Second chapter! I've decided to change the upload schedule a bit. I'm going to upload a minimum of two times a week, and try to upload once every two days. Also, this chapter should be considerably longer. Enjoy!
Ugh… where am I? The last thing I remember… OH NO!
I sat up, instantly alert. My tail! I check it immediately, ignoring everything else. The fur is singed around my star! And there's going to be a scar on the star! This is terrible!
"Er… excuse me? Are you ok?" a voice asks, snapping me out of my panic. I look around at the many pairs of eyes trained on me.
A huge number of Ninetales and Vulpix surround me, staring at me with different expressions ranging from worried to disgust. How did I get here…?
"Erm… Hi? How did I get here?" I asked sheepishly, aware of the largest Ninetales directly in front of me staring at me… oddly.
"You don't remember? A Ninetales in our clan and two Vulpix were hunting when they heard a cry of pain. They claim to have seen you being attacked by several Beedrill, and tried to help you. They managed to drive the Beedrill off, but not before you had passed out," said the Ninetales in front me.
That explains my tail… I hope the scar won't be TOO noticeable.
"It seems vaguely familiar." I admitted. I felt like I was being watched, even though I was surrounded by staring faces, and looked around. I don't see anything… must be my imagination.
"Well, enough about that. My name is Flare, and I'm leader of this clan. And you are?" she asked. That explains her size and aura of authority. The others seem to act the same way around her as the other Luxray and Luxio did around my father.
"I don't have a name…"
"What do you mean? Everyone has a name."
"My clan has a ceremony that Shinx must undergo and evolve during. I failed to evolve, and my father, the leader of the clan, disowned me and sent me to banishment," I said sheepishly. Now here comes the ridicule… They'll probably send me away now.
"You poor thing! How could they toss out a poor cub like that simply because he couldn't evolve? I wish I could help you," she said in a tone showing pity.
Huh? Am I hearing things? She feels sorry for me? I thought all clans around here banished those who fail to evolve in the Ceremony of Light… Is that even a thing here? Suddenly I felt the same feeling of being watched and looked around casually. Wait a minute…
There, behind Flare's tails. There's a small Vulpix, who keeps sneaking peeks from behind Flare. She must be Flare's daughter. Hmm…
"It's alright. I'll figure something out," I said simply. "May I ask a question?"
"Go ahead. I'll answer as best I can."
"Is it true if you touch a Ninetales' tails, you are cursed?"
"No, that's just a rumor," she chuckled. "Why?"
"It's just that I saw that Vulpix behind you, and that she's touching your tails. I wondering if she was cursed, or if your own species couldn't be cursed or something." I said.
Flare stood up and walked aside, leaving the Vulpix exposed to everyone's view. The Vulpix stood up startled, and tried to hide behind a very small rock that barely covered her muzzle.
"Ember, show some manners! We have a guest here today! Introduce yourself!" scolded her mother. Ember stood up and walked a few feet towards me.
"S-sorry mother," she said apologetically. "I've just never seen this kind of Pokémon before, and I was scared to show myself. H-hello. My name is Ember."
Scared? Of me? Hah! I couldn't hurt her if I tried. I don't even know any moves except for Tackle and Growl. Actually… I need to change that. Last thing I need is to be corned by those Beedrill or something worse and not even be able to fight back.
"It's fine. If I hadn't seen a Pokémon before, I probably would have hidden, too." I admitted, more for her benefit than mine. She can't be much older than me, a moon at most.
"Flare, I should be going. I need to find shelter before dark, and, with no offense to you, I'd rather not stay here." I said with a glance to the younger looking Ninetales staring at me with a malevolent look. Yikes… He looks like he woke up on a bed of Cacturns.
"I understand," she said gently. "If only I could do something for you. If you think of a way we can help you, stop by before you leaving Burning Woods tomorrow morning."
"I will," I said. I bowed my head in respect, and started to walk away from the group of Pokémon, especially that one with the mean look.
"Mother, don't you have the power to give cubs their names?" asked Ember, making me stop in my tracks. What is she suggesting…?
Flare seemed to think about it for a moment. "Yes. But only in my clan. Why?"
"Well, if you adopted Shinx into the clan, you could give him a name, couldn't you? He's under 5 moons old. He looks 4 moons at the most."
"I could, yes. That's a marvelous idea! Very good, Ember. You will make a fine leader one day," praised her mother. Ember licked her chest in embarrassment.
"Is this okay with you, Shinx?"
I bounced up and down with excitement, earning some giggles from the audience. What? I can't act my age?
"Yes!" I cried, with more enthusiasm than intended. This earned some more giggles.
"Well then, come here," commanded Flare gently. I walked towards her with my head held high. "Shinx, do you wish to join our clan?"
"Yes."
"Then I hereby give you your name. You will be called Blaze from this day onward, and may you earn honor for this name." She said almost proudly.
I'm not nameless anymore! Blaze is more of a fire-type name, but this is a group of Ninetales. I should just be grateful for the name.
"Thank you! This means so much to finally have a name!"
"Blaze, you are now part of this clan. Will you stay?" she asked. I looked down at my feet. I should, after all, Flare accepted me, a foreigner, into her clan. But I can't. I still want to join MY clan again.
"No. I'm sorry, but I still want to join my clan again. I have to evolve or accomplish a task for that to happen, and I cannot do that here. I appreciate what you've done," I said respectfully.
"Very well. Goodbye then," she said, without a note of bitterness in her tone. I walked off into the forest, glancing back. Ember looked deep in thought, I thought as I turned back to face forward.
Flare looked down at her daughter. It was obvious to her that, despite just meeting the Shinx, she was fond of Blaze, and wished to follow him.
"Mother… may I go with him? I'd like to go with him on his adventure," said Ember, staring at the ground. Flare chuckled inside her mind.
"Yes. You may. It will be good experience for you to see the world, and I'd feel better if you went with Blaze. I see great potential within him, and I think you two will find friends to accompany you along the way as well."
Ember looked up at her mother, all six of her tails wagging excitedly.
"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" cried Ember, racing after Blaze. Flare just smiled and shook her head. Before long, Ember was out of sight.
"You can't be serious!" said a voice behind Flare. It was the young Ninetales eyeing Blaze earlier. He looked burning mad (no pun intended).
"It is my decision as leader, Scorch." Flare said calmly. "It was her wish, and I'm sure she felt a connection with him seeing as she couldn't evolve when exposed to the Stone just half a moon ago."
Scorch was a Vulpix just a moon ago, and his father was determined he would become mates with the leader's daughter. Scorch obviously felt cheated out of his mate and chance at leadership.
"What about her be-"started Scorch. Flare gave him a look that caused him to stop mid-sentence.
"What about what, Scorch? You are the only Pokémon here who believes my daughter is your certain mate, and you are the only one who either didn't see or ignored how Ember looked at Blaze. She has made her decision, and I will stand by her. And that is final!" snarled Flare.
But Scorch felt differently. Oh no, Ember would be his mate, if he had to kill Blaze for it to happen. He stalked away from the group, sinister thoughts racing through his mind.
Chapter Two! I made it twice as long as the last. This is the length most of the chapters will be, or so I hope. I also want to clear something up I thought some of you might think while reading this. This is NOT a Pokémon and Warriors crossover. I just thought that Pokémon would live together in the wild, and "clans" seemed fitting. Stay tuned for the next chapter~