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.

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.

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

Ahh, snow. Though it's far from a blizzard, the weather is still bad enough to warrant staying home today. It's not even so much the snow; it's a combination of the wet air, the chill clinging onto it, and the flakes tumbling from the sky, floating gently to the ground. What pokemon would possibly be out in the snow this afternoon? ... A crazy one, perhaps. Crazy is an adjective that suits little Peppy well as he marches across the thin layer of white on the island's perimeter. When will he learn to just stay at home? Undoubtedly he's out hunting for Rattatas or something before it gets too late... but if he's really out hunting, why isn't he making any attempts to conceal himself? Why isn't he sniffing for Rattatas? Why is his furry head declined to the ground, almost as low as his drooping tail? This is very curious.

What pokemon would be out in such cold, snowy weather? A crazy one perhaps, yes. Or one that actually enjoys this sort of thing. A pokemon... like a Winneedee. With a shrill cry of absolute delight, Tempest the Rocket Winneedee tucks her wings and drops into a sharp dive toward the field below, pulling up just before brushing the tall grass and climbing into the air once more. On the ground her trainer, looking far less pleased about current weather conditions than her pokemon, trudges along through the grass with her hands jammed in her pockets. At her side is her Scarewulf, though he's invisible as usual. The little trio goes about their business without a care in the world, oblivious to the Growlithe doing... whatever it is he's doing not far away.

Pad, pad, pad. Peppy's march comes to a gradual stop and, with an inaudible sigh, the Growlithe lifts his head up, for the first time taking a long breath, perhaps to detect the scents of the other pokemon in the area. His nose visibly twitches as he realizes just how much water he's inhaling... it's seriously damp this afternoon. "Lithe," he woofs very gently in disgust, squeezing his eyes shut and shaking his head a bit. Taking a glance over his shoulder, the pup tries to determine how far away he is from the barn. He's cold, wet, and tired - and yet, he can't go back, not yet. He still needs to think. ... However, "thinking" isn't something Peppy's going to do; this becomes evident by the Winneedee's loud cry, which causes the canine pokemon's head to whiplash up and over to the sound of the noise. "Grooowlithe!" he cries suddenly, panicked, his body tensing up, his bushy tail perking up from its position. Hey, after what happened with the Katerwauls, he's got a right to be paranoid! Peppy takes a timid step back, though he keeps his ground as his eyes search through the flurries for the source of the sound. ... Should he be worried?

Wings slicing the frigid air with ease, the ice horse continues her rapid aerial climb. She reaches, strains, long neck stretching out before her and hooves pawing the ground as she gets higher and higher... then with a snort the filly straightens out and steadies her flight, circling back over the field. So much to see and so much energy to be rid of! Again she tosses her head, eyeing the ground with interest. What's down there? Her trainer, now halted in her tracks and scanning the snowflake-filled sky. A lot of open space. Trees, bushes and... oh. Something below catches the Winneedee's attention and she shifts her flight pattern slightly, circling on an air current. What's that, down there? Curious, the filly tucks her wings again and drops, intending to investigate the creature -- a certain Growlithe, to be more exact -- a little closer.

It's too grey outside; that's Peppy's problem. The land here is flat, with only a few trees speckling the earth here and there. No matter where one looks, it's grey, grey, grey. This does not work well with a colorblind Growlithe. Needless to say, Peppy's eyes are wide and worried as he looks left, right, up, even -down-, trying to locate whatever it was that made the loud cry. Is it a Katerwaul? ... A flying Katerwaul? Yes, Peppy is actually wondering if it's a flying ghost-cat. The Growlithe takes another apprehensive step back. Where... there it is. Now. When you're a Growlithe, a Winneedee is a *big* pokemon. Almost three times the height, and thirteen times the weight. Tempest may as well be a hovering Onix as far as this pup in concerned. "Grr... rowlithe?" Peppy whimpers softly, clenching his teeth together... but not running. He's been distressed for days about being too weak - this is his chance to show his real bravery! As a result, even as the Wineedee flies closer and closer, Peppy doesn't flinch. ... ... Yeah. He's frozen solid.

