The Young Vulpix
One - Mother
"Oh my goodness! Is that-?"
The young Vulpix's eyes widened as she looked upon the marvellous stone. She didn't even finish her thought; she knew exactly what it was, and she had been told all about them. Less than two moons ago, she and her older siblings had gathered by their mother Ninetales for what would become the young Vulpix's favourite bedtime story. The story of the Fire Stone.
The beautiful, golden fox sat behind the small pile of dry wood and blew it into life!
"Gather 'round, little ones!"
Three young Vulpix came scurrying out from the tall grass and entered the small clearing in the woods. After some stumbling over one another, they stared, mouths slightly agape at the roaring fire their mother had produced. They loved it when she did that.
The full moon appeared smaller than usual in the night sky, but it was brighter than ever and even the thick overgrowth of the woods failed to keep its light from reaching even the smallest plants. The small clearing was moderately well lit even before the mother started her fire, but on a night like this, the extra warmth was needed.
"It's story time. And for tonight's story, we must go back to when I was a young Vulpix." Her silky voice was full of wonder, and her children hung on her every word. As they got comfortable, the eldest of the three said
"You were a Vulpix, mummy?!"
"Yes dear! All Ninetales start out as Vulpix."
He was startled and amazed, although his younger sisters looked at him as if he had said something very silly. They shared a look between each other, and giggled quietly. Their brother took no notice. The idea that he might one day be as strong and beautiful as his mother was the only thing on his mind now. The mother Ninetales knew she'd be able to keep his attention though.
"This is the story of how I became a Ninetales."
She spoke fondly of her younger days, and she was clearly feeling very nostalgic. Her children listened intently, only ever moving to scratch their ears, or re-adjust themselves into a comfier position. They all loved story time; their mother was the best storyteller! She would act out parts for emphasis, put on different voices for the characters of her stories, and if she was feeling particularly confident, she would manipulate the flames to play out parts of the story and bring the image of her characters to life! She did every one of these tonight, even manipulating the flames to show the image of a Vulpix reaching her paw out and touching a Fire Stone. At this point, the flames grew larger, the image grew brighter and the flames began to roar! As it died down, it revealed the image of a Ninetales with her paw on a used Fire Stone.
When she had finished telling her tale, the eldest Vulpix said,
"I want to be just like mummy when I grow up! Do you think I'll ever find a firestone?" His younger sister pounced on him playfully, and licked the top of his head so that his fur poked up.
"Of course you will, big brother!" she said. The youngest Vulpix took a step back and pricked her ears up, surprised at her older sister's sudden playfulness. She felt like joining in too,
"And me, mummy? I can be a Ninetales too?" she looked up at her mother, eyes wide and glimmering with hope.
"Yes dear, you can all be Ninetales if you want to be. Now it's time for bed, little ones."
The young Vulpix stood, looming over the Fire Stone. She had never been more nervous as she was now, and a million questions were running through her head.
Should I really do this?
She began to lean in closer.
Will it hurt?
She gazed into the heart of the stone as it drew her ever closer.
How much will I change?
The tip of her nose touched the surface of the Fire Stone.
Do I want to be a Ninetales just yet?