“Trex!” a barely audible but familiar voice came from below.

I yanked off my helmet and scrambled from my ATV. “Zeke!” I stopped just short of the edge, fell to my knees, looking down. Zeke and a small group of Alpines were standing below, working hard to fashion a hoist for Fish. He was leaning against the twisted trunk of a large aspen, dirty, sweaty, and in pain.

Trex stood behind me. “Everyone all right?” he called down.

Taylor Maddox stood next to his twin brother Tyler and Zeke, looking up at us in confusion.

“What are you doing here?” Zeke asked, his eyes bouncing from me to Trex then the rest of our team.

“Does it matter?” I asked with a wide grin. Even with the fire closing in, I was happy to see him.

Zeke and Taylor glanced back at the approaching flames. “You got a rope?” Taylor asked. “Fish rolled his ankle. We’re not going to beat the fire outta here.”

“Lucky for you,” Trex said as Harbinger let down a rope. “We’ve got wheels too. Is this everyone?”

Tyler nodded.

The Alpines sprang into action, tying the rope around Fish’s chest. We pulled him up first, then the rest of the Alpines climbed up one at a time. They were exhausted but used the last of their energy to pull themselves up the rope and over the ledge. We yelled encouragement to each one as the fire burned closer. The smoke began to surround us just as the last hotshot, Taylor, had nearly reached the halfway point. The fire crawled across the ground and soon the end of the rope was flickering.

“Let’s go!” Tyler barked. If he was afraid, he hid it well. “Double time!”

Taylor put one hand over the other, but the flame was climbing faster than he was.

“He’s not going to make it,” Zeke said.

My mind spun for something quick and drastic.

“Move your ass, Maddox!” Tyler yelled.

As the fire reached Taylor’s feet, his brother smacked Zeke and lurched forward, his top half falling over the edge, his legs following. Zeke dove for Tyler’s ankles, grabbing them just in time.

“Got him!” Tyler yelled.

My heart was throwing punches at my rib cage, watching Zeke nearly go over the edge.

The other Alpines joined Zeke and heaved both Maddoxes to the top.

Trex kicked off the rope, letting it fall to the bottom, watching the fire engulf what was left.

The Alpines were covered in soot, their shoulders sagging from exhaustion.

“You okay?” I asked Watts. He nodded. I turned to Zeke, looking him over. “You okay?” I repeated as I ran my hands over his baggy yellow shirt and khaki cargo pants. The fire was burning behind us. I could feel the heat permeate my uniform and light up my face, forming instant beads of sweat on my forehead that dripped down.