by J Sevil
Chapter 7 - Vanquar the Great
The clouds Vanquar used to get to Australia were long and black, the fastest kind. He travelled the lightning in good time and arrived in hours. He was lucky, there were thunderstorms raining on the city at the time. He landed onto the footpath in the street that Lauren and Coco lived with a flash of lightning. Vanquar wasted no time and set off at a run to Lauren’s house. His large left foot made his run look more like a half hop half step. He ran so fast his blue hat kept slipping down onto his face, making him push it up every few strides. He jumped the fence and hid in the bushes as the rain began to fall steadily.
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Lauren’s dad closed the window shutters as the thunder and lightning were unnerving.
“Let’s all read together,” Lauren said happily. Lauren jumped into her bed, Coco dropped to the floor at the foot of her bed while her Mom and dad sat in chairs next to her. They all took turns reading pages from the same book while the thunder shook the windows and the rain hammered the roof.
“It’s the last chapter,” her Dad said and they each took turns reading a page. Lauren’s eyes widened at each exciting part in the story and she giggled when the hero did something funny. She took her turn reading, though she enjoyed it more when someone read to her. Coco could understand the stories, too now and kept an ear up whilst pretending to sleep.
Finally the chapter was done and Lauren kissed her Mom and Dad good night.
“I love you guys,” she said and curled up in bed as the light went out. “I love you, too,” she said to Coco.
“I know,” sniggered Coco who covered his mouth and looked around.
Lauren and Coco could not sleep. Coco had jumped up onto Lauren’s bed and was snuggled up close to her face. They whispered to each other as the storm seemed to get worse.
“Could there be any leprechauns in this storm” asked Coco. Lauren shrugged.
“It’s possible, but maybe all that thunder will scare them off,” Lauren answered and Coco nodded. “But I doubt it. Coco,” Lauren took a deep breath and sighed. “They are going to keep coming.” Coco looked up at Lauren with his big eyes. Coco rolled onto his side.
“What happens if they start sending more than one at a time. What if they send an army?” Thunder rattled the window as if to send a warning.
“Then we fight an army,” Lauren said defiantly. “They have weaknesses, we have beaten them all so far.” A gust of wind lashed rain against the window.
“I love that I can talk, but isn’t this getting dangerous for us and for your parents?”
Lauren shrugged again. “We could run away for a while? That would keep Mom and Dad out of it.”
“But,” Coco protested. “I like it here. And I get great food.”
Lauren laughed. “I like it here, too. We could hide?”
Coco closed his eyes.
“Is it worth it?” he sighed. Lauren was about to respond again but then stopped when a balst of thunder rattled her window. Was she starting to think the same?