"Go up Mount Chimney in the fall," Steven said, grinning. "Skarmory mate in the fall, so they have all winter to hole up in the mountain and brood eggs. It's especially impressive to see the displays against the foliage."

"I bet." Mel grinned. "Thanks for that, I'll see if we can head over there."

"My pleasure," Steven said with a smile.

Mel grinned at him, and then blinked when her three came over for dinner time. "That late already? Wow."

Dratini was already pulling Feebas out of the water and over to Ithica.

"Okay, okay," Ithica said, grinning. She rummaged around in her bag for the pokemon food. "Little vultures."

Steven just laughed a bit as he went to tend his own pokemon.

Mel snickered a bit but fed her three. She did also toss over a bag of treats to Ithica.

"New blend," she said, before Ithica could ask. "See if they approve or not."

"You spoil them," Ithica said as she promptly got swarmed by Dratini. Feebas flopped a bit, as well, and Zorua patiently waited his turn.

Mel grinned. "Yeah a bit, but so do you." Her own Pokemon were patiently waiting for treats

"Guilty," Ithica said a she started passing out treats to her pokemon.

Steven just watched them. Obviously, the two were very good friends, to banter like that. His gaze settled on Mel for a little while.

Mel noticed but didn't call him out on it. Instead she shot him a grin.

"Can I give one to Piplup?"

Steven blinked at being spoken to, but collected himself quickly.

"Sure," he said. He grinned a bit. "Here, give me a handful, I'll see if Metagross and Lairon want any."

Mel just grinned and handed over the bag to him. "Take as many as you want, I can always make more," she said. She kept a couple in her hand, offering one to Piplup.

Piplup watched her for a moment, and then reached forward and took a treat. She nibbled the treat, and then gave a delighted chirp and shoved the rest into her beak happily. Steven laughed.

"I guess she likes them," he said as he gave treats to his other two pokemon.

Mel laughed a little. "I think that's a yes," she agreed, offering the pokemon another treat. "Not too many at once, though, sweetie."

Piplup cheeped again and shoved another treat into her beak.

Ithica laughed a bit.

"She looks like a Pachirisu doing that," she said.

"Little bit," Mel agreed with a grin. "Silly thing."

"She's allowed to be silly," Steven said, smiling fondly. "She's still little."

"Oh I know. Silly is fun. I rather like silly." Mel grinned a bit. "Better than serious, certainly."

Steven just grinned a bit. Beside him, Lairon 'humph'ed a bit, grumbling.

Larvesta grumbled a little as well, but continued to accept treats.

Mel snickered quietly and scratched Larvesta in the way she knew he liked. "See? No need to be so grumpy," she teased.

Larvesta grumbled a little more, but leaned into the head scratches. After a moment or two, it squirmed into her lap and settled there.

Mel chuckled and just let it settle there. The rest of the pokemon were winding down now too, getting ready for bedtime.

Steven's pokemon were winding down, as well. He let Metagross and Lairon settle where they liked, and he scooped up Piplup when the little one came back over to him.

Ithica was already moving a bit closer to the stream, so she could stay near Feebas. Dratini and Zorua moved with her, and settled on her bedroll when she did.

Mel did one last visual check of the area before she settled into her own bedroll, letting her three settle around her as they liked. She found she was surprisingly okay with Steven staying with them. A thought to come back to, oh, maybe never.

Steven found he didn't mind the company at all, either. It was surprisingly easy to forget Ithica was there when he was talking to Mel.