A/N: Welcome to my newest story! As you might expect by the title this is going to be a collection of stories that take place in the world of Traveler. It will contain glimpses into the past and explore characters and situations that would normally be brushed over.

In essence I'll be using this to show plots and ideas I'll never be able to show in Traveler itself due to time constraints or due to its not fitting very well. I plan on releasing one chapter alongside each chapter of Traveler. It won't take much time to write each chapter so longer updates for Traveler shouldn't be a concern.

For those of you who haven't read or didn't enjoy Traveler, this can be read as a standalone. Although reading Traveler is recommended, if it's not your thing it's not necessary. It just offers more context on some of these situations, characters, and plots.

Enjoy!

"Damn!" Hiro scowled as he watched the Swinub scurry away and dip beneath the snow. He carefully removed his notched arrow and guided his string forward. "Blasted beast! Why won't you just let me eat you?"

Hiro sighed. This was the third time they'd run today. Swinub weren't really aggressive but they had a lot of meat and fat and that's what he needed right now. What the village needed.

He slipped the roughly hewn arrow back into his quiver, pausing to breathe some warmth into his gloved hands. Winter was harsh this year. Lord Winter must be in a foul mood.

It looked like he needed to get back to the village soon. He could sense the incoming storm. Its arrival was heralded by that strange stillness in the air that put him ill at ease, the utter silence that betrayed the fury of a god.

"Maybe not the village," he sighed. It was too far away. He'd strayed too far from his usual ground. Satoshi would be furious at him for going off on his lonesome and his mother's wrath would be something to be feared when he returned. It was at least three days away from where he was in the Ice Path and he'd eaten almost all his food. There were just a few strips of smoked Lickitung left in his pack.

No, he needed to find shelter. He wasn't quite in the Ice Path proper, just the snowy lands that separated it from his own village. Hiro was reckless, but he wasn't quite stupid enough to venture into the caverns where the hunting calls of the Sneasel packs sounded for hours.

There was danger in this land, but he could survive. Only a few Sneasel strayed out here and oftentimes just to find easy prey…like that Swinub should have been.

"Stupid creature," Hiro cursed as he started his long trek to the cave he'd found not too long ago. It was tucked away at the base of several cliffs. As long as he was careful he would be able to rest there safely. A few of the fierce creatures wandering this land might investigate but he would be ready. An arrow might not kill them but it would drive them off. "Is it too much to ask for an easy meal? I could stay out here for another three days with that much meat!"

Unfortunately the Swinub didn't come back after his reasonable request. Hiro growled and plodded off, following his tracks from earlier. It was times like this he wished he could fly like some of the great beasts that sometimes passed through these mountains. At least then he wouldn't leave tracks.

He shivered and adjusted his heavy cloak shaped from the massive hide of a Piloswine his father had slain in single combat. It was a mighty deed, the greatest hunt the village had seen for a decade, but unfortunately the beast had taken his father's life in turn. The Piloswine, filled with a dozen poisoned arrows, had frozen its hunter with a fierce gale of icy wind.

Had other hunters not found the two a day later Hiro never would have known what had happened.

Hiro grimaced as he glanced up into the sky. Snow had begun to fall yet again, clinging to him desperately. A fierce wind howled, announcing the blizzard's arrival. It would be an angry thing, he could tell. The blizzard would fall to claim these lands in its Lord's name.

He silently resolved to sacrifice his next kill to Articuno. At the very least he could try to appease the Lord of Winter. Perhaps it would even appear to guide him through its blizzard to his village, though Hiro would be happy if it just decided to shift the storm to Blackthorn.

Those bastards would deserve it, at least. It was only because of their damned demands for tribute that he even needed to be out here. The village's winter stocks had been emptied by Lord Shiro.

Regardless, he needed to hurry. Though the moon was beautiful he didn't want to see it tonight. Not in the midst of a blizzard.

HotW

Hiro hesitated as he heard the snuffling of a Swinub. It was near, but not close enough to notice him. He stopped his hand from drifting to the small mushroom in his pockets he knew would entice the small creature.

The blizzard had landed, though only just. It grew stronger by the minute and he didn't have much time until it would blind and deafen him with its flurries and roars. He had no desire to test himself against its fury.

