Ages ago … ages ago she had plenty of other Amarua around her to keep her company. But now? It was nice having the brisk cold mountain top to herself but at the same time, she nearly hated how lonely she was. It wasn’t as if she didn’t have friends, she had different Pokemon that would come and keep her company, but most of them had others just like them. Or worse, they were just closer with other Pokemon. For whatever reason, she couldn’t seem to connect to them.

Perhaps they were intimidated by her. Maybe they simply didn’t like her. Or, it could have been the fact that she was really very good at accidentally making herself out to be a bit of a stick. While other Pokemon would romp around and have fun, she would typically play it safe and remind them of the many dangers that were surrounding them. This wasn’t just a play place, this was a fringed ice land. Didn’t they see the danger? What if they fell into something and ended up frozen for thousands of years?? What if it took thousands of years for them to be found once more??

This Amarua’s paranoia was not unwarranted, and while most of the Pokemon agreed and understood that, the small Pokemon tended to get on their nerves. Anything dangerous and she was immediately scolding them like she was their mother. It was a terrible habit, honestly, but she didn’t want them to get hurt! What if she lost all of her friends all over again like she had so long ago?

Technically she wasn’t over it. She wasn’t over losing all of her friends and family. She had been revived and because she refused to battle in most any way what-so-ever, she was typically treated like an outcast. It was awful, and she wished she could get the courage to challenge another Pokemon like her friends, but she just feared for herself and for them. What if they got hurt? What if they played too rough and ended up rolling about and they got stuck in the middle of a mound of snow?? What if they were frozen on accident? Their abilities were nothing to joke about!

Once again, she was simply being over-protective and beyond paranoid. It seemed the group of Pokemon she had attached herself to - against their will, she had learned - actually invited her out and about to play with them. You see, usually they would go off to play and she would have to play tracker in order to find them. Most of the time she worried for them, so she would immediately be off in search of them. This time around though, they invited her! She was so excited to go with them there was no reason for her to question why they were taking her. Oh, but maybe she should have.

After a game or two of hide and seek, which was safe enough she didn’t gripe or complain, it was her turn to hide. They had deemed her the seeker four times in a row. But finally somebody else was told to seek and she was told to hide! Happily scampering off, she picked the perfect hiding spot inside a small cave. Once tucked inside, she used her Powdered Snow to create a sort of mound in front of the cave entrance, so they couldn’t immediately see her. She tucked her head down, wrapping her neck around her legs a bit and keeping her sails - green with happiness - tucked down so that they didn’t give her away. And there, she waited.

And waited….

And waited….

Hawlucha complained until he was blue in the face, but Hana wouldn’t have any of it. Hana wanted to see a beautiful terrain and there was no way she would be stopped! Dewpider tried to warn him, really she did, but he wouldn’t listen. He tried once more to reason with Hana as they were making their way up what appeared to be a cliffside. < I’m no expert in rock climbing, but I don’t think this is … wise. >

“Nonsense!” Hana called down, nearly slipping and giving a small yelp. Once she was steady again, she laughed nervously down at him and smiled. “I’m perfectly fine!”

Dewpider clicked her lips together, shaking her head. < Such a shame. And I sort of enjoyed being with this human. >

Shooting Dewpider a glare, to which she giggled at, Hawlucha hoped up a few formations and used his strong hand to grip the side of the mountain near Hana. Dewpider started slowly following, easily finding places for her tiny feet to hook in and take hold. Once across from Hana, Hawlucha kept his eyes on her footing and where she was putting her hands. < Just, be careful would you? > He protested. < I mean you no disrespect, and I wouldn’t bring it up if I wasn’t worried, but you’re not the most… graceful person. >

Hana blew raspberries his way as she continued up the cliff. Once over a decent ledge, she let out a deep sigh. Dewpider was already there, making sure her bubble was still perfectly round, glancing down at her pointed feet to be sure they hadn’t dulled on the way up. < Oh look Hally, she’s made it out alive. >

Hana let out a laugh. “Hally!”

Hawlucha ignored the nickname, and the comment from the one who gave it, before looking over at a bit of… snow? < Is that… snow? >

“Hm?” Hana turned her head, then grinned. “Oh wow! It is!” She immediately stood, making her way over in a hurry to the snow.

