Obligations, Choices, Priorities.

Sarah had always been a planner. From a very early age she knew she wanted to follow the path to become an elder and she worked very hard to ensure this would happen. As an elder her entire life would revolve around the circle. This meant she could not hold down an outside job in the Common world for it would take her away from her responsibilities to her community.

Like most people in the way of the mystics Sarah married young. The union was arranged by her parents. Angus was smart, kind, and an honest young man. Although she wasn't in love with him, she respected him. This was about finding a partner who would support her especially while she was training to become an elder. The life of an elder would involve long hours, lots of travel, and the ability to always put the circle above her own needs and wants. An ideal spouse to an elder would need to be exceptionally patient and understanding. Sarah knew she had found such a match with Angus.

Not all elder's married, in fact most didn't because they saw family as a distraction from their role within the community. A system was put into place a long time ago to make sure those who held the elder position were always provided for as far as food, shelter, and other basic needs. Even if an elder did choose to marry they still received the same accommodations. Because of this the money Angus earned with his outside job was put away in case of a rainy day.

On top of holding down a full time job as a custodian among the Commons, Angus also did the majority of the cooking and housework in an effort to keep Sarah focused on her elder work. After about three years of playing the dutiful husband role he apprehensively approached Sarah about having a child. After all he had done for her, how could she refuse him the one thing he had ever asked of her?

Originally Gavin may have happened because Angus wanted him, but Sarah fell in love from the moment of conception. There was such a strong connection between her and her unborn child. She had no doubt he would be someone very special. The first time she held him she stared deeply into those pale blue eyes much like her own and knew not only was she meant to be an elder, but she was also meant to be a mother.

And for a while they were a happy little family just the three of them. When Gavin was ten years old there was a particularly rough winter, Angus caught a horrible virus. Sarah was away for her Elder duties and by the time she returned he had passed. She was allowed one day of grievance before she was expected to assume her usual responsibilities. Sarah could not begrudge the other elders because this was the life she had chosen.

Although she was not in love with Angus, she did care deeply for him, and the loss of him in her life ran deep. She decided to throw herself even more into her work. It wasn't long before she had the reputation among all the circles of being a very wise and dedicated elder. Her gift of intuition was especially helpful in troubleshooting potential issues before they occurred.

Unfortunately her personal life suffered as Sarah was unable to be the mother Gavin needed and deserved. She tried to bring him along on some of her travels but these trips were so consumed with business that she was hardly allowed any personal time to spend with her son. She cannot blame him for chasing after that girl of fire. Gavin was looking for affection and acceptance from a woman since he would never find it from his mother.

When the twins were born Sarah realized this was the second chance most didn't get. She took all the money saved away from Angus' several years of working to set up a very modest life for her and the boys. This time around she promised to put family first. Once she relocated them all to Valley Cottage she took a part time job at a local day care so she could work and spend time with them. This wasn't so much about money as Angus has left quite a bit behind for her to provide for several years, this was about filling her hours, building a bigger nest egg for her family, and learning to assimilate with the Commons.

And sometimes life has a funny way of bringing you right back to the fork in the road you thought you would never come across again. At first she thought this only applied to motherhood, but then Allan became a significant part of her life and she wondered if it could be for love too.

The Unexpected Healer

When Layla opened her eyes for good Adam sensed it. Unfortunately it was in the middle of the school day, so he was forced to wait out a few more hours before he could see her. He felt like he was about to jump out of his skin the rest of the day as well as the entire bus ride home. How had he not noticed before what a long ride it was from the middle school to his home? And where was Evan? He hadn't seen him in school all day. He could barely concentrate when Calla tried to talk to him on the ride home.

"And then I was thinking of creating a huge earthquake to open up the ground and swallow up all of Nyack." Finally her words caught his attention.

He took her hands in his own. "I am so sorry. It's just, Layla, she's back for good. Finally. It feels like it's been forever. I've missed her. I have so many questions."

She twirled the end of her braid, "I get it. I missed her too. She's been like a sister to me, in a drill sergeant sadistic kind of way." They both laugh.

