I stared at the brown 'fruit' in my hand. Dev had picked it from a basket a woman was carrying and handed it to me. It had leathery skin and felt slightly squishy. I glanced at Dev. "This thing is safe to eat, right?"

"Yes yes," he nodded encouragingly. I looked to Leavanny, who had accompanied me as I walked with Dev through the village. She nodded, seeming to assure me.

"C'mon," I chided myself. "No better way to learn about their culture than eating their native food." I bit into the fruit, my eyes widening in surprise. It wasn't the best thing I ever had, but it was a welcome surprise over the rotting taste I had been expecting. It was just barely sweet with a hint of aspear mixed in. Even the leathery skin didn't taste as bad as I thought and was easy to chew since it was only a thin layer.

Swallowing the last bite, I grinned at Dev. "Delicious," I announced.

He grinned and nodded happily. For an older fellow, he seemed quite enthusiastic about me and what I thought. We went around the village, Dev showing me the tribe's lifestyle. Both men and women hunted, generally in groups. They brought along Mudbray and Mudsdales to carry food they either managed to pick or kill.

"Come to think of it," I muttered, glancing at Dev as we walked near the edge of the circular plateau the village resided upon. "Hey, where do you find fruits like the one I had? I mean, isn't it all dirt and rocks for the most part around the mountain?"

Dev shook his head. "Spots where trees grow. Fruits grow."

I nodded. I guess if the tribe has lived here for a while, they obviously had places where they got food.

"What about water?" I asked as we came to a stop. "Where do you get that from?"

Dev paused to think about that. "We no drink water?"

I blinked. "What?" Any sense of logic in the world shattered around me until Dev began laughing loudly.

"Joking! I am joking!" He patted me roughly on the shoulder, making me wince. Despite his short stature, he was strong and well built, so a love tap like that somewhat hurt.

Dev rubbed his chin. "Cave systems close by. River runs through it and heads out." He pointed opposite of the Central Mountains towards a river that ran downhill from the mountains. A huge plains stretched out as far as the eye could see, few trees dotted here and there. Just at the base of the mountain, next to where the river leveled out, was what looked to be another village.

"Woah, so the Mountain Tribe has more than just 2 settlements?" I was both shocked and amazed. They must be larger than the Jungle Tribe for sure in terms of tribal people.

Dev nodded. "If food scarce, village below helps. Good at river hunting." He pointed again at a trail that seemed to lead down towards the village. "They go." I squinted through the harsh sunlight and made out a group of people and Mudsdales and Mudbrays carrying baskets and jars. They seemed to be heading away from the village.

"Food and water," Dev grinned. "Feast tonight."

"Feast for what?"

"Your arrival," He answered. "And friends'. Come, new clothes."

I followed him, glancing down at my clothes. It was a shame really, that Leavanny's hard work had been ruined. Leavanny patted my hand with her sickle, smiling at me.

"I'm still sorry," I told her.

Dev led us into a small hut where a woman and two young girls were sitting cross-legged, sewing leather clothes. The woman reached to her side and pulled up a leather skirt similar to Dev's.

I blinked as Dev took it and handed it to me. "I-I'm supposed to wear this?" Inside my head, "Some pants would've been better."

After finding an empty hut to change, I stepped back out into the sunlight, feeling very much exposed. It wasn't cold by any means, but having my chest on display like this felt awkward. Especially compared to Dev's muscular chest, it was embarrassing to have my pale, skinny chest on display in a village where everyone was of darker skin. The only good thing was that most of my legs were hidden and that they had even given me a pair of leather-skinned shoes of sorts.

I hugged my arms. "Okay, not what I imagined going native would feel like."

Leavanny tilted her head at me, confused. Dev's smile faltered. "You not like?"

"No no no," I waved my hands at him. "I just, kinda wish I had a shirt."

Dev shook his head sadly. "Shirts not made for men, just women."

Leavanny poked at my leather skirt and tapped her chin. She glanced towards the hut, then looked at me, as if to ask for permission.

"Uh, sure," I nodded. I suddenly realized what she must be trying to do. I smiled warmly at the Pokemon. "I bet it'll turn out great."

"Leavaaaaaany," she cried happily and entered the hut.

"Do not worry so much," Dev pounded me on the back, making me gasp and stumble forwards. "You have strong chest! Pale, but strong!"

I glanced down at myself. I placed my hand over my heart, actually a bit shocked at how I've filled out since I came to this island. With no mirrors, I've never really took much chances to look at myself, but I realized I was no longer the skinny kid who liked to read books back in Motostoke. Between training with Xera and running for my life, I had become... fitter.

I glanced around the village as the tribes folk went about their day. Some were tending to a group of Mudbrays while others worked on leather or sharpened spears. "I still stick out like a sore thumb."

...

