Chapter 27: Saving the Mother Nature

SAVING THE MOTHER NATURE

"What... happened? D-did he turn to stone?"

Yuren just stared. He watched Baby Giant’s father freeze up, solid stone from top to bottom. Gone. One moment, he was alive; the next, nothing but a statue. Yuren had no clue how it happened—everything had seemed fine.

"B-but, how—? Is this really what I'm seeing...?"

Baby Giant was frozen too. He let out a low, shaky cry, a sound that made it clear he didn’t understand any of it, just that his dad wasn’t coming back. Not now. Maybe not ever.

His mother moved closer, almost like the situation was just what she expected. Nobody else looked surprised either.

Baby Giant’s grief was written all over him. His eyes, his body, every little move—he was lost, endlessly searching for some hint of what just happened to his dad and why. He reached out and set his paw against the stone body. His cry said everything he couldn’t.

Yuren moved closer, his hand trembling as he reached toward the stone. He had to touch it just to make sure it was real.

And then—

A sharp noise cut through the air. Yuren spun around, heart in his throat. "That noise."

Something smashed through the burning canopy overhead. Deafening. Helicopter Jets. Not just one—an entire formation.

He dived behind the stone leg, pressing his back against it. It was big enough to hide him completely.

“Okay. Stay calm; they can’t see me here. If they do, they’ll grab me, and if that happens, I won’t get to finish what Grandpa sent me here for. Tch.” He glanced at Baby Giant—motes of light flickering around the big creature, wind blowing cinders through his hair. “I’m sorry, Baby Giant. I’m sorry about your dad. It hurts, but... He's gone. And he was brave. Without him, I probably wouldn’t be around either.”

Baby Giant let out another quiet, mournful sound.

The jets started dropping water—heavy bursts that crashed through the burning forest—rain delivered by machines. Firefighters were doing their best to save whatever was left inside the wall.

“Look at the flames; the fire’s everywhere,” someone shouted from one of the helicopters. “Are we already too late? This must’ve been burning for a while. How did the watchtower teams not catch it? ”

“Not our place to point fingers,” another said. “It happened. All we can do is move faster if we want to keep Sariayah from turning into dust.”

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“I know, I know—ten people isn’t enough. We need at least thirty. Otherwise we’re stuck here all night—unless it actually rains.”

“Not gonna happen. Sky’s just black from smoke. Wishing on the weather isn’t saving anybody,” the other replied sharply. “Less talk, more buckets—we need a lot more water. Hell, I’m almost empty already. I’ll have to go refill. You with me? ”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

Their pair peeled off, engines roaring. Just two, but you could tell they were in sync. The rest of the teams fell into line, regrouping to refuel and head out again.

“This is the job we signed up for. We own it.”

One of the pilots leaned on the radio. “Hey, did you see those Aelphians? They’re actually helping us out. Been at it longer than we have, looks like.”

“I never thought I’d see that.”

“Yeah, kind of wild—first time for everything.”

A burst of ragged laughter came over the radio.

“What’s funny? ”

“Nothing much. Just... makes you feel less alone out here, you know? There’s always something in these woods. God’s got a sense of humor.”

The other man smiled—Yuren just barely caught a glimpse—then his tone went serious. “The problem is, nothing living in that forest’s coming back.”

He nodded, the sadness in his voice clear. “Yeah. Can’t do anything for things already lost. All we can do now is keep the damage from spreading.”

* * *

“They’re going back to refill? These firefighters aren’t like the ones I read about as a kid,” Yuren muttered under his breath. “Guess tech didn’t get that much better after all.” He shrugged. "Maybe these pilots were the city’s new heroes too—didn’t matter." He still had a job to do.

“I have to find the bandana,” he said, slipping out from behind the stone body. “I can’t stay here.”

He turned to Baby Giant, pressing a hand to his rough hide. “Stay right here until the fire dies down. You hear me? Please understand me. It’s safer.”

Yuren ran. He kept telling himself he could handle it by himself this time. But with every step, the fire just got worse. Hot as an oven, smoke burning his lungs. It was everywhere—too much for anyone to cross alone now. A burning branch crashed down in front of him, so close he could smell the scorched wood and feel the heat.

He hit the ground hard, coughing, dust and ash clinging to his skin.

Behind him, Baby Giant’s cry rang out, weak and lonely—it hit Yuren right in the gut.

Suddenly, he got it. He needed help. There was no way he’d get through all this on his own. Maybe Baby Giant could be that help.

He pushed himself up and didn’t bother brushing off the soot. He looked back at the big creature, catching the glimmer of hope in those huge eyes. Yuren knew what he had to do: ask for help. Ask the only friend he had left to fight alongside him. Now he just hoped Baby Giant would say yes.

*****

High above, wind rattled the Helicopter Jets, dust streaking the glass. One broke away from the formation.

“Hey! Jethro, where do you think you’re going? "The radio crackled. “You losing your mind?"

“I know a closer spot for water. Come with me.”

“You’re serious? ”

“Yeah. We can’t keep flying all the way back every time. Too slow. This is an emergency—it needs speed, not routine. We’re the only ones who can try this, so let’s go.” Jethro sounded tired of excuses now. “We always get the short end here. Seems like what we need most is usually right under our nose.”

“How are we even supposed to do that? ”

“Just trust me. We’re not coming back until we’re full.”

The other pilot groaned. “Your show, but if it goes wrong, you know what we’re in for.”

Jethro barely hesitated. “Yeah, I know. Let’s move.”