Oh, Peppy doesn't have to worry! Tempest's quite good at landing where she wants to. Usually. The young Winneedee rushes the ground in a haphazard whirlwind of snowflakes and feathers, again pulling up just before touching the ground. She hovers a moment or two, enormous wings beating the air and sturring up the snow below her, then touches down carefully and settles all four hooves on the ground. A pretty nice landing completed, the filly tosses her silvery mane a bit and snorts, then fixes large blue eyes on the Growlithe before her. <Hi,> she nickers quietly, ears twitching. <What're you?> The puppy receives a brief stare, and the ice horse flicks her tail, dismissing an idea. <You're not an Arcanine. Too small. So what are you?>

October means Kats come out to 'play', save the data! Right away! (Saving)

"Grrrrr," Peppy growls softly - softly being the key word here. He's definitely not trying to intimidate Tempest, this fuzzy guy probably couldn't intimidate a timid Oddish. It's more like he's trying to get himself hyped up... maybe just to the point where he doesn't spin around and go howling into the night with his tail between his legs. And she lands. The Winneedee creates wind, a refreshing contrast to the still, hazy weather. Despite his fright, Peppy notes how good the wind feels on his face, pushing his fur back and causing the tuft of hair on his head to sway. And then, the Winneedee's mighty, mighty roar... <Hi.> Peppy cocks his head, though to his credit he stays on his guard. <I...> His voice is high-pitched, hardly a squeak. Holding back a blush, he tries once again, this time sounding more masculine. <I'm a Growlithe.> Swoon! He's so manly! <Are you going to eat me? Because I won't let you!> And he growls some more, his bushy tail becoming erect, his eyebrows narrowing. Yet he still looks cute. That's our Peppy.

Blink. Blink. Blink. <A Growlithe? Oh.> If a horse could yawn, Tempest probably would. Instead the filly lays her ears back disinterestedly and shifts her weight, cocking one back hoof in a relaxed manner. Her large blue eyes widen a little at Peppy's question, the Winneedee looking more than a little surpised. He's supposed to be the preditor here, isn't he? Doesn't he... know that? <Uh,> the filly replies, her a hint of confustion in her voice. <Eat you? Why would I...> Oh, wait. This has to be some sort of trick! That's why. He's trying to confuse her so he can pounce. Tempest's ears suddenly flatten against her head and she sticks her neck out, glaring at the Growlithe. <Hey, I see what you're doing. You're not going to fool me! I'm a fighter, you know. You may be a nasty old fire type, but I could still beat you!> She snorts loudly, tossing her mane again. Hmph!

Oh, no! Peppy really tries not to whimper. He really goes give it his all. But he can't. He's scared! Combined with his continuous growling, however, the sound he makes is pretty odd. A gurgle comes out of Peppy's mouth, which even causes the Growlithe himself to peer down at his muzzle, looking rather comical in the process. Trying to keep in his trembling, trying so hard not to back down, the dog swallows heavily, keeping his eyes focused on the Winneedee in front of him. <N... n... no way. I'd... I'd beat you!> Even as he speaks, he asks himself - how can he? She's four hundred times his size (or so she looks in Peppy's eyes). A slight pause. The growling continues. How ironic - neither particularly wants to fight, and yet both may be thrust into battle nevertheless.

<Sure ya would,> comes the sarcastic reply. The Winneedee filly rolls her eyes, tossing her shaggy forelock much like a cocky teenage girl would toss her hair. <Fire or not, I'd stomp you!> Despite her brave talk though, Tempest does appear to lose a bit of her confidence in the face of Peppy's growling. Unwillingly she takes a half-step backwards, shifting a little on light hooves. She can't help it, it's her nature: He's the preditor, she's the prey. And she's ready to flee, if the need arises. Before the situation can get too tense however, a certain human enters the scene. Shoulders hunched, gloved hands shoved deep into her pockets and short hair dusted with snow, Lee finally manages to catch up with her pokemon. And the girl halts promptly at the sight of Peppy. "Hey... what've we got 'ere, eh Temp?" she mumers, eyeing the Growlithe with mild interest. She doesn't move forward anymore though, instead watching the interaction between pokemon before directly interfering.

