Obvious exits:
Northeast <NE> leads to Commerce Road - Route 7: Trader Way.
Southwest <SW> leads to Celadon City: Eastern Entrance.

Zeph arrives from Commerce Road - Route 7: Trader Way.
Zeph has arrived.

Kite emerges from his pokeball!
Kite has arrived.

Towering white clouds drift slowly through the blue sky. It's hazy and hot, and the glare of the sun seems to drain the color from the landscape. Here and there, groups of colorful Butterfree can be seen flying towards the ocean. In the forest, the shade under the deep green leaves of the trees is welcome relief from the hot glare of the sun. While at the coast, the sea sparkles in the brilliant sunlight, the waves rolling merrily against the shore.

The sun slowly sets on the western horizon, drifting downward into the rolling, scrubby grasslands between Saffron and Celadon City. The rays of the sun paint the sky and the clouds with warm pastels -- soft orange, purple, and pink hues. A flock of Pidgeys fly over the plains with slow, undulating flaps as they make their way to their nightly roosting sites. Silence begins to fall here as night creeps closer. A refreshing breeze blows through the grass and rustles through the trees.

Kite isn't really paying all that much attention to Zeph at the moment. No, he's too busy pondering how in the heck he ever lived out here in the wilderness. All this stupid itchy grass and rocks that poke sharply at one's paws. Not a nice, big cozy sofa for miles. He's brought out of his deep pondering by Zeph's voice and looks up at his water obsessed trainer. <I don't like where this is going.> the Eevee speaks in monotone and sets himself down beside the large rock with a sigh.

It's a wonderful day all right, and the perfect one - for a nice long nap, apparently. Lying on his back, not too far from a rather large puddle, is everybody's favorite Growlithe, Peppy! ... All right, second favorite. ... Fifth? ... All right, tenth, but we're not going any lower. The Growlithe happens to be fast asleep right now, snoring up a storm, occasionally giving off content little growls or whimpers. Given that the air is still ever-so-slightly humid and puddles frequently dot the landscape, it's probably that it rained yesterday, and likely very heavily; didn't the pup get any sleep then? Whatever the case, Peppy seems totally happy in his dreams. Probably dreaming about burgers, as usual! ... Or is he?

Zeph chuckles sheepishly at the Eevee's response and looks away from the normal type -- at the warm hued clouds and rolling, grassy steppes. He avoids telling Kite for the moment, trying to find some sort of distraction out in the great wilderness here. With the piercing sound of snoring echoing through the silence, the trainer can't resist looking in the direction of the noise. "Oh, look, Kite. Look at that furry, orange pokemon over there. I think it's a Growlithe." He says in a loud whisper, getting on to his feet and walking over toward the pile of fur. The trainer moves along stealthily, making little noise as he gets closer and closer -- and then a loud cracking sound resonates through the area as he steps on a stick and breaks it.

A pack of Growlithe puppies play Tug-of-War with the database. Better save! (Saving)

As Zeph makes his proclamation Kite blinks <Don't tell me you're going to do the stupid thing and go and check it ou--why do I even ask?>. He watches as Zeph creeps closer to the sleeping Growlithe, and hears as the stick cracks under the boy's foot. <That'd be the reason he's not a ballet dancer.> the cynical Eevee mumbles to himself, hopping up on the rock to get a better view and hopefully be safe from whatever terror Zeph has surely unleashed.

Life's a lot easier when you're fast asleep. You don't have a care in the world. You don't have worries about food, about the future, about the weather, about your social life... Nope, it's just yourself and your own thoughts. Yes! Everything is perfect, and with the tiniest little sigh, Peppy continues his great little dream... before a rather loud twig snaps the dream in two like it itself is. The Growlithe's eyes blink open. Ahh, sky. The tree hides the sun, so the pup doesn't need to squint or shield his eyes in order to see the clouds moving across the atmosphere. Of course, looking at the sky is basically the least of Peppy's worries. Somebody else is out there. <Um!> woofs the pup uncertainly, not rolling over onto four paws like a normal, intelligent pokemon would. He still stays on his back, and though he looks around frantically, he can't see Zeph or Kite from his current position. <Hello?>

Zeph grits his teeth as he wakes the pokemon, looking rather nervous as he notices the fiery pokemon wake from his slumber and begin moving. He does not respond to the pokemon's question, either. His reaction is to step backward very slowly and carefully while he remains unseen. One of his hands reaches down for a pokeball, unclipping a random one from his belt and expanding it in his hand. The trainer does not utter a word, nor does he look back at where Kite is waiting. A slow, silent escape will keep him safe -- or will it?

