ch 28 The survivor of the storm

October 19 1987 Monday, 11:15am, Jeanne's farm

"Everyone stay calm and follow me out of the field. Don't run around and look out for the little ones." I'm currently leading Uncle Ben's herd of cows out to the field.

There was a powerful storm last Thursday that hit the United Kingdom. It went on strong until Friday morning. The whole town have no electricity. Trees everywhere have been toppled over and every house have some degree of damage.

My house didn't sustain any damage but I can't say the same for my greenhouse in the backyard. Thankfully, it was easily fixed with Nick's help.

Obviously the school is closed until further notice. I've checked with my friends and Luke, Mei and Kyle's houses were fine except for a few cracked windows and blown roof tiles-nothing that's hard to fix.

Jeanne's house also survived with minor damage but thier barn had a punctured wall and collapse ceiling caused by a toppled tree. So I'm helping them in herding the cows out while Uncle Ben and some farm hands fix the hole.

"How are you doing that,Marshall? They listen to you without a fuss." Asked Jeanne. Therè are also two younger farm hands with us. They have an amazes by how the cows were listening to me.

"Oh, I think they just feel by instinct that I mean no harm. And having a handsome face and angelic voice helps a lot." I just shrugged thier question off.

Jeanne just rolled her eyes,"Narcissistic much huh! I bet they're just attracted to your red head." The farm hands laugh at our banter.

At the field, the cows finally settled down and I check around if there's any injuries on them. I know animals tends to be more resilient and endure pain better than people can. I just found some small scratches.

I walk over to the concrete water troughs for the cattles and dip my right index finger in. A drop of my Spring water can help them heal faster. I yelled, "Have a drink everyone. Form an orderly line, Ok." I just left the field when the cows were done drinking and went back to the barn.

At the barn, I see the men cutting the branches of the toppled ash tree. I helped them move the cut off branches out of thier way. And place them on a heap outside. Among the branches I saw cardboard box.

I checked what's inside and I saw a dead owl with blood on its feathers. There are also twigs and broken egg shells. Then I took a small branch and poke around, lifting the dead bird. Underneath were owlings in various sizes. No movements were seen.

"Oh, sorry you have to see that Marshall. That's the owl that was nesting in the barn's ceiling. The bird got squashed by the tree and the chicks were left in the cold during the storm. We just fould them this morning." Uncle Ben came over with some branches when he found me peeking in the box. "Can you not tell Jeanne about them? She was very fond of that owl."

I just nodded. 'Poor guys, They should be buried proplerly.' I thought and said to Uncle Ben, " Can I bury them? I'll just do it near my house. I have to go back for lunch anyway."

"You sure? I don't mind. Just tell Dora first if you bury them in your backyard. Thanks, kid." Uncle Ben agreed probably to avoid Jeanne finding out.

I'm already holding the box and said goodbye. I didn't tell Jeanne I was leaving. My maturity might have regress a bit to match my age but I can still understand and process things like an adult. It's better to shield kids on such experiences as much as possible.

____________________________________

-At the Witcherly residence-

When I arrived home, I saw Nana preparing lunch. I asked,"Nana, can I burry these birds in the garden?"

She wiped her hands clean and approach me. She open the box and said,"Sure Dear. But I think you should check with Siri first."

'What! Check with Siri?' I'm shocked by what she said. Then it hit me what she meant. I quickly run to the training room. I lay the box on the floor and levitated the big owl and ask Siri,

ME: Is it dead?

Siri: Yes.

I gently place the dead bird aside. I started checking the owlings. When I picked them up they were cold. I checked them one by one and Siri said they were all dead. Then I rummage through the box and separated the twigs and broken egg shells.

I'm surprised to see an egg ,a little less than 2 inches in length covered by down feathers. When I cleaned it, I saw a thin line of crack on it. I quickly asked Siri

Me:Is it alive?

Siri:Yes.

Me: what's its status.

Siri: Barely hanging on..A little cold.

'It's still alive!' I quickly called my contracted beasts. The room was filled with smoke and strong smell of incense. The three appeared out of the smoke. Grace and Gavel quickly approached me and Reza walked slowly with her thin legs.

Reza is now 2 months old and her body is as big as a adult chicken. She now has a lengthy neck and long beak. When she stand fully erect, her height is just above two feet.

When they came over, they saw the scene of the dead owl with the owlings of various sizes. I presented the egg on my hand.

"Neighh?""Baaa!?""Tuk..uack?" The three questions came one after another.

"Calm down guys. No, its not a contract beast. I'll explain later. But first, lets save this guy first." Its still in the egg so I can't dunk it water. I don't want to bring it in my Beast Space because it will be stuck there. I thought of something and called Gavel, "Gavel, lay down!"

