Firestorm
Chapter 1 - Richard

The rising sun starts about 4.30am and the heat hits simultaneously. “I’m up,” I mumble as my father raps on my door.

“We need to shift the horses today,” He croaks through the wooden door.

His breathing has become worse since the extreme heat hit, and I’m concerned about his health. Mom died over ten years ago, and it still affects him now.

The sprawling ranch, with its vast green pastures and rolling hills, has been a cherished possession of my family for over two centuries. A serene beauty envelops the house, which is surrounded by trees and accompanied by the chirping of birds. When the gentle breeze blows, it provides a peaceful atmosphere. There’s an indescribable feeling of contentment that comes with being on this land, surrounded by the fragrance of hay and freshly cut grass. It was my father’s pride and joy, and he entrusted me with its care a few years ago.

Now, in a mere seven days, the land has transformed into a desolate wasteland, devoid of any life. The earth is now cracked and parched, the grass brown and brittle under the scorching sun. The air is thick with the acrid scent of burned soil, and the distant sound of a faint, mournful howl echoes through the empty expanse. A creature is obviously searching for food and water, or mourning the death of a loved one. It is as if someone has sucked the very essence of life out of the land, leaving behind only a barren, lifeless husk.

I pull up my jeans, and step into my cowboy boots as I slip a short sleeve flannel shirt on.

Dad shuffles around the kitchen and flicks the radio on for the local updates on the weather. The crackle of the line makes it hard to hear the person. It isn’t long before someone reads out that today is reaching temperatures of 50°C in our area. Other parts of the world are being hit by the rising temperatures. It has only been just over seven days since this extreme weather started, but it has hit so hard, water dried up in the first five days. “There have been reports of burning fire bombs falling from the sky and causing destruction in various parts of the world.” The radio presenter continues. “Is this the end of the world?” She battles on with more devastating news.

“Dad, I don’t want you going outside today. Stay indoors. I’ll go take the horses up to that lake.”

Dad wipes his forehead. “But the land is sacred to the Nymora tribe.” He throws me a worried glance.

“All the water has dried up here. It is the only place left for them to get a drink. If I saddle up Lipton, I’ll have them all at the lake in a couple of hours.”

Because the water has dried up from the pumps and natural springs, the entire area is experiencing a severe drought. “The horses need water, otherwise they will die.” I remind him. Our neighbor has already lost half his cattle.

How the hell are we meant to survive this heat if it carries on? The refrigerator is having a difficult time keeping up with the heat and is struggling to maintain its normal operation. There has been a noticeable decrease in the hum emitted by it over the last couple of days.

I grab a bottle of water and sip it before placing it on the table. The fruit is all stored in the fridge as it goes off in less than 24 hours if left out in the heat. I grab a couple of apples and an orange.

“Take another bottle of water son, you will need it for the journey home.” He splutters out with a cough.

I was trying to limit myself and save our supply. Everyone was on rations and I wasn’t sure if the truck would get us to the shops and back without overheating.

With everything in my saddlebag, I eat a satisfying breakfast to keep me going for the rest of the day.

It was coming up to 5.30am and already the sun was burning. That was another problem with the heat, fires starting everywhere. So far, we haven’t suffered the wildfires that some places have had. All it needs is a broken bottle or something to reflect the burning rays. But the news of falling fire bombs is worrying me more.

I grab my wide brim hat, which keeps the sun from burning my ears, and the glare off my face. Then I make sure I have my saddlebag with everything in it.

The horses all stay in the barn out of the sun, but I need to get them to fresh water.

“Dad, promise me you will stay out of the heat.” I rest my hand on his shoulder.

His breathing rattles as he pats my hand. “Go, the horses need to get water.”

“Dad, I can’t leave you like this.” I swallow back the lump in my throat. It is breaking my heart to leave him alone.

“I’m not going anywhere, son.” He coughs and splutters, covering his mouth with a tissue.

I fell to my knees in front of him. “You’re coughing up blood. I need to get you to the doctors instead.” I dump my bag down and go to call the doctor.

A vibration rumbles under my feet. “Was that an earthquake?” I rushed back over to dad. “Change of plans, I get the truck and we hope to god that we reach the town.”

“Save the horses. It is your only chance to save the ranch, save your life.” His breath shortens with each word, and every minute the sun rises in the sky.

“Dad,” I tightly clasp his frigid hands, just realizing their icy touch. The lump in my throat remains steadfast, and hot tears cloud my vision, blurring the surrounding room. “Let me help you get to the truck.”

I try to help him up, but he refuses. “I’m sorry, son, my time is almost over. This morning I didn’t think I’d wake up, but the lord graced me with more time.”

