The Calm Before...

Summer was melting into autumn. The leaves on the trees had changed color, but had not yet fallen. Weather was cooling down with still a hint of summer lingering in the air reminding you it had not left quite yet. Beyond the trees the tranquil water of the creek told a story underneath. Two heads abruptly erupted to the surface. Their bodies intertwined in an embrace as their lips gently glided together. As they pulled away he brushed the silver hair off of her face. She stared deeply into his soft brown eyes before whispering, "I love you Allan of earth." He flashed the special smile that only belonged to her, "I love you too Sarah of water." "Then marry me. Let's marry right now before it all happens and we lose the only chance we may ever have." Allan shook his head, "There is nothing I have wanted more in my entire lifetime, but I won't marry you." He bit his lip before continuing, "Not until we have survived it all and we will survive." Clearly frustrated Sarah began to swim away from him back towards the land. Without hesitation he followed her. Since the children had left the two of them had had plenty of time to focus their energies on rekindling the romance they had once left behind. Swimming lessons, gardening side by side, quiet nights in front of the fire, and Sarah had even managed to muster the courage to climb a small tree. Ending each day wrapped in each other's arms with the joy of waking up next to one another each morning. They had been virtually inseparable until this moment when Sarah had been hurt by Allan's rejection. On land she grabbed one of the towels to begin drying herself off. Instead of reaching for the other towel Allan wrapped his arms around her from behind. She fell into him feeling calmness sweep through her entire body. They held each other in silence while tears slipped down her cheek. They had lived in a world of ignorant bliss for nearly an entire year, but now with less than a month to go until the boys turned twenty-one it had all become too loud to ignore. It was heading their way whether they were ready for it or not. The worst part was all the uncertainty surrounding them. What was coming? How would they fight it? Would any of them make it through? As if reading her thoughts he said, "I just want to enjoy this time with you. Let us not make hasty decisions based on fears. If a month from now you still wish to marry me then I will make sure you have the most beautiful wedding of your dreams. For you Sarah I would give the world to and there is no doubt in my mind after everything happens there will still be plenty of a world to give." She turned to face him, "I was such a fool to ever walk away from you." "All that matters is that we are together now. Things have a way of happening just as they were meant to." With his thumb he tipped her face up to his, then lowered his lips down towards hers. ***** Feeling as if she were an entire world away Calla was nestled on one of the highest branches of her oak tree. Her back leaned against the trunk with her right leg stretched out along the branch while her left leg dangled carelessly. She played with the end of her braided hair wishing she could keep this moment forever with it's beautiful simplicity. Her brown eyes stared longingly at her grandpa playing in the water with Sarah. Their story was not yet over, in fact it had found an entirely new beginning. Despite that watching them was bitter sweet for two reasons: it had taken them forever to get back to where they had once left off as young lovers, so much time wasted when time was the most valuable thing they all had. Secondly Calla wondered if Adam and her would ever be able to enjoy old age together. Would any of them find their happily ever after? Since she had returned home with Layla and the boys, Calla had chosen to spend the majority of her time with the oak tree that opened her eyes to a world she could have never imagined for herself. Her theory was that hearing those words all over again as an older and somewhat wiser person would shed some fresh perspective on it all. Perhaps there was some detail she had previously missed, maybe after everything that had happened over the years she could understand everything just a bit better than when she was that five year old little girl. The only difference as far as she could tell was that the story had unfolded past the birth of the boys up until more recent times. Frustration reigned in every part of her as she was presented with information she not only knew, but for the most part had experienced first hand. There had to be some reason the tree had chosen her besides the obvious link to her grandfather, the boy from the generation who had come so close to offsetting the prophecy before the one who actually had. Adam and Evan were the prophecy in the flesh, Layla was their guide, but what role did Calla play if any at all? Her mind flashed back to Layla's ugly words about Calla being some insignificant sidekick in the prophecy. She now knew Layla hadn't fully meant what she said, yet it rang some truth to it. Even if one could argue the fact that because Calla was born of earth it helped to ensure that all four elements worked together, Calla could argue that it could have been anyone born of earth. Why her? What made her so special? What could she do that someone else couldn't? A gentle breeze blew through the branches tickling Calla's bare skin. As high up as she was there was no fear within her for the possible fall to the solid earth below. Her kinship with this tree had created a trust that ran as deep as it's roots. Although all those born of earth have a particular connection with nature, Calla had the rare gift of communication with trees. It was with this oak tree especially that she felt she could know herself best. Suddenly she stopped playing