Scared of the storm

...

Nights were normally quiet and cosy. The moon would trickle white beams between the curtains, puddles of murky light stretching over the floorboards. The cicadas would chirp in the woodland surrounding the house, a calming white noise to lull asleep to. Even the lake the house overlooked, gently lapping at the shore soothed the ears till sleep claimed you.

But not tonight, for a rough storm had rolled in. Tumultuous clouds rolled and rumbled over the shattered moon, flickers of angry electricity racing across the sky like veins of light. Then deep and loud bellows of thunder shook the house and rattled the night.

For every flicker that illuminated the dark rooms, a loud bang would slowly rumble soon after. Rain battered hard against the roof and windows, pattering violently amidst the chaotic maelstrom.

Pyrrha and Jaune however were sound asleep, snuggled up together, his arm draped over her stomach so their fingers may lace together over her heart. His lax face buried in her hair, both contently unawares of the storm.

The same could not be said for their little four year old Oriana.

She whimpered and shuddered at every flash and bang, hugging her knees under her blanket. Thank goodness for her nightlight keeping a small essence of calm. Ori shuddered at the bass of a rumbling clap of thunder, and whined loudly as her room flickered bright white with a sharp streak of lightning.

Another loud bang followed seconds later, and that was the last straw. Ori, on the brink of tears, threw off her blanket and grabbed Mr snuggles the Ursa Bear, hugging her trusty companion tightly.

At the foot of her bed was Luna, The Red Shepard lifting his snout from his paws as Ori padded around him. He yawned and licked his teeth, standing and stretching before shaking his rattling collar.

Ori turned the knob of her door and opened it with a creak, stepping out onto the landing. The cold floorboards failed to chill her Onesie clad feet, as she gingerly padded passed the staircase towards her parent's room.

She swallowed and clutched Snuggles a little tighter at another flash and bang of storm prowess. Luna's clawed paws clacked over the floor behind her, his wet nose snuffling her back as she shyly stood at Mommy and Daddy's door.

Ori reached up and gripped the doorknob, twisting it with a click and letting the door swing inward gently. Another loud rumble of energised thunder quickened her pace as she padded in the room and shut the door again behind Luna.

The small girl ventured up to the double bed, before finding both parent's sound asleep on their sides. She whined and sniffed, eyes wetting slightly with each clap and bang the growing storm dished out.

"M-Mommy?" She hiccupped, rubbing an eye with her dainty fist. Pyrrha didn't budge, softly puffing air into her pillow. Ori bounced, whining again as a stray tear fell. "M-Mommy!"

Pyrrha snorted, one eye blinking open followed lazily by the other. Sitting up on an elbow, rubbing her eyes tiredly and mindlessly, soon her eyes adjusted on the scared and upset little girl at the edge of the bed.

"Ori?" Pyrrha yawned, throwing some long messy hair over her shoulder. "What's wrong, Sweetpea?" She pulled the fallen strap of her nightgown back up.

"M'scared." Ori hiccupped. Pyrrha looked up at the drawn curtains and the sharp flashes and rumbles. Oh.

"Oh." Pyrrha sighed softly. She turned in the bed and nudged Jaune. "Jaune. Sweetheart, wake up."

Jaune grumbled and blinked slowly, groggily sitting up. "What is it? What's up?"

"Ori's scared of the storm." Pyrrha said softly. Jaune nodded.

"Oh. Is it, Ori? Is the storm scaring you, honey?" Jaune whispered. Ori nodded her face into Mr Snuggles. Jaune and Pyrrha shared a look at a loud bang of thunder, before shuffling apart and patting the covers. "Up ya get, kiddo."

"C'mere, my baby." Pyrrha said, helping her daughter up over her and into the middle of the bed. Luna hopped up onto the foot of the mattress, spinning a few times before settling down and resting his head over his paws.

Ori clambered into the bed as Jaune and Pyrrha held up the covers. Pyrrha smiled and snuggled back down into the bed, draping the blanket down as the small family came to cuddle together.

Jaune kissed Ori's head and draped his arm over his daughter and wife, sighing sleepily.

"Goodnight, Ori."

"Goodnight Daddy." Ori sighed contently, warm and safe in the arms of her parents, feeling invulnerable, as if the world could never hurt her as long as she was right here, right now. She blinked heavily as Pyrrha snuggled up behind her.

"Good night my sweetheart. Don't think of the storm. Try to sleep." She stroked her daughter's hair until her breaths evened out. Content, Pyrrha closed her own eyes and let sleep reclaim her.

...

Early morning had started to crest with the dampening of the storm's power. Thunder and lightning had subsided and the clouds had started to part with rays of pink orange light.

The ground was sodden with rainwater, dripping off the gutters and trees. While still warm and cosy indoors, the Nikos-Arc family lay in bed.

Jaune mumbled and blinked awake blearily. He smiled lightly at his small daughter snuggled against his chest, sucking her thumb and balling up his sleep shirt like a lifeline. Pyrrha lay facing him, softly breathing in her sleeping position. Her lax yet powerful body was a backboard to Ori, keeping her safely snuggled between her parents.

Pyrrha's dozing face was buried in her daughter's short thatch of hair, plenty of her own long and wild red hair messily strewn over the pillows. Jaune beamed and closed his eyes, arm draped over his daughter. She whined and shuffled even deeper into her father's chest, that clutching hand growing tighter. Jaune smiled brighter and held his sleeping girl as tightly as he could, keeping his precious creation safe and sound.

Pyrrha smiled as she watched her husband doze the early morning away with his daughter cradled so lovingly to his chest. She bit her lip because her grin was getting too bright, gently turning to reach her nightstand, Semblance tugging her scroll to her fingers. She quickly snapped a picture of the adorable sight, before putting the scroll back and snuggling up to her little family.