Vulpix- Too Hot to Handle
The volcano loomed high atop the island, as it had done for eons. It was quite calm at this time, no smoke billowing out of it, no ominous tremors rumbling through the ground. It simply stood tall above the land, dormant and safe.
At this time, a small figure was climbing up the slope towards the summit. It was a male Vulpix, his eyes set with determination as he climbed. With impressive strength and endurance, he made it to the edge of the mouth of the volcano. He peered down over the edge, and looked down into the crater. Within the volcano, the inside of the crater sloped down to a few feet towards a slightly not as large, lava filled hole within. Within the large lake of bubbling molten rock was a small island of sorts of solid rock. It was irregularly shaped, and only a few square yards in size. However, what lay in the center of the rock was what caught Vulpix's attention. In the center was a large rock, sticking right out of it. Stuck in the top of that rock, like a diamond in the rough, was a Fire Stone.
Vulpix's eyes lit up at the sight of the Fire Store, and his six tales wagged as he jumped off of the edge and slid down into the volcano. He then ran over to the edge of the large lava pool, craning his neck to look over at the Fire Stone. He frowned and looked down at the ground. Then he kicked a nearby rock into the lava, and watched as the small stone turned red and melted right into the lava.
Vulpix nervously stepped back, knowing that even though he was a Fire-type and resistant to fire and heat, falling into molten lava would be the end of him. Vulpix hummed to himself as he stared out at the island of rock, which was several yards away; too far away for him to jump to.
Vulpix stood there, tapping his paw and pondering on how to get across. He was looking around aimlessly when he spotted something useful nearby. He ran over to a long, flat rock that looked to be about 6 feet long. Smiling confidently, Vulpix pushed and nudged the long stone until he had it lined up in the direction of the small island in the center of the crater. Then, he stepped back and used Fire Spin at the end of the rock closest to him. The force of the fiery vortex lifted the long stone upwards so that it was standing up. After the Fire Spin faded, Vulpix used Quick Attack to knock the stone forward and into the lava.
Vulpix stood proud of the makeshift bridge he had created, and was certain that it was long enough for him to close the distance between him and the island, allowing him to jump the rest of the way. So, Vulpix ran up to the edge of the lava lake and began briskly walking across the rock. He walked with an eager smile at first, his eyes fixated on the distant Fire Stone. However, his smile faded when the long rock he was walking across began to sink from the end behind him, causing the end in front of him to pitch upward. Vulpix quickly ran forward and reached the far end just as the entire rock upended itself, sticking straight up into the air as it sunk.
Vulpix clung to the top of the sinking pillar for a moment, and then turned his body back to safe ground and jumped right back to where he started. He then turned back to the lava lake and pouted, upset that his clever plan had failed. However, a loud whooshing sound caught his attention. He turned and saw a small, round volcanic vent letting out a stream of steamy gas. The vent was pointed upwards at a slight angle, and was facing towards the center of the lava lake.
Vulpix looked from the vent to where the Fire Stone was and back again several times as his mind slowly put the pieces together. Then a look of excitement came over his face, and he ran over to the vent. He stood with his backside to the vent at first, then he wriggled his six curly tails into. Then he stepped backwards, sticking his hind legs and then the rest of his lower body into the hole as well. He twisted his body as he moved backwards into the volcanic vent, fidgeting until he was sure that he was well within the vent, much like a cork in a bottle.
Vulpix sighed as he waited, eagerly looking out towards the distant Fire Stone. Then, he felt pressure begin to build up behind him. He brought his forepaws in close as he excitedly anticipated his flight. However, Vulpix then began to feel the rumbling moving through the ground. He then could hear loud cracks and puffs of steam. He looked around him and saw the whole section of volcanic rock was starting to crack and fracture, and the pressure around his lower body was ramping up at an alarming rate.
Sensing danger, Vulpix quickly grabbed the side of the vent with his forepaws and desperately tried to pull himself out. He then paused when a loud spurt of gas was released, and quickly covered his nose in embarrassment. Then, not just the vent, but the entire section of rock below exploded, firing Vulpix straight up into the air.
Vulpix screamed as he was sent spinning straight up, and his wide eyed terror stricken face persisted as he began to fall back down. As he fell, he could see that several more explosions had occurred, and were sending massive boulders up his way. His eyes widened as a huge, oblong boulder shot up towards him. Vulpix clenched his jaw and reached out towards the huge rock. He then grabbed onto the end of the rock with his claws and climbed onto it. He found himself standing sideways, the momentum of the ascending bolder and his own descent allowing him to cling to it.
Vulpix used Quick Attack to run down the boulder and jump off towards another one coming up towards him. It was a smaller, more rounded one, and he ran around on it a few times before jumping down from it towards a cluster of other relatively smaller boulders. He bounded between them like a pinball, using them as a broken path to get closer to the ground. With every rock he jumped down from, he managed to get several feet closer to the surface of the Earth.
After bounding off a fifth large rock, still using the power of his Quick Attack to keep up his speed, Vulpix dived straight down several yards and crashed down right onto the edge of the small island within the volcano.
When the dust from his impact settled, Vulpix laid sprawled out on the ground for a moment as he slowly composed himself. His breathing was heavy as he lay with his face pressed against the rock. His dazed eyes suddenly became more alert when felt and heard another low rumbling coming from beneath him. He slowly raised his head and saw that the rock he was lying on was slowly sinking down into the lava.
Vulpix immediately jumped up and began to back away. He watched as the ground appeared to steadily disappeared into the glowing, molten rock. He quickly backed up, looking down at his forepaws as the rock gave way to lava just a few inches before him as the small island sank.
Vulpix jumped up onto his hind legs when the sinking started to go a bit faster, and he stumbled backwards, hopping up onto the tallest point of the small island. As he stood awkwardly balanced on his left hind paw, he suddenly felt a warm sensation running through it. He looked down and saw that he had inadvertently hopped onto the Fire Stone.
Vulpix's body to glow brightly as it grew and changed into its new form. With a final flash, a Ninetales now stood up on one paw, its nine fiery tails standing up behind him. Ninetales took a deep breath as he held his head up high. He looked up at the impressive crest of hair on top of his head. He then tossed his head back, effortlessly styling his hair. He sighed contentedly as he allowed his right hind paw to touch the ground.
The rock cracked and sank into the lava, causing Ninetales's paw to touch the molten rock. He cried out and quickly lifted his paw back up, and he lowered his neck slightly to blow on his paw. Then, more of the rock around him began to crack and sink, and he frantically looked about as he resumed balancing on his left hind paw. He turned left and right as he beheld his situation. Practically all of the island had sunk into the lava, leaving a small paw-sized rock sticking out of the lava for Ninetales to stand on.
With his forelegs held out in front of him and his tails all hovering in the volcano's rising warm air currents, Ninetales grimaced and gave a nerve wracked expression.
TO BE CONTINUED. . .