Title: Unicorn in the Moonlight
Chapter: 3/?
Author: Dark Neko Shini
Pairings: None yet, eventually 3+4
Rating: Pg-13'ish on this chapter
Warnings: Some violence, Strong'ish language. Quatre torture ahead. You have been warned. If you have a problem with that, *DON'T* read it. Not too bad though.
Disclaimer: I don't own squat. *Checks for squat* Nope, don't own it. Nothing in this fic belongs to me.
Unicorn in the Moonlight
Chapter Three
::Hi.::
Trowa blinked softly once, then turned. "I'm... lost.." He responded softly, in child-like honosty to the gentle voice that greated him.
::Why are you lost?:: There was compassion, caring in the somewhat chipper question.
That was a rather *silly* question to the tall youth as he stood dazed within the cage like growth of trees that surrounded the clearing he stood in. "I.. don't know.."
::I'll help you and I'll be your friend.::
"Friend...?" He moved a step forward, then halted. "Where.. exactly are you?"
::Oh.. I'm here.. and there.:: The small voice chuckled gently. ::I need you to find me.. I'm lost too.. And I don't like to be alone..::
Trowa's large hand gently rubbed his chest over his heart, a look of concerned dispair lightly marring his features.
"But.. *Where* exactly are you.. I can hear you, but I can't see you with all of these trees."
::Please hurry.. it's getting cold.. and I'm not used to being so cold.."
An exasperated sigh escaped the humans lips. "But *How*? Where are you? What's your name? How can I find you unless you give me some answers?" He didn't realize he shivered until goosebumps rose apon his forearms. It *was* getting cold.
::tell me.. your name.. before I go to sleep..::
"Sleep? No.. who are you? Is this a dream?"
::so tired.. you.. are so far away from me..::
"I can hear you fine, I'm right here!" He circled in place, sharp eyes piercing into the forest to look for the stranger with the soft voice. "Please.. talk to me.. I'll find you."
::I want.. to go... h-hom...home.::
Pitieous weeping encumbered Trowa's mind and he reached up, holding his head at the emotional onslaught. As the wind rose to a harsh wail, it bit cruelly into his skin, and he was appalled to realize he was standing in the clearing nude, but he was helpless to lower his arms to cover his exposed 'self'. Taking a step toward a particularly dense growth of trees, he discovered a fine point of light coming from the distance.
//Trowa?!//
"I'm.. Trowa.. Trowa Barton.."
::Hello.. friend Trowa.. I do hope to see you soon.. I must be free soon.. or I'll die.::
//Trowa!? Where are you?//
He nodded softly, his expression blank yet determined at the same time. Lifting his arm, he looked at it in confusion. Raining? It wasn't raining, yet.. he could feel the stinging drops of rain striking his bare flesh with merciless intent. The ground he stood opon felt marshy and the mud squished between his toes as he moved another step forward, watching the trees remain the same distance away from him, no matter how many steps he tread towards them.
//Trooowaaaa!!//
He jerked as the teeny voice broke through into his dream state.
::please.. friend Trowa.. don't give up on me..:: And the voice faded as Trowa slowly awoke into a strange environment.
~~~
The storm raged above her, sending the tree limbs whipping madly as she fought to walk through the forest. Crying out, she held up her hand, covering a large scratch apon her face as she searched for her brother.
"Trooowaaaa!!"
"Cathy.." He blinked, then once again jolted in place as he realized he was standing close to a raging, rain swollen stream, the roar of the water and the fury of the storm nearly drowning his sisters calling of his name.
"Cathy..?" Turning, he stumbled lightly over a large treeroot, falling apon one knee, then rising clumbsily. "I.. I'm here.." His lips were numb as well as his drenched body, the wind shoving at him relentlessly.
~~~
"What were you doing out there in the rain, little brother?" She murmured softly as she sat a cup of hot cidar before him.
Sitting huddled at his seat at the table, a large fur wrapped about his shoulders, Trowa slowly reached for the cup, blinking softly as Cathy firmly gripped it once again, not allowing him to pull it closer.
"Trowa.." Kneeling down slowly so she could gaze up to him, she released her hold. "Trowa.. please.. talk to me.. tell me what you were dreaming.. was it a bad dream? Was that it?" She tenderly reached up to push back still damp bangs that clung stubbornly to his face.
"Bad.. dream?" He blinked once.
