They sat on the porch of hanging flowers talking and gazing into the distance. Lightning flashing across the sky. Thunder that struck upon the landscape horizon. High tide rushing against the sand and shore. A deafening roar, as life scurries in all directions from fear. Struck. Descending and lifeless. Against the earth, without a hold or receipt. A bridge to Terabithia. Tears in the clouds of the sky.

"There goes another one", he said pointing as a flash of lightning struck down upon the lake. The night sky was filled with stormy clouds, hiding the spectacles of the sky.

"This is kind of fun.”

"You've never just sat to watch the thunder across a lake?"

"No, but I can see why you like it..."

…

"I'm scared," she said raising her covers through the roaring thunder. "That's okay sweetheart. Thunder and lightning comes and goes. Here, let's make it a game," he said sitting beside her on the bed.

"When we see another flash of lightning, let's count until we hear thunder. For every 5 seconds, the storm is about 1 mile or 1.61 kilometers away."

"How come we see lightning before we hear the thunder?"

"Because light travels faster than sound. The sound has to catch up to the light." As a flash of lightning brightened the room, he pointed and they both started counting together. "1...2...3..."

As the storm calmed, her father left the room and came back holding something in his hands.

"His name is Grizzly. Like a grizzly bear", he said handing her a brown teddy bear. "Now he might look cute and cuddly, but if you're ever scared, he'll protect you from the monsters." He gave her a wink.

He turned on the enchanting night light diffuser by her bedside, a forest of lavender mist, shimmers protruding through the branches of the glass encased cylinder.

"The forest is where he lives to fight off the creatures." Through the dark depths of the wintergreen forests, in the midst of the minty snow, and upon the natural earth.

Bears were the emblem of their kingdom. Wardens of the land. Symbols of courage, strength, and tenacity. Brutes, yet well-mannered. Weapons in coalition with armor, forged from the depths of the Earth. Unbreakable shields imbued, and capes blessed to restore within. A knight fears nothing when he rides alone. Slaying vicious monsters and creatures that may roam the enchanted woods. Even upon wounds, without fear of death. Brave as the bear that prides his crest.

Guardians and protectors. Gentle, and docile.

Yet when provoked, a roar that thundered in the ferocity of beast.

Kingdoms with a symbol of beasts. Protecting villages from the monsters in the woods, and the angels of the night. In a swore to be a guardian. Yet he had a distinct persona, often disregarding the heavy armor and the large shields. A tattered cape and trimmed apparel, scars that ran across body. A rose amongst bears.

"Goodnight Sweetie," he said kissing her on the forehead.

"Don't let the bed bugs bite."