Hand in hand they run from the bus stop to the village medical center that had been Layla's home ever since the accident. Hopefully soon she could return back to Allan and Calla's house. Both of them stop short when they see Evan leaning against the outside of the building. His emerald eyes look right through them. Something is troubling him yet Adam can't quite sense what it is.

Calla puts her free hand on Evan's arm, "Is everything okay?"

Evan nods. "This was my first time seeing her since everything happened."

"And?" Adam questioned.

Evan smirks, "And she grilled me about if we've been keeping up with our training. She said this is no time to get lazy. It's almost as if nothing has changed."

Adam broke into a wide smile, "Well that's good. Do you think they'll let us see her?" Evan gestures for them to go right in.

"I'm gonna go for a walk. I'll catch up with you guys in a bit."

Adam and Calla walk down the long white corridor to Layla's room. Sarah and Allan are already in the room by her side. They hardly ever leave to begin with unless its for the occasional change of clothes. Evan was right, Layla does seem like her old self. There is still some pinkness on her face and arms where the new skin is healing, but other than that she has that same take no prisoners way about her. She was even arguing with Sarah right where they had left off.

Sarah reasoned, "All I'm saying is that maybe a more relaxed approach to training would be better. A less stressful environment for everyone involved."

Layla grunted, "Are you serious old woman! The fact that Evan was able to do what he did only proves my methods are working. And now that they have hit their second wave you better believe I'm going to kick things up a notch. Rest is for the weak."

Adam approaches the side of her bed, "Evan could have killed you."

She shakes her head, "Like I'd let that happen. Don't let the hospital setting fool you. I just needed a break from you brats, that's all this was. I am good to go again. If the warden's would let me I'd whip you guys right now."

Adam's eyes scan the rest of the room, "Can I have a minute alone with her please?"

Everyone looks confused, Calla looks concerned. Layla scoffs, "Don't worry sweetheart, you can trust me alone with your boyfriend. He's not my type." They all shuffle out of the room.

Calla kisses Adam on the cheek before saying to Layla, "Glad to have you back."

When the door shuts Adam explains all that he found out while she was unconscious. About her family, Cole, and Joey. He wanted her to understand that she could trust him with this information. More importantly he needed her to know she could stop with the tough girl act and just be real with all of them. They are a family and family looks out for one another.

Layla appears annoyed more than anything, "Listen I'm doing just fine on my own and have been ever since I walked away from them. You should stop worrying about me and start focusing on yourself. New romance and new powers? Sounds like you have your hands full to me. As for family, I don't have one any more and I have learned to accept that."

It's true that Calla may not always be around to help him when things get out on control. He would need to learn to stand on his own. He sits down in the chair next to her bed. "I think I know what my weakness is. I rely too much on others."

Layla shakes her head. "That is NOT a weakness. Did anyone tell you how I finally woke up?" Adam shrugs. She continues, "It was Evan. He took his inner water to absorb my pain. Both emotional and physical. He was here for hours. I always knew people of water had the ability to do something like that just not to the capacity that Evan did. He may have almost killed me, but he saved me too."

"I had no idea. That's pretty incredible."

"Yeah, so I guess that makes me and him even...for now at least. It doesn't mean I'm going to be any easier on him in training or any of you for that matter. But maybe you shouldn't be so tough on him." Adam began to argue when Layla held her hand up to silence him,"Don't think I didn't sense the things that were going on around me. You can go now. Write love sonnets and run into Calla's arms through a field of daisies or whatever love sick teenagers do. Clearly not my thing."

Adam gets up and begins to lean in, "Will it hurt if I hug you?"

"Yes, I'll hurt you. Get out of here already, seriously. See you tomorrow when they release me from this prison."

Layla Interupted

She created her first miniature tornado in the living room when she was only three years old. Her two older brothers Cole and Joey were playing with their GI Joes and like most older brothers they refused to let her join in. A one foot tornado scooped up all the toys carrying them behind her as she stomped defiantly back to her bedroom.