The rest of the day I went around and learned more about the village and its inhabitants. Learning how to tan skin into leather was hard work. And not everyone spoke English; some only understood and spoke a little. Dev was amongst the few who spoke it fairly well, aside from the Village leaders, who spoke pretty well. However, I didn't see them for the remainder of the day.

I visited the hut to check up on Luna a couple of times. Xera was grumpy as usual, a good sign she was recovering. Z quietly watched over Luna, not bothering to glance my way. At least the Bug types liked me. Dewpider had scuttled around my feet before going back to Xera and Grovyle as I left. Yanmega had woken from his nap and was now settled atop my head as I followed Dev to the edge of the plateau on the far side of where I had entered the village earlier.

"Where are we going?" I asked, scratching Yanmega's chin, glad he was keeping the sun's rays off my head. His wings also generated cool air for me, which was a relief in this heat. I held in my left hand a woven basket, unsure of what I was going to use it for.

Dev looked back, carrying a basket of his own. "Cave, fruits grows inside."

He led me across a wooden bridge that led to a trail that led around the mountain towering over us. Beyond that was the tallest mountain, its peak hidden by clouds. It was a fair distance away, but as soon as we got back on hard dirt ground, Dev took the trail to the left instead of the one I saw that led to the right. This trail had grass and weeds poking up through the rocks and I started to hear the sound of rushing water. The trail dipped downwards and soon the circular plateaus were towering over us, putting us in cool shade. We turned a corner and my foot pressed against slightly squishy ground. A river ran between the bottom of the plateaus, originating from a cave situated well above our heads. The water flowed down a hill filled with grass, shrubs, fungi, and mushroom shaped trees with low hanging fruit growing from the branches.

I shivered, rubbing my arms. It was colder down here in the shade with barely any sunlight falling down on us. Another reason why I wished I had a shirt.

Dev continued along the trail, which hugged the side of the mountain as it grew narrower. I followed him up, Yanmega forced to fly off my head and follow at my side. I switched the basket over to my left hand as I made sure not to skid on loose rocks. Dev reached the cave first and went inside. Glancing with Yanmega, I followed suit.

The cave was colder, the sound of the river echoing across the cave walls. Glowing lime green fungi sprouted from the walls, providing dim light for us to see. As I peered into the back, I noticed it was less of a cave and more of a tunnel leading far back into the darkness. More of the trees outside grew inside as well, right alongside the river, their branches hanging over the water. One was even growing in the water, swaying against the rushing water. The tunnel was wide, but the river took up most of the space and it didn't look like there was a way to cross to the other side.

Dev showed me how to pick the fruit. I had tried to pluck one and he had quickly stopped me and showed how to twist it out of the green leafy base. The fruits themselves were big and plump, the same kind that I had eaten earlier. Once our baskets were filled to the brim, we left the cave. I sighed in relief once we were back outside in the slightly warmer air. I looked up the trail, already imagining what the sun would feel like on my skin, when I froze. Lumbering towards us from below was Regirock.

"Wandering Guardian," Dev breathed and set down his basket. He went down on both knees and bowed down. I quickly followed suit, not ready for a repeat of the last time I had bumped into the stone giant. Yanmega plopped down on the ground next to me and attempted his own little bow. I tried to slow my breathing, not daring to look up. After a couple seconds, Dev helped me back to my feet. Regirock was still regarding us before it turned and lumbered away. We watched it go and disappeared behind one of the plateaus.

"Hurry," Dev picked up his basket. He pointed towards the sky. "Sun setting."

Clutching the basket full of fruits securely in my grip, I followed him back up the trail as Yanmega flew alongside us. As we found ourselves back in the sunlight and at the bridge leading to the village, I shielded my eyes as I saw people bustling around hurriedly on the plateau.

"Back from river village," Dev said happily. "Feast soon."

The sky slowly turned a golden hue as I followed him across the bridge. I had only been here for basically a full day, but it didn't feel like really any time had passed at all.

"I'm having fun," I realized, smiling. "Ryan, this is great! This is everything we dreamt of and more!"

A chill traveled down my spine as I stepped off the bridge. I saw him to my right, but I tried to ignore him. He wasn't really there. I was only imagining him.

"I wonder," Eric said with a cruel smile. "Just how long you can have fun, Liam, before this tribe betrays you like my tribe did."

I gripped a fist and quickly followed Dev as he headed towards the center of the village. I realized my closed fist was shaking. I stared at it, then back up at the village, at people and customs I didn't know. "What if... What if they do end up betraying us?"

Another, more scary thought entered my head. "How would I be able to help my friends?"

It's just like Eric to plant those seeds of doubts in Liam's mind. Anyway, another world building chapter. That's why I like this series so much. There's a lot of world building I like to do and it really helps me realize how much detail needs to be added. However, I'm still working on it, so if any of you reading this feel like there needs to be more detail in certain places, please tell me so I can work on that. Also, I am done with this term and the last of my finals are finished. Time for Spring Break. Toodles!