Was it worth taking this Swinub? He didn't like to use the mushroom, preferring to hunt naturally. He liked the challenge. As the storm arrived he had instead decided to save it while he was snowed in. It would help to stave off the hunger as he worked his way through the last of his supplies.

But if he couldn't kill it quickly he'd lose precious time. Hiro knew these lands well, but with the cloak of snow obscuring everything he could only guess where he needed to go. It was dangerous enough already.

Then again that Swinub would be really tasty…he'd stockpiled a few logs to dry out in his cave the day before. He'd need the warmth and could at least get started on preparing the creature. If he cleared out some of the snow that would end up blocking the cave he wouldn't need to worry about the smoke.

His mind made up, he tore the mushroom in two. The Swinub's body pointed his way instantly and its little nose snuffled in glee as it recognized the scent.

He almost felt bad for killing the cute little creature. But he needed to eat.

As it charged his way for the mushroom he aimed, leveling his arrow to where he knew the Swinub would be. Hiro was his father's son and had inherited more than just the Piloswine cloak and dashing good looks.

And then he cried out as a massive weight slammed into him, crushing him to the ground. Hiro's vision blurred as he heard a furious grunt and screamed in pain as he was hit again, this time gored in the side by an icy cold tusk.

Hiro gasped, his eyes wide as his side lit on fire, and rolled as the shadow turned to finish him. He staggered to his feet and fled, forgetting his bow in his haste to escape the beast that had attacked him. Though he stumbled, he was far faster than the furious Piloswine and managed to put some distance between them.

He collapsed as a gust of frozen air, colder than even the Blizzard, crashed into his back. Flecks of ice tore into the hide that adorned his shoulder and would have pierced through his body had he not borne the Piloswine cloak.

Another roar, but Hiro didn't look back. That would be death. He sprinted, ignoring the stabbing pain in his side and back as best he could. The cold wind felt as though it would strip his flesh away and his throat and nose burned as he breathed in the icy air but it didn't matter – as long as he still felt pain he was alive and that was all he cared about.

Then he looked up and let out a cry as he stumbled to a stop just at the edge of a cliff…one of the cliffs that towered above his hideout. He grimaced and collapsed onto the hard-packed snow, but his blood froze in his veins as another loud grunt echoed over the din of the blizzard.

Hiro turned, fear in his heart, and saw that the Piloswine wasn't done with him. He'd truly enraged it by deciding the Swinub would make a nice meal and pair of gloves.

His frenzied mind saw two choices as the Piloswine charged, covering the distance with a surprising amount of speed for such a huge creature. Was this what his father saw when he died?

Certain death now or probable death later?

"I'll eat you later!" Hiro wheezed, gasping as his side burned like fire. Hot blood covered his gloves and he squeezed the skin around his wound as best he could. It was a shallow wound but debilitating all the same. He took just a moment to spit a the spot the Piloswine would reach in seconds and rolled over the cliff.

HotW

He awoke what could have been hours later, saved only by the Piloswine cloak that had somehow wrapped around him after his fall. Snow crunched beneath him as he slowly adjusted and failed to hold back a gasp as his bloody side screamed at him, the fire of the wound shocking him to consciousness.

Hiro groaned and clutched at his side as he stared at the wound that still seeped blood, though it appeared the worst of the bleeding had stopped. At least he wouldn't bleed out…yet. He still had time.

His only blessing was that the Piloswine wasn't so determined to end him that it followed him down the cliff. The beast would have suffered little from the fall, especially with the massive pile of snow he'd fallen upon. It was fortuitous it was there, though he frowned at its presence all the same…there shouldn't be snow here. He'd passed through these parts before and this spot was never piled so high.

He wouldn't question his good fortune. Hiro took a moment to mutter a quick prayer to Lord Winter. It was no doubt Winter that had taken mercy upon a young hunter and summoned this cloak to bear his weight. His prayers had been answered.

Hiro sent another muttered word of gratitude to his father for saving his life with the Piloswine cloak, though his throat burned with the effort. He was thirsty and his stomach rumbled at him. He didn't even have the mushroom anymore…worst of all he couldn't even return to his cave in this state. It was too far.

It wouldn't be easy but he'd need to find shelter nearby lest he freeze. Though Articuno had saved him Lord Winter was a capricious god and would turn on him in an instant if Hiro failed to make the most of this opportunity.