"Baa?!" Gavel was surprised by request but still lay down the floor. I immediately shoved the egg in his wooly coat around his neck. I said, "Ok, don't move for a moment and stay calm. Let your healing wool do its magic."

I already see the wave of magic going into the egg. I check with Siri while looking at the egg...

Me: Whats the status of the egg?

Siri: ..A little cold. ..Lacking strength.

I immediately called Reza and pick her up, "Reza, bend your legs and sat on it. She reacted with a, "Kuuk?..uak!?"

Now Gavel is laying on the floor and Reza is brooding on his neck. The egg is in between them. Grace is pacing around them. I check with Siri and the egg is stable.

I first clean up and put the dead owls back in the box. I went outside in the backyard. I dug a 3 feet deep hole the soil next to the greenhouse and lay the cardboard box in. Then I fill the hole back with soil. I gave by prayers and promise to take care of the egg. I'm planning to plant something later over their grave.

I went to my room and took a clump of Gavel's wool that I saved and return back to the training room. I almost laugh when I saw the three. Looking back, I really paniced a bit and handled the situation like a kid.

I said, "Ok guys, sorry I panic earlier. I have a better idea. Reza you can go back down now. Grace can you build a warm nest please."

"Neighhhh!!" Grace was happy to contribute. She made a 6 inch wide nest mage of glowing warm light with a short stand. The whole thing is just one foot in height.

I placed to clump of wool on it and place the egg on the center. I check with Siri and the condition is still stable. The four of us surround the nest and just ogling over it. I asked,"Thanks guys. Do you want to go back?"

"Neegggh!""bah!""uakk!" All three refused. I just smile at them and left the training room. I went back to my room and take a quick shower. After a change of clothes, I join Nana in the kitchen for lunch.

I apologize first, "Sorry Nana, I became frazzled earlier. I know I could have handle that better." I just realized that I been stacking on healing and life saving magic but when in a real life emergency, I'm lacking in experience using them. I even forgot that I can heal using my touch, a feedback ability I got from Gavel.

Nana nodded her head while placing a plate of Spaghetti alla Siciliana in front of me and said, "Experience is built with time, Dear. I suggest you read about first aid responses and aligning your options on how to incorporate your abilities. You also need to consider that you might do it sneakily while people are watching you."

'Oh yeah. I can't do it so openly and I might prepare excuses in advance when I need to explain things.' I just nodded and continue eating.

Then Nana suggested something, "Dear, try to imbue your magic into the egg later."

'Oh! I can do that?' I finished my lunch quickly and Nana said she'll clean the table. So I quickly went back to the training room.

When I saw the three, I'm surprised to find Reza sitting on the nest. The two were laying down by the side. I just laugh, "Hahaha, you guys are just as eager as me. Reza, can I see the egg for a minute?" Reza hesitantly got down. I check and everything seems fine.

When we surrounded the nest I said, "I'm gonna try something. Nana said I can imbue my magic to this guy." I place my finger on top of the egg and let my magic flow thinly to the egg. I'm familiar with the process b'cuz I do the same when I tried creating a enchanted bracelet.

The other three look curiously on what I'm doing. A moment later Grace stretch her neck to the nest and her crystal horn shine with a light glow. A thin line of magic travel down to the egg. Seeing this I thought, 'Uhmmm... Will that be alright?'

I want to stop her but then Gavel leaned in as well and the gem on his head released a thin line of magic to the egg.

Feeling left out, Reza stood up on her thin legs and puffed her chess. The blue stone, which I later I found out to be Lapis Lazuli, shone faintly and released its magic thread to the egg.

'Ah guys, can you tell me first when you do this. How's the egg?.. Siri!' I looked at the egg and asks Siri for its status.

Siri:... Egg is experiencing rapid growth and is about to hatch.

I'm surprised and excited so I said, "Guys, its about to hatch. Just keep the flow of magic steady. Stay calm, specially Gavel."

After a minute, there was movement and we heard a *click*. I then said, "Ok guys, gently cut your magic. Our little friend is coming out." We simultaneously cut our suply of magic.

*click*...*click* We can see a small beak puncture the shell. The then a thin crack the egg and a minute later a leg stretched out pushing half of the shell off. I thought, 'Woah! that's a little fast. I saw a documentary for chicken hatching and they said that it takes at least 6 hrs for the chick to fully come out.'

When the little fellow is fully in view, it started tumbling around. Its eyes was closed and it has a bit of clump wet down feather that reveals its pinkish skin. I took a closer look and I can see its heart beating. I checked with Siri..

Me:Is it a boy?

Siri: Yes

I smile while cleaning the shell off the nest and said to the three, "Guys meet NAJI STORM."

~end chapter ~

A bit of explanation. Naji is a Arabic name meaning survivor. The guy is a survivor of the storm.

Fact. There really was a huge storm around Europe back in Oct 15-16, 1987. It was dubbed as "Great storm of 1987".

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