Contents:
Briska
Obvious exits:
North <N> leads to Overgrown Lands - Route 11: Off the Route.

The sky is blue and cloudless, the sunlight is bright, and a cool wind blows from the northwest. In the forest, the wind rustles the bright green leaves of trees and bushes and carries Bellsprout pollen, downy seeds, and the fragrance of wildflowers along with it. While at the coast, the ocean is a deep cool blue today, the waves lapping at the coast gently under the warm yellow sun.

It's a perfectly wonderful day out there! The ground is still a tad wet from the previous day's mist, but the mud is hardening into cracking dirt, unable to bear the constant force of the sun's rays. The earth is warm and fresh to the touch, and bits of grass swirl about in the wind, brushing upon noses and ears and fur. It's a very lively day - too bad Peppy can't experience it. The Growlithe can hunt for hours at a day through rain, sleet, and snow, but he's entirely helpless when it comes to standing up against Aurora, who has been absolutely determined to keep her mate inside the barn this day. She would hardly let him move. She's out doing the hunting now, quite likely enjoying stretching her legs, while Peppy lies there, pretty much motionless. It hurts to stand. It hurts to sit. It hurts to talk too loud. It hurts to yawn. And so the Growlithe is restricted to lying there, muzzle on his paws, stiff as a board. He's not particularly happy about this or anything, as is suggesting by the continuous growl that escapes his throat.

<Okay...Pid-geeeeee,> a young female voice overenunciates from the left front corner of the barn. She's sitting on her haunches, looking with determination at her sibling. Since Flame is off in his corner, head on paws and mind in shadows, Dusk is observing everything - her black brother in particular - from somewhere in the middle of the barn, and Dakota is burying into a haystack with manic fervor, this duo can only be Karen and her sibling Briska. <Pid...> Briska begins, ears flicking back for a second before he takes a breath and speaks again. <Eeeeee,> he finishes, a hesitant grin on his off-white muzzle. Karen sighs. <Okay,> she explains patiently. <Geee. Can you try that?> Briska wrinkles his muzzle before nodding enthusiastically. Karen waits while Briska stares at her. <Uh, Briska, say 'geee',> Karen clarifies. There's a pause, before Briska lets loose with a triumphant <Geeeeee!>, the force of his outburst rocking him forward on his paws. Karen smiles wearily.

A port in a storm, a home away from home. We're (saved)!

So, the kids are talking. Lots. Holding... maybe not full conversations, but something vaguely resembling it. If Peppy was in better condition, no doubt his little heart would be beating so proudly by now, but as it stands, his patience is thin and his tolerance minimal, and all he hears is chatter in his ears. <Pups,> Peppy woofs. He tries to keep his voice soft and controlled, but any of the pups should be able to detect the edge in his tone. <Keep it down some.> It's not even that they're particularly close to his little corner of the world. Grumpy Gus, as though just now realizing that he should probably make sure the pups are okay, pulls himself into a slightly more upright position by pushing up with his front paws. After a bunch of growling and grunting from the sore and the throbbing pain in his side, Peppy finally lifts his head high enough to peer around the barn and count. One, two, three-four... five. And with that number, Peppy collapses right back onto the wooden floor with a hushed "Lithe!" of pain.

<Now, put'm together,> Karen continues. <Pid, gee.> Briska dutifully repeats the word in the same way and tone his sister does. Her tail wags, and his does so as well - Briska is almost sponge-like in his ability to copy actions and words. <Good!> she praises, her tail and head raising proudly. This time, Briska doesn't copy her - he's pretty sure she's happy for herself, not him - but he looks pleased nonetheless. And then come the words from on high. Four puppy heads swivel towards Peppy and eight pairs of eyes fasten on him. All except Dakota; she's used to others talking when she's doing stuff, and pretty much ignores it. Dusk watches, worry in her blue eyes, Flame watches with /some/ sort of interest, while the actual talkers look abashed. Briska and Karen's ears and tails lower, and Briska slowly rolls himself onto his back, paws tucked close to his chest and a light whine exiting his throat. He's not quite sure what he did, but he sure does want to make up for it. Karen gives Briska a quick <shhh!> which barely distracts his attention from Peppy. If any of the pups know what happened to their father yesterday, they're not telling.

