So here it is, Chapter 3. It's a bit longer than the others two and I had writers block at the end for a while. Speaking of which, I have no idea what to write in this authors note. I could talk about the story, but there's not much to talk about yet. Well since I can't think of anything else for this authors note here are two review replies.
Mr. Sally- Yes, he will get angry over what happens, but it's going to be a slow process. Now all we need is a trigger to help him with his dark side... wonder when that will happen...
NadNard720- Kari is a kid, and he and his brother didn't have the closest relationship before so of course he's going to think his brother's a jerk no matter how nice he is. I am going to go back and fix a few things once I finish, maybe, probably not I'm lazy.
Now If you'll excuse me I have a conversation about sleeping in ice-cream too get back too [Yay for weird conversations], so enjoy the story.
Chp3: Shrouded in Ice
Kari yawned as he lifted his head up Hmm, I must have fallen asleep. He thought as he looked around the familiar room. Wood and leaves lined the walls, doors mostly closed and Pokemon drinking from cups or bowls. I'm in the inn? He thought as he looked over to a Riolu rubbing the edge of a wooden cup behind a log cut down the middle serving as a bar. She's always quiet, I've never even gotten her name before, although I've never really asked. I think someone said it started with an s… Kari rubbed his eyes trying to get the sleep out of them, but it only made him want to lay down again and sleep more. An Espeon came up to Kari and began to talk, but no words came out. I must have something in my ear he thought as he nodded trying to read her blurring lips. Kari rubbed his eyes and shook his head trying to force his drowsy feelings away. As Kari looked up the Espeon was no longer there, and a faint crackling noise rose from behind him. Kari flipped around to look at the entrance of the inn, fire seeping into it rapidly and spreading along the walls. Kari yelped and turned around to run but the fire already consumed the entire building, burning the now empty tables and doors as Kari frantically looked around realizing he was now alone. He tried to scream for help but only coughed as the fire and smoke crawled around him seeming to jump up at him hungrily. A moaning sound came from above and Kari yelped as he saw the roof cave in on him.
Kari leaped up in fright and looked around. A thin bed of snow replaced the floor and the walls of the inn were replaced by blue skies. A single tree stood besides Kari and he leaned on it breathing a deep sigh as his heartbeat slowed down. Ignoring his throbbing head Kari looked around and saw his brother sitting a little ways away looking down into a snowy valley.
"Finally awake?" Koori asked in an emotionless voice as Kari padded through the snowy powder towards his brother.
"Ya," Kari said bitterly as he sat next to his brother, "No thanks to you. Where are we?"
"North of home," Koori said as he stood up, "Far north, about half a days travel maybe more."
Kari looked down into the valley and than at his brother, noticing the dried blood around the bite mark on his leg, "Sorry." He sighed as his brother flicked a snowflake off of his ear and turned towards Kari, "I know you were just looking out for me and I panicked. I just couldn't stand there and-"
"I'm sorry too…" Koori said as he put his injured paw on Kari's muzzle, "But I would rather make sure you're safe than jump into a fire trying to help anyone who might have survived. Are you ready to keep going? There's a path down in the valley, it might lead to a nearby city."
Kari looked at his brother and than at the valley, "Ya…" He said blandly as he stood up, "how's your leg?"
"No worse than your head," Koori said, "The cold's keeping the swelling down."
Kari just nodded and stood up. What now… he thought as his brother started to walk down into the valley. I wonder how many made it out… and how did the fire begin? Why did it have to be our home? What now… Kari let out a depressed sigh as he followed his brother. The sun slowly made its way up into the sky and they both walked down a path covered in trampled snow. I've never seen so much snow. Kari thought as he looked around at the few trees and frozen ground. I wish mom was here to see it too…
"You alright Kari?" Koori asked from a ways ahead of his brother, "You're walking really slow.
"No…" Kari shook his head as he picked up his pace, "How can I be okay? What are we going to do?"
Koori just turned around and began to walk again staying silent for a while, "I really don't know Kari." He finally said, "But we'll get through it together."
"Alright…" Kari mumbled to himself as they continued to walk along the snowy trail. Soon a small town came into view and with it the smoke of a few chimneys. Kari winched as he looked at the calm gray smoke spread into the air. What could I have done? He thought as he looked at his brother and sighed, nothing…I would have just gotten in the way if I had gone into the fire if anyone was left. The brothers made their way into the town, stones lined the path between buildings stacked together as if they were huddling together for warmth. Koori looked around until he saw a small sign hanging from one of the porches that read 'Froz-inn'. Kari would have laughed at other times, but the sign just made him remember his dream and home again.