What was the hint that Arcanine gave him for fending off Katerwauls? Use... use... use some attack. Was it Agility, so as to escape quickly? Or was it a Bite - taste of their own medicine? Or was it... Peppy considers his options like this, still gritting his teeth, still growling, still glaring at the flying horse. Thinking never was Peppy's strong point. (Does Peppy even have a strong point?) Settling upon Take Down, the pup contemplates the time to strike. He's gonna prove it! He's gonna prove to Aurora, to himself that he's brave! ... ... And then Lee steps into the scene. Can I get a halleluia? Peppy's green eyes switch rapidly from trainer to pokemon, an absolutely befuddling mixture of relief and worry visible not only in his eyes but all over his face. The last human (also a Rocket, ironically) -saved- him from a fate like this, but this Growlithe of all should know that not all humans are quite like that.

Tempest dances in place, torn between wanting to prove her own fighting ability and giving into her more natural instincts. The filly tosses her head undecidedly, dark eyes still fixed on the Growlithe. <Oh, I could so stomp you. You don't think I can, but I could,> she whickers lowly, unfolding her wings. Whether this is to attack of flee however, no one gets the chance to find out. "Alrigh', alrigh'," Lee calls from the sidelines. "Temp, get over 'ere. Now." The Winneedee flicks an ear at the sound of her trainer's voice. "I said, now." Snorting, the ice horse tosses her head again and sidles away from Peppy, not turning her back on the Growlithe. A bit of room put between the two tense pokemon, the Rocket turns her full attention on the fire dog, eyeing him. "Hm," she ponders aloud. "Don't got onna them yet..." One hand goes to her belt where a number of pokeballs are attatched, and the girl pauses, obviously considering something.

Peppy's action of choice switches to Agility. He is ready to hightail it out of here should Lee (or Tempest, for that matter - no sense in being attacked so the human can take over, right?) appear threatening. The pup's right hind leg lifts slightly, extending backwards and setting back down to rest in the snow. The dog squats down slightly - perfect pose for preparing to sprint if he was facing in the right direction. As it stands, this position will probably only make it more difficult for him to whirl around. Unfortunately, it seems this preparation is for naught, as even as Lee settles her hand upon the pokeballs, Peppy, who -should- pick up and head for the hills at the threat of being captured in a pokeball, doesn't move. Instead, the pup remains, tensed, crouched like a Tigrynx lurking in the grass, though his face is much more scared than a "predator's" should be. <Wh...> Peppy starts to woof, though he needs to stop and swallow. <... Why did you... make her step back?> Doesn't seem to make much sense to throw a pokeball first when you've got a *really big pokemon* right there. Maybe the pup's just sticking around out of curiosity.

October means Kats come out to 'play', save the data! Right away! (Saving)

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

While she has an Arcanine herself, Lee managed to obtain the big firedog in his evolved stage and therefore never managed to learn Growlithese. The girl does manage to figure out that Peppy's talking, though. Or more specifically, to her. Her reach for a pokeball stops and she cocks an eyebrow, glancing over to her Winneedee for a translation. Tempest snorts and repeats the Growlithe's words, her ears flattened against her head as she does so. This goes ignored, however. "Why?" the Rocket laughs, a faint grin crossing her face. "Ain't it obvious? I need her," a gesture to the Winneedee, "ta get back. Can't 'ave ya flamin' 'er or somethin'." The fact that he's potientially dangerous is the one that's stressed... Lee rather ignores that Peppy's practically cowering at the moment.

Lee causes Peppy's ear to perk up. Flames! -That's- what scares off Katerwauls! The corners of Peppy's mouth perk up into a grin, though whether he's smiling at this realization or if it's just because Lee's smiling is uncertain. Now. Peppy really should run, and he realizes this. There's a trainer right there, touching her pokeballs, with a six hundred pound somewhat angry pokemon right behind her. The absolute stupidity of staying around is even enough for this dog to detect. And yet he stays. <I wouldn't flame her,> Peppy barks, eager to show that he's not really a threat. Wonderful survival skills there, Pepster. <Not unless she attacked me first, because I think it's good to be strong, but it's bad to be mean.> He pauses for a moment, lowering his head slightly, peering up at Lee submissively with eyes-so-wide. <Aurora taught me that.> Though his focus is locked on the Rocket's face, he is at least paying some attention to her hands, and every couple seconds, the Growlithe glances down at her hands - or, more importantly, her hands.