A Peppy in a bad mood is a Peppy nonetheless, and it's not long before the Growlithe's eyes trail over to the collection of puppies peering at him wide-eyed. Perhaps he feels cold, or perhaps he feel guilty, or perhaps he even feels a little embarrassed, for he turns his head to the side to avoid their gaze. A few moments pass. His eyes lead back to them, settling on Briska's submissive position. Glance away again. Hesitation. Peers back. Yipping, yapping, hyper little pups making lots of noise may be annoying, but Peppy's learning that it's far worse to have those same puppies scared silent. Raising his head very slightly (too much would strain his side), he takes a deep breath, eyes going up to the ceiling as he does. As he exhales, he locks onto the group of puppies, and smiles very slightly. <I'm sorry,> he woofs quietly, then again. <I'm sorry, you guys don't have to... ow.> He cringes, turning his head to take a quick look at his side. <... To be that quiet. Just... a little quiter, okay?> This is less of a command, more like the pleading sounds of somebody rather desperate.

Dusk has connected.

Peppy gets a pretty quick response. <'Kay,> Karen murmurs. <Briska,> she says in a strained whisper, <get up.> When he doesn't respond, she tries to bat him onto his feet with her paws. It takes a good half a minute for Briska to actually get up, though - maybe he didn't understand what Karen was doing, or maybe he just wanted to watch Peppy some more. Not that he doesn't stop when he's on his paws. His eyes only slide off of his father to glance to Karen; he then gestures to Peppy with a questioning "Iiiithe?" Karen, having a functioning brain, knows what he's asking, but she doesn't respond for whatever reason. She shifts her weight from paw to paw. Briska hears the crinkle of straw, and looks at his worried sister. His tongue slips from between his lips, and he licks at her muzzle. Karen blinks, before licking Briska on his own muzzle. Briska's eyes slowly light up, and he licks Karen on her forehead. Karen retaliates by licking him on his ear. Look, a new game! Flame has turned away in disgust by now, Dakota is still plowing through that haystack, and as for Dusk...

Dusk gulps softly, tail tucked form the intense emotions circulating through the barn. When things seem to be working out, she sighs and lowers herself onto her belly, her head is rested on her swathed paws and her tail curls around her hindquarters. The antics of her siblings draw her attention as they lick cutely back and forth and then there is Flame, once again playing the angst-laden dark sheep. Did everyone have a family like this? Worried blue eyes shift back to Peppy and the smallest Growlithe pups smiles weakly at her father, though he likely can't see it. It is a good family.

Peppy smiles softly at Briska's reply. Peppy doesn't completely understand exactly what the smaller male expressed, but after six months, he'd better have some idea. <Go play, Briska,> Peppy woofs, gently goading the little guy. Turns out it was mostly a pointless suggestion, as Karen and Briska are already enganging in their licking game, to which even the battle-scarred warrior (snicker) can't help but smile at. He's just glad they're getting along. Eyes switch over to Dakota, who's just fine, and Flame, who's just fine, and Dusk, who's j... ... well, she looks a little more worried. <Dusk?> Peppy asks softly, almost a little nervous himself. He shifts his position a tad, cheek twitching lightly as his side acts up. "Growl," he arfs gently to himself, giving his side an annoyed look before turning back to Dusk. <... Are you all right?> Man, get a little irritated one time...

Briska and Karen's game gets a little more active. Briska's been learning new words all day (actually, it was only for twenty minutes, but when you have a child's attention span...) and now he just wants to have some fun! Even if Daddy's acting weird and Mommy's not around. Their forelegs intertwine as Briska tries to lick Karen's shoulder and Karen tries to lick his back. They both succeed, but they're soon on to their next target - clumps of fur somewhere else along each other's front. Briska gives a playful growl as his tongue swipes over the side of his sister's head, and she growls back...before remembering just what started them playing this game. <Shhh!> she whispers. Briska takes a step back, all the better to stare cluelessly at her. Karen gives her brother a half-hearted smile, before slipping into a play bow. Well, that's language that Briska understands, and his tail jolts from side to side, stray tufts of hair streaming along like ribbons.

A port in a storm, a home away from home. We're (saved)!

The sky is blue and cloudless, the sunlight is bright, and a cool wind blows from the northwest.

