----
"Serperior, let me see that."
Serperior responded with a nod, sending out a vine that gently retrieved a small tuft of white fluff from the air. It handed the delicate material to Eric.
Carefully holding the soft, cloud-like fragment between his fingers, Eric felt its unique texture light, fluffy, and oddly calming. A glimmer of recognition and excitement appeared in his eyes.
This wasn't what he initially came out to find. He had set out to locate Pokémon like Skiddo, Bounsweet, or Tropius, all of which were known to thrive in the Paldea region. But encountering this particular type of fluff was an unexpected blessing.
The Pokémon responsible for this belonged to a species rarely seen in Paldea.
They were originally native to Galar and famously associated with the "Milo Farm" content that Eric had seen trending online.
"A Galarian Pokémon in Paldea, huh?" Eric grinned and patted Arven's shoulder. "Looks like luck's on our side today. Let's see where this fluff came from."
Arven adjusted his scarf and nodded enthusiastically. "What kind of Pokémon is it, Eric?"
"You'll see soon enough," Eric said, his tone mysterious as he motioned for Arven and Mabosstiff to follow him.
Before long, the group entered a vast, open grassland. The field stretched far and wide, the grass swaying gently in the breeze. Several Combee and Yanma zipped low across the terrain, occasionally landing on nearby wildflowers.
Eric's eyes swept over the area, scanning for signs of movement, until they finally locked onto his target.
Nestled among the grass were two small Pokémon resembling tiny, blooming flowers.
Their bodies had five yellow petals and red sepals that fanned out like hair. The two Cottonee twirled joyfully in the breeze, their laughter carried on the wind.
Watching over them from behind was a larger Pokémon, one with a massive ball of fluffy white cotton atop its head and a regal yellow cloak around its body.
The Eldegoss smiled warmly as it supervised the playful antics of the smaller Pokémon.
"Wow," Arven whispered, eyes wide with awe. "What kind of Pokémon are those?"
Eric held a finger to his lips, gesturing for Arven to lower his voice. "Those two small ones are Cottonee, and the larger one is Eldegoss. They're originally from the Galar region and are known for their calming nature and helpful abilities."
Arven's eyes lit up with curiosity. "They look so soft! Do you think we can approach them?"
Eric chuckled softly. "Not so fast. Let's not startle them. We'll need to be careful."
As the two of them observed, the wind began to pick up, ruffling the grass and sending a gentle gust across the field. The Cottonee let out delighted chirps as they were carried upward, spinning joyfully in the air.
The Eldegoss wasn't far behind. Its light body lifted effortlessly, and it drifted after the two smaller Pokémon, carried along by the same breeze.
"Whoa! Did you see that?" Arven exclaimed, pointing as the trio floated off into the distance. "How are they flying?"
Eric explained quickly, "It's part of their biology. Cottonee and Eldegoss are both incredibly light, and their cotton-like bodies allow them to catch the wind and float. It's a survival trait for escaping danger."
Before Eric could elaborate further, the Cottonee and Eldegoss disappeared into the horizon, carried away by the breeze.
"Wait, they're getting away!" Arven shouted, ready to run after them.
"Let's go!" Eric replied, already taking off with Serperior by his side.
---
The chase took them across the grasslands and into a dense forest. The canopy overhead cast long shadows, making it harder to spot the drifting Pokémon.
Eric slowed to a stop, placing his hands on his knees to catch his breath. "Well… that… was something…"
Arven, panting just as heavily, gave Eric a playful glare. "You said I wasn't fit, but look at you! You couldn't keep up either."
"That's different!" Eric shot back defensively. "How was I supposed to know they'd catch a strong gust and vanish into a forest? It's not like they have a GPS!"
Arven snickered, leaning against Mabosstiff for support. "So, what now? Did we just lose them for good?"
Eric scanned their surroundings. The forest was quiet except for the rustling of leaves and the occasional cry of a distant Pokémon.
He sighed. "Let's search for a bit longer. If we don't find them in an hour, we'll head back. It's too risky to stay out here after dark."
The group pressed forward, moving carefully through the undergrowth. Serperior's sharp eyes scanned for movement, and Mabosstiff kept its nose low, sniffing the ground for any sign of the Pokémon they were tracking.
As the minutes turned into nearly an hour, the light filtering through the trees began to dim. Eric glanced at the sky, its orange hues fading into purple.
"It's no good," Eric finally admitted, his voice tinged with disappointment. "We've lost them. Let's head back before it gets too dark."
Arven nodded reluctantly and turned to follow Eric.
Just as they were about to leave, Serperior suddenly froze in place, its head lifted high. Its crimson eyes locked onto a distant point in the forest.
"Serperior?" Eric asked, noticing its sudden change in demeanour.
The Grass-type let out a low hiss, its tail flicking with determination.
Eric's heart raced. "You found them?"
Serperior nodded but didn't move. Its gaze was fixed not only on the familiar traces of the Cottonee and Eldegoss but also on something else something foreign and unfamiliar lurking in the same direction.
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