And she is sleeping.

Abiram produced a note book and pen. “Not to worry who ever is here will be checking in on them for you. This will be here so we can right down what they say about the storm. Though I bet they will be keeping a record of it for you as well. Heck I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to find Jacob setting by one of the upstairs windows she he can take glances out to better report the storm for you. Don’t you worry about that. Now do you need me to open anything?”

Sara shook her head. “Just make sure one of you is near by. Someone needs to be here you can discredit my babbling so it won’t get anyone in trouble. As I am like to start babbling about people being wrapped in light. Which a lot are, and truly means nothing in most cases, but as mages use the light some might get the wrong idea. There I go, and it will just get worse with the medicine in me.”

Zac said. “Not to worry there was no way we were going to leave you here by your self, cousin. You should know that by now.”

Sara said. “I seem to recall being found in the middle of a bin all alone.” She reached for the medicine bottles setting there, trying not to let on how much pain she was in.

Zac put the bottle in her hand. “Well all right so we ran out on you that time, but we were younger and we did try to get you to come. Besides it worked out because after that you didn’t have to sneak around the plant.”

Sara took the medicine with a grimace. “Fair enough, but you still left me. Thou I was a bit to busy to know it. I think I scared Uncle Abe far more than he scared me. I guess he thought I would bring that first book back, never thought I would go looking for more. Zac hand me that water glass would you? I hate taking it straight, it leaves a bitter taste behind. But I need it a full strength.” He handed her the water glass then offered the next medicine. Sara said. “I want to wait a bit longer if I can. I think it will be best to have as much space between them as I can. Also I want to sleep though as much of the storm as I can, and those are one dose only. When you get a chance go up stairs and look out. There will be a lot of lighting and some will be colored I think. It will be quite a show, as long as you are not out in it. This one is not hunting, so it is safe to look out at it. some of the latter ones won’t be safe to watch, the lighting will be looking back.”

Zac said. “That sounds like something out of a horror story. Storms out to kill people. However I looked at the numbers and half to agree with you. Just how can we know which is which?”

Sara said. “It is best to treat all big storms as though they are that way. The only way for someone who can’t hear or see them to know is by looking at the damage after the storm is gone. The hungry ones will show more concentrated areas of damage, centered around people. It took a lot for me to be convinced I wasn’t making it. If you want I can show you the records that made me sure of them.”

Zac said. “I don’t want to, but you should show them to the leaders. I bet Mr. Istcon will look at them, and he can convince the others.”

Sara said. “I wanted to share everything, but I had no idea how to. The pattern needed math skills to see, and the rest I feared would just be written off as over active imagination come from me. That is why I sat on it for so long. If I had of just looked sooner, had of shared we would be better prepared. There would have been more time. I didn’t want to be right about it. I let fear stop me. I could have ran the numbers. I found the pattern at the start of the school year, had the math for the storms worked out by winter break. Yet did nothing. Granted I didn’t think of looking at the deaths for a pattern, but if I had of just shared what I knew sooner.”

Abiram said. “The storms are not your fault. You should not beat yourself up because you didn’t run the numbers sooner. Heck I wouldn’t have had any faith in them. I would never have thought it worse sharing, expecting that it had been seen and found wrong. The fact that you had faith enough to think it worth sharing and were willing to run with your own work and send it out, unchecked by anyone is amazing to me. I wouldn’t. Heck anytime I think I have something new to try with the generators I run by Mr. Tesy first. You just sent it off to a bunch of strangers.”

Sara said. “I sent it off to experts to be checked. I was fairly certain that if the pattern had been seen even the elementary leave books I could get access to would have said something about it. The way the others reacted to my notes told me for sure. But they were busy looking to find something to disprove the pattern, and didn’t think to use it. Once I ran the numbers, I had to get someone to look at it, and well. It was complex math, not anything I should be doing. So I had to send it away.” She wondered if Abiram was getting the hint. It wasn’t the right time to say it, not here. That would need someplace without extra ears.

Zac said. “You did right. We just don’t want to hear you beating yourself up for not doing it sooner. It is not easy to put yourself out that way. But you did what you needed to, and lives will be saved because of it.”

Abiram said. “Just so sis, and if you would feel better I will deliver the notes. But I am sure he will read them just as well from your hand. I understand as much as I can about why you felt you couldn’t share. It is no small thing you did, and look at the lives you saved by sharing, not at the might have been. For all you know no one would have believed an early warning.”

