The Lioncloud
It starts with the shift of light; Twilight, in the midst of the day.
Thunder, rolling like the pounding of paws echoes in the distance to chase the glow of the waning afternoon.
There are hints of dark in the wrong places; The old glow reigning tyrant over the hilled scape.
Quiet.
Still before the storm.
Suddenly the shift occurs, sliding sideways as the rain blows invisible willow branches into impossible dances through the sky.
Droplets sway diagonally, twisting, sliding down the windows with a hiss.
The first minute is a battle between light and dark.
The maelstrom bangs now against the window with heavy blows, but the light holds on.
Odd light; a strange, pale glow remains to slice an unsettling fever upon the shelter dwellers.
Water washes the house side, tearing bullets of hail through the sky in a clatter and the light gives way.
Dark grey.
Thunder comes to roar as his shadow hangs like a fog over the landscape.
Hail strikes the ground, but the Lioncloud is immune as he stalks the old glow of twilight.
This is his realm now, his claim.
He cracks his tail in passing, claws raking the sky with a blind of blue and white.
Light grey works its way in now; The old glow is back to frighten the land.
The thunder does not waver.
The light waxes in, but the lion stands his ground, roaring and growling as the rain battalion continues.
The light seeps into middle ground; the grey surrounds it.
The distance is blocked by the great thunder’s mane, there is no escape.
The light casts one final uneven glow, and the Lioncloud makes his strike—
Teeth bite sharp with light that blinds the dark.
For a moment, nothing happens. Rain falls normal and straight as the clouds surround like a blanket. Then…
…The rain slows on the hills.
The light—new light—seeps in from the right to fill the crevices of darkness left by the old twilight.
The thunder slowly walks, patrolling from afar as the bright warmth turns raindrops into crystal.
All hail melts.
The torrent has fallen, and new light has come for spring.
Flowers hold the waterlight as the Lioncloud watches in the distance.
