LSR: Endurance

Vapor loved being a Ninetales. The beauty, the extra tails, and the extravagance. She was highly grateful when her breeder finally handed her the fire stone, telling her she was ready to evolve. She felt as though she had worked so hard to earn this honor and couldn’t possibly pass it up. Now that she was a Ninetales, she liked to think that she had more time to relax. Training was always important and that had been especially true when she was younger, but she also realized the beauty of relaxation and having evolved finally, she figured she deserved a good nap.
So that’s what Vapor was heading to do, nap. She walking across the open field with lithe and grace, each step she took her paw gently pushing down on the grass, as if she were trying not to bring harm to it. Nearby was a very tall tree, a tree that towered overtop of her. She looked up into the branches, seeing small bird Pokemon nesting in the highest branches. She then approached the tree, wandering underneath its shadow.
Once underneath the tree, Vapor turned in two circles before finally laying her body on the cool grass. Her nine tails swayed peacefully, playfully, but she didn’t mind. In fact, she thought her tails were the most beautiful part of her. She drew back her head, opening her maw wide and yawning vibrantly. A wet cloud blotted out her vision for a couple of moments. She blinked, looking around. She then laid her head on the grass, just between her front paws. She closed her eyes, drifting off.
The little Swinub knew she shouldn’t be back in this area again and she certainly shouldn’t have wandered off into someone else’s ranch, but she simply couldn’t help herself. She loved that Milotic so very much and wanted to see her again, to express her thanks for how much help she had been. She poked around the ground with her nose, sniffing deeply, trying to find the Milotic’s scent. She picked up another scent, a scent of a fire Pokemon. Maybe this Pokemon would know where to find the Milotic. She wanted to hear the Milotic say her name again, Katriah.
Katriah cautiously burrowed her way out of the bushes, coming into a clearing. Immediately, she spotted a large, light furred fox Pokemon curled up under a tree, fast asleep. Usually Katriah was scared of fire types, since being part ice type made her weak to fire, but this Ninetales didn’t look at all dangerous. Katriah sniffed the ground once more, and then approached the Pokemon.
Katriah jumped as Vapor opened her maw a little in her sleep. She closed it shortly thereafter, shuffling a little to the side and grumbling in her sleep. The curious little Swinub tried listening in on what she was saying. She muttered something about battling, how she wanted a stronger opponent. “You’re too weak for me. I need someone stronger, someone who matches my strength. I could take you out with one attack. Just one.” Her maw opened wide again, then shut. “Flamethrower.”
Immediately did Katriah howl in terror as the Ninetales quickly opened its maw, releasing a stream of fire in her sleep. Katriah nuzzled herself closely to the ground, shivering in fear as the heat scorched her body. This was it. She was going to die. All she could do was cry in terror and huddle closely to the ground. She didn’t want to watch, didn’t want to see herself die. Soon the flames died away, but her body still burned. She shivered, refused to look up. She was afraid.
Vapor immediately leaped up, terrified by the scream she had heard. She immediately spotted a little Swinub curled up on the ground, shivering, but otherwise not moving. “Are you alright?” Vapor asked worriedly, running up to the little Pokemon. “I’m so sorry. Did I do this to you? Are you alright? Please, answer me! Please, wake up!” Vapor felt almost hysterical, even though she tried to calm herself.
“Am I dead?” Katriah asked weakly, not wanting to open her eyes. She was afraid of the afterlife, didn’t want to see it. “Tell me.”
Vapor felt calmer as the Swinub spoke. It was alright. Charred, but otherwise alive. “No, you’re not dead.” Vapor immediately said to the Swinub. Katriah glanced up, spotting the Ninetales again. She looked a little shaken up, the same way Katriah felt. “My name is Vapor. Who are you? Why are you here?”
With a small shiver, Katriah responded, “I’m Katriah.” She inched a little closer to Vapor. “How did I survive?” Vapor shook her head. She didn’t know. She wasn’t even aware of what she had done until she had seen the Swinub’s charred fur. It’s jade green fur looked a little dark. “I’m looking for a big Pokemon named Mimi. Do you know her?” Katriah asked hopefully.
“Mimi the Milotic?” asked Vapor, receiving a nod from Katriah. “Yes, I know her. You’re on the wrong side of the ranch. The lake is all the way over there.” Vapor cast her paw into the distance, showing the little Swinub where she could find the lake. “Do you want me to guide you there?”
“No, I can find it on my own.” Katriah answered sweetly. “Thank you for your help, though. Thank you very much.”
Vapor watched for a couple of second as the Swinub began to make her way in another direction. She was sniffing the ground intensely as she made her way forward. This little Pokemon, Katriah was it, was so very young and innocent. She didn’t know what kind of things lurked out there, yet she still seemed brave, even calm. Vapor, however, couldn’t watch the little Swinub leave on her own. What if she got terribly lost? What if she inched her way right off a cliff? Vapor didn’t want to hear news later about a dead shiny Swinub’s body being found in the ranch.
Reaching out a paw, Vapor called, “Please, wait Katriah!” Katriah stopped, glancing behind herself as Vapor dashed up to her.
“What?” Katriah asked quietly. There was only kindness in her voice. She was such a kind Pokemon. It really would be horrible if something bad happened to her. “Did I forget something? I still have my stripes, right?” She looked a little shaken.
With a laugh, Vapor answered, “I still have nine tails and you still have stripes on your back, so I think we’re good.” She smiled a little at Katriah as she calmed down a little, looking at Vapor curiously. “I’m just worried you’re going to get lost or hurt. Would you at least allow me to join you up until we find Mimi?”
Katriah responded almost immediately, “Sure. I don’t want to slow you down though. I like to stop and sniff things.”
With a wide grin, Vapor responded, “I think I can be alright with that.” She took a couple steps forward. “Here, follow me.”
Nodding a little, Katriah began to follow her new Ninetales companion. She kept her nose pressed to the ground most of the time, listening as Vapor talked. Sometimes Katriah would come to a stop, glance up at Vapor, and say something to her, whether it was something on her mind or in response to something being spoken about. The trip did take a while, what with Katriah making frequent stops to say or sniff something, but eventually the duo arrived at the lakefront. Vapor couldn’t help but smile. This was the most adorable little Swinub she had ever met. She sat down on the forest’s edge, watching as Katriah nosed her way across the beach and to the water. She absolutely adored this little Pokemon and she strongly hoped that she would get to see her again sometime.