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The storm raged on bringing with it severe winds that swept through the small village with violent passion.

“Cassia, can you bring another pot over here?”

“You know Mr. Carpenter would be happy to fix the roof after how well you healed him back last year.” Cassia reminded her after positioning the pot under the dripping stream of water.

“I’ll only get the roof fixed after a tree crashes through it.” Lucidia grumbled stubbornly as she dried the floor.

Cassia grabbed Lucidia’s hand and knocked it on the wooden floorboards, “you should know better than to say that kind of thing. Especially on a night like this!”

“I’m still not getting it fixed.”

“Stubborn.” Cassia grumbled.

“No more than you are! Besides he works too hard. If he doesn’t rest up he’ll just end up getting hurt worse the next time.”

A wind blew through the trees ripping the shutters apart with a fearsome crack. The wind began to whip through the house blowing documents from the shelves.

“Grab the papers hurry! I’ll get the window.” Lucidia pulled against the wind. “Cassia! A little help?”

Cassia didn’t even turn as she continued to collect the flying parchment. The wind died around the window and Lucidia tied them together with a rope.

“I got all the papers. I guess we’ll have to get the shutters fixed too”

“Well for now we’ll just have to wait. I wouldn’t dare going out in this storm.” Lucidia pulled out a pile of blankets from the back room. “We can’t risk getting a cold now.”


“You think we’ll be busy tomorrow?”

“I don’t know. I just have a feeling.”

The night was cold and dark as the wind continued to batter the small village. When morning came the ice, cold rain stopped leaving grey clouds and a slight brisk wind.

“Cassia, wake up! We have to go check on our neighbors.” They wrapped themselves in heavy wool cloaks and headed to town to see the damage.

Branches littered the muddy path. Lucidia knocked on the doors of the homes and visited the sick members of the homes. Many of the villagers were suffering from the cold drafts that had entered their homes.

“I only have a few left. You should head home before you catch a cold. No. Don’t try and convince me I can see you shivering.”

“What about you?” Cassia asked wrapping her cloak tighter as the wind blew by.

“I’ll finish up and restock on supplies. There isn’t much time before winter.”

The forest was in worse condition than the village. Small trees were uprooted and large branches hung broken swinging in the wind. The eerie creaking of the branches sent cold chills up Lucidia’s spine as she collected herbs. The mud reached her ankles as she attempted to cross the flooded stream. The Cassia tree stood up ahead marking the entrance of the clearing where Cassia was found. Lucidia clipped a few sprigs of the tree and tied them together on her belt. A wind blew through the clearing causing a rustling through the damp leaves. A peculiar noise joined the chorus causing Lucidia to turn to the clearing. The wet fabric of a cape flapped in the strong wind. A figure lay in the center making the clearing look so similar to how Cassia had years before. She ran turning the figure over to lie on his back. His pale face was cold and his eyes didn’t even flutter at her touch. She lay his back against the ground listening for his heart. It was slow and soft as if he was asleep. She covered the soaked boy with her cloak.

“Boy. Hey wake up.” She shook his shoulder. A cold wind blew through the clearing and the boy turned his face away as he shuddered. “I’ll come right back!” Lucidia yelled running from the clearing. She lifted her muddy as she ran slipping through the mud.

“Cassia!” She shouted, “Cassia!” She slammed the door open tossing the herbs in the house. “Heat up a fire and set out a place to sleep. We have an emergency.” Lucidia ran into the town heading for the help.

“Is he the boy?” Lucidia asked in her mind as she led the way into the forest. “He must be. He’s in the same clearing. He must be him.”

“This is the patient. I’m sorry to have you do this but could you carry him back to my house for me?”

“After all you’ve done for me and my family this is nothing.”

“Thank you.” They walked in silence back through the forest. Lucidia wondered to herself as she went. “He seems so innocent as he is now but those wings. They’re hidden now but I saw them. Feathered wings dark as the darkest night.” She shook the thought from her mind. “Am I jealous? Jealous that he might take my Cassia away. Cassia. That’s not really her name.”

She walked ahead. “Cassia!” Cassia ran out. “Go down and fetch some rags from Ms. Biddinger.” Lucidia stood blocking the boy’s face from view.

