My mothers worried voice wakes me up quickly from my sleep. I open my eyes all I can feel is blazing heat. My mom pushes my sister and I forward frantically.
Nova: Run pups! The forest is on fire!
My sister and I get up and begin running immediately. My eyes burn from the smoke as I dodge the burning oak trees that surround us, my sister's blurry form runs in front of me. The heat burns my fur like a branding iron as we turn and twist through the falling branches trying to get away. I can hear my mom screaming at us.
Nova: Run pups Run! Don't look back! Keep going!
Then a burning oak branch falls from the sky and I freeze below it out of fear, my mother shoves me out of the way of the branch, but I get a nasty burn on my shoulder from a smaller branch that broke off the big one and keep running even if it hurts. I barely hear a yelp behind us. I can't stop running. It's too hot to stop. We run as fast as we can go. I can barely see my sister in front of me. I see her jump and wade deep into the water and I follow. Shay and I are exhausted by the time we swim to the mini island. The entire forest is up in flames by the time we collapse onto the mini island panting. Shay takes a look around.
Shay: Wheres mom?! I swear she was right behind us!
Nilo: I don't know!
Shay: Mom!
Nilo: Mommy! Where are you?!
Shay: Mother?!
I blink rapidly trying to clear my vision.
Shay: Mom may have taken a wrong turn. I'm sure she'll come find us when the fire dies down.
Nilo: Sissy im scared!
Shay: Don't be. We will be ok i promise. Are you ok?
Nilo: My eyes hurt.
Nilo brushes her paws over her eyes.
Shay: Shut your eyes and try and get some rest. They'll feel better in the morning.
Nilo and Shay curl up together and sleep. Overnight the fire dies down. Shay opens her eyes in the morning and looks around. Ashes coat the skies. Shay then nudges Nilo awake.
Shay: Sis the fires gone.
Nilo: Wheres mommy?
Shay: I don't know. It's strange that mom hasn't come and found us by now. Maybe she's trapped! We had better go find her and maybe the rest of the pack!
Nilo: Sissy im scared. I don't wanna go back!
Shay: Nilo we have to find mommy. If we dont mommy will get worried.
Nilo: I don't want mommy to be scared…
Shay: Then let's Go.
Nilo: Sissy my eyes have clouds in them.
Shay (shocked): They do?!?!
Shay looks at Nilo's eyes.
Shay: Great. Your eyes were burned by the ashes. It's very likely that you'll lose your ability to see later on in life.
Nilo: Sissy I don't wanna stop seeing!
Shay: Nilo. How far can you see?
Nilo: I can see snow on the ground and a red cloud.
Shay: Im the red cloud. Follow me. I'll help you swim across the river.
Nilo: Ok sissy. I'll follow the cloud.
Shay: Follow me.
Shay wades into the water and Nilo follows. Shay tries to stay close to Nilo as they swim and pulls Nilo up when she goes under the water. They reach the other side and shake their coats off.
