A/N: Just a fair warning that the following prologue contains transphobia, blood, and violence. If you're not into this stuff, either close out of the story or skip to the next chapter (if only I could make another one someday, but idk when..)
"By Lunala's light, she can put up quite a fight.." She rhymed, sing-songily as she looked back at the small Yamper, who was still play-fighting with a stuffed animal; surprisingly resembled a Weavile. "A fighter to be honest.."
"Thundra is what we're calling.. Thundra the-"
"How about Oakley?" The Lycanroc requested.
The Boltund thought for a moment. Will Oakley be the name his new pup'll go by?
"Oakley.." Finally, the Boltund responded. "Oakley works.."
"Her name'll be Vivian.."
A tall Weavile stared directly into the smaller Sneasel's eyes, mewing as it took each step. "Vivian..she'll be a great clan member.."
Vivian's sky blue eyes met directly at the Weavile's, a smile growing on his face. "A great clan member.."
"Pff- If only.. Just look at the size of that ear!" Said the male Sneasel as he pointed a claw towards the smaller being. Vivian doesn't seem to care about being made fun of; instead, she blows raspberries at the "attacker". "With that long ear of his, how is he-"
"SHE.." The Weavile growled as it went over to the bully. "The long ear of HERS, SHE will make HERSELF a great clan leader one day.."
With the transphobic comments the Sneasel made to Vivian, the Weavile had no choice but to move away from him; taking his heir with him as well. "You and your comments are not meant for the clan code..end of story.."
"Gwiff, that Sneasel scawy.." Vivian spat, her tone of voice now worrying rather than stern and sharp.
"Yes, Vivian.. He can be a jerk sometimes.." Griff finished. "But, it's who he is..a Sneasel trying to break the Claw Code.."
Vivian wasn't aware of what the Claw Code meant. At first it was meant to be a list of rules, and turns out there are rules in the territory; only some are different then before. "What's the Claw Code?"
"Rules followed by us Sneasels and Weavile." Griff started. "Leaders like me must keep an eye on other clan members. And if one chooses to become a clan leader, one must best their old leader in combat."
"And with assessments, if one fails then one gets punished.."
"Gwiff, what would they do if one gets punished?" Vivian asked, unaware.
"Vivian, you might want to learn about that when you get older. Violence is not for the young.." Griff responded before putting the small Sneasel on a closed crate. "When you grow older, you'll be able to replace me as a clan leader.."
"But, why? I don't want to replace you, Gwiff!" The young Vivian spoke as she tugged on the Weavile's arm. "What if I don't wanna be a clan leader!?"
"Then you'll choose to become a hunter." The Weavile stated. "The hunter must prove its hunting skills before it receives its right to hunt larger prey."
"But if a hunter fails its test, what would others do?" Vivian asked again.
Griff paused for a few moments. He looked directly at the bushes where it led to the outer area of the clan territory. "Exile isn't an option, but if disobeying a clan leader becomes frequent, taking them out of the territory to find a new clan is the only way we have available."
Vivian opened her mouth to say something else, but caught Griff's eye as he was about to talk. "And if they betray a clan leader, you'll know what happens when you grow older.."
The small Sneasel pouted as the Weavile finished his sentence. "You were part of the clan, but it's unknown who your real parents were.."
"So that means.. I'm adopted?"
Griff froze like a deerling in headlights. "Uhm..." He was confused for a brief moment.
"Most likely, but I'm not your father though.. I'm your clan leader unless you best me in combat when you evolve into a species like me.."
"I know..but..."
"Enough questions, Vivian. Find the other younglings before it's supper time.." Griff yawned, leaving Vivian behind.
Once Griff was gone in the distance, it was finally clear for the smaller Sneasel to find the younglings without any trouble. Apparently she would find her friends the same age as her, but with the long ear she has, it made it difficult not knowing she would get attacked by their transphobic comments.
"Victor is not my name.." She said to herself as she eyed directly to the other Sneasels next to each other. "My name is Vivian.."
"My name is Vivian. My name is Vivian. MynameisVivian.."
Vivian tried her best to get her old name out of her head, but with the sheer memories she was recalling prevented her from doing so; henceforth forcing herself to remember her new name she goes by now. Thanks to Griff, he was always there to support her.