with her hair, swung her right leg to the side, and grabbed the branch she was sitting on with both hands. Her grip was so tight her knuckles were white. Her eyes widened with surprise. This tree. Her connection. The communication. Her focus had been on the messages she received from the tree while she failed to realize she could send messages right back. Calla could only hope that what she needed to say would get to the right person and within the short amount of time they had left. She swung both legs around, placed her left hand gently on the trunk of the oak tree and began to speak, "You do not know me, but I know you. You are the only one that can help us." ******** Walking down the Main street in Nyack Layla and Evan enjoyed their ice cream cones on this unusually warm autumn night. Unfortunately they had discovered most stores close early on week nights, a concept neither of them could comprehend, but then again it made for a quiet night with not many people around. For a moment it was easy to forget what was barreling towards them, they could claim temporary amnesia in an effort to enjoy this beautiful night just the two of them. Evan smirked, "You know the way you're licking that cone makes it very hard for me to keep things PG between us." Layla rolled her eyes, "Is everything about sex with you?" With his free hand he grabbed hers, their fingers interlacing, and he replied, "Not everything. You look beautiful tonight." "You don't have to sweet talk me, I'm already sleeping with you." "Now whose making it all about sex?" he teased. They made their way through the park and sat side by side on some vacant swings. It was as if they were the only two people that existed in the world as the quiet of night surrounded them. There were certain people that could have entire conversations without saying a single word. Layla and Evan were not those kinds of people. Their conversations were aggressive, hostile, and combative not unlike a sword fight to the death. In this evening alone they had argued if ice cream was a valid form of dinner, the Palisades super mall verses the family friendly Nanuet Mall, if people should curb their dogs, the legalization of marijuana, and right now the continuation of training. Layla's lips pursed, "The training is done because I say it's done." Evan gave Layla a hale Hitler salute, "I didn't realize militant dictators gave up right before the big battle. Maybe you've just run out of steam and have nothing left to give." Layla stood up with her fists by her side, "You're not the only one on the front line here. This whole thing is bigger than you and me." Evan stood up to literally go toe to toe with her just as they had done so many times before, "Are you saying there are things you know that you aren't telling us? Do you think it's smart to keep us in the dark?" "Oh that's sweet coming from you Mr. has a deep connection to mommy every night but let me keep it on the downlow to protect everyone's fragile feelings. For such a smart guy you really are a complete moron." "You think I wanted those dreams? They haunted me, made me ill." Evan sat back down on the swing looking completely deflated. It wasn't like him to ever back down from an argument, but Layla had hit his weak spot. She knelt down in front of him. With a gentleness in her voice, "Hey if we had known we could have helped block her. You can control the connection. There are ways, that is why Sarah didn't know your father was still alive all these years despite her efforts to reach out to him. That is also why my father knew I was safe after I left home because I allowed him to sense me." Evan looked into her eyes, "You know ever since that day I nearly killed you I have felt you with me always. It's as if you were a part of me I just couldn't shake and that's how I found you in the Hudson when you tried to..." Layla cut him off, "When I nearly made the biggest mistake of my life. Something I could never do again because now you're a part of me", she patted the tattoo above her heart, "You all are. That's why I'm in this with you on the front line until the very end." *************** This plan came into motion along his travels with the rest of them although the details stayed deep within him. For the last couple of weeks he threw himself into a deep meditation in an effort to form that connection deep within himself. Since the crossover had happened Adam had focused his energies n trying to understand his once dormant fire self. It wasn't lost on Adam that he had grown up with the fortune of a water mentor in his grandma and now a fire mentor in Evan, when Evan had never had anyone to show him the way. Sometimes it was all too easy to take for granted that all along someone had always been there to guide him. Yet some roads he knew he must walk alone. They were all sitting around a large bonfire drinking beers, laughing, and living without a care in the world. As if his presence was sensed all eyes turned towards him at his unexpected arrival. It was clear from their vacant expressions that none of them had the faintest idea who he was, but that didn't matter because he wasn't there for them. With a fierce determination that had taken practically a lifetime to build he made his way right to the person he had come for. It only took an instant for recognition to register on her face. Her lips curved into a devious smile while her eyes glittered like that of a wolf sizing up it's prey. Adam was direct and to the point, "We need to talk." The man sitting next to her stood up, "Who the hell are you?" She stood up alongside her companion placing her arm across his chest, "Now that's no way to treat a welcomed guest. I'll make sure everyone makes you feel right at home. Someone grab him a beer." Adam shook his head, "I'm not twenty one yet and you out of all people should know that. Mom."