This led to a very interesting family discussion at dinner that night. Although his wife knew, Charles had made the decision to keep his past from his children. When he was fourteen years old he had walked away from that life for what he thought would be forever. Obviously he was well aware there was a chance, although very small, that one of his children could inherit his abilities. Charles remained optimistic this wouldn't happen. For several years his dream of living a life free of the mystics had been true until the day his daughter proved him wrong.

Charles didn't hate the circles one bit, in fact he had made many friends on his travels from the various circles, and some of these friendships he still maintained. He just made the choice to no longer practice and live the life of a Common as much as he could. He tried to veer Layla away from it all but she just kept getting pulled towards it.

"Allan I have never heard of a child like this. Instead of going out to play with other children she is off running around trying to learn as much about the elements as possible. She has such a clear understanding of both air and fire at this point. She's only five years old!"

Allan was taking a long walk around Rockland Lake with his dear friend Charles who had come not only to visit, but to seek guidance in what to do with his child. "It sounds to me like you have a prodigy on your hands and the fact that her own element is air only means she will have a strong thirst for knowledge much like someone else I know."

"I didn't want this life for her, for any of my children."

"You ran away from home because you felt a very important decision about your life was being made for you by others instead of you being allowed to make it for yourself. How are you not doing the same thing to Layla that your parents did to you?"

He nodded in agreement. "You're right, as always. But what about my wife and my sons? They are Commons and they don't understand any of this."

"It is your job to help them understand."

Because of Allan's advice Charles began taking Layla on trips to visit some of the mystic friends he had met throughout his life. It was true that she was a prodigy. It didn't take long for her to be around those in a certain element before she understood the principals and forces behind it. Unexpectedly she began sharing her knowledge with them on how to fine tune their crafts. Her reputation spread quickly with requests for her to come visit other villages.

While at home Layla sat with her mom and brothers to tell them about all she was learning. Cole three years older than her had a certain maturity Joey only eleven months older than her did not. While mom and Cole seemed genuinely interested Joey refused to join in. Charles kept saying to just give him time to come around, but he never did.

In elementary school the kids began taunting Layla calling her "freak of nature." No one would play with her at recess, sit with her at lunch, or want to work with her in class. Every day she came home crying to her father who felt helpless. Cole confessed it was Joey who had started everything.He offered to try to smooth things over between the two of them, but their father suggested it was best Cole stay out of it. It didn't stop him from trying to make the peace every time conflict arose between Joey and Layla.

Now that speech parents usually give their children about how bullies are insecure and unhappy people wasn't as easy to give when the bully and the victim were both from the same family. Charles and his wife suspected it was jealousy for all the attention Layla was getting at home. He tried to do more father/son one-on-one things with Joey, but that didn't make things any easier. He knew at the end of the day Layla would need more of him than the other two because of her developing abilities.

Allan approached Charles with an idea about her coming to live with him and mentor some special young children in his village. Allan didn't go into much detail about these children, he only explained they could really benefit from Layla's unconventional approach to things and strong knowledge of all the elements. Charles and his wife agreed this may be best for now until things calmed down with Joey. Perhaps some distance between them would help ease the tensions. Layla was incredibly excited about this opportunity especially since she was only eleven years old. Things like this just didn't happen to kids her age Common or mystical.

Shortly before she was supposed to leave things went from bad to worse. Layla was relaxing in the wooded culdesac right near her home when she heard some kids approaching. Cole's voice was pleading for them to stop.

Joey appeared with a few friends and their baseball bats. There was an evil smile on his face as his black eyes locked with hers, "Don't worry Cole, we just want to knock the wind out of her."

Layla stood up, "What's going on?"

Cole ignored her and tried to grab Joey, "This is a bad idea. If mom and dad knew they'd be furious."

"Like I care about dad, he's a freak just like her. You and mom are just as bad for supporting this crap." Joey began beating his open palm with the bat. The group of kids began walking slowly towards her.