Avoiding her younger clan members, she went over to the bush; the same border where it led to the exit of the territory. A part of her doesn't want to leave right now, otherwise she would be scolded for doing so. As sneasels and weaviles who live in a single clan territory without moving somewhere comfortable, Vivian would try sliding her paw out of the bush.
"No..I can't.." Vivian spat. "Gwiff says I can't leave.."
The small Sneasel took a step away from the bush, only to hear rattling from it seconds later. "WHO ARE YOU!?" She yelled.
"GWIFF SAYS NO OUTSIDERS!"
She let out a demand again, but to no avail, the rattling continued. "I SAID..NO OUTSIDERS!"
Vivian would try to slide her paw out of the bush, but remembering the rule Griff stated, she refused. A part of her wants to attack, but she is too young in doing so. As the rattling continues to grow louder and frequent, she raised a claw in preparation to attack.
"I-Is anybody there-" A feminine voice echoed across the bushes, but was soon cut off as Vivian flew in and tackled the trespasser. The trespasser would yell out and send sparks across her body, but she refused to do so, now that the young Sneasel pinned her onto the ground.
"WHEN I SAY NO OUTSIDERS, I MEAN NO..OUTSIDERS!" Vivian finally shot back, only for the small creature to push her away.
"Ack- I'm not-" The dog barked as she was about to walk away, only to stop and stare directly at the Sneasel. "Whatever. I'm not like one of those Poochyena's you see not very often.."
"I see.. But you're not a shiny dark type, are you?"
"Of course not!" The dog yelled. "I'm..a Yamper!"
The dog turns out to be a Yamper all along. "Aaand...what makes you an outsider?"
"I'm not an outsider, slasher.." The Yamper spat.
"Gwiff's gonna get you if you don't run soon enough.." Vivian shot back.
"Griff...my Dad told me about him earlier.." The Yamper responded, Vivian stood silently, staring at the small dog Pokemon. "He got into a fight with him once so that's why he got those scars.."
The Sneasel paused to think for a moment. Did the Yamper's father get those scars because of Griff?
"G-Gwiff, did this.." Vivian started, the Yamper nodded in response. "He did this to..your father.."
"Yep. He did this to my Dad, but thankfully he's alright.."
Vivian turned back to the bushes, only to turn around and see a smile growing on the Yamper's face. "Say, what's your name?"
And the Sneasel answered, "Vivian.."
"Oakley.. Mom named me after that when I can put up a good fight. Dad's originally gonna name me Thundra, but Mom wants me to go by Oakley instead.."
Vivian opened her mouth to talk, but nothing came out. "Hey! How about we play Villagers and Outsiders?"
"I-I don't know..Gwiff says I can't-"
"Promise you'll come back before sundown.." Oakley chuckled heartily. Vivian, still is unaware of the decision. Was she going to disobey her clan leader and follow a Villager by light instead? "Griff ain't gonna hurt you once you come back, I promise.."
"Fine, but Griff might find us anyway.." Vivian sighed in annoyance as she finally followed the Yamper out of the Weavile territory.
Upon reaching several miles to Stone Town, Oakley stopped and stared directly at the villagers roaming around the area, carrying noting but baskets of berries and crates of food. "This...is my home.." Oakley started.
"Your home?" Vivian asked. "My...my home is located in a faraway forest."
"Well, if you have a home, then-"
"The territory I'm at IS my home.." Vivian finally finished.
"Wait..so a Weavile territory by the forest I'm at earlier is your home?" Oakley asked, unaware. She was standing like a Sawsbuck in headlights, staring directly into Vivian's sky blue eyes.
"Y-Yes.. I was at a group of traveling Sneasels and Weavile when I was born. I'm still young, but we found a place to belong a couple of months later.."
"Oh," Oakley paused to rub her eyes. "Well, let's play Sun and Moon somewhere else! You'll be the dark leader and I'll be the warrior!"
Oakley led the small Sneasel to an isolated area where they could play their game. She backed away from the Sneasel before preparing for a playful tackle. "No need to fear, Warrior Oakley is here!"
Vivian hesitated. She refused to play with an outsider; according to the clan leader. "Uhh..You're not going past me, warrior. Either you sacrifice yourself to save the village, or get yourself hurt.."
"How about I defeat you instead!?" Oakley snarled in a playful way.
"That's not a choice!" Vivian screamed as she watched the small Yamper gallop her way to push the Sneasel off in a playful way.
"This is for you, Mother! For you!"
