Chapter Text
Arm raised as if to brace against the wind that cut like knives, the trainer pushed herself forward, head ducked low. A lonely howl rose and twisted through the air – whether it was from a mountainside beast or was merely the wind, she didn’t care to find out. Her potions were running low, and though she had made sure her Pokémon were in top condition before leaving town, it wouldn’t do well to waste their energy on a battle.
She had a match to get to, after all.
A low grumble rose from her stomach, and the trainer was reminded of how long she’d been winding her way through the snow. Normally, Iradia would have flown over the mountains and down from the outpost, but today had just been too nice to pass up on a hike. Well, it had been nice until the blizzard had rolled in. As an ice-type trainer and one of the few citizens of Inuksha Outpost to boot, Ira had long grown used to the bite of the cold. However, it still remained an insistent annoyance, and the young woman was eager to get to town as soon as possible.
Luck would have it that a snowdrift had blown onto the main section of the Northfrost Route, and with what seemed like the fiftieth sigh of the day, the gym leader found herself scaling the miniature mountain. A familiar nudge to her backside reminded her of her partner, who had been trailing her the entirety of the journey. A glance over her shoulder confirmed that her Mushuit was close behind, dark eyes shining behind the cowl over its head. Upon coming under its trainer’s focus, the dog-like pokemon let out a low woof, nudging her once more.
It might have the thickest fur she’s ever seen, but Iradia knew that Mushuit wanted out of the blizzard, too. There were only so many gusts of wind and balls of snow between its toes that her partner could take.
“Almost there, dear Anirniq,” Another heave and she was over the embankment, boots finding purchase on a well-placed ice shelf. “A couple more minutes and we should be Stampedeton.” With ease, Iradia’s Mushuit bounded over the hump of snow, landing beside its trainer. Shaking snowflakes that clung stubbornly to its fur, Mushuit took the lead, tail held high and eyes darting about.
Momentarily a shadow passed over the two, and both trainer and Pokémon found themselves looking upwards. The silhouette of a Staraptor suspended in the air, hovering perhaps a tad too close for comfort, but a sharp bark from Mushuit sent it gliding away. An appreciative hand found its way between Anirniq’s ears, and Iradia was sure to give her partner a round of scratches.
Breath steaming, Iradia laughed abruptly. “So scary, Anir. Thanks for scaring that bird away though, can’t have ourselves getting tuckered out by an unnecessary battle.” Russet fur now sufficiently ruffled, Iradia and Mushuit began forward in tandem, snow crunching beneath their feet.
Lips quirking beneath the mask covering the majority of her face, Iradia playfully nudged her Pokémon. “Just for that, we’ll fly from Stampedeton. First-class, even.”