Ice Always Melts

Chapter IV

Luna sat up, looking to the sky. It was a foggy day, the empty sky completely gray. It wasn't humid enough to rain, but it was gloomy enough to keep out the fighting sun. The smoke smell stung her nose, but Luna couldn't see where it was coming from.

Then she looked behind her.

The gray sky was scattered, black plumes of smoke rising to the sky. She couldn't see flames, but judging by the smoke, it was large. Was the forest on fire?

Elwynn!

Luna stood up in seconds, all judgment gone, and she took a step towards the fire. Her home! It was burning! Her family could be trapped! Could her or her father's powers put it out? She needed to try!

The wolf barked at her.

Except it wasn't her wolf!

This wolf had snow white fur, not a spot of black on him. His eyes were gold, like the pup from last night, and they were about the same size. Luna took a step away from the tiny beast, and the wolf cocked his head to the side, as if saying 'What's the matter with you?' It couldn't be the same wolf from last night, could it? No, it was light enough last night to tell his fur was black, not pure white. Except...the dog's fur wasn't pure white. A splosh of red coated the dog's leg.

His left hind leg...

It was the wolf from last night! But how on earth did he change his pelt color overnight?  Could it be magic? That sounded silly, Luna said to herself, but she didn't have any other idea.

Then she breathed in the smoke again. And her priorities were set.

"C'mon!" She yelled to the wolf, as she bolted towards the source of the fire. The pup's golden eyes were wide with fear, but she still heard his rough steps as he followed the girl.

Luna didn't have time to cry, as she raced once more through the thorns and undergrowth. Shoving branches out of the way, the smoke smell getting stronger and stronger as she ran, nothing looked familiar yet. She leapt over tree roots and stones, not having time to fall and get back up. The trees covered any sight of the sky, but Luna could see the blackness of the smoke from the leaves. She was getting closer, the wolf catching up and running beside her. Maybe it wasn't Elwynn that was on fire. Maybe it was something else. Maybe her family was still okay.

Maybe, maybe, maybe.

Then she saw the river.

It was the same 3 meter long river she had ran across the day before, the same river that ran through the forest of her land. Except this wasn't the Frost's land; it was a farm. Trees chopped down to make a field or two of corn and wheat, a cabin by a path in front of it. The smoke rose like a demon, high in the sky, in front of the poor little twelve year old's eyes.

The farmhouse was on fire.

She could see all of Elwynn from the cleared area...

It was all burning down.

Luna screamed, and started to race upriver. Her home was only minutes away, but caught in the circle of smoke that clouded the village. The little wolf struggled with his leg, but followed the scared child up the banks of the freezing river. Why the human was running towards the smoke, instead of away, the pup couldn't comprehend. The girl had helped him last night, and he could smell power emanating from her. So, the wolf followed blindly.

Tears stained Luna's face, falling freely from her red eyes, as she ran up the banks, coughing as smoke filled her lungs. The fire was spreading to the surrounding forests! Even if the river stopped it, all of Elwynn would be destroyed! She ran into the water, crossing the stream, and hearing the splash as the wolf swam behind her. Where were the people? Why was no one else screaming and crying as their village burned? Surely someone made it out alive! Someone had to! Her family had to!