Warren Peace

After finding her den had been visited by a human, Achikochi and her kits found shelter with the nidoran warren Digfast lives in. Shortly after settling in with her children, Achikochi is called away to meet with Honeymeadow, who requests her presence at a most joyous occasion.

Flailer, the young otachiran woke up late in the morning by his sister's side. He nudged his sister, " Hey Daina.. where's mom?"

"Hmm... mamma?" Daina looked around. She barely remembered the trip to the nido-warren last night. "Mamma?!" she looked around in alarm.

"Shhhh..." Flailer hissed, " We are in a place Mom calls a 'warren'. There are lots of other pokemon like mom and Brownie here."

"Brownie?" Daina looked around. Was this the place her brother had dissapeared to?

"No, he's not here, but there are others here just like him" Flailer explained.

"Where?" Daina got up and stretched, the rubbed the sleep from her eyes, " Flailer, think they have any food around here ?"

The otachiran's tummy growled at the mention of the word 'food'. " I dunno, but we should look around and find out!"

The two sibblings exited the small nitch in the run and scampered down the tunnel..... right into a large nidoran. "Just where do you two think you are going?" th nidoran asked.

"Just trying to get somthing to eat" Flailer said, moving infront of his sister protectively.

"Mmm hmm.." the nidoran looked down at them, "And who did you intend on eating?"

Flailer looked flabbergasted, " Who? .. what! I wouldn't eat someone here! Were's our uncle Digfast, he'll tell you!"

"Digfast is your uncle? Ohh-hoo, now I've heard everything!" the nidoran pointed his horn at the two kits.

"He -is- our uncle!" Daina growled from behind her larger brother.

"Hey, watch where you point that!" Flailer backed away from the nido's horntip and flipped his bangs back to expose his tiny nido-point, "I have one of those too!"

The nido backed off. "What in the name of Frith are you?"

"I'm Flailer, I am the son of Achi Nidorina and Tachi Ootachi, that's what I am!" the little otachiran declared.

The other nido was about to say something more on the matter when Digfast arrived.

"Flailer, you mustn't shout here. Honeymeadow-rah has just layed a clutch of eggs." Digfast glared sternly at his 'nephew'. "Now come with me if you want to eat."

Flailer and his sister pushed past the first nido and followed thier 'uncle' out above ground.

~*~*~

Achikochi had just beared witness to a familiar experience, as Honeymeadow, the warren's leader, had just laid a small clutch of eggs.

Achi looked on at the new family and was reminded of her own. She missed Tachi dearly and could only wonder what had become of her other child, Indy. It seemed that only an eternity ago she was safe in her own den with her mate and all of her children. "Excuse me please.. I need to get some rest."

Honeymeadow nodded, " Yes, please do. Thank you for being near."

Larksspur looked from his mate to Achi, "So , what do you think of life as a Nidoran?"

"I think, it's nice to have so many nearby, in case anything happened." Achi answered simply then moved on to her assigned quarters.

Larksspur shrugged and returned to his mate's side.

Honeymeadow sighed and rolled her eggs a little to keep them evenly warmed, " You know, Lark, I don't think she will want to stay here if you continue to chase after her."

Larksspur coughed, " I only asked a simple question."

~*~*~

Digfast led his 'niece' and 'nephew' to a patch of green hidden from view by the large rock slabs that protected the entrance of the warren.

"This here is the secret to our survival, " Digfast pointed to the thick patch of green. "We have to protect it from rival plant eaters and keep these plants healthy with our hakra."

Flailer nodded at his 'Uncle', "Oh, I see... so what can we eat?"

"Today,",Digfast anounced then pointed to a short green shrub-like mass, "We eat kale."

"We've never had that before, have we Flailer?" Daina looked at her brother.

"Nope!" Flailer shook his head, " but I hope it tastes good!"

The two kits took a bite of the thick leaves and chewed. They looked at eachother with thier eyes watering. It tasted aweful!!!

"Do you like it?" Digfast tilted one ear in thier direction.

Flailer and Daina both gulped the horrid stuff down. "Yes, Uncle Digfast."

"Good good..." Digfast nodded and went back to eating.

"There has to be something else around here" Daina looked pleadingly at her brother.

"I know... I'd rather eat clover" Flailer agreed sourly.

A tiny flash of purple caught Flailer's attention. The flash was followed by a pair of nidorans shouting, "INVADER.... STOP HIM!!!!"

~*~*~

The silvery nidorina arrived at her part of the warren to find it was empty. "Oh no.." She sighed wearily then turned back down the run, hoping someone had seen her children. And hoping they weren't getting into trouble.

A nidoran rushed past her, followed by a few more. One turned to look at Achi, "Hey, get a move on... didn't you hear the alarm? Someone's trying to steal our food!"

Achi's ears shot straight up. She prayed it wasn't her kits! Daina snapped into action. "Flailer come on... you go that way , I'll go this ... we'll catch it in the middle!"

~*~*~

The two kits were off like a flash, thier speed surprisingly faster than the nido's. On one side, Flailer could see thier adversary... a scrawny looking rattata. His sister cut the thief off ahead of its path. The little rat squeaked and turned direction. He skid to a hault, nearly running into Flailer. The rattata was trapped.

"Now what should we do?" Flailer asked his sister.

"Well, I'm still hungry" Daina grinned and licked her lips.

"Uh .. so how do we..?" Flailer seemed a bit nervous. He had never killed another creature before, and was beginning to feel a little guilty about it.

Daina pounced the rattata, instinctively grabbing it by the neck in a suffacation hold. The rattata squealed and kicked then finally succumbed to the lack of air. Daina dropped her prize in front of her brother. "See it's easy!"

Flailer nodded, and turned a little pale green. He inwardly swore he would never eat anything with fur. "Uhm, I think I'm full.."

Daina shrugged, bending down to eat her prey.

Some of the nidorans arrived huffing from the run. They seemed a bitshocked and disgusted by the sight of Daina eating the rattata enemy. Digfast arrived, shortly followed by Larksspur and Achi.

Daina looked up and felt a little uncomfortable by the tone of the audience. Flailer stepped infront of his sister, unsure of what the nidorans would do.

Larksspur stepped forward to inspect the two kits. He looked down at the broken bodied rattata. "You did this?"

Daina gulped, "yes"

"I helped her catch it," Flailer added, " So it's my fault too!"

Larksspur nodded at the strange kit then nudged them both infront of him, where the crowd could all see. Achi was there, but could do nothing. If her kits had broken some rule, she could only hope the punishment wasn't too harsh.

Larksspur sat down and puffed out his chest. "It is rare that a warren will ever need help from outsiders, but this is one of those occasions. I name these two kits heros. They shall be treated here as if they were my own."

Achi sighed with relief. Her kits had done nothing wrong, and were now to be accepted as heros in this warren.

~*~*~

Tachi and Indy had lain down in the long grass. They definitely needed a rest and so were taking a well deserved siesta.

"Dad, can we afford to waste time resting this way? I dunno...it looks to me like we need to keep moving!" said indy a bit worriedly looking at the big goofy smile on his dads face.

Tachi grinned even broader at his sons concern "Hey, I know yer worried about yer ma champ, but dont sweat it. She's with yer uncle, most likely heading to yer Uncles leader, Larkspur I think his name was.

"Digfasts...leader?" said the kit uncertainly "Er...like Digfast follows him everywhere? Like the game 'follow my leader?"

Tachi chuckled "Nup...it works this way. Nidoran are 'social' meaning that they live in really REALLY big groups, called Warrens, or darrens or something i beleive." he nodded wisely. "The darren, warren, er...group...needs a strong leader to survive, because just between you and me son, most nidoran aren't to strong, or bright....might be an unfair generalisation seein' as yer ma is Both of those, and Brownie would've been to, but in general they arent the toughest opponents." he pulled his son closer "See, the NidoRANS live under a NidoRINO, or nidoRINA, like yer mum. Evolved form being stronger and generally older n smarter so better able to help the smaller NidoRAN to survive. The Nidorans help the Nidorino or Nidorina to survive to, being lookouts, attack teams, guards, food gatherers, nursemaids...everything really. It's complicated, and they have something of thier own language to, and a whole different set of rules to the ones WE live by. All in all the few nidos I've met in my life have been nice enough, if a bit feisty and ill mannered when caught unawares...er..but we are sort of...um...predators to thier kind...for the msot part...er.."

"Dad? Predators?!" What do ya MEAN?" asked the boy shocked to the core. he had something of an idea of what his father was driving towards...and didn't like it at all.

"Well...son..." said Tachiguy with his grin now replaced with a thoughtful and stern look. "Otachi like you, and Ootachi like me eat both meat AND veggies...meat being other animals, like we've eaten before, veggies being like clover n all." he placed a claw in Indies mouth and tapped his left canine tooth "That'n there shows that we eat other pokemon. Its for gripping and tearing at meat. Nidoran are smaller than us, they are weaker than us, and bar the horn which is very easilly avoided if handled right they are defenceless and we can dispatch 'em quickly. Don't worry...after being with your mother so long I have no intention of eating a Nido-ANYTHING, but THEY dont know that." he stood up and showed off his length and flexed his muscles. "All a Nidoran sees when they see me son is soemthing that could, and most likely WOULD eat em. THAT'S why until I show I'm a friendly by smiling or stating I mean no harm they will either run, or if they are braver, attack."

Indy looked at his dad dubiously "What about me dad? What do they see when they see me?"

