Speaking of wild pokemon... It did not take long, until they'd find their first encounter. Namely, a Forretress that would - suddenly - rise from the snow, having looked like nothing more than a frost-covered boulder but moments ago. The opposing halves of the shell would briefly shift and adjust themselves, as a pair of eyes peered at Makoto and Tsume from the darkness within the gaps.

Makoto jumped a bit at the steel-type making itself known so suddenly, though it showed no signs of hostility at a glance. Just two creatures, regarding each other as what was perhaps one of the first signs of life in a good while. ... Still - the Icelands didn't really strike Makoto as being the sort of habitat for the bagworm pokemon, and it made them wonder what it was doing here in the first place. There wasn't a lot of plant-life for a Forretress to hide amongst or feed on - though perhaps prey here was plentiful enough, if the steel-type went the route of disguising itself like this?

At Tsume's prompting though, in the form of a low rumble, the group moved on - leaving the Forretress to continued existence, within this frozen wasteland...

Despite their best efforts, it appeared that the ice was - just as the rumors said - basically impervious. Even as Kama attempted to use Metal Claw on one of the many frozen statues that made up the Icelands, there wasn't even any visible scratches left behind - despite the use of a steel-type move, and despite the sharpness of the sneasel's claws. Kama chittered faintly - appearing disappointed - though Makoto reached down, to pat him on the shoulder.

"You did fine, Kama." Makoto spoke soothingly, smiling down to him. "You tried your best."

However, it was almost out of nowhere that a Jynx would appear from behind another statue - causing Makoto to curse in surprise, stumbling back. Eyes met - trainer and pokemon staring into eachothers' eyes for perhaps longer than was necessary, as Tsume and Kama watched from the sidelines. But, eventually, the Jynx seemed to lose interest in the group - simply moving on, leaving with a strange swaying gait.

As the ice-type wandered off, Makoto would let out a heavy sigh. They were beginning to feel all the same as their own pokemon did - unsettled and unsure of this frozen graveyard. In the moment, it was indeed as silent and desolate as its name implied - but...

... Glancing at the statue that they had attempted to scratch, Makoto couldn't help but recognize that whatever had caused this place to form could - very well - still lurk here, in the shadows. The potential was there, no matter how miniscule - and the longer they remained, the more that they realized they wanted no part of that.

Just a little longer, and then they'd leave...

Even as Makoto adjusted their scarf, the cold had their nose and ears going numb - it was getting late. They likely shouldn't remain much longer, really - especially when Tsume and even Kama were starting to show signs of shivering. The only one who seemed unbothered was Kuro - though that could partly be due to the fact that he was a ghost. "Let's start heading back, I think we've all had enough of this place." Makoto spoke gently, pulling out a pair of pokeballs, to recall Tsume and Kama.

Next, they'd pull out a third pokeball - letting out Nobu. The crobat would chitter as he was sent out, wings flitting as he turned his gaze onto Makoto, questioning. Even if he did not express it, he did not like it here - eyes glancing side to side to regard the distant statues of frozen pokemon. This was a place of the dead - none of them had any place being here...

Though, Makoto didn't miss the bat's unsettled demeanor. "I know, I don't like it here either." They spoke with a sympathetic smile, patting Nobu on the side comfortingly. "Let's get out of here." With that, they were climbing up onto Nobu's back - Kuro having to make a brief leap, to make sure that it could hide in Makoto's shadow proper. He was large enough to carry the both of them - and with his speeds, he'd have them out of the icelands in no time.

However, as Nobu took flight - something lurking amongst the snow would notice him. Something decidedly less friendly. The sounds of metal grinding against eachother, twisting and turning - adjusting their aim, ever so carefully. The building of electricity, charging and coalescing together to a single point...

As the duo flew, a point of light shined down below - amongst the snow. Makoto blinked widely as they caught a glance of it - and having a bad feeling about it, they'd attempt to bank to the side- But before they knew it, a Charge Beam fired from below, catching on Nobu's left wings. The bat pokemon shrieked in response, the electricity causing his muscles to seize as he found himself drifting to the side, spiraling down, in to the snow-

And as they crashed, Makoto was thrown from Nobu's back - grunting sharply as they were sent tumbling down across the frozen ground. "Nobu? A... Are you okay??" They'd call - seeing where the crobat had fallen into a heap, on the ground. He wasn't hurt, was he..?

Slowly, but surely, the crobat pushed itself back up, letting out a low and displeased hiss. He knew naught what had struck him - but the bat pokemon was already on the alert, eyes gazing around -- Before he darted to the side with a flick of his wings, to narrowly dodge another Charge Beam. There, somewhere beyond a frozen tree - something was using it as cover and firing upon them.

Makoto grit their teeth - what was that? A wild pokemon? Some trainer? They supposed that Tsume would have to come back out, then - they needed his expertise, and they already had a plan. "Tsume. Kuro. Obscure us." They'd speak as the Zoroark was let out - and the two foxes wasted no time in following their direction, weaving both of their Illusions together to hopefully make the trio much more difficult to discern in the white snow - making it almost as though they had gone invisible.

And turning towards Nobu, Makoto asked "Can you keep it distracted while we close in?" They hated to make the flying-type a target against obvious electric-type attacks, but of the group Nobu was one of the fastest - and would make a more noticeable target than say, Kama.

Nobusuma nodded, taking to the air once more. In being able to see it coming this time, he was able to dart away from each the Charge Beam - both sets of wings a practical blur as he moved. Though he might be a sitting duck in the air, he was unafraid to use his environment to his advantage - darting behind statues for cover, and only remaining in the open just long enough to bait out attacks.

Makoto would have to treat him later, as much as they disliked enabling his taste for fermenting berries. But that was beside the point - in the moment, they had to figure out who was firing upon them, and put a stop to it so that they could safely leave. Under the illusion from Tsume's and Kuro's combined efforts, the group moved towards the tree - the only signs of their presence and movement being the faintest of ripples in the air, from the foxes having to adjust their illusion accordingly.

But, there was no signs that their attacker noticed them - instead being more focused upon Nobu, who was making an effort to draw the fire as far away from Makoto and co as he could.

Thus, they were able to get closer, and closer, the shape of their attacker becoming all the more clear - namely, a wild klinklang. And a clearly hostile one at that, the steel-type grinding its gears in what might've been frustration as its attacks continued to miss the distant crobat. Lifting from the ground, it appeared as though it was about to try and move - perhaps to get closer to Nobu...

"Night Daze."

... But Tsume was faster - darting out from the cover of the illusion with a low snarl, claws cloaked in pitch-black. Bringing his claws together, he slammed them down into the klinklang with an explosion of dark energy - the klinklang letting loose a sound like tearing or sheared metal in response. As the wild pokemon attempted to turn to face him however, Tsume acted quickly - "Foul Play!" - tackling into it, and turning its own strengths against it in a vicious Foul Play!

The assault left the klinklang dazed and bewildered, to say the least - the opportunity was a perfect one. Thusly, Makoto would throw a pokeball at the steel-type, seeking to catch it. It might not have been their usual choice of 'mon, but perhaps having a Klinklang in their kit would serve them well..?