Vulpix Line
Morphs [Oak Catalog #]
- Vulpix [#37]
- Ninetales [#38]
Physical Descriptions
Vulpix is a small, foxlike Pokemon. It is covered in rust colored fur, with its belly being cream colored and its paws a darker shade of the rust color. It has six large, curly tails and three curly locks on its head, both of which are a red-orange color.
In Ninetales, the cream color on the belly of Vulpix now covers the entire body; some specimens also retain the red-orange color on the tips of their tails. Ninetales has, as the name suggests, nine tails instead of Vulpix's six, and the curly locks on Vulpix's head have become a large crest of fur.
Notable Biology
Unlike most Fire Pokemon, which have a fire somewhere on the outside of their bodies, the Vulpix line keeps its fire completely internalized. This internal fire is actually their method of metabolizing food; ingested food is burned, and the resulting heat energy is used for sustenance. Due to this internalized system, the Vulpix line are some of the only Fire Pokemon capable of swimming in the water, should the need arise. However, this is still very taxing on them, as it drains their body heat. For this same reason, they are as vulnerable to Water-type attacks as any other Fire-type Pokemon. During very hot weather, Vulpix and Ninetales will often let puffs of flame out of their mouths to help maintain their internal body temperature. This system of metabolizing heat also makes them essentially immune to fire attacks; they will actually get more powerful if hit by them. Said system is referred to by trainers as 'Flash Fire'.
Ninetales is one of the smartest non-Psychic-type Pokemon in the world. They seem to be perfectly capable of understanding everyday human speech, unlike most Pokemon, who only understand simple commands and battle orders. One would likely be able to have a nice conversation with a Ninetales if they were capable of human speech. Ninetales are also very vengeful Pokemon, and have been known to hold grudges and utilize their intelligence to find unique ways to inflict payback on those who have wronged them, be they Pokemon or human. They especially hate anyone that pulls on one of their tails.
A Vulpix requires a Fire Stone in order to evolve into a Ninetales. An evolving Vulpix will actually ingest the Fire Stone, causing its internal fire to burn much hotter for a short time. The extra energy provided triggers and is used for the process of evolving.
Habitat
Vulpix live mostly in volcanic, mountainous regions. However, they can also be found in grassy plains. They even occasionally live in urban environs, especially in abandoned buildings. Ninetales are extremely rare in the wild, and what few of them there are can only be found in volcanic regions, where Fire Stones can naturally occur.
Diet
Both Vulpix and Ninetales are omnivorous, eating most anything they can find, from berries to other animals or Pokemon. This is thanks to their previously mentioned system of metabolizing food; as long as it can burn, they can eat it. However, Ninetales are much more picky about their food, and will only stoop to eating carrion in dire circumstances. Both hunt by quickly pouncing on their prey and immediately letting of a Fire attack at point blank range, usually an Ember for Vulpix and a Flamethrower for Ninetales.
Hazards
Vulpix are fairly tame Pokemon; about the only thing to worry about is to not put your hand in front of them on hot days, as they may incidentally singe you while letting out some fire to maintain their body temperature.
Ninetales, on the other hand, require much more caution. It is advised never to interact with one unless you intend to catch it, especially if you live in the area. Ninetales have been known to exact revenge on people who have needlessly harmed them, even several years after the fact. This even extends to trainers who own a Ninetales, though to a much less dangerous extent. If your Ninetales should faint needlessly in battle, don't be surprised later when some kind of intricate practical joke is sprung on you.
Legends say that a Ninetales can live for 1000 years and will inflict a curse lasting just as long on any individual foolish enough to yank on one of its tails. As one would have to live for 1000 years to be cursed that long, a lifespan possessed by very few pokemon and no humans, and since the oldest recorded Ninetales only reached the age of 122, it's safe to say that this legend is greatly exaggerated. So far, the longest confirmed Ninetales "curse", which was later shown to have simply been an incredibly extended revenge plot by a particularly vindictive Ninetales, lasted only 86 years. There are also rumors of an ongoing curse that has been in place for nearly 104 years, though this has yet to be verified. Furthermore, only Ghost-type Pokemon have ever been documented to have the ability to bestow curses upon other entities. However, Ninetales have been documented to display supernatural powers, some of which are similar to the abilities of a Ghost-type, so it may not be too Farfetch'd farfetched to assume that a Ninetales could somehow make spiritual arrangements to ensure that some sort of misfortune would befall its assailant. A more likely explanation is that the "cursed" individual is simply the victim of a long-term revenge plot by the Ninetales. Even more likely is that the person, believing they should be cursed, begin attributing everything bad that happens to them to the "curse" when they would normally have attributed such things to mere chance otherwise.
Courting and Child Rearing
Since the ratio of females to males is about 3:1 in Vulpix and Ninetales, it is the females that must court the males. Once a year, towards the end of winter, females will catch some fresh food and present it to the male they wish to mate with. If there are multiple females after the same male, there may be some fighting between them. After the Vulpix kits are born, the female and male will stay with them for about 7 months, the female watching over them and the male providing food. Vulpix kits are born with only one tail, which slowly splits into five more tails over the course of the first 4 months. After that time, the Vulpix kits will be old enough to fend for themselves and all involved will go their separate ways.
Social Structure
Vulpix are generally solitary creatures, with each female claiming an area by leaving special scorch marks at the edges of their territory, while the males are wanderers. However, they have been known to team up in times of desperation in order to take down larger prey, especially if the Vulpix in question were litter mates.
Author: Blissey1
