They left Cherrygrove shortly after lunch.

This time Ravina didn't turn toward Mr. Pokémon's cottage. At the familiar intersection she continued farther north. The road changed almost immediately, homes became sparse and the woodland thickened.

The occasional trainer still passed them, but there were longer and longer stretches where Ravina and Cinder heard nothing except their own footsteps and the forest.

For the first time, Ravina was walking somewhere she'd never walked before and she loved it.

They found another Apricorn tree during the afternoon. Ravina carefully collected two fallen fruits and placed them in the old craftsman's satchel. They stopped beside a pond where Cinder attempted to challenge his reflection and lost. Ravina recorded three wild Pokémon in Oak's Pokédex.

One fled before she could identify it, Another stared at her from a tree for five full minutes. Cinder noticed every one before Ravina did.

By late afternoon, however, the sky had begun turning orange and the map on Ravina's Pokégear showed Violet City was still much farther away than she'd hoped. She stopped and Cinder looked up.

“…We're not making it.”

A chirp. “I know Mum said this would take longer than the maps make it look.”

Cinder stared. “…Never mind.”

Luckily, the route contained designated trainer campsites and Ravina found one shortly before sunset.

A small clearing beneath tall trees. A stone fire ring. A water pump maintained by Rangers. Enough distance from the main trail to avoid being disturbed without actually disappearing into wilderness. Perfect.

Ravina dropped her pack. “Home.”

Cinder looked around. “For tonight.”

He sniffed the grass, then began investigating absolutely everything.

 

The tent took Ravina twenty-six minutes.

Four of those minutes involved Cinder sitting on part of it. “Move.”

Cinder did not. “You're on the tent.”

He stared at her for a long moment. “I require that part.”

No response.

Annoyingly, when Ravina reached toward him, Cinder darted away.

“Oh, you little…”

The clearing filled with laughter for a few more minutes but eventually the tent stood.

Mostly. Ravina decided not to look too critically at the left side.

Dinner was simple. Dried vegetables, rice, a little meat for Ravina, carefully portioned Pokémon food for Cinder. She checked his paws afterward. his rear leg. his water intake, everything Nostus had drilled into her.

Then Ravina sat near the small campfire with her journal resting against one knee with Cinder curled beside her. Above them, the forest darkened and neither noticed the eyes watching from the trees.

 

The Hoothoot had first noticed the disruption before sunset, humans occasionally used the clearing.

Usually they were loud, they arrived late, they left early, their routines were inconsistent.

This one was different, the small Fire-type walked the perimeter twice, the human erected something made from fabric.

They ate, the human checked the Fire-type's feet then they sat quietly.

Interesting.

The Hoothoot remained on the branch. Watching.

An hour passed. Then another before the human crawled into the fabric shelter and the Fire-type followed.

The fire slowly died and silence returned.

The Hoothoot waited. Precisely when its internal rhythm demanded, it called.

Hoot.

Inside the tent, Ravina's eyes opened. “…What?”

Cinder's head lifted.

Silence.

Ravina closed her eyes.

Hoot.

One eye opened. “No.”

Cinder stared toward the tent entrance. “Bird.”

Another call came from somewhere nearby as Ravina pulled the blanket higher. “Bird can bird quietly.” she hissed from the blanket

Several minutes passed. Then:

rustle.

Ravina's eyes opened again, That had not been a bird sound.

Another rustle.

From outside. Specifically…

Ravina sat upright. “…My bag.”

Cinder stood as Ravina unzipped the tent. Cold night air hit her face. Moonlight silvered the clearing, at first she saw nothing.

Then Cinder chirped sharply and Ravina followed his gaze. Beside their supplies stood a round brown Pokémon balanced perfectly on one foot. A packet of dried berries protruded from its beak.

Trainer and Pokémon stared at one another. The Hoothoot froze as Ravina stared.

The Hoothoot stared.

Cinder stared.

“…That's my breakfast.”

The Hoothoot blinked. Just once, very slowly.

Then Cinder's back ignited and the result was immediate. The Hoothoot exploded upward.

“Cinder!”

Wings beat frantically against the night. The bird collided with a branch, corrected itself and disappeared into the canopy.

Cinder's flames died as Ravina sighed. “You scared him.”

Cinder looked offended. “He was stealing food, not attacking us.”

A chirp. “Yes, I appreciate the security.”

Another chirp. Ravina recovered the damaged berry packet. “…Mostly.”

Two red eyes watched from another tree. But Ravina didn't notice.

Cinder did as he tilted his head before he looked upward and the eyes vanished.

 

Morning revealed they still had company.

Ravina was rolling the sleeping bag when Cinder abruptly stopped and stared toward a nearby tree.

Ravina followed his gaze, the Hoothoot sat on a branch. Watching.

“…You.”

Hoot.

Ravina put both hands on her hips. “You stole my breakfast.”

Hoot. “You watched us all night.”

Silence. “And unless I'm mistaken, you've been sitting there for at least half an hour.”

Hoot.

Ravina narrowed her eyes. “What do you want?”

The Hoothoot tilted its head and Cinder stepped closer to the tree.

The bird's body tensed instantly and Ravina noticed.

“Easy.”

Cinder stopped and the Hoothoot relaxed slightly.

Interesting.

Ravina slowly crouched. “So sudden movement bothers you.”

One enormous eye remained fixed on her as Ravina reached into her food bag.

