As the temperature dropped Cass wrapped herself around her Trainer's neck like a warm puffy scarf, the two of them staying pretty comfortable despite the icy wonderland they found themselves surrounded by. Mattie gasped audibly as she saw the Snorunt and knelt down to their level when they initially approached, saying kind, comforting things so as to not frighten them. They disappeared back into their homes though, and left in the snow to her own devices, she glanced over at Martín del Mar with a mischievous gleam in her eye. Grabbing a handful of snow, she loosely packed it together into a ball and as she stood she hurled it directly between the banker's shoulder blades. She immediately clasped her hands together and looked away innocently, but Cass' small giggles surely gave her away.[break][break]

When the Snorunt reappear Matilda takes her gift with a profound thank you to the small creatures. Though she wished to stay in the wintry wonderland she knew better than to rile up a Perrserker, and she followed Bjorn back to the main group, pausing at the entrance of the snowy tunnel to safely store her ice-cold stone in her bag. A loud rumbling gave her just enough warning to glance up and see the rest of the group sprinting away from a crumbling wall - and away from her. Chunks of rock, dirt, and the occasional glimmer of precious stones rained down as the Steelix roared and began entering the large cavern. With no clear path forward, she instead stayed in the mouth of the small tunnel, safe from the debris and the attention of the giant metal monstrosities. Her chest ached with how hard her heart pounded, her eyes wide as she desperately tried to make out Dominic Grey in the crowd.[break][break]

Cass's small heart pounded as well, but her eyes were narrowed at the Steelix in determination. She leapt off Matilda's shoulder and weaved through the rubble, bounding onto the back of the lead Steelix. The Cinccino deftly ascended the enormous Pokemon, pausing here and there to tap its metal frame with a paw, hoping to distract it from the people and Pokemon below. Once she reaches the top of the Steelix's head she leans over its eye so it can see her, then chitters and begins running down the length of it again, pausing just long enough to Tickle it into distraction before darting away, her size and speed making it almost impossible for the Steelix to catch her.[break][break]

Matilda screamed Cass' name in horror as the little Cinccino dashed off, but her cries were drowned out by the ear-splitting cacophony of metal on rock and Trainers screaming directions to each other and their Pokemon.
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qKbzDBUs

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TL;DR:[break]
-Fluffy Cass helps keep Mattie warm in Snoruntland[break]
-Matilda absolutely starts a snowball fight with Mars[break]
-She takes her ice stone with much gratitude to the lil dudes[break]
-Putting away her stone, she pauses just long enough in the mouth of snow tunnel to be separated from the group by falling debris[break]
-Cass, bold as she is, takes it upon herself to Tickle the lead Steelix, hoping to distract it from the main group

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Remi's standoffish behavior didn't faze Matilda in the slightest. She'd expected nothing less from someone who was routinely paid for protection, and that eyepatch spoke volumes. Mattie would never ask about something like that, and honestly it didn't matter how Remi had received it - anyone who could take an injury like that and stay in the bodyguarding field was clearly a tough son of a bitch.[break][break]

The choice of Bane as a partner also spoke volumes. Anyone who was capable of earning the respect of a Pangoro was not someone to be messed with, but also couldn't be an inherently bad person in Matilda's eyes - Pangoro were incredibly strong and loved to fight, but they weren't known for senseless violence. They were protectors of those smaller and less capable than them.[break][break]

Matilda stood for a few minutes in silence, occasionally nodding to the archaeologist when she'd ask for a tool or for her bag. Once she seemed set and content with simply spouting off random nonsense that likely made a lot of sense to her, but Matilda could only pick out one word in three, Mattie found a nearby boulder with a mostly flat surface and sat down, crossing her legs and folding her hands in her lap.[break][break]

Catching sight of Bane's expression, Mattie smiled. "I bet no one messes with you," she says to the Pangoro with a small smile, emotionally undeterred but definitely not making any movements towards the hulking figure. Shifting her attention to Remi, she asks, "How did you two meet?" [break][break]

While the archaeologist worked, the sounds of shifting earth and rocks being dropped into the bag mixed with the background sound of her chattering away, mostly to herself or to Vega who sat next to her and watched her dig.


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Remi Cassel

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Listening to the boy's plight on the job front, Mattie nodded sympathetically. "I've had my share of seasonal jobs. They are *not* easy." She sighs. "I don't know how I'm gonna afford a house yet, but I'm just taking things one day at a time. No use stressin' over things you can't control, right?" Mattie gives Asher a soft, tired smile.[break][break]

As Asher divulges his past, her brow furrows in frustration and her jaw clenches. Mattie's quiet for a spell after he stops talking, just mulling over his words. Her voice is soft and sympathetic as she tells him, "I'm so sorry you had to go through that. No one should ever be treated like that and it's awful that you had to leave."[break][break]

"I'm so happy you were here to help me and Dziban, though," she says thankfully, before her expression shifts to one of nonchalant confidence. "Well, they're all a bunch of dum-dums who don't know awesome when they see it," she says very matter-of-fact. "I, for one, would be overjoyed to call you family." Not only does Mattie smile at him but Taika, who had been listening quietly, smiles over at Asher and makes happy little Togepi sounds. Dziban's expression is hard to read as always, but he does look at Asher and slowly tilt his head uncomfortably far to the left until he flips over, laying on his back on Mattie's shoulder as his little Dreepy paws hang down over his head. [break][break]

Did she have the means to take care of this kid? No. Not yet, she told herself. But she sure as fuck wasn't going to leave him in the street with nothing but thoughts and prayers to hold onto, not when there was even the slightest chance she could provide a little happiness and security for him. What was life without the connections we make along the way, right?


