The Storm

“No, Josie. Look outside darling. Does that look like weather to go over to Jemimah?” She looks out of the window and groans. But her mother just shakes her head and with that the discussion is over. She walks out of her parents’ study and plops down on the sofa with a sigh. The sky doesn’t look so bad… surely her mother was exaggerating. Sitting up straight she looks to where her mother is working. She seems busy enough. And there are just a few clouds in the sky. So, she makes her decision and quietly sneaks out. Once the door has closed behind her without a sound she runs off. Only once she has made it to the edge of the forest does she stop. She takes a moment to catch her breath before walking into the forest and looking for the little clearing. “Jemimah?” She calls out softly. “Jemimaaaaah? Come here girl” She looks around and eventually spots the little fox pup running her way. “There you are!” She opens her arm and the pup jumps in to them. “Hello Jemimah! Did you miss me? Because I missed you. Now, let me see that paw.” After she inspects the paw and rebandages it the two play together, unaware of the nearing storm. Suddenly the little fox runs away. And Josie after her. “Jemimah! Wait!” The leaves and branches hit her in the face as she runs after Jemimah. In her attempt to catch up with the little fox, she doesn’t see a particularly big and low branch, running straight into it. With a groan she hits the ground. Blinking a couple of times before the world around her is consumed by darkness.

Cold. So cold. And wet. Those are her first thoughts as she blinks. Shortly followed by a pang of pain in her head. She reaches up, gingerly touching her forehead. Warm and sticky… she brings her hand back down away as she groans quietly. Her eyes soon fluttering shut again, darkness once again taking her.

The next time she is woken it is by shouting voices. She wants to tell them to bugger off and shut it. But her head is too heavy and her tongue won’t listen. So she just closes her eyes again. Welcomed back to darkness.

A tongue licking her face draws her back to the surface. “Jemimah… noooo, stop…” she mumbles and tries to swat at the head. A loud barking tells her it’s not Jemimah licking her face. “Castor has found her! ERIC! JANE! Over here!” She can hear footsteps and agitated voices coming closer. Soon she’s scooped up and wrapped into a blanket. “Thank you, Graham, can you call off the search and tell everyone we’ve found her?” Her father sounds relieved but also extremely tired. She feels a hand taking hers and blinks slightly. Her mum is smiling at her. “It’ll be alright darling. Soon you’ll be home. Eric, she’s freezing…” the last bit is barely above a whisper, and she hardly makes out that there even are words being spoken. Her dad holds her closer and nods. “You two need to get home too, you’ve been out here for hours! Get that child inside and in front of a fire and yourselves too. Before you catch something. There’s a nasty little bug going round. Don’t wanna get that. Already took out the Sinclairs…”