The thunder crashed loudly, rippling through the deep black sky that reached over the islands surrounding the mainland and the lightning cracked ferociously, crackling out through the thick rain clouds. The
old splintered wooden shutters on the Villa windows swung on their weakening rusted hinges, banging hard against the rough brick walls. Only the deepest of sleepers could remain peaceful in their slumbers as the storm whipped its wicked way across the sky with all its strength blazing. The old villa buildings were struggling, battling with all their might against the raging wind and pelts of stinging
rain. "Pull all the shutters in and tie them tight shut, no one turn any of the lights on, the electrics in this old place are dodgy, blankets for extra warmth are in the baskets at the foot of the beds, chances are the heating will go" Donna called as people were shocked from their sleep by the noise of the storm, sleepily taking in Donna's list of orders.
Sophie hated the storms that raged over Kalokairi during the long winter season, the shock of the noise almost as bad as the shock of seeing the aftermath left by the storm's battle strong attack. "I've never seen a storm this bad" Sky said over the crash of thunder as he pulled in the shutters and tied them tight shut with various strings and wires. "Me either" Sophie replied watching him. Savannah pushed the door open and peered around, clutching her soft blanket and precious toy rabbit. She cried. Sophie heard the door's creak as it opened and looked to her little girl. "Aww baby" She said going to
her. "It's scary isn't it?" The toddler nodded, jumping at the sound of the thunder. "Mummy" she cried. Sophie picked her up and held her close, gently running her head up and down Savannah's pack. "Shh Shh, it's going to be okay, the storm will go soon" she soothed.
Savannah whimpered and cried hugging her mummy tightly and nestling her head into Sophie's neck. "Shh Shh" Sophie said softly, rubbing up and down her back. Sky came over when he heard her gentle words and Savannah crying. "Aww is my angel scared of the storm?" he said looking to his baby. She nodded. Sky gave a smile and lead his two girls back into bed. "We can have a good snuggle all together" he said settling Sophie and their little girl under the covers. He got some extra blankets and laid it other them before getting in beside them. "There there Savannah, mummy and daddy are here" He said laying little Savannah between him and Sophie and cuddling her. The toddler whimpered looking to Sophie and crying. Sophie kissed her forehead and held her tight, whispering soothing words into her ear.
Sky rubbed her arm softly, wanting his baby to smile and laugh again. With a spark and a crackle, the lights went out and Savannah's crying only grew louder. Sophie sighed deeply and held her baby close for a moment longer before giving her to Sky. She carefully ran into the nursery and took the cordless lamp from the shelf along with an emergency torch. Going back into the bedroom, her eyes focused to the darkness and she put the lamp on the bedside cabinet. Savannah's eyes went wide in the light and she whimpered. "Shh Shh baby girl" Sophie said cuddling her again. "Look there's your night light" Savannah looked to it then back to Sophie. "When loud stop" She said. "The loud storm will stop soon baby" Sophie replied laying Savannah beside her. She positioned the torch so the light shone onto the darkest wall.
"Look my angel" Sophie said making a shape with her fingers. Shadows danced onto the wall, a shadow rabbit. "Boing boing boing" Sophie smiled moving her hands to make it look like the shadow rabbit was jumping up and down. Savannah looked to the shadow and smiled holding up her toy rabbit. "Boing!" She giggles. "Yes that's right it's a rabbit" Sophie smiled. Sky chuckled. "Is that funny Savannah" she nods looking at the shadow contently only jumping at the sound of the storm every now and again. Sophie smiled and changed her hand into a different shape, making the shadow turn to a dog. "Woof, woof" She smiled. Savannah giggled. "Doggie go woof". Sophie smiled and nodded.
Sophie continued to make different shadow creatures until Savannah began to whine with tiredness. Sophie held her and walked around the wall, rocking her lovingly. Sky watched in awe as Sophie showed such affection to her little girl, doing anything she could to sooth her and comfort her. Sky put the torch away and turned the night light up to full brightness, the light comforting to their little daughter through the darkness and the sounds of the raging storm. Sophie stroked Savannah's hair gently as the toddler began to settle. "That's it my little sunshine." she whispered into her ear.
Sky went to them and carefully draped a warm blanket over Sophie's shoulders so it covered Savannah snugly. The toddler smiled sleepily and slowly drifted to a deep and comfortable sleep. Sky smiled and kissed her head. "Sleep well" he smiled leading them to bed. He settled them warmly under the covers and climbed in beside them. Savannah lay sleeping peacefully between them. Sky smiled watching her for a moment before reaching an arm over her and holding Sophie. She smiled holding him and closing her eyes. "Goodnight" she said softly. "Night" Sky smiled closing his eyes also. They slept holding to each other in love and affection, also keeping their sleeping daughter safe between them.
The storm raged for a long while later and began to win against the old villa buildings. Bricks split and shutters splintered sharply, trees fell and out houses flooded. In one corner of the oldest
building, the old goat house, it couldn't handle the battle of the storm and gave in. Bricks fell to the floor and the old building fell to its knees, one side completely collapsed.