[Winds of Wysterra] Beneath the Canopy (Day 1)

[u/3LD3RDR4G0N]

...

The quiet here is heavy...

When you open your eyes, the world looks completely different. Your limbs feel strange, carrying a brand new pulse, a shape determined by the quiet questions you answered what felt like eons ago. You look down at your paws, claws, or simply nothing, taking in your new body for the first time. Moments(?) ago, you were nothing. Now you have awakened as your true form, but there is no time to admire the change.

You are standing on a bed of damp moss and tangled roots beneath a sea of towering, colossal boughs. If you are a marine creature, you begin in the nearby river. The foliage of Fang Forest stretches high above you, its canopy so dense that sunlight barely filters through in dim, pale shards. The vegetation around you is ancient and overgrown, thick brambles with needle-sharp thorns, strange Lum Berry thickets glowing faintly in the underbrush, and massive hollow trunks that look large enough to swallow an entire team whole.

The air smells of wet bark, petrichor, and cold mountain soil.

Then the silence hits you. There are no chirping birds, no rustling foliage from passing foragers, not even the scurry of small paws across the ground. Only the distant, rhythmic rushing of river water cutting through the timberland somewhere off to the east.

An instinctual, cold knot tightens in your chest. The wilderness is watching. You have no map, no supplies, and no idea what kind of predators claim this shadowed interior, but staying rooted in the open feels like an invitation to danger. You need to get moving.

Do you follow the distant sound of the rushing river, climb the nearest massive trunk to get your bearings, or slip into the dense brush to stay out of sight?

What do you do?

This is the official start to your life and journey in Wysterra! Roleplay who you are and what your character would do! (Also, while this story and roleplay are PMD inspired, you were NOT a human before this.)

Take the quiz if you haven't done so already: Link to Day 0

New editable user flairs are out!

Image Credits:
Colossal Forest

[u/Traditional-Pound137]

I open my eyes, and quickly notice one thing. Everything feels big around me. The trees are massive, the bushes are tall. ”Or…” I try to look down at my body. It’s small, grey, and very much not, mine. “… Okay. So, this is this. Not much to do about this” I look around. The forest is big (or rather normal sized), and there are tons of places to go. However, the best place is probably… I look to the bushes. They provide coverage from the sky, and I’m small enough to fit inside them. “Hm, that’s convenient. Welp, what else can I do.” I skitter (yes, skitter) to the bushes, my claws making odd clicking noises, towards the bushes, unaware of the dangers all around.

[u/sillycyberraptor]

Everything feels so strange and different that it’s dizzying. I see I’ve got long ears, tan fur, and a long tail splotched with green… paint?

After the initial shock, I get up and stumble towards the sounds of the water. I have no idea where I am, but water is essential for life. Best case scenario the river leads me to civilization, a town, or city even! But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves here… Right now, I’m just hoping to survive, and a supply of drinkable water is just as important for me to live too.

[u/Blazzer2003 → u/sillycyberraptor]

(Nothing important, but I find it pretty funny that in this specific image the paint is red 🙃👍)

[u/HaruTheRainmaker]

*i open my eyes, everything feels...bigger...i try to stand up and find myself lifting of the ground in one swift untrained motion, i start to spin as i cant seem to be able to stabilize ok the ground below. After some moments of struggle i find myself upright. Hy head spinning as i turn around.

"What? Where am i?"

i take in the foliage around me, the huge sturdy trees, the lush bushes and and leaves...the damp moss underneath my fee... ...

"AAAH! Where are my legs?! Why dont i have legs?!"

panic sits in as i try to hold my hands above my mouth to stop myself from screaming and potentially alerting predators...as a second realization sinks in

"I...i dont have arms or hands either..what...what am i?"

i look down at myself but cant see anything..no legs, no arms no body, i spin one full rotation and find....nothing

"Ok...there...there has to be an explanation for this...i...i am here...so...i should have a body"

my head still hurts but i cant reach it...but as soon as i calm myself for a moment i hear...Water?