"Most likely a kid who can be avoided, or if yer tooo threatening then attacked." Tachi said seriously "DON'T confront one unless its unavoidable son...their horns can kill you easy as that.." he said, snapping his claws and grimacing.

Indy looked down "So...what do we do when we get to Uncle Digfast's then?"

Tachi lay back down "Well, we just waltz right on in there, smiling and looking happy. I can scent out Achi and the other kits, and if anyone gives us any trouble we just state who we are. No big deal...like I said, we make 'em nervous as heck, they might attack in numbers, but we are MUCH faster to, so we can outdistance 'em before they lay a forehead on us." he said, butting his kit playfully.

"Dad, you know EVERYTHING!" said the purple kit happilly pulling on his dads bangs.

"Nah, not EVERYTHING, but p-lenty. Youll know it all to someday!" said the brown and blue Ootachi grinning.

"Lets go get mum, K dad?"

"Alright. Lets do it champ."

The two got up and rounded a small hillock, and wandered a few hundred meters slowly, scenting the air, until they finally arrived above Larkspurs warren, and watched below to see what was there....

~*~*~

The nido twins, Skitterbout and Runtumble were patrolling the borders of the warren when the acrid scent of Ootachi passed thier noses.

"Ellil... frith!" Skitterbout gowled lowly to his brother." Run... get Larksspur."

Runtumble nodded and retreated quick as he could back towards the warren. He franticly searched the runs for Larksspur, but did not find him. He ran to the flay-rah patch to search for the nidorino. He found Larksspur with Achi and her kits.

"Larksspur ... Ellil on the southern border!" the nido-m panted urgently.

Achi looked at the nido curiously, " What is an ellil?"

"Ellil .. one of the thousand... a preditor," Larksspur translated for the nidorina, " Frith, don't you know anything?"

Achi shook her head, " Appearently not. I wasn't raised in the wild like you."

"Amazing you made it this far then, " Runtumble nodded, " Most human bred don't last a moon out here!"

Achi flicked her ears with indifference. If she didn't have such a need to learn about her nido heritage and protect her children from the humans, she would have walked out that very instant.

Larksspur picked up on the nidorina's anger and moved closer to nuzzle her gently. "Achi, forgive us. We don't deal with outsiders often, especially the rare and beautiful ones."

Achi blushed a little, flustered by the nidorino's compliment. "It's okay.... I'm the one who should appologise for imposing on your home."

Larksspur winked candidly at the nidorina and smiled, "You are more than welcome here, Achi. Your children have already proved they are valuable members of this warren." The nidorino looked over at the two kits, who now were chasing eachother around Digfast in a game of tag. "You know... if your mate never shows up... I will be more than happy to show them how to survive in the wild."

"Tachi will come," Achi snapped quickly, " but ... " she paused. The thought of her mate never returning had never entered into her head untill now. There were humans in the forest... and humans always meant trouble. "If .... and only if Tachi does not return .. I'll let you help me teach them the skills they will need."

Larksspur nodded and gazed deeply into the nidorina's eyes, " As you wish, Achi. I won't pressure you to do anything you don't want me to."

"Er-hem .... Larksspur .. the ellil..." Runtumble interupted.

"Excuse me, Achi ... there is still the ellil I must get rid of." Larksspur bowed low and followed the nido-m.

Achi nodded and smiled. Perhaps she had gotten the wrong impression from Larksspur before. He didn't seem so bad to her, and if by any chance , her mate never returned, Larksspur seemed able enough to teach her children the way of the wild pokemon.

Skitterbout hid quietly while he waited for his brother to return with Larksspur. It wasn't too long before the nidorino arrived on the scene.... wearing a broad grin.

"Sir ... look over there... it's an ootachi, and I'm guessing its kit." Skitterbout indicated the place from which the ootachi scent was coming.

"Mmmm... it's Achi's mate," Larksspur's mood suddenly turned sour. He looked to Tachi's direction , " YOU THERE, Ellil! ..... Your mate has chosen to live here, with us. She has two of her kits here, with us. I will send her out, but you cannot stay here long. My mate has my young and I will not tolerate any more ellil here. If that is Achi's kit, then it may stay. Perhaps it will learn to be useful as its brother and sister have been."

Larksspur thumped his foot to the ground and bristled his spines, showing he meant buisness. "Skitterbout, fetch Achi here. She is at silflay"

The nido-m bobbed his head obediently. It was his turn to run to the warren.

Runtumble looked at Larksspur and whispered, "What do we do if he tries to come in?"

Larksspur narrowed his eyes and grunted quietly, "We kill him."

~*~*~

Digfast was growing dizzied by the two kits chasing eachother around. " Okay you two, stop this!"

Flailer came to a hault, nearly ramming his sister. "Sorry Uncle Digfast."

Daina cuffed her brother, "Get off my tail, Flailer!"

The otachiran jumped up and turned red with embarassment. "I guess I'm a bit too clumbsy."

Digfast shook his head, "Boy, what you should do is go out with me on night patrol. That will keep you on your toes enough to straighten you out."

"Patrol?" Flailer cocked his head, "Like, walk around all night?"

"Sort of. You have to keep quiet and listen for things that may harm the warren." Digfast explained.

"Like for rattatas?" Daina asked, licking her lips.

"Yes... and for other pokemon. Some of them can be far more harmful to the warren than a simple rattata." Digfast answered the young otachi.

"Do they taste as good?" Daina grinned.

Digfast paled, "I wouldn't know... nidorans don't -eat- other pokemon."

Daina blinked, "Oh."

"So, what do you say, Flailer, m'boy... are you up for a few hours of training on night patrol?" the nido-m asked.

"Sure, okay. I guess it would be good for me to know... since I'm half nidoran." Flailer agreed, " but I'll have to ask my mom first."

Digfast called over to the nidorina, "Achi.... mind if I take your kits out tonight for some lessons ?"

Achi looked back over to Digfast, "No... that's fine, brother." The nidorina looked as if something else was on her mind.

"Well, kids, looks like you'll be going out with me tonight. Come inside with me and get some rest. It won't do to have you passing out." Digfast chuckled.

Flailer and Daina gave thier mother a good night nuzzle then followed thier uncle back to the den to take a nap.

~*~

Runtumble made his way back to the flay-rah patch to find Achi.

"Miss Achi ... on the south border ... your mate is there. Larksspur wants you there." the nido-m delivered the nidorino's message.

Achi lept up with joy. Her mate wasn't gone after all. "Thank you!" she smiled at the nidoran and bolted off in the direction of her mate.

~*~

Tachiguy grinned at Indy "See...scared. he knows that a chomp of these teeth could kill his kids as effortlessly as id eat an apple." he said, his grin becoming a confident smirk "Course you n I both know I'd not dream of it...but he doesnt."

Indy frowned "He said mum wants to live here now."

Tachis smirk faded to a thoughtful smile "I doubt that she wants to live here forever son. He kinda fancies yer ma...er...thinks that she should become his mate rather than mine, but she said she doesn't want to last time he tried this kinda thing...I dun think her mind has changed, and if it has....well, I dunno....but let's cross that log when we come to that part of the river."

Indy smiled a little "Well, he sent that to her guy to go get her, so that's OK. She'll be here soon!! YAY!!" he said, leaping to his dads shoulder.

Tachiguy gave him a kiss on the cheek and turned back to larkspur "Hey ...umm...Larkspur wasnt it?" he said in a friendly tone, "Dont worry, I dont mean any harm...and I know how it is with new kits, so I'll keep my distance. Congrads on the family anyways, I hope they all are healthy and well."

Indy whispered in his dads ear "Dad...I thought ya said we were gonna 'stroll on in there ?"

Tachi whispered back "Naaah, to be fair we need to respect his space if he has newborns. Unspoken law. Thats just the way it is. I'll leave him his space...for now."

Indy could tell his dad was thinking, and so decided to let it be till his mum came back.

Tachi smiled at Larksspur again "So, you mentioned Daina and Flailer have proved useful? How so?" he was trying his best to be friendly, he didrnt really want to make an enemy of the Nidorino. Yet.

~*~*~

Larksspur ginned with an inward pride, standing a little taller, "Why they've taken well after thier nidoran heritage and defended -thier- home from an invading thief. The boy, Flailer, will make a fine nidoran and the girl, Daina, will be as beautiful as her mother, one day."

Tachiguy grinned broadly "Defended the warren from a thief huh? Heh! Li'l ruffians!" looking at Indy he continued "Yeh, they have a LOT of their nido heritage apparent in all of em, brave n headstrong, pretty smart to."

Achikochi arrived in time to hear the compliments to her children from Larksspur, but nothing else. She beamed inwardly with pride. The nidorino was certainly alot diffrent from what she had thought!
"Tachi! Indy!!" the nidorina bolted down to her mate and missing son. "I'm so glad to see you alive! You both had me worried!!"

Achikochi threw her front paws around her mate and son and squeezed them tightly to her. She withdrew and looked down on Indy.
"Indigo ... I'm very dissapointed in your behavior. You could have gotten yourself killed out there. I'm glad to see you back here, though, and that's what counts the most, but you are going to have to earn my trust again. Until you do, you are not to leave my sight, or your father's sight." Achi looked up at her mate, " Although , I'm sure he'd be more lenient than I am."

Larksspur looked down and chuckled to himself. 'If her kits had been born here, they would have been raised properly.... of course, if Achi had had kits here, the would have been mine.'

