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

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.

Can it be? Can it really be that the weather is getting worse again? Just when it was starting to clear up, just when winter looked like it was over, just when the sun was shining in the sky and only the wind was a problem... it's taken a turn for the word. Sleet rains down from the heavens, making loud noises as it slams into the top and sides of the barn. No light shines through the cracks in the building, mostly because only a little light shines through the clouds. As far as the eye can see, over the snow and pass the bumps, the snow looks silver to anybody who cares to stick their head out and take a look. And for whatever reason, Peppy still chose today to hunt. This weather is even worse than what he's been in before, and yet this morning, he was more than happy to zip out into the environment to find dinner. An onlooker might be awed at his perserverance, but Aurora probably knows. Peppy was probably either really hungry... or scared he'd have to care for the puppies again.

With weather like this, there's no chance of Peppy's mate even attempting to go near the barn doors - so, while he hunts, Aurora plays with the puppies in their usual spot in the barn. Currently, the young Growlithes are in the middle of a game of tag, involving running around and sometimes over their mother, and frequently between her paws. Aurora doesn't seem to mind very much, and occasionally moves to let the puppies run through to tag their sibling, or to stop them from getting past. The puppies, too, seem to be enjoying it, although it's proved too much for one of them - Dusk, apparently worn out from the running around, is napping on some straw nearby, her paws twitching as she dreams of more games of tag.

Well, Peppy is filled to the brim with dumb luck (emphasis on the dumb), so despite how terrible the weather is outside, the Growlithe is sure to still be okay. Physically, at least; who knows how moody he'll be when he finally gets back? And eventually, he does. Soaking wet, his fur sopping and heavy, the pup drips all over the wooden floor as he pops through the door. The tuft of fur on his forehead is sagging over his eyes; it's a wonder he could get anywhere in the first place. "Grr.... rrith!" he growls as he places his catch on the ground - another Rattata, this one somewhat more messily killed than usual. And for good reason, for it's a fairly large one, especially compared to some of the shrimps Peppy's brought home in the past. "Grr!" he growls once again, though it's hard to detect his mood. Proud of his catch? Relieved to be home? Angry at the weather? Or is he just trying to make himself sound more manly as he brings in the bacon? Whatever the case, he stays still for a moment, resisting the urge to shake himself dry (the other barn's citizens wouldn't like that much), before picking the Rattata off of the ground once more, half-stumbling over to his corner of the barn. He looks more like a walking orange rag than a Growlithe now, and little bits of sleet and snow are stuck all over his fur.

Still busily dodging and blocking puppies, Aurora has her eyes on the Growlithe litter as her mate arrives back in the barn. Peppy's growl as he deposits the results of the hunt gets her attention, though, as does the kill itself - her eyes widen a little, and she stops moving, which gets the pups' attention. Briska barks at her as she stands still, and again a bit louder as she starts to move, walking over to Peppy and his prize. <Well done,> she woofs quietly as she gets close to him, and her voice is full of pride at her mate's achievement.

Somewhere, a blue haired boy selects the right shade of lipstick. (Eee! Saving!)

Peppy comes to a rather short stop as Aurora approaches him, and even with the Rattata in his mouth, it's easy to see the sides of his mouth perk up into a soft smile. He jerks his head up, the Rattata bouncing slightly in his jaw, sending the tuft of fur on his head up into the air so he can get a good look at his mate. "Grrrph grphhh..." he starts to say as his eyes squeeze shut and his chest expands, pride so thick you can cut it with a knife. ... And then he realizes he can't exactly brag with a big Rattata in his mouth. He immediately directs his glance to Aurora's left, blushes faintly under his fur, and deposits it at Aurora's paws. Time to cover up. <The weather was really bad.> His voice is a little deeper than usual, a little tougher. He directs his eyes back to the female Growlithe as he speaks. <But I did it. He tried t...> And he stops, narrows his eyes a bit before widening them. His slack, open jaw closes. He swallows, then asks, <... How are you doing? Are your cuts okay? Do they still hurt?> He inches his head a little closer to get a look at her jaw, just in case.

<They still ache, and my leg hurts when Briska runs into it...> Aurora replies, tilting her head towards the aforementioned puppy, who's still barking eagerly at his parents, while the other pups have returned to their game. <But it's strong enough to walk on,> she adds, and bends her head down towards the Rattata - and sure enough, though she does wince a few times as she bends her legs, she manages to get her head down to the ground without collapsing, and gets up again slowly and a little painfully, the Rattata clenched in her jaws. <Let's feed the pups,> she tries to say, although it's hardly distinguishable behind the jawful of Rattata, and walks back towards the pups and the loudly barking Briska.

Peppy is only a few inches away when Aurora moves her head, and she does it catches the poor pup off guard. He jerks back just a bit, glances down at the back of her head, then blushes even further at his nervous jumpiness. What can he say? He's concerned over her! <I really hope it gets better soon,> he whimpers softly, kicking off of the ground and scampering to his mate's side, looking at her while she walks. He almost steps on poor Karen, though she luckily just so happens to skitter out of the way of Peppy's by-comparison massive paw. <Because I don't want to see you in pain. It makes me feel bad.> Never mind that he's soaking and freezing cold, to the point where his wagging tail is probably sending a couple cold drops flinging onto Aurora. <It... it...> He pauses for a second, cocks his head at her, turns to Briska, and gives his son a little smile. <... I don't think even -they- can eat all this. It's a big Rattata!> His wagging tail goes faster, and Aurora's probably going to feel the half-thawed drops of water now.

