Firestone Hot Springs fuse

Uh, no need to match the length, haha. Outrider thread for @Ragnar :D

Slowly but surely, Atreyu was exploring further and further from the safety of Stavanger Bay. Away from the ocean he uncharacteristically tread, towards the heart of the Wilds (though that was unknown to him; he hadn't a clue how large the lands actually were). The scents were strange here in the inland, pine and grass were almost dominating along with hints of small prey animals who were certainly present but hidden among the shrubbery. Atreyu could feel them watching him as he strode through the forest he had visited earlier, unafraid of the mist that swirled around the tree trunks. Although he didn't mind the forest — the shade it provided was a great relief from the summer heat — he quickly made his way through it, determined to reach the other side.

The boy had left the Bay early that morning, only to arrive at his current destination many hours later, the sun high in the sky framed by fluffy, white clouds. No, they weren't clouds. Eyes alight with curiosity, Atreyu padded towards a dip in the landscape as he emerged from the forest, the grass becoming stiff underfoot and strangely warm. The temperature seemed to rise itself and the boy flicked his ears back warily. Was there some sort of fire? He considered going back to the Bay and warning the pack but instead pressed onwards; he didn't want to cause unnecessary concern.

Standing over a rocky ridge, the sight made Atreyu audibly give a gasp of both surprise and awe. Tiny ponds dotted the area, steam rising from them as well as small cracks in the ground. He had never seen anything like it! The heat, combined with the sun beating down on his back, was tolerable but he could already feel the tips of his fur soaking in the moisture, making him appear scruffier than usual. With an excited bark, he leapt off the ledge, stumbling onto the stony ground and running towards one of the ponds, leaning in as close as he could stand and examining it with a feverish intensity.