Chapter 9

Kashen saw the Espeon's frantic movements as well, and turned to whisper in Freda's ear, "I'll follow Myrone, you stay here."

The Flareon's coat bristled, "What are you—ooh," she lashed her tail a couple of times. "Fine, don't get hurt…"

"I won't," he said with confidence, and disappeared. He nudged Myrone from behind and she led him off into the underbrush. The Espeon was running for all she was worth, and Kashen had to use faint attack several times to catch up. He felt a sense of dread as she ran further and further into Eaglefire Pack grounds, twisting around trees and startling just about every bit of prey left in the forest. They had passed by the Eaglefire camp, though. Soon after he realized that, the stench of sulfur flew up his nostrils. They were just in time to see a winged creature about twice Kashen's height rear onto its back legs and roar. It turned narrow black eyes towards the two eons, but was uninterested in them at the moment. Fanning its wings, the dragon picked up a limp form between its two front paws, Kashen could see the cream tails of a Ninetales and the head. It was Flamedance.

"Flamedance!" the Umbreon cried and took a step forward. Myrone tackled him onto his side while the dragon jumped, tearing away several branches before it flapped its wings and flew away.

"We were too late," she murmured. "There was nothing we could do for her…"

"N-no," he said. Flamedance had been one of his first friends, back when she still carried Ember and her siblings in her belly. She had accepted him for who he was, and didn't care that his fur was black with glowing yellow rings.

Kashen turned back the way they'd come and bounded away, leaving Myrone in silence.

-

Kashen must've brought the news of Flamedance and the Salamence back with him, as no one questioned Myrone as she slinked back into the camp. He was nowhere in sight, although she spotted Freda surrounded by a group of older females. She didn't join them, though. She padded over to a sunny spot and curled up there, tilting her forehead jewel to the sun. The odd fur-prickling sensation flooded over her and she closed her eyes, falling asleep.

The dream was a garbled mix of images flashing before her eyes; Tetzleflame and a hulking creature were talking; the same creatures, Absol, going single-file down a mountain path with a Vulpix at the front; many more images went by until sound was added to the mix. Freda in a sheltered den, moaning; the enraged snarl of the Salamence right before it flamed. It concluded with a voice that sounded like Ember's, but Myrone was aware that it wasn't the Vulpix speaking at all, but another creature that sounded like her. "Silentcry gives its wisdom to you, Myrone… follow the fire. It's the only way…" what passed through in seconds seemed to last hours. As Myrone's eyes snapped open, everything was as it had been before the dream started. Except for one thing, Kashen was suddenly there. She didn't see the flash from a faint attack, he just appeared out of nowhere.

She felt an odd dizziness in the back of her head as Kashen approached. "I'd like to know how you…" he caught her gaze in his, his red eyes burning with emotion. "How you…"

"How I knew it was going to happen?" she supplied. The Umbreon nodded. "A vision."

He didn't seem to take that seriously. "A vision?"

"Yes. That's what I said. It was like the one I just had… but all it showed was that creature attacking Flamedance. Kashen, I think I can see into the future, somehow."

Kashen's gaze softened some. "Will you tell me about these… visions?"

She did, telling him all she remembered of the most recent one and the message. There had only been three premonitions like this, once in a full dream-like sequence that had her following Ember, or that Vulpix that took on Ember's appearance. The second predicted Flamedance's death. The third was the message, follow the fire. Though Kashen commented, "Silentcry. It almost sounds like a pack name."

Sitting there with Kashen, Myrone was reminded of the days they'd spent together while he was recovering from a broken leg and the conversations they pursued. She was surprised to find she missed having another to debate with. She shook her head at the thought, turning her gaze up to see that Freda was padding toward them. The Flareon placed herself next to Kashen, asking, "What're you two talking about?"

The Umbreon didn't hesitate as he answered, "Myrone has been having disturbing visions."

"Really?" she sounded incredulous. Myrone sighed inwardly and got to her feet.

"Thank you Kashen," she mumbled. "But I really must be going. Chow."

"Hmm?"

"Something my trainer used to say," with that, Myrone bounded away. A part of her was still worried about the visions and their implication. She knew, somehow, that Ember was involved. She just didn't know how involved.

-

Tetzleflame returned to the nest Mountain Clan had lent to him, his tails drooping. "Ember," he said once he'd settled. The Vulpix poked her head up from the nest next to him, but the mischievous glitter in her eye vanished as she saw the serious look he'd taken on. She'd recovered from the last day's pounding enough to function like she normally did, with pricks of pain in her side when she overstressed herself. "The elders have decided that they'll help."

"Oh, great," Ember yipped, elated at the news.

"But," she sagged again at the implication of a catch. "They require something in return. Something that I must ask of you," he regarded her carefully as he continued, "They want another Vulpix to add to Mountain Clan. One of my blood."

"So," she said slowly. "You're saying they want one last Vulpix, and then they'll help?"

"Yes."

"So, they want either me or Marren or Flame."

"Yes."

"What would happen to the Vulpix that is given to Mountain Clan?"

"They—better than explaining, how about I show you?" Tetzleflame heaved himself to his paws, shaking and having to steady himself before he leapt up a tier. Ember followed. He lead her to the very top tier, where he navigated to an opening she hadn't noticed before. It was just big enough to fit a Ninetales, though her father still had to scrunch down to squeeze through.

