The scent of soil is thick in the air. As you stand in the middle of the dimly lit cave's four-way intersection, you momentarily forget your predicament. Without the towering grassblades as a frame of reference, it's easy to forget about your diminished scale. You begin to wonder if you really did shrink, or if the fresh memories of you scampering along the farmland field like a lowly vermin and of you very nearly getting seized by the descending talons of a cocky Staravia, are just hallucinations. You ignore the residual ringing in your ears as you take a momentary breather within the cave. Perhaps this is some sort of mine, dug by human hands? Or maybe it's a natural cave?
But these theories do not withstand scrutiny. When you run your hands against the soil below, you find that the grains of dirt around you are unnaturally large. Roots fit for trees, where you know for a fact only grass blades reside, pierce their way out of the tunnel's roof, their outlines illuminated by one of the distant glints of light. The cavern is too orderly to be a natural cave, yet lacks the amenities one would expect with a mining site. As you survey your surroundings and your eyes grow attuned to the darkness, you make out what you initially assume to be a long deceased human. Upon further inspection, however, you find it to be a lowly action figure... albeit one covered in bite marks.
Yep. You are definitely small. And the network of caves you are in was definitely dug by a Pokemon. As you inspect your surroundings, you pay closer attention to the sounds of footfalls and squeals to the north. Among the sound you hear something that appears to be a good deal closer. Snoring. Snores that cause the cave floor around you to vibrate ever so slightly. Something is definitely sleeping nearby...and you're not about to see what it is.
You decide to head southwards. If memory serves correctly, that's where the field of planting soil lies.
After a few minutes of walking, you reach the edge of the tunnel. The ascent out of the hole is steep... clearly not dug to accommodate for a creature of your diminutive scale. You press your body against the dirt entrance and attempt to leap out. After several false starts. Eventually, you resort to gripping at the soil, looking for any footholds you can find. After some effort you manage to poke your head out over the soil. Clawing your left arm forward and pulling once more, you manage to secure your position.
Looking around, you find yourself gasping at the world of wonders you've found yourself in. You are surrounded by a vast field of soil, punctuated by row after row of wondrously large plants. Carrots the size of industrial machines protrude from the earth. Plants and soil seem to stretch as far as the eye can see. You reach forward again, pulling yourself most of the way out of the hole... and then a thought gives you pause. Is anything lurking nearby?
You search the skies first... and find that the Staravia seems to still be making a fly-by over the area. As you linger near the hole.. even if it hasn't seen you yet. You have half a mind to retreat back into the hole... but quickly scratch that idea. At least one creature is lurking there... perhaps more.. possibly even five?
After briefly considering your options, you emerge from the hole and almost immediately tuck your body under a thin layer of planting soil, then proceed to crawl over towards a nearby carrot. Fear clings to you as you shelter beneath the carrot... you expect the Staravia to swoop for you at any moment. Yet as the minutes pass by, you remain unscathed. You are safe.
You breathe a sigh of relief and wipe the dirt away from your face. You sit at the base of the carrot, then turn to face it. You press your hand against the growing vegetable and attempt to tear a chunk free, but find yourself unable to tear anything more than a few grains of orange loose. You then begin to nibble on it directly. You nibble on it with all the grace of a wild field mouse... and in truth, aside from your human anatomy, you are little different than one. You consider, for a brief moment, than the carrot isn't yours. That it belongs to a farmer who bought the seeds and owns the land. But considerations of human property rights and governance are a luxury far removed from your current circumstances. You might as well follow out the biological niche dictated by your size.
After securing a meal from the carrot, you decide to rest at its base. You curl up among the soil... but you find it hard to fall asleep. You are vulnerable, even if you have secured some level of cover... and you can hardly keep yourself from sneezing. Perhaps you should dig a hole of your own? But what's to say that whatever hole you dig won't cave in on you... or worse, get used an improvised toilet by a wild pokemon?
As you consider your options, you hear a gentle rustling in the distance. Could a farmer have arrived to tend to the plants? Perhaps a hound is searching for vermin? Or maybe the Staravia? You listen in, only to be met with the sound of wind and little else. Perhaps it really was just the wind.
Within a few minutes, you once more hear the sound of rustling. It's louder... and now, you can definitely hear the sound of footfalls accompanying the rustles. They are drawing closer. The footfalls build until you can feel the soil at your feet begin to rumble...and then the rumbling comes to a halt. You hear the sounds of subtle growls, more rustling, and even some crunches. You get to your knees and carefully poke your head around the side. You're able to make out the figure of a giant brown-furred Pokemon of some sort going to town on a carrot. For a brief moment you wonder if it will actually be able to unearth the plants. A loud snap, followed by the sight of the Nickit reeling back, undercarriage exposed, carrot in her maw , quashes those doubts.
The Nickit sets the carrot down, planting it beneath her paw, and begins to scan the horizon, her muzzle sweeping past you in its search. You begin to wonder if she has seen you... and if so, what you should do...
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