Without her even really trying a heavy wind began to pick up. Layla knew her energy was feeding off of her anxiety at that moment. She also knew if she didn't want anyone to come out of this hurt she needed to be smart about her next moves. Strong gusts of winds pulled the bats from all the boys and threw them far behind her. All but Joey and Cole fled the scene.

Joey kept moving forward despite the wind current fighting against him. "Do you honestly think that I'm afraid of a dumb girl who can do lame things with air? Bring it bitch!"

Layla was sick of him pushing her around. The name calling. The rumors. The taunting on the play ground. It all needed to stop already. His actions were dividing this family apart. Why was it so hard for him to love and accept her as she was? She raised her outstretched arms to her sides creating a tornado big enough to carry one of them very far away just like what she had done to her brothers' toys so many years ago. Methodically it began to move towards Joey, but Layla would have never predicted that Cole would have stepped in the way to protect him. Completely confused and caught off guard she lost control of the tornado. It picked up Cole in one swift motion then slammed him hard against a nearby tree.

What had she done? She never meant to hurt anyone, especially not Cole. Both Joey and her ran to his side as soon as the tornado broke apart. Cole's neck was completely snapped. There was no fixing this, magic or otherwise.

Joey angrily screamed, "It should have been you!"

With tears streaming down her face Layla started running. She went in the opposite direction of her home. There was no plan of where she would go or what she would do, but she knew she would never be able to face her family again.

Second Wave/Crossover: Part 2

Calla and Adam were stuck in the oak tree as flames surrounded them below. She was wrapped in Adam's arms as he kept apologizing over and over into her brown curly hair. She didn't understand how being so close to him gave her this giant sense of comfort when he was the one that caused this disaster in the first place.

Everything had happened so quickly. After Evan ran off Adam began ranting about what a coward his brother was. How it was just like him to start something he couldn't finish, then walk away to leave others cleaning up his mess. Maybe the council was wrong when they decided against the binding.

"And what happens the next time he loses his temper? Which one of us will he hurt? Maybe he'll just torch the whole village and be done with us all. Poor Evan of fire surrounded by those who don't understand him. Everyone needs to stop coddling him already."

"Adam you don't sound like yourself. Is this part of the second wave? Are we supposed to act out of character. This goes against everything I thought I knew."

"Calla you don't know everything just because some tree told you a story. That tree has filled your head with complete crap. This is why you won't ever want to be with me." His hands ball into fists by his sides as the ground begins to warm beneath their feet. Then flames surround them.

"Adam! What are you doing? Please stop." She grabs his hand and they run to the oak tree. Desperately they climb as far as they can go to get away from the fire. The bottom of the tree is now burning. Calla begins to cry and Adam takes her into his arms holding her more tightly than he ever has.

She speaks into his chest. "You can control this. I know you can. You are so strong." She pulls away. "Save us."

"I don't know how to control fire."

"But you do know how to control water. How many times have you put out your brother's fires? This is no different." She puts her hand to his face, looks into those gentle pale blue eyes, and kisses him lightly on the lips. This may be her only chance.

Suddenly it starts raining. They continue kissing in the tree as the fire below dissipates. This is the affection of two young teenagers exploring the transformation from friendship into something more. No passion, no hormones. This is pure and sweet and innocent. Calla feels like she is floating somewhere else so much higher than this tall oak tree.

They pull away from one another to see the fire is completely gone and the rain has stopped. She smiles, "I told you I could do it."

He affectionately plays with her long braid, "Only because you were here with me."

She blushes, "What did you say about me being afraid to be with you?"

Now it's his turn to blush, "Oh, um, that. Well...you know, the prophecy and all. Two elements, end of the world stuff."

"I don't think there's a such thing as a double prophecy Adam. What's done is done. I highly doubt we could cause any more harm."

Sarah, Evan, and Allan come racing up to the tree. Allan shouts, "Are you okay?"

Calla and Adam nod as they let go of one another. They begin to climb done the tree. Aside from some light damage at the bottom, the large oak is still in good shape. She wonders if any of the secrets it held were lost because of the fire. It is true that this is still one of the most valuable tools they may have at their disposal. When they get down to the ground Calla rushes into Allan's arms and Adam into Sarah's.

