CHAPTER 69

Dan

I stifle the cough that threatens to burst out of me by pressing my mouth against my arm and tilting my face away from the worst of the smoke. One thing is certain: This fire is going far out of control.

My eyes are burning from the smoke, and the fumes are irritating my throat and impairing my vision.

Fun, Jade had mentioned. Enjoyable.

I understood why I should have been anxious.

I'm going to burn myself out of this tree with his concept of fun.

My rifle and my sight are drawn to my right by a sudden movement. My photographs now are more about feeling my way than looking because I'm so far up and there's smoke pouring below.

A wolf appears from behind a tree, its fur coloured reddish-brown. I pull the trigger.

I have a split second to compose myself; the shot seems nice, but the wolf has moved from where it was just a moment before.

B*tch.

I look for my next objective. It's harder now that the wolves are aware that I'm up here and that I'm not just capable of firing, but also ai