Winter Storm

Insana Ma La Nihaya’s office was a flurry of activity up in Al-Bidaya one winter. He was trying to stop a massive storm from blanketing all of Wahid.

Unfortunately, without much success.

Zadie was worried about Jamila, a donkey who was visiting her friends Tanine, the dragon and their companion Saida Houb who were hibernating in their cave high above a valley on the planet of Wahid.

It was nearing the end of winter and Zadie was sure that their fuel would run out before the storm could pass and the snow melt. Since Jamila was a donkey, she didn’t hibernate and she wasn’t accustomed to the harsh winters.

Umm and Houb joined Zadie and Insana in trying to find a solution to saving the planet and Zadie’s friends.

Their best plan was to release a potion into the storm to hopefully shrink it enough to save Wahid.

Umm and Zadie prepared a potion to place inside the storm. Only Zadie or Houb could fly to Wahid. It was Houb who volunteered first. He increased his size to make the journey as quickly possible before grasping the large pouch containing the potion in his massive owl beak.

The breeze from his wings as he took flight sent everyone and everything flying. The gods sent their prayers with him as he approached the storm.

Houb’s enormous white wings flapped vigorously just to hold him near the storm. As he flew above it, his beak cut open the bag, releasing the potion into it. He quickly veered away and headed back to Al-Bidaya.

When he returned, he shrunk to his normal size and collapsed on the office floor. He managed to ask weakly if his efforts were successful. Insana checked the incoming data but he shook his head. Their efforts had been in vain.

Only Zadie could save Wahid now and time was running out.

Insana looked into the mists of time to see what the not so distant future held for the inhabitants of Wahid. They watched helplessly as the creatures and humans of Wahid suffered greatly at the hands of the storm and its aftermath.

Since Zadie and Houb were shapeshifters, they felt things more deeply and profoundly. It made them more compassionate but also more volatile. Before Umm and Insana could turn to calm Zadie, she was gone.

She grew in size as she flew to Wahid and through the storm. She wasn’t thinking, just reacting to the pain she felt inside of her. She was about to put her talons in the valley when she realized just how large she had become. Her jet black wings extended from one corner of Wahid to the other.

She stayed there above Wahid, lightly flapping her wings to stay aloft. The storm beat her back mercilessly as she struggled to hold on just a bit longer.

That is when her vision changed. She could see inside the homes of the residents, sleeping peacefully. She saw Tanine with their blue and green scales flickering in the light from the fire.

Saida Houb was moving her paws as if she were dreaming of running through the valley come spring.

Seeing everyone so happy and safe, warmed Zadie’s very soul. It looked as though her body had become the sun. The dark, winter sky appeared as if it were a typical summer’s day. The burden of the snow and storm on Zadie’s back melted away.

Tanine, Saida Houb, Jamila and the others came out to see the light. They waved to Zadie and shouted their love to her.

Wahid still celebrates the day when Zadie saved Wahid. Zadie remembers it slightly differently. It was the love of the people who truly saved Wahid. They warmed her soul and stopped the storm.