It was a normal autumn day when Chino found herself bored, so bored. She'd stopped going outdoors as often at some point, and now hadn't been out in about two weeks. Not deliberately, just… What was the point?
Instead, she was at home on her computer, sitting legs crossed, downloading some video games she wanted to play later. Truly, she was falling into novice NEET territory, with her pathetic lack of ambition and effort lately. It's not that bad though. It's only been a couple of weeks. She can go out whenever she wants to. She just… doesn't want to… and that's okay!
“I'll make myself a cup of tea,” she thought, “while the games download.”
As she unfolded her legs and stood up, her vision filled with sparkles… was it because she forgot to have breakfast…?
She woke up in a cool, damp, muddy cove. Laying on a sleeping bag on top of a tarp. Despite the difference in setting, she wasn't shocked or terrified. Vaguely, she recalled *deciding* to stay here. And *deciding* to be a hermit, and have a bike, and…
“Bree-oup~” morning~
Cyndaquil! Yes, she'd decided to have a Cyndaquil. So, uh, she was in the world of Pokémon now, it seemed.
Being out in the mud didn't even bother her. Somehow she recalled both growing up back in reality, *and* growing up here in the woods. It still felt… like home. Here in Unova. And there wasn't even anything to miss, back in reality, anyway.
“Hiyaaaa Cyndaquil!” Chino exclaimed, picking up her naive little Cyndaquil and giving him a good squeeze.
“Breeeeee!”
Chino with Cyndaquil and some gear.
Though secret dens were mainly popular in Hoenn and some other nearby regions it was still entirely possible to build one in the rest of the world. In Unova, which was a bit further out, it has a different reputation. That is, it's not a "cool" thing for kids to do, more just a way for vagabonds and the homeless to have at least some shelter.
Mainly this is because of Unova's social security and policies: since there are less provisions for helping the homeless, most people living in muddy caves are not there through choice. Therefore it's not seen as mysterious and fun, but unfortunate and to be avoided.
Chino had known Cyndaquil in the world of pokemon for basically her whole life. She'd grown up with an old man, Dunc, who helped her survive outside of towns. Cyndaquil was his pokemon.
When old man Dunc died a year ago, Cyndaquil stuck around, though it took a while before Chino really felt like he was *hers*. Now, though, the weird feeling of missing old man Dunc was pretty much gone, and she and Cyndaquil had worked out their new dynamic.
