Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

TANNER

T anner squinted against the smoky haze as he stood on the ridge overlooking the vast expanse of burning forest. He scented the air and could definitely smell some kind of accelerant—and not in just one location. The arsonist had to have set several devices and then detonated them at the same time. The crackling of flames and the roar of the wind filled his ears, while ash and embers danced in the air around him. The wildfire was growing rapidly into a monstrous inferno, devouring everything in its path.

"Tanner! We've got to move!" shouted Jimmy, the rookie who was quickly learning and would soon be a rookie no more. His face, like Tanner's own, was streaked with soot and sweat.

Tanner tore his gaze away from the blazing panorama and nodded. "We need those planes, Jimmy. This fire's out of control."

He grabbed his radio, fumbling slightly with his thick, gloved hands. "This is North to all units. We're up on the ridge. This thing is feeding itself. I'm calling in immediate air support. Repeat, I am calling in immediate air support. Keep yourselves safe."

The radio snapped and popped. Intense heat was hell on communications. "The Forest Service is going to take more time than we've got," said one of the other team leads.

"I have a friend; he's already got them called up and headed our way. I just need to give them the precise coordinates."

Tanner pulled out his satellite phone and pulled off his glove to ensure he dialed correctly.

"Tanner, it's Ash. We're en route. I have two water planes with me and two more to follow from the mainland. Where are we coming, and do you need ground support?"

Tanner gave him the coordinates for the first two water dumps. "I believe we have multiple points of origin for these fires. Coordinate with the chief for ground support, but yeah, we'll take all the help we can get."

"Is Kodiak safe?"

"I think we can get in front of it. But if the wind shifts, we may need to think about evacuation."

Static crackled in response before a calm voice broke through. "Roger that, Tanner. Water bombers en route. ETA ten minutes. Hang tight."

Tanner exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Ten minutes felt like an eternity in the midst of this fiery chaos. He looked around at his crew, their faces set in grim determination as they fought to create firebreaks and douse smaller spot fires.

"Listen up!" Tanner spoke into their comm units. "Air support's on its way. We need to hold this line until they get here. Focus on protecting the city. If the wind shifts, we're going to be in trouble."

"Tanner, should I tell my wife and kids to get to the harbor?" asked Mike.

"I don't think it would hurt. Your house is going to be in the fire's path if it decides to gobble up the city. Keep your fire blankets ready. Jimmy, take one of the guys and scout for some place along the ridge where we might be able to ride it out if it heads our way."

"Are we going to die?" asked Jimmy off the comm unit.

"Not on my watch, we're not. Find me a cave or something where we've got rock in front of us or behind us. Now, move!"

Tanner watched as Jimmy swallowed his fear and went to do Tanner's bidding.

The team sprang into action with renewed vigor. Tanner joined them, his eyes constantly darting to the sky, willing the planes to appear more quickly. The heat was intense, the air thick with smoke, making every breath a struggle. Time seemed to stretch and warp, each second dragging on interminably.

Finally, a distant rumble reached his ears, growing louder and more distinct. Tanner's heart leaped as he saw the first plane appear, a silver speck against the darkened sky. It swooped low, releasing a torrent of water that cascaded down onto the flames, creating a hissing roar as it hit the burning trees.

"Here they come!" Tanner shouted, pointing to the sky.

Before the second plane could dump its load, there was a subtle shift in the wind that didn't feel at all natural. Well, not at all natural unless you were a drakaina. They were going to have to have a long talk about his expectation that she would not just take on a wildfire.

MELISANDRE

Melisandre's blue and silver scales glittered in the smoky twilight as she soared high above the burning forest. The harbor had been a hubbub of activity, but none of it below her balcony. Her deep, quick background check on Stuart had proved Tanner right. At least in her view, and right now that, and keeping Tanner and his team safe, was all that mattered. If she could get above the water planes, she could see if she could encourage the wind to shift. She could also provide a fire break far quicker than Tanner and the other firemen. And if push came to shove, she could get Tanner and several others out of harm's way.

Stepping out naked onto her balcony, she had called forth her drakaina, who seemed to have anticipated Melisandre's need for her. Rearing up on her back legs, she beat her wings against the wind and lifted up quickly into the smoke and clouds, so that they provided her with a layer of protection from those who didn't need to know dragons really existed.

Melisandre reached out along the bonding link that both she and Tanner had been ignoring. She had avoided even acknowledging it but was now glad to have an idea where her fated mate could be found. She banked in his direction, intending to take an aerial view of the fire before seeing how she could help. She would need to use the smoke and clouds as cover as she was certain he would have called in air support.

The air was thick with ash and embers, and the acrid smoke burned her nostrils. Her powerful wings sliced through the murk with ease. Below, the wildfire raged, a sea of flames consuming everything in its path.

Her sharp-eyed focus scanned the chaos, searching for the best place to intervene. She knew Tanner and the other firefighters would be fighting with everything they had to turn the fire away from the city and then put it out. The problem was, the wind was not cooperating with them. Mother nature seemed to have joined forces with the fire. The men who were toiling so valiantly below needed more help than their planes could offer. It was up to her to make a difference.

With a mighty beat of her wings, she ascended higher, breaking through the thick veil of smoke into the clear, star-studded sky above. Melisandre positioned herself between the fire and its destructive path and the city she realized now she considered home. Up here, the air was cool and crisp, a stark contrast to the inferno below. She hovered for a moment, relishing the sensation of freedom, before turning her focus back to the task at hand.

