It's glare ice out there

[I feel like my blog is what happens when you have someone who’s watched several playthroughs of triple A horror games but also seen/sometimes played some rpg maker horror games.

“Almost time to take off your collar for the winter, huh buddy?”

Glacier huffs as Blanc adjusts his collar, yawning just a moment after Blanc fastened it in place again.

“I know you don’t like it much but, it keeps you cool doesn’t it?”

He grunts before he looks out the window of the stable, his ears turned forward abruptly. Blanc warily looks to see exactly what Glacier has seen, but there’s nothing but dark and trees. 

“...I wonder sometimes what it is you see that I can’t,” he says while reaching to pet his old friend’s head. “But then again, maybe it’s better I don’t know. Still...nothing out there can hurt you in here, you know that.”

Glacier doesn’t tear his gaze away for a minute, before he leans to nudge his snout against Blanc’s cheek. 

“Guess we’re good then?” He asks with a laugh. “At least... I’m going to hope so. Rest up, maybe we’ll go for a ride out tomorrow.”

The feeling she got from the forest was unlike anything she had felt before. It was a strange vibe she couldn’t place. The best way she could describe it was nonsensical. It didn’t feel like any person or pokemon she’d felt before. That alone would be enough to deter most people from delving further into the woods, but Serena found herself intrigued more than pushed away.

Luckily someone was willing to help her through the forest as well, so she was less worried about getting totally lost here. As they went deeper into the trees, it was steadily growing more dark. Darkness like this was an odd comfort to her, but the way it happened so suddenly despite the time of day did catch her off-guard.

Winds whistled through the woods, and that was when it felt like a gaze from something- perhaps multiple things, she didn’t know- was staring right through her down to her very being. That was when she posed her question, feeling the hairs on the back of her neck rise with the other’s answer.

“I figured as much… I got a strange feeling even before coming this far. It’s something that would make most people turn around.” Hopefully her curiosity wouldn’t land her in hot water, but it wouldn’t be the first time it happened at least.

Being surprised at her bravery probably shouldn’t be his first thought, but it is. Usually Blanc tries to keep the peace, he doesn’t want anyone to get scared of what’s in White Forest even though they had every reason to be wary. But evidently Serena doesn’t need any sort of comforting, she’s facing the darkness in the white woods with a cautious feeling, but she wasn’t panicked yet. She wasn’t running back towards the town and out the door never to return.

He wouldn’t have blamed her or anyone else for that, but he’s impressed nonetheless. He stares into the shadows that he knows are staring back, aware that no matter how nervous they make him they’re not going to kill him. He’s more worried about his ‘guest’ and her safety than anything else.

“I have an idea,” he says as he stares out into the trees. “There’s an empty cabin out here, I don’t think it’s far. We can get inside and stay there until the forest calms down again.”

Normally he doesn’t talk about the forest being its own entity to someone he hardly knows, but this situation is more worrying than it usually is. He looks back at her with concerned determination, before he speaks again.

“I’m going to lead the way, I need you to do your best to step where I do or at least as close by as you can. And whatever you do... don’t step in any place that looks completely black, and do your best to avoid looking at anything that has eyes for too long.”

    This is no ordinary chill, especially for this time of year. This is the kind that raises goosebumps along her arms and makes the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. It makes her incredibly uneasy… However, Blanc doesn’t seem too alarmed. Maybe she just hasn’t spent enough time in the area to become familiar with its climatic whims. All her discomfort aside, she’s willing to trust him on this.

    “Umm… yes, please, I’d REALLY appreciate it.” She offers him an apologetic smile and wraps her arms around herself. She should’ve been better prepared, it seems.

    As Blanc goes to fetch her the offered blanket, she lets her eyes wander around his place. The inside of his living room is homey, with its earthy tones, piles of books, and rustic furniture. The electronics in the room almost feel out of place, though she can’t blame Blanc for seeking a way to pass the time. Thankfully, White Forest doesn’t usually have much going on.

He didn’t think it would do much good if the problem did prove to be supernatural, but Blanc at least attempted to flip on the heater too before he went to get the blanket. He did have a very soft Wooloo wool blanket that he thought might do the trick, though in reaching for it on the top shelf he’s near certain he did not bump anything else up there, but a book he apparently misplaced fell on him abruptly. 

...Coincidence. Until further notice, he is going to call that coincidence. The heater was kicking on with no issue anyway, and after placing the book on a lower shelf this time, he finally has the blanket in hand and wanders back out to Rosa.

“Sorry about the wait!” He says with a smile, passing her the light gray blanket.  “Had some trouble getting this down from the high shelf, but it’s really nice and warm so I hope it helps.”

A hum but it’s followed by a smile. He doesn’t mean to intrude on Blanc’s job here but if he’s wrong and they find nothing then it’ll be just that! In truth, he really hopes it was just his eyes playing tricks on him or something. It was just this strange feeling he had. Maybe it was nerves form the forest in the end but better safe than sorry.

Nate was no hero chosen by any of the legendary Pokemon but that didn’t mean his role wasn’t just as important.

     “Hey do you mind if I ask you something?“ voiced as he turns to lead the walk over, “As the only known resident of this place what’s it actually like? Don’t think I’m asking as ex Interpol or anything but we, er they, did have speculations. Exactly how much danger am I in being here?“

Not that it’d matter at all but knowing variables always helped situations no matter how bleak they might be.

It was a good question to be asking him if he’s honest, and one that he’d give Nate credit for thinking of too. Most would barge into these buildings without a second thought and get themselves in serious trouble, bringing Blanc along would probably make it slightly easier; because the forest wasn’t out to kill him today. But it would remain odd and maybe eerie, there was no outrunning that.

“...Not as much as you would’ve been while wandering about on your own,” he replies as he unlocks the door. “It’s definitely better to have someone who lives here going with you, but I’ll admit that it’s difficult to promise that it’s safe even while I’m here.”

He doesn’t bother to ask if Nate is sure, his look from earlier solidified his determination enough in Blanc’s mind. He turns the doorknob hesitantly, feeling dread on his back as the door creaks open. 

   She had to admit that the unfamiliar atmosphere was heightening her own anxiety. Hilda had been yet to explore White Forest, much less traverse this deep into it. The fact that she hardly knew Blanc didn’t help matters either.

  “Alright.” She starts, moving closer to the other. Perhaps it was merely her anxiety speaking but she had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach about this trek. “I can hardly see a thing,” Even just looking down, it was difficult to see the path beneath her shoes. “How are you able to navigate this so easily?”

“It helps that I’ve lived here for awhile now, honestly...” He replies and attempts to laugh off the fear in the air. 

It’s amazing how despite all the ivory leaves and grass that should be green, the tall trees made the woods seem so dark and ominous. However the clearing that he mentioned really is just ahead, with sunlight shining in like a ray of hope in such a place. He couldn’t promise complete safety within the shade of the woods, but in sunlight? They should be fine, and the town was still fairly close by. 

“Here, take a look!” He calls to her, stopping for a moment to look up into the sky through the trees. Finally it looked like a nice day again, and the clearing was full of different types of berries not usually found easily in Unova.

“I’m still trying to figure out how this can happen, but it’s kind of neat isn’t it? The same way it’s kind of neat that different pokemon just... arrive here sometimes.”