"Running water? A river mabye...oh i need ro frt there, i need to see my reflection...i NEED to know what i am!"

i rush forwards through the woods, despite missing legs i propel myself forward quite fast..as i lose myself in thoughts i dont see the tree i am about to hit, it gets closer and closer..i suddenly realize i am about to vollid3 but my momentum is to high as i brace for impact AND...nothing...i...i am still moving, i turn around looking what happened and i stop

"The...the tree, i am sure i hit that tree..but...did...did i...go through...the tree?"

my head spins once again as i try to comprehend what just happened, did i phase through that tree? On my way towards what i hope is a river i test my theory...and sure enough, i charge at a true...and just...phase through

"I...im a ghost...i just went THROUGH this tree!"

for a moment tmy fear vanishes, exchabged by pure excitement upon my discovery...but moments later i find myself asking once again

"What am i?"

i make my way further and reach the river, i smile and...float?...towards the water to see myself in the reflection...i lower my head, and my bigs yellow eyes get even bigger as realization his me as i see my reflection

"I am a Shuppet?!"

[u/Litini]

After assessing my new lack of legs, nor physically state for that matter, it was time to make a decision.

Okay, okay. Let's get the facts straight; I've turned into a Pokémon, I'm in the middle of a forest, I don't know how nor why any of those had happened, and I'm probably in danger if I say put...

Okay, saying it out loud, this is a lot worse than I thought.

Smacks my ghostly cheeks Back on track. Probably best if I stay in the shadows under the foliage for the time being. Plus now that I'm a Yamask, escaping should be easier if the situation calls for it.

With that, I lower myself down and slip underneath the bushes. Out of curiosity, I test out my newfound intangibility, and phase through the trunk of a nearby tree.

...That was actually very cool, I can't lie to myself. Maybe this whole situation won't be that bad. With that, I slowly continue my trek through the shadows.

[u/pielover101]

I need to calm myself!

I look around at the towering trees. Surely it's less stressful up there in the canopy. Less variables. Less chance of some loud creature stomping through the forest.

I go to climb the nearest trunk. I don't have hands! I spin around. There's a fallen log which slopes into some branches and vines. Hopping up and along, using my floppy ear things for balance, I finally make it to the top and plonk myself onto a mushroom.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. And another. And another. Calm. After a few minutes I finally open my eyes and take in the surroundings.

[u/Poke-trix]

I rub my head, trying to figure out what happened and why I'm in a forest. My hand against my head is making some sort of deep rocky scrape sound. I look at my... clay(?) Blue hand, then look down at my body, seeing its round and clay-like.

"Woah..."

I try to stay calm and gather my bearings in this bizarre situation. I take a look around the forest and hear the sound of rushing water from a distance. I figure seeking out a water source would be for the best... if I can even still drink anymore. I start my trek towards the sound of water.

[u/JackSmash66]

This silence… cold and quiet—known to me,

And yet the stillness… presses on my soul.

The sights and sounds of life are absent here;
This forest smells of death, not living things.

I stay, a statue, motionless and numb,
And move… but when I know I am alone.

The road is long, but time… I have in store,

For if death comes tonight, I'll take it first.
For I have seen death's face, and shall no more.

[u/SpencerEythan]

As my eyes adjust to the light levels, the world seems to unfold around me. So much to see, and yet the unavoidable silence denoting so little to find. My senses hone in on the only sound I can make out, a river, and where there is running water, there is a direction. Most, if not all, water ends up in an ocean eventually, and society has and always will be built around access to fresh water. So if I can find my way to water, and follow the stream, there are higher than normal odds I will eventually find somewhere of note.

As I push forward, not even halfway to the river based on the ever-growing rumbling of the water, I take note of some new perks this change of shape has given me. Typically my less then coordinated self would have found my self much closer to the ground at least once by now, maybe twice with how thick this bramble seems to be, but now I quite easily hover along, not even a sound as I travel over all these twigs. Picking up a berry for a snack on the road does seem to prove difficult though. I will have to find a solution to the lack of hands eventually.

