Forum Thread

Emerald looked up and saw Winter holding the map...he couldn't do much now at the moment as he was just busy being buried in Shade's fluff...which he appreciated a lot. He cuddled into it further.

Yung had been watching the Mightyena and the Noctowl for a little bit during the altercation...something about the Mightyena was familiar to him. He recognised the aura, and it took him a bit to realise where he had seen him before. He had purposefully stayed silent during that whole conversation...they may have been a brief moment where he had locked eyes with the Mightyena, though there was no sense of challenge in his eyes; There was no point for a pointless fight.

Lumi looked up at Shade. "Can I help you? And if I may say so myself, wouldn't it be more polite to give your name first to a lady?" She sat down looking at Shade, with an understanding gaze.

---

Shade sighed “Names Shade, Shade Kino Soul.” Shade pointed to Blitz “This is my best friend Blitz Solstyc”

Blitz waved “hello!” He had the derpiest face ever

---

Roran showed no signs he had heard the Staraptor as he returned to Winter, peering over the apprentice's shoulder. Normally Roran would be accompanied by Kiro on a trip to these mountains...but the Zacian wasn't here now. They'd have to hope their own strength was enough to protect the group. Roran could see a few in the group surrounding him that he wouldn't trust alone during an Outsider attack. He glanced back at the silver, steel sword in the sheath attached to his armor, identical to the smaller one Winter carried. Kiro had made these swords for them, and now it was the only thing they had of him.

Winter was tracing his paws along the map. "I've been to these mountains on a couple occasions...." He reported. "Admittedly I've never attempted to approach it straight from this side before, though. We tend to avoid them after all. I do know there are a couple of landmarks that should lead us to the base. The Guild taught us to read the signs if we ever came to them..." He trailed off, why hadn't Hydra told them this? Had she forseen Roran and Winter would be able to tell them. He remembered Emerald was here as well, and he had been there before, perhaps she hadn't seen the need. Interesting.

Nova looked up at Kiwi. "Have you ever been to the Mountains before?" She asked the team leader. Surely the great Kiwi had been on this trip before. She'd be able to help them for sure. Surely she could add on to what the Vulpix was saying? She tilted her head as the Vaporeon replied.

"I've been to the mountains, yes. Not these particular ones, though...This is a very dangerous journey...I know those mountains to be crawling with enemies. When we go there, don't you dare wander off, understand?"

Nova nodded vigorously. Suddenly she was a bit nervous of the journey ahead. She'd heard about the Outsiders, who would attack innocent Pokémon to the point of near death for no reason. How anyone who survived the attacks was taken to join them, and the Pokémon who returned were never the same. Those who didn't survive were left alone to die. She wasn't sure what the Outsiders or their Leader, Emerald, the scared, huge shiny Dragonite wanted...honestly, she just hoped someone would stop him. Or...is that supposed to be me? She thought.

---

"My name is Lumi...the crown princess of Luminia, current ruler. It's good to meet you." Lumi said calmly. "Now...where are you fine fellows from?" She waved a paw and pointed at them with that paw. A bit of snow fell from it...though ever bit of snow was shaped like a star.

Emerald looked up as he listened to Lumi's introduction. He also heard about the mountains they were going to...he was going to see Obsidian again...he thought it was too soon to go back...and yet...

Yung frowned slightly. "I heard from you and Emerald went to those mountains before...and I've heard of the dangers afooting those mountains...will we all be safe?"

---

Shade smiled “From Nezailo Town in Saphfyria!”

Blitz smiled too “Diala Kingdom also in Saphfyria!”

Shade looked at Emerald abit worried, he is used to a peppy, happy Emerald. He thinks how he can help him feel better

---

Roran shook his head. "No guarantees...we can try to avoid the Outsiders, but if it comes to a confrontation, we'll be better of if we stay together."

Winter nodded, flexing his claws. Kiro had trained him well, and he needed to trust his fighting skills to protect anyone. Even if they weren't lucky he knew they--well, him and Roran at least--would come to a battle sooner or later in the fight to save their friends. It was good to be travelling with a group he at least somewhat knew, even if it only was for a little while.

---

Yung would just trust their judgement. He was well aware of how dangerous their journey was now...and he wanted to be aware of what lay ahead.

"I see...how curious." Lumi said. "...gah, it's too difficult to talk like nobility...let's just get going!" She would race off to make sure she was with everyone else.

Emerald nuzzled his face in Shade's fur.

---

Shade gained up his speed to catch up with her, while holding Emerald. Blitz followed

Shade smirked “Hey, you can’t outrun me!” Shade was holding Emerald so that he could still touch Shade’s floof

---

Roran straightened up. "It looks like we'll be heading this way." After one last glance at the map, he began making his way of in a direction that seemed to be heading out of town.

Winter folded up the map and followed him. As always, he trusted Roran to lead them the right way. Of course, he had remembered to read and analyze the map himself. It's what Kiro would have told him to do. Roran probably expected him to have already done it as well. Suppose they got lost and Roran expected Winter to be able to help them get back on track.

