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

Heavy rain pours from dark grey clouds, propelled by a furious east wind. In the forest, gusts of wind tear through the tree limbs and howl around rocks. While at the coast, the grey ocean lashes at the coast angrily as the summer storm pelts the waves.

The break in the grey yesterday was only a brief one. The sunny skies of the day before have shifted to a more bleak, depressing image, and the rain from up high pummels the ground with a fury. The occasional crash of thunder marks soon after the flashes of lightning, which is for some the only light they've seen all day. Water drips through the top of the Assisi Barn, its many cracks working as a poor barrier. Why doesn't the barn flood? Simple - the bottom of the wall and the ground has as many cracks as the roof does. There are numerous dry spots throughout the building, and because the numbers in the barn are so low, there's enough room for everyone to sit nice and dry without getting squished. It's rather quiet today; only the constant drumming on the barn ceiling, the, thunder, the gasps resulting from the thunder, and the occasional murmur of a mother to her child or vice-versa can be heard inside today. The large Growlithe family in the barn has found its own spot in the barn, making totally sure to keep one of the young males, Briska, out of the rain. The parents huddle around their son, even though it results in the father getting his tail wet from the occasional swish that puts in the way of a drip of water that crept through the barn roof.

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

Thunderstorms? Pah, this Sandslash has seen worse. ...granted, not much worse, but he has nevertheless been in worse weather. And he's somewhat used to the rain. To throw another "despite" into the arena, Soki still wants to get out of the rain despite his ability to withstand it, and he has further business under this farm's roof. This business has led him to the barn's door, and as of this moment the door swings open with a dramatic creak, followed by an equally appropriate lightning strike in the distance that momentarily casts Soki as a mere shadow against the light streaming in through the door for that single instant. Afterward, Soki squeezes in through the crack he produced, and shuts the door to keep out further rain. With his daily quota of drama blown on that display, Soki returns to his normal down-to-earth style and looks for the Growlithes for whom he's applied to be a caretaker for.

Briska sighs heavily through his nose. He finished sleeping a few hours ago, and now he's simply staring at the door with a dull stare. However, this a considerable improvement over how he had been a mere two days ago - no longer is Briska whimpering and softly whining as germs crawl over his wound and spread to his system. The bite to his side that had him down is gone thanks to his father's search and the aid of a helpful human. Briska still has fresh pink teeth marks in his side as a reminder of his painful adventure, but already his coat is beginning to grow in. Now, all his body has to deal with are the traces of infection still in his system; it is this that makes him sluggish and tired. As Soki enters, the pup blinks at him and raises his head, though there's a certain lack of interest in his green eyes.

Peppy looks like he could use some sleep. As soon as possible. Stifling a yawn, Peppy closes his eyes for a second - or, at least, a second's what he's planning on what he's resting his eyes for. But they don't open up after one second, or five seconds, or ten seconds, and bit by bit his head is slowly dropping down. A happy thought busts into Peppy's drifting, half-sleeping mind, and his tail wags - right into the path of a falling raindrop. The sudden blast of cold causes Peppy to jerk his head up, and his eyes spring open as he gasps. He peers left. Peers right. Peers down at Briska. Peers up at the ceiling. His head registers what happened as he notices another raindrop creep through one of the roof's many cracks, and his green eyes trace it until it splashes on the floor. <Interrupted my...> he growls to himself softly, becoming silent as he turns his attention back to his son, who seems interested in... something else. Peppy also turns his head in Soki's direction, and his tail gives another couple wags as he sees the Sandslash enter. This time, thankfully, he avoids the raindrops.

Soki shakes himself free of moisture before he does anything else. Right after he's as dry as he's going to get, a raindrop baps him on the nose. Sighing, the Sandslash makes his way, as carefully as possible, dodging the occasional raindrop here and there, until he gets to the Growlithe family and takes a seat outside of their circle. Sensing the grim attitude that trancends mere storm and wind, the Sandslash warily probes the situation with, <How have things while I've been away? I'm sorry to delay so long.>

Briska's furry brows lower as he tries to figure out just what the creature in front of him is. His ears perk toward Soki and his head tilts to the left. He keeps his eyes on the Sandslash as the ground rodent, his muscles beginning to tighten underneath his thick coat. And then Soki sits down and speaks. Well, something sitting down and talking to them couldn't be all that bad, could it? "..Li?" Briska murmurs, glancing between his father and his mother, hoping that they'll explain the situation for him. In very small words.