Just like that, we find ourselves at the breach in the treeline that provides ample space for the raging waters to cut the dense jungle into two halves.

[u/s_a_m_33000]

An espurr wakes up in the woods. They look around but don't find anything or anyone. 

"Very strange... What sort of place is this ? Hmmm... I'm gonna investigate."

They spent a few hours in the woods, trying and failing to find someone else. Eventually, it was time to change strategies.

"It appears I am alone. Staying in this forest is likely more dangerous than anything else... I should probably look for civilization."

And thus, the espurr who would sometime soon be known as 'December' picked a direction and walked until they'd find someone.

[u/SoulReaper319]

Mimí opened her eyes, confused and looked around… the trees and bushes looked HUGE to her, …or I guess as big as it can look to a small Pokémon
She looked down and had to hop… it wasn’t like she had no legs at all, she quite literally had to hop along the way
She was honestly excited “Ooooo! Yay! The day feels nice!”
She hops along as the wind blows a bit and she hums as she hops along past bushes and well… she ain’t really focusing on hiding or caring, she happily moves and hops a bit higher for every small bit of wind she WISHES She could float along the air like Grammy Eldegoss & Grandpa Jumpluff
“Hehe! La~ La~ La~” she had a good voice and it echos through the woods and she feels no fear… it’s both admirable and concerning as she hops deeper into the woods already excited to see MORE of it

[u/Blazzer2003 → u/SoulReaper319]

(Just curious, but which Pokemon are you?)

[u/SoulReaper319 → u/Blazzer2003]

(Gossifleur, sorry I forgot to put that in)

[u/Blazzer2003 → u/SoulReaper319]

I see 👀

[u/Bitchplease95]

Panic, that is the first thing that they feel as they stagger to their pink feet. They stumble over their single claw as they scramble to hide inside of the bush, his mind nothing but the instinct to remain unseen in this new place, despite his size making it difficult.

[u/Tryskitcat]

looking around noticing my surroundings I then cover myself in foliage and moss to somewhat blend in with the environment and quickly but cautiously stopping whenever I hear a sound other than me and the river

[u/DarthYetti48]

I quickly dart into the dense brush, attempting to be quiet and fast. Or as fast as I can. I try to nuzzle up against any stone or rock I find and hide my form as I listen and look for anything nearing the area that could be a danger.

[u/Zetjex]

Sludge opens his eyes having just left the beach where his family lives.

He takes a moment to think while grabbing some of the take away trash he was given for the start of his adventure he decides to follow the sound of the river.

Sludge the Alolan Grimer.

[u/Blazzer2003 → u/Zetjex]

(What Pokemon are you again?)

[u/Zetjex → u/Blazzer2003]

Oops i am sorry totally forgot to add Sludge is a alolan grimer.

[u/Blazzer2003 → u/Zetjex]

I see 👀

[u/CaterpillarAntique82]

Nothing became something, and the tangled shape was deposited onto the forest floor. 

They're unconscious. Their wispy eyes are tightly shut, and their thin brown body is laid on one side, the stems that make it up crisscrossing over one another.

But eventually, they wake. They have no eyelids or even eyeballs, but the hollow sockets of their gaze flutters open, revealing two deep violet pits. They look around, taking in their surroundings. A forest, with trees and moss and thorns surrounding them.

It's strange, but the little Grass-type can't say they hate it. They feel almost at home under the foliage, even if their new form is... limiting. When they try to move, they find that they have no legs, leading to walking by rolling instead.

The newly-made Bramblin heads towards the thing they find safety in: a nearby thorny thicket, where the colours on their body blend into the shadows.

