Max’s muscles screamed with every step, each movement a battle against exhaustion. The relentless climb up the northern face had drained his strength, leaving his limbs heavy and sluggish. Every breath came ragged, his lungs still raw from the smoke he had inhaled earlier. Though the air was clearer here, the acrid scent of burning wood still clung to the wind, a constant reminder that the fire was never far behind.

  His boots scraped against the uneven rock, sending loose stones tumbling down the slope. He adjusted his pack, the weight pressing down on his already aching shoulders. The terrain had become rougher, jagged boulders jutting out from the mountainside, forcing him to carefully pick his way forward. His legs trembled with fatigue, but he had no choice but to keep moving. Stopping wasn’t an option.

  Luna padded beside him, her fur streaked with dirt and ash. Despite her exhaustion, she stayed close, her ears perked, eyes scanning their surroundings. Every now and then, she glanced up at Max, as if checking on him, making sure he was still going. He reached down, running his fingers through her fur for a brief moment of reassurance before pressing on.

  The world felt eerily silent except for the distant roar of the fire behind them. The wind carried the occasional snap of burning timber, a haunting echo from the valley below. Max swallowed hard, forcing himself to focus on the path ahead. They still had a long way to go, and the mountain wasn’t going to make it easy.

  The temperature had dropped as they moved higher, and the sun was beginning to dip toward the horizon. They had no choice but to keep going, to find shelter before night fell completely.

  Max scanned the rocky landscape ahead, looking for any sign of a safe place to rest. His eyes caught on a dark shape in the distance—what looked like the mouth of a cave carved into the side of the mountain. It wasn’t far, and the shelter it offered could be their best hope for getting through the night.

  He motioned to Luna, “Come on, girl. Almost there.”

  With renewed determination, they pressed forward, the promise of a safe place to rest spurring them on. But just as they neared the cave, disaster struck.

  Max’s foot caught on a loose rock, and before he could catch himself, his ankle twisted sharply beneath him. He felt a sickening snap as he hit the ground, pain shooting up his leg with such intensity that it took his breath away.

  “Ahh!” Max cried out, clutching his ankle, his face contorted in pain. His vision blurred for a moment, and he bit down hard, trying to will the agony away. But it was no use. The pain was searing, and he knew immediately something was wrong—very wrong.

  Luna rushed to his side, whining softly, her eyes wide with concern. She nudged his arm with her nose, as if trying to help, but there was nothing she could do. Max gritted his teeth and tried to stand, but the moment he put weight on his ankle, white-hot pain shot through his leg, and he collapsed again with a groan.

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  He couldn’t walk.

  Max’s mind raced. They were still in danger. The fire wasn’t far behind them, and now he was immobilized, stuck on the side of a mountain with no way down. Panic threatened to take hold, but he forced himself to think. He couldn’t afford to lose his head now.

  The cave. They were close—so close. If he could just make it there, they would have shelter, a place to regroup and figure out what to do next. He had to get to the cave.

  With a deep, shuddering breath, Max braced himself and tried to drag himself forward, using his arms to pull his body across the rough ground. The pain was unbearable, each movement like a knife twisting deeper into his flesh. Sweat dripped from his brow, his body screaming at him to stop, but he pushed through, inching closer to the shelter ahead.

  Luna stayed by his side, pacing anxiously as he inched toward the cave. The journey that should have taken only moments felt like an eternity, but finally, after what seemed like hours, Max reached the mouth of the cave. He collapsed onto the cool stone floor inside, breathing heavily, his body trembling from pain and exhaustion.

  He lay there for a long moment, eyes closed, trying to catch his breath. Luna curled up beside him, resting her head on his chest as if to comfort him. Max reached down to stroke her fur, the simple act grounding him in the midst of the chaos.

  “We made it,” he whispered, though the victory felt hollow.

  But now, another problem loomed. Max was trapped. His ankle was badly injured—possibly broken—and there was no way he could hike down the mountain on his own. He was stranded.

  Luna’s bright blue eyes met his, filled with worry and loyalty, and Max felt a lump rise in his throat. She had been by his side through everything, always his protector, his companion. And now, she was the only one who could help him.

  Max swallowed hard, a painful decision forming in his mind. He didn’t want to do it, but there was no other choice. He knew what had to happen if he wanted to get help.

  “Luna,” he said quietly, his voice shaking. “I need you to go.”

  The dog’s ears perked up, but she didn’t move, as if sensing what was coming.

  “You have to go down the mountain, girl. You have to find help.”

  Tears stung Max’s eyes as he reached out to cup Luna’s face in his hands. He didn’t know if she could understand, if she would even know what to do. But he had to try. It was their only chance.

  “You’re a good girl,” Max whispered, his voice breaking. “You’ve always been a good girl. But now, I need you to do this for me. I need you to go find help.”

  Luna whimpered, her eyes wide and filled with confusion. She pressed her nose against Max’s chest, as if refusing to leave him.

  Max’s heart ached, the bond between them stronger than ever in that moment. He didn’t want her to go. He didn’t want to be alone. But there was no other option. If she stayed, they would both be trapped here, and the fire would catch up eventually.

  He sat up slowly, wincing at the pain in his leg, and pulled off his bandana, wrapping it around Luna’s collar. “This will show them you’re with me,” he said, though his voice trembled with uncertainty. “Go down the mountain, girl. Go find someone.”

  Max pointed in the direction of the trail, hoping against hope that she would understand. Luna hesitated, her body language torn between loyalty and the instinct to follow her master’s command. Max blinked back tears, his voice now barely a whisper.

  “Go, Luna… Please.”

  After what felt like an eternity, Luna finally turned, walking hesitantly toward the cave’s entrance. She looked back once, her eyes locking with Max’s, and in that moment, he felt the full weight of what he was asking her to do.

  “Be safe,” Max whispered.

  With one last look, Luna darted out of the cave, her form disappearing into the wilderness. The sound of her paws faded quickly, leaving Max in an eerie silence, alone in the cold, empty cave.

  Max leaned back against the stone wall, staring out into the empty expanse. The pain in his ankle was unbearable, but it paled in comparison to the ache in his chest. He had never felt so alone. Luna was more than just his dog—she was his partner, his family. Sending her away felt like ripping out a part of himself.

  He could only hope that she would find help. But even that hope felt fragile, uncertain, in the face of the vast wilderness and the encroaching danger of the fire.

  The cave grew darker as the sun set, casting long shadows across the rocky floor. Max lay still, his thoughts a storm of fear, pain, and worry. The fire still loomed, the smoke still hung in the air, and now all he could do was wait—wait and hope that Luna could find her way back to him before it was too late.