He scanned the horizon. There was naught but the blinding flurry of ice and snow as it fell from the sky in heavy sheets, freezing everything underneath a white hail. Only the shadows of mountains were still visible, great black things that rose up in the sky like great monsters looking down on him.

Hiro shook his head. He must be more addled than he thought if his mind turned to such foolish notions. Satoshi would smack him for that…then run away before he reaped his just desserts.

His frozen lips quirked. Hiro imagined he looked rather stupid like this with a frozen face, bloody side, and staring up even as a blizzard sapped his strength.

It truly was cold. He could scarcely twitch his fingers. Hiro wriggled them to bring some life back into them. His father had showed him one of the hunters who had run afoul of a Jynx once. He hadn't slept well for weeks.

Hiro shuddered as the dreadful sight flashed in his mind's eye. The man had only been a bit older than he was now. He'd seen him in the village before, vibrant and laughing. But the last he saw of him was a petrified, frozen husk. The poor bastard's face had been contorted into a scream of agony and his skin had been blackened with cold…the only evidence of what had happened was a strange ring of skin completely unmarred by death or the elements he'd come to learn was the Ice-Woman's kiss.

That would not be his fate. Hiro knew that much. He would rather be torn to shreds by a savage Sneasel than suffer the Kiss.

He wriggled his fingers and toes as much as he could. They were stiff and cold but at least they were not taken from him. Hiro sighed and shivered deeply as a furious gust of howling wind swept over him. Snow and ice dusted his body, carried by the wind.

Hiro stared up at the white sky. He would need to move soon if he wished to live. Unless a Delibird took pity upon him he could never survive like this. The hunter took a moment to pray once more for a Delibird to appear…he desperately hoped for Lord Winter to take pity and send one of his most blessed of children to save his life. To save him from this misery.

When he was done he fell silent. All he could hear was the low groan of shifting ice and the furious screams of the wind as it whipped harder and harder.

He should have known better than to tempt fickle fate.

Hiro's face paled further, if it were possible. The hunting calls of a Sneasel pack sounded over the blizzard, piercing through the frosted air like a knife. Articuno had not sent him a blessing to guide him to safety, but a true end to his pain.

He trembled and reached for his bow, his only hope if the pack came this way, and swore when he realized he'd left it behind when he fled from Piloswine.

All he had was a knife. A knife meant for skinning and gutting, not fighting. It was better than nothing but he silently resigned himself to a swift end at the savage creatures' cruel claws.

The yowls and spitting came closer. Hiro scrambled backwards, anywhere – he had to get away now! He felt snow crunch beneath the cloak and his legs frantically pushed him towards the cliff face…maybe if he hid the foul creatures wouldn't find him!

Shadows in the darkness. They rushed past in the distance almost too fast for him to see, hissing and growling at each other furiously. Gales of icy air burst furiously from their slavering maws as they sought out prey unfortunate enough to be stranded in the pack's hunting grounds.

Hiro froze. They were too close…he couldn't make a single noise or the beasts' keen ears would lead them to their next meal. He didn't even breathe for fear of a Sneasel catching it.

His chest burned and his side screamed and his eyes felt like they were freezing but he didn't care because he wasn't ready to die and he would die if he looked away from the pack and oh Articuno one was –

Tears burned at his eyes as a terrible howl carved through the blizzard. The black shapes bounding through the cold stopped as one and turned. They saw him.

They saw him.

Hiro dug beneath the snow to escape he didn't know where it led but he didn't care he just wanted to live for a few seconds more – his eyes were full of white sheets and black creatures spitting triumphantly as they ran closer and closer he could see –

He fell through the snow. Hiro loosed a guttural scream as he landed hard on his back, right where he had been gored. Snow fell atop him and he could see a hole where he had been before he fell into the pitch black of the cave.

The yowls were quieter now, confused. He stared at the hole with wide eyes and pulled himself back slowly. Hiro could not make a single noise.

This was a new cave. He'd never ventured into its depths…for all he knew he was almost at its end. He could have cornered himself for the Sneasel to devour at their leisure. Hiro squeezed his eyes shut. He didn't want to think of their wicked claws leaving him shredded all over the snow.

