Diglett Valley is an arid collection of plains and valleys a couple miles south of Saffron.
As its name suggests, it is home to thousands of Diglett and Dugtrio. However they are not the only species that occupy the area.
In the skies roam massive Fearow that fly high enough and are large enough to cast shadows that could be mistaken for a cloud. While Fearow feast on wild Rattata and Sandshrew, their smaller counterparts like to eat the fruit that grow on Cacnea and Maractus. The Spearow must be fast, however, or else they can get caught by the needles growing on the cactus pokemon as they swipe for their prey.
During the day the area is deceivingly peaceful. There are no predators that roam the ground during the day. Don't let that fool you.
There are giant sand traps littered across the valley. Lone Kangaskhan or Salazzle must be wary of each step they take. There are small traps made by Trapinch. They must catch and eat many bugs to be able to store enough energy to evolve into Vibrava. Then they can fly to hunt their prey. But until then they must wait in their traps, taking months, years, even decades before they can roam the skies.
But those are not the traps to be weary of. A small Trapinch can be warded off by even a weak Elektrike. It is the bigger sand pits that are dangerous. These pit traps belong to Hippowdon, or the rare Krookodile. Both species are able to create pits of sand that suck in prey. Separated Kangaskhan cubs find themselves stuck in the quicksand to be eaten by Krokorok's, but even a fully grown Kanghaskan can be swallowed whole by a Hippowdon. Krookodile do not eat their prey in one bite, at least if it is the size of a Kaghaskan, rather choosing to bite down on its neck and thrash, killing its prey before eating it.
There are far more hazards to be scared of, but this will serve as an introduction into the daily life of those that live in Diglett Valley.
Today we will be following the journey of a Growlithe that has been separated from its pack.
Growlithe packs can number as small as 5 or as large as 30. The only thing common amongst all of the Growlithe packs is that there is at least one Arcanine that serves as the alpha. The particular Growlithe we will be following today was in a pack of 17.
Let's call him Arlo.
Arlo was born in a litter of 7. 6 other Growlithe pup siblings that had an Arcanine mother. While Growlithe do not need an Arcanine parent, Arlo's parents happened to both be Arcanine. They were the leaders of the pack. And having such fierce parents, Arlo and his siblings are incredibly lively Growlithe. Born with a strong sense of pride, they are fearless pups, willing to brave the unknown.
Arlo is the bravest of his siblings. He likes to venture off, exploring the world. Today his mother and father are both off hunting, the pups having grown enough to fend for themselves during the day. They likely would look for a Mudsdale or an Excadrill to feed their young.
Arlo was checking out a particularly big cactus, its viridian crown mesmerizing. But then he heard buzzing nearby.
A Vibrava.
The small dragon was newly evolved, it was struggling to fly straight. After all, having grown wings just recently would be a tough thing to get used to. Arlo, being the playful pup that he is, started chasing it. The Vibrava was flying close to the ground, never straying more than 5 feet above it. The ground is where it felt most comfortable. Spinning circles in the air, narrowly dodging cacti and brush, the chase began.
Many of the cacti were Cacturne and Maractus in disguise, but both of these pokemon are very docile. They do not have any water sources other than the rain, so they must be careful when they move. If they spent all day chasing Growlithe pups, they would dry out far before the next rain came. So they lie and wait, hoping their prey gets close enough to snag safely. If a Spearow wants to try for one of the fruit growing on them, well that will just make things easier for them.
So Arlo would be safe from the cacti. So long as he didn't tary in front of one of them for too long.
Before long, Arlo's pack was nowhere in sight. The Vibrava had no home. It could nestle into the ground wherever it wanted. That was the life it had as a Trapinch, and it wouldn't change as it evolved. Flygon are known to be nomadic species. The desert is always changing, so they can make home wherever they want to. Nobody challenges a Flygon to a fight, besides another Flygon that is. They are the kings of the valley.
