The male dog-like creature laid down next to the female dog-like figure. The species of these two is known as Growlithe. The female Growlithe is known as Firestreak to others of her kind. The male Growlithe is called Flame, seeing as he was nicknamed by his human trainer. Even though they were of two different worlds, one consisting of humans and the other of fellow wild Growlithe; they had still met a year ago and had become life partners. Now Firestreak was going to have puppies. Flame wagged his bushy tail in anticipation, Pups! he thought. I'm going to be a father! He tilted his head to glance at Firestreak, making sure she was okay. She looked allright, she was just resting her head on her paws. The pair were laying in a dug-out cave of some sort, situated in the side of a small hill. Some minutes later, both of them were fast asleep, awaiting their newborn pups. -x-x-x-x-x-x-x- An hour later, Flame awoke to the last of the three pups being pushed out of his wife. She began to pull the sack off from over the pup's head. And clean it furiously with her tongue. Immediantly the pup nuzzled close to his mother's stomach to drink his first mouthful of milk. Flame looked down with a large grin on his dark-furred face at his three pups: two boys and one girl. "They're beautiful," he said rubbing his nose into her soft coat. He sat down next to Firestreak and began to rub his scent into his three pups. "Now they will know what family they come from," he said to his wife, seeming satisfied of his work. -x-x-x-x-x-x-x- A large dog trotted over to a gurgling stream. Glancing around to make sure he was safe, he dipped his black muzzle into the ice-cold water and took a long draught. His sharp nose caught the scent of another animal near, he turned his ears toward the scent locking onto the animals location. He swiftly sauntered away, keeping himself downwind and out of sight. He found a thick area of brush, so he settled down inside to wait. Soon enough another large dog passed by on its way to the stream, but this dog had a cream muzzle and four orange paws, the usual colorings of the spieces of Growlithe. The Growlithe hiding in the bushes had three of his four paws black and the front-right paw was the normal orange. The second Growlithe was now at the stream, she was just starting to lower her head to drink when the male broke free of his hideout and sprang up onto the female's back. He kncked her over and rolled her onto her back her shoved his muzzle into her face and barked out with a grin,"Gotcha!" The shock of the attack immediatley left her face and she sprang up beating him back playfully, "Shadowfire you big meany!" She looked her younger in the eye and said, "I'll race you!" She suddenly sprang into the woods in a dead out run. Here we go! Shadowfire thought. He gave his sister a couple more seconds head start, then he leapt into the woods, following his sister's trail. His paws were just a blur as he sprinted flat out. Within minutes Shadowfire and Brightfur were neck-and-neck barreling down on their home. A hundred meters away, in front of a large cave, lay another Growlithe, but this one was a lot larger than Shadowfire. He lifted his head to the thundering of paws. He shook his head at the antics of his two younger siblings. He stood up and walked to the entrance of the cave and looked at his mother. "It's Shadowfire and Brightfur they'll be here soon enough," he said to her. She nodded and Sharpclaw went outside to greet his siblings. "Ohh look, it's big bro," Shadowfire said to Brightfur. "I wonder if he is going to chastise us for being so far from home." He put on another burst of speed to make the win. As he pulled out in front of his sister he spotted his father loping up from his right. Shadowfire slowed to meet his father's easy pace. "How was the hunt, Father?" he asked. His father slowed to a walk and turned his head to his son, "It was very prosperous, Shadow." He swung his head back the way he had come. "I caught a couple of Pidgeys and also a sick Stantler. I hid them under a fallen tree not to far from here. Go get Brightfur and Sharpclaw and follow me to it." Shadowfire turned swiftly and galloped toward his home. He pulled up next to the cave and related the news of the kill to his siblings. They all ran excitedly toward their awaiting father and followed them about a mile south away from the cave. They pulled up to an old rotting tree and began to dig at the base to find their awaiting dinner. An hour later all five Growlithes lay on their sides in front of the cave, relaxing and enjoying the sun. All were very satiated from the large meal of fowl and deer. Flame started to get up with a look of determination on his face. Firestreak jumped up in realization and shot him a glance filled with despair. He shook his shaggy head to her plea and headed toward his three not-so-puppy pups. He called them together, "You three are all around the age when all young Growlithe pups should merge themselves into the world and join with Pokemon trainers, travel the world, or settle down and create their own families. I know this is sudden, but I believe that is for the better. You may start out together if you wish, or start out seperatly, it is all up to you. You can start tomorrow if you wish." He finished his speech and glanced between the three of them apparently waiting for an answer. The three pups shook off the shock of it all and looked at each other. All three nodded an affirmative.