Part 40. Camping Out

"We have a schedule to keep if we're going to meet up with my friend (Slight blush at the mention of Red), and we can't really afford any but the most necessary of delays, such as eating and sleeping."

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Lamina groans. "Mistress, I haven't had a proper fight in days now! I know you want to meet your friend again, but when are you actually going to use me for what I'm trained for?"

Don't worry, you'll be fighting Red when you meet up with her. She'd probably insist on it, actually.

"Really?" the Armsmistress asked suspiciously. "Is she any good?"

Well, her mother was a gym leader, so Red's bound to have at least some idea of how to train her girls. 

"Huh. Alright then." she nodded, a distant look in her eyes. "I just hope it'll be worth all this waiting."

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There's a designated camping area just up ahead. The sonic markers are supposed to keep it safe from ferals, but it's far from perfect. Apart from that, you might also run into other tamers looking to get some rest.

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Normally, you'd go to the town. It's the safe option, giving you a chance to relax and enjoy a proper meal at a restaurant. 

But you're a tamer now. You're wandering the wilds for the first time, a harem of powerful(ish) pokegirls at your side. While a part at you grumbles at having to eat outdoors, the rest of you is elated at the chance to try something new. 

Besides, even if you burn the food, you can still eat the energy bars, right? 

About half an hour later, you spot the sign. A blue triangle inside a square - the mark of a designated camping area surrounded with sonic markers. 

Leading your team off the main trail, you soon find yourself in a large clearing in the middle of the woods. A medieval looking well has been built in the center, its simple rope and bucket mechanism allowing access to fresh water. A number of scorched circles on the ground shows where people have made fire pits in the past, and just to the side you spot what appears to be a berry bush of some kind. 

There are also a pair of tents set up nearby. The owners are sitting just outside, enjoying a picnic together. From their similar appearance, you're guessing that they're siblings of some kind. You don't see any pokegirls around, though you do spot the pokeballs clipped onto their belts. 

Your pokegirls stiffened as they spotted the other humans, though they relaxed slightly as they realized that they didn't seem to be an actual threat.

"S-should we try talking to them?" Ana squeaked, looking a little nervous at the prospect.

"Hmph. We're eating out here?" Lamina huffed, ignoring the other tamers. "Hope you don't expect me to help. I'm a city gal, born and bred. Got no idea how to cook anything outside a proper kitchen."

How do you want to deal with the other tamers?

[] Leave. You're not interested in dealing with other people right now.

[] Be friendly. Maybe they're nice people?

[] Be aloof. Ignore them and stay on the other side of the camping area.

[] Be daring. Challenge them to a match!