(ACE) The FROST Team

"We arrive at Anistar City and scope out the place first, see how it is. We can make a decision when we get there. Besides, in a world like this, you never know when some last-minute calamity will happen that changes everything." The fire type still didn't like the idea of leaving a less infested ice cave to a nearby city that's going to be over run. But the rest of the party made it clear what they had wanted to do and go. Groaning as he shakes his fur again the straps catching a little before leaning back, pulling on the bag with his fangs adjusting it a little more strait on his back. "Of course, I understand. However a general idea of where we want to go is always nice." shaking his fur again feeling a little better with the food being less bothersome on his sides and the straps not catching, turning back to the owner of the voice before nodding his head.

"Someone approaches." His ears picking up on the soft voice of Ark turning around and straining his ears forward to try and listen for the new comer.  "Can you tell who—or what—it is?" Hikirio sniffs a little not really catching much of anything then the current party. "How far away are they Ark?" Taking a step closer before taking another hard intake of breath, catching the faint hints of something. "I can hear its voice faintly, but still I'd rather be cautious for now." Snapping his head back like a bloodhound at the sound of something behind them. It sounded like combat, but it was hard to tell. Was it the newcomer who was fighting with whatever it was, how was the fight. Are the undead attacking again and killed another pokemon that might be a survivor and needs help.

What were they attacking? was the best question so far as he took a step forward lining up with the icy wall out of the way if it came through he wouldn't get caught up in the cross fire. His body heat melting tiny amounts of water from the ice, he was almost leaning against. "If that's an undead then lets fry it with our thunderbolt Ark." The Pikachu said to Ark. [/left] With that, his maw starts to smoke drawing on the heat in the core of his body ready to attack.

Ark kept his focus on the intruder beyond the walls of ice and rock, little could escape his sight for he has even seen what a Diglett looks like underneath its popped up form! He acknowledged the little mouse pokemon wordlessly with a nod of his head and focused on the image he got through the walls. "It's a Braxien.. I think.." He would whisper to Dal. The large Luxray moved forward as the Braxien spoke up he paused. Ears twitching to catch his voice. "I know you're down there mates! If you're alive come to me!"

His ears flicked and he arched slightly in mild irritation. Like hell would he or anyone else go out there in the path of an unknown and be fried or worse. "You can come around here instead, try anything and you'll be dead." He warns. He looked to the others and whispered "Its not undead.. going to becareful with it though. As long as he comes around and doesn't show signs of infection..." He utters. Tail lashing about slowly.

Hikirio listens to the others bickering with whatever or rather whoever the other Pokemon was down the way. "Fine mates, I'll come to you then!" snorting at the fancy reply as he remains pressed to the wall the water running into his side fur, claws plucking at the ice and stone. Are they so sure it was one, what about the other one that sounded like it was fighting. Another living or undead, Hikirio turns his head to the others of the group as a light grey smoke spills from his flash of fangs. Why not invite a murder or assassin to the group for the sake of another possible living pokemon. Listening as the faint sound of padded paws come across some stone and ice, the scent of another fire type that little bit of an ashy scent clinging to nose nose. Another possible fox or at least in the canine family, the fur on his nape stands up a little more. "I'm not infected mates, but what are you all doing in this bloody cavern?" Leaning off the wall then, seemly undetected at the time by the other fire type. Coming up behind him, taking another sniff. It smelt clean, but it's hard to tell with the lack of that sick, dead scent, but he would have to trust his party's judgement on that.


"He's telling the truth, he's not infected." stepping back then as the smoke clears from his maw for the most part. The tails swishing behind him, held at their lazy level just above the ground, but not a proud prim height like before. Playing with the strap across his chest again resetting the bags before poking at them with his nose to see if they weren't too wet from the wall. "The name's Finn mates. It seems the Pokemon rangers still are around even in this bloody hell we all landed in." By this point Hikirio sort of zoned and distant himself from the new comer being another one of those ranger types, a human pokemon. Sort of not tuning into the rest of the conversation that was playing out, he paced down the way a little from where the newcomer had come from. If he was lucky he might be able to find the other pokemon fled or otherwise dead. Before turning back having found nothing to the tail end of the conversation he simply remains quiet for a few heartbeats.

" Let me guess looking for your human" sort of grumbles trying not to startle the other fox by speaking up even if Finn was aware of him now or not. The masked stares at the newcomer unblinking while the fox himself is still as the ice around them. Only the faint movements down his side from small breaths could be seen. Before simple coming back into animation turning to the others each in turn. " Seems clear out that way now" jarring his head over to the passage Finn had come from ready to start moving again.