Dewpider mocked throwing something into the wind. < Farewell caution! >

Hawlucha glared at her once more, this time throwing a pebble her way, before chasing after Hana. It only got the Dewpider to laugh, following behind Hana and carefully getting ahead of her, moving to look over the snow. He was trying to judge whether it was safe or not. < It doesn’t seem natural for it to be here. Perhaps it’s from another Pokemon? It would be best not to— >

Something like an excited cry came from the inside. It took all three of them by surprise. Each looked to the other as if to ask if they’d actually heard that, but another cry was given. It was hard to make out, the language far to ancient for any of them to really make out. It echoed through the cave. Without much restraint - her curiosity taking over - Hana began digging through the snow.

Much to his disapproval, he couldn’t very well leave his trainer to dig through the snow alone. He began digging, while Dewpider crawled atop the entrance and popped her head down, looking in to try and see what was in there before they finished their digging. < Is it wise to simply dive head first into a den we’ve never been in before? >

“Wise or not, whatever is in there doesn’t sound threatening, it sounds threatened!” Hana defended as she continued to dig.

< Which would bring to question, what has caused this innocent sounded creature to be so very threatened? > Before her words were even finished, they had made their way through the snow and all six eyes were met with a small frame. It was blue, and had beautiful colored sails on it. They were green, but slowly that color faded and the sails fell, blue befalling them.

Hawlucha just stared. < I’ve seen a creature like this in the lab notes before, during discussions. It’s- >

Hana grinned. “It’s an Amaura! Hello beautiful!” She grinned, then she glanced down at the snow. “Are you alright? Did you get stuck?”

Confusion was all over the Amaura’s face. She had been waiting for her friends for so long but… what she had been found by was not her friends, but a couple of Pokemon and their, what was she? Their trainer? She gave a small roar, pitiful really, before looking to the Hawlucha. She hoped he could understand her decently enough. She had learned a bit from her friends, how they spoke now. < Not lost, > her voice was calm and small. < Hiding. >

Hawlucha immediately bristled his feathers. < From what? Is the threat close? >

Hana’s face took concern, but slowly she relaxed as Amaura shook her head. < No… Hide and seek. > She explained.

Dewpider lost it, laughing hysterically, to the point of nearly loosing her perch and being sure to crawl onto Hana’s shoulder. < My poor dear, you’ve been left. >

Hawlucha glared at his companion. < Be gentle, would you? She’s not likely under the impression she was left. >

Hana’s eyes softened. “You poor thing…” She glanced around, then looked up. “If you like, we’ll help you find your friends.”

Amaura just stood in silence, slowly the blue in her sails deepened. Her eyes nearly misted. They had… left her? She knew they hadn’t liked her but… left her? Was she that much of a burden to them? Her eyes traveled to the girl with blue hair as she spoke, before finally she blinked. She shook her head. No, she did not want to go and find her friends. They obviously wanted nothing to do with her.

“Oh…” Hana immediately understood. She could relate well with this Amaura. It wasn’t a game of hide and seek, but she’d been shunned a time or two from coordinator cliques because she didn’t fit in. A smile bloomed over her face. “Well how about this, why don’t you come with us then? I refuse to leave you here all alone. If you’d like, we’ll be your new friends.” She beamed brightly at the small blue Pokemon. “I’m Hana. This is Hawlucha, and Dewpider.”

Dewpider hand crawled down off of Hana and leaned toward Hawlucha. < What strength do we have to gain from this pitiful ancient child? >

Hawlucha glared at her, then he moved over to Amaura and put a hand on her back to reassure her. < Hana is very nice. She had shown me strength beyond my own, and I grow daily by her side. Dewpider is annoying. Overall, we’re still learning how to live ourselves, and you’re more than welcome to come along and find if this is the group you belong to. You will be well taken care of here. >

Amaura smiled brightly, her sails were then green, she bounce don her feet. She was so excited! She looked to the human and smiled.

Hana grinned right back at her. “Welcome to the team, Aurora. Mind if I call you that? It fits so well!”

Dewpider groaned. < Somebody put me back in my pokeball before I dirty my bubble. >