✔️Pokemon: Beastly Hunter (Leaf x Gary) (leafgreenshipping)

Episode 9: The Hunting Season

Just as Leaf finished hiding the book and the mirror, the front door flew open, and cold air rushed into the small cottage, almost extinguishing the fire in the fireplace. Leaf's heart almost jumped out of her mouth as the door flew open. She shivered when the cold air touched her. She took a few deep breaths to calm her rapid heartbeat and turn around to face the intruder calmly.

"Gary, please close the door. You are letting the cold air in. Look! The fire is almost extinguished. You know how hard it is to look for dry wood during the dead of winter," Leaf scolded lightly with both of her arms on her waist as she glared at Gary.

Leaf took in Gary's figure. In an instant, she knew that something was wrong.

"Gary? Are you okay?" Leaf asked worriedly. Although Gary didn't have a lot of relationship with Leaf, he is still her guardian in this forest and provides her with food, shelter, and clothing. They also had lived together for a few months. So it is understandable that they grew close.

Gary was pale, from head to toe. His hair and his clothes were wet from the snow outside, and he was breathing heavily. He gripped the handle of the door so tightly that Leaf could see the veins on his hands and his temple. Gary was also gritting his motor teeth as if he was trying to endure pain. Sweat also began to form on his forehead in the cold weather. His eyes were also wide with fright as he looked around the room frantically.

Leaf slowly and cautiously inched toward Gary when she realized that Gary was not responding to her. "Ummm... Gary?"

Upon hearing Leaf's voice, Gary's eyes stared into Leaf's, which caused her to jump a step back. He didn't say anything but eyeing Leaf as he gripped the door handle harder like he was trying to break it.

"Gary?" Leaf called again as she stood still under his surveillance like prey in the eyes of the predator. She didn't know why, but the feeling that Gary was different from the usual got stronger. Something really was going wrong. From a distance, Leaf can feel Gary's piercing eyes looking into hers and his deep breaths

Leaf watched Gary for a while and shivered in the cold air. Even with her coat, it is still cold. She was slowly getting frustrated with Gary not closing the door and letting out all the heat in the little cottage. "Gary! Are you okay? I am telling you to close the door. If you are frustrated with something or if you are just annoyed, you should at least close the door! Do you know how long it takes for the cottage to warm up?" Leaf exclaimed with her arms folded. "And stop staring at me like that! It is making me feel uncomfortable! What is wrong with you today?"

Gary opened his mouth and then closed it. He opened his mouth again and closed it again. He repeated the action a few more times.

"What is it?" Leaf demanded, folding her arms in front of her.

"You didn't see anyone around the cottage, right?" Gary asked quietly before looking around the cottage. "No one at all?"

"What are you talking about?" Leaf shook her head in confusion.

Gary walked into the cottage and closed the door behind him and locked it. He then pulled out a large fur coat from the closet and wrapped Leaf with it. After securing the buttons, he rushed to the windows to cover them with a dark fabric before closing the curtains after checking to make sure that they were locked.

Leaf just watched Gary as he ran around the house to check like a mouse looking for an escape. "What are you doing, Gary? The sun had already set. Why are we closing the curtains like that?" Leaf sighed and shook her head. She cannot understand what is going on in the man's head at the moment.

"Do you see anyone wandering around the forest this morning?" Gary asked, standing in front of Leaf with his hands holding on her shoulders and looking at her in the eyes.

"No? We are this deep into the forest. I doubt anyone would be here," Leaf shook her head.

"We are not deep into the forest at all. In fact, it is because that this cottage is hidden that no one found it. For an adventurer, they would be able to reach this level with difficulty. It is not impossible," Gary said. He let go of Leaf and sat down on a chair in thought. "Do not go outside for the next few days. I will go and gather food. That would be safer for both of us."

Leaf rolled her eyes as she sat down with her bulky coats. "Why can't I go outside? I am sure that it is not dangerous enough for me to lock inside the house," Leaf complained.

"It is not dangerous, that is true. But not this season. Damn. Why did I forget about it?" Gary groaned as he placed his head in his hands. He wanted to scream but can't without others hearing it. He then threw his head back and brushed his bangs upward with his right hand.

"What is the hunting season?" Leaf asked, curious about the season. She leaned closer to Gary with intense eyes.

Gary groaned and rolled his eyes. "It is the season to hunt the beast," he said in a dead voice. He then pushed his chair back and stood up. From Gary's eyes, Leaf knew that he was annoyed at everything. He didn't want to share anything else.

Gary sighed and then walked toward the kitchen. Midway, he stopped and turned his head to look at Leaf. "We will have to stay low for the next few days. Let me know if you hear or see anyone around here. Don't open the door for anyone and keep away from the windows and doors. Tomorrow, I will teach you how to mask your scent and the secret way out of this cottage."

With that, Gary continued walking toward the kitchen.

Outside, the wind howls between the trees under the thick blankets of dark clouds in the sky as snow continues to flow down into the earth. In the distance, a wolf howled, followed by the hoot of an owl. A raven flew swiftly through the pitch darkness. A man reached out and a raven landed on his hand.