Fire, Fire Burning Bright

The hills had grown dry over the past couple of weeks; something that was highly unusual for the time of year. Normally the lower temperatures at the end of the summer were accompanied by a handful of storms, but the late summer skies had been clear of rain clouds. Not being a huge fan of rain, Serach wasn't particularly displeased, but he couldn't help by eye the creek than ran through his territory with some concern. It was starting to dry up, and if they didn't get some rain soon, they would have to start scavenging farther for water. And that was the last thing the Bend wolves needed.

Serach had worn his paws ragged running through Spectral Woods and Sierra Hills looking for Lila and Chamomile. Within days of each other, both young wolves had gone missing, sending the whole pack into a frenzy. But they didn't have the numbers to search every mile of forest, nevermind the surrounding territories beyond, especially not with coyotes prowling along their borders. They were utterly exhausted and heartbroken. Serach was doing his best to keep his spirits up, if only to try and support Aponi and his children, but it was hard. Every time he returned to the den without them by his side, he couldn't help but feel like a failure.

Today was no different. He'd ventured up into the hills above the Bend and headed east through the dry rocks, but his search had come up empty. The scent trails he had found were several weeks old, and most of them had led back towards the direction of the pack's territory. He was half-following one now as he made his way back, his brain trying to figure out what exactly he was going to tell Aponi this time.

His mind was so preoccupied that it wasn't until he crested one of the last hills before his path descended towards the forest that his brain registered something off. Face bunched up in confusion, his nares flaring incessantly as he tried to place the smell, he looked over the forest below trying to figure out the source of the odor. Several miles to his south, along the border of the red hills and the woods, clouds were rising from the trees. Smoke. He had never seen a fire before and was too far away to see the flames jumping from tree to tree via the branches, but the smoke billowing into the air above it was more than enough to make his stomach drop. It took precious minutes for the shock to wear off while his brain figured out what was happening, but when it clicked, he wasted only a second more to throw his head back and howl as loud as he possibly could for his family to GET OUT!

And then Serach was running, all previous exhaustion completely forgotten as he desperately tried to reach the pack's den to make sure his young family escaped.

SERACH & APONI DONATA

 

The past few weeks had been hell. First Lila had disappeared and the queen had put all of her time into trying to find her daughter but the case had long gone cold. By the time Chamomile had also stopped returning home Aponi knew that things were over, she lost her motivation to keep trying. Instead she began to recluse herself into the main den. She would sleep most of the day and even when she was awake she was towards the back just staring towards the entrance as if they might appear.

Which was exactly where she was, both physically present but mentally unsure of what was really going on around her. Her silver ears flicked dismissively at Serach’s call, not recognizing its urgency nor the seeping smell of smoke intruding on the den. It wasn’t until she felt a prodding nose against her side that she blinked aware towards Mabel’s panicked face. Getting to her paws she allowed her daughter to steer her out of the entrance and once she was out what was really happening dawned on her.

The air was thick and hot. It clogged her throat and instantly Aponi began to cough, eyes burning. She had never seen fire before but anyone who lived in the Bend for as long as her had heard the original story of the fire that had changed everything so long ago.  Blinking to clear the tears she lifted her own muzzle, calling for anyone who might hear her. Mabel was here but where were the other children?

loving you is fire & then it’s rain.

The girl should have known something was off but there was so much she still didn't know. So she figured the smog was something natural that happened. Just like how the weather had cooled off recently compared to her first few weeks outside of the den. She didn't like the feeling it gave her though. Her throat felt funny.

With a bit of frustration, she quit her adventuring and went to seek out one of the adults. Although a familiar sound pierced the air with a tone she had never heard before. It startled her and the girl quickly bolted for the den. Her gangly legs working overtime to carry her back to the familiar place she felt so comfortable in. Then her mother's voice followed soon after the urgent tones of her father. Afraid was not a feeling Kisina was used to but it was very much what she felt in that moment.

"MOM!" She yelled as she came crashing onto the scene, almost barreling right into her sister and mother.

It was like fog, but so much worse.

Corsair was making a beeline straight for the pack den, trying not to gag on the acrid smells flooding his nostrils. His father's call had come too late for him; he had started running as soon as the scent of smoke hit him. He had spared only a moment, where curiosity had turned him towards the direction of the fire, before instinct kicked in and spurred him towards the safest place he knew - his mother's side.

