Sam had certainly had his fun with fire as a boy, and he wasn’t looking for any more, but the smoke seemed to be quite a distance away.
Armen didn’t want his plans derailed. He would have at least preferred to discuss it. Cindy’s departure left either of them little choice.
Horses Fleeing Fire (Jared Christopher Martin)
“Smoke,” Sam noted as he nodded up at the bruised, billowing cumulus.
“Yeah,” Armen murmured.
The boys started after Cindy.
Their sneakers fell heavily on the soft but narrow forest trail as Cindy set a harried pace. Armen struggled to keep her in sight, torn between annoyance and worry.
For his part, Sam was relieved to be heading away from the dragon. He’d had his fill of it long ago, and he wasn’t looking forward to giving it another chance. That sense of relief was overcast by a growing sense of dread as he watched the mash of footprints flash by on the trail, toes pointing in both directions. It all flew by as he flew, trying to keep his senses sharp for signs. He’d run from the dragon before. He imagined the terror that Cindy must be feeling.
The boys lost sight of Cindy. They broke into a run as the trail descended into coves along the ridge. After crossing two coves without a visual, Armen slowed to a walk and began watching the ground before him.
“Have you seen anything?” Sam asked from behind.
“I don’t know. … I don’t think so.”
“Me neither. … Do you think she might have got off the trail?”
“Shit!,” Armen exclaimed beneath his breath, then turned his head aside, closed his eyes, and repeated himself.
“Maybe the Summit Trail,” Armen added after a sigh. “… let’s follow this trail a little farther. Just a little farther.”
Sam looked back across the last ridge they’d crossed for any sign of motion, but his eye was caught by the sight of a broad, dark pillar of smoke in the distance. The fire was growing. He looked back toward Armen, and eased his glance up to Armen’s eyes. He felt the fear in them as he met them.
“Could you go for help?” Armen asked Sam. “I’ve got to go up and check the Summit Trail.”
“Alright,” Sam answered, and then paused. “Don’t—”
“I won’t.” Armen interrupted. “I’ll check the Summit Trail, but that’s it.” Armen wondered whether the mountainside and the igneous storm would let him hold to that promise.
Armen turned and hurried up the trail. Sam galloped down the mountainside, occasionally slowing where he thought he might find Cindy’s footprints. He didn’t find anything conclusive. There were prints that pointed downhill, but nothing that indicated that she’d been walking in that direction. Sam finally arrived at the ranger station and issued his report while he gasped for air.