I'm Human

It's Going to be Okay

Following Rowan—Sometime later the same day

Rowan stared at the food that was sitting in front of him before glancing over at Aridan. The Arcanine was tearing into a Poliwhirl that he had caught not too long ago. His stomach grumbled, but Rowan forced himself to look away. He didn't want to fall prey to his instincts again and tear into the dead water type, especially with Marcy around.

She hadn't looked too bothered by what he had done to the Fearow, but he knew his sister better. Marcy had hidden her true expressions from him and the others, but she spoke very little to him while they traveled back to the river and was now keeping her distance from him.

She was scared of him and what he had done. Or that's at least what Rowan thought, and he didn't blame her. He needed to learn how to control himself. Actually, no, they needed to become human again before he grew worse.

"You've been rather quiet. What's up? Bored?" The Squirtle, Seb, asked, nudging Rowan on the arm.

"Huh? No. Just...I'm just tired." Rowan lied as he cast a hidden glance at Marcy. She was sitting beside Elen and Abby. She looked happy now, but... "I need to get my game. We need to become human again."

Seb snickered. "You don't look tired. You look more hungry, rather than sleepy. I'm sure Aridan would be willing to share if you asked him for a bite."

"Uh...no thanks. I feel full."

"You sure?" Uri, the Vulpix, asked as she looked at Rowan. She was sitting beside the Charmander boy. "Hey, Aridan? Can Rowan have a bite? I don't think the berries are filling him up enough."

Rowan cast her an annoyed look before looking up at Aridan. The Arcanine was walking up to him with the remains of the Poliwhirl in his mouth. Rowan's stomach rumbled and his mouth began to water as the dead Pokemon was dropped in front of him. "..."

"Eat your fill, young one." Aridan said as he sat down amongst the circle of young Pokemon.

"T-Thank you, but...I'm not hungry." Rowan said quietly as he eyed the water type. His stomach said otherwise as it grumbled loudly.

"Rowan, eat." Jo ordered gently to him. "You need to eat."

Rowan's shoulders sagged as he looked at the dark blue and crimson stained Pokemon. "Just...a bite...I guess." He leaned forward, placing both hands on its body, and opened his mouth to bite into the creature, but stopped. He could still feel the warmth of its body heat under his hands. "..."

"What's the matter? Do you not like Poliwhirl?" Seb asked with a hint of teasing in his voice.

Rowan grimaced. "This...this doesn't bother you? Seeing Aridan and I...uh--"

"Eating other Pokemon? No." Xana replied.

"No mon has given you any sort of grief for eating meat, have they?" Uri asked.

"We haven't exactly been Pokemon long enough for anyone to give me grief." Rowan shook his head. "I've eaten Pokemon before, but...not like th--"

Dex nudged him roughly in the side. Rowan was growing too close to voicing the truth about what they were. "I'm getting bored! I want to do something." He was trying to change the subject, much to Rowan's relief.

"Such as what, Dex?" Aridan asked.

"I don't know. I just want to do something with the new mons today." Dex shrugged.

"Ooh! Seb and I found a new cave that we can go exploring in if you guys want to. Anyone want to join us?" Uri asked. She quickly met everyone's gaze before looking at Rowan.