He prayed. The hissing grew louder from above. Hiro could hear them scratching at the snow curiously. A fuzzy little head ducked through the hole where he'd laid. Its eyes were barely visible as little lights reflecting the dying sun but a delighted yowl was all he needed to know the savage had seen him.

Hiro didn't try to stay quiet now as he scrambled as far away as his desperate legs and frozen hands could carry him – he heard the light thud of the Sneasel landing on its padded feet, a mocking snicker as it realized it had him cornered, the click of its curved claws as they ejected from their sheathes –

Everything – his yells, the Sneasel's snickers – was drowned out by a roar that shook his bones and made every instinct he had scream at him to get away now and never look back. He quailed beneath the terrible rumble and didn't even realize he'd curled up on himself…the Sneasel and its ilk that had followed it fared no better.

His squinted eyes barely caught the terrified Sneasel and the pack fearfully leap backwards, hissing at whatever creature had made its home in this damned cave. Others dashed in, curious, and yowled furiously at their new foe. The one that followed him hissed and prowled closer, eyes locked on something behind Hiro. Something that was much more important than the half-dead human laying helplessly on the cavern floor.

The rest of the Sneasel followed it, slowly pacing closer and closer despite a bone-chilling snarl that erupted from behind him. They stopped, unsure, but when the lead Sneasel furiously growled at the pack – Hiro could barely hear it over the cavern shaking under the unknown beast's snarl – they seemed to gain some more courage.

Hiro shut his eyes. He was going to die. If the Sneasel drawing closer by inches didn't end him with a gutted stomach or breath of ice then whatever monster he'd stumbled upon would devour him whole.

He was so cold…

Another roar echoed in the confines of the cave. Hiro wouldn't have paid any mind to it but this was different. It came from whatever was behind him but it wasn't a guttural warning. No, this was deeper. It sounded like the crackle of his campfire –

Searing heat filled the cavern. Hiro let out a cry at the sudden roar of the flame that passed mere feet over him, lightly burning his skin. He could see it clearly even behind his lowered eyelids. Pained cries erupted behind him and the acrid smell of burning hair filled his nostrils. A wave of nausea hit but he kept it in check.

The cries fell silent, though a pitiful mewling still came from one of his hunters. The flare of heat disappeared as soon as it had arrived, though the heat lingered for precious seconds before the cold chill of the blizzard returned with a vengeance…it seemed to bite harder than before, as if it was spiteful of the last heat Hiro would ever feel in his weary limbs.

He waited for a similar blast to consume him.

It didn't come.

Hiro's eyes cracked open. He could hear a quiet grunting behind him. There was the shift of something absolutely enormous moving, though it didn't seem to come closer. It didn't end his life as he had feared.

He hesitantly pulled his body from where it lay flat on his cloak. Hiro's eyes darted over to the smoldering corpses of the Sneasel pack…there were less than there had been before. Some must have fled before they were devoured by the stream of flame.

Hiro counted six burning corpses. The sweet, sweet smell of cooked meat – it was different than his usual fare of Swinub roasted over a fire, almost completely burnt – blended with the rancid smell of their burning black fur. He stared at the carcasses. Even one could kill a grown man with ease.

The shifting grew louder. Hiro gulped. It still didn't kill him.

What could this beast be? Few of the creatures that wandered these lands could harness the most sacred of the elements. Fire was a gift reserved for humans. Frost and wind and shadow…those were the dread powers the worst of the monsters here wielded.

He turned. A low growl was his response and Hiro skittered back in response. His side throbbed and he barely bit back a cry of agony…it was getting worse. Hiro was paying for every movement with blood.

His eyes finally rose from the barely visible ground and to the terrible beast that had saved his life. It was hunched over warily, but even he could tell that it was truly enormous in size. Wings shifted in the blackness, folded behind its large shoulders. He could make out a serpentine neck and two long tendrils that sprouted from its forehead. A short pointed horn jutted out from its skull.

Black eyes watched him. They scarcely reflected the dim light that pierced the heavens and the snow to reach this cavern. They were narrowed to slits. He took care not to meet them directly…he did not wish to offend the great creature. He was at its mercy.

"Thank you for saving me," HIro said quietly. His words echoed in the cave. They sounded weak. Wavering. His pride asserted itself and he steeled his voice. "I owe you a great debt."

