Obvious exits:
Northeast <NE> leads to Hop Hop Town: West Entrance.
South <S> leads to Commerce Road - Route 7: Cache Creek.
East <E> leads to Commerce Road - Route 7: Trading Point.

Navarone arrives from Commerce Road - Route 7: Cache Creek.
Navarone has arrived.

<

A fully grown but still young Growlithe, Peppy is not large; in fact, he looks like he'd weigh a little less than a Growlithe's norm of 50 pounds.

It's a dark starry night, covered in clouds which block out the silvery moonlight which stream down on the forest. The breeze is cool, and comforting, making the clouds drift overhead, which in turn makes shadows flow over the forest, seemingly with a life of their own. At this time of day, most everyone would be sleeping or resting, but instead, within the shadows of trees and shrubbery, a Vulpix watches intently up and down the road. He coukd be looking for something, but he could be doing anything, countless other things that can't be recalled right now. And so, this Vulpix (who happens to be called Navarone, as you already know) looks on, with the breeze blowing through his fur, sending little chills up his spine.

Night! To some pokemon, a time of rest in a safe, quiet spot. To others, it's the peak pinnacle of the day - the only time in which they're active all day. Still, the citizens of the day have all retired - all but one, apparently. One particular Growlithe, known for sleeping plenty not only during the night but during the morning and day, too, happens to be awake, as well. This Growlithe is, of course, Peppy. Not too far off the path, the puppy merely stands there, chest up, green eyes only staring down the trail. It's past midnight - who in the world could the dog possibly be looking for? Besides his steadily heaving chest, the canine is almost motionless - the wind seems to cause the greatest motion in the pup's image.

In the darkness of night, Navarone shivers slightly, the cool breeze reaches into his fur like icy fingers, almost as if it wants to freeze him in place, or give up his search. He could easily retire from all this, and go to sleep, without a care in the world, but that's besides the point. Suddenly, there is a flutter in the night sky; a Pidgey, alone and unaccompanied, slowly glides down, beating it's wings forward to slow down, and then it lands. The little Pidgey looks about, and then it starts pecking at the ground. Nearby, Navarone tenses; he's been waiting for this moment for hours. He crouches, ready to spring. Moments pass... and then Navarone suddenly rushes and leaps for the Pidgey. Fortunately enough (for the Pidgey), the pigeon Pokemon sees the fox Pokemon by the proverbial mile, and flies to safety. Navarone lands back on the ground, cursing both at himself, and at the bird.

Despite the chill in the air, Peppy still remains almost totally still - until, not long before Navarone's little failed pounce, he simply exhales, shakes his head, and mutters a little "Grr-lithe" under his breath. With a small hesitation, Peppy turns himself around slowly to retire to his little tree... only to watch a pokemon fly through the air, smash into the ground, and raise a fit with himself. The puppy can only blink. "Groowwwl..." Best translated as, <Ummm...> Peppy peers for a moment longer before softly, hesitantly, and not without crouching down very slightly - just in case, so he'll not totally be off guard - <Hello?>

Navarone growls to himself, lying on the road. <Gee, this is familiar...> And why wouldn't it, he's been pouncing on things all his life, and not once, not even -once-, has he actually landed a successful attack. Anyways, he gets back up onto all fours, and that's when he hears a familiar voice. His ears perk up towards the voice, and slowly, his head turns in that direction as well. In the dark, he can't make out who it is, but he knows it's a Growlithe. And being unaware that he's talking to Peppy (read: Poor nightvision, only one eye), he replies as best as he can. <Erm.. Hello? Who might you be, up this late at night?>

Peppy's eyes have gotten used to the dark. He's concentrated on nothing but it for the past few hours for lack of anything better to do. He's naturally colorblind - and he's used to it. So why, pray tell, can't he recognize Navarone from sight alone? Poor memory. Dumb pup. <I'm...> A pause. 'A friend'? 'A Growlithe'? 'Peppy'? 'Hungry'? What does the hapless pup say to this? After a moment's consideration, Peppy reflects a question right back at Navarone without answering the Vulpix's own. <Who are you?> A pause. Sniff, sniff. <You smell really familiar,> comments the dog with a small nod. He takes a step or two closer.

Navarone blinks slightly. Although he doesn't recognize the pup (for now, at least), he's quite confused that the Growlithe in front of him would answer him with a question.. strange. But being an understanding little fellow, he answers his query anyway. <Navarone, of Southern Saffron.> He also takes a step closer. He sniffs curiously at the air, blinking in amusement. <You know, you too.>

Cue suspicious sniff. <Navarone?> Light pause. The puppy moves his head forward a little bit, as though scrutenizing Navarone from a distance. <The name sounds really familiar, too.> Bringing his head back up, Peppy takes a few more steps forward - but this time, not toward Navarone, but more in a circle, as if to peer at him from the side. But where from? Peppy can't seem to quite place it - but it does occur, even to the dumb pup, that it's possible Navarone does. <My name's Peppy,> the dog woofs, watching Navarone to see if the fox gives any real reaction.