But the smoke was fast, and it didn't seem to matter how much closer he got to the den because relief wasn't coming. His lungs were filled with it, and it stung his eyes mercilessly. By the time he made it to the den, he was panting and coughing so bad he thought his chest was going to explode. "Kisina! Mabel!" They needed to get out of there, but that was only half of his siblings. "AZRA! AYLA!!" He started shouting, but he could only get their names out once before he started coughing. Leaving Mabel to handle Aponi, he nudged Kisina, urging her to keep moving.

Utterly frantic, the distance that Serach needed to cross seemed immeasurable. He was running as hard and as fast as he physically could, but it felt like he wasn't moving at all. The flames were still miles off, but the smoke was growing thicker the closer he got to the den, and all he could think about was his children, trapped and unable to escape.

By the time he arrived, he was coughing heavily and his eyes were stinging from the smoke. His tongue was hanging out of his mouth, and he was panting heavily. "Aponi!" his eyes went straight to his mate, huddled next to Mabel. He could see Corsair and Kisina beginning to leave, but Serach's stomach dropped when he realized that Azra and Ayla were still missing. Shit.

"Mabel, Corsair - get them out of here. Head to the Heights - to Kyna," he whipped his head back and forth between his two oldest children, willing them to understand and get moving. "I love you, be careful," his eyes flicked to Aponi before he turned and ran south and towards the smoke, hoping to god that he found his other two children quickly.

SERACH & APONI DONATA

 

They hadn’t had to wait long before being joined by Kisina, Corsair and finally Serach. But, before her mate had made his entrance her own voice had been frantic as her eyes swept the area, ”Has anyone Seen Azra and Ayla? Does anybody know where they are!?” Please god, let them be together somewhere safe and not anywhere near the fire or the thick smoke which was threatening to choke her. The male Donata joining them filled her both with relief and dread, he was alive and well, but he was alone.

Shaking her head vigorously at his words, Mabel had already stepped away to follow her siblings. Leaping out in front of the man she pressed her skull against his chest, ”You can’t go alone, you can’t go.” But, she already knew what he would say. Someone needed to go with the kids they had accounted for to make sure they were okay, that there was no other way, that they had to save their family.

Without putting up much of a fight Aponi let Serach by her, knowing there really was no other way to try to get them all out alive. She stood there, frozen and watched his white coat be swallowed by the billowing smoke. Her legs shook as she yelled after him, ”I love you Serach.” Then, the mother clenched her burning eyes shut and turned to follow after her children, praying this wouldn’t be the last time she would see her mate or Azra and Ayla.

loving you is fire & then it’s rain.

Kisina was content to hide herself against Mabel's side. She appreciate the sense of familiarity even when things seemed so out of control. The air seemed to brutalize her airway and lungs in a way she had never felt before. Her eyes watered and it seemed no amount of blinking could keep the tears away. Then she was swept away by Corsair and a heavy frown was plastered onto her face. She had heard her father but by the time she could get a look he was gone, consumed by the thick air. At least her mother and one older sister still seemed present.

"Why isn't dad coming? Where's Azra? Ayla?" Kisina softly asked her brother as she attempted to bury herself into Corsair's side. The idea of personal space was lost on her in that moment. Granted it seemed like a good moment for her to stick close to her older siblings.

Corsair was tripping over himself, trying to herd Kisina while anxiously looking back over his shoulder for his older sister and mother. He was trying to keep an eye out for Azra and Ayla, hoping that they would come bursting out of the trees at any moment. There was a momentary sensation of relief when the voice of his father cut through the chaos, followed by the familiar pale figure. But any sense of stability was washed away as quickly as it came when his father did not immediately guide them to safety, instead shouting instructions before running off. Corsair could only nod his head dumbly, barely resisting the urge to whine in protest.

But then Kisina was pressed against his side, and Mabel and Aponi were on the move. Swallowing his fears, he closed his eyes against the sting of the smoke and took a few steps forward, nudging Kisina's ears reassuringly but with a sense of urgency. "He's gonna find Ayla and Azra. They're gonna be okay, and so are we. But we gotta go. Time to be brave, okay?" But he didn't feel brave, and so he could not be sure how reassuring his tone of voice was, interrupted by a cough caused by the smoke's assault on his lungs.

Waiting only to make sure that Kisina was with him, Corsair took off running towards the border and what he hoped was safety.