The party travels to Silvertree...hopefully

Marcus spun around on the stairs at the sudden surprise, almost losing his balance. Sofa grabbed his arm just in case. "Gee-aahhh...Don't do that." He turned back around and walked down the rest of the steps, calming his heart. "Good morning, Mentus."

Sofa went to the window to check the weather. It had snowed some the night before; they had some more inches to deal with than yesterday. Marcus walked up to Rhys, intent on starting off as soon as possible. "So, about our supplies..."

"In a rush? Okay. Are you sure you don't want to wake up first, have something to eat?"

"That can wait. I want to clear everything up first. We need better clothes for the cold and some food that'll last us the trip there."

"All right. This way then. Aelhaearn; get them anything they need while I'm helping Mr. Gleyser." The Gastly floated out of the east wall into the room with a blank look on his face, which unfortunately was still creepy; his giant eyes calm as his tiny pupils looked around the room. Rhys lead Marcus into the room full of ski equipment on display as Marcus tried to think up a reasonable amount to pay for all the services Rhys had given them.

Maya trod down the stairs and looked up and blinked in surprise. Mentus sat perfectly perched on the landing railing. She paused and gave a small smile. "Good morning, Mentus," she said.

"Maaaaaareeee!" Bo bleated happily to the Abra in greeting as well before galloping the rest of the stairs down. Maya followed after the fluffy sheep with a smile, feeling surprisingly well rested. She pulled her hood up once again as she went to the bottom of the stairs and walked in to where Marcus and Rhys was.

Marcus was walking back with Rhys as he fiddled with his new coat. It felt weird to have a thick article of clothing on; he was so used to loose, airy shirts and jackets and baggy jeans.


"Alright, and that settles everything?"

"Seems like it. It's rare that I get paid in Poke, but I'll make an exception for you kids. You are a very interesting bunch..." Rhys paused and tilted his head just as the front door closed, "and I get the feeling I'm going to be seeing you again."

Marcus looked up to see Maya as she walked towards them. "Rhys says that you can go pick any jacket you want from his stock. Don't worry, it's already paid for."

Marcus looked at Maya for about two seconds with an involuntary smirk before responding, "Of course. It looks great on you. That big coat and hood hide your face. You should wear it down more often. Although not while we're out in the snow; of course. Now where is zan? We just need food provisions and we should be heading out."

Rhys joined Aelhaearn and turned around, "I prepared your dried food last night. It should last you a few weeks. It shouldn't take that long to get there; but that's if you find it. I'm still skeptical it exists. And I believe that closing door earlier was him leaving the house."

"Great...Sofa, could you go find them and tell Mentus we're going to go join them, so they should come meet us at the door?" Sofa nodded and left for the door, the cold wind rushing in as it closed behind him. "Maya, could you carry some of the food for us? I don't have room in my bag for 2 weeks of food; but I can handle about ten days-worth."

The cold was refreshing. The day was quite beautiful, the sun was shining and the ice and snow was shimmering. Zandrophin adjusted his pack as he looked to the sky and saw Mentus flying back to him.

Perimeter's secure, old friend. How's our path ahead look?

The snow is a bit thick, Sir...but I can assure there are no Mammoswine.

Good...we don't need another of those instances.

Sir, the ape is approaching.

Zandrophin turned around and saw Sofa searching for them. When he saw them, Sofa began gesturing towards the house. No translation was needed.

Looks like it's time to go. Let's head back.

The trio walked back to the door. Sofa went back inside, followed shortly by Zandrophin and Mentus.

Zandrophin shook the snow and ice out of his hair. He looked at Marcus.

"The immediate area is secure...and our path ahead looks relatively clear; Mentus scouted from the air. We can assure you this time, o fearless leader, that there will not be a rampage of fur and tusks trying to kill us. Our route has been iced over a bit, but thick snow shouldn't cause too much of a problem. However, we should try to leave as soon as possible."

He began to put some of the extra supplies in his pack, just waiting for the word to move out.

"It appears so." Rhys grabbed Marcus' outreached hand and shook it with feeling. He felt a sort of affinity for the boy, like a nephew or second cousin maybe. He was so very much not like him at his age, and that felt like a good thing. He chuckled at Marcus' remark and shook his head. "Be careful; if I become too popular, my secluded little forest home won't be so secluded anymore."


Rhys looked on with a smile as the group passed, "Farewell, young ones. Be safe." His eyes fell on zandrophin and his lip curled ever so slightly, "I look forward to seeing all of you again."
Aelhaearn floated happily as their guests started to leave, calling softly from the back of the room, So long, Priestess. Say thank you to the other one for me.


The door closed and his smile disintegrated into a look of concern. "No need to worry..." Rhys breathed in deep and then let it out; his face back to it's usual calm nature. "Team Rocket was bound to show up in Asemon eventually. They might not know I'm here or even care. Even if they do, I'd love to see them try and recruit me again. That Abra didn't even try to enter my head, and even if he had tried; he had no hope of getting in. Still, the odds that he would be someone that was under his command.....and he looks just like him too."