"Lets see if we can get a place to rest for awhile," Koori said as he pushed threw the door, "Or at least some food." The inside was made of dark wood, less natural than the one Kari was use to. A few pokemon were sitting around eating or chatting amongst each other. Looking at everything was too upsetting so Kari decided to focus on his paws instead.
"Hello…" A sneasel said smiling at a wooden counter, "Welcome to Froz-inn. I'm Froz, would you like a room? A drink perhaps?"
"Yes, but…" Koori said looking at his brother than back to Froz, "We don't have any money… Is there something we could do for a place to stay? Anything?"
The smile on Froz face quickly turned to a frown. "Deadbeat beggars…" He sneered, "If you don't have anything valuable to trade or money, get your discolored pelt out of my inn. I don't need you taking rooms from potential customers who actually pay."
Koori sighed as he turned around, "Alright we're leaving."
"But Koori, we can't just go we need help…" Kari stammered as his brother walked past him.
"There's no room in a heart filled with greed," He said as he glanced at Froz, "We'll find a place to stay elsewhere. I didn't think we would get a place to stay easily anyways."
"Alright…" Kari sighed as he walked with his brother back out into the streets. "Maybe we could…" Kari stopped as he thought, the unfamiliar town seeming colder and colder as he realized there was nothing he could do and nobody to help him. Kari sat down at the edge of the road in front of the inn, suddenly too tired to move.
"It's alright," Koori said as his brother began to sob, "We'll find some help, I know we will. I'll keep asking around and eventually…" Koori sighed and sat down by his brother in the snow, letting Kari lean on him and cry into his fur, "eventually…" He said as he looked at his brother.
"Hey, you two," A soft voice spoke, "Come back inside where it's warm." Kari looked up to see a ninetales standing just outside of the door to the inn, her nine tails swaying slowly as if they were a calm flame, "Well don't just sit there in the snow, come on."
"No," Koori said calmly as he looked at the ninetales, "We're not here to start trouble. Thanks for trying to help though."
"If you're worried about that dirty sneasel it's fine. If you're with a paying customer than he won't complain," The ninetales said flicking a tail, "And you don't look like you're from around here, I think I would have noticed if you were, so I'm curious."
"Brother?" Kari sniffled as he stood up, "Come on she's offering to help us, why are you saying no?"
"Well if we it wont cause trouble for you," Koori said as he stood up and padded over to the ninetales, "Than thanks. I'm Koori and this is my younger brother, Kari."
"I'm Velvet," The ninetales said as she turned and opened the door, "My room's upstairs. I only have one room but it's better than the streets." The two brothers followed Velvet as she walked past the counter and up the stairs. Froz gave the group a glare before turning and muttering under his breath. Velvet pushed one of the doors open and after the two brothers entered she closed the door, "You two are pretty banged up, how did that happen?"
"Long story," Koori said with a sigh, "and a complicated one."
"Time's all I have at the moment," Flicker said with a smile at Koori who frowned.
"I wouldn't mind telling you but I'm exhausted," Koori sighed as he sat down on the floor, "Maybe after we get some rest would be a better time to explain our situation."
"Alright," Velvet said as she opened the door again and slid out, "You two rest and I'll go get you something to eat from the market."
Kari laid down next to his bother realizing how numb and stiff his legs were. "I've never been so worn out in my life," Kari moaned, "Do you think anyone else will find this town?" Koori didn't reply as he stared blankly at the door, his head on his paws, "hello, Koori are you sleeping with your eyes open?"
"Huh," Koori said as he looked at his brother, "oh no, I was just thinking… I don't know if anyone else will come here but I'm sure others made it out alright."
"Do you think mom made it out?" Kari asked his brother as he closed his eyes, "I mean she use to travel a lot with dad right? She would easily make it out if others did."
"Ya, I'm sure she's looking for us right now," Kari said softly as he shifted to get comfortable and closed his eyes, "Just get some rest for now, the last thing we need is to catch colds."
"That would be bad," Kari said almost to softly to hear, "Goodnight Koori."
"Goodnight." Koori replied as the brothers drifted off into sleep.
