Another brilliant flash darted across the gloomy skies, followed by a booming peal of thunder that pierced through the air, shattering the calm of the stormy weather before it rumbled out of existence leaving behind only the lashing rain and the howling winds. The storm had blown in out of nowhere, and had brought with it a lot of panic from the neighbours. Not from them, though. This kind of weather was normal in The Hinterlands, and he'd always loved the rain. Something about the sound it made as is would cascade through the trees and onto the ground and homes below. Thunder and lightning, he could do without though.

He'd laid there, awake and unmoving, for who knows how long. When the storm had begun, he'd already known it wouldn't take long. Sure enough, not 15 minutes after the first few rumbles of thunder, he'd heard the tell-tale "thump" of the frightened kit falling out of bed. He'd moved aside without hesitation, instinctually scooping the trembling ball of fluff into his paws as he held her against his chest. They'd laid there, listening to the sounds of the storm grow more intense for hours. The young Eevee's trembling grew in intensity with each flash, and it's subsequent rumble, no matter what her father tried.

She'd always hated storms. She'd hatched all alone in the middle of one. In a dark, damp cave with nobody around. She'd squeaked and cried out into the cave begging, praying, somebody would answer her. But only her own voice echoed back. Afraid, and all alone, she'd stumbled out into the unwelcoming grasp of the maelstrom. Three full days of rain and sleet and wind and snow and hail had assailed her tiny body that was woefully unprepared for it.

Even now, safely tucked into her fathers arms, his voice humming that she was okay into her ears as he cradled her the same way he had upon the fourth day of her life, when she'd met him for the first time. She still felt that fear. The fear of tiny, lost kit. Screaming into the darkness of the storm with every fibre of her being for someone, anyone, to come and save her.

And so, as he did on that fourth day. When the tiny, trembling kit had refused to settle down, had kept panicking like she was in immense danger, and couldn't stop crying. He cradled her to his chest, and he began to sing.

"Look into the skies
Can you see the moon, across the oceans?
Calling out to me
Can't you hear it's melodies?"

The kits trembling slowed, and he began to hear it, that same sound he'd heard all those years ago. A soft purr from a child who knew she was safe.

"Cry into the void
Let my voice become the paw that reaches
Out to you and leads
You from dark memories"

The Eevee's trembling had all but faded, as she snuggled deeper into her fathers embrace, his paws slowly trailing down the girls back to quell any remnants of the nightmares that had taken hold of her mind earlier. She wasn't there anymore, she wasn't alone. And she never would be again, so long as he lived and breathed. He'd made that oath long ago. And he meant to keep it.

"I'll bring you home
When you've lost your way on roads ever weaving
Home...
Where darkness fades and hearts are ever believing
I'll bring you home
So close your eyes and cling to me ever dreaming
Find me...
I won't forget the child for whom I am grieving..."

The soft snores, interspersed by the gentle mumbles of "Papa..." told the Glaceon all he needed to know. He wouldn't need to go any further. She was fast asleep, far away from the storm that terrorised her waking mind. Unfortunately however, sleep never came back for him. And so, hour upon hour the boy had laid there, simply listening the the storm outside and locked away in his own mind.

It wasn't the first time, it wouldn't be the last. He'd learned to accept that sometimes, he just wasn't strong enough to push away his nightmares. And so, he'd simply lay there and allow them to wash over him. What use was fighting, if he didn't have the strength? Better to let it happed, and simply deal with the consequences in the morning.

And so, with the lashing rain and booming thunder his only solace, he tucked himself and his daughter in tightly, and settled down for another long, lonely night.


He wasn't aware how much time had passed, it was still dark outside and the storm showed no signs of stopping. The knock at the front door had broken him from his reverie, and all at once. Reality had hit him. Hard. He was exhausted, and keeping his eyes open after coming back from his mind was a battle. Slowly, softly, he lowered the snoring ball of fluff onto the mattress, tucking the blanket in around her before dragging himself slowly from the warm bed.

Silently padding his way towards the front door after getting his cloak and pawguards back on, he found himself staggering around slightly, losing balance every now and again from sleep deprivation. 'I really need to get some rest after this' The boy inwardly groaned to himself. With a loud yawn, he pulled open the front door.

"Oh... Mornin'. Come in, quick. Don't want you getting any more soaked than you already are." The Glaceon widened the opening, allowing the icy vixen entrance to his home. He staggered off briefly, grabbing a dry towel for the girl before tossing it to her.

"Oh, thank you. It's really coming down out there. So drying off a little before going back out will be nice." The Vulpix grinned before a look of worry shot over her face.

"Arceus above! Kaguya, are you ok? You look awful, what happened to you?!" The boy tilted his head slightly before realising that he must've looked a frightful mess.

"Oh, uh. Had some trouble sleeping, that's all. I'm alright. Used to it." A tired smile crossed his face as the girl visibly scowled.

"'Used to it'? You're 'used' to not sleeping? Kaguya, if that's true, we might need to get you some real help. The nurse at the guild can-"

"That's really kind, and I am thankful you care. But it's nothing like that, honest!" A bold faced lie. But he was good at those.

