Dark Horizon
Christine De Chagny watched the darkening horizon with nervous expectation as the voluminous clouds foretelling oncoming storm gathered there. This storm in particular promised to be a dangerous spectacle Christine was not sure she wanted to witness.
Across the meadow that her gaze was centered on, a lone rider was making his way toward the house. In her heart she knew it was her husband returning after more than a year in France's foreign military service.
Lighting broke the sky, as though in greeting to the returning Viscomte. Christine inhaled sharply as thunder crashed around her, rattling the windows. In response to its mother's distress, the child inside her womb kicked violently.
"Yes," Christine smiled grimly to herself, "the coming storm will be disastrous.