After checking to make sure his dirty, too-long pants are still tied off at his ankles with the ripped-up ribbons he made from the collar of his shirt, the teen reluctantly steps out of the bed of leaves and starts the walk to the river. The cold ground and wet dew in the grass sends a shock up his bare feet. His oversized shoes proved to just be a hindrance, and his socks were swiftly shredded by the fifth day. But now after a week to become somewhat accustomed to the chill, he just shivers and walks faster.
For ten days now he's lived with the Lucario pack, and the sudden lifestyle change is still something he's getting used to. Devoid of modern conveniences, Julian has been forced to live as the pokemon do.
The first day, they forgave his exhaustion and let him rest. Lady Luca took it upon herself to care for him, bringing him food in the form of a number of large berries, wild root-looking vegetables, and a few small cuts of flaky, fire-cooked white meat. It wasn't his first choice as a meal, but his growling stomach and conscience telling him to not spit on Lady Luca's doting forced him to eat. He didn't bother asking where the fish-like meat came from, fearing the answer just a bit.
The second day, Lulu and Lady Luca tried to rouse him, but he was so lost in thought that he waved them away. Both of the Lucarios tried again several times as the day went on. Lulu became increasingly annoyed each time, but Lady Luca remained patient.
On day three, Pops had enough.
The alpha male was content to pretend Julian didn't exist for the first few days, but by the third morning, Julian had only left the hut several times to quench his thirst and relieve himself, so rather than Lulu or Lady Luca waking him, Julian woke up to a furious Pops.
When Pops grabbed his shoulders with bruising strength, Julian saw his life flash before his eyes. A second later, he was ass-over-teakettle outside. He jumped to his feet and quickly made himself scarce at the sound of the Lucario's snarl.
Lulu found him quickly afterward. He didn't need to understand her speech to understand that his lazing around was some sort of taboo to the Lucario pack, and that if he wanted to remain in everyone's good graces, he should do as the Romans do.
Or as the Lucario do in this case.
Now at the edge of the river that cuts through the Lucario camp, Julian kneels and dunks his head into the brisk waters. With his face underwater, he gasps, letting a bubble of breath out as the icy liquid bites at his skin. The remaining haziness of sleep vanishes, but before he rises, he gulps down several mouthfuls, filling his mouth with the taste of minerals and wetting his dry throat.
"Gah!" Julian jumps to his feet and shakes the freezing water from his face and hair. He shivers and rubs his arms, wishing the sun would hurry the hell up and rise already. When a rough, canid laugh comes from his left, he doesn't bother rising to the bait. "Yeah yeah, laugh it up Mister warm fur coat." Julian mutters.
On Julian's left, a young male Lucario he nicknamed "Scout" chuckles at Julian's suffering. The Lucario has a thin, wiry build, and Julian almost mistook him for a female until he began to learn the differences between males and females, like the shoulder-to-hip ratio and slightly smaller spikes the females sport.
Scout, named for being Pops' first pick on expeditions, was one of the first to approach him after Lady Luca. The young male is a natural social butterfly, having easily broken the ice when he curiously approached Julian on day three. Thankfully, the teen seemed to make a good impression, because the rest of the pack was quick to warm up after Scout made what sounded like a public endorsement of him around the nightly bonfire. Or Julian thinks it was an endorsement. It's hard to tell with the language barrier.
Scout dips his cupped paws into the river and takes a deep drink ending with a satisfied sigh. If not for the Lucario all drinking from the river without worry, Julian might have feared contracting some sort of illness.
"Rrrrio?" Scout asks, glancing back into the camp. Already, several of the Lucario and a smaller number of sleepy Riolu are awake and beginning their morning exercises, each one moving with grace and purpose. Julian stares at them, watching each one move through poses and forms that tax their phenomenal flexibility. He stops and turns back to Scout when he realizes he'd been staring for almost thirty seconds.
"Yeah, I need to quit stalling and get started," Julian sighs. "I don't think I'm going to ever get used to this. Being out here, I mean. No slight intended to you all, but..."
Scout shakes the water droplets off of one of his paws and plants it on Julian's shoulder, offering some silent comfort. A short, canine-like whine escapes his throat.
"Thanks," the blonde smiles wanely. "Do you know why Pops won't let anyone escort me to a human town? You figure with how he hates my guts, he'd be eager to be rid of me."
Scout hesitates, his ears folding back. "Cari. Lucrrrrio." He shrugs, badly hiding how he does know something.
Julian sighs. "I guess I can't realistically ask you to tell me your boss's secrets. Maybe put the idea in his head, though?"
The Lucario smiles and nods, patting Julian's shoulder once more.
Julian and Scout part ways after a short goodbye, and Julian hurries back into the camp. The sun won't be completely up for another half an hour, and then it'll take a bit longer for it to clear the treeline and actually warm the camp. If the teen wants to be warm in the meantime, it means joining the Lucario in their morning ritual of exercises. 'The religion-like dedication to their health is pretty fitting for Fighting-type ninja dogs, honestly.'