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

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.

Yeah, it's another one of those beautiful days that the island is so well known for. Wet. Cold. Grey. And worst of all, snowing. If Peppy hadn't spent all morning hunting, the pup thinks to himself as he watches the snowflakes float down from the skies, he'd probably have to be out in there. The smell of Rattata lingers in the air of the barn - looks like his hunt was successful - but Peppy himself's taken only a couple of bites, little more. The Growlithe instead sits on his haunches near the slightly ajar door, leaning his head against the barn's side, watching the hustle and bustle of the white specks outside. He appears to be pretty lost in thought, but he does glance over at Aurora and the puppies every once in a while. Thankfully, all the little ones are asleep. Not that it's overly easy to tell when they're as blind as they are...

Even though the puppies have been asleep for a while, Aurora still looks exhausted - caring for newborn puppies has kept her up for most of the last few days, and she hasn't managed to sleep for more than a few hours. Still, she's managing to somehow keep her eyes open, and when she's not looking down at the sleeping puppies, she looks over at Peppy with a little smile on her face. When he next looks back, she says, <We did well, didn't we?> with a trace of pride in her voice.

Usually when Peppy glances over, it's little more than a flicker, just a quick glance, maybe a smile, and a return to the snow. As Aurora woofs, however, Peppy's gaze lingers, and he watches her for a moment before he replies. <... Yeah.> The corners of his mouth perk up. <You and me...> One last glance at the snow, and the canine pokemon ascends to all four paws, giving his head a quick shake to release some of the flakes that drifted into the barn. He doesn't, however, approach his mate; he only exhales, shaking his head once more, though this time with less intensity. Boy, and he's not even the one who went through the birthing process. <... You're not scared, are you?> ... What kind of question is that?

<Scared? I suppose so,> replies Aurora, sounding a little surprised at the question. <Only a little, though. I know you'll be there to help. And we've got to the farm together without too much trouble, so we'll be safe here.> She grins tiredly at Peppy, and woofs, <I know we can do well with raising them. The two of us make a good team, so we can teach them how to hunt and how to live in the wild...>

Aie! Peppy and Aurora's puppies are headed for the database! Better save! (Saving)

Peppy opens his mouth to reply, and he's already got a "Gr-" sound out before he actually realizes what she said. She knows he'll be there to help. Any plans Peppy had of admitting that he's scared (and pretty scared, at that) instantly vanish, and his jaw snaps shut. He's silent for another couple moments, only looking at Aurora, before lifting his tail up in a light wag. He marches towards Aurora now, his head level with his back, tail still swishing back and forth, back and forth. His eyes shift from Aurora down to the little puppies, all motionless except for one, who squirms just a little bit before nestling into her brother and falling back asleep. Peppy's green eyes soften as he tears them off of the puppies and down to the floor before his head. <I'll do anything to make sure they're raised right,> the Growlithe barks. <... Anything, even attack a big pack of Katerwauls! I would!> For anybody else, that would sound cheesy and silly, but for Peppy and for how -he- feels about Katerwauls, that's pretty determined.

Aurora smiles at Peppy and nods as enthusiastically as she can for a few seconds, before sighing and lowering her head to rest on the floor. <You don't have to fight Katerwauls, though... I'll help you, you know. Even though we've got the pups to care for, I'm sure we can still work together to get out of tough situations.> She yawns a little, and then half-closes her eyes. <We'll always be able to... work together...> Poor Aurora - she looks even more tired than before, if that's possible.

Peppy closes his eyes for a moment. A chill ruptures up his spine, though whether it's because he's cold or because he's frightened is unknown. As he watches Aurora put her head down, looking so sleepy, so tired - not that he can blame her, she had it a heck of a lot tougher than he did and he's exhausted! - and still strong, like she could go on fighting for hours more. Peppy smiles at her. He only wishes he could be as strong as that. Taking one last look at the puppies, the Growlithe settles down into the floor, rocking his body just a bit to get comfortable, putting his head right up to Aurora so that, if she allows, their muzzles touch. <Aurora?> he asks quietly, his tail giving a tiny little wag - but that's it. <We're gonna be together forever... right? Even after the puppies are gone and the snow is gone?> He takes in a little breath, as though he wants to say something else... but he remains quiet.

