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

Snow flurries drift silently down from the pale grey sky. The air is damp and cold, and there is little wind. In the forest, snowflurries dust the bare branches of the broadleaves and the needles of the conifers. While at the coast, light snowflakes sprinkle the glossy, black, and calm surface of the ocean.

Snow flurries drift silently down from the pale grey sky. The air is damp and cold, and there is little wind.

Well, the decent weather was fun while it lasted. After a short pause in the blizzard, December's come back just as strong. Snow tumbles from the sky, passing through the wet, chilly air slowly and apprehensively, enjoying its time spent hovering to the ground. Most of the barn is asleep this afternoon, but that's nothing new - most of them are almost always asleep, and that's a pity to anybody who wants to talk, seeing as how even a sneeze will send a ripple of <Hush!>es and <Quiet!>s across the barn's citizens. Maybe it's the fact that he can't go a full waking hour without talking, or maybe he's just hungry, but whatever the case, Peppy isn't home today. He's out bringing home the bacon - or, more specifically, the Rattata. Let's hope the weather hasn't turned him into a frozen pupsicle!

Oddly enough, considering how much they've grown, the pups aren't wandering around and play-fighting with each other - which is probably for the best, given the expected reaction from the rest of the barn. Instead, they're huddled up against their mother, burrowing as far as they can into the area of warmth she provides. Aurora herself, with her thick fur, doesn't appear to be too cold, although one or two of the puppies occasionally shiver a little before nudging their way into a warmer spot. One of the pups has already gone to sleep, and the others seem to be heading that way as they try to get warm, but Aurora's open eyes and alert gaze hint that she's going to be keeping watch, in the absence of her mate.

It's amazing Peppy can see anything out there. There's so much white - if one can see through the flakes falling from the ground, then surprise! One gets to see snow on the ground, snow on trees, and snow on the fence surrounding the farm. Peppy's been gone for a couple hours, but knowing him and given the weather, chances are he hasn't wandered twenty feet away from the barn. ... That, however, is disproven as, right as the wind picks up gently, so that even the pokemon huddled inside the barn feel a slight drop in the temperature, the Growlithe finally stumbles through the ajar door, teeth clenched together and bared, ear flinching, more white than reddish orange. Unfortunately, he doesn't have anything in his mouth - that, or his teeth were chattering so much he couldn't hold something. Whatever the case, Peppy just stands there for a moment or two, breathing in, out, in, out, not really moving much except for his chest, and even his breathing isn't very heavy. Must have had quite a time out there.

<Oh, you're-> Aurora's pleased exclamation is interrupted by an irritated Spearow hissing from the rafters, <Quiet down there!> The female Growlithe glances up, startled, then looks back at Peppy guiltily, murmuring, <...back,> to finish her sentence. The lack of anything in Peppy's jaws apart from a light dusting of snow is fairly obvious, and Aurora looks at him silently for a few seconds before woofing, almost in a whisper, <Come over here and get warm. You look frozen. Though maybe you should get rid of that first,> she adds, nodding at the snowy "coat" Peppy's picked up from his excursion.

Peppy's first movement comes from his eyes, which flicker over to Aurora. His head doesn't move. It's not a particularly mean, angry, rude, worried, or sad stare, just almost curious. Maybe a little guilty. After a moment or two his entire head turns to her, puffing up a little cloud of snowflakes, now stripped free from his neck. And what's the first thing he says to her? He doesn't greet his mate, ask her how she's doing, or ask how the pups are - his face softening a bit under the white, his mouth pulled back into an almost worried look, Peppy barks, thankfully not too loud, <It's... -really-... cold out there.> Despite Aurora's beckoning, the male doesn't come over just quite yet. Could it be that his brain's frozen solid? Possible! Finally catching the hint of what he's supposed to "get rid of", he shakes himself vigorously, sending drops splattering all over the vicinity. Thankfully, the only pokemon hit by a cluster of the half-melted drops are two Squirtles and a Krabby, who, if anything, almost appreciate the sprinkle. Now looking more wet than white, Peppy makes a little "Lth" noise before trudging over to his little corner.

