Chapter 2

Camerupt dropped to the bottom like an anchor. His call for help was nothing more than a few rising bubbles and a patch of steam. Lapras careened through the ocean like a torpedo after his new sinking friend. Lapras' ears began to pop and swell as though a timpani rolled in his head; much unlike the driving drumbeat in his heart. Pressure distorted his vision and made it increasingly difficult to find Camerupt. Finally, Lapras saw the faintly glowing magma emit a deep orange light under a cage of coral. Lapras grabbed Camerupt by the tail with his mighty reptilian jaws and pulled him to shore.

Once atop the waves, Camerupt's massive size still made it difficult to breathe. Lapras choked for air as he dragged Camerupt's breathless body across the wet sand. Finally away from the tide, Lapras stepped back for a moment to look for help. Hesitant to leave Camerupt's side, he crawled back.

Lapras looked around, surveying the beach, the city, and the ocean like a lonely beacon.

Camerupt lay on his stomach, sprawled across the sand. Lapras wedged his cool blue flippers under Camerupt's hairy, wet torso and began to lift. With all his might he lifted, but he lacked not just the strength, but the grip to flip his friend.

Lapras heaved. Nothing. He waddled back, breathed a moment, and lifted again.

Nothing.

"HELP! HELP!" he shouted.

No answer.

Camerupt's body was losing its glow, and fast. The orange light from the volcanic mounds in his back began to fade. Lapras fanned the at the heat helplessly with his flippers. It was no use.

He turned himself around and began to shuffle toward the city. He must find help.