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

The sky is cloudless and brilliant blue. The northwest wind is icy, blowing snow across the landscape in swirling white gusts. In the forest, blowing snow drifts against the trunks of the trees, clinging to their windward sides. While at the coast, the sea sparkles brilliantly under the sun, the waves rolling crisply against the shore in a light froth of white.

It's a blustery day outside. The snow sparkles like a crystal as it dances wildly in the wind, and everything is moving, swaying in the gusts. It's absolutely beautiful to watch. And absolutely horrible to be in. Indeed, while the barn serves as decent protection from cold, it's not exactly the greatest shelter in weather such as this. But isn't that precisely what fuzzy coats are for? Though some pokemon remain huddled together, grouping together into a shivering mass, the Growlithes in the corner seem only slightly affected by the chill running through the barn. The puppies (most but Flame, at least - he is, as usual, staying away from the rest of the pack) still fight, pin, rustle, tumble, and generally do puppy things even despite the chill. And perhaps it's too cold for him, or perhaps he's already returned from hunting, or perhaps he's waiting for the food the old man'll put out, but whatever the case, Peppy's home today, laying sprawled out on the barn floor, head resting upon his paws, his whole body slack, limp, relaxed. Most of his attention is focused on the playfights of the puppies, but he does take care to occasionally make sure Flame's not getting himself in trouble.

Peppy may be home and not out hunting, but that doesn't mean his mate has taken over with that task... Aurora may occasionally be brave, but she's not quite brave enough yet to venture out while the winds are still so strong. Instead, she's sitting next to her mate in the barn, watching the puppies fight and generally play around. In contrast to her mate's relaxed attitude, Aurora's posture is more tense, almost as if she were expecting to have to move quickly. Still, she's not shivering in fear at the high winds, which is an improvement. Currently, her attention is mostly focused on the scuffle Dusk and Dakota are having a short distance from them, although Briska and Karen's game in the straw is given a little attention, as is Flame's solitary brooding.

The sun blazes overhead in the clear blue sky.

Though he's not verbally cheering anybody on, Peppy does flinch occasionally when little Dusk is overdone by Dakota, who is not only overly energetic but larger, too. Briska and Karen seem a little more evenly matched, however, and their russle and tussle absorbs a little more of Peppy's attention. At one point, the adult Growlithe's head lifts up off the ground, and, eyes locked to the little fight, fascinated, he scoots up into a more comfortable position. <Wow!> he woofs at Aurora softly, leaning slightly towards her but keeping his head facing straight. He's grinning proudly as he does, and his voice carries a tint of wonder. <Did you see that? Did you see what Briska did? How fast he moved? And how quickly Karen noticed? And how...> Finally, Peppy actually gives enough consideration to look at Aurora, and he pauses in mid-sentence. He looks at her for a couple moments, jaw agape, before he snaps his jaw shut and cocks his head. <Is something wrong, Aurora?> She doesn't look disappointed or sad or maybe even scared, just... uncomfortable, maybe?

Aurora nods in reply to Peppy's analysis of the fighting, and woofs back, <Oh, yes. They're learning quickly, aren't they?> Smiling, she turns her head to watch Dakota try her best to pin Dusk, who manages to wriggle out of the way before she can be trapped. <They are doing well...> She looks from one pair of puppies to the other, and then finally turns her head back to pay attention to Peppy. <Something wrong? What's wrong?> she asks, sounding concerned and rather obviously misinterpreting Peppy's words. <Do we need more food, or is it something else?> There's still tension in her muscles, but perhaps she's unaware of how tense and ready to spring she looks.

Peppy nods his head very enthusiastically, closing his eyes and wagging his tail furiously as he does. They're doing lots better than he did when -he- was that young (or so he thinks; it's not like he's intelligent enough to remember back that far)! Some of the moves they pull are better than what he could do -now-! He's about to comment on this, but Aurora's little exclamation causes him to blink open his green eyes and give her a curious look, cocking his head once more. <... Nothing's wrong. I mean, with me.> His tail gives a little swish, and the corner of his mouth lifts into a very small smile. His tail wags a little more. <Are you scared because of the wind?> he asks, and though his question is sincere, it does carry just the slightest tint of perhaps condescendence. Maybe he just wants to feel good for helping Aurora feel better. <I don't think it's another blizzard. It doesn't look like it, or feel like it, or...> He pauses here, and sniffs the crisp air. The barn no longer feels musty, as the current running through it sweeps up dust and the occasional strand of straw. Nodding to himself, he adds, <Or smell like it.>

Uh oh! The Rockets are scheming! Better save than sorry! (Saving)

The sky is cloudless and brilliant blue. The northwest wind is icy, blowing snow across the landscape in swirling white gusts.

<Oh,> Aurora replies absently when Peppy assures her there's nothing wrong, and she relaxes a little, her forelegs losing some of their visible tension and her expression changing back into a relieved smile. <That's good, then,> she adds - and then Peppy's question sends her right back into her worried, tense, ready-to-dash state. <I'm... it's... am I scared?> she says quickly, and looks away from Peppy, at the fight between Karen and Briska, who are still in the middle of a fairly even fight. <I don't feel scared of the wind... I'm not shivering, and the wind's not really that strong, is it? It's not like the barn's going to blow down...> She turns to look at the other puppies, then around at the other inhabitants of the barn, all the while avoiding looking directly at Peppy.