Peppy straightens his stance as Soki approaches, trying to play it cool, filling the role of the proud, determined guardian who never once would dare of letting his watch over his son down. Soki, likely quite trained at reading body language, will probably see it all over the Growlithe's body - it's an act. His eyes are hanging, and his body seems stretched and exhausted with the simple strain of trying to keep his posture erect in Soki's presence. One would think he's the sick one, not his son. "Grr-lithe," Peppy greets the Sandslash, faking a little cheer in his voice. Even that sounds tired. The father Growlithe remains quiet for a few moments after his initial welcoming, turning his head to look down at Briska - namely, at the pup's side. <I think he's getting better,> he decides finally. Aurora would no doubt have further clarified (or denounced) Peppy's statement, but she's taken a brief break from playing the statue-esque guardian, now trying to cheer her three daughters up. Somebody's got to keep the cool head. <Aren't ya, Briska?> Peppy asks the smaller Growlithe, beaming down at him with a forced smile. The dog is, of course, asking rhetorically, but there's almost a hint of a real question in there, as though Peppy isn't entirely sure himself. Great.

Soki tilts his head questioningly. Apparently there's a gap in the logic somewhere that's derailing this ground-type's train of thought. <Getting better?> he questions, making sure he's got what was said clear in his own mind. <Getting better from what?> To answer his own question, the Sandslash shifts to get a better look at Briska, and sees the wounds. Returning to a more comfortable position, Soki gives Peppy a look of true bewilderment. The paternal canine takes the full brunt of Soki's wonder, verbalized in, <How did that happen?>

For all of Briska's sickness, he is getting much better - especially now that there's something actually interesting to see. The pup's gaze goes a bit unwillingly to his father as Poppa mentions his name. Briska's answer to the question is a quick nod - even though it didn't look like he was listening at all before that. The fuzzy one quickly turns to the funny spikey thing again, leaning forward to sniff curiously at Soki. He makes as if to move forward, but decides against it. It's much easier to lie here than it is to move.

Soki's question causes Peppy's left ear to prick up, and he lifts his muzzle and turns his face to Soki. He sniffs at him. Oh, right. Soki didn't know about this. Leave it to Peppy to forget something as obvious as "this Sandslash hasn't been here in the past week and a half". <Oh, uh!> the Growlithe sputters, quickly shying away, green eyes shifting to the side. The dog's nose twitches once or twice as his brain wonders if he can lie to get himself out of telling him The Story. <Oh, you know how it is,> he woofs as casually as he can, lifting his head back up and speaking as though this is the most normal conversation one could ever hold. <Briska just, er... um, you know, just pounced a Vulpix, no big deal. ... Um, you know, after I asked him too. ... Er.> It's interesting to hear how Peppy's voice decrecendos, getting softer and softer as he speaks, until finally he's peering hard at the ground, skin reddening beneath his white cheek fur.

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

Soki gives Peppy The Disciplinarian's Eye. <You told your son to attack a Vulpix?> he inquires, less from desire to know and more to reinforce the idea of how bad an idea it was. Soki was prepared to tell Peppy that he couldn't take the job as caretaker, but that's looking like it would be unwise. Of course, he'd be in charge of discipline and crowd control and the others would be doing the hunting, which is what this recent bit of advise would pertain to, so... it's probably best simply to say, <If you're teaching your pups how to hunt, I think it would be best to include the idea of picking one's fights properly, hm?> Silence follows that as Soki decides whether or not to continue into his next subject. It seemed like such an easy decision before...

Heavy rain pours from dark grey clouds, propelled by a furious east wind.

