Catrina had always hated thunderstorms.

Catrina winced and clutched Luna closer to her chest as thunder roared overhead. The young woman, so fearless and confident normally, had always feared storms. As a little girl she used to slip into bed with her parents but with her father’s exile and her mother leaving them in the aftermath—she had already been fed up with Robert’s scheming—she had started to see her little brother as the only person she could depend on and go to for comfort. The siblings spent nearly every stormy night together. And unlike his sister, Alan slept even more soundly during thunderstorms—maybe because Catrina lay in his arms.

It was silly of her to still fear storms at her age, she knew perfectly well she was safe. But the time spent in her brother’s embrace was worth being made fun of by him occasionally. Whether she really feared the storms still or if she had just kept up pretences to be soothed by Alan, she could not even tell herself—and she did not care.

Alan scooted closer to his sister and lay an arm around her back, hugging her gently, so Luna would not be squeezed between them.
‘You going to be ok, Cat? You are safe in here,’ he tried to calm her.

She smiled gently at him, glad for his concern.
‘I am fine, thanks to you. What about you, Luna?’ she asked, looking down at the grey striped cat.

Luna may have been loath to get wet but had no problems with storms—if she was safely inside. She mewed to answer her mistress.

‘She’s a brave cat, sis. A little thunder won’t faze her like the big Cat,’ Alan could not stifle a laughter at his own joke.

Catrina jabbed her brother in the ribs with her elbow.
‘Ha—Ha. Yes, your big sister is still scared of thunder. Laugh all you want. Just keep holding me, would you? Both of you,’ she said.

Alan did as commanded and laid his head on hers while reaching his free hand to caress her knee.
‘There, there, big sis. You’re in safe hands—and paws—with us,’ he soothed her. And Luna mewed her approval, snuggling closer to Catrina’s chest.

Alan had always wondered about Luna’s uncanny ability to read his sister’s mood and intent. If he did not know better, he’d think the cat was just as intelligent as a human.

A flash and thunder cracked again overhead, once again making Catrina wince in her companions’ embrace.
‘Hells, Cat, today is pretty bad, huh?’ he asked.

Catrina answered with a faint smile on her lips.
‘I guess it’s more than just the storm—you going away, me having to stay here without you—in some ways I dread what our future may hold in store,’ she sighed.

Alan shared the sentiment, of course.
‘Change is always scary. But there’s always new opportunity there as well, right? You’ll see, I’ll be back in no time at all and the next visit we’ll go together,’ he assured her.

‘Can you do me a favour while you’re there, Alan? Please, give our family my regards—especially Adella, I miss her still,’ she asked.

Alan could only agree.
‘That goes without saying, Cat. I’m sure they’ll ask me all sorts of questions about you. Ahm—how truthful do you want me to be about that?’ he wondered.

Catrina giggled at Alan being once again embarrassed at her bedside manner.
‘I have nothing to hide, Al. You can tell them as much or as little as you are comfortable with,’ she informed him.

‘Even about us?’ Alan asked with apprehension.

Catrina broke his embrace to look directly at him and read his face. She was confused at his question. What was so strange about them that he could not tell their cousins?
‘What do you mean? We’ve nothing to keep secret from them,’ she said, an eye brow raised in curiosity.

‘I mean, I suspect they are not as close-knit as the two of us. Look, we still do most things young siblings do but stop when they reach puberty, right? We sleep together in the same bed sometimes, take baths together, go nude swimming at the lake. I fear they would find it strange at best and scandalous at worst,’ Alan sighed.

‘Well, if they are not as close it’s their loss. If we can’t be comfortable around each other, who can we be comfortable with? It’s only natural in our situation. I know that when we share a bath or see each other in the nude at the lake, that you do not look at me like some piece of flesh to be ogled. And I do not look at you that way. It’s not like we’re committing a sin by our intimacy. And I never understood why people make such a fuss about seeing bare skin anyway. I’m not ashamed of my body—it’s natural and beautiful. So is yours, by the way,’ she said with confidence.

What Alan had done in his past life to deserve her, he did not know.
‘You make it sound so self-evident, that things should be just like that. I’m afraid most of society does not agree, however.’

‘Well, fuck society then! I don’t care what others think, I’d not trade what we have for anything in the world,’ she said with fire in her voice, ‘and frankly it wounds me that you are ashamed of it.’

Alan had not even considered what his fear of being perceived as abnormal by others and tendency for secrecy about their relationship implied to Catrina.
‘I am sorry. I concentrate too much on what others think of me when I should not. You are right, Cat. I should not—no, must not be ashamed. I ought to be glad we are so close. And if someone asks I’ll not conceal it—they can make up their own mind about it,’ he conceded.

Catrina’s eyes lit up at his words. Acceptance was the first step to more, right?
‘Your words are honey for my soul, little brother.’

In their musings, they had completely forgotten about the storm raging outside.

‘I better head to bed, Cat. Tomorrow will be an early start. Are you coming?’ Alan asked expectantly and got up from their seat.

‘In a bit, Alan. I need to change first,’ she stopped him.

Now it was Alan’s turn to tease Catrina for once.
‘Can I watch?’ he asked, a sheepish grin on his lips.

‘No, you’re going to go to your room and wait for me like a good boy. I’m your older sister, you need to heed me,’ she commanded him.

He was still feeling playful.
‘But what about your speech about nature and beauty?’ he joked.

‘Out! And don’t let me catch you peeking either!’ she yelled at him in a bemused tone while pointing at the door.

He held up his hands in surrender. He bowed to her before leaving the chamber.
‘Your will is my command, Catrina.’