The caverns of the Sinnoh mountains may have been considered an incredible source of mystery and intrigue among the many researchers, archaeologists, or spelunking hobbyists throughout the world, but to anyone else, particularly individuals that had to navigate the enormous labyrinthine corridors in order to reach their REAL destination, the novelty could wear a bit thin.

The cave structure just wasn't dynamic enough to remain interesting or enjoyable for the common traveler. Passageways twisted and turned, going up or down seemingly at random, and every so often, they twisted back around and deposited the unfortunate travelers right back where they started from. Some passages were filled with dense fog that obscured one's vision for anything further than half an inch, and any Pokemon trainer could tell you horror stories about the ridiculous hordes of Zubats, or Woobats, or Bronzor, or whatever species chose to plague that particular cave.

To a select group of people, the maze-like structure of the mountain caves was part of the fun in exploring Mt. Coronet, and the ridiculously high learning curve helped separate the skilled and experienced travelers from the common rabble. There were more routes leading in and out of the mountain than should have been considered natural, and many more passages were thrown into the mix, seemingly at random, that people traveled on in the hopes of uncovering some hidden chamber or evidence of fantastic carvings and inscriptions.

"Would it kill them to place travel markers around these caves, or is that too practical an idea for Sinnoh's administration to consider?" Frost demanded, as he and Astrid rounded yet another bend, only to find another stretch of cave before them.

Astrid shrugged. She seemed a little worn down, even exhausted. Their journey had visibly taken its toll on her. In addition to getting lost half a dozen times, they had to endure persistent attacks from wild Pokemon that disliked them encroaching on their territory. Each individual adversary posed little to no threat to the two of them, but it turned the trip into a battle of attrition, with them up against everything the mountain had to throw at them. Fortunately, the worst seemed to be behind them, as they hadn't encountered much resistance for the past hour, although Frost wasn't going to get his hopes up just yet.

"We're getting close," the Absol murmured, and Frost cast her a skeptical look.

"How can you tell?" Frost asked carefully. They had been wandering these passages with minimal progress for several days, several times longer than he had hoped the journey would take, and he was already to the point where he simply lacked the willpower to criticize Astrid's judgment. At this point, ANY egress from these hellishly complex passageways would be more than satisfactory, and if they actually arrived at the intended destination, then all the better.

"Scent, sounds, lower air temperature. Typical predator stuff," Astrid answered casually, and then looked over at him thoughtfully. "Aren't Glaceon predators, too? Wow, your tracking senses must be awful."

Frost frowned, a little taken aback by the unprovoked insult, but he sighed quietly and let the comment slide. There hadn't been any malice in her words, so it didn't seem like she was trying to insult him, as opposed to her usual tendency of making commentary without considering how it sounded to the person she was talking to. Besides, if he was completely honest, his sense of smell and sound were unsuited for their present environment. Glaceon were arctic predators, and preferred to hunt in open, snowy environments, as opposed to claustrophobic, darkly lit, rocky caves. Furthermore, how was he supposed to notice a temperature reduction? Cold air was comfortable for him, and even if an Absol's thick fur allowed them to thrive reasonably well in cold environments, it was not really an ideal climate the way it was for a Glaceon or other natural Ice-types.

Astrid picked up her walking pace a little, forcing Frost to practically jog to keep stride with her, and as they rounded one final bend, Frost felt the refreshing chill of a fresh breeze across his face. He shivered in anticipation, peering up ahead to see an oval of light cutting through the dim atmosphere of the cave.

Gentle snowfall greeted the duo as they emerged from the cave, and Frost took a moment to simply bask in the weather. Beautiful, fresh snow blanketed the ground in front of them, as far as the eye could see, and the snowfall only enhanced the picturesque scenery. The sunlight was another blessing, but the snow was where Frost truly felt at home. Not even caring that he was in the company of another Pokemon, he nuzzled against the snow, digging himself into a small hole and enveloping his body in the fresh powder, like a kit snuggling beneath a warm blanket. He inhaled deeply, savoring the familiar chill of the mountain air passing into his lungs, and the muscles of his body slowly relaxed.

"Are you planning on sleeping there?" Astrid wondered, observing his behavior with amusement, her tail starting to wag again now that they had escaped the maze of underground caverns.

