The next day, the temperature plummeted. Now and then, a cutting wind swept through, the sky a heavy gray with no sunlight in sight.
The people of the territory hurried their steps. Even without much experience, anyone could tell—a blizzard was coming.
For days, everyone had been working tirelessly at the logging site.
Thanks to their combined effort, the cabins were nearly finished. Only a few remained before the settlement was fully built.
Inside the tent, Raven gave orders to Aelif.
"Aelif, tell everyone to speed things up. And the food—how's the gathering going these past few days?"
Aelif replied, "Besides the black bread, white bread, ham, and smoked meat we had stored earlier, people have also collected plenty of berries and wild fruit.
And with your Dratini and Snover helping, the stores now hold a large supply of frozen fish. Some folks are smoking the catch to keep it longer."
"With what we've stored, surviving the winter will be no problem."
Good. Hearing this, Raven let out a breath of relief.
"The cold is dropping further. Since food is secure, have the foraging team switch to collecting firewood. We'll need enough stockpiled for heating before the blizzard arrives."
"Yes, my lord!"
As for fire-type Pokémon, Raven corrected himself—the only one nearby was a powerful Ninetales. With their current strength, they had no choice but to give up on that for now.
Other Pokémon would have to wait until spring, when the world thawed again.
Raven planned silently as he spoke:"Also, have Lila prepare herbs for frostbite, fever, and chills. We can't risk people falling ill in this weather."
"Understood, my lord." Aelif bowed and left quickly to carry out the orders.
"Chir, chir…"
Five Minccino huddled at the tent's entrance, staring at the sky with worried eyes.
Pokémon—could sense changes in the environment far more sharply than humans. Already, they felt the danger coming.
The little ones all looked anxious and uneasy.
"Chir…"
They were panicking.
By habit, before winter came they would always store food to last the cold months.
But this year was different. Their home in the woods had been cut down, and after days of watching Raven, they had never once seen him bring food back to store.
One Minccino tried to ask Raven, but when he couldn't understand, it gave up.
Could it be… this human didn't know how to store food?
The Minccino panicked even more.
"Chir!" If that was true, then wouldn't they all starve?
The five worried themselves sick until suddenly, one remembered something.
"Chir!"
In autumn, they had gathered chestnuts, pine nuts, and berries from the forest!
Another perked up. "Chir!"
It recalled they had stashed it all inside a stone cave.
As the memories surfaced, the rest nodded rapidly.
Without hesitation, the five dashed out of the tent toward the cave.
They had to haul back those nuts and berries before the blizzard hit!
In Raven's stunned eyes, the Minccino vanished into the distance.
"…?"
"Where are they going?" Raven muttered, looking to Dratini.
"Wuu…" Dratini answered vaguely.
Just then, someone called for an audience outside the tent.
A short-haired girl with freckles walked in, worry on her face.
Raven recognized her immediately.
Megan, the one he'd tasked with raising the six Magikarp.
"What is it, Megan?" he asked.
"Lord Raven…" Megan hesitated. "The weather's so cold these days, the pond's surface freezes more each morning. I'm afraid the Magikarp will suffer. So I wanted to ask… could I bring them home and care for them until spring? Afterward, I'll return them to the pond."
"For the Magikarp?" Raven raised a brow in surprise.
So she'd grown attached to them.
But Megan didn't seem to realize—though the surface froze, the water beneath stayed stable. Magikarp wouldn't be harmed.
Even so, Raven was glad to see his people form bonds with Pokémon. He nodded."Of course. But remember, they can't be out of the water too long."
Megan's face lit up. "I know! My brother built six wooden troughs. The Magikarp can stay in those."
Her family had been assigned a cabin not long ago. She lived there now with her brother Chris.
"In that case, they're in your care," Raven said with a smile.
"Thank you so much, Lord Raven!" Megan bowed gratefully.
Raven watched her leave, pleased.
This was a good sign.
Maybe one day, under Megan's care, those Magikarp would evolve into Gyarados.
After all, miracles like that weren't uncommon in the world of Pokémon.
Time passed, but the Minccino still hadn't returned.
Growing worried, Raven stood and went out to search, Dratini at his side.
They reached the place where he had first found the Minccino, when suddenly Dratini stopped, eyes fixed in another direction.
"Wuu?"
"What is it, Dratini?" Raven asked, following its gaze.
And there, behind a tree, he spotted a familiar figure.
A Snivy.
Raven froze.
But the moment Snivy realized it was seen, it turned as if to flee.
"Wait, Snivy!" Raven called.
The beast hesitated, glancing back over its shoulder.
Raven hurried closer, speaking as he ran:"Snivy, the Minccino told me about you. You live here too. I'm sorry—we destroyed your home.
But the blizzard is almost here. It's dangerous to stay outside."
Grass-types like Snivy didn't hibernate, but winter sapped their strength and slowed them down.
"So, why don't you join our settlement? Stay with us through this winter. When spring comes, I'll plant a grove of berries for you—a new home. What do you say, Snivy?"
Snivy blinked at him, then with swift grace vanished into the trees.
"…Again?" Raven sighed.
So what was it?It always ran when he approached, yet it kept showing up near them.
Was it… tsundere?
(End of Chapter)