Author's Note: Surprise, everyone! In rereading this story recently, I felt that the pacing of events from chapter to chapter didn't feel quite right around this spot. I felt that an extra chapter would help things flow more smoothly, and I had a few extra ideas for world building I had come up with in the meantime as well. So, enjoy this extra chapter!

For legacy readers: Please keep any spoilers from future chapters out of the comments for this one.

For new readers: Though this is labelled as "14.5", it's not half a chapter. It's a full-length chapter, I just didn't feel like renumbering all the others.

Chapter 14.5 - Staying Warm in Winter

Roxy yawned and slowly opened her eyes. The bleary, dim light of an overcast dawn greeted her, signaling the start of another winter's day. She could already feel the harsh chill of the air and snuggled herself under the blanket that had been so graciously donated to her. Leaves, vines and grasses woven together would never compare to the toasty feeling of being underneath a heavy human-made blanket, but it definitely helped.

She smiled softly to herself as she also snuggled closer to her other source of warmth. In other circumstances she might have felt embarrassed about sleeping under the same blanket with another Pokémon, one who was the same species as her and a male to boot, but the warmth he provided overrode any other feelings on the matter.

About a week had passed since she had first complained about the cold and, through sheer stubbornness, she had managed to somewhat get used to it. The biting cold no longer made her feel like a block of ice that couldn't even move, but the chilly outside air was far from comfortable. Without a winter coat of fur, she had to rely on other means to keep warm.

Roxy giggled softly to herself and leaned over to give Makari a little kiss on the cheek. She was so grateful that she and Makari had started sharing their affections for one another, since it meant Makari could snuggle her every night and keep her warm. Then again, Makari was so wonderful and nice that he probably would have done it anyway even if she didn't have such a huge crush on him.

Her heart swelled and heat rose to her own cheeks, almost enough to drive off the cold entirely.

"Good morning, Roxy," he spoke without opening his eyes.

"Heh…Sorry, did I wake you?" she asked.

Makari's eyes gently opened and gazed right into her own. That familiar warm smile appeared on his muzzle. "I do not mind. It is a wonderful way to wake up."

"I don't wanna wake up though," she playfully complained, "You're sooo warm and it's almost comfortable here!"

Chuckling softly, Makari leaned in to nuzzle her. "It is so wonderful to see you in good spirits again," he commented, "I am so glad to see your smile."

Roxy blushed and replied, "Y-yeah… I know I've said this like a million times already, but…Thanks for being there with me. The whole time."

"I am always happy to stay by your side. Whenever you need me, I shall be there."

Her blush intensified. "Oh my gosh, Makari. You're so wonderful. What did I do to deserve someone as amazing as you?"

Makari gently shook his head, a slight rosy blush of his own adorning his cheeks. "What can I say?" he replied, "You have captured my heart."

Roxy could practically feel the cartoon-style hearts floating above her head. Without even a second thought, she leaned in and locked lips with the other Pikachu, and the two shared a short but passionate kiss. When they separated, leaving her panting lightly, she felt herself swoon. "By Arceus' grace," she said, "You're so handsome."

"And your beauty is beyond compare," he replied without hesitation.

"Makari…"

He then cleared his throat and said, "We really should get up, as unfortunate as I must admit that is. The day shall begin before long."

Roxy's heart sank a little. It wasn't because of the fact that they had to get up, but moreso the fact that she would have to leave the little bundle of warmth she was currently cocooned in. "It's gonna be another cold one," she remarked, "Can I borrow your winter coat?"

Makari chuckled mirthfully. "If I could, I absolutely would." He then stretched and sat himself up, shifting the blanket over to Roxy. He yawned briefly and then stood up. The Pikachu glanced around idly for a moment, looking like he was still not quite fully awake.

After a moment, he stopped and focused on one particular spot. His head was tilted upwards slightly and a look of confusion appeared on his face. Roxy was about to ask him what he was looking at when suddenly Makari gasped and a look of concern flashed across his face. He even stepped back in surprise.

Roxy was on alert immediately. "What?" she blurted she sat up suddenly, no longer concerned about the cold, "What is it? What's wrong?"

However, by the time she had gotten the words past her lips, Makari had already calmed down. His brief look of fright had passed and now he was chuckling softly to himself. He glanced over at Roxy and said, "I am sorry, Roxy. I did not mean to startle you. Nothing is wrong."

Hearing his calm tone of voice instantly relaxed her, although Roxy couldn't help but tilt her head in confusion. "What happened?" she asked, "What did you think it was?"

"I thought the roof was about to collapse."

A full beat of silence passed, and then Roxy looked up at the ceiling of the hut above her. "…Huh?!" she eventually stammered.

"See, I saw the struts sagging," Makari explained, "I thought it was about to come down because I had not fully shaken off my sleep yet. Not to worry, though, I now realize what has occurred and there is no cause for alarm."

Roxy continued to look up at the roof in bewilderment. At first the roof of leaves and wood looked the same as it always did, just as solid and able to somehow keep the rain out entirely. The more she gazed, though, the more she did notice that certain parts did seem slightly lower than before. She endured a brief spike of panic at the thought of the roof actually collapsing, and then turned to the other Pikachu. "Well…what is it, then?"

Makari chuckled again and flashed her an enigmatic grin. Instead of answering, he walked over to the hut's doorway and reached out to the hanging leaves that covered the entrance. "See for yourself," was all he said before parting the leaves and opening up a view to the outside world.

A wave of cold air rushed inside, but Roxy barely noticed. She gasped in surprise, her eyes opening wide as she beheld the limited view she could see through the doorway. The village outside, the home of the Thunder Clan, looked remarkably different than it had ever been seen before.

"It…snowed," she commented in a soft voice.

Makari nodded. "There is snow on the roof," he explained, "That is why the struts sag, but they were built to hold snow and remain sturdy."

Roxy didn't reply. She was too busy staring spellbound at the sight of the freshly fallen snow. The ground outside was covered in a smooth, sparkling layer of untouched snow. The low branches of the trees were dusted in a somewhat thick white frosting, and there was snow accumulated on the roofs of the huts she could see. It was almost a picture-perfect example of freshly-fallen snow, and it looked absolutely beautiful.

So beautiful that she almost didn't notice how cold it was.

"Yes, we usually get exactly one heavy snowfall like this per winter," Makari explained, "It often lightly snows again and again, but in those cases not much remains on the ground."

"Wow…" Roxy whispered.

"Do you enjoy the snow?" he asked.

Roxy remained spellbound for a few more moments before she finally shook her head and refocused on Makari. "Uh…Yeah, kinda," she answered, "Usually I have warm clothes, though. It's really pretty to look at, and there's some fun stuff to do in the snow, but mostly I like to stay inside where it's warm and just look at it."

