FIRESTORM latest novel a WIP

I am working on my fourth Young Adult  novel, FIRESTORM.

The year is 2034, and Vancouver has been devastated by a huge earthquake and tsunami. Global warming is escalating, wildfires are rampant on the West Coast.  The majority of people who survived have either moved north or into the Interior, looking for better lives.  Those who remained have taken up residence at Little Mountain, which is the highest point in Vancouver.  Some of the survivors live in tenements or out on the open lots, where it is dangerous, not only because of the gangs but from the feral coyotes.

Sixteen year old Carlie Fleming is barely surviving and she soon realizes she cannot do it on her own.   She meets 10 year old  identical twins, Buddy and Rusty, and then 15 year old Willie Arbuckle, a mean, lazy boy who has a knack for finding food.  They find an old warehouse farther down Little Mountain, and move in.  Then Mae-Li Wong and Debbie, who has Downs Syndrome,  join their group. Mae-Li has taken Debbie under her wing, and protects her fiercely. She is also proficient in Kung Fu and keeps Willie in line when he tries to bully Debbie.

This motley crew of misfits have gravitated together for protection and survival. Carlie finds herself in a leadership role, which does not make her happy, as she prefers her own company and finds it difficult to show affection to any of the  members of their group.

One day, while foraging for food and not able to make it home before nightfall, Carlie is forced to spend the night holed up in a concrete drain sewer. Eighteen year old Taylor West is also taking refuge in the same place,  seeking protection from a spectacular thunder and lightning  storm. Their meeting will start a catalyst that will prove both good and bad. He joins their group, not divulging to anyone that he is the past-leader of the Phantoms, one of the largest and most dangerous gangs on Little Mountain. Although Carlie senses there is a growing attraction between her and Taylor, she feels he is holding back important information, and finds it difficult to completely trust him.

Food and water are scarce, the weather gets worse, there are more violent storms and rising temperatures.  The ashfall is increasing each day, making it difficult to breathe.  Realizing they have no choice, Taylor suggests they leave before they die of starvation or disease, or have an altercation with one of the violent gangs.

He produces a map and shows them a route he has set out, leaving Vancouver, crossing the Fraser River, and walking to the Interior through mountains and dry lands.  The trek will be very difficult for the twins and Debbie, but if they stay on Little Mountain, they will not survive.

Landscaping is unrecognizable, everything is desert like, plants are dying, rivers and streams are drying up. They are caught in a vicious sand storm, and find refuge in an old rusted train. They sleep in the car units for protection from the sun.  They are attacked by The Desert Rats, young feral kids who live in an abandoned mining town and who are on a foraging trip.  Taylor finds a cache of guns and ammo in the train, and realizes they are the property of the Desert Rats.  A fight ensues and they manage to escape into the mountains, with two guns and some ammo. Rusty was injured in the fracas.  

They discover an underground cave, where the can gather their strength before proceeding on their journey. Taylor has a few survival skills and shows them how to start fires. Each day they gather mounds of branches, twigs and old wood to keep it burning.  The cave turns out to be a bear’s den, and it returns to hibernate for the winter. They are successful in killing it which provides them with provisions for the next few weeks.

Rusty does not get better, and Mai-Li scavenges for plants that are edible, but nothing helps and they are not able to save him. They bury him in a scree, digging up the rocks with sticks and their hands.  Eddie becomes  withdrawn, and refuses to leave the grave site. Carlie is forced to make him eat.  The water is polluted, and must be continually boiled  They eat roots, flowers, wild apples, berries, squirrels, snakes, and rabbits.  Winter is approaching and they know they must not dally in the mountains, so they move on.  Carlie is forced to tie Eddie to a rope and pull him along behind her.  He escapes and returns to his brother’s grave, and Taylor goes back to get him, talking to him and gaining his confidence.

Snow comes early to the mountains, and the group realizes they will not make it through the mountain range during the Winter and must find shelter.  They come across an abandoned cabin, which is run down and needs a lot of renovating, but it turns out to be a God-send. They  have a place to stay for the winter.

Food is rationed, and the long winter days and nights prove challenging to them all. Willie is  caught stealing food, and Taylor forces him to leave the group.  He returns to the Desert Rats and joins their group, swearing to seek revenge on both Carlie and Taylor.

First sign of spring the small group decide to continue on their trek.

MORE TO COME!!!