Luna sprinted down the mountainside, her paws pounding against the rough, uneven terrain. The sound of her panting filled the air, her tongue lolling out in the cool night breeze. Her eyes, sharp and focused, scanned the path ahead, but the scent of smoke lingered in her nose, clouding her senses.

  She didn’t fully understand why Max had asked her to leave. Every instinct she had screamed to stay by his side, to protect him as she always had. But his voice—his eyes—had told her everything she needed to know. He was in trouble, and she was the only one who could save him.

  With every step, Luna pushed forward, away from the safety of the cave and into the wild. The mountain seemed vast and endless, the darkness pressing in from all sides. The smell of the forest fire grew stronger, and every now and then, a faint orange glow flickered in the distance, a reminder of the danger that chased them both.

  But Luna wasn’t afraid. Not for herself. Her only thought was getting help for Max, getting back to him before the fire or the cold claimed him. She had to. She wouldn’t fail him.

  As she moved down the rocky trail, the terrain grew steeper, and the once-clear path became harder to follow. Loose rocks shifted beneath her paws, sending small landslides of gravel tumbling down the slope. She leapt over fallen branches and navigated jagged boulders, her body moving with the fluid grace of a creature built for survival.

  But the mountain wasn’t making it easy.

  A gust of wind swept through the trees, carrying the scent of burning wood and embers, causing Luna to pause. She turned her head toward the source of the smell, her ears pricking up at the crackle of distant flames. The fire was getting closer. She could feel its heat in the air now, the smoke thickening around her.

  Luna pushed onward, her pace quickening as she darted around trees and over fallen logs. The forest had always been a place of comfort for her, a world she knew well. But tonight, it felt different, menacing. The smoke was her constant companion now, stinging her eyes and filling her lungs.

  Ahead, a massive tree had fallen across the path, blocking her way forward. Luna skidded to a halt, her claws digging into the dirt as she eyed the obstacle. It was too tall for her to jump and too wide to go around quickly. Her heart raced as she looked for a solution. There wasn’t time to waste.

  With a low growl of determination, Luna lowered herself to the ground and crawled beneath the tree, her body wriggling through the narrow gap between the trunk and the earth. The bark scraped against her sides, but she pushed forward, her mind set on the mission.

  Once free, she leapt back to her feet and continued running. The ground beneath her paws became rougher as she descended further, the rocky slope steepening. But Luna didn’t slow. She couldn’t. Not when Max needed her.

  The fire was now a constant threat at her back, its heat nipping at her heels like a predator. Sparks flew through the air, carried by the wind, igniting small patches of dry grass along the trail. Luna dodged the flames with the agility of a wild creature, her breath coming in sharp bursts as she ran.

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  But the fire wasn’t the only danger.

  The path ahead suddenly dropped into a narrow ravine, the only way forward a precarious stone ledge clinging to the mountainside. Luna stopped at the edge, her eyes scanning the drop below. It was too far to jump, and the ledge looked fragile, barely wide enough to support her.

  For a moment, doubt flickered in her mind. Could she make it across? The fire was closing in, the heat oppressive, the smoke thick and choking. But Max’s voice echoed in her mind, his words giving her strength.

  “Go, Luna. Please.”

  With a determined bark, Luna stepped onto the ledge, her body low to the ground as she carefully moved forward. The rocks crumbled beneath her paws, sending small stones tumbling down into the ravine below, but she pressed on. Every step was deliberate, her muscles tense with focus.

  Halfway across, the ledge shifted beneath her weight, and for a heart-stopping moment, Luna’s back legs slipped off the edge. Her claws scrambled against the stone as she fought to regain her balance, her heart pounding in her chest. But she didn’t panic. She knew what she had to do.

  With a burst of strength, Luna pushed off the ledge with her front legs, launching herself forward. Her body sailed through the air for a brief, terrifying moment before her paws hit solid ground on the other side. She stumbled but quickly regained her footing, her tail wagging once in relief.

  But there was no time to celebrate. The fire was still close, and the mountain was still unforgiving.

  As she moved further down the slope, the terrain began to change. The thick forests of pine gave way to rocky clearings and sparse trees, but the fire had already claimed much of the lower mountain. The charred remains of trees stood like skeletons against the night sky, the ground blackened and smoldering.

  Luna’s pace slowed as the heat intensified, the smoke so thick now that it clouded her vision. She couldn’t stop. Max needed her.

  Through the haze of smoke, Luna spotted a faint light flickering ahead. Her ears perked up, her heart leaping in hope. Was it a search party? Was anyone coming to help?

  She broke into a sprint, her tired legs carrying her as fast as they could go. But as she neared the source of the light, her hope faltered. It wasn’t a search party. It was the flames of the forest fire, licking at the edges of the trail, consuming everything in their path.

  Luna stopped, panting heavily, her body trembling from exhaustion and fear. The fire was everywhere now, a wall of heat and flame that seemed impossible to escape. She looked around, desperate for another way down, but the trail was gone, consumed by the inferno.

  For the first time, Luna felt the weight of doubt settle over her. She had come so far, braved so much, but now, it seemed impossible to go any further. The mountain had turned into a death trap, and the fire was relentless.

  But as she stood there, staring into the heart of the flames, Luna remembered Max’s face, the way he had looked at her when he asked her to go. The trust in his eyes. The belief that she could do it.

  She couldn’t fail him.

  With a determined bark, Luna turned away from the flames and sprinted toward the rocky outcropping that jutted out from the side of the mountain. The path was rough, the rocks sharp beneath her paws, but it was the only way forward now.

  The climb was grueling, her muscles burning with every step, but Luna didn’t stop. She couldn’t. Not when Max’s life was on the line.

  Finally, after what felt like hours of climbing, Luna reached the top of the outcropping. From there, she could see the valley below, the distant lights of civilization barely visible through the smoke.

  Hope surged in her chest. She had made it. She was close.

  With renewed energy, Luna bounded down the other side of the mountain, her pace quick and sure. The fire was still close, but she had found a way around it. And now, all she had to do was reach the town below.

  For Max. Always for Max.