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Description
Six months later, Ronin had resettled near Mount Freeze.  Occasionally, He would return to the forest where he had trained to visit with Dragonair.  But today, he hadn’t come to see her.  Today he was hoping to find some supplies before heading out even farther south towards a dungeon that had just been discovered.
The eevee had heard about it from chatter around the town.  It sounded like somewhere he could go and get a little experience and training, so now he was searching for some of the seeds he had been fond of using.  But what he did find was something he hadn’t expected.
As he walked, Ronin heard the sound of rustling leaves.  Almost immediately, he turned to face it, fur raising to make himself appear more threatening.  His heart raced as the rustling grew louder as the thing approached him.  After his adrenaline had finished flooding into his system, the eevee launched himself at the bush and tackled something.
He pinned the opposing pokémon underneath him.  Now that his adrenaline was starting to leave his system, he realized who he had tackled.  Pinned under him, lying on her back was Miyuko!
“Ah hell!” Ronin thought as he immediately got off of her, “She’s going to be so angry with me for this.”
Oddly, Miyuko wasn’t mad at all.  She rolled over and got to her feet without a word.
“I’m so sorry.” Ronin apologized as he watched her, “Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m alright.” Miyuko replied, “Are you?”
Ronin nodded.  In his mind he already felt that it would be best for him to leave now before she recognized him.  Hopefully she wouldn’t see the scorch mark on his back from Moltres’s grip.
“I’d better get going.” Ronin said hesitantly as he turned away, “Again, I’m really sorry about tackling you.”
Just as he was about to run off, Miyuko asked, “Hey, aren’t you that eevee that got banished from Mount Blaze a while back?”
Ronin looked back and said, “No.  You must have me confused with someone else.”
“Odd.  If that’s not you, then why is there a scorch mark across your back and sides shaped like a talon?” Miyuko asked.
When Ronin froze suddenly, Miyuko knew she had the right eevee.  The espeon walked up to the eevee and examined him.  The black slash across his back and down both sides couldn’t be hidden, and Ronin knew it.
“I thought so.  Now tell me,” Miyuko said as she circled him, “what are you doing back in these parts?  I could have sworn Moltres told you to never return.”
“I try not to be noticed.” Ronin replied nervously.
Ronin felt uncomfortable for a couple of reasons.  One, She was right.  Ronin shouldn’t have been there.  Two, this was the first time he’d ever actually spoken to Miyuko.  The eevee had been hoping that he’d never lay eyes on the lovely espeon again.  And now here she was keeping him in one spot.  What was she doing?
“So why did you come back?” She asked.
“For supplies.” Ronin replied cautiously, “Why are you so curious?”
Miyuko gave a soft giggle, “Six months without any sign of a banished eevee who spent months trying to hide the fact that he was in love with me?  Why wouldn’t I be curious?”
Ronin’s mind froze.  She had known all along?  How?
“I can see this is news to you.” Miyuko said with a soft smile.
“B-but how did you know?” Ronin asked in shock.
“We females have our ways of knowing when a male likes us.” Miyuko replied with a mysterious look in her eyes.
Ronin looked away, hoping that he wasn’t showing his embarrassment. He felt ashamed of himself.  Here he was, a banished eevee who had been too afraid to even talk to Miyuko, now in her presence.  Ronin began wishing he’d never heard about the new dungeon.
Miyuko could easily see that Ronin was uncomfortable.  The truth was that Dragonair had told her after Ronin had left.  Dragonair had known that Ronin felt he had no chance of ever winning Miyuko over.  So, she had told the espeon about Ronin’s feelings.
Miyuko had always had feelings for Ronin as well, but she had been waiting for him to make a move first.  Instead, she now knew that the eevee had stayed away from her because of his fear of rejection.  Now that she had him alone for the first time, she wasn’t going to let the eevee go without finding out if he still cared for her.
“Look, I’d better get going.” Ronin said as he began to walk away.