Through the drifting snowflakes, the translucent pale grey of the sky deepens.

The girl's hand drops completely, no longer making a move toward her belt. Instead she leans a little, crossing her arms and shifting her weight to one foot. "Oh wouldn't ya?" Lee laughs as her pokemon grudgingly translates Peppy's words. "An' jus' how'm I s'posed ta know that fer sure, eh?" A wry smile. "Trust's overrated, ya know. Better safe than sorry." At the next part the Rocket laughs again, shrugging. "Mean ain't so bad, though. Wins ya respect. Ya don't get picked on if ya prove yerself tough enough." Tempest tosses her head in what might be a nod, exhaling into the frosty air. Her trainer glances over at the ice horse, thinks about something for a moment, then in a slow and unhurried motion unclips a pokeball from her belt and recalls the Winneedee. Quickly she looks back to Peppy, making sure she didn't scare the pup away. If he doesn't run, she'll ask quietly, "An' who's this Aurora? Sounds like someone ya respect, if yer listenin' to their advice so close."

A little chill runs up Peppy's spine, causing the fur on his back to rise up softly. Snow is beginning to collect on his fur, especially around the pup's face. Occasionally the Growlithe has to squint, twitch, or even shake his head to dislodge the flakes, though he shouldn't give Lee enough time to pull anything. Doesn't look like she's going to do much, though - she seems too preoccupied with smirking at the pup's morals. <You... ...> The small smile on his fade fades into a frown, and, uncomfortably, his eyes shift to the side. It only takes him a second or two to bring his eyes back up to the trainer, and this he does quickly. He's not going to let her catch him, no siree! <You... you can't,> Peppy admits quietly, as if only just now realizing that not -everybody- knows he's a "good dog, yes, he is a good boy!" His ears compress against his head, and the Growlithe as a whole just seems disappointed at this realization. He opens his mouth to reply to "meanness", but Lee distracts him with the perfect subject matter - Aurora. If there's anything that could pick Peppy up on a snowy day like this, it's her. <She's my mate!> the pup woofs happily, puffing out his chest like he's just -that- great. <She's really, really smart, which is good because I'm not.> At least he can admit it. That's the first step.

Lee doesn't reply to Peppy right away; with Tempest recalled, there's no one to translate for her. No one visible, at least. Not yet. "Hang on jus' a sec," Lee says, putting the conversation on pause for a moment. "Gonna make this a bit easier." She pauses, eyes narrowing slightly as she looks at Peppy. "Don't run off, 'kay? He's jus' gonna translate fer me." And what was this she was saying earlier about trust? In any case, the Rocket seems to assume Peppy's far more trusting than she is, as she goes about her plan anyway. "Nuki?" Right on cue the Scarewulf appears, seated regally at his trainer's feet. His ears are swiveled back in dislike at the snowflake flurries, but other than that the canine doesn't react much at all. His gaze fixes briefly on Peppy, but the Growlithe doesn't seem to interest him a whole lot and he looks rather bored about the whole situation, translating the words overheard while he was invisible. "Oh?" Lee comments, once brought up to speed on conversation she's having. "Yer mate, eh? Huh." Hopefully the 'Wulf's careles attitude and the girl's continuation of the conversation will keep Peppy from getting too distracted... Snow flurries fall from a darkening grey sky.

Now Peppy's in a happy mood. Thinking of Aurora brought up his conversation with her the other day, about him not being strong enough for her - but look at him! He stood up to a really big pokemon, and now to a trainer! And he would have fought, too! Man, this is just turning out to be a great evening. If Lee pulls a burger out of nowhere, Peppy might not be able to take the excitement. 'Hang on jus' a sec?' The Growlithe's tail now begins to wag back and forth rapidly. Could it be? Could she be pulling out a burger after all? No... instead... she's calling forth her Scarewulf! "Growlithe?!" Peppy woofs in surprise, visibly shaken by the presence of a Scarewulf. He hasn't seen one of those in forever - thankfully. His mouth hanging open, Peppy turns his attention from Lee, to Inuki, to Lee, to Inuki, Lee, Inuki, Lee, Uniki. Unsure of what to do, now very insecure in the conversation, the pup doesn't know how to react. ... So he replies. <Y... yeah. My mate.> His eyes now remain locked on Inuki, though whether he's trying to show him dominance or just cowering in wide-eyed fear is definitely not obvious.

