Back at the clan, little after dawn lies Griff, standing beside an abandoned shed. Staring upon several Sneasels not realizing where Vivian went, he let out a low sigh. "Damn you, Vivian. The next time you show up we might just bury you into the ground."

Griff moved a leg only to be stopped by another Weavile, who was now in front of him. "You.. You must be the same Weavile from before." The scarred Weavile shook as he locked his eyes directly into the other's. He took a deep breath and exhaled, trying to calm himself down. "The same one who protected Vivian from before."

"Yes, Griff." Replied the female Sharp Claw Pokemon as she rummaged through her fanny pack. "Also there's something I'd like to note about."

"Don't tell me Oakley just came back." He let out a low growl, but the female shushed him.

"Oakley wasn't there when I first checked, but a Sneasel of mine wrote down a note." Once she takes a roll of paper out of her storage bag, she then offers it to Griff. "Read it."

The note said,

"Dearest, Griff,"

"We are honored to inform the assignment from one Sneasel to another, to form a new clan between two of each volunteer."

"Whoever comes back the longest will be chosen to find a new home and form a clan of their own. If a clan is larger, then four sneasels will find each one of them in the wild, then keep them as new members of the group."

"Crimson will be in charge of finding another sneasel to another in order to form a new clan group."

"-Signed, Anonymous."

"I don't really know who wrote this." Griff called out, before realizing the first sneasel was mentioned on the note. "And who's Crimson!?"

"Lumo is a clan Sneasel who works all on his own." The female explained. "He's albino, and he's going to be part of the clan."

"Who gives Crimson a right to travel all on his own!?" Growled the Weavile leader as he walked away from the female. "Besides, if he's a wanderer, he would've been killed by a large predator by now!"

"Says who.." A voice called out across the forest. Griff's eyes shrank as he heard the voice behind him, and turned around to watch the sneasel get closer to him. It was an albino sneasel; his feathers have a hint of a maroon color, and he was sporting a leather bandana around his arm. "One day I'll make myself a PERFECT clan leader.."

"You can't just go around trying to get yourself killed, you pesky fool!" Griff roared as he raised a claw to strike him across the face, but the albino sneasel immediately struck him back, swinging his claw across the clan leader's face instead. "Christ..you sure make one hell of a clan member.."

"Indeed.." Growled the maroon-eared sneasel. "However, I wouldn't pick a Sneasel who doesn't travel."

These last three words shook Griff. "What do you mean you can't pick a sneasel who doesn't wander all over the place!?"

"Now, I would pick someone who travels the longers, but it's not any of those in the clan."

Griff let out an annoyed growl. "You're not even making this worse, are you?"

"As a future clan leader, I'm actually doing this for you." Said the maroon-eared sneasel before he began to whistle. "C'mere, kitty! Pspspspspsp-"

"You're freaking me out with the cat call thing.." Griff said in disgust. Before he could finish, a large cat jumped out of the bushes, revealing a Liepard! It was sporting a few scars on its face, and its eyes are in a different presence.

"HOW DID YOU EVEN HIRE A LIEPARD!?"

"Simple. Traveling in longer distances makes me feel weak and tired, so I hired someone who's an expert on survival instincts." The sneasel replied as he started to pet the Liepard. "Her name's Erza."

"And you?" Asked the clan leader, and the sneasel answered, "Crimson."

Hence the ruby on both his forehead and his chest, this is where the name comes from, Crimson. "As a sole survivor of the Mightyena attack, I'm known to be a novice on survival instincts."

"But you hired someone in order to help you out on longer trips.."

"Vaguely. As a kit, I wasn't able to survive in isolated areas, until Erza came along and helped me out." The Liepard let out a mew. "She's my partner and we're the best of friends. Perfect partners in crime."

"So that makes you thieves."

"We used to, but after we've been imprisoned, we stopped becoming ones and continued on our journey as Rogues." Crimson finished as Griff let out an annoyed sigh.

"Finally, this idiot stopped talking!"

"Erza, finish him off-"

"WAIT- STOP!" The female Weavile called out as the Erza raised her paw to slash Griff across the torso, but the female stopped her from doing so. "Maybe y-you two can find Oakley and the team! They're in the desert somewhere!"

"In a desert.." The female stammered back. "Around..La Desierto.."

Crimson's smile grew deviously. "La Desierto.."

"Exactly. We didn't really know where it was, but someone in our clan told us it's at a desert somewhere." Griff's voice grew nervous and flat.

"Good. Is this where the team is right now?" The albino sneasel's fangs retract after hearing what Griff had explained to him.

