The Fire
This page is
quite unique. It is the same story told from two very different points of
view. The story is about a mouse running away from a forest fire.
First told from the mouse's point of view it describes his reaction to the
fire. Then from the fires point of view you read its thoughts and feelings
as it blazes
through the forest.
I was just about to go to sleep when I felt it. The burning heat was approaching and I could smell the smoke. A forest fire was coming. I immediately got to my feet and went to take a look how close it was. I had about five minutes and could feel the fear and anxiety building in my legs. I had to run and tell as many mousies as I could. After getting about seven of my mousketeer friends the fire was breathing down our neck, we had to get going. Running south seamed the only escape from the fire blazing up north. It was pouring rain yet the fire just kept gaining on us. There were many hills this way and none of us had even been in this direction. We came to a big rock it was nearly impossible to get over it. Sadly we lost Nelson to the blaze, so the six of us scampered on. Then the trees cleared, we had made it to a river. If only we could get across we would be safe but Supastar couldn't swim and we weren't leaving him behind. Knowing Bryan and Mike were great swimmers he jumped on their back and they headed across. The river was long and rough but after the tiring swim we had all made it to land. We took a nice long rest in what would be our new homes. When we woke up we begin the rebuilding process and began to meet all of the nice mice that lived in this beautiful new land. And tat is how we came to live in this great land of Zib.
Now read
what the fire has to say.
I was a blazing inferno. I started out as a lonesome spark deep in the underbrush. As the things around me surcame to my wrath I grew uncontrollably. Then I spotted a little group of mice. They needed to be saved, this land was no good for them, so I chased them out. Through the trees and bushes we went as I pursued them through the rain and cold. I knew they needed a better living then what they could find here. Across the river was perfect, a beautiful place where they would live a happy life. Jumping from tree to tree shrub to shrub I chased them. Climbing up hills and over rocks we moved suddenly I spotted Nelson. Nelson was your typical dirty rat and needed to be stopped. Then a massive rock approached and they all were slowed this was a perfect opportunity. I reached out and grabbed Nelson and swallowed him in my fury. The rest of the mice were excellent examples of life and would go on to this magnificent world I picked out for them. By now the river was close by, I could hear it now. Suddenly the trees cleared and there it was, the river. All the mice would need to do is make it across to a place they could never even dreamt about. Suddenly one hoped on the back of two of the others and they took off swimming. Safely they crossed the river to the other side. The rain and wind let up. Any other fire would have been subdued. Not I, for I am the fire that burns deep in the heart of the forest leaving no good dead undone.
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Jef's Literary Gatherings