"Yes.. you must have had a bad dream to cause you to walk into the forest in the middle of the storm." She scolded lightly, continually stroking back his bangs until he jerked his face away from her with a soft motion.
"When did I lose you, Trowa?" She whispered softly, mournfully as she gazed up into his lowered face.
~~~
"What do you mean you won't take him?! This here is a real live Unicorn!" John roared, glaring at an old, twisted shell of a man that stood before the cage.
"Just a boy in that cage. Just a wild boy and nothing more." The old man nodded to the youths naked and beaten appearance. "What did you do to him? Go out into the forest, capture him and beat him into submissiveness?"
Michael had the good sense to look ashamed of himself as he lowered his gaze to the ground. He idly drug his toe through the dirt as John, now more furious than ever, stalked forward to Ebben.
"Now you listen to me, old man. We gots a REAL LIVE unicorn here! We seen him switch his own body on us!"
"Simply a myth and nothing more!" The old man lifted his gnarled hand up and placed it within a few inches of John's chest, telling him simply in his own way to hold it right there. The wind began to pick up, lifting the cobwebs of hair that clung stubbornly to the old man's skull. "That poor, broken creature in that cage is no more of a Unicorn than you or I." Sunlight broke through the clouds at intervals, brightening the day considerably before once again being subdued. The ancient man continued to speak. "I have seen but one. I showed it respect and it gave that respect back to me. I left it alone, let it be. Unicorns... " He paused, seeming to either go into a well loved memory, or to gather his thoughts as his muddy brown eyes remained on the boy in the cage. "Unicorns.. simply will wither and die if they are forced to live in a cage. You can't do that, othewise, that old fellow and me would still be touring the world. Now you go and run along and turn that boy back out where you found 'em. Doctor him up and feed him a bit first."
"We're telling you the truth, old man!" John roared in frustration and wounded pride. Who was this old badger to tell him what he had and didn't have? "We caught him with our *Own* hands! He was a little devil, but fought like a couger! I had to whip him down myself!"
"Just like I'm sure you do with your horses.. poor, misfortunate brutes." The old side-show owner interrupted. "I pity anything coming into your possesion. You have no heart.. no humanity. Pain and cruelty do not get you far in this world, might make you feared, but it sure as hell don't get you loved or respected. Go away, A'fore I turn my boys on you. Get that poor wretch out of that cage and have some mercy on him." He spoke the last sentence with compassion before turning his muddy eyes away from the two, dirty middle aged men and walked slowly to his tent.
The youth in the cage lifted his head slightly, gently wrapping slender fingers around the bars as he watched the old man walk away. Too weak to lift his upper body, he lay his head back down apon the filthy straw as his two tormentors approached. Large, crystal curlean eyes held fear and uncertainty as he shuddered softly.
"I can't believe that old man.. Telling us we didn't have no unicorn!" He pointed his finger at the huddled figure in the cage. "It's *All* Your fault! You should have changed! You should have showed him what you was! Now... I just might as well leave you in there.. but I sure as hell am gonna teach you a lesson you won't *Soon* forget."
Michael stood to one end of the small wooden crate, his friend on the other. Quickly it was lifted, one end being lifted too high as they overcompesated the cages weight purpously with that of the slight weight of the cargo inside. Rolling bonelessly, the small creature gave a muffled wimper and clambered about in panic, one bare leg falling through the slats, splinters biting into tender skin painfully.
"We'll get him down the road aways.. outta traffic. I'll show 'em who's the boss, then we'll leave 'em for a day or so.. that way, maybe he'd be more 'n willin' to cooperate with me. Know that *I'm* his master." John rambled as he huffed and blowed, carrying the cage at an odd angle purposely so the youth couldn't pull his leg out from the slats, and was forced to merely let it drag, his toes bumping along the gritty and slightly rocky road.
Twenty minutes found them futher down the road, the heat of the day catching up with them as they stopped, resting against the crudely made, yet durable cage, to wipe sweat from their brows. "Now and here's as good as the place and time. We can camp about a mile down. Don't no one use this road for naught, so he should be alright here." John said, pulling a key from a pocket in his ragged shirt and opening the lock.
Looking up as he gauged the sky, John seemed to nod to himself. "Tis gonna be winter soon. May as well use what is left of this heat while we can."
"What are you gonna do, broil him in that box?"
