1269_UgliesFreeBook

FIRESTORM
At first there was a sound like a roaring wind in her
dreams.
Then a tearing noise filled the air, the crackle of dry
brush inflamed, and the smell of smoke swept over Tally,
bringing her suddenly and completely awake.
Billowing clouds of smoke surrounded her, blotting out
the sky. A ragged wall of flame moved through the flowers,
giving off a wave of blistering heat. She grabbed her knapsack
and stumbled down the hill away from the fire.
Tally had no idea in which direction the river lay.
Nothing was visible through the dense clouds. Her lungs
fought for air in the foul brown smoke.
Then she spotted a few rays from the setting sun
breaching the billows, and she oriented herself. The river
was back toward the flame, on the other side of the hill.
Tally retraced her path to the top of the hill and peered
down through the smoke. The fire was growing stronger.
Fingers of it shot up the hill, leaping from one beautiful
flower to another, leaving them scorched and black. Tally