As he did, he felt a paw on his back and heard, “Please, don’t go just yet.”
Ronin looked back to her and sighed, “Look, I really should go.  If Moltres finds out I’m anywhere near Mount Blaze I’m done for.”
“So we just don’t let it know.” Miyuko said softly, “Come on, there’s something I’d like to ask you about.”
Ronin knew he didn’t have any other options.  His ears lowered slightly in defeat as he followed Miyuko to the lakeside.
*           *          *
Miyuko laid down as Ronin sat by her side.  The eevee looked out over the placid waters as the espeon stretched and let her tail fall on his.
“So you say you came here for supplies.” She said, “Why?”
“Because it’s true.” Ronin replied, “A new dungeon opened up from a quake that occurred miles south of where I now live.”
“Where do you live?” Miyuko asked curiously.
“Ninetails was kind enough to let me live near Mount Freeze.” Ronin said.
He chuckled a little.
When he saw Miyuko’s confused look he said, “Ninetails actually wants me to try to climb to the summit sometime.  He’s almost the complete opposite of Moltres when it comes to me.”
“Sounds like you’ve got a good home now.” Miyuko smiled.
“Yeah.  It’s pretty good except for the cold.” Ronin replied.
Miyuko sat up, “So do you have a girlfriend?”
Ronin was startled by the sudden question.  He was hoping to avoid this question.
“N-no.” he replied nervously.
“You don’t sound very sure of yourself.” Miyuko said with a mysterious look.
Ronin looked away, his ears lowering in embarrassment, “No.  I don’t have one.  I’ve tried to avoid any chance of that.  I hurt Dragonair because of my stupidity and lost any chance of a relationship.  I don’t want to hurt anyone else like that again.”
“Well, it’s an admirable thought.” Miyuko replied as her tail gently intertwined with his, “But maybe you should consider giving it another try.”
Ronin felt her tail and asked, “But what about your boyfriend?”
Miyuko was a little confused at first, then realized he was talking about Nidorino.
“Oh, you mean Nido.” She laughed softly, “No, he’s not my boyfriend.  He’s my partner, but I’m still single.  Although you do seem like an interesting choice.”
Ronin looked to her, hesitation in his eyes.  Miyuko knew what the pokémon wanted, so she nuzzled him gently, her nose burying itself in his warm, furred cheek.
Ronin blushed slightly and she said, “You know, it was pretty interesting when you pinned me earlier.”
Ronin looked to the female espeon as she nodded, knowing what was on his mind.  Ronin tackled her, pinning Miyuko under him.  She smiled up at him and gave him a lick.  Ronin licked her back and laid down on her, their tails intertwining once more.
“Miyuko?”
“Yes Ronin?”
“I…I love you.”
“I love you too.”
*           *          *
Months later, Ronin was lying on a warm cushion, dreaming about Miyuko.  The two had been seeing each other at least once every few days.  Needless to say, they were now deeply in love.
Outside, the snow storm had slowed to the point where it was only lightly snowing with a chilling wind that ripped through the village every few hours.  Not many pokémon would brave this weather since the storm was predicted to strengthen again to blizzard conditions.
When a knocking sound came from the stone door outside his den, the eevee was startled out of his sleep.  He shook his head, uncurled himself, and walked to the entrance, pushing a large stone out of the way that prevented the cold wind from getting inside.  When he did finally get the stone to budge, a letter slipped inside, blown in from the wind.  On it was his name.
Curious, the eevee let the stone roll back into place and ripped open the envelope.  A letter fell to the floor and unfolded.

“Ronin, I have been doing a lot of thinking lately and the team and I have come to a decision.  We could use someone who has had experience in the cold weather.  Once they mentioned that, you popped into my mind immediately.  I know it’s pretty sudden and I want to give you time to think about it, but I’d like it if you would join us.  I’ll be awaiting your reply.
