The Hunt for the Pyre of the North

Does your character stay to help with putting out the barn fire, or do they investigate the second blaze?

Quickly. Quickly quickly. A small, hunched over figure lurked in the corner, fidgeting with something in his fingertips. He sniggered to himself, chattering away in a language no one spoke.

There was nobody around. It was perfect timing. If fingers weren't to shake so much, it wouldn't be so difficult.

Shuffle. Shuffle shuffle.

Quickly.

The sharp, brisk sound of a match grazing against the rough sandpaper awoke the silent air.

No. No no. No good.

Again again.

The sharp, brisk sound of a match grazing against the rough sandpaper snapped at the silence once more.

No no. Try again.

The sharp brisk sound of a match grazing against the rough sandpaper. Third time a charm. The match sizzled as it burst into light.

The sniggering became louder; more excitable.

Yes! Yes, yes. Very good.

Now lit, the strange little gremlin wrapped his free hand around the flame, dropping the match box swiftly. Eyes mesmerised by the flickering dance. Frozen.

As the fire ate its way along the stick, it slowly began to fizzle out.

No! No! Must save. No die. No!

Need bigger stick.

Frantically, he scrambled around to find something else to set alight. In the haste, the matchstick was dropped.

NO! BIG FIRE! NEED MORE LIFE.

The rushed actions became ever faster. No co-ordination. In a whirlwind, the tiny flame leapt to save itself to the nearest flammable. In a barn full of flammables, it wasn't hard nor did it have to go far.

Straw was everywhere, coating the floor, the equipment and more. It only took one strand to ignite.

As hoped, the fire grew from one tiny swaying flame to one big inferno.

Big eyes. Big eyes became bigger. Jaw dropped.

Woah...

The fire was neverending, never stopping. It climbed and climbed and climbed. Soon, the whole barn who overwhelmed with the burning.

Cough...cough cough.

Smoke. As the fire crept upwards, the smoke began to settle below, smothering anyone and everything.

Choke. Cough.

"FIRE!" The warning bell.

Need to get out. Need to escape.

As more and more people piled in with buckets of water, trying to control the raging fire, the creepy little dude shrunk back into a corner.

HISS.

Not people.

HISS HISS.

Bared teeth, he readied himself for a fight, hoping a flight option would become available soon.

The creaks and the groans of the wood began to splinter over the noise of the fire, threatening to cave.

"BACK UP!"

The others were leaving. He was free.

This was a celebration.

He threw his hands in the air, invisibly cheering with the invisible crowd.

Crack...creak...snap.

The mainframe pole fractured, dropping down with the weight of the roof. Timber collapsed around him, spraying hot ash into his face.

Ouch. That stung.

Scrumpled eyes lead to bad vision.

Can't see. Blind.

How? Who? Where?

Through blurred vision, cracks of view.

I see light. Head for light.

Fumbling, he felt his way forward.

Heat. Hot. Cozy.

Time for a nap.

Bedtime.

Straw rustled beneath his feet as he continued to tiptoe forward.

Nearly there.

The fire was blazing now. The entire barn was ignited.

With a sidestep here and a shimmy there, he made it out.

No one to greet him. Sad.

Depressed? Happy?

No people?

Happy. Definitely.

Another fire had broken out beyond the village.

Another?

Yes. Another.

My fault. Strong match.

Giggles.

Chaos was ever so fun.