“Dad,” I choke out, my voice trembling, “you’re talking nonsense. This suffocating heat makes everything seem worse than it is. You have so many years left.” As I spoke, hot tears streamed down my face and splash onto the wooden floor, evaporating instantly in the sweltering air.

“Son, you have done me proud. But it is my time to join your mother.” He stifles out a sob.

“Fuck, dad, it’s not time, mom can wait.” The air is suffocating me.

“You stood by me and the ranch. It is time to save yourself. Find a good woman to love and show her every day how much. There is nothing left for me now.”

“Of course there is. If I meet someone, then you get to spend time with your grandchildren. You always wanted kids running around. I’m sorry I met no one to settle down with before now.”

On the hard stone floor, I am kneeling. My tears are streaming down my face and mixing with the dirt and dust. I grip his hands tightly, feeling the roughness of his skin. The sound of my sobs echoes around us, as if the world is mourning with me.

He doubles over, clutching his chest as he erupts into another fit of coughing. The sound is rough and guttural, echoing through the room. His face contorted in pain as he continued to cough, each spasm wracking his body with intensity.

“Go,” he rasps out. “save yourself and find love.” He tries to squeeze my hand, but it is weak. “God, let me be here so I can say goodbye to you.”

“Don’t say that, dad. If I get you to the town, a doctor will take care of you, then I can come back for the horses.”

“It’s imperative you get the horse’s water. They will die if they don’t get water in the next twelve hours.”

In 48 hours without water, a horse can show signs of colic, which can then create larger problems.

“But you will die if I leave you.”

“I’ll be here when you come back.” He gives me a smile, but his pale features tell me otherwise.

How could I have missed the signs of his illness? The sound of his persistent cough, every exhale rattling his chest. I could see the strain on his face and the way his hands trembled as he tried to steady himself against the wall. He insisted it was just an irritation, and I foolishly believed him.

“How sick are you?” I choke on my tears.

As a massive explosion shakes the earth beneath me, I quickly rush to the window. The air fills with smoke and burning debris. Looking up, I see a dazzling display of fiery meteors streaking across the sky, leaving a trail of glittering sparks in their wake. The heat from the explosion washes over me, making my skin tingle and my heart race with fear.

“Go, son, take the horses.” Tears form in his eyes, begging me to leave.

“I’ll saddle up Mazie for you. She will carry you. I’m not leaving you.” Mazie is one of our calm horses dad uses or used. He hasn’t ridden in the last couple of years.

“Okay son.” He doesn’t fight me, and I’m thankful.

“Wait here, I’ll be back.” I go grab extra food and water, stuffing it into another saddlebag.

I move as fast as I can with the two bags, running across the dry dusty ground to the barn. The horses are freaking out with the explosion which just occurred. The barn separates the horses so the stallions are kept separate from each other. I tack up Lipton first and haul the bags over the front and back. I’m just about to tack up Mazie when another explosion erupts, shaking the ground.

The pit of my stomach lurches. I know that was too close to home. The earth beneath us starts to crack and split. I have to get the horses out of here. With no time left, I hook Mazie’s head collar up and lead her out, freeing all the horses.

They run towards the mountain range and Lipton becomes unsettled as they take off. “We will catch up.” I rub her nose, trying to ease her worries.

A deafening roar fills the air as a shower of smaller fireballs hurtles down from the sky. Panic sets in as I realize I don’t have enough time to reach the safety of the house. The pungent smell of smoke and burning debris fills my nostrils, making it hard to breathe. My heart races as the first fireball strikes the roof of the house, causing it to explode into a million tiny pieces. The intense heat of the flames washes over me, sending shivers down my spine as I watch in horror as chaos and destruction consume everything.

“No!” I cry out

Mazie frantically wriggles out of my grasp, her body trembling with fear. Lipton tries to bolt away, his hooves pounding against the ground, kicking up dirt and debris, but I hold on to her. The deafening sound of firebombs exploding echoes through the air, drowning out all other noise. The acrid smell of smoke and burning buildings fills my nostrils, making me choke and gag. I can feel the heat of the flames on my skin, and my heart races with terror. This is the end of the world as I know it, and with it, my entire life’s worth of memories and possessions are now lost forever. My dad has gone.

Lipton suddenly rears up, her hooves kicking up dust that stings my eyes. My grip tightens on the reins as I struggle to hold her. The sound of her panicked whinnies echoes through the empty valley, making my heart race. The scent of sweat and fear fills my nostrils as I try to calm her down.

As I look around, I realize there’s nothing left for us in this barren land. Our only hope is to reach the Nymora land where the sacred Diamrem lake lies.

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