~Miyuko”

Ronin looked up from the letter and ran back to the entry.  After pushing aside the round rock he called a door, he walked out into the snow and looked around.  As usual, it was snowing lightly.  Snow flakes drifted down without care from the gray, cloudy sky above as a chilling wind ripped through the village.  A winter wonderland that he now called home.
But what got his attention was a purple, fox-like pokémon who was waiting outside; her soft coat speckled white from the gently falling snow.
“What took you?” Miyuko asked as Ronin ran over to her.
“If I didn’t have that stone blocking the wind and snow from getting in I would have been here faster.” Ronin replied as he nuzzled her warmly, “Would you like to come inside where it’s warm?”
Miyuko nodded as the eevee lead her back inside.
*           *          *
After shaking the snow off of his fur, Ronin lead Miyuko to the main room.  She sat down as he nosed some wood into a hole that lead to a shaft for the smoke to exit.
“So you really want me to join your team?” Ronin asked as he tossed in a blast seed and let a stone door fall between them and it.
An explosion echoed through the shaft as Miyuko nodded in reply.
“But what use would I be?” Ronin asked curiously as he lifted the stone to reveal a warm, roaring fire.
Miyuko lay down beside him and asked, “You know this type of area, right?”
“Somewhat.” Ronin answered, “Again I ask, what use would I be?”
“Like I said in the letter, Ronin.” She replied, “We need someone who’s used to this sort of weather to help us navigate it.”
“I guess so, but how would the others react?  I mean, I was banished.”
“I don’t think it will matter much to them really.” Miyuko replied, “I mean, you did save a torkal from a worse fate.”
Ronin nodded and curled up on the ground next to her.  Miyuko smiled and placed a paw on the black scorch mark on his back.  Ronin looked up to her.
“I think you did the right thing.” Miyuko said calmingly, “Even if you did get banished, you saved the life of a young torkal.  That’s what being on a rescue team is really about.”
“Getting banished?” Ronin asked.
Miyuko giggled softly, “No, saving lives and helping others.”
“I don’t know Miyuko.  I can’t go back, remember?  What if Moltres finds out?”
“We’ll protect you.”
“I don’t know.”
“Come on, you’d be a lot closer to me and Dragonair.”
“But what about-?”
“We can find you a place to live.”
“Yeah, but still…”
“I’ll even throw in something special.  Please Ronin?”
Ronin thought for a second.  As he did, Miyuko moved closer to the eevee, her tail gently intertwining with his.
“You do realize that taking me in would result in Moltres’s wrath, right?” Ronin asked.
“I know.” She replied softly, “But it’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
Ronin sighed, “And you’re not going to let me say ‘no’ are you?”
“Nope.” Miyuko replied, looking to him with a smile, “Once I see that we need someone, I don’t let go.”
Ronin sighed and looked to her, his eyes looking deeply into hers, “But what about the rest of the team?”
“I already talked to them about it.  A lot of them agreed that it was wrong for Moltres to banish you for saving a life.” Miyuko replied.
“I guess I could give it a shot.” Ronin said after a minute.
Miyuko smiled and licked his cheek, “Thank you Ronin.”
The eevee smiled back to her as she got to her feet.
“I’ll head back and tell the others.” Miyuko said as Ronin walked with her to the door.
Ronin nodded, “I’ll stay here where I’m safe until you call for me.”
Miyuko licked him again and he licked her back.
The eevee then rolled the stone door aside, but was met by a furious, howling wind and ice storm.  He immediately pushed the stone back into position.  The blizzard had returned in full force.
“May I offer you a place to rest for the night?” Ronin asked as he shook the ice and snow off.
“How bad is the weather?” Miyuko asked.
“Take a look.” He replied.
Ronin walked to a second stone and rolled it aside.  This one faced the same direction the blizzard was moving towards.  The snow and ice wouldn’t blow into this hole.
