Author's Note: This was one hard chapter to write, trying to stop at a certain point and yet keep it a decent length. And then I tore it completely apart, redid it, and found it way too easy to write a decent length chapter. After looking at it and getting a sudden burst of inspiration, I changed the whole first part and have now written the first scene so far from Eve's perspective. While thinking of how to improve the story, I thought that a stronger connection to Eve was needed, and realized that to really understand her thinking, I needed to show her perspective; so this chapter is the first to have that. Anyway, the ending isn't that far away, at least in my mind, so I'm beginning to think about which of my several ideas to pursue next, since I'm only working on two stories max at one time. It going to be a hard choice on which of the three main ones I'm thinking about . . . So, make sure to answer my poll if you care what story I do! Now that you listened to that long author's note, on to the story! -EeveeInHeat

Silver

- Chapter 12: The River -

Silver really wasn't sure what direction they were headed, he just made sure they were going in a straight path. Since he wasn't sure where their destination was, directions really didn't matter. They just had to keep moving.

They hadn't started walking through the forest long before it began to snow. The small, white flakes drifted down, melting as they landed on the ground and on their pelts. As the snow continued to fall, the temperature started to lower. It wasn't long before the air had turned the ground cold enough that the falling snow began to collect.

As they walked on through the weather, Eve continued to lean on Silver slightly. She was both physically and mentally tired and was grateful that he was allowing her to borrow his shoulder. However, she was even more grateful that he was even there, still helping her. She still could barely believe that he had left his family behind just to help her.

As the snow covered the ground, they began to leave behind small pawprints in the snow that were slowly erased. Soon, the snow was collecting enough that they were starting to pad on top of the soft substance. The trees passed by, slowing growing white, as they walked in one direction, though Eve wasn't sure where they were going.

As the temperature went even lower, Eve began to shiver a little, though she tried to hide it from Silver. However, Silver had seen it and put his tail over her, gently pulling her closer and sharing his body heat, while at the same time keeping the cold snow from landing on her. Eve smiled slightly as his fur brushed up against her. The cold atmosphere seemed to force them silent, though it was a silence Eve enjoyed with Silver next to her and a moment to think.

After a while of walking through the whitening land, the light began to darken, signifying the sun setting. Silver started to turn a little when they noticed the time, though Eve didn't question why. Soon, Silver led her to a snow laden bush, and she saw that there were several large pink berries growing on the bush. She remembered that Silver had told her they were Pecha berries.

Eve smiled slightly as Silver picked a few and gave them to her before getting his own. The silence continued as they ate. They kept pressed against each other to ward off the worst of the cold, Silver's tail still posed to keep most of the snow off Eve. Eve still wondered how he could be so kind to her without her doing anything, but was too tired to ask him.

When they were done, Silver started looking around the area, while Eve simply stayed next to him, her eyelids started to droop as she held back a yawn. After a little searching, Silver slowly got up, Eve quickly following, and started leading her over to the spot.

"Eve?" Silver began.

"Hmm?" Eve murmured sleepily, unable to fully open to her eyes.

Silver glanced back at her as she gave her sleepy reaction. "I know you want to find your trainer soon, but with winter coming, it's going to be hard to just keep traveling. Would it be okay to start looking for a place to wait out the weather tomorrow?" Silver suggested.

She nodded a little, letting her eyes fully close. For some reason, she didn't really mind if they stopped searching for a little. Besides, she owed him still for coming with her.

"Here; we'll rest here for tonight," she heard him say as he came to a halt.

Eve opened her drowsy eyes to see a small spot in between a few roots of a stout tree. The spot was bare of any snow, proving it was a good enough shelter for at least the night. As tired as she was, though, she wasn't being too picky at the moment.

Eve pulled away from Silver to curl up on the ground to one side. Eve paused a moment as her sensitive belly touched the ground, but did her best to ignore it. Silver laid down next to her, also hesitating a little. Eve shivered slightly from the chill of the night, but stopped as Silver timidly placed his tail over her to help. Unsure if it was okay, she scooted slightly closer to him until their pelts once again touched, calmly as he didn't stop her.

Eve had never lived in the wild, but was raised with her trainer. Eve never knew what to do around Silver, who had been raised a wild Eevee. While she always slept near her trainer, she didn't know if that was appropriate between Eevee in the wild. Did the gesture hold more meaning out here? What about leaning against him as they walked, or other small things that she did? However, she trusted that Silver would tell her, knowing that he would help guide her. Silver never told her no or protested, but she still wondered when he became slightly awkward or became embarrassed.