A few cold drops of not-quite-slush hit Aurora as she leans over and lets the Rattata fall an inch or two onto the ground, but her thick fur means she barely flinches from the water. As she straightens up, she nods to Peppy's words, and replies, <It's big enough to feed them and us, too,> and then woofs slightly louder, <Time to eat!> This gets Briska's attention, and Dakota's too - the two of them come bounding over to sniff at the Rattata. Flame turns to glance at it, and after a while he trots over too, while Karen's wandered over to nudge at the sleeping Dusk, and isn't listening to her parents.

Time to eat? Oh boy! Wagging his tail even -more-, Peppy takes a step forward, opens his mouth wide, leans his head forward just a bit... then stops. The wagging dies down immediately. Peppy's pink tongue rolls out of his mouth, finding its escape as the Growlithe's jaws remain wide open. <... Oh.> The tongue rolls back in. Peppy straightens his stance, clenching her teeth together, and rumbles in the bottom of his throat, hesitantly looking to the side. <You... uh... ... you were talking to them, weren't you?> So his stomach got ahead of his brain. Name a time when this hasn't happened. As if trying to change the topic as soon as possible, Peppy directs his attention to the little galumping pups, focused on the Rattata. <They're growing so big already,> he comments, stating something Aurora's probably known for weeks now. He glances up at his mate, gives her a naive smile, and turns back to his children, his green eyes wide and bright. <They... might be hunting themselves, soon.> Here, the Growlithe swallows, and a little of his approval fades into insecurity. His attention goes from the puppies to the ground right in front of his paws, and he makes a little mark on the wood with his nail.

Somewhere, a blue haired boy selects the right shade of lipstick. (Eee! Saving!)

<Yes, they're getting a lot bigger,> Aurora replies, looking at them proudly. <They're faster on their feet, too, and... that's good, Dakota,> she says, as the pup comes up to nose at the carcass. <Now, see if you can bite into it. It's not too difficult,> she woofs quietly but encouragingly to the female puppy, who tries her best to gnaw at the Rattata. Aurora leans away, and glances over at Peppy with a smile. <She's learning fast- Peppy, what's wrong?>

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.

Even in his sullen condition, even Peppy can't help but smirk a little bit at Dakota's curiosity. <Cute,> he mumbles, his bushy white tail giving just the slightest movement before falling back. His fur is still slick from wetness, and the tuft on his forehead has slunk over again, dribbling cold water down the sides of his face. The Growlithe pretends to ignore them. When Aurora surprises him by asking him what's wrong, he lifts his head up a bit and turns it to face her, glancing at her sideways. <Wrong?> he repeats as he lifts his head up to his mate's level. <I guess not... wrong... I guess I'm just a little scared.> Ah. That might be what all the earlier "manly" growling was. Lying to himself. <I told Navarone... that, uh, Vulpix.> He opens his right eye a little wide for Aurora, as though she doesn't know who he is. <... I don't know what it'll be like coming back and not having you and all the puppies here, but... but maybe one day I will... Maybe one day it will only be you and me.> The distress isn't easy to pick up on his face, but it is evident in his tone.

<Some day it will... they're growing up well,> Aurora replies. She doesn't sound distressed, though, but rather happy and proud of the fact. <In a while, they won't be puppies any more, but before then we have to teach them how to be good, strong Growlithes who can survive on their own. And you're much better at hunting than I am... when they're old enough, would you teach them how to hunt?> It's a rather long speech, but it sounds sincere, and Aurora grins a little at the end of it. She lowers her voice a little as she moves her head closer to Peppy's, and adds, <Besides, it might be nice to be alone together once the pups are grown up.>

Peppy has to apprehensively nod his head, though he doesn't exactly look thoroughly convinced. <Fully grown... It's really hard to imagine. We'll be able to talk to them. We'll be able to tell them all sorts of stories, like about our trainers and adventures, your old pack and Katerwauls and...> And it's about then that the Growlithe notices that Aurora has motioned her head forward, rather suggestively. And who would Peppy be to miss a nuzzle? Peppy accepts the offer, motioning forward and touching his cheek to hers. He rubs gently, lifting his head as he does, until he's almost up to her ears. He's a little more dry now, so hopefully poor Aurora won't be too discomforted by his wet fur. <... And about how we met, too.> And the Growlithe's troubles are forgotten for a while as he nuzzles his mate, watching their children stumble about the Rattata, prodding it curiously, gnawing here and there. Maybe some day it will happen, where Peppy will come back with a Rattata, and it'll be only Aurora, and those wailing, helpless little fuzzballs will be gone... but hey. If there's one thing Peppy's learned through his short four years of existance, it's that you can't worry about what's going to come or you'll ruin what's happening now, and that runs through his head as he growls softly and contentedly to his mate.