"Achi ... I -must- have your word that no harm will come to my warren from your mate." Larksspur called to her, " I'm sorry to be harsh, but this is the way it must be for us nidorans. If he so much as leaves a scratch on my kin or kind , I will have no choice but to banish him, or worse."

Achi nodded and sighed. Life in the nido-colony certainly had some good and bad points. Achi looked to Tachi, then back and more sternly upon her son. "I need your word that you will not harm any nidos .... that means no fighting at all, Indy, no matter what."

Tachi cuddled Achi close and nuzzled her affectionately, "Yeh, I told him you'd have soemthing to say, and I agree. Indy, you need some boundaries set and we're gonna STICK to em. Yer not anywhere if yer not with me or Achi, understood young man?"

Indy pulled a slight face. "Geez....fine. whatever you say dad. Im sorry mum, it wont happen again. I'll be good, I promise." he said, all the time thinking ~Unless things get TOOO boring~

Tachi ruffled his bangs and grinned "Oh, and he's also decided to make amends with Flailer after I gave him a talking to about the whole deal, and so he's going to make an effort to get along with Flailer, right champ?"

Indy smiled, despite himself he had missed his brother, and so smiled "Yea, I'm gonna be Flailers friend instead of his Rival." grinning at his mum he asked "Where is he anereways ma? And Daina to!?"

Tachi smiled "One thing at a time champ, first we have to promise not to harm any Nidos. You promise? Remember son, he has offered his home to you so you owe him that. Don't harm him or his subjects, and treat this place as you would your own home...with respect and obedience to the wishes of your host." he said nodding at Larksspur.

"Sure," said the young Otachi, turning to Larkspur "I promise not to harm any Nidoran or Nidorino or anything at all sir. Thanks for letting me stay here and everything!" he beamed.

"Good lad. And that goes for me to Larksspur...I give you my word that no Nido will come to harm by my person.......so in promising this does that mean I am able to stay here with my family?" he said, his face earnest, yet serious "Being a new father yourself you know how it is for us dads....I need my family like I need air."

He expected the Nidorino to say no. He knew there was no reason for him to say yes other than common pokemon decency...wether that was a trait Larksspur possessed wasn't as yet known to the ootachi...but he'd soon find out.

Larksspur grunted deeply, hinding the increased irritation he held for Tachi's arrival would be a difficult task. His thoughts turned back to his mate, Honeymeadow. He smiled to himself as the thoughts of soon seeing the product of thier love hatch from the eggs. Larksspur looked back down on Achi and her family, and sighed.
The main part of the warren had to be big enough for him and his mate to move around in, but the smaller tunnels would provide safety for the smaller members of his warren... at least from the larger of the two males.

"Elil .. you have my permission to stay here as long as your mate wishes it and as long as no harm is brought to my people by your presense." The nidorino turned around in a magestic fashion and disapeared back into the warren to be with his mate and check up on his children's progress into the world. Runtumble followed his leader's exit, but turned down another direction to join his twin at the flay-rah patch.

Tachiguy smiled and called "Thankyou Larkspur, im very grateful!" before nuzzling Achi again "He doesnt like me, I can tell that much...but then he doesnt know me as yet, so who knows? Eventually we might end up as friends or something, which would be cool."

Achi smiled. "He's quite nice, once you get to know him." The nidorina recalled what her son had asked a bit earlier, " Daina and Flailer will be going out to train with your uncle Digfast later tonight. They should be resting with him now in the warren. I'm glad you have decided to act civaly towards your brother. Perhaps, once you've proven you can be trusted again , you'd like to go out with them to train in the evening?"

Indigo smiled up at his mum "Yea, thatd be neat...how are they training though? What kind of training? Training to do what?" the little Otachi's head began to swirl with images of sparring nidorans and battle training, or chasing after predators and hunting them down to be dealt with in attack team training. Bolting accross fields in races to be the fastest in runner training, or spying on enemies in training for surveilance work, and he fairly vibrated with escitement....before rembering his promise not to harm any Nidoran...
~Damn!!~ he thought inwardly, ~Maybe that won't matter in the training?~

Tachi ruffled his headfur again "Not for you to worry about at this point yungster, we can ask yer uncle Digfast later on eh?" before turning back to Achi. "Yknow...I'm really happy for you honey. It must be awesome for you, to find this part of you...yer whole heritage and everything, Yknow? " he kissed her softly "It's amazing to think that now, after all this time you can feel what its TRULY like to be what you are. I know you and I are happy together...but ever since larkspur showed up the first time I wondered if you mightn't be happier with your own kind than with me...and its even more amazing to think that now you can have both! And I'm going to do my best to keep it that way as long as you want to...forever if needs be, so I guess I'm gonna need you n' Digfast to teach me how 'ta fit in a li'l better....I have no illusions that the locals wont be so friendly to me first up..."

Achikochi nodded in agreement with her mate. Things were certainly seeming to go her way. She had her mate and could finally learn the way of her kind. Her kits were safe from humans and were going to learn how to survive on thier own from thier uncle. Yes , thing indeed were going her way.
"Come on... I'll show you my little nitch in the warren. It's quite snug and warm."

Achikochi led her mate and son back to the warren. Her smile was assurance enough for most of the nidos they encountered on the way, although more than a couple dashed away, chattering his or her teeth and bristling thier spines in a show of aggression.

~*~*~

Twigwhittle nudged Digfast for the third time. "Hey... you're supposed to take the next watch! Wake up Digfast! Frith knows what kind of elil will come romping through with you snoring like some snoozing snorlax there!"

Digfast snapped awake, "What .. elil .. where?.. Oh it's you!"

"It's about time you woke up! Was there ever a Snorlax in your familly line?" Twigwhittle frowned.

"Pah, not any more than there were spearows in yours, Twig!" Digfast shook off and stretched, noticing his den was empty, "Hey, where did those kits go?"

"We're here, Uncle!" Daina called softly from down the way.

"Mister Twigwhittle woke us up a while ago... and we've just been waiting for you." Flailer explained.

"Oh ... very well then," Digfast ambled down the run to meet the kits, "Follow me... we'll grab a quick munch on clover and I'll show you how to watch and listen out here."

"Oh , think there will be another rattata?" Daina bounced around and licked her lips.

"NO ... er .. no, Daina .. I think you may have scared them all away." Digfast swallowed hard. Like most nidoran, he found the act of eating meat repulsing.

"Awe ... well maybe when we're out on patrol then." the otachi smiled, " Is there clover?"

"Yes, we have clover." Digfast nodded, "But it's not on tonight's menue. Tonight is licorice night." Digfast showed the kits a tall stringy looking plant.

Flailer sniffed at it, then tested it with a tiny nibble. "Oh , oooh.... this is much better than kale! Ohh Daina , taste this .. it's sweet!"

Daina took a bite of the plant stalk. Her eyes went wide, "Wow ... I think I could eat this every day!"

"It's best that you don't , Daina. Our Flay-rah patch is very limited. If we keep eating the same thing every day , it will disapear. So we change what we eat , night and day, and every week so that we don't kill off the plant. Foxglove over there, and another doe named Gooseberry, are the ones who tend to the garden's needs. If they say a plant is off limits , then it's off limits." Digfast explained the rules of the garden to the kits.

"Oh , kind of like our Peach tree where we used to live." Flailer thought logicly, " When that fire creature my brother brought home burned down the branch, Daina got mad at it."

"Yeah, because it burned down part of our home that made big yummy fruits, and now that branch won't make any." Daina followed.

"Exactly," Digfast smiled, " Now , if you're done eating , we'll move on to night watch duties." The two kits followed thier 'uncle' out of the flay-rah patch and past the borders of the warren, down a small trail, reeady to learn all they could from the nidoran.

~*~*~

Tachiguy smiled at the nidos he saw, trying as best he could not to show any more teeth than neccisary to make his smile look natural and open. He nodded to them as they walked and once inside he nuzzled Achi "Well, no-one attacked me, or ran off...er....screaming at least. I think so long as I stick with you, or at least someone not so out of place around here I should be OK." and he grinned broadly.

Indy smiled to "Those Nidorans look like fun to play with. The way they run is weird...but i bet the kids have some cool games i might be able to try." and then though ~And win to...they are really slow~

Tachi ruffled his bangs again "Yeh yeh, you'll have your fun once you've proved you can handle yerself responsibly. No clowning around here kiddo...that'd ruin things for all of us, and especially yer ma, and we dont want that now do we champ?"

"No way dad." said the boy sitting down and crawling in a babylike fashion to his mothers side and nuzzling in.

Tachi looked at Achi again "Hey, the kids'll be on night watch now huh? Any idea when they' gonna get back? I can't wait to see 'em again...oh...er..one thing honey. Why didn't ya go to the den? Just outa' curiosity. I smelt yer path heading that way, but then a fresher scent overcut it and headed back this direction and so I followed that one..."

Achi yawned and lowered her ears. "Tachi, our home is tainted with human smell. Daina was down there, and with her was a thing, made by humans. A ball of metal they call a Poke-ball. It catches pokemon and holds them inside. I had to leave, and take our kits to a place where they would ba safer from humans."

Achi yawned again. " The kits should be back by morning, I believe."

Tachiguy cursed quietly "Damn them....they just have to ruin EVERYTHING dont they?" he scowled and hugged Achi to him tightly, "You're all alright though? I thought they'd well and truly left the area by the time that I started tracking you back after finding Indy...yer not hurt?"

