It was raining hard. A terrible storm was blowing through and held nothing back. The rain was coming down so hard that if it hit you it felt like you were getting pelted by stones. Lightening sliced through the sky followed by the mighty roar of its friend, thunder. The temperature dropped to what felt like below freezing. Toes got cold and fingers reddened and swelled.

Luckily, team Core-Tech had found refuge in a small cave. It wasn't much. It was still cold. They couldn't make a fire for all the kindling was wet. So the teens curled up in their sleeping bags as low as they could and made sure to sleep as close together as possible so they could savor each other's body heat.

Even after the others fell asleep Beyal was still awake. The little monkfish was having trouble sleeping. It wasn't the cold mind you. The boy was used to the freezing temperatures of the mountains where he had once resided. No, it was the thunder and lightning that prevented the young monk from drifting off. The things terrified him! The lightening reminded him of a S.T.O.R.M. Monsuno being released from its core. The thunder sounded like the beast's mighty roar as it emerged to tear he and his friends limb from limb. It took everything Beyal had to not scream warning to his friends. He constantly had to remind himself it was just nature, not a savage Monsuno.

As another crash of thunder hit Beyal was left trembling. He was safe. The monk was sandwiched tight between Chase and Dax.

"Nothing's going to happen. We are not in danger. It is just nature…crying," Beyal mumbled to himself while trying to will his body to sleep.

The monk was reduced to tears as lightening brightened the cave again and thunder boomed dangerously. Beyal whimpered softly. Suddenly, he felt movement next to him. An arm lazily flung itself over him. Beyal froze thinking it was enemy, but eased when he realized it was only Dax. The boy must have been having a dream about Jinja or something.

Beyal felt Dax's face nuzzle his neck affectionately. "Are you ok Monkfish? Too cold for you?" The older boy's breath was warm against his neck.

Beyal didn't say a word. That's right, Dax didn't really know or care where he came from. "No," answered the smaller boy. "I used to live in the mountains. It's colder there than-," Beyal was cut off by more thunder. He tensed reflexively.

Dax chuckled half-heartedly. "Bothered by a little thunder little Monkfish?"

Beyal nodded. "Lightning too…It's…terrifying."

"Don't be afraid monk kid," Dax tightened his arm around Beyal. "I've got you. Nothing's going to hurt you."

"Thank you Dax," muttered Beyal as he finally fell asleep safely curled into Dax.

And boy did it cause a commotion in the morning!