"CURSE YOU OAKLEY!"
The scream was so loud it grabbed both the dog Pokemon's attention from just a mile away. "Rai, I heard something.."
"Well, we gotta get Oakley outta here! She could've been dead by now!" Screamed the male Boltund as he ran over to find his daughter, stopping to watch the Lycanroc stand motionless. "I can't find her alone.."
"You have to. You're a fearless hero, remember?" The Lycanroc stated. "You fought off a Weavile once.."
Without any options available, Rai sighed and left the area, leaving the Lycanroc behind.
"OAKLEY! OAKLEY!"
Both Oakley and Vivian froze as they heard what appeared to be the same father, screaming out the Yamper's name. "Lunala's light, it's my Dad- Sorry, Viv! We'll play again someday!"
Vivian was about to make a run for it, but stopped as she saw the large figure of the Boltund, standing there next to his daughter. "Oakley, are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?"
"Dad, I'm fine! There are no scrapes or bruises on me.." Oakley snapped as she watched her father take a look at her condition. Thankfully she wasn't hurt, but she needed to be more careful around outsiders.
"Oakley, next time don't get near outsiders. They'll hurt you if you do.." Rai sighed, fortunately in a soft and gentle tone.
"Dad, she's my friend! She's a friendly Sneasel!" Oakley barked, leaving her father shocked as he saw Vivian, paralyzed in fear. "She's not there to hurt me, I swear!"
"Oakley, dark types are known to kill villagers like you. We should thank Arceus you're safe, but you need to be more careful around Sneasels next time. They're known to kidnap and kill people.." Rai spoke softly. "I understand that she's your friend, but we're not letting any of them in our village."
The Yamper had no choice but to accept Rai's decision. "You're right, Dad.."
She then turned back at the Sneasel. "Sorry, Viv. Promise we'll play again someday!"
And without a word, both Oakley and Rai fade into the distance.
It was near sundown, and Vivian was on her way back to the clan territory, only to stop and watch another Sneasel kit; and thankfully the same age as her walk by. "And where have you been, Vivi?"
"Oh, uhh.. I was..out there..finding some berries.." Vivian lied, not noticing how furious the Sneasel kit was at her. "B-Berries for..the clan.."
"Funny.. I just heard something across the village, and I found a PIECE of dog hair on the ground-"
"IT WAS OAKLEY'S, OKAY!?" Vivian finally shot back, leaving the Sneasel kit shocked. "She appeared to be friendly, so that's why I met her."
"VIVIAN!" A loud voice reverberated across the territory. Vivian jumped and slid out of the bushes, only to watch not Griff, but another Weavile run by her. "Vivian, where were you?"
It appeared to be a female Weavile; not Vivian's mother unfortunately, but she appeared to be someone else. She was wearing a flower bracelet wrapped around her arm, and her crown was sporting bite marks; not from a Boltund, but from a Mightyena as well. "You're not outside the territory just to find berries, were you?"
"Uhm..I.." Vivian hesitated to speak.
"Look, just don't run away from us like that again.." The Weavile sighed sadly, carrying the small Vivian in her arms. "You know there are villagers out there and they could manipulate you.."
"Otherwise we'll tell Griff about this, but thankfully not today.."
Vivian trembled at the first part, but luckily the Weavile isn't there to tell the leader about what happened. Moments later, the Weavile places her back onto the ground with the younger clan members. Griff, who was out there the whole time, turned around and glared at Vivian.
She shrank as she saw the look on Griff's face. He was really disappointed in her for disobeying his orders, but he wasn't there to scold her. Instead, he stood like a statue, and walked away.
It's awkward to walk away from a disobeying clan leader when Griff is disappointed, because he isn't there to punish Vivian; especially when she's still a growing kit.
Sunrise, and Vivian slowly opened her eyes only to see what appeared to be the same Yamper from last evening; Oakley!
She hesitated at first, knowing that she would beg Oakley to get out of the territory, or else she would be killed. Carefully hiding behind the bushes, Oakley beckons a paw to lead Vivian out of the territory, despite knowing how hesitant the Sneasel is at this point.
"C'mon, it's only for a quick moment.." Oakley spoke quietly, trying not to be as loud enough to wake the clan up. Vivian refused to for a moment, but to no avail, she had to accept the Yamper's decision and follow her.
