Contents:
Aurora
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.

Fair weather clouds drift through the blue sky from the west. The wind is gusty. In the forest, fiery red, gold, and orange leaves rustle and blow past you, swirling in the wind. While at the coast, the sea is a warm blue, reflecting the saved warmth from the summer, and the waves are gentle.

Tired paws hit the dirty path of Route 11. The road is mere feet away from the tiny stream - the stream that's rushing and trickling with life thanks to the powerful breezes on this warm fall day. Of course, the narrow body of water holds little interest to the two fire-types making their way down the path, yet again continuing on their long quest to reach a new home. Despite the fact that he looks exhausted, Peppy, one half of the pair, doesn't seem to be in a horrible mood. His tail is limp and his pace is slow, but his chest isn't quite drooping and his head is actually held high. His mind might be on the weather, or on the future, or on his half-empty (half-full, if you prefer) tummy, or perhaps on his mate, but whatever the case, he's definitely thinking about something. Sounds like an oxymoron where this Growlithe is concerned...

It's midday, and the two pokemon have been walking for some hours already - but, like her mate, Aurora is in as good a mood as you can be when you're tired, hungry, and carrying more weight than you ever have before. She's also managing to keep up with the rather slow pace Peppy's setting, and as they walk she glances from one side of the road to the other occasionally, trying to recall what she saw the last time she came this way. She glances to her left - and suddenly she stops, and barks excitedly, <That's it! We're almost there now!>

Bink! Peppy also comes to a stop, though his is more gradual - he ends up a couple steps ahead of the other Growlithe. Turning his head to the side, Peppy's initial thought is - she did it! Aurora found the burger tree! After she woofs "<We're almost there now>", however, it comes all too clear. <Really?> Peppy barks uncertainly, though hopeful nonetheless. He looks over at his mate briefly, before turning his head to see what she's looking at. <Are you sure?> he asks as he turns his head. It's not that he wants to doubt Aurora's much higher intelligence, of course, but that's what it seems to come across as. Nothing looks familiar at all to Peppy around here, but that's just because he hardly even *saw* this area. It's difficult to look ahead when you've got snow blowing into your eyes and have no way of rubbing them. Thank goodness for Jameka.

Snatch your backpack, steal your purse, save the data from this curse! (Psykitt-- eh, Saving)

Aurora nods her head enthusiastically. <There's a farm over there which isn't the one we're going to. I remember seeing it the last time I was here. I went that way, and some humans chased me out of there, so I ran in the opposite direction and managed to find Assisi Farm!> She sounds rather proud of herself for remembering this, and then turns to point a paw to the right of the road, roughly south. <I went through that grass there, I think. It wasn't very tall then.>

The sun shines overhead, bracketed by puffy fair weather clouds.

Though Peppy's not looking at Aurora while she speaks (he's sort of trying to get the feel of the area; it's a very nice place, after all), the fact that his tail begins to wag as Aurora finishes her short story suggests that he found it amusing. Now turning his head to give her a little glance, a very small grin visible out of the side of his mouth, he woofs, <It's funny how it's a -good- thing that they chased you, because then it would have been hard for you to find Assisi!> He grins for a moment longer, before furrowing his eyebrows and, in a somewhat lower and slightly more concerned tone, adds, <Not that it's good that they chased you. They didn't hurt you, did they?> Even as he speaks, he's turning his head to the south - not because he's not interested in what Aurora has to say, but because... oh boy, it's more grass. Yeah, Peppy's assuming there's a Bulbasaur, Katerwaul, and Jynx lurking in the field again. That's Peppy for ya.

Fair weather clouds drift through the blue sky from the west. The wind is gusty.

Another nod from Aurora, and she smiles as she replies, <Yeah, if they hadn't chased me out I'd have slept in their barn over the winter. Then we'd probably not have met that winter, and... who knows what would have happened then?> She glances over at Peppy as he turns his attention to the route she's pointed out, and nods again. <I think it's through there. I was running fairly hard when I went that way, so I don't know how long it would take to walk...>

Wow. Peppy blinks for a moment, looking right back at Aurora while she returns the glance. If she had stayed... That is definitely something to ponder. His gaze eventually turns up to the farm in the distance. Only a couple of seconds later, however, as the female Growlithe starts to refer to the route to the south, he directs his attention back. <Well,> he woofs at last, giving the sky a quick glance, <It's not very late in the day, so even if we're not running, maybe we'll be able to make it there before it gets dark.> He opens his mouth to suggest that they should move quickly, but thankfully he remembers Aurora's condition and snaps his jaws shut. He takes three steps in that direction, though no more. Pause. Blink. Glance at the ground. <We've gone really far, haven't we?> He's not looking at Aurora while he speaks - rather, his head is more declined to the ground. Come on, Peppy - don't tell us you're only just now figuring this out.

