The Fennekin line (Vulpes Zerdadram):
Fennekin are a vulpine fire type Pokémon, native mostly to deserts and grasslands. Fennekin are the smallest Pokémon of the genus Vulpes, with an average height of 0.4m and an average weight of 9.4kg. Some may argue that Eevee are on average smaller than Fennekin, making Eevee the smallest vulpine Pokémon. Though this is true, Eevee are not actually members of the genus Vulpes, instead being classified under the genus Urocyon.
Fennekin, along with its evolutions, are omnivores. Fennekin mostly eat leaves, roots, and berries, as well as small twigs, which are used for kindling and strengthening their firepower. In the wild, they can eat eggs, rodents, insects, and small reptiles. Fennekin do not typically hunt until they have evolved into Braixen, with Braixen being taught to hunt alongside their mothers. These Pokémon live in dens and are crepuscular, sleeping during the day and mostly being active during the twilight hours. Their eyes are adapted to have good vision at night, though they can sometimes be seen setting their twigs ablaze in order to see better on particularly dark nights.
Typically, this line reproduces once a year during late winter, laying up to 2-4 eggs at a time, which hatch after around 50 days. Recently, this line has been experiencing growing popularity as exotic pets, especially in Unova and Kalos, which has led to many poachers capturing them to sell as pets. Though this has caused Fennekin populations to have declined recently, they aren’t considered to be endangered. Fennekin belonging to trainers, however, are rarely seen, as very few of this line live in areas that trainers frequent. Most trainer-owned Fennekin are a result of the breeding program of the Sycamore Lab in Lumiose City, Kalos. This is where my own Braixen, Aster, is from.
In the wild, Fennekin evolve into Braixen after around 10 months, and then into Delphox after another two years. The evolution into Braixen is often accompanied by a ritual where the Pokémon’s parents present it with a twig that, upon evolution, it will store in its tail. Of course, trainer-owned Braixen will most likely not experience this ritual, so it is recommended that if a Fennekin shows signs of being near evolution, to let it find itself a twig that it can keep. Braixen will need to replace these twigs quite regularly, as they often use friction in their tail fur to set them ablaze. Braixen and Delphox who go too long without their twigs experience significant psychological distress, and for trainer-owned Pokémon it is best to let them find a new one as soon as possible. Humans should also not touch their Braixen or Delphox’s twig without making sure with the Pokémon that it is alright to do so, as this line is very protective of their twigs and will generally only allow those they trust to touch them.
Upon evolution into Delphox, this line’s latent psychic abilities fully manifest, giving them an additional psychic typing. It is theorised that these psychic abilities were originally developed to defend against Skorupi, a common predator of Fennekin eggs, though the psychic typing also causes them to be more at risk to predators like Krookodile, Scrafty, and occasionally Houndoom. Delphox have some measure of pyrokinesis, able to now set their twigs ablaze without burning the twig itself and are also able to use telekinesis.
In the past, it was commonly believed that Delphox could see the future. Though this is not true, it led to them being held in high regard in many ancient societies, being commonly kept by oracles and prophets.
This line’s large ears are used to regulate its body temperature. Being fire-types native to deserts, it is easy for them to overheat, so their ears work to vent excess heat out of their bodies and cool them down.
Their fur coats consist of a thick outer coat and a soft undercoat which insulates them in the cold and protects them from the heat.
Fennekin can jump 0.6m high from standing position, though are not as mobile after evolution.
Baby Fennekin are called “kits”.
The collective noun for this line is “a coven”.
