Dunno what th'hell happened last night, but whatever't is woke me up inna cold sweat, m'nose clogged wit' smoke an' m'teeth gritted t'gether. Some kinda major power goin' down, annit left me wit' one helluva headache after't passed. 'nough t'keep me'n bed witta cold cloth on m'head 'til'is mornin'. But somma th'others came by, told me 'bout th'smell'a woodsmoke anna light'n th'sky last night. We's always feared fire...mosta th'camp'd go up like a bloody matchstick if'n't caught...so folks kept watch 'til't died. Whatever't wuz, seemed t'stay'n th'woods.

's mornin' when I stepped outta m'wagon, first thin' I could smell wuz stale smoke, still ling'rin'. Got m'self some coffee'n bread, threw m'coat on, 'n headed out inta th'woods. Di'n't need no d'rections; c'n smell power 'long wit' smoke, stale, but still'ere.

Don't take me long t'find't. Almost a perfect circle, grass'n plants gone t'ash, th'trees down t'charred jags. But'n th'center, th'grass's still green, still fresh...'n th'whole place reeks'a power.

'm crouched down'n th'center, innat last livin' place, when I hear a twig snap. Look up, "So you heard't too, huh?"