Obvious exits:
North <N> leads to Old Macdonald's Farm.
South <S> leads to Overgrown Lands - Route 11: Off the Route.
West <W> leads to Field and Streams - Route 11: Orchards.
East <E> leads to Footbridge - Route 12: Junction.

Soki arrives from Field and Streams - Route 11: Orchards.
Soki has arrived.

Everything is pale grey, veiled by mist. It's warm, humid, and still. In the forest, only the nearest tree branches show their full color; more distant trees and branches are colorless and indistinct in the pallid grey fog, looking ghostly and not quite real. While at the coast, the sea is sluggish and grey as fog lays on its surface like a thick wet blanket.

"<Oh, just wait a bit,>" one Growlithe told himself a few hours ago. "<This fog will clear up. Hunting will be far easier. Play with the puppies for now! They're not hungry!>" Much to the canine pokemon's surprise, however, the mist hasn't become any more transparent; on the contrary, it seems even thicker than it was at midday. The air can only be described as sticky, a warm, pasty substance that hinders sight, smell, and sound. And look who's out in it! Peppy the ever-procrastinating Growlithe walks down the path, slightly crouching low, ears and tail erect. He's trying to detect -any- sign of life whatsoever in this abysmal grey soup, but so far he's come up short. The area is mostly dead and, save for the occasional chirp of an annoyed Pidgey or Spearow, silent. Peppy can't help but feel a little uncomfortable. How's he going to get home in this?

The grass rustles rhythmically as Soki the Sandslash passes through. He's taller than the grass, so it's possible to see him coming quite easily above the roughage, assuming one can look through the fog. He can be heard easily, as well; there's something on his mind (as usual), and it's big enough to make him entirely forget and/or not care about keeping stealthy in accordance with the traditional role of prey. Though, the fact that this "prey" stands as tall as most predators, has claws several inches long, and spent the majority of his life training in how to use those claws to maximum effect might deter those that wish to apply the term to him. Even more conspicuous than his stature and carriage, however, is the absence of any other pokemon from his side. Today, Soki is alone...

Unfortunately, when one is a (colorblind) Peppy, one can't see through the fog at all. His sense of hearing is at least remotely helpful, though it's not until the Growlithe is somewhat near Soki before the rustle and bustle in the grass finds its way into his big floppy ears. "... Growli?" he asks himself, snapping his jaw shut to quickly stifle the noise. He hears something! Might be... he resists the urge to wag his tail, frightened that it might create noise. The cold-blooded killer, the snarling vicious executioner, Peppy. He takes a single step in Soki's general direction, crouching lower to the ground as though that will somehow help him out in hunting. Another step. Another. He'll creep closer and closer as long as Soki continues to make noise, and though the Growlithe isn't particularly loud, the Sandslash might be able to hear him if he listens closely - which, granted, he may not be able to do if he's too deep in thought.

Soki is just that... too deep in thought. The Sandslash continues on at the same pace as he had been, producing the same rustle, rustle, rustle, rustle. It goes on and on and on. Things are going to get interesting as soon as Soki hits the stream; that may take a more literal connotation if the Sandslash isn't careful enough. The way his head is turned, he can only see the ground directly in front of his feet. Which are going at the same rate they were ever since he left Orange Base. Repetition breeds thought in Soki, perhaps.

Step! Listen. Smile. Step! Listen. Smile. Step! Listen. Smile. Peppy continues this slow, certain pace as he follows after Soki, unaware of the fact that the Sandslash is moving fast enough that Peppy won't even catch him at this rate. After a few more moments of this, the ever-impatient Growlithe decides that if he doesn't *do* something, the Rattata (or whatever the heck it is) will escape! And so, closing his eyes as he pauses in his step to help detect Soki's whereabouts more precisely based on the rustling, Peppy bares his teeth, leans on his back paws, and springs into a sprint! ... That lasts about two steps, when a loose rock proves to be an obstacle large enough for Peppy to trip over. With a loud "G...rowli?!" of confusion and surprise, the dog stumbles, leans, and eventually tumbles to the ground, all the while arfing and barking to himself. Oh Mighty Predator.

You can almost hear the SNAP as Soki's thoughts are wrenched from today's Big Idea. Gone are the contant rustling, the unguarded stature, and the lack of attention. In their place are a combat stance, alert awareness, and a cry of, <Who's there?!> Soki may be intimidating when ticked off, but he can be downright dangerous when startled. A rustle returns to Soki's feet, but only as he slowly turns a circle to survey the terrain and seek possible sources of what he heard.

