waterworld

There had been storms before, but none had the power behind them that this one had. He felt the clamor of it in his paws, in his chest, and the wind and rain stung his face. He had never shown much fear or respect for storms before, but this one unsettled him, and so did the cues he picked up from his parents as they ushered them to a safer location. For once, their stubborn son did not hesitate to listen, and quietly tucked under the tree beside them as the mountain king gathered them close. He watched the turbulence around them with uncertainty, occasionally shrinking back as lightning rent the skies overhead.

They had barely taken shelter when one such streak of fury touched the tree they huddled beneath, setting it ablaze. His father commanded them to move with a sharp bark, and he was on his feet to do just that, until the tip of a burning branch fell off to land across his foot. The fire immediately burned his paw, and with a yelp of pain and surprise he leaped sideways, crashing into Pasha and shoving him away. It was enough to free his brother from the tangle of limbs that barred him, and Swift watched with wide eyes as Pasha fled away from his family, into the dark around them.

"Pasha!" he called, forgetting his stinging paw for the moment.