Ithica grinned.

"There are Vulpix in this region," she pointed out. "Around Mount Pyre. We'll go right past it on our way to Lilycove."

"This is true," Mel agreed. "We'll see if we come across any. If not, Kanto."

"Definitely," Ithica agreed. She stretched and laid back on her bed roll a bit, grinning when Zorua came over to settle with her.

Mel grinned, amused, and settled down as well.

"I can't wait to actually see Kanto, y'know?" she murmured.

"Right?" Ithica said. "The actual beginning of everything. I need to see Pallet Town with my own eyes. And the Indigo Plateau, and the Silver Mountains. And just everything."

"Exactly, everything." Mel grinned. "I just want to see it all." She huffed a bit when Swablu came back over to spread out on her.

Ithica grinned, and then sat up when she heard something in the woods behind them. Zorua was out of her lap in a flash, growling and bristling. In the stream, Dratini went on alert, staying close to Feebas.

Steven stumbled out of the trees, a couple of leaves and twigs in his hair. He paused when he saw them.

"Hello," he greeted.

"Hi." Mel grinned. "Fancy seeing you here." She relaxed from her own alert posture, and her pokemon went back to relaxing as well since it was clear their person knew this strange person.

"Indeed," Steven said with a grin. "I seem to have lost my way in the woods, there was this swarm of Nincada..."

"Ah," Mel said with a bit of a grin. "Well, we're not too far from a path here." She shrugged and twisted to point. "It's just back that way."

"That's good to hear," Steven said. He grinned at her. "Though I have to say, I'm glad to have run into you again. I do enjoy being around you."

Mel blinked a few times before she snorted quietly. "Refreshing to not have someone fawning over you or challenging you?" she asked, rather teasingly.

"Exactly," Steven said, nodding. He paused. "Well. Not including Ithica, but I do eventually expect her challenge."

"Eventually might come sooner than you think," Mel warned him with a little grin. "I don't think she's slowing down anytime soon."

"I've heard," Steven said, grinning. "She has an impressive following already."

"Yes she does." Mel grinned. "I don't think that's going to slow down, either."

"What about you?" Steven asked, looking at her. "Not one for battling?"

"Not so much," Mel admitted easily. "I much prefer raising and caring for, myself."

"No shame in that," Steven said. He smiled. "I'm working with a young pokemon myself right now."

"Oh yeah?" Mel smiled. "Sounds like fun. Where is the little one?"

"In her pokeball, for the moment," Steven replied. "We were training earlier, though, before I got turned around."

Mel nodded. "Sounds like fun. Oh, hey, we've got some extra food if you want, and we've already got a fire going. You're welcome to stay for a while, if you want." She smiled a little at him.

"Only as long as it's not too much trouble," Steven said. He set his pack down. "I have my own supplies, too, so I can contribute to the pool."

"Not a problem," Mel said, waving a hand a bit. "I've been working on making food for everyone, so this'll just be a fun little test for me, anyway. Don't worry about it." She grinned at him.

"I have enough food for my own pokemon, at least," Steven said. "So don't worry about them. Would it be too much trouble to let them out?"