Achi shook her head sleepily," No... I'm fine. I was pretty scared for Daina, though. If she had tapped that human thing the wrong way ... " Achi shook her head, " I don't want to lose any more kits Tachi ...."

The Nidorina nuzzled Indy gently. "I don't want another Brownie."

By this time Indy was curled up and close to sleeping, so just nuzzled his mum gently and murmered that he was OK, and tired.

Tachi lifted Achi's head up by the chin so thier eyes were level "I know what you mean honey...but don't worry, so long as we are careful and teach them well there won't be another death in the family...I know it." he kissed her softly and nuzzled her face while covering her body with his tail.
"Now, how about we sleep till the other kids get back huh, hun? You look very tired."

Achi yawned, and settled herself deep into her mate's fur. "Goodnight, Tachi. I'm glad you're here, and safe."

The nidorina fell deep asleep in the warmth and security of her mate's closeness.

~*~*~ Digfast moved silently through the short grasses and shrubs, followed by the crashing dash of Achi's two kits. With an exagerated huff, he called the to a hault.

"Kids.... unless you want to announce our presense to everyone in the area, you need to move more quietly." Digfast whispered harshly at them, " I don't know about you, but I don't plan on becoming dinner tonight."

Flailer looked down on his oversized paws, "Sorry, uncle Digfast ... I'll try harder... but , could you slow down? "

Daina tested her feet on the grassy ground again, wrinkling her snub nose at the crinklings her paws produced. "I don't think I'm supposed to be quiet when I walk."

"Non-sense... every pokemon can walk with stealth." Digfast shook his ears, then lifted up one of his paws, " Now look, if you place your paw down this way" he placed the paw heal first and rolled it forward in a rocking motion, " you will not only be silent , but faster."

Flailer and Diana moved around awkwardly, in the new fashion shown them. Flailer, somehow felt it a little more natural than Daina did, but with a few practice sprints, they caught on pretty quick.

"Now that you two can be silent , let's keep going. I still have to show you the layout of this area. Every good scout has to know every bit of where they live so they can tell if something's wrong." Digfast moved onwards, confident they kits wouldn't be ringing any dinner bells to passing predators.

Flailer and Daina walked silently along, smiling to eachother proudly, having mastered the art of being silent. Flailer playfully whapped Daina's ear with his paw, resulting in a silent game of tag behind Digfast's back.

Digfast led the kits to a flat rock. "This here, is one of many pools of water we drink from. There isn't a pond or spring in this area, so we have to conserve it wisely."

Flailer and Daina peered into the shallow pool of water, "Where does it come from?"

"Most of it comes from the morning dew. Some of it comes from rain and a bit from the winter snow." Digfast answered," we must be careful to keep it clean so that everyone can get a drink."

"Oh, so no one can go for a swim in it?" Flailer looked down at his reflection, slightly dissapointed.

"No, not at all. But you can play in any puddle that doesn't form in the rocks when it rains. That water isn't very clean to drink and doesn't stay long at all." the nido-m smiled at the kit. So much energy, so little time to be young!

Daina dipped her head to take a drink. The water had a cold, crisp taste. It was quite refreshing for her. She drank even more.

Digfast tapped the young otachi's tail. "Daina, just a little bit. Remeber, we have to be mindful of how much we drink. You can have a drink at the next pool, then again at another, but no more than a sip or two."

Daina shrank away from the water, feeling a bit emarassed by her greedy thirst. "I didn't mean to drink so much."

"I know, Daina," Digfast nuzzled her shoulder in an understanding manner, " Water is very hard to come by here, but if we work together, carefully, we can allways have another drink at the next pool."

Daina smiled back. Life as a nido was tougher than she thought it might be. Flailer seemed to be getting along just fine... but maybe because he was more nidoran than she.

Flailer took a little sip. "This is nice water. It tastse like ... like .. something, very very cold and ... I dunno, really."

"It reminds me of snow," Digfast sighed, " But you two kits are too young to remember what snow's like. It was gone from the lands a while before you were hatched. You'll know about it soon enough though. It's not too many seasons from winter."

Flailer looked at his uncle and cocked his head. "Snow? .. is it cold?"

Digfast nodded, " Yes, it's the coldest thing you may ever feel. Now , come along. We still have a ways to go before our duties are over."

The trio passed a couple more of the watering rocks, from which Daina took a tiny sip from each one. Digfast spotted a few tracks of other nidos who had passed by on thier shifts to the kits.

"Now, this one here belongs to Nimblepaw. You can allways tell his prints from others by the way the tracks are very close together. Nimblepaw has always had a fear of stepping in the wrong kind of stuff, thorns and whatnot, so he steps lightly and tightly. It makes him a little slower than most, but he manages fine."

Flailer looked at another set of paws prints. The dirt was kicked out and smudged near the back. "Who's are these?"

Digfast looked in to inspect them, giving the dirt a deep whiff. "Those , are your paw prints, from yesterday. You're feet are a little diffrently shaped than other nidos, and furrier too. It smudges the marks you make near the rear of your prints."

"Hey! These must be my tracks then!" Daina pointed proudly to a set of prints matching her short oval feet.

"Mmm-hmm. Those are yours alright. And these here, are your mother's " Digfast pointed out.

The three pokemon moved a little further along the trail placed by the kits and thier mother the previous day. A new set of tracks was found merged with the old ones. Digfast paused, hit heart racing.

Flailer stopped the instant his uncle did, sensing something was wrong with the nido-m. "What is it?"

"Elil ... here.. following your mother's tracks. There's two of them." Digfast quivered, " It's pretty big too."

Daina and Flailer moved in closer and took a long hard look at the trail. A large set of tracks were criss-crossed with a pair of smaller paws. Daina looked at her feet, then at the smaller paws.

"Ohh, wait. Those are Indy's feet! " Daina leaped up onto her tail to servey the area. "Oh Flailer, maybe he's around here!"

Flailer sneared, " So what if he's here? Those other prints better not be from another fire pokemon." Flailer's tail lashed around.

Daina looked at her brother and clicked her tounge," Ah come on, Flailer. I'm sure those tracks aren't from a fire pokemon!. It was really tiny and weak looking."

Flailer pinned his ears back as he thought about how the fire pokemon had burned down part of their home. He inched close to the larger tracks to give it a sniff. No smell of fire or burning. It smelled almost like ... "It's Dad!"

"Pappa? He's here?" Daina looked at her brother, wagging her tail in a happy way.

"You're father?.. He made it here?" Digfast sighed , happy there wouldn't be another battle with elil so soon from settling in.

"Yeah , I'm sure it's dad!" Flailer turned a few circles. "Oh , I can't wait to see him!"

Digfast nodded, "Well, let's hurry along and finish our duties, then you can go and see your dad."

Flailer and Daina ran ahead, following the nido trails.

"Hey, wait up!" Digfast called after the two kits.

Flailer was far ahead of his sister , and even further ahead of thier uncle. The thoughts of seeing his father seemed to put wings on his feet. Soon he would be home and safe with his family.. all of them.

The little ootachiran didn't even see the ariados before he was nearly on top of it. Instinctively, Flailer barked an alarm.
"Uncle!! Come quick!"

The ariados seemed very unimpressed with the small pokemon's shout. It was quickly forming a ball of sticky web silk. Drool dripped from its mandibles. Flailer shivered, feeling the preditory bug's eyes peirce into his heart. Fear pinned the ootachiran where he stood. Why couldn't he move. He was hardly aware of his sister and uncle's approach.

The ariados was getting closer.

"Flailer .. move your feet, boy!"

Flailer heard his uncle, but it was as if there was a mountain between them. The kit tried to lift his paws to move. They were like moving boulders.

Digfast and Daina were circling in on the Ariados, trying to distract it long enough for Flailer to break free of its Scary Face attack.

"Flailer.. close your eyes and try to back away from this thing." Digfast shouted out as he kicked dirt up at the large spider.

"Ohh... Uncle, what are we going to do?" Daina whimpered as she followed in Digfast's pawsteps, jumping in to make a distraction and dashing off to avoid the ariados' frightening attack.

"Stay back from it , as much as you can, lass, Let me do most of the work here. " Digfast instructed, " Go and see if you can give your brother a good nip to snap him out of the trance. What ever you doo , don't look at the elil straight on, or you'll freeze too!"

Flailer felt an odd calm overwelm him. Sleep.... that's what he wanted. A nice long nap. The ootachiran buckled to the ground, barely able to keep his eyes open.

The Ariados was almost upon him.

Daina dashed around behind her brother, then crept up low to the ground, inching along at an urgent pace. Her brother's tail barely even twitched now.
"Sorry, Flailer .. but I gotta..." Daina bit down hard into Flailer's tail.

"Pleh!!" Daina spat out a mouthful of long fur. Flailer's tail was tapered underneath, unlike her own, which was thick all the way through. The otachi jumped a foot forward and bit down hard on her brother's soft bottom.

"YEEEEOUCH!!" Flailer jumped up in shock, whirled around and swung his paw at his attacker.

"Flailer, run!" Digfast barked sharply at the otachiran. "Elil! RUN!!"

Flailer stopped midswing and took to running as fast as he could. Daina was swiftly behind him. The three of them didn't stop until they were almost back at the warren. Digfast stopped to catch his breath.

"Now , -that- is why ... you.. should ..-NEVER- .. run ahead .. on trails.. you .. don't know." Digfast panted between large gulps of air.

