Eirene stirred in her bed, finding herself alone. She could hear quiet footfall heading down the hall to the main living area. She got out of bed and quickly dressed, leaving behind her soft cotton clothes that still smelled of Paarth and changed into her waxed cotton clothes to prepare to go out for the day.

In the main hall, she saw Beck who looked like she was finishing up making some oatmeal. Where she had gotten blueberries from was beyond Eirene. She pulled up a tall chair next to Paarth who slid a bowl in front of her with her serving already in it. She leaned her shoulder into his in silent thanks and dove in. She couldn't hear any rain hitting the roof yet, so she ate as fast as she could. After she finished her breakfast, Eirene rose from her seat, taking her bowl to the sink. Her fingers plucked a lone blueberry from the bowl that Beck was using, and she offered a soft kiss on her cheek.

"I'm headed out before the storm kicks up," she said, quickly putting her hair into a braid. "It seems like it's been quiet for a while which means it'll probably be rough after so everyone just be careful, keep an eye out on the pipes and plumbing," she said behind her as she slipped out the door, into the mudroom, and up out of the house.


The ominous rumble echoing through the clouds above signaled to Eirene that her window for hunting might be closing faster than she had anticipated. She quickened her pace, traversing the rain-soaked streets that led toward the outskirts of Lyranth. Despite the relatively dry night, she held hope that the drenched green forest that encircled the town might still yield something worth hunting.

Approaching the edge of the footbridge that led into the forest, a sudden flash of light tore through the sky, accompanied by a deafening peal of thunder that reverberated through the air. The bridge beneath her feet quivered in response, almost out of fear alone. In that same moment, a sharp cry reached her ears.

Violet.

Eirene whirled around, her braid lashing against her cheek in whiplash. On the far end of the bridge, Violet clung to the soaked rope, a crumpled piece of parchment clutched tightly in her small hands.

Quickly, but trying not to slip with the wet wood beneath her, Eirene moved toward her, striving to remain calm so as not to terrify her sister. She inched forward cautiously, calling out over the growing roar of the wind, which was steadily intensifying with each passing second. "Violet!" she shouted, her voice strained to be heard amidst the thunder and wind. "I'm coming! Stay where you are, do not move, do not let go of the rope, do you hear me?" Her words were nearly drowned out by the of storm and the blinding flashes of lightning that ignited the sky.

Tears mixed with raindrops as Eirene sprinted forward, the wooden bridge swaying beneath her every step. She had anticipated a fierce storm, but she had no idea it would come so quickly, its arrival caught her off guard. It had been no more than half an hour since she had left home.

Lightning struck all around them while sheets of rain lashed at her, stinging her face. The raindrops clung to her eyelashes, obscuring her vision, but she continued moving.

Reaching Violet, whose cries now pierced through the maelstrom, Eirene took her into her arms, her heart pounding with relief and concern. She knelt down, shouting into Violet's ear above the howling storm. "Vi, what the hell are you doing out here? Who let you out of the house?"

Violet's small voice broke between sobs, her eyes red and brimming with tears and rain. "I drew you another picture and wanted to show you! And then you started crossing the bridge, and I'd never been over here before, so I wanted to follow you! I didn't know it was going to storm!"

Eirene rose to one knee, she looked down at her Violet in the middle of the storm. "Vi, I can't carry you across the bridge, so you'll have to hold my hand with one hand and the rope with the other! Can you do that?" She tried to make herself sound normal, and not show the true fear that she was pushing down with each strike of lightning.

Violet remained silent but handed Eirene the soaked piece of thick parchment and gripped the rope tightly with one hand, while the other clung to Eirene's knee. Eirene extended her hand, and Violet grasped it so tightly that her small fingers turned white.

"Come on, we're going together, okay?" Eirene's voice trembled. She hurriedly shoved the paper inside her jacket and kept her eyes locked onto Violet, their figures briefly illuminated on this shaking bridge by the bright flashes of lightning. Slowly and cautiously, Violet began to rise, each step causing the already unstable bridge to sway.

Gripping Eirene's hand tightly, Violet ventured forward, her unsteady footsteps mirrored by the pounding of Eirene's heart. Never before had Violet been allowed to venture out alone, especially during these past few months when the storms seemed so unforgiving. Eirene knew she would confront those thoughts later; for now, her singular focus was on guiding Vi safely to the other side of the bridge and back home.

As they neared the cobblestone streets of town, the bridge's edge now behind them, a blinding flash of lightning, searing in its brilliance, split the sky apart.

In that instantaneous moment, Eirene's mind raced, but she had no time to think. Instinct took over.

She shoved Violet with all her might, propelling her as far away as humanly possible. Exhausted and desperate, she couldn't bear the thought of another soul being consumed by the storm.

Eirene pushed Violet away, leaving herself to confront the wrath of the electrifying tempest. Somewhere in the corner of her mind, she could hear Violet's screams as she ran to safety. Good, Eirene thought. She didn't want the young girl to witness this, as she herself once had.

Eirene screamed and outstretched her arms as if to brace herself for whatever came next.