Weeks have passed since Samuel Oak had left, the spring had broken through and snow was melting all around the forest. Anya was in a good mood today as she had finished her biggest project yet.

"It is finally done!" Anya shouted in relief, this drew the curious eyes of her burrow mates, Vulpix being the most curious of the bunch answered her call first.

"What is it?" He questioned

"This, my friend is a plushie" she said while presenting him a white copy of himself, albeit there being some minor differences, mainly it being pure white, having a weird swirly fluff on its head and its eyes were a piece of carved wood.

"What's a plushie?" Vulpix asked

"A plushie is a soft and huggable replica of a real thing!" "This however is modeled after an Alolan Vulpix!" she answered gleefully "See?" she said while putting the rough looking life-sized Alolan Vulpix plushie on the ground for the young Vulpix to see.

Vulpix got closer, sniffed, poked and licked the plush before chomping on it and happily dragged it away to show it to his father. Ninetales sneaked a curious peek at Anya while listening his own child in amusement.

-------------------

Later that day, Ninetales met up with Anya outside the burrow, "That, plushie you called it? It was quite impressive, even with only white and shades of gray, you managed to make it quite a Vulpix" he smirked

"Thanks, I did my best, it also helped to have a real life Vulpix around to work out the details"

"So, that is why you have been looking at him for the past week or two" Ninetales said when he came to a realization.

"Guilty, I think, I could have done so much better if only I had dyes..."

"And what might those be?"

"They are stuff that is used to color the fabrics" Anya answered "As from before they were readily available, so learning how to make one was not as important to me as learning how to sew, knit and the works."

Ninetales nodded and said. "I know this comes out of nowhere, know this, I am truly thankful for you being here, looking after Eevee and Vulpix when I am gone. But due to recent happenings in the forest we must leave the burrow, I suggest you do the same, preferably before all the snow is totally gone"

"Wha-why?" she sounded shocked

"I got the news from the pack, the local Beedrill colonies are starting to wake up, earlier than estimated... We will be leaving on the day after tomorrow"

"I can't come with you?" pleaded Anya

"No, I am afraid the pack is not willing to take any outsiders, Eevee can only come because her mother had once helped the pack and they owe her a favour. You, on the other paw have nothing to do with the pack..."

Anya nodded in understanding, Ninetales silently walked past her, out of the burrow.

Few minutes later Anya felt something nudge into her from the side, burrowing through her dirtied cloak, she saw the head of Eevee gently poking her.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"Hey, what's up?" Anya called

Eevee looked up at her face, most likely sensing her masked sadness, she moved on top of her lap and said.

"I heard we are leaving and you can't come with us..." She said sadness echoing in her voice

"So did I..." Anya responded while carefully petting Eevee's fur

"Buut, I wanna stay with you!" she said resolutely

"I...So do I, but I-It's not safe, I can't keep you safe, I am weak, Most likely one of the weakest pokemon on the whole world..."

"I'll protect you then!" she countered "I'll be the strong one!"

"I appreciate the thought, I really do, but you must go with the pack, grow strong, evolve even, become strong enough to survive alone and maybe, maybe then you can find me and stay with me if you want to."

"But..."

"Be a good girl Eevee, I could never forgive myself if something bad happened to you because of me."

Eevee went silent before asking "Can you teach me everything you know about my evolutions before I have to leave? So I know what I want to be"

"Gladly" Anya answered smile flowing on her face. She continued to pet Eevee and begun telling her all she knew about every single one.

-----------------------------------

When she was finished it was already getting dark, Eevee drowsily nodded on her lap, trying to keep awake.

"Whatever you end up choosing, choose it for your own sake, not because you think it helps someone else, not because someone else said what you should or shouldn't be, follow your own heart, that should lead you to the best result"

Eevee quietly yipped in a drowsy confirmation before falling completely silent. Anya gently wrapped Eevee in her arms and cradled her inside the burrow. That night they slept cuddling each other.

------------------------------------

It was the day before departure, Anya was loitering around, now that she knew the burrow would be left empty in a day, she had lost her motivation to do anything productive, she was listlessly petting Eevee, that was sitting on her lap, who was currently enjoying their final moments together.

The burrow was silent, no one talked, everyone was just waiting for tomorrow to arrive somberly. Many times Ninetales was about to say something but chose to stay silent in the end.

Anya decided that it was enough moping around and stood up. Eevee, instantly made her displeasure known, as she was extricated from her lap. Anya started cleaning the burrow, gathering the leftover silk rolls and sheets. She started to prepare for her own journey, She knit some sheets together to make a makeshift sack which she filled with her stuff.

While packing She asked Ninetales if she could have the pot, which he allowed. After having the sack filled mostly with her stuff and started to practice her embroidery. 'Better now than never' she thought. Eevee clambered back on her lap to rest.

Ninetales asked her "What's your plan? Where do you plan to go from here?"

Anya thought for a moment before answering "I'll seek the nearby Human settlement"

The vulpine was silent for a while "What if they don't want you there?"

"I will cross that bridge when I get there"

------------------------------------

The sun was rising on the horizon, Anya was still finishing her embroidery, the ground near her littered with failed attempts. The Eevee stirred at her lap and greeted her tired eyes drowsily.

"Did you sleep well" she asked and the Eevee nodded shaking herself awake immediately afterwards.

"You didn't rest at all!" Eevee said in surprise.

"Well, I had to finish this, I'll sleep after you all leave, I will leave too when I wake up."

"What is that even?" the Eevee looked curiously.

"This, is a scarf, a farewell gift from me, to you" The embroidery on the scarf had a very picturesque embroidery. It was all of them happily together, A fireplace in the middle, Ninetales lying down with Vulpix sleeping under its tails, Eevee and Rattata playing by the lit fireplace and Leavanny sitting on the right side watching the fire.

"I hope you accept it"

"OF COURSE I DO!" she shouted happily while inspecting the embroidery. It was quite hard to see as it was done with a white strands on a white canvas but looking carefully she could see the image. "It is so pretty" she said afterwards.

"Do you want me to put it on?" Anya asked

"Yes!" Eevee answered immediately

"Then could you turn away for a bit"

Eevee did what was told and Anya carefully tied the scarf around her neck with a simple knot at the end to hold it in place.

"There done" she said

The Eevee turned and postured proudly, the white scarf contrasting against her brown fur.

There was a shout a the entrance "Eevee, Vulpix it is time to go now"

Anya escorted the group to the exit and said her farewell to Ninetales, Vulpix and the now sobbing Eevee. With a small push from Anya, Eevee started walking behind Ninetales with every few steps looking back at Anya who waved at them at the burrows entrance until she couldn't be seen anymore.