Dusk cocks her head at her father as he addresses her; who me? <Fine,> she replies simply, the puff of a tail attached to her backside wagging weakly. She didn't like to see him get upset. Flame was always upset. Mom sometimes got upset. But not dad, he just didn't do that. The worry seems to fade from her eyes though and she sighs. It doesn't seem fitting for her to join in the play of Karen and Briska, so the little black-eared pup pulls herself to her feet and pads over to sit by the door and wait for mom to return from wherever she went. Worry clouds her face again. Mom didn't leave very often and dad was worried. Maybe something happened? Maybe she wasn't coming back? Dusk can't stop the audible whimper from escaping her lips.

Peppy's worried frown droops a little further as he watches Dusk. The more depressed she gets, the more depressed it makes her father - which, in turn, seems to make her for depressed. Lovely downward spiral we have here. Briska and Karen seem to be occupied, already haven (mostly) forgotten their father's grouchiness, and Flame, no doubt realizing that Peppy's rare moment of annoyance is not going to be built upon, has already crept back to his part of the wall, but Dusk... no, she sticks to his words. A twinge of regret wells up in Peppy's chest, and the Growlithe... does nothing about it. With a soft sigh and a grumble under his breath, the Growlithe scrapes his paws across the ground as he stretches them out before him, ignoring the stabbing sensation in his side. A moment later, he places his paws on the base of his muzzle, covering his eyes, and grumble-growls a little more. He's obviously stressed... that, or just tired. Likely a bit of both.

Briska doesn't catch Dusk's whimper, or else he'd do something about it. "Row!" he woofs cheerfully - Karen's ears lower and she shushes him again. Volume is a concept Briska doesn't quite grasp yet, but his ears fall as his sister's do. Did he do something wrong? Karen moves out of her bow and pads towards her brother, giving him a reassuring nuzzle. Briska looks at her. Did he do something good? "Row," he murmurs - and then he tries to nips at Karen's ear. She smiles slightly and hops backwards in order to get in a good strike. A new game has begun - that's how you pass the time in a puppy's life.

Dusk looks back over her shoulder at the others for a moment, head tilting this way and then that. After a moment, she continues on and a look of determination comes to her face. She is going to go find mom and bring her back! Puffing out her chest proudly and curling her tail high up over her back in determination, Dusk heads for the door and shows no sign of slowing down. Clickity clickity, her nails hit the messy wooden floor and then there is silence as they move that first step onto the ground just beyond. Angel, she is not, despite her black halo. Well, at least she means well.

Peppy should know better by now. One doesn't close his eyes for a moment when all five of those masses of energy wrapped in fuzzy coats are wide awake. When Peppy finally does remove his paws from in front of his eyes, he catches only a glimpse of Dusk as her bushy tail disappears from view. His eyes triple in side. <Dusk!!> he howls, immediately leaping up to all four paws - the shock of the scene far outdoes the pain in his side. With that, he starts rushing to the door... well, kind of rushing. It's more like stumbling and limping. <Dusk! Get... ow, ow, ow, get ba... ow! My sid - Dusk! Get ba... yeow, back here! Ow, ow, ow, hurts, ow, now! Right now, owch, ow, Dusk!> Every muscle in his body hurts, especially his side - unless Dusk specifically stops, she'll easily outrun her papa. Uh oh.

Briska and Karen sure don't notice Dusk's movement; they're involved in a world of nudges, nips, dodges, dips, quick eyes and even faster swipes. Karen gets a clean one on Briska, her paw lashing out and slapping him on the shoulder. Peppy's urgent howl interrupts Briska's counterattack. Briska and Karen to whirl around, facing their father with hackles raised, eyes wide and jaws gaping in surprise. Dakota pops out of the pile of hay to peer around - before howling wordlessly as well. Hey, if Dad's doing it, then it must be okay! <Dusk, come back!> Karen shouts, though she doesn't go after her sister. Briska has the presence of mind to rumble out a <Dusk!> before he hustles forward, almost tripping over his paws in his hurry. He doesn't understand what's going on, but he knows Dusk is the cause of it! Briska doesn't have very long to go to reach the door, but should he meet up with Dusk he'll simply yap <Dusk! Dusk!> at her with a voice high-pitched by panic and confusion. It's not like he'll drag her back into the barn or anything - that would require comprehension.

Shadows lengthen and the light turns golden as the sun sinks toward the west through a clear sky.

Dusk isn't hustling too much, just trotting along in her usual slink. At the sound of the eruption behind her, the puppy flattens to the ground, both ears lowering to her head and her tail tucking up under her. <Uh oh,> she whispers. The small pup turns a bit to face the on coming violence of sound. <I juz' wanted to, well, I,> she starts, bug blue eyes flickering with fear and beginning to possibly tear up. <I just want mom!> the black-crowned female wails pitifully, hunkering down into a shivering mass of fur that is nearly as pathetic as a puppy can look.