<Hrm. Looks like I'm gonna have to help the kid out of this little mess.> Kite thinks, hopping down from the rock and closer to where Peppy lay. <Hey there poochie, sorry we woke you up... my buddy here isn't the most graceful guy ever.> Kite says with all his usual tact <Now be a good boy and don't make him lunch... and there's a nice piece of discount store beef jerky in it for you.>. Oh yeah Kite, that'd tame the world's most fierce beasts.

Peppy pretty much falls hook, line, and sinker. His mind too cloudy and foggy from having just woken up, he doesn't think to use his keen senses of smell or hearing, and pretty much dismisses the loud stick as a figment of his imagination. And then Kite begins to speak. And Peppy's eyes open even wider. Peppy makes absolutely, positively no graceful movements as he stumbles over onto all four paws to get up and face Kite. Yes, he looks absolutely adorable, but no, not graceful. And there stands the fierce, flesh-ripping Growlithe, growling softly, eyes flaring, drool dripping, etc. etc. And what is the dog's first order? The first thing he says, and possibly the last, to the Eevee and human who he might just -tear to shreds-? <... Who are you?> That's directed to Zeph. <And you?> Kite. <And did you say lunch?> Though he stays in a somewhat goofy offensive stance, his tail wags quite powerfully at the thought. Hey, it's way past lunch, but lunch = food, food = eat, eat = good.

Zeph relaxes as the Eevee steps in and begins to speak to the Growlithe, knowing that he might as well be a large, moving target for the ferocious pokemon that he and his pokemon have now encountered. "Sorry, Growlithe. We're sorry to disturb you. We'll be moving away now and let you sleep for the rest of the night, if you like." He says in a polite tone, slowly stepping back toward the dirt beaten path. The trainer leaves the rest of the speaking to Kite -- for the moment at least. Does the Growlithe look familiar? There is an uncanny resemblance to the one Patch used to own -- one of which he was particularly fond.

A few moments of observing body language is enough to tell Kite that this pup isn't any threat to he and Zeph. <I am Kite, and this is my associa--> he decides mid-speech that maybe he'd better dumb it down a little <Erm, this is my pal Zeph. Yeah, I did mention lunch... but you're a dog aren't you?>. The unintentionally cute little Eevee wiggles his nose about with a snort, he doesn't like dogs too much, but as of late he's come across this annoying desire to help Zeph out. <Dogs can't just *ask* for food. I thought your deal was to do tricks, preferably demeaning tricks.> the fuzzy brown wonder lectures, looking over Peppy <I mean if my pal here is going to give up his food, shouldn't he get his twenty-five cents worth? This jerky has real pig innards you know.>. What a lovely picture he paints, eh?

Peppy glances at Zeph for a moment longer than usual. There is -something- very familiar about that boy. Something in the smell, something in the voice, something in the looks... Still, Peppy can't pinpoint it exactly, so he decides to drop it. <It's okay,> woofs the puppy, his tail giving a quick wag-wag. Most of what Kite says isn't really understood by the dumb pup (tricks? demeaning? cents? jerky?), so Zeph becomes the focus of attention for the canine's next question. <What was that about lunch?> He pauses for a short second, turning his head to the right for a moment or two. He then continues, <Um, got enough for two?> Geez. Can one Growlithe really be that hungry?

Towering white clouds drift slowly through the blue sky. It's hazy and hot, and the glare of the sun seems to drain the color from the landscape. Here and there, groups of colorful Butterfree can be seen flying towards the ocean.

Zeph glances at Kite and then at the Growlithe as they hold a rather simple, down to earth conversation. "I have some food if you like, Growlithe. Not enough for two, though. Just enough for one. I'm running out of supplies and need to get more when I reach Celadon later tonight." He explains to the famished fire pokemon, reaching into his backpack and pulling out a shiny, silvery, personalized bag of pokemon chow. "Here." He states, zipping it open and placing it on the ground for the Growlithe -- without any tricks necessary on the part of the Growlithe.

<Meh, yer no fun kid.> Kite shakes his head at Zeph, then inspecting the flame dog with little interest. Same as most dogs he's ever come across, brain about the size of a peanut but a stomach the size of a small universe. <Don't you wild pokemon hunt for your food?> Kite asks an honest question without any underlying joke for once.

Play dead? Roll over? Beg? All of those words are pretty much Greek to poor Peppy; because of this, it's a pretty good thing Zeph doesn't demand any tricks. Granted, he'd be very, very good at playing dead... for obvious reasons. Peppy's ears perk up a little as Zeph mentions he does have food, and they don't even droop when the boy says he only has enough for one. Hey, food is food, and it's good food when you don't have to kill something else to get it! <Hunt?> repeats the canine. <I-> The puppy blinks at Kite for a moment, before directing his attention back up at Zeph. He turns his head to the side very slightly, woofing, almost uncertainly, <Did you say Celadon?> The pieces of the puzzle are slowly starting to come together...