October means Kats come out to 'play', save the data! Right away! (Saving)

Inuki doesn't really seem to care what poor Peppy does. The Growlithe presents to immediate threat to his trainer, so quite frankly he doesn't give a Rattata's backend. He does, however, translate the pup's words quickly and efficiantly; having been partnered with Lee for as many years as he's been give the two extremely good communication skills. The teenager nods a little at Peppy, running a gloved hand through her hair, both to push it from her face and hopefully remove some of the snow. "Yer mate," she repeats, thoughtfully. "Guess that pro'lly means ya wouldn't wanna come with me, don't it?" She sighs, shrugging. "Oh well."

Scarewulves. Man. Right after being beaten up by Katerwauls, too. Will the past not stop its haunting of this poor pup? By the end of the weak, a trainer's going to come along with a Jynx, Peppy just knows it. Seeing as how the Scarewulf doesn't seem overly inclined to jump on the Growlithe and chew him to pieces, Peppy keeps up the conversation with Lee, though now his attention has to switch back and forth between trainer and pokemon in the interest of not being attacked with his guard down. Bringing his eyes up from Scarewulf to human, the pup shakes his head quickly, sending little flakes of snow puffing into the air, becoming merely more members in the mass of falling frozen water. <I couldn't do that,> Peppy woofs, shivering at the cold - or is it at the thought of leaving Aurora? <She's pregnant!> Again, that proud look on his face. His tail begins to wag once more. <And that means she's going to have puppies.> No, really. <And I couldn't leave her, because I wouldn't want anything to happen to them or to her.>

The night is raw. Snow flurries drift down from the overcast sky.

Lee drops into a crouch beside her Scarewulf, resting one arm on her knee and scratching the ghost behind the ears with her free hand. Hopefully this postion will give Peppy an easier time of watching the two as well, since now they're closer together. As the Growlithe's response is translated the teen nods shortly, sighing again. "Figgerd s'much," she replies, shrugging. "Aw, well. I understand." The next bit makes the girl look up again, smiling. "Oh, puppies?" She laughs. "Well, guess I really do see, then. 'At's pretty cool." Her smile fades and she's suddenly thoughtful, tilting her head slightly as she watches the pup. "Nuthin' to happen to 'em, eh? Hm... must be nice. Havin' people to care 'bout. An' havin' 'em care back." The Rocket pauses for a moment or two after she says this, then she abruptly shakes her head and stands, scowling. "Nah. Don't listen ta me. Dunno what I'm talkin' bout. Got Inuki 'ere, 'aven't I?" While this is said aloud, it's rather obvious she's talking more to herself than Peppy.

The sky is grey-black, without moon or stars. The air is cold and wet, and there is little wind. Snow flurries fall. It is easier to feel the flakes landing than it is to see them, in the darkness.

Peppy simply watches as Lee drops down, affectionately scritching her pokemon. The Scarewulf. Scarewulf. The Growlithe can't help but feel a little jealous as he watches, his wagging tail slowing slightly. Peppy smiles for a brief second as he replies, <Yeah,> though he drops back into his half-frown as he watches more. One thing Lee says does perk up his interest however, and, squinting his eyes to protect them from snowfall, the pup woofs a soft, almost confused, <Don't you have somebody to love you?> Though what Peppy says is, to him, cheerful, the pup woofs it in a somewhat solemn tone, as though this actually concerns him. <... Not even burgers or a good dream or scritching are better than having a mate, though. Because that means there's somebody there when you're sad... or, or when you're cold, or angry, or when you want to talk.> Peppy may not be the wisest pokemon in the world (heck, he's three years old, give him a break), but to his credit, he is speaking sincerely. But what would his words mean to a cold-hearted Rocket..?