Evan shakes his head with a grin on his face. "You know if you two just wanted to be alone all you had to do was ask."

"Evan you were right. I was showing off for my new girlfriend."

"Well I am glad some of my sweet skills are finally rubbing off on you."

Sarah and Allan exchange looks. Allan says, "Yet another generation. My granddaughter and your grandson? We should have known."

Second Wave/Crossover

It's is on their thirteenth birthday that children born of the elements will experience their second wave of power.


Calla leads the boys deep into the woods trying desperately but completely failing to hide the smile on her face. Not only is this to celebrate their birthday, but the fact that by a very small margin the council decided against binding the them. The reasoning was that Adam and Evan would be their greatest protection against the eventual attack of the revolutionists. It was decided that they would come for the boys whether they were bound or not. Binding doesn't destroy power, only locks it away. Leaving them defenseless left everyone defenseless. It was clearly the lesser of the two evils. Calla knew her grandfather was the driving force behind this decision.

Adam is holding her hand while Evan trails slightly behind. Although Evan is still not back to his old self, he has slowly become more interactive with others and returned back to school. Calla is glad to have at least part of him back in her life again. As much as he frustrates and infuriates her, she missed their playful banter. If only Layla were here with them, but she is still fighting an uphill battle to get better.

They stand in front of the large oak tree. Calla turns around to face the boys. Her large brown eyes are glowing. "So I asked myself what could I get the boys who have everything?"

Adam smiled at her, "You didn't have to get us anything. Your friendship is enough."

Evan rolled his eyes, "Seriously Adam? What is this Calla, firewood for me or are we making it into a canoe for Adam?"

She shook her head, "I should have known you wouldn't get it. You fail to see the forest despite the trees."

Evan laughed, "You know that metaphor makes no sense since we're in a forest standing in front of a giant tree. Maybe it's you who doesn't quite get it."

Adam interrupts, "It's knowledge. Is this the tree you were telling me about?"

Calla anxiously nods, "I wanted to share it with both of you. This tree knows everything about the prophecy from the very beginning. The problem is that I haven't been able to find out anything more recent, specifically involving the two of you. But I figured if all three of us came then maybe together we could find out more. Maybe that's what the tree was waiting for."

"It's a tree. The only things it's waiting for is to get chopped down and built into something more useful. Calla this has to be one of your dumbest ideas yet. I'm going back home." Evan began to walk away.

Adam shouts, "Don't take your anger with yourself out on her."

Evan whipped around, "What the hell are you talking about?"

Calla tried to intervene. "Guys I didn't mean to cause any trouble. Maybe this was silly of me. We can go do something else."

Adam shook his head, "No, this tree could be very useful to us. Evan's still bitter about what happened with Layla. It was an accident, she'll be okay. Forgive yourself and go visit her already. Stop being some sad version of your former self."

Shock washed all over Evan's face. Adam had never spoken to him this way before and he didn't like it. Who did he think he was? Evan was burdened with horrible secrets about their mother. He chose to keep them to himself to spare Adam's feelings, yet Adam chose to hit him below the belt about what happened with Layla. What was even worse was he did it in front of Calla.

Evan shot back, "I get that this whole new tough act is some pathetic way to impress your new girlfriend, but don't use me as a tool to get into her pants." He knew better than anyone how to play with fire. Bring it on Adam.

"She is not my girlfriend. It's not like that, we're just friends."

"Right I run off into the woods every day and sing songs in trees with girls I have absolutely no feelings for. And don't think all the hand holding has gone unnoticed."

"At least I could get a girl. Imagine you in a relationship. I'm your own brother and I can't even stand you most of the time. But I keep my mouth shut afraid you'll lose your temper and try to torch me. You're just like mom."

Evan's heart broke at those words. He would not let them see him be weak. He stormed off without saying another word. He sprinted all the way home, past grandma and Allan sitting on the front porch, upstairs to his room and slammed the door.

