Finally, The First Step!

It was good to be out and about, for Corey anyways. The sun was shining, a few clumps of cotton-like clouds dotted the vibrant blue sky, and the occasional soft breeze brushed past the land. The lone blonde-haired boy stood on the path, taking in the foreign atmosphere. He took a deep breath, smiling when he detected scents of grass, flora, and refreshing air. The Caspian region was, so far, simple and quaint with its aesthetic appeal. In comparison to Kalos, it may have lacked in the artistic department, but he had yet to fully confirm it. Being a new arrival, he couldn’t be sure of what surprises awaited him. Who knows, maybe this little region had more to offer, and maybe he’d end up taking back those words once he actually got out on his journey.

Much, much earlier on, he had boarded the ferry his grandfather had booked for him. His bag was packed; just a typical backpack suited for travel, filled decently by his few essential belongings. If there had been anything he’d learned from those years of trekking through mountains, getting lost in vast deserts, and having a guardian who had twice his impulsiveness, then it would be how traveling light is the best course of action. It was amusing; the thought that he’d no longer have anyone nagging him about survival methods day and night, yet at the same time it was downright depressing. There was no doubt he would miss his grandfather. Their farewell had been dignified—formal, even. Grandfather Garland had always been a man of honor, he held no sentiments. Well, save for the usual ‘You make me proud’ pat on the shoulder. Corey had to admit, that was definitely his favorite part. Promises and goodbyes exchanged, he turned his back on Kalos and boarded the ferry to Caspian.

He enjoyed the sea voyage; it reminded him of those past times. Then again, those past times didn’t include accidentally falling asleep and having to be jabbed in the ribs by one of the sailors who had been sent to tell him about their arrival. He got a few chuckles out of that.

And now here he was, in the middle of the path and feeling serene, and having little to no clue as to where he was supposed to head to. His grandfather had said it was some place called ‘Gaia Ranch’ and would apparently provide him with a pokemon of his own. He smiled at the thought, his mind wandering off as he imagined what sort of creatures they had available. He knew that each region had their own unique set of traditional starter pokemon, such as Kalos’ trio of Fennekin, Froakie, and Chespin. They were charming and adorable when he’d seen them, sure, but none were deemed his favorite. Maybe he was suited for a different pokemon.

He snapped out of his thoughts, finally realizing that standing around wouldn’t aid him. Hands sliding into his pockets, he continued on with his slow saunter, further going forwards. Without any actual direction, the blonde decided to simply follow the path. That was how most newbie trainers did it, right?

After hours of distractions, unnecessary breaks, and more daydreams, a structure began to come into view. Corey blinked, his blue eyes landing on a peculiar building sitting in the horizon. It seemed to be a mere cabin. He wondered what kind of person was living there. He strode towards the wooden settlement, curiosity driving him, as well as the possibility of having reached his destination.

To his luck, it seemed he was correct with his assumptions. A sign placed at the front made it clear that this was indeed the aforementioned Gaia Ranch. “Cute,” He mused, having expected the ranch to be more… Well, ranch-like. He pushed the door open with his foot, not caring enough to knock, and peeked inside. A homely scent of aged wood, animal fur, and a hint of ashes from a fireplace told him this cabin had been well-lived in. “Yo, anyone here? They told me this is where I could get a pokemon...” He slowly leaned forward, head moving from side to side as he examined the area.