Child of the storm

Every night at midnight, the purple clouds came out to dance with the blushing sky. Hidden beneath the trees, we huddled close to keep the cold at bay and prayed that sleep would soon find us. It felt like days we’d been awake, slowly travelling through the dense forest covering our tracks as we carefully moved through. The storm was on the move… it seemed angry, like it was moving through the village with a vendetta. What or who was it searching for? Since the towers fell, no one is safe. No towers meant no guards. Our village, once a peaceful hideaway for those hoping to escape the busy lifestyle offered by the surrounding cities, now a deserted wasteland. Nothing could protect us when the storms came, it tore across the land leaving nothing but destruction in its wake. We hid and watched as families were whisked up into the swirling vortex, houses tumbling down as if they were made of cards. We were lucky to get away. It’s just the two of us now, we have nowhere to go, and no money. If only we could get some sleep…

The sun stung my eyes I blinked them open… I’m not sure how much sleep I got but I’m grateful for the small amount of renewed energy I have. I look to see if Roland is awake yet, he’s not. Still lost in a deep slumber, I hope he’s dreaming of our village before it was so suddenly destroyed.

I carefully climbed out of my huddle and make my way to some small dense shrubbery nearby— my god I haven’t peed for more than 18 hours! Yesterdays adrenaline must have taken complete control over my body.

As I finish relieving myself, I’m able to take in my surroundings. So many shades of green. Looking around there’s no wildlife to seen or heard and forest looks wild. The only sign of life, the flattened grass we huddled to sleep on.

If only we could just stay here. It feels safe, but with no food or water we would only last another day or so. I need a plan, when Roland wakes up he’ll expect me to have a plan. I have no idea where we are or where the nearest village is, or even which way we should go.

Water… if we could just find water surely that would be a good place to start. What was it father always said? Head to lower ground and find water. Yes I’m sure that’s right. But which way? East, the way the sun came from we’ll go East. That’s the plan.

As though he was subconsciously waiting for me to make a plan Roland began to shift in the place he was huddled beneath the tree. I made my way back over to him, taking less care to be quiet hoping that the rustling beneath my feet might rouse him from his slumber.

“Mmmmm, I was hoping it was just a dream” Roland mumbled as he pulled himself up and looked around. “Did you sleep?”

“Yeah, some” I shrugged. “That’s ok, I’ll sleep tonight” smiled at my sleepy little brother. Always so worried about everyone else. “We‘ll find somewhere safe to sleep tonight and we’ll both get a good nights sleep”.

“But where?” Inquired Roland… “where will we go? Our village is gone…”

I painted a brave smile on my face and pointed east, “we’re going that way” I put my shoulders back and stood tall so he’d at least think I knew what I was talking about. Roland didn’t need to know I was winging it. He didn’t need to know I was just as lost and scared as he was.

We readied ourselves and headed east, or at least the direction I hoped was east.

We strode out of the forest and into a large open meadow, the grass was long and waving in the light breeze. It was beautiful, any other time I’d stop and lay down in the tall blades of grass. Stare up and watch the clouds move across the bright blue sky. Who knows when I’ll be able to do that again, when I’ll be safe to stop and just be.