"Yes. I-It took someone a while in order to find where Oakley is." He stammered as he saw the devious look on Crimson's face. "I-It's where the team is right now! Please don't hurt us.."

"And can you tell me the name of the team members?"

"Oakley brought a few members including Vivian, a Snubbull named Penny and a Tyrogue named Adir." Griff finished as he watched Crimson raise a claw. "A SHINY SNUBBULL AND A SHINY TYROGUE. OAKLEY BROUGHT ALL THREE OF THEM INCLUDING VIVIAN! THE SAME SNEASEL SHE BROKE A PROMISE WITH BEFORE!"

"Good. When I come back to find that none of the team members are there, you're in DEAD MEAT, boy.."

Griff nods his head in breakneck speed before the albino sneasel could finish threatening him. "I would bring Erza with me, but I also have someone else who brings someone back the fastest."

Crimson whistled as Griff swallowed a large lump in his throat. He began to sweat and his legs trembled. He was already nervous that if another predator was there to eat them, then that might be the end..but NO. A Mandibuzz swoops down towards Griff, then back at Crimson before making a landing towards them.

"This..is Zuna. She's a competitive helper of mine and can swoop down prey in less than a second." Crimson explained as the Mandibuzz lets out a raspy squawk. "Plus, if they squirm, then it's dead meat to her."

Griff swallows a lump in his throat, nervous at the Mandibuzz's large appearance. Her feathers were ragged, and her bones around her waist received permanent blood stains. "I-I don't know how I feel about her."

"Don't worry, she can only kill who wanders around outside the clan without hesitation."

"A-Alright..go ahead and find Vivian. And come back if she's in that..mangy Buzzard's clutches.."

"And I'll make sure Erza gets the rest."

Back at the La Desierto motel lies Oakley, on the bed with her eyes fully closed. Penny and the rest however seem awake. Adir begins to wrap his bandage around his one-arm, while the rest started preparing themselves for their next adventure. "Alright! Soon enough we'll head straight back to Snowfall!"

But Oakley just stood there motionless in bed. Her eyes were closed, and she refused to move an inch. "Oakley, wake up. We don't have time to take more naps." Growled the shiny Snubbull as she shakes the Boltund in an attempt to disturb her slumber. "WAKE UP!"

The yell finally wakes the Boltund leader up, and she soon hits the ground. "Penny, you can't just-"

She then noticed both Adir and Vivian standing blankly by the doorway. "Right.." The Boltund let out an annoyed growl as Penny began to wrap her bandanna around her neck. "C'mon now, guys. We can't just stand there and do nothing. We've got some adventuring to do!"

"But we haven't eaten yet." Adir said as he opened the door. "Do you really want us to start walking without any food?"

"Ohhh, right. Let's just head to the Cafe first, then we'll start."

Soon after, the rest of Team Blytz headed inside the Cafe, leaving a few Pokemon inside. A Nidoqueen can be seen preparing the orders from their customers, while the rest; a Crocalor, a Gallade, and a Hawlucha can be seen enjoying their meals. "So this is where we eat."

The Nidoqueen then noticed the rest of the team members inside the Cafe. "How can I help you on this fine morning?" Asked the Niqoqueen as she slams a clipboard against the counter. The loud noise shook the Boltund, but it wasn't enough to scare them away.

"Make that four please." Oakley responded. "I'll take a slice of Cheri loaf."

"Can I have what Oakley's getting?" Vivian demanded as she waved her left claw around.

"Just a Pecha scone. That's all." The shiny Snubbull requested.

"Make that a blueberry scone, it's all.." Finally, Adir finished. The Nidoqueen soon wrote down the following orders on her clipboard. She nodded in response and then demanded the cooks to prepare their orders Team Blytz requested.

Soon after, the Nidoqueen brings their orders to where Team Blytz was sitting, placing each of their plates onto the table. "Enjoy!" Cheered the enthusiastic Pokemon before heading back to where she takes their customers' orders.

"Been a while we have any real food." Sighed the Snubbull as she began eating like a wild animal, making sure none of the customers noticed her animalistic behavior at the table. "And it's been a while since we've eaten anything good!

Despite her eating habits, the Crocalor noticed Penny and soon began to eat just like her. "CROCALOR EAT! CROCALOR EAT LIKE SNUBBULL!"

"Damn it, Penny. Now everyone's staring at us.."

"C'mon now, Oakley! Be proud that Crocalor's proud of my eating habits!" The shiny Snubbull responded as she eyes directly to the Crocalor's, before it continued to eat once more. "Besides, if that croc sees me, he could be a perfect team member!"

