Sword and Snow

Stena

Stena was more excited and relaxed than she had been in ages. Between her Breakthrough, talking to her family about her feelings a little more openly, and even having her Dragon-Kin Bond ceremony on the horizon, she felt more balanced than she had in months. Perhaps even years.

The ceremonies were still several days away, but she, along with Cierra and Avuri's cousins, had been told to stay home for a few days leading up to it to just meditate and relax. While they would be returning to the Elder's compound the following day for some preparations, they'd still want to be in the best shape going into the ceremony as they could be, after all.

The five of them had been spending a lot of time just quietly meditating in the training pavilion, well beyond the normal hours for the rest of the family. They would get there early, sometimes even before the sun was up, and stay until after sunset, only really taking breaks for food, and the occasional stop for genuine relaxation.

They had all been so wrapped in their own worlds, focused on being well-rested and prepared, that they had been paying little attention to anything else. Three days before their ceremonies, they had gotten caught out in a storm. They had all taken up to meditating a little off to the side of the pavilion, which still gave them cover against the rain of the storm as it arrived, but the wind whipping around them and the noises were still unmitigated.

Stena found it comforting, if she were to be honest. Cierra probably did too. Their mothers had made it a long standing tradition to go out into the occasional thunderstorm to relax together and watch the rain and lightning as a family. It was something they hadn't done too recently because it hadn't stormed all that recently, but sitting out in the training pavilion while the storm raged around them still brought back so many pleasant memories.

The sound of the rain, and even the occasional sound of the rolling thunder, ended up being the perfect background noise to help Stena relax. She spent her meditation rotating between low-stress Cultivation, moving her Qi slowly through her meridians, and entering her inner world to explore and learn how it functioned.

And just like with any other activity, the reliable sound of the rain seemed to be helping her focus.

At least until she heard the food bell. It was well outside of an actual mealtime, just about half way between lunch and dinner. But combined with the weather, it could only mean one thing, and she felt a smile break across her face.

Between the storm and being between meals, most of the family had retreated to their own homes in the Basin for whatever rainy day activities they had planned. But as the sound of the meal bell rang out clearly over the sounds of the storm, some of Stena's siblings began to emerge, making their way toward the training pavilion.

The pavilion itself had been redesigned many times over the last several years, always to stay a step or two ahead of the possibility of the family growing, so there would be plenty of space for everyone under the massive roof.

"I don't think we're going to get much more meditation done today." Cierra said with a similar smile on her face.

"Why? What's going on, exactly?" Cove asked.

"It's storming." Stena said, looking out at the rain flying by in the wind.

"Yes…and?" Glenn prompted.

"Oh. You all haven't been here for a stormy day yet, have you?" Cierra asked.

"I mean…we have been. I think?"

"I don't think we've actually been 'here' for a storm yet, though." Mica said. "We've spent so much time at the Elders' compound, that I think we've technically missed them all."

"We're all in for a treat." Cierra said as she stretched her arms above her head, arching her back after sitting for most of the day.

"Yes, I would say you are." Avuri said, suddenly standing behind them. Stena hadn't noticed her approach, but she figured that without actively using her Qi to keep an eye out around her there would be no way to notice someone moving at Sky Realm speeds.

"Do you all mind helping us get set up?" Emery asked, standing so close to Avuri that they were basically leaning on one another.

"Of course, mom. Blankets?"

"Yep. Between the three of us we should be able to get them all down in time." Emery said.

"As for you three," Avuri said, turning to her cousins, "mind helping me set the table?"

Mica tilted her head. "Set the table?"

"Mhm. Over here." Avuri led them toward the center of the room where she proceeded to produce two long tables from a storage item, followed by several baskets of food. The rain and wind was overpowering any potential scents coming from the food, but Stena had no doubt that everything there smelled delicious.

Still, she had been tasked with helping with the blankets, and she wasn't about to be lazy. Emery had also brought a whole mess of items to the pavilion in a storage item, and was busy dumping them onto the floor throughout the space, a bit at a time. Thick, heavy blankets were everywhere, made specifically to be cold and water resistant, as well as plush and comfortable to sit on.

Stena had never actually asked, but she was almost positive that one of her mothers had commissioned these blankets specifically for this purpose, though she wasn't sure who had done it. But they had never been used for anything other than storm viewing parties.

