"...Alright, I suppose I can spare the time to tell my story. See, I was...separated from my parents when I 
was young. It was during a massive snowstorm up in the mountains we were traveling in. I don't 
remember much about how that happened, but luckily, a Froslass that was kind enough to nurse me 
back to health took me in. I'm guessing I spent months living with her, 'cause I lost track of time being 
her...accolade, I guess that's what you'd call it. When it came to when we had to part ways, she gave me 
an Ice Gem as a parting gift, along with some supplies for my travels. And, she told me of another item 
that, when combined with it, will let me control ice. Though I had little to go off on, I set my sights on 
what seemed to be a snow-capped mountain in the distance, and made my way to its base..."

---

Caria made her way through the shrubs of the forest at the foot of the mountain. With every bush 
passed, every tree she spun around on her way, it wouldn't take long for the Psychic-type to reach it. It 
was getting quite dark within the dense forest, the setting sun not cooperating with her visibility. With 
only a few rays of light to go on, the Kirlia made her way to what seemed to be a bright spot...
She had found the camp of the Cranidos and Gothita, and upon closer glance, it seemed an altercation 
had taken place. The two were cleaning up around their campfire, their pot lying on its side in the grass 
nearby. An urge to help them rose from within Caria, making her way out of the shrubbery, waving out 
to the two.

"Hey, err..." she started. The two explorers looked up at her and almost panicked, thinking she was 
ambushing them. The Kirlia remained motionless upon receiving their gaze, and her heart jumped for a 
brief moment. The duo stood up once they realized she wasn't a threat, but the Cranidos stomped up to 
her, fuming.

"You got a lotta nerve sneaking up on us! I reckon that was your friend that gone and-"

"Ahem! Charlie, manners," the Gothita interrupted. The petit goth stepped forward, to her partner's 
side. "You're...an explorer like us, right?"

The Kirlia nodded. "I suppose you can call me that. I'm Caria, by the way. I'd hate to intrude on you two 
when you seem to be having problems of your own...but, do you know anything about this mountain 
here?" She pointed upwards at the mountain.

Charlie crossed his arms, kicking the nearby turned pot back upright. "Yeah, only that it's super-hot if 
you go down and super-cold if you go up. You can't win with it! You'll either freeze or melt going either 
way!"

The Gothita rolled her eyes. "I'm Lisa. Don't mind him; he's a bit...wild." She sighs. "We're kinda in a 
tough spot. Some jerk just stole our explorer's bag that had all our tools and identification in it."

"No way," Caria gasped. "Did they go in the mountain with it?"

Lisa nodded, a solemn look on her face. Charlie stomped about around the pot. "Great! We're gonna 
starve, how're we gonna go back to base without our IDs?! Arrrgh!"

The Gothita pointed up at the entrance the attacker took. "They jumped up there, but...there's a thing 
about this mountain. It's peculiar, in that a few of these caves loop back around to the real entrance. I 
remember seeing that on one of our maps, but I couldn't tell you which one's the actual entrance 
without it. Sorry."

Caria smiled, adjusting the strap on her own bag. "No, don't be. That's helpful information! I've got a 
hunch that what I need is in this mountain, so any little bit helps."

"You're going in by yourself?! You won't make it! You'll be good as dead if you head in there, just like 
that Mawile! If the both of us couldn't-"

"Charlie, please! Look, err, Caria...we can't go anywhere without our explorer's bag. It'd be too 
dangerous for us to chase that Mawile in that mountain, and we'd be the laughing stock of our guild if 
we returned home without it. So, I'm asking on behalf of us...could you retrieve our bag from that 
thief?" As sincere as Lisa was, the Cranidos seemed on edge about asking a stranger a request.

Caria paused. She looked over at the camp the two had set up. Perhaps, she thought, this is where her 
new life began. After all, she had no idea how to contact her parents, or know just how far away they 
are. It was by Arceus' blessing that Caria was at the right place and at the right time - so why refuse?

"Sure, I'll help. But, in return...when I come back, could you point me to the next town?"