Even the prideful Fearow backs off when a Flygon takes to the sky.
The Vibrava was getting a better handle on flying, reaching higher and higher above the ground. Arlo was still trying to catch him, using hills and rocks to leap off and try to nip Vibrava's back tail. Arlo only wanted to play. But the Vibrava finally gathered its courage and sped away, reaching high into the sky until it was just a speck to Arlo.
The day a Vibrava finally joined its brethren in the sky was always a joyous one. Maybe one day it would find a Flygon pack to join. They are social creatures, but the journey from Trapinch to Vibrava is always a solitary one. Maybe this Vibrava will even find its parents.
It was only at this moment that Arlo realized he had strayed from his pack. Looking around, he didn't recognize anything in sight. And what's worse, the sun was getting lower in the sky.
By now, his parents would have returned to the pack with food.
But Arlo was all alone with an empty stomach, having no idea where he was or how to get back.
This normally wouldn't be a problem, as pups do wander all the time. Especially if they were the kin of a prideful Arcanine. They are called the Legendary Pokemon for a reason. They would be able to track a pup's path in the sand and bring it back.
But today the winds were stirring. A sandstorm was coming. Whether it was some territorial battle between Flygon or just a natural occurrence, Arlo's parents wouldn't be able to track him.
Arlo was on his own.
Arlo whimpered and laid down. Stray grains of sand began to sift into the air.
Before long, Arlo was getting hit with a steady stream of sand. Blinding the eyes, filling the nose and mouth with debris, a sandstorm was vicious to all that were not Flygon.
He stood up. Now was not the time to give up. As youthful as he was, Arlo was still one of the smartest creatures to grace Diglett Valley. Growlithe were the most desired partner for detectives in the police force. This wasn't just because of their pyric abilities or exceptional scent. The cleverness of a pokemon was never to be underestimated, and Growlithe were one of the smartest.
Gathering his strength, Arlo set out to find shelter. If this sandstorm was made by a Flygon, this storm would likely pass within the next couple minutes. But a natural sandstorm could last hours.
But Arlo couldn't just curl up between his parents like he used to do during sandstorms. This time he would have to find his own cover.
Tucking his head into his chest, Arlo sniffed along the ground, avoiding inhaling the sand.
After nearly a half an hour of searching, he finds a rock that he can hide behind. With nothing to do but weather the pelting grains of sand, Arlo curls up and waits for the sandstorm to end.
…
The sandstorm eventually mellows out, and Arlo is ready to set off to find his pack. But the sun has nearly set, and the temperature is starting to drop.
Of course, being a fire type, Arlo can survive in the frigid temperatures of a desert night with ease. But that's not what he needs to be worried about. With the weather cooled, other pokemon start creeping out of their shelter into the valley.
But luck has stuck!
Arlo sees a small spring up ahead. Water is a very rare resource to come by, but Arlo has found a small pond to drink from.
He scouts the area, the only thing he can see are two Yungoos who are playing in the shallows. Splashing each other, the two pokemon are nearly harmless to a pup like Arlo.
With the coast clear, Arlo warily goes forth to take a drink.
Lapping the water into his mouth, Arlo's thirst is quenched. He dunks his head for a second, shaking his head side to side to properly get all the sand out of his mouth and nose.
Raising his head, Arlo, shakes his mane, sending water flying everywhere.
Arlo has hunted before. As a pup, supervised by one of his parents. His first hunt alone is a rite of passage, but he wasn't supposed to have that trial for many weeks to come.
But the perfect dinner has presented itself in the form of a Yungoos. The two weasel like pokemon are lacking supervision, with no Gumshoos in sight. If Arlo can catch just one of them, he can survive the night.
But across the pond, another predator enters the fray. Its eyes immediately lock onto the two Yungoos, and its eyes light up.
A Jolteon.
