Obvious exits:
East <E> leads to Commerce Road - Route 7: Cache Creek.
Southwest <SW> leads to Commerce Road - Route 7: Trader Way.

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

(+weather) Sleet and freezing rain fall from heavy clouds, coating everything with ice and making the ground slippery. The world looks silver in the icy grey light. A raw wind blows from the northeast. In the forest, rain freezes on the bare twigs of the broadleafed trees and the needles of the conifers, coating them with a layer of glistening silver ice and weighing the branches down. While at the coast, cold winter sleet falls from the grey sky and splashes into the grey and rolling ocean.

It's an absolutely terrible day for anybody to be out. Freezing wind cruises through the area, mixing with sleet and rain to make an absolute nightmare of a storm. Anybody with half a brain would be struggling to find shelter. Anybody with more than half a brain would already have one up. Anybody with less... would be lying in the open. And that's exactly what Peppy, ex-trained Growlithe, is doing. While a fur coat would not do much in a storm like this, the dog seems to be just fine, lying there on the ground, half buried in chilling water. His head, resting upon his front paws, is turned to the east. Is he asleep? ... Is he *dead*? Unless one's approaching from the west direction, it's hard to tell. The pup barely moves.

Jameka must have only half a brain, because the poor half-grown Pikachu is stumbling along in the rain and sleet trying desperately to find someplace - anyplace - to get out of the weather. Her long ears are flattened against her head and her tail is nearly dragging on the ground as she slinks alongside the road, poking her twitching nose into ever ditch and hole she comes across. Her eyes squeezed to little slits against the blowing ice and water, she doesn't notice Peppy at all. Who cares about something stupid enough to be outside at a time like this?

How sad. You can apparently combine Jameka and Peppy and not even get optimal intelligence. But that's besides the point. Back to the freezing puppy. With a sudden flicker of the tail and a tiny whimper that drowns in the wind, the Growlithe shows a sign of actual vitality. With a little growl, the dog pushes himself up from the ground, scattering little fragments of ice across the area. All the while, the dog's head is drooping almost as much as his tail is. Is something wrong? Maybe he's just cold. If that's the case, perhaps he should think to protect himself from the sleet. Anyway, the canine shakes himself for a good seven seconds, his fur puffing up and spitting out some of the sleet lodged into his coat. And then Peppy, a somewhat loud "Grrrowl!" escaping from his mouth... plops right back down into his former position. Um. Hm.

The pathetic little Pikachu continues creeping along, oblivious to Peppy's movement, standing and even shaking. But the howl catches her attention. Okay, that's an understatement. The howl manages to freak poor little Jameka out. Fairly badly. "Kapikapi!" She squeaks, ears and tail suddenly pricking up as she snaps into a defensive position, on all fours. It's obvious she previously had no idea anybody else was around. But now she does. <I... uhm... who are you?> She calls into the weather, hardly able to make out Peppy's form through her half-mast eyelids and the blinding sleet and rain.

In the deepening twilight, the freezing rain makes the footing treacherous. The database resolves itself for the New Year! (Saving)

(look me)

A Growlithe probably just at full maturity, Peppy isn't too different from most other Growlithes. Not large and, at most, only a tiny bit chubby, this is not a dog to be feared. Whatsoever.

Carrying:
Snowflake Collar (Skating)
Superstar Baseball Cap
>> Ack! Peppy just peered at your fluffy self! <<

Darkness comes early as thick clouds block the fading light of grey day. Freezing rain and sleet fall, coating everything with ice and making the ground slippery. Raw winds blow from the northeast.

A flicker of hope rises in Peppy's chest, and in one quick movement, the dog rolls over onto his back, back paws dangling helplessly in the air, as his green eyes piered through the tumbling sleet. <Rosie?> loudly barks the canine in a cheerful tone, still positioned in the awkward position on his back. <Is that you?> His voice is surprisingly strong, considering the fact that his lungs must have a thick coating of ice on them, but it also sounds something like a plead or a beg. Who is Rosie, anyway?

