As the storm intensified the the three of them began sensing that feeling of melding that flowed over them at times. They seemed to all take a deep breath together and then the storm was upon them.
"CRACK!" and the bolt shattered the dark, blinding and deafening them. The wind whipped about them as if they were themselves the focus of the storm. They all drew breath again.
"What are you," growled the very air at them, "that you stand before us?!"
And, as if falling from the sky and coalescing before them there were faint echos, "* * *miles to go * * * promises to keep * * *", "* * * forget your underwear, we're free * * *". Then voices gathered, rising and falling, "* * * my unconquerable soul * * *", "* * * rage, rage against the dying of the light * * *". A single voice began to emerge from the cacophany, "I am here, now." and the three understood, perhaps for the first time, that the voice was their's.
"Who ARE you?", screeched the gale. "What business have you here?"
"I am that I am." The voice seemed to grow stronger with each syllable. "I stand, head unbowed, knee unbent, spirit unbounded. I will endure."
The storm roared, and the voice calmly replied, "Keep your temper."
And they heard a bit of a chuckle and again, "'forget your underwear we're free', oh my!"
And silence.....
