Your name is Oriana, and you were about 50% sure you were going to freeze to death. You were walking up the same icy path on the same snowy mountain that you had walked up and down every week for twelve years now, and every trip you convinced yourself would be the last - that at last, the sweet release of hypothermia would take you. Unfortunately, you were immune to hypothermia due to being a fire type and all, so you would always survive the journey back home and get to elongate your boring, boring life in the boring, boring temple. Lucky you.
It was quite an ironic twist of fate that your life became the mundane thing that it was today. Back when you were young, you were the queen of the forest. You did whatever you wanted, and ate whomever you pleased. Everyone in those darkened woods feared and respected you. In the good old days, you used to challenge Krookodiles and Fraxures for territory without flinching, and chase down herds of Bouffalant without fear… but when you found out you were pregnant? That was the first time you had felt true terror in all of your life. How could you possibly raise a child out there? The forest was cruel and violent, and as more powerful threats encroached on the territory, its inhabitants seemed to be constantly searching for new ways to kill. But the monks at the Temple claimed to be versed in the art of life, rather than the science of death, and so you journeyed up the mountainside to live there. Unfortunately, you hated almost everything about this place. For years, you went through the exact same schedule, sat through the same ceremonies, day after day after day. But it was safe. Safe enough for you to focus on raising your only child - a little vulpix named Autumn.
You usually hate to be so sappy, but she really is your crowning achievement in life. She was skipping alongside you right now, balancing a basket full of berries on her back, chipper as always. She had just turned old enough to accompany you on your weekly trips to gather berries, and she tended to make these mundane trips much more enjoyable. These days, her cheerful face was the only thing that could make you smile. “That was awesome! I’ve never been to the grove before. I could almost see the forest from there!” She chanted, ever the optimist, enjoying the job undeterred by the bitter cold and difficult labor. “I never thought the trees would look so tall!” She continues talking about the forest, her voice brimming with excitement, but no matter what she says, you rarely respond. You much prefer to just listen to her talk. She was better at it than you were, anyway.
Finally, you reach the crest of a hill and the Temple enters into sight. The Temple was admittedly quite a beautiful sight in the desolate fog of the mountainside. It had been developed slowly over the course of the years by its inhabitants, and had grown from a simple little cottage into a seven-story tower community. You shake the snow off of yourself at the doorstep, and take a deep breath in relief as you walk inside, and the warmth of the fireplaces reach you. “You are late, Oriana,” the Xatu who runs the Temple said stoically, facing a window in the lobby, not even turning to face you. “You missed the afternoon’s reflection.”
“Sorry, Ecclestar,” you bow slightly as you walk by. “The little one wanted to explore the Grove for a bit longer. I’ll be on time tomorrow.” While Ecclestar’s strictness aggravated you to no end, you had some begrudging respect for him. Originally, no carnivores were allowed into the Temple, but Ecclestar sympathized for your situation, and was the only reason you were here right now. At first, the presence of a predator in the Temple earned furtive glances and whispers of concern, but after living here for over a decade without incident, they’ve learned to trust you and you’ve basically blended in with the crowd. Nowadays, being the only member of the Temple experienced in combat, you mainly served to guard it against threats and to collect supplies from dangerous areas. You and Autumn drop the berries you’ve collected in the kitchen, with Autumn grabbing a Pecha berry for herself. The two of you sat around a table in the middle of the lobby, and you watched as she munched on the berry adorably.
“So… when are you going to take me down there? To the forest?” She asked in between bites. “You said you’d take me there someday!” You sigh quietly, having heard this before. Every once in awhile, Autumn gets the idea of visiting the forest in her head, and it’s all she can talk about for days.
“Someday, I said. Not now,” you respond, simply.
“But I’m ready! I’ve been practicing!” She complains. “How am I going to grow up if I stay here? You said we’d leave this place when I was ready!”
“Really? Have you perfected your Ember, then?” you ask.
“Yeah, yeah! I’ve got it down!” She insists.
“Oh? And your Confuse Ray?” You ask again. She nods eagerly, and you chuckle. “Well then, show me your progress on the training ground tomorrow, and we’ll see then. Alright?”
“Really?” She says, almost choking on the Pecha berry as her eyes fill up with hope and excitement as you stand up to go to bed. “Wait! Can I stay up and train tonight, then? I want to be just perfect tomorrow!”
“Why don’t you get some sleep, dear?” you offer instead, as the two of you walk back down the hallway to your room. You spat out a few embers of fire to light up the hallway, which was completely dark besides the light of the moon. “If we really are going on a trip down the mountain tomorrow, you’ll need your rest.” She nodded, accepting this logic as you push open the door to your room. As you were one of the first members, and you had an important job, you had one of the largest rooms in the Temple. Ever exhausted after your berry-collecting job, you curl up on your straw bed immediately. Autumn jumped up beside you, and with a giggle, you wrapped your many soft, comfortable tails around her as the two of you snuggled together. Both comfortable, it didn’t take long for the both of you to drift off to sleep, ready to face whatever was awaiting you the next day...
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