Sofa got down on all fours and started talking to his friend, so excited he completely forgot about being hungry. Lex, however, was enjoying his sweet berry that he was holding in his ear-like hands. "And you can't exactly tell them to leave you alone...are you sure there's nothing else up here? When we were really close, just a few minutes from seeing the big petrified tree, Sofa stood for a very VERY long time staring in this direction, but I think he was looking past here. I don't think it was in response to humans. What is there northwest of Silvertree? If you know, what's over there as far as to the ocean?" Marcus was persistent about finding out about this mystery; he had never seen Sofa, or anything, as terrified as his friend looked staring into the storm.
"There is nothing that we are aware of," Eira told him with a frown, having lived in the area for years and never having heard of something living in that direction. "We normally only go to the lake and back if anyone is to travel to the north of here. It is far too cold for most of us to travel much further than that and even some of the people who live here can only stand to go to the lake during the summer month."
Spheal began to rock back and forth in front of Sofa excitedly as he talked loudly to the Pokemon he hadn't seen in so long.
*Why do you live so far away, little one? I have so much to tell you. Me and Marcus traveled long time on old road to sea town. There was good food. We met person there, battled, friendly person. My idea to come here. Missed you. Egg person hatched, not very interesting. But there is threat. Far far FAR away. Old being. Felt it, barely, but it is strong. What is this thing?*
"I guess that makes sense...I don't know, it feels so much easier to deal with the cold when it's less windy. Up here past the blizzard, I feel like I'm actually warm." Marcus smiled as he finished his food, making sure to leave some for Sofa when he realized he was starving. "When we realized we'd made it past the hard part, we all stopped and danced for a bit. It was pretty hilarious."
*My Eira likes it here away from humans. She's a really shy human unlike your Marcus. I wanna go go go to places and see things and battle things and perform things like you! What thing? Where? Threat? What? Who?*
"The trees help protect the village from the wind and the other houses protect this one from the little bit that gets through," Eira informed him as she moved towards one of the walls. "My home is the warmest because many of the hunters around here insisted on lining my home with unneeded fur from their kills."
Z walked into the village, his cloak pulled tight around him to keep him warm. Axew and Sparky were stored in their pokeballs for their own safety as he had traveled through the frigid landscape. He shook the snow off himself and headed for the pokemon center to warm up and hoped he could get a bowl of hot soup once inside. He looked around the village and saw the tree that gave the village its name. He smiled and thought that it looked quite beautiful and wished he had a camera to capture the scene.
*You don't feel it? It far that way* Sofa pointed northwest. *Making wall of energy. Like low growl to make us stay away. It always there. Never felt something this strong. It scares me.*
"I noticed. If you were the one here before them, why do they feel the need to help you? Weird. Well, I don't quite get it, but I guess it's nice of them. Yeah...you said something about a competition hall before back in Ignacia. When is it gonna be open? Are you gonna be judging it? You don't really have a lot of experience with contests...are you sure you're the right person for the job?"
Z walked towards the large hut by the silver tree. He hoped it was the center and that he could warm up once inside. He made a mental note to pack warmer clothes if he decided to travel in the snow again. HE just wasn't used to cold ice and sleet pelting him while he traveled through a region. He hoped Eira had a warm place for him to stay at and wondered what her position in this town was. she seemed like an important person when they met, but he was still curious about it and wanted to find out what her role in the village was.
Spheal paused before he answered Sofa. *Oh THAT! You don't have to worry about that. Just make sure you and your human stay away from it, okay? Only wild Ice types are allowed over there.*
"I think it is their way of thanking me for showing them how to survive up here," Eira said as she pulled down one of the fur pelts to bring over to him as a blanket in case he got cold again. "The hall is having it's opening ceremony soon and I will be judging it. I would like to enter it myself, but everyone already seems to be excited to hear how I judge the competitors. We are even working on getting safe passage through the blizzards for those that want to compete here. You should think of competing."
*I don't like it. It is strong. It scares me. I hope we don't go there. What is it making the wall of energy? Do you know?*
"Yeah, that's why I was able to rationalize coming up here to see you guys; I planned on competing. It wasn't, no offense, quite worth coming through the blizzards and risking death just to see you two." Marcus looked at the pelt and felt it for a bit. "So, is there a place to stay around here? I'm pretty tired, I put Sofa and Lex in their balls when they got sleepy, but I had to keep moving to keep from freezing to death. I don't know how long it's been since I've slept."
Z walked up to the hut and knocked on the door. "Anyone home?" called Z, "Is this the Pokemon center? I'm cold and I'd like to come in." Z pulled his cloak tight around himself to try and keep warm in the snow. He decided not to bring Sparky out as she needed to keep warm to recover her strength from the trip. Z hoped he could find the others soon as he had gotten separated from them while he was making his way to the city and ended up having to trudge through the snow to find the place. He really wanted a nice bowl of hot soup right about now
Recognizing the voice, Marcus called out before Eira could respond, "NO! Your kind isn't welcome here. Get out." Marcus smiled as he messed with his friend, getting up to open the door. "This happens to be Eirlys Castle. Do you have some business here?" Marcus grinned wide before hugging his not-so-long estranged fellow competitor. "I thought you were coming to Silvertree with Eira. Was your Sparky too jealous and refused to go with her?"
"No," said Z, "I got a bit lost when I was traveling and ended up getting separated from you. Luckily I can read a map and was able to figure out the trail with the help of Sparky's flames. She's currently resting in her pokeball where it's warm and cozy. I on the other hand am freezing." Z shivered, "May I come in and warm up with my pokemon?" It was then that he caught the last part of what Marcus had said, "Wait, Eira has a PALACE!? does that make her royalty?! I never knew!" Z was now very nervous as he had acted so casually in front of someone so important and now just found out what she was.
"It's not really a palace as you can see," Eira chuckled as she crossed over to her door to welcome Z into her hut. "It's hardly even four rooms and a kitchen, which isn't much more than the rest of the village has. And yes, I am considered royalty here by the villagers, but that does not mean any of my friends have to treat me any different."
She motioned into the hut to let Z know that he was welcomed into it as she went to fetch him food and a warm pelt to curl up under. "The village isn't much, but it is a safe place out here in the cold. I'm glad you were able to make it here yourself in one piece. I was starting to get worried when none of our rescue teams were having any luck finding you out there."
Z pulled his pokeballs off his necklace and let Sparky and Axew out of their balls. Once out, Axew ran to play with Spheal and sofa in playing and fun. "This is a bit awkward," said z, "I never knew you were a queen and have been acting so casually around you. I'm sorry if I ever insulted you Eira," said Z before digging into the hot soup, letting it warm him inside and out. Axew began talking to spheal while sparky sat by Z's side keeping him warm with her type's heat. Z patted Sparky's shoulder and the bird pokemon cooed with happiness.
"I wouldn't worry too much about it. You're a nice kid anyway and she gets enough of people treating her like she's some fragile princess from her 'subjects'. Besides, the most improvement I've seen her have as a person was right after I intentionally and blatantly insulted her." Turning to Eira, Marcus spoke softly, "Sorry again about that."
Sofa was feeling so happy to see his friends he had made just weeks ago back in Ignacia, but suddenly he felt his stomach grumble and realized just how hungry he was. Looking for food, he saw Marcus pointing to the small pile he had left for his friend. He shot over to the food, hugged Marcus, and tore into his portion.