Hey, everyone! Ta-Ni here, bringing you another chapter of my Vulpix TF story. By the way, if anyone can come up with a good name, let me know in the reviews! Anyway, let's find out what happens next with Sol!

Slowly, days passed. Since I was too weak to move and do much besides eat and sleep, nothing exciting happened. However, as my namesake crossed the sky time and again, I grew steadily stronger. Soon, I could stand on my own and walk confidently around the cave. Sometimes, when I wake from a nap and look around in the darkness, I notice Nana wasn't around; the first time I found out, I thought she had left me, and started to whine and cry. However, she came back soon after, and rushed over to me when she saw my tears. "Why are you crying?" she asked.

I looked up at her and said, "I-I thought you… abandoned me. Like my… Meema…" She shook her head and licked away my tears. "Of course not, my dear Sol. I must hunt for myself, but I will always be back, and with plenty of milk for you. Speaking of, are you hungry?" I nodded, and she lay down on her side so I could feed. After that, on later days, I wasn't so scared anymore.

As days turned to moons, I could feel myself getting larger. My white fur slowly turned into pale orange, and the tip of my tail looked like it wanted to split in two, but I didn't feel anything. However, Nana looked concerned about something, and I overheard her mumbling about 'runt of the litter'. I was curious, and a little concerned by the word 'runt' (as if I heard it before), so I asked her, "Nana? What is… a runt?"

She seemed a little surprised, but replied, "When a kit or pup is born smaller than the others, it's called a runt. It's nothing bad; it just means you have more growing to do to catch up to a normal Vulpix your age." "Then, why were you sad?" I asked. "I was more puzzled, kit. I didn't know why you were left all alone in the woods, a healthy kit like yourself. I figure you were probably the runt of your litter, and may have been left behind to keep the rest alive."

Again, most of what she said went over my head, but what I caught brought tears to my eyes (why am I crying so much lately?). "Meema left me? She wanted me to… die?" Nana pulled me close, brushing away my tears. "No, honey. She only had the welfare of her kits to think of. It's possible she left you there in hopes someone else could take better care of you than her. And, she was right, wasn't she? I found you."

I felt a little better, but I had to ask, "W-will I see her again?" "I'm sure you will, and when she sees how strong and smart you've become, she will be so proud. I know I am already." I looked up into her smiling face, and felt a warmth in my heart, different that my inner flame. I smiled as well, my sadness fading away, then drifted off to sleep again.

And there you have it. Though we know what happened to him, he does not, and neither does Firedancer. Remember, she only knows what the Ninetales told her.

On a different note, I will be trying to update every week, but I'm juggling my other story as well, which requires a lot more research. So, don't be dismayed if it takes longer. I WILL update.

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