"What... was .. that?" Daina queeried.

"That... was ... Ariados." Digfast answered, " It lives here... and .. we have to be careful .. of it. It won't usually bother .. with hunting us down.. if it can catch slower prey, but .. you ran straight into it.. where it could use its Scary Face attack."

Flailer looked down, ashamed of acting so foolhearty. "You won't tell my parents, will you?"

Digfast shook his head, "Naw, I took you out here to train... and that's part of the learning process. Just promise me , you won't do anything that irresponsible again."

Flailer nodded his head vigorously. "Oh, Absolutely!"

"Now, let get you two home to your mom n' dad." Digfast smiled cheerfully enough.

The nido-m and the two kits travelled on to the warren, where they would be safe.

Flailer, Daina and Digfast wearily trod into the entrance of the warren. The nido-m escorted his niece and nephew to the den of thier mother.

Flailer ducked in and crept quietly inbetween his mother and father, not wanting to wake either one. He pushed Indy out a bit to gain the best possible position between his two parents. Daina followed, curling up under Tachi's tail.

Digfast crept off to another nido's sleeping place to wake her for the next shift.

Tachiguy didnt wake up, he was to tired form the days exertions and worries and lessons and trials and his body wouldnt allow him passage to the world of the waking. When he felt the warm closensess of his 2 other children he merely fluffed out his fur to cover them more, and wrapped them in his tail, pushing them closer together a little, and smiled softly in his slumber. Indy however, in the way of childrten awoke softly, and saw his brother and sister. Was he going to apologise now? or leave it till morning....he didnt know, but whispered "Umm...hi Daina, hey Flailer...how's things? have fun training n' all?" his ears in a submissivve pose and his smile wide, yet wavering a little, awaiting his brothers reaction....

Flailer blinked, yawned and flicked his ear, " Training isn't for fun, it's for learning stuff."

Daina giggled at Flailer, "yeah... like how not to run into an ariados"

Flailer flipped his tail around, cuffing Daina's ear lightly, " Least I'm not drinking all the water."

Daina stuck out her tounge."What ever you say spider bait."

Flailer grunted, turning back to his brother, "So .. decided to ditch that fire-thing and come crawling back home where you belong?" His tone was flat, almost indiffrent in a cutting way. Flailer was still mad at his brother.

Indigo looked at his brother, "I'm not really crawlin home...tho I AM in trouble for leaving and everything...yep. I left the fire pokemon..er..I really dont know why I picked her over my real brother and sister anyhow." he took a deep breath, and began his apology. "Flailer...I wanna say im real sorry. Im sorry that I've treated ya badly, and like...insulted you n' junk in the past, and that I attacked ya that time n' everything. Im sorry that I picked people not from our family to spend my time with instead of you and Daina, and dad, and mum....and I'm sorry that yer mad at me cuz of it all. I really am..." he stopped and took another deep breath, before looking Flailer in the eye "I...well...can you forgive me? And be my friend...n stuph?"

Flailer looked at his brother. There had been so much between them in thier short lives. Part of him disliked his brother and felt betrayed. Another part of him, knew he was better than that. "Yeah.. I forgive ya. Besides , I can't keep wrestling with Daina. "
Flailer turned and winked at his sister, "She's a girl."

Daina mock scowled back at her brothers and threw her tail over her face n' paws to sleep.

Indigo grinned broadly and shuffled closer to his bother, placing his tail around flailer as best he could in way of a hug "Thankyou...." was all he said before hunkering down into his paws to sleep also.

~*~ The night was nearing it's final hours, paling in the distant horizon. Larksspur and Honeymeadow had stayed near thier eggs, a normal nidoran clutch, since the moment they came into the world. They had developed at the proper nido-rate, growing quickly into thier shells, and soon ... would be hatching.

Larksspur waited anxiously, as most new fathers would. Daybreak! The sunrise filled the horizons with it's life-giving glow, pushing away the star littered night sky. Larksspur had been up , the whole night watching over his brood. The eggs had gone from inactive , to highly active impatient little things. The nidorino nuzzled his mate to wake her.
"Honey ... the eggs... "

Honeymeadow yawned, feeling very refreshed from a good long night of sleep. She nearly jumped up when one of her eggs pushed right into her. The egg cracked. "Larkie.... they ... they are hatching!"

Larksspur's eyes grew wide with joy. His children were finally joining the warren. The egg hatched with the explosive power of two tiny nido feet punching through the bottom. It was a little male. Honeymeadow instinctively groomed the tiny nido with the rough of her tounge, stimulating his bloodflow and cleaning him at the same time.

"Nii! Nii!" the young one squealed in protest as if to say 'enough!'

Honeymeadow lifted the kit and pulled him to her side. "He's a firey little guy!"

Two more eggs were hatching, both were female.

Larksspur assisted his mate in bringing them into the world, attending to one of the kits while she took care of the other. The last egg began to break open as Larksppur placed his new daughter near his mate for a feed. It produced another female, slightly lighter in color than her two sisters. Honeymeadow smiled. "Three daughters and a son!"

"What shall we call them?" Larksspur asked as he gazed down at his new little family.

Honeymeadow tapped the kits one by one, starting with the light-colored daughter, " She will be called Dogwood, She," Honeymeadow tapped one of the twin daughters, " is Poppy, and she" Honeymeadow tapped the other twin, " is Pansy."

"And our son?" Larksspur asked. A touch of doubt hung in his voice... as if he was afraid of something.

Honeymeadow looked her mate directly, eye to eye, "You know the tradition."

Larksspur flicked his ears back "I know...I know"

Honeymeadow touched her son's head, "You are Spiko"

~*~

Tachiguy awoke as day broke and looked around, disoriented for a second, but upon rembering the circumstances behind where he was he smiled and kissed Achi as she sluumbered.

Arising and disentangling his fur gently from his kits he grinned as he saw Indy sleeping next to Flailer, hugging him with his big purple tail "Good boy...I guess you guys made amends after all." he said, giving each one a gentle nuzzle so as to not wake them as he made his way out of the tunnel into the warren outside.

He was very thirsty, and scented the air. He could tell it was a dry area, and detected that there were only a few small water sources nearby. He made his way to the nearest one of these, seeing only one Nido M on his way, to whom he made a small wave, followed by a close-lipped smile. He guesed that was the Nido on patrol, and he had probably heard about the 'elil' in the warren and so wouldnt be charging him to attack or anything.

Tachi kept walking and soon came upon the small clear pool he had scented out, he grinned and was about to take a swallow when he heard an older sounding female voice behind him "Excuse me!"

He turned to face the owner of the voice and saw an older Nido female, sitting on a small rock near the pool. In the early light the blue of her coat had matched the grey of the rock quite well, and as Tachi wasn't on the hunt for food he hadn't spotted the scent.

"Oh, good morning Ma'am" he said smiling and making a small respectful bow, "Here, you have first drink if you'd like." and he stepped aside to allow her passage, but she shook her head "No thank you. I've had my fill for this morning....however, I'm not sure that an elil such as you knows the correct ettiquette for drinking at a pool such as this. Right?" she asked, examining him carefully. "Oh, dont call me Ma'am either...my name is Teak."

Tachi bowed again. "Oh...umm thank you Teak, I don't know the ettiquette, yer quite correct. Perhaps you'd like to tell me?" he said grinning, she seemed nice enough.

Teak pointed "These pools are dotted around in a few places..water isn't a commn thing out here you understand, and so we mustn't drink to much you see. Take only small amounts from there, and get the rest of what you need form the dew in the mornings in the grass and small puddles...you look like you'll be needing more water than that though...wont you?"

Tachi smiled "No...I'm big yes, but I dun drink alot, and so I'll be fine." he said, taking several small swallows from the pool only, before taking a pawful of freshly dewed grass and chewing on that.

Teak nodded approval. "So...Why are you here then Elil? The only reason I've known your kind to be near mine is to eat them" she stated bluntly yet not overly unkindly.

Tachi swallowed the grass, wishing he had an orange and forced a smile "Umm, well my mate is a Nidorina, the shiny one called Achikochi, and so I'm here to live with her. We have some kits, and so I want to be with them to of course, and that's why Im here. Im not going to eat anyone..." to which Teak gave a slight smile.

"Ahh, that's what I overheard to. I was making sure your story was straight lad. I can tell you aren't a viscious type...for an elil you have goodish manners...your mate must have whipped you into shape I'd say. She did an OK job to." she said, her smile getting a bit bigger.

"Um, thanks...?" said Tachiguy somewhat uncertainly, before extending a paw. "Oh, and I might be an Elil, but if you want to call me by soemthing other than that, my name is Tachiguy."

Teak looked at the outstretched paw, and her smile faded. "I think not Tachiguy...you reek of predatory animal M'dear." she said, pointing to a rock with some bright green moss on it. "That moss smells odd, like Flay-rah, but it isnt edible. I'd suggest you rub your fur on that rock every so often, to help soften your odor...you really are quite a smelly animal. If I were to shake your paw NOW I would have that stench on me all day lad! Prehaps the younger nidos wouldn't notice...but I'm something of a stickler for good ettiquette, and smelling like soemthing that would eat your family and friends isn't cricket!"

Tachiguy looked uncertain for a second, before bounding to the rock and using it like a scratching post for several minutes under the watchful eye of Teak. He then went back "Umm, how about now ma'aaa...er...Teak?"

