Cloud Riders by Don Hurst

Author:Don Hurst
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: epress-online

Chapter Twenty-Two

Storm

A blustery gust blew Silk sideways. Vicki clung to her brother as Fawn held onto her, the three of them fighting the torrent of rain and wind trying to rip them from their mount. Silk's cloud unicorn body shivered and started to lose contour, her horn wavered and shimmered in and out of existence. Bolts of lightning zigzagged around them, followed closely by rolling peals of thunder, an angry teacher out to punish for the invasion of its sky. At least with Will gone Paul had one less person to worry about.

The tempest evicted them from the golden cloud in a storm swell of territorial jealously. Paul's fingers dug into Silk, holding on with all his strength.

With a call, almost drowned out by a clap of thunder, Isno cried, “Leave Huff meeee!” Huff started to distort. Isno tried to leap off his unsteady cloud but couldn't gain his footing for the leap.

Paul stared at his hands. His fingers dug into Silk were visible through the cloud's wavering body. Driving beads of icy rain chased them with relentless stinging projectiles, like tiny machine-gunned bullets in full attack.

"Oh, Master..." the weak voice of Silk thought-transferred to Paul. "Goodbye."

Silk's horn twisted in upon itself and her body blew apart. Paul, Vicki and Fawn went into freefall, holding onto each other as they dropped through the distressed atmosphere. Isno fell beside them even though high above them Huff still had some shape. Their bodies glowed as zigzagged bursts of blinding yellow-orange energy attacked within echoing barks of thunder.

Paul's breath came in gulps. Vicki and Fawn held onto him, attempting to stay together within the jabbing fingers of deadly light and sound assault. Isno had his four paws outstretched for a landing with nothing immediately obvious to land on. Paul grabbed Isno's tail and pulled him into the group.

In desperation, Paul squeezed his eyes shut and imagined peaceful skies. No more lightening and thunder. He daydreamed of tranquil beauty, saw their rides reforming, returning, and flying below them to end their fall. He could see it through his parallel-imagined-life. No more falling. He just wanted fun and he wanted it now. He opened his eyes.

The storm swatted at the sky, destroying any clouds which might offer a new mount. Three humans and one cat somersaulted and twisted, the tempest punching at them like mammoth transparent fists.

Closing his eyes tightly again, Paul tried to block out the blinding effect of the arcing light bursts. His ears rang from the instantaneous rumbling following each flash, unable to put fingers into his ears because of holding onto his sister, and Isno. Fawn clung to Vicki.

Isno's tail pulled lose from Paul's grasp and he whisked away, his feet flailing and his flipping tail attempting to act as a rudder. He screeched his fright and anger into the wind gusts. “Meeeeee help!"

"Find a cloud, Isno!” Paul cried, his voice being blown away on the wind.

Wait a minute. He still saw his mind-picture of peaceful skies within his parallel-imagined-life. He didn't dream Isno being gone.

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