Chapter Text
The clouds were rolling in over the river house, the water sparkling like scattered diamonds as Catrin skipped along the forest path with Nyx and Hugh. The three cousins were laughing, sticks in hand, imagining themselves as explorers of uncharted lands.
“Look! I found a treasure map!” Catrin cried, waving a crumpled leaf. Nyx and Hugh roared in delight, and they darted deeper into the woods, following the winding trail that led along the edge of the river.
Catrin’s curls bounced as she ran, Mr. Mittens trudging behind her on his short legs, tail low but determined. “Come on, Mr. Mittens, it’s an adventure!” she called. He hadn’t wanted to join, but Catrin had dragged him out into the woods with them anyways.
They climbed over roots and ducked under branches, chasing imagined creatures and whispering secrets to one another. But in her excitement, Catrin wandered farther than she realized. When she paused to pick a patch of wildflowers, the boys were gone. She called out, but the sound of the river rushing and the wind howling through the trees swallowed her voice.
Suddenly, dark clouds rolled in, fast and heavy. Rain began to pour, drenching her dress and plastering her curls to her cheeks. Thunder rumbled, shaking the trees above her. Her little heart raced, and she hugged Mr. Mittens tightly. “I-I can’t find them,” she sobbed, her voice trembling. The old cat pressed close, mewing softly as if to comfort her.
Nyx and Hugh ran back along the trail, calling her name, but the rain and dense forest muffled their cries. Frustrated and scared, they finally dashed back river house, soaked through and shivering.
“Uncle Az! Dad! Catrin’s lost!” Hugh shouted, bursting into the hall.
Both Azriel and Cassian appeared instantly, tension written on every line of their faces. Azriel’s heart pounded in his chest; he knew the woods well, and the thought of his little girl alone in the woods during a storm made his blood run cold.
“Where did you last see her?” Azriel demanded, grabbing a cloak and sprinting out, his shadows scattering to the woods. Cassian followed close behind with Nyx and Hugh in tow.
The forest was chaotic—rain poured, lightning flashed, and the wind whipped through the trees. Azriel called her name, his voice firm but shaking with fear. His shadow flickered, stretching and searching, trying to reach out to her in the downpour.
And then he saw it: a small, shivering figure huddled in a narrow cave beside a rocky outcrop. Her little body trembled, soaked and miserable, and Mr. Mittens was curled in her arms, his grumpy face wet but loyal.
“Catrin!” Azriel shouted, rushing forward. His cloak whipped behind him as he dropped to his knees. “Baby Girl! It’s okay, I’ve got you.”
She threw her arms around him, crying into his chest. “Daddy, I-I got lost! I was scared!” Her voice broke as she buried her face against him, holding Mr. Mittens tightly.
Azriel wrapped his cloak around the two of them, holding her close. “Shh, it’s okay. You’re safe now, love. I’ve got you,” he murmured, rocking her gently. His arms tightened around her as he picked her up, Mr. Mittens still clutched to her chest. His wings shielding her from the harsh rain.
“I promise I won’t ever let you out of my sight,” he whispered. “Not ever.”
Catrin sniffled, nuzzling her cat and resting her head on her father’s shoulder. Slowly, the three of them—father, daughter, and grumpy little cat—made their way home, the storm raging around them but their bond unshakable.
The storm was still raging when Azriel carried Catrin through the doors of the River House, his shadows retreating now that they no longer needed to scour the woods. Gwyn was already waiting in the foyer, her teal eyes wide with fear.
“Catrin!” she cried, rushing forward. Azriel barely had time to shift his daughter in his arms before Gwyn gathered her close, wrapping them both in her arms.
“I-I’m sorry, Momma,” Catrin whispered, her voice trembling, Mr. Mittens still tucked against her chest like a doll. The cat let out a pitiful meow, soaked and bedraggled, which nearly broke Gwyn’s heart.
“Oh, love, no. No apologies. You’re safe my sweet; that’s all that matters,” Gwyn soothed, pressing kisses to her daughter’s wet curls. Her hands shook slightly as she smoothed the child’s hair. “Let’s get you warm.”
Nyx and Hugh hovered in the background, guilt etched into their young faces. “We tried to find her,” Nyx muttered, his voice thick.
“It was my fault,” Hugh added, eyes fixed on the floor.
Cassian crouched between the two boys, his big hands landing on their shoulders. “Hey. Accidents happen. You did the right thing by coming straight home. No more beating yourselves up, alright?”
Still, both boys nodded solemnly, clearly determined to never let such a mistake happen again.
Upstairs, Azriel helped Gwyn change Catrin into warm pajamas while a fire roared in the hearth. He rubbed her small hands gently, trying to chase away the chill, before tucking her into bed. Mr. Mittens was wrapped in a towel, looking no less grumpy, but Catrin immediately pulled him under the blanket beside her.
“Daddy,” she whispered as Azriel sat with his wings around his girls as gwyn brought catrin close to her chest. “I thought the thunder was going to get me.” Her lip trembled, and Gwyn’s heart nearly shattered at the fear in her eyes.
Azriel leaned down, brushing her damp curls back. “Nothing could ever take you from me,” he said firmly. “Not thunder. Not storms. Not anything. I’ll always find you, Catrin.”
Satisfied by the certainty in his voice, she curled against her parents as Gwyn began to sing a gentle melody. Azriel stayed until her eyes drifted shut, his hand never leaving hers.
Later, downstairs, Gwyn leaned into Azriel, pressing her forehead to his chest. “I’ve never been so scared in my life,” she admitted.
Azriel kissed the crown of her hair, his arms wrapping tightly around her. “I thought I’d lost her,” he whispered hoarsely. “I’ve faced battlefields, Gwyn. But nothing terrified me like not knowing where she was.”
“You found her,” Gwyn said softly, pulling back enough to meet his eyes. “You always will.”
And in the corner of the parlor, the three cousins sat huddled together under a shared blanket, whispering solemn promises to never, ever let one another get lost again.