we didn't start the [FIRE IN ABAVEN]

She had joined Abaven a few days prior, and while she had picked out a place to den, she hadn't quite finished digging it out. She had chosen a spot near the edge of the thicket for now, at least until she felt more comfortable and integrated herself more into the pack. She had a few herbs set in a disheveled pile, not quite put away. She wanted to finish her den before starting a big pile, so for now she just had a few of the basics before the season completely wiped them out. Having worked on her den since dawn, she had decided to take a nap after all her hard work. She curled up in her shallow den, head resting against dirtied limbs and was out like a light in a few short seconds.

She was unaware of the storm that was brewing outside. Her sleep was deep and dreamless. She didn't smell the smoke or hear the thunder that shook the world. It wasn't until the distant echoes of howling stirred her that she finally woke, though not as fast as she should have. Outside of her den, she could see a thick black curtain that prevented her from seeing beyond the mouth of her den, and for a moment she thought she had slept until nightfall. It wasn't until her groggy mind realized, however, that it wasn't the darkness of night that enveloped her, but smoke. Her nostrils flared and she breathed in, only to choke and sputter as the burning smell completely enveloped her. Panicked, she stood up and sought to find her way outside, into the veil that blocked her senses. She could hear howling and the distant cries of what she assumed were her new packmates, but she couldn't quite tell where they were. She was outside she was sure, but the smoke was thick and heavy and the air felt incredibly dry and hot.

Glancing around, she could barely see her own feet let alone which way was safe to go. She took a few steps forward before she heard crackling behind her, and almost as soon as she turned around she saw the orange glow of fire encroaching over her den. Wide eyed with fear, she stumbled away from her den and into the thickness of the smoke that surrounded her. It felt hot on all sides, and all she could hear and focus on was the crackling of flames as the glow grew brighter. Soon, she realized that no matter which way she went there was fire. She was surrounded, and she had no idea how to get away from it. The smell of smoke made it harder for her to breath, and it sent her into an eye watering coughing fit. Her heart pounded in her ears as she desperately tried to find a way out.

Her den wasn't safe anymore. It was likely swallowed by the flames at this point. Panting and struggling to breath, she figured there had to be a safe path somewhere. She stood there to try and think, but the onslaught of wind drove the fire a little too close and before she could react, it practically jumped at her and she felt the searing pain of it sizzle the skin and fur on her right side. She screwed her eyes against the pain and the heat that she felt, and it was all that was needed to send her running blindly through the smoke. A wall of fire was all around her, and in her panicked state she called for the only name she knew. "Octaaavve!!" She cried out, though it was likely he couldn't hear her over the roar of fire. Desperate to get away, the only choice she could think to make was to run through the fire.

She would probably singe her fur, but she didn't think about any potential consequences other than just trying to survive. Charging ahead, she raced towards the flames that ate the field ahead of her, narrowing her eyes and pinning her ears against the heat it gave off before she coiled her legs and launched forward. She briefly soared through the flames, feeling the heat lick at her body for a moment until she landed on the other side. Unfortunately, she had been unable to land right and she stumbled and rolled into the ground. What had already burned on this side was still hot and riddled with glowing embers, almost like coals that glowed in a fireplace. A few spots still burned with low flames that consumed whatever little vegetation had been left. When she finally stopped rolling, the right side of her face hit a portion of the ground that had yet to cool, and she yelped and screamed with pain as the flames licked at her once again. She struggled a little too long to get up due to panic and pain, and when she finally did find her feet again, the fur and skin on a portion of her face had burned.

She stumbled blindly, the inhalation of smoke the whole time had made her dizzy and struggling to breathe now. She managed a few, short yards before collapsing on the ground, the whole ordeal rendering her unconscious.