"Heh…" Makari chuckled, "I think many of our brethren would prefer to do as such, but life must go on in the village."

"Gosh, it really is pretty, though," Roxy remarked.

"Indeed, I agree," Makari said with a nod. He then let the leaves cover up the door again and said, "Well then, time for breakfast?"

Roxy forced herself to wake up and got up off of the bedding, though she kept the leafy blanket wrapped around her like a robe. Makari retrieved a bunch of berries from somewhere and brought them over to her. He handed her an Aspear and a Rawst, which she gratefully accepted. She was a tad disappointed that none of the berries were Leppas this time around, but she would never dare voice this to Makari. She was raised to not be a picky eater after all.

It was just before the two had finished breakfast that Roxy heard the sound of someone trudging through the heavy snow towards the hut. "Makari?" a voice called in as the leaves were parted and a familiar head poked in.

"Good morning, Taka," Makari greeted his brother. Roxy glanced up at the other Pikachu as well, and saw Taka wearing his familiar expression that made it appear like something in some way was always irritating him. There was some snow stuck to the fur on his lower half.

Taka looked over at Makari and simply said, "Inform the pet that training is cancelled today. Too much snow to sufficiently practice any techniques." Then, before either of them could answer, he was gone.

Roxy pouted and half-glared at the empty doorway. "I'm right here, y'know," she said to the no-longer-present Taka.

"Ah, do not pay him any mind," Makari said, redrawing her attention, "Focus on the positives instead."

She brightened up a little and nodded. "Yeah, that's good. To be honest, I actually was wondering if training in the snow would even be a good idea and I was kinda worried about it."

"We do train for combat in the snow, just in case it is needed," Makari explained, "but that is reserved mostly for more experienced warriors."

"Yeah, I'd imagine that would make fighting more difficult…" Roxy mused softly as she finished off the last of her berry, "But, either way, I'll happily take a day off. Even if it's too cold to enjoy."

"Oh come now," Makari said, "I am sure we can find a way to enjoy it."

Roxy giggled. "I know, I'm just joking." She smiled at him and added, "If it's a day with you, I'll enjoy it."

She saw him blush a little. "You are very sweet."

Silence then fell between the two for a moment. With both of their breakfasts finished, Roxy found herself gazing quietly at Makari. She was once again taken by just how handsome he looked, and her heart started to flutter. Roxy had spent so much time with him and she knew so much about him. From physical details like the wild way his fur was naturally styled and his sparkling hazel eyes, to his inner details like his endlessly caring personality and calming aura. Still, though, she couldn't help but gaze at him and drink in the appealing sight of her strong, brave warrior Pikachu companion. She idly realized that he was doing the same to her.

Her eyes focused in on one particular detail and remained there for a moment. "Makari?" she asked.

"Yes?"

"What do your marks mean?"

Makari seemed caught off-guard by the question, and briefly glanced down to the green markings in question on his fur. "My marks?"

"Yeah…I know they're for, like, accomplishments and good stuff, but I realized that I don't actually know what any of them mean. And, y'know, I was curious." Roxy shifted her gaze up to make eye contact with the other Pikachu. When he didn't answer right away, she shrunk back a little and hurriedly said, "S-sorry if that's, like, something I'm not s'posed to ask. I didn't mean-"

"No, no, nothing like that," Makari said reassuringly, holding up a paw to quiet her, "It is just an atypical question. I have never had to explain my own marks to anyone, besides the occasional cub who was still learning their meanings. Explanations are simply never necessary…" He paused for a moment and then added, "Our marks are like a second language to us. We all simply…know."

"They really are amazing," Roxy commented reverently, "Unlike anything I've ever seen before."

"But, regardless," Makari continued, "If you would like to know, I would be happy to share their meaning with you."

Roxy grinned eagerly and turned so she was facing him directly. She perked her ears up, ready to listen attentively to his every word. "I already know what your new one means, since you told me already," she said, pointing to the new curving shape painted right above his heart.

"Right," Makari said with a nod, and he then started his explanation. "This one is a common mark," he said as he pointed to the large, prominent green swoosh across his torso that curved under his left forelimb and up to a point on his chest. "You will see many of our warriors displaying this mark, because it simply reflects impressive proficiency in combat."

"Ooh," Roxy quietly marveled. She then gave him a confused look and said, "But wait, Taka doesn't have a mark like that and everyone always says he's the best warrior in the village."

"That is true, and the reason is that certain other marks will override this one. Taka has one that represents much more than this simple one."

"Oh, I see," Roxy said with a nod.

Makari then continued, pointing next to the set of small circles on his left forelimb that circled around like a bracelet. "This one represents teamwork skills and a strong bond with the brethren of our tribe." He then shifted and pointed to the mark on his opposite forelimb. It was an odd shape that somewhat resembled a lightning bolt, except it was square on all sides and didn't form a sharp point. "This is one I got for once managing to strike an intruding predator with a bolt of thunder from a great distance away."

The Pikachu then leaned to the side and brought his tail around to his front, holding it up so the large, broad side was facing Roxy directly. A large green upside-down triangle was painted onto the thickest part, right before the first bend. "This is the mark of a decisive victory for one."

Roxy perked up. "Decisive victory? What do you mean?"

"Many years ago," Makari explained, "during the time Taka was on his journey to the forest's edge, our village was attacked by a small but vicious group of roving predators who had broken past our defences. While not a catastrophic event, they were putting up quite a fight against our warriors and we were having difficulty driving them off. I was there in the fray, attempting to fend them off with a spear and doing my best to defend my brethren. The fight was lingering on and I knew something needed to be done. So I took a chance and charged forward, striking one deep with my spear and creating a gap between them. I ran directly into the middle of their small group, which of course drew all their attention to me as they thought I was now an easy, tasty target. Thankfully, my gambit paid off as I then called down striking thunder from the heavens. Since I was in the middle of them, I struck them all with a single attack and downed them all at once. From there, the tribe was easily able to overpower and defeat them."

Roxy stared, wide-eyed and slack-jawed at the other Pikachu. "Oh…my gosh," she murmured, "That's amazing! Makari, you're so brave!"

"Ah, well…" Makari stammered bashfully, averting his gaze.

"That's an incredible story," Roxy continued to gush, "but I'm also just glad you were okay after that. Wow, what an honour to have a mark like that."

"Indeed…" Makari cleared his throat and then continued. He pointed with his paw to the two dots that were above and off to the side from his left eye. "This is for diligence in patrol duties, meaning they consider me someone they can count on whenever patrols are needed." He then reached up and pointed to his left ear, which had two green rings encircling it just below the black-furred tips. "And each one of these is for discovering a new, bountiful berry bush."