Melisandre could feel the currents of air swirling around her in the natural patterns of the wind. She closed her eyes and extended her senses, becoming one with the sky. Slowly, she began to beat her wings in a deliberate, rhythmic pattern, each stroke creating subtle ripples in the air. She beat her wings harder and faster, but she feared she would not be able to create enough pressure to shift the air's current.

She was about to give up hope when she felt an almost imperceptible shift in the wind. Above the roar of the fire and the flapping of her own wings, she could hear another, even more powerful disturbance in the tide of the air. Melisandre glanced to her right to see a large dragon she didn't recognize, aligning itself side-by-side with her, its massive wings beating in unison with her own. The synchronized motion created a powerful shift in the flow of the air. Their combined strength and rhythm transformed the turbulent sky into a dazzling display of raw power and momentum. Melisandre knew her eyes glinted with fierce determination, while the other dragon exuded a calm, controlled energy. Together, they harnessed the wind, their great wings creating a formidable force that bent the air to their will. The sky around them swirled with their effort, showcasing the might and majesty of the two incredible dragons.

At first, the changes were imperceptible, the wind howled and refused to acknowledge their power, but then, it subtly began to shift. The fierce, hot gusts driving the fire toward Kodiak began to wane, replaced by a stronger, more controlled current of air. She could feel the resistance of the wind and the flames, the fiery tendrils reaching hungrily for more fuel, but she remained steadfast. There was a brief flare that singed a small spot on her wing. Melisandre blew it out and continued to work to turn the tide of the wildfire.

Her wings moved with a grace and precision honed over her long lifespan, each beat a carefully calculated maneuver. She adjusted her altitude, her angle, and the strength of her wing strokes, guiding the wind with an almost artistic finesse. The dragon beside her matched the beating of its wings to her own. Slowly but surely, the flames responded, bending to their collective will.

Below, the firefighters looked up, but all they could see were the planes, the clouds, and the smoke. But their focus remained on the fire and how its advance suddenly slowed, then began to shift direction. They didn't know what was causing the change, and they didn't care. They seized the opportunity with renewed vigor, working tirelessly to contain the blaze.

Melisandre continued her dance with the wind, her heart pounding with exertion and determination. She could feel the strain in her muscles, but she pressed on, knowing that every moment counted. The fire was turning, moving away from the vulnerable town and into an area already scorched, where it would find little to fuel its fury.

When she was finally satisfied with the wind's new course, she glanced to her right, but the other dragon had disappeared. Exhausted from her efforts and with no trace of the unknown dragon to follow, Melisandre allowed herself to glide back down through the smoke, remaining hidden from view. The heat of the flames licked at her scales, but she paid it no mind. She landed rather clumsily on a charred hilltop, her wings folding neatly against her sides. She'd need to let the damaged wing repair itself. She could still fly, but she wouldn't be as graceful as she normally was.

From her vantage point, she could see the firefighters rallying, their efforts now more effective against the redirected blaze. She watched them for a moment, a sense of deep satisfaction welling up inside her. She had done her part, subtly guiding the wind to aid those who needed it most. She had kept Tanner safe.

With a final, proud glance at those below, Melisandre took to the sky once more, her dark silhouette blending in with the encroaching night. She soared into the night, her heart light with the knowledge that even in the face of such destruction, hope could still be found in the most unexpected places.

From above, Melisandre heard a large, angry squawk. She looked up to see the ice phoenix beating its wings ineffectively to try and fan the remaining flames back into a threat. Awkwardly Melisandre took to the sky, rising up behind the bird, and inhaled deeply, intending to incinerate the creature. Instead of a clearing breath, she wheezed, unable to produce a flame.

The ice phoenix heard her, seemed to think about confronting her, but thought better of it. Melisandre might not have had fire to breathe, but she was still a formidable opponent, and she was pissed as hell.

TANNER

One after another, the planes followed, each one dumping thousands of gallons of water on the fire before heading to the harbor to refill. Steam billowed up in great clouds as the flames were temporarily beaten back. Tanner watched with a mix of relief and awe as the water bombers made pass after pass, their efforts providing a critical reprieve. Between his mate and the water planes, the wildfire was gradually coming under control.

"Alright, let's push forward!" Tanner urged his team. "We've got a chance to get a handle on this sucker. Let's not waste it!"

The crew surged ahead, working with renewed energy. The combined efforts of the ground team and the aerial support began to turn the tide. Slowly but surely, the inferno's advance was halted, then reversed. The flames that had seemed unstoppable were now shrinking, beaten back by the relentless assault from above and below.

Hours later, as the sun began to set and the fire was finally under control, Tanner stood once more on the ridge, surveying the smoldering landscape. The planes had done their job, and his team, working with the others, had held the line. Exhausted but triumphant, Tanner allowed himself a moment of quiet pride.

"We did it," Jimmy said, coming to stand beside him.

Tanner nodded, a small smile breaking through his grim and grimy expression. "Yeah, we did. But let's not forget, there's always another fire." He tapped his comm unit. "The chief and Asher Wells have the stations covered. Let's get some rest while we can."

As they headed back to Tanner's truck, his enhanced hearing picked up the sound of what he believed to be the ice phoenix followed by a kind of weak wheezing. He realized the latter had to be Melisandre, and that something was very wrong.

"Jimmy, I need to check something out. Catch a ride on the rig," he called over his shoulder as he sprinted towards his truck.

"Do you need help?" called Jimmy.

"No. I've got this," he jumped into his truck, started the engine, and headed for the other ridge, praying he was right.