Cassiel's paws thudded into the peaty ground of the fen as she ran along the crest of a hill, taking in the fresh air of higher ground. It was good for such an active mind to come up here from time to time to clear her head and order her thoughts, but in her introspection she failed to notice that today the air was not so clear. The ground wasn't as spongy as it usually was, the grass not as soft. As she went on the differences became impossible not to notice, and she snapped out of her reverie, coming to a puzzled halt. Her yellow eyes scanned the landscape around her, brow furrowed, and she noticed several worrying signs. The grass had indeed dried up since she was here last season, and she was almost certain that that was what had caused the enormous plume of black smoke on the horizon ahead. The bright eyes widened in shock, knowing that a fairly young wolf pack lived just over the edge of this fen in a rocky hollow that would no doubt be ablaze very soon.
The young she-wolf turned first to look back across the fen and over the valley to her own safe forest home, then back toward the place where she knew the other pack would be scrambling to evacuate. Giving a long groan and looking up to the sky, she hoped she could be quick enough, and then charged off toward the hollow.
Upon arrival, the she-wolf could hardly make out the shapes of wolves darting about the hollow in the smoke. In fact, she could hardly discern the shapes of the hollow itself. How was she supposed to help when she didn't even know the layout of this place? What a wool headed thing to do, charging up here with no— her thought was interrupted when an enormous golden shape shoved past her and went charging straight toward what looked like a rocky cave on the other side of the hollow. Now there's some decisive action, Case! Get after him!
Cassiel shook herself with that thought, and went flying in the same direction, hollering the whole way to get the golden wolf's attention. She found herself funneled into a short tunnel that led to twin open spaces separated by— wouldn't you know it, very flammable— dried willow branches. In her haste to catch up she thudded right into the wolf she had been following, which made him whirl around wild-eyed to snap at her.
"Watch i— who are you!? Can't you see we're dealing with a problem here? Leave before you're burnt up or torn to pieces!"
"No, I— I can help! The fire's getting closer, and I can guide you all away from it! I know a forest where you'll be safe!"
The big wolf snarled savagely, clearly torn between trusting a stranger to lead his pack to safety and trusting himself to guess the right way out. After a beat, he jerked his head to beckon Cassiel after him, and began practically tossing puppies toward the den entrance and nudging their petrified mothers to their feet. He didn't have to tell the gray she-wolf that these terrified families were a precious charge, and she set to work immediately, instructing the she-wolves to start back the way she had come into the hollow while she made sure there were no stragglers. When she was sure the den was cleared, she looked back toward the golden wolf and he nodded his thanks.
"Lead everyone out! The scouts have gathered the pack on the hill, they'll help you. Hopefully. I'll be right behind you!"
Cassiel nodded back to him and began ushering the she-wolves and pups out of the den. When she looked back again, the big wolf had turned and was running deeper into the den behind her. She silently wished him luck and herded the pups and their mothers to the hill where she would no doubt be challenged some more.