"Not happening." Adir sighed. "Besides, he's already part of another team by now, hence the scarf he's wearing." He then noticed the blue scarf around his neck.

"Yeah, you're right. I guess that croc's in another team."

Once they finished eating, the team soon heads out of the Cafe, only to notice another Sneasel leaning against the wall. "Oh great, another sneasel.." Growled the Boltund as she walked away from it, only for her to stop to notice Vivian, locking her eyes into the other's. "Vivian, get out of there!"

"Oakley, it's a sneasel I've never seen before! It looks..pretty rare!" Vivian shook as she noticed the sneasel's white fur. "And.. it's got rubies all over himself!"

"Vivian, he could be a kidnapper. Leave him be and we'll go." Oakley uttered as she beckoned Vivian to move, but she refused to move a muscle. All she did was lock her eyes directly into the sneasel's gold contacts. "VIVIAN. NOW."

"Not now, guys! I've gotta know who this guy is first!" Vivian responded, her voice stern and flat before turning back at the albino sneasel. "What's your-"

"Vivian, he might be a kidnapper. Leave him be and we'll get this over with soon."

"So you must be the Boltund a friend of mine mentioned before.." Said the albino sneasel as he got close to her. "Crimson. And you must be Oakley.."

"How did you even know my name?" She growled, her expression shifting into anger. "Didn't they give you permission to know who I am?"

"Someone mentioned you're at La Desierto somewhere, so that's why I'm here." Crimson retracted his fangs as he trailed his claws around Oakley's fur, only for the Boltund to swing her head across the sneasel's torso.

"Stay..away.. You don't belong here and we have the right to fight you when we have a chance to." The Boltund curls her face into a snarl as she watches the Sneasel slowly get up. "Touch Vivian and you should reconsider."

"My, we've got a little fighter around here. Say, Boltund?" Crimson growled, leaning against the dog only for Oakley to back away from him. "And that sneasel over there..maybe she could help me out on something since..I'm having a little trouble here."

"You're not lying, are you?" Adir raised his right hand to slap him across the face, only for Crimson to grab his arm and slam him onto the floor. "JEEZ, YOU'RE ONE HELL OF A FIGHTER.." He winced as he gets up to notice a few scratches on his abdomen.

"They call me a stronger Sneasel for a reason." Snarled the maroon-eared Sneasel as he dusted himself off. "Now go with your little Sneasel friend while I go do something."

"You said you need help on something." Penny spat with irritation. "And now you're just gonna lie straight to our faces!?"

"Conversation, over.." Crimson then snapped his claws before running off.

Oakley scoffed in response. She wasn't used to Crimson lying to their faces, but trying to take Vivian away from the team? It's going to be a huge fight between rival and hero. Heading over to where they could take a break, the Boltund then notices a few berries into the basket. "Weird. I don't remember them being in there."

"Maybe it's a trap." Said Penny as a matter of fact. "Besides, if we actually eat them, then we're drugged."

"Penny, I don't think there's drugs in it, but if they're spiked, we might pass out and end up getting kidnapped."

Penny is right. If Oakley or the rest eats any of those berries remaining in the basket, then they'll end up getting kidnapped. Examining the berry that was in the basket, Oakley soon noticed Vivian, already gone. "VIVIAN!? Oh, Arceus.. Penny! Adir! Find Vivian!"

The two both nodded and soon threw the berries into the basket, only for them to fall onto the ground, their vision growing dark and static. "PENNY!? ADIR!? THERE'S NO TIME FOR-" Oakley yelled, before pausing to notice the berries in the basket. As the Boltund takes a look of the berries, she then realized both her teammates had eaten them, causing them to go unconscious.

"WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT EATING THE-" Oakley roared, only for her vision to grow dark and static, just like both her teammates. "Penny's right.. We shouldn't be..eating..those.." She tried to finish, but then everything went dark.

Back at the resting area, Vivian is sitting on the bench, still eating the same berry that was in the basket. Averting her eyes over to the Liepard, who is now carrying a large bag, she then waved a claw around to grab the cat's attention, but to no avail. Erza ignored her and continued to drag the potato bag onto the ground.

"So, you must be the sneasel Griff mentioned before.." A voice called out. Vivian turns her head around before noticing Crimson, standing closer to her. "Say, even though you don't look like a fighter, you do look like you need some help."

"Sorry, but.. I don't think I'm interested." Sighed Vivian as she places the berry next to her. "Besides, I already have a few team members who could help me out."

"Maybe they're out here making sure the berries aren't fermented." Crimson lied, placing a claw against her shoulder. "If you can check, then they're here."

