Early morning.
The rain outside the cave had stopped at some unknown time.
Sunlight streamed diagonally through the cave entrance, casting a patch of golden light on the ground.
The air still carried the unique fresh scent that follows rain, mixed with the fragrance of earth and green grass.
Jenny woke up very early.
Or rather, she hadn't really slept much at all last night.
It wasn't that she didn't want to sleep, but she couldn't sleep soundly.
After all, last night...
Jenny gently turned her head and glanced at Roy, who was still sound asleep.
Roy was sleeping deeply, his breathing steady, his chest rising and falling slightly with each breath.
His arm was still draped across her body.
That large hand was very warm, and the sense of weight pressing on her was distinct, giving her a feeling of being firmly protected all night long.
Jenny's face felt slightly hot.
Scenes from last night flashed through her mind, every frame incredibly clear.
The cave, the fire, the sound of rain...
And Roy's embrace, his kisses, and...
Jenny took a deep breath, and her heart began to race again.
I can't think about it, I can't think about it.
If I keep thinking about it, my face is going to catch fire.
She gently raised her hand, cautiously grasping Roy's wrist as it lay on her.
Roy's hand was large and his wrist thick; she couldn't even wrap her hand around it.
Jenny moved very lightly, bit by bit moving Roy's hand off her body.
She was terrified of waking him.
After Roy's hand was moved, he rolled over and mumbled something indistinctly before falling back into a deep sleep.
Jenny breathed a sigh of relief.
She slowly stood up, her bare feet stepping onto the cave floor.
The ground was a bit cold, and the stones poked the soles of her feet with a slight pain.
She walked over to the campfire.
The fire had long since gone out, leaving only a pile of ashes and a few pieces of charcoal burned black.
Last night's clothes were draped over a rock next to the fire, already dry.
Jenny picked up her clothes and put them on one by one.
While dressing, her movements were very light, trying her best not to make a sound.
But her mind was still revolving around what happened last night.
After getting dressed, Jenny turned her head and glanced at Roy.
This guy was still sleeping.
He looked quite well-behaved while sleeping, except for one arm stretched out as if he were still hugging something.
As Jenny watched, her lips unconsciously curled into a smile.
She picked up Roy's clothes and walked softly to his side.
Jenny crouched down, placed Roy's clothes beside him, and then reached out to gently nudge his shoulder.
"Roy..."
Her voice was very light and soft.
"Roy, it's dawn."
Roy groaned, and his eyelids fluttered.
"Mm..."
He gave a big stretch, his arms extending as his bones made a few cracking sounds.
The moment he opened his eyes, he saw Jenny crouching beside him, holding his clothes.
"Morning, Jenny."
Roy's voice still held the hoarseness of someone who had just woken up, sounding very magnetic.
"Morning..."
Jenny replied softly, her face blushing.
"Let me help you get dressed."
Roy blinked and gave a small smile.
"A gentle and loving wife, so considerate?"
"Don't... stop being cheeky and get up."
Jenny unfolded Roy's shirt and gestured for him to raise his hands.
Roy sat up and cooperatively raised his arms.
Jenny helped him pull the shirt on, then helped him neaten the collar and cuffs.
Her movements were very careful, as if she were taking care of something very precious.
Roy felt a warmth in his heart as he watched Jenny's serious expression.
"I can do it myself."
"It's fine, it's almost done."
Jenny finished tidying Roy's shirt and then picked up his jacket to hand to him.
Roy took the jacket and put it on, stood up, and stretched his body.
"The rain stopped."
He walked to the cave entrance and looked out at the sky.
The sky had been washed clean by the rain, as deep blue as a gemstone.
The sun had just risen not long ago, its light still carrying the softness of early morning.
"Good weather."
Jenny walked up beside him and also looked at the scenery outside.
"Yeah, it's very suitable for traveling."
The two of them locked eyes, and Jenny was the first to look away.
"Let's go, time to head out."
After Jenny spoke, she walked toward the exit of the cave.