Every step invokes at least two "Groowl!"s or "Lithe!"s of pain, some as much as four. Still, he limps on, all the while wailing for his daughter to come back; the darkness is falling rapidly, and the purple hues of the sky are slowly being consumed by black. Two steps out of the barn, Peppy's paw finds itself stepping on a rock - and, while he'd usually pass right over it without even noticing it, in his weakened state it proves as effective as a banana peel. Peppy finds himself suspended in the air for a second, and with a "Growli?" of confusion, he tumbles to the ground. He hits it pretty hard; his cheek smashes into the ground, and his body tumbles after. <... Ow...> he whimpers into the dirt, lying there in a crumped heap, afraid to move lest it start hurting more. The fact that he can still hear Dusk - that she's not already out of sight - fills the adult Growlithe with relief, and, slowly, he peers up at her. He's still recovering from his fall, and doesn't say a word.

A port in a storm, a home away from home. We're (saved)!

Peppy's crash generates a lot more interest than his grumble did. Dakota begins trying to untangle herself from the haystack and scoot towards her father, though she doesn't quite manage it yet, as she buried in pretty far! Karen yips a shocked "Li!", ears slicked back against her scalp. Flame gets to his paws, all the better to watch the scene with. Briska looks over as well, whimpering loudly as he sees his father's fallen form. He's never seen Poppa like that before. His tail starts to sink as well, before Dusk's words force him to turn his head to her. Mom? Briska blinks and looks around, his tail now lowering even more. <Mom?> he repeats. Did he forget about her existence already? Or is he wondering where she is? He then turns back to his sister. <Dusk,> he explains in a harried way, <Mom...> ...Well, he tries to explain, but nothing else comes out. He doesn't know where she went or why, and likely he doesn't have the words to express it. He looks frantically between his sister and his father, making a split second decision - he's closest to Dusk, therefor he'll help her out first. <C-Careful, Dusk,> he murmurs to her, clomping towards her and bending his head downward. He's learned what 'careful' means, at least. Should Dusk not move away, he'll nuzzle her wherever he can reach, giving soft soothing "Grrow roow"s and "Liiiiii"s in the process, though worry will be easily found in his voice.

The evening stars come out as the red-orange sun sinks below the horizon.

Briska's nuzzling ruffles his sister's ears and neck and she blinks up at him dumbly. Things just seem all wrong. Mom is gone, dad has fallen and her brother is comforting her. The blue-eyed pup blinks up Briska and offers a faint 'rooow' sound and then fights to get back to her paws. After taking a moment to lick softy at the larger pup, she begins a gentle stalk toward Peppy. She lost her mother and broke her father. Tail still tucked and ears flat, the littlest female slinks to Peppy and stands quivering before him. She whimpers soft cooing sounds and then drops to her side at his paws, fear and guilt hidden in her eyes as the darkness descends, her posture sorrowful and submissive. <Sorry, daddy,> she sputters.

Peppy is going to have one heck of a hard time getting back up to go to his corner. That's a problem to be worked out later; for now, Peppy's priority is making sure his little Dusk is okay. He struggles to pull himself into a better position, grunting and growling to extend his front limbs enough ascend into a more upright position. It doesn't work; the pain in his side is too great, and, with a little "Li" as he reaches his breaking point, Peppy's head drops back down to the ground. Out of the corner of his eye, his daughter approaches, and he can only look at her for a second or two, as though unsure of what to say. Does he get mad? Did she mean well? She did do what she wasn't supposed to, and now her father's all in pain because of it... but Peppy can't find it in himself to get mad at her. <... What's the matter, Dusk?> he asks, soft enough for only her to hear. <Why did you do that?> His voice carries no menace and no malicious intent... thankfully enough. Maybe Dusk's nervous worries are all for naught.

Briska gives a rolling "rrrrrrow," back to his sister and smiles wanly as she licks him, before he slowly turns around to face his father. "Owli," he murmurs sympathetically, ears and tail pulled towards the ground as if they were attached to it with strings. <Dad?> Karen asks. Dakota's haystack bulges, coughs and sputters, and the feisty female comes into view, completely covered in straw and trying to shake it off of her. Briska takes a few quick, nervous steps inside the barn, giving the outside a worried glance. Sometimes it's okay to go outside, but Briska usually waits until some parent ushers him out - and today certainly hasn't been one of those days. He looks around slowly, before taking a step towards Karen, giving her a soft woof that might be reassurance or simply an announcement of his presence. <Shhh, Briska,> Karen whispers, without giving her brother a look.