"Oh, it's tempting," Frost purred, rubbing his muzzle against the snow. Reluctantly, he shook his body, sending clumps of snow flying in all directions, and climbed back to his feet. "Unfortunately, there's still a bit of a hike to go, and I'm already behind schedule as it is."

He took a moment to orient himself, and began walking. The sound of crunching snow underfoot was music to his ears, and the sensation of snowflakes buzzing around his face was vaguely pleasant. Everything around him felt familiar and comforting, even though he still had some distance to cover. The only dampener on his mood was the echo of crunching footsteps created by Astrid, following a few paces behind him.

"There is no need for you to escort me any further," Frost stated to the air. "You said you have your own visit to pay up here, so by all means, feel free to depart. If you're adamant about escorting me back DOWN the mountain, we can set up a rendezvous point, but I'm in no rush to leave again, so don't feel obligated to linger if my schedule inconveniences you."

"Oh, I'm in no rush," Astrid answered cheerfully. "I'll come with you, just to make sure you get there okay, if you don't mind."

"I do mind," Frost said bluntly. "I am more than capable of fending for myself up here, and I don't want you to accompany me to my destination. Thank you, but I'll be proceeding on my own from here."

"Oh," Astrid said, sounding a little taken aback, or possibly disappointed, but she didn't object. Frost continued walking, his dark eyes scanning the surroundings, and taking private notice of any Pokemon meandering about the area. He caught a glimpse of a Snover or two, the creatures nearly impossible to distinguish from mountain trees at a distance, and at one point, he thought he saw a Delibird, but it was a fleeting glance at best.

After several minutes, he became acutely aware of how Astrid seemed to still be walking with him, despite the mountain paths branching off several times to provide her the opportunity of taking another route.

"Could have sworn I said not to come with me," Frost noted, not even bothering to look back at the Absol as he spoke. Even without seeing her directly, he knew without question that it was still her, and not some random Pokemon trailing him.

"I know," Astrid answered. Frost glanced over his shoulder disapprovingly.

"Then why are you still following me?" he demanded.

"I'm not. We just happen to be going the same way," Astrid said, shrugging. Frost narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"Is that so? Well, then feel free to go on ahead. Ladies first," Frost said, gesturing for her to walk ahead of him. Astrid didn't move, and the Glaceon raised an eyebrow. "Problem?" he asked snidely.

"It's been awhile since I've been up here, and I'm just trying to get my bearings, or whatever," Astrid muttered. Frost snorted skeptically, but continued walking, occasionally casting a glance behind him to confirm whether or not the Absol was still trailing him. She was, but at a greater distance, although not to the point where she seemed to be trying to stay hidden, so if she was stalking him, she was REALLY bad at it. Considering that she was openly a predator, he doubted she was that incompetent at staying out of sight if that was her intention.

"Figure out where you are, yet?" Frost wondered sarcastically, as he reached the telltale fenced wire that cut the path in two, the upward path leaning against the mountain wall, and the downward path leading to the snowy field.

"Yup!" Astrid replied brightly, and she strode past him confidently, taking the right side path, the one leading downwards. Frost blinked in confusion and after a brief pause, followed after the disaster Pokemon. This did not go unnoticed, and Astrid gave Frost a dirty look. "Now who's following who?" she growled.

"...I am legitimately going this way," Frost retorted. The small downward path leveled out shortly, placing them within the equivalent of an open meadow blanketed by snow. Continuing along the wall would take him to the doorstep of his destination, and doubling back would bring him towards the ice-fishing lake. Astrid turned away from Frost to scan the rest of the meadow, and Frost pressed on, making his way towards the barely-visible cave entrance carved into the side of the mountain ahead.

As he approached, he paused to admire the pair of ice crystals decorating the den's entrance. The sculptures were breathtaking, perfectly capturing the raw beauty of ice. They were masterfully crafted, and no matter how many times he saw them, they never failed to amaze him. His eyes darted upwards, taking note of the six-pointed snowflake emblem hanging over the entrance.

The Glaceon took a deep, soothing breath. Blizzard's territory emblem always seemed to give him mixed feelings. Standing in the presence of such artistically beautiful designs inspired a sense of awe, but also a great deal of unease and wariness. Blizzard must have spent a long time perfecting these crystals, and the effort clearly showed, but at the same time, the level of control, finesse, and sheer power she would need to create these masterpieces was nothing short of phenomenal. All in all, it indicated that although Blizzard was a sweet girl who expressed herself artistically, she was not to be trifled with.