"That don't sound like such a bad idea, now does it Michael?"
Wide-eyed and full of panic, the youth scrambled wildly to get away, he pulled his leg back inside of the cage as soon as it was level, dragging it across more splintery boards in the process. A strangled cry escaped his throat as he was seized by the shoulder and drug. Digging in his heels as best he could, he cried out and fought with what was left of his strength, but the human was far bigger, outweighing him by at least one hundred pounds.
He had learned early not to bite, the bruises around the corner of his mouth and around his left eye was his very vivid and painful reminder. Caught now in a throat crushing headlock, he kicked his lower legs and thrashed wildly as Michael pulled a small, stout stick from the back of his belt. It was 18 inches in length and heavy.
"Back of the legs and lower back ought to do it." John said, grinning broadly as he turned the youth, pressing his face roughly into the fabric of his shirt, pinning him to his chest, holding the small frame by the upper back.
"How many, John?"
John chuckled. "Til he stops fightin'. Then we'll put 'im back in and let 'im think it over for a while... see if he wants any more of what can happen when he don't cooperate."
Michael nodded and took a step forward, heavy stick poised in midair.
The first strike was agony. Lightning seemed to dance before the stunned youths closed eyes as fire erupted in the back of his upper thigh. Groaning and writhing, he tried to pull away, but was only rewarded with a heavy blow to his lower back. His knees sagged and his weight fell apon the human that was pinning him, laughing softly as the unicorn turned human groaned in pain.
Another blow fell to his kidneys, knocking the wind from him as a deep moan rattled pitifully in his throat. Again he was struck, this time across the buttocks. Large welts rose where he was struck, paining him as sweat rolled into them.
::...no.. more... please..:: He cried out in his agony. But those who were 'Correcting' him, were not pure of heart, they did not hear his pleas for mercy, for they held no compassion. ::Iria! Please.. please.. where are you, Iria.. it hurts..::
Losing conciousness after five minutes of the assult, the tired, sweaty and bleeding body sagged once again against John, the fight now completely beaten out of him.
~~~
The young woman sat up on the small bed, a light sheen of sweat clinging to her brow as her soft blue eyes gazed about, nearly wild with fear.
"Quatre!" She called, trying to move from the bed until an angry rush of fire enveloped her left shoulder.
"Do try to rest, Unicorn." The healer spoke soothingly, her ancient features somehow a comfort in the gloom of her cave.
Iria didn't remember changing forms as she gazed down to the bandaging covering her chest. "Quatre! He *Needs* me! He needs me!" Her meloncholy voice wailed in dispair. "He's calling to me!"
"Don't worry about the child. Help is coming for him."
"They're hurting him! Please let me go!" Iria was slowly pressed back into the bed, her struggles going weaker as her eyes slid closed slowly. As her face turned into the pillow, she moaned lightly, "Oh Quatre.. I'm so sorry."
~~~
John staggered, holding his captived under the armpits as he first drug him to the cage, then tossed him in as he if were nothing more than a bag of grain. The pale body landed with a rough thud, rolling once and coming to a rest against the rough, splintery boards.
"I'm hungry. Let's make camp and go see how good the game here is." John stated, once again locking the cage. Michael helped him drag it futher back from the road, but making sure it was in no shade. The heat was getting high and he didn't want an iota of comfort for his new pet.
~~
Thunder rumbled overhead. The sound of wind blowing the treetops fervently, leaves rustling loudly above brought ice blue eyes slowly open. His first instinct was to find shelter, it would storm. He became aware of seething pain in his body.. his human body.
::..no.. it cannot be... :: He murmured, his mind wandering and tired. Sighing, he closed his eyes as the now angered wind touselled his true blond locks about his face, the long bangs stinging his closed eyes with such force, that he turned his face into the rancid straw.
Rain began to patter apon his wounded body and he cringed. Such pain from something so harmless as a rain drop.. but the rain drops were icy and cruel to the large welts that lined his fragile body. It began to fall harder, the breeze now gusting higher and harder, dropping the temperature as it whistled along the heavy trees just to the back of the cage. Thirsty, he began to lick the water weakly from his arms, shivering in both pain and cold. The bright flash of lightning and the relentless crash of thunder in the Heavens frightened him and he longed to feel safe. Curling into as small a ball as he could, he hid his face and trembled, a single tear slipping down his dirty, bruise swollen face.
