"That isn't how you do it. Not that either!" Lance took away the two stones Yellow had been trying to use to start a campfire; her last attempt, if it succeeded, would have created too many sparks that would have lit the surrounding grass around the fire. He held the stones close to the small pile of branches and used one to quickly and roughly strike the other, getting sparks that slowly built into a stronger fire.
Yellow stared at him, amazed. "On your first try, too."
"We'll keep it going as long as we need to. Pokemon will be attracted to its warmth and may try to fight for it."
"Can't we just share?"
"Not with the aggressive ones. I can't detect their thoughts and that's the only way to predict their actions."
"I can read their minds."
"At a distance? Try reading your Pikachu's thoughts without touching her."
Chuchu was nibbling an apple and looked up at Yellow.
"How am I supposed to do this?"
"The same as usual. Just relax and concentrate while you open your mind to her thoughts."
"….I'm not sensing anything." She took an apple Chuchu offered, smiling.
"It takes practice. Even after you're able to it to prevent you from passing out each time you try." He accepted the apple Chuchu offered to him.
"You do it a lot?"
Lance nodded. "It's the only way I can be sure the Pokemon are safe." He remained silent after that, starting at the flames or watching Yellow draw in the notepad she seemed so fond of carrying around.
A twig snapped from behind, causing Yellow to freeze. A small group of Rattata warily rushed forward, staring at the humans for a moment before curling up near the fire. Yellow smiled and started drawing on a new page, looking up briefly every few seconds. After a few moments other wild Pokemon started to join; some male and female Nidoran, a Furret with three young Sentret, and even some Flying-types and wild Pikachu. Yellow kept adding to her drawing.
A tiny Pichu stumbled into the clearing and joined the other Pokemon, quickly falling asleep. After it, followed a Houndoom. The black Dark-Fire-type dog-like Pokemon growled, its already frightening appearance from its curled bone-like horns, bone collar, and whip-like tail magnifying. It howled, its call answered by many others. A small pack of Houndour surrounded the clearing, each growling.
Yellow glanced around. "What do they want?"
"The fire attracted them." Lance tried to continue when the dog Pokemon howled again.
Pichu's ears twitched irritably it glared at the Houndoom. "Chu!" It ran up to the Pokemon, leaped into the air, slapping its face with Double-Slap before it grabbed onto its horns, zapping it. It let go and glared at the larger Pokemon before jumping up again, an electrical sphere forming in its hands and launched it at Houndoom. The Pokemon got hit and started to back away, before it slowly fled, its movements jerky from the paralyzing effects of the Zap Cannon; the Houndour followed it. Pichu nodded and joined the other Pokemon once again and fell asleep. Yellow stared.
Lance got up. "We don't have to worry about them now. We can let the Pokemon stay here the night. Furret can use Water Pulse, so she can control the fire if she has to- I've seen her around here before. We'll be getting up early."
Yellow followed him to a tree. Lance pulled himself up onto a tree branch and leaned back against the tree. Yellow stared up at him, puzzled.
"It's safer you here than it is on the ground where more hostile Pokemon like Houndoom can attack you. Just have your Butterfree create a hammock with String Shot if you're really that uncomfortable sleeping outside." He watched the girl did as she was told and, with difficulty, climb the tree and into the makeshift-bed near where he lie. "You're used to sleeping indoors, aren't you?"
"A little. Do you do this often?"
"I feel more comfortable out in the open. Especially here. It's more peaceful than the noisy, bright cities." He turned away from her.
"Lance?" After a moment he turned slightly towards her. "Could you tell me a little about the Viridian Forest Guardian? Please?"
After a moment Lance responded. "No one knows what exactly It is, or where. It could live deep in the Forest. It's possible It isn't even here now, or alive."
Yellow frowned. "Why do you say that?"
Lance reached up and picked a leaf off of a branch. "Without the Guardian the Forest will slowly die." He rolled the stem between his fingers, making the leaf spin. "It's also because of the Guardian we received our abilities." He let the leaf blow away in the breeze.
"What If we find It before Team Rocket does?"
"If we do, we won't be able to convince It to join us. Like Ho-Oh, It doesn't trust humans. Team Rocket could have a way of controlling it…." He turned away again. He sensed something in the bushes below, staring at him. As it left its eyes glinted in the moonlight. Whatever it was, it wasn't a Pokemon that was normally in the Forest. It's presence was far too foreign for that, and far too powerful for a normal Pokemon.
He'd sensed this before…. So long ago….