[GrayGriffin]

Now, Ray knew that usually people stayed far away from Nori Volcano unless they had specific business there. He didn't, but he did have something even better-a desire to seek out and photograph the scenery from up close! He'd inherited enough fire resistance from his dad to not be too worried, and once he'd learned to extend the resistance to his camera there would be no stopping him from setting out on an expedition! Which was why he was trotting up to the volcano, watching the lava slowly flowing from its mouth.

[GrayGriffin]

He wondered if it was going to erupt. According to the few people who lived nearby, it hadn't done so for very long, but he figured that might just mean it was overdue. On the other hand, it was regularly leaking lava, which suggested it wasn't plugged up or anything.

Still, he was watching intently for any sign of extensively rough shaking. If the volcano was about to erupt, he wanted to be there to see and capture it in its full glory!

[GrayGriffin]

After a bit more walking, he figured he was close enough for some initial photos. Sitting down on his haunches, he unclipped the tripod from his back and started setting it up, carefully balancing his camera on it and unclipping it from his neck. He wouldn't be using the tripod once he was closer to the volcano, both because the heat was bad for it and because he might need to leave in a hurry, but this far out it should be fine.

[GrayGriffin]

The lava flows were slow enough that he could take his time finding the perfect angle. He wanted a lower one, one that emphasized the size and majesty of the volcano and made it look as if it could erupt at any moment. He did shift a few times, moving to slightly lower elevations, before finally finding it. You really felt as if you were looking up at some majestic being from this angle, and as a bonus just as he took the photo an extra burst of lava bubbled over from the top of the volcano.

[GrayGriffin]

He pressed the button as rapidly as he could, hoping that he could capture at least one moment of the way the lava surged over the lip. He didn't have his other dad's telekinetic powers, and had to content himself with a camera model adapted for paw use. This also meant that it took some time to strap his setup back onto his back and around his neck, but it was worth it.

He grinned up at the volcano. "Get ready for your close-up."

[GrayGriffin]

Sure, it probably couldn't hear him, but considering the kind of place Evelon was, could you really be a hundred percent sure of that? For all he knew there was some ancient spirit residing in that volcano that responded really well to flattery. He kept up the one-sided conversation as he strolled along, now that he'd put that thought into his own mind.

"So, I'd like to get your best angle. Mind telling me what it is?"

[GrayGriffin]

The volcano completely failed to answer. Ray chuckled a bit.

"Oh come on, don't be shy," he continued. "You're a real handsome boy, you know that? Perfect form, great height, and that lava really brings out the color of your stone too. I'm surprised you haven't had modeling opportunities! Or have you, and you're just too shy to accept them?" He laughed again. "Well, I hope you won't object to these photos, at least. Don't worry, I'm not going to be publishing them without your permission."

[GrayGriffin]

"But really," he added as he snapped a few more close-up photos focusing on the contrast between the stone and the lava, "you could be in magazines, you know. What if I just submit your close-ups? There's no way you'd be recognized then, right?"

The volcano rumbled, and he laughed a little. "Oh, you're right. You're basically the only volcano around, they'd all know it was you." Ray tilted the camera up to take another photo of the mouth of the volcano, this time with less lava erupting from it.

[GrayGriffin]

As he continued on his way, he paused and turned to aim his camera at a place much lower than the volcano. "Hey, did you see that?" he asked softly. "I think...something was moving around there! Sorry handsome, but this is an opportunity I can't miss." He started creeping forward, trying not to startle whatever might be lurking there.

It led him on a merry chase, and though he snapped a few photos he had the feeling none of them were going to come out very clearly. In the end, whatever it was left him behind, staring back up at the volcano.

[GrayGriffin]

"Well, that was a bust, wasn't it?" he said with a light chuckle. "At least I've still got you here. What do you say I end this with a few more photos of you, hm?"

He could have sworn that the light seemed to reflect off the lava even more perfectly as he took those final photos. But that was probably just him anthropomorphizing. Laughing still, he turned away. "Bye, handsome," he said. "I'll come back once I get these photos developed."

As he walked away, behind him, the volcano rumbled softly, and a black-furred paw slowly emerged.

[Wild Pet Found]