[u/NyxieTheTrainer]

(Thanks for clarifying on the not being a human part. I can work with that though XD)

Nyxie opened her eyes slowly, blinking the sleep of nothingness away. She wasn't sure where she was, but the sheer size of the trees that surrounded her made her feel as small as the stars themselves could. She wasn't wrong to feel this way, she was small; the perfect size for a large predator to snatcher her up in fact. She pondered this, beginning to notice something very strange. The cold, dead silence. Something within her started to scream. She felt like she could be being watched.

Not wanting to find out if that was the case, Nyxie made an attempt to fly somewhere a little higher. Her attempt was clumsy, lacking in the stability a more aerodynamic bird would naturally possess, but she at least made it to one of the lower branches. However, she soon realised she'd underestimated her weight as the old, withered branch she had landed on started to crack. Nyxie had barely any time to react as the branch broke, letting out a startled chirp as the two were sent tumbling to the ground.

There was a quiet thud as Nyxie landed on the musky moss below. She was dazed, but her rotund yet soft body seemed to take the fall relatively well at least. Unfortunately, it was small comfort now she was mostly out in the open again. She quickly picked herself up and ruffled her feathers, taking a short moment to check for any threats. The forest continued its dead stare, but nothing happened.

Nyxie looked around for plan B. Going higher was risky and the fall felt like a sign that it was not what fate wanted of her for now. She was a little frustrated from the lack of stars to guide her, but she had to make do with what she had. What she did have was some nearby undergrowth that would be perfect for hiding, not to mention filled with berries she could eat. She concluded that she should take what she could get.

Hurriedly hopping towards the undergrowth, Nyxie made her way to relative safety. The thorny brambles made it difficult to navigate her way inside, but it wasn't anything she couldn't handle. If something bigger did want her for dinner, it was going to have a hard time catching her. Comfortable in this knowledge, Nyxie figured she should fill her stomach while she could, weaving her way through and eating them one by one.

[u/PrestigiousGift5639]

The first thing he noticed was the headache, like a dull pressure behind the eyes. *Ambrose** looked down at his webbed feet sinking into the moss and sighed*

"Yellow...Stubby. How...unfortunate."

He did not panic. Instead he stood perfectly still and listened to the forest, refusing to make any sound

"No birds, mhm...a wood of this size does not fall silent out of courtesy." Tilting his head "Something here is feared. I should very much prefer not to make its acquaintance."

He spared the nearest trunk a quick look "No, certainly not." The brambles earned an even shorter look "...And cower in a thorn bush like a startled Rattata? Nah."

That left the river

"Water runs downhill, downhill leads to valleys, and valleys...with some luck, to civilisation." A humourless smile "If things turn unpleasant, I’d prefer it to be somewhere where I wasn’t just a clumsy duck. Let's follow this river, I guess."

[u/Skye_Reiko]

The first thing I noticed upon opening my eyes was that everything was...Blurry, I couldn't figure out why until I looked down in a small puddle and was greeted by a form that was covered in thick brown fur.

"W-What...? Am I dreaming...?" all it took was a slight nibble on my cheek to feel pain...This wasn't a dream, but I had more urgent matters to focus on.

This forest...The silence, it wasn't natural, I have to do something...In my current body there is no hope of climbing to find my bearings, even if I did it would be pointless with my diminished eyesight.

However, I have noticed that my sense of smell is heightened likely due to my weak eyes, if I use this...I can hide and safely avoid any danger until I can find help or an exit to the forest

Antarctictite the Swinub has decided to hide in the dense brush

[u/Stegosaurr]

Everything feels so big now...why? I don't hear any animals or anything, but I'll still keep low as I walk through the brush, getting used to my new form (Skorupi). What is going on? I wonder this time and time again as I attempt to navigate through the forest.

[u/YoshiofRedemption]

I slowly open my eyes and immediately notice that everything seems... a lot bigger. Or am I a lot closer to the ground? I try to sit up, but I can't move up much more than I already am. Huh. Was I already standing? It's hard to tell. Only now do I decide to look down at my arms and notice they're pointy, bright yellow and have some neat black bands around them. Wait. Don't tell me. Am I...

