Ithica couldn't help but keep giggling.

"It must like you," she teased even as she settled in and let Zorua out to join Dratini in relaxing.

"I guess so." Mel grumped a little but she was softening towards the Swablu. "It better move before I go to bed, though."

"I mean, I can catch it for you, if you want me to try," Ithica offered. "I'll use one of your pokeballs."

The Swablu popped it's head up and squawked at that, clearly giving Ithica the evil eye.

Mel snickered at that. "That sounded like a no," she said with a grin. "Eh, we'll leave it for now, see what it does. It might decide to fly off in a little while, after all."

"Sure thing," Ithica said, settling in. She dug around in her bag until she found the pokemon food she'd bought before they left Rustboro, and she turned to Dratini and Zorua. "You guys hungry?"

Dratini trilled and shifted over to get to the food more easily. Zorua hung back a little, waiting until Dratini had eaten some to take a piece.

Ithica noticed this.

"It's okay," she encouraged. She used one hand to feed Dratini and the other to hold some out to Zorua. "You don't have to hang back."

Zorua looked at Dratini but since the other Pokemon looked okay, it got a bit of food too, munching slowly.

Ithica offered another piece once Zorua finished the first. Her other hand already had another one for Dratini at the ready.

"You can have as much as you like," she said softly to Zorua. "But I won't force you to eat if you don't want to."

Zorua took the second piece and then settled down, curling up and relaxing there. Dratini ate a couple more pieces before it too stopped. But it flopped across Ithica's lap instead.

Ithica smiled and put the food away, settling in to relax. She used a stick to poke their small fire a little.

"Kinda wish we'd thought to buy marshmallows," she commented to Mel. She stroked Dratini as the dragon lounged in her lap.

"Next time," Mel promised. "Because that sounds really freaking good right now. Damn."

"Right?" Ithica said, grinning. "Though, I have to admit, this is way more fun than the last time I camped anywhere. Though the dragon and illusion fox probably make it that much more awesome."

"Oh much more awesome," Mel agreed. "Even the cotton fluff makes it better." She poked the Swablu one more time.

Swablu cheeped and fluffed its wings at that. Ithica snickered.

"I really think it likes you," she said.

Mel sighed, though she was fighting back a grin at the same time. "Yes, I suppose it does," she agreed mildly.

Ithica snickered a bit and settled in. Sleeping sounded nice, especially since she had Dratini and Zorua settled in too.

Mel eventually laid down, trying to move her head as little as possible. But really the Swablu had to move sometime, she couldn't sleep on the little thing.

The Swablu cheeped sleepily when she moved, and floated down to settle in right between her head and her shoulder.

By then, Ithica was ready to sleep as well, Dratini snuggled up to her contently. She looked at Zorua.

"You're welcome to join us," she murmured to it, gesturing to her bedroll. "More comfortable than bare ground."

"Stop squirming," Mel grumbled a little at the Swablu. At least Larvesta was already settled in.

Zorua made a sleepy noise but picked a corner of the bedroll to curl up on. It wasn't quite comfortable getting closer to her yet.

Once Zorua was settled on the bedroll, Ithica settled in and drifted off to sleep.

Larvesta made a sleepy little grumble and snuggled in closer to Mel.

Mel didn't wake until the next morning to sunlight on her face. She groaned and tried to roll away from the light.

Dratini woke before Ithica did and waited patiently, still laying on her.

The sun also woke Ithica as it reflected off of the water and sparking rocks of the open cavern.

"Nnngh..." she grumbled, one arm up to shield her eyes. "Too bright, make it stop..."

Larvesta was still snoozing, but Swablu was up and chipper, giving itself a bath in a nearby puddle.

"Turn it off," Mel grumbled with a little groan.

Dratini chirped at Ithica as soon as she moved, inching forward to stare at her intently.

Ithica heard the chirp and opened one eye.

"Why are you awake?" she asked the Pokemon. "It's early."

Swablu cheeped at Mel from its puddle. It fluttered its wet wings at her, splattering her with water.