Bone’s skin was stretched and scorched and felt like it would split and burst aflame. His clothing smoked, and he could smell the tart tang of burning hair. He ran past smouldering trees, and piles of fallen leaves and sticks that had ignited, heading downhill towards the lake of fire where once had been his home. He sleeked past Mohserran and kept running, because he knew there was only one way he could lure his father to his end. This was his chance, now. This was the final chapter of his story. He had returned to Longford to find whatever might remain of his father, and though Mohserran ran after him—screeching, growling, promising pain at the end of his ragged claws or infection-laden teeth—Bone knew that in truth nothing remained.

Tears blurred his vision but the heat quickly cleared them away.

He heard rapid footsteps behind him and sleeked again, changing direction and then revealing himself once more, hearing Mohserran skidding after him. And for a while, unexpected and delightful, Bone was a child again, running across the hillsides while Mohserran chased him with a friendly growl and a scary roar. The trees were full and lush, the valley wide and bathed in beautiful sunshine, and somewhere uphill stood a hollow oak that had not yet become shelter for a small, terrified child. Everything was as it should be, and Bone called out a cry of unbridled delight.

That is how every day should be, he thought, and he turned his face up to the sky as the flames came closer.

He was finding it hard to breathe, and he could hear Mohserran closing on him, clawed feet pounding at the ground, disease-laden breath panting in and out, in and out. He could not risk a glance behind because he knew where he was going, and to not reach his destination was unthinkable.

He didn’t want to die beneath his father’s teeth.

He sleeked one last time and leapt down into a narrow ravine, switching left and heading for where the crack in the ground ended. Where once this place would have offered a wide view of the valley, there was now only fire. The air surged and simmered with heat haze, and every breath Bone took scorched his lungs. His vision blurred. His father was close.

At the last moment he skidded to a stop, turned around, and opened his arms wide.

Maybe he’ll know me now, Bone thought, but as Mohserran barrelled into him there was no recognition in that mad, wretched creature’s eyes. Only hunger.

Bone stepped quickly backwards and closed his arms around his father. Teeth snapped close to his face. Claws raked his back. Yellow fire burned in Mohserran’s eyes, reflecting the whole world.

When Bone felt only air beneath his feet, he pulled his father closer and tighter as they fell into the fire.

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