As the Fire Burns ch 1

The storm whipped around the building, banging into the windows and tearing at the fields. Hunter sat silently meditating, absorbing the power that came as a gift from nature.

Tori appeared on one of the sky's heavy breaths. Nothing one second and there the next, she would have scared anyone who had been present at the entrance to the Thunder Ninja Academy. She was glad for the easy access, as she was cold and drenched. She pounded on the locked doors to the building.

"Who's out there?" someone called.

"Tori Hanson, from the Wind Ninja Academy." Tori replied. The doors where immediately opened.

"Sensei Tori." A student greeted her. "I didn't know you were expected tonight."

"I wasn't." she told him, taking off her wet coat. "But something's come up and I need to speak with your Head Teacher."

"He's in his office. I can show you the way, if you'd like."

Tori gave him a sweet smile. "It's okay, I know where it is." And with that she went to find him.

Hunter jolted a bit when a loud knock came from his door; he was so deep in meditation. "Hunter, I'm coming in." Tori warned, entering a second later.

"You could just wait for someone to move." He suggested easily. Tori laughed but ignored his comments.

"Hell of a storm." She commented. "Almost drowned on my way over." Hunter got up to get them both drinks. "Though I'm sure you're having a nice night."

"Oh, so you enjoy playing in tsunamis?" he shot back with a laugh. Tori smirked.

"Completely different. Anyway, I wish I could joke more, but that's not why I'm here." She sat sideways on the couch.

"And here I thought you braved 100 mph winds and heavy down pours just to have a chat." He smiled while handing her a steaming mug. He sat across from her, his own cup in hand. "What's up?"

Tori waited a moment before responding. "Cam got a message today." She finally started. Hunter caught on to her subtle distress.

"Tor?" he asked and encouraged.

"It was actually three messages. One from the Ground Ninja Academy in South Dakota. Apparently their top student was kidnapped. And then there was one from the Aqua Ninja Academy down in Lousiana, saying how their top student had gone missing. And the last one, was a message from the VA" Tori ignored how Hunter tensed. "The Sensei there thinks the disappearances are linked. And he was asking for our help, because he thinks Alexis is the next target."