Hey, everybody! The next chapter is here, and maybe we'll find out who the mysterious creature was... Take a look!

I'm not sure how long I slept (a day, maybe two?), but I slowly woke to a deep rumbling sound very close to me. I felt my ears twitch back and forth, trying to make out any other sound besides the rumbling, so whatever had blocked them before was gone now. I whimpered slightly, surprised to hear myself over the noise, and tried to move. Since I could hear, I thought, maybe I can see as well? I slowly opened my eyes, only to see nothing but a creamy blur surrounding me. As my eyes began to focus in the dim light, the blur resolved into a familiar texture: long, shaggy fur. I think it must be belly fur, probably belonging to the massive creature from before, which was probably the source of the rumbling as well; it had curled up around me, fast asleep. I squirmed a little more, and the rumbling stopped.

As it uncurled, I could finally see just how big it was, and even the word 'massive' wasn't enough to describe it; it towered over me, blocking out the setting sun, and even its paws were as large as I was long. Its fur was mostly orange, with large black stripes across its back and cream fur on its belly and paws. I caught the scent from earlier coming from it, and something about it told me the creature was female, not to mention the presence of small nipples hidden by her belly fur. As she turned to face me, her face almost seemed scary; sharp, piercing eyes stared from over a long, canine muzzle, complete with a couple teeth peeking out. Yet, something about the gaze seemed kind, almost caring, and I instinctively knew she wouldn't hurt me. Hesitantly, I spoke with a quiet yip, "M-meema?"

Her eyes flicked away from me, with a slight hint of sadness, and she replied with a deep rumbling growl, "No, little one. I'm not your Meema. You may call me Nana, if you want, but my true name is Firedancer." Her voice also betrayed a hint of sadness, as if she wished I was hers. I tilted my head in confusion; if she wasn't my Meema, then where was she? Was she just away for a moment? "W-where is… Meema?" I asked, a note of sadness sneaking its way into my voice; I was trying my hardest not to cry. She didn't reply for a moment, but then she said, "I don't know. An old friend of mine brought you to me; she claimed she found you newly-hatched in the forest, and asked me to take care of you instead, since she was too old to do so herself."

Some of what she said was too hard to understand, but I figured most of it out: my Meema left me all alone for some reason, and now Nana was taking care of me. I broke down and started to cry, tiny tears streaking down the side of my face. Nana stepped up to me and curled around me, making soothing noises into my fur. "Hush, my little Vulpix; don't cry. I'll take care of you; there's nothing to be afraid of." My ears twitched at what she said, and I stopped just long enough to stammer, "V-vul…pix?" I looked at myself through my tears, and noted my pure white fur and paws, as well as my single white tail behind me. I… I don't look like Nana at all, I thought.

"Yes, you are a Vulpix, although newborn. Though we share a type, I called an Arcanine," she explained. I wanted to ask more, but she began stroking between my ears with her tongue, sending waves of calm through my small body, banishing my fear and thoughts. Once I calmed down, I opened my mouth to ask again, but was interrupted, this time by my own tummy. It growled loudly, protesting being empty for over a day, and I blushed slightly. "Nana, I…hungry," I complained, followed by another growl from my tummy. She chuckled, a laugh which shook her whole body, and rolled over on her side. "Very well," she replied. "Just don't bite so hard this time. Even your tiny milk teeth still hurt, you know."

I tried to stand and walk over to her, but my legs still refused to support me; I had to crawl the foot or so to Nana's belly to reach the nipples. I grabbed onto one of them, using my lips instead of my teeth this time, and suckled long and deep. The milk still tasted just as good as the first time, and within moments, I was full. Releasing the nipple, I snuggled up to Nana's belly fur and closed my eyes. As I fell asleep, I mumbled, "Thank you… Nana." However, if she replied, I didn't hear it; I was fast asleep in minutes.

There you have it. We meet his caretaker, Firedancer the Arcanine. But what will happen to him now? What new discoveries will he figure out? Find out next time!

Please read and review, and may your Ember never fade!