CRACK. Lightning struck and the earth shuddered in protest. Before she had time to process what had happened fire was roaring through the fall dried meadow. They ran for the trees. There was a river on the other side of the grove. If they could just make it there they'd be safe. Her heart was pounding as she searched for her family, for him. A cry escaped her throat in response to the confused and pained shrieks. The smoke was so thick and the air scorched her lungs as she rushed for the trees. The ground thundered with hooves as her loved ones also sought safety. She squinted against the burning air, her dark eyes settling on him just against the treeline.

NATA! He called. She cried out I'm coming! in response, the words cracking in her dried and burning throat. 

But it was futile. No matter how hard she pushed her legs, how hard her heart pounded to push blood through her muscles, she was not faster than an angry, wind fueled fire. She could feel the flames licking at her heels, her tail alight. She cried out as she reached her nose for him. Why hadn't he run? His eyes were dim and sad. She could see the flames reflecting. "No. No no no." She croaked and coughed. He pressed his chest against her, wrapping his neck over hers. 

They were swallowed by fire. And then there was nothing.

She shuddered and gasped. Her lungs filled with smoke and ash, burning but breathing. Her eyes flickered open. The world around her was black and gray. Charred earth with smoke rising and ash drifting on the breeze. Embers popped and cracked as the heat tried to hold on. She stumbled to get her legs beneath her and let out an ashy sob as she saw him. There was little left his charred body. Burnt flesh and bones but still unmistakably him. Her nose lowered and the scent of scorched flesh made her recoil. She called out, but nobody called back. The only response was the hot wind and popping of embers.

She walked to the area where the tree grove had once been. Nothing remained but burnt stumps and smoldering brush. Her legs carried her across the burning earth, somehow not burning herself. Her home was reduced to nothing but a burnt hellscape. Her hope that someone had made it to the water was crushed as she neared the far edge of the grove, only to discover more charred remains of those she loved. Her body shuddered with silent sobs. She closed her eyes and shook her head before continuing towards the water. 

The river meandered quietly gurgling along the land. The water was somewhat murky from the gathering ash and debris, but clear enough for her to see her reflection. She inhaled sharply at the sight.

She expected to see burnt flesh and hair, wounds she wouldn't survive. Instead an ashen creature stared back at her with glowing ember eyes. She blinked, and the creature blinked. It wasn't a creature at all. It was her.

The fire had destroyed everything and everyone she loved but spared her. Transformed her. Her black hide was now a charcoal ashen color with fissures of glowing orange and red embers. Her mane and tail drifted against the air like ash and smoke. Black wings erupted from her back, the ends feathering into ash and smoke on the breeze. She looked down at her legs to find soot drifting from her body and smoke swirling against her legs. 

Maybe it was his love that saved her life. Maybe she was dead and this was a different realm entirely. She stared back at her reflection again. Why would she have survived when the rest suffered such a horrendous fate?

Damnata stepped back away from the water and walked along the banks. She walked and walked. Days and nights passing by, her mind not here nor there, she just walked. When she finally stopped she realized the earth was alive again. The grass was green and flowing, flowers bright. The trees rustled with green leaves.

Her head and wings drooped while ash and soot drifted around her. Exhaustion hit her like a train after days spent wandering in a shocked daze and she closed her eyes. The smell of smoke clung to her as it wafted from her and swirled in her wake. She thought she heard steps in the grass, but could not will herself to raise her head and look. Perhaps it was the grim reaper coming for her.

She heard their voices and their soft steps but still did not make any effort to move or open her burning eyes. Visions of their last moments together flashed through her mind followed by the smell of smoke and burnt flesh, screams fading into silence and crackling. She shuddered, squeezing her eyes tighter as she felt their presence growing nearer and then movement seemed to slow and stop. She still did not look up.

If I may beg your pardon madam the voice was soft yet almost jovial. Male. There seemed to be kindness to it. Darwin worried you might be dead.

Dead. If only. A shudder rolled over her body again, ashes scattering into the air around her. Slowly, her head rose. Smoke and ash flowed from her mane with the movement until she stopped and opened her ember eyes to take in who had come. A stallion, and some type of tortoise, she thought. Her body rocked slightly side to side as she pulled her drooping wings upwards, settling more naturally onto her back. She didn't have wings before so the movement was awkward and unnatural, smoke and ash filling the air around her as she tried to adjust them into a comfortable position.

"I wish I were dead." She said with a soft crack in her voice. Her heart quivered and ached at the thought. Why couldn't she have died too? "They're all dead..." Damnata muttered to the duo, her body again drooping as sadness washed over her. "Where am I?"