Rain slowly began to fall from the sky. At first it was just a steady pitter-patter, but it quickly became a free-fall of large heavy drops. Jane ran as fast as she could to find shelter from the spring shower. Puddles of mud and water sloshed at her feet as she made her way under a large oak tree, and relaxed under its heavy branches. She sighed in relief as the shower quickly became a that of a storm.
Jane listened to the swift pattern of the raindrops beating down on the green branches of the tree she was currently hiding under. She closed her eyes while she wrung out her flaming red hair that had become soaked during the downpour. It was then that she heard something. It sounded like distant footsteps beating down of the rain sodden forest floor. She peered silently around the bend of the thick tree trunk only to come face-to-face with Gunther Breech.
"Jane? What are you doing here? Its pouring rain out." He inquired, his voice a mix of annoyed with light traces of surprise. He was soaked from head to toe, his clothing clinging to his tanned skin.
"Thank you for the insight, but I was on an errand for Sir Theodore. It was sunny when I first started out. What are you doing here?" She said jabbing him with her right index finger. She could not help but notice how built his chest was. Gunther lightly rubbed the spot she had poked him before he gave her his answer.
"I was taking a walk." Jane raised an eyebrow to him.
"A walk? In this weather? Are you insane?" She patronized staring at him incredulously.
"I actually happen to enjoy the rain. It's calming, helps me unwind." He said rolling his eyes. Jane gave him a curious look.
"You enjoy the rain? Why?" Gunther grinned lightly before covering her eyes with his left hand, his right hand gripping her rain drenched shoulder.
"What are you…" Jane squirmed, trying desperately to wriggle free of his grip. But alas, he was stronger the she was, and her squirming only made his grip tighten.
"Shh…" He said in almost a whisper. "Do not look. Listen." And Jane did. She stopped moving, and exhaled as the sound of the rain beating down, and the forest swaying in the wind reached her ears. It was a beautiful sound, that she had never really stopped long enough to listen too.
"Smell." She took in a deep breath as the refreshing smell of the cool, damp, forest reached her nose. Did the forest always smell that earthy, and fresh.
"Feel". Finally she relaxed as she felt the tiny drops of rain plink against her ankles, and a cooling breeze move past them swaying her slightly.
"Now look." He released Jane from his grip, and took his hand away from her eyes. Jane gasped as he pulled his hand away. Jane had been in the forest many times. She had assumed she had seen all that was to bee seen. Trees, bushes, animals, and nothing more. But for the first time, Jane was looking with not just her eyes, but all her senses, and it made for quite a beautiful scenery.
The trees groaned as the wind whipped at their branches. The rain seemed to make patterns as they fell to the damp earth. The grey and black clouds in the sky cried clear teardrops of joy. And the ground lay still and silent as the elements took their toll on it. Jane starred star-struck at the view for quite a long time before she spoke.
"Oh." She managed as she turned to face Gunther. "It is so beautiful out. Does it always look like this when it rains?" Gunther laughed.
"Yes Jane. Always. But you have just been so busy looking, you forgot to see." He said looking deep into Jane's green eyes. His amused gaze suddenly became that of worry as Jane began to shiver, her teeth chattering loudly in her mouth. The storm had begun to pick up, and strong winds were now pushing there way through the barrier of trees that stood in its path.
"Perhaps we should head back." He whispered gently, as though he did not want the storm to hear. Jane nodded her head vigorously as they began to walk away from the cover and protection of the tree. Yet as they did a deafening crack of thunder roared through the forest in time to a blinding flash of lightning.
The tree they had previously been under splintered and cracked as the lightning hit it. Large branches began to fall strategically to the forest floor. Both of them began to run as far away as they could, but in a stroke of bad luck, Jane's foot became stuck in a hole that some form of animal had made.
"Gunther!" Jane called desperately trying to free her foot. Much as she tried to stop them, tears had begun to cloud her eyes as she heard a loud snap come from above her. She closed her eyes and prepared herself for the pain that she knew was coming when she felt something pull her from behind. A loud pop came from her foot as it broke from being yanked out of the hole, followed by a loud crack as a heavy branch came crashing down on the spot Jane had just been under. The two figures fell backwards onto the wet ground, both gasping for air.
Jane's eyes had released more tears as she looked at where she had just been, then back to Gunther, who's arms were still wrapped tightly around her. He eventually managed to pull both of them up into a sitting position.
"It is alright." He said as Jane shook violently in his arms from the cold that was chilling her, the fear the had penetrated her tough defenses, and the pain that was now searing through her leg. Rain pounded down on them, but Gunther could now care less. Jane desperately tried to wipe away any remains of tears so Gunther would not see, thought it was obvious he already had. She sniffled as Gunther pulled her head to his chest.
"You saved me." She murmured looking up at him. "You could have been killed." Gunther's starred back down at her, brushing her hair out of her eyes.
"And I would do it again in a heartbeat." Jane swallowed hard as his gaze remained steady on her. Slowly, he pulled his face down to meet hers. He stopped right before his lips met hers, as if asking permission. Jane did not wait to close the gap between them, pressing her mouth lightly against his. It greatly shocked Jane how gentle his kiss was, in comparison to his usual strength.
Gunther finally pulled back, his eyes still closed, as if trying to accept what had just happened.
"Hey…" He started still holding her close. "You stopped shivering." Jane smiled weakly as she got comfortable in Gunther's arms.
"I am not cold anymore." Then she promptly fell asleep.
Next up, Smithy
