Dr Tom Adventure log #492

The midday sun beat down in the glade where Acerola and I had spent most of the morning. The Drampa we encountered here had just said it’s goodbyes and flown away in the gentle breeze. Acerola was giddy with excitement as she explained to me that this was the first Drampa she had ever seen, despite living in the Pokèmon’s native Alola! We documented the encounter and moved on, deeper into the jungle. 

As we pushed further in, the sunlight that had illuminated the glade and surrounding patches of trees faded once more to hazy darkness. Acerola led the way and skipped along over the branches and shrubs beneath our feet. Soon enough, we began to hear the sound of rushing water coming from somewhere ahead. We followed the noise until we emerged onto the bank of a river beneath a steep cliff that stretched as far as the eye could see in both directions. There was a great waterfall at the top of the cliff that shot down into the river in rolling cascades. I spotted four or five Magikarp leaping between the rapidly falling water and a family of Psyduck were playing in a calmer section of the river on the opposite side of the bank. 

The earth here was so soft that we were able to make out numerous Pokémon footprints, even from our viewpoint on the opposite side of the river. I suggested to Acerola that this would be a good place to set up camp. Before long, we had put up our tents and created a campfire to warm us as we sat by the river to make our observations. 

We passed the whole day sitting by the bank, during which many Pokémon species had come to the river to drink and play. We were just finishing up our research notes when I heard a sequence of tiny squeaks from the opposite bank, barely audible above the rage of the waterfall. Acerola and I retreated carefully into our tents so that we would not scare whatever Pokèmon was soon to emerge from the trees. 

At the first sign of movement, I pulled out my binoculars to observe a shaking patch of foliage. From inside the bush, I could just make out a tiny white-bodied Pokémon, similar in size to a Rattata. It appeared to be rolling around and squeaking happily. Acerola let out a sudden gasp. ‘I think it’s a Shaymin!’ she said in a shocked whisper. Indeed, as the Pokèmon finally emerged from the foliage, I spotted the telltale fluffy green grass and pink gracidea flower which always grew on the backs of this mythical species. The little Pokémon trotted over to the river and took a long drink of water, trilling happily once it had finished. As it tiptoed back into the jungle, tiny patches of grass sprouted from where it had stood and a sweet floral scent wafted across the river and into our camp. 

- Dr Tom, Coastal Island Expedition #3