The Fire of Ivex

Ivex stood back behind the children as they crowded close and the blaze rose up. Fire leapt from the paper, snapped to the splinters of bark. Or did it? The chill in Ivex was far deeper than the fire could touch. He turned away from the stove so the children wouldn't see his tears. What was up and what was down? If he turned back, would the children still be warm and alive? or would they be frail, blue, human bubbles he'd fail to rescue?