When he pushed it aside, Miyuko saw that the world outside was white with ice and snow.  She couldn’t see ten feet out from the hole, let alone get back home.  The eevee let the stone roll back into place.
“I guess I have no other option but to take you up on your offer.” Miyuko sighed, “I wouldn’t last long out there.”
“It’ll subside again by morning.” Ronin assured her, “Until then, I don’t know how long it will last.”
*           *          *
That night was spent next to the fire.  Miyuko and Ronin had cuddled together on the soft cushion.  Luckily, it was large enough for both of them.
The next morning, the blizzard had subsided once more.  The warm sun shone through a break in the clouds, reflecting its light off the newly fallen snow.  It was now that, after saying goodbye and a giving couple of licks, Miyuko headed back to her teams main base.
As Ronin watched her leave, he glanced up to Mount Freeze.  The storm clouds had already begun to roll back in from the opposite side of the mountain.  Within a few hours, the storm would return once more.
“Thinking of trying to reach the summit Ronin?” A voice asked.
The eevee turned to find a white fox standing behind it.  It’s nine, majestic tails were held just above the snow, gently moving in the slight breeze that was now picking up as snow gently began to fall once more.  Tails that held a vast magical power.  If touched purposely, these would cause a powerful curse to fall over the one who dared to touch one of the nine tails.
The pokémon’s flaming red eyes studied him with careful regard and years of knowledge.  Eyes that had seen more than their share of troubles and solutions over the years.  And yet, held a gentle understanding of those who it looked upon.
“No, I’m not thinking about that, Ninetails.” Ronin replied, “But I will say the future looks a lot better than it was.”
Ninetails looked off in the direction that Miyuko had left in, “So, you found a lover?”
“You could call her that.” Ronin shrugged, “I love her and she loves me.  But mostly, she could end up being my leader.”
“Ah, it looks like you have found another home.” Ninetails smiled, “I will say that I am proud of you Ronin.”
The eevee grinned, “Yeah.  It sure looks like it.”

Description
Six months later, Ronin had resettled near Mount Freeze.  Occasionally, He would return to the forest where he had trained to visit with Dragonair.  But today, he hadn’t come to see her.  Today he was hoping to find some supplies before heading out even farther south towards a dungeon that had just been discovered.
The eevee had heard about it from chatter around the town.  It sounded like somewhere he could go and get a little experience and training, so now he was searching for some of the seeds he had been fond of using.  But what he did find was something he hadn’t expected.
As he walked, Ronin heard the sound of rustling leaves.  Almost immediately, he turned to face it, fur raising to make himself appear more threatening.  His heart raced as the rustling grew louder as the thing approached him.  After his adrenaline had finished flooding into his system, the eevee launched himself at the bush and tackled something.
He pinned the opposing pokémon underneath him.  Now that his adrenaline was starting to leave his system, he realized who he had tackled.  Pinned under him, lying on her back was Miyuko!
“Ah hell!” Ronin thought as he immediately got off of her, “She’s going to be so angry with me for this.”
Oddly, Miyuko wasn’t mad at all.  She rolled over and got to her feet without a word.
“I’m so sorry.” Ronin apologized as he watched her, “Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m alright.” Miyuko replied, “Are you?”
Ronin nodded.  In his mind he already felt that it would be best for him to leave now before she recognized him.  Hopefully she wouldn’t see the scorch mark on his back from Moltres’s grip.
“I’d better get going.” Ronin said hesitantly as he turned away, “Again, I’m really sorry about tackling you.”
Just as he was about to run off, Miyuko asked, “Hey, aren’t you that eevee that got banished from Mount Blaze a while back?”
Ronin looked back and said, “No.  You must have me confused with someone else.”
“Odd.  If that’s not you, then why is there a scorch mark across your back and sides shaped like a talon?” Miyuko asked.
When Ronin froze suddenly, Miyuko knew she had the right eevee.  The espeon walked up to the eevee and examined him.  The black slash across his back and down both sides couldn’t be hidden, and Ronin knew it.