“Okay.” Cassia headed down the street glancing back only for a moment.

Lucidia held the door as the man lay the boy on the makeshift bed of blankets. “Thank you. I can take it from here.” Lucidia knelt by the boy. A flame rose from her hand and hovered above his body drying his soaked clothing and warming his frozen body. “How can I hate you and still feel pity.” She asked the unconscious boy. She laughed at her own foolishness. “You’re probably not even the child I think you are.”

“I’m back.” Cassia whispered sneaking through the doorway. “Is the patient awake?”

“No but he’s not as cold anymore. He may come around soon. Could you prepare dinner? I need to dry him off a bit more he’s soaked through.” Cassia didn’t argue as she headed into the back room giving her a curious glance. “I’m still trying to keep her away from you.” She muttered as she felt his forehead once more.

His eyes flicked open in surprise to the touch. “Where?” He strained looking at Lucidia unsure.

“I have my own questions first.” Lucidia countered.

The boy’s eyes changed his expression cold as he tried to move away. His head throbbed at the sudden movement.

“What happened to you? How did you get in this condition?” Her voice was mixed with pity and suspicion.

“I came here looking for a girl named Aero.”

A gasp escaped from Cassia as she dropped the towel she had been drying her hands with.

“Cassia!” Lucidia cried out as the girl collapsed. The boy reached out and Cassia hovered lightly down to lie on the ground. He sighed as he lay back against his makeshift bed.

“You’re him.” Cassia looked in awe upon the boy as she sat up. “And I’m Aero.”

“Yes.” He breathed trying to keep his eyes open.

“I remember. Wait! Who are you? I remember you but not fully.”

“Tornado.”

Recognition filled her expression and suddenly shifted to pain, “what happened . . . towards the end?”

“Cassia not right now.” Lucidia intervened, “he needs to rest.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll let you sleep.”

When Tornado woke the sky was dark and a few candles extending from the wall dimly lit the room. Beside him sat a plate of food and a pitcher of water. He sat up holding his aching head.

“Are you feeling better?”

A wave of pain made his head throb as he turned to Lucidia who sat a few feet away. “I’m fine.” He lied as the cold look returned to his eyes. “Where’s Aero.”

“Aero . . .” She looked at the curtain that marked the entrance of her bedroom. “Is that was you call her?”

“I call her by her name.”

“I don’t like you.”

“I can tell. I don’t like you either. You’re just like the people from where Aero and I came from.”

“Don’t speak!” Lucidia whispered earnestly, “I don’t want her to remember.”

“What?”

“I can tell. I can tell that her memories are painful. Couldn’t you see it in her eyes when she asked what happened in the end?”

“You’d rather she be empty her whole life? Memories are part of who we are! I know how she feels. Spending years feeling like you don’t belong here with people who are ‘whole.’ Receiving kindness longed for but feeling undeserving. She hasn’t gained her memories back like I’ve been all these years. Can you even begin to imagine her pain?”

Lucidia felt her eyes watering, “if she felt that way she would have told me.”

“‘Cassia’ might have but Aero wouldn’t.” Tornado explained. “Aero won’t hurt those she cares for. She’ll hide her pain and smile when she’s with you but once she’s alone she’ll cry.”

Lucidia looked down at her trembling hands. “Forgive me. I judged you before I knew who you were. It’s obvious you care about . . . her but I care about her too. She’s like the little sister I never had and I don’t want to lose her.”

“I just want to be with her. I didn’t come to take her away.”

“Wh-what?” She asked astonished.

“When I was found all I could remember was her. I knew there had been a girl but nothing else. All I’ve wanted to do was meet her if I could. She’s the only one who accepted and befriended me while all the others hated me. I didn’t fly through that storm to find that clearing just to destroy the happiness of those who took care of her. I swear.”

Lucidia felt tears racing down her cheeks.

“D-did I say something wrong?”

“No. No that’s not it.” She shook her head wiping her tears. “I’m relieved! Now eat up. You’ll need your energy. Ca-Aero is going to be asking you a lot of questions I’m sure.”


PLEASE COMMENT! I can't improve the stroy if I don't have your opinions ~Aero Luna