Chapter 7- Another Fire, New Friends and Coyote

"All aircraft and jumpers, lightning storm came through", Patch reported the next morning, startling me awake. "We've got multiple starts north of Skyline Drive, east of Coil Springs."

It took me a second to wake up. I had stayed up until nearly one o'clock, talking to Susannah. I'd barely even noticed when Dusty came back. He ignored me again, but maybe that was just because I was on the phone.

Blade descended onto the base runway. "Lightning storm started a whole slew of spot fires and they've merged", he explained. "This is a big one."

"Winds are out of the southwest with a moderate rate of spread", Patch continued.

Windlifter shifted his gaze towards the treetops. "Rapid", he murmured.

"Wait, we have an update: rapid rate of spread", Patch confirmed.

"Whoa! How'd you do that?" I wondered, impressed.

"Dipper, you and Windlifter load up", Blade commanded. "Champ, Hazelwood, wait in the hangar."

"Yes, sir." I started heading in the direction of the hangar.

Dusty seemed disappointed with this instruction and grabbed my arm to stop me. "What?"

"Blade, Dusty and David have been practicing so hard", Dipper protested.

"This ain't no campfire", Blade countered.

"Come on, I can do this!" Dusty insisted.

"You're not certified", Blade stated simply.

"Just give them a shot", Dipper urged.

"They're not certified!" Blade repeated.

"We need every plane we've got", Windlifter reasoned.

"I want to help", Dusty insisted.

"So do I", I assured the chief, "but if you don't think we're ready, we understand, right, Dusty?"

Dusty didn't answer.

"Maru!" Blade called.

"Yeah, Blade?"

"Load him up!" Blade flew away to the scene of the fire.

"Okay!" Maru obliged.

Once Dusty was loaded with retardant and I had my uniform on and all my gear, Maru took our picture.

"What was that for?" Dusty wondered.

Maru smirked. "The Wall."


This was a big one, all right; about twice the size of the one we'd seen on our first day. Although Dragon had to push me out of Cabbie because I was too afraid, I was working very hard with the Smokejumpers, cutting logs and moving them.

At one point, Dragon gave the log a hard hack with his axe, but got it stuck. He gave several tugs to free it, but he was struggling.

"I got it, mate!" Macca rushed to his aid and was efficient to free the axe and break the log.

I smiled. The Smokejumpers may have had a sense of humour and they may have been rather competitive over plenty of things, but they never lost their focus when it came to their jobs.

Poor Dusty. It still didn't look like he was getting the hang of his training. Blade told him that he sprayed his retardant too high. Windlifter had to cover for him.

Just as I was chopping a log, I heard Dynamite yelling behind me. "Let's go! Let's go right now!"

Dragon almost lost his balance as he put his axe down. I grabbed his arm to steady him and led him along after the other Smokejumpers. Only the wind shifted, sending the flames directly into our path.

"Dragon! Macca! David!" Dynamite gasped. "Your fire extinguishers!"

"Darn it!" I groaned, my heart rate rising. "Mine's empty!" Remain calm, I reminded myself. Panicking never helps. It worked. My heart rate slowed down a little and logic kicked in. You're surrounded by firefighters. I'm sure they know what to do.

"So's mine!" Dragon added.

"Same here!" Macca groaned.

"Blade!" Dynamite radioed. "We got a situation! The wind shifted. The fire jumped the line."

"Can you make it to your safety zone?" Blade questioned.

"No, no good!" she reported. "Our escape route is blocked. We need a drop."

"Copy that", Blade confirmed. "Dipper, Smokejumpers trapped. Left flank, set up for a drop."

"I see them!" Dusty interrupted. "I've got it!"

He dove down and dropped his retardant all over us. At least the fire in front of us was out now. We could get through.

"Thanks, Dust!" I shouted gratefully.

"All right. We're clear", Dynamite declared. "Let's move! Let's get to the lake!"

"That's my Dust muffin!" Dipper cheered.

"Champ, load and return", Blade instructed. "We still got a lot of work to do."

"Copy that!" Dusty responded, clearly proud of himself.

Down at the lake, I noticed something strange. There were several rabbits in the woods, all hurriedly trying to flee the scene of the fire, but there was one, a little brown one, that wouldn't move.

"What's wrong, little guy?" I wondered, speaking to it gently. I knelt down to scoop it up, only to promptly get bit.

"You okay?" Dynamite asked worriedly.