Jameka seems to be thinking the exact same thing. "Ka... Pika?" <Uh... Rosie?> She calls back, puzzlement in her voice. <No! I'm Jameka! Who are you? What are you?> The Pikachu asks this as she continues forward towards the puppy's shape, ears twitching to catch the reply curiously. <And... uh, are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?> Okay? Of course nothing outside in this weather is okay! But then again, of course Jameka wouldn't bother to think about that little detail.

Fwoomp. You can actually seem the little dark shadow crossing over the pup's face (and belly, too, because the silly pup's still lying on his back). <Oh,> is the mournful whimper of a reply. As if he's not aware of how weird (albiet, cute!) he looks in his position, the Growlithe tries to spark up a conversation. <Hurt? No, um, I'm not hurt.> Pause, pause. <But I am hungry.> Pause. <Really hungry.> Pause. <Do you have any food?> No, Peppy's not cold. No, Peppy's not lonely. Peppy's hungry. "Really hungry". As the Growlithe talks, his eyes strain to look through the snow. There's so much white. Too much white. Being colorblind is no fun.

Uh, okay. Hungry. This wasn't exactly what Jameka had been expecting, but hey. Maybe the thing is starving to death. <Sorry,> She pikas out, drawing slowly but steadily closer to the Growlithe. <I don't have any food with me right now. I'm looking for some myself.> The little Pikachu pauses, mid-step, with one little paw in the air. <Come to think of it, I haven't had anything to eat for awhile now. A day or two. Kinda forgot about it.> She "kinda forgot" about eating?! Okay, it's definately safe to assume the reason the Pikachu is so tiny is because she's underfed. And used to it. <But, uh, who are you? You haven't said yet.>

As night falls, the icy rain is whipped about by the wind.

A little something flashes in the pup's eyes, and his head collapses back into the snow. Yes, he's still on his back. <I'm...> There's a pause here, and the only reason there's no "awkward silence" is because the wind is making plenty of noise. <My name's Peppy.> Another quick pause, though it's likely that the Pikachu wouldn't have time to reply before he speaks again. <You said you're... er... Jummikuh?> Dur. All the while, the dog stays on his back, legs kicking at the air slightly. Perhaps his back just needs a little break from all the abuse it's taken by being hit with frozen water for hours without shelter.

Jameka stops again, now near enough to the Growlithe to see what it looks like. And then she hears his name. And it clicks. <Hey...> She replies hesitantly, creeping over to Peppy's side. <Haven't I met you before? I feel like I have...> The Pikachu's ears twitch slightly, wiggling up and down, and she sniffs cutely at the other pokemon, though what scent she'd be able to pick up in this sloppy weather is questionable. <And, my name Jam-ee-ka. Jameka. Get it?>

The Growlithe pauses for a moment, giving the air a couple quick sniffs. He thought the Pikachu had a familiar scent, even despite the weather. How acute a Growlithe's sense of smell is. <I... Maybe we did.> A slight doggie grin crosses the pup's face, and he asks something that's actually not too dumb, but will probably appear so in Jameka's eyes. I mean, ears. <... What... do we eat in the winter? I'm-> He can't finish his sentence, for the canine emits a rather loud growl. And it doesn't come from his mouth. It comes from his stomach. Peppy glances at his tummy, blinks, then looks kind of helplessly at Jameka. And he's still on his back.

Once more the Pikachu is caught off-guard. <Uhm... what do we eat in the winter? We? Don't you... don't you know?> She rises up onto her hind legs, little forepaws tucked up tight against her chest, and cocks her head at the Growlithe. Jameka's big brown eyes are wide as she peers at Peppy, curiousity and surprise showing clearly in them.

Peppy blushes fiercely behind his fur, although it's probably not visible, what with his cheeks collecting freezing water like flies attracting to fly paper. The Growlithe hesitates, letting off a tiny sigh as his attention strays to the side. He doesn't avoid eye contact for long, however, and he turns back to Jameka, a slight grin on his face, as he shakes his head and quietly admits, <No... I don't remember.> His confession might almost be majestic... if only he were lying on his tummy, or even better, standing on all four paws. Sadly, he's still on his back as if somebody was pinning him down.