Sara said. “I am not putting off the sleeping meds because of guilt, but because I do not want them warning off to soon. The worst of the storm is still a ways off, and that is when I really need to be asleep. I just need to think of things other than this storm, and right now that is the biggest thought that I have.”

Abiram said. “I had better go check on the others. I won’t be long.”

Zac said. “I will be here, you go see they are staying out of trouble. It will help Leah to see you. She is likely a bit lost right now. She is so much more like Rebecca than any of your other sisters, or mine.”

Sara nodded. “She is going to be waiting for you to come tell her what to do. Oh and if you see Rebecca’s brother, you might want to help him. He is younger, but she will expect the same of him.”

Abiram said. “I will. I didn’t even think. I will check with Jouthan, he was the one she went to on the tests. I don’t think she so much as went to one meal without checking with him. Completely silly.”

Sara said. “Would that be the tall boy that was trying to get you to report me missing when I went for a walk? No wonder he was so upset when you had no idea where I was. I sure hope that sort of thing wasn’t expected of me. If so I really was a disappointment.”

Abiram said. “I am sure father didn’t expect you to ask me before you did anything. I know I was truly glad you didn’t. I am sure there were others there who didn’t as well. I will be back after a bit.” With that he left the room.

Zac waited a bit. “I think he has an fair idea of what you are thinking. I just wish.”

Sara said. “We will have to take a walk in the woods after the storm passes. Well not right after. Likely Wednesday. I have packing yet to do. Uncle Abe said they would be assign the houses to us on Wednesday and promised Mother that he and his crew would move my goods and all the papers over to mine. Well as the papers are mine they are in the first category, so it is more because of them. She will be glad I think. She wants me out of there. Cover your ears.”

Zac looked at her confused, then there was a loud crake of thunder, he jumped. “We are not in the center. I bet that made some faint. It took out the generator, good thing we weren’t using it.”

Sara said. “If that one didn’t the next ones will make them faint, if just out of a misplaced since of feminine duty. It is going to be loud and wet. I just hope they got the fields ready. Zac the lights are pulling at you more than they were. There that fixed it. And I should of said that.”

Zac said. “It’s fine. The pain likely won’t let you, but if you can try thinking of a wall between you and the storm.”

Sara said. “I am, otherwise I would be worse. I just can’t block it all with the big ones. But that is why don’t take anything for the little ones. This one though is different. It wants someone to stop it, it is reaching. It is deliberately trying to tear down those kind of walls. Even if the person is not aware of them.”

Zac said. “That is not good. I wonder if that happened with past storms.”

Sara said. “I’m not sure, but I don’t think so. I mean there was no talk of raise of deranged people after the storms, and there would be if the others are like this. If I understand right, most of the issues they have stem from have an awake but unused mage potential. So it would stand to reason that there would be. I mean the walls blocking that ability, and if they were suddenly gone it would be a lot like not using it. I think.”

Zac said. “So it is not only weather books you have been reading, I see. Good, Jack will be relived. Yes, and even if not in the journals it would have been noted outside. I mean they seldom have to deal with it out of the path as they make it a point to see that all get some education on it. In fact starting next year the students in this school will have a class about it. Just very basic, but it will include the fact that the unused ability makes you go insane. As well as just what it is mages do. The leaders did get a compromise though. Everyone will all so have to here the church’s view and learn of beliefs held. In all high schools not just ones around churches. Likely they will gain as many as they lose.”

Sara said. “I think they will gain more. Not many will be willing to go, even if stay means madness. Which by the way it doesn’t have to, though early death still applies. After all grandmother never lost her mind. I hope no one was outside. Maybe I had best take that sleeping med before I say something worse.”

Zac said. “You said it soft enough no one further away than I am could hear, I just barely could. It makes since though, but I never thought about it. You are going to laugh, but I want to study archaeology. I know it is an odd thing to combined with the medical studies I must do. Jack thinks I am nuts and should go with chemistry, he said I have a talent for it. But I don’t want to, it would be to much like what the church had planed. And I have always wanted to explore the old places more than sit in a lab.”

Sara said. “There is no reason you can’t do both. Make your passion your main line of study and chemistry for a second area when you need to rest from exploring. Who knows what will come in handy in the ruins? Can’t be much odder than pairing history, geography, metrology and math, now can it?”

