Work Text:
It was cold tonight, this large old farmhouses boards sung in the cold, stormy winds. In this house, there slept a small girl. She had thick quilted blankets pulled up all around her, she shivered a little in her sleep.. even with the layers it was chilly…
She shifted in her sleep a little, hugging a small bear close to her chest under the covers.. The sounds of rain bashing up against her window, every step in this house groaned with the weight of this storm. Outside there was a bright flash of light, followed
quickly by an enormous CRASH!
The girl bolted awake with a small scream and held her bear closer, shaking all over. Yet again, another CRASH! The girl bolted under her covers, then scrambled out of her bed and room, she was really cold…
She shut her door behind her and hurried down the hall, the boards felt like ice beneath her feet.. Another flash of light, another cracking crashing sound. She let out another little cry and bolted into a nearby room, the door outside being etched with little pictures of vines and rabbits… She scrambled into the room, shutting the door behind her and crumbling down onto the floor, putting her face into her knees and crying…
When she had opened the door, two forms sat up from the bed, a young boy, older than her, and a very large soft dog. The dog bounded off the bed first, hurting over to the girl and sniffing her, nudging her face, making sure she wasn't hurt.. The girl simply sobbed and hugged the large dog around the neck. The boy was still sitting up in his bed, rubbing his eye with his palm.. looking tired..
"Vi what's the matter..? it's the middle of the night.."
The girl just shook her head and hugged the dog tighter, sniffling and sobbing.. The thunder struck again outside and she yelped a bit, the dog moved to sit down in front of her, and began licking off her tears.
The boy sighed, standing up out of bed, pushing his messy locks of light brown hair out of his face.
"Vi it's just thunder.."
He walked over, she still didn't respond.
"Violet.."
He spoke her full name, she sniffled again and pulled back just a little from the dog who was clearly worried about her, and looked up at her big brother.
"I-Its scary, Florian.."
"It's just the storm.."
She shook her head again and buried her face back against the dog, who chuffed and nudged her cheek with its nose. Florian moved his hand down and scratched behind the dogs ears.
"Good boy Ike… you take care of her.."
He smiled and leaned down a bit more, his gaze shifting back to his sister. His hand moved and pet her hair.
"There's no reason to fear thunder.. It's just the clouds…"
"H-How can they make those noises..? they- they sound like- like the whole world is b-breaking!"
"Hmm.. Well..," The boy moved and sat down next to her against the door, "When I was little, and I was scared of thunder.. Mum would tell me that it's just a thunderbird."
"a.. a what..?"
"A thunderbird. They're these biggggg creatures! massive birds that fly through the air during storms so they stay hidden. Mum said that their wings are so big, each time they flap it makes thunder!'
The small girl looked up a little from behind the dog she was hugging, and at her brother.
"b-but.. that's scary too.. They're so big they could eat me!'
He laughed a little and shook his head.
"No, thunderbirds are friendly. They're very kind, especially if you're a good girl who's nice and polite! And you're the best girl, Vi, I bet you're their favorite."
The girl sniffled again, wiping her eyes. They were red and puffy from tears, the greenish color being dulled from her tears.
"I.. I am..?"
The boy nodded and leaned over, kissing her on the top of the head. The dog moved and began to lick her cheek where the tears were stained. She giggled a little bit..
"I-Ike stop! that tickles..!"
The dog stopped trying to clean her face, and instead took to nudging her with its nose. She giggled again, and it's tail began to sway at the sound..
".. That.. That makes me feel a little better…"
She said quietly, petting the dogs neck as she did.
"Good. Are you ready to try and go back to sleep..? do you want to stay in here with me and Ike?"
The boy asked her while standing up. She nodded a little, still hugging the dog.
They made their way back to the bed positioned in the corner of the room. Florian slumped down on it where he had been laying before, and pulled the covers up beside him, offering for the other too to come in.
Violet quickly hugged her bear to her chest and scrambled up the bed, curling up against her older brother quietly. He pulled the covers over her and then pat the spot between his legs and her small body. Ike jumped up onto the bed and curled into a ball in that spot.. safe and sound.. Violet smiled to herself.. She was here, she was home, she was safe and sound..
No matter what happened, she'd always have Florian and Ike..
She curled up more against the two of them, it was warm here.. it was comfortable. The sounds outside couldn't touch her, not with her big brother and best friend! It made her smile..
"Thank you Flo.. Thank you Ike..."
"Goodnight Vi, sweet dreams.."