Jameka stares, indeed rather rudely, at the other pokemon. It's a great wonder her jaw isn't hanging wide open. <You... don't remember?> She asks, pure shock in her voice. The poor Pikachu looks like she's about to have a heart attack. <But how could you not remember?> Though it's left unsaid, her very tone just about screams 'How the heck are you still alive?!' Never before has Jameka knowingly ever met an owned pokemon before and needless to say, it's a disturbing experience.

The database resolves itself for the New Year! (Saving)

The dog's face twists into a disappointed frown, and his tail collapses into the icy ground, suddenly lifeless. Did he say something wrong? Should he have lied? But how would he have found food otherwise? Taking chances stinks. <I... don't remember,> Peppy woofs softly, now very quietly and in a somewhat ashamed tone. The Growlithe now rolls over onto his stomach (finally), his four paws slamming into the ground with a light thud. His body slumps down afterwards, and, chin on the floor, Peppy's green eyes stray west. <Sorry...> he whimpers out of the corner of his mouth, quietly. A comparatively large bit of ice hits right above the pup's eye, causing for that eye to twitch slightly.

Jameka stares, disbelieving, for a few more minutes. Her ears droop slowly and her entire body sort of sinks lower as this idea sets in. She doesn't say a word for a few minutes, just watching Peppy as he rolls over and assumes a rather sad-looking position. <Sorry?> The Pikachu finally asks, her tone surprisingly gentle. <For what?> She leans forward a little, smiling weakly, then looks away to stare at the snow. <I, uh... I guess you really don't know how to find stuff, do you?> Jameka pauses yet again, thoughtfully. Finally she looks up again. <Look, I'm not so good at all this myself... I'm looking for my family. But, uh... since we're both alone and you... you don't really seem to know what you're doing...> She heaves a sigh. <Wanna come with me? At least until we can find some food... or shelter... or anything?>

A few more moments pass, and the Growlithe's eyes eventually stray back to Jameka. Another awkward pause. <It's all right,> the puppy growls through his teeth. It's not a menacing or threatening growl - it's simply the best Peppy can do with his chin pressed into the ground. <Maybe... later. I'm... waiting for something.> Maybe that's the Rosie he's talking about? Hrm. Maybe it's a Growlithe? Who knows? Only Peppy does, and it doesn't like like he's about to divulge this information. The dog's eyes stray back to the west, though he does mumble, <You can... stay, if you like, though.> He's not looking at the Pikachu as he speaks, however. He seems to have forgotten that a Growlithe's fur coat provides a lot more comfort than a Pikachu will ever have.

Jameka studies the Growlithe carefully, then shakes her head slowly. <You're nuts.> She mutters, looking around at the lovely area he decided to camp out at. <Staying here, of all places. Nuts.> The Pikachu sighs, murmers something under her breath, then begins to scratch away at the ground. This keeps up only a few minutes before she flops down a little way from Peppy and curls up. Tightly. <You're not staying here alone. Not for now, at least.> She says, her voice more than likely muffled from her curled-up and huddled position. <We'll wait this out. But don't go to sleep. You'll freeze.> With that the Pikachu tucks her head down, curling herself into a very tiny yellow ball.

Icy rain and sleet fall invisibly from a grey-black sky. It's very dark and the ice makes walking on the slippery ground difficult. A raw wind blows from the northeast.

The Growlithe glances at Jameka with a little curiosity, one fuzzy eyebrow lifting quizzically at her, in his eyes, odd habits. However, the eyebrow droops, and he nuzzles his shoulder softly. Hey, as long as he has somebody to spend a while longer with, he's content. He moves his paws up to make a sort of furry pillow, and rests his right fluffy cheek upon it. <I won't go to sleep.> speaks the pup, glancing to the west, waiting, waiting. <Not yet, at least.> Knowing this dog, that's not a promise he can keep. He can wait out his hunger... for now, at least.