She took out one berry and held it up.

The Hoothoot stared. “You can have this one.”

Nothing.

“Without stealing it.”

Hoot.

“That wasn't an agreement.”

Ravina placed the berry on a stump and backed away for almost a minute nothing happened, then the Hoothoot descended.

One branch. Then another. Then the ground.

He approached the berry cautiously, snatched it, retreated and ate.

Ravina smiled as Cinder watched closely as the Hoothoot finished, then stared at the remaining food.

“No.”

Hoot.

“You are incredibly demanding for someone I've known for twelve hours.”

The Hoothoot tilted his head and Ravina looked toward Cinder, while Cinder looked toward the bird, something passed between them that didn't require human language as Cinder stepped into the clearing.

The Hoothoot straightened and Ravina recognized that posture.

Not fear, but a challenge.

“Oh.”

Cinder's flames flickered as the Hoothoot spread his wings and Ravina slowly reached toward her belt. For the first time since Elm had given them to her, her fingers closed around an empty Poké Ball.

The weight suddenly felt much more significant as she looked at the wild Pokémon, then at Cinder.

“Alright.”

Cinder looked back. “But controlled.”

He chirped, Ravina smiled. “Let's see if he wants to come with us.”

The battle was nothing like fighting Joey or Silver.

Hoothoot refused to stay still as Cinder lunged once and the bird immediately launched himself into the air.

“Don't chase!”

Cinder stopped, Hoothoot circled and Ravina watched.

Every time Cinder moved suddenly, Hoothoot gained distance, every time Ravina shouted, the bird changed direction.

So she stopped shouting. “Cinder.”

His head turned slightly and Ravina lowered her voice. “Wait.”

Two fingers toward the ground, a signal they'd practiced and Cinder crouched while Hoothoot circled again.

Then landed, Farther away and watching.

Ravina smiled. “There.”

She moved one hand and Cinder circled slowly, trying to not move directly toward him.

Hoothoot adjusted, and Cinder moved again. Ravina guided him little by little, reducing the bird's comfortable space without rushing.

Until Hoothoot finally launched.

“Smokescreen.”

The cloud erupted, not directly onto the bird, but across one side of the clearing.

Hoothoot veered away from it, exactly where Ravina wanted him.

“Now.”

Cinder accelerated as Hoothoot landed. Then Cinder struck with a controlled tackle and the bird rolled across the grass.

Ravina's heart jumped. “Stop!”

Cinder stopped immediately allowing Hoothoot time to recover. He was unsteady, but standing and still watching as Ravina took the Poké Ball from her belt.

Everything Elm had told her suddenly returned. Pokémon weren't souvenirs. She didn't need every Pokémon she encountered. And this one could still leave.

Ravina held the Ball but didn't throw it. “Hey.”

Hoothoot stared.

“You've followed us since yesterday.”

Hoot.

“You've stolen from me.”

Hoot.

“And apparently you wanted to test Us.”

Cinder looked proud as Ravina smiled faintly. “So…”

She raised the Ball. “If you don't want this, fly away.”

The forest went quiet, Hoothoot looked upward. Nothing stopped him. The trees were right there.

Then he looked toward Cinder. Toward Ravina. Toward the campsite. And he remained where he was.

Ravina breathed out. “Alright.” And she threw.

The Poké Ball struck gently and a Red light engulfed the Hoothoot, then the Ball landed in the grass.

Ravina and Cinder froze as the ball shook.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Click.

Then silence.

Ravina stared. “…Did that work?”

Cinder chirped enthusiastically. “I know what the sound means.”

Another chirp. “I'm having a moment.”

She walked toward the Ball and carefully picked it up. Her first capture. Not a Pokémon Elm had introduced her to. Not a partner assigned through paperwork.

A wild Pokémon had noticed her little campsite, watched her for half the night, stolen breakfast and somehow decided to stay. 

Ravina smiled at the accomplishment. Then immediately opened the Ball.

Light spilled across the clearing and Hoothoot appeared again.

He stared at her, Ravina stared back, then his eyes moved toward the food bag.

“No.”

Hoot.

“You already stole breakfast.”

Hoot.

“No.”

Hoot.

Ravina sighed and Cinder looked enormously amused.

“You're not helping.”

She crouched in front of the Hoothoot. “You need a name.”

The bird stared. “Something dignified.”

Cinder sat beside her. “Archimedes?”

Nothing. “Professor Feathers?”

Cinder made a noise. “Don't judge me.”

The Hoothoot's eyes remained enormous and unreadable.

Ravina thought.

Then smiled. “…Owlbert.”

The Hoothoot blinked and Ravina's grin widened. “Oh.”

Hoot.

“You hate it.”

Hoot.

“Perfect.” She scratched gently beneath his chin. “Owlbert.”

For several seconds he resisted, then slowly leaned into her fingers. Ravina's smile softened and Cinder approached.

Owlbert watched him as Cinder sniffed. Owlbert allowed it. And there, beside a half-packed campsite somewhere between Cherrygrove and Violet City, Ravina Shales's team became two.

Cinder.

Owlbert.

Ravina looked at them both, then toward the road ahead.

“Okay.” She stood. “One Gym.”

Cinder chirped.

Owlbert hooted.

Ravina narrowed her eyes. “Neither of you start.”

The forest answered with another quiet hoot. And somewhere ahead, Violet City waited.