[PQ] smiling out of fear

Ashe    Ashe looked down to the snowy leopard and gave a sharp nod. "Smaller I can do."    She turned her attention to Remi and took a wavering step back. Jigano called out directions, and nervous, magic energy crackled along her shoulders in bright blue sparks. She rarely dared to shift to anything smaller than the wolf with the raging storm winds, so she took a hold of Remi's arm to wrap behind her back if she could.    "Hold onto me," she said, and a vicious clap of thunder followed. She held his shattered eyes, her heart racing. Don't let the storm take me.    Lightning burst apart overhead, and Ashe shifted. The world exploded in size, and powerful winds knocked into her, threatening to rip the little sapphire hummingbird away. and yet I swear, I love this earth that scars and scalds and burns my feet.