Chapter 1

The winter's kiss chilled the forest area. The forest called Eterna. The trees and bushes covered in the frozen rain that fell the night before, no longer held their leaves, leaving them bare and naked. the ground held most of the snow as mounds bulged through the white fluff. The night was young and crisp. The air seemed sharp and still. Such a beautiful night. Most Pokémon of the forest were sleeping the season away. A small hole inside a hollowed tree made the perfect home for a small family of eevee. They slept soundly as the night carried on. A litter of newly hatched kits slept in the comfort of their mother's warmth. The mother was a beautiful Flareon. Her fur seemed to radiate her strength and displayed the most color of any in the forest. Her eyes, watching her precious kits dreams, went deep and burned with her love for them. There were only two remaining of her litter. Unfortunately the smallest one was lost three moons ago. The pain she endured from the loss only strengthened her love for her other kits. She shed warm tears for the memory as she nuzzled her kits. They moved and snuggled closer to her trying to stay warm. The fact that she was a Flareon only helped to keep her and her children warm. The winter would not the cause them to freeze. She silently thanked herself for making this choice when she evolved. Her name was Ryla.

The father was an Umbreon. He would usually leave at this time to find any remaining berries that hasn't been frozen by the chilled air. Though Ryla did rely on him for protection, especially now that they had children, Ryla understood that without food they would starve. She was a Flareon, so she would be the best answer for keeping the kits warm. Plus she was female. He wouldn't allow manual labor to be pushed onto her, even if he was sick. He told her that his guilt would never leave him alone if something happened to her.

"A Charizard may come along and think of you as a tasty snack." She remembered him saying.

"Oh Yumi. You worry too much." She thought to herself as a blushing smile spread on her face. she did appreciate the love he had for her and their kits. Without him, she wouldn't know where she would be.

Soon she grew tired and with a quiet yawn, she began to drift off. Her eyes closed and before she knew it, Yumi was nudging her softly.

"How are you, Ryla?" He asked whispering. Ryla yawned and looked at him. His yellow rings softly glowed, giving their small den a dim lighting.

"I'm fine. Did you find anything?" He nodded.

"Not much, but it should due for a few days." He looked to a corner that held a small pile of pecha berries. Ryla looked astounded.

"That many? That could last us for the rest of winter!" She said. Yumi smiled.

"Like I said, its not much." He said being modest. Ryla smiled. "How are the kits?"

"Sleeping soundly. Not even a peep." Ryla said as she looked down at them. She nuzzled them and softly licked their new fur.

"You made beautiful children Ryla." Yumi said full of pride. Ryla looked at him.

"We made beautiful children. You are their father as much as I am their mother." Yumi smiled and nodded. He looked closer at her and saw the tear stains on her cheeks.

"You've been crying." He said to her softly. She turned away. "I too grieve for our lost child. You don't have to hide that from me."

"I'm sorry Yumi. I just miss her so much.." She let more tears fall and he nuzzled her affectionately.

"I do too. I wish we could still have her, but Arceus had a better place for her. We can only pray that she is at peace. We still have her in our hearts, and thats all that counts." Ryla began to sniffle. Her tears fell over her two kits. Yumi leaned in and licked them off of her cheeks.

"I promise to love our children and I will always protect them. I will lay my life down for them." Ryla vowed. Yumi sat over his family, tall and proud.

"As do I." he swore. Ryla saw the intensity in is his eyes. She saw that look all the time when they were eevee kits. Even when there was danger near, he never left her side. He would stare down even strong enemies to protect her. Now that they were mates, that trait was even stronger, and he meant every word of it.

Yumi then went over to the berry pile and brought Ryla one over. He set it down in front of her. She quickly ate it and invited him to lay next to her. Yumi found a comfortable spot and layed by her. She nuzzled him and he returned the gesture.

"Good night, Yumi. I love you."

"I love you too. Sleep well."