( Don't mind the struggle post )

"Fine mates, I'll come to you then!" The Braxien said and so it came around to meet them. "I'm not infected mates, but what are you all doing in this bloody cavern?" He asked. Ark watched the male fox with the stick walk toward them, his body rigid and tense, poised to strike at a moments notice if the newcomer showed hostility. The luxray, standing larger than most of them stood out the most, even with those glowing eyes of his  standing out even moreso in the dark.

Jack came up to investigate the Braxien to make sure that it was not infected with the undead plague. Arkturus continued to observe, tail flicking about now. "He's telling the truth, he's not infected." It was slightly reassuring of that at least from Jack. Of course with all that fur, he could be hiding it. "The name's Finn mates. It seems the Pokemon rangers still are around even in this bloody hell we all landed in."

"What's left of us are still around in this hellhole. As for what we are doing in here. Surviving. The same could be asked of you." Ark replies, watching it closely.

"What's left of us are still around in this hellhole. As for what we are doing in here. Surviving. The same could be asked of you." The sharp voice Hikirio linked back to the electric lion clear enough getting used to the voices that he could better tell them apart. For once Hikirio would agree with Ark, though least they knew what was in here so far who or what waits for them outside the cave remains unknown to them all. Clawing up the side of the wall with his claws as his paw pad melts the markings deeper, figuring it can't hurt to mark the wall for others to see if they got turned around. Shifting the bags once more on his back, as his tails twitch from the far right to the far left walking partly ahead of them. His nose ever on alert as his ears filter out most of the conversations going on slightly behind him.

"If you do know a way out Finn then why not show us the way." Hikirio paused and turned his head back slightly curious of the answer turning his full top body to listen curiously as they walked closer the wooden click of Yuri's strange shoes off the packed snow and stone. Shaking himself again before walking forward again, keeping a few strides ahead, thinking of other things as his mental map formed in his head of what he thinks how they got in here. The tunnels they brought down and the small room they found, coming quickly to they can't go back they came. " Dal? Didn't we bring down that passage we came in on? I don't think we can go back that way unless we want to spend time taking out the rock and ice sort of saying the obvious to help himself stay sane and involved in the party.

"As your little buddy had said earlier mates, I can lead you out of this bloody cavern. I wouldn't try to go into the other tunnels as those Piloswines gotten territorial since the humans had left the mountainside." Stopping then his shoulders and head lower as he allowed them to catch back up and pass. " By all means go ahead and let them, Arceus knows I have no Idea where am going now. letting out a hot breath as the thin layer of snow melt and gleams a little under his maw. Before falling behind them in step, now listening to the conversation and the click of the humans shoes. Almost trancing the fox a little from the repetitive sounds. " What time do you think it is now? asking needing to hear a little more now and feel like he's actually there not letting himself feel like he's fading.

Ark listened as Finn spoke up "As your little buddy had said earlier mates, I can lead you out of this bloody cavern. I wouldn't try to go into the other tunnels as those Piloswines gotten territorial since the humans had left the mountainside." He frowned a little at that and glanced to Hikirio "What time do you think it is now?" to which he would respond after thinking about it "I'd say roughly around Midday. Maybe afternoon?" He seems to ponder it then glances to Finn. "We already have a way out. We're not going back the way we came as the Undead were hot on our trail." The pun was unintended considering the fire types that lurked within that weird bunch.


"Our way out is following this cavern pathway out and using the exit myself and my former trainer would use. Its one of two and its bound to be clear enough. Especially if its cold." He nods. The large Luxray flicking his tail. "Having someone to add to Hikirio's impressive flame capabilities in case we need to bring down the ceiling again." He says as he starts toward the exit of their little hideout. "The longer we dawdle the longer it takes for us to get out of this frosty hole." To be honest Ark was starting to feel the cold more than he wanted to and huddling up with someone was not appealing at the moment. Not that the others were.. bad mind you. But he was not wanting to be burned to a crisp.

"I'd say roughly around Midday. Maybe afternoon?" thinking of the answer that Ark had given to him. It was hard to think about what time it could be in the cold, frost, and ice. Murmuring a little as he nods his head softly, letting out a small puff of smoke. Lifting his head toward the rest of the Pokemon around to hear each step of a soft crunch to a click on claw on the stone. Walking up, he clawed a little more ice and stone, leaving another marking as they kept going. Marking a trail where they had been before rubbing his fur against it scent marking it for himself as he wouldn't be able to see them. "We already have a way out. We're not going back the way we came as the Undead were hot on our trail." Hikirio didn't give too much of a reaction then his ears pin back on his head. Getting used to the lion Pokemon being around, and his jokes as he's sure Ark is intending.