Curses. Peppy looks up at Soki to see only the terrible image of the Sandslash giving The Disciplinarian's Eye, a look jarring enough to cause a soaring Pidgey to stop flapping and plummet towards the earth. It's the same look Peppy might give one of his puppies if they were really acting up one night, and it was the same look Peppy's own mom and dad gave him when he was being a bad boy. <But it wasn't all that bad!> Peppy barks in reply, loud enough for Aurora to peer over at him, wondering what the heck is up. Blushing even further, he shakes his head at her, and she goes back to the kids, though not without giving her mate a weird look. <I... knew him.> He pauses for a second. Sighs. <Know him. The Vulpix was one of my best friends, I've known him as long as I knew Aurora, and I wanted Briska to pounce him as a joke, and Briska *did*, but instead of just getting pounced and falling to the ground, Briska got on him but then he *bit* Briska, and I got so scared, and I hurried in there and hit Navarone but it was too late because Briska was already hurt and I know it was wrong, and I wouldn't do it again, but I didn't *want* to hurt him!> Peppy has at least managed to keep his voice low enough to stop Aurora from peering at him -again-, but his voice now carries a bit of urgency in it, unable to stand tall and strong under Soki's look.

Soki nods understandingly, engaging Part II of effective use of The Disciplinarian's Eye, that being "what you can do to correct the problem." <Look,> says the Sandslash, <I realize that it was all in good fun, but you have to consider the consequences of your actions. What do you think someone's going to do if they're suddenly jumped on? I mean, wouldn't you defend yourself if that happened?> Gah, and Soki's supposed to be here for the kids! <However, I don't think I can criticize you too much, since you do seem to have the problem under control.> Soki pauses for a moment, and sighs. He's got to say it, and yet he can't seem to manage to do so... perhaps Peppy will pick up on the feeling and prompt him on it, which always seems to get Soki talking about what ails him.

Oh yeah. "Under control". Peppy. That's a great one. <I know, I know,> mumbles Peppy under his breath, like a naughty puppy irritated at his father's scolding. <I just wanted Briska to practice pouncing a bit and have some fun.> A touch of anger flares up in the Growlithe's chest, and he raises himself into a more defensive stance, though he's still rested on his haunches. It's more like he's physically defending against verbal attacks. <He's got to start somewhere, you know! Maybe it's good that Briska was stealthy and smart enough to sneak up behind him, anyway! It was a little prank gone wrong, and I don't need to hear you getting mad at me too.> Peppy thinks what he's saying is strong-hearted and brave, but he still has that demeanor of a grumpy puppy, an infant angry at being punished for something he doesn't feel he deserves - and at the same time, understands that he should be scolded all the same.

Or, y'know, Soki might not open up just yet. Holding his paws up in a gesture of concession (which, with the claws, might not be taken as it's supposed to), the Sandslash says, hopefully calmingly, <Alright, alright, you needn't get mad. I said you had the situation under control, didn't I? And considering that your son's wounds have healed remarkably fast, even if he got hurt just after I left. I suspect that means human intervention, and the humans at this farm don't seem to be terribly involved with us, so you must have gone to get help. That's a remarkable initiative for a pokemon to take, and I'm proud of that. I just think that pranks, even if harmless by intent, can get people hurt... or worse. That's it,> concludes Soki. He'll wait for a response before he continues beyond that.

Peppy is rarely, very rarely, ever excited to the point of ever wanting to lash out and attack somebody, so Soki wasn't ever in very much danger. He was, however, getting close (through little fault of his own, Peppy's a grumpy, tired, stressed-out daddy right now) to jumping on Peppy's bad side, and it's a good thing the Sandslash offers the Growlithe a couple compliments to settle him down. That's something Peppy can't resist. <Well, I... uh,> he arfs hesitantly, all his angry passion drifting out of him. His wagging tail moves into the way of a raindrop again, and he growls with annoyance as he swishes his tail out of the way of the crack again. <I just... didn't want Briska to stay hurt, really... but, um, he's had a few days to heal, I think he'll be as good as new in a few days!> Smile! Smile, grin, normal, cross, frown. <At least, we all really hope so.> His sight drifts to his mate and children, who lack their normal, natural peppiness and joy.

Soki thinks for a moment, then discards what he was going to say. He's pondered it for two weeks; another day won't hurt it. And Soki's feeling tired, so maybe now's not the time... in any case, he's still technically talking to someone, so he'll have to wrap that up first. <Look... it's getting late and still storming, so perhaps now's not the right time to talk about my potential job as caretaker,> he says, out of the blue. That's sure to take Peppy by surprise. What's sure to give the Growlithe even more of a shock is his sudden stand and smiling, <Good night.> With that, the Sandslash is off to find a bed somewhere away from people.