She sighed happily as she saw a small group of Wooper slide into the spring on their bellies. Surfacing, the little salamanders squeaked and spit gentle streams of warm water at one another before diving away, their flat tails slapping the surface. Michi laughed-- they were so fun to watch! They reminded her of her daughters when they'd been growing up-- always playing and fighting in the bath. 

Their antics were disturbing the surface of the hot spring, however, and some of the tourists pulled their feet out of the water and moved down to Michi's end of the pool instead. Innocent as the Wooper were, hot water soaking your clothes wouldn't stay hot for long once they moved back up into the frozen section of the spelunking tour. 

They relaxed there for awhile longer, chatting casually, before their names were called and they looked up to see the guide beckoning them on. "This was so nice!" Michi said, already regretting leaving the soothing waters, but they'd taken up enough time here. Shy wild Pokemon probably wouldn't be able to enjoy it while they were here! Replacing her shoes and socks and collecting Snom again from the girl, Michi re-attached her safety cable and got ready to move on. 

[attr="class","wildbgroc"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD TRAPINCH APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

Michi looked up at the last obstacle in their path: a sheer rock face easily three or four times the size of the smaller ledges they'd rappeled down throughout the tour. Can we really climb that? she wondered, biting her lip. She shivered against the cold air blowing down from above-- she could see the yawning gray mouth of the sky.

"Here we are at the main vent, folks!" the guide announced, standing ahead of them. A child had begun to cry, his mother shushing him as the guide talked louder over the sobs. "Now, I know it may look a little intimidating, but I promise we have the equipment and more importantly, you have the know-how to keep safe! Just remember Sammy the Snom's Ten Tricks, and you'll be good to go!"

The guide secured all his equipment and began to scale the side of the vent, pulling himself hand-over-hand to demonstrate. He moved very slowly, checking his foot and handholds carefully before changing. Watching him climb, Michi realized the seemingly sheer face was made of the same rock as before-- it was peppered with small holes that were perfect for gripping. Though there were complications.

"Oops! Sorry, little buddy," the guide's voice came, muffled, as a Trapinch head popped out of one of the holes just as he was settling his boot in it. The insectoid Pokemon pulled its head back in quickly.  Michi let out her breath in relief as the guide pulled himself up to a manmade platform about a third of the way up the volcanic chimney. "All right, people! Put those Snoms away and let's get climbing!"

[attr="class","wildbgroc"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD SNOM APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

It was the most difficult part of the tour so far. All the videos they'd watched, all the smaller ledges they'd scaled, they had all been to prepare them for this final challenge. I'm ready! Michi thought exuberantly, climbing gear cinched snug around her waist. They'd all secured their Snoms to a special pouch on their back

The climb began. Michi pulled herself up carefully, going much slower than many of the others in her group. Some of them rushed to reach the top as fast as they could. One slipped in his haste and came loose from the rock with a yell, though his safety line immediately caught him. Michiko turned her face away, trying not to watch. It was difficult enough without seeing the people around her having near-death experiences!

There was a cry from above. "No! Sammie!" It was the girl she'd been paired up with during the Snom Song-- Michi's heart skipped a beat as she saw the handsome little male Snom's pouch had come loose. The bug-type had slipped down back of his owner's jacket and was only barely hanging on to the hem. "Hang on!" the girl cried, trying to reach behind herself to push him back up, but his little legs gave way and he fell with a squeak. 

Acting before thinking, Michi reached out desperately with one hand and caught the little boy Snom, clutching him to her chest. Her line swayed dangerously and she felt her feet skid on the icy foothold. "Eeeeek!" Michi cried, clinging desperately to the boy Snom. "I've got you!" Terrified, the little Pokemon burrowed into her scarf as Michi held her breath, tenuously regaining her footing. 

She inched her way up, step by step, towards the finish line.

[attr="class","wildbgroc"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]YOU CAUGHT SNOM!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]