(ACE) The FROST Team

Despite the barn doors being closed the space inside was the same bitter cold that haunted the rest of the town. The lack of a breeze did little to stifle the cold, instead allowing the muster smell of old hay and alfalfa to linger thickly in the air. The floor had a layer of dust on it, surely straw dust and dirt alongside literal dust, but it was free snow and moisture. Though Green search the same as the rest of them her gaze kept sliding back toward the blood that smeared the dust on the floor and a spot where it collected the most. The creature had been resting, recovering, and surely did not welcome their unannounced visit. Its continued silence instead of panic could be to their benefit; if it hoped they would not notice it then they may not need to disturb one another.

Green turned her gaze forward once more. They needed to stay aware, it was prudent they did, but their other task still took precedence. Walking around in the enclosed space felt strangely foreboding, likely due to the very real knowledge they were being watched, but Green remained focused on her task. The barn was dirty but not in disarray; neglect and disuse showing stronger than any rummaging or scuffles. Spare axles and tires, a rack with a bunch of well loved shovels, hoes, scythes, and rakes, spare work boots who no longer had a master. Scrunching her face with a grunt Green knew none of these things would benefit them, though the tools may be helpful in a pinch.

Turning away from then she passed a open face divider, and glances at what used to be hay-bales in the corner. While they were protected from the elements the years had broken down their form and degraded their binds, making for a disconcerting pile of straw. A wonderful insulator, and one she was shocked had not been plundered from this place. Not what were here for. A pitchfork was resting to the resting to the side of the heap, another weapon she realized uncomfortably.

"Nothing here. Anything on your end Green?" Jack asked, his fuzzy voice ringing over her translator and forcing her to turn away. "Nothing edible." She remarks dryly. With her search fruitless so far she changed course to move toward Drake. He stared vacantly at decaying ladder, its wooden slats separating and showing the worst wear they had seen so far. Though filled with miscellaneous supplies anyone could see this was a small barn by their standards. Most dual story barns were built was a ramp set of stairs, but this one did not have the size to accommodate them and featured the outdated ladder system more suited for its size. An annoyance, to say the least, as any properly stored items would be up above.

"Climbing isn't going to work. The ladder's pretty much going to break the minute someone steps on the first step. Maybe one of us can climb up on the tractor. Unless someone has a better idea." With a rough exhale Green stared up to the dim loft, any spoils hidden by the angel and shadows. Placing a hand on the damaged stairs she could feel the rotten woods lack of integrity. With a sharp turn of her head she locks her sights on Jack and Kolven, the pair exploring but coming up equally as empty handed. "Im sure you two would be fine." She decrees, singling them out. Scurrying rats and agile cats would make quick work of a ladder, and their lightweight shouldn't overburden it.

ooC)) Skip, Jack looks at Green with an agreeing look. Finn has nothing this round

Watching Clover mess with the can was worrying as it was amusing. She seemed both bored and playful, but the noise was disconcerting. They were hidden here, but if something more sinister was they should try to alarm it any more than they already were. He trilled, calling her attention back to the workbench with interested steps, but he had nothing to hold her to it. "Climbing isn't going to work. The ladder's pretty much going to break the minute someone steps on the first step." Drake's voice trails off, and Kolven wondered what he sought up above. In all the picture books he had seen with the kids hay and straw was stored above, but he did not dismiss the chance at goodies being up above.

"Im sure you two would be fine." With a rising trill the tomcat stared back at Green's intense gaze. Though she did not use their names it was a direct call out, and Kolven's tail quivered at the prospect. Hopping off of the bench he trotted toward the others to get a better view of the ladder. Clover was quick behind him, her hobbling steps key to being left out of the group of climbers. He came to a stop, his tail held high, and the molly responded in kind with slowed steps as he started his investigation. The wood looked questionable to say the least, but with a whimsical purr he hums, "I've seen worse." Unless he was aggressively scrabbling up the planks he looked sturdy enough to hold him, and with a calming breath the cat began his ascent.

