The flames on each side of the stream gradually burned out, leaving a smoking gray world of ash, embers, blackened remains of trees, an occasional isolated pocket of flames. The smoke, while thick, had thinned some. DeeAnna stood up and surveyed where she was. She could see the hazy outline of hills. Without their trees, they looked strange yet familiar. It was a familiarity which made little sense. It took some time to orient herself. Against the smokey sky, the sun was a dull disk. DeeAnna used it to get a better sense of direction. She thought she could intersect the forest road by bearing to her right. Setting out, she reached it an hour later. Once on the road, she was confident that she was headed for the highway and help. DeeAnna tried not to think of Butch. He'd been a loving, loyal companion for nearly five years. She had no notion of his survival. She was amazed to still be alive. A few tears washed a trail down DeeAnna's sooty cheeks. She limped down the forest road now bereft of its forest. It wasn't too long before DeeAnna heard a vehicle somewhere ahead of her. The sound of its motor grew louder. A four-wheel drive fire truck truck popped into view and slammed on its brakes. "Hey! We've got a live one!" Three firefighters hopped out of the truck and rushed over to DeeAnna. They quickly checked her for injuries and applied first aid to her burns. One handed her a bottle of water. DeeAnna greedily sucked it empty. She tossed the bottle aside and asked for another. She was quickly handed another. "Were you by yourself? or are there others in your party?" "Only my dog." A second truck drove up, this time from the opposite direction. It was a large pumper truck. In the front seat sat two men. Between them was a large dog. "Hey, lady? Is that your dog?" one of her rescuers asked. Blinking back her tears, DeeAnna stared where he pointed. Butch was jumping all over the cab, barking loudly. He jumped through the open window and ran toward DeeAnna. Butch was almost to her, when he suddenly dropped to his stomach just a few feet from her. He seemed ashamed, like he didn't have a right to come to her. It dawned on DeeAnna that Butch was feeling much as she had felt about him. We both felt we let the other guy down, she thought. DeeAnna stretched out her hand and beckoned for Butch to approach. Tears coursed down her face until she could hardly make out Butch's features, as the big dog lunged forward and knocked her over. ___________________________________________ Don't you just love a happy ending? Thanks for all your comments and encouragements. Wouldn't you know it, I'd find a picture that I thought was lost after I'd posted something else? Jeremy CREDITS: Vue 6.0 and Poser 6.0. Female figure: Victoria 4.2++ with Firemen: All created by Max Grueter (Google Warehouse). Vehicle: "Brush fire_truck" by TRL (Google Warehouse). Fire materials and props: Monsoon's "Fire Scenes for Vue6"(Cornucopia3d. Grasses: Jan Walter Schliep's "Mouse Ear Grass" and "Dandelion Grass;" and Linda D. aka Frenchkiss's "Lush Grasses"-- all from (Cornucopia3d). Trees from Vue 6 plant folder.