The scent of morning dew left the Ninetales nose twitching. He opened his eyes groggily, trying to remember how he had ended up in a forest... or in fact, outside of the city at all. He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate... what was the last thing he could remember?
 
*Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelch*
 
'Oh, of course.' his ears flicked back as he recalled the previous evening. A Beauty contest had gone awry and he had been stripped of title, his sash, and his life. He took a moment to swear vengeance on the Arcanine and that little assistant of his... he was so close to devouring her too. Even if he had been found out, his trainer could have bailed him out of it with a little help from his hypnotising tails.
 
His ears folded back as he recalled his trainer, the hand grasping his paw and shaking it in a final goodbye rather than pulling him to safety. He would have to swear vengeance on her too, though humans were much easier to handle... still, before he could get revenge on anyone he'd need to get back to the city.
 
The fox shook himself off and picked up his scarf, shaking the cracked Revive stone free from it. Now that it had been used it was completely useless to him anyway, It certainly wasn't something he could fashion into an accessory. He tucked the red scarf around his neck before moving back towards the path. He glanced up the road, then down.
 
Both ways looked exactly the same, just a filthy dirt road that went onwards into the forest, and who knows how many turns the Arcanine and his trainer had made before he had thought to drop the Ninetales off. The fox grumbled to himself as he shook his tails of the blades of grass that had become matted in his fur, even stopping to pry a twig out of one and toss it away.
 
“The nerve! He could have least 'went' before he and his trainer left.” the Ninetales complained as he fussed over his tails. He sighed as he checked both paths to make sure they were still the same.. the path to the north was as dull as ever, but as he turned south he saw a figure standing in the middle of the road.
 
The mauve Liepard watched him silently, its tail swaying back and forth behind it. Spice held his breath, slowly taking a step backwards as he began to shiver... his first encounter with a wild pokemon, and already he was terrified. He hesitated, deciding to try holding his ground instead. Maybe he was misunderstood. Maybe the feline was friendly and just wanted to help him get back to the city. He was sure if he just introduced himself--
 
It started running towards him.
 
'Balls to that!' Spice thought as he turned and ran back into the forest. The path was too obvious, he'd never lose the pokemon on a straight road. He pounced between the trees and ducked under branches, but every time he looked over his shoulder he just saw the Liepard, getting closer and closer as its eyes sparked, its mouth open to reveal its sharp teeth.
 
He wouldn't be able to outrun the cat, but he had never been in a pokemon battle before! What if he lost? What even happened to pokemon who lost? He had never lost anything! ...well, other than that contest in which he shared the fate he had inflicted on many other pokemon and woke up in the middle of the forest. His mind raced as he tried to recall the moves he had used on stage... Of course! Round! He skidded to a halt and turned around, his mouth opened wide as he let out a high pitched note. The Liepard moved its paws to its ears, leaving it tumbling across the ground uncontrollably. It ended slamming against the trunk of a tree and flumping limply against the ground at the base of it, letting out one final groan.
 
Spice blinked as he moved over to the shiny Liepard, looking over it as he breathed deeply to catch his breath. He smirked, raising his head high in triumph as he swished his tails majestically, “Well, perhaps next time you should find easier prey, you... you crazy cat.”
 
The Liepard groaned again, slowly opening her eyes as she looked up at the fox, “I wasn't hunting you... you're almost as big as I am.” she replied, rubbing her head. The Ninetales gasped and leapt back as the Liepard slowly got to her paws, albiet it still disorientated from the her fall.
 
“I-I thought you were unconscious!” Spice gasped, backing away a few steps, “St-stay back! I know psychic!”
 
“I'm not trying to eat you. Arceus, what is your problem?” The Liepard repeated, cringing a little as she shook her head, trying to get the world to ringing in her ears to stop, “And what was that, anyway? Was that 'Round'? What kind of self-respecting fire-type uses Round?”
 
“I used it in a routine before I discovered the power of hypnosis,” The Ninetales replied with a smug grin, swaying his tails back and forth, “I used to be quite the singer before I got by on my good looks alone.”
 
“I don't care,” The cat replied with a shrug of her shoulders, her eyes finally relaxing as the headache faded. She took a step forward and held out her paw, “I need you to come with me. The forest isn't safe for a pokemon like you.”
 
“I'd say I've managed quite well so far, thank you.” Spice replied with a majestic swish of his tails, keeping his nose high so he could look down on the feline. He turned away from the Liepard, taking a few steps away from her as he continued, “And I know your game! You're going to bring me back to your den so you and your pack can all feast on me!”
 
“I'm not taking you back to a den, you pompous ass!” The Liepard snarled, following after him, “I'm taking you to Clearspring. It's a pokemon village and we could really use a fire-type there.”
 
