Chapter 19

Flaming Paw gathered his inner fire at the tips of his tails.

Right when his prey ran between two mighty tree trunks and there was no room to dodge, Flaming Paw threw a fireball.

A wavering blob of water appeared at his prey's back and blocked his fire ball.

Steam spread and blocked Flaming Paw's senses. Rushing through he scratched himself on some strong branches.

His prey had the power of water. What a splendid ability.

Flaming Paw threw away his restraint and flexed his inner fire seriously.

Every step was propelled by an expulsion of fire.

Burning patches were left on the ground in his wake.

A moment later Flaming Paw rammed into the little two-legs.

His prey flew through the air and crashed into a tree.

Before the two-legs could get up, Flaming Paw stood on its chest and snarled in its face.

The flames were gone from his paws but they were still burning hot and his claws dug deep into his prey's substandard pelt.

The small little two-legs was dizzy and even though it kept struggling it couldn't escape or defend itself anymore.

Flaming Paw smelled his prey's fear.

What an end to a grandiose hunt.

That powerful two-legs would probably taste well. Power always had a special flavour and maybe eating its flesh would even raise Flaming Paw's own strength.

In anticipation Flaming Paw took another sniff of his upcoming meal when he noticed the smell of smoke. An unexpectedly strong smell of smoke.

He looked back.

It seemed like he had stepped on the root of an old dead tree that had caught fire.

The flames were already spreading.

It wouldn't take long for the whole tree to be burning.

Then it would only be a matter of time until the fire spread even further and grew to become unstoppable.

Considering what had happened last time, the two-legs with the pointy ears would hunt him down and skin him alive.

After he had been driven off the Fire Mountain, Flaming Paw and his fox pack had landed in the giant forest near one of the territories of the two-legged pointy ears.

A small incident involving some nesting songbirds, a group of singing two-legged pointy ears and a tiny forest fire had led to the fox pack's next relocation.

Searching through the giant forest and surviving a few dangerous encounters had led them here. Where they had found a section they could safely occupy, finally.

After the multiple setbacks Flaming Paw had to give his pack time to heal and grow again.

This section of the forest was perfect for that.

They had been here since spring and until he met this weirdly strong little two-legs, the strongest creature he had ran into had been a shadow cat.

Not even a challenge for Flaming Paw.

Back to the matters at paw and Flaming Paw's growing problem. He had to get the fire out.

He worked his foxbrain until he got an idea looking at the prey he was still standing on.

Flaming Paw imbued his intent into his power and sent it at the two-legs' head.

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Divine was really fucked now.

His damned goblin arms were too short to reach the five-tailed fox's neck or belly.

So he couldn't even use the opening when the fox got distracted.

The Shadow Claw Technique was his last trump card and he didn't want to waste in an attack on the front legs.

He was waiting for the fox to bend down its neck to bite him.

All or nothing.

Suddenly the fox gathered qi and send it at Divine's head.

He should have used the chance and just attacked the legs. Now it was too late.

When the fox's qi impacted his head it didn't even hurt.

The five-tailed fox didn't exactly convey words. It was more a conveying of meaning.

Divine understood right away which fire the fox meant. The picture and impression of the growing fire not far appeared before his eyes without looking in the direction.

Divine was astonished how this five-tailed fox communicated using qi as medium.

The possibilities were endless.

Another wave of qi came at him.

The fox was still standing on his chest waiting for Divine's acknowledgement.

Not knowing what else to do Divine nodded his head.

The fox let Divine stand up.

Vigilantly Divine took a few steps in the fire's direction.

The fox followed closely.

Divine stopped at a safe distance a few steps away.

He took out two nourishment pills from his inventory and let them appear in his open hand.

He picked one up and swallowed it down.

Divine's spirit qi reserves were still pretty full from the blood qi essence he had consumed in the chase.

He got caught so soon after that, he hadn't expended much spirit qi in that time.

The nourishment pill only gave him a small amount of qi and erased any notion of hunger from his body.

Not that he had any appetite or could feel any hunger in this situation.

The nourishment pills served another purpose.

The fox smelled curiously at his hand.

Divine knew the pills' scent was tempting.

It was a considerable risk but Divine held his open hand under the fox's snout.

Hoping fervently the fox wouldn't bite his hand off.

The fox looked at him suspiciously.

But after a suspenseful moment the fox licked the pill from his hand.

The fox seemed a little satisfied, but gestured with its head to the fire urging him on.

The only thing Divine managed to achieve with the nourishment pill was makíng sure the fox wasn't hungry when Divine finished extinguishing the fire.

Divine would do anything he could to incease his chance of survival, even if it was only a little.

He shifted his focus to the fire.

The tree next to burning one was still alive and wasn't dry. But a few branches were already smoldering.

Divine didn't know if he could fight down a fire this big. It defenitely would take a lot out of him.

He threw a look at the fox and knew he didn't have a choice.

Divine closed his eyes and steadied his breathing.

He spread out his qi, sensing in his sorroundings for water qi.

He gathered all the water qi he could and guided it above the burning tree. There he compressed it a little and it rained down in water drops.

At first it looked like it was enough but after the gathered water qi ran out, the flames weren't completely extinguished and rose up again.

Not as high as before but if Divine didn't do more the flames would soon reach their earlier height.

The guidance of the water qi already expended some of his spirit qi reserves.

Divine let more of his spirit qi flow directly at the tree, turning it into water qi on the way.

That was much harder and much more exhausting.

Divine had to expend so much qi that he only had a ninth left when the fire was finally completely extinguished.

Quickly Divine let a drop of blood qi essence appear on his tongue to replenish himself.

But there wasn't enough time to recover. He had to face the fox immediately.

Divine turned to the fox, ready for fight or flight.

The fox sat on its hind legs and its five tails swayed behind.

It pierced Divine with its black eyes and licked its sharp teeth.

Flaming Paw looked at the sky and left swiftly.

The telepathic beast language was really impressive, especially in its expressiveness. Only by conveying the name Flaming Paw understood Flaming Paw was male, too.

Divine let out a sigh of relief after Flaming Paw had left.

Looking around Divine noticed that he had no idea where in the forest he was now.

During his flight he had lost orientation completely.

All he could see in his surroundings were trees.

Divine selected the biggest and sturdiest tree around and climbed up. With his strength and his claws it was child's play even in his battered and exhausted state.

He went as high as he trusted the thickness of the branches in the tree top.

The tree was chosen well and Divine could see over most of the others. An ocean of green sorrounded him.

In the distance the Misty Mountain Range towered above the forest.

Divine had a direction now, but he chose to stay in the tree for a while to recuperate.

With the back to the tree trunk he sat on an thick and sturdy branch in his meditative pose.

First he took a healing pill to rid himself of his countless scratches and bruises and then he cycled natural qi through his meridians according to the Eternal Divine Demon Cultivation Scripture until his reserves were full again.

It took longer than usual to replenish his spirit qi, because he kept constant surveilance on his surroundings through his qi sense.

Ready go back to the tribe Divine was descending the tree when he stopped halfway down.

A branch of the next tree attracted his attention.

It was easy to hop over.

He landed safely.

His body control and balance were incredible.

He chose the next branch carefully and continued.

That way Divine made his way through the forest.

Taking it slow he enjoyed the novelty of tree hopping.

With every hop he became a little faster.

Tree hopping was liberating. He felt like he was flying from one tree to the next.

The excitement when he missed his mark a little and had to claw into the branch to keep himself from falling.

He pulled himself up easily with his strength.

'Tarzan ain't got shit on me. At least after some more training.'

Divine had his fun, but he stayed vigilant the whole time.

It payed off.