Roxy grinned and lightly clapped her paws. "Nice! Very nice! They really do tell a story, don't they? I wish I knew what they all meant, otherwise I'd have to go ask each Pikachu individually what they all mean."

"Heh heh… The practice of painted marks spreads quite far, to many other tribes in the forest. Almost all of the shapes have a consistent meaning, though a couple are unique to each individual tribe. But yes, I suppose we do use our fur as a way to tell stories, in a way." Makari chuckled softly to himself and then trailed off.

Roxy sat and looked up at him for a moment, waiting patiently for him to continue. Instead, though, he just looked at her plainly and offered her a pleasant smile. "Um…Makari?" she spoke up.

"Yes?"

She hesitated slightly and then said, "You forgot one."

Makari blinked in confusion, then he furrowed his brow in thought for a moment, before finally a look of realization appeared on his face. "Ah yes, of course…" he spoke, "You are referring to this one." He then brought his paw up and pointed to the one mark he hadn't explained; the small, upside-down triangle painted directly beneath his right eye.

"Yeah, that one," Roxy said, though she had noticed that Makari's tone of voice had changed. He sounded more subdued, which left her both puzzled and a little concerned.

"Forgive me," Makari said, "I…sometimes forget that I have this one, and the only chance I get to see it is when I see my reflection in the river."

Now Roxy was starting to get worried. Makari's voice lost more and more of its luster and he sounded almost downcast. "What's…wrong?" she spoke hesitantly, "Did I say something I shouldn't have?"

Makari then seemed to catch on to her concern and perked up. "Oh, no. No, do not worry. You have done nothing wrong. It is just…Well, this mark is different."

"Why?" Roxy asked. She was genuinely confused why Makari would be acting this way. Weren't marks something to feel proud of? Why would one of his own marks bring down his mood like this?

"This one…" Makari finally said, "This is the mark of loss."

"Loss…?"

Makari sighed despondently and his ears drooped a little. "It is a mark given to those…who have a loved one that has gone missing."

Roxy gasped softly and held a paw to her mouth. "Oh…Oh gosh…"

"Yes…" There was a short pause and then Makari cleared his throat and tried to speak in a more upbeat tone. "This mark is reserved for the loved ones of someone who has gone missing. That is to say, not a loved one who has died but simply gone missing, even if they are presumed to be dead. More specifically, the mark is granted when the bearer performs an act of bravery or comradery after their loved one is lost…"

Makari then cast his gaze to the side. "After Taka ran away, my heart was torn apart. When no-one could find him, the pain only grew. But, I still had a duty to the tribe I am a part of. So when I was in a patrol group that intercepted and fended off a predator, I was given this mark. You see, the mark represents the pain of loss, but the reason it is given is to signify that this pain is not ignored. Life will return to normal, and the bearer will continue to be given duties and responsibilities that cannot be ignored. But the mark signifies that this pain is still recognized by our brethren, even when we can no longer outwardly show it."

He then chuckled dryly and shook his head. "I should not be getting so worked up over this. My brother did return to us, after all. Missing loved ones are sometimes found, and the mark is not removed because marks are always considered permanent."

Roxy, who had been listening to his story enraptured, got up and walked over to him. She sat down right next to him, her fur brushing up against him and earning her a tiny jolt from his Static, and gave him an affectionate nuzzle. "Of course you would still feel upset talking about something like that," she said in a reassuring tone, "Even though Taka did come back, you still went through something really painful and that pain doesn't just go away…"

Makari smiled and nuzzled her back. "I sometimes need to remind myself that I can look upon this mark as something new instead. As a reminder that my brother is alive and well, and he is back in my life."

"I just can't imagine how awful it must have felt when he left. Especially since he didn't even say goodbye."

"I…" Makari hesitated for a moment and then cleared his throat again. "I always try my best not to let negative emotions get the best of me. I acknowledge that they exist and should not be ignored, but I always try to keep a positive mental attitude."

"Heh…I noticed."

"…But I was crushed when I lost my brother. I was an absolute wreck. I fretted and panicked for about a week, and then I fell into a deep depression when it was clear he was not coming back. It left a hole in my heart that I feel has not fully healed."

"Aww…" Roxy nuzzled him again. "I wish I could go back in time and comfort you, like you've done so much for me. It hurts me just to think about it. I've…never gone through anything like that before." She then shook her head and decided to try lightening the mood. "But, um, you must have felt so overjoyed when he came back, right?"

"Oh, certainly," he replied, "He stumbled his way back into the village while I was elsewhere on patrol. When word finally reached me, I truly could not get back to the village fast enough. He was beyond exhausted at that point and barely keeping himself awake, so our initial reunion was…Heh, well it was a bit simple. But I understood that he had been through a lot, and I felt a happiness like I had never felt before. The next day, I was elated to speak with him, to connect with him again, to know he was here in the village once again, to have come back from what was thought to be the impossible."

Roxy's ear twitched. She had just barely noticed Makari tense up for a second. If she hadn't been snuggled up so close to him, she wouldn't have noticed at all. "And…everything was great then…right?"

Makari let out a tiny sigh. "It is great," he replied, "and I will always endlessly thank the heavens for granting my wish and bringing my brother back to me. I cherish every moment he is here with me and I truly am happy." He then paused for a moment. "But, as I told you, Taka had changed. His journey had changed him in a way I could not have expected, for reasons I still do not know. I have gotten used to it by this point, but those first few months after he returned were…not the easiest…"

"Oh no…" Roxy mewled, her ears drooping.

"I tried to go on as if nothing had changed, as if life were the same as it was before he had left. While of course he did not shun me or hate me or anything like that, he was less enthusiastic to do a lot of the things we used to do together. Even though I was happy to have him back, it started to hurt. It was difficult to handle the mix of emotions." He sighed again and shook his head. "I…shamefully remember the day I snapped at him."

Roxy gasped. "You snapped at him?"

"I got upset. I asked what had gotten into him, why he was acting the way he did, and if there was anything I could do to help. I started to yell, he started to yell back. We argued. At one point Taka said to me, 'What do you want?' And at that moment, I could not help but burst into tears.

"'I just want my brother back!'…That is what I wailed at him before running away."

"Makari…" Roxy whispered, "Oh my gosh…" A moment of silence passed between them, and then she just wordlessly reached over and gave him a hug. Makari chuckled softly, and she was pleased to see a little smile grace his lips.

"We patched things up after that," he continued, "I apologized, he apologized, and that was the day I accepted Taka for what he had become and learned to cherish him. I had been a foolish brother, for even if he had changed, Taka will always be Taka."

Roxy just kept on hugging him. "I'm sorry for bringing all this up."

"Oh, do not worry at all. These are painful memories, yes, but they are also important ones. Looking back on one's mistakes is the only way we can learn to grow, and reflecting on times of despair helps us to recognize the times of joy that follow." He then shifted over so he could fully hug her back and gave her a nuzzle. "And these are the most joyous times I have ever experienced."

