Chapter 4

Dark Growlithe opened his eyes slowly. He was in the den, Ninetales was sitting above him and he was lying between her legs. Ninetales looked down at him.

“You’re awake,” she said, “I hope you’re not planning to go straight to sleep tonight.”

Dark Growlithe just looked at the floor and remained silent.

“Look at me!” hissed Ninetales.

Dark Growlithe glared at her.

“I didn’t rescue you just because I have a wonderful, kind heart. I could see your potential and I was right. You’ve grown into a strong, good-looking growlithe. All I want as repayment is you as my mate. Is that too much? Your genes are strong, you can help me have stronger children.”

“I don’t want you as a mate,” said Dark Growlithe, “You were more like a mother than a mate.”

“It’s not that bad, it will just be a few times this season. You know how many males would kill for a chance to be my mate?”

Dark Growlithe ignored her and sulked.

“You’re not leaving my den until I’m pregnant. Look at the door.”

Dark Growlithe looked. Two members of the Vulpix Squad stood there.

“They will not let you leave.”

The two vulpix were the ones Dark Growlithe had watched beat up the houndour and they both glared at him. Ninetales walked to the door. When she left Dark Growlithe felt colder as her warmth disappeared.

“I’m getting a meal. Behave yourself while I’m gone.”

As Dark Growlithe lay in the dark cave, all alone, thoughts flashed through his mind. Thoughts of Ninetales and the pack.

My duty is to the pack and to Ninetales.

“Don’t talk about Ninetales like that! She’s our leader and she raised me. You should be honoured to serve her.”

“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 everyone. 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 then live as Ninetales’ slave.”

“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.”

A male houndour came around a rock and accidentally bumped into one of the vulpix from the Vulpix squad. Immediately she growled and tackled him. He was knocked over and pinned down before he knew what was happening. The vulpix stood over him, her teeth around his neck.

“Watch where you’re going!” she growled, his skin and fur muffling her words somewhat.

He nodded his head and whimpered pitifully until she let him go. As she got off him she deliberately stamped on his stomach. He gasped for breath but didn’t do anything.

“But I don’t want to be your mate,” protested the male.

“Too bad. I want a baby and I want you as the father so quit whining and mount me!”

“I-I didn’t mean I wanted to be your mate!” stammered Dark Growlithe.

“Too bad, I want you. You have an incredibly interesting set of genes. I want to add it to my line.”

“Let me out. I don’t want to stay here.”

“You’re going to be my mate so stop your whining.”

‘Maybe Flareon and Vulpix were right,’ thought Dark Growlithe, ‘there is no free choice here. Everything is what Ninetales decides. No one has a choice. I’ve been blind to it. I watched Houndour get beaten up unfairly. Flareon was practically raped and I did nothing. Now it’s happened to me. I thought I could trust Ninetales, I thought I could rely on her to protect the pack but instead she turned on me and wants to force me to be her mate. Is this why Flareon left? He didn’t want the mate he was going to be forced to have. Am I hated as much as they hate Ninetales? Do I really have no thoughts of my own? It’s not true! I’m thinking for myself now. I love Ninetales but I don’t want to be her mate! If she can’t understand that maybe I should leave. The only reason she ever cared for me was my genes. She wanted my body and my genes. All those years all she thought about was mating with me! I’m not having it!’

“I’m leaving!” shouted Dark Growlithe, “I’m not mating with you Ninetales!”

The two vulpix looked at him.

“You’re not leaving,” said the first one.

“So quieten down or I’ll have to come and pay you back for stepping all over me,” said the second one.

Dark Growlithe bared his teeth and growled.

“Try it! I’m not going to go easy on you!”

The two vulpix walked into the cave and prepared to fight.

“You are aware that we’re the strongest pokémon in the pack?” asked the second vulpix.

Dark Growlithe snorted, “You’re not the one Ninetales favours.”

“Shut up!” shouted the first vulpix as she dashed at him, “You’ve no longer got any protection!”

Dark Growlithe met the vulpix head on. The two crashed together and bounced away. As he hit the floor, Dark Growlithe let out a flamethrower attack. She jumped to the side and the second vulpix tackled Dark Growlithe from the side. They rolled into the wall, wrestling for the dominant position. Sensing a moment Dark Growlithe sank his teeth into the vulpix’s shoulder. Blood squirted into his mouth and she cried out in pain. The other vulpix shot her own flamethrower, hitting Dark Growlithe in the chest. He flew back into the wall, slightly shocked. She then lunged for his throat but Dark Growlithe was lying on his back, raised his hind paws and kicked her in the face. Her jaws snapped together with a loud crack and one white fang fell out between her lips. Dark Growlithe got up and faced his opponents. Both vulpix were bleeding and did not look happy. Once again both vulpix charged at him. Dark Growlithe used take down against their combined attacks and his stronger attack won out. The vulpix were thrown to the side and Dark Growlithe burst through. Ignoring his injuries and fatigue, he sprinted out Ninetales’ den.

Ninetales was coming home, dragging her prey, a stantler, and saw Dark growlithe sprint from the den.

“Vulpix!” yelled Ninetales, “Bring Dark Growlithe back now!”

The injured Houndour, now used to her injury, ran as fast as she could to Ninetales.

“If I can get Dark Growlithe back, may I mate with him?”

“Fine, tie him down and eat him alive for all I care. As long as I get to mate with him first, after that he’s yours.”

Grinning happily, Houndour also joined the chase.

*****

Dark Growlithe ran up the mountain, desperate to get away from the pack and start a new life. He glanced behind him and saw no one.

“Stop!”

Dark Growlithe looked in front of him and saw Houndour.

“H-how did you get there?” he demanded.

“I’ve learnt some secret paths here on the mountains. Now they can help me get the best prize.”

“Leave me alone! I don’t want to be anyone’s mate yet!”

Houndour ignored him and jumped at him. Dark Growlithe met her and their teeth clashed together. Their cries echoing far through the mountains. Saliva dripped from their open mouths and splattered on the floor. The two dog pokémon continued their fight, unaware the vulpix had surrounded them. Even though she was a good fighter Houndour was wounded, she lunged quickly and her teeth cut Dark Growlithe close to his neck. She had no grip and sped past him, as she went he jumped and spun around, landing on her back

“Mate with me!” she cried in her frenzy.

Dark Growlithe clamped his teeth down upon her neck in disgust. Her vertebra cracked and blood flowed through her fur and poured down on the ground. Dark Growlithe dropped the dead pokémon and looked around at the vulpix. The cut on his neck was slowly oozing blood and his jaws, chest and legs were matted with Houndour’s blood.

“Give up,” growled one of the vulpix. “You’re outnumbered and surrounded.”

Dark Growlithe just raised his muzzle to the sky and let out a long mournful howl and jumped off the path. He hit the mountainside and rolled in a cloud of dust until he splashed into the river at the bottom of the gorge.