Firestorm

Our studio’s picture in The Gazette last week, taken at DDD

I’ve seen a firestorm before– the kind that breaks off into tornadoes of flame and barrels down mountains and has people driving across the median in fear.

It’s scary.

And that’s exactly the image Miss Mia required of the dark clouds, Prince of Darkness, Lightning and I yesterday.

We are now solidly engrossed in Act II of The Firebird, in which Firebird is lost, confused and afraid. And one thing is for certain: terror has been the easiest emotion to pull off thus far.

An image for you: Storm clouds are closing in, and lightning is crashing angrily through the blackness. You wander aimlessly through the rain until spotting your home, where you believe you will be safe.

But darkness finds you.

It carries you away until you are so far beyond scared, you either have to submit or fight.

Welcome to Act II, brave dancers.

HEROES OF OLYMPUS SPOILERS, DEAD AHEAD: I can’t help thinking about Annabeth and her underground quest in The Mark of Athena. She pushes, and pushes, and pushes, and when at last Arachne appears, Annabeth is so broken, she figures things can only get better from here. She beats her arch enemy on crutches.

So I ask myself: What would Annabeth do?

And God replies: She would fight.

And I say: I can’t argue with the God of the universe, so I had better bird up and fight.

So far, Firebird hasn’t found the sunlight, but the thing about the sun?– it’s always right there, beyond the clouds.