The furious blush that Roxy experienced practically turned her face into a Tamato Berry. Roxy could only giggle like a silly cub and nuzzle him back.

The day passed by slowly as the two Pikachu spent their time chatting in the hut, keeping each other warm and simply enjoying each other's company. It was now some time in the early afternoon, and Makari had briefly left to go speak with another member of the tribe. Roxy was left alone with her thoughts for the moment, curled up for warmth and already missing her hot yellow body pillow.

She had been thinking about Makari's story from earlier. It was hard to imagine losing someone and then getting them back, only to find that they had a different personality and would never be quite the same. In fact, it was hard enough just to imagine Taka with a different personality at all. She could never picture him as anything other than the rude, gruff, super-serious Pikachu grump that she knew. Roxy didn't feel like she would be able to handle it if she made it home to her master, but Dusty had a completely different personality.

Thoughts of home darkened her mood and she sighed despondently. Though she never stopped thinking of how to get home, she had taught herself to stop focusing on it so much. There were other things to focus on, and constantly feeling depressed about everything wasn't going to help her. There were times like these, though, that she couldn't help it. Makari's story had been about reuniting with a loved one, something she so desperately wanted to do herself.

How long had it been now since she had last seen her master? Roxy had long since lost count of the days and months. She would forever mourn the time lost that she could have spent with her master. How much had she missed by being away for so long? Had something exciting happened? Had Dusty made a new friend, or had new Pokémon moved into the neighbourhood? Maybe Dusty had discovered a new hobby or a new show to watch on TV. Even if Roxy suddenly poofed back home the very next day, it would still hurt to know how much time she had missed out on.

Roxy found herself gazing at the doorway, silently hoping Makari would hurry up and come back to keep her company. No matter what she and he did together, he was a master at clearing away her dreary thoughts. After a while, a mix of longing and boredom struck her and she walked over to the doorway.

While she had no intention of going out into the frigid snowy landscape outside, Roxy did part the vines and seat herself right in the doorway. Even though it was stupidly cold, and a bitterly cold wind was biting at her face, she stared out at the village of the Thunder Clan. From this vantage point, she got a better view of the snow-cloaked village, and it truly looked beautiful.

Pikachu warriors were moving around, trudging or jumping through the thick snow to get their daily errands done. A few of them were trying to help clear some of the snow and form pathways, coating themselves in a layer of white that made Roxy shiver just looking at. The snow was still gently falling, the snowflakes sparkling as they lazily drifted to the ground below.

Roxy leaned against the side of the hut's doorway and watched the scene in silence, a melancholy look on her face. At first she didn't know why she felt so compelled to look out at the snow like this, but eventually she realized the answer. Her ears drooped and her frown grew deeper, but still she continued to watch.

It was a beautiful sight. Truly, it was. Perhaps the snow's beauty was the only thing keeping her from crying.

Either minutes or hours passed, Roxy couldn't tell. Eventually, though, Makari appeared in the distance and slowly but determinedly forced his way through the snow towards her. He wore a bemused grin at the situation, though he was probably also hiding a touch of frustration. Though Roxy could see his approach in the corner of her vision, mostly she just continued to stare off blankly into the distance.

"Goodness me," Makari remarked once he was finally within earshot, "It seems so soft and innocent, yet it makes doing anything ten times more difficult." He chuckled softly and then trudged his way the last remaining distance until he finally reached the hut. He then stepped off to the side and vigorously shook his fur, flinging off accumulated snow and drops of water from where it had melted. "Sorry that took so long," he commented, "Are you watching the snow fall? It is a beautiful sight."

Roxy didn't reply as he walked over to her, joining her at the doorway. She wasn't even sure what she was staring at anymore.

"…Roxy?" Makari spoke up, "Are you okay?"

His concerned tone of voice broke her out of her trance and she turned to regard him. Her heart sank a little at his worried look. "Oh, yeah. Sorry, Makari, I'm okay. I…didn't mean to worry you."

Makari's expression softened, though he was still frowning a little. "Is something upsetting you?" he asked in a gentle, caring tone.

"Uh…Yeah, kinda…"

"Well, feel free to tell me all about it," Makari said. Without hesitation, he joined her in the doorway and sat himself down right next to her.

Roxy smiled a little when she felt his fur against hers again, already starting to feel a bit better. "I'm just…homesick," she explained.

"Ah, of course. Not a single Pokémon here could blame you for that."

"I mean, I'm always homesick, but kinda more badly right now…"

Makari regarded her curiously. "Is that so?"

"Yeah…" Roxy's ears drooped a little. "I was just looking out at the snow…and remembering all the fun times I had with master when it snowed. Every year, every winter, we always have a blast together doing all kinds of fun things when the snow comes."

"That sounds wonderful," Makari commented warmly.

Her ears drooped a little more and she had to stifle a big sigh. "I just…realized that…I'm probably not gonna get back home before the snow melts. Even if everything goes right and the whole tribe escorts me out of the forest tomorrow, I still wouldn't get home in time. So…I'm gonna miss out on the snow fun with master."

Makari was quiet for a moment. "Ah…I see…"

"I've already been here for so long," Roxy continued, "and I'm probably gonna be here for a lot longer too…There's so much time with my master that I'm missing. Months are going by, and the time I could have had with her is gone and I'll never get it back…"

"I see, I see," Makari repeated, reaching over her shoulders to give her a side hug, "That is understandable. Though not exactly the same, I felt somewhat similar when Taka was gone."

This time, Roxy couldn't help but sigh forlornly. "I'm even gonna miss Christmas, if I haven't already…"

"Hm? Chriss…? What is that?"

Roxy, who had been staring blankly at the ground, turned and looked at him. His question had caught her off guard, even though it was obvious that he wouldn't know what Christmas was. It was his genuinely curious eyes that managed to get a tiny giggle out of her. "Christmas is a human holid-" she started to explain, but cut herself off when she realized he probably didn't even know what that word meant.

She cleared her throat and started again. "Christmas is…a time of celebration. It's a big event, kind of like the Marking Ceremony. It happens every year at the same time. I think they say it's on the coldest, longest night of the year. But it's more than a gathering like the Marking Ceremony, because it's worldwide. Everybody celebrates it." Roxy knew that wasn't entirely true, but she held off on explaining that other customs and holidays existed just for the sake of simplicity.

"I presume it is a human concept?" Makari asked.

"Yeah, but Pokémon definitely get in on the fun too."

"I see… What sort of celebration is it?"

Again, Roxy held off on explaining the true, historical nature of the holiday. "It's a time to be together with family and loved ones. If families live apart, they try to come together for this day. There's usually a feast of food, songs and games, goodwill and jolliness. Most families put up a tree and decorate it so it's bright and shiny. A big part of it is gift-giving."

