"Please, wait!"

Julia yelled, but her fiery spirited partner didn't make any signs to stop or slow down. Sighing, Julia tried her best to keep up, but Charmander was way too fast with walking. Well it might also help, that his legs were much longer than hers.

"Keep up or be left behind."

Was all the young man spared his breath to her. Which was the first thing he had spoken since the two hard left from Professor Oak's Laboratory a few hours ago. It was past noon and the two hadn't stopped even once after that. The fast paced walking was taking it's toll on the young, inexperienced trainer. More than she wanted to admit.

The sun no longer brightened the day, clouds had covered the sky at this point. The wind had picked up, and was much, much colder.

"Please! Just... slow down a little. I cannot keep up with you."

Julia pleaded, having to stop for a moment. Charmander stopped few feet ahead of her, taking in a deep breath, holding and letting it out. Looking over his shoulder at his new Trainer, who was nothing like the Fire type had hoped her to be. She was young, looked weak and couldn't keep up when it mattered.

"Thanks."

Julia breathed, needing two.. three.. four minutes before she stood up once more. Her legs ached from having to force them to keep up with the tall Young man.

"Why are we in a hurry any way? There is nothing around us, no one chasing."

Julia tried to inquire, but Charmander chose not to provide her with an answer. Instead he took this as a sign that she was ready to keep on walking. A loud, exasperated sigh escaped between Julia's lips. She picked up her speed once more to pretty much jog besides Charmander. Who spared no second glances at his trainer.

The silence ruled once more between the two partners. And it got heavier the longer neither said anything. And Charmander looked like the world could end he still wouldn't open his mouth. So fixed were his eyes to the horizon and that stern look was most likely glued to his face.

The wind picked up, Julia zipped her jacket on better. But the jogging and running was keeping the poor girl warm none the less. The sky was getting darker too and not because the sun had almost gone down. No, it was going to rain. Wait! Was that why Charmander was in such a hurry? To find them a shelter before the rain would break out?

No, that couldn't be it.

"There, we'll stay the night in that cave."

Charmander broke the silence, who still spared no glances to Julia. Instead he started to walk faster towards the shelter. The Young trainer was happy to have a chance to rest her feet finally, so she was not putting up a fight. Oh no, she wanted to sit and not move again today. Not even certain if she had the energy to do it.

The cave was dry, sand covered some of the ground. Otherwise the rock hall was quite bare. Yet Charmander didn't stay put, leaving to scout the lands around them.

Julia placed her back bag down, she undid the sleeping bag and fished some food out. Hoping that what she had packed for her Journey would last them long enough to reach a town.

"Hmph."

Was all the Fire type grunted when he returned, dropping some dry wood on the ground. But the Pokemon made no effort in starting a fire, he took a seat on a rock and kept a look at the distance.

After a short while, when Julia was 100% certain. That Charmander was not going to move from his spot, she scooted over. Piling the firewood in a nice circle and being aware of the pair of eyes that kept observing her. Could this be a test?! Julia shook her head, no, that couldn't be it.

Having them a neat pile, ready to lighted. Still the fire lizard made no move to pitch in. If possible the Young man looked like he was in even worse mood than before!

Julia took two dry pieces of wood and tried to rub them together to start a fire. Not having packed matches, she had spend the entire summer learning how to do this after all! But of course now, when her life depended on it, the fire was not starting.

"What. Are. You. Doing?"

Came the smooth voice a bit further from her. Julia having caught the attention of her partner who looked at her with a funny look on his face.

"Starting a fire, what does it look like?"

Julia tried to defend herself and her actions. What did it look like she was doing? Those stern, judgmental eyes made shivers run down her spine none the less. But the trainer held her ground.

"It needs some kindling, there was dry grass at the end of the cave. I'll light it once you fetch the grass."

Charmander said with a loud sigh of annoyance. Leaning his head against his hand for his hapless partner.

Blush covered Julia's face. She remained uncertain if it was from anger or embarrassment. Or the possible combination of both. With a huff she got up and moved to look for the grass at the end of the cave. She had to get to hands knees to find anything, but there was something poking beneath the sand.

Tugging on the small, dry turt, it looked like dry grass. Tugging a few along with her before she returned, feeling victorious from her small task. She placed it well around all the fire woods, so the fire could have a good start. Her eyes swiftly found her partner who looked at her none impressed. Raising an eyebrow at her, when Julia kept sitting there.

Her annoyance returned, but she moved back by the side of her bag. Charmander breathed in, and spirit out a small fireball at the wood. And before Julia even realized it, they had a nice little fire going on, that warmed the cave in a slow pace.

Her partner stood up, headed back of the cave. Slouching down against a rock. Which looked really uncomfortable to the trainer. But didn't seem to bother Charmander the least.

Soft sound of the rain hitting all about them was soothing. Julia closed her eyes to enjoy and take in the moment. Calm down her nerves from the first day of her journey.

"Were you planning on cooking?"

Came a tired, annoyed voice from the back of the cave. Charmander hadn't even opened his eyes, he was still laying there.

"Well... I do have a little something here."

Julia relented, she was getting hungry too. But making a mental point that she was not doing this for Charmander, but because she herself was hungry.

She placed a pot above the flame and poured some of the ingredients inside. With a wooden spoon, she started to mix it all together. She left the food simmer on the fire, looking through her bag for spices.

There was soon an eager hand near her. Charmander had moved to stirring the pot. Mixing and blending everything while he held out a hand for the spices. Julia took a moment before she gave him the spices.

Charmander's fiery hair seemed even more alive in the warm glow of the fire. Julia took notice, that her partn

er had discarded his sweater. Showing off his arms more now.

His tail moved about curiously, Julia was careful about the fire tip not touching her. Charmander blew more fire beneath the pot to add some more heat.

The trainer gathered her legs against her chest. Feeling content observing what her partner was doing. For once he didn't have that stern, annoyed look on his face. While he still looked quite concentrated, the air around the two was a lot easier now.

"Umm... Do you like cooking, Charmander?"

Julia tried to spark a conversation, hoping that she had read the mood right.

"Not particularly. Just something I know how to do."

Was the short, quick answer that she got. Not in reality the spark to keep on the conversation. But Julia was willing to take anything she would get.

"So.. umm.. I heard your powers can evolve?"

She tried one last time. Having seen him training outside Oak's Laboratory. So maybe he was passionate about that?

"Yeah, my powers can evolve two times before I hit my max."

Charmander answered, but his answers were still short. Julia recalled that different pokemons had different amount of levels. But it was usually once or twice. Along with their powers, their equipments also evolved to match their new powers. While it was rare, there were also pokemon's who had no chance to evolve. Their powers could still grow quite exponentially with training. To compensate the lack of evolving.

The night went by quietly, Julia was unable to think up anymore 'bonding' questions. And Charmander didn't look like he was interested in it either. The trainer was still positively surprised by the food. It had deep flavor, and Julia had never eaten anything this good before. Not herself being so gifted in cooking, knowing the basics. But she was gifted in burning her food than making it anything like this.