The sun was setting, painting the wheat fields beautiful shades of red and gold. Looking down, Aether watched the wind as the blades of grass casting shadows upon her little feet. Between them a small fuzz ball swayed with the wind as the sky darkened. There she took her chance and plucked it from the Earth before it lost its shape. Closing her eyes, Little Aether took a breath, counted to three and made a wish.

When all the tiny ray florets failed to take off after just one blow from her lips, Aether held up the dandelion and violently shook it into the wind. Determined for them all to fly together, not wasting a single ounce off her wish. "Aether!"  Another voiced called out. She turned to notice her sister, a solid reflection of herself, standing in the doorway of their farmhouse. "Mom said it's time to come inside!"

Dropping the stem, she responded to her sister by practically cantering across the yard. Catching the hand of her sister as she reached the door, Aether looked behind her at the clouds moving in a way she never seen before being pulled inside. By nightfall the girls were bathed and wearing matching pajamas, nevertheless the last thing they wanted to do was sleep. You see that day had been a special day for them both. It was their 10th birthday. 

Spending the night hours giggling and tiptoeing around the bedroom under the glow of a jellyfish nightlight. Smacking a balloon left over from the party up in the air in their own game of the floor is lava. Not being as quiet as they hoped, the game was interrupting by the creaking of a door. The girls gasped and returned to bed but not before being caught by the hallway light. "Ya'll look like you're sleeping." Their father said as he slipped inside. "Sounded like a herd of cats of cats up here."

"Sorry daddy," both said perfectly in sync.

"Let me guess?" he smiled, "Still too jacked up on birthday cake and ice cream." When they both nodded with guilty faces the farmer sighed and eased down on the edge of the bed they shared. With one hand still lingering behind his back, he slowly pulled it around to unveil two small boxes tied together with a ribbon. "Well, then I guess you still got enough energy for one more present."

The girls perked up as he handed each of them a box. Pulling the ribbon and lifting the velvet lift revealed something small and precious on the inside. Aether held hers up to the lamp light that seemed to be unstable, its bulb dimming and flickering frequently. Her sister soon did the same with her gift. Two small lockets hung from a glimmering chain; a small dandelion with their names engraved in the metal. "Look Temperance," Aether said to her sister, "They are twins."

"Just like my beautiful daughters, absolutely identical..." He smiled and reached between them. Taking the charms, he pulled them together. Like magic the two necklaces sensed and found the other, closing the space and coming together with a snap. Forming a new necklace in itself, like two perfect puzzle pieces. "...and with an unbreakable bond when they're together."

It was the perfect gift, and the perfect way to end the day. The lamp light dimmed again and this time their father reached over and wiggled the plug and softly tapping on the glass shade. "I'll have to change that bulb out in the morning."

"Charlie!" The frantic voice of their mother alerted them. 

Reassuring the girls with a kiss on the forehead he bid them goodnight and rushed out of the room. Unlike her sister who was already yawning, Aether rested on her pillow uneasy. Her eyes kept drifting up to the window above them. It was hard to see between the lavender shades, but she kept getting this bad feeling. "Temp," she small voice squeaked, gripping her necklace she rubbed over the engraving with her thumb. "I think there's a monster outside."

Before she could say anything else the sudden swing of the bedroom door crashing into the wall scared them both. Their father came barreling back into the room. "Girls! Come on we gotta go downstairs."

"What's wrong-"

"No time we gotta go now!" He cut them off and scooped Aether up in his arms while grabbing Temperance by the wrist who was already on the verge of freaking out. "It's okay honey, I got you! Just stay with daddy."

Holding on to both of his girls, they rushed through the house. There was a shift of energy when they reached the bottom of the steps. lightning flashed brightly through the windows, the lights flickered, Aether could hear the weatherman's voice cut out over the TV. Pulling them into the bathroom he released them and guided them over to the corner. "Into to the tub darlings. It will keep you safe okay."

There was a small blanket already inside, although it did nothing to stop the cool porcelain from reaching her skin, Aether and her sister did as they were instructed and climbed into the deep claw footed tub. The chaos outside grew more intense, only scaring the girls more. "What is that!" Temperance screamed.

"It's just the wind sweetheart; I need you to lay in the tub."

"Why is it so mad?" Aether added, joining her sister.

"I don't know honey, just stay down." Their father threw a heavier blanket over the girls. "Becca!" he called out but received no answer. "I have to go get your mother, whatever you girls do stay in the tub and stay down."

This was the last thing the wanted, Temperance cried as her father pulled away from her hand and rushed from the bathroom. The lights went out and Aether pulled her sister back under the blankets. Screaming they held each other as the wind grew more angry, more violent...until the monster Aether saw from her bedroom window finally broke through their home. 

☆A Note from the Writer ☆

Thank you all for reading my first chapter, I know it's a little short, but it's really meant to be like a prologue if anything. This is my first story to be written since I suffered a severe concussion (among other things) so please bear with me on this. 

Been a huge fan of the original twister film and love the long-waited sort of sequel "Twisters" which I have watched over 6 times for the plot *coughs* Glen Powell. Finally, I decided to write my own storm chasing tale. I hope you enjoy it and have new reason for us to fangirl together.

Until my next chapter!