Howdy, readers! And welcome to a brand new adventure, here in the Alola region...

Well, not yet. First, we have to establish how I got there in the first place! Things weren't as planned as I made it seem when I announced I was going on on vacation; just take a look...

Pant…pant… "I think…I lost her."

I quickly catch my breath, hiding in the bushes while keeping my ears tuned to any sound around me. After dodging Flame for the past few days, I am starting to run out of hiding spots she doesn't know about! For some reason, she seems much more adamant about mating this year, and her own heat only makes her crazier. However, I don't have time to raise another litter, and she knows that, but…

"I know you're out there…"

I freeze as her sultry voice reaches me, instantly terrified that she spotted me. Cautiously, I peek out of the underbrush I'm hiding in to see a glimpse of cream-colored tails disappearing behind a tree only a few strides away. Thankfully, she seemed to be walking away from my hiding spot; she was trying to taunt me out of the bushes.

"Found you!"

I stifle a yelp and spin around, locking eyes with the other lusting female in our forest, Zoey the Zoroark. She moved in a couple of years back, and even though I'm already claimed by my mate, she keeps trying to bed me. Backing away from her, I notice she's dropping an illusion from around her; she was the tails I saw earlier, it wasn't Flame at all!

"Paws off, girly! He's mine!"

Great, now my cover's blown… I think as Flame appears, glaring daggers at Zoey. Unfortunately, she's on my other side, so I'm literally stuck between them. My eyes shift between the advancing females, as well as looking for some means of escape.

"You've had him for how many years now? I deserve a shot at him!"

"What part of 'he's my mate' do you not understand?"

"Girls…please…" I try to interject, but their glares cut me off. The last place I want to be is between two rutting females, but I don't see any means of escape…

Suddenly, a wave of pressure surges down on top of us, knocking everyone to the ground. I quickly climb to my feet, shifting back to my hybrid form, and book it in the direction the wave came from, using Quick Attack to get away. Whatever that was, it has to be better than here!

I could hear them calling after me, but I ignore them. Through gaps in the trees, I manage to make out what looks to be a large multi-colored hole in the sky. Cherri is already hovering near it, worried.

"What happened?" I ask her.

"I…I don't know," she replies. "An odd purple creature ran by me, and then it ripped open this portal and jumped in. I'm trying to close it as fast as I can, but…"

The portal begins to flicker, like it's about to close. I can hear Flame and Zoey running behind me, but I can tell the sight has them wary. I quickly patted myself down, checking I have my Afire Collar and ID, and then ran headlong for the portal.

"No, don't! I don't know where it goes, or if you can come back!" Cherri cried after me.

"I don't care!" I call back. "Anywhere is better than here at the moment. Don't worry; I'm sure Mother Mew can find me if I can't get back!"

If Cherri said anything else, I didn't hear it, for I touched the portal just as it closed, and immediately blacked out.

There you have it: I'm off to the Alola region (though I don't know that yet)! I plan to upload the next chapter tomorrow or the next day, detailing what happened when I arrived. And then, I'll be cycling through with my other stories on a regular basis. Take care, everyone, and may your Ember never fade!