Ashes

A New Beginning

Mount Silver was a dark silhouette against the deep navy sky. A harsh, ghostly wind ripped through the mountain's forests, generating an eerie howl. The bright moon hung high above the land. Midnight had arrived. It was a silent, chilly night, and there was little movement among the thin trees. Winter had not been kind to the mountain and its creatures, leaving the treetops barren and the ground blanketed in freezing snow. Despite these rough conditions, a hunter was on the prowl.

Barely visible, a lean mass stalked the forest. Its crimson eyes shifted. The creature was alert. This mass took a careful step forward. It raised its snout and sniffed quietly, checking its surroundings. Moonlight beamed down on the monster, causing its strawberry coat to appear silver. A rustle in the treetops made the beast go stiff. 

For a moment, the maddening ring of silence filled the beast's ears. Then, in the blink of an eye, a huge quadruped shape appeared before the hunter.  The mysterious shape loomed over the hunter. Crimson gazes met. Almost unnoticeable snowflakes began to fall from the sky, despite the clear sky just moments before. The snow picked up, large flakes descending rapidly. The beasts could not break eye contact. 

Suddenly, a swirl of snow whited out the visions of both monsters. All faded to black. It was daytime, and on an outcrop near the bottom of the mountain, a hunter awoke with a gasp. The morning air was crisp, making it harder for the animal to breathe. At first, the creature wondered where it was and how it got here. Then, the confusion faded, and the beast remembered her name. "I am Blaze. I am home." A low grumble sounded from her throat.

Blaze stared ahead, into the rising sun. Her back became heated, a brief explosion of sparks erupting from the red patches there. This made Blaze jump a bit, as she was not in control of this action. Blaze sighed. She had no one. Blaze remembered what she was told by her foster parents. "We found you by the river one day. No one was there, it was just you. We assumed you had been left because of the color of your fur." Those words echoed in her mind, activating a hint of bitterness in Blaze's thoughts.

"Now there really is no one," She thought, hurt. It was her fault that she burned the shack down with her foster parents inside. However, she figured they deserved to meet that kind of end due to the abuse they had inflicted on her later in life. Times were tough back then. Blaze no longer had to worry about being hurt by others. She had complete control over her territory.

No beast dared to step in Blaze's path when she was angry, which was very often. The first thing Blaze could catch would be torn to shreds then incinerated. That would explain the shortage of Pidgey this winter. This was unfortunate for Blaze, as her outbursts required her to limit her eating. She was growing thinner and thinner as a result.

Blaze turned her attention to the forest below. It was not teeming with life like it was during the warmer seasons. In fact, it seemed abandoned. A rumble and deep growl plagued Blaze's stomach. It was time for the hunter to eat.

Blaze vaulted off of the outcrop, using small precipices to descend to the forest floor safely. Instantly, Blaze's hunting instincts took over. Upon inhaling, Blaze recoiled at the coppery tang of blood that hit her nostrils. Immediately her interest piqued. She followed her nose quickly, figuring that if a creature was wounded it would be unable to escape.

The scent emanated from a frosty clearing. A large beast lay on its side in the center, breathing rapidly, blood trickling from a range of wounds on its furry body. Blaze padded up to the creature to get a better look. She made sure to keep her distance, cautious of the animal lashing out in a fight-or-flight reaction. The beast's eyes were closed, but something seemed familiar about the shape of the entity.

 Realization hit Blaze like a thunderbolt. Before last night, she had never seen this creature. Somehow, she was face to face with one in her dream. Curiosity overwhelmed the female Typhlosion, overriding her sense of care. She bounded up to the beast and placed a paw over its flank to check for breathing. 

The hulking creature shot up, growling weakly, but still managed to send Blaze flying. She landed hard in the snow. Blaze leaped to her feet, backing away from the injured beast. Once she was at a safe distance, and idea popped into her head. Blaze used her powerful claws to scale a tall tree, locating a small Spearow nest. The nest's creator was home, perched over the nest and blissfully unaware that its end was approaching. 

Quick as lightning, Blaze's paw struck the bird. For a moment, the Pokemon was confused and toppled backward out of the tree and into the thick snow. Blaze dropped to the ground and flared up. She surrounded herself in a shower of sparks. The unfortunate bird regained its senses and quickly took flight. 

Before it could get away safely, Blaze sprung up and collided with the Spearow. In a flurry of feathers, it tumbled to the ground, motionless and burned. Blaze took the carcass in her jaws and hurried back to the injured beast, who had been watching the entire time. Blaze, who was a safe distance away, gnawed on the bird, ripping chunks of warm flesh for herself.

When she finished half of her meal, Blaze nudged it over to the beast. The two stared at each other intensely. Blaze nodded at the food, silently urging the beast to feed. At first, the beast was hesitant, bending his head to lick the body. Then, to Blaze's surprise, the creature opened his massive jaws and finished the offering in one bite. "Thank you," Grunted the creature. "I apologize for scaring you." 

Blaze's face was blank for a moment. She blew air through her nostrils quietly and adopted a happy expression. "Do you have a home nearby? If you like, I could accompany you there." The creature shook his head sadly. "That is okay. These woods are my home." Pity overwhelmed Blaze's small body, an emotion that hadn't been experienced yet. "I'll see if I can help."