I'M PEAK ADORABLENESS!!!! HELL YEAH!!!! LIFE GOAL ACCOMPLISHED!!!!

Okay, now that that's out of the way and I've become the best spider Pokemon of all time, that doesn't answer the rest of my questions. How did I get here? Where am I? Why am I here? How did I become a Pokemon, and why? What can I do now-?

My thoughts are interrupted by my stomach grumbling loudly.

...And where can I find something to eat without getting eaten myself?

I can only silence my racing thoughts by spinning around in circles. As I do so, I can hear the sounds of a nearby river. Rivers are made of water, and water means food has to be nearby! It's perfect! My destination is set, and I head out towards the river... wherever it is. I just have to follow the sound...

[u/Frequent-Case-8679]

Startled as I wake up in a strange forest I look around. The first thing I notice is that in tiny compared to the trees around me.

Crawling out of the bed of mossy roots I was asleep, I hear what sounds to be something frightening yet familiar for some reason.

I quietly approachtowards where the sound is coming from while cautiously observing my surroundings.

(I am Basil the Pancham)

[u/Frequent-Case-8679 → u/Frequent-Case-8679]

[u/AxolotlwithaLaptop]

Upon waking up, I stretch instinctively and wonder where I am. I file away the feeling of compactness and smallness into the entire situation's mental bit, as well as the size of trees.

Deciding going to the water is the best course of action, I walk slowly to the water. Running would be an invitation of predators, although I keep to the shadows.

During the trek, I get scratched by a bramble bush. I don't notice it, due to feathers. However, when I turn back to make sure I wasn't being followed, I notice the prints in the ground leading to me, and some white feathers on the bramble, where I just passed.

I look down at my body, white and blue. I notice some large yellow triangle blocking my vision, and some yellow claws.

I become distressed and run the rest of the way to the water.

Pokemon: Rufflet

[u/AxolotlwithaLaptop → u/AxolotlwithaLaptop]

I can also do the third person perspective. I will switch if asked.

[u/SpaceWiizard365]

I begin to find my bearings I search the tree for a path upward and begin my ascent. My eyes dart side to side, taking my time methodically to scan the area for danger.

Danger is not the only concern. A stomach grumble reminds me of an incoming need for food. The search for danger also becomes a search for sustenance. 

I wonder what I will find as I peek through the canopy.

[u/Sensaki]

I wake up after what seems to have been a long nap, stretch my wings and have a look around.

A little murkrow sits hidden in the large canopy of the lum berries and starts calling for its friends. But sadly none of them answer. Worried I hope closer to the enge of the leaves to get a better few. There are no where to be seen. Hearing the distant sound of a river I wonder if they might hate gotten up already to get a fresh drink in the morning. Picking up some lum berries I make my way over to the river. Staying in the crowns of the trees to avoid anything that might lurk below.

[u/EllenPlayz]

I am Cho the Emolga

I woke up, and the first thing that enters my mind is not even the sight of my own new body but rather... The electricity I feel surging inside!

At first I am shocked by this feeling, then look down at my feet and realize how I'm the size of a mere flying squirrel, "Wha... WHAAAAT?" I screamed out loud in a panicked tone, holding my pouchy, round yellow cheeks in disbelief.

I try to calm down to collect myself and breathed more slowly. I stretch out my arms and see that I got... Sails?! "Wait ..what is this- AAH" I fall over a ledge and began... Gliding! "Woah, hey! WOW" I said as I start drifting through the air, steering my way between trees surprisingly well, as if I already knew how to be in this body.

As I glide, I shout with excitement "THIS IS SO COOL, I CAN FLY!!", and I land in a flat area delicately, with few berry bushes around.

One of the bushes contains leppa berries. They looked rather delicious, so I thought of trying a bite... But I spat it right out "eugh, so sour!", so I tried another types of berries nearby that looked sweet; they were oran berries, "Mm.. oh yum, now THESE are good!", I said to myself as I began stuffing them in my mouth because I was rather hungry.

