Ice collapsed into the snow, panting heavily as the last Houndoom fled. Though his exhaustion, the Freezing Pokémon managed to struggle to his feet, his mind plagued with the hope that Bubble had gotten to safety with his little friend and her baby. He flinched, feeling a burning feeling within himself, knowing that during the battle, he had been burnt badly by the fire type attacks but he would be safe until he started battling again, when the fire would reignite with his battle induced adrenaline rush.

His blood stained the snow beneath his claws crimson but regardless the Freezing Pokémon stumbled through the snow, his ears twitched as they picked out a faint sound in the distance. The sent that reached his snout was a comfortingly familiar as he made his way towards the sound of what he hoped was Minny.

Distantly, Minny's own ears twitched as she stumbled further through the woods, back the way she had come with Bubble, her desperate cries for Ice's caught by the wind and carried beyond anyone's ability to hear. She squealed as another gust of wind pushed her back, the young Buneary mewled lightly as she struggled through the darkness. "I-ic-ce!" She pleaded, shivers raking through her body. "Wh-er-re ar-r-re y-y-ou?"

She felt a presence over her, not knowing it was indeed Ice, she squealed. Minny pulled away, screaming her friends name in a pitiful mix of stutters and shrieks. As her ears scrunched up tightly as she cried weakly for Ice's protection.

The ice bear lowered himself to Minny's hight. "Minny, it's me." He whispered, as he gently nuzzled his little friend. "It's Ice." His voice made the young Normal type stiffened as she felt Ice nuzzle her but soon relaxed as he picked her up. "I've got you." Ice assured her.

"I-I w-was l-l-lost." Minny muttered, snuggling in close to her friends fluffy fur as the cold froze her tiny frame. "I-I w-as sssca-red be-caussse I c-c-an't f-find B-b-b-ubb-ble or Meme." She burst into tears, unable to control herself.

Ice was quiet for a moment, hugging the Buneary close in attempt to warm her. "I've got you." He repeated as a sharp and eerie roar rung through the air like a call of death.

"Wh-what w-was thhhat?" Minny shrieked, her frame frozen in Ice's grip.

"I don't know, but we've got to find Bubble and Meme." Ice replied grimly, sharp eyes observing his surroundings before once more dropping to the child in his arms. "Stay quiet, okay?" He told her softly, nuzzling her freezing form. "Preserve your strength and keep warm child."

Minny gave a stiff nod, burying herself into Ice's fur in attempt to steal his warmth before her blood froze. The young Buneary was almost positive that her blood had already started and there was no way in the world that she could even begin to stop her shivering either out of fear or the cold that had consumed her just moments before.

"How did you get separated from Meme and Bubble?" Ice questioned her as he cradled the young Buneary close to his fur.

"D-d-dra-p-pion i-i-is h-here!" Minny squeaked. "B-Bub-ble i-is b-battl-ing h-h-him. i-i-it's m-my f-f-f-ault." She cried, tears dampening her friend's fur as she searched for his warmth.

Ice took a moment to process Minny's words but snarled when he realised that Drapion was attempting to take little Minny back. He wouldn't let him. Drapion would never lay a claw on Minny again, he had promised his friend as much as well as himself. With softness in his eyes, he looked down at the bundle of white fur Minny was buried inside. "It will be okay Minny, I will not let him harm you."

"I-I'm-m s-scared."

Minny heard Ice sigh as he responded. "I know, I am as well."

For the next few hours, silence passed between them. Out of exhaustion, Minny slipped off into sleep, knowing Ice had the capability to protect her. The large bear Pokémon trod through the forest, ears twitching for signs of Bubble or her baby with no success.

He sighed heavily, debating if he should just leave and hope that the other two had done the same however, if Bubble was battling Drapion as Minny had said, he doubted she would make it off the mountain. Drapion would kill her or attempt to use her in exchange for Minny. The the latter case, although grim to think about, Ice knew he could only refuse. He cared for Minny much more then he did her Azumaril friend.

Ice looked over his shoulder, relieved to see the snow has frozen over most his wounds but with his burn, Ice knew he wouldn't last long. He allowed himself a short rest under a large fruitless berry tree, he shut his eyes briefly, sighing softly to himself. His obsidian eyes wondered down to this small bundle of fur in his arms.

Minny was still shivering slightly, making Ice wish he was a Fire Type for the first time in his life. That way he could at the very least keep Minny warmer then he could as an Ice Type with a lower body temperature then most.

The little Buneary shifted slightly before she sneezed, burying her head deeper into Ice's fur. The large Beartic worried further over his friend. She was only a baby after all and in this whether she was at risk of getting much more sick then she already was. Ice knew he might not have a choice in leaving, even if it meant leaving Bubble and Meme behind.

Ice's nose twitched as a disturbing smell reached his snout, his ears twitched in attempt to pick up a sound to go with this sent but they failed to recognise anything that sounded of footsteps. The Beartic rose to his feet, still cradling a sleeping Minny within the warmth of his fur. Again he took in a deep breath through his nose, further identifying the one who was near, only a single label came to mind. Drapion.