It was in the early eves on a late afternoon, where the bushes lightly shifted. A researcher, covered head to toe in foliage to hide his scent and profile from.other Pokemon, looked from his spot and camera to look at the two Zoroark couple he had been researching for the past few days.
They were out in the distance, just far enough to be seen, not heard. It was a good enough distance for the researcher to conduct his observations.
He was here, as these two were believed to be new addition to the wildlife. The researcher didn't know where they'd come from, but they were clearly a pair. He of course didn't know where their den was, but thanks to some sightings, one from a ranger, the other from a few passing trainers that caught glimpses of them, he and the people he worked for were able to map out their likeliest places to hunt or forage.
They wanted to research this pair, since a pack of Zoroark weren't common as far as they knew. They only knew that they could be spotty at best, and if you saw a Zoroark, chances were that a Zorua wasn't far behind them. That was the only extent they knew. So Zoroark couplings and pairs were an interesting study for a Pokemon researcher.
So, his main notes were to observe habits, mating rituals and such.
The interesting part was that one of the Zoroark was off color. It wasn't like a Shiny variant, but more like he simply had different coloring. That alone was worth studying the pair for. For some reason, he, and it was clearly a he by his bulkier frame, had a wooden bead instead of the more crystalline bead. Had it been replaced out of necessity? Had the male lost the bead in a fight? The researcher supposed it was likely. Like any Pokemon, he may have found himself in a territory dispute. The male also for some reason wore pants.
That was a big headscratcher among his fellow researchers. They were wondering honestly why, until it was pointed out that he may have been raised by humans, and they may have dressed him up maybe? It was as good of a answer as any for now, until they knew better.
The Researcher continued to watch the two, scribbling notes as he saw the two clearly talk and tease, as well as what he thought was courting.
Some of the signs were uh. Rather obvious. And when the Researcher saw they had gotten into that mood, well he kindly looked away and stopped any research and recording there. There were some things that a researcher simply didn't do for the sake of polite company and the understanding of privacy.
But today was not that today, thankfully. It looked to be simple flirting, or show of dominance by the female. She was clearly the stronger one, as obvious by the scars. The male looked more skittish and cautious. Potentially a sign of having a bad trainer? The researcher felt his eyes narrow in thought. It wasn't unheard of of course, but it didn't make it any less distasteful.
The researcher continued to observe in silence from afar.
The female was the obvious leader, confident and assured in her movements. The researcher hadn't seen any kits yet, and it was possible they were chosing not to have any yet. Maybe for survival reasons? The researcher scribbled down to check on the local berries to see if there were enough. If it wasn't, perhaps some scientists could help in spreading a few seeds about to give the local Berry population a boom. If it was affecting breeding, it was a big hit on any population.
Then again the kits could be hiding... but he was sure he'd see at least one by now, which was concerning.
On and on he scribbled. His viewpoint which he thought were important and others that were his personal thoughts.
The pair had long since passed by, but he was seeing other Pokemon and seeing how they lived. Judging them on previous knowledge, research and such. He had seen some young, but from his perspective, they were rather few. It solidified his assessment that maybe lack of food was the issue. If young weren't safe to have when food was low, it would stand to reason Pokemon would abstain until that got figured out or fixed.
Hopefully some researchers and scientists could figure something out for next spring.
It was when he was going to pack up for the day that the researcher saw something odd. He saw a Zoroark, and he swore it was the female from before. And yes, it was. The markings on the bead were visible. But she had a human with her. The clothes, at least the pants seemed familiar. But that couldn't be. Perhaps it was the male in a clever disguise? The illusion would be very perfect if it was. No flaws or distortions.
But something was odd. The human looked odd. He was slightly slouched, like a Zoroark would, sure. But he looked so familiar. It was the eyes. The researcher swore it was the eyes... Wait, the trainer? Was taking his shirt off, and folding it. Then stowing it in his long hair.. Wait what?
Before the researchers eyes as he looked on at his camera, the human transformed into a Zororark. Fur sprouted from skin, nose and mouth elongated into a muzzle, and the researcher flinched, because to him it looked like it hurt. The human had turned into a Zoroark, the same off colored Zoroark as before. The researcher sat there, gobsmacked. Because.. This was unprecedented.
Wild thoughts ran in his mind, wild ideas sprang away further into scenarios and why’s that flashed before his minds eye. He had so many questions! But that would mean that the Zoroark would need to be captured, examined. Done a full check over.
His mind halted, his mind fraying at its nerves as dawning realization and reality came clashing through. This Zoroark was a work of wonder and a question of the ages! But, he’d need to be captured and possibly treated like a specimen for science. Any Pokemon researcher would simply document the creature in the wild like he was, but they didn’t know what caused this... Mutation? Transformation?
So many ideas ran through his mind that he didn’t see the pair leave for their den. His mind racing, his unanswered questions biting at his mind with their insistence of getting answers.
Finally he packed up his things, his mind racing. He would need to talk to his superiors, and see what they said. This was.. This was too much for one man. And he needed help on what to decide.