Roy followed behind her, and the two of them walked out of the cave one after the other.
The air outside was very fresh; a deep breath made his entire lungs feel refreshed.
Roy took out a poké ball and weighed it in his hand.
"Come on out, Pidgeot!"
The poké ball opened, and a flash of white light streaked out.
A massive Pidgeot appeared before the two of them.
Pidgeot spread its wings, its wingspan so wide it almost covered a piece of the sky.
Its feathers shimmered with a golden luster in the sunlight, and the crest on its head swayed slightly in the breeze.
Pidgeot lowered its head and nuzzled Roy's shoulder.
Roy patted Pidgeot's neck.
"It'll be hard work for you today, take us for a flight."
Pidgeot nodded and crouched down to make it easy for the two of them to get on.
Roy hopped onto Pidgeot's back first, then reached out his hand to Jenny.
"Come."
Jenny looked at Roy's outstretched hand, her face turning red again.
But she didn't hesitate; she reached out and grasped Roy's hand, and with a pull from him, she easily climbed onto Pidgeot's back.
"Sit tight, hold onto my waist."
After Roy spoke, Pidgeot began to flap its wings.
The massive wings beat up and down, creating a strong wind that blew the surrounding grass flat against the ground.
Pidgeot's feet left the ground, and its body soared into the air.
Jenny instinctively hugged Roy's waist tightly.
Pidgeot rose higher and higher, and the cave entrance became smaller and smaller.
Soon, the entire hillside came into view.
This was Jenny's first time riding a Pidgeot.
Watching the scenery below get smaller and smaller, her heart jumped into her throat.
She held on even tighter.
Roy felt the pressure around his waist and smiled.
"How is it? The view from up here is pretty good, right?"
Hearing Roy's words, Jenny summoned her courage and opened her eyes wide to look around.
With one look, she was completely stunned.
The sky felt within arm's reach.
It was impossibly blue.
A few white clouds floated nearby, looking as if she could grab them if she just reached out.
Below were rolling mountain ranges and forests, with a river winding through the valleys, shimmering with silver light in the sun.
"So... so beautiful..."
Jenny couldn't help but exclaim in wonder.
The wind blew against her face, carrying the coolness of the post-rain air.
Jenny's hair was caught by the wind, fluttering behind her.
She hugged Roy's waist tightly, feeling the warmth emanating from this man.
This feeling...
Was really nice.
Meanwhile.
On the other side, Misty and Delia were searching everywhere for Roy.
"That idiot Roy, where on earth did he run off to!"
Misty muttered incessantly as she scanned the surroundings.
It had rained so heavily last night, and since Roy hadn't returned all night, Misty hadn't slept a wink.
Although she knew Roy was very strong and generally wouldn't run into trouble.
She just couldn't let it go.
"Misty, don't worry, Roy will be fine,"
Delia comforted her from the side.
"But... but with such heavy rain last night, where could he have gone!"
Misty's voice was filled with anxiety and a hint of grievance.
"What if he fell into the river?"
"What if he ran into some danger?"
"What if..."
The more Misty spoke, the more worried she became, her eyes starting to redden.
Just then, Delia suddenly pointed into the distance.
"Misty! Look over there!"
Misty looked in the direction Delia was pointing.
In the distant sky, a massive figure was flying past.
That figure was too large, several times bigger than an ordinary Pidgeot, making it highly recognizable.
"That's..."
Misty rubbed her eyes to confirm she wasn't seeing things.
"That's Roy's Pidgeot!!"
Misty's voice suddenly jumped an octave.
"Roy! Roy!!"
Misty waved her hands and shouted toward the Pidgeot.
Although the distance was too great for her voice to carry, Pidgeot's eyesight was exceptionally sharp.
Pidgeot seemed to notice the commotion over here, changed direction, and flew toward Misty and the others.
"It's Roy! It really is Roy!"
Misty was incredibly excited, tears suddenly welling up in her eyes.
As Pidgeot flew closer, Misty could already see two figures on its back—it was indeed Roy and Jenny.