"Gift-giving?"

Roxy nodded. "On Christmas, you can show that you care by giving a gift to those you love."

"Well, that sounds lovely. I can understand why you would be upset at missing something like that."

"Yeah…" For a moment, there was quiet between the two of them. Eventually Roxy spoke up again. "Do you guys have any kinds of celebrations besides the Marking Ceremonies?"

"Not particularly," Makari replied, "Sometimes if something happens that is worth celebrating, we will celebrate it. Nothing compares to the excitement and scale of the Marking Ceremonies, though. Considering that we host them with every passing of the moon, I think most of us find that is sufficient."

"Heh…" Roxy chuckled quietly, "I guess when you put it that way, you guys might celebrate more than we do, but in a totally different way."

"Is it strange to say that I enjoy discussing our many differences with one another?" Makari asked.

This finally managed to make Roxy laugh out loud, breaking her out of her funk. "We are so different in so many ways, aren't we? Not just you and me, but your world and my world. How are we so drawn to each other?"

"Why not?" Makari replied whimsically, "Who is to say that differences should drive Pokémon apart? Of course I know this is ironic coming from a member of a tribe where almost everyone is the same species."

Roxy turned to face him completely and earnestly shook her head. "But that's not even totally true. You make all the Pikachu different with your marks. Your tribe visually shows how unique each and every Pokémon is, even if they are the same species and look super similar."

"Haha… I suppose you are right."

For a moment, Roxy just gazed up at the taller Pikachu. Even with them both sitting down, she still had to crane her neck a little to meet his eye. She held his gaze for a moment, during which a rosy blush started to spread across her cheeks. "…You're wonderful, Makari."

He smiled warmly. "That is very nice of you to say."

"You always know how to cheer me up. You always know how to make me smile. When I first woke up in this forest, I was sure I'd never be happy again."

"I am glad I could be your silver lining, Roxy."

"Oh, but you're so much more than that. You're…Y-you're…" She stumbled over her words for a moment, feeling flustered.

Makari gently placed a paw on her shoulder. "I am simply me."

Roxy blinked. She was still for a moment, and then smiled back at him. "And…that's all I really need."

The two wordlessly leaned in, almost in perfect sync, and shared another romantic kiss.

The following day, Roxy was still holed up inside of the hut. There was still plenty of snow on the ground, but it hadn't snowed any more since the prior morning. It must have rained a bit during the night, as some of the snow had already melted away. However, a thick blanket of white still covered the village.

Sadly, Roxy was alone in the hut on this day. Makari was out on patrol, and wouldn't be back until just before the sun would set. Usually, Roxy would occupy her time without Makari by training with Taka or wandering the village and interacting with the tribe members. With the heavy snow, cold temperatures and her lack of a winter coat, however, she had nothing more to do than curl up in the hut and try to stay warm.

It was a pretty miserable experience.

She couldn't fault him, of course. He was bravely doing his part to keep everyone in this village safe from danger, and that included Roxy herself. It still scared her a little to know that Makari was potentially in danger while out on patrol, but she also had faith in him. Members on patrol were almost never alone, in any case. If Makari did encounter danger, he would have another trained warrior to back him up. Sometimes Roxy was amazed at how well the whole village worked like it was a well-oiled clock. Everyone did their part and worked together in perfect harmony.

Roxy then frowned. Memories of her botched attempt at leaving the village returned to the forefront of her mind. She was no longer haunted by thoughts of the life she had accidentally taken, having made peace with that horrible event though it still wasn't fun to remember. There was more to it, though, even taking that aspect out of the picture.

It had been her very first experience actually doing something to help the tribe. She had been told in no uncertain terms on her very first day in the village that she would be expected to contribute to the village, learn how to help and defend the tribe, and one day go out on patrol. It was her first 'job' for the tribe, and look how horribly it had gone.

Roxy sighed and grumbled softly to herself. She had hardly been looking forward to patrol and other duties like this, but this first poor experience had soured her attitude even more. One single day on the job, and it had gone so horribly that she never wanted to do it again. It did not make her feel even the least bit confident in her ability to perform any duties, even taking into account the fact that she was slowly improving in her training with Taka.

"What'm I gonna do?" she muttered bitterly, "Collecting berries was a nightmare, and that's like ten times easier than patrol…" She heaved another sigh and hugged herself. "I'm not cut out for this kinda stuff…but do I have any choice?"

'No, certainly not,' was the response she easily imagined. It could have been said by Natoka, Taka, or any other number of the tribe.

"Isn't there anything else I can do to do my part? Something not dangerous?" Roxy asked, even though nobody was there to answer. She had brought up the question before to the likes of Makari and Miri, but the answers hadn't been promising. The only other skills that were really needed were healing, which was handled exclusively by Miri, and weapons crafting. Roxy had attempted the latter very briefly under the supervision of another tribe member, but he had forced her to stop after far too many close calls that had nearly severed off various parts of her body.

Besides, weapons-crafters still had to go on patrol.

"Roxy, are you in there?"

The Pikachu's ears perked up. It certainly wasn't Makari, especially since it was a female's voice. She glanced over at the entrance of the hut and shouted, "Come in."

The leaves parted and a familiar Pikachu stepped through. It was Roma'a, one of the Pikachu who had been alongside her on that fateful foraging expedition. She was a friendly Pokémon who Roxy had gotten to know over the months, and was someone she could call a friend at this point. She had actually gotten a taste of her own medicine when she'd had a lot of trouble correctly pronouncing her name. Roxy smiled and greeted her warmly.

"Good afternoon, Roxy," Roma'a replied, "How are you holding on?"

"Barely," she replied glibly.

"I must admit it is still somewhat difficult to believe this…issue is real. To us, a Pikachu not having a winter coat is like a Pikachu not having cheek pouches. It seems impossible."

Roxy chuckled dryly and said, "Thaaaat's me. I'm different in every way. Breaking down all your preconceived notions…"

"Heh. You are fascinating, if nothing else."

"Happy to be of service," Roxy replied sarcastically. She then asked, "What brings you here?"

Roma'a approached her, which was when Roxy noticed she had a small woven pouch. "Makari asked me to bring these to you while he is out." The warrior Pikachu reached inside and then pulled out a pair of small berries.

"Oh my gosh!" Roxy gasped, "Makari brought me Leppas!"

"Did he, now?" Roma'a said with a chuckle, "Has he taken possession of my body, then?"

Roxy giggled softly. "Oh, you know what I mean. Thank you for delivering them, but these are from Makari and I very much appreciate them!" After a pause, she added, "Besides, Makari is so amazing that he probably can possess other Pokémon anyway."

