Stormtamers: Lightning (Book 2)

12

Kasai never managed to get to sleep the rest of that night, so she was exhausted by the time morning came.

She was too scared to attempt to go back to sleep.  She didn't want another nightmare.  She didn't want to see her monstrous self again.

Her mind drifted back to when she had first discovered it.

She was only five years old the day it happened.

She was playing outside all on her own, trying to practice her fire magic. Every time she failed, she felt her anger and frustration buld more and more, but that only made it worse.

Finally, she lost it.

She let out the loudest screech she could.

She felt her temperature rising higher than a phoenix's temperature should be. She didn't know what was going on.

She couldn't control herself.

Next thing she knew, she was stuck under a pile of rubble. The wall of her room was missing. What was left of it was scorched...with a few blue flames flickering around her.

She struggled to get free, but couldn't.  Her whole body ached.  She couldn't remember what happened.  She called for help.  It was quite a while before her father came to rescue her.

"Kasai?  Kasai, are you alright?"

...wait, that's not her father's voice...

"Kasai?  KASAI!"  Cory snapped his fingers in her face.  She blinked and snapped out of it.

"Wha-"

"I heard you frantically mumbling to yourself, so I came to check on you.  You were zoning out, but you looked scared.  Are you okay?"

Kasai blinked again.  Her mind was a little foggy from fatigue.

"...yeah.  I...I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure."

"Okay then..."

Cory paused. "...who's that?" he asked, gesturing to Breeze, who was still sound asleep.

"Oh, that's Breeze. I found him outside the camp last night."

"...last night?" Cory repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Kasai, how much sleep did you get?"

"A...few hours' worth?" Kasai said, smiling nervously.

"No wonder you're so tired." He sat next to her.

Kasai sighed. "...I had a nightmare and was too scared to go back to sleep." she admitted.

"You?  Scared?"  Cory laughed a little at the thought of Kasai, one of the bravest people he knew, being scared of something as silly as a little nightmare.

Kasai averted her eyes, hiding tears.  Cory's laughter faded, as did his smile.  "Oh...you're not joking."

She slowly shook her head.

"...sorry, I didn't mean to laugh.  I just never expected someone as brave and fierce as you to get scared."

"Cory, I have fears too."

"I find that hard to believe."  He put his arm around her, pulling her closer.  She snuggled up to him.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" he asked.

"N...no.  I'd rather not." Kasai said nervously.

Cory sighed.  "Okay, I won't force you."

He gently rubbed her back to try to get her to calm down. She relaxed into his touch, giving a small yawn as she cuddled with him.

"You should get more sleep, 'kay?" he said gently. "We still have to prepare for the full moon tonight. We can't keep going with you half asleep."

Kasai yawned again. "...okay. I'll try."

Cory smiled and was about to get up to leave, but Kasai quickly grabbed his wrist, hiding a blush.

"...b...but...could you stay with me?"  She gave him a fearful look that resembled the face of a terrified child begging for comfort.  It reminded him a lot of himself.

He hid a blush and sighed, snuggling up to Kasai.  "...okay.  I'll stay."

Kasai smiled and slowly closed her eyes again, falling asleep next to him.  He gently wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to him.  He rested his head on her shoulder and eventually went back to sleep too.