Shaking himself from these thoughts, Frost stepped forward, hesitating for a moment before crossing the threshold. Blizzard had told him last time that he should just come in, despite everything in his mind telling him this was rude or inappropriate.

Not much had changed within the den since he had last been here. It was as comfortably spacious as ever, with one single large 'room', but contained two side chambers on either side. The left-hand side was for storage, with numerous plastic storage boxes and dishes, filled with a variety of different food items or water, and the right-hand side had a curved passageway that served as Blizzard's sleeping chamber, concealed from view of the den entrance, or any other occupants. The majority of the main room was tastefully cluttered with various objects and items, including pillows and blankets, giving the overall atmosphere a warm, inviting feeling.

"Nice place," Astrid remarked, and Frost nearly jumped out of his skin, his fur bristling into needles as he whirled around to face the Absol. Oblivious to his aggressive reaction, the disaster Pokemon stepped into the den, peering around with mild interest.

"What do you think you're doing?" Frost hissed. "You weren't invited to come in here."

Astrid blinked at Frost, as if he was abruptly speaking a different language. "Is anyone else even here?" she wondered, her ear twitching. She glanced towards the right side of the den curiously, and took a step towards it.

"That's a private area," Frost growled, moving to intercept the Absol. "She doesn't want anyone over there without permission."

"But what if she's sleeping?" Astrid wondered.

"Doesn't matter. She doesn't even let me over there without permission, and I lived here," Frost countered, growling a little louder. Astrid seemed much more amused by his demeanor than intimidated, which wasn't helping the situation.

"Uh huh...well, you're a male, and I'm a female, so even if I walked in on something compromising, it's less of a faux pas."

"There is so much irony in you, of all Pokemon, talking about whether or not something is socially inappropriate," Frost deadpanned, standing firm in Astrid's path, not allowing her to get past him.

Astrid shrugged. "Well, based on the den's scent and lack of sounds, the risk was pretty low anyway. So I'm guessing she's not even here right now."

"Good. Now get lost before she gets back," Frost growled. A strange sense of anxiety was coming over him the longer that Astrid remained inside the den. His initial assumption was that he was worried that Blizzard would view the Absol as a trespasser, but in the back of his mind, he knew this wasn't likely to be the case. The female Glaceon was bizarrely accommodating to guests, although her policy might have changed since Glacia's birth. More likely, his concern was connected to the latter - he felt incredibly protective of this den and those that lived within it. Astrid was harmless, but she was still a predator Pokemon entering the home of a mother Glaceon and her young kit while they were away. It was a horrifying thought to consider, a tremendous violation to the sense of security a den was intended to provide.

"Okay, okay, I get it," Astrid sighed, and turned to leave. After taking a few steps towards the den entrance, she paused and glanced over her shoulder at Frost, looking mildly amused. "Just so you know, I'm not intimidated by you."

"Obviously not, but intimidating you is not my intention," Frost retorted coolly. Traveling with Astrid for the past few days had made it clear to him that she wasn't easily frightened or cowed. She was far too nonchalant and socially oblivious to recognize or react appropriately to the cues that should make one more trepidacious when interacting with someone, and her status as a predator Pokemon only made it more difficult to exert any semblance of authority over her.

"What's going on?" a familiar female voice wondered from the den entrance. Astrid blinked and faced forward again, and Frost peered around the Absol's body, his gaze falling upon Blizzard standing there, the cave entrance framing her figure. The female Glaceon had sleek, soft-looking fur, its appearance significantly tidier than the last time Frost had visited, and she carried herself with grace and confidence, which enhanced her natural beauty.

Despite the polite softness of Blizzard's inquiry, her stance was guarded and her eyes wary. An understandable reaction to finding your home occupied during your absence, and Frost moved out from behind Astrid so that Blizzard could confirm his presence. However, the other Glaceon was focusing entirely on Astrid, her eyes widening slowly and the tension draining from her stance.

"Hey!" Astrid greeted, her tail wagging enthusiastically.

"Astrid!" Blizzard practically squealed. The female Glaceon pounced upon the Absol so abruptly that Frost started, convinced that an attack was underway, but the moment passed, and he quickly realized that Blizzard had wrapped her forepaws tightly around the Absol in what was unmistakably an affectionate embrace.