In addition to the thicker blankets made for sitting on, Emery also dropped regular blankets around for whoever decided they'd want one. These were similarly water-treated, but were blankets that got regularly used during the wetter months of the year, just in case.

Between the seven of them, the pavilion was set up before anyone else had actually shown up. The floors were covered practically from open wall to open wall, with several contained seating areas with a pile of blankets and cushions for comfort. In the middle of the pavilion was the snack table, which had been laden with all sorts of treats.

Stena knew her mothers had never been one to skimp on days like this, and she was unsurprised to see the feast laid out on the table, covering for any and every taste that might be sought after. There were jerkies and other smoked meats, as well as an Array-heated pot of melted cheese to cover savory flavors, alongside all sorts of bread and other snacks to dip into the cheese.

There were candies and sweetened breads to cover anyone looking to satisfy a sweet tooth, as well as a couple pies of some kind that likely fell somewhere in the middle.

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In addition, there were smaller trays of leftover food that had been scrounged together from the last few days that had yet to be eaten, including a pot of fried rice, a tray of various pickled veggies, and a few other smaller dishes.

And finally, to round it all out were four large glass containers containing drinks. There was one full of crisp, clean water, but the other three were fogged from the heated beverages they carried. One was clearly a hot green tea of some variety. Given both of her mothers favored a classic jasmine variety, she guessed it would be that.

The second was a deep, dark red that immediately called a singular drink to mind, and Stena was positive when she caught the spices and other extra floating around the hot drink; a mulled wine. It was a strange concoction that Vale had favored after he had it during some of his travels, though her parents likely made an altered version of it using a plum wine instead of the whatever the red wine that Vale had brought home was.

And finally, the third container featured an old favorite of Cierra and Stena. It was a treat they hadn't often had access to growing up, but after they begged Vale, he had begun to pick up large amounts of chocolate whenever he saw it around. It was still only ever brought out for special occasions, but a night of storm viewing was exactly that. And a thick, creamy hot chocolate fit the weather perfectly.

Even from where Stena was watching, she could see the way the liquid clung to the glass container the way that thicker drinks would, and it immediately made her want some.

By the time everything was set up, It didn't take long for the family at large to filter in. Many of Stena's siblings had started working their way over to the pavilion just after the food bell was rung, but between the nasty storm and everything else, it was fairly slow going. What was normally a leisurely three or four minute walk turned into a ten minute one as the older siblings guided the younger ones from cover to cover during whatever small lulls in the pelting rain they could find, as well as letting anyone who left their homes a bit later catch up.

Altogether, the timing worked out rather beautifully. Avuri was standing at the threshold nearest where everyone was coming in, using quick bursts of Qi to dry them off. Emery had always held that part of the enjoyment of watching a thunderstorm included getting a little wet, so Avuri never put a lot of effort in, but it was enough to stop anyone from being truly at risk of illness.

And then Stena was surrounded by family. There was chatter all around her as she poured herself a steaming hot cup of hot chocolate, and put a few of the smoked pork sausages onto a small plate. She even dipped a couple of them into the hot, melted cheese, just because she could.

With a thought, she popped her food into her small storage ring that could basically hold little more than the plate of food, and sipped at her drink while helping her youngest siblings with their own food and drinks. Faye came over holding Luc, and she helped them get their own drinks when Luc refused to let Faye put him down. Then Stena was recruited to hold a plate for Fia and Kal as they wandered their way around the treats, picking out their favorites.

It took a bit of time for everyone to have their treats and settle down, but once they did the expected warm, relaxing atmosphere permeated the space. Stena had ended up sitting in a small circular blanket fort with Cierra, Briar, Karn, Enrik and Kord. They were all huddled pretty close, sharing a big pile of blankets, leaning back against the circle of pillows that surrounded them. Stena's feet were somehow lucky enough to be the ones sitting almost at the top of the pile in the middle of everyone, each of them jockeying for the top.

Despite the secret battle going on under the blankets, Stena was relaxed. She was re-appearing her sausages one at a time from her storage ring to munch on them while just watching out the northern wall of the pavilion as the storm raged on. As a particularly large blast of forked lightning crossed the sky, lighting everything up brilliantly, their whole group collectively breathed out in awe - only to be drowned out in the massive rumble of thunder that followed.

"It's loud but…wow. Lightning will never cease to amaze me." Briar said.

