Lavaridge Hot Spring

Just as Baimu had once seen in the Simulator...

Hot springs were everywhere around Lavaridge.

Whether in town or out in the wild, all you had to do was follow the strongest smell of sulfur to find pools large and small.

The people of Lavaridge Town had not claimed this natural resource entirely for themselves. They had left plenty of undeveloped springs for wild Pokémon, varying in size and depth.

Baimu wanted to take Raikou to a larger one, somewhere he could soak his whole body.

But after a circuit outside town, he found that groups of wild Pokémon occupied all the large springs. Some held herds of Numel and Camerupt; others were surrounded by Spoink or Mankey as far as the eye could see.

Solitary Pokémon used the small springs. Pokémon that lived in groups used the large ones.

Raikou could have taken a dip if he wanted. But how could the righteous Big Cat let himself seize another Pokémon's territory? Besides, he thought his injuries had almost healed—

Though neither Blissey nor Baimu agreed.

"Then we'll have to get you into town somehow. First, we'll stop by the Pokémon Center and check how you're healing. After that, I'll find a hot spring hotel near the outskirts... There's one that says you can bathe alongside wild Pokémon."

He rested one hand on Raikou's back while scrolling through his phone with the other.

Nearby, Blissey gazed curiously toward the distant town.

A few days ago, Baimu could hardly have gotten this close to Raikou except when they stopped to camp.

The Big Cat had been on guard.

But as they spent more time together, Raikou had gradually relaxed. He still kept some distance when they traveled, but if Baimu approached him, he usually no longer moved away.

Apart from his