Welcome To Lera- Katie

     Katie takes a deep breath and looks around Tommy sitting next to her cleaning his paws. She smiles down at her small kitty before looking back up at the path ahead of her. She takes a step forward towards the forest path she intends to explore, she hopes to find some new plants she can harvest seeds from. Hearing a small meow she looks down at an annoyed Tommy who looks like he doesn’t want to move. “Let’s go Tommy, we have work to do today,” she says to him softly. With a huff the glameow gets up from his spot and begins following her. 

     She nods and smiles at her glameow before turning back to the path ahead of her. Stopping every now and then to collect seeds from plants here and there she soon has a mostly full bag. Katie had collected seeds from: several medicinal plants and berry trees.

     Sighing and standing up from where she has collected the last few seeds she can store in her bag she dusts the dirt off her hands. Hearing a sound coming from behind her she whips around only to see what appears to be a nose sticking out of some bushes. The nose looks almost wooden and resembles that of a ponyta almost. “Hello,” she says softly, a little bit scared as it triggers a bad memory. Tommy slides in front of her with the fur along his spine standing up straight as he hisses. She holds her bag to her chest and takes a step back as the nose comes further out of the bush. 

     Katie lets out a shriek of terror as the pokemon bursts out of the bush coming to a stop just feet away from Tommy. Tommy takes the opportunity and lunges forward using scratch and causing the unknown pokemon to lurch backwards. The pokemon lets out a small whimpering noise and looks up at Katie with large scared eyes. “Tommy come back,” she calls to the glameow softly. Looking closer at the pokemon she takes in its appearance,  a small cervidae-like creature that looks slightly like it has armor with pinecones on its shoulders. The pokemon stands at about three foot five inches in height and she estimates about forty five to fifty pounds. 

     Looking at the pokemon that now rubs at his face to soothe the scratches Tommy had inflicted. She takes a step forward her glameow at the ready to defend her, “hi there. I’m sorry about that, you just scared me.” As she speaks the pokemon slowly stands up and looks at her huffing slightly and sniffing in curiosity. “Uhm what pokemon are you,” she says as she reaches out and gently strokes its head. Hearing another crunch she whips around only to see Professor Hemlock standing there. 

     “Oh, hello Professor,” she says, standing up straight again. “Hello Miss Katie. It seems you have made a friend out of this Calsecone,” He greets. She nods to him and looks back down at the pokemon  by her side, “A Calsecone?” She questions quietly. “Yes,” the professor confirms, “ they were on the brink of extinction when some breeders in Sunnyside helped bring them back.” As he explains all about them to Katie she gently strokes the Calsecone’s snout whilst applying a potion to the scratches. Tommy jumps up onto her shoulders and watches the strange pokemon closely. 

     The professor hums upon seeing how cautious Tommy is being with the Calsecone so close to Katie. “They usually spend most of their time with their parents; this one must have gotten separated somehow,” Hemlock says. Katie stands back up putting the now empty potion bottle back into her bag. Looking down at the scared pokemon now rubbing its head against her side she says, “that is so sad.” Nodding to her sentiment Professor Hemlock looks at her, “why don’t you take her home with you then.” He suggests with a smile adorning his face. Standing there Katie gets lost in thought for a moment, -I could bring her home but what would Bunny say.-

     Deciding that she would take in the sad lost pokemon she sets her hand on its head, “I’ll take her home with me.” Taking a deep breathe She pulls out a pokeball and asks Calsecone, “would you like to come with me?” The pokemon makes a small noise that seems to be approval before setting her head against the pokeball and letting herself be captured. A smile graces Katie’s face as Tommy huffs on her shoulders. She gently throws the pokeball and the Calsecone comes out and walks over to her as the pokeball comes back to her hands. “Now we need to think of a name for you,” she says in a soft voice. 

     She thinks for a moment looking deeply into the darling's eyes, “how about Cedar,” she says. The little girl makes a happy sound seeming to like the name Katie has bestowed upon her. As Cedar prances around in joy Tommy seems to relax on Katie’s shoulders. “Tommy, Cedar is part of our family now. I hope you can get along with her,” She says to her glameow. Tommy just rubs his cheek against her face and meows up at her. A smile spreads across her face as Cedar comes back up to her and rubs her head against Katie’s stomach once again. Looking at the Professor she says, “Thank you Professor. I’ll take good care of her.” Hemlock smiles at her and wishes her a good day as he heads off on his way.

     With a smile on her face she starts the trek through the woods back to the homestead she made with her sister. “I can’t wait for you to meet my younger sister Bunny,” Katie expresses as they walk. Katie talks to her new friend and Tommy on the trek home looking at all the amazing flora as they go. “I’m so happy we could meet though you did scare me at first Cedar,” she says. “I just know that we will be good friends from here on out,” Katie exclaims. Seeing the homestead ahead she turns to Cedar and says, “Welcome home girl.”

The End