It was rickety, rotten wood flaking away beneath his pads in a shower of dust. Legends, was this thing ever outside? Luckily, for his climb it held-fast, and with a final push he made it onto the loft without any event. Still, the rotten wood told enough of its integrity, and were anyone larger, or less balanced, than the two of them to climb he doubted it would last. "Easy enough," he hums to put the others at ease, though his amber gaze was already scanning the higher floor. Hay dust was thick here, old bales bundled high for future use they would never meet, and powered straw covered every surface. The morning sun struggled to reach this angle, casting darkness from the walls and corners that was even worse than the floor below. As he waited for Jack the cat could already feel his pelt starting to prickle with unease. If there was any place for a critter to hide, it was here..

A long, drawn out below called up from below, and Kolven tossed his head back to see Clover staring at him with her strong eye red. She pawed at the bottom of the ladder, but stopped as he called back to her, "Don't even think about it." Legends help him, she would drag the thing down and harm herself if he was not around. "Looks like its covered with tarp but the rope isn't to strong. I got faith in you Kolven if you are able to cut the rope with those claws of yours other than that, I think you and Jack could get it easily." It? Shocked that Drake could see up here at all Kolven scanned for the something in question. It wasn't hard to spot the tarp, the protective layer hopefully keeping any spoils safe despite the neglect. "I see it I see it." He confirms before padding off with swaying steps.

The cat made quick work of the ladder, the creaking, crumbling wood managing to support his bulk as he ascended. Drake gave instructions from there, something she was no longer needed for, and Green instead continued to scan the main floor. It seemed it was a bust; while the barn had many miscellaneous items they could theoretically use none of them were of an edible nature. Tools filled no bellies, and she tapped her fingers along her Pokeballs with a knowing sigh.

"Why do humans put food in a strange ice cube?" Maka's voice hummed over her communicator, the barking sound of his voice a stark contrast to the innocent question. Ice cube? Admittedly, the Pokemon from the deep wilds made understanding difficult, but she could not fault him for that. While a fridge was the first thing to come to mind it made little sense for the feral Pokemon to have seen one. A cooler, perhaps? It was bitterly cold here though, maybe in summer? Clicking her nails against her Pokeballs the trainer pushed her mental rambling aside; it mattered not to the original question.

"Keeping food cold keeps it fresh and safe to eat for much longer." She explains as simply as possibly. The complexities of shelf lives, preservatives, freezer burn, and the bullshit that was expiration dates would certainly be lost on him. "You can save food for weeks, months, even years if its stored properly. Depending on what it is, of course." Fresh milk was a thing of the past, and hint of longer fell on the sigh she exhaled.

Finn finished looking around and sat in front of the fire. The flames reminded him of a very small time he actually did get to to sit by a fire when he was younger to keep warm. "Hope you mates are alright. Make it back safely." The Braixen said as he looked at the flames.

The Pikachu hopped up to the next step and heard something crash and it sounded like paint cans. "There's someone else here. It might be what Maka mentioned." Though it would be easier for two pokemon to check it out. Other than that, he and Kolven can check out what's under the tarp.

OoC)) Skip, Maka quickly reacts and turns his head to where the sound came from. Drake continues to look up to help guide Jack and Kolven.

It was passing strange to think about nostalgic foods she would never have again. Green was not one to brood on the past, not anymore, but she allowed herself a moment to wonder in memories of dishes long past. Simple things like potato chips linger on her tongue, a crispness she could never obtain with a campfire or cook stove, let alone having salt to spare for such an indulgence. In this cold place, maybe there was--

A clattering set of thunks and crashes beat throughout the otherwise quiet barn. Instantly Green's guard was back up, fingers tense and tracing her Pokeballs reflexively. "There's someone else here. It might be what Maka mentioned." Jack's voice was soft but came over loud on her communicator. Well no shit. She spits internally, ignoring the familiar Pokemon as she looked for the source of the noise. Twitching fingers touched her companion's sphere, a punch hitting her gut as they counted only four. The other two.. No, she refused to be distracted by emotions, and with only three of her 'mons accessible she let her fingers hover over one Pokeball.

"Show yourself." She commands, tired of the stress, of the unknown, at the looming threat. "We wont keep ignoring you." The blanket statements of "we mean no harm" and "let us help you" meant nothing if the thing turned up infected, and she dared not give it false hope.

