Nearly two decades ago the prophecy began, although those most directly involved were completely unaware of it. Two young witches from different circles fell in love. The young girl Athena of Fire would run off into the woods to meet Gavin of Water every day. They would make love in the woods under the stars each night as they made promises to one day fully be together.
There was no animosity amongst the separate elements, they just each had their own philosophies on life. The importance was that they all believed in maintaining the natural order of things by working together. A romance between two different elements wasn't specifically forbidden, it was just something that had never occurred. And because it was something that had never happened no one knew the possible outcomes of such an event.
Those born of fire were known for their impulsiveness, quick tempers, and adventurous spirit. Athena was the perfect example of this. Her wild strawberry blond hair flowed freely like the mane of a lioness. And yet she was drawn so strongly to the tranquil, whimsical, and emotional water child in Gavin. Gavin had the bluest eyes she had ever seen. They balanced one another out in a way their families would never be able to understand. This is why their love was kept secret at least until Athena became pregnant.
Gavin's mother, Sarah, with the gift of fortune was the first to discover what had happened. She was one of the most respected elders in the village of water. She knew this unborn child would harness a power greater than anyone would be able to contain. She desperately tried to explain that a child born of both water and fire could mean destruction for both circles. She struggled between her maternal instincts to protect her grandchild and honoring her allegiance to her circle which would ultimately mean killing this child.
Gavin thought telling Athena everything he had learned would help them come up with a solution together. Unfortunately to every light there is a darkness and Athena slowly gave into her darker side obsessed with the power her unborn child held. As the pregnancy progressed so did Athena's transition into the shadows of her former self. She became paranoid that everyone was after this great power, so she would stop at nothing to make sure it was hers and hers alone.
As soon as word traveled to the water circle of Athena's labor Gavin and Sarah rushed to be by her side. It was when they came upon a village of ashes fear set in that it was too late, but Athena was still alive...the sole survivor. Gavin saw she held two babies in her arms, two boys. His eyes pleaded with the girl he loved for an explanation.
Athena had a twisted smile on her face, "I had to protect the power."
She didn't say babies, she said power and with that Gavin knew he had lost the girl he loved completely. He turned to his mother for guidance, then with a single tear falling down his face the room began to fill with water. Athena was paralyzed by both confusion and lack of strength since she had used too much to destroy her village. Sarah took this opportunity to scoop up the babies in her arms, rush out of the room, and never look back. Without a word exchanged she knew this was what her son wanted her to do. Save the boys, save us all.
FIVE YEARS LATER
To Sarah it was clear from the very beginning that Adam was a child a water. As a baby he could manipulate the water during bath time, a skill most did not learn until many years later. His eyes changed from every hue of blue that existed depending on his mood. He had a gentle spirit, the most calm, giving and generous young boy she had ever known. His brown hair in curls framed his pale face. Although Sarah had only been mother to one child before, she had taken on the maternal role to several back in the village of water. She knew better than most the proper ways to raise a child of this element.
The challenge was Evan with his strawberry blond hair, olive skin, and deep green eyes. He was in every way a child of fire. Evan was the one she could not turn her back on for even a moment without him causing some form of mischief. Although it should be obvious not to leave a child to his own devices when he literally plays with fire. He was bold, adventurous, and curious about everything he came across. Sarah felt at a loss when it came to Evan for she did not know the ways of the fire circle and did not want to cheat him of his heritage.
For as different as the boys were there was one important thing they had in common, both boys were pure of heart. Neither would ever intentionally cause harm to any living creature. And this unspoken bond kept them looking out for one another without Sarah ever having to ask them to. The three of them had become their own mini tribe.
Each night before they went to bed Sarah would tell them stories of the circles of the elements. How Fire, Water, Earth, and Air all worked together to maintain the harmonious balance of the world. No element no more important or powerful than the other and each with their own strengths and weaknesses. She was careful to evade questions, always by Evan, about their parents. Partially because she didn't feel they were ready yet and also because she didn't know all the details as one or both of them may very well still be alive.
The biggest change was moving the boys to a place far away from the world they had come from. This was of course for their safety for if people knew of their existence they may try to destroy them. She brought them to a town called Valley Cottage where they lived in a small house surrounded by woods. It was the element of earth that would both ground and neutralize the boys. It was stressed over and over again that the boys cannot under any circumstances expose their power to anyone else. Sarah knew Adam would listen, Evan was a constant concern but as far as she knew he would try his best to fight against his natural urges to showboat. The people of fire were never known for being subdued.
Sarah was walking the boys to the bus stop at the end of the road for the first day of kindergarten and that was when she first spotted the girl that would change everything. The girl had those recognizable big brown eyes that Sarah hadn't come across in many years. What the little girl did next confirmed Sarah's suspicions. All three of them watched as the brown eyed girl placed her hand gently above a dying flower while chanting some words quietly to herself. The flower came to complete full bloom right in front of them.
This time it was Adam who asked the question, "Grandma is she like us?"
Sarah shook her head, "No sweetheart, she is something else entirely different." For as far as she had taken the boys they had ended up in the midst of an Earth Circle.
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