Author's Note: I had planned to put some of Eve's past in this chapter, but it's going to end up in the next chapter I guess. Anyway, the big change I was talking about is finally here! Sorry for all of you who thought the old version was better, but I came up with a much better ending for the story than there had been before. There are a few shifts in third person, but they shouldn't be that hard, since there isn't any first person views. I guess the all-encompassing viewpoints of the third person perspective is why I like writing in it so much. Maybe I'll try first person one day. I suspect there being only one more chapter for me before I reach the point I had reached before, so yay! -EeveeInHeat

Poll: Another poll is now up! After the last poll, the selection is now down to two different stories, which I listed and explained. It is a blind poll for a few reasons: no biased answers, only I'll know which is ahead at any time, and it makes the running that much more intense! Anyway, choose and choose carefully!

Silver

- Chapter 15: The Question -

Silver glanced back once more to make sure Eve was lying down and resting. She was still curled up, her sides rising and falling softly as she rested. Silver had insisted that she rest after the battle with the Houndour, knowing that it would be bad for her when she was just recovering from her sickness.

After a few more seconds, he tore his gaze away and stepped outside. The snow was trampled all around the entrance when the Houndour had been thrown up. Silver looked around cautiously, but saw no signs of the intruder anywhere. Finally accepting that the brute was gone, he left out a sigh of relief.

Getting back to his objective, Silver started out in a more or less random direction. He shivered as the softened snow allowed him to sink deeper, each step almost a leap now just to press on. His muscles protested the hard work it took going forward, still sore from the hard fight he had had. The snow was now almost coming to his neck, making him worry that it might be too hard to travel soon. Hopefully it would warm just enough to melt the snow, or get cold enough to harden it so he didn't sink.

After a few days of gathering, the nearby berry bushes had been picked of any good fruit, and it took a few minutes before Silver spotted another mound covered by snow. Bounding over to the mound, he quickly pawed the snow away to uncover a large Pomeg berry bush. He smiled slightly as he saw that most of the berries were still good and not frostbitten.

Without his leaf in his possession anymore, Silver snapped off a few branches of the thick, red berries and held them high and tightly in his jaws to keep them out of the snow. As he started walking, he realized the soreness in his limbs was leaving as his legs became numb from the cold, which also numbed the slight pain he was still feeling.

As he trudged through the high snow, he focused on getting the food back and resupplying the stockpile. He knew that the situation was bad, though he hoped that Eve hadn't caught on. When so little time to gather food, there was little chance to get enough provisions for the rest of winter before frost completely set in and destroyed the last of the berries. Depression tried to weigh down his mind at the seemingly impossible task of gathering berries.

But then his thoughts turned to Eve, and he instantly pushed the depression away. Eve needed him now. She was still recovering from the cold, and she didn't seem to know as much about the wild. He needed to stay strong and try his hardest to help her.

Silver shook his head to clear it as he realized he had been mindlessly walking and he was now back at the den. Sliding into the burrow, he placed the few branches on the new berry spot. Checking on Eve, he found that she was still curled up away facing the wall. He paused again to watch her, before he went outside and headed toward the Pomeg berry bush again.

Before he had gone a few steps, his steps returned to Eve. How would he be able to tell her his feelings? He had hoped that she might do or say something that would make him less apprehension about telling her, but he still wasn't certain how she felt. Could he really take a rejection of his feelings? Would he ever gather the courage to risk telling her at all? Besides, they were in a tight situation at the moment; he shouldn't be complicating the situation even more.

Also, there was one more small thing that was bugging him, though he didn't like to admit it. He had been unable to stop that Houndour. If it wasn't for Eve, that Houndour would most likely have killed him. While he had struggled against the Houndour, Eve had wiped it away easily. He didn't believe in the whole male stronger than female thing, but his father had always bred into him, both by lessons and example, that the male should be able to protect the female and keep her safe. He had been unable to do either. Did that mean he shouldn't try to be Eve's mate? If he couldn't keep her safe, what use would he be?

He paused as he realized something. They were in a tight situation, one they might not live through. He might not have many chances to tell her his feelings. One thing he didn't want to do was live this world thinking 'what if?' Finally making up his mind, Silver starting thinking of when a good moment would be when he could tell her. However, he would still focus on finding a good moment to train, probably once the berries had died off and he didn't need to gather anymore. He needed to get stronger and be a more able mate.