The Absol took a moment to recover from the initial surprise of being glomped and began purring, doing her best to return the sentiment without nicking the Glaceon with her scythe-like horn. The whole situation left Frost incredibly confused and feeling slightly out of place.

"Um...I'm here, too," Frost noted awkwardly. Blizzard gave no indication that she was even aware of Frost, and he sighed, gazing around the den restlessly for something to focus on until his presence could be acknowledged.

A curious chirp from the den entrance drew his attention to the young female Eevee peering into the den. It occurred to him that Blizzard had probably instructed Glacia to wait before following her into the den, in case the unexpected company was dangerous or hostile. Frost noted that the Eevee kit was bundled up with two small scarves carefully entwined around her neck and shoulders, adding twin streaks of blue and green to her profile.

"Hey there, cutie," Frost greeted, his tail flicking cheerfully. If there was anything that could make the hellish trip through Mt. Coronet worthwhile, it was being able to see the adorable Eevee kit smile. His comment seemed to be the cue for Blizzard and Astrid to break their embrace, and the female Glaceon looked over at the Eevee, providing the slightest of nods that dispelled the kit's hesitation to come inside. Frost glanced at Blizzard. "Least I know SOMEONE is still happy to see me," he deadpanned.

With an adorable chirp, the Eevee pounced on Astrid's foreleg and began nuzzling against it happily. Frost stared at Glacia incredulously, his brain completely unable to process what had just happened. Astrid was looking down at the kit in bewilderment, her green eyes darting up to meet Blizzard's eyes, but the female Glaceon was too busy stifling her laughter to say anything coherent.

"Oh, come on!" Frost burst out indignantly. "You don't even KNOW her!"

His outburst prompted Blizzard to lapse into hysterical giggles, and she had to lay down, burying her head in one of the nearby pillows, as her entire body shook with amusement. Astrid was becoming visibly uncomfortable with the Eevee kit's persistent affection, and her green eyes darted about the den inquisitively, seeking some sort of explanation of what was happening.

Glacia eventually released Astrid's leg and bounded over to where Frost was sitting. Happily oblivious to his indignation, she cozied up to his side. She recoiled briefly, before gently nuzzling her head against his fur, expertly grooming the icy needles to the side so that she could rest against them without being pricked. Frost rolled his eyes, but found himself unable to resist the Eevee's charms. He reached over and stroked his paw down her back, prompting low, contented purrs from the kit.

Blizzard finally sat up, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. "Frost, she's still in her shadowing phase," she explained, another giggle escaping her throat, and her tail swished.

"I'm so confused," Astrid said, glancing between Frost and Blizzard uncertainly. "Are you two brother and sister or something?"

Frost raised an eyebrow. "Do you really get the impression that we're siblings?" he wondered incredulously. Of all the conclusions she could have jumped to regarding their relationship after so little exposure, he was astounded that she chose to assume they were siblings, as opposed to the more common and logical assumption of them being lovers, especially considering the Eevee kit presently cuddled against his side.

Astrid frowned. "Well, I mean...you two look about the same age, but Bliz is a little older. You said you used to live here, and that you're visiting family, or whatever. I thought maybe she was an older sister."

"Actually, I didn't tell you who I was meeting. I was purposefully vague about those details," Frost countered. "And I had no idea you and Bliz knew one another."

Astrid giggled quietly. "Yeah...she was on the same team as me, a couple years back," she explained, smiling fondly at Blizzard.

"You don't say," Frost mused. "I don't believe you've ever mentioned that particular facet of your history, Bliz."

"Oh, was I supposed to give you my entire life story?" Blizzard asked, visibly amused. "It wasn't important enough to bring up, anyway."

Frost shrugged it off. None of this was really as much a surprise as it could have been. He had already known that Blizzard had moved into the mountains, whereas he had lived there his entire life, and the female Glaceon's collection of human objects, such as the storage containers , pillows, and blankets should have tipped him off, but the main reason he never really thought about it was because his parents had kept similar objects in their den. It just never occurred to him that this was unusual for wild Pokemon.

"So this is the trainer that liked puns, right?" he asked, directing the question more to Astrid than Blizzard. Astrid nodded, and Frost snorted. "Should have guessed. You and Blizzard are two of the three Pokemon who have outright refused to discuss the origins of your names. To think you both were owned by the same trainer...wait a second..."