The sun sets and the evening stars begin to appear in a blue and cloudless sky. A cool wind blows from the northwest.

Dusk comes back off her side and pulls herself forward, trying to drag her small body right up to and maybe under Peppy's nose if his position will allow it. The little female whimpers, never having been one for idle yipping or barking. <I want mama. Did she run away?> the confused and concerned pup asks, not taking rebuke or a change in routine very well. The runt's eyes are moist now and her tail remains limp. <I'm sorry papa, I'm sorry!> she whimpers over and over again, sure that she he is dying. The little colored mass quivers and trembles mercilessly.

Karen's gentle shushing of her brother and Briska's nervous, frantic pacing go ignored by their father; for now, Peppy's focus is on his smallest daughter, the little firey one with the dark ears that blend into the dark sky as he looks at her. As she nestles under his muzzle and whimpers out her little concern, Peppy peers down at his nose, and whispers, <... Run away?> Slowly, almost ominously, his eyes shift to the darkness in the distance - not so much because he suspects that's the truth, more like because the simple thought invokes a feeling of dread deep in his chest. He closes his eyes slowly, lowering his muzzle just enough to nuzzle it against Dusk's side. <Mom would never leave us,> he assures her softly. <I won't either. Don't worry, don't worry...> His side perks up a bit from the pain of leaning forward to nuzzle Dusk, but it's easy enough to ignore; this is a far greater feeling than simple pain.

The stars glitter like diamonds in the deep sapphire blue of the night sky.

Briska whines softly, shifting his weight from side to side as he watches the scene. He doesn't understand - wasn't Dusk just happy a few seconds before? But...but, if she's not now...then that means one thing. He failed. Dusk isn't happy, and he couldn't make her happy. Briska plops down on his haunches, sighing heavily as his eyes turn to his two-clawed paws. There's so much the fuzzy pup doesn't understand. <Kare-en,> he mutters, before leaning heavily on his sister. Karen gives a startled mumble before she looks towards Briska, frowning slightly. <Dad...Dad looks okay,> she murmurs more kindly to her brother. <It's all okay...> Briska doesn't look at his sister, but he does mumble a meaningless "Ithe." It's hard to tell if it's in agreement or not.

The frightened and guilty puppy wiggles and then licks softly at Peppy, getting to her feet shakily and then waiting for him to get up. Her tail isn't tucked so tight anymore and it wags once, uncertainly. "Rooow!" she howls softly, encouraging him to get up. He was strong, a hero in her eyes. He is invincible. <Get up daddy,> she tells him, believing in him whole-heartedly and willing him to get back up so they can go back inside and simply wait for mom. <Get up,> she repeats again, ears perking in interest. It is a phrase she probably heard several times a young pup. Dusk waits, looking at Peppy, then behind him to Briska and Karen. "RoooOOoow!" she both demands and encourages, attempting to incite Briska to join and possibly the others. He had to be ok, they needed him to be ok. Dad is invincible!

A port in a storm, a home away from home. We're (saved)!

The nuzzle breaks as Dusk ascends to all four paws, and Peppy rears back for a second to smile at her. He feels a little better now; she wasn't running away to escape from him, or to annoy him - she was just worried about her mom. Now, if Peppy could just get her to understand that she should leave all the worrying to dad. Dusk now requests that her father get up, which is not exactly something Peppy feels like doing right now. He's still in a bit of pain. Still, the barn seems like a safer place to be at night, and he's got to make sure the kids are all playing peacefully when Aurora gets home so he can -prove- he's a good babysitter... and besides, he can't let Dusk down, can he? And so, Peppy begins the arduous chore of... standing up. It's painful, and he clamps his jaw tight and squeezes his eyes shut as he pushes with all four paws, struggling desperately to make some leverage. Through some miracle, his limbs finally extend - and Peppy stands there for a second frozen, just waiting for the pain in his side and in every joint to go away.

