Shoka Sakurane (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
telewarped) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
bottlecaplogs2025-08-09 12:01 pm
telewarped) wrote in bottlecaplogs2025-08-09 12:01 pm
[CLOSED] far over the misty mountains cold
Who: A.B.A, Shoka Sakurane, Firoza Istus
What: Exploration: Blue
When: Mid-August
Where: South of the Outpost
Warnings: Auditory hallucinations, terrain hazards (avalanches, cave-ins, etc.)
Although the quest description had specifically made mention of a notable drop in temperature, Shoka had perhaps underestimated just how sudden and jarring the terrain shifts would be. One moment they're in the deep woods, and the next they're in the mountain pass, trudging upward through piles of fallen snow. Jagged peaks loom before them, obscured by the ever increasing flurry.
"Yeesh," she remarks aloud (though she keeps her voice slightly hushed, per Firoza's helpful earlier warning about avoiding avalanches). "They weren't kidding about that 'drop in temperature'..."
She's never seen so much snow. It's beautiful, she has to admit, a seemingly endless, upward expanse of white. Luckily for her, the cold isn't much of a bother to a ghost, and her form is apparently light enough that she's able to traverse over the drifts without issue, gliding effortlessly along the surface of the snow.
Unluckily for her, the snowflakes inevitably melt upon contact with the cloth of her disguise. If the snowfall gets much worse, she's going to wind up a very soggy (and then very frozen) Mimikyu indeed.
"Maybe I should've thought about snow-proofing myself..."
What: Exploration: Blue
When: Mid-August
Where: South of the Outpost
Warnings: Auditory hallucinations, terrain hazards (avalanches, cave-ins, etc.)
Although the quest description had specifically made mention of a notable drop in temperature, Shoka had perhaps underestimated just how sudden and jarring the terrain shifts would be. One moment they're in the deep woods, and the next they're in the mountain pass, trudging upward through piles of fallen snow. Jagged peaks loom before them, obscured by the ever increasing flurry.
"Yeesh," she remarks aloud (though she keeps her voice slightly hushed, per Firoza's helpful earlier warning about avoiding avalanches). "They weren't kidding about that 'drop in temperature'..."
She's never seen so much snow. It's beautiful, she has to admit, a seemingly endless, upward expanse of white. Luckily for her, the cold isn't much of a bother to a ghost, and her form is apparently light enough that she's able to traverse over the drifts without issue, gliding effortlessly along the surface of the snow.
Unluckily for her, the snowflakes inevitably melt upon contact with the cloth of her disguise. If the snowfall gets much worse, she's going to wind up a very soggy (and then very frozen) Mimikyu indeed.
"Maybe I should've thought about snow-proofing myself..."
no subject
She admires it for a moment (as best as she can when her eyes are actually below the cloak, anyway), flaring out her arms and giving a twirl before concluding, "It's actually kinda cute, too... Thanks—seriously."
A series of tapping sounds direct her attention away then, toward A.B.A. Shoka doesn't know Morse code, but she does have the sense to tell that A.B.A is trying to communicate with them somehow. Maybe she's trying to tell them how jealous she is of Shoka's fit, hah.
"... Uh, did you get any of that?" she asks Firoza.
no subject
The satchel initiative keeps being pushed back...but it's for a good cause.
As for A.B.A.'s communication...Firoza's brow furrows. She doesn't know what it means, and it feels...a little shameful, to admit it. But it's likely a code, isn't it?
"A.B.A., so long as we keep our voices low, we can use them." But she comes over anyway with the biggest fabric bolt in her possession, and with a strength a Nidoran isn't expected to have, she unfurls it and lets it settle over A.B.A.'s body. Ooooh, so cozy warm. Let's tie it off around the neck so it's a proper cloak. "'Tis a precaution, but to be clear and to the point is just as much of one."
no subject
Once she gets that out of her system, she sighs reluctantly.
"Nnngghhhhfine! I go out of my way to meet your demands, and this is the thanks I get..."
Grumble, grumble. But then...hey! That sure is a cozy piece of fabric that's soon blanketing her body. Despite the harsh expression in her eyes, her neck seems to shrink closer to the cloth, like a bird happily settling into its nest. She likes...to be cozy...
"Very well, then... How is everyone's stamina holding up? I'd like to make it to our destination as quickly as possible. Should you require rest, I'm willing to carry any would-be stragglers."
no subject
As for A.B.A's Morse code idea...
"It'd be a good call... If either of us could understand a word of what you're saying. What even is that, Morse code?"
She can't help laughing a little, first at how offended A.B.A seems, then at the cutely birdlike way she snuggles into her own makeshift cloak. It's a good thing they're all bundled up now, because the chill of the wind is only growing more biting as they progress, and the snow shows no signs of letting up any time soon.
"Not too bad so far," Shoka replies to A.B.A—just before a particularly strong gust of wind rushes past, threatening to sweep the disguise rag right off her body. Thankfully, her cloak provides it with more heft and protection, helping to keep it from blowing away so easily, but she's still forced to a brief, panicked halt.
Her stamina is fine, but if the wind and snow get much worse than this (which is looking more likely by the minute), she might have to take A.B.A up on that offer after all...
"S-speaking of our destination though..." she starts, picking up her pace to catch back up with the team. "Where are we even headed right now, exactly? Guess we could aim for one of those...?"
By those, she means the cavern entrances just barely visible now in the distance, carved into the prominent mountain looming ahead.
no subject
All of this is hushed, by the way. As flustered as little Thirty Winters is, she isn't about to raise her voice. She's more focused on making sure the impromptu cloak fits A.B.A. well, is tied snugly in place, and not too tight...warmth is paramount to survival in these climes. She really ought to wrap herself up, too.
...