Aurora watches Peppy as he walks over, and as she sees how damp he is, gives a little growl of concern. <Are you okay? You didn't get too cold or wet, did you?> she asks, turning her head to watch Peppy as he walks over to join the rest of his family. As he gets closer, she opens her mouth, then hesitates for a few moments before asking, <You... did you find anything to eat?> As if on cue, one of the puppies makes a whining noise, and Aurora sighs, her own voice making a thin, quiet whine. <There's not enough food for the man to feed everyone in the barn, and I can't dash over when he puts it out in case the puppies get trodden on.>

Will Santa's route be extra long this year? Better save! (Saving)

Peppy comes to a gradual halt a foot or two away from Aurora. His eyes flash to the whining puppy, his mouth pulling back even further, before then turn back to the female. He looks disappointed, maybe submissive, and probably humiliated; his ears are pressed down against the sides of his head, and there's still a little coat of white on them - they've hardly moved. When he thinks he can speak (as though his lungs need to thaw or something), he parts his jaws. His voice is low. <I tried...> A little movement of the tail, but it almost immediately adopts its drooping position again. He tries to smile a bit, but it comes across as nervous and probably very weak. <And I'll try again in a bit. It was just...> Even as he speaks, his head turns to the side, his voice trailing off into a growl, then into nothing at all. Should Aurora not respond quickly, Peppy will eventually glance back at her, before turning to the side once more, woofing, <... I'm sorry.>

Aurora looks at Peppy while he's replying, and the faint, nervous smile makes her blink and shake her head quickly, replying in a low tone, <No, I didn't mean... I didn't mean that. It's bad luck that the man came to put the food out when you'd gone to look for food, and that you couldn't find any food outside.> She pauses, and stares into the distance for a few moments, apparently thinking. <Maybe... maybe the Rattatas have done what we did, and gone to find warmer places to stay while it snows. So maybe that's why you couldn't find one. But the man who leaves food comes every half of a day, even if it's snowing.> Another pause, and Aurora glances at Peppy, then suggests hesitantly, <I know you like to hunt, but maybe you could stay in the barn? Then you could run for the food it's put out, and I could look after the pups, or the other way around.>

Peppy gives Aurora an uncertain grin as his brings his head back to look down at hers, before looking beyond her at the puppies - his puppies, their puppies. The nervousness in the smile settles into a more comfortable one. <I'll wait until the man comes back,> Peppy woofs at last, furrowing his eyes slightly almost as if it's really racking his mind to think. <... Then I'll go back out and get even more food!> Perhaps the first excitement he's had in some time. The Growlithe turns his head far to the right, catching a glimpse of the wooden barn door out of the corner of his eye. <They're out there,> he woofs after a moment, eyes still locked on the crack revealing the white outside. <I can... smell them, just a little bit, but it's really hard to see in the snow.> Exhale. Head drops a bit. He opens his mouth to speak once more, closes it, opens his, and finally closes it. One of the puppies, leaning against her mom, peers up at her father, cocking her head very slightly at his odd habits. Is he eating air?

Snow flurries drift silently down from the pale grey sky. The air is damp and cold, and there is little wind.

<That's good,> replies Aurora, but there's a little doubt in her voice, and she adds, <But what if you don't catch anything, and they run away from you? What'll happen then?> The curious puppy blinks at her father, watching him gulp the air, then glances towards the barn doors and blinks at the whiteness that can be seen through the crack between them. Aurora sighs a little, and leans towards Peppy a bit - she's not close enough to nuzzle his cheek, but it's a gesture that indicates she's trying to. <I'm glad you're looking for food, but also... what would happen to the pups if you got lost in the snow?> she asks, quietly.

Peppy doesn't reply immediately. His head drops a bit as his mate speaks for the first time, as though he really doesn't have much of an answer - despite the fact that it definitely sounds likely, especially given Peppy's nature. He plops down on his haunches. Raising his head up a bit, Peppy slowly, very slowly, adjusts his head as Aurora continues her questioning, and he only looks at her, even after she's done. Though his mouth is closed, his teeth are clenched, and though he doesn't move, it's not hard to see that his feeble mind is racing for an answer.