One if by land, two if by sea, behind me I seem to be able to see! (Saving)

Navarone raises an eyebrow. <Peppy?> It's apparent that he doesn't recognize the name instantly, but he goes on pondering. <Peppy, Peppy..... Pepp- Oh! The Growlithe with a girlfriend!> *sigh* Is that all he can remember about Peppy? But anyways.. <Gee Peppy, why are you up so late, and where's the other Growlit- I mean Aurora? And wh-> He stops prematurely. If there's another thing he remembers about Peppy, it's his slow-wittedness. Your go Peppy.

Eyebrows furrow. Chest tightens. Tail stiffens. Cheek twitches. <She's not my girlfriend!> is Peppy's immediate reply. Oh, right, *that's* where this Vulpix was before. <And I haven't seen her in a while,> he informs the firefox, making a gesture to the south and adding, <I last saw her around there.> Slow-witted? You bet - Peppy didn't answer the 'Why are you up so late' question, not because he doesn't want to tell Navarone, but because he has trouble answering even two questions at a time.

A cool breeze blows from the west, driving dark clouds before it which blot out the stars in patches overhead. Elsewhere they glitter brightly in the dark sapphire sky.

<Right.> Navarone pauses, and waits for Peppy to reply to his other question. Minutes pass.. and with each seconds passing, Navarone slowly realizes that Peppy is slightly tense. He's a bit slow himself, actually. He finally get's around to asking that other question.. again. <Err.... Why are you up so late?> As he speaks, his tails swish softly from side to side, sweeping the floor.

Awkward moments, to say the least. Peppy waiting for an reply that isn't only 'Right', Navarone waiting for Peppy to reply to the question that Peppy forgot. Odd. As Navarone catches on and reinquires about Peppy staying up so late, the Growlithe blinks softly, and droops a bit. Though it's difficult to see in the dark and not up close, the puppy's eyes don't look so good - low on sleep, to say the least. <I was... waiting for somebody,> he half-whimpers, half-growls, not loudly but really not quietly. <... Like I have been since the end of the snow.>

Navarone nods. <Well, that's interesting.> He looks upward at the sky, as he goes on, <I've been waiting for someone myself, actually.> He goes on looking at the sky for a while, every so often smiling to himself. Sooner or later, he shakes himself out of his stupor, and continues. <Err.. well, that's a kind of coincidence, I've been waiting for that someone myslef at around the same time. But enough about me, who is it that you are waiting for?> Meanwhile as the pup tries to answer, all sorts of possibilities flash through his head about the Pokemon that he's looking for.. Not all of them comforting, to say the least..

Peppy glances thoughtfully at Navarone for a moment. Two moments. Three moments. <That is a convincident,> the Growlithe agrees, horribly mangling the translated version of the word 'coincidence'. A pause. Peppy opens his jaws to speak, blinks, and closes them. One soft exhale later, the canine simple growls a small something under his breath, and turns towards his tree - the one he's been sleeping under for the past few nights. After getting there, he'll only plop down on the ground - and not look back to see where Navarone has followed or not. Is the conversation over? Is Peppy inviting Navarone under the tree? ... Has Peppy been sleepwalking this whole time? Who knows?

Navarone blinks once more at Peppy. Once again, the pup fails to answer his question, and not only that, he turns around and ignores him! Is Navarone mad at this? Infuriated? Outraged?... Strangely, not in the least. Nav knows how it's like to wait for someone, for days, which turn into weeks.. and then into months. It's grating on the soul, and you lose confidence real quick. Watching Peppy move away, he sits still for a moment, and watches as he plops himself down. He sighs... and then makes his way over to Peppy, standing only a few paces away. <Is there something you don't want to tell me?>

Stars sparkle in the midnight sky, obscured here and there by clouds.

Peppy's eyes continue to simply stare straight ahead at nothing in particular - a little cold, a little uncaring, it's obvious that he's not really taking in whatever he's staring at. He doesn't reply to Navarone's question, simply mumbling, <I've been waiting for Patch since winter.> With a tiny little sigh, the pup brings his paws up, and lays his right cheek upon them. <She's... I was so sure she'd... come for me.> The puppy doesn't wish to elaborate, apparently - he doesn't say anything else quite yet. He's facing away from Navarone, so his facial expressions are basically hidden - is he just sighing? Crying? Did he fall asleep?

Navarone simply stands there, listening to the pup mumbling. He catches something about a certain 'Patch' and her coming to fetch the pup. By how this conversation is going, he catches gist of it; Patch is probably a trainer who left Peppy out here. He curses under his breath, another one of those damned trainers thinking that they can just leave their Pokemon out here to rot.. without any care, or love. He makes a promise to himself; one day, I'll make 'em all pay.. He looks back at Peppy, and he frowns, though with how Peppy is lying on the ground, he won't be able to see anything. Poor little pup. Out here all alone. He tries to speak, but he hesitates, and just makes do with watching Peppy grieve.