<...Yeah, we have,> Aurora replies after a pause. She looks at Peppy quizically, wondering why he's thinking of this now, and then smiles. <And we're almost at our destination. Our new home for a while, I guess.> Taking a few steps to get herself level with her mate, Aurora looks at the long grass. Then at Peppy. Then back at the long grass. <If we start now, we'll definitely get there before night. Shall we?> she finishes, nodding towards the grass which will eventually - hopefully - part to reveal the place where they'll be spending quite some time over the next few months.

Peppy glances over at Aurora, taking in her smile and giving her one of his own. <It's... just really different. Last time I came, I didn't feel like I was leaving my home... because my home was always with Patch and I didn't really have a home after I left her.> That's funny - 'After I left her'? <But now it feels like I am sort of leaving home...> The wind picks up a bit, causing the pup's fur to ruffle in the breeze gently. He lifts his head and rotates it slightly, so that the hairs don't blow right into his eyes. He glances back at Aurora, and adds a soft, <But you're with me here... and maybe as long as you are here, you're like my home.> Another slight smile is given to his mate before he turns his head back to the south, though he doesn't start walking quite yet. Hmm. Maybe he wants Aurora to set the pace. Or maybe he's scared of the grass. Maybe it's both.

Aurora nods in agreement. <I know what that feels like... well, I used to, I guess. But...> At Peppy's last comment about home, Aurora blushes a little, and looks down at her paws. <That's really kind of you, to say that,> she murmurs, then looks back up with a determined expression, and starts to walk into the grass, taking slow but steady steps. <The grass doesn't go on for too long. After a few minutes, we should be out the other side,> she says, her voice a little muffled as she starts to walk further into the long grass.

There are so many ways Peppy can reply to Aurora, and they're all decisively cute if not mushy. The best option is often the most simple one, however, most especially when you're a Growlithe as a result. As a result, Peppy's response is merely a somewhat quiet, (Aurora will probably hear it, however) <It's all true,> before also accelerating up to his mate's pace. <Will we be able to see the farm when we get on the other side of the grass?> he asks, his big and bushy tail now shifting back and forth, side to side, left to right. <Maybe when we get there I'll go catch a Rattata...> He's silent for a second, before woofing, <Or something else to eat, and then we'll sleep. Sleeping felt really nice in the farm, I remember that!> Yeah - Peppy can barely remember anything over a week old, but if there's one thing he does remember, it's how nice his naps were at the farm.

<I think we will - I saw it when I was a minute or so away, and I was running then,> Aurora replies, grass blades occasionally flicking at her face as she walks and making her blink. <And there was a man there, a human, who put food out in the barn. I don't think he liked us pokemon trying to kill other pokemon, because he told off a Meowth who was there and hurt a Rattata. She left after that, a little while before you arrived.>

There's one good thing about grass - at least it protects one from the harsh breezes around this afternoon. Unfortunately, it's got its own little annoyances, like how the grass tickles one's nose. Peppy seems to be having a problem with this as he marches along, and his black nose twitches constantly as he marches through the tall grass. <He wouldn't like it if I were to hunt?> Peppy asks uncertainly, turning his head to glance at Aurora. For the record, it doesn't help with the grass. <But I... we have to teach the pups somehow. I... I-> And suddenly Peppy just stops. Did he see something? Did he think of something? Is something the matter? He rears his head back... back... and sneezes loudly. Thankfully he had the good sense to turn his head to the side, so Aurora shouldn't get touched. Shaking his head vigorously like he does when he's wet, Peppy woofs a slightly embarassed, <Sorry,> and then an even more bashful, <The grass was tickling my nose.>

<It's been tapping me on the nose, too. I think it's - ACHOO!> Seems like the grass is doing the same thing to both Growlithes. <Sorry,> Aurora mutters, sounding embarrassed, and then she looks around at the grass, standing still as she waits for Peppy to make up the few metres of distance between them. <He doesn't like it if we hunt others who he's caring for, no,> she says to Peppy, turning so that he can hear her more easily. <But if we brought them out here to hunt, then they could learn. We'd have to teach them who they could chase and who they couldn't, anyway.>

Ah, the way Peppy's mind works. When he sneezes, it's obviously totally humiliating and the most embarrassing thing in the world - but when Aurora does it, apparently, it's absolutely adorable. Peppy grins softly at his mate when she sneezes, woofing a gentle, <It's all right. We'll be out-> Nose twitch. <Of this field soon enough.> Well, he can't wait. He's just *waiting* for that Charizard to hear his sneezing and proceed to jump out of nowhere and eat him. He's silent for a few moments after Aurora speaks, but he eventually woofs a little, <I'll make sure they're the best hunters -ever-. You watch!> He now glances at her, his eyes dancing with excitement, his tail perky and wagging. <They'll be even better than me.> Hey, at least he's got goals.

