*More than a day and a half of walking straight in the heat. You had no idea where he was going anymore, but you were too stubborn to admit to being lost. All you could think about was how sore you were, and all you wanted was something to drink. Just when you thought luck was against you, out the corner of your eye you caught sight of something reflecting light in the distance. Your excitement got the better of you, leading you to conclude it was a pool of water and head towards the source. Expecting to find a luxurious pool filled with ladies, you instead found a stinking cesspit of a swamp. It wasn't very big, so it was more likely just a standing pool of water. It was certainly not drinkable. You sighed, and sat down on a nearby rock to pout.

“Hey! Hey you!”

At first you thought you were hearing things, but the voice shouted again. And again. You glanced around, trying to find it, and to your dismay, it sounded like it was coming from the swamp in front of you. There, in the middle of all the muddy water, stood a rat-like creature. It looked like it was.. bathing. In that. Ugh. You didn’t want to think about it.

“Well, howdy! Glad ya finally noticed, partner,” shouted the creature. “Hoy, you’re lookin’ a bit scraggly, aintcha?”

You nodded, trying not to draw too much attention to yourself, lest the creature emerge to inspect you further. All you could think was “please don’t come over here.” The rat then began to emerge from the swamp, and then.. walked straight up to you.

The rat put his damp paw on your leg, which just sent shivers down his spine. Perhaps it was all a hallucination. Those happen to people after walking in the sun for too long, after all. There was no way your mind could drum up such a creation. It was a dilapidated house in Pokemon form: scruffy and unkempt, walked with a bit of a limp, and was clearly missing its front teeth.

“So, what’s yer name, champ? Whatcha doin’ all the way ‘round these parts,” the creature inquired. It seemed like a curious beast.