"I'm fine", I assured her. "I work with animals all the time back home. Bites and scratches are a daily occurrence for me."

Pinecone eyed the rabbit. "It looks like it might have a broken leg", she observed. "Maybe we should get it to Wildflower."

"Oh, that's right!" I recalled. "She's a veterinarian, right?"

Pinecone helped me to scoop up the rabbit and we kept it safe until we could get back to base.


After a very long day and a lot of work, the fire was contained. As a trainee, Blade wanted me back on the base for the evening while the other Smokejumpers camped out for the night and planned to mop it up in the morning. Besides, I needed to get the rabbit to Wildflower. When we returned, she was taking her five dogs for a walk.

"Wildflower!" I called. "I found this rabbit while we were fighting the fire. We think it may have a broken leg."

Wildflower was quick to return her dogs home and take the rabbit from me. She hurried back to her veterinary clinic and examined the rabbit.

"I think you're right", she observed, tears in her eyes. "This little guy broke his leg. Poor baby. How did that happen?" she wondered soothingly.

"Will he be all right?" I questioned worriedly. Even though I knew quite a lot about animals, I didn't have much experience with rabbits. However, I knew what happened to horses when they broke their legs.

"Oh, of course!" she assured me. "I just need to..."

I watched her work with fascination as Wildflower worked, setting the bone and giving the bunny a cast. I admired how focused she was, how determined she was, how passionate she was about her job.

"There you go", she announced finally. "I'll just keep you in my home until your leg heals."

"You sure your dogs will tolerate a rabbit?" I asked.

"Sure. They're used to other animals by now. I have five dogs, six cats, four rabbits, three birds, an aquarium full of fish and turtles and one snake."

"Wow!" I was impressed.

"Most of them are adopted from shelters", she explained. "Some of them are strays I've taken in and some are wild animals I've rescued from wildfires, who won't survive in the wild. Blade lets me keep them in my home on the base, as long as they don't interfere with the team's work."

"That's impressive."

She smiled modestly. "It's just my job. What about you? You have any pets?"

As we walked back to join the rest of the team with drinks for them all, I told her about the animals we had on our farm. She was genuinely fascinated.

"So... that's it?" Dusty was asking Dipper when I showed up.

"Yep, fire's contained", she confirmed, "The Jumpers will stir on it till it's out. You did a great job out there, sweetzie."

Dusty smiled. "Thanks! I saw the Jumpers in trouble, so I-"

"You broke formation in a crowded airspace", Blade scolded. "Could've been you spread all over the woods instead of retardant. Don't go planning your certification party yet, Champ." He rolled off.

Dusty sighed, clearly crushed by these words. "Ah, man."

I patted his wing comfortingly, but he pulled away from me.

"Come on!" Dipper tried to cheer him up. "That's just Blade's way of saying, 'Good job.'"

Before Dusty could reply, Blade approached me. "Good job today, Hazelwood. You've still got a long way to go before you're certified, but Dynamite had very positive things to say about you. And I think she's right."

I couldn't help smiling when I heard those words. "Thanks, sir! I appreciate that."

As Blade disappeared, Dusty glared at Dipper and me. He looked at both of us at the same time, yet somehow, he seemed to be glaring at each of us individually.

"You still wanna tell me that's Blade's way of saying, 'Good job'?"

"Dusty-" Dipper began.

"You can't be mad at me!" I protested. "It isn't my fault that-"

"Oh, that's right! I forgot!" Dusty interjected. "Nothing is ever your fault, is it?" Under his breath, he added, "Mr. Perfect."

"What's that supposed to mean?!" I demanded.

"Nothing!"

"No! If you have something to say, say it!" I challenged him. I don't lose my temper very often (everybody tells me I'm usually so calm, tolerant and laidback), but when I do, watch out!

"Why did you even wanna be a firefighter?" Dusty questioned. "You hate leaving Propwash Junction and your wife-"

"Why?!" I repeated incredulously. "To help my community, my friends, my family. The same reasons you do, I guess."

"But I wanted to do this on my own!" Dusty protested.

"Well, I didn't know that!" I pointed out. "I was just trying to do what's best for-"

"I told you, David!" Dusty snapped. "You don't always know what's best for people! I know you think you do, but you don't!"

I think our fight would've kept going, if we hadn't been distracted by a sleek, silver jet flying over the base.

"Whoa! That was low!" Dipper commented.

