Author's Note: This series is a collection of drabble challenges I issued to the readers of my LiveJournal throughout Spring and Summer of 2007. All stories were written in 15 minutes or less. Sometimes I gave a theme, other times it was a free-for-all request.

Rules applied to the requests, but most notably was that the piece would be written in my own head-canon.

This group was a color challenge: requesters chose a character and suggested a theme.

For Satoasato
Guy, Orange

Embers

He didn't understand what was happening; just that the maids were dragging him into the drawing room. Mary was waiting there. She smiled at him. It was a nervous smile, and not the usual peaceful one she wore.

She picked him up and put him into the fireplace. The orange embers of the fire were still smoldering and the smoke was thick. He protested. "If we're playing seek, I don't want to hide there!"

"We're not playing seek," she said, her voice trembling. "You just need to stay in here. Climb up as high as you can."

"But—"

"No buts. Just do it."

He nodded and reached up to grab onto a carbon-glazed block.

Mary and the maids stood in front of the fireplace. He could see the bottoms of the skirts, but a loud noise from outside caused them jump in fright.

"They're here!" One of the women shouted.

Mary gave an order. "Don't let them touch him!"

He peeked out from the hearth. The door was being beaten on, and it caved with every slam. He jumped out. He had to help them! Mary yelled at him to get back. She screamed at him to hide, her eyes filling with tears.

And, at that moment, he knew that something was very wrong.

Gray Skies

The storm was coming. The blue sky above had suddenly disappeared behind gray, soggy clouds that sought to unleash their fury on the ground below. Everyone had sought shelter from the impeding danger since Keterberg was known for extremely violent storms. But Nephry still hadn't returned.

Fearful that something had happened to the girl, Jade drew on his coat--and despite the objections of the adults at the orphanage--he set out to find his sister. She had a few favorite places to hide, and he knew all of them.

Towards the square he walked, thinking that perhaps she had taken refuge in one of the snowhuts that the traveling merchants often used since they were less expensive than the hotel. Tredging up the hill, he saw her, standing in the center of the square with her arms around someone.

Jade didn't have to guess who it was. The flirtation between his sister and best friend was getting to be annoying. These days, when the three of them would sit and talk, Nephry and Peony would stare at each and give shy little smiles. Sometimes, Jade would get up and leave out of frustration, but he could never really find the energy to be angry at them—just irritated.

He looked on as the two of them kissed in the square, completely oblivious to everything going on around them. The shouts of villagers warning others to take cover were lost on the couple who were focusing their attentions on each other.

Jade approached them and coughed—loudly. "A storm is coming," is all he said.

Slowly they drew back from each other, wearing matching blushes across their cheeks.