Wrath of the Wind A wide strip of gushing water wound onwards through the patch of trees. Rain pattered aggressively against the umbrella of emerald leaves as angry clouds scoured deviously for a crack to send droplets creeping in through. A gust of bitter wind whipped the barren ground, reaching out a greedy hand only to sweep up any shrivelled leaves abandoned by their fathers. In the midst of this stormy tantrum, the water had grown from a youthful stream to a robust river raging onwards mercilessly, stopping for none. A boy sat on a stony ledge over the river, staring down at his murky reflection in the gurgling water. The howling wind brought raindrops darting sideways, slapping the boy’s face with a harsh laugh that resounded loudly in his ears. It was evening now, and yet he showed no signs of returning. He’d watched complacently as a syringe sucked sunlight from the indigo sky until all that was left was gray clouds. That was alright, though. He liked the color gray. It reminded him of his sister’s eyes. They’d come here often when they were younger. They’d etched drawings into the rough bark of that towering oak tree they’d dubbed their own. The boy smiled, remembering how they had sheltered high up in its branches as the wind whispered long-lost stories. And then, sometimes, his sister would sing a song while delicately fingering the petals of a dandelion, her sweet voice dancing from one treetop to the next. Crouching by the sopping wet soil, the boy picked up a smooth gray stone. His eyes sparkled as he fingered the flat rock and wondered how far it would skip down its watery path. If his sister had been here, they’d have placed a bet on it. A crack of thunder erupted from behind, and the sky was torn in two for a split second. The boy whirled around just in time to see a tall oak tree– their tree– go plummeting towards the ground. The powerful wind ruthlessly snapped it in half as if it were a twig, and then there was a painfully bare patch in the woods. The smooth gray rock was sent flying furiously out of the boy’s grasp. It danced down the watery grave until it disappeared from sight.