`TBC
Chapter: 3/?
Author: Dark Neko Shini
Pairings: None yet, eventually 3+4
Rating: Pg-13'ish on this chapter
Warnings: Some violence, Strong'ish language. Quatre torture ahead. You have been warned. If you have a problem with that, *DON'T* read it. Not too bad though.
Disclaimer: I don't own squat. *Checks for squat* Nope, don't own it. Nothing in this fic belongs to me.
Unicorn in the Moonlight
Chapter Three
::Hi.::
Trowa blinked softly once, then turned. "I'm... lost.." He responded softly, in child-like honosty to the gentle voice that greated him.
::Why are you lost?:: There was compassion, caring in the somewhat chipper question.
That was a rather *silly* question to the tall youth as he stood dazed within the cage like growth of trees that surrounded the clearing he stood in. "I.. don't know.."
::I'll help you and I'll be your friend.::
"Friend...?" He moved a step forward, then halted. "Where.. exactly are you?"
::Oh.. I'm here.. and there.:: The small voice chuckled gently. ::I need you to find me.. I'm lost too.. And I don't like to be alone..::
Trowa's large hand gently rubbed his chest over his heart, a look of concerned dispair lightly marring his features.
"But.. *Where* exactly are you.. I can hear you, but I can't see you with all of these trees."
::Please hurry.. it's getting cold.. and I'm not used to being so cold.."
An exasperated sigh escaped the humans lips. "But *How*? Where are you? What's your name? How can I find you unless you give me some answers?" He didn't realize he shivered until goosebumps rose apon his forearms. It *was* getting cold.
::tell me.. your name.. before I go to sleep..::
"Sleep? No.. who are you? Is this a dream?"
::so tired.. you.. are so far away from me..::
"I can hear you fine, I'm right here!" He circled in place, sharp eyes piercing into the forest to look for the stranger with the soft voice. "Please.. talk to me.. I'll find you."
::I want.. to go... h-hom...home.::
Pitieous weeping encumbered Trowa's mind and he reached up, holding his head at the emotional onslaught. As the wind rose to a harsh wail, it bit cruelly into his skin, and he was appalled to realize he was standing in the clearing nude, but he was helpless to lower his arms to cover his exposed 'self'. Taking a step toward a particularly dense growth of trees, he discovered a fine point of light coming from the distance.
//Trowa?!//
"I'm.. Trowa.. Trowa Barton.."
::Hello.. friend Trowa.. I do hope to see you soon.. I must be free soon.. or I'll die.::
//Trowa!? Where are you?//
He nodded softly, his expression blank yet determined at the same time. Lifting his arm, he looked at it in confusion. Raining? It wasn't raining, yet.. he could feel the stinging drops of rain striking his bare flesh with merciless intent. The ground he stood opon felt marshy and the mud squished between his toes as he moved another step forward, watching the trees remain the same distance away from him, no matter how many steps he tread towards them.
//Trooowaaaa!!//
He jerked as the teeny voice broke through into his dream state.
::please.. friend Trowa.. don't give up on me..:: And the voice faded as Trowa slowly awoke into a strange environment.
~~~
The storm raged above her, sending the tree limbs whipping madly as she fought to walk through the forest. Crying out, she held up her hand, covering a large scratch apon her face as she searched for her brother.
"Trooowaaaa!!"
"Cathy.." He blinked, then once again jolted in place as he realized he was standing close to a raging, rain swollen stream, the roar of the water and the fury of the storm nearly drowning his sisters calling of his name.
"Cathy..?" Turning, he stumbled lightly over a large treeroot, falling apon one knee, then rising clumbsily. "I.. I'm here.." His lips were numb as well as his drenched body, the wind shoving at him relentlessly.
~~~
"What were you doing out there in the rain, little brother?" She murmured softly as she sat a cup of hot cidar before him.
Sitting huddled at his seat at the table, a large fur wrapped about his shoulders, Trowa slowly reached for the cup, blinking softly as Cathy firmly gripped it once again, not allowing him to pull it closer.
"Trowa.." Kneeling down slowly so she could gaze up to him, she released her hold. "Trowa.. please.. talk to me.. tell me what you were dreaming.. was it a bad dream? Was that it?" She tenderly reached up to push back still damp bangs that clung stubbornly to his face.
"Bad.. dream?" He blinked once.