Carefully taking slow steps, sliding out of the bushes, and there she goes, falling onto the ground with an inaudible THUD. "O-Okay, Oakley. Now what should we-"
Without hesitation, Oakley beckons a second paw to lead her out of the territory. Slow step by slow step, and Vivian is out, following Oakley by her paw prints.
The two quickly scrambled their legs as they ran, trying not to give up and stop for a quick breather. Fortunately for Oakley, she is known to be quick on their feet, alongside a Sneasel like Vivian. Knowing that she's an electric type, she could run as fast as possible, especially for a small Yamper.
Once the two reach to where it led to the pond, they both stopped and sat down.
Everything is quiet. Quiet for once.
"My Dad lets me play with other pups at the village, as long as I'm not too far away." Oakley stated, as a matter of fact.
"Yeah, but Gwiff never lets me do anything besides just playing with younger clanmates!" Vivian snorted with an annoyed sigh. "He just thinks I'm mostly good at playing games rather than hunting.."
"Well, now that you're out of the clan territory, how about we just hunt for once! Dad lets me hunt ANYTHING; especially berries!" Oakley chuckled, now in request.
Vivian thought for a moment. Was this request really worth it for her to do so, or would she deny it? With no avail, Vivian then nodded. "Good! Let's hunt for something sweet!"
Scrambling her little legs on the ground, Vivian soon followed the Yampers paw prints before stopping to find what appeared to be a berry bush, plastered with colorful berries planted on it. "Theses are what villagers harvest!"
"Berries.." Vivian started. "As Sneasels we only eat meat.."
"Meat, huh? Well, if you wanna be with me, then you gotta eat like me.." Oakley laughed as she picked a Cheri berry off the bush. "This is a Cheri berry. It's spicy, but it appears to be my Mom's favorite!"
Vivian took the berry out of Oakley's paw and stared at it for a moment. She hesitated to take a bite, but she didn't want to hurt the Yamper's feelings. After a few seconds, she immediately takes a bite of the Cheri berry, satisfied with the taste as it danced on her tastebuds. "Say! This is really good!"
With the sweetness combined with the spicy flavor, it actually made Vivian like eating berries even more. "I LOVE IT!"
Oakley opened her mouth to respond, but a loud roar soon echoed across the forest. "It better not be my Dad again.."
Thankfully when the shadow appeared, it wasn't a Boltund. However, it turned out to be a Weavile, ready to kill the Yamper for going near its clan member. "YOU STAY AWAY FROM VIVIAN!"
The voice was deep and masculine, which of course turns out to be Griff, preparing to kill Oakley. He raised a claw to strike the Yamper, but as quick as a Thievul, Rai flew in and tackled the Weavile as hard as he could. "DAD!"
Rai pinned Griff onto the ground before a claw striked him across the cheek. "OAKLEY! STAY AWAY!" Shouted the Boltund, only to be halted as the Weavile pinned him onto the grassy floor with his claws. "GO FIND YOUR MOTHER!"
"GWIFF, STOP!" Cried Vivian, but the large Weavile ignored her. He kept on attacking the Boltund, and Oakley stood there, watching in horror. "GWIFF! THAT'S MY FRIEND'S FATHER!"
Both the Weavile and the Boltund stopped after what Vivian had said out of nowhere. "Your friends..father? An outsider?"
"Vivian, you should know better than to become friends with an outsider.." Growled the Weavile as he went over to her.
Rai groaned as he slowly got up, blood dripping from his wounds he received from the Weavile; Griff. "Dad! Are you okay?"
"I'm..take me back to your mother.. I'm already bleeding like Solgaleo's eyes.." Rai panted as he turned back to glare at Griff. "And you, stay away from my daughter. Strike one claw at her and it's all over for you.."
Griff curled his face into a snarl. "Whatever, outsider.. You and your puny Yamper shall never go near Vivian again, otherwise you'll both end up just like I did to my prey.."
Letting out a sad sigh, Rai placed a paw onto Oakley, leading her out of the pond. "C'mon, Oakley. I need some serious medical attention.."
Vivian watched Oakley fade into the distance before being grabbed by the scruff by the same Weavile himself. "GWIFF!"
"No need for discussions, Vivian. You caused a lot of trouble to both the villagers and yourself.." Griff snarled as he walked past Oakley's path, still carrying Vivian by the scruff of her neck. "Go near that outsider again and you'll suffer the same situation as this Boltund.."
-END OF PROLOGUE-