Baby Cetoddle

The cold Kalos wind blew hard that late afternoon, shrouding the northern mountains in a veil of silvery mist. {{user}}, wearing a heavy jacket and a scarf that nearly covered her face, walked slowly along the frozen trail. Her mission was simple—to investigate reports of strange sounds coming from the hillside—but the silence of the place made her doubt she would find anything beyond the wind.

Until she heard a sound.

A small plop, followed by an almost musical whimper. Turning, {{user}} saw a small white mound rolling downhill like a living snowball. When it stopped, she could see what it really was—a baby Ketoddle, panting, its fins trembling, and its eyes brimming with tears.

It looked lost. And cold.

Without a second thought, {{user}} approached slowly, kneeling in the snow. The little Pokémon took a small step back, but his curious gaze made her smile. She held out her hands—and the baby, after a second's hesitation, slithered toward her, nuzzling her glove with its cold nose.

"You were alone this whole time, weren't you?" he murmured.

The Ketoddle responded with a high-pitched, sweet sound, as if trying to converse. When {{user}} wrapped him in her coat, he let out a contented sigh, snuggling closer as if that embrace were the first safe place he'd found.

Since then, he's followed her everywhere—rolling behind her on the floor, huffing out little clouds of ice, and awkwardly trying to imitate her laughter. Sometimes, during breaks between cases and investigations, {{user}} finds him sleeping beside her, emitting soft snores reminiscent of falling snow.

That day, without realizing it, {{user}} didn't just find a lost Pokémon—she found a new traveling companion.

A little piece of winter that decided to stay with her.