Chapter 5

Dark Growlithe was too weak to fight the river and knew he was going to die, just like Flareon and Vulpix. He surrendered his body to the water and closed his eyes, letting himself be pulled by the current. Occasionally he was brought to the surface and could gulp some air into his lungs, after that he would just be pulled under again to the cold where his lungs threatened to burst. Downstream the river flowed around a rock in its centre but Dark Growlithe crashed into it and fainted.

*****

Dark Growlithe opened his eyes and looked to see where he was. It was cold and dark, he stared harder and realised he was inside a cave, lying on a bed of wet straw. At first he thought he was back in Ninetales’ den but then he noticed this cave was different. Inside the rocks were tiny crystals that glimmered in the dull light from the luminescent mushrooms growing out the walls. There was no door he could see and in the centre of the cave was a large hole filled with water. He tried to stand but he was still too exhausted to make it up and he fell unconscious again.

*****

When Dark Growlithe came to again, there was a dead goldeen lying close to him.

“That’s for you to eat,” said a voice behind him.

Dark Growlithe looked behind him and saw a male vaporeon, dripping wet, lying on a raised stone watching him. The vaporeon stood up and walked over to Dark Growlithe.

“I was worried you wouldn’t survive,” said the vaporeon, “It’s rare that a fire pokémon will survive being in a river as long as you were but I guess you’re a lot stronger than I thought.”

“Thank you,” said Dark Growlithe as he began to eat the goldeen.

“I’m the leader of a vaporeon pack that lives here, you can call me Steam. What’s your name?”

“Dark Growlithe. Why are you called Steam? Where I came from everyone was just called by the type of pokémon that they were.”

“It’s the same in my pack except if you do something outstanding for the pack you are rewarded with a unique name. I’m called Steam because my mother was a vaporeon and my father was a flareon. You’re not a growlithe are you?”

“I’m just different to a normal growlithe, that’s all.”

“Why? Was it because of your parents?”

“I don’t know my parents. They died when I was very young and I was raised by Ninetales.”

“She never told you about your parents?”

“No, she said it was better to leave the past in the past.”

“But something like that will bother you. Personally I don’t think your father was a fire pokémon.”

“You don’t?”

“No. I assume Ninetales named you.”

Dark Growlithe nodded.

“Well I suspect it was because your father was a dark type pokémon, maybe a houndour. I’ve heard stories of pokémon of different types having children that had a combined DNA. For example a pikachu that can breathe fire or something. It is really rare however.”

“Maybe you’re right. Ninetales said I had interesting genes,” remarked Dark Growlithe bitterly.

Steam noticed his tone but didn’t pry.

“No offence meant but I don’t know if I can trust you yet. That’s why the door to this cave is blocked. I’ll leave you to eat. I might send some company later, otherwise I’ll come and talk to you.”

Dark Growlithe grunted as Steam walked to the hole in the floor and dived into the pool of water. Dark Growlithe finished eating and walked over to look into the pool. He could see it wasn’t just a lake or dam but connected to a river and could be used as a means of transport. Dark Growlithe couldn’t use it though and settled down on the floor to rest.

*****

At the end of the day Steam came back to the cave with Dark Growlithe in it.

“I did some… well… spying and verified your story. You came from the pack on the plains, right?”

Dark Growlithe nodded.

“Ninetales is quite upset you left.”

“Did you tell her I was here?” asked Dark Growlithe in a sudden panic.

“Don’t worry. I asked other pokémon that live near the pack. Ninetales is clueless.”

Dark Growlithe settled down again.

“Do you have anywhere to go now?” asked Steam.

Dark Growlithe shook his head.

“Do you want to join my pack?”

“You mean it?”

“Yes, but once you join you can’t leave We need to keep our home secret and all.”

“I’ll join.”

“Then I need to know some things about you. What was your rank in your previous pack?”

“I was second in the pack, because I was Ninetales’ favourite.”

“Why did you leave the pack?”

“I don’t want to say,” answered Dark Growlithe looking away.

“If you don’t answer I can’t know if I can trust you and I can’t have you in the pack.”

“Ninetales… she wanted… she wanted me to be her mate. I refused, she was going to force me to, so I ran away.”

“I see. Would you ever betray this pack?”

“No.”

“But you betrayed your last pack. You left them and are now trying to join here.”

“I didn’t want to be her mate. I didn’t love her like that, that’s why I left. Anyway, I was shown a different view. I saw Ninetales’ pack wasn’t as great as she had led me to believe. I was…brainwashed! I killed pokémon, just for doubting Ninetales when… when they were probably right.”

“I know about Ninetales’ pack and I probably would have done the same thing if I were you, but don’t ever betray this pack. If you wish I may allow you to leave later but if I do you will swear to never reveal anything you have learnt here to anyone, understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

Steam smiled at Dark Growlithe.

