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Cass follows her pokémon further into the cave, looking around. "You know, if you'd just tell me what you're looking for," she murmurs. She knows Umlaut's also been staring at Pic when he's drawing - there should be some basic drawing ability.

But nope, they have to be here, with only Umlaut looking. And also drawing the fury of some wild pokémon, it seems. A Marowak charges forward, maybe feeling threatened by the Toedscruel sudden appearance, using Mud Slap with her mud-covered bone. "Don't! Spore!" Cass commands, before covering her mouth with her sleeve as Umlaut releases sleep-inducing spores.

skipping marowak

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The relief about having dealt with one situation peacefully is quickly replaced by a feeling of dread. Another Toedscruel comes up, and now- "That's your sister?!" Cass exclaims. Normally, she'd be curious. However, right now, her mental thoughts are all occupied by how freakin' mad she looks. "What the hell did you-"

She can't finish her sentence before two things happen simultaneously:

Umlaut and his sister charge at each other, filling the air with Spores.

Her phone rings.

Looking at the name, she throws hands helplessly, "I'll have to take that-! You guys sort it out!" she calls, but isn't sure if Umlaut even hears her as she's retreating to a safer distance. "Hey, Rika- sorry, now is not really a good time- but ah, I see, mh-hm..."

The phone call takes her another five minutes, during which she has no idea what's happening with the two Toedscruel. "Umlaut, I'm ba-" she says, then ... He's still standing, but there's no sign of his sister. "Uh. Do I wanna know more or ... did you find what you were looking for, anyway?"

The answer, unfortunately, is no. He has not yet found whatever he's searching.

skipping toedscruel

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And it seems like Umlaut would not find what he's looking for anytime soon. The duo stumbled upon a Mr Rime here in the chilly caves, tap dancing away on the slippery ice, seemingly without problem.

He also notices them, and quickly waves his hand and cane, seemingly inviting them to join him for a moment. "Hmm, I think we should focus on the se-" Cass says, but Umlaut has other plans. He already joined the Mr Rime (on not frozen-frozen ground), imitating the dancing of the ice pokémon.

Cass sighs, smiling faintly. "I really should've brought Eira, huh?" she murmurs, before speaking louder, "Alright, show me the moves!"

She focuses on the dance, not noticing that one of her empty pokéballs slip out of her pocket- huh! It rolls over the ice, just under Mr Rime's foot, who promptly triggers the button as he steps down. Cass and the pokémon stare at each other, slightly perplexed, before he disappears in a beam of red light.

"Uhm- I usually ask that a bit later, but do you wanna come with us?"

capturing mr rime!