Seven pairs of red eyes turned to Tetzleflame and Ember as they looked around the small circular cave that held a few large beds of moss. Ember gaped as she realized there were seven Ninetales looking back at her. They were different from other Ninetales, though, because their pelts had a snowy white sheen instead of a golden one. "Arra deia and welcome," said one, nodding his head.

Ember was so surprised she just nodded, never taking her eyes off of him. "I didn't know you were here," she stated.

"We keep to ourselves," a lithe female remarked. "Especially with outsiders mingling with the Clan. It does us no good to be seen with the Absol."

"Do they treat you well?" she asked.

"Oh, very well. We're members of Mountain Clan. Just… different in appearance," another male Ninetales said.

She turned to Tetzleflame, who was watching her intently. She knew that there was hope in his eyes. He didn't want to surrender Marren or Flame over to Mountain Clan; he'd already decided she would be the one to go. With that realization came another one—she wanted to stay. She wanted to prove to the Absol that she wasn't out to spread the flame sickness at all. Eaglefire Pack needed her to stay, as well. It was a duty she wanted to go through with. "I'll be the one to stay, father," she said to him. "I'll become a member of Mountain Clan and eventually be a Ninetales."

There was no mistakening the relief in his voice as he said, "Thank you Ember, it's a sacrifice I wish you didn't have to make."

Ember didn't reply, just turned back to the other Ninetales. Their expressions hadn't changed in the slightest. A female who hadn't spoken up yet said, "Well then, you're one of us now."

Tetzleflame discretely slipped out of the cavern as the seven came forward to touch their noses to her flank.

-

Ember was inducted into the clan that very day, with the seven Ninetales that had come down to watch. But her induction was different that Kashen's, in that after the mark had been made upon the cave's roof, Dewfire said something entirely different than what she remembered. "Now that Ember is a member of Mountain Clan, she must be trained to function in one of our jobs. Before she acquires her clan name, she shall have to pass. The elders have decided that her mentor shall be…" the Absol looked directly at the owner of the name he spoke. "Nightwing. Please step forward."

Nightwing shouldered her way to the front of the crowd. Ember's heart skipped a beat at the unpleasant glare he fixed her with. Of all the Absol—and Ninetales—she had to be stuck with him. "Nightwing, you shall instruct Ember to be a Defender," Dewfire said to him quietly.

"But father—"

"No. You will."

The young Absol grumbled a bit more, while Ember's ceremony was concluded. Dewfire then announced, "I will need many able-bodied Warriors and Defenders of the electric and ice elements to step forward please. The elemental elders have agreed, in return for Ember, to help drive away another Salamence from the forestland. That is all, the rest of you may return to your business."

Murmurs broke out among the departing Absol and Ninetales. "You will both need to stay," Dewfire murmured to Nightwing and Ember. "Nightwing, your job is to start training Ember right away."

"Yes sir," he grumbled. "Come with me Ember-bu—Ember."

Nightwing bounded away, and she had to scurry to catch up to him. "So, what are we going to do?" she asked stiffly.

"You will call me sir now, since I'm your mentor," he snapped. "You will obey everything I say, because it will be for your own good. Do you understand that?"

"Yes… sir," she added as much venom as possible to the word.

"Then tomorrow, we'll start training, Ember-butt," Nightwing said. "So get out of my sight until then."

Ember turned and dashed away from him, feeling a flame burning at the back of her throat. The nerve of him! She was forced to slow down as her side cramped up painfully, a reminder that she was supposed to take it easy for a while. Which she obviously wasn't going to do under Nightwing's mentorship.

The seven Ninetales had returned to their den by the time she reached where her father stood at a distance from Dewfire and a growing group of Absol. Tetzleflame turned to her and pressed his nose to her forehead, "We're going to leave soon, Ember. Thank you again."

"It was nothing," she mumbled, looking down. "Will I ever see you again, father?"

"You can visit the forest any time you like," he responded quietly. "Goodbye Ember."

"Goodbye father."

Ember stood at the entrance to Mountain Clan's cave and watched as her father and Dewfire led the white mass of fighters down the mountainside. She was so busy watching them that she hadn't noticed Din pad up to her, until he said, "Well, you're a member now. I knew you would be eventually."

She perked up to see the Absol, who she considered a friend. "Why aren't you going with them?"

"Some Defenders have to stay still, and I volunteered," he answered. "To keep an eye on Nightwing. I don't know what he'll try."

Ember nodded. "Thanks," she looked back at the vanishing figure of her father. An odd feeling gripped her heart, her throat closed up and when she tried to speak, nothing would come out.

Din came closer to her, until their fur was brushing. "It's hard to see him go, huh?" the Absol said. She nodded and realized he was watching her closely. An awkward silence came over them, only broken by a yowl for the noon meal, to which he asked, "Do you want to share a meal? I could introduce you to some of the other remaining Defenders later, too."

Ember cast one last glance out, then followed him to the fresh-kill pile. Mountain Clan had become her home and she was to be trained to function in it. While she didn't like being put under Nightwing's mentorship, she didn't realize why she'd been placed with him instead of any other Absol. At least, as she was stuck between several warring emotions, she didn't think much of it.

A part of her felt disappointed that Tetzleflame thought so little of letting her go. Another part was afraid to be stuck in a clan where she was the only Vulpix. Sure, there were the Ninetales, but they were much older than her. There was also, in the very pit of her being, an overwhelming happiness. All she'd wanted to accomplish when she stepped out of the forest was in her reach. Her life wouldn't be like this back in the forest. Not at all.