“I thought so.  Now tell me,” Miyuko said as she circled him, “what are you doing back in these parts?  I could have sworn Moltres told you to never return.”
“I try not to be noticed.” Ronin replied nervously.
Ronin felt uncomfortable for a couple of reasons.  One, She was right.  Ronin shouldn’t have been there.  Two, this was the first time he’d ever actually spoken to Miyuko.  The eevee had been hoping that he’d never lay eyes on the lovely espeon again.  And now here she was keeping him in one spot.  What was she doing?
“So why did you come back?” She asked.
“For supplies.” Ronin replied cautiously, “Why are you so curious?”
Miyuko gave a soft giggle, “Six months without any sign of a banished eevee who spent months trying to hide the fact that he was in love with me?  Why wouldn’t I be curious?”
Ronin’s mind froze.  She had known all along?  How?
“I can see this is news to you.” Miyuko said with a soft smile.
“B-but how did you know?” Ronin asked in shock.
“We females have our ways of knowing when a male likes us.” Miyuko replied with a mysterious look in her eyes.
Ronin looked away, hoping that he wasn’t showing his embarrassment. He felt ashamed of himself.  Here he was, a banished eevee who had been too afraid to even talk to Miyuko, now in her presence.  Ronin began wishing he’d never heard about the new dungeon.
Miyuko could easily see that Ronin was uncomfortable.  The truth was that Dragonair had told her after Ronin had left.  Dragonair had known that Ronin felt he had no chance of ever winning Miyuko over.  So, she had told the espeon about Ronin’s feelings.
Miyuko had always had feelings for Ronin as well, but she had been waiting for him to make a move first.  Instead, she now knew that the eevee had stayed away from her because of his fear of rejection.  Now that she had him alone for the first time, she wasn’t going to let the eevee go without finding out if he still cared for her.
“Look, I’d better get going.” Ronin said as he began to walk away.
As he did, he felt a paw on his back and heard, “Please, don’t go just yet.”
Ronin looked back to her and sighed, “Look, I really should go.  If Moltres finds out I’m anywhere near Mount Blaze I’m done for.”
“So we just don’t let it know.” Miyuko said softly, “Come on, there’s something I’d like to ask you about.”
Ronin knew he didn’t have any other options.  His ears lowered slightly in defeat as he followed Miyuko to the lakeside.
*           *          *
Miyuko laid down as Ronin sat by her side.  The eevee looked out over the placid waters as the espeon stretched and let her tail fall on his.
“So you say you came here for supplies.” She said, “Why?”
“Because it’s true.” Ronin replied, “A new dungeon opened up from a quake that occurred miles south of where I now live.”
“Where do you live?” Miyuko asked curiously.
“Ninetails was kind enough to let me live near Mount Freeze.” Ronin said.
He chuckled a little.
When he saw Miyuko’s confused look he said, “Ninetails actually wants me to try to climb to the summit sometime.  He’s almost the complete opposite of Moltres when it comes to me.”
“Sounds like you’ve got a good home now.” Miyuko smiled.
“Yeah.  It’s pretty good except for the cold.” Ronin replied.
Miyuko sat up, “So do you have a girlfriend?”
Ronin was startled by the sudden question.  He was hoping to avoid this question.
“N-no.” he replied nervously.
“You don’t sound very sure of yourself.” Miyuko said with a mysterious look.
Ronin looked away, his ears lowering in embarrassment, “No.  I don’t have one.  I’ve tried to avoid any chance of that.  I hurt Dragonair because of my stupidity and lost any chance of a relationship.  I don’t want to hurt anyone else like that again.”
“Well, it’s an admirable thought.” Miyuko replied as her tail gently intertwined with his, “But maybe you should consider giving it another try.”
Ronin felt her tail and asked, “But what about your boyfriend?”