“Then allow me to be the first to welcome you to this pack, Dark Growlithe.”

*****

Steam announced to his pack that Dark Growlithe was staying. There were no objections so Steam left Dark Growlithe with Aquafang, the vaporeon in charge of the pack’s defence. He studied Dark Growlithe intently for a while.

“Did you know that you’re a problem?” he commented finally.

“Why?”

“I don’t have anything against you personally, but you’re a fire type pokémon and this pack is a water-type pack. We do almost everything in the water and you can’t swim. At least not for long before fainting.”

“I can still fight on the land. You won’t only be attacked from the water.”

“We don’t fight on the land if possible. There is only one way into our territory aside from the water and that is that small hole over there. Do you really want to watch the hole every day for enemies? We’re not at war so we aren’t going to need to fight. If we are we’ll hide in the caves.”

The vaporeon pack’s territory was a stretch of beach next to the river. It extended a short way onto grass as well but was completely surrounded by the high walls of the mountain that the river flowed through. The pack slept and took shelter in a series of inter-connected caves against the river. The only way into the pack’s territory was a small crack through which only one pokémon at a time could travel.

“But if other pokémon got into the caves you would need to fight on the land.”

“All the cave entrances can be sealed off by large boulders. Even if an enemy breached the rocks there are other caves which can only be reached by swimming underwater. You won’t be able to do that, which is another problem.”

“I could hunt for the pack,” suggested Dark Growlithe, getting desperate.

Although he had found another pack, or rather they had found him, they didn’t seem to need him for anything.

“We get our food from the river,” stated Aquafang.

Dark Growlithe was severely disappointed and Aquafang saw that. He felt sorry for the fire pokémon and thought hard to find something he could do.

“There is one thing you could do,” he said finally.

Dark Growlithe perked up and looked attentively.

“There is? What?”

“Since all the members of the pack, excluding you, are either vaporeon or young eevee there is a major bias in our teaching. The eevee are taught almost exclusively about the water. The problem is that out of the five eevee evolutions only one lives in the water. For the eevee that decide to become an evolution other than a vaporeon our teaching is largely useless. You on the other hand have spent all your life on the land. You could be used to teach the young eevee about what to do on the land. Do you think you could do that?”

“Sure,” answered Dark Growlithe, eager to help repay the pack in some way for rescuing him, “Just tell me what you want.”

“First we’ll have to go see Vaporeon-sensei; he teaches the eevee.”

*****

Vaporeon-sensei was busy lecturing a group of fourteen eevee about what to do in the event of a flood. Aquafang and Dark Growlithe waited patiently to the side.

“All the eevee are about a year younger than you,” said Aquafang, “When they turn two they begin lessons and then when they’re three the whole group has to pass an evolution exam.”

“What sort of exam?”

“The leader’s of the other ‘eon packs will go to the pack where the exam is being held, bringing their eevee with them, and then will decide together a task for each eevee. When the eevee completes the task they will choose their evolution and join the respective pack.”

“What kind of tasks?”

“Some are lucky and get easy tasks such as find such and such a pack while other’s may be asked to fetch a feather from Articuno.”

“Can they do that?” asked Dark Growlithe doubtfully.

“Not likely. They are still welcome at all packs during their task. Some never succeed and other’s evolve during their task.”

“Do those ones abandon the task?”

“Some do. Most have more pride and never give up. Some live their whole lives working for a pack, evolving by themselves, but still, whenever they have free time, attempt to complete their quest.”

“It seems unfair.”

“Everyone goes through it. Most of the tasks aren’t that difficult, the Articuno thing was just an example.”

Vaporeon-sensei dismissed the eevee and came up to Dark Growlithe and Aquafang. The two vaporeon nodded their heads to each other in respect.

“What can I do for you?” asked Vaporeon-sensei.

“Not for me,” replied Aquafang. “I’m sure you know Dark Growlithe.”

“I’ve heard of him.”

“I can’t use him in the defence force so I was thinking he could help you teach the eevee how to survive on land.”

“You don’t think I’m good enough?”

“I’ve told you we need to focus more on land training.”

“I know. I know. I was joking.” Vaporeon-sensei turned to Dark Growlithe, “Do you want to teach?”

“I want to do something for the pack and this seems to be the only thing I can do,” said Dark Growlithe, “I’ve never taught anyone anything before, but I’m willing to learn.”

“You’re always learning and teaching. Volunteering for this has already taught me you want to help the pack. Come tomorrow and I’ll see how you fit in.”

“Thank you,” said Dark Growlithe gratefully.

“I’m going to get some food, Aquafang. Do you want to come hunt?”

“Fine, I’m finished now. Look around the pack’s territory,” said Aquafang to Dark Growlithe, “It’s yours as well now.”