You're perfect

Stay

NATE

[SIX DAYS LATER]

Today has been quite exhausting. In fact, I would say it's even more tiring than my usual days. Not that I'm complaining; on the contrary, I'm quite pleased with the work I've accomplished. It's almost surprising how enjoyable it is to work in isolation with Pokémon as my companions. Nonetheless, I believe it's only fair to give myself a few days of rest now. I need to focus on taking care of Zeraora until she's fully healed.

As I walk back to my lodge through the steep hill and thin lines of trees, I find solace in the tranquility of the environment. The setting sun casts a warm, orange glow that seems to guide me back home. A smile naturally forms on my lips, and I embrace the simple yet calming beauty of the moment. It's almost as if nature is offering me a serene path to my lodge.

Even when arriving in front of my lodge, I can't help but to see the setting sun. Surprisingly, I've never noticed the view here is rather magnificent. The mountains and forest seem to part perfectly, allowing the sun's radiant descent to illuminate the landscape. Chuckling to myself, I can't help but feel like I've stumbled upon a scene from a fantasy world, a gift meant just for me.

"I guess, life as a researcher isn't so bad." I muse, my smile growing wider. It's moments like these that make the challenges of my work worthwhile. With a contented sigh, I unlock the front door.

Click!

Stepping inside, I immediately glance around, half-expecting to see Zeraora somewhere nearby.

"Hmm, she's not here." Must be in the living room still. I wonder when will she ever set foot outside? Since I brought her here, she refuses to go outside even for just a simple stroll. Given her injuries, it's understandable, but her constant decline to venture outside does raise concerns about her well-being and comfort.

Ensuring Zeraora's favorable conditions is a priority. Having lived in the wild, there's a chance that abruptly transitioning to indoor life can be stressful for her. I'm mindful of the potential distress this might cause, so it's essential to prevent any harm, both to her and to the surroundings.

I'll ask her about it later on. Living under the same roof as her for the past few days has thought me a lot of things about her. One notable discovery is her remarkable ability to understand and learn from me. While some Pokémon Trainers claim to comprehend their Pokémon's words, my situation is quite distinct. I'm not a Trainer, and Zeraora hasn't been officially owned by anyone. Yet, she seems to grasp my words with uncanny understanding.

Her aptitude of learning and understanding far exceeds that of most wild Pokémon.

"Zera?" A voice calls out to me from the right. I turn in its direction, spotting Zeraora with half of her head peeking around a corner, her paws gripping the wall. She flicks an ear as her gaze locks onto mine.

"Oh, hey there, Zeraora. I'm back," I greet her in a calm and relaxed tone, maintaining the same smile I had earlier. Her expression suggests that she wasn't expecting to see me quite so cheerful. She tilts her head slightly, displaying her curiosity-a behavior I've come to associate with her. Whenever she gets curious, her gaze becomes intense, almost piercing. Although I've seen it on multiple occasion, staring her directly in the eyes still proves to be difficult.

"Well, it seems you're giving me quite the welcome with that stare. How's your arm? Have you been resting well?" I remark with a smirk, removing my jacket and hanging it on the coat rack.

Zeraora responds with an unblinking stare and a brief nudge to her bandaged arm, followed by a slow nod. Another characteristic I've observed in her is the hesitancy she displays before answering. There's a noticeable delay between my question and her response. It took time to adapt to this pace, but it's a quirk I've come to appreciate as it's become an essential part of our communication.