I stared at the screen blinking back at me and analyzed it. The first dot stood in the direction I was facing. The other approached me. How was it moving? It got closer by the second.

"Pix?"

Vulpix could sense my confusion. I screwed my eyebrows. It was getting closer and moving faster. Was a pokemon carrying it? Had to be. This was a good thing, right? My luck was changing.

It was almost right next to me. My heart raced. I turned around to look behind me. Nothing was there. I squinted my eyes and looked into the distance. Nothing. I checked my radar. It was supposedly right there. And getting closer. Why couldn't I see anything? My heart beat faster. It was right above me.

Above me! I looked up. A Swellow glided overhead, its wings spread as it soared with the wind. I saw something green in its claws, sparkling in the afternoon sunlight. My pokeball! It had to be!

"Hey!" I jumped up and down screaming at the red and blue bird pokemon, waving my hands in the air.

It kept flying, oblivious of my efforts.

"No!" I had to stop it. But how?

Vulpix looked up at me, then up to the pokemon that was flying further and further away.

"PIX!"

A burning ball of fire blast into the air.

"Vulpix no!"

Why did Vulpix attack it? I guess we didn't have a choice did we? The Swellow was hit. It dropped my pokeball and squawked, catching itself before turning around and heading straight towards us.

"Oh gosh now it's angry!" I dashed to where it had dropped my pokeball.

"Swellow!" It headed for us.

Vulpix ran in front of me and leapt into the air, shooting more fire at the bird. Why was he attacking again? I guess we didn't have a choice either now. We asked for this fight.

The Swellow dodged the flames and swooped down, tucking in its wings to reduce drag and increase speed. It was almost as fast as Tyson's Honchkrow.

"Watch out!"

The Swellow slammed directly into Vulpix. It was a hard blow.

"Pix!"

Vulpix fell to the floor. The Swellow swooped and soared back into the air.

Beep beep beep!

My radar again! The pokeball Swellow dropped was close!

"Swe-LOW!"

I looked back. Swellow swung around and slammed its wing into Vulpix.

"Vul!"

Lava burst from Vulpix's mouth but the bird was already in the air preparing to unleash another hard blow. I had to help Vulpix somehow. He was getting destroyed! Swellow was an evolved pokemon and Vulpix didn't have a type advantage here. No way could he win! Plus with Swellow's speed?

"Vulpix!" He bellowed more flames.

Swellow swooped and went in for another hit. Vulpix was getting weakened and hurt. Badly. I had to help him. Something glistened in the distance. My pokeball! I had to get it. It was my only way to help Vulpix.

I turned around and scurried towards the pile of rocks where I saw the sparkle. I dropped onto my hands and knees and searched the floor for my pokeball. I had a better view of the ground on all fours. I had to find where it had fallen. It sparkled again, but this time I noticed that it wasn't green. Huh? I reached forward and grabbed the object. It was hot. I pulled it out and held it in my hands. It was a yellow crystal stone with an orange flame burning in the centre, its jagged edges gleaming in the sun. A-A firestone? This was impossible. We – we were saved!

"Vul!"

The Swellow sliced through the air and slammed its wings mercilessly against Vulpix as he let out another cry and fell to the ground. The fire fox lay lifelessly on his side.

"No!" I got up and ran to save Vulpix. Swellow was not getting away with this. I held the fire stone tightly in my hand, its sharp edges piercing the skin of my fingers the harder I squeezed.

The Swellow looked up and saw me running. "Swe!" It dove and grabbed onto Vulpix with its claws, digging them deep into the fire pokemon's orange fur while flapping violently to lift itself and Vulpix into the air.

"You can't take my Vulpix!" I screamed. Rage was building in me.

The Swellow rose higher and higher with Vulpix dangling in its claws. Why were these wild pokemon so vicious? And why was it taking Vulpix?

"Give me back my Vulpix!"

All I had to do was get the fire stone to touch him. If he evolved we'd have the extra fire power we needed. This was my last shot. I pulled my arm back as far as I could and flung the fire stone into the air with all of my might. All it had to do was touch Vulpix. That was it. My heart lurched into my throat as time seemed to freeze.

With a quick, easy motion the Swellow swerved instantly out of the way, dodging the stone completely. It continued flying further and further with Vulpix hanging helplessly in its claws.

I stood speechless as disbelief flooded my system. A warm tear ran down my cheek as I looked up and watched the fire stone glisten in the sun when it reached its peak in midair before tumbling back down and landing on the ground right in front my feet. Did that just happen? I blinked and looked up again as Vulpix disappeared into the distance. Pain stabbed through my chest.

That was the Vulpix that had saved my life. The Vulpix that saved Vlad. That Vulpix that was supposed to stay with me!

Blood dripped from my hand where the tiny cuts had formed from holding the stone. I clenched my jaw and cursed. How could I have let this happen? I looked at the tiny scars along my fingers. I swore that I would rescue Vulpix if it was the last thing I did. I - I loved that Vulpix.

I wiped my hand on my pants, smearing the blood along my leg as I bent down to pick up the fire stone. Something shiny caught my eye. I grabbed the orange stone and put it in my pocket next to the empty pokeball that I had found earlier before walking over to the little shrub that had just glistened. I got on my knees and looked under it. There lay my pokeball, completely sealed, looking right back at me.


-stbime