Leo the young lion lived in a cozy jungle clearing. His friend Mira the monkey lived there too. Leo liked quiet afternoons with picture books. He often drew letters in the dirt with a stick: L for Leo, M for Mira.
One hot day, Leo smelled sharp smoke. His nose wrinkled. He felt scared—his tummy felt wiggly. A bright orange line flickered at the edge of the trees. The fire crackled like loud popcorn.
“Run!” Mira shouted. She grabbed Leo’s paw. They dashed around their familiar clearing. Leo could hear leaves hissing. He could feel heat on his whiskers.
They stopped near Leo’s favorite log, where he kept smooth stones like toys. Leo looked back and gulped.
