'It's raining really hard, isn't it? It's kinda exciting y'know.'

'Shut up, Garet.'

'What?'

'…'

'Hey, what?'

'There's nothing 'exciting' about this!' snapped Jenna, 'There are PEOPLE who are still out there in the freaking HURRICANE and you're saying it's COOL?'

Jenna leaned back and let out a frustrated sigh. She really didn't mean to sound so angry at Garet, but she was too wound up to think about manners. They were in one of the many rooms in shelters set up at the town square along with the other children and elderly people. The storm had been going for more than three hours. She was worried sick about her family, she hadn't seen them since they were separated in the evacuation. Even Felix, she couldn't find him...what if he was caught up in the storm? The grown-ups had assured her that Felix was fine, that they'd find him, but grown-ups weren't always right. What if they were wrong? What if-

'Sheesh, Garet, way to impress a girl,' said Peter. 'Don't mind that churlish oaf, Jenna. He probably hit his head somewhere.'

Jenna giggled in spite of herself, and even Garet was smiling even though he was the butt of the joke. It was always like that when Peter was around. He always managed to soothe the tension easily with a well-placed joke or wisecrack. He had pale blonde hair and soft gray eyes. He was always teased about looking like a girl, but he didn't mind much. He was good-natured and lots of fun to be with, which was why Jenna often found herself blushing around him, like all the other girls. Jenna snuggled up to Peter and pulled Garet closer so that the three of them made a small cocoon to protect against the cold. Jenna closed her eyes and thought of her brother. She wanted him here so bad. Felix had protected her and comforted her. She didn't know how they lost each other in the huge flood of people, he was holding her hand so tight when he suddenly let go and she lost sight of him. Stupid storm! Tonight was a good luck night! Tonight was special! So WHY? Just a few hours ago, brother and I, we were so happy staring at the beautiful sky…what does the sky look like now? Dark, lot's of clouds covering the stars. The sky was angry. It was angry, and it was taking revenge on the humans…it'll tear down the houses, the sanctum and all the people…

'Jenna! Wake up, please Jenna!'

Jenna's eyes snapped open. 'Felix! You're here!' she cried, relief flooding over her.

'No, sorry,' Garet grumbled, 'just me. But wake up anyway! Peter's gone!'

'Like where, to the bathroom?' Jenna muttered, embarrassed that she was heard calling out her brother's name.

'No! I don't know! I woke up and he wasn't here. He hasn't come back yet! No one's seen him anywhere!'

'Well,' said Jenna calmly, 'where could he have gone? No one's crazy enough to go out THERE, so he must be here.'

'Maybe Peter is crazy enough. There aren't any guards outside.'

'Are you kidding? Why SHOULD there be guards out there, heck the storm is our freaking guard! Peter isn't crazy. And if he was, he'd take us with him cause we're his best friends in the whole world! Or at least, in Vale we are!'

Garet was taken aback by Jenna's sudden outburst, but he hid it well. 'Yeah, well so are Isaac and Felix,' he whispered softy, 'Maybe he's gone out to look for them.'

Jenna opened her mouth to retaliate then closed it, realizing that that was just the kind of thing Peter would do.

'Jen, let's go after him! We'll bring 'im back and beat him senseless! Wouldn't that feel good?' said Garet encouragingly.

Jenna looked at Garet and sighed. Boys! 'No, Garet. No way.' she said softly.

'Whaddya mean, 'no way?' Jen, we gotta find him and Isaac and Felix! We have to! We'll be famous when we save them!' Garet whispered so as not to be overheard. But the room was small and already several people had their heads turned towards them. Garet barely suppressed the urge to growl at them.

'Fame!' shouted Jenna, this time getting the attention of the whole room, 'Is that all you can think about? Do you even know how worried people will be if we turn up missing? Think of our parents! Jeez, Garet!'

'SHUT UP!' roared Garet, 'So do you have a better idea, Miss-know-it-all-genius! FINE! Let's hear it then! Or MAYBE you can't think of anything without that BROTHER of yours to snuggle up to!'

'S-shut UP! Don't you DARE insult Felix, don't you DARE!'

'That's enough, please both of you!'

Jenna and Garet were practically at each other's throats when they looked up and saw Isaac's father standing in front of them, not looking angry at all.

'Uncle Kyle!'

Instantly they forgot their anger and ran into his arms, sobbing. 'Felix and Isaac are gone and so is Peter!' cried Jenna.

'I know, I know,' said Kyle, 'I'm scared too, Jenna. But we're searching, okay? We're searching for them. Vale is a big town and there are many places to hide. I'm sure Isaac and Felix are safe, probably scared, but I'm sure they're not harmed. Okay?' Jenna nodded, but Garet wasn't convinced.

'What if Isaac and Felix and Peter fall into the river? They might get lost,' he said. Kyle put a hand on Garet's shoulder and smiled.

'Peter is much stronger than he looks, and he's very brave. Felix is also very capable, he knows how to handle himself and anyone else with him. Felix is probably worried about you, Jenna. And Isaac is a smart boy. He's probably hiding somewhere safe instead of going into the storm and risking himself. He's safe. After all, he is my son.' He winked. Kyle's words seemed to calm down the two children and they pulled away from him.

'Is there anything at all we can do to help?' asked Garet. 'I wanna save people!'

Kyle laughed. 'That's very admirable, Garet. Maybe when you grow up you could be a hero and go adventuring around the world. But for now, I want you and Jenna to go around and comfort the other children and keep the elders company. There are a lot of rooms, so you better get to work!'

Jenna laughed. 'Well, my brother and the others better get back soon, or I'll work them to death for making us worry. Then they'll regret ever coming back, right Garet?'

'Right!'

-

Kyle felt bad about having to lie to the children. He couldn't tell them the truth, that in fact there was no search party to look for the children. All the townspeople were still here, not one person has left the town square. Every person here was hiding in the several shelters set up after they've found their families. Everyone was praying, but no one wanted to risk themselves to save the children. Not even I, even if one of them is my own son, he thought. He couldn't leave even if he wanted to. There were guards set up near the entrance to the town square to ensure that no one would go back to their houses to get their valuables. But that was no excuse. The truth is that he was scared. He was a coward, a father who could not, would not, save his own child. I am not a prayerful man, but to whoever is up there, please let me see my son again. Please protect Isaac, he's my only son, he's all I have left in this world…