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

Episode 17: Thoughts

Gary was the first to wake up the next morning. The sun had not risen yet. He stared blankly at the dark ceiling above him, deep in thoughts. He can still hear the silence outside of the burrow and the occasional hoot of the owl. He then turned to look at the dark shadow of his companion, who was still deeply asleep next to him.

"She must be tired from all the walking the day before," Gary thought to himself when he heard the deep breathing of the sleeping Leaf. He chuckled a bit quietly. It was a sound of amusement but also a bit of sadness.

A blow of cold wind rushed into the burrow, and Gary watched as Leaf wiggled deeper into her blankets for warmth and continued to sleep. Gary went to his bag to take out a small blanket and covered Leaf. When he got up, he decided to roll up his sleeping bag and just sat there, leaning against a wall.

He looked at his hands with a bit of sadness. He clenched his hands and unclenched them. He did that a couple of times. He then hides his face into his palms.

If only he was a normal person. If only he didn't have the curse.

It was unnoticeable at once, but if looked closely, there was a bit of change on Gary's hands. They were longer and bonier. The nails were longer and sharper.

"It seems that I will be alone again soon," Gary thought to himself.

During the week he had been away from the cottage, out of control, he had this empty feeling in his heart. Gary missed Leaf. There were times when he wanted to run back to see her, to make sure that he is human. But, he feared that he would harm her, that his curse would make him harm her. When he saw her again, looking at him with a bit of worry, it made him happy. It was as if someone cared about him and worried about him.

Of course, there were Ash, Paul, and Drew there for him. But they were different from the feeling Leaf gave him. It was something special and something Gary didn't want to lose. Looking at the slow transformation now, he hoped that he would be able to break the curse before it became too late.

Before he has to leave her.

Gary suddenly laughed at himself. "What have I come to?" he said to himself. "Why am I like this?"

Gary stayed in that position for hours, as if he was a statue. He was lost as to what would happen if he was too late. Would he be like his parents and his ancestors? Would Leaf look at him with fear and run away? He doesn't want to be alone in solitude. However, he was dangerous to society.

Leaf woke up a few hours later. At first, she began to wiggle and turn around in her sleeping bag a few times. After a while, she slowly opened her eyes to get adjusted to the dim light that's shining into the burrow. She slowly sat up and yawned while rubbing her eyes and stretching. It was not the most uncomfortable sleep, but it was better than when she was back in her village.

While she was sitting up, she felt something drop off of her body. She looked down and saw that it was a small blanket that was covering her. Leaf tilted her head in confusion. She didn't remember using the blanket to cover herself last night. She suddenly thought of the only person who would do that.

Leaf looked at the sleeping bag next to her. It was empty. Confused, Leaf looked around for the person. She knew that Gary would not leave until after she had woken up or left a note. It was something that she was used to.

Right were her thoughts because she found Gary sitting against the wall as if he was a lost puppy. Leaf raised an eyebrow in confusion before she got out of her sleeping bag and walked over.

"Are you okay, Gary? Is everything fine? Are you not feeling well?" Leaf asked, squatting down in front of the man.

Gary slowly raised his face from his hands and stared at the girl in front of him. He didn't speak or move. Leaf also didn't speak and let Gary have some time.

"Yea, I am fine. How is your night?" Gary replied after a while.

"It was nice. Thank you for the blanket last night," Leaf said.

Gary nodded before he got up. "I am going to make breakfast."

"Hmmm... don't make too much for me. I am not that hungry. And we need to save the rest for the journey ahead," Leaf said while turning and watching Gary walk to where the food bags were.

Gary nodded his head, showing that he heard her, and started taking out food. Leaf also went to where Gary was and rolled up her sleeping bag.

It was just some cold sandwiches with water for breakfast. The two just sat there in silence. Only the sounds of the chewing, the swallowing, and the gulping of water can be heard. Gary and Leaf would occasionally look at the entrance of the burrow as if they heard something above.

"So, what is the plan?" Leaf asked suddenly, finishing up her sandwich.

Gary looked up from his sandwich. "I think we will have to find the old mansion first and then look for clues. If possible, we can go back to our cottage to see if we can get some supplies. If not, we may have to stay in the mansion. We will have to see."

"That sounds like a good plan. I do hope that nothing happens to the cottage though. I had been staying there for so long," Leaf mumbled to herself and took a sip of water.

Gary's great hearing heard what Leaf said. The tip of his ears turned a bit red as he quietly took a bite of his sandwich, flattered.

Leaf started to pack up and prepare for the journey while Gary finished eating his food. It didn't take long before they were ready to continue their journey to the mansion.

While they were leaving the burrow, the two looked back at the place where they stayed that night. Gary went to cover up the entrance, camouflaged it while Leaf was standing at a distance and watching him. Suddenly, she looked in a direction and stared into the distance while narrowing her eyes.

"What are you looking at, Leaf?" Gary asked when he turned around and finished with his work.

Leaf looked at Gary and shook her head. "It was nothing. I thought I heard something."

Gary looked in the direction where Leaf was staring and listened. He didn't hear anything abnormal.

"Are you sure?" he asked and looked at Leaf.

"Yes, I am sure. Let's get going before the sun goes down," Leaf urged.

Gary shrugged and began walking, which Leaf followed next to him. While she was walking away, she glanced in the direction one last time.

..........
Hi, everyone! I hope you enjoy this chapter! I am officially back to writing this story! To be honest, at first, I am a bit scared because I haven't written anything romantic for a long time. I love this chapter so much for some reason. You know, this series is supposed to be a retelling of the fairytales and romantic with my own twists and spins. However, it failed with the ikarishipping, which I am sad about. I feel that I am slowly getting back my romantic feels!! Please let me know what you think about this chapter!!!

Please remember to vote, comment, and share this story! I will see you soon!!