Stena had a flashback to a similar thing Briar had said the first time they had all watched a storm like this and laughed. Briar shot her a look, wondering why Stena was laughing.

"You don't remember the first time we all did this together, do you, Briar?"

"I do." They said, "It was just as spectacular then, too."

Stena smiled. "I know. You said almost the same thing back then too."

"We've all come a long way since then." Enrik said.

"No kidding." Kord said. There was a light smile on his face, matching everyone else in the circle.

"Back then, I never would have imagined all this." Cierra said, gesturing roughly to the rest of their family and the Basin itself. "Not that I'm complaining."

"I know it's really never had a lot to do with us," Karn said, "but I'm glad that Mom and Momri didn't just stop with us."

"I agree, too." Stena said, "But I also don't think there'd ever be a world where they stopped and said 'That's good enough'."

Even as they all relaxed, each and every head turned to watch as Avuri was fiddling with the snacks on the table and Emery was playing with Luc, Astra, and Kal.

"No, I think you're right." Enrik agreed.

"Well, it's hard to fault them for it." Cierra said. "Just watch them. Mom never looks as happy as she does when she's messing with all of us. And Momri clearly derives the vast majority of her own peace from all of us, too."

"When we let her have it." Kord said flatly.

"Well, there's always a certain allowance for kids to be kids, surely." Cierra said, a hint of laughter in her tone. "But even when some of us get up to trouble, they've never looked like they wanted out."

"No, and I don't think they ever will." Briar agreed.

"No. They won't." Karn nodded.

Another crack of lightning lit up the room, and everyone turned to trace the crack of yellow across the sky.

"I think we should cause a little trouble." Stena said, thinking back to when they had all watched a storm together the first time.

Kord chuckled. "What, you want to throw a tantrum and toss the blankets out into the storm like Cierra did?"

"Hey, I wasn't 'throwing a tantrum', Kord."

"That's not how I remember it…" Briar said.

"I'm pretty sure you got mad that Mom and Momri wouldn't let you just run around in the rain, and threw the blankets out into it so you'd have an excuse." Enrik recalled.

"That's not -"

"Cierra, you literally stole the blankets we were all using to stay warm and chucked them into the storm. We remember. Stop trying to wiggle out of it." Stena said, then watched as her older sister slumped.

"Fine."

"And for the record, I'm not saying we should do exactly that." Stena clarified as she finished the last bit of her hot chocolate. As she looked around at her siblings, it seemed to her like everyone had finished their own drinks and snacking. Then her eyes returned to her own empty cup. "Anyone want another hot drink?"

"I do." Briar said. "More tea sounds lovely."

"On a day like this I wish my cup refilled itself." Kord said idly.

"Don't we all?" Karn laughed.

"Well, if we all want another hot drink, why don't we get a little cold first?" Stena said, popping her cup away into her ring. Her siblings turned to look at her, eyes alight with mischief that the older kids didn't show often.

"You mean -"

"You wanted so badly to run around in the rain before, Cici. Why not do it now?"

Smiles spread around the group slowly, but each and every one was filled with a bit of devilry. Even Kord seemed to enjoy the idea.

"You know it's going to get all of the little ones to run out there, too." Cierra said, just to bring up the point.

Stena shrugged. "It's just rain. And the lightning is moving further away from us, so I think it's fine. Besides, the lightning never strikes down in the Basin anyway."

And that was about all the convincing they seemed to need.

With nothing more than a quick shared glance between them, most of the oldest kids in the family leapt up from their cozy mound of blankets and ran out into the heavy rain. The pavilion erupted in all sorts of shouting, but they all ignored it, running in circles and laughing and dancing like children while getting soaked to the bone.

Stena decided that was the moment to let her Domain pour forth from her, covering the entire pavilion and much of the area near it. She pulled from her Qi to infuse the entire area with the lingering smell of lilac, lavender, and other relaxing floral scents that she felt went well with the rain.

They had, indeed, caused plenty of chaos in the pavilion, as nearly the whole family jumped up to run out into the rain, joining in with the dancing and cajoling led by the older kids.

Eventually, Stena even saw her mothers out in the rain, drenched entirely from head to toe, dancing in one another's arms, slowly swaying to an unheard beat. With a flourish, she made the area around them bloom with a variety of flowers, just because she could.