Kiwi gave the signal for the rest of the team to follow Roran as well. Nova had heard of Roran and his little band. A lot of them had. Kiro was a well respected actor and warrior, rumored to have been royalty even, in a past life of his...looking at the armor adorning the Alolan Ninetales and Vulpix, they seemed to resemble the descriptions of the wolf's crowned form. She knew she should be honored to be travelling with such a well respected duo...but something about their demeanor...they seemed to lack the calm, cool air they'd always been described with. They seemed to be just like the rest of the group, just worried about their friends.

---

All the sadness that Emerald was carrying with him kind of vanished in an instant, and was replaced with him trying to hang on for dear life because Shade took off, trying to follow Lumi, who was at the front of the group, leading with Roran. She had a determined expression but she felt excited. She had beem cooped up at the castle, managing governmental affairs for too long… she missed the days where she could roam as the Snowstar Priestess, and now she got to adventure with old friends and new acquaintances.

In the meanwhile, Yung was near to the back, brooding about the situation… he wondered what was the deal with the Mightyena and the Noctowl, and figured it wouldn’t be the last he’d see of them. Still…he was somewhat excited for the adventure himself. It had been some years since he was part of his foster brother’s rescue guild after all…he was finally getting a chance to stretch, run and explore. There were simply no mystery dungeons in Luminia…and frankly, he was a little rusty on his fighting abilities. He was curious to see what the mountain would be like, topped with snow. He hadn’t encountered much snow recently…

---

Shade smiled “What’s wrong Em? Forgot how unpredictable I am?” Shade snickered as he slowed down abit

Blitz smiled at Lumi “You know Emerald?” He tilts his head

---

"Sheesh, careful Shade!" Emerald said, still hanging on for dear life. These mountains were dangerous, and he dearly hoped that Shade wouldn't just send them both rolling down them, for it meant a likely death.

"Mhm. Emerald and his family helped out in quite the crisis back then." Lumi said as she trotted alongside Roran and the group that were ahead. She took in the cold air, loving it. She was a Glaceon after all, and she didn't get to experience a wintry atmosphere often, save for when it snowed.

---

Shade sighed “Sorry bit excited! Though it’s kinda chilly…” Shade fluffed out to the point you couldn’t see his mouth

Blitz did the same thing Shade did “Crisis? Ironic that’s supposedly my brothers name, never met him though.”

---

After some time, and guidance from the map, the group managed to make their way to the mountains. There seemed to be a path outlined by the map, and Roran was following it closely, making sure they didn't get lost, and frequently stopping to make sure no one in the group had been left behind. He knew the danger of these mountains...

"Once we get to Clawmark rock, it'll be a smooth journey from there." Winter called over his shoulder. Clawmark rock was the first landmark, named for well, being a rock with clawmarks. Obsidian had marked it so it'd be able to be found if one looked for it, but would be easy to miss. Obsidian had been careful to make sure friends could safely venture to her base.

---

Emerald had managed to free himself from Shade at this point. He was now lightly shivering as the cold was catching to him. The last time he came here, he was wearing a full set of armour and he was also not making his way up the mountain, but he was teleported to it. However, Shade had managed to ward away the sadness somewhat, as a bit of his old self had returned to him during the rush.

Yung and Lumi mostly stuck together now. Lumi didn't know what could be around here and willingly stuck by Yung in order for him to guard her. She mostly was much more willing to do this because Yung just wasn't as strict/devoted as some of the other knights and more willing to let her roam free when it was safe.

---

At this point Shade’s head was submerged in his fluff, he was cold so he got a bit more floofier

Blitz looked at the huge pile of fluff nervously “Shade you’re part ghost, you were in Regice’s cave. How is this affecting you more than that?”

Shade shrugged his voice was muffled by the fluff but comprehensible “Well back then I had help from Entei to keep me warm!”

---

Floofy, the Flareon from Team Eclipse, took the opportunity to shimmy his way over. "If anyone's cold I wouldn't be opposed to them walking close to me. Or riding on me if they're small enough!" He volunteered. There was clearly a heat radiating off the fire type, and he was fluffier than a normal flareon.

---

Emerald decided to take him up on that offer, he stood a little closer to Floofy. "T-Thank you..." He looked around, and can see many faces he could recognise...some he didn't but he was sure he'd get to know them on the trip... He saw Lumi with Yung, and Lumi was very clearly enjoying the cold, with Yung...not so much. He didn't seem to be shivering but he was most certainly feeling the cold cut into his fur.

---

Shade smiled “Thanks for the offer, I’ll pass though.” He said

Blitz smiled widely “Thanks so much!” He got closer to the Flareon and warmed up, he then said “One day, I want to be a Flareon! To provide warmth to all my friends!” Blitz was excited to see a Flareon, sure Shade’s mom is Flareon but Flooy stood out as different mainly because his colors are different than Muffin who is dark red with grey fluff! “You are really cool, just like all my friends!”

---

Floofy's offer to be ridden seemed to have been passed up....yet still it seemed as if the extra fluffy fur on the back of his neck seemed to flatten regardless, as if there were indeed something there.

Roran called to the group. "Keep your eye out for a little rock with a clawmark in the shape of a fork, that being one mark with three branches at the top. Once we find it, I'll know where to go from there."

---