Chapter 3
The Road to Cherrygrove
Travel Journal — Day 2
Professor Elm said the walk to Cherrygrove should only take a few hours.
Cinder has already stopped three times to investigate bugs.
We've travelled approximately twelve minutes.
The road west from New Bark was quiet and peaceful.
Stone walls separated fields of tall grass from narrow walking paths, while rows of trees swayed gently beneath the spring breeze. Somewhere in the distance, a flock of Pidgey scattered into the air before settling again only a little farther away as Ravina adjusted the strap of her satchel.
"So..." She looked down. "It's just us now."
Cinder trotted happily beside her, he had insisted on walking after only a few minutes in her arms and every now and then he'd wander a little ahead, nose twitching as he explored some fascinating smell only Pokémon seemed able to detect.
Whenever he got too far… he'd stop, look behind himself, confirm Ravina was still there, only then would he continue.
Ravina smiled. "Making sure I haven't wandered off?"
Cinder chirped back.
"I'll take that as a yes."
Travelling turned out to be very different from what Ravina had imagined. The road wasn’t dangerous, but it demanded attention. Roots crossed the path, bird pokémon nested overhead, signs warned travelers not to disturb certain patches of woodland during breeding season.
Several times they stepped aside for Rangers mounted on large Pokémon, who were patrolling the route with practiced ease.
Each offered a friendly wave and one noticed Cinder.
"First partner?" One Ranger smiled as she passed, to which Ravina nodded back.
"It shows."
"...Does it?"
"He hasn't taken his eyes off you."
Ravina looked down and sure enough, Cinder was watching the conversation rather than the scenery.
The Ranger laughed. "Don't worry, that's a good sign."
Not long afterward the road gave way to stretches of taller grass. The wind rippled across it like waves.
Cinder slowed and cocked his head towards the grass. Ravina noticed immediately. "You hear something?"
A soft rustle answered, then another. Several small shapes darted through the grass before vanishing again. Wild Pokémon were watching from the camouflage, curious at what was stepping through their territory.
Ravina found herself lowering her voice without realizing. "They're following us." Cinder nodded once. His flames remained unlit telling her that he wasn't alarmed, but she could tell he was alert.
For several minutes the unseen audience remained. Occasionally a flash of brown fur appeared, sometimes a tiny pair of eyes reflected sunlight from within the grass. Whenever the Pokémon drifted too close Cinder would simply glance in their direction and they'd retreat again.
Ravina found the whole thing oddly reassuring. "...Professor Elm was right." Cinder looked up.
"I would've walked straight past all of that."
He puffed his chest out proudly.
"You've got much better ears than I do."
Around midday they reached a shallow stream crossing, a smooth wooden bridge arched over the water.
Ravina stretched. "My feet are already complaining." groaned as she gazed over the stream. Cinder immediately wandered toward the water's edge and sniffed cautiously. Then jumped backward when a Magikarp suddenly splashed near the surface.
Ravina burst into laughter. "Oh, brave guardian."
Cinder looked deeply offended and made a tiny grumbling noise.
"Dont worry, it startled me too." She reassured as she got and and knelt beside the stream. "Let's eat."
Lunch consisted of simple sandwiches prepared by Nostus that morning, Ravina offered Cinder a portion. He sniffed it before he accepted it, then quietly carried his piece several feet away before eating.
Ravina watched with curiosity. "...You're making sure nobody steals it?" Cinder nodded with complete seriousness. "...Fair enough."
After lunch they rested beneath the shade of a broad oak.The afternoon had grown pleasantly warm. Cinder wandered back over and settled beside Ravina with a contented sigh.
She leaned against the trunk and without thinking her hand drifted toward him, Slow strokes along the smooth fur heat the back of his neck.
He closed his eyes, the tiny flames on his back flickered lazily.
"...Comfortable?" A happy little chirrup answered.
Ravina smiled to herself. Yesterday, he'd been Professor Elm's Pokémon.
Today he'd already started feeling like hers, because he'd chosen to trust her. and that thought sat warmly in her chest.
The first glimpse of Cherrygrove came from the crest of a gentle hill. Red rooftops, A harbor glimmering beneath the afternoon sun, The distant cries of Wingull drifting inland from the sea, Smoke curled lazily from chimneys.
The town was far larger than New Bark, bustling and alive.
Ravina stopped walking. "...Wow."
Cinder climbed onto a nearby stone and stared as well.
"It really is a city."
Ravina crouched beside Cinder. "What do you think?"
He looked toward the harbor, then back at Ravina and gave an excited little squeak.
"I agree." She laughed. "I think we're going to like it here."
Together, Trainer and Pokémon began walking down the hill. Unaware that before the next day was over they would meet a collector of strange Pokémon, Encounter one of the world's most famous Professors and Receive an unexpected second research assignment.
And start a chain of events that would change far more than either of them could possibly imagine.
For now, however, Cherrygrove City waited and it was getting late, they needed a place to stay.
