THE FIRE SEEMED TO COME OUT OF NOWHERE.

the whole library had been consumed in mere moments, with everyone inside. you had been hanging back from the gathering in the beginning, not really wanting to be involved. you loved your new baby brother, titus was adorable, but the rest of the party - your ghastly aunts, your mother, your father, your sister fuschia, dr. prunesquallor and his sister, not to mention flay, sourdust and nannie slagg made the whole ordeal a bit much.

you were supposed to be celebrating titus and the family, though it felt like a bit overmuch for a baby. in any case, dr. prunesquallor seemed to be the only one in high spirits, though perhaps too high, as he was the last one to realize something was deeply wrong, even when the smoke started coming in. even when your mother's animals began trying to escape in a desperate frenzy, it was only when flay realized the danger that all hell broke loose.

your father seemed to be just standing in the middle of the room as the flames consumed his precious books while you were struggling to make it to the exit. the smoke was so thick you couldn't even call out to him. you coughed into your sleeve, covering your mouth to keep from inhaling smoke when a pair of arms encircled you and began to carry you out. for a moment, you thought maybe flay had come back for you, or your father may have come to his senses, but once you were outside and gently rested against a large, gnarl-rooted tree, you saw the face of your saviour.

dr. prunesquallor's assistant, steerpike. you'd spoken to him a few times before, when he worked under swelter in the kitchen, but now he was covered in soot instead of sweat and grease. like the boys who would come sweep the chimneys. you'd always found him a bit shifty, a bit too . . . involved and, in your opinion, a mite too eager to advance his position. but right now, he may as well have been your knight in shining armour. he'd just love that. "my lady {{user}}, are you alright?" he asked, fingers gently fixing your hair.