Its mouth begins to froth with anticipation, but it freezes as it sees Arlo. Growlithe are always accompanied by a pack, and an Arcanine is too strong to fight. But Jolteon does not see any other Growlithe in sight. There is no Arcanine either. No, this pup is alone.
Jolteon sets forth again, the fur on its back shooting off small sparks that fizzled against the sand.
In a blur of motion, one of the Yungoos is torn from the water. The only trace of it being the water bubbling from the fizz of electricity. Across the pond, the Jolteon digs into its prey. Jolteon are some of the quickest pokemon. They can channel electricity to spark their fast twitch muscles, moving faster than the eye can see. This Jolteon has just taken its dinner in the form of a Yungoos.
The other Yungoos panics, running out of the water. It is likely trying to escape back to where its home is.
This is Arlo's chance. After regaining some strength by rehydrating, Arlo is ready to chase down his food.
He's still too young to use any of his fire abilities, but his muscles have grown from constantly chasing his siblings and parents. This is not a race that Yungoos can win.
Not even 30 paces from the pond, Arlo catches his prey.
He will survive the night.
Or at least, it looked like he would.
Only just starting to dig in, Arlo's head snaps up as the mocking laugh of a Mightyena comes not even 20 feet away.
The scavenger is far bigger than Arlo. It closes in, the scent of a fresh kill making the Mightyena drool.
Arlo growls, the hair on the back of his neck rising as he stands his ground. But the Mightyena does not yield, stalking forward towards the Yungoos, baring its teeth all the while.
This is not a battle Arlo can win. Mightyena knows this. A Mightyena is far bigger than a Growlithe, and far stronger.
Arlo has to back away. If his mother or father were here, things would be different. But he just has to watch silently as the Mightyena digs into his dinner.
Looking back, the Jolteon is nowhere to be seen. The Yungoos it was eating was now just a pile of bones, licked clean and put in a nice pile.
Arlo would have to find another meal for the night.
But as Arlo backs up towards the pond, the clicking of pincers behind him causes him to spin around.
A Drapion has come for an evening drink.
Arlo has had his fill of water. And others would come to drink soon enough. And Arlo would not wait around for something that would be wanting to eat him.
The sun was barely poking out behind the hills now, the last remnants of the day falling away.
This would not be an easy night. Arlo set back into the valley. As he loped along, the twilight of the last dredges of the sun made his shadow stretch along the sand.
The white skull helmet of a Marowak reflected in the light, making Arlo veer off to the right. A Marowak was not to be trifled with. Even a Cubone's bone club was a threat, a Marowak's club was a death wish.
Shelter was no easy task. There were no caves among the sandy hills. Just rocks with big enough overhangs to hide under. But those overhangs were usually occupied already. Besides, curling up and sleeping under one of those overhangs would just mean that Arlo would be easy food for any predator.
No, Arlo would not be able to sleep. It will be a long night for our pup.
The sun had set. More sounds of the creatures of the night could be heard. There was howling in the distance as a Lycanroc confirmed a kill. Other howls could be heard all over as more Lycanroc answered the call.
Arlo kept moving. Movement meant survival. Even if something caught his scent, so long as he stayed moving they wouldn't be able to close in on him before he noticed. Movement also kept him awake. But he didn't need any help for that. The pangs of hunger were setting in again.
But his food options were limited. Before, things like Sandshrew and Sandlash had been on the menu. His mom and dad could both cook such a creature and slice open its tough shell so that Arlo and the rest of his brood could eat it. But Arlo claws had not developed to be strong or sharp enough to do such a thing. And his fire reserves wouldn't develop for another couple months yet.
The moon shone as the long night went on. Arlo did his best to avoid the areas where fighting was occurring. His sharp nose let him stay a step ahead of any predators trying to track him. There was no wind tonight. Nothing could sneak up on him.
But alas, it was not enough. Arlo immediately picked up on the scent of something foreign, hair standing on edge.
Luck was not on Arlo's side tonight. A wild member of the Garchomp line was incredibly rare to encounter. Even more so if you were outside of Sinnoh. But somehow a Gabite had found Arlo.
