Chapter 3

Dark Growlithe and the Vulpix Squad had travelled slowly back and only reached Ninetales’ den at nightfall. The vulpix went their own way to do whatever it was that they did and Dark Growlithe went home to Ninetales. Inside the den, a half-eaten spearow was lying near Ninetales.

“This is for you,” said Ninetales, “How did your mission go?”

Dark Growlithe bowed and lay with her.

“They’re both dead,” he answered.

He took a bite and Ninetales watched him closely. She lay next to him and snuggled close.

“What happened? Tell me everything.”

Dark Growlithe swallowed.

“Flareon ran to the mountain but took a wrong path. I killed him myself.”

“How?” inquired Ninetales, a crazy glint in her eyes.

“I ripped his throat out,” said Dark Growlithe softly.

Ninetales nuzzled his face happily, “That’s good! You should be more proud of your achievements. You’re the best pokémon to have come into my pack.”

Dark Growlithe brightened a bit, “It just doesn’t feel that great now.”

“Don’t think like that. You did what I asked and that is the best you could do. You are proving yourself to be an exceptional pokémon. Now, what about Vulpix? You said she doubted my leadership.”

“She killed herself by jumping off a cliff. She shared some of Flareon’s views.”

“Excellent, I’ll have to ask some of my loyal subjects if they have heard anything at all suspicious.”

Dark Growlithe continued his meal and Ninetales fixed her attention back on him. Dark Growlithe found it a little disconcerting at first, her eyes following his every move, but he was used to it and soon ignored it. Ninetales took in every detail of his movements. The way his fur moved as air rushed over it and his muscles expanded and contracted just beneath his skin. The way the light shone in his dark eyes, the way he tore the meat from the spearow and swallowed it. She watched the lump move down his throat and stared at his chest as it moved in and out from his breathing. When he finished she observed his tongue as he licked his lips and paws clean and how sharp his teeth were as he gnawed on the bare bones.

“That’s enough,” she finally said, “You’ve had a tough day, come lie with me.”

Dark Growlithe left the bones, yawned and moved onto the soft bed of hay and grasses. Ninetales motioned for him to sleep against her and he curled up against her belly. She wrapped her nine, snow-white tails around and over him, rested her muzzle on his neck and the two slept.

*****

In the morning Dark Growlithe exited the cave and was going to spend the day doing nothing, he was free. A whole day to do whatever he wanted. He stood in the shade of the tree for a while, watching what everyone was doing. 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. As he moved off a second vulpix from the squad jumped on his back and bit his shoulder. He yelped and twisted around to see his attacker. The vulpix smirked at the houndour and watched gleefully as blood trickled down his leg from his bite wound.

“What was that for?’ he asked in whiny voice.

“For attacking a squad member of mine.”

“I didn’t attack her,” he protested.

The vulpix stepped forward and bared her teeth.

The houndour immediately submitted by sinking to the ground, looking up at her.

“Get lost,” she muttered, “I don’t want to see you.”

Head low, he left. Dark Growlithe didn’t care much, it didn’t involve him but he made a point of going down. Instead of walking past the vulpix that the houndour had bumped into he walked right over her. She grunted as his paws came down but didn’t do anything. The other vulpix dropped her gaze as he looked at her. He kept walking and went into the quiet of the forest.

*****

It was dark in the forest, the trees were tall and their branches and leaves overlapped and blocked out the sun. The first few metres were clear at ground level but the deeper you went the more ferns, vines and shrubs there were. Deep in the forest there were areas that were too thick for pokémon to travel through. Leaves on the ground crackled under Dark Growlithe’s feet as he wandered through the plants. Dark Growlithe’s super sensitive hearing soon picked up a voice. He headed in that direction and glanced through the bushes. A female flareon was there with a male flareon.

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

“Too bad, I’ve got permission from Ninetales herself. If you’re that set against it then let’s go and tell her or her squad of vulpix.”

It was obvious from the male flareon’s expression that he had no intention of telling either Ninetales or the Vulpix Squad.

“Well?” asked the female.

“I don’t want to...”

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

Dark Growlithe turned away and left, he wasn’t going to stay and watch. He felt slightly sorry for the male flareon but again he knew it was for the best of the pack and he shouldn’t interfere. Ninetales was the leader and knew what should be done for the pack to survive and be strong. If everyone was allowed to do what they wanted there would be chaos, they wouldn’t be ready for an attack, everyone would have to fend for themselves and bad genes would continue. Ninetales’ system was best.

*****

At the end of the day Dark Growlithe returned to Ninetales’ den. Ninetales called him to a corner and stood close to him, her face right next to his.

“How do you feel about me?” she asked.

Dark Growlithe looked at her, “I don’t understand. What do you mean how do I feel about you?”

“Alright,” she said, “Let me put it this way, do you love me?”

“Yes. You saved me when I was young and you’re a great leader.”

“And what about me as a Ninetales? Do you love me as a Ninetales?”

“I guess.”

Dark Growlithe was unsure where the questions were leading and the fact that her tails were around him during the questions wasn’t making him feel that good.

“That’s good,” explained Ninetales, “because you are going to be my mate.”

“What!” exclaimed Dark Growlithe in shock, he certainly wasn’t ready for that.

Ninetales pressed her body against him, using her tails to pull him tightly to her side. He forced his way out and jumped to the other side of the den. Ninetales was blocking his way out.

“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.”

Dark Growlithe paced the width of the den, looking for a gap to get past Ninetales.

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

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

Dark Growlithe attempted to force his way out of the den but Ninetales was faster than he was. She tackled him and pinned him to the ground. Ninetales held Dark Growlithe by the back of his neck and rested the front of her body on his back, preventing him from escaping. She wrapped her tails around the two of them.

“We’ll try again tomorrow. Let’s just rest tonight then.”

Ninetales released her hold on Dark Growlithe’s neck and licked the top of his head, more roughly than normal. Unable to escape, Dark Growlithe had choice but to go to sleep, held tightly by Ninetales.