A new day greets the two trainers and they go about finding a way out of the forest they're currently stuck in. they are currently hiking around hoenn and are searching for a way to petalburg city.
While not large, the petalburg forest certainly is bigger in person than on the map they have with them and it appears that even getting on to the main path again will still take about another 2 days before they reach the edge.
Misty grumbles at the news but is glad ash at least took the time to set a decent route for them this time.
Their hike that morning starts well, good pace and ash, although somewhat absent minded today, manages to stay on track. Pikachu joyful runs around, peeking in and out of bushes, jumping up on ash's shoulder to enjoy the view, absolutely loving the sights and sounds around him.
Luckily they manage to sneak by a group of surskit and masquerain vying for a small bit of territory with some spearow.
By the time evening comes they've managed to cover more ground than expected and that's left them both happy. They joke with each other as they pick out a nice spot for a camp, misty ribbing ash about stepping in a slightly too deep puddle, ash poking fun about misty being frightened by a spinarak who managed to drop itself down on her backpack eliciting a scream so loud the forest fell silent for a moment!
A gentle breeze flows through the surrounding brush as the two sit and share a meal while watching the sky shift through multiple shades or orange to purple then darkness spotted with bright sparkling stars.
"this was a great day" misty remarks breaking a small silence.
Ash looks towards misty to see her smiling looking skyward, a small sparkle in her gentle eyes.
Not realizing how long he'd been staring at her, he finds can't stop thoughts about what he saw last night from drifting into his head.
"earth to ash! Anyone home? Have I got more jam on my face you don't want to tell me about? You've been a bit distracted today, what's going on with you?"
"oh, uh.. Nothing, I uh, was just thinking about how we'll be getting to petalburg tomorrow, yeah. That's all."
"right.. Maybe when I know you think about something other than battling and rare pokémon I'll believe you!. Anyway ash, you stay in space a bit longer, I'm going to get some sleep." seeing ash head down looking slightly embarrassed she softens her voice saying "night ash, get some good sleep tonight."
"thanks misty, you too." he says picking himself off the ground so he can pull out his own bedroll.
The clearing they found tonight was small and roundish with a nice carpet of soft springy grass covering it making him very happy to not have to worry so much about stray rocks and sticks making their way underneath him in the night. Pikachu is already curled up in a ball near their packs content with all the activity he got and looking absolutely adorable to boot.
Ash sneaks a sheepish glance over at misty who already appears to be snug in her bedding for the night, again remembering the sight of her "enjoying" herself late last night wishing he could have seen more. Desperately trying to put that thought aside he dims the lantern and gets into bed himself with sleep coming graciously quick.