Adam spoke out loud the words to Evan's greatest fears about himself. For the past few months he had felt this hollowness inside him after what he did to Layla. He refused to go visit her because he just couldn't face what he had done. There were times she drove him so crazy he had the impulse to hurt her, but he never thought he would actually do it. Is he a monster just like his mom? Is Evan capable of doing the same horrible things he's seen her do.

A single tear fell down Evan's cheek. Oddly enough he can't remember the last time he cried or if in fact he has ever cried in his life. He needed to just let it all out. All the times he should have cried, but didn't. Feel the pain, be the pain. His mother. His father. Layla. The mean things he said to Calla and Adam.

The room began to shake. Evan braced the post of his bed with his right arm. He left hand gripped the sheets. Water came pouring in from the walls quickly flooding the room. He jumped up on the bed unsure what was happening.

Allan and Sarah burst into the room. Evan pleaded, "Grandma make it stop."

She rushed over to him, "I can't sweetheart. This is all you."

Allan said in a very soothing voice, "Panicking will only make it worse. Find your inner calm. Breath in, breath out. Know that you are completely safe."

Evan shut his eyes while deep breathing. He gently squeezed his grandma's hand. The water slowly began to recede through the walls. When it was completely gone he opened his eyes. "What happened?"

Sarah whispered, "The crossover."

Allan responded, "We need to find Adam. He'll be just as out of control with his fire. Do you know where he is?"

Evan's eyes widened, "By some big tree with Calla."

Night Terrors

It always starts off the same. Evan is walking through a village he has never been to before surrounded by people who look just like him. They radiate the same inner warmth he does. No one notices him as he wanders aimlessly through the crowd in search of her. That is the one consistency with each dream, he is meant to find her. And each night the story progresses. Evan has come to rely on these dreams to learn the full truth about her rather than the diluted versions other people feed him.

Then he spots the girl of fire with the wild strawberry blond hair sitting in a circle of her peers speaking in hushed tones. This time when he steps closer he sees that she is very pregnant. The young man caressing her stomach is not his father. They passionately kiss.

His grandma had once told Evan and Adam the prophecy was about fighting the undeniable pull of love. While Adam bought this version of the story Evan knew better because of his dreams series. The first time he saw his mom with that other guy holding hands and stealing kisses he felt as if someone had punched him hard in the stomach. Although he had grown to expect it now it still stung to see with his own eyes what a duplicitous slut his mom was. No one would ever want to think of their parent like that, especially one they never even got to meet in reality. This is why he chose not to share what he discovered with Adam. Evan saw no reason to cause him hurt too.

She cocks her head back in laughter, "He has no clue! He keeps going on and on about us running away together. Like that would ever happen."

Another girl comments, "Athena you did sleep with him and you are carrying his child."

Athena glares at the girl, "You know why I did that. It was a means to an end. Once I have the kid I'll no longer have any use for him."

His mother's lover grins, "Then you can finally be with a real man."

"That's right baby", Athena kisses him again. "And if he gets in the way of our plans then we'll just get rid of him."

Get rid of him? Evan falls to the ground and buries his face in his hands. His chest tightens, he can barely breath. He wants so desperately to believe that she wouldn't, that she didn't. Somehow his dad still has to be alive. All the horrible things he has learned about her have weighed heavily on his heart, but to murder the man who loves her? Clearly that has to be a line even she wouldn't dare cross.

Athena shouts, "Go now! It's time." Her friends quickly run towards the far corner of the village. She balls her hands into fists by her sides as she begins chanting loudly.

Evan stands up and looks around him. You can't kill those born of fire with fire. They have a natural resistance to it. Evan knows this personally because he tried to hurt himself as punishment several times after what he did to Layla, but couldn't. This doesn't make any sense. Then a mischievous grin spreads across Athena's face as the water comes. How does she have the power of water? Oh no, she is tapping into Adam's abilities. This is why the water never touches her as if there is some sort of force field protecting her. Evan is protected too.

