Chapter 5
Eventually, Hermione, Ben, and Rey eventually caught onto how the Rainfeather Owls were only open to bonding with those who didn't fight back. And Rey beat Ben yet again, bonding with a Rainfeather Owl and gaining the ability to transform into the animal. She was able to traverse the most dangerous depths of their territory and find the Boundless Orb of Fortitude, which was hidden in a tree that was surrounded by the strongest hurricanes.
Then the four Semi-elites flew in their Rainfeather Owl forms to land on a volcanic island in the middle of the Rainfeather Owls' territory, where they encountered the next Elite species: the Flametail Foxes.
Hermione landed on the ground and transformed into her human form. "Okay….so hoxian animals are either on the fight or flight end. The Elastic Greyhounds were shy and flighty, and the Rainfeather Owls were aggressive and in fighting mode. Based on the research I've done about these Flametail Foxes, I think they would lean toward the fighting end, since most fire-borne species are very impassioned."
Draco landed beside her and transformed into his human form. "Hah! Why should we listen to you? You've been beaten by me yet again, and even these strangers beat you!" He nodded to Rey and Ben. Both already in their human forms and wandering around the territory in search of the foxes.
Hermione rolled her eyes. If there was anything she learned from her escapade in the Rainfeather Owls' territory, it was that fighting was not always the answer. She decided to ignore Draco and walk forward, scrutinizing the land for the foxes.
Then a Flametail Fox leapt out from one of the mini-volcanoes that populated the land. Hermione stopped in her tracks and faced the fox. It was just several meters in front of her, standing at the top of the 7-foot mini-volcano, and fixing her with a curious gaze.
She watched as it tilted its head right, then left, and let out what sounded like a mix between a meow and a high-pitched bark.
Hermione gave a slight smile. "Okay….definitely not on the flight side of the spectrum. Look how friendly they are." She took a step forward, but as soon as she did, the fox's tail burst into flames and it turned to dash away, looking like an enflamed blur. It disappeared into a hole in the ground.
Draco laughed. "Nicely done, Granger."
Hermione looked over to Ben and Rey. She watched as three Flametail Fox walked up to them, tilting their heads left and right with the curious glow in their eyes.
But as soon as Rey reached out a hand to pet them, and as Ben took a step forward, the tails of all three foxes burst into flames and they all dashed away, disappearing into the tops of mini-volcanoes or holes in the ground.
Rey looked across the land to see a Flametail Fox standing at the top of a leaking volcano, fixing what appeared to be a grimace on her. It was making little sniggering noises, as if it was laughing at them.
Hermione gasped. "I see what they're doing! They're messing with us!" She crossed her arms, giving the sniggering fox a somewhat-scolding look. "They're pretending to be friendly and approachable, and then they pretend to be scared and flighty. They just want to mess with our heads-- their tactic of 'fighting' us!"
The Flametail Fox that was sniggering at them began speaking in hoxtongue. "Smart girl!" He leapt down the slope, avoiding the splotches of leaking lava, and trotted up to them. "Perhaps I should let you emotionally bond with me first-- I respect a human with good insight." He gave her a wink.
Hermione blinked, trying not to let her hopes get too high. "Um…." though she didn't know how to respond.
Draco gave a drawling laugh. "Please! She's always coming in second to me-- which proves that her intelligence is totally useless."
Hermione fumed and glared at Draco. "Don't make me throw you into one of these volcanoes!"
"Who said I wouldn’t want ya to?" Draco gave Hermione a smirk and nudged her shoulder with his finger. "Hot stuff like me belongs in such heated places anyway."
The fox shifted his sly gaze to Draco. "Mmm….I like your wittiness. Reminds me of myself in a way." He trotted up to Draco and affectionately rubbed the side of his head against his leg. "I change my mind….lemme transfuse my blood to you first." His flaming tail burned more intensely.
Draco stared in surprise at the fox. Then he flashed Hermione another smirk, amused with the shocked look on her face.
The fox looked up at Draco, his eyes looking sincere. Draco stared back at the animal, feeling a warm surge that wasn’t just from the heat given off by the fox's tail.
The fox then opened its mouth, about to bite into Draco's wrist and transfuse blood.
Then it was gone in another enflamed blur.
The Flametail Fox skidded to a halt beside Rey, who jumped aside in surprise. The fox looked over its shoulder, casting a sly grimace in Draco's direction, who was now looking confused. The fox winked at him, then turned and clamped its jaws around Rey's wrist.
Rey let out a quick scream, but was unable to wriggle free. The transfusion was taking place, and she felt a strange sense of calmness wash over her.
Then it was over. The fox released her and casually trotted away with its flaming tail head high, and disappeared into a hole.
Draco and Hermione stared at Rey with surprise, while Ben was gazing at her with a mixed look of surprise and rage.
"Really?!" Ben's voice was now raised. "Again?!" He leapt at her, transforming into an angry crocodile.
Rey whirled around and morphed into her new form of the Flametailed Fox. An intense burst of flames from her tail appeared and she easily knocked Ben aside, causing him to sustain burns that rapidly spread over his body, even without any additional contact with flames.
Then she raced away, ready to seek the Boundless Orb in this territory.