“Fire”

He stands at the edge of the cliff peering out over the valley. It is on fire again. People and animals run for their lives. Many will not make it. Many are running their final laps around their homes. They lived in harmony for many seasons, but this one was just too strong. Mother Nature decided enough was enough. It was time to make room for new growth.

He didn’t mean to start the fire. He was just out for a walk smoking a cigarette. He didn’t think anything of it when he dropped the butt on the ground. He always stomps it out. But, today, it didn’t go out all the way. The burning cherry willed itself back to life. Mother Nature took notice and took advantage of the opportunity. She blew the cigarette butt amongst the trees, and they all took a puff. “One last puff and we’ll all go into the night, back home to Mother,” the trees said.

When he hiked up to the park, it was too late to do anything but stare down at the chaos. He hadn’t heard the fire start, and it must have spread quickly. The villagers smelled the smoke, but the river was dry. There was no water to throw on the flames. The fire surrounded their homes, and Mother Nature blew the flames on their homes. Some managed to grab essentials and break through holes in the wall of fire. Others tried to run for it, but the flames caught them and tackled them to the ground. Their cries echoed through the valley, and all he could do was listen.

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