"Yes.. you must have had a bad dream to cause you to walk into the forest in the middle of the storm." She scolded lightly, continually stroking back his bangs until he jerked his face away from her with a soft motion.
"When did I lose you, Trowa?" She whispered softly, mournfully as she gazed up into his lowered face.
~~~
"What do you mean you won't take him?! This here is a real live Unicorn!" John roared, glaring at an old, twisted shell of a man that stood before the cage.
"Just a boy in that cage. Just a wild boy and nothing more." The old man nodded to the youths naked and beaten appearance. "What did you do to him? Go out into the forest, capture him and beat him into submissiveness?"
Michael had the good sense to look ashamed of himself as he lowered his gaze to the ground. He idly drug his toe through the dirt as John, now more furious than ever, stalked forward to Ebben.
"Now you listen to me, old man. We gots a REAL LIVE unicorn here! We seen him switch his own body on us!"
"Simply a myth and nothing more!" The old man lifted his gnarled hand up and placed it within a few inches of John's chest, telling him simply in his own way to hold it right there. The wind began to pick up, lifting the cobwebs of hair that clung stubbornly to the old man's skull. "That poor, broken creature in that cage is no more of a Unicorn than you or I." Sunlight broke through the clouds at intervals, brightening the day considerably before once again being subdued. The ancient man continued to speak. "I have seen but one. I showed it respect and it gave that respect back to me. I left it alone, let it be. Unicorns... " He paused, seeming to either go into a well loved memory, or to gather his thoughts as his muddy brown eyes remained on the boy in the cage. "Unicorns.. simply will wither and die if they are forced to live in a cage. You can't do that, othewise, that old fellow and me would still be touring the world. Now you go and run along and turn that boy back out where you found 'em. Doctor him up and feed him a bit first."
"We're telling you the truth, old man!" John roared in frustration and wounded pride. Who was this old badger to tell him what he had and didn't have? "We caught him with our *Own* hands! He was a little devil, but fought like a couger! I had to whip him down myself!"
"Just like I'm sure you do with your horses.. poor, misfortunate brutes." The old side-show owner interrupted. "I pity anything coming into your possesion. You have no heart.. no humanity. Pain and cruelty do not get you far in this world, might make you feared, but it sure as hell don't get you loved or respected. Go away, A'fore I turn my boys on you. Get that poor wretch out of that cage and have some mercy on him." He spoke the last sentence with compassion before turning his muddy eyes away from the two, dirty middle aged men and walked slowly to his tent.
The youth in the cage lifted his head slightly, gently wrapping slender fingers around the bars as he watched the old man walk away. Too weak to lift his upper body, he lay his head back down apon the filthy straw as his two tormentors approached. Large, crystal curlean eyes held fear and uncertainty as he shuddered softly.
"I can't believe that old man.. Telling us we didn't have no unicorn!" He pointed his finger at the huddled figure in the cage. "It's *All* Your fault! You should have changed! You should have showed him what you was! Now... I just might as well leave you in there.. but I sure as hell am gonna teach you a lesson you won't *Soon* forget."
Michael stood to one end of the small wooden crate, his friend on the other. Quickly it was lifted, one end being lifted too high as they overcompesated the cages weight purpously with that of the slight weight of the cargo inside. Rolling bonelessly, the small creature gave a muffled wimper and clambered about in panic, one bare leg falling through the slats, splinters biting into tender skin painfully.
"We'll get him down the road aways.. outta traffic. I'll show 'em who's the boss, then we'll leave 'em for a day or so.. that way, maybe he'd be more 'n willin' to cooperate with me. Know that *I'm* his master." John rambled as he huffed and blowed, carrying the cage at an odd angle purposely so the youth couldn't pull his leg out from the slats, and was forced to merely let it drag, his toes bumping along the gritty and slightly rocky road.
Twenty minutes found them futher down the road, the heat of the day catching up with them as they stopped, resting against the crudely made, yet durable cage, to wipe sweat from their brows. "Now and here's as good as the place and time. We can camp about a mile down. Don't no one use this road for naught, so he should be alright here." John said, pulling a key from a pocket in his ragged shirt and opening the lock.
Looking up as he gauged the sky, John seemed to nod to himself. "Tis gonna be winter soon. May as well use what is left of this heat while we can."
"What are you gonna do, broil him in that box?"
