Feeling any better?

*Sneezes* Not really.

If I catch whatever you have, I'm blaming you.

Makes sense. *coughs*

Day shrugged. "Sorry? We don't control our school."

"And not like we could come to any family reunions, we aren't family, just friends," Raven added.

"From what Exodus says, you're practically family," Day argued. Loudly. Why on earth was she so loud? Her light yellow eyes scanned the house quickly. "Nice decorations!"

"Use your inside shouting voice, Day." Her mother reminded.

I hid a smile behind my hand, managing to get it off my face before Day noticed. In part, because Raven stepped on my foot. Hard.

Middy practically materialized next to me, looking out the window.

That crazy girl moves so quietly, and so quickly, sometimes I wonder if she can teleport.

If you say so. *coughs*

"I don't like the reddish color of those clouds," Middy commented.

I glanced at the window, squinting slightly, trying to see the clouds better. They did have a definite reddish hue, which was odd because it was nowhere near sunset. It was barely midday. "There isn't any reason I know of for that reddish color," I said, frowning. 'Chihre?'

I don't know, sorry. I'll ask around, but there aren't any promises.

'It's alright.'

"Weird. Should we be worried about rain?" Day asked, sticking her face against the window with all the subtly of a bull in a china shop.

"It's a few hours off at least," Eclipse noted. "Based on the wind patterns before we came in here. But I suppose there is always the chance they could arrive sooner."

"Wind isn't exactly known to stay the same," Raven agreed, joining them in looking out a window. "It looks like it's approaching pretty fast,"

"Alright kids, we're going to go upstairs and talk, you kids have fun down here," Raven's mother said, making all of the teen's heads snap towards her in almost creepy sync.

"Alright," Middy agreed. With that, everyone went back to looking out the windows at the approaching storm.

"Do you think it's going to hail?" Day wondered absently.

"Is it cold enough for that?" Exodus asked.

"Not really," Eclipse said.

"But possibly, maybe," Raven added. "It's possible."

I frowned. "It's getting even more reddish as it approaches us."

"We can just see it better," Middy said, tilting her head at the cloud. Day detached herself from the window wandering outside of my vision.

"Why don't we move out onto the porch? We'll be able to see it better, and unless the wind is really bad, we'll stay dry," Exodus offered.

"Makes sense," Middy said. "Someone tell Daylight."

"Where did she go?" Eclipse wondered, glancing around.

"Probably to find some food," Exodus said, moving towards the kitchen.

"Well, I'm going out onto the porch," I said, moving to the door and opening it. I went outside and was immediately assaulted by the smell of blood. Something that I had noticed earlier, but dismissed as it was rather faint, was now almost overwhelming, enough that I staggered backward a few steps, only to run into Raven, who stabilized me. I quickly sat down where I could easily see the storm clouds.

"You okay?" Raven asked, sitting down beside me.

"Yeah, it's just a little overwhelming," I muttered, wrinkling my nose.

"What is?" Eclipse asked, sitting down on the other side of me.

"The smell of blood," Middy replied gravely. "The air reeks of blood."

Eclipse took a deep breath in through her nose. "You're right! It is kinda overwhelming. Smells more like a battlefield than a thunderstorm."

Exodus and Day came out, Exodus holding a bowl of gummy worms, and a bowl of gummy bears. Day was holding a massive bowl of popcorn.

I sighed as the scent of the popcorn contended with the scent of blood, making it less overwhelming. "I thank you for bringing that out," I told Day.

"Um, okay? Jeez, who decided to bleed everywhere?" Day said, wrinkling her nose.

"As far as we know, no one," Raven said, shrugging. "The scent of blood was here when we got out here."

"It's almost overwhelming," Day said, frowning, and plopping down next to her sister. "Alright Exodus, pass the gummy bears."

"Pass the popcorn," Exodus retorted, passing the gummy bear bowl down the line.

I nabbed a handful of the gummy bears, sticking them in the pocket of my sweater, then passed the bowl on. "Maybe the smell of blood is coming from the clouds. It was here when we arrived, but a heck ton fainter."

"Those clouds are approaching really fast," Eclipse noted worriedly.

"It's not that windy," Raven said, stealing a gummy worm from Exodus.

"That is a bit weird," I agreed, grabbing a handful of popcorn as the bowl passed me.

"Sabanthia, you're going to have popcorn crumbs in your sweater pocket for weeks. Why don't you go get some plastic bags we can put the snacks in," Exodus said, swatting Raven's hand when she reached for another gummy worm.

"Hey!" She squaked, going after the gummy worms again. "You can't have them all!"

I snickered at them, then got up and headed inside for some plastic Ziploc bags. I quickly located them, placing my remaining gummy bears and popcorn into one, and stuffing it and the others into my pocket for safekeeping. I noticed three other bowls on the counter and checked them. One had skittles, one had unwrapped smarties, and the third had candy corn. Though, where they got that, is beyond me. I supposed it was getting rather close to Halloween.

I grabbed the bowls, carefully stacking them so I could carry all three, and carried them outside. I handed two of the bowls to the others, keeping the candy corn in my possession. I also passed the plastic bags around. I quickly placed about as much candy corn as was able into my bag, then handed the bowl off. "Jeez, it's moving fast," I said, wrinkling my nose at the blood-red cloud. "And the blood scent has gotten worse."

"It's a bit overpowering for me," Raven said, waving her arms a bit. "And according to Sabanthia, I can't smell a thing!"

I smirked at her. "You can't," I insisted.

"I can smell a little bit," Raven protested.

"A little bit," I agreed.

*Violent coughing*

Oh, Kami, are you okay?

*continues coughing*

Yeah, we're going to at least get you some water. I'm turning this off for a bit.