Silver continued, his demeanor much different now that he had removed his worry. He felt lighter and happier than he had been in a long time. Now that he wasn't worrying, his carefree nature made everything appear different with his mind made up. He barely even felt the cold as he continued heading to the berry bush.

Silver was so enthralled in his carefree state, that he didn't notice the obstacle in his way until he ran nose first into it. The sudden impact made Silver fall back onto his haunches, his nose smarting. Silver instinctively started to rub his nose with a paw, only to quickly stop as his snow covered paw chilled him. His nose still hurting a little, Silver got up and shook off the snow that gotten on him.

Glancing up to see what he had ran into, Silver froze as he realized the obstacle was not an object, but rather a Pokemon. The Pokemon was slightly larger than him and was also a quadruped. Its orange pelt was covered in black markings on its back and legs. Cream colored fur covered its muzzle and came down to cover its underbelly as well, with a swab of hair on its head and a tail to match. The Pokemon seemed to naturally radiate heat off of it as Silver could feel it even from a few feet away. The Growlithe had a large grin plastered on its face, making Silver relax when he realized it didn't seem angry.

"Sorry about that," Silver apologized, not making eye contact.

"That's alright, no harm done," the Growlithe said. Without another word, it walked away, the snow easier to traverse with its slightly larger limbs and the heat softening the surrounding snow. It shivered slightly, but continued on away from Silver.

Silver watched it for a moment, before shaking his head and continuing on to the bush, this time watching where he was going. He soon fell into a routine of just making trips from the bush to the den, still wondering about when the best time would be to tell Eve.

(0)

Eve stayed curled up, her thoughts drifted as she rested. She felt guilty just lying here while Silver went out into the cold to gather food for both of them. She might have been a captured Pokemon, but she knew the berries would be dying off from the cold. They needed to gather food soon, but Silver was still insisting on her staying here.

Did he care so much because he liked her? Or would he do this for any friend? Was he trying to show that he liked her as well? Without knowing how he would act with his old friends, she was unsure.

However, she was growing more and more sure that she had feelings for him. He took care of her, provided food for her, and had been the one to find their shelter. In her mind, that would be what she would want in a mate, a caring Pokemon. Would he want to become her mate someday?

But she knew she was just setting herself up if he wouldn't come with her and her trainer. Would she have to end up choosing between them, her loving trainer or her good friend?

How could she be sure he returned her feelings? She didn't know how wild Eevee showed that kind of affection. Was he actually trying to show her and she wasn't realizing it? How could she be sure?

Eve sighed quietly. She then paused as she realized there was one thing she could be sure of. She could ask him if he would come with her. If he did, then would that mean he was willing to give up his freedom from the wild to be with her? If he didn't, then would that mean he was just a good friend wanting to help her?

Finally, she made up her mind on what she would do. She would decide to tell him her feelings depending on his answer. Now all she needed was a good opportunity to tell him.

Yawning, Eve uncurled from her position, tired of just staying still. She needed to do something, something that would help Silver. Looking around, she saw the blackened remains of the old berry pile. Getting up, Eve started to sweep the ashes and remains over into a much more compact spot near the wall, more out of sight from others.

She was almost finished when Silver came down, another load of berries in his jaws. He quickly put them down on the new pile when he saw her up. "How are you feeling?" he asked, coming over to her.

"I'm feeling okay," Eve said, hoping he wouldn't mind her helping.

"Good. I'll go gather some more berries," Silver said, exiting the den again.

Eve quickly finished pushing the remains away, making the den appear much more attractive than before. Shaking off the little dust clinging to her tail, Eve headed over to the berry pile. She quickly began removing the berries from the branches, putting the branches over with the others that had luckily been away from the fire. As she did the small task to help as much as she could, Eve wondered when she would be able to ask him her question.

(0)

By the time Silver had stripped the large bush of its still ripe berries, the sun was starting to set. Silver shook the snow off his pelt before going into the den with the last load for the day. Putting the berry branches down on the pile, he saw that Eve was still stripping the berries off and placing the berries in a neat pile, pushing the branches off into the stick pile.

