We're Not in Kansas Anymore

   Hel's Fury was on sentry duty when the winds grew manic and the skies grew darker and darker still. . . He headed off to check on his family, assuring himself of their safety first and foremost. Heaven's Rain was trying to calm her panicking daughter as the winds ripped through the grasses as if it longed to rend the very land free and create floating land masses in the skies to juggle like a jester of a court would colorful glass orbs. Frosted Heart of the Ocean howled in fear. She had never known such fierce weather in her young age, but her parents remained stoic, and it lent an air of peace for her that she wouldn't have otherwise.

   Shivering, she leaned into the comfort of her parents' larger, warm forms. Hel's Fury nuzzled her as she let the fear go, and her mother sang softly to her to ease her quaking more.

    The winds whipped across the land, gaining in its voracious speed and ferocity. Hel's Fury sat and watched as the clouds swirled and yet, remained at bay, keeping the rains from coming and scouring their hides free of their bodies. Heaven's Rain watched in curiosity as a small patch of bristly stubby grass swirled and flattened and left behind a fluffy treasure in the wake of the wind.

   Paying it closer mind, she noticed that the wind seemed to centralize with the flattened grass, as if it longed to free the feather. As if it was trapped, but no matter how hard it blew, the feather remained stuck in place as  if nailed to the ground. Her curiosity grew stronger as the small circular patch flattened futher and the winds roared in rage. She started to step forward, but debris flew past her head and she quickly ducked back inside the sheltering temple.

  She decided to speak about it to her family and see what they had to say about things.

  "Oi, Fuzz Butt. You see what I see?"

  "You can see the inside of my eyelids too?!?"
   
   Heaven's Rain slapped her forehead with a paw and groaned. Frosted Heart of the Ocean cackled at her father's goofy answer. Sobs were hidden in her voice, but she held it together pretty well considering.

  "No, my Fuzzy No-No Chimp. . . Look out into the field, about a quarter turn to the west from your postition. Look for something out of sorts in the grass. . ."

  Hel's Fury turned, looked, and scratched his rump. He turned his head this way and that and squinted and cried out as a leafy green thing flew into his face. Both Heaven's Rain and Frosted Heart of the Ocean startled at his predicament and then laughed, seeing a large leaf plastered across his face like a frog trying to devour him one part at a time.

  "I can't see nothin'! I-I-I'm BLIND!!!!!" He howled mournfully. Taking pity on her buffoon, Heaven's Rain pulled it free gingerly and Frosted Heart of the Ocean licked his cheek in comfort. Hel's Fury opened his eyes in shock, and blinked like an oversized barn owl.

  "I-I'm not blind?"

  "No Fuzz Butt. . . the big bad leaf won't trouble ya no more. . . Though let it be a lesson to you--don't make the plants angry when watering them. They'll try and eat your face in vengance again."

  "Mama, is that feather what you were talking about for Da to see?" Frosted Heart of the Ocean had caught sight of the feather in the confusion with her father and the vengeful plant material. She listened with half an ear as he complained about where would he go water now if plants were off limits, and rocks were even meaner to him!

   Heaven's Rain looked at her daughter with pride. She had caught on right away, unlike her mate it seemed. "Aye, my love, it is in fact what I meant. Is it still stationary?"

  "Yes Mama, it's still there."

  "Well, the way I see it is this. Either we sacrifice your Da to the angry plant remnants left blowing about out there, or, one of us dares go step into that circle and help the feather break free. I been watching for some time now and noticed that quirk. The wind wants it back something fierce, and its not budged an inch since I first took note of it. So, question is, who goes?"

  "I say throw a chipmunk at it. Those lil buggers are vicious enough to survive anything!" Hel's Fury opined.

  "Lovely idea dunderhead, but one problem. Where we gonna get one?" Heaven's Rain raised an eyebrow questioningly at her mate.

  "Well---,"

   Frosted Heart of the Ocean sighed and nodded to herself. Her parents were both brave and strong. Now, it was her turn to prove she was the same. She tentatively stepped forward, walking against the raging winds as best as she could. Seeing their child out there, her parents rushed to aid her, acting as wind breaks for her to get to the feather to free it.

   Surprisingly, as a group, they made decent headway without being blasted to smithereens. Finally her paw touched the flattened grass, and the winds just disappeared. . .

  Nudging the feather free with the tip of her nose so as not to damage it, Frosted Heart of the Ocean watched in amazement as it flew free. But as they watch on, an odd sensation caused frissions of startlement down their spines and all their gazes lifted to the skies above, and they watched as the clouds shifted once more. . .

  Something was coming.

  But what?