The nido F tested the air and smiled "Yes, sufficiently dulled." she extended her paw "Pleased to meet you Tachiguy...will you be staying long? What do you intend on eating while here? Do you know any other Nidos?"

Tachiguy shook her paw gently before answering in an amused way "uumm, I'm not sure, as long as Achi wants to. I'll eat what Nido-people eat, and I guess I'll forage outsside the warren a bit to. I need fruit and I don't think you guys eat much of that. And yea, I know Larksspur...er..tho not overly well, I know my brother in law Digfast, and Achi and thats all."

Teak looked bemused "Brother in law Digfast? Eeeh? What?"

Tachi smiled "Yea, Achi is his long lost sister!"

Teak's look deepend a tad. "Oh...alright..." she said before looking at the sun "Well, I need to get to the Flay-rah patch to help tend it today. I'll see you later Elil tachiguy. I bid you good morning." she said as she scampered off.

Tachiguy chewed another piece of grass and watched her go, pondering her odd look, but thinking little of it he scampered back towards the den and his family.

~*~

Larksspur felt his spines stiffen at his son's cristening. He hated Spiko for abandoning the old warren when they had needed him most. He had lost his best friend because of it, and other nidorans had been killed in the encounter with the Arbok.

Larksspur lunged forth, gipping his son by the scruff, and walked out of the nest. Honeymeadow sighed and tended to her daughters. There was nothing she could do in her condition. Larksspur was either going to kill the male, or announce him. She could only hope it would be the latter of the two.

Larksspur made his way down the nesting tunnel to the main hall of the warren. Some of the nidorans were already gathered there, playing or exchanging ideas. Larksspur cleared his throat. The nidorans cleared out of his way when they noticed the small mewling bundle in his jaws. Larksspur carried on out of the warren. The nidorans followed him to see what was going to happen.

Larksspur traveled out of the warren and up the slope of the rock slab that guarded his home. At the top, he found the remains of the skarmory nest, a few scattered thorn branches and shards of glass and metal. The nidorino gingerly stepped around these sharp objects to reach the very top.

Below the rock-slab entrance to the warren, most of the nidorans had gathered in a crowd. Some of them were up on thier tip toes , trying to get a better view of what Larksspur was up to. The best they could see was the nidorino's spikes.

~*~

Teak arrived at the Flay-rah patch to find her younger apprentice, Shyler, chasing off some ledybugs.

"Go on! shoo!" the young nido-f nudged the tiny bugs with her snout.

Teak dashed over and gave Shyler a harsh cuff. "Leave them!"

Shyler shrunk into a half crowched position, rubbing her paws on the rising knot on her head. "But those are bugs ... they are bad for plants."

"Most bugs are, but not these," Teak pat the ledybas gently, pushing them back into the garden, "These bugs eat harmful bugs and keep out plants happy. Without them, our flay-rah patch would grow sick."

"How do you know so much?" Shyler asked, "Is it because you are old?"

Teak flicked her ear, "Age has nothing to do with it. Experience does. You were born at Spiko's warren , so you do not know about the time before that or where the nidorans of his warren came from. "

"I've heard the tales!" Shyler spoke up objectively.

"The tales are not the whole truth. It is true the warren owed much to Spiko, but there was even a time before him, in a place further from here than you could imagine. It was in that time, when I was an officer, serving the warren by going out on patrols, that I learned all that I know of Flay-rah. You see , we used to raid a man place, where Flay-rah grew in fields stretched farther than this whole valley," Teak explained, perhaps exagerating a bit."That is where I observed the Ledyba at work. They eat the little parasitic bugs that destroy plants, and help the flowers become food. Next time , just go find me and ask before you swat at a bug."

"Okay .. I'm sorry." Shyler looked down at her paws sadly.

"It's alright, you didn't know." Teak was about to go into things more when she saw her son-in-law, Larksspur ascend the rockslab with what appeared to be a nido-kit. Teak had to find out what was wrong with the kit.

"You stay here." She spoke harshly in a command to Shyler, then crept quietly up the rockslab after Larksspur.

~*~*~

The otachiran yawned, big and wide. His adventure in the night had been alot tougher than he had thought it would be. He looked around and noticed his dad was missing!

Flailer quietly crept out of the den, stepping around in the fashion his uncle had shown him. He was silent as a whisker falling to the ground.

"Heh .. they won't even miss me!" he grinned to himself as he sought out his father's scent on the dusty floor. "There!" his faced cracked with a joyful smile as his father's scent was picked up from under the footfall of the other nidorans.

Flailer followed the scent outside untill it met with the feet of many many many nidorans.

"Ah crud!" Flailer frowned. How was he supposed to find his dad through all of this?

"Hey.. miss?" Flailer tapped on nidoran on the shoulder, " have you seem my dad ?"

The nidoran-f, Pebblefleck, shook her head, "I don't think I have. He's that frightening huge elil? right?"

"Yeah, that's him. He's not a bad guy , though." Flailer answered back in his dad's defense.

"His kind eats our.." Pebblefleck looked at Flailer.. not quite sure how much of him was nidoran, "er .. my kind.."

"I know .. but he won't do anything like that. He likes my mom enough." Flailer objected to the accusations that his dad would bring the nidos any harm.

"Maybe so .. " Pebblefleck turned back to watching the top of the stone slab.

Flailer shrugged and continued past the nidorans searching for his father's scent.

Tachiguy noticed all the nidos working thier way to the one place, and decided that he'd better follow suit, tho he wanted to get closer to his and Achis burrow to have a better chance of finding them once they came out.
He moved slowly and steadily, making sure to make a little noise as he walked, not enough to be alarming, but enough to show he wasnt slinking or stalking...he knew his kind were well known for thier stealth in hunting.
Suddenly he caught sight of a familiar and well loved set of bangs, and his face split in a giant grin "Hey! Yo, Flailer!" he said, speeding up to get to his son faster. Once there he picked the boy up and placed him on his shoulder. "Hey Sport! How was training then?"

Suddenly he saw the stern glance being given him by several Nidos, and looked up to see Larkspur ascending the rocks with something in his mouth. "Woops, guess I'd better shaddup for the meantime eh?" he whispered, sweatdropping and grinning lopsidedly at Flailer as Larkspur began his speech.

Flailer waited up on his dad's shoulder, trying hard to keep his balance. He found he could steady himself better by wrapping his tail around his father's back.

~*~*~

Teak made her way past the old skarmory nest, wrinkling her nose at the pile of sharp objects. "Who would want to have babies there!" she thought to herself. "Speaking of babies..."

Teak crept up quietly on Larksspur.

Larksspur was furious. "How could she name you after him... after all he did to the outskirters and after he failed to protect us! How could she name you after my Sire....."

Larksspur made as if to trample the kit at his feet. Teak gasped in alarm. She couldn't watch her grandson die.

The nidorino didn't do it. Save for his name , there was no blemish to mark his son unfit for life. He lifted his son and moved to the very top of the stone slab , where all could view him. He jerked his head up, showing the nidorans his pride in being a parent. He gently set the kit beween his feet and spoke to his warren.

"This is my son! He bears the name 'Spiko' , as it is Nidoran tradition. I hope that my son will become greater than his name!",'and earn a new one,' he added to himself.

Larksspur picked up his son and turned back down the rockslab. Spiko yawned and fussed in his father's grip. Larksspur set him down once more, " Teak .. come out."

The nido-f stepped out from her hiding place behind a chunk of metal. "Yes Larksspur."

"Did you realy think I would kill my own son?" Larksspur had already guessed why the nido-f had come up after him.

"I was hoping you wouldn't" Teak replied quietly.

"Hmmpf. I'm not heartless." Larksspur picked his kit back up and walked past the old nido-f with a grin.

~*~*~

When Larksspur had finnished his little speach and turned off the rock, Flailer answered his father's question.
"Yeah , Uncle Digfast was great! I learned how to walk all super quiet like" Flailer launched himself to the ground below to demonstrate the walk to his dad. He crept around silently through the rough grasses. "See? isn't that awesome?"

Tachi grinned broadly "Yea!! Thats the way!" he said, doing the same thing "Now ya just gotta work on speed..eventually you'll be able to sprint like this, great fer getting out of bad situations quickly n quietly to avoid bein followed." he said, not wanting to bring up that it was also great for catching prey quickly without them knowing you were coming. "So, what else ya learn? I can see yer fittin in really well here...it's great to see." he said, clapping his son on the back "Im proud of you Flailer...your turning into a great young Pokemon."

"Well" Flailer shuffled his feet, " I learned that Daina drinks too much water ... and not to run into giant spider type pokemon." Flailer spoke with a sheepish expression.
"Oh .. and we can't have the same thing for dinner twice in a row here, isn' that great?" Flailer tried to jump up on his tail, only to roll backwards. He just wasn't built to do that. He looked up at his dad, " So ... where have you been ?"

"Ooh, like Spinarc and Ard...aria....ariados? Er...can't remember the name, but they nasty." said Tachi, remebering seeing them at night in the forests. "Yeh..best avoided methinks! And I know how Daina feels, I've had the water lecture myself." he said, grinning as he thought of Teak and her lesson on water management. "Anyhow..er..lets get back to the burrow huh? I wanna see Daina n Achi, wonder if they are up yet?"

~*~*~

Achikochi arose some time after Flailer had left the nest. She was not too alarmed to see him gone. He was getting to be a very mature pokemon, after all and the fact that Tachi was gone with him was assuring. Achi stood up to stretch and shake out her spines.