"That don't sound like such a bad idea, now does it Michael?"
Wide-eyed and full of panic, the youth scrambled wildly to get away, he pulled his leg back inside of the cage as soon as it was level, dragging it across more splintery boards in the process. A strangled cry escaped his throat as he was seized by the shoulder and drug. Digging in his heels as best he could, he cried out and fought with what was left of his strength, but the human was far bigger, outweighing him by at least one hundred pounds.
He had learned early not to bite, the bruises around the corner of his mouth and around his left eye was his very vivid and painful reminder. Caught now in a throat crushing headlock, he kicked his lower legs and thrashed wildly as Michael pulled a small, stout stick from the back of his belt. It was 18 inches in length and heavy.
"Back of the legs and lower back ought to do it." John said, grinning broadly as he turned the youth, pressing his face roughly into the fabric of his shirt, pinning him to his chest, holding the small frame by the upper back.
"How many, John?"
John chuckled. "Til he stops fightin'. Then we'll put 'im back in and let 'im think it over for a while... see if he wants any more of what can happen when he don't cooperate."
Michael nodded and took a step forward, heavy stick poised in midair.
The first strike was agony. Lightning seemed to dance before the stunned youths closed eyes as fire erupted in the back of his upper thigh. Groaning and writhing, he tried to pull away, but was only rewarded with a heavy blow to his lower back. His knees sagged and his weight fell apon the human that was pinning him, laughing softly as the unicorn turned human groaned in pain.
Another blow fell to his kidneys, knocking the wind from him as a deep moan rattled pitifully in his throat. Again he was struck, this time across the buttocks. Large welts rose where he was struck, paining him as sweat rolled into them.
::...no.. more... please..:: He cried out in his agony. But those who were 'Correcting' him, were not pure of heart, they did not hear his pleas for mercy, for they held no compassion. ::Iria! Please.. please.. where are you, Iria.. it hurts..::
Losing conciousness after five minutes of the assult, the tired, sweaty and bleeding body sagged once again against John, the fight now completely beaten out of him.
~~~
The young woman sat up on the small bed, a light sheen of sweat clinging to her brow as her soft blue eyes gazed about, nearly wild with fear.
"Quatre!" She called, trying to move from the bed until an angry rush of fire enveloped her left shoulder.
"Do try to rest, Unicorn." The healer spoke soothingly, her ancient features somehow a comfort in the gloom of her cave.
Iria didn't remember changing forms as she gazed down to the bandaging covering her chest. "Quatre! He *Needs* me! He needs me!" Her meloncholy voice wailed in dispair. "He's calling to me!"
"Don't worry about the child. Help is coming for him."
"They're hurting him! Please let me go!" Iria was slowly pressed back into the bed, her struggles going weaker as her eyes slid closed slowly. As her face turned into the pillow, she moaned lightly, "Oh Quatre.. I'm so sorry."
~~~
John staggered, holding his captived under the armpits as he first drug him to the cage, then tossed him in as he if were nothing more than a bag of grain. The pale body landed with a rough thud, rolling once and coming to a rest against the rough, splintery boards.
"I'm hungry. Let's make camp and go see how good the game here is." John stated, once again locking the cage. Michael helped him drag it futher back from the road, but making sure it was in no shade. The heat was getting high and he didn't want an iota of comfort for his new pet.
~~
Thunder rumbled overhead. The sound of wind blowing the treetops fervently, leaves rustling loudly above brought ice blue eyes slowly open. His first instinct was to find shelter, it would storm. He became aware of seething pain in his body.. his human body.
::..no.. it cannot be... :: He murmured, his mind wandering and tired. Sighing, he closed his eyes as the now angered wind touselled his true blond locks about his face, the long bangs stinging his closed eyes with such force, that he turned his face into the rancid straw.
Rain began to patter apon his wounded body and he cringed. Such pain from something so harmless as a rain drop.. but the rain drops were icy and cruel to the large welts that lined his fragile body. It began to fall harder, the breeze now gusting higher and harder, dropping the temperature as it whistled along the heavy trees just to the back of the cage. Thirsty, he began to lick the water weakly from his arms, shivering in both pain and cold. The bright flash of lightning and the relentless crash of thunder in the Heavens frightened him and he longed to feel safe. Curling into as small a ball as he could, he hid his face and trembled, a single tear slipping down his dirty, bruise swollen face.
`TBC