OoC)) Skip, Jack is climbing up to the second floor of the barn. Go ahead and have Kolven follow Cinder.

Drake turns his head towards the sound. Since flamethrower and toxic was not recommended, his Hidden Move would be suitable for this situation. "Show yourself. We wont keep ignoring you." Green commands the mysterious intruder to come out. The Charmeleon stood ready to go but when the intruder showed itself, it was a beedrill but his wounds was already to the point that it was bleeding heavily. Just as it comes out, it collapses as if it was dying from its wound. There was no chance of saving it from death.

Maka walks over and is ready to attack should it be infected. Not moving another inch, the mightyena lets out a low growl not breaking eye contact from the bug type. There was no way that he wouldn't let it get the drop on them.

Drake was ready himself but something told him that it wasn't infected and it was wounded by the scythe in the barn. "I don't think its infected. The wound seems to be too clean."

Approaching the tarp with light steps the cat moved with curiosity. The way the light, or lack their of, hit the upper level gave it an odd almost foreboding atmosphere. This doesn't seem very secure, he thinks while padding about the tarp. Truthfully, it was hardly different than being down below, but who was he to judge humans and their strange fancies. Placing a paw upon the weights on a corner, another odd thing for a place with no wind, he gave the tiniest shove when a clattering noise from below made his body go rigid. Instantly his head went high, ears perked and honed for the sound as his tail fluffed up. There was no doubt that their local had caused the sound, a mistake on their part, and as the clanking stopped the barn went deathly quiet.

With a held breath Kolven made hurried steps to the edge of the loft, his paws silent with each footfall as his ears strained for a more accurate direction or worrying sound. Peering over the edge he could see the slight movement of a paint can rolling on its axis, but the culprit was nowhere to be seen. A secondary sound made his blood feel cold; Clover was growling, the low noise getting louder with each passing moment. Her body was already aligned with the location of the noise, primed with a hunters crouch and slow, careful steps. Her tail quivered, desperately trying to stay still and fight the stimulus that had attracted her in the first place. Kolven bit his teeth and made several small, quick huffs to pull her attention away, but the undead had found focus and could not be distracted so easily.

While the sound had pulled the molly in the taste of blood kept in her place. It had been in the air, lingering and fresh, but now the source was so tantalizingly close. With practiced steps she crept forward, completely in her element aside from the hobbled jump every three steps. This was her moment, her hunt, her kill-- "Show yourself. We wont keep ignoring you." The human barked orders, her voice loud and overwhelming to the point the Meowth flinched. After a second her mind snaps back, awareness returned slightly, though the drool dripping from her teeth did not let her interest fade. "Clover get back!" Kolven hissed tensely from above, and facing him she hissed back wet and loud. The moment was lost.

Kolven's tail was thrashing, paws itching to leap down below as the Pokemon unwillingly came out of hiding. It was a familiar figure, a species he knew all too well and that they had spoken about earlier, but it made things no more comforting. After only a few steps it collapsed in a pitiful heap, its performance too superb to be fake. Alarm shot through the tomcat, his amber eyes flicking between the bug and his sister. Which was the bigger threat, which responsibility was he to uphold? "I don't think its infected. The wound seems to be too clean." Drake says a bit too coldly for his liking. He had spoken about a Beedrill here like it was an old friend, or at least a familiar face to him. "Do you know this Pokemon?" He asks, raising his voice to be heard down below. "We need to do something!"

Green's fingers were itching, trigger happy and dancing upon self defense. One Pokeball gingerly tapped her fingertips, ready to called to the field, but she moved it further toward the hilt of her machete. The noise continued, the creature clearly thinking better of trying to hide from them any longer. "Clover get back!" One Meowth called to the other as the undead one got too rowdy by the activity. "Yield." Green orders the 'mon. Her's or not it needed to be pacified, and whether or not her command had any effect the cat backed down as the Pokemon staggered out of its hiding place.