Miyuko was a little confused at first, then realized he was talking about Nidorino.
“Oh, you mean Nido.” She laughed softly, “No, he’s not my boyfriend.  He’s my partner, but I’m still single.  Although you do seem like an interesting choice.”
Ronin looked to her, hesitation in his eyes.  Miyuko knew what the pokémon wanted, so she nuzzled him gently, her nose burying itself in his warm, furred cheek.
Ronin blushed slightly and she said, “You know, it was pretty interesting when you pinned me earlier.”
Ronin looked to the female espeon as she nodded, knowing what was on his mind.  Ronin tackled her, pinning Miyuko under him.  She smiled up at him and gave him a lick.  Ronin licked her back and laid down on her, their tails intertwining once more.
“Miyuko?”
“Yes Ronin?”
“I…I love you.”
“I love you too.”
*           *          *
Months later, Ronin was lying on a warm cushion, dreaming about Miyuko.  The two had been seeing each other at least once every few days.  Needless to say, they were now deeply in love.
Outside, the snow storm had slowed to the point where it was only lightly snowing with a chilling wind that ripped through the village every few hours.  Not many pokémon would brave this weather since the storm was predicted to strengthen again to blizzard conditions.
When a knocking sound came from the stone door outside his den, the eevee was startled out of his sleep.  He shook his head, uncurled himself, and walked to the entrance, pushing a large stone out of the way that prevented the cold wind from getting inside.  When he did finally get the stone to budge, a letter slipped inside, blown in from the wind.  On it was his name.
Curious, the eevee let the stone roll back into place and ripped open the envelope.  A letter fell to the floor and unfolded.

“Ronin, I have been doing a lot of thinking lately and the team and I have come to a decision.  We could use someone who has had experience in the cold weather.  Once they mentioned that, you popped into my mind immediately.  I know it’s pretty sudden and I want to give you time to think about it, but I’d like it if you would join us.  I’ll be awaiting your reply.
~Miyuko”

Ronin looked up from the letter and ran back to the entry.  After pushing aside the round rock he called a door, he walked out into the snow and looked around.  As usual, it was snowing lightly.  Snow flakes drifted down without care from the gray, cloudy sky above as a chilling wind ripped through the village.  A winter wonderland that he now called home.
But what got his attention was a purple, fox-like pokémon who was waiting outside; her soft coat speckled white from the gently falling snow.
“What took you?” Miyuko asked as Ronin ran over to her.
“If I didn’t have that stone blocking the wind and snow from getting in I would have been here faster.” Ronin replied as he nuzzled her warmly, “Would you like to come inside where it’s warm?”
Miyuko nodded as the eevee lead her back inside.
*           *          *
After shaking the snow off of his fur, Ronin lead Miyuko to the main room.  She sat down as he nosed some wood into a hole that lead to a shaft for the smoke to exit.
“So you really want me to join your team?” Ronin asked as he tossed in a blast seed and let a stone door fall between them and it.
An explosion echoed through the shaft as Miyuko nodded in reply.
“But what use would I be?” Ronin asked curiously as he lifted the stone to reveal a warm, roaring fire.
Miyuko lay down beside him and asked, “You know this type of area, right?”
“Somewhat.” Ronin answered, “Again I ask, what use would I be?”
“Like I said in the letter, Ronin.” She replied, “We need someone who’s used to this sort of weather to help us navigate it.”
“I guess so, but how would the others react?  I mean, I was banished.”
“I don’t think it will matter much to them really.” Miyuko replied, “I mean, you did save a torkal from a worse fate.”
Ronin nodded and curled up on the ground next to her.  Miyuko smiled and placed a paw on the black scorch mark on his back.  Ronin looked up to her.
“I think you did the right thing.” Miyuko said calmingly, “Even if you did get banished, you saved the life of a young torkal.  That’s what being on a rescue team is really about.”
“Getting banished?” Ronin asked.