Poor Peppy. He doesn't know what to make of Aurora. He doesn't even know where to start. Maybe she does look scared, or maybe she's nervous? Or just hyper and restless, or it -could- be she's just cold, or maybe there's nothing wrong and Peppy's just reading something that isn't there. Needless to say, the greatest help he can be is to whimper softly here or there, helplessly watching the female Growlithe in her anxious position. <Um.> He finally summons up the courage to speak. What if he's wrong? What if nothing's wrong? She's saying nothing is wrong, maybe there -is- nothing, maybe he's just being dumb! <... Are you sure everything is okay?> He tries to refocus upon the puppies, but his eyes keep coming back to Aurora. <It's not going to fall down, and it's hardly even snowing very bad at all! ... I don't think... I mean, it's been worse. ... I think...> Oo, Peppy. You and your manly certainty and confidence.

The female Growlithe sighs. <I... no, you're right, Peppy,> she says, and her body goes from tense back to normal, and quickly through normal to slumped. <We're safe in here, aren't we? We must be, since that blizzard a while ago didn't bury us, and we're still here... I'm sorry for acting like this.> She glances over at Peppy, but still doesn't meet his eyes, and looks rather ashamed at her actions (unconscious though they might have been). <It's just that I don't like being inside - or outside, either - when it's cold and windy, and feels like rain could start.> She gulps a little, looks up and meets Peppy's eyes, trying a smile. <Oh well, at least it's not snowing now. That's good, isn't it?>

Peppy exhales through his nose, his eyes closing slightly, a more relieved look coming about him. His eyes do meet Aurora's before they squint, but he shies away a moment or two after. The look doesn't last long, however, as Aurora's statements really sink in. <Oh...> he woofs softly, then again, with a slightly more disappointed tint. <Oh, I see. The rain...> His nose crinkled and twitches, tugging at his lips. He frowns softly. He's silent for a few moments, mind racing for what to say next. <Well...> he woofs at last. <Maybe it won't be rainy like it was last year.> A moment of silence, followed by a tiny audible exhale of amusement. Should Aurora look at him, she'll see him blushing lightly beneath his white-furred cheeks, grinning sheepishly, peering at the floor. <... Or maybe you won't hate the rain as much...>

Aurora does indeed look at him, blinking a little in surprise as he makes a little joke. After a few seconds, she too gives a little grin, and replies, <Who knows. Maybe I'll've turned into a Squirtle, and I'll love the rain...> She stops, and shakes her head. <No, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make fun of you. You're right, maybe I won't be so scared of the rain. After all, in a place like this, I could go out a short way from the barn in the rain, and I'd be easily able to get back here safely.> She sighs, and gives a little determined nod. <I'll do that. Besides, the pups have to learn how to survive in the rain, if they're ever caught in it... it wouldn't be right for them to maybe die when they're older because I didn't want to help you teach them.>

Uh oh! The Rockets are scheming! Better save than sorry! (Saving)

If Peppy takes offense, he doesn't know it; his grin only raises a little. <I understand, Aurora. I kinda like the rain... it's cold, and it's wet, and it's yucky...> He only now turns his head to face his puppies, still rough-housing, ignorant to the conversation. <... And that's exactly why I went to your den and started to get to know you.> So that's what the goofy blush was all about! His grin becomes a little more warm and a little less shy as he watches Briska tumble to the ground, the puppy's chin hitting the floor and his eyes blinking rapidly, only to be helped back up by his sister so they can resume playing. <But yes!> His voice is louder now, more confident, as though he never was just blushing and half-mumbling about his ol' courtship. <Rain happens all the time down here... It would be good if they got used to it nice and early. I wish I had.>

Once it's obvious what Peppy was referring to, Aurora starts to blush as well, and turns to look at the puppies with Peppy to try to hide her shyness. In reply to his comment about rain, she nods, still watching the pups tumble around, and says, <Mmm hmm. I think I'd have been better off if I'd got used to it before... that time. I didn't have a chance, though - back home, it was hardly ever anything other than warm, and I was only trained for a few months during the summer before I got sent out on that... that time I got ill. Still...> Looking less shy, and more confident, she turns her head to glance at Peppy again. <Let's do our best. Let's teach them how to survive well on their own, so they can grow up to be healthy and strong.>

The puppies and their antics as they toddle about, all four starting to get tired from their playing, cause their father to smile even more, and his concentration stays on them until Aurora speaks. His ear perks, and his eyes flick to the side, but he doesn't not move his head a muscle. Once she looks to him, however, he does the same, watching her face, her movements, just her as she speaks, an unmistakeable aura of confidence and inspiration clear in her voice. And to think that so many others had doubts and uncertainties! He doesn't speak until after a long pause of simply looking at her, smiling all the while. <I've learned a lot since I met you, Aurora, more than I've ever, ever learned before. I've learned that just because something is scary or not a good idea or something when you're little doesn't mean you -always- have to be scared of it.> His tail is wagging freely now. Though even he realizes the sense of hypocrisy, Peppy does speak truely - at least, he thinks it so. The Growlithe smiles to himself, and, turning his head back to the puppies, he adds, <I'll help you against the rain, because you've helped with everything else.> His eyebrow flicks when Dakota takes a nasty tumble, but she's up in a flash. <Yeow,> he woofs. <Hope she's okay.>

<I think she'll be okay,> Aurora replies as she watches Dakota pick herself up, shake her head a little, then charge back at Dusk and continue tussling. <She likes to play around, and she's hardy enough to cope with a fall or two. They're all getting stronger, aren't they?> Peppy's compliment to her, about how much he's learnt since he's known her, makes her blush, but this time she doesn't look down as she replies - instead, she looks at his face, the faint tinge of the blush visible through her fur, and says, <You taught me that, too. You taught me that sometimes you have to be scared, and know you're scared, and then you can stop being scared, because you know why you are... I'm not explaining this very well, am I?> she finishes, grinning rather foolishly. <You've helped me a lot, Peppy. With everything. Thank you.>