Will Santa's route be extra long this year? Better save! (Saving)

Aurora says nothing as Peppy replies, but looks at him wide-eyed, blinking a little in surprise as he leans forward to nuzzle her, then relaxing and nuzzling back. <I'm sorry,> she whispers. <I don't mean to doubt you. It's just that when you're not here, it's... I'm sometimes scared without you.> She nuzzles more insistently, growling a little in contentment, and provoking an irritated grumble from a nearby Bulbasaur, who opens one eye and comments, <Can't you keep your arguments quiet?> before closing it again and dozing off.

Despite the noise the Growlithes are making, it's a surprise that only one pokemon is reacting - verbally, at least. Perhaps sensing the conversation is important, even the crankier pokemon are inclined to stay quiet. Two little Pikachus and a Bellsprout actually watch the scene with interest, though they stay far back and remain completely and entirely silent. Peppy promptly ignores the Bulbasaur's complaint as he pulls back from Aurora, his watering eyes locked onto hers, withdrawing for the sole intention of shaking his furry head furiously, sending little bits of water crashing around the area. <No,> he woofs quietly, still shaking. <No, I would be too.> He pauses for a second, his headshaking finally slowing to a stop. <... I know sometimes I don't look like I'd be a good mate because I'm not strong or smart... but I really don't... uh...> A little blush. Peppy glances to the side. <... Can't... leave you. ... I never will.> His voice is getting a little more cracked and soft, but it sounds genuine - and maybe that's all we can expect from him.

Aurora's reaction is... well, not much of a reaction other than standing and watching Peppy, her eyes soft as she looks at him. She says nothing, keeping her gaze on Peppy until one of the puppies at her side whines indignantly and wriggles out, then nudges at her side with her nose. Aurora looks down as the hungry puppy is followed by another, and then another... after a few moments, she sighs and grins resignedly, and rolls over slightly to give the pups a chance to feed. Once they're suckling happily, she looks back at Peppy and says, <Thank you for being here for me, and for caring for the puppies... and thank you for being my mate.>

Though Peppy is looking to the side, he does turn his head just slightly so as to glance at Aurora when she stands up. He expects her to speak, though what she'll say he has no idea. Aurora's always been one for words of encouragement, but she's also always been one to let her mate know when something's wrong. As straight as Peppy's trying to keep his face, as serious as he wants to be as he tries to withstand Aurora's stare, wondering what she's going to say... he can't help but lift his mouth up into a wide grin when the puppy prods her. <... Guess he's hungry. They're hungry.> His words are, of course, most useless - Aurora has already begun to lie back time by the time he makes the note. Lowering himself to the ground, though giving the female a little room to wriggle in case she needs to, Peppy's position is not entirely relaxed, but it's restful. <... Thank you.> Half smile. <I'm glad I met you. I love you and I'm glad you love me, too.> Peppy's chin collapses onto his paws as he watches the month old Growlithes feeding.

<Some of them are hungrier than the others,> Aurora comments as the first three continue suckling, though fairly soon the other two wake up from their doze and join in, causing Aurora to smile. <It's good that they've got such an appetite when it's so cold. It should keep them from getting ill.> She lies down a little more, so that the pups can still reach her belly to feed but she's in a more comfortable position to sleep in. <I think I might doze off once they're full up,> she says, sounding a little drowsy. <Could you make sure they're safe and warm when they've eaten?>

Peppy lifts his head up a bit, perhaps to get a better view of the five hungry children - or maybe just to see his mate better. <Of course I will,> he assures her quietly, giving her a little nod, before turning his eyes back to the littler Growlithes. <And I'll get the food when the man comes, and I'll go hunting if the weather gets better. Okay?> Peppy pretty much doesn't expect a reply - whether Aurora shifts to that position, she's always out like a light in a matter of moments. Placing his head back down to rest, he watches his little puppies bumble this way and wiggle that way as they try to get comfortable. His head is full of thoughts, and he's only half focused on the little ones. ... It's really not been that long since Patch let him go... but man. Look how far he's come. Look how far Aurora's come, together. His grin intensifying, Peppy lets out a soft woof. <I love you, pups.> He's met with a glance from one pup and ignorance from the rest, but he doesn't seem to mind. Settling back down, the father Growlithe continues to watch his puppies for hours to come.