"Be kind, Kite. It's not correct to demean a human or pokemon just so that you can get a good laugh out of it." Zeph states with repproval at the adorable, yet cranky Eevee. The trainer places the bag of pokemon chow on the ground and empties it on the grass. "There. Eat up." He states with a smile, getting back on to his feet and folding the empty bag so that he may properly dispose of it in Celadon City (what a goody good). "Why, yes. I'm going to Celadon for the night. Going to spend the night at a friend's house and visit Erika's gym in the morning before going off to a tournament match." He informs the canine, looking out in the direction of Celadon -- only a faint, luminous glow of city lights can be perceived from here.

A sly grin comes over Kite's face <Are you going to see the *gym* or *Erika?*>. Poor Zeph, stuck with a pokemon with such a fondness for making him blush. The brown ball of furr nudges his 'trainer' with a snicker.

A pack of Growlithe puppies play Tug-of-War with the database. Better save! (Saving)

Lord knows what an 'Erika' is, but it's something in Celadon. Celadon is something like a holy sanctuary in which nobody impure and unclean can enter - at least, that's how Peppy's learned to regard it over the past six months. Zeph, the angelic being, is on his way to Celadon, the holy sanctuary. Lucky stiff. "Grrrowl," woofs the pup, a little bark that can be best translated as <Oh.> Peppy gives a little sniff at the food, but he's sort of lost his appetite right now. Still, he does sort of step over it, almost as if he's protecting it instead of eating it. <It's... nice?> The Growlithe does give a little blink at Kite. Something seems strangely familiar - no, not in the Eevee himself, but in what the brown pokemon is saying. Hasn't Peppy been in a situation like that? ... About -three times-?

Zeph smiles at the Growlithe and nods to him, encouraging the pokemon to take a bite. "I haven't personally eaten it, but my other pokemon think it is good food." The trainer states in a friendly tone, looking over toward Kite. He does not blush. He simply nods to the Eevee and responds: "I'm going to see Erika in particular. I wish to see her before the match. She is very wise and knowledgeable -- a woman to be admired. Plus, her gym is the most beautiful of all the gym's -- even that of the Sensational Sisters in Cerulean."

<Uh huh. The fact she's probably in short shorts due to this hot weather doesn't hurt much eother does it?> Kite cackles, looking especially nonplussed by the food Zeph put out. He's not going to put it down, because heaven knows what awful things this poor creature has had to live on in the wild. All he knows is, if it doesn't have berries in it it's not worth his time.

Peppy just sort of stares at Zeph. Usually, it's quite the other way around, but today, the puppy is doing all the staring. <You...> His eyebrow cocks slightly, as does his head. <... Eat Celadon?> ... Huh, boy. If 'cute' = 'brains', Peppy would not be like this. Really, he wouldn't. Turning his fluffy head away from the boy who eats cities for a few moments, the Growlithe looks now at Kite - who seems to be talking some gibberish about weather. After a few moments, Peppy blinks, realizing exactly what the Eevee is trying to do. And Peppy steps in! "Lithe!" he barks softly, something of a <Hey!> except not quite so offended. <You don't... have to love somebody to just like her,> woofs the puppy, experienced in his own silly little way. His tail wags, and the faintest little blush appears from behind the white fur on his cheeks (though it's not easy to notice). <I think he just likes her.> Peppy now glances up at Zeph, absolutely positive he's right. <Right?>

Zeph glances at both pokemon and sighs, shaking his head at the thoughts he suspects are running through the Eevee's head. "She is my friend, Kite. Only that. I love her and admire her as a friend. I'm not after her because she is beautiful. I respect her too much for you to say that I want to see her in short shorts." The trainer says in an upset tone, slinging his backpack on to his back and walking on to the path. "I'm sorry, Growlithe, but we have to go. Come on, Kite. We're going to have an early start tomorrow so you can warm up for the match... err. Um." He suddenly stops speaking and begins walking off as quickly as possible, ready to flee if the Eevee becomes angry.

Pidget flee from the trees at the sound of Kite's screech <We're WHAT?>. He chases after the boy with fury, so Zeph better have his running shoes on.

Peppy would do a victory dance right about now if he wasn't so serene and if he wasn't a four-legged animal. Zeph's sudden announcement that he needs to flee somewhat catches the poor pup off guard, however, and he sort of blinks at the retreating trainer. And he blinks even more at Kite's reaction. <Um...> woofs the puppy softly, before howling a rather loud <Goodbye!!> and then <Visit again!> and then <With more food!> With a little "Grrlithe" of pleasure, Peppy sniffs at a little of the food, before chowing down - careful to not touch about half of the food. He's probably just saving it for later... but with Peppy, you never do know what he's doing.