Permafrost

80: Permafrost

⭐️Chapter 80: Permafrost

Ryn and her friends got off as the slide came to and end, with Enaz walking off to the side to let other people come through. Once the Infernos, Corrin, and Fang were off, they were all greeted by the Thistlins again. Clara had run up and hugged Ryn tightly while the rest simply walked over.

"Well?! Did ya save the day?!" Clara exclaimed excitedly. "We were really worried for ya, so it better not have been for nothing!"

Ryn smiled as Clara let go of her.

"Don't you worry, we did."

"I wish we were part of the action, but...your little buddy Cosmo said we couldn't," Glade said. "Maybe it was for the better, though..."

"Aww, well don't worry! Maybe someday you can join us on an adventure and not get captured!" Silvia joked.

"We'll just see about that!" Clara laughed. "Anyway, what's the status on those meanie Crashers?"

"Oh, uh...I don't know where they went but they're sadly not stuck up there in prison," Jack replied.

"Dangit!" Glade grumbled.

"Well, Fang slid down with us but still," Cosmo clarified.

"Wh...what was he like? Was he mean?" Ella asked.

"He was kinda mean..." Cosmo said sadly.

"Eh...I think he was more...misguided, if anything," Silvia replied.

"Yeah, he was just too stubborn in believing his own ways were correct instead of listening to others' ideals," Corrin added.

"Hmmm. I dunno...I still feel bad for King Chion, even if he was a little mean at first..." Ryn said.

"Hey, that reminds me! Is he okay?! He was on the volcano as it was becoming unstable and he didn't flee with us!" Jack exclaimed.

Corrin froze, his eyes widening.

"Uh...I guess I should go check that, hehe..."

He walked up to Enaz, who looked like he had some sort of communication device in his hand. The Infernos and the Thistlins could only watch as he frantically tried to converse with the older man. Enaz nodded slowly before dialing a few numbers into the device and bringing it up to his ear to listen. The two teams sure hoped everything would be alright, though they couldn't hear what was going on over there. It took a few minutes, but eventually Corrin came running back to them.

"Dad's safe!" Corrin panted. "He managed to regain control of the volcano!"

"Oh goodie!!" Cosmo exclaimed happily.

"That's good to hear," Silvia said calmly.

"Well...he WAS a little mean, but...it's not like I'd wish eternal pain on him. It's really that stupid spirit's fault," Ryn growled.

"Oh yeah, how did that fight go?" Glade asked.

"It was uh...wild, to say the least, haha..." Jack replied.

As The Thistlins and The Infernos conversed, Ryn noticed Corrin looking around the place. seemed like he was taking in all these new sights. Ryn knew that if she could only see snow and the same small town for years, she'd miss the sun and everything else.after a while.

"So...what do you think of this place?" she asked, hoping to start a small talk with him.

"It's very nice! I would've liked to stay here longer with you all if I could...which reminds me, I gotta get back home," Corrin replied.

"Aww, I enjoyed what little time you had here, though!" Ryn said, though she could feel a strange new feeling spread through her body.

Was it nervousness? Was it sadness from having to see a friend go? Or was it perhaps something more? She didn't know, but she wasn't about to ask now.

"I did too. It's just that Enaz and the others look like they're going to, so I might as well..."

Corrin turned around to head over to the slide, but was stopped by a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Now, before you go, do we still have anything of yours we need to return?" Silvia asked.

"Oh right, we should probably return these weapon pins..." Ryn muttered.

"You can keep the pins" Corrin smiled.

"Pins?" Clara and Glade asked at the same time.

"W-wait, are you sure?! It wouldn't be like...breaking rules or anything, would it?!" Ryn exclaimed.

"Nah, you guys are fine!" Corrin assured her.

"Do you think the Wave Crashers...might...have any with them?" Jack inquired.

"Eh, even if they do, what does it matter? They don't do much except store your weapon," Corrin shrugged.

"If you say so..."

"What pins?" Sai asked.

"Nothing, nothing!" Ryn replied hurriedly.

"It really is nothing," Silvia calmly half-lied in case Ryn's panic came out as suspicious.

"Aww man, but I wanted a pin...." Glade whined.

"Well, maybe if you can stand the cold long enough to visit us, you could get your own!" Corrin said, completely disregarding the fact the Infernos had tried to keep it from the Thistlins.

"Cold? Nah, I've had enough snow for now!" Clara laughed.

"Y-yeah, me too..." Ella said quietly.

"I think we all have, haha..." Jack chuckled. "Though we should also try and find our families as soon as possible."

"Yeah, they must be worried sick about you all!" Corrin exclaimed.

"Well...maybe you guys could at least tell us the story of your adventure first? We could also walk around town to see if we can find our parents!" Clara suggested.

"Oh yeah, we totally should!" Cosmo said.

"I'd be down for that," Ryn smiled. "Corrin, would you want to? It's okay if not, I understand if you...have to go home soon since we kinda interrupted you before."

Corrin briefly glanced by Enaz's area, then looked back. He thought to himself for a moment before shrugging with a smile.

"I'm sure Enaz wouldn't mind me being a liiiiittle late."

Ryn could feel herself warming up and smiling from Corrin's response. He really was a nice person....

"Great!" she replied, "Then let's get going!"

And so the day went on, the Infernos and their friends talked and caught up on things. They told their stories of adventure and laughed at the good parts. All in all, they had a wonderful time, and returned to their homes and families by the end of the day. Corrin and the Rinklings eventually did go back home, to find their king waiting for them. But he had changed now, and he would rule this kingdom in a better way than he had before.

Things were looking up for everyone.