Daina and Indy were still snoozing. The nidorina bent down and gave them each a big nudge. "Hey kids , let's go get some breakfast."

Daina needed no more than a mear mention of food to wake her up. She blinked and smacked her lips in a sleepy fashion, "Can we have rattata?"

Achi made a strange sound in her throat, almost a giggle, almost a grunt of disgust. "You'll have to ask your dad on that one..."

Achi waited for her prodicle son to rise and greet the new day.

Indy smiled softly at the nuzzling, then opened his bleary little red eyes and yawned widely. "Morning momma.." he said sleepily as he rolled over to look up at his mum. He grinned at the sight of her and placed a paw on her muzzle in greeting before reaching up to give her a peck on the cheek.

He then rolled over nad grinned at Daina. "Hey sis...yer eating ratatas here? I thought these guys only ate veggies n stuph? me n Dad ate Spearow on the way here, twas rilly yummy! Ever try it?" he said grinning at the thought of breakfast.

Achi smiled down at her son, "Morning, Indy... more like .. late morning though. "

Daina pranced around Indy proudly, " They don't eat rattata here, just me. I chased it down with Flailer and we caught it all by ourselves. Flailer didn't want to eat it though. You'll have to show me what a Spearow looks like so I can catch one of those too!" Daina strutted in her pride out of the den.

"Come on , Indy... time we found out where everyone else is and grab a bite to eat." Achikochi exited the den, then waited for her son. She wouldn't let him out of her sight.

Indy ran to his mothers side as they exited the den and smiled at the light, sniffing the air he caught a whiff of his dad downwind and smiled up at Achi "Dads this way mum."

Achi nodded, and followed her son to where Tachi and thier other kits had moved.

~*~*~

"It was an Ariados." Flailer recalled what the pokemon was, "And it was huge!"

Daina came bolting out of the warren entrance with a grin on her face and her tail high up in the air. She turned to see her dad and brother, changed direction and sped up to a gallop.

"PAPPA!!!!" she leaped up onto his free shoulder, wrapping herself tightly around Tachi and giving him a big kiss on the cheek.

"Hey! Watch it Daina! You nearly hit me!" Flailer barked up at his sister.

"Oh.. good morning bug-bait!" Daina laughed down to Flailer, " Find any more spiders?"

"NO!" Flailer grunted, pinning his ears back sharply. "Where's mom at ?"

"Oh she's coming along .. waiting for Indy, I suppose." Daina smiled from her parental perch.

"Well, when Indy gets out here , I wanna show him what Uncle Digfast showed us." Flailer grinned to himself with a mischeivous tone in his voice.

Daina's ears twitched, catching her brother's meaning, "Can I help you?"

Flailer smiled, "Sure!"

Daina's little tummy growled, " Pappa? Can you catch another spearow? Indy says they taste good and I wanna find out for myself!"

Flailer's eyes had a pained look in them. Eating other creatures just wasn't his way.

Tachi nodded "Ariados....nasty customer huh? Well, glad to see yer still here, with all yer limbs!" he grinned and ruffled the childrens hair "I'll see about getting us some breakfast soo kids, I'm not sure of the rules for leaving and enetering the warren as yet, perhaps Daina you'd like to ask someone and see what the requlations are for me?" he said smiling kindly, before the smile became a smirk, "And what exactly are you planning for him...nothin too dangerous I hope kids!" he said, his voice becoming quieter so as to not spoil the fun should Indy overhear....

Flailer and Daina broke away as they heard thier mother approach. They quietly circled around .. and when the time was right ... they pounced on Indy.

"HA! WE GOT YOU!!"

"MEEP!" he sqwawked, feeling the twin weights hit him at once. He ducked his head, shoved his tail into the ground and used it to push off, throwing himself clear of the attackers. landing several meters away, her whirled to face the ones who had pounced him...and realised it was his siblings.

"HAH!! hey guys...good morning to you to!" he laughed semi nervously semi happilly, semi boistrously. "Ya learn that in training or summink?"

"Yep! Uncle Digfast showed us all kinds of neat stuff" Daina grinned at her brothers , smuggly. Flailer coughed to hide his look of embarassment then sighed when he realized Daina would not reveal his secret to thier brother.

Tachiguy grinned and walked to his mate, embracing her warmly. "Hey gorgeous, sleep well?" before giving her a kiss on the muzzle. "Larkspur just showed off his new male kit...I dont know if there were any others born or anything though. T'was pretty cool, the kids name is Spiko..er...apparently it's some kinda nido tradition of some sort...sort of." he said, not fully understanding Larksspur's talk of the name Spiko, but feeling like he should fill Achi in on what was happening.

"Ahh, so Honeymeadow's eggs were hatched. I had been wondering how long it would take for pure nido-eggs to hatch. It was half as quick as our own." Achi nuzzled her mate, ignoring some of the stares from a couple of the youngest nidorans.

Larksspur caught sight of Tachi and Achi on his way down from the side of the rockslab. He carried his son over to the couple and sat down next to Achi. He placed the half-asleep nido-kit between his forpaws and smiled.
"A Perfect little nidoran, this one is. We had three daughters as well. Two of them twins to eachother." Larksspur spoke with pride.. and a hint of something Achi couldn't quite place in his tone.

Larksspur looked at Tachi's kits. They worried him for the way they all took after thier father in form. Two of them had shown thier intent to benifit the nidorans.... but the third, he would keep his ears open on that one. He picked his son back up, mumbling through the bulk, "I'vh menna het hmm maahk do heez mmm"

"Congratulations, Larksspur. Give my reguards to Honeymeadow!" Achi smiled.

"SO, Indy .. what took ya soo long getting up?" Flailer asked then stood up tall on his hindfeet, turning to his dad, "Hey, when's breakfast??"

Daina sprung up onto her tail, "OH Yes , I'm starving! When are we going to eat??"

Achi stood up and headed down towards the outskirts of the warren, "If you kids want to hunt, the best place to do it is outside the warren. I'll do fine and forage for clover n' dandilions."

Flailer bounced after his mom, "Are dandilions pokemon?"

Achi laughed, "No, Flailer. They are plants."

"Oh good! I don't feel like hunting" Flailer smiled and added to himself, -ever!-

"Ohh, so we can go in and out whenever we want? Great!" said Tachi grinning and looking at his kits "Righto, we'll go grab a bite, but first, I wanna talk to Flailer for a bit..er..in private." he said smiling at Flailer before smiling and gesturing towards the burrow with a paw, "Hey, C'mere sport, wanna ask ya somethin."

Indy looked at his brother "Just tired i guess, haven't slept much over the last few days." he said smiling before pouncing his sister. "Hey! We might find spearow for ya to try! Thier feathers are fun to play with to!"

Flailer followed his dad off to one side, "Um ... what did you want to talk about ?" he asked , unsure of what sort of thing his Father wished to say to him.

~*~

Daina licked her lips, "I hope we find a whole flock of them! I think I could eat a rattata as big as mamma right about now!" Indy grinned "Dad's great at catchin em, he could catch hundreds!" said the boy excitedly.

Achi flicked her ear and grinned. She couldn't agree with thier appetites, but she could understand how hungry they were. Her own tummy growled as she waited for Tachi and Flailer to return to them.

"Ohh goodie!!" Daina bounced around and pounced Indy, " Hey , I bet I can eat more of them than you can!"

"You two will have to eat some vegitation too!" Achi interupted the two otachi's talk of eating other pokemon.

Indy smiled "Yes momma, I'll eat some clover n' stuph too, and dandylions and junk!"

"Good boy, Indy ... you'll need them to be healthy!" Achi smiled and looked back to Tachi and Flailer, " Are we going soon? I don't want to be out in the dark for long."

~*~

Tachiguy looked at his son at the entrance to the burrow, sufficiently out of the others earshot he asked the boy "Hey, I was wonderin kiddo...er...might be an odd question, but do you prefer vegetables? or meat? just seein as you didn't wanna go hunting, and for some reaosn I get the impression yer not to impressed by the other kids talkin bout eatin other Pokemon..." he placed a paw on Flailers shoulder and grinned
"I just wanna know NOW so I don't end up forcing you to hunt if yer more Nido-ish in diet and would rather eat plants is all...in that case I'll teach ya about how to get the best fruit n junk."

Flailer blushed, embarassed by the question. "I thought I'd like to eat meat... and I helped Daina catch the rattata yesterday, but .. I just couldn't... I.. couldn't.. I just can't" Flailer hung his head, his tailtip twitched with agitation. How could he not be able to do the things his sister and brother did with zealous and ease?

Tachiguy picked Flailer up and grinned "Dude...dont look so down! I'm not surprised at all. You're a bit Otachi, a bit Nidoran...it's natural for you to have instincts from both! Even if you cant eat prey, I'm not surprised ya felt inclined to try yer paw at catching it!" he hugged the boy tightly and then placed him down on the ground again
"Y'know, that hunting instinct will also help you a little in battle...hunting Pokemon tend to battle harder then full ones...need always was the father of effort." he then ruffled his sons bangs
"You've got a lot of yer ma in ya...thats a great gift. Your mother is a very special person, and so are you. Fine, you aren't like yer brother and sister, but never let that get ya down sport, just cuz they hunt and eat what they catch it doesnt make you nay less than they are. You can come with me to the Orange grove n I'll teach ya how to get the best oranges form the top of the trees...they be the best cuz they get the most sun Yknow." he said grinning.

