It's a sunny day, marking the eleventh day of survival on the desert island.
Ryan woke up early this morning, stretching his muscles after yesterday's intense workout. He encouraged his Poliwag to exercise as well, helping it walk more efficiently. Although his body ached from over-exertion, Ryan knew the soreness would pass as long as he kept moving.
The top priority for the day was improving the shelter. After jogging for an hour, Ryan focused on gathering scraps of cloth and waterproof plastic, sewing them together to cover the tree trunk. He couldn't afford to be drenched like a stray dog in the rain again.
Ryan supervised Poliwag while it practiced running, but they didn't push too hard today since they had no food reserves left. The green caterpillar they caught yesterday had been their dinner.
Poliwag didn't last long before Ryan had to scoop it up and let it rest in a bucket, shielding it from the heat. Once it regained some strength, they set off to hunt for more green caterpillars.
While Poliwag rested, Ryan continued mending the waterproof plastic and rags, then climbed up a ladder with a pan to cap the tree trunk.
Nailing the plastic down was a simple task. Ryan stretched the fabric tightly over the trunk, securing it with nails cushioned by wooden boards. The layers of waterproof plastic, along with the rag, should provide ample protection from the rain.
The tree trunk's incline would help rainwater flow off, preventing water from pooling on the roof. Ryan made the entrance to the shelter on the forest side to better camouflage it from any unwanted visitors.
He was more concerned about strangers arriving on the island than wild Pokémon. It had been days without any signs of human life, and Ryan wasn't sure if anyone would ever show up. If they did, he could only hope they were kind-hearted and willing to help him off the island.
Still, he put more faith in his Pokémon companions than in people.
Marking the height of the new door at about 1.45 meters, Ryan began hammering the door frame into the tree trunk. He only got halfway through before his arms became too sore to continue. Tired and hungry, he returned to the temporary shelter, urging his Poliwag to go search for lunch.
Poliwag, seemingly in a daze, floated lazily in its bucket. But at Ryan's call, it leapt up and followed him to the jungle to look for green caterpillars. It wasn't long before they spotted one, munching on leaves.
"Water Gun and Hypnosis," Ryan ordered, keeping his commands brief since he was feeling weak from hunger.
Poliwag shot a stream of water, knocking the caterpillar out of the tree. Ryan urged Poliwag to catch it before it could escape into the grass. Poliwag obeyed, swiping at the caterpillar with its tail and dragging it out of the bushes.
Ryan wasted no time, throwing a Free Poke Ball and capturing the caterpie. However, the creature's potential was mediocre, only about 23%.
Dragging his weary body back to the shelter, Ryan prepared the caterpie for cooking. He tasked Poliwag with keeping the fire going while he dozed off, too tired to wait for the stew to boil.
Sometime later, Poliwag's cries woke him, and Ryan saw the caterpillar stew bubbling in the pot. After checking to see if the meat was tender, he scooped it out and devoured it along with the broth.
"Come help me once you're done eating. Our new home is almost ready," Ryan said to Poliwag.
Despite being exhausted, Ryan couldn't rest yet. He returned to the tree trunk to finish opening the door, eager to make the shelter livable. The task wasn't as taxing now, and after some time, he drilled enough holes for Poliwag to assist.
Once Poliwag joined him, Ryan explained, "See these little holes? Attack them with Water Gun."
Poliwag looked confused, perhaps thinking its trainer hadn't recovered from the heat. But after some encouragement, Poliwag complied, firing bursts of water at the marked spots.
It took multiple rounds of Water Gun, and Poliwag had to retreat to a bucket of fresh water several times before it finally managed to break through the door.
"Good job," Ryan praised, patting Poliwag's head. "Go refill your water."
Despite being tired, Poliwag was happy with Ryan's praise and splashed around in the bucket before heading back to rest.
With the door detached from the tree, Ryan entered the hollow. The inside of the trunk was surprisingly spacious, offering about three square meters of room—plenty of space for a bed and a small stove. Even though the ground was damp and uneven, Ryan lay down, staring up at the sun filtering through the plastic roof, basking in its warmth.
Suddenly, a shadow darted across the roof. Ryan jumped up, startled, and looked outside. It was just a Caterpie leaping between trees, its agility impressive.
Seeing dinner, Ryan quickly called for his Poliwag.
"I found our next meal," he whispered to Poliwag, pointing to the Caterpie on the branch. "The usual—Water Gun first, then use Hypnosis or a slap. You know the drill."
Poliwag confidently fired three Water Gun blasts, but the Caterpie didn't fall. Startled, Ryan ordered another round of attacks.
Even after nine Water Gun hits, the bug stayed strong. Confused, Ryan finally threw a Free Pokeball, hoping to capture the resilient creature.
The ball wobbled more than usual, making Ryan anxious. He hadn't felt this nervous since his early days on the island when food was scarce.
As the red light flashed, Ryan prepared for the possibility of failure...