As Silver sat down and began helping Eve finish the task, he looked at the berry pile and allowed a little pride to enter him. The pile, though almost completely made of Pomeg, was already half as large as his previously accumulated stockpile. Looking at the achievement, Silver felt a true glimmer of hope that they would make it through the winter.

They had just finished pulling the berries off when Silver's stomach growled its status of emptiness. Silver blushed a little as Eve giggled next to him. Though he knew he could easily eat more from his appetite, he only picked the amount he knew he needed. They ate in silence, though they stayed closed enough for their pelts to touch slightly.

As Eve finished her last berry, she gave a small yawn. Heading over to her usual spot, she curled up, instantly glancing at Silver to see if he would come over. She smiled slightly as he laid down next to her. She wondered briefly if she should ask now, but pushed it away for later on. Closing her eyes, she soon fell asleep.

Silver watched her gentle, sleeping form for a few seconds before he mentally bit himself. He had forgotten to tell Eve about his feelings. Promising himself to do it tomorrow, Silver closed his eyes and tried to sleep. As he slowly fell asleep, he wondered what she would say.

(0)

Silver woke up early as normal, the darn light barely filtering in through the small entrance tunnel. Eve was still sleeping calmly next to him, her soft breathing matching the gentle rise and fall of her body. Silver stayed still beside her, briefly wondering if he should wait for her to wake and tell her now. He was glad to note, though, that her temperature back to normal, her fever gone.

Silver was still deciding on if he should, when he noticed the light strengthening. He would have to leave to gather berries soon. Silver eased himself up, but the movement still woke Eve. She got up, yawning as she awoke.

"Good morning, Silver," she murmured, blinking the sleep from her eyes.

"Good morning, Eve," Silver responded, getting up.

"Wait, uh, Silver?" Eve started hesitantly, making him pause. "C-can I please go out and help now?" she asked, looking down at her paws.

Silver opened his mouth to answer, but paused. He knew Eve was pretty much recovered from the sickness, but he also didn't want to make her work. If anything, he wanted to go out of his way so that she didn't have to. However, she had sounded almost desperate with her question. Why would she want to help so much? Silver mentally bit himself as he realized that Eve must be feeling like a burden at the moment.

"Okay. You're fever is gone, so you should be fine," Silver said.

Eve let out a sigh, instantly perking up. She really must have been feeling like a burden then. He should pay more attention to her feelings.

Silver exited out into the snow, pausing near the entrance for Eve to come out. Choosing another random direction, Silver started off, Eve staying right by his side. Eve pressed against him slightly as they walked through the deep snow. Though his she was probably doing it for warmth, he much more enjoyed the feel of her fur instead.

Eve watched as Silver's breath billowed out in front of him while he looked around for a possible mound of snow that could be a berry bush. Eve stayed beside him, not knowing fully what to do yet. However, she was determined to learn in order to help in any way. She didn't want to force Silver to do everything.

As she stayed next to Silver, she thought again about the question she had. Would now be a good time? Or should she not interrupt him? However, the question was itching at her pelt, almost begging to be asked now.

Switching her attention back to Silver, she saw that he was now looking at his paws, as though thinking about something. Taking the chance now that he wasn't looking around, Eve finally decided to ask.

"Silver?"

"Eve?"

They both paused as they realized they had spoken at the same time. "G-go ahead," Silver prompted nervously, looking away.

"Well, uh," Eve started, feeling nervous herself. "I-I know you don't like trainers, but . . . I . . . I want to know if you'll come with me when we find my trainer," she finally said, the last part coming out slightly rushed.

Silver paused, not expecting that question. His mind raced, at first telling him yes, and then telling him no. Of course he would want to go with her; this was what he was wanting. But then another thought struck him; what if she didn't like him the same way? Could he really be around her after that?

Unable to decide what to do at the moment, he finally just asked, "C-can I have some time to think about it?"

Eve looked both relieved, and yet disappointed at his answer. "Y-yeah," she said, looking down at her feet.

How would he be able to choose until he knew how she felt about him? He then realized that he would have to tell her in order to answer her question. However, even though he had just worked up the courage to do so, the sudden question had both destroyed the moment and his courage, leaving him way too nervous to ask now. He would have to try again later.

All Silver could think about was that question as he started to look around just from habit. Would he ever find the courage to tell her?