"Cad's VIPs", Windlifter noted.

"Oh yeah, that's right", Dusty recalled. "He's having a big party up at the lodge tonight. We should go!"

"A second date?" Dipper lit up. "Wow! Room!"

"I... kinda meant all of us", Dusty clarified. "You know, you and me and Windlifter and Wildflower and just... everybody. Except maybe not David."

I narrowed my eyes.

"Oh! Okay. You're right", Dipper agreed, trying not to let her disappointment show. "You're right. I should get to know your friends."

Dusty blinked. "But they're your friends."

"Well, yeah, I guess." Dipper laughed. "Let's not bicker."

"I'm heading to the showers!" I huffed. "I'll see you guys tomorrow."


In the end, I decided to go to the lodge reopening party that night. I didn't care what Dusty said. The lodge was a public place. He couldn't keep me out. So, dressed in a black blazer; white T-shirt; jeans and sneakers (not that I had much choice; I hadn't packed in preparation for a big party and just about everything I owned screamed Midwestern farm boy), I rocked up with Dusty, Dipper, Windlifter, Wildflower and Maru. Although, Dusty stayed as far away from me as he could.

Although I didn't think it was exactly the best use of eighty percent of the firefighters' budget, I had to admit, that the lodge was pretty impressive. I didn't even know where to look first. There was so much to see.

"Wow!" I marvelled. In Propwash Junction, you don't see anything this upscale.

"Whoa!" Dusty added. "Look at this place!"

"It's so beautiful!" Dipper declared. "Dusty-poo, this is the perfect date! Let's check it out before we check in."

"Hey there, folks!" A bellhop smiled. "Like to get your picture taken with the superintendent?"

A car was having his picture taken with what turned out to be a cardboard cut-out.

Maru scoffed. "Ha. Classy."

The six of us stayed as a group for a little while. Then, at some point, we broke off into three groups. Dusty and Dipper went off to admire an ice sculpture of the lodge. Maru and Windlifter were over at the Gift Garage. From my spot at the bar with Wildflower, I could hear Maru complaining about the coffee.

Wildflower was asking me all kinds of polite questions about my home and my family. I tried to answer everything. Even though it made me smile to talk about Propwash Junction and my mom and Susannah, I'm not much of a talker. Besides, I still had doubts over whether or not I should be here. To put them aside, I refocused the conversation on Wildflower. I learned that she grew up in the Navajo Nation in New Mexico and came from a very large family: four siblings, lots of aunts, uncles and cousins, all four grandparents and even a great-grandparent.

"So, how come you work on the base?" I wanted to know.

She shrugged. "I was always a veterinarian. It's all I've wanted to do. I've always been passionate about the environment and had a close connection to nature, especially animals. And... I wanted to help animals injured in wildfires because... when I was eight years old, I lost my home- and my pets- in a wildfire."

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed sympathetically.

"It's okay", she assured me. "It was a long time ago. I've gotten through it."

Our conversation was interrupted just then by a small human child, who looked about three or four years old. She leapt up in front of us and roared. It made both of us jump.

That made the little girl giggle with delight. "I scared you!" The girl had dirt blonde hair and green eyes.

I laughed. "You sure did!"

"Harper?!" a voice called out just then, sounding panicked. "Harper!"

A woman in her late twenties or early thirties with hair dyed dark purple and stormy grey eyes hurried over to us and scooped the child up. "There you are! Oh, I was so worried about you! What am I going to do if I lost you?"

"Why would you lose me, Mommy?" the little girl- obviously, Harper- wondered.

"I will if you keep running off like that!" She turned to Wildflower and me, smiling apologetically. "I can't take my eyes off her for a second. She bolts every chance she gets!"

"Hey, no worries!" I assured her with a smile. "Would you care to join us? Could I buy you a drink?"

She smiled. "I'd love to join you... I'm Kimberly, by the way."

"David. And this is Wildflower."

Through conversation, we found out that Kimberly was from Bluefield, West Virginia and a masseuse. She loved the great outdoors and travel, which was why she had decided to come to Piston Peak. Harper was her three-year-old daughter and clearly as much of an adventurer as her mother. She was always wandering off or climbing things or playing pretend. She seemed like a great little kid. I couldn't help but wonder what kind of personality my kid would have.

Kimberly was not just nice, but fascinating as well. She was telling us all kinds of crazy stories about her travels through Asia, Europe, Africa, South America, you name it.

