My apologies for the lateness of this, I really haven't had much time to work on this, and writer's block has been on my case. Please don't complain about my updates being so very slow, I'm working as much as I can at getting them out in a good time. Other then that, a big thank-you goes out to the people reviewing this fanfiction, even though I can't reply to your reviews here, all of you are awesome! And now onto the update…

Chapter 3

Myrone stirred gently out of her rest and yawned, her lithe body curling out of the ball it was in. A slight cover of frost fell away from her lavender fur when she gave it a good shake, causing the Espeon to start in surprise. No wonder, it's winter now. She laughed to herself nervously and sighed, easing herself out of sleep enough to go to the lakeside and get a drink of water.

The scent of dead leaves left a musty odor in the air that made the Espeon lightheaded, her steps were uneven as they carried her along to the water source. A taste of cool, fresh water helped her senses some, but she was still a bit dizzy. Taking a glance around at the still-sleeping forms of her pack mates, Myrone decided that she wouldn't be missed, and took off for a walk.

There was no rustling in the undergrowth that gave away the chance of prey, and Myrone met no other creatures as she began to roam closer into Eaglefire grounds. Even if the scents of others were fresh, the trail they gave away was stale as it ever could be. When the Espeon crossed a threshold of trees, it was like she was entering into another world.

Mist swirled over a land that was eerily dark and treeless, even if there was a tall oak standing proudly to the side of the clearing, the feeling of security it gave away was distant and unclear. Myrone was suddenly padding through a thick blanket of snow that chilled her sensitive pads and caused her to stop and shiver.

"Hello?" She called, her voice echoing across the land as if thousands of voices piped up to join hers. Even though the mist was thick and hard to see through, Myrone spotted something that caused her to start up her walk again, a spot of red.

The Espeon found herself chasing after a very small Vulpix a moment later, one that she finally recognized as the runt, Ember. Ember led her on a wild chase across the drab-colored land, seemingly in circles, and finally they stopped on a high point of the clearing with the fox facing away from her pursuer.

When Ember turned her head, there was a difference in the fire that burned in her eyes. It was as if the real Ember was gone, substituted by another version of her who was fierce in her expression. "Do you know why you're here?" The fox questioned lightly, counteracting her strange expression with a voice as light and soft as a cloud might be.

A pause went by, in which the two of them glanced at each other. Finally, Ember spoke again, "I didn't think so. Myrone…" Their eyes locked for a split-moment, before the Vulpix began to back up and turn away.

"Wait! Ember!" Her yowls went unnoticed as Ember cast one last fiery glance at Myrone before she nodded once, and her form turned to flames.

The surrounding snow caught fire faster than dried leaves and spread, fanning out into a wide circle that engulfed everything around it, excepting Myrone at her safe point on the higher ground. "Beware the one… you cannot fight…" A faint whisper came from the crackling fire. It was then that the fire caught onto one of the trees that surrounded yet was not close, and its massive form turned bright orange and red.

Myrone was rooted to the spot in horror as she watched the fire creep ever closer to her; her paws were already inches away. It was exceedingly hard to breathe; yet she could still see across the smoke clearly to where the flaming tree was falling, its massive fibers breaking apart at the bottom. The crash was like wild thunder, and Myrone screamed out in pain, she'd had enough of it all.

As heat surrounded her, the Espeon watched the fallen tree's fire spring to a life of its own, creating what appeared to be a giant lizard-shape with two wide, fan-like wings. Before it all was gone, before the flames died down completely before an unharmed, but shocked, Myrone, the flame-creature looked her way and opened its mouth in a fanged snarl.

The color returned to the landscape, a cheerful brown that was dull in comparison to the bright flames. The snow underfoot was real this time and its reassuring cold spread through Myrone as she shuddered once, then fainted heavily.

"Out of my way." Ember growled, her hackles rising threateningly. She stood before the towering form of Nightwing, who was enjoying every little moment of her frustration. They stood on the ground level of the cave, and a yowl from one of the Elemental Elders had signified that dinner was ready.

"You'll have to go around the long way." He taunted. The Vulpix glared and padded to the side of him, just to have the Absol get back in her way again. He was having his fun, while Kashen looked on, shaking his head.

The Umbreon nudged Nightwing out of the way, and Ember skittered past with only a mild spit after at the unfriendly Absol. "You'd think you two were flirting." Kashen observed, and ducked when Nightwing swatted at him, going off to the pile of food to get his share as well.

"I hate him." Ember told Kashen matter-of-factly while she took out her negative emotions on a piece of Rattata instead, even though the way her paws were flexing, it appeared it was Nightwing she really wanted to take a bite out of.

Kashen chuckled, "You've made that all too clear. I'm afraid to leave you here alone, in a day you two will probably have ripped each-other's fur off."

"It's not that bad."

"But admittedly close. Even with this factor, I should be going soon anyways, my pack probably misses me."

Kashen had said it calmly enough, just mentioning his pack in passing, but the look of longing that Ember saw in his eyes gave no lies away. He missed Freda. "You can go ahead and go whenever you need to." Ember replied quietly, and when the Umbreon looked up at her sudden change of tone, she just winked at him.

"After I get some reward for that battle that we had a while ago." He replied, now fully serious, as he looked down into his untouched fresh kill and with a sigh, took a bite.

Ember woke up the next morning with a sore throat, it had been three days after she and Kashen had defeated the three Elemental Elders in battle, and she was suddenly not feeling so hot. And yet, she was burning up.

Kashen wasn't the only one looking worried, as most of the Absol she'd managed to befriend were looking at the little fox coughing hard with concern. After a meeting with Silverpelt, her new 'official' healer, her sickness had been confirmed. Ember had caught flame sickness, something that the Absol pack had not seen in centuries.

But it wasn't contagious, so they had nothing to worry about. Or so Ember hoped.

Other then that, everything was proceeding as normal, and a stirring in the air said that something was about to happen. The elder Dracoheart had been hinting at it, but finally what he was said was being proven true; a great feast was beginning to be formed in the honor of another two members being added on to Mountain Clan.

Ember was upset about the timing, but still was very excited about the thought of a feast being prepared in the honor of her and her friend. This was what an adventure should be like.