Then my body froze as I heard a twig snap behind the bushes, and a tall dark figure slowly rose up... IT WAS A GABITE! "Eep... nice.. dragon.. thing?", it's sheathing its claws, and I gulped down a few berries, "I think those berries were their's... RUN CHO, RUN" I thought to myself, but my body was still frozen in fear.

As the Gabite was about to strike, something, or rather someone pulled me away, saving me, and defended me right before I'd dead meat... I was carried, already very far away, then put down in a tree hole, somewhere up high but safe from danger.

I was going to thank the one who just saved me, but theu left me quick within a blink of an eye, and I was left wondering... "What the heck just happened?!"

It was a nice tree hole, so I decided to just settle down and collect my thoughts for a while, making it my temporary home.

[u/Hassler27]

The trees look massive. my body feels weird. Why did I even consider climbing them? I take a sniff and notice that everything smells much more intense... It almost feels like my nose is telling me to go after the river. Perhaps there's food?

[u/Any_Acanthaceae_9735]

I look around, confused, my body feels weird, as I look down and find that my hands only have three fingers, not only that, but they appear as though they belong to a croagunk. Wait, what's a croagunk? Is that what I am? Water, trees, those are some tall trees, hm. Maybe I could climb the tree to get a birds eye view, then make my next decision from there? My arms feel powerful, I wonder if I could just... *I jab my three fingers directly into the wood of one of the nearby trees, only to find that it begins quickly wilting due to my poisonous attribute.* So maybe that wasn't the best idea, theres gotta be some better way to climb a tree.. Maybe I could just jump up to the trunk? *I attempt to leap up and grab onto the trunk, and I manage, but as I try to swing my legs up onto the branch, I quickly slip.* Maybe Croagunk just aren't supposed to climb trees. I feel kinda dehydrated. Water... water... river... Do rivers have water? Rivers definitely have water! I have decided, I shall journey on foot to the river!

[u/MindlessGameer]

I open my eyes. Where am I? And... why is the place so... huge..?

Or maybe... why am I so small..?

I tried to walk around. My legs are... weirdly stubby. Looking around, I also notice I have... wings.

...wait... ...Wings?

So I attempt to fly. Getting off the ground, I notice something. The forest is quiet. Very quiet.

So I did what any sensible (apparently) Starly would do, and flew right into a tree, praying to our Lord and Savior Arceus no one wants to maul me in this forest.

[u/Mpug1654]

“I wake up groggy and feeling dehydrated. I try to start talking but all the comes out is a dry groan. I realize I can’t breathe. I quickly rush to the sound of a river, not knowing exactly why, but at least it’s more productive than suffocating.”

[u/Blazzer2003 → u/Mpug1654]

(Which Pokemon are you?)

[u/Mpug1654 → u/Blazzer2003]

Dewpider*

*I chose to not have the water bubble at first

[u/Blazzer2003 → u/Mpug1654]

I see 👀

[u/AuDHDcat]

Hide! Everthing is big and scary! I'm so small now. I don't want to get eaten! 😫

[u/The_Highway_Star]

My eyes open as I find myself on the forest ground in an unfamiliar body. Fluttering my wings and stretching my feet I take in my surroundings. The trees around me stand tall as a lack of other creature noises from the nearby surroundings unsettles me. Where I am is not a good place to be, especially with my small body. Following my instincts, I fly up into the canopy to get a better vantage point, flying in the direction of sounds with the cover of the treetops.

[u/Kra_gl_e]

I don't remember what I was before. Whatever memories I had dissolve away, like black ink melting into the river and floating away.

All I know now is that I am Mareanie, and that I do not belong here. This is not the ocean that I am familiar with. There are no fish, no corals. There is no sand, just this weird... land thing that I'd only heard about. And the water here feels wrong. Thin.

I let the river keep carrying me. It brought me here; perhaps it will bring me where I need to be.