Chapter 2

“Get up!” commanded Dark Growlithe to the squad of lazing vulpix.

They were the strongest pokémon in the pack and had been specially picked by Ninetales. There were six vulpix in all and each one was female and at least four years old.

“You’re helping me on a mission for Ninetales.”

None of them argued with Dark Growlithe, even though he was their junior. They all got up and formed a small group in front of him. One stretched, clicked its back and it yawned, its pink tongue curling in its mouth and its sharp teeth shining in the sunlight.

“Come,” said Dark Growlithe, “We’ve still got to pick up one extra member.”

The whole group fell in step behind him and followed.

*****

The vulpix that had been scouting with Dark Growlithe was busy eating a rattata when Dark Growlithe came up behind her.

“Vulpix.”

She spun round in surprise at his voice, blood trickled from her mouth and she eyed the vulpix squad behind him warily.

“You’ve been chosen to accompany us on a mission to retrieve a missing flareon.”

“Fine,” said Vulpix with no emotion, she suspected it was because of her comment before but knew there was nothing she could do. Dark Growlithe put her in the middle of the vulpix squad, then they all went to find the trail of the runaway flareon.

*****

Houndour had led them to where she was injured and pointed them in the direction that Flareon had fled. One of the vulpix squad was tracking the scent and leading them along the trail that Flareon used. The trail left the plains and dropped down into the valley. It kept going straight and climbed up the other side and up the mountain. This was the only logical place for someone running away to go, as the forest was often full of pack members, hunting, playing and resting. No one went in to the mountains, as it was a barren place. There were a few rock pokémon around but other than that there wasn’t much there. If you could make it over the top you would end up on a second plain on the other side. That plain wasn’t part of Ninetales’ territory but belonged to other pokémon. The group was running after Flareon, the mountain trail didn’t have any side paths at the moment so there was no need to follow the scent and waste time.

*****

Flareon looked back, his eyes wide with fear. He knew he was being followed, Houndour had seen him escape. If he had escaped without being seen he would have had a grace period before he was noticed missing but it was not to be. He kept going and stumbled on a loose rock but managed to catch himself. He hadn’t rested the previous night; he’d been too worried about his escape to rest. The path branched now and he had two choices, left or right. He hesitated a second and ran along the left fork. The walls rose up on the sides, solid rock ridges that were impossible to climb. Flareon rounded a corner and stared in horror at the dead end. He spun round, maybe he had enough time to make it to the other fork.

*****

Dark Growlithe smelt the trail turn to the left and led his squad down the path. They met Flareon coming the other way. Two vulpix dropped back and two sprinted past Flareon to cut off his retreat, the other two and the vulpix that had patrolled with Dark Growlithe stayed with Dark Growlithe.

“We finally found you,” stated Dark Growlithe.

Flareon bared his teeth and growled.

“Ninetales is upset that you have left the pack. Will you come back?”

“Never!” snarled Flareon.

“You know that if you won’t rejoin the pack I will have to kill you.”

“I know the laws! I don’t need a suck-up like you preaching to me. You don’t understand what it’s like to live in the pack!”

“I know perfectly well. Ninetales ensures the well-being of the pack and makes sure there is peace. You have broken that peace and attacked a member of your own pack.”

“You’ve been brainwashed! Ninetales’ rules don’t conform to natural law. No other packs have their females superior. You can’t even choose a mate in this pack; Ninetales decides whether it’s allowed! We should be equal! But no, we have to do what we’re told. You wouldn’t understand, you spend all your time with Ninetales, sucking up, immune to everything. Not everyone can do what they want like you can.”

“You can earn your place in the pack like some others have done.”

“Three others have done it! You just got that rank for who-knows-what reason. Just because you’re Ninetales’ favourite. That’s what determines your rank in this pack, favouritism.”

“That’s enough talk! Are you coming back?”

“No, I’d rather die than live as Ninetales’ slave.”

“Then goodbye, Flareon.”

Dark Growlithe sped forward and opened his jaws. Flareon made no attempt to save himself as Dark Growlithe’s teeth closed around his throat. Dark Growlithe’s mouth snapped together, his teeth tearing through Flareon’s flesh. Warm blood flowed into Dark Growlithe’s mouth as he severed Flareon’s arteries and veins. He drank down the hot liquid, tasting the sweet blood. He pulled his head back and ripped out Flareon’s throat. Flareon to the ground, his eyes rolled back in his head and his body twitched. His head bent back, his spine visible through the hole Dark Growlithe made. Blood squirted out and stained the ground in an ever-widening crimson puddle. Dark growlithe opened his mouth and dropped the chunk of flesh he’d been holding. The vulpix squad was used to seeing pokémon executed but the other vulpix was very unnerved. She couldn’t look at Flareon’s dead body and turned to rather face the way home. Dark Growlithe came up next to her.

“Walk with me,” he commanded.

*****

The eight pokémon were now walking along the path through the mountain that led back home. On the side was a steep drop.

“Vulpix,” said Dark Growlithe.

“Yes,” she answered.

“Ninetales has decided you are a danger to the pack.”

“So you’re going to kill me?”

“Either jump off the cliff now or I’ll push you off.”

The pokémon all stopped walking and Vulpix looked down the cliff. It was almost straight down and at the bottom were broken rocks that had split, creating sharp spikes and blades. Falling down would mean death.

“You still don’t have your own thoughts do you?” asked Vulpix, “You’ll still do whatever Ninetales asks?”

“I owe her my life.”

“It’s sad. I believe Flareon, there needs to be more equality in this pack. It’s too unbalanced. Ninetales can do anything and the females can do anything to the males. Obviously they’re getting upset. There’ll be more like Flareon and more like me. We want to choose our own future, not be forced into it.”

“You’re safe with Ninetales.”

“No one has ever tried to harm us! We’re being protected from fears that don’t have any ground. I hope you realise it, Growlithe.”

“Dark Growlithe.”

“You’re still a growlithe, just slightly different.”

“You’re wasting time.”

“Goodbye, Growlithe.”

Vulpix then jumped off the cliff and fell down towards her death. In her heart though, she was happy. She was finally choosing her own future, even though it led to death. She struck a rock and it sliced through her belly until it hit her spine. She watched her blood run down the stone and pool at the bottom of the rock. She felt no pain, only darkness as she closed her eyes to sleep.