Soki's response comes in the form of a low moan. <Oww...> Peppy woofs in a low, pained tone. He grits his teeth together tightly, pushing up with his forelegs to extend his upper torso over the ground. He shakes his head fiercely before standing up on all fours, still grunting and growling over his pain. When the Growlithe starts thinking coherent thoughts (and not just scrambled messes) again, he lifts his head slightly, turning his eyes in Soki's direction. He pauses slightly, before woofing a puzzled greeting. <Hello?> He hesitates once again. His voice becomes quieter as he speaks, as though he and his "conversational buddy" are locked into something secretive. <I think there's a Rattata out there! Don't scare it off!>

Wait a minute... oh, it's only him. Soki's guard relaxes as he recognizes Peppy's voice and the threat gauge goes from "look out!" to "what, me worry?" Following the barks, Soki approaches what he believes is the Growlithe's position. He does so while reassuring the hunter, <I think what you've been hearing is me. Nothing to worry yourself over.> Despite his tone, Soki's enjoying the opportunity to have a conversation that won't end in further grief.

Saving the data is only the beginning... (Saving!)

Everything is pale grey, veiled by mist. It's warm, humid, and still.

The Growlithe's stance straightens slightly at Soki's statement, and, perplexed, Peppy pauses to puzzle the pokemon. <Hearing... you?> he repeats, as though he doesn't quite understand it himself. <But I've been chasing a Rattata. I mean... I mean I think it was a Rattata. Maybe it was you, not a Rattata at all. Where are you? I can't see you!> Peppy can see nothing but grey in the empty atmosphere, not a movement at all. Slowly, almost uncertainly, he takes a step in the direction of Soki's voice, scanning the cloud for any signs of life. Again, he comes up short. Despite the heat of the evening, a chill runs down the pup's back.

Soki says, <Hang on, I'm coming.> Soki's pacing-through-grass noise resumes as he tries to get to Peppy, following the sound of his voice. At last he spies the Growlithe in the fog, who ought to see the Sandslash in turn since the two are facing each other. Despite Soki's gift for words at times, all that really comes to mind right now is, <Hi.>

Okay, he's coming. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Soki's voice isn't exactly as perky or comforting as a Chansey or a Jigglypuff, and while oddly familiar, Peppy can't place a paw on whether the voice's owner is good or bad. When the Sandslash reveals himself, the Growlithe peers at his blurry form in the cloud, squinting and cocking his head. "... Liiii..." he gurgles to himself, taking a step or two toward the ground type. Should Soki not move as Peppy gets closer (the Growlithe doesn't seem to have even the slightest bad intentions), the pup will proceed to... what else? Attempt to sniff the Sandslash in wherever he can stick his nose. What he'll actually pull from it depends on whether Soki shies away or not.

Soki doesn't recoil, but only because he's aware that some pokemon have odd greetings. He'll wait until the Growlithe is done before saying anything to him. At that point, it'll probably be, <Recognize me yet?> It's rather difficult to not recognize Soki's scars. He's probably the only Sandslash out there with a line across his belly and right arm, not to mention his backpack.

And perhaps Peppy would have recognized Soki by sight were it not so difficult for the pup to see him, even up close. Peppy's sense of smell is more than enough for Soki to bring up his spot in the Growlithe's mind, and, after jamming his cold wet nose into poor Soki's epidermis enough, he retreats back a step or two, nodding enthusiastically. <You're... uh, that guy who used to be at the barn!> Details never were Peppy's strong point. Wagging his tail vigorously now, the Growlithe leans to one side then the other, trying to peer around Soki as though there's something on his back. With a decisive nod, Peppy speaks, invoking a tone of authority and wisdom, as though what he says really is important. <You're looking healthy.>

The Sandslash offers a noncomittal shrug. <Only in body,> he says, though he does not provide further explanation as to what that's supposed to mean. Rather, he returns the question to the person who posed it first. <How have you and your family been?> This time there's more emotion in Soki's voice. It sounds as though he truly cares, and beyond that that it's relevant, moreso than one would imagine it could be with Soki.

Unfortunately, without definition, Peppy has positively no idea of what Soki is talking about. Only in body? Isn't that the only kind of "healthy" you can appear? The Growlithe cants his head slightly, parting his jaws to ask Soki for further clarification, but the Sandslash has already started off on another tangent by the time Peppy can get the words out. <They're really great!> Peppy woofs, only just now plopping down onto his haunches to rest. <The puppies are getting really big, and soon we're going to take them out hunting!> Peppy, apparently, doesn't quite recall Soki's own opinion on predatation. If Soki doesn't but in at this point, the Growlithe will go on to say, <But we can only do one at a time, so the other four... will... I guess have to be sleeping, or something.> ... Yeah, four of Peppy's kids left alone in the barn. If they don't eat its other inhabitants, they'll end up accidentally burning it down.