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Asher Baran

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The grating sound of rock on rock causes Matilda to jump up and clap her hands to her ears. She turns around to the sight of an enormous turtle, rock armor covering its torso and head. Her eyes go wide as her heart pounds in her chest. It stops pulling itself over the rocks when it sees her and the two small Pokemon, tilting its head slowly as it considers the group of them.[break][break]

Slowly Matilda drops her hands to her sides. Her heart still pounds hard in her chest - if a creature like that decided to attack her, she didn't stand a chance. She stepped towards it slowly, and initially it stepped back; but she carefully approached it, and it eventually allowed her near. Mattie could see a harpoon gouged deep between two sections of armor plating, and she sighed sadly. "Hey there, it's okay," she murmurs to the Carracosta, moving slowly and carefully as she talks to it until it lets her touch it.[break][break]

Once they're acquainted enough that the large turtle is okay with her touching and prodding, Mattie retrieves her bag and digs through it until she pulls out her first aid supplies. She'd never seen a Pokemon like this, let alone studied or worked with one, but she was certain that between herself and Taika they could help this lady feel much, much better.[break][break]

Matilda preps the injury site, being sure to apply as much topical anesthetic as she could while wishing mightily she could be back home with the small surgery suite in her aunt's nursery at her disposal. She explains everything she's going to do before she does it, and while she isn't entirely sure if the Pokemon can understand her, it does seem to be calmer when she's talking to it. Once Mattie releases Taika the Carracosta visibly relaxes; it must know what fairies do.[break][break]

Taika makes small, sad Togepi noises as it inspects the large spear in the Carracosta's side. She looks up at Matilda with pleading in her eyes, and Matilda nods. The two of them tell the Carracosta what they're going to do, but Mattie knew that wasn't going to help much with this next step. Without further ado, Taika places her small hands on the Carracosta's side while Matilda grabs the harpoon and unceremoniously yanks it out of the Pokemon. A loud roar echoes around them, but as soon as the head of the harpoon clears the Pokemon's skin Taika is already channeling the frost and condensation around them into a healing salve. The pink mist of Taika's fairy magic combines with the waters around them and within short order the Carracosta's labored breathing eases. The wound isn't completely erased, but it's healed enough that the wild Pokemon can continue healing on its own without extensive pain or suffering.[break][break]

Matilda continues her soft, comforting words as she puts Taika back in her capsule for safekeeping, and turns back to her two little ones to continue working with them. It becomes apparent after a while that the Carracosta has no interest in leaving; it stays happily on the rocks, watching the three interact. Some light snow begins falling, and Matilda packs up her things and puts Rigel away, but Mizar is having far too much fun and doesn't get to play in the snow nearly enough, so she leaves him out to frolic to his heart's content. She sits and talks with the Carracosta for a while before eventually offering it a place on her team, and it reaches out and sets one large flippered hand on her lap while nuzzling her with its large, armored head. Mattie giggles, then gently taps her new friend with an unused Pokeball before she heads back into town, Mizar bounding around her as he enjoys the snowfall.


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I'mma catch that Carracosta!!

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All night, Matilda snuggled up tight to Dom. She left Haedus, Taika, and Rigel out to snuggle as well, to help them stay nice and toasty warm. Between the group of them and the large winter coat she'd worn to the island and threw over the two of them like a blanket, it was actually a fairly comfortable night.[break][break]

A ray of sun fell directly onto her eyes, and with that Matilda was awake. She looked over at Dom, still fast asleep, and smiled. He'd only been out of her life for a few months, but she really had missed him. Tilly carefully snuck out from under the makeshift blanket, making sure her friend was covered and comfortable before she carefully climbed off the platform and went to tend to the fire. Relieving North of his watch duty, she saw him sleepily climb under her coat to curl up near Dom's stomach and quickly fall asleep.[break][break]

Only a pile of coals was left in the fire pit, but once Haedus started bringing in small logs it was fairly easy to get a decent fire going again. Tilly kept herself busy plucking berries from the bushes Vega had nestled in; in all their travels, she'd learned which ones were the most ripe and therefore sweet. It wasn't enough food for the whole day, but fortunately they wouldn't need to expend too much energy; having the Pokemon with them was a blessing. She ate a few berries, but wrapped most of them in a large leaf and set them on the platform so Dom would notice them when he woke.[break][break]

"Alright guys, we're gonna look for some more food, okay?" Mattie says quietly to Rigel, Vega, and Dziban. Haedus and Mizar were tasked with staying near the fire and keeping it well lit but also under control. That wasn't too much of a chore, seeing as the winter chill would keep just about anything from accidentally burning in this weather; Matilda knew Dom would be furious if it was completely unattended, however, so she made sure to cover her bases. "We're looking for vegetables or any edible plants really, and eggs. Protein is necessary, but don't get in any fights you can't win, you understand me?" She says quietly but firmly to the group. The three nod their understanding, and she nods back in acknowledgement. "Okay, Vega, Rigel, you two go together, and Dziban you're with me. Don't travel far, okay? This is just a small walk - once Dom is up, Lotus can get us however much food we need."[break][break]

The group splits up to survey their environment, and each team is sure to stay within a five minute walk of the camp.



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Dominic Grey

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