Kraim fell off of the top bunk face first and sat up. "What do you mean that's not the sun?" Sel hurriedly shoveled through his clothing dresser, found a few handkerchiefs and threw one to Kraim. 

"Wrap that around your muzzle, it'll keep the smoke out." Kraim's ears perked at the sound of cracking wood and flame. Then it sank in. 

"Let's get Mum and Pa then!" They barreled out of their room and into the grand bedroom of their parents where both squirrels slept soundly, chittering and snoring softly. 

"Pa! Get up!" Sel grabbed his father's arm and tugged roughly. Pa sat up, bleary eyed until he caught the scent of a burning Maple. "Mum," Kraim said, his voice breaking slightly from panic. "We gotta go, now!" Mum rolled out of bed in a nonchalant manner, taking her time to stretch and remove her sleep cap. Sel handed out the extra handkerchiefs and wrapped one around his own muzzle. 

Pa, Kraim and Sel rushed to the door while Mum took her sweet old time shuffling through the kitchen to the living room and then the front door. They opened the door to see the ladder and stairs they use to get down the tree engulfed in flames. 

Most of the patio was charred or still burning so it wouldn't be safe to go the conventional way. "Let's just go down the trunk," Sel said, his tone even and surprisingly calm. Pa, being the husky grey squirrel he is, shimmied his way down the tree and gave a thumbs up from 90 feet below. 

The flames began to close in on the patio furniture, starting with the rocking-chair Mum loved. Kraim and Sel took their mother's hands and guided her to the trunk which she slid down rather gracefully for an older flying squirrel. From behind, the fire snapped menacingly as it threatened to scorch the teens tails. 

Sel went down next, using only one hand and paw to keep him from falling to the crab grass below. At this rate, the fire was nearly below Kraim's paws and had managed to burn through half of the house they spent their lives in. Kraim looked over the edge of the terrace and quietly thought to himself that the freezing night air was more bearable than the growing inferno to his rear. He grabbed hold of the tree and started sliding down, chunks of burning branches falling around him and nearly clipping his head on several occasions. 

He let go of the trunk a little early and fell about 8 feet down. He stood up and dusted himself off, then ran to his parents and brother, watching the fire consume their humble abode. Pa lowered the cloth from his mouth and nose to speak. 

"Where did it come from?" Sel looked at his father who's eyes looked dark and cold despite the reflection of the fire. 

"I... I don't know..." 

"I worked hard on that house. A whole year it took me. Now here it is," he throws his hands up in defeat. "In flames." 

Kraim looked around and noticed the fire spreading from down the mountain and ever rising. Sel and Kraim had only been down there mere hours before with friends, how did they miss the flames? Mum yawned loudly and rubbed her eyes. 

"What's happening?" 

"The bloody house is on fire, that's what." 

"Where do we go? We don't have neighbors for miles..." 

Sel pulled his phone from his backpack and called Wildfire Prevention which ended with, "we are on our way." A few minutes later, firetrucks appeared and multiple Dalmatians and German Shepherds hosed down the house. One particular figure stood out, a tall white blue-eyed tiger wearing firemal attire walked up to the family and shook his head. 

"I'm sorry but unless you want to live in burnt Swiss cheese, this house is not salvageable." The feline inclined his head respectfully to Pa and gave a solemn look to Sel. Sel returned the look to Kira. Kira leaped into the firetruck in a single bound and stuck his head out of the window. "Would you like a ride to town?" 

"By all means..."