[H1]Rolf Bannian[/h1]
The first thing he noticed was how the sanctuary smelled. It wasn't precisely the concoction of rotting wood and conifer leaves that was customary for the tropics, nor was it the crisp of a cold evergreen forest. Though there were many trees, it almost felt like a meadow of pokemon, a scene from some painting he would never hang in his own room because it was too calm. Rolf didn't like walking in sneakers, and though he had been royally screwed by his boat and traveling companion being nowhere to be found, it was a genuine inconvenience that his combat boots didn't survive the ordeal. 

Sure, they weren't that insulated, so sand would grimd into his toes and his socks would become soggy with ocean, freezing over when a cold wind blew, but maybe the familiar smell of sea breeze would alleviate his nervousness. But more than that, they were nothing like the flimsy sneakers that the hospital assured him "all the coolest trainers" were wearing. The sailor, however, believed that the nurse thought he was lying about wanting to be a new trainer  and gave him the flimsy, soft shoes as an insult to whatever pride he might have had left. The fact that they were a hideous yellow color was probably because she was a sadistic bitch, not to mention she was being much too rough with ripping off his bandages and making sure he was properly vaccinated. 

Rolf was excited to learn that some of the world's most renowned pokemon professors would be present here, in the new pokemon sanctuary. Upon checkout, he had overheard some nurses say their children or their friends' children woul be present to try to capture a pokemon to begin their journey. It was all news to him, but he had been so amazed that he had all but worn himself out, searching for this so-called "sanctuary". Aside from the very much private island of the Wildlife Reserve, it hadn't really occurred to him that there were places that kept pokemon in captivity, while maintaining the illusion they were wild. Heck, if the poke ball they gave him was any inclination, it seemed like they by all intents and purposes WERE wild. Though the young man didn't know much about being a trainer, he was fairly certain that under normal circumstances pokemon couldn't be caught twice. 

There were a lot of trainers, but they all looked like just strangers to him. As he slowly walked through the grassy knolls, trying to get close to a river of some sort to catch a water pokemon -there was no way he was catching a pokemon afraid of the water- he felt a little regret for not following his gut and talking to one of the pokemon professors, maybe for the possibility of an internship. Heck, he had wanted to work in pokemon research anyways, and the world's brightest minds were gathered around a fancy free-ranged petting zoo for Arceus' sake! Though he had approaches Professor Cedar, he was only a few steps away when he heard a particurly irritating young woman start speaking, and was able to deduce that the professor was busy. It was fine, he needed to look for a pokemon first. The thought of recollecting his experience to one of the professors made his heart race- what if they knew what the giant creature was? But there was another thought bubbling in his stomach, rising into his mind- what if they laughed him off? What did he know about the professors? Nothing other than what he knew from TV or the internet. 

Besides, there were other this he should be focused on. Standing at the edge of the river, where water met mud and grass, Rolf grimaced. The sneakers sank in the mud a little and wouldn't clean as easily as his old combat boots. Were his boots lost at sea or were they junked up discovery. Wait a damn second, he woke up in scrubs, so did he wash up naked as the day he was born, or did those morally ambiguous nurses strip him down and take his nice clothes from him? The thought made him a little uncomfortable, even as he knelt down to peer into the water. It was a brilliant teal, darker blue the deeper the water got and less radiant. He could see some shadows moving out farther into the river, but the free clothes he was wearing now- a buttoned shirt and what was probably a pair of trousers- were hardly made for that kind of strain. Plus, he would smell like pond and mainlanders usually had an issue with the scent of fresh earth and water. 

He put a hand into the water and licked at the back of his hand. Freshwater, oligotrophic lake, with few organisms. There was no algae buildup, so any pokemon inside the water would have to be hardy enough to sustain on eating very little, or strong enough to prey on others easily. He didn't get much farther in his analysis, because a jet of water was sprayed into his face. Blinking, he laughed a little at the small poliwag that splashed around in front of him. It was cute, and he liked it's spirit. And there was no doubt it could swim. 

He readied the ball with one hand, ready to throw, but as he leaned in to begin the toss, his low-quality footwear lost their footing and he fell forward. Luckily, his face was fine- it had landed in something squishy. Quickly getting to his feet, the young man's heart dropped as he saw the still poliwag. Tenatively, he reached down to check if it was alright, only for it to rouse and smack him hard with its tail. Well, it was pissed now. It shot another water gun at him, and wouldn't relent, and knowing that he didn't have a pokemon to weaken it with, Rolf acted on his gut, by kicking the pokemon like a soccer ball. It flew into the air with a squeak and landed in the center of the pool, floating and leaving rings of ripple. Already soaked, Rolf considered wading out to catch it, but it quickly swam back to shore making strange, angry noises. Then it got louder. And louder. And louder. 

Golden eyes looked around in confusion as tens of poliwag rose from the depths of the lake to assist their brother, summoned by the cries of agony. The sailor knew a storm when he saw the warning signs. Unfortunately, he didn't know how to get out of it fast enough as the poliwag began launching a series of concentrated water gun. It stung when it hit him, and it was definitely startling. It wasn't like he was afraid of a little water, though, so he held firm and swung his arms, trying to deter their efforts. Maybe he had walked farther than some of the othe visitors, or maybe he was the only one dumb enough to walk into a clearly inhabited river, or he was just caught up in his own situation to notice anyone else, but it looked like he was in this alone. That was alright; he had the map to steer the ship. Figuratively, of course. At the moment he had neither a map nor a ship. 

Taking off one of his worthless sneakers, he chucked it hard to the center of the river- littering, most definitely, but someone would clean it or the damned poliwag would try to eat and hopefully choke to death- and he saw a few skip off to chase it. He stayed in his stance. One step back, and the poliwag would interpret it as fear and then they'd never let him catch anything. He roared, waving his arms and trying to appear larger, and it had a small effect- he became an easier target. Finding it hard to open his eyes, Rolf was knocked onto his behind, sitting on the muddy grass, when the poliwag also hopped out of the water and started beating him with their tails. Great. He would be beludgeoned to death by a bunch of baby swirly signs. 

Then there was a rush of orange and yellow, and the cry of a mammal, the hard slapping and satisfying squeaking of deafeared poliwag. Once he had stood and regained his bearings, Rolf was rewarded with the sight of a beautiful buizel, fur dry and fluffy, and tails working wonders to dispell those pests. The sailor had never seen a pokemon more beautiful. Other than his mystery giant pokemon, and the shadow he had followed, and more than a few very beautiful milotic, of course. 

The buizel valiantly fought off the threat, and turned around to face the man he had rescued with a smile. He had been waiting in the marsh, terrified of the poliwag, because of their strange territorial nature. He couldn't find another buizel or any other pokemon to be friends with, so he was fine just walking around the river, drinking water when the colony was asleep and basking in the warmth of daylight. But when he saw the trainer foolishly enter the water, he knew that the poliwag were going to react, and he saw this as a chance to finally lash out against his tormentors! Plus, it was a little brave to see the human kick at the poliwag, even if it did accomplish nothing. Buizel was about to tell the human all about how he had fought off the other water types pretty bravely, even if it was a lie to make him feel better, but the only thing he saw was a flash if red and white before he was blacked out. 

"Yes! I caught a buizel!" Rolf exclaimed, excited of this new revelation. If the buizel had fought off all those poliwag, that meant that it was pretty good. Plus, he liked fur better than fins anyways. Next objective? Find his way out of the sanctuary and into some dry clothes.