Zac said. “Most of that is related. In fact I think you have shown history ties in. Have you though about cartography as well? I plan on taking some and geography to. I think knowing how to make a good map will be useful as will a since of how the land in the area has changed since the ruins were built.”

Tim said. “Abiram is upstairs conniving, or trying to, Jacob that you will be all right. I expect Jacob to come see for him self before long. But there is a bit of time and the hall way is empty. So forgive but.”

Sara said. “There is light around you, but you need not fear it. You are not a mage or a healer. Just a bit of a sensitive, like Leader Tolmson. You will be able to tell if a spell is cast around you. You might be able to detect smaller one than he is, do to what this storm is doing. But there will be no visions or voices.”

Tim said. “Thank you that is nice to know. But I was just going to ask how long you plan to live if you are going to master all that and then go out and hunt ruins.”

Zac said. “Life spans are not yet fully known, the wakening changed them. It is perfectly reasonable for the average person to expect to be active at a hundred. As for a mage,, well the oldest living was thirteen at the change and still looks twenty. So there is no way to know how it will affect us born after the change.”

Tim said. “I still don’t want to spend the next fifteen years in classrooms. Six will be enough, and I would much rather it be five.”

Sara said. “Will you take summer classes then?”

Tim said. “I am hoping to do one summer season each year, but I want some time at home as well. I don’t want to forget where I belong. And of course all the summer of my fourth year will be at home. If I have to go a sixth year I will try and get in married housing for the second half of my fifth year so we can wed over winter break. Thortan policy will let her take classes once we are wed for free if she wishes to, and I have no problem should she want to.”

Sara said. “I think it would be a good thing for the town if a couple of you did that. The town could use a few more female medics and that is likely the only way it will get them. If your intended is so inclined.” She shuddered. “It is getting closer, and stronger. Tim, forgive me, but could you make sure it is hard to get outside? More than I are likely to feel the pull, and that one had me start out of bed. I think I had best take the sleep med. I just hope it lasts until the center is past.”

Tim said. “I will go see. I know they were boarding up the front doors as they were losing heat. I will make sure they get the others. I saw you both jump, and that is enough to convince me.”

Zac said. “Hand her that cup there before you go would you? I don’t dare just now. I will be all right in a bit, but I was not ready for that. I think it will be best for you or Am to sit with her during the worst of the storm. If you don’t mind.”

Sara said. “I should have thought about that. Thank you Tim. Yes by all means you had best go watch the storm, from the other direction once Abiram gets back. We are related, and with what the storm is doing.”

Zac said. “Remember what we said about beating your self up, and stop it. You are not responsible for what you don’t know. Hi Am did you get Leah taken care of? Sara the meds won’t work if you just hold the cup.” Sara made a face but took emptied the cup and laid down.

Abiram said. “Yes she has been seen to so will stop fretting a bit. I told her to check here for me. If I wasn’t here you or Tim would be and could answer her question. She was upset, but couldn’t find a way to argue.”

Zac said. “Good enough. In that case I am going to go. If you need me I will be up in the lab, otherwise I will see you after the center passes. Sorry, but this storm makes it to dangerous for me to be here right now. This is the last place someone with an untaught healing gift should be. Even with her asleep, some of what she feels is spilling over. One of you want to finish covering her? The meds acted fast, thank goodness.”

Tim looked at him. “So that is why. But this is not the time or place. There, that’s better. Any idea how long the meds will last?”

The nurse said. “Normally she would be out for a good twelve hours with that dose, but the pain will make it burn off faster so I can’t be sure, but am hoping at least six.”

Zac said. “She just wants it to get it though the worst of which I think was still a few hours away from us. Now do remember the charms. Viv is going to worry if not updated once an hour, and if you check on with Anna you can get a since of how fast the storm is moving. I hate to be leave the worst on you guys, but I have to.”

Abiram said. “Not to worry, we will keep tabs and notes. Knowing Sara she will be checking the notebook once this is over to be sure we kept in touch.”

Zac said. “It is unlikely she will remember much of anything that happened during the storm. What with the meds and all she is not her self. She is doing her best to hide just how bad it is, but this is a very bad storm, and it is going to double the effects the Ombeiveln has. That is what Jack said, and he is in place to get it from some of the best. If they have anything you need to know I will be back here with it, otherwise see you after the center has passed.”