Smoke

*Chet*

The rising sun beats down, warming my dark fur as I rush across the open prairie. Mo, Kan, and Takoda keep up with me, but just barely. We left our packlands late yesterday and have been running all night. I don’t plan to stop running until I see Unega again.

Yet, that feeling inside of me that something is absolutely wrong has died a bit. I still sense that she is in danger, but it is a slow ember burning in my gut, as it has been since the moment she told me she was embarking on this journey across the great ocean of grass. The prairie is every bit as dangerous as the sea, and here, sharks hide in every shadow.

The scent of smoke hits my lungs, and I slow, lifting my head to take a deep breath. Something is on fire. I come to a stop and inhale a few more times. The scent of bu……