That night, after we passed through the Cavern of Lost Memories, we stop in a cave for the night. My parents and siblings leave to catch some fish. Sid, Crash, and Eddie gather the fruit. I start the fire. Taisley is trying to get the kits to wash up. That alone is normally a two-weasel job. However, we're all kind of occupied at the moment with other tasks.
When everyone returns from their separate tasks, I begin cooking the fish over the fire. I smell the fish, trying to cook it to perfection. When the fish is thoroughly cooked, I pass it out to my family and Diego. Ellie passes the fruit around to everyone except for Diego (obviously). We sit down to eat.
Diego looks at me. "Before you ask, our next stop is the Fire Passage. It is the passage that leads to Broken Mountain," Diego starts.
"Wot is Broken Mountain?" I ask, confused.
"Broken Mountain is a volcano that is supposedly dead," Diego answers.
"Supposedly?!" Manny yells.
"Well, it hasn't erupted in so many years. Everyone has assumed that it's dead," Diego explains.
"'kay…if 't isn't dead, remind me ta kill ya…" I glare at Diego.
Diego rolls his eyes. "Fine. Anyway…the Fire Passage holds flame geysers that shoot up to block the perfectly round passage opening. That's why it's dangerous. It takes proper timing to get through it. There is a very small space in between each one that I believe a weasel could pass through. It shouldn't be as dangerous to you guys," Diego finishes.
"Wow…sounds fun!" I deadpan with fake cheerfulness. Of course, I'm joking. I'd rather Taisley and our kits not be involved in these dangerous situations.
"Well, if we're gonna be goin' anywhere tomorrow, let's go get some shuteye," dad suggests. He starts building his own nest.
"Good idea, dad," I agree. We all start building our nests.
I lay next to Taisley in our nest. "I love ya, Tais," I mumble tiredly.
"I love you, too, Buck," Taisley smiles at me. I lean forward and kiss Taisley on the cheek. She nuzzles me. I nuzzle her back. I open my mouth in a big yawn. I close my eye. I begin to fall asleep next to my beautiful mate. I fall asleep feeling loved.
The next day, we start off towards the Fire Passage. We have no idea whether there will be another type of danger besides the fire or not. That's why I'm having the kits ride on Ellie for this trip. I want to make sure that they are out of harms way on this journey.
On the way to the Fire Passage, we have been talking to Diego about Broken Mountain. None of us like the fact that it's only 'supposedly' dead. Especially me. With four kits to care for and a decidedly large family, any of us could get hurt or killed. I don't want that to happen.
Those two possum twins are excited for the possible dangers of the Fire Passage. They are just so stupid that they don't know when to feel fear over something. They'll probably end up getting killed.
A couple of hours into the day, we finally reach the Fire Passage. I can see the flames shooting up. I'd be lying if I didn't say that I was a little scared. Maybe a lot scared. I don't know, yet.
There is a little squabble over who would go first. In the end, the order goes a little like this: Manny, Ellie (With the kits, Crash, Eddie, and Sid on her back), Diego, and all us weasels.
The weasel order is irrelevant, considering that we're not like the others. We don't need to argue about anything. As soon as the others go, mom and dad are the first weasels to go through. My siblings pass next. Then, it's just Taisley and I. Taisley starts to pass through the Passage. The geysers start smoking. My eye grows wide with horror. I push Taisley through just as the flames shoot out. Taisley is unharmed but, unfortunately, I'm not. The flames severely burn my right arm and the right side of my chest. I scream from the pain, collapsing on the other side.
Taisley, mom, and dad rush over to my side. Dad rolls me over, gasping when he sees the extent of the burn on my chest. He, no doubt, had already seen my arm. Through my blurry vision, I see dad turn to mom. "Quick! Find some aloe!" At dad's insistence, mom darts away.
While she is gone, dad and Taisley try to keep me still. It isn't too simple, though. I have a hard time staying still because of the pain. The burning of my arm and chest is too much. I cry out sharply. Tears are flowing openly down my cheek.
I feel a paw being placed on my left cheek. I turn my face to see Taisley looking at me with worry in her eyes. "Don't worry, Buck. You'll be alright," Taisley strokes my cheek.
I blink my eye a few times. "Tais…'t 'urts…so much…!" I wail. I can no longer stop crying because of the pain.
"I know, Buck. Your mother is going to get some herbs to help you heal, though. Don't worry," Taisley tries to soothe me.
I merely nod my head. I hurt too much to talk anymore. I just lay there, whimpering and crying, waiting for mom to return. I really hope that the herbs will help me heal.
A few minutes later, mom returns with some herbs in her paws. She darts over to my side. Mom breaks open the aloe plant. "Stay still, Buck. I need ta put this aloe on yer burns. 't will sting, but 't will 'elp yer burns ta heal," mom explains.
I nod my head once, bracing myself for the added pain. Mom starts to apply the aloe. I yelp and squirm from the burning sensation. Mom places her arms on me. "Hold still, Buck. 'm almost done," mom tries to stop me from moving.
"I can't 'elp 't! 't 'urts!" I wail loudly, the pain becoming unbearable. At this point, I almost prefer death.
"I know 't 'urts, Buck. Just try ta stay still. Everything will be alright in a li'l while," mom whispers soothingly. She finishes applying the aloe. After that, mom applies some Marigold to stop any possible infection.
Soon, all the herbs are used on the burns and they are bandages. Mom, dad, and Taisley hold me in their arms and try to comfort me. I haven't really stopped crying ever since I was injured. I can barely breathe through the pain. My tears start to slow down. I keep whimpering, though, from the pain. I bury my face into dad's fur, a high-pitched whine forcing itself past my lips.
Dad strokes my back. "It's 'kay, Buck. Please, don't cry anymore. It's fine ta cry, but 't 'urts me ta see ya like this," dad whispers into my ear.
I sniffle and wipe my eye free of the tears. "I love ya all," I address Taisley and my parents.
"We love ya, too, Buck. Just…close yer eye an' get some sleep. We'll get ya on Ellie an' keep moving. Everything will be fine," dad says.
Taisley comes closer to me. "Buck, why did you save me? You could have died!" Taisley begins.
"I love ya, Tais. I'd save ya again in an instant," I reply. I close my eye. I manage to ignore the pain long enough to fall asleep.