Winter gave way to spring. As the snow melted, life returned to the land, and the people of the territory grew busy again.
Raven gathered everyone in the lord's hall to discuss the territory's affairs.
The first issue was food.
"Your Highness Raven, the food in storage has almost been eaten up," said the old butler Aelif, worry creasing his face.
The blizzard that lasted nearly two months had consumed most of their stores. Only scraps remained in the silo.
It was now March. The crops in the fields were still two months from ripening.
That meant hunger loomed ahead.
Raven frowned, thinking calmly. "Tell everyone to save as much food as they can. I'll have Dratini fish in the river whenever I have time."
But he knew shocking fish with electricity wasn't a good long-term plan. It damaged the ecosystem. Even in this era of abundant resources, reckless use would one day exhaust them.
He was already considering digging fish ponds and starting aquaculture.
At least spring offered more possibilities than winter.
"Also," Raven continued, "send foraging teams to the forests again. Gather wild fruits, wood-ear, hazel mushrooms. If they find pheasants or hares, they can set traps and raise them."
Fish, berries, forest produce, eggs, chickens, and the fruit grown by Snover… enough, perhaps, to scrape by.
"Yes, Your Highness," Aelif answered.
Raven then turned to the carpenters, blacksmiths, and miners.
"Keep digging clay and making bricks. And don't stop the work at the lumberyard. We need the mill finished as soon as possible."
With a mill, they could grind wheat into flour for bread, and even harness water power to irrigate fields.
"Yes, Your Highness Raven," replied Tucker the carpenter, Morik the blacksmith, and others.
"Your Highness Raven," several farmers spoke up next, "spring has come. We can begin sowing the remaining seeds of wheat, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, oats."
"Right—I nearly forgot," Raven said, then nodded. "In that case, start today."
There was still land to plow and fields to prepare before sowing could begin.
Those tasked hurried away to work.
Raven turned to the knights.
Spring meant warmer weather, and wild beasts—Pokémon—were becoming more active around the territory.
Mimosa clustered in the meadows. Swanna and Ducklett glided over rivers. Seedot hung heavy on the trees.
After surviving the harsh winter together, the people had begun to change. Now, when they saw beasts, they no longer trembled. Some even dared to approach them.
But not all Pokémon were friendly.
"Patrols must stay vigilant," Raven said. "If you encounter an aggressive beast, protect yourselves and others immediately."
"Yes," the knights replied.
Raven looked at Lyon, Cleveland, and Christina. "Unknown beasts are appearing in the forests again. I need you to go and record them."
"Leave it to me!" Christina said quickly.
Raven smiled. "This time, no long expeditions. Just sketch the beasts in the forests and plains near the territory."
"I understand!" Christina clutched her sketchbook tightly.
Raven nodded. "Good. Then let's get to work."
Everyone dispersed. Only one young knight lingered.
Raven raised a brow. "Something else?"
"Your Highness," the knight asked, "aren't we going to Driftveil?"
"With the food we have, I fear we wouldn't make it there," Raven answered. "Why do you ask? Do you have kin there?"
The knight shook his head. "No… I just can't bear to leave this place. If we abandon it, all these homes we built will be wasted."
And truth be told, some common folk didn't want to leave either. Here, there were no slaves, no wars—only neighbors building together. For them, that was enough.
Raven smiled. "I'll decide this in time. But first, we must solve the food crisis. The rest can wait."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The knight saluted and left for his patrol.
Now only Raven, Dratini, and Snivy remained in the hall.
Raven looked at the pile of berry seeds before him. He took a deep breath and said to Snivy, "It's time."
"Snivy?" The Grass-type tilted its head, confused.
"I promised you before—these berry seeds will be planted. We'll grow a home where you can thrive."
He looked at Christina's map and marked an empty patch of land south of the territory for an orchard.
Berries were one of the Pokémon world's most incredible resources. They grew fast, ripened in just a few days, and could be harvested over and over.
With them, they could raise even more Pokémon.
Combee, Sawsbuck, Foongus… Raven silently planned.
But before he could continue, hurried footsteps sounded outside.
A farmer burst in.
"Your Highness! A beast is wreaking havoc in the fields! It's too fast—the knights can't catch it!"
"What?"
Raven's expression darkened. The crops were their lifeline. He couldn't allow this.
"Take me there," he ordered.
"As you command, Your Highness!"