" Rather not have let them follow us this far, so it was quick thinking. Though it's blocked that part of this tavern for us and those things. So it's not that bad I guess. Though between two of our trail blazing Pokemon -" motions his head to Jack and the new comer " -as well as your self am sure we'll find something" trying to add a little more upbeat to his voice.

"Our way out is following this cavern pathway out and using the exit myself and my former trainer would use. It's one of two and it's bound to be clear enough. Especially if it's cold." listening to more of the conversation and scratching out another marking into the stone. " If not we can always burn them out again" picking up his pace a little a little more bounce in his step at the idea of burning off more of the filth.  As the fan of silver and blue flair out held up a little more proudly.

"Having someone to add to Hikirio's impressive flame capabilities in case we need to bring down the ceiling again." Only lifting his head further from the more than friendly prise as more crushing weight lifts off his shoulders. Thinking it was more than credit and helped himself feel better about the situation."Then let's stop dawdling and start moving." Nodding his head before walking nearer to the group with Yuri to his left near by as he turned his head up to show her he was listening to her silence.

Before turning his attention to Ark somewhere ahead of them " If I didn't know better Ark, I would say your warming up a little " commenting in return as he takes a breath picking up on the scent of the electric type near by. " Well, if you want" rolling a shoulder before moving a little to the side more for Ark if he wanted to come stand near him to catch a little warmth coming off. Before Turning his head forward again, thinking to himself that he's going soft. Walking a little nearly tipping into Yuri's leg before walking a little more space between them. Listening to more, " Well, it's not fresh by any means, but there is a bland scent of something in the air." Trying to get move involved with the positive encouragement to try and drop his guard from his team.

"Then let's stop dawdling and start moving." Dal said, Ark couldn't agree more on that one. He'd been freezing his danglies off in this place and honestly the cold was really starting to bite. He wasn't built for the cold! Luxray were tropical pokemon! Forests and beaches, caves and grasslands and the like! "If I didn't know better Ark, I would say your warming up a little." Ark pondered that as the Fire type allowed some space for him to come up and share in the warmth.

Ark did so, though he leaned in a bit to get some of that warmth, brushing against the Ninetails lightly as he took up a position next to him. "Maybe I am warming up a bit hm? Can't always be cold to you or anyone else and well.. its hard to be cold with you around." He nods with a small smile spreading across his face, there was genuine sincerity in his words with an apologetic hint. He sniffed the air, though his sense of smell wasn't as nearly as acute as the Pikachu or the Ninetails with them he could smell something on the air, human; even if it was bland or old. There was a certain sense of pride and well, happiness as well coming from him as everyone seemed to be joining in with the uplifting mood that was coming about. The energy between them all was less down and out and more positive.

Maybe it was just the electric type's way of interpreting moods but it made for a good start to a new journey. He was a bit out ahead but not to far, allowing him to lead a bit better this way through toward his hopeful exit. "Want to join me up here Hikirio?" He asked curiously. "Your sense of smell would be very helpful in picking out the fresh air and any other scents that may lie ahead." He asked, genuinely wanting to include the fox in with their quest out and show that the Luxray was not as big of a tool as he might of come across with the mildly punny humor that he employed at times.

OoC)) Skip, won't have time to post tomorrow as i will be working all day

"Then let's stop dawdling and start moving." Dal said, still half listening to the ghost type continuing what Hikirio's been trying to say and having given up on trying to push. His attention turns to the lion like pokemon ahead of him, as his muscles firm and tighten in tension from what his own words might have just allowed. His head dipping a little, as his ears flatten out against the top of his skull before perking up hearing paw pads slow a little letting him catch up. His head lifts and turns toward Ark as they walk side by side.

The cooling, short fur pressing against his longer, warmer silver pelt as he drifts slightly away before stopping holding his ground. "Maybe I am warming up a bit hmm? Can't always be cold to you or anyone else and well.. It's hard to be cold with you around." The ninetails would nearly skip a step before a soft whisper of a curse then falling back into pace having to lengthen his stride more to keep up. Only now feeling how much more bulk and weight Ark had over him.

