Chapter 4 - WALL OF FIREThe temperature in the clearing skyrocketed within minutes. The wind whipped the flames into a frenzy, creating a roaring red wall that consumed everything in its path.
The roar of the fire was terrifying, drowning out the sounds of the bush. Animals were panicked. Birds filled the sky in black clouds, and herds of antelopes sprinted past the burning brush.
"We have to go! Move!" Emily yelled to the pride.
The lions were terrified of the fire, milling about nervously, their instincts telling them to scatter. But the flames had formed a complete horseshoe around the clearing, leaving only one narrow, rocky canyon open—a canyon known as Devil’s Pass.
Victor knew this area better than anyone. Taking advantage of the smoke, he grabbed a discarded dirt bike that had been unloaded from the truck before it was destroyed, kicked the engine to life, and zoomed toward Devil’s Pass. He knew that beyond the canyon lay the international border, where a private helicopter was waiting for him.
"He's going to get away... and he's burning the reserve to hide his tracks!" Emily gasped.
She looked at Sultan. The great lion stepped up beside her, his dark eyes reflecting the roaring flames. He lowered his front shoulders, letting out a low, inviting huff.
Emily didn't hesitate. She grabbed Sultan’s thick mane and hoisted herself onto his broad, muscular back.
With a powerful stride, Sultan leapt through a gap in the low brush, leading his pride in a full-speed chase through the smoky hellscape, pursuing the sound of the dirt bike's engine.
Riding a wild lion through a raging wildfire felt like an impossible dream, but the connection between Emily and Sultan was unbreakable. Sultan darted around falling burning branches, jumping over crevices of rock, his powerful lungs pushing him through the choking smoke.
Up ahead, through the haze, the red taillight of Victor’s dirt bike flickered.
They reached the entrance of Devil’s Pass—a narrow, steep gorge with sheer cliff walls rising fifty feet on either side.
As Victor sped into the canyon, he glanced back over his shoulder and saw Emily riding atop the giant dark-maned lion, flanked by a pride of lethal hunters.
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"You insane bitch!" Victor screamed over the engine noise.
He pulled a flare gun from his belt, turned around, and shot a burning red flare directly at them.
