To be precise, Sylveon had sensed it before she saw it. The moment she stepped into her home, her nose had caught an unusual scent.
It was a blend of the sweet fragrance of Berries and the distinctive scent of a newly laid Pokémon Egg, drifting lightly through the air of the burrow.
Sylveon's long pink-and-white ears twitched slightly, and her ribbonlike feelers curled unconsciously, a habitual gesture whenever she was curious.
Then, drawing on her familiarity with the house, she found the egg that had been laid sometime while she was away.
In the "living room," two Umbreon lay curled up to one side. Daytime was when Umbreon slept, and with Regirock standing guard outside, the couple had drifted off without a worry.
Their black fur shimmered violet in the faint sunlight spilling into the burrow, and their golden rings rose and fell slowly with their breathing.
Seeing Sylveon return, the female Umbreon raised her head and greeted her eldest daughter.
Sylveon's gaze, however, remained fixed on the egg in the next room. It looked like a perfectly ordinary Pokémon Egg.
Although the egg had been laid by a pair of Umbreon, no matter what kind of Eevee evolution the parents were, the hatchling would always be an Eevee in its original form.
Sylveon gently stroked the egg with her ribbonlike feelers. It felt slightly cool, but she could sense the strong pulses coming from within, and even felt as though the little one inside was greeting her.
Judging by the egg's condition, it seemed about to hatch, which meant she would soon have a little brother or sister.
Night had fallen. Drops of water occasionally dripped from the outdoor air-conditioning unit in the Backyard, and the two Umbreon had entered their active hours, taking turns going outside for