Lifting his head higher were the painted unblinking eyes would meet Ark's. Thinking of his words before turning his head slightly listening to the others walking around him, maybe that was true as everyone seemed a little more relaxed and willing to accept. More weight lifting of his back as his breathing calmed and smoothed out. Leaning a little more into the electric type on his side, letting the heat pierce into the short fur to the skin below. Sharing the only thing he could offer to the group, heat.

"Your sense of smell would be very helpful in picking out the fresh air and any other scents that may lie ahead." Ark started as Hikirio looked ahead again taking a large inhale of breath and let it back out through part open maw.

" It's something I had to grow with and adapt to using, something that I had to rely on to keep me going as far as I've come. After losing my eyes, my life line fell to my ears and nose. Each scent from everyone here, sort of paints a picture in my mind what you look like and where you are around me. Paws crunching softly on the ice or clicking off the stone. Yuri's is most clear to me, while Dal I'm struggling with" struggling to hold a conversation explaining what he just does.

Quickening his pace again to keep up with Ark, " The foreign scent is old and hard to pick up on, but it's not one of us. What else would make it an outside presence. The Pilowswine ahead or another human had been through here, perhaps another ranger or trainer. Though it smells sort of like those sheets in the cavern we just came out of. But it's hard with it being so old" Hikirio's head drops a little that he couldn't try and help more.

Ark was very much enjoying the touch, the company now and the closeness that was all around. Especially as Hikirio leaned into him further allowed Ark to enjoy the heat and touch more than most. Not that he'd show it visually, though maybe Hikirio could read it in some manner. He wasn't sure how the Ninetails read emotion aside from voice. "We'll find the source of the scent. I reckon given time it will come to us as we travel." He said optimistically. The large Luxray flicked his tail about slowly as he lead them down through the icy caves.

"Hope you stick around with us through this Hikirio." Ark said with a smile, allowing the Fire type to lean as he wished. The cold winds blowing through the cave now nothing more than chilly breezes conveyed they were getting close to an exit or even a ravine in the ceiling of the cavern. Either would help in an escape! "There's a chilly wind, a cold breeze. Our way out is near!" he'd perk up considerably!

((Sorry about the small post.))

Both Jack and Finn followed the others until Hikirio had mentioned something more about the scent he picked up. "The foreign scent is old and hard to pick up on, but it's not one of us. What else would make it an outside presence. The Pilowswine ahead or another human had been through here, perhaps another ranger or trainer. Though it smells sort of like those sheets in the cavern we just came out of. But it's hard with it being so old." The electric type had a feeling that someone was there and they might run into whatever is making that smell. "There's a chilly wind, a cold breeze. Our way out is near!" Finally, they can get out of this frozen death trap of a cavern. "Finally, now let's—" Before Dal finished Yuri picked up speed and Dal floated after her. "Ah, alright alright—slow down a little, won't you? If you keep going that fast you'll end up slipping," Both Finn and Jack caught up afterwards.

Finn walks up ahead to check around for anything nearby with his psychic. "Nothing out of the ordinary. The piloswines are sleeping down past the entrance. So you don't need to worry about anything mates. But this blood it seems to not be of the one I'm searching for." Jack looked at Finn when he said that. Who's blood it was a mystery to the pikachu as they continue heading out of the place. "Can you tell who it is that was here?" Jack asked the Braixen, but unfortunately Finn had no answer to it since it was to early to tell. "Sorry, but I can't tell even with my psychic, Jack. Maybe its nothing to worry about. No worries mate." The fire type was right though. His abilities can only tell him so much and he would have to be close to whoever it was to know what happened. "I see....Well I guess we'll have to find out who it is along the way out or if they're outside. Lets hope though that the storm had passed." The Pikachu said as he followed.

"There's a chilly wind, a cold breeze. Our way out is near!" Leaning off Ark a little as his fan up ahead and the Ninetales follow close behind ready to breath some fresh air. "Finally, now let's—" hearing dials start before also wearing the quickening shoes keeping pace with them from Yuri. She must be ready to get out of the cave just as much as everyone else. But, then again, who could blame her not having fur or better means of keeping warm and the diet of pokeblocks Ark and himself were carrying around. "Nothing out of the ordinary. The piloswines are sleeping down past the entrance. So you don't need to worry about anything mates. But this blood it seems to not be with the one I'm searching for." slowing his pace a little, if that was the case wouldn't want to go running full speed into them.