The great head watched him silently. It shifted. He still could not tell what it was.

Hiro hesitated. "If there is anything I may do to repay this debt, please let me know. I do not have much but what I do possess is yours."

He heard a snort. Hiro turned back to the creature and his heart pounded when he saw its massive jaws open – its teeth were large and sharp, pointed enough to penetrate his skin easily.

The jaws snapped closed. Hiro realized it was yawning. He exhaled in relief.

If it wasn't going to kill him…

He grabbed its attention when he rustled around in his pouch. Hiro froze, but when it seemed content to leave him be he continued until he unwrapped the cloth around his last strips of Lickitung meat. The cuts were thick even after smoked…they were his last resort.

The beast growled. Hiro shuddered but didn't flee. Even if he tried his savior could leave him just like the Sneasel pack that had angered it.

It shifted closer. HIro wrapped his heavy cloak around himself as the beast's nostrils flared. The creature snorted softly and came close enough that he could touch it if he wished.

He was frozen for a reason besides the chill but his eyes flitted to the large strip of meat in his hand. It almost destroyed him to do it, but he offered the meat to his savior carefully. "Would you like it? I have more."

The beast considered it for a second before it leaned closer and snatched the meat from his outstretched hand with its jaws, though it did not bite him. Hiro nearly cried out at the sudden movement but restrained himself. Hot breath washed over his body, banishing the cold for a precious few moments, and he felt more than heard a rumble he dearly hoped was content.

Despite himself his lips quirked. "Do you like it? I made it myself."

He saw the beast move again in the darkness. It stayed closer and eyed him curiously. Its antennae twitched and he silently pulled another of his four Lickitung strips from his pouch. Hiro thought the unknown creature looked at the strip ravenously…it must not have eaten for some time. That made him wary.

"Here!" He outstretched his palm with the meat offered. Hiro desperately hoped the beast wouldn't just devour him when it realized he had no more Lickitung to offer. This time he was ready for the lightning-fast motion. One moment the meat was there and the next it was gone.

After a few moments of silence he looked away from his remaining meat. He'd need to save at least one for himself…but the crisped Sneasel might be enough to hold him over if the creature allowed him.

Hiro shifted to a more comfortable position. He winced at the spike of pain that surged up his body. The wound needed to be examined and patched. If he was lucky the cloth would be enough.

He couldn't do that if the creature took offense to his movement. It just watched him for now. Hiro smiled lightly as an idea came to mind. He unwrapped the third strip and offered it to the other occupant of the cave.

It hungrily took the meat. Hiro frowned when he heard a pained grunt echo forth from its throat, though it greedily gulped the meat down all the same.

Perhaps this was what he needed. "Are you injured?"

The beast stared at him warily. It was still not sure of him. Hiro raised his hands slowly to placate it. He hoped it would listen. "Please, I do not mean any harm. I am simply curious. I have some knowledge of healing. I owe you my life…if I may help you in any way I am honored to do so."

It watched him measuredly before it seemed to slump. The beast came forth from the back of the cave in full, exposing itself to Hiro's gaze.

His eyes widened. His savior was larger than any other creature he'd seen before. Even the greatest Donphan and Golem in service of Blackthorn paled before its bulk. It had a massive serpentine body, though so thick that it was hard to tell without careful examination. Twin wings laid on its back, coiled tightly.

Its legs were truly powerful. The cavern bore scars from where its massive claws pressed hard into the stone. There were three smaller claws on its hands, dull and blunt. Despite that Hiro was certain they could carve through him with ease. The creature's strength was evident in its bearing.

He had only heard tales of this noble creature, though he thought that once he'd seen one of the legendary beasts dashing through the clouds. It was only a blur, though, so he could not be certain.

Though he'd only heard the faintest descriptions, he was certain he knew what this beast was. There was only one creature that held such a regal, effortlessly powerful air. Only one creature who could destroy a pack of Sneasel with a single breath. Only one creature that bore such power yet was so gentle it would not kill a helpless human that had stumbled into its layer.

Dragonite.

A/N: And there it is! I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! Like I said, I'll be updating this around when I update Traveler so expect the next in a month or so.

Please leave a review! I really appreciate feedback and I'd like to know your thoughts on this chapter.

Thanks for reading!