Roma'a gave her a look for a moment. "My my, the rumours did not lie. You truly are enamoured with him."

Roxy was halfway through a bite into one of the Leppas when she stopped cold, her eyes darting wide open. She slowly looked over at the other Pikachu, who wore a neutral expression. After more awkward silence passed, Roxy finished her bite, slowly chewed and swallowed, and then finally said in a meek little voice, "…M-maybe?"

"Do not misunderstand me," Roma'a spoke up, "Nobody in this tribe faults you. He is most certainly a very fine choice for a mate."

"Wh-!" Roxy's cheeks exploded in a heavy blush, "Th-that's not- I-I mean…Why does everyone keep saying that…? We're just…I-I mean we're more than…but we're…"

Roma'a looked confused. "I…do not understand where the confusion lies…"

"We're not mates yet," Roxy quietly exclaimed, and then she blushed even more when she realized that she had said 'yet' without noticing.

"…Then…what is happening?"

Roxy looked over at the Pikachu in disbelief, and for almost a full minute she tried and failed to figure out what to say to such a ludicrous statement. Eventually, though, the realization dawned on her. "Oh…I, uh…I guess I'm thinking about this in terms of the human world…"

Roma'a arched an eyebrow. "Pardon me?"

"For humans, and probably for a lot of Pokémon who are very close to humans like me, there's a lot more than just 'mates' and 'not mates'…Humans don't even use the word 'mates'. There's…y'know, steps in-between. A period of, um…y'know…courtship?"

"Courtship?" Roma'a repeated, "Had that not already occurred in the previous months?"

Roxy blinked. "You think I was…?" She then shook her head. "Okay, y'know what? I…would rather not continue this conversation."

"Oh, I apologize…" Roma'a said with a genuine frown, "I did not mean to make you uncomfortable…"

"It's fine, it's just…" Roxy muttered, "This whole thing's still kinda…new to me. I don't really know what I'm saying, I don't know how to put things into words. I clearly don't do…courtship like the customs of your tribe…and I think Makari is patient enough that's he's going along with my way anyway…"

"He is remarkably amicable," Roma'a said with a nod, "We all treat one another like family, but with Makari it feels truer than ever."

Roxy was quietly munching away at her Leppa, trying to ignore the confusing, blush-inducing thoughts in her head. After a moment, though, something occurred to her. "Family…" she repeated softly, "Do Makari and Taka have any other family here? Or anywhere?"

Roma'a shook her head. "They are brothers and they have each other, but that is all."

"Oh no, really…?"

"They lost their parents at a very young age. Taka was too young to even remember them, and Makari only has fleeting memories."

Roxy gasped softly and held a paw to her mouth. "Oh my gosh…That's terrible…What happened to them?"

"Their father was killed by a predator, but their mother fell ill."

A heavy silence filled the hut. Roxy's ears drooped and she gazed down at the ground sadly. "That's awful…" she whispered, "That's so sad… I had no idea. I just…never thought to ask." She sighed softly. "I never knew my parents either. I was bred in captivity and hatched by humans, but I still had my master and her dad to raise me." Her lip quivered as she imagined the brothers as two tiny little frightened Pichu. "They only had each other?"

"Oh, of course not," Roma'a cut in reassuringly.

"Huh?"

Roxy lifted her gaze and saw Roma'a looking at her calmly. "It is not a rare occurrence for cubs to be orphaned out here in the wilderness. We are a close-knit, loving tribe who would never even think of leaving two defenceless cubs to fend for themselves and grow up on their own. Makari and Taka lost their parents, but they were raised by the rest of the tribe. Perhaps that is why Makari cares for everyone so much."

"Really…?" Roxy mumbled softly.

Roma'a nodded. "We are a family," she stated, "All of us. We live and breathe together as one, and together we overcome whatever is thrown our way."

Roxy stared silently for a moment. She fidgeted with the half-eaten Leppa in her paws for a moment as more troubled thoughts ran through her head. "Hey, uh…"

"Hm?"

"Am…" Roxy hesitated. "Am I…part of that family?"

There was another moment of silence. Roxy had looked away after she had asked the question, so she couldn't see how the other Pikachu had reacted to it.

"Well, of course you are."

Roxy's ears perked up and she looked over at Roma'a in surprise. "Huh?"

The other Pikachu smiled. "You are a member of this tribe, yes? That was what was said on your first day here; the offer given to you by the wise ones. You are not a passer-by, you are a member of this tribe. And, as I have just said, everyone in this tribe is family. Not to mention you are a Pikachu like most of us, and we feel a kinship with other Pikachu, even those who are not with us."

"Even though I don't plan to stay?"

"Even so, yes," Roma'a said with a nod.

Roxy gazed at the other Pikachu silently for a moment, and then finally a demure little smile appeared on her face. "Thank you…" she said, "That…makes things feel just a little better."

Roma'a then glanced over her shoulder. "Well," she spoke up, "enjoy the berries. I must be off now. Take care. Stay warm."

"I will. Thank you very much!"

The other Pikachu gave her a little salute and then exited out of the hut. Roxy could hear her audibly stomping through the snow once she was outside; a frigid reminder of the weather out there.

Roxy finished her first berry and started munching on the second one. No matter how many Leppas she ate, she would never get tired of their rich, tangy flavour. As she chewed on her first couple of bites, and with nothing much else to look at, Roxy found herself staring at the little berry in her paws.

She paused as a thought occurred to her. This berry had come from a bush nearby, obviously. Nobody had shown her any Leppa bushes near to the village, so this berry had likely been harvested by a berry collecting group. Just like the group she had been on. If her group hadn't been attacked, this might have been one of the berries she had helped to harvest. Roxy didn't know; she had been so terrified that she hadn't been paying much attention to what kinds of berries they were harvesting.

This thought gave her mixed feelings. She wasn't sure how to feel about the fact that some Pikachu had risked their life to get her this berry. A part of her felt guilty, but another part of her countered with the fact that she had never specifically asked anyone to go out and harvest a Leppa for her. The berries were part of the greater bounty that the tribe subsisted on. She was only given Leppas because she'd made it known that they were her favourites.

Roxy took another bite and chewed on the delectable fruit, figuring she might as well appreciate it either way. She still wanted nothing to do with fighting or anything dangerous, but a small part of her did still want to repay the tribe's kindness somehow. The Thunder Clan were her saviours. Without them, if she weren't already dead, she would have been out on her own, alone and terrified, foraging for her own food and struggling to survive.

She sighed to herself. "When's Makari getting back…?"

The light had started to vanish from the sky. It was the hour of the evening when darkness would have normally fallen upon the land. However, the still relatively fresh blanket of snow that remained on the ground caught the miniscule remnants of light and reflected it back in an eerie but dim orange light.