"Can you tell who it is that was here?" Jack did have a valid question if the other fire fox knew anything else that he could share with the rest of them, Hikirio turning around and faced them. "Sorry, but I can't tell even with my psychic, Jack. Maybe it's nothing to worry about. No worries mate." Figured as much course no answers would come that easy, but it did prickle at his fur that Finn would give the smaller electric mouse some sort of hope then slash it away. "I see.... Well, I guess we'll have to find out who it is along the way out or if they're outside. Let's hope though that the storm had passed." " There was a storm outside at some point, as well if the Pokemon mentioned are sleeping maybe not best to go charging in and wake them up." pointing out just loud enough for the others.

Ark flicked his tail a bit as the Braxien ran ahead to check "Careful." He comments as they near the exit. "The storm if its still going we'd hear it. The howling of the winds and the biting chill flowing down the cave." He added as he moved on up. The air smelled clear and the howling of the wind was not so deafening here. There was some howling though from the wind; however it sounded normal in fact for the mountain side. The smell of crisp, clean, icy air was an enjoyable feeling for the Luxray to have wash over his senses. His fur standing on end in response to the rather enjoyable feeling.

Ark peered out the cave entrance and down the icy path and slope "Well.. here we are. A way out." He glanced down at the blood and then out down the path "If they went out this way, this is the path the owner should of taken. Maybe we'll find them along the way."

"The storm if its still going we'd hear it. The howling of the winds and the biting chill flowing down the cave." Hikirio falling behind a little more out of step with Ark. Even as refreshing as the lung full of the fresh air was to breath in he had concerns. A fresh white blanket, of unknown depth what could be inside it and would be suffocating to the blind fox as he swallows dryly."Well.. here we are. A way out. If they went out this way, this is the path the owner should of taken. Maybe we'll find them along the way." He shakes his head a little at the idea of it's all to convenient, maybe it was a set up or trap that a random human was in here leading them out. Tilting his head down at the fresh sparkles of snow lifting a warm paw to touch as it melted before he could come close.

"Crikey, it's heading in the same direction we're going mates, but I think whoever it is might be..." Hikirio simply stopped at the mouth of the cave not coming any further. Shaking his mane in doubt, waiting to see if anyone would maybe care to explain to say what they see besides the snow and the possible trail. " If it could be seen over the snow, it's fresh or the storm never happened" commenting a little sitting down as the bags slides down his back a little almost forgetting about them."Ark, if you can see whatever is downwind it might help us find out who it is." He pulls on the strap behind his forelegs to try and stop them from digging in, before wrapping his tails around his legs.

" So it's clear now, you go out there a storm picks up you lose the trail and the cave." His shoulders dropping " I still think it's a bad idea" keeping his voice down tilting his head toward the group. " We still don't know who or what we've been following, if they are still out there or passed on. If they are waiting in some snare or don't want to be found" His ears pinning against his head, then as a drift blows in the mouth of the cavern, a bitter sweet brisk breeze.

Letting out a poof of smoke between his maw " I don't think I can be much use in that condition, the snow is already disorienting enough masking sounds and scents. " Getting up, then giving himself a shake from the few snowflakes that rode in on the breeze " Ark and Finn can help you find your human Jack if that's him or not. Dal I think leaving this cave has its good ways and bad, but we know some of the halls already and the clear dangers we already found food. Maybe there is more deeper in clearly if it was a human would have had more camps and the like wouldn't they?"

Walking up to Yuri " I think going out into the unknown to this city or settlement is a bad idea for Yuri, we don't know if it's still even there" sounding generally concerned for the human then walking around her legs before going back to where he was facing the cavern this time " you can take most of the food if you want, just leave me some " as he hung his head down as with the multiple tails.

" Jack wants to find his human being, some ranger pokemon with Ark and his trainer. Fin showing up, just happen to be having a stroll in the middle of an ice cavern? You all have your own goals and drives I get that, but what about Yuri herself. Isn't Human pokemon supposed to protect the human's well being?" his voice getting a little more spiced and sharp. " We're all here because we're just looking out for ourselves!" barking as a neon blue flame licks at his fangs.

Turning back as the mountain of brown under some white shifts slowly waking up, the low bellowing sound coming from it. A poof of snow shot out as it took a long, sharp exhale before pulling it's self up from resting, then another, and another from the snow a small herd. The Fox locks up then, already knowing what he's done. "I'm sorry" whimpering a little before running past the raising mass of brown fur back into the ice caverns.

( Hikrio leaving, sorry can't seem to hold the character anymore. )