It was a Beedrill. The Beedrill she surmised, as the warm weather Pokemon had no reason to linger in this icy place otherwise. "I don't think its infected. The wound seems to be too clean." Drake commented as the Pokemon collapsed, his response not that of a familiar face or burning concern. Some random then? Her hands curls around the handle of her weapon, eyes scrutinizing the wound. Hemolymph oozed profusely from a deep gouge, the mark clean but deathly serious as its host crumpled to the ground. The bright red color of its eyes was already a bit dim, its life force waning before them.

"Do you know this Pokemon?" Kolven asks, concern bright in his voice as he watched from above. "We need to do something!" It was almost pitiful to see such wasted emotions. "Nothing we can do," She says flatly, grasping the machete and freeing it from her side, "'cept make it quick."

Finn walks over to the door and opens it. The air was getting rather moist and colder. "Where are they? I got a bad feeling about this weather." The Braixen said as he looked up towards the mountains. They was no longer visible to his sight.

In a sigh of helplessness, Jack knew there was really nothing they could do for them. Giving them a final word and making it quick would only work. "Only thing we can do is let Drake talk with him." He then stays close to Kolven, showing he has trust in Drake to make the call. Most likely that the beedrill might end up lose consciousness before death comes.

OoC)) Skip, I'll come back to this tomorrow morning

((Skip, both of them are pacing/walking in place.))

It hadn't the strength to stand, let alone fight back. Staring death in the face the Beedrill had no chance before the six of them in its state. Green was never one to drop her guard but the threat she felt from this Pokemon was nearly nonexistent. A surprise movement, a desperate act, a final strike, even that seemed like a stretch for a being who was unable to bear their own weight.

For all her loathing of the species it would be cathartic to finally rid the world of one of these fuckers, but as Green tightened her grip on her machete she felt nothing of the sort. It was pitiful, enough to make one feel sorry for Kanto's bane, let alone uncomfortable being near a suffering being. Even her grudge couldn't make her wish this Pokemon more agony.

"Only thing we can do is let Drake talk with him." Jack states, assuming as well that this bug was one in the same. Her eyes never left its dull form, faceted eyes losing color at an alarming rate. "Well make it fast." She presses, turning herself away from the Pokemon without taking her sight from it. "Thing won't last much longer."

OoC)) Skip. Nothing changed and preventing a repeat.

Finn sat for a bit, thinking on going outside to get some fresh air. However he’d be leaving the comfort of the warmth that is the mansion. The Braixen gets up and walks into the main hall to head outside. Just as he reached for the door, he had a horrible feeling come over him that something was out there waiting for him to come out into the open. Shaking his head to think this was nothing more than his own mind playing tricks on him. Finn proceeded to open the door and stepped outside. So far, nothing was astray other than the snow slowly intensifying in the distance and coming towards him. He walks through the snow dusted ground and over to Ark’s grave. In his own guilt Finn places his paw onto the grave “I’m so sorry Ark. I’ve made a fool of myself. If you was alive mate, you’d knock that sense into me.” It wasn’t long after that the feeling returned and this time, it wasn’t his mind. Looking over, he seen a man holding a rifle and it was pointed directly at him. Looking closer, it was as Finn thought. The man was his once trainer. Anger grew into Finn and he quickly pulled his stick out. “You should have stayed in jail! Now I’m going to make sure you don’t harm anyone else again!”

The two was in a showdown. Finn versus his trainer in a deathly dual of gun and pokemon moves. The pokemon and his former trainer was at a dead stare down. They react and with Finn making the first move and using his psyshock he attacks however in less in a second the former trainer fired a bullet right into Finn’s chest. The psyshock does what it was intended for Finn’s part. The criminal was hit from it that it caused the killer to start running away and later slump over lifeless but for Finn, his ending wasn’t a happy one. Coughing out blood before it seeps from his mouth, the Braixen was starting to feel weak, cold and light headed. Looking at the palm of his hand, he mustered up any remaining strength to move away and then, he falls onto the grave of Ark. Tears had came rolling down as Finn realized he was going to die here. His last words was not from something he came up with. It came from his heart. “Mates….I lived…..a life that was with crime…..Take care…..and….live.” Not after that, Finn dies from his wound. The end had came for him but out of it, he unknowingly protected the others from this fate.