Roxy remained where she had been all day; huddled under her blankets in the middle of the hut. She had started to get a bit worried about Makari being out so late and for so long.

Time without Makari had always felt lonely, but now that the two of them had grown so close to one another, that time apart felt even lonelier. She missed his company so much, and that longing for his companionship had persisted all day.

So, when the vines parted in the last fleeting moments of light, she looked up with a relieved smile. "Makari!" she greeted him excitedly, "You're back!"

The Pikachu in question stepped into the hut, paws clasped behind his back and a warm but slightly weary smile on his face. "Hello, Roxy," he replied, "Is everything all right?"

"It is now that you're here," she said, not caring how cheesy that sounded.

Makari approached her and deftly leaned down to nuzzle her nose, which she happily reciprocated. Roxy felt her heart leap with joy.

"Long day, huh?" she asked him.

"Indeed, but sometimes that is what we must do." He let out a quick yawn and shook his head. "No issues to report, thankfully."

"Oh, good! Very good! I'm so relieved."

"I am not afraid to admit that I am rather worn out by this point…but coming back here to see your smiling face makes it all worth it."

Roxy's cheeks flared up and she snickered softly, fussing about with her paws. "Makari, stoop," she whined playfully, "You're gonna make me blush."

"Oh, perish the thought," he replied just as playfully. He then cleared his throat and asked, "Were you okay here by yourself all day?"

She looked back up at him, still feeling a rosy heat on her cheeks, and nodded. "Yeah, it was just…kinda really boring and lonely. Roma'a stopped by with food, but otherwise it was just me…I bet you were pretty bored too, being on patrol all day but with nothing happening. Right?"

"On the contrary," he answered, "I have to remain vigilant and attentive at all times to ensure that nothing slips past our guard. Even when nothing is happening, I still feel the need to put my skills to the test. We are taught to never focus for too long on the same spot while on patrol, so my mind is always actively at work trying to decide where is the next place to shift my focus."

Roxy gazed up at him, knowing full well that there were stars in her eyes. She couldn't help it. Makari could make even the mundane sound fascinating. "Well…" she said after a moment of just staring, "I'm just so glad you're back. It was so lonely without you…"

Makari smiled sympathetically at her. "I do truly wish I could spend every waking moment by your side, but sadly I cannot."

Her ears perked up and her blush returned. "Oh gosh…" she muttered. It was then she noticed that Makari still had his paws clasped behind his back, and he hadn't moved them at all since he had arrived. She cocked her head to the side and asked, "Makari, are you…hiding something?"

There was a mischievous glint in his eyes and he replied, "Perhaps…"

Roxy looked up at him in confusion. "What's behind your back?"

Makari glanced off to the side for a moment. Roxy wasn't sure, but she thought she saw a rosy blush on his cheeks as well for a brief moment. "I was given a short break from my duties in the early afternoon," he explained, "and I used that time…to make you this." He then finally brought his paws around to the front and revealed what he had been hiding.

In his paws, he was holding a long, flat piece of tree bark that looked as if it had been carefully stripped off of a trunk. Sitting on top of it was a small collection of various kinds of berries. What was most noteworthy, however, was that none of the berries were whole. They had all been cut up or sliced into pieces, many of them appearing to have been done in a rather crude manner, and arranged to form simple shapes and patterns. A few leaves were placed around as well to help form the patterns, as well as a couple of edible seeds.

Roxy gazed at the creation for a moment with a mix of confusion and curiosity. She finally glanced up at Makari and asked, "What's this?"

Makari was definitely blushing now. "It was not easy, but I managed to convince Taka to share a few small tidbits about the human world from his journey there. Namely, how humans who live with Pokémon prepare their food. He told me about this thing called a plate and the manner in which foods are arranged."

Gazing at the creation again, Roxy now recognized that it was meant to be a plate of garnished food. "Did…you make this?"

"I did…" he said with a nod, "I recalled what you told me before. About the celebration you were missing out on. I thought, perhaps, even if it is just the two of us, I could bring it here to you. You told me it was a time of gift-giving to those we care about, and so…" He held the 'plate' a little closer to her. "This is my Kriss-miss gift to you."

Roxy could only look up at Makari in wide-eyed awe. Her gaze shifted between his face and his gift a few times. "Y-you…" she murmured, but found that she couldn't find the words. After a few more moments, her lip began to quiver and tears formed in her eyes. "Makari…" she whispered, and then gingerly reached out to take the gift from him.

Powerful emotions welled up within her, so much that it was almost overwhelming. And yet, she was smiling. She was beaming as she beheld the gift Makari had given her.

"We…do not have very much out here," Makari said regretfully, "I wish I could have done more, but-"

"This is wonderful…" Roxy whimpered, her tears of joy making it difficult to speak, "Th-this is…the best gift I've ever gotten…"

Makari looked at her for a moment, mildly surprised, and then smiled gratefully. "I am glad you like it. Admittedly, it does sound like a very wonderful celebration, and I can easily imagine why you would be missing it. It may not be much, but I hoped to bring just a little bit of home to you out here."

Roxy sniffled through her tears and nodded. "Thank you so much…" she whispered, "This means so much to me… I kinda feel bad I haven't gotten you anything, though."

"Oh but you have," he countered, "Your gift to me is your smile. That is all I need."

Gently placing the 'platter' in her lap, Roxy beheld the creation once more. It truly was not a work of art by any stretch of the imagination. The cutting of the berries was crude and the arrangement was amateurish at best. None of that mattered, though. Makari had made this for her with his own two paws. He had clearly put in his best effort just to make her this small reminder of home, and it made her heart soar just to see it. She almost didn't want to eat it because it just made her so happy.

She felt Makari sit down next to her and he nuzzled her cheek. "Enjoy it," he said simply.

Roxy couldn't say no to that, so she finally picked up one of the slices of fruit. There were plenty of Leppas making up the dish, but she decided to save those for last. An awkwardly-sliced piece of Pecha was what she had chosen instead. She bit down on it, and it was the sweetest Pecha she had ever tasted in her life. She ate a few more pieces and, as she did, she couldn't help but think back to many happy memories from Christmases past. Whenever she thought of home, it always brought her a heavy feeling of homesickness. This time, though, all she could do was smile and remember the happy times.

"Thank you for being here, Makari," she said, "You really do know how to make me see the silver linings…And they do exist. Even though I hate a lot of stuff out here, there are quite a few things that I really do enjoy. They make me smile." She turned to look at him. "And you make me smile the most."

"Please never stop smiling, Roxy," he whispered back, "Even if it is just once a day. Smiles will get you through these tough times." Makari then yawned rather loudly. "Mm…Forgive me. It has been a very long day for me. I am rather exhausted."

"You can rest your head against me if you want," Roxy offered, "I've done it accidentally to you so many times, after all." Makari immediately complied, and she smiled warmly at the feel of him gently leaning against her.

