01 Fire at the Zoo

The city of Bauer hummed with its usual energy, a constant rhythm of movement and sound. Amidst the bustle, in a cosy house on the corner of Maple and Alder Streets, lived Mr. and Mrs. Blaze, both firefighters—fearless, noble, and deeply devoted to their family. They had two boys, little bundles of endless curiosity and boundless energy, their lives wrapped in the warmth of their parents’ love. The Blazes were a family tied by heartstrings, laughter, and the courage that ran in their veins.

It was a brisk autumn morning when Mr. and Mrs. Blaze decided to take their boys to the Bauer City Zoo. The day was bright, the sky streaked with the faintest wisps of clouds, and the children’s excitement was contagious. They had been waiting for this trip for what felt like an eternity. The roar of lions, the towering necks of giraffes, and the mystery of the wolves—they had dreamed of seeing these creatures up close.

They packed the car and set off, the boys’ chatter filling the air as the cityscape slowly gave way to the open spaces of the zoo. Once there, the family wandered through the exhibits, the boys’ faces lighting up with each new discovery. The towering elephants swayed lazily, the monkeys swung with mischievous glee, but it was the wolf enclosure that held their gaze. The boys pressed their faces to the glass, watching as the wolves moved with eerie grace, their eyes sharp and aware, as if they knew secrets hidden from the rest of the world. It was mesmerizing.

But as the family wandered through the zoo, unaware, a darker force was at play. Somewhere deep in the heart of the park, an arsonist—shadowy, intent on chaos—had slipped unnoticed. With swift, calculated movements, he set fire to a storage building near the animal enclosures. The flames, ravenous and wild, burst to life, growing quickly, devouring everything in their path. What began as a single spark erupted into an inferno.

Panic spread like wildfire. Visitors screamed, animals howled, and the peaceful day shattered into chaos. People ran in every direction, fleeing from the growing blaze. Several enclosures were damaged, and as the flames licked higher, animals—deer, antelope, and wolves—escaped, racing into the open. The zoo became a battleground of confusion, with fire on one side and frightened creatures on the other.

In an instant, Mr. and Mrs. Blaze were no longer just parents on a day out; they were firefighters, trained to run into the danger that others fled from. They turned to their children, voices steady despite the madness around them, and told them to stay put, safe, while they rushed toward the flames. The boys watched, wide-eyed, as their parents disappeared into the smoke and fire, their hearts pounding.

The fire raged, uncontrollable, faster than anyone could have anticipated. Mr. and Mrs. Blaze fought with everything they had, side by side, the heat searing, the smoke blinding. But fate, cruel and unpredictable, had other plans. A structure near the source of the fire collapsed, sending embers and debris cascading down. Despite their bravery, despite their relentless fight, Mr. and Mrs. Blaze were lost to the inferno.

Back where the boys stood, waiting, the world had turned into a nightmare. Sirens wailed in.