You look angry, you must be hungry.

"What a mess," Citrine couldn't help but sigh again.

Before her was an absolute devastation, crushed food and half-bitten berries littered all over the ground. A Magikarp was floating on the water, fainted. The lunch box was in smithereens, food spilled out or gone completely. The mat she laid out was half-submerged into the pond, crumpled and losing its purpose.

Wurmple and Whismur sat in the corner, turned toward the bark of the tree in reflection.

Lotad, perched on her head, looked around frantically as if it was afraid of whatever-which tornado that swept past the area.

"I'm not angry, you two," Citrine called out to them, wondering if that would make the two ease up, "so come here and help me clean up, will you?

Seemingly cheered up instantly, Whismur flipped right over, hopping over at the call-- except, it slipped from the mud on the ground and pushed over little Wurmple, toppling themselves across the ground.

There was a moment of silence.

Angry String Shot spindled out of the little bug Pokemon, a gooey mess wrapping itself around the plushy-looking Pokemon, who charged insistently at the Wurmple in a panicked mix of Astonish and Uproar.

They rolled to the left, swirled dangerously over the edge of the pond, and crumpled back down in another baby wrestle.

"Lotty," Citrine looked up to her own head, pointing at the two, "Nature Power."

  ー  

"First, cold water," Citrine calmly explained, placing the metal pot on the portable gas stove she brought. Picking up the wrapped handkerchief by her side, she opened it, spilling half-eaten Oran Berries into the mixture, "then I add the berries, and turn the heat on medium."

Lotad watched from the side, curious and nervous about that fire, worried for-- everything! should she be putting it out? It's fire, after all-- fire!

Citrine reached over to Lotad, retrieving the wooden spatula she had left on the Pokemon's head, "then, I start stirring."

Whismur and Wurmple were highly interested, inching closer to the girl, but Wurmple stayed a little bit further away because it was wary of the fire. The three ducked behind the human, only peeking out to see what was going on.

"I'll start slow," she stirred, "then, gradually, spin faster..." one hand on the handle of the pot, she pulled the scoop from one end to the other, going in quickly circles with a little effort.

The mixture thickened like hard jelly-- and in a practiced flash, she swooped the heat shut, making the final, shaping turn for her concoction-- a blue Poffin formed from the mixture, a delightful success.

"Dry Poffin, done!" she cheered victoriously, Whismur and Lotad leaped onto her hand in excitement. Wurmple, in a feverish moment, leaped onto Citrine's lap, eager to see.

"I've made some at home before, good thing I practiced!" Citrine spoke to herself, "now we'll have no trouble fixing up all those ruined berries!"

Citrine carefully picked out the piping hot confection from the pot, gently breaking it into two and fours-- and led one piece into Wurmple's mouth.

Wurmple, exhilarated from the delicious aroma, was munching on it before it'd realized.

And it loved it. It dove toward her hands for more, crawling at Citrine's wrists to reach the blue object at the end--

"Now, now, let's share it out, alright?" Citrine couldn't suppress a giggle.

Whismur and Lotad, apparently alarmed, squawked in alarm as Wurmple got more of the baked good. Their mouths watering in anticipation, Whismur shared a small bite of it from Wurmple.

Filling up the next pot of cold water, Citrine reached for the Persim berries. She turned to her Lotad, which sat quietly by her side, itching to dive for the blue Poffin but wasn't eager to socialize just yet-- "let's make another one for you, alright?" she decided.

Lotad nodded, enthusiastic.

Whismur squeaked in alarm, jealous.

"Gather up the Leppa Berries for me, Whismy," Citrine called behind her quickly, an order, "I'll whip one up for you if you do!"

Citrine laid a freshly made pink Poffin before Lotad, crumbling it into bite-sized pieces before serving it on a handkerchief. Lotad buried itself into it quickly, crashing its lily pad headfirst into soil sometimes.

Just then, Whismur had managed to pick up a decent amount of scattered Leppa berries, placing them in a small mound beside Citrine.

Rubbing Whismur on the head, Citrine went to work, cooking up a Spicy Poffin that Whismur grandly adored much more than the one Wurmple had.

Catching the drift, Wurmple scrambled for Oran Berries. Lotad joined in the Berry-gathering fray after that, and Citrine churned out Poffin after Poffin. Keeping some for future use, she watched the Pokemon have their fill.

She'd learned how to make these from her older brother, who called it a Sinnoh Specialty like Pokeblocks in Hoenn. Pokeblocks needed Berry Blenders from Contest Halls to make, but she could whip these up anywhere as long as she had fire, a pot, and water. 

She kept a little mountain of failed Foul Poffins in the corner, hoping they wouldn't see it.

Laying down on the ground, exhausted, she sighed in relief as her Pokemon seemed stuffed and satisfied. And not quarreling anymore, thank god.

Wurmple crawled up to Citrine's stomach, finding it a nice spot to curl up and sleep.

The little stubs of feet were ticklish to her, and Citrine burst into soft laughter. Lotad perched at her neck, and Whismur found itself a spot under her arm.

"Wait, don't sleep! The sun's gonna set!" she complained, but none of the Pokemon sensed any dire need to actually get up.

Citrine could just hop up and throw them off, but that was honestly equal to criminal offense--

She sighed, giving in.

Putting her hand carefully on Wurmple, avoiding the spikes at its tail, Citrine caressed its back, soothingly easing it into sleep.

Tomorrow, she'll set off toward Mauville.

But for now, she'll sleep.