Briska just peers at Dusk. Karen watches her usually quiet sister for a few seconds, before she perks upwards as comprehension hits. <Yeah, get up, dad! Briska, say 'get up, dad'!> she adds for her brother's benefit. <Geddada.> <...'Kay.> And then the two join in on the chorus, Briska putting more heart into his words than, well, actual words. The canine surges to his paws, as the eyes of both puppies widen. Daddy is going back to how he's supposed to be. <Get up!> yips Dakota with tail a-swingin', finally able to see now that she's shaken all of the straw off of her face (though there's still straw everywhere else on her). And when it appears that Peppy is indeed standing up...well, the noise continues. Hey, the pups are all worked up! Even Flame, prince of darkness and lord of shadow is joining in! ...Although, granted, his shouts are more along the lines of <Shut! Up! Now!> than anything else.

Dusk wags now, grinning happily and frisks back to the barn to join her siblings. The little pup circles them and leaps a bit, happy as can be. Mom is ok! Everything is ok! Time to play! "Grrrrrooooooooow!" she rejoices quite exuberantly, more than likely drawing a nasty retort from Flame, her brother and her only enemy. <Daddy!> she says lovingly, happy he is on his feet and once again the rock he should be. The nimble puppy does a little jig, her dark tinged nature fading to show her loving side once again. Dusk wags more and bounces, attempting to lick and paw at Karen and Briska.

Peppy doesn't realize that Dusk pretty much thought her father was inches away from the grave, so her happy little jig causes him to cock his head slightly. Still, a cheerful, dancing Dusk is far better than a crying one or, worse, one that's running out of the barn. Though his legs are stiff and his side is hurting like Peppy's never felt before, he still somehow manages to turn around and, careful to not accidentally walk into or step on one of the puppies, limps his way back into the barn, slowly, cautiously, carefully. Who would have thought dinner could fight back with such intensities? <All right, guys,> Peppy woofs between winces, coming to a stop when most of his body is back inside the barn. <... You tired yet?> Please say yes, he thinks to himself. Glancing up at the ceiling, he thinks for a second how he wants little more than just a really, really long sleep. Quiet, at that.

Briska and Karen howl along with Dusk as she joins their group. It just seems like a good thing to do, and it makes a cute picture - three puppies, muzzles to the sky, loud and proud. And when Dusk turns back to the two of them, Briska...he stares at her for a good few seconds. Karen easily gets into the game, yipping (softly!) and darting to one side. Briska tilts his head. Then, Thought takes a baseball bat and slams into his brain. Dusk is happy. Daddy stood up, and Dusk is happy now. She wasn't before, and Briska was sad, and...well, it's all too much to think about now. Briska banishes was little thought he has from his mind, and concentrates on what his instincts and body is telling him. Dodge that paw coming towards him, and retaliate with a clumsy nudge! The two puppies seem rather happy to play, even if their reactions are a bit slow and they do seem to yawn quite a bit. Even if Dusk leaves, Dakota will soon come over, always eager for a good game.

Five pieces of mottled fur with as many varying personalities as coat patterns, Peppy's crew is a boisterous lot. The love between them seems evident now as the puppies play, all save for one who seems to continuously set himself apart. Perhaps the burden of being so different is just too much for him? With Peppy heading inside and safe and the promise that their mother will return shortly, Dusk is content. <Sleepy?> she asks, pausing in her frolicking just long enough to tilt her head to the side and scratch at an ear. The look on her father's face speaks of sleep and it suddenly makes her yawn. <Sleepy!> she affirms softly, yet full of enthusiasm and then nips at Briska's ear before trailing after her hero. It has been quite the day in the Assisi barn and full of new adventures.

Peppy could not agree with Dusk more. <Sleepy!> he replies with an affirmative nod. <C'mon, c'mon, tomorrow there'll be a big Rattata for ya, and we'll go outside if the weather's nice, and, uh, we'll teach mommy how to play... that licking game you guys were doing. All right?> No matter what the reply, be they excited yips or yawns or moans of agony, Peppy will proceed to round the puppies up. It's a somewhat slow process, seeing as how Dakota can run four circles around him by the time he can take one step in his injured state, but after enough time and enough pleading, Peppy eventually finds himself surrounded by four puppies (poor Flame is still content to be on his own for now), who burrow into his cheeks, or into his neck, or into where they can find as a warm spot to lie in. Peppy asserts himself as determined to stay awake until Aurora marches through those doors, but his thought process doesn't even complete before he's already fast asleep, lulled into drowziness by the warmth of his daughters and son cuddled into him.