"What about you two?" she asked Wildflower and me. "Do you travel a lot?"

"I've done quite a lot of travelling across America", Wildflower replied. "I haven't been overseas, though. There's just so much of this beautiful country I'm yet to see. I don't think I'll ever be able to see it all. Let alone, see what other countries have to offer... What about you, David?"

Before I could tell her that I'd hardly left Propwash Junction (my one and only trip out of the country was two days in Mexico), Dusty and Dipper approached our little group.

"Hey, Wildflower!" he greeted, as if I weren't just three feet away. "Who's your friend?"

"Oh, we just met. This is Kimberly, from West Virginia and her daughter, Harper."

"Nice to meet you." Dusty nodded in greeting. "Listen. Wanna come with us to the fire pits? We invited a nice couple we just met? They're celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Maru and Windlifter are coming too. Kimberly, you'd be more than welcome to come as well."

Kimberly smiled and nodded as she grabbed Harper and stood up. "Thank you. I'd love to."

"Sure!" Wildflower agreed, sliding off her stool at the bar.

"That sounds great!" I added, hoping that Dusty wouldn't tell me I wasn't invited. He didn't, but he gave me a dirty look.

About half an hour later, we were sat around the fire pit, talking. There were ten of us: Dusty, Dipper, Maru, Windlifter, me, Wildflower, Kimberly, Harper and Dusty's new friends, an old RV couple named Harvey and Winnie.

"Oh, sure, sure. I've been around the block a few times", Harvey told us. "I worked as a taco truck, sold carwash curtain rings for a while. Then, I got into RV tire sales. Winnie here was my showroom model."

"That's how we met", Winnie explained.

"Ah, that's nice", Dusty commented with a smile.

"And now, you've been married for fifty years", I mused. I hoped that fifty years from now, Susannah and I were still married and still very much in love. Unfortunately, thinking about that reminded me of how short my parents' marriage was. They married in December; Mom found out she was pregnant in January; Dad died in August and I was born in October. (Susannah and I got married last May, so a little over a year.)

"It's true", Harvey confirmed. "For our wedding day, bought her the best set of whitewalls."

"We wore off the treads on our honeymoon", Winnie chimed in.

We were all horrified.

"Driving", she clarified, to our relief. I felt kind of stupid.

"You know, Dusty, maybe this firefighting thing will be a second career for you", Harvey suggested.

"Oh, yeah!" Dipper agreed. "This is a second career for all of us. Windlifter was a lumberjack, Cabbie was in the military and Dragon was a waiter. And me, well, I hauled cargo up in Anchorage. Yeah, a lot of guys up in Anchorage. I was beating them off with a stick." She acted it out. "'Come here, boy. No!' Boom!"

Kimberly nodded in agreement. "I've only been a masseuse for about four years now. Until then, I was in law school."

"Really? How come you quit?" I wondered.

She shrugged. "It wasn't for me. I was only doing it because my parents wanted me to. The minute I stopped being what people expected me to be and followed my own heart was the minute I felt happy."

Wildflower sniffled, wiping away tears. (I was learning fast that she was very sensitive. I found that very admirable.) "I think that is a lovely philosophy to live by!" she cried.

I nodded. I couldn't figure out why, but those words stirred uncomfortable emotions inside of me. I remembered that I felt the same way when Leadbottom was going on about destinies... What did this mean?

"Hey, big whirlybird, you haven't said much", Harvey remarked, referring to Windlifter. "How about a toast?"

"Uh, Windlifter's not really much for speeches", Dipper began to protest politely, only to be cut off by Windlifter chanting in his native language.

"A toast to Coyote", he began. "It was he who drove all day and all night to the base of Bright Mountain. With much difficulty, he climbed the mountain to obtain fire and brought it down to the first people. But in so doing, he burned his tires. And when Coyote saw his blackened tires, he thought they were his favourite snack, and he ate them! For he knew they were still full of life. And it was in this way, he let go of the old, and renewed himself like fire renews the earth."

A long silence followed. Wildflower looked enthralled by this story while the rest of us were stunned and confused.

"Uh, I'm just gonna say it", Dusty broke the silence. "You had me up until the part where he eats his own tires."

Maru laughed. "Best toast ever, Wind. Cheers!"

"Cheers!" everyone shouted.

I smiled. A comfortable night under the stars, sipping drinks around a fire with great new friends... Does life get any better than that?