Aie! Peppy and Aurora's puppies are headed for the database! Better save! (Saving)

As Peppy's muzzle touches hers, Aurora leans towards her mate a little so that they're in slightly closer contact. <Even then, we'll be together, I promise,> she murmurs, and nuzzles Peppy gently. <I don't know how long the puppies will take to get big and learn how to live on their own, but we'll help them with that, won't we?> She glances down at the puppies, who now appear to be sleeping peacefully and without movement, and then back at Peppy. <We'll do a good job, too.>

Aie! Peppy and Aurora's puppies are headed for the database! Better save! (Saving)

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

Though Aurora probably won't be able to see it because of the muzzle, Peppy's grinning pretty broadly. Suddenly, it doesn't seem so cold, and Peppy feels an awful lot less insecure. <We'll do a great job. And they're going to be the best hunters ever, better than me.> Somebody hasn't heard of the phrase "You're only as good as your teacher", but maybe Peppy means it for real. There's a little pause here, and the Growlithe scoots forward a bit, going beyond Aurora's muzzle to rub his nose along her fuzzy white cheeks. <But I'm really glad,> he murmurs to the female, straining to look over at her from his position. <Because I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here.> His voice is quiet, but at least it's sincere. That much is definitely detectable.

<I know what you mean,> Aurora replies equally quietly. <I suppose that if I weren't here, you wouldn't be here either, because you wouldn't have had to come to the farm to make sure the puppies were safe...> She gives a little yawn, and then blinks. <How long have I been awake?> she asks in a slightly louder, and more confused-sounding voice.

Peppy looks at his mate for a moment, still keeping the tip of his muzzle pressed lightly into his mate. <I wouldn't?> the dog asks, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion as he tries to understand why in the world Aurora arrived at that conclusion. She's the smart one, she can't be wrong. A moment or two later, Peppy's eyebrows lift back up, and even if she's can't see his mouth, Aurora will probably be able to tell that he's smiling. <You're right.> The reply to her question follows soon after, and Peppy, glancing up at the ceiling before looking back at Aurora (maybe he wanted to see where the sun was and forgot he was inside... and that it was snowing). <I think a long time. You were awake when I went hunting. If you want to go to sleep...> Tearing away from his mate for a bit, the Growlithe retreats his head back a bit, just so he can puff out his chest like he's so strong. <Then I'll stay awake and protect ya!>

Aurora nods, and smiles at Peppy again. <I think the puppies will stay asleep for a few more hours... and I should sleep now, or else I won't be able to help look after them for some time. Maybe I should...> Aurora's head droops, coming to rest on her paws, and her eyes shut most of the way, staying slightly open as she looks over at Peppy.

Peppy's voice drops down considerably from his last bold statement to the point where it's mostly growls and whimpers. <Yeah...> And then a smile. <You go to sleep, and I'll catch us another Rattata when you wake up.> Almost automatically, his eyes flicker over to the half eaten Rattata, then down to his tummy. Heh, that's Peppy for ya - when he's not sleeping, hunting, or talking to Aurora, he's thinking about his next meal. "Grrrowl," he woofs gently, a soft wish for a good night, before he gets up to all four paws. Should Aurora not make him stay, he'll pad his way over to the Rattata and start to do what he does best. Chow down.

Aie! Peppy and Aurora's puppies are headed for the database! Better save! (Saving)

<Good night...> Aurora replies, her voice muffled by the fact that she's mostly speaking into her paws. Her eyelids droop until her eyes are completely shut, and her last words - <Wake me up when the pups are awake...> - are rather slurred, very quiet and possibly inaudible. Such is life when you've been awake for far longer than you should.

Though all Peppy hears is a bunch of gurbled "Gurrrl"s and "Lttths", he pretty much catches Aurora's drift. He does lift his head out of the Rattata to look at her and give her a nod, though the silliness of this action quickly sinks in, seeing as how Aurora's sort of... asleep. Peppy keeps looking at his mate for a few moments longer. One of the puppies starts to wiggle softly, though he stays totally quiet. Shaking his head a bit, smiling to himself, the Growlithe jams his muzzle back into the Rattata and begins munching again. Soon. Soon some of the pups will be wailing, Aurora will be hungry so he'll have to go out into the snow, then they'll wail more... but for now, everything's peaceful and quiet, and that's just the way Peppy likes it.