, ones that he could call close friends. However, could he blame them, who would be friends with a killer?

This thought was then broken, along with his expression. He remembered the pain of that Rattata biting into his shoulder. He remembered the helplessness before the creature's large teeth.

Jared then asked himself, 'just what was that strange light coming from that one whiskered rattata? Is this how it works in this world? Do people and pokemon really use a magical language to control each other? And if that's the case, why is that?'

He then recalled the words he had once heard in his mind, 'Superior, equal, servant, slave.'

Focusing on the word 'slave,' he thought about how the rattata tried to control him with that word, and the consequences if he agreed. It sent a shudder down his spine. He had just arrived in his world, and his foolishness and naivety almost cost him dearly.

As time passed, there would be times when the growlithe would let out a sharp bark. Perhaps a pokemon was coming down the same path they were using. Jared imagined that the growls were acting as a deterrent. It gave the pokemon up ahead the chance to detour around, and not move into a direct confrontation with their group.

At the back of the pack, Gilbert was a torrent of words. At first, he was reserved, but as he got comfortable with Jared, his mouth never stopped moving. By now, Jared's brain felt like it was beginning to melt, but what Gilbert said next was actually quite interesting to him, "So you see, unlike what most think, the caterpie lifecycle isn't actually guaranteed through age alone. While their evolved forms are easier to reach, they require the stimulation of battles just like every other pokemon."

Hearing the last part of Gilbert's sentence, Jared was very interested. Battles stimulated growth? This sounded like magic!

Jared was still paranoid about giving himself away. Yes, knowing more would be nice, but self-preservation was his priority. After all, he didn't want to learn how people would react if he didn't know anything about what others consider mundane. Could he blame everything on amnesia? Perhaps he could, but why risk it? He didn't know enough about how amnesia worked after all.

However, upon seeing that Gilbert was intending to change the subject again, Jared decided to vaguely ask, "You're right, everyone knows battles stimulate growth, but why don't more people question why?"

A light seemed to go off in Gilbert's mind, as he nearly stumbled, "Ah, yes, well, as I'm sure you are aware, battling with a crowd of people present has the greatest effect on growth. The more people who witness it, the better the effect. While everyone knows this fact, how come there have been so few studies on why that is? Is it some sort of energy that we absorb from the crowds who observe? Just why do battles affect the lifespan of humans and pokemon alike? Is it a matter of increasing lifespan, or does it merely slow the aging process down? These are all things we scientists need to figure out! "

A lightning bolt seemed to go off in Jared's mind. This was too shocking! While the whole concept of transmigration to a world of pokemon was farfetched, this seemed even crazier. Was this why that old lady said she was over a hundred years old? Was she a trainer in her younger days who fought next to crowds of spectators?

Clearing his throat, Gilbert continued, "But that's not my area of expertise... How about this, let me tell you many more interesting caterpie facts that very few know. Do you know how long a caterpies urinary tract is? It will shock you!"

Thinking about it wouldn't help, so Jared focused on the technical caterpie knowledge that Gilbert was feeding him. From time to time, Jared turned to the poor creature on Gilbert's shoulder. Jared couldn't help but notice the blank stare of Gilbert's caterpie. He didn't trust the creature, but even so, he was beginning to feel sorry for it. Just what kind of tests did Gilbert conduct to figure out the length of a caterpies urinary tract?

As hours passed, Jared realized something that had been nagging at his mind. That metal building they came from, just how could they possibly create it? Sure, he knew how it was done, but the path they were treading was merely a treacherous animal trail, not a road. How would they get the heavy machinery? How would they lay the cement foundation? There was no way a vehicle of any kind would be able to get through!

The path they were currently on looked like the back of a massive bear made of moss. Strangely enough, there were no gravel or small stones as you'd expect, just twigs and leaves in the process of being converted by the ravenous moss. They had once begun climbing the bear on even ground beginning at the tail, but it quickly ramped up higher and higher. They were now on the bear's mid-section at the very least.

Breaking Jared's thoughts, and Gilbert's caterpie seminar, the ranger's growlithe suddenly stopped in place. Jared expected the pokemon to give another loud bark, but this time it didn't. It seemed to be afraid as if it didn't want to be heard.

With the growlithe whining and backing away, a wide-eyed Ryan hushed the group, then whispered, "Quickly get down the slope now, and keep your traps shut."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ryan led by example by swiftly sliding down the mossy incline on his back. With such a thick blanket of moss, it could almost pass for a poor man's slide.

The three men looked at each other gravely for just a moment, then they began sliding down the mossy incline with their pokemon in tow. The wet moss dirtied their clothes, but they didn't care.

There were no bushes to hide in at the bottom, and besides the moss, only the ripe old trees could hope to act as a hiding spot.

Jutting out of the ground like the hand of a demon. At its highest point, it was over five feet tall. This root was the very hiding place in which the three occupied.

The orange jumpsuit that Jared wore was soaked in the back, and it felt very uncomfortable, but this was the same for everyone else.

Gilbert looked the worst off, his expensive-looking suit looked stained green. Jared wondered if the man was rich, or wasteful for wearing a suit in the forest. Perhaps it was a scientist thing.

As they sat in silence, the growlithe continued to whimper softly. Seeing that, Jared still couldn't help but wish he could see the entity that had freaked the dog pokemon out, but he didn't dare to stand up and check.

A nervous Gilbert couldn't help but whisper in Richard's general direction, "Do you think it's the 'thing' that took them in their sleep?"

Shaking his head, Richard replied, "I don't know, and when they hired me, we never encountered anything."

Watching the shivering dog pokemon, his expression was grave. He had never seen Growlithe so upset.

Gilbert swallowed a lump of saliva and silence took over for what felt like ages, but it couldn't have been more than a few minutes.

Soon, stomping was heard. Whatever was coming down the path, not even the moss could absorb all the sound.

The group seemed to hold their breath as it passed. However, for whatever reason, the entity stopped.

Jared had a weird feeling that it was looking right at them, but then he remembered something. They were careless! When their bodies pressed down on the moss as they slid, it warped the moss. If the creature was smart, it would probably be able to discern that we just slid down recently!