Miyuko giggled softly, “No, saving lives and helping others.”
“I don’t know Miyuko.  I can’t go back, remember?  What if Moltres finds out?”
“We’ll protect you.”
“I don’t know.”
“Come on, you’d be a lot closer to me and Dragonair.”
“But what about-?”
“We can find you a place to live.”
“Yeah, but still…”
“I’ll even throw in something special.  Please Ronin?”
Ronin thought for a second.  As he did, Miyuko moved closer to the eevee, her tail gently intertwining with his.
“You do realize that taking me in would result in Moltres’s wrath, right?” Ronin asked.
“I know.” She replied softly, “But it’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
Ronin sighed, “And you’re not going to let me say ‘no’ are you?”
“Nope.” Miyuko replied, looking to him with a smile, “Once I see that we need someone, I don’t let go.”
Ronin sighed and looked to her, his eyes looking deeply into hers, “But what about the rest of the team?”
“I already talked to them about it.  A lot of them agreed that it was wrong for Moltres to banish you for saving a life.” Miyuko replied.
“I guess I could give it a shot.” Ronin said after a minute.
Miyuko smiled and licked his cheek, “Thank you Ronin.”
The eevee smiled back to her as she got to her feet.
“I’ll head back and tell the others.” Miyuko said as Ronin walked with her to the door.
Ronin nodded, “I’ll stay here where I’m safe until you call for me.”
Miyuko licked him again and he licked her back.
The eevee then rolled the stone door aside, but was met by a furious, howling wind and ice storm.  He immediately pushed the stone back into position.  The blizzard had returned in full force.
“May I offer you a place to rest for the night?” Ronin asked as he shook the ice and snow off.
“How bad is the weather?” Miyuko asked.
“Take a look.” He replied.
Ronin walked to a second stone and rolled it aside.  This one faced the same direction the blizzard was moving towards.  The snow and ice wouldn’t blow into this hole.
When he pushed it aside, Miyuko saw that the world outside was white with ice and snow.  She couldn’t see ten feet out from the hole, let alone get back home.  The eevee let the stone roll back into place.
“I guess I have no other option but to take you up on your offer.” Miyuko sighed, “I wouldn’t last long out there.”
“It’ll subside again by morning.” Ronin assured her, “Until then, I don’t know how long it will last.”
*           *          *
That night was spent next to the fire.  Miyuko and Ronin had cuddled together on the soft cushion.  Luckily, it was large enough for both of them.
The next morning, the blizzard had subsided once more.  The warm sun shone through a break in the clouds, reflecting its light off the newly fallen snow.  It was now that, after saying goodbye and a giving couple of licks, Miyuko headed back to her teams main base.
As Ronin watched her leave, he glanced up to Mount Freeze.  The storm clouds had already begun to roll back in from the opposite side of the mountain.  Within a few hours, the storm would return once more.
“Thinking of trying to reach the summit Ronin?” A voice asked.
The eevee turned to find a white fox standing behind it.  It’s nine, majestic tails were held just above the snow, gently moving in the slight breeze that was now picking up as snow gently began to fall once more.  Tails that held a vast magical power.  If touched purposely, these would cause a powerful curse to fall over the one who dared to touch one of the nine tails.
The pokémon’s flaming red eyes studied him with careful regard and years of knowledge.  Eyes that had seen more than their share of troubles and solutions over the years.  And yet, held a gentle understanding of those who it looked upon.
“No, I’m not thinking about that, Ninetails.” Ronin replied, “But I will say the future looks a lot better than it was.”
Ninetails looked off in the direction that Miyuko had left in, “So, you found a lover?”
“You could call her that.” Ronin shrugged, “I love her and she loves me.  But mostly, she could end up being my leader.”
“Ah, it looks like you have found another home.” Ninetails smiled, “I will say that I am proud of you Ronin.”
The eevee grinned, “Yeah.  It sure looks like it.”