As Eve felt sleep start to come on her, her thoughts turned to Silver. After everything she had gone through in her time at that island place, he had come and been a true friend, sacrificing even his family to help her. Eve glanced at Silver, and smiled slightly at his sleeping form. He treated her so nice.

Maybe . . . maybe he'll come with me when we find my trainer, she wondered for a second, before pushing it away. After all the experiences with humans he's had, he'll never want a trainer, Eve thought depressingly, sighing sadly. Will our friendship end when we find him? She hoped not. Her trainer and Silver were the only friends she had ever had. Would she have to choose between them?

Her heart heavy with the possibility, Eve fell into an uneasy sleep.

(0)

Silver woke up feeling frozen. Light was just appearing with dawn, allowing him to see the small cloud that appeared as he breathed out. Raising his head slightly, his ears twitched as he felt a little snow fall off him. The area they had stayed in had stopped most of the snow, but they were still lightly covered in the white element.

Silver flicked his tail behind them, throwing off the snow that was on it, before replacing it over Eve's side. Even pressed together, he was starting to shiver slightly. They would need to find a more permanent shelter soon.

He looked at Eve's sleeping form and sighed as he once again thought about how he felt about her. He was sure that he loved her, but how did she feel about him? What would happen if she didn't like him the same way when he told her? When would he tell her how he felt? He wanted to tell her how he felt, but he didn't know what he would do if she didn't return his feelings. He might lose the trust he had worked for as their friendship stopped. He might lose the comfortableness he had around her, instead having an awkwardness that wouldn't be able to be undone. Silver sighed again. Maybe he could watch and see if she did anything to say that she liked him.

Laying his head back down with one more sigh, he waited for Eve to awake. After a little, Eve suddenly shivered slightly before scooting tighter against him. Silver blushed a little, but saw that Eve was still sleeping. The sun was just starting to rise over the trees when Eve finally woke up. She blushed when she realized how close they were and pulled away some, leaving Silver wondering how to interpret that.

Now that she was up, Silver stood up and shook himself to shake off the snow that was still on him. When Eve had done the same, Silver started toward the small berry they had been at before. The snowfall last night had made a layer of snow that was a few inches high. Eve came up next to him and leaned against him like before. Silver plucked a few more berries of the bush, and they crouched down to eat the small breakfast.

Once Silver was sure Eve had had her fill, he got up and starting leading her in the direction they had been going. He kept glancing around for a possible den or burrow they could use. Unfortunately, any ones that he saw were being used already by other Pokemon.

As Silver kept looking, snow began to fall once again. Silver's already numb feet just continued on through the new snow. Tentatively, Silver put his tail over Eve again. Eve pressed closer to him as she noticed. Silver once again wondered if this meant anything.

The snowflakes started falling faster, quickly building up on the snow already on the ground. Silver's vision was slightly limited now, the sun hidden by clouds not helping. Silver concentrated his fogging breath upward as they went, hoping to warm up his freezing nose. They needed some shelter soon.

Silver stopped as they came up on something different. In front of them, there was a wide river, a layer of ice over it. Silver could barely see the water churning under the ice from the white frost that was on top. On the other side of the river, the white forest continued on.

Turning, Silver started leading Eve alongside the river. The faint sound of water could be heard from the river. He kept an eye out for any places they might be able to stay, but there were none that weren't already occupied. With the weather, most Pokemon would be bunkering down, trying to keep warm. All the Pokemon around here had been preparing for a while for winter. Even his family had been getting ready when he had been taken.

As they went, Silver began to slowly lose hope. The chances of them finding a den or such during the winter were slim at most, but it appeared as though there wasn't one in the whole forest. Eve stayed silent beside him, and he wondered what she was thinking. Was she losing hope as well?

His breath billowing, Silver diverted from the river to look further in the forest for a possible den. Eve still stayed silent and simply stayed by his side, shivering slightly as the temperature continued to drop. Silver's eyes darted from one tree to another, but none were showing signs of a possible refuge.

Sliver's head swiveled around as he heard snow crunching nearby. A little away, a strange Pokemon Silver had never seen before was nosing through some of the snow. It looked like a small Stantler, though it had a yellow flower instead of antlers. The Pokemon had a dull gray pelt with a pale face and underbelly.

Silver paused in decision. The Pokemon might be aggressive, but it also might be willing to help. Also, it was the only Pokemon Silver had seen so far that hadn't been in its den. Finally choosing, Silver stepped toward it, about to call out. However, it jerked its head up and noticed him as his foot came down. Before he could say a word, the Pokemon bounded away through the snow with its long legs.

