HARMFUL HERBS | Fallen Log

John was wound up as tightly as he could be within the masses of clothing. He was never great with the cold, and he always held a distinct hatred for it and Wintervale in particular after some unpleasant encounters up here- but he'd heard a rumor circulating recently that he couldn't help but to investigate. Some kind of unpleasant herb was growing out along here and whatever it was it didn't sound like it was any good. Nothing good came form the fog or the pokemon that seemed to magically spawn within it- and so to have some plants popping up that share that same apparent corruption was nothing if not a bad omen. 

 

His footsteps were heavy as he worked his way through the snow, going into the Frozen Forest that laid underneath Wintervale to try and see just how far this corruption grew. Behind him three other pokemon all trundled diligently and providing him some company during this as he hadn't dared to ask Noir to join him. Que was first in line, the little fire Anorith was struggling a bit with the snow. It would walk a few paces- get caught in a drift but the flames that grew from there back were quick to melt everything and allow it to continue forward.  Behind them was Jack, a fire Buddew who skipped along the snow without a care in the world and making the happiest noises that John had ever heard. Every once in awhile their body seemed to jump up as the earth vibrated and they'd fall forward on their face- but they didn't seem to mind as they would pick themselves back up to continue forth.

 

The cause of those sudden vibrations was none other than the third of his entourage. Watercress, a large water Mamoswine was stomping along behind them and every step seemed to rattle the ground. "Alright you guys, I want you to listen to me." John said firmly. "You especially Que, I know you are bad at it but give it your best shot. We are here to look at, collect, and then put the plants into jars. You hear me? Collect them in jars. We are not to eat them. No eating of the plants." He said firmly and all three of the pokemon gave a series of cheers to confirm they understood. John didn't believe them- but he appreciated their spirit in the least. 

 

While most of the reports of the shadow-touched plants came from Wintervale itsself John only had to walk for a few minutes more before he saw the first sign of corruption. A small flicker of purple in the corner of his eye and stopping he turned his whole attention over to it. A tree had fallen over in the snow- covering up the area but John could see it. A singular purple leaf that was dripping with a dark ichor. That was it! "Eh! Watercress!" John called out loudly and the Mamoswine gave an excited huff. Stomping forward and once more causing Jack to fall over- Que merely being covered in snow by their passing footsteps. "See this log, can you move it for me? I think what we're after is underneath."

 

While the water pokemon moved eagerly towards the fallen tree John turned his attention back to Que and Jack. Jack was happily following directly behind Watercress and as the pokemon's tusks ground against the bottom of the pale bark, Jack pushed his entire body against it. Somehow they believed that his presence would help to move the log but it wasn't being pushed- it was being lifted. 

 

The fallen tree was raised up off the ground and instead of going with it Jack simply fell and tumbled forward into the crevice it had left. "..Oh Jack." John said a bit sympathetically while Que mimicked his sad tone. With the area having been cleared by Watercress John moved forward to look at what was crushed and he felt his skin crawl at the sight of it. "Damn..." He said quietly. "it really does look like those things, don't it?" He asked as he grabbed a twig that came from the log and poked it. It curled away from the touch and John's lips curled up. Everything about the fog made him sick- but that didn't mean he could just leave it be. If this was something new then it had to be collected and shipped off for study.

 

"...Alright. Come on now everyone, remember what I said. No eating it and let's go get it in that jar, yeah?"