“Likely story. Who ever heard of a 'pokemon village'?” he tittered at the thought, waving his paw dismissively, “Now go, I need to find somewhere to bathe... after an experience with the insides of an Arcanine, goodness knows I deserve a bath.”
 
“You seriously think you're going to find somewhere to bathe out here? You'll be eaten alive the second you're out of my sight.” The Liepard replied before breathing out a defeated sigh, turning away from the Ninetales. “You know what? Forget it. There's a lake nearby and you can go wash yourself off there.”
 
“Oh?” The Ninetales replied, glancing over his shoulder... but the Liepard was already gone. He tilted his head briefly, there was a twinge of guilt in his heart, but that was probably just one of the cat's tricks. He wasn't about to fall for it! He marched along to the lake, keeping his tails curled to protect his back and constantly checking the trees for wild pokemon.
 
* * *
 
The Ninetales glanced over his shoulder once more as he reached the forest clearing. The Liepard hadn't followed him, maybe she had gone off to hunt something else, or find another fire-type to do whatever it was she needed doing. The fox was not one for work, unless rewards were involved... and what reward would a wild pokemon offer him anyway?
 
He made his way to the edge of the lake and dipped his paw into the water before bringing it back swiftly with a yipe, “Aah! Cold!” he whined, shaking his paw to get the cold water off it. He sat down at the edge of the lake, sniffing at the water before cringing, “Ugh... and filthy too! I think I might actually get dirtier for bathing in this.”
 
The fox's purple eyes narrowed on the lake, trying to find a solution to his problem. They scanned over the lake until finally they noticed it jutted out into a smaller pool. With a grin the Ninetales trotted over to the pool and closed his eyes, his tails flicking out in unison before beginning to sway back and forth. The air around him became more dense, and nearby a small tree uprooted itself and flew over to him before dropping itself between the pool and the lake.
 
Now that the Ninetales had created a seperate pool he began to blow fire into it, watching as the water bubbled and the grime fizzled away. The water became pure and clear, save for its dark, murky depths. With a gleeful giggle the Ninetales dipped his paw into the water before climbing the rest of the way in, paddling about and wagging his tails as he enjoyed his all natural hot bath.
 
Spice murred to himself as he washed his tails with his paws, breathing out a light sigh, “If only I had some shampoo on me... oh! And conditioner, and berries.. goodness knows how I'll get my fur dried off after this,” the Ninetales huffed as he tended to each tail individually. He let his feet dangle in the water as he leaned against the side of the pool... something slithered against one.
 
He shrieked as he brought it back sharply, glancing down into the water just in time to see the maw of a ravenous Swampert come rushing out of the shadows. It engulfed his hinde legs and rear, its hands grabbed at the Ninetales and dragged him deeper in, slurping and gulping its way over his slim stomach. The Swampert grinned up at him as he continued noisely, finally placing one hand on the Ninetales head and stuffing it down into his mouth, snapping it shut behind him.
 
Spice yelped and kicked around in the Swampert's mouth, making little pawprint shaped bulges in the Swampert's cheeks as his legs dangled down the throat, which tugged him further into it with each slimy gulp. His tails quickly joined his back legs as the tongue slapped at his face, getting drool over his recently groomed fur. He shut his eyes tightly to avoid getting slobber in them as he found only his head and forepaws still in the mouth, the throat pulsed all around him as the stomach growled for his predator to finish the job.
 
Then the mouth opened, the Liepard from before stood there with a playful grin as she looked up at him. She stuck her tongue out teasingly, “How're you doing there, Foxy? Having a good time in the wild?”
 
“H-help!” Spice cried in response, moving to reach out to the Liepard only to find himself slipping when he did. He quickly moved his paw back to its previous position on the tongue, panting quickly as he tried to keep himself as still as possible... any movement might have sent him plummeting into the stomach, and he doubted the cat would be able to help him then.
 
“It looks to me like you're halfway to being Swampert fat. Seems like you're not going to be able to last long in the wild after all,” The Liepard noted with a chuckle, laying on her side in a relaxed position. The Swampert leaned forward to allow the two to maintain eye-contact throughout their conversation, “Are you ready to listen to my offer now?”
 
Spice whimpered in response, his tail tips twitching in the Swampert's stomach only left it groaning again. The throat shuddered around him in a not-so-subtle warning, the Ninetales nodded quickly to the Liepard and held his breath to avoid breathing in the fishy stench of the Swampert's mouth.
 
“Good,” The Liepard said with a pleased smile before putting a paw to her chest, “My name is Cyn, and you're currently being devoured by my adventuring buddy, Typh.” she explained, making her way over and patting the Swampert's belly lovingly, “He's not going to say anything though, its rude to talk with your mouth full.”
 