"Then what is it? What's going on?" The fox crossed her paws and glared at the boy, clearly not believing his story just yet.

"It's Sunshine. I told you, didn't I? When we were checked into and granted admission to stay here? I found her in the middle of raging storm. She'd been trapped in it for 3 days before I found her and brought her to safety. She's... always hated storms. No matter how old she gets, no matter where she is, or what she's doing. One flash of lightning, one rumble of thunder. One moment of the rain getting just a tiny bit too heavy... and it all comes back."

"Oh, Mew... A-and is she alright? She's not still...?" The vixen trailed off, worry evident on her face.

A shake of the boys head brought all that worry down. "No, thankfully. She clambered into bed with me, looking for comfort. And when talking and cradling her failed... I sang her to sleep."

"You... sang for her? You can sing?"

"A little, and no. I will not be doing a demonstration. I just remembered what worked the last time I'd seen her so bad, and ran with it. Thankfully, it still worked. She was asleep in no time, and I've just been... watching her to make sure she's alright. That's why I haven't slept. Not yet, anyway."

The Vulpix sighed softly, rubbing pinching her forehead between two claws as she grumbled. "While I'm glad you're a diligent and loving father to her, YOUR needs also need to be taken into account, Kaguya. I understand you worry for her, and it's wonderful to see just how much love you have for her. But it can't come at the cost of your own health. This isn't good for you or her. What if you got sick? Or because you're so tired, you hurt yourself? What would that do to her? Please, you've got to start taking your own wellbeing into consideration too. I don't want this to become a regular thing, you hear me?"

The Glaceon scoffed and rolled his eyes. "It'll become about as regular as storms of this calibre. So I'd wager not to often. You don't have to worry so much, I'm not gonna drop dead or anything, Lumi. I've pulled all-nighters before and I'm still here. One more won't hurt."

"That's not what your teammates are going to think, now are they?" That caught the boys attention.

"My... teammates? But they've not even been picked yet, how is that-" A letter was shoved up the Glaceon's nose, startling the boy.

"I came here first thing to drop this off. One, to save the postman a trek in this awful weather. And two, to make sure you were both ok. It's got the date you'll need to attend your first proper training session, and also the meet and greet for your new team." A grin was plastered on the white furred Vulpix's face as she let the boy take the letter.

"Oh. Well alright then. I guess they have been picked." The vixen giggled as the Glaceon shrugged slightly, placing the letter down on the kitchen table beside him. Another yawn passed by his muzzle as he tried to stifle it. The icy male was startled when two soft, fluffy paws pressed against both his cheeks, forcing him to look down at the lady before him.

"Kaguya. Go and get some rest, alright? You're barely even able to stand. So you go straight back to bed, curl back up with your daughter and spend the rest of today sleeping, you hear me? The rain's been said to be lasting for a few days, but the worst of it's already passed us by. Promise me you'll go get some sleep, ok?" The Vulpix let out a startled squeak as the Glaceon's paw brushed over her own cheek, stifling another yawn with his free paw.

"Relax, Lumi... I was planning on going to sleep after I'd dealt with whoever was at the door anyway. So there's nothing to worry about. Can you tell Juniper I'm sorry that I won't be dropping by today? She might get a little anxious if I don't turn up after saying I would." The boy once again yawned, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"I'll let her know. Now go on, get going. That's an order from your direct superior at the guild!"

"Not our teams liaison officer just yet, given we're not even a formed team yet."

"Shut up and follow orders!" The Glaceon leaned down, kissing the girl softly on the nose, earning another startled squeak and a bright red blush.

"You're pretty cute when you're trying to be bossy, y'know that? Well, I mean, you're cute regardless, but." And with that, the boy left the stunned girl in his kitchen, making his way towards the stairs before glancing back over his shoulders at the flustered girl. "Oh, and that was payback for yesterday. Hitting me with a kiss outta nowhere and taking off. Have fun at work~"

The Vulpix watched, wide eyed as the Glaceon staggered up his stairs and into his bedroom. Heading out of the house, her thoughts were running rampant from his sudden affection. But one rang louder than the rest as she wandered back out into the pouring rain. 'He... thinks I'm cute...?'


Upon entering the room, he found the young Eevee sitting upright in his bed. She beamed happily as he father re-entered the room. "Papa! Where did you go?" Slowly, the Glaceon climbed back into bed, wrapping the kit back up in his paws with a loud yawn.

"Sorry, Sweetpea... Papa had to go get the mail, that's all."

The Eevee's gentle purrs filled the air as she snuggled back under her father's chin. "Is it time for us to get up, Papa...?"

The boy thought about it for a moment, before remembering the orders of a very pushy, but very sweet ice fox. "Mmmm... nah... Papa's feeling lazy today, so what say we get some more sleep? Nothing beats curling up in terrible weather and sleeping it away, right?"

With no more words said the kit curled up in her father's embrace as he tugged the covers over them both, the sound of the rain lulling them both away into restful sleep.