Finally, Espeon finished, bounding down from the announcement rock to land next to him. "Hello, second-in-command," she said quietly with a loving smile.
Umbreon rubbed her cheek. "Clan leader."
They pulled away after a few seconds, trying to figure out how to run the Eevee Clan. Umbreon spoke first. "I think everyone should have the rest of today off. We all have Snow Day presents, the prey pile is pretty well-stocked, despite it being winter, and it's getting a bit late as it is."
"That sounds good," Espeon replied, leaning her head against Umbreon's shoulder. "I think the kits want to play in the snow for a bit longer. We'll have a bit of a chore getting them to settle down later."
Umbreon smiled. "If by 'them,' you mean Three and Five, yes. Yes, we will." The two Eevees in question were playing games in the glittering snow, Five's flower wreath still looped around her ears. Umbreon didn't think she'd ever take it off.
Umbreon looked away as Moonlight padded up to her parents. "Mom? Can I leave camp yet?"
"Tomorrow morning, yes, you may," Espeon replied. Umbreon was impressed that Moonlight had actually complied with being grounded, though not terribly surprised. Moonlight still felt guilty, and Espeon was very skilled at keeping their second eldest daughter in line.
Moonlight nodded. "Thanks, Mom. In that case, Dad?"
Umbreon wasn't sure where this was going or how he felt about it. He tried not to show it. "Yes?"
"Can you take me on my Power Quest?" The question was, true to Moonlight's personality, straight to the point.
Umbreon hesitated. "I... Do you have somewhere in mind?"
"Working on it," the shiny Umbreon responded with a tilt of her head. "Sunbeam has a book with a map of the region in it. We're looking for a good place."
"Oh," was all Umbreon could say. Points to his two evolved daughters for taking initiative, he supposed...
"Did you go somewhere?" Moonlight asked.
Umbreon had to think about it for a bit. "...I suppose... But it was accidental." When Moonlight only watched him expectantly, he continued. "There's an expansive cave that I was... Well... Chased into. I did learn more about my abilities as a Dark Type there, I guess." He didn't mention how utterly lost he had been. That was just after he evolved, before he met Espeon, and not one of his proudest moments.
He wanted to try and steer Moonlight away from there, but she already nodded. "Thanks, Dad. I'll find it on the map with Sunbeam." She didn't even give Umbreon time to respond before turning around and walking back towards the log den.
Espeon looked at her mate. "I never heard that story."
"Yeah, I didn't really enjoy it..." Umbreon replied without taking his eyes off of Moonlight.
"You know that she'll want to go there now, don't you?"
"Of course she will. I can handle it now that I know what I'm doing, it just hasn't left the best impression on me, that's all."
"And you're willing to go to a place that has bad memories for you for your daughter," Espeon finished, speaking what Umbreon was secretly thinking.
Umbreon kept watching Moonlight. She was strong, rebellious, and resourceful. How bad could it be? "Yep," was his only reply.
Snow looked up at the moon, which was just about visible over the trees. Clover had just decided to turn in for the night. She had been going to sleep on the early side for a while now, and despite what she said, she was waking up tired. She was hiding something from Snow. Why she would do that, Snow had no idea.
They had been best friends for a very long time. They shared everything with each other. How many times had Snow told Clover her secret fears or dreams that no one else knew about? How many times had Clover confided in Snow about her nightmares about the events of last year? She was still scarred for life from that. Snow had taken it upon herself to comfort her whenever she had a nightmare, or was insecure about her "other ability" (Snow had promised to avoid saying "wings" simply because it upset Clover), or anything else that troubled her. They were practically sisters. Why was Clover keeping secrets from Snow?
Walking silently into her bush den, Snow's eyes took in the Leafeon that was sleeping in her nest near the herbs and berries. Snow knew her so well. She looked at Clover's tail. Every tear, every nick, every notch, every vein. Unique to every Leafeon, and Snow knew her well enough to be able to place what exactly was where. She had already, she thought, looking at the miniature ice sculpture that she had made. Even now, Snow was fairly certain that she was the only one who could tell where her wings were along her sides, and the only ones who could tell what she was thinking better than Snow could were Espeon and Sunbeam.
Snow had resolved since Clover had started acting up that she would not push her friend's privacy. Both of them knew that she was hiding something, and neither was going to say anything. Clover knew Snow just as well as Snow knew Clover. She'd probably tell Snow at some point, but Snow was still hurt that Clover was hiding things from her. Nevertheless, Snow refused to snoop around. Clover would tell her when she was ready. The Glaceon laid down in her nest, listening to her friend's quiet breathing. It wasn't long before Snow was lulled into a very light sleep.
So light, in fact, that she woke up when Clover stood and carefully climbed out of her nest. Snow usually slept very deeply, but she slowly became more aware as Clover left the bush den. Snow blinked herself awake. If she was leaving the den every night, it was no wonder she was tired in the mornings. But where was she going?
No matter how many times Snow had told herself that she wouldn't pry, she couldn't stop herself from getting up and looking out the entrance to the den just in time to see Clover's tail vanish through the camp entrance. She was leaving camp?
Don't do it... Snow thought to herself as she slipped out and followed, her paws silent on the moonlit snow. She hasn't told you for a reason. Stop... her mind said as she, too exited camp.
Snow didn't even need her tracking skills. Clover had left paw prints in the snow as she walked. Her mind remained firm in her efforts to avoid following Clover, but her paws rebelled, taking her towards wherever the Leafeon had been going.
She walked in the silence of the winter night for some time, dimply aware of where she was going. She slowed down as the trees thinned. Clover's paw prints had led her to the small clearing near the stand of beech trees.
In the middle stood Clover. She was still, deep in thought. After a few seconds, she took a deep breath and shifted her shoulders, showing her other ability. "Ok, wings..." she muttered quietly. "I don't like you and you don't like me. ...But we're stuck with each other, so let's make the most of it."
Snow stood frozen in place, watching in amazement as Clover leaped into the air, beat her beautiful wings that she was always so ashamed to show to anyone else...
And flew.
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