October means Kats come out to 'play', save the data! Right away! (Saving)

The teen continues to scowl, crossing her arms again and shivering a little in the cold. After a minute she lowers her head, glaring at the snow-covered ground. Inuki translates swiftly once more and Lee's glare intensifies, the girl's face hardening. "I don't need nobody," she snaps back at poor Peppy, her voice low and cold. "I'm fine on my own. Been fer years now, an' 'at ain't gonna change." She turns, scuffs a few steps in one direction, then whirls about again and returns to where she started. A glance is sent at Inuki, and the Rocket sighs. "Mates're fine, fer pokemon. Humans it don't work out the same, though. Better on yer own. Less complicated." A shrug. "Yer lucky you're whatcha are. The rules're different. Nicer fer ya." The teen looks up, a wry grin on her face. It's not a cheerful expression. "Life's cruel. Ya live. Ya learn. Ya die. That's all 'ere is to it."

Peppy jumps back a step as Lee barks at him, taking in a large mouthful of air in the process. Reflexively, Peppy coughs a little at the dampness, shaking his head and again sending more snowflakes flying. <But,> the little pup protests. His tail is drooped; his ears are flaps on the side of his head; his eyes are sad. He's so obviously intimidated by Lee, so obviously frightened to go against her. And yet he protests anyway. <But I was alone too, and after I left Patch I thought I'd want to be alone, too. But then I found Aurora... and...> The pup sort of trails off into nothing here, perhaps unable to reply to 'Ya live, ya learn, ya die'. What does this mean to a pokemon? Peppy leads a happy life - there's so much more to life than just living and learning. He had no idea humans couldn't grasp such a simple concept. He can. <... I don't think it's because I'm a pokemon, though,> Peppy woofs quietly. Lee, perhaps preoccupied with herself, might not hear him. His eyes go to the ground. He doesn't want to look at the Rocket. Looks like he's forgotten all fear of being caught or attacked.

Lee drops one shoulder and tilts her head, eyes narrowing a little as she stares at the Growlithe. Hard. Her posture makes her almost appear lopsided, off-balance, but she's not. This she proves by spinning around a moment later and uncrossing her arms in one quick movement, striding away. Abruptly she halts. Doesn't look back to the Growlithe. And replies, loudly enough so Peppy will be able to hear, "Like I said, yer a pokemon. It's yer nature not ta be alone. Ya take a mate, liver yer life, reproduce an' die." The teen's words are cold, but her voice is tinted with bitterness. "Yer wrong, though. Humans're different. We're meant ta live alone, ta be alone. We don't need someone else. Jus' complicates things, an' personally," here she turns, looking back over her shoulder. "Life's complicated enough." Again the smile returns, unpleasant. "Ironic, ain't it? Live, learn, die. Simple. An' yet it ain't simple. It's complicated." The Rocket shrugs, her mixed-up speech ended.

Peppy is entirely silent as Lee speaks. The snow does not stop falling, of course, so by the time her small speech is finished, the Growlithe is covered with a thin coating of snow. Because he hasn't moved, the snowflakes have taken advantage of him and stuck. Peppy's first reaction? He shakes his head - effectively ridding it of some of the white specs. <... Is that why... humans always want to capture pokemon, then?> the pup woofs very, very quietly, trembling softly as the cold of the night pierces through his fur. <... Because... they can't have mates?> It makes sense in Peppy's mind, at least. Try to find a substitute. <B... but,> the pup woofs, his world slowly crumbling, his entire life seeming to tear apart at the seems. Is what this girl says true? <But that's not all life is... Life is when you feel happy about yourself, or when you think about somebody you love, or when you do something that makes you feel really proud.> His voice is becoming even softer by the moment, and here and there it cracks. His eyes are watering, but he's not crying. Not yet, at least.

Poor Peppy should probably disregard everything he's just heard from a certain Rocket; the teen's speaking bitterly at the moment, irrationally. That she may be confusing the poor Growlithe, leading him astray or even just plain upsetting him doesn't seem to bother her. If it even even occurs to her. She's too busy blowing off steam. A lot of it. "I dunno," the teen replies after a pause, Inuki still translating inpassively. "People've got a lotta motives fer capturin' pokemon." On this she doesn't expand. Probably for a reason. Instead she chooses to reply to Peppy's next comment, turning around to face the pup. Again she crosses her arms, hazel eyes locking on the dog's shape though the snowy air. "So..." she beings quietly, almost hesitantly. "Guess if you don't got all that, happiness an' love an' pride... guess you ain't livin', then. That it?" The teen shivers; it's not from the cold.