“I-I'm Spice,” The Ninetales replied nervously, trying to smile pleasantly, though the throat rippling around him reminded him of his situation, “C-could you tell Typh to spit me out? This is really ruining my fur.”
 “In his defense, you -did- turn his home into a hot tub,” Cyn replied with a light shrug, “It seems fair to me, honestly. But I'm a Liepard of business, not personal pride... if I told him to spit you out, how do I know you wouldn't just run off again?”
 
“A-are you still sore about that? You were a wild pokemon! How was I supposed to react?” The Ninetales whimpered. He could still feel the tongue licking under his chin... and the sound of the Swampert murring all around him about his flavour didn't help him feel any more comfortable, “A-alright, tell me what you want.”
 
“Clearspring has been taken over by a Venusaur named Guzzler. He's banished all the fire types and is eating through our food supplies like there's no tomorrow. At this rate, we won't even last through summer,” The Liepard explained, reaching into the Swampert's mouth to boop the Ninetales' nose, “We haven't been able to defeat him so far, but you will. You've got a type advantage on him.”
 
“B-but I've never even been in a real battle before, I'm a contest pokemon!” Spice whimpered. The Liepard gave the Swampert a little nod and Spice braced himself for the worst. The hot tongue pushed against his face, shoving him deeper into the throat as he let out a muffled cry in protest. Now his head was held in the throat, with one more gulp he'd be doomed.
 
“I'll ask you again,” Cyn growled, her paw tapping against the grass impatiently, “We need a fire type, and if you don't agree I'm sure it won't be long before that Arcanine comes back.” she snapped, leaning up into the Swampert's mouth and resting her paws on his tongue so she could look into the Ninetales' eyes, “Will you help us, yes or no?”
 
Spice stared up at the cat, his ears pinned back by the throat. All he could see was the dark, fleshy walls of the Swampert's mouth and the shiny Liepard glaring down at him. If nothing else, she knew how to get his attention. He gulped nervously before nodding as much as he could, “Y-yes, of course. I'll help!”
 
“Good.” The Liepard replied with a grin, climbing back out of the maw before patting the Swampert's belly. The throat shifted around Spice, but not in the way he had hoped. It dragged him down as the wet 'gulp' echoed in his ears, his tails flailing about in the stomach in terror as he slipped into it.
 
He kicked at the stomach's walls, ramming himself against them and struggling in any direction he could, his tails flailing and batting off the stomach behind him helplessly, “H-hey, I thought you said you'd let me out if I agreed!”
 
“We have to sneak you inside Clearspring, dumbass,” The Liepard replied, giving the Swampert's gut a little punch. She grinned as she heard the yipe on the other side. Her tail swayed back and forth as she looked around, “Guzzler's spies are watching... if they see a fire type walking through town, they'll know we've got a plan to take him down.”
 
“Just be quick about it, I've been through one pokemon too many as it is. To have to go through another would be too much!” Spice yelled, kicking around in the stomach as its slime began to cling to his fur, “O-oh Arceus, it's on my tails! Ah! I just groomed them!” he whined.
 
“Hey, if you struggle you'll only digest faster,” Cyn snapped before looking up at Typh with a shrug, “City pokemon, what're you going to do?”
 
“I think I just answered that question,” Typh replied with a chuckle, patting his gut and leaving it jiggling back and forth. He let out a little belch and licked his lips, “Spicy... I think I taste berries too though.”
 
“Of course you do. He probably uses them for perfume instead of eating them,” The Liepard replied, rolling her eyes before walking past the Swampert, her tail trailing along his stomach, “But that reminds me, let's stop by Doc Leaf's place on the way back.”
 
“Wh-what? No! You have to hurry! I refuse to remain in this stomach longer than I need to!” Spice cried out, continuing to kick up a fuss in the Swampert's gut, leaving his predator groaning as he held it. Typh let out a low belch, causing the stomach to tighten around his prey, shoving his tails into his face. The Ninetales continued to let out muffled cries of protest, but now they were practically unintelligible. Typh rubbed over his stomach with a low murr, licking his lips as he continued along after Cyn.
 
“Oh relax, Spice.” The Liepard grinned over her shoulder at the bulging Swampert gut, the Ninetales' outline was much clearer after the belch. She rubbed her cheek against it with a purr before pushing a paw against the Ninetales' nose, “Typh may be a predator, but he's learned to hold his acids, when he wants to.” she winked up at the Swampert before tapping the Ninetales nose once more, “So, get comfortable. You're not going anywhere until we reach Clearspring.”
 
Spice replied with a whimper and a huff, hugging his tails and closing his eyes... he hoped it wasn't too far to this 'Doc Leaf's house... and he hoped desperately that whoever he was, he had a bath.