Whether it had been released by some trainer who couldn't handle the might and temper of an egotistical dragon, or if it had migrated overseas, or even if it had been raised here: it was a dragon who's will would not be denied. And right now it had eyes for one thing and one thing only.
The low guttural grumble of something dangerous was approaching.
Arlo picked up the pace, but it wouldn't matter. A Gabite was faster on land than Arlo could hope to match. It also could hover for short periods of time, kicking off the sand to jump and float forward a couple hundred feet at a time.
The dark navy scales of the dragon shone in the moonlight, the small white reflection from the moon the only visible portion of the stealthy dragon.
But Arlo had no need to see it. He could smell it. And it was getting closer.
The dull thumps of the Gabite's footfalls against the sand got louder and louder as it closed the distance. Arlo began to panic, trying to run faster, but he had been traveling all night with an empty stomach. The spike of adrenaline had helped, but the muscles in Arlo's legs were starting to refuse to cooperate.
And then Arlo began stumbling in the sand. The sand was thicker, and yet softer. Arlo's feet were sticking to the ground, getting harder and harder to take each step. Eventually Arlo was stopped entirely, the sand was too thick and sticky around him. He began sinking in the trap, desperately trying to claw his way out.
But the quicksand was too strong. Gabite had also slowed its pace, the sand tough to stride through. But Gabite was a dragon, a dragon of the earth to boot. It would have been able to weather such sand as an inconvenience, its pure strength enough to power through it. But even that was unnecessary. The earth parted before it, the ground like water to the ground dragon.
Arlo yipped and whined for help, something, anything to get out of this sand. His energy spent, Arlo could only watch as Gabite closed the distance. But just as Gabite got within reach, a thunderous roar shook out as the earth itself moved.
A Hippowdon, a 2 ton heavyweight, clamped its jaws down on Gabite. Or rather, where Gabite had been a moment before. The dragon had leapt back at the last second, avoiding the jaws of death. Most pokemon would have been helpless before the titanic creature. But Gabite could move through the earth even easier than Hippowdon could.
Arlo's cries for help grew even more frantic as the creatures clashed.
Gabite slashed down on the Hippowdon's head, but the beast weathered the blow, slamming its head up into Gabite. The Gabite was sent back tumbling, it was simply outclassed in the weight department by several tons. The Hippowdon didn't even seem to notice the bleeding cuts on its head. It opened its maw and let out an earth shaking bellow. Gabite backed off. There was easier prey out there for it. A Hippowdon was too risky to fight, even if there was a chance of winning. The dragon slinked off, tucking in its arms as it ran away.
Hippowdon turned to Arlo. The pup was still wailing for help, but the cries became muffled as the sand started to reach his head. The Hippowdon trudged forward, each step seeming to take centuries as the tremendous pokemon went in to claim its meal for the week.
But the crying for help had paid off. In a blaze of light and fire, a majestic Arcanine tore over the crest of the hill. The Hippowdon barely had time to react as it was sent flying by a powerful flare blitz. Grabbing Arlo by the scruff of his neck with her jaw, Arlo's mother had come to save the day. Her powerful legs barely even noticed the extra strain from the quicksand. Running off with the speed even a Jolteon would struggle to keep up with, the Growlithe and his mother traveled under the light of the stars. And in mere moments, they had traveled miles. Arlo had made it back home to his pack.
Arcanine had been searching all night for Arlo, and the mixture of the Hippowdon and Gabite's roar had drawn her attention to Arlo's cries. She had been tearing through the valley at high speeds searching for the little pup, blitzing toward any sound that could give her a hint to where Arlo was.
Now she was content licking her little pup's head, the hair standing up on end from the saliva, proud he had survived for so long on his own.
From then on, Arlo would be a little more careful about how far he ventured. And no matter what, he would become the strongest Growlithe and eventual Arcanine there was.