"But, I don't see any tracks." Vivian responded as she noticed the large path that Erza made earlier. "But I'm guessing your Liepard friend made a path for us! Maybe she's leading us back home!"

"I'm sure Erza's working on a path so that way it doesn't get lost in the wind. Otherwise we'll be in huge trouble." Crimson said as he takes his claw away from her. "You must've been quite an explorer, are you?"

"Y-Yes, yes I am." Vivian's tone trembled. "Oakley and I are quite excellent explorers."

Crimson then noticed the ear that had been bitten off. "Did an Incineroar bite you?"

"No, a Mightyena did. It went straight onto my ear before I could get a chance to escape."

Crimson's expression shifted slightly. "Ah, I'm sorry about that, but at least your battle scars make you look like quite a fighter, huh?"

Vivian nodded in response. "And your voice sounds the same. You're a girl, right?"

"Yes. With that bitten-off ear of mine, it makes me look like one." Vivian responded before pausing in her tracks. "The clan used to assign me as a male at birth, but Griff assigned me as a female, so I became one."

"So..you're transgender." Crimson's smile grew. "I do support trans sneasels like you."

"Thanks.." Vivian chuckled slightly. "I get these types of transphobic comments from other clan members sometimes, but at least you're there to support me."

Crimson chuckled, his tone shifted deviously. "And you seem..pretty. A pretty sneasel at the desert talking to an albino sneasel."

Vivian tilted her head, she was confused at what Crimson had said to her. "You think I'm pretty?"

"Yes. You're a girl, and that makes you prettier than most sneasels."

The sneasel blushed, but soon realized that with Oakley, she would be there to beat up Crimson. "W-Well, Oakley thinks I'm pretty too."

"Then that makes her a supportive Boltund."

"Really!?"

"Yes. I never see a Boltund act so supportive towards you, but if I was her, then I would say the same thing.."

Oakley hated Crimson with a burning passion. If she was still there, she would've beaten him up. She wasn't sure if the albino sneasel would be there for her, but if so, then she would've been with her Boltund friend by now.

"I never met you before, but I've been thinking about you for a moment now." Crimson spoke, his voice rumbling into a snarl. "Griff mentioned that I would form a clan with someone who travels the longest."

"You mean.."

Crimson froze for a moment. Was he really going to form a clan with Vivian? "Well, I do need some reconsideration. I wouldn't take a sneasel who doesn't travel, but I would bring someone out in the wild to form a clan of our own.."

Vivian froze in her tracks. She wasn't aware if she was going to trust another sneasel, but forming a clan without permission, it would be a huge fight between the two. "I-I don't know how to form a clan.."

"No, no, no. I, a sneasel must form a clan. Before I evolve into a Weavile, I must form a clan with other sneasels." Crimson curled his face into a snarl, leaving Vivian paralyzed with shock. "Now, I'm going to say it. Once we become Weaviles, will you form a clan with me?"

Zuna lands on top of the roof to notice Crimson having a conversation with Vivian. "Alright, Crimson. If she says no, then I shall swoop her away.." Her voice sounded raspy, despite being middle-aged, she still looked young and ready to fight.

"I'm going to say it again. As Weaviles, will you form a clan with me?"

Vivian stood motionless. She kept her eyes locked directly into his, and as she watched the sneasel open his mouth to talk, she then went on with a valid reply. "WHY WOULD I!? I ALREADY HAVE A CLAN OF MY OWN!"

That sentence shook both the Mandibuzz and Crimson. "OAKLEY'S WITH ME! THERE'S NO WAY I'M FORMING A CLAN WITH YOU!"

"Maybe you should reconsider.." Zuna growled as she swooped the sneasel away from Crimson. She let out cries of protest as she flailed her arms around to loosen the Mandibuzz's grip, but to no avail. "And you we're about to say that, weren't you?"

"Zuna, I was going to say that." Growled the albino sneasel. "But, since Oakley's here with her, maybe we should try to kill her instead?"

The Mandibuzz nodded in response. "Good, now bring her back to Griff. She and I are now clan leaders..for life.." The albino's wicked smile left Vivian horrified.

Crimson hops on Zuna's back before the two both flew over to where the Liepard was going, still carrying the bag in her mouth. "Erza, take that bag and bring it back to Stone Town. We're taking Vivian back to Griff and we're moving locations..far..far..away.."

The Liepard nodded and went back to what she was doing, still carrying the bag in her muzzle. "Vivian, my dainty little flower..you'll soon get a lesson to be taught of soon.."

-End of Chapter 10-