Dark clouds gathered quickly, covering the sky in deep shades of gray. The air felt heavy, and a distant rumble of thunder echoed across the village. Inside the house, little Buem froze, her eyes wide with fear.
“I don’t like that sound…” she whispered, clutching her small blanket.
CUTIS noticed immediately. Though he also felt a tiny bit nervous, he straightened up and walked over to her. “It’s okay, Buem,” he said gently, trying to sound brave. “I’m here with you.”
Another loud clap of thunder shook the windows. Buem flinched and quickly ran into CUTIS’ arms. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.
“Don’t be scared,” he murmured softly. “The thunder can’t hurt you.”
The rain began to pour heavily, tapping loudly against the roof. The flashes of lightning lit up the room for a split second each time, making Buem bury her face deeper into CUTIS’ chest. He could feel her trembling.
CUTIS thought for a moment, then smiled. “Hey, let’s make it a game,” he suggested. “Every time we hear thunder, we count how long it takes before the next one. Ready?”
Buem peeked up, still nervous but curious. “Okay…”
A flash appeared, followed by a loud rumble.
“One… two… three…” CUTIS counted slowly, holding her hand. Buem joined in, her voice shaky at first but growing steadier. The more they counted, the more her fear began to fade.
“You see?” CUTIS said. “It’s just the sky making noise.”
Buem gave a small smile. “It’s still loud… but not as scary.”
CUTIS nodded. “And I’ll stay with you the whole time.”
They sat together on the floor, wrapped in a warm blanket. CUTIS even told silly stories to distract her, making her giggle between the sounds of rain and thunder. Slowly, Buem relaxed, leaning comfortably against him.
By the time the storm began to pass, Buem was no longer afraid. She looked up at CUTIS with grateful eyes. “Thank you,” she said softly.
CUTIS smiled. Even though he had been a little scared too, protecting Buem made him feel strong. In that stormy night, his kindness and courage became her greatest comfort.
