The Festival of Fire — Mark Mulle

What if Embry doesn't get to the Festival in time … or at all? Dear Diary, I've never really been that keen on adventuring. My home back at the village is safe, and warm, and I never have to go looking for food or somewhere to get out of the rain. It seems pretty silly to go wandering off into the wilderness to just … what, prove a point? Yet here I am, all alone out here in the forest that apparently never ends. I've eaten nothing but toasted berries and seaweed for days now. What I wouldn't give for a big mug of MooMoo Milk! It's just not fair, diary! It's scary out here, and my paws are so tired. I mean, I guess the Fire Festival is a big deal. Every Vulpix in my family has gone to complete the ceremony, to bring back the Fire Stone that will help them reach their full potential â€" but what if I don't want to evolve? What if I'm happy with myself just the way I am? Okay, maybe I'm saying that as an excuse not to go, but really, why does it matter? I'm not sure I want to get out of the woods. After this I'll be in the desert, and just because I'm a fire type that doesn't mean I want to bake in the sun all day! On top of all of it, something is following me, diary. I haven't seen it, but I know it is out there. It even stole one of my mom's berry tarts last night. Jokes on that guy, those tarts were already stale. I was going to use them to beat off an attacker in the night. Here's hoping I won't need it. What if I get eaten up just like the tart? What if I never get to the Festival at all? I'll have to sit in these woods for another whole year, diary! There's no way I can go back home without that stone!