I start moving, creeping to the edge of the ledge.

"What are you doing?" Huff asks me.

I look briefly over my shoulder. My brothers look at me, confused. Yes, I'd forgotten about them. "Stay here, I'll be right back," I whisper and slide down the rock before they can say something. When I reach the bottom ... Woah! The ice under my paws feels cold and slippery, very slippery. For a moment I'm unsure whether this is really a good idea, but out of the corner of my eye I see the strange Pokémon again. I absolutely have to know what it is! I set off cautiously. I first have to get used to the ground, my paws keep slipping sideways. After a few feet, I get the hang of it; sit up straight and don't push too hard.

Toddle, toddle.

Slowly I become more confident. I can do it! I set my sights on the yellow tip behind the rock and pick up speed. I'm coming for you! Just before I reach the rock, the Pokémon jumps out and scurries away. The thing looks like a walking pointed hat, or a teepee—whatever a teepee is ... In any case, the Pokémon is much more confident on the ice than I am, but that doesn't stop me. It darts round a stone and off to the left—I follow behind.

"Hey!" I shout quietly, trying not to let anyone hear me.

The Pokémon skitters on unimpressed. This is stupid and tiring, I'm starting to lose interest!

"Hey? I won't hurt you." I feel really silly. 'I won't hurt you'; how could I?

"Leave me alone!" the Pokémon snaps at me.

"Me you? You chased me!" I say indignantly. We continue across the ice, around rocks and ice stalagmites. "I just want to know what you are."

I'm slowly running out of breath. The cold air here is exhausting. I go round a rock again. Exhaustion makes itself felt and I slip away. I land roughly on my stomach and skitter across the ice. I stare after the Pokémon, my face screwed up in anger. Crap!

"Snorunt," I hear quietly as the Pokémon disappears into the darkness.

I'm smiling like a Cheshire Cat. One, two, three ... My smile freezes, and not just because of the cold. Mum won't be happy when she finds out I've gone. I should get back as soon as possible.

I hastily pick myself up and look around. Damn! The cave didn't seem that big to me. Which direction did I come from? I start walking, a little unsteadily, around rocks and look around in the hope that I'll recognise something. But I was so busy chasing Snorunt that I didn't pay attention to my surroundings. Mum will tear me apart if she finds out! I stand there, lost, staring ahead of me. My eyes widen as an idea comes to me.

I used to play hide and seek with Huff in the big den and he always found me. I once asked him how he did it and he said he could smell me. Will I be able to do the same? I lower my head. My nose is a few inches away from the ice, I can feel the cold emanating from it. I draw in the air in short, quick breaths. If only I knew what I was supposed to smell now ...

I start running, my nose just above the ground. I walk back and forth and then I smell something. I don't know if it's the smell of Snorunt, myself or something else entirely. Anyway, I follow the invisible trail, I have no other option. I could shout loudly for help, but then mum would know that I was gone and I want to avoid that at all costs. I trot across the ice. My paws are terribly cold, as is my nose, not to mention my ears. Freezing cold crap! A plateau suddenly appears in front of me, completely covered in ice. I hear faint voices and my heart sinks. What luck!

I climb up and look around. I'm on the hill in the centre of the cave, to my right I can see my brothers sitting dutifully in front of the entrance. I would like to make myself known so that they know I'm all right, but I can't. The Glaceon and my mother are not too far away; they would notice me and I have to prevent that.

The voices are insistent; something doesn't seem right and this in turn arouses my curiosity. I creep forwards, seeking cover behind some rocks. Slowly, I stalk further and further. A particularly large rock that is close enough to the Glaceon is my target. When I finally arrive, I press myself against the ice-covered rock and peer out cautiously. I prick up my ears ...

"I don't understand!"

"That's not possible!"

"All the ice stones are gone!"

The Glaceon are all talking wildly. I wish I knew what 'ice stones' are and why everyone is so upset about them.

"It must have been the humans!" one of them says loudly.

Humans? I thought men didn't come here. At least we were always told that men don't go into the centre of the cave.

"Yes, definitely!" one agrees.

"It will take months for new ice stones to grow," a Glaceon remarks gloomily.

"Do you think so?"

"Months?"

What a mess! And all because of a few stones? Somehow I just don't understand it right now.

Suddenly it gets quiet. A Glaceon strides through the group towards my mum. He seems to be quite old. His fur is much lighter in colour and his steps seem a little ponderous. It seems to me that he is probably the leader of our pack, given the respectful way everyone is behaving towards him.

He stops in front of my mum and sits down. His eyes are fixed directly on her as he begins to speak. "It's time, my dear." The old Glaceon's voice is rough and low, I have trouble understanding him.

"Time?"

My heart starts to race. Mum's voice is shaky, I've never heard her like this before. What's going on here?

"Yes, it's time to honour the promise." There's a look of understanding in the leader's eyes.

Mother raises her lowered head abruptly. "Is there no other way?" She sounds as if she is on the verge of tears.

"No," replies the old Glaceon firmly. "The puppies can't stay in the cave for months. That doesn't work and you know it."

Mum lowers her head again and sobs.

I feel tears rising in my eyes. I've never seen my mum cry before. Something terrible must be happening here right now and I don't understand what, which makes it even worse for me. My heart is pounding, my eyes are wet and my legs feel like pudding. Pudding?

"The promise is binding." The leader's voice allows no contradiction.

Mum begins to cry softly.

One of the other Glaceon goes to her, nudges her with its nose and rubs its head against my mother's cheek. "It's better this way."

What's going on here?!

I watch them for a moment, then it dawns on me that I urgently need to see my brothers. I have to tell them what I've heard!

Hidden behind stones and ice floes, I sneak to the edge. I slide down and run towards the entrance as far as the ice and lack of breath will allow. I hastily climb up the ledge. I reach the top, front paws and head on in, the rest still half hanging in the air. My brothers look at me, first relieved, then worried, which is probably due to the look on my face. I hang there with wide, moist eyes and an open mouth, unable to get a word out.

"What happened?" Huff and Notch stare at me, I stare back.

Good question; what the heck has just happened?

"Tell me," Huff demands excitedly.

I heave myself up and take a deep breath. My brothers scurry around me excitedly. "Erm. So ..." I start to stammer. Where should I begin?

A noise distracts me and I turn round. Mum and another Glaceon appear. It's the same one that comforted her earlier.

"I'm sorry, you three," mum begins to explain. She doesn't seem quite as upset as before. "Unfortunately, 'growing up' can't happen right now."

"What?!" Notch seems devastated, even though he doesn't really know what it's all about.

Mum looks at him and smiles a little. "To finally grow up, you need ice stones, and unfortunately there aren't any at the moment."

Notch jumps up. "But ... And when will there be some again?"

The other Glaceon assists mum. "Soon."

My brothers exchange glances.

I sit there quite impassively and stare at my mum. Frantically, I try to read something in her face, something that will help me understand what I've just overheard, but I can't manage it.

"We have to go." The strange Glaceon starts to move.

"The flood is coming in." Mother takes a step to the side, revealing the ice cave.

Indeed. The water is already quite high, apparently running calmly into the cave, not as loud and roaring as ours, which is why we didn't notice it. The reflective surface and the ice in the cave seem to literally melt together.

"So that means we can't go home?" Huff tilts his head questioningly.

Mum nods. "Yes, we'll go to a higher cave and wait there until the flood has gone out."

Without a word, we set off. We follow the strange Glaceon and Mother brings up the rear.