Two Degrees

Akira runs to the pool, where Dodger is trapped by the plastic cover. He must have fallen in while trying to run from the fire. Akira tries to unlatch the cover, hoping that if Dodger falls into the water he will be able to escape, but finds that he doesn’t want to leave. He loves swimming and is clearly terrified by the nearby fire. She jumps into the freezing water and tries to coax him out. Meanwhile, some flaming debris blows onto the house from the forest and sets it on fire.

Sue yells for Akira to hurry up as the house blazes behind her. Dodger still won’t move, even as the wooden arbor above the pool begins to burn. Sue finds an apple in her backpack and calls to the horse, who immediately climbs out of the pool at the sight of food. As soon as Akira and Dodger leave the pool the arbor collapses behind them. The girls mount the horse and begin riding him away from the house.

As they ride along the road, Akira and Sue are surprised to find that everything around them is already burned. The world is gray and lifeless. Akira begins to realize that they must be trapped between multiple fires, and they might come face to face with the flames at any moment.