Sighing, Silver continued on in his search. If it wasn't for the silent encouragement he felt from Eve being next to him, he wasn't sure he would have continued. However, Eve's presence next to him was a constant reminder that he had to go on if they were going to find somewhere to stay.

But even with Eve right next to him, he wasn't sure much farther he would be able to go. His legs were starting to ache even while being numb from the ever rising snow. The snow had risen another few inches, almost reaching his belly. The cold air seemed to sting his lungs as he breathed it in. Even sharing each other's body heat, both of them were beginning to shiver.

After a while, Silver was sure that there were no burrows left on this side of the river that were empty. However, there was a possibility on the other side of the river still. The ice covering the river had looked strong enough for them to cross. Maybe there was a den being unused on the other side. There really was no point staying on this side any more anyway. However, he wasn't a good swimmer and didn't know if Eve knew how to swim at all. If they fell in, it could be terrible.

There were two other possibilities, though. They could head back to his family's den, or they could try to find someone who was willing to let them stay. Silver threw out the idea of returning to his family immediately. Eve would be way too uncomfortable, and he didn't want to have to deal with his mother again. However, trying to find help was a possibility.

Choosing quickly, Silver led Eve toward one of the burrows nearby. As the others, this one was occupied by other Pokemon. As Silver and Eve got close, a pink Pokemon popped out of the entrance and took an aggressive stance. By the large ears and horn on its forehead, Silver was able to tell it was a male Nidoran.

"What do you want?" the Nidoran asked gruffly.

"W-we were looking f-for some shelter, and-" Silver began.

"No," the Nidoran replied flatly. He turned to go back in, purposefully kicking some snow with its foot and hitting Silver in the face.

Silver felt both mad and flustered that, but held them back, knowing it wouldn't help. Turning, Silver led Eve to another burrow nearby that was occupied. As before, a Pokemon came up before Silver could get too close. The small purple Rattata didn't appear to be as aggressive as the Nidoran, but it still didn't appear happy.

"What do you want? It's too cold to stay out her long," it said, shivering slightly.

"W-we were looking for some shelter, and . . ." Silver drifted off, unsure how to continue.

The Rattata sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry, but our den doesn't have a lot of room to begin with. Besides, we don't have any food to spare," it said.

"Oh," Silver murmured, not having thought of that.

"Well, I hope you find something," the Rattata said, before heading back into his den.

Siler sighed. Trying to find someone to let them stay wasn't going to work. No one could spare food during winter and most Pokemon made burrows large enough only for themselves. They were going to have to do something else.

Making up his mind, he led Eve back toward the river. When they got back, Silver studied it once again. The ice appeared thick, though he wasn't able to see the other side as clearly. The ice was still frosted, but Silver could see the water moving about under the ice. The snow was piled on either side, as though not willing to land on the ice itself.

Eve didn't say anything about coming back to the river. Either she had come to the same conclusion that they needed to cross, or she just trusted him that much. Silver was silently hoping that it was because she just trusted him enough.

Silver reached down and hesitantly put a paw on the ice. He flinched and drew his paw back as the cold of the ice stung even his numb paw. Gritting his teeth, Silver pressed his paw back down on the ice. He pushed on it several times, but the ice didn't give any.

Holding Eve back with his tail, Silver slowly stepped fully onto the ice. Other than his paws going completely numb from the freezing ice, nothing happened. The ice was solid under his paws, though a little slippery. Concentrating on his footing, Silver reached forward with a paw and stepped forward. Once again, the ice held, showing it was solid.

Silver motioned for Eve to come with a gentle nudging from his tail. Eve stepped slowly onto the ice. When she had gotten fully onto the iced river, she pressed against him. When he went to step forward again, she copied him. Her paw slipped as she put it down and she began to fall, but Silver held her until she got her footing again.

Slowly, they began to make progress across the river. Silver made sure to test his steps each time, pausing to watch Eve as she stepped forward. Soon, they were making it past the hallway part. Silver's tense muscles relaxed slightly as they began to make their way toward the closing in bank on the other side.

Suddenly, time seemed to slow as a loud crack rang through the air. The sound lasted less than a second, yet continued to ring in Silver's ears. The sound seemed to paralyze both Silver and Eve where they were, unable to move as fear shot through them. All the other noises and sounds nearby fell silent, as though waiting for what was about to happen.

A crackling sound suddenly came, snapping and popping as it seemed to get louder. Snapping out of his petrified state, Silver turned to grab Eve and jump to the bank. However, as he turned, the ice split under Eve. In an instant, Eve disappeared under the water into the churning river.