Zorua, the Tricky Fox Pokémon, was naturally adept at weaving illusions to confuse its foes.
In the wild, Zorua could take on the form of humans or other Pokémon, masking its true appearance to shield itself from danger. In rare cases, it might even mimic the very opponent it faced, relying on their fear and confusion to make a quick escape.
But this little one's illusion was far from perfect.
In the blink of an eye, the mirage unraveled, and its true form reappeared.
'It's back!'
Anna's eyes shone wide, sparkling with curiosity.
Yet at that very moment, she noticed the Zorua's body stiffen. It crouched low again, lips curled, a low growl rumbling in its throat.
Anna froze. 'What? Is it growling at me? No way! Hey, I was the one who just saved you!'
But then a chill crawled across her spine.
A vast shadow loomed over her and the small Pokémon.
The truth struck her like lightning, the Zorua wasn't threatening her at all. It was warning her. An enemy was coming.
Heart pounding, Anna spun around.
Behind her stood a beast nearly three meters tall, its thick white pelt bristling with frost.
A Beartic.
"Hoo–wooo!"
The tundra beast roared, swinging its massive claws. The strike tore clean through Anna's cotton coat, icy talons slicing so close she felt the sting of pain on her skin.
Her body jolted with adrenaline. Gritting her teeth through the burning ache, Anna scooped the trembling Zorua into her arms and bolted.
"Roar! Roar! Roar!"
The Beartic bellowed furiously, enraged that its prey dared flee. It charged after them, snow crunching like thunder beneath its paws.
But the forest floor was slick. The blizzard had ended, yet the hardened snow, polished by the biting wind, had become a treacherous sheet of ice.
Anna's foot slipped.
In an instant, she and the Zorua tumbled forward, rolling uncontrollably down the slope.
"Ahhhhhh!"
"Wooooo!"
Their terrified cries rang out together as the world spun around them.
At the end of the slope loomed a sheer cliff.
Anna's eyes went wide with horror. A stabbing pain shot through her body, and darkness swallowed her whole.
Meanwhile, far from the forest's peril, life in the camp pressed on.
Building a log house was a tedious and demanding task. After listening carefully to the carpenter Tucker's explanation, Lucien understood the general process needed to construct a cabin that could withstand the brutal cold.
First, they needed flat ground with deep, compact snow and a wind-sheltered foundation to ensure stability.
Tucker surveyed the valley, quickly selecting a suitable spot.
By midday, with the effort of dozens of hands, they had already felled a great number of trees. The logs were hauled from the forest by strong men, while others trimmed away branches with axes and saws.
Then the true construction began.
To conserve materials and maximize warmth, Tucker designed the house in a dome-like style, reminiscent of an igloo. Mortise-and-tenon joints bound the beams tightly, while snow, logs, soil, branches, and leaves filled the gaps to block out the bitter wind.
Faced with the specter of death in the snow, everyone worked with desperate determination. The efficiency was staggering.
By nightfall, the first winterproof cabin stood finished.
...
At night, the newly built cabin glowed with firelight. Flames crackled in the hearth, and above it hung a pot of oatmeal porridge, sending waves of warm fragrance curling through the room.
The gaps between the wooden logs had been carefully sealed, and though the cold wind howled and shrieked outside, not a single draft slipped through.
The people sitting inside were filled with awe and relief. Faces that had long been dulled by despair now shone with excitement.
This simple wooden cabin, nothing more than a shelter of logs, was a miracle to them. It was proof that they could endure. If they worked together, each family could have a cabin like this, and perhaps… they might survive the winter after all.
Lucien stood among them, calm and steady. He didn't show it outwardly, but a weight had lifted from his heart.
'Fortunately, the cabin works. If we continue like this, getting through the winter may truly be possible.'
"Thank you all for your hard work," Lucien said, his voice firm yet warm. "Rest early tonight, and tomorrow we'll continue."
"Yes, Your Highness!" The reply came back with renewed spirit, the people smiling for the first time in days.
Lucien smiled faintly and turned to leave with Dratini nestled against him, ready to rest.
But just as he stepped outside, a woman stumbled toward him, her face pale with desperation.
When she saw him, her eyes lit up as if she'd found the last ember of hope.
"Your Highness Lucien, my daughter, Anna, is missing! Please, save her!"
Lucien's eyes narrowed slightly. He remembered Anna, the ten-year-old girl who had boldly answered him during his speech, her spirit a spark among the people.
"What happened? Tell me carefully," Lucien said, his tone calm but commanding.
The woman sobbed. "This afternoon, Anna returned from Doctor Lila's tent. She was reading a book. I only stepped away for a short while, but when I came back, she was gone! At first I thought she'd gone to play, but she never returned, not even after dark… Your Highness, please, I beg you!"
Her husband had already perished on the journey. Anna was all she had left in this world. If she lost her daughter too, her world would collapse entirely.
Lucien's expression hardened. "Ryan, investigate the area near her tent."
"Yes, Your Highness!" Ryan didn't hesitate. He turned sharply and led men toward the camp's edge.
Meanwhile, Lucien opened the territory panel, his eyes quickly scanning for Anna's entry.
[Civilian Name: Anna]
Age: 10
Occupation: None
Special Ability: None
Loyalty: 99 (Upper Limit: 100)
[Life History: Born in the 138th year of the Royal Calendar. In the 148th year, she and her mother followed His Highness Lucien to his fiefdom.]
Her name was still there. Relief brushed through him. That meant she was alive.
Lucien raised his eyes to the weeping woman. "Don't despair. I will do everything I can."
Just then, Ryan returned, urgency in his steps.
"Your Highness! We found footprints behind the tent, they lead deep into the forest!"