It wasn't the thunder that ultimately woke her up, but the lightning. A bright light flashed across the dark room, the lightning making it glow for a moment like the day time.

Just as soon as it appeared, it was gone, leaving Mikasa to sit up against her bed frame and clutch her blanket tightly to her chest alone. Her heart raced, the only sound that she could hear beyond thunder, the snores of those who shared her room, and the heavy patter of rain that never seemed to stop.

Perhaps the rain would dry and training could go on as usual in the morning. Sasha was going to graduate soon, so she would need to be prepared.

Being prepared meant that she had a better chance of escaping a Titan.

The titans, however, suddenly seemed very far away. They were probably hiding from the rain and lightning as well; it had to have some effect on them.

The longer that she stayed awake and listened to the rain beat down, the more that Sasha's eyes adjusted to the dark. Her stomach rumbled, though for once she could not be sure how she was hungry.

The kitchens are far away, Sasha thought. So, so far away.

Sasha could imagine the wet, slippery mud beneath her feet, and the ice cold rain covering her until she was soaked to the bone.

Back when she still lived in her village, she had usually went to her father when it stormed. He was bothered by them as well, having witnessed some of his friend's fall due to nature. They would sit up and talk, Sasha right beside him (even when she got older she would still cuddle close). If the storm went on for a very long time then her father would pull out some old cards, and they would play for a while.

Now, she didn't have her father. She was, after all, training to protect him from Titans. It was the least that she could do for him.

Without thinking, Sasha got out of bed. She dropped her blanket, though she was still cold. Trying to walk as quietly as she could (even though the wooden floorboards creaked beneath her feet), she made her way to the door.

She stopped for a moment, her hand only inches from the doorknob.

"Sasha?"

Sasha froze. Had she actually managed to wake someone up.

"Sasha, what's going on?"

Sasha turned. The dim light showed Mikasa, mostly covered by her blanket though Sasha could see that she was not wearing her usual red scarf.

"I'm sorry," Sasha muttered, looking down to the floor. "I just got woken up by the storm, and I stopped thinking from there."

That was as close to the truth as it seemed. Storms had a way of making the world change and become irregular.

For a moment, Mikasa was silent and Sasha was still, her eyes locked on the other girl.

"Come over," Mikasa said, raising up her blanket.

Sasha felt her cheeks burn.

What's going on? she thought.

Her feet, however, moved mechanically. Some part of her could not help but feel a little happy; were it not for the storm, then this would not be happening.

It was hard to fit two into Mikasa's small bed, but they managed. If Mikasa seemed bothered by them being so close that they touched, then she did not mention it.

"I," Sasha said, "I'm afraid of storms. They're just so loud and bright."

"You do not need to explain." Mikasa placed a hand on Sasha's shoulder.

Maybe, Sasha thought, I'm actually sleeping through the storm. This is a nice dream.

"I am going back to sleep." Mikasa rubbed Sasha's shoulder with her fingertips. "I hope that you will be able to do the same; being tired during training would be terrible."

"I know." Sasha closed her eyes, though she had no idea how long that it would actually take for her to fall asleep. "Thank you, Mikasa."

"You're welcome. Good night, Sasha."

"Good night to you, Mikasa." Her voice was just barely above a whisper.

When Sasha did fall asleep, she dreamed of a bread and vegetables, her father and her hunting, and a brave, kind, and beautiful girl.

When she woke up the next morning next to Mikasa, Sasha discovered that the storm had finally stopped.