Peppy looks very disappointed at this moment. His eyes are hanging, his tail is drooping, and he's got this sad look on his face. Any other human would probably want to give him a hug. He doesn't expect than from this one. <... Well,> Peppy woofs, struggling, scraping off the ground to keep his point in the air. <Sadness... and anger, and disappointment, you need those for living, too. Just not as much...> His tail picks up just a little. <Because it's better to be happy.> Cute. Somewhat ignorant, but cute. <... Why aren't you happy?> It's an innocent enough question. Unfortunately, perhaps Peppy delivers it incorrectly; his tone of voice is not concerned, not worried, not willing to help. It's curious, almost as if Lee is some sort of weird being whose thoughts make no sense. How could somebody resist being happy? Says the puppy who takes walks in the snow...

October means Kats come out to 'play', save the data! Right away! (Saving)

The sky is grey-black, without moon or stars. The air is cold and wet, and there is little wind. Snow flurries fall. It is easier to feel the flakes landing than it is to see them, in the darkness.

No indeed, he's not going to get a hug from Lee. Not now, at least. The teen continues to stare at Peppy for a few minutes, even after the translation is given. She doesn't move. It's cold, it's snowing, the girl's positively freezing, but she ignores all of this, lost in thought. But finally she moves again, uncrossing her arms and turning, trudging along a few steps. "I was happy," she says slowly, gaze shifting to stare off into the distance. "But fer some reason, someone seems ta think I'm more cut out fer the life of sadness, anger an' disappointment. Everythin' I love... everythin' 'cept Inuki, that is, got taken." The girl makes a quick motion with one hand and the Scarewulf vanishes from sight. "Jus' remember that, Growlithe. You got somethin' you love? Hang on to it. Do what it takes ta keep it safe. Do anythin', to keep it safe. Better that, an' losin' something an' knowin' ya didn't try hard enough." She doesn't look back again, her legs moving in ernest this time. And the girl strides off through the snow.

And that's it? The girl steps out of the snow, corrupts Peppy's innocent mind, and vanishes off into the night once again? Peppy's likely discarded most of what the girl say as entirely incorrect dribble - how could somebody not appreciate love? How could somebody purposely avoid being happy? How could one... not like life? Even in the middle of a snowstorm, the Growlithe never thought of life as something not worth living. How..? Peppy's not done with this girl yet. As Lee heads off into the night, Peppy darts one step forward, caught up in a thought, not willing to let this conversation go so easily. <If you really loved it that much,> the pup howls after her, actual aggression evident in his voice. Something you don't see in Peppy much. <You never would have let it go! You would have sooner died than-> And that's it. That's it right there. Peppy stops right in mid-howl, his jaw dropped, peering after Lee as he comes to his realization. Sooner died than... let it go... Wow. Peppy is actually taking one thing, and concluding something else from it. And it makes sense. Somebody mark this date down.

As he begins to move after Lee, her ever-watchful partner reappers, standing in the snow between Growlithe and girl. The Scarewulf's ears are laid back, his lips pulled back from his teeth in a warning as he growls out what the pup said to his trainer. She stops. For a long minute she just stands there, not looking back at Peppy. Then she speaks, voice so low the pup may not be able to catch her words at all. "There's more than one way to die, ya know." What on earth is this supposed to mean? How the heck is the poor Growlithe supposed to understand it? She doesn't seem to care. This said the girl continues walking. Her Scarewulf hesitates briefly, gives Peppy a nasty look, then trots after her.

October means Kats come out to 'play', save the data! Right away! (Saving)

For as much as Peppy fears Scarewulves, for as much as he should spin around and run away like a little girl, the Growlithe hardly pays any attention at all to Inuki. It's unlikely he even notices the ghost's growl. He goes notice the nasty look, however, though he doesn't react - he simply looks at the ghost, even as he heads off after his trainer. And Peppy watches as Lee walks into the darkness of the night, walks into the flakes of snow that soon obscure his vision. And even though Lee never mentioned it, perhaps didn't even mean to, Peppy's now got The Meaning of Life on his mind. Taking one back step, then another, then one more, the Growlithe finally clumsily spins around to the front, stumbling back home through the snow, his head aching and his chest hurting, a dark, thumping pain.