Double — Trouble Hotshots [repack]

Carlos felt Diego’s hand find his in the dark. Finn and Sasha, on the other side, linked pinkies. In that oven of noise and fury, they became a single heartbeat.

Then, a whisper. “We’re… pinned. North draw. Fire’s circling.”

Diego just smiled. It was a dangerous smile. “Double trouble, remember? We don’t leave our other halves behind.” double trouble hotshots

“Where are the O’Briens?” Diego shouted over the roar.

“Finn and I will hold the secondary ignition point,” Sasha O’Brien’s voice crackled. “We’ll buy you thirty seconds.” Carlos felt Diego’s hand find his in the dark

There was no time to run. The fire was too fast. Diego pointed to a spot where a previous backfire had created a narrow strip of dead, blackened earth. “There. Four shelters, one cluster. Now.”

He handed Carlos a folded piece of paper. It was a commendation for valor, already drafted. Then, a whisper

They found the O’Briens at the mouth of the draw, huddled behind a boulder, their shelters half-deployed. The fire was lapping at the edges, a dragon tasting its meal. Finn had a gash on her forehead; Sasha’s pack was smoking.