"Thanks Dad." Flailer smiled up to his father , releived that he understood. "We should get going, the sun's already setting" Flailer pointed to the receeding sphere of light.

Tachi gtinned "Hey, no prob Sport. Anytime...just cuz im yer dad, that doesnt mean we cant be pals. If you get so that yer feelin down about junk, no matter what then I'm here to talk to, Mmmmkae?" he said, giving the kit a playful gentle punch on the shoulder "Yea, lets boogie, foods out there just waitin to be got!" he said, walking back towards Achi.

~*~

Indy grinned "Yea...a balanced diet n all that right?" he said poking Dainas tummy "Ya gonna get to big of a tummy if you eat to much meat Yknow...ya need other stuph to get big ones of theese!" he said, flexing his muscles in a relatively impressive display for such a youngster.

"Hah!" Daina flipped her tail indignantly, " I don't need big muscles, only show-offy guys need them to impress girls!" Daina bounced along a path in the grace, and turned back , " And I'm not impressed at all" she winked at her brother.

~*~

Tachi smiled "Yea, let's get a move on, we dont wanna be caught outside after dark by the watchmen they got around here n all."

"There's worse stuff than the nightwatch out there, Dad.... belive me!" Flailer grinned at his parents and scampered off to catch Daina, but didn't go too far out of sight.

Achi kept a sharp watch on her children as they advanced into the taller grass. She could smell the scent of sweet-grass nearby.

Indy smiled "Yer not sposda be impressed, yer only my sister!" he said, giving her a wink of his own before dashing up next to her and asking "So whats good to eat here?"

Tachi placed an arm over Achis shoulder and grinned "You look starving hun, lets hope we can fill us both up on what grows around here!"

"Well , Kale is yucky to eat , but licorice is nice. That stuff grows up in the place they call the 'Flay-rah' patch , though .. and we can't eat the same stuff twice in a row. I don't know about eating the stuff around here," Daina tested a dry bit of grass between her teeth, " It's not very tasty. I hope we find some rattata, or one of those spearows you talk about."

Flailer caught up to his two sibblings, but backed away when they spoke of rattata n' spearow. He spotted a little movement in the grass and dashed down to see what it was.

"Hey, Flailer! Where are you going?" Daina asked , trying to balance on her tail tall enough to see where her brother dissapeared to so quickly.

Achi looked onward too, hearing the grass shake as the sounds of a scuffle began. Before she could dash out to help her son, Flailer returned with a small green wriggling thing in his mouth. It was a caterpie.

"Oh yuck, Flailer!" Daina made a face at the tiny bug in her brother's mouth.

"Well ... not realy" Flailer smacked his lips, " It's kind of good."
He offered half to Indy, " Want some?"

Indy grinned and took the offered half "Heey, this is yummy! tastes like mushed up plants and other mushy junk n stuph.." said the relatively unworldly young pokemon as he tried to describe the taste of the Bug type.

"Think there are any more in there?" he said pointing at the place where the 1st had come from.

"I dunno , we'll have to look." Flailer looked back into the grass as he crunched down the last bits of the bug type.

"Did you see anything else to eat?" Daina asked , hoping to hear there was something other than bugs and the horrible grass.

"Nope." Flailer shook his head and entered the grass a second time, slipping through quietly as he had been shown by his uncle. Indy launched himself into the grass int he same way, and moved as fast as he could to get in front of his brother and swing to the side in an attempt to corner any other bugs in between the 2 of them.

Tachi smiled and thought ~So, looks like he can eat some types of meat...thats good, being half Otachi he'll need some at least...~ before saying to Achi "Anything I can get you you'd like? I could bolt to the Orange grove 'n get some of those if ya want, I promised to show Flailer how ta get em, but its gettin dark so that will need to wait 'till tommorrow."

"Oranges will make a nice meal for tonight." Achi kissed her mate on the cheek, "Looks like poor Daina is having hard luck getting what she wants. If you find anything for her, please bring it along too."

Daina moped on the edge of the tall grass, just hoping something warm and fuzzy and small would appear..... and that that something wouldn't be one of her brothers eating another (*yick*) bug!

Tachi grinned "Be back in a flash hun, and I'll get somethin fer Daina to easilly enough. Be RIGHT back!" he said giving her a kiss on the muzzle and running off as fast as he could.

Flailer's ears swiveled around at the base, listening for sounds other than the grass moved by himself and his brother. His nose told him there was something near by. A little moonlight shining off a deep brown object caught his attention.

"Indy ... over there." Flailer pointed to his brother, signaling they should split up and pounce at the same time.

Indy grinned and moved to surround the creature in accordance with his brother. He unconciously ground his teeth, filling his mouth with Saliva, redying himself to bite whatever it was in the grass.

~Right Flailer...lets see what youve got here...~ he thought as he saw his brother opposite the now visible brown shape.

In the way that all pack animals have, Flailer signaled the attack, rushing full on , teeth bared to bite. He felt the thrill of running and the power of his muscles as he launched himself onto his prey. He used his thick claws to grip the hard shell as he sunk his teeth through the shell of Pinsor.

A sudden realisation of what he had done hit him ... about the same time he realized there was no turning back.

The pinsor reared up in pain.

Indy to ran in, teeth bared, and leapt at the creature. Landing on its flank he instinctively hooked in his clws and searched for purchase with his teeth.

~Geez! This thing is MASSIVE!~ he thought as he sunk his fangs into the softest part he could reach with his limited range, ~What have we done here!?~

The Pinsirs movements nearly knocked him off, but he held on and began to rip at the creatures side with his teeth, pulling and worrying the flesh so that he might get a firmer grip that would lead to him killing the creature, he saw Flailer on the other side and laughed as best he could.

"Thiffl mak' reell gooff dinnah!" he managed to yell around a mouthfull of very angsty bug type.

The pinsor hissed a raspy dry sound as it futilely tried to reach behind to dislodge his attackeds from his back. Its guillitine-like pincers snapped shut several times. Flailer grunted as he clung on for dear life. The otachiran's eye's sparkled with a strange delight. Right now the pinsor was a challenge, a test of his ability to be more than a child. His brother was at his side, not opposite it, making the young pokemon feel it was all that much more worth it. Flailer pulled back ok the hard exoskeleton between his teeth. His tounge tasted the sweet nutty flavore of the bug-type's white-ish insides.

The Pinsor bucked hard again , whirling around sharply hoping to remove his assailants. It had become a life or death struggle for him. Flailer squeezed his eyes and clung on. Indy grappled with the bug type, using claws and teeth, then remembering his thick muscular tail a plan formed in his mind.

He began to inch his way up the Insectiods body, clawing through its leathery exoskeleton and shredding it as much as possible as he climbed. Eventually meeting its Midsection he wrapped his long tail as far around the creature as he could and began to squeeze in a makeshift Bind attack. Grinning at Flailer around a full mouth he gurgled a laugh, this was a lot of fun, especially seeing as he was winning this time around!

The Pinsor began to tire out. His tiny little brain beginning to accept the enevitable.... he was going to be eaten! The big bug sank to the ground, his struggles more of a twitch than anything else. Flailer clung on , in case the pinsor sprang up in a second wind. He looked over at his brother, "Hey .. you think it's dead?"

The pinsor twitched again. Flailer returned the movement with another sharp bite through its body.... unknowingly, he severed the main nerve-chord. The pinsor dropped. Flailer stayed still ... wondering if it was over.

Indy looked up and spat out a chunk of the hard skin and grinned "Its a gonner bro!" he laughed "We just killed it! man, its HUGE! Lookit it, its bigger'n both of us n' we took him down KA-SMAK!" he said, thumping its back with his tail to emphasize the point.
"So, lets start draggin it back to mum n Daina! Y'think Daina will want some of it? Its not small in wiggly like that other thing we were eatin."

Flailer couldn't quite believe it. "Its dead!... It's really really dead!!" Flailer circled around the fallen bug several time, pushing on it with his nose and paws. "Hey ... Indy ... this thing is pretty heavy. How are we going to get it out of here?"

"Umm...like this!" he said, walking to the thinner, lighter back end of the bug and crawling between its hindlegs. "I'll just wriggle in under its body and push it up from under there....I'll bet I can carry it back all by myself!" he said proudly, slowly making his way underneath the bug and pushing it up off the ground.

Flailer jumped up on top of the pinsor. If Indy was going to carry it by himself , then he may as well hitch a ride. The otachiran noticed they weren't moving.

Indys grin became a facefull of dirt and grass as the not-so-light pokemon leapt on top of the other not-so-light Pokemon that happened to be on top of Indy.

"GERROFFNNN!" he yelled in a muffled way. As the air left his lungs through his nose he found he couldnt get anymore air in through his mouth as it was pressed into the ground due to the shape of his face and the angle he was stuck on, and as he tried to breathe through his nose it became clogged with dirt and small bits of grass, and he began to struggle more violently to try and gain some air, though all this did was tire him out.

Flailer popped off the Pinsor , "There .. geeze , mister Macho !"

Indy struggled up, pushing the Pinsir upwards and spitting dirt and grass every-which-way. "Thanks...ya heavy dern thing!" he said half angry half joking "You gotta weigh almost as much as ma! What do they feed you round here?" he said laughing and jabbing his brother with his tail.

Flailer grinned at his brother's jabs, "They feed us nidoran food!" He swat Indy's tail away with one of his wide forpaws.