Soki sits down himself. Despite a recent incident with a flock of Fearows (that poor Poliwag still burns at Soki's mind), the comment on teaching the puppies to hunt goes unchecked. Perhaps it's Sokis lack of will to fight today, or perhaps his views on hunting have changed and the Fearow fiasco was a fluke. In any case, the absence of the parents seems to catch Soki's mind. <Might you need a caretaker for them?> Soki inquires, then remembers that using a word that puts a multi-word concept into a single collection of letters around Peppy often doesn't get the point across. <Someone to make sure they don't get in trouble while you're not there?>

This may be rather difficult to believe, but Peppy, though some miracle, actually understands what Soki means by caretaker, and his definition of the title only widens his eyes further. <Like, you, want to?> the Growlithe asks, pure curiosity - maybe even, amusingly enough, disbelief and suspicion - evident in his voice. <I... I could... I mean, I could ask Aurora.> He stutters and stumbles, but not because he's looking for excuses to say Soki; au contraire, the offer by the ground-type has rather caught him off guard, especially since, yeah, that's pretty much exactly what Peppy needs. <You... uh... you wouldn't be overwhelmed? I mean, they're not bad kids, but they can be... mischievous sometimes.> His voice has dropped in tone and pitch a little, and his overall presentation seems a little more aware, a little more mature, quite a contrast to the bumbly, goofy Peppy Soki's witnessed all night.

Soki ponders his job experience. Managing the Team (for all Soki's had to do of it... Team Zenny was always larger when Zenny was around) isn't entirely equivalent to keeping Growlithe puppies from chewing the furniture, so to speak. However, if they can understand speech and Soki can get the children to respect him, he might just have a shot at it. Finally, Soki submits his answer to Peppy in, <I'm sure it would be a challenge... but I've been raised to overcome challenges. Besides, so long as they aren't bad kids and there's some allowance for discipline (in moderation, of course), I'm sure there won't be much difficulty.> With a nod of finality and a conciliatory gesture, Soki concludes, <Of course, this is all subject to the approval of you and your mate. Don't feel pressured at all.>

Saving the data is only the beginning... (Saving!)

Peppy sort of nods vaguely, as though he still isn't quite certain that Soki knows what he's walking into. And, granted, Peppy's children mean more to him than his own life does; does he trust Soki enough to leave them in his care for some time? Whenever Peppy has problems like this that he just doesn't know how to solve on his own, there's always one solution that rings in his mind. Aurora. <I... I'd really appreciate that,> he admits with a half grin, his cheeks puffing up as he blushes under his white fur. <And I bet Aurora will, too, because she wanted to come with us on the hunts!> Didn't he already mention something to that extent? Given the rapid swishing of Peppy's bushy tail, the Growlithe is obviously excited; he can afford to repeat obvious information a few times. <I... uh, we're still at the barn... do you know where it is? Can you get there in fog? Do you want to go now? Should I find you later? Are you sure it's not a hassle? Didn't I show you them before?> Fwoosh! A rapidfire volley of questions!

Soki stands in a gesture meaning he's trying to get his bearings. Of course, he's in the fog, so it's little more than a gesture. The Sandslash rests his chin on an arm, thinking aloud for a moment. <I came from the human city of Vermillion, took a straight line down the road, now we're in the fields, I made a slight angle to get to you... hrm... the barn should be.. about thataway,> concludes the Sandslash, pointing slightly away from straight south with a claw. It's close by approximation standards but just a bit too far off if you really want to get where you're going. Hopefully they'll find the road, at which Soki will know exactly where to go. After that, Soki deals with the other questions. <Now's good, since once night gets truly underway we're going to be in the fog and without light. It's no hassle, and yes, I think I remember your children.> Especially the black-furred one.

Though Soki doesn't say anything anything Flame, or imply anything of the sort having to do with him, Peppy, in the back of his mind, just *knows* that somehow his son is standing out in the Sandslash's mind. He is, of course, the easiest of the bunch to remember, but not just because of his fur color. <You mean it'll be even harder to see once night comes?> Peppy asks, as though this is an absolute impossibility and they may as well give up right now if that is the case. Hesitantly, he glances in the general direction in which Soki pointed, glances up at his forehead for a second, and nods in agreement. <I think you're right. Come on, I'll lead the way.> Smart, so if there are any rocks - any rocks at all! - in the way, Peppy can trip right over them so Soki won't have to go through the trouble of stepping over them.

The misty light dims slightly.

Soki is used to following people no matter who they are... his family was born into a caste system in which they were the absolute lowest wrung on the ladder, and usually didn't have the opportunity to forget about it. Following someone whom he just had to tell where to lead him is a far superior experience to being kicked around as the rule. But enough about that. Barring circumstances, Soki might just have another job ahead of him... which would be great. Despite his seemingly independent nature, Soki is quite susceptible to loneliness.

Peppy may get a little sidetracked here and there (and will, no doubt, be set right back on course by Soki, the one here with the superior navigational skills), but for the most part he's a true enough guide, and he does his best to not lead his friend and himself off track. Though Soki's heart is true and his intentions are good, Peppy can't help but feel in the back of his mind that this job is better left to an experienced father (Peppy, of course, is only at seven months himself). However, beggars can't be choosers, and, with Aurora's consent, he might finally be able to get Operation Teach Hunting underway.

Now, if only he could get out of the barn without Briska yapping at him!