• The darkness and downpour of the night reached the Sierran border, just across the Ogelian Sea. Aggravated waves crashed upon the shore with relentless vigor while the rain descended from the onyx clouds.
    A young woman was perched beneath a stubby palm tree, her small pet comfortably seated in her soft lap. Her crystalline, sapphire eyes gazed thoughtfully out at the roaring sea.
    “Jacqueline, don’t you wish you could leave this town? It would be such an adventure…” she rambled to her incoherent companion. “Look at those waves… Wouldn’t it be exhilarating to brave the sea?”
    The animal, a youthful ooragnac, yelped softly in agreement. Her velvety, russet fur glistened luxuriously in the rain; her delicate, leaf-shaped ears twitched happily, displaying her affection.
    “I thought so,” the female cooed.
    She heaved her small frame up from the ground and her pet was forced to desert her cozy seat. With a groan of dismay, the woman discarded her much drier position, left the shelter of the tree, and began her long walk home in the cascading rainfall with Jacqueline at her heels.
    *
    The storm progressed further as the night pressed on.
    The young woman had braved the high winds, rain, and bellowing thunder, eventually completing her journey upon entering her home. She was then greeted by her disgruntled fiancé.
    “Madylene, where have you been? I’ve been worried sick about you… It’s horrid outside,” he reproached, offering his hand in a helpful manner. She stepped inside, as did Jacqueline, and shut the door behind her and the ooragnac.
    With her hand in his, Madylene provided an answer to his questions. “I’m sorry, Terrence, time just seemed to slip away from me. I was down at the beach with Jacqueline… It’s so peaceful there, even through this monsoon.”
    He smiled, his pale grey eyes were dazzled at the sight of his beloved. “Promise me you’ll try not to stay out so late in the rain next time, alright? I worry so much,” Terrence confessed. “You’re my life now, and I don’t want anything to happen to you…”
    “Okay, okay, I promise. And nothing will happen to me, there’s nothing here in Sierra that’s capable of presenting any danger…” she grumbled, but still grateful that he cared as much as he claimed. “I love you,” she added, swiftly kissing him while surpassing him on her way toward the den.
    Terrence froze and savored the caress before speaking in broken English. “I- I love you too…” he breathed.
    Jacqueline playfully licked his palm, refusing to be excluded.
    “Jacqueline… Get out of here,” he growled mischievously.
    ***