Aurora grins, and with a nod and a, <Looks like we're getting near the end of the field,> she starts to walk again, glancing back every so often to make sure that Peppy's following her. As she walks, it becomes clear that the grass is starting to thin out - neither of the Growlithes are being hit in the face or tickled in the nose by as many blades as before, and those that are there are shorter. <I think we're getting close...> Aurora murmurs.

Fair weather clouds drift through the blue sky from the west. The wind is gusty.

Peppy doesn't make the connection between "end of the field" and "grass thinning out", so he simply guesses that Aurora is merely predicting the length of the field judging by her previous run through it. Sure enough, she's accurate - before Peppy can even reply to his mate, the end is in sight. <I think that's it!> Peppy arfs cheerfully. He, for one, is glad to get out of this field of sneezes and Charizards and blades of grass sticking to the fur. <Do you remember how far it is to get to Assisi Farm after we get out?> he inquires, glancing at her not only because he's asking a question, but also because he wants to make sure he's not walking too fast.

Snatch your backpack, steal your purse, save the data from this curse! (Psykitt-- eh, Saving)

<It's very short,> Aurora replies, her pace increasing a little as they near the edge of the grass. <Only about ten minutes, at most, to get to the buildings, and the barn is the first one you reach. And then there'll be food, and somewhere for the two of us to rest... and it'll be nice and warm. It'll be even better than last winter was, just you wait and see,> she finishes happily.

Ten minutes! That's like music to the pup's ears. He's actually not totally sure of -exactly- how long ten minutes is, but 'very short' suggests that ten minutes isn't a long time. <Wasn't the barn where-> It's during this step that Peppy steps out of the field, grass blades (and quite a few of them!) clinging to his fur. The wind picks off a few of these stems, but for the most part, the poor Growlithe still looks like a very fuzzy and orange Tangela. <-Where I saw you when Jameka and I first came?> The sun and breeze feel nice after that stuffy and sneezy little field, so Peppy takes this opportunity to lift his head up and let his lungs fill with the air. Ahh! <It'll definitely be better,> Peppy agrees softly. It takes a moment or two for the actual power of his statement to sink in. His mate, the puppies, even the fact that he's now fully grown - it's going to be better, all right. <A lot has changed, after all.> This much is growled under his breath, so Aurora might not even hear him. He's talking to himself anyway.

Aurora lets out a little sigh of relief as they leave the tall grass - and a small sneeze, for good measure. <Yeah, that was where I was when you two arrived. It was really nice and warm after all that snow, wasn't it?> The female Growlithe looks up at the definitely-not-snowing sky for a moment or two, and then back at Peppy. <But it's not going to snow for a long time, I hope, don't you? If it did, then the pups might all get cold, and they wouldn't be very happy...>

Peppy's face alights into another grin when Aurora sneezes. He must really think it's adorable. The grin fades, however, once Aurora mentions Peppy's one true enemy. Not rain. Not Katerwauls. Not even hunger. No, it's... snow. <Snow,> Peppy woofs with a slightly disgusted tone, shaking his head and growling very, very gently. <I hope it doesn't snow -ever-,> the Growlithe barks, also glancing up at the sky - the clear sky, with the sun descending closer and closer to the horizon. <But I think the farm isn't as cold, so the puppies will be warm in there.> There's a slight pause, and the canine pokemon actually grins a bit, despite the subject matter. <Though when I was a puppy, I liked the snow, as long as I got to go back to... warm up often.> Perhaps he wanted to fit a 'mom' in there somewhere, but he seems to have avoided it.

Aurora heads south.
Aurora has left.

You head south.

Overgrown Lands - Route 11: Off the Route

Contents:
Aurora
Obvious exits:
South <S> leads to Pokemon Haven: Assisi Farm.
North <N> leads to Field and Streams - Route 11: Farmlands.

Aurora disappears from sight down the Poke-trail.
Aurora has left.

You duck under a bush and find yourself in...
Pokemon Haven: Assisi Farm

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

<The barn was really nice and warm, I remember, and it had a roof, too. Just like the den does. It'll keep all the snow off us, you'll see!> With a determined nod, Aurora quickens her pace a little, and after a few minutes the two Growlithes arrive at the edge of the fence, where Aurora stops and peers through the rather large gap in the fence that presents itself. <I think this is the right place,> she comments, taking a step forward, and then stopping to wait for Peppy.

Peppy simply growls softly in reply, a content and somewhat hopeful little growl. He's obviously looking forward to a warm place to sleep even now. As a result, he's doesn't say anything for the few minutes, now concentrating entirely on getting to that farm and sleeping the night away! Bit by bit they get closer and closer, and it's actually difficult for poor Peppy to stop himself from simply kicking off of the ground and sprinting to the farm. Thankfully, he remembers that his poor mate would exactly be able to follow him at the same speed if he did that, so he keeps on trudging along. <I remember this place,> Peppy woofs in reply, also taking a couple of steps forward as he takes this opportunity to look around the area. This is it. This is what weeks of wandering have brought the two pups to.

Finally. Their new home.