This is the worst part of the entire experience. He is forced to stand there captive within the dream until the dream decides he can go. All around him he sees innocent people drowning. Some are screaming. Others are pleading for their lives. And throughout it all Athena continues to smile at all the pain and death around her. Once she is sure she is the only remaining life within the entire village the water recedes.

Just when he thinks the worst is over everything bursts into flames. He is usnure if this is how all people born of fire pass on or if they no longer have the ability to resist fire now that they are dead. The smell of the burning flesh around him makes him want to vomit. There are elderly, there are young children. Athena didn't discriminate except to save her few friends by providing warning. These were her neighbors, her classmates, her elders. People she had a sworn bond to. If she could kill them, then no one would be off limits. Evan is certain his father must have died at her hands too. This is the most unsettling discovery yet.

Evan freezes as Athena's emerald eyes lock in with his own. She rubs her stomach. "You are just like me."


He wakes up in a cold sweat screaming.

Half Truths

Tears streamed down her face as she ran through the woods. Although everything was blurry she had a clear vision of where she was going. When she reached the tree she looked up at it with hopes of salvation. With each new branch she reached Calla attempted to leave the world of deceit behind her. Nothing seemed real anymore except this moment with her and the large oak that started everything for her.

Her grandfather was the best person she knew. He always had the right words at the right times. It was the warmth of his embrace that made her feel safe when all she could be was a scared little girl. His wisdom helped her make sense of the crazy world they lived in. For her entire life he was the person whose path she most wanted to follow. Now it was as if she didn't even know him.

When she was three years old her parents left on a peace keeping mission. They each kissed her forehead goodbye, said they loved her, and promised to be back very soon. That was her last memory. What her grandfather told her a few days later was that her parents had gotten into a car accident when her father fell asleep at the wheel, drove over a guard rail and into a ravine. They were unable to locate the bodies. What child would question this story especially from such a trusted source?

Calla cradled into her grandfather's lap while he held her as they cried together. That was the positive she took from that tragedy. Her grandfather allowed her to see him be vulnerable just like her. This is where so many grown ups go wrong in thinking they have to be strong 100% of the time. It was the fact that they shared this pain together that helped them both overcome it. And that created a bond Calla was certain nothing could ever break.

That night hours were spent in that tree thinking, analyzing, and dissecting everything that had happened. She wondering if that girl born of water so long ago knew all this horror that would result from her prophecy? All those that have been injured or killed or fallen into the darkness because of one person's need to get even with her small minded sibling. Then again what makes that girl so different from anyone else who has caused devastation to others? Love is definitely the most powerful thing in this world because those with it can do anything they put their heart to and those without it will do anything they put their mind to. In essence it is the root of all good and all evil.

Her rational self understands that regardless of how her parents died it is still the same end result that they are gone. She also understands that Sarah, Evan, and Adam were not the ones who killed her parents. And if she really breaks things down she knows her grandfather was only trying to protect her with this half truth. But she does believe that at some point as she got older and closer to the boys he should have told her the full truth. Calla needs to be angry with him right now, eventually she will get over it, but she's not ready to let go just yet.

Besides what happened to her parents was a long time ago and what's happening to her friends is in the here and now. How could she have been so selfish to run away from them? Sarah much like Calla's grandfather is trying the best she can in very difficult if not impossible circumstance. Layla is fighting for her life while Evan has fallen into complete self deprecation. And then there is Adam the boy with the beautiful blue eyes that makes her heart leap each time he's near her.

Spending each day around Adam was the most thrilling and most exhausting experience. She wanted to run her fingers through his wavy brown hair. She wanted to brush her lips against his. She wanted to tell him that she was afraid she might be falling in love with him. But each time she thought these things her rational earth self reeled her back in reminding her of the many reasons they could never be together. The biggest reason of all was that she was certain he did not feel the same way about her. Despite all this she needed to put her own wants aside to be the best possible friend to him and the others she could be.

This was why the large oak tree had chosen her to tell the prophecy to. Somehow Calla was meant to play a role in saving them.