Frost bit his lip thoughtfully, falling silent long enough for the two to exchange looks with one another. A slow smile creeped across Frost's face, gradually evolving into a smug grin.

"That can't be a coincidence. Pokemon trainers can carry up to six Pokemon on their roster, correct?"

"Yes," Astrid confirmed.

"So the team consisted of Renard, Astrid, Echo, Thresher, and Blizzard," Frost mused, counting each name as he listed them. "That's five. Was the sixth member, by any chance, a Kadabra named A/C, spelled with a forward slash?"

"It was, actually," Blizzard answered, looking appropriately surprised. Astrid stifled a giggle, wordlessly nodding in agreement.

"So all three of the females who refused to explain their names due to the associated puns were part of the same team," Frost murmured, and his tail swished in amusement. "But for the sake of posterity, Bliz, what naming convention did you use for coming up with Glacia's name?"

Blizzard narrowed her eyes, as if trying to determine whether Frost was playing a joke on her. "Frost, you were actively involved in coming up with her name. You even insisted that I was not to name her by myself, because she was your first kit just as much as mine. I vaguely recall an unflattering comment about how the emotional or hormonal high might lead to me naming her something ridiculous like Thursday or Pot Pie."

"So...instead you two got creative and gave her an ice-related name," Astrid giggled. This earned the Absol twin glares from the Ice-types. "Sorry, Bliz, but this whole conversation is a throwback to a discussion we had about how Eevee parents seem to love giving their kits weird pun-like names."

"Yeah, well...there isn't a whole lot of inspiration to come across when two Glaceon, with ice-related names, are trying to name an Eevee kit born in January during the winter storms," Blizzard noted with a shrug.

"We tried to make it the least blatant pun of the bunch," Frost added blandly. "Glacia is actually a decent, respectable name, even if she's almost guaranteed to be a Glaceon."

"Either way, she's adorable," Astrid remarked, her tail wagging. She moved a little nearer and stooped down to the Eevee's level, cooing playfully. "Who's an adorable little girl, Glacia? You are! You are!"

The kit giggled, and poked her paw at the Absol's nose, prompting Astrid to jerk backwards in surprise. Glacia squealed in delight, her bushy tail wagging, and she smiled up at Frost. The male Glaceon smirked and rubbed the Eevee's ear fondly.

"How long are you planning to visit this time, Frost?" Blizzard wondered seriously. The male Glaceon hesitated. "That's not meant to put you on the spot. I'm asking so I know whether to prepare sleeping arrangements or gather extra food supplies."

"Erm...well, I definitely planned to stay at least a day or two," he answered carefully. He had originally planned on playing things by ear, depending on how long it took for him to get here, relative to how long he was comfortable staying apart from Shadow and Leaf. The trip had been a nightmare, although he expected the return trip to be much smoother, but he really wasn't sure how much time had passed since he had left the Eterna area.

"Okay, keep me updated if you play to stay longer or need to depart sooner," Blizzard said pleasantly and turned her attention to Astrid. "What about you, Astrid?"

"I'll stick around a little, but I don't want to be a burden or whatever. I can help with hunting or gathering, if you'd like," the Absol answered. Blizzard smiled and nodded.

"Okay, so for food, I'll have to check on my stock, and I should set up two sleeping spaces?" she asked. Astrid blinked, glancing between Frost and Blizzard in confusion.

"Uh...you two don't share sleeping space?" she asked blankly. "Aren't you mates?"

"I'm still so upset you thought we were siblings," Frost deadpanned. "And our relationship is...complicated."

"How? You're either mates or you're not," Astrid argued. "There really isn't an option in-between."

"Don't get into it, you two," Blizzard interjected, shaking her head, but still smiling faintly. "We can work out the details later, but for right now, please don't set a bad example for Glacia. She's in that phase where she likes to imitate those around her."

"Oh, whoops," Astrid giggled. "Can she talk yet?"

"No!" Glacia chirped happily. Frost and Astrid stared at her, and the Eevee's tail flicked enthusiastically, delighting in the attention. "No!" she squeaked again.

"Is...that the only word she knows?" Astrid wondered.

"No!" Glacia chirped.

"She is so cute right now, I think I'm going to die," Frost purred.