Baby Bird Snippets

Comfort in the Storm

Thunderstorms. So beautiful, yet such a powerful reminder of how powerless humanity is. For as long as she could remember, Yubin had been afraid of them. Several memories of little Yubin running into her momma's bedroom for security flashed through her mind as she heard the distant rumbling that had only been growing louder as the minutes passed.

She was an adult. She could handle this. She should be able to handle a simple thunderstorm. Seriously, she didn't know any adults that still held on to their childish fears.

Deep down, Yubin knew that her fear wasn't as irrational as she was making it out to be. For all her self-deprecation, she had a very real reason to be afraid.

~~~

Yubin had been exploring the woods for the better part of the afternoon, conversing with birds, picking up rocks, climbing trees, and testing her flight. She still hadn't heard her momma's call her inside for dinner, so even though the sky was getting darker, Yubin wasn't worried about staying out too late.

But then, she heard the loud rumbling in the clouds above her. It wasn't that it was getting late, but a storm was brewing, coloring the sky a dark, ugly, gray. Her momma's had always told her to stay inside when a storm came, lest a stray bolt strike her, but as Yubin looked around she realized that she didn't know the way back home.

She had always relied on following the voices of her mom's to get back. Panic started to set in. Has she seen that rock before? Was that tree always there? Having been following a butterfly, she hadn't been paying attention to her trail.

"Momma!" Yubin cried out, tears starting to form, " Mommy!"

She chose a direction and started to run, her wings fluttering as the panic and anxiety started to take over. Jumping over fallen trees, ducking under branches, and pushing her way through bushes, Yubin wasn't paying attention to roots that protruded a bit of the ground. Her foot caught and she tumbled to the ground, rolling over twigs and rocks. Pain exploded in her ankle and she cried out. She tried to get up, but searing pain exploded through her ankle and she fell to the ground.

The tears started to fall now, both from the pain, and the realization that there was no way to get home now. At that moment, the skies broke and rain started to pour down on Yubin. She felt utterly hopeless, with no way to find her way back home, she decided to drag herself to a nearby tree, to try and have some shelter.

After only fifteen minutes, Yubin was soaked to the bone and violently shivering, hugging herself to try and preserve warmth. Her ankle had started throbbing. Thunder was clapping and rumbling loudly above her, the sky continuously lit with lightning. All of sudden, the tree in front of her burst into flames, having been struck, and fell to the ground with a loud crack and thud. Yubin immediately burst into tears.

"Yubinnn!" She heard somebody call for her, "Yubin! Can you hear me?!"

She lifted her head and started crawling as quickly as she could to where she could hear the voice, "Momma! Mommy! Help me!"

Immediately, she heard footsteps thumping towards her and she fell to the ground, out of energy.

"Yubin!" Siyeon ran to her and knelt, Bora doing the same on the other side, "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Yubin was so relieved all she could do was sob.

"Oh baby...okay...you're okay now..." Siyeon lifted Yubin into her arms and stood, starting to walk in the direction back to the house.

~~~

So, Yubin knew that she had every right to be at least a little afraid of storms, but she still couldn't help feeling a little childish. To make things worse, her girlfriends were still at work. She had been lucky enough so far to have her girlfriends home for every storm which allowed her to keep the panic at bay. Now, in the dark room, she could feel every rumble of thunder and see every flash of lightning. She could already feel the same panic and anxiety of that day rise to the surface. She really hoped they got home soon.

~~~

Jiu and Yoohyeon slowly drove back home as the rain pelted against their windshield, wipers doing almost nothing for their visibility. They had gotten a little wet on their way to their car and were ready to change socks once they arrived home. Once they arrived, they scurried to the front door, using their jackets to shield them. As they entered, they noticed just how dark it was, figuring that Yubin had fallen asleep and neglected to turn the lights on. However, once they entered their bedroom their hearts sank when they saw Yubin huddled in a corner, trembling in fear with each crack of thunder.

Rushing to her side, Jiu and Yoohyeon knelt down, concern etched on their faces. They had an inkling that she was afraid of storms, as everytime one would form, she got slightly anxious, bouncing her legs up and down, and fiddling with her hands. But they had never seen her like this and felt terrible that she had been all alone when it started. Determined to offer comfort, they exchanged a knowing glance, silently agreeing on an approach.

Jiu gently approached Yubin, her hands outstretched in a calming gesture. "Yubin, it's okay. We're here with you," she said, her voice soothing and reassuring. "You're safe."

Yoohyeon joined Jiu, gently wrapping her arms around Yubin, creating a cocoon of warmth and security. Yubin''s trembling subsided slightly as she leaned into her embrace, seeking solace from the storm that raged outside. Her eyes still glazed over, displaying that she was still in a far off place.

As the thunder roared, Jiu and Yoohyeon began stroking Yubin''s wings, tucked firmly to her sides, slightly fluttering, their touch gentle and full of tenderness. With each stroke, they hoped to distract her from the frightening sounds that echoed through the night, and bring her out of her mind. They spoke softly, their voices a melodic whisper, reminding her that she was not alone.

Slowly, they felt Yubin's trembling subside completely and a sharp intake of breath as Yubin came out of her mind. Her eyes darted between them, burrowing deeper into Yoohyeon's neck as she started to calm down. Jiu and Yoohyeon continued to stroke her wings, each one bringing Yubin a sense of comfort.

Time seemed to slow as the trio found solace in each other's presence. The rain continued to pelt against the windows, but within the safety of their embrace, the storm seemed distant and insignificant. Jiu and Yoohyeon continued to whisper words of comfort, their touches becoming a gentle rhythm, lulling Yubin into a sense of tranquility.

Yubin's fear gradually ebbed away, replaced by a sense of security and love. She nestled deeper into their embrace, her wings unfurling slightly, in response to the care they were showering upon her. The sound of thunder became a distant rumble, barely registering in their peaceful sanctuary.

As the storm began to subside, Jiu and Yoohyeon continued to hold Yubin close, knowing that her journey toward overcoming such an intense fear would be gradual. They understood that healing took time, but they were determined to be there for her every step of the way.

In that moment, the power of their love shone through. They could feel the bond between them grow stronger as they weathered the storm in Yubin's heart together.

Once the thunder began to sound distant, the rain had subsided and the sky began to turn brighter, a sense of calm settled over the room. Jiu, Yoohyeon, and Yubin sat together, basking in the warmth of their unity. The storm had passed, leaving behind a renewed sense of hope and devotion that brought the knowledge that they would face whatever challenges came their way, together.