"Um..."
After leaving the inn, Feng suddenly caught Tong Hua by the arm.
"Could you come somewhere with me?"
Tong Hua did not refuse. It was still early, anyway, and he only needed to get home before dark.
With their Pokémon in tow, the two headed not toward Windring Town in the south, but toward the plains leading to Harbor Town in the north.
"Meow~"
Along the way, Tong Hua carried Smoliv in his arms. Purrloin sat on his shoulder, while Glameow perched on Feng's. The two cats chatted from their respective shoulders and seemed to be getting along quite well.
"Chirp, chirp." Delibird carried Nacli while the three Milcery circled around him. The courier who delivered happiness occasionally played babysitter, too.
"Stee, stee~" "Cin, cin~"
Steenee and Minccino walked ahead hand in hand. The two Pokémon had formed a united front and still intended to settle who was better with the newcomer, Purrloin.
After crossing a meadow full of wildflowers, the group reached an area facing the sea to the east.
The long coastline stretched all the way to a distant town. That was Harbor Town, the largest port town in the Almia Region.
The sea breeze brushed their faces with its salty tang, and a ship's horn sounded in the distance.
Feng stopped at the edge of a cliff overlooking the entire bay. She gazed at the boundless sea before her, her eyes a little unfocused.
"Stee?"
Steenee tugged curiously at Feng's clothes, seemingly asking what was wrong. Minccino came over too, gently brushing the back of Feng's hand with a fluffy tail.
Feng crouched and gently stroked the Pokémon. "My mom and dad taught me to respect the sea ever since I was little.
"But they forgot that themselves. Several years ago, they went out to sea