Yeah that'd be a good idea, huh. Even if Firoza doesn't seem to flinch in the face of the biting wind that brushes past, just looks in its direction as if she could see whosoever sent it their way. She's listening to Shoka's suggestion, though, if the flick of her ears is any indication, and eyes the caves curiously.
"T'would be better than staying completely exposed to the elements. But we ought to expect that something else has similar ideas." That there might be wild Pokemon not too keen on sharing their shelter, she means. "And caves have their own dangers...still, it's either that or decidedly freezing. I say we give it a chance."
no subject
"This pleases the cake..."
...Piece of cake? That was probably supposed to be piece of cake.
"Should anyone decide to be uninviting, I'll simply remind them of their manners... Through punishment. Come."
A.B.A wastes no time taking the lead, her determination making itself known. After all, if wild Pokémon might see these caverns as shelter or relief from the elements, then...maybe someone else did, too. Someone she's still not sure is or isn't here.
no subject
Ha ha... But seriously—the snow is rapidly intensifying into a full-blown blizzard. Though the fur cloak keeps her warm, very suddenly, she can barely see a few inches in front of her face. Blankets of white obscure her vision, piling up even higher around her. The wind is whipping at her cloak and ears, and as they continue forward, she keeps thinking that if her entire self doesn't go flying like a stray napkin in a gust, then at least her disguise rag is sure to be torn right off, and she'll lose herself again just like she did back at the beach...
After the second time she nearly gets bowled over, much to her own embarrassment, she finds herself gravitating toward the tallest, most solid thing within reach: A.B.A. Her spindly arms reach out blindly into the falling snow, locate one of A.B.A's front legs, and coil around it.
If A.B.A offers to carry her... Well, Shoka might have to act offended about it on principle. But she won't say no.
More to confirm Firoza's presence than out of any real desire for an answer, she calls out, "Seriously, Roza, how are you not freezing right now?"
Firoza was the only one of them not bundled up the last time Shoka saw her... Which feels like it was a while ago now, granted, with her struggling to keep up the pace and everything fading into the white. With a pang of alarm, she wonders: is Firoza even still with them? She has to be, right?
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That's good for the cake, then, she supposes. Firoza keeps close to A.B.A. as they move forward - on the side opposite of where Shoka is, hence why she seems to disappear from view. Stay close to the largest amongst them, the easiest to spot even in near whiteout conditions, and squint through the snowflakes...it's not much different from her teen years, digging a path out from Mother's one room cabin so they weren't completely cut off from the outside world, even if the only people likely to come were all too eager to remind her that she didn't belong in the Magna Glacies.
Well, she'd finally left, hadn't she? And retained much and more of what she'd learned in the icy peaks of Garlemald. So bully on them.
Her ear flicks in Shoka's direction at the question. "I'm fine for a bit longer," she says, just loud enough to be heard over the wind. "Was practically born in a snow-drift. But once we reach the caves, I'll put something on." Less to stay toasty and more to keep her friend from being concerned. It's how she'd taken Tataru's gracious gift of a long, warm coat, when they'd had to head into the heart of the Empire. Even in this body, something of that hardiness remains...and maybe it was foolish to put it to the test, but it reminds Firoza that she's still herself deep down, no matter what she may be on the outside.
Still, she's also quite close to A.B.A., enough that their legs might brush...if that's not terribly annoying. If it is, there's always the easy solution of taking her by the nape of the neck like a mother cat would a kitten, or something. She won't fight it.
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"Is your pride really so substantial? I told the both of you I'd carry you, there's no need for...whatever that display was."
She treks on, her gaze narrowed at the cavern in the distance. If there's one thing A.B.A's good at, it's zeroing in on her goals. Even with the snow deepens, her legs are just long enough to plow through. With each step forward, she relaxes slightly, that fierceness melting away like butter. The only thing that really can melt in weather like this...
"I used to carry my husband everywhere, you know... This familiar weight on my back, it soothes me... I don't want you to think you burden me with your presence. It's quite the opposite, actually..."
no subject
"But once we reach the caves," she echoes, "won't that be—?"
Basically pointless? She may not be a seasoned adventurer like Firoza, but why wait to bundle up until after they've found shelter from the elements?
She ultimately isn't able to finish that sentence, as another fierce gust whips through the pass, making her gasp and hold onto A.B.A's leg for dear life. Despite her resistance to cold, the blizzard is so intense now that even she's starting to shiver, even in her fur cloak.
Luckily for her, salvation comes a moment later; she's hoisted up into the air (for a moment, she thinks that the wind finally is carrying her off, and all she can do is squeak in alarm and let it happen) and deposited onto A.B.A's back. A.B.A's blanket-cloak and feathers are blessedly warm, and her neck and crest are tall enough to give Shoka some much-needed shelter from the blizzard.
Shoka's pride is that substantial, thank you very much... But the relief she feels is stronger in that moment. Once Firoza is up on A.B.A's back with her, she droops in place with a heavy sigh. It's a little embarrassing, but it also feels... Nice. She's safe, surrounded by friends.
"Well, good for you," she replies to A.B.A, taking hold of her feathers (securely but gently, in a way that's second nature to her now). "And thanks... It'd—really suck if you weren't here."
Both of them.
no subject
Just, uh. Give her a second to respond, she's a bit dazed.
"Um...uh...well...caves are caves, aren't they? They'll still be cold." And besides, now she gets to sit on a warm and cuddly chimera friend, snuggled up to a ghost friend. Firoza is so good right now. Ideal temperature. "We don't know if the draft will whistle in, or how deeply they go - cold sinks, while heat rises, and we have no idea if they'll go up into the mountain or down, that sort of thing..."
Mm, let's just kinda get snug here, though. Now they won't be separated no matter what.
"...Aye. Thank you, both of you, from the bottom of my heart."