Last night, they had been sitting on stone floor playing checkers. She was red, he was black. On the reverse of the board was a game of snakes-and-ladders that he had just proudly graduated from. She smiled as she watched him he flip the board over and set up the pieces.

They played three games, to a different audience each time, until Matron had finally announced that was lights-out.

"We'll play again tomorrow?" he asked.

"Tomorrow." Sis had far-away look in her eyes, as she held open the box for the pieces. She must be feeling the storm that was coming, he had thought, the one that Matron had fussed about the whole day.

"Won't we?"

Sis blinked and looked up at him. She gave him a small, sleepy smile. He was reassured. When she was smiling, nothing went wrong.

"Now, off to bed." She got up. When he didn't, she bent down and asked him, "What's the matter?"

He stretched his arms out.

"You're a little big for a goodnight hug, aren't you?" But she gave him one anyway. He could smell the talc on her skin and the flower-soap in her hair. Warm and safe. It was nice. "You're going to be all grown up soon. You know how to take care of yourself, now, don't you?"

"Of course I can! I'll make Sis proud!"

"Thank you." She broke away. "Goodnight, Squall."

"Goodnight, Sis."

They walked to the shared bedroom together. Matron was inside, tucking the others in. Sis waited in the doorway. Squall climbed into his bunk, and watched Matron put out the candles. Matron came over, patted his head, and pulled the blankets up to his chin. When that was done, she blew out the candle beside the doorway and left with Sis, closing the door behind them.

----

The storm had come. It had gathered throughout the night, distant thunder-growls in his sleep. He was the first to wake. Padding out of the room, he walked about the corridors. They were empty. Sis would have been looking out at the courtyard. Instead, he found Matron there, under the lichen-covered arc.

"Matron, did you see Sis?"

Matron turned. "Squall."

"Where's Sis? I looked everywhere for her. Where is she?"

The sky was an odd colour, the dawn muddled up with the grey. Matron's face was sad. "Oh, Squall." The lightning knifed across the sky, the boom of the thunder nearly lost in the roaring of the sea and the rain in full force. "She isn't here. She left, in the night."

"Where did she go?"

"Ellone left... for somewhere safe."

"Isn't she safe enough here? When will she be back?"

Matron shook her head slowly. "No, Squall. Ellone isn't coming back."

"No." Squall stared at her. "No! That's not true! Sis isn't gone!"

"I'm sorry, Squall."

But he wasn't listening. "Sis!" He tore into the open courtyard.

"Squall!" she yelled. "Come back here! It's dangerous!"

The sand was grey and wet under his feet, threatening to suck him under. He ran faster, calling for her, as Matron's voice grew smaller and further away. The waves crashed, and spattered on him, but he was already dripping and didn't care.

The familiar sting started in his eyes. He rubbed at them, but forgot that his hands were also wet. And soon, he couldn't tell whether it was tears or seawater or rain, mingled up and turning his vision into smudges.

He ran until the rocky outcrop, until he was out of breath from screaming and crying and stumbling in circles, and collapsed. He hurt where he hit the hard, unforgiving rocks. The cold caught up with him, and the burning in his limbs was soon replaced by a numbing ache.

"Have to be b-b-brave... h-have to be s-stronger..." He shuddered as fresh sobs racked him. "I'll b-be b-brave for S-Sis... I... I-I p-promise... I'll w-wait for you... h-here... S-Sis... ..."

But all he could do was sit there and choke on her name.

---

They found him, later. He let himself be carried back without a word. Matron gave him a hot bath and set him in front of the fireplace. Everyone's mood was dampened by Ellone's sudden departure, including Seifer, who only teased him half-heartedly.

Squall kept his eyes open and the tears in check. Even by the fire, he still felt very cold.


 

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