The evening went by pleasantly. Roxy enjoyed her platter of food, savouring every bite as much as she could and repeatedly thanking Makari for the gift along the way. The two engaged in some light conversation, though it was growing clearer that Makari was struggling to keep himself awake.

When Roxy only had a few pieces of fruit left, a thought occurred to her. "Oh yeah!" she perked up, "I was gonna ask you. I really liked how you told me about what your marks mean. And, well…I was kinda wondering what Taka's marks meant too."

"Oh?" Makari replied, still leaning gently on her.

"But I figured I'd have a better chance of going home on my own than getting him in a good enough mood to talk about it with me…So I thought I'd ask you."

"I see," Makari said, stifling a small yawn.

Roxy glanced over at her tired companion. "We can do it another time if you're too tired."

"No, no, I am all right." He waved his paw dismissively. "I do not mind sharing…"

Smiling, Roxy started eating the rest of her meal while she listened attentively.

"His most striking feature when it comes to his marks, as I imagine you have noticed, are the paired horizontal lines under his eyes and above his cheek pouches."

Roxy nodded. Those were the marks that reminded her of equals signs.

"Those marks represent an impressive ability to focus. Taka has shown he is able to set his mind to something and shut out all outside distractions to get it done. It especially comes in handy when Taka is on patrol."

"That makes total sense," Roxy said, "I believe it."

"The 'slash' marks on his legs represent victory in vicious battles. There have been some bloody skirmishes against predators that have left Taka with injuries, but his victory in these battles earned him those marks."

Roxy's eyes went wide. She knew Taka had five such marks; one on his left forelimb and two on each of his hind limbs. That meant he had won a tough battle that had spilt his own blood five times?!

"The jagged ring on his ear," Makari continued, "represents a stern approach. Sometimes there is no room for compassion and 'tough love' is what is needed in the moment. You will notice that Natoka also has this mark. The large pointed mark under his ear is for his excellence in combat. You will rarely see more than one or two Pokémon in a single generation have this mark; it is reserved for the best of the best. And the dots on the end of his tail…well, those are for winning competitions."

"Hm?" Roxy asked, the last slice of fruit halfway to her mouth, "Competitions?"

"We occasionally hold competitions that test our skills in combat, agility, and mastery of weapons. The victor receives a dot on their tail."

There was silence for a moment as Roxy stared blankly ahead. "…He has eight dots!" she quietly exclaimed. Given all the lessons Taka had given her about using her tail in combat, she could easily picture what his looked like. Four dots on each side.

Makari chuckled softly. "Indeed he does. There is a reason he was given the mark for excellence in combat."

"Holy moly…" she murmured. Roxy had always respected Taka for his skill, if nothing else, but that fact blew her mind. "Gosh…I'm surprised you don't have any dots, Makari."

"Ah, I have always considered myself proficient in many skills, but master of none. I participate in the competitions for the sport of it, but have never won."

"Aw…I'm sure you will one day."

Makari chuckled. "If Taka also competes, then I never will." He then yawned again and asked, "Have I forgotten anything?"

Roxy gave the question some thought, trying to recall what Taka looked like. "Yeah, there's one more," she answered, "The one on his other ear. The one that looks like a ring around the ear, but with a little part of the ring missing."

"Yes, yes, of course…" Makari said. He then chuckled and said, "How could I forget? I must really be tired…"

"What? What does it mean?" Roxy asked with a tilt of her head.

"What is Taka most known for? His most identifiable feature?"

Roxy's brow furrowed as she thought for a moment, and then the answer hit her like a ton of bricks. "His boomerang!" she exclaimed.

"Taka's innate, unmatched skill with the curved club, yes."

"Wow… Even I feel silly that I forgot about that… I'm kinda surprised the 'boomerang mark' isn't shaped like a boomerang."

She felt Makari shrug. "Most of the meaning behind the specific shapes has been lost to time. Many of us come up with our own interpretations nowadays. I like to think the 'ring' is actually a curved club itself, wrapping around his ear."

Roxy smiled softly. "Thanks for sharing, Makari. I promise I won't make you tell me about every single tribe member's marks." She giggled at her own remark.

"It was no trouble, Roxy."

"And thanks again for the wonderful gift. Best dinner I've had since I got here!"

"So happy you enjoyed it…"

Roxy gently set the 'plate' down on the ground, and then glanced over at Makari's relaxing form. The light was rapidly disappearing, and soon she wouldn't be able to see anything without Makari lighting a torch. The other Pikachu didn't yet have his eyes closed, but he was definitely running on fumes. Roxy leaned over and gave him quick peck on the cheek. "Merry Christmas, Makari," she whispered.

Makari grinned. "It seemed that I said it wrong."

"That's okay. I still have trouble pronouncing a bunch of your names."

"You can refer to me with a human name if it makes it easier."

"No way!" Roxy retorted with a soft giggle, "You're Makari. There's nobody else like you, Makari. You're special." She trailed off for a moment and gazed out the doorway, where she could just barely catch sight of some of the snow through the leaves.

"I'm so lucky to have met you…" she spoke again in a quiet, subdued tone, "I could have landed anywhere in this forest, and I could have met any Pokémon and any tribe. Even if the tribe had been friendly, things could have still gone so much worse for me. But…you found me on that first day. And…I found you. I feel like that fact alone has saved my life. You reached down, and you pulled me up out of the darkness. I'm still stuck down there, but at least I can breathe now…"

Roxy sighed softly and shuddered a little. "There's gotta be hundreds of Pokémon in this forest, and I'm sure plenty of them are friendly and helpful and would have been willing to take me in and keep me safe. But there's only one Makari." A little smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Is it too dorky to say we were destined to meet? I dunno… I just know that I don't wanna think about what would've happened if we didn't meet. If I ended up with another tribe.

"You're so wonderful to me, Makari. You spoil me with how nice you are to me. You were the first one in this forest that I actually trusted, the first one I felt safe around, the first one I could call a friend. When you're near me, I feel happiness bubbling up inside me, and sometimes it gets to be so much that it feels like it's gonna burst, and when you're gone something inside feels a little empty. We're so much closer now than ever before, and I couldn't be happier. I've never felt like this before, a-and I'm kinda scared, but I think…I-I think…Makari, I lov-"

Roxy was cut off by a sudden sound filling the hut. She perked up in surprise and turned to look at Makari, squinting to see him in the dark. His eyes were closed, his ears were drooping, and he was resting his head against her shoulder. The sound she'd heard was him softly, gently snoring.

For a moment she just stared at him, expressionless. She blinked a couple of times, and then finally smiled bashfully. She leaned in and gave him another peck on the cheek. "Sleep tight, brave warrior…" she whispered.