Silence. A little wind throws itself into the area, rustling the fur of the Growlithe and Vulpix lightly. It's quiet - an Oddish chants here, a Nidoran peeps there, but there is little noise on all sides. After a few minutes of this agony, Peppy finally speaks once again. His growls are a little more shaky - his woofs a little more cracked. <I don't know what I'm supposed to do,> the puppy woofs gently, stil not glancing at Navarone. <If she was looking for me, she'd have come by now.> And it's almost like a kind of realization. All time, all noise just stops for the dog - and, very softly, he whimpers, <... So I guess that means she's not.> A chill makes its way through the area. Peppy's head falls limp onto his paws again, and he exhales once more. One can only guess what he's feeling now. Meloncholy? Anger? Depression? Worry? Doubt? Fear? It could be all of these, any of these, or, knowing Peppy, none of these.

One if by land, two if by sea, behind me I seem to be able to see! (Saving)

Navarone continues listening, from the same spot where he has stood for some time. The silence around them is unnerving. Listening to the pup going on about her trainer, his frown slowly starts to tense, and contorts into a display of sharp fangs and teeth. Even his paws are tense; they continually dig into the earth, building up a mound. His whole body is tensing, writhing with rage and anger and hatred and the like. And eventually, like a balloon that has been blown into non-stop, he bursts out, reaching his boiling point. He quickly turns towards a tree, and with a paw with claws outstretched, he slashes at it, lightning quick, leaving a mark that goes deep into it, cutting through the bark like tissue paper. He continues frowning, though much of his negative energy has been dispensed, and he feels slightly calmer for now.

Peppy's eyes widen slightly as Navarone tears into the tree - by no means a completely quiet action. His head spins in the Vulpix's direction (knocking loose a small tear that Navarone is bound to miss), and his eyes follow the chipped bark and it begins to plummet. A few moments pass. It feels like hours. Finally, Peppy takes in a small breath, and speaks. <She... kept me in the first place when she could have... let me go at any time,> the puppy notes softly, resting his cheek upon his paw once again. <... I'm... just glad I spent time with her when I did.> Whose side is he taking here? That loyalty to his ex-trainer will burns on inside of him - and to see such anger taken out because of Patch can't help but spark up the Growlithe's sympathy. But the fact remains: Patch isn't actively searching for him. It's unlikely they'll ever meet again.

Navarone turns to Peppy, and glares at him. <Just face it.. She ain't coming back for you.. Not now, not ever.> Even then, those words are said in an outburst of fury. Nav suddenly realizes this, and continues. <But if you want to keep holding on to her, feel free to. But by any means, that won't make her come back any faster.> He turns away towards the road, with his back towards the pup. <It's best to forget her for now. Holding on to lost memories brings nothing but grief.> And what he says next doesn't sound like advice(hinted with malice), but like an instruction, a command. <Just. Let. Go.>

Why is it that the truth hurts most? Why is it that, even when you have a thought in your mind and in your heart, it still hurts when you hear it in your ears? Gritting his teeth, Peppy turns his head to the ground and cowers backwards, as though Navarone's words are an attack to him. And a fierce one at that. A moment of silence. Peppy's entire body is tensed - his chest and mind as well as muscles. Taking in a breath, Peppy begins to growl: a controlled, steady growl, with a light dash of everything mixed in. It's not an attack on Navarone - but it's not a friendly agreeal. <I'll go,> the pup growls softly, his lungs expanding and deflating rapidly and moving his chest greatly. <But know you're wrong.> His jaws clenhch shut, though he can still growl through them. <I'm never letting go of my memories of Patch. Not today, not tomorrow...> He swallows here, and as he turns his head followed by his entire body, the dog adds, <Not ever.> Small sobbing sounds pursue - how much he was crying earlier isn't known, but this time it's easy to see the tears dripping from his face and the sounds he'd making.

Navarone continues glaring at Peppy, firm-footed, and holding a stiff stance. Peppy's growl isn't frightening him in the least, he's seen much worse anyway. After listening to what the pup has to say, his frown neutralizes, and becomes such that Navarone looks like he's doubtful. He answers, <...So be it. But know this, you'll soon learn the truth of my words.> He says no more, but instead, walks off towards his home, wherever that is. Strangely enough, he hangs his head low as he walks off. Is he doubtful of what he just said? Does he regret it? Who knows for sure, really.

A cool breeze blows from the west, driving dark clouds before it which blot out the stars in patches overhead. Elsewhere they glitter brightly in the dark sapphire sky.

And, just like that, the conversation is over with only a warning of the future. They echo in Peppy's head: soon learn the truth of his words? Could it be that Peppy's loyalty to his old trainer will, in fact, one day be undermined as time progresses? Peppy doesn't know for sure. One thing he does know, however, is that he can't stay here. Without a second glance back at Navarone or a farewell to the Vulpix, he grits his teeth and wanders west. There's no set goal in mind. He doesn't know the way. It could lead to horror upon horror to make him regret ever leaving the solitude of route 7: but he had no choice in the matter. Even as the Growlithe walks to the west, a tear or two dripping from his eyes on occasion, he knows that he couldn't have stayed. Not any more.