Descended by Debra Miller

a bird. He implored the council to see what he did and said with conviction, “Will, you see, is not entirely free.” Camulus tried to explain the council’s position on Reese by saying that Carter, like all men, is bound by the limits of his nature and that he does not have freedom to be anything he is not. “But Carter does not know who he is or more importantly what his nature is,” Camulus stated to the council.  “It is our obligation to shed light on the boy so that he can exercise his own free will and choose his destiny with clarity and absolution.” He said, “Every being has that right and every soul deserves that chance!” Camulus ended on that note. Reese did not agree with them and soon after the decision was made to go seek Carter, he left the gates. No one knew where he was, not even his close friend Gabriel, who was determined to find him.
    “I better get going,” Gabriel said.
    “Yes”, Camulus replied. “I wouldn’t want Violet taking another step up her mountain without you there to catch her if she falls,” he stated.  He still doubted Violet even though he said he would reserve his unjust judgments. Gabriel said nothing. He simply gave him a look, the look that showed his utter discontent for his constant pummeling of his dear friend Violet. He left the room and headed down the hall, slightly distracted and still annoyed by Camulus ’ comments about Violet. Gabriel was not paying any attention to the door that was about to burst open right into him.
    “Hey…watch it!” Gabriel shouted at the person as he rubbed his arm that had been thrashed by the door.
    “Oh, I’m so sorry,” Fallon called out when she realized she had hit someone. The two looked at each other and their expressions suddenly changed.
    “Oh, it’s just you,” she said quickly, trying to retract her apology.
    “Fallon, how long do you plan on remaining angry with me?” Gabriel asked her.
    “ Till eternity and beyond!” she exclaimed indignantly.
    “I see,” he said, knowing it was useless to plead his case yet again.
    “Ok then.  I guess I will talk to you whenever that is,” he said brazenly.
    She slammed the door and grabbed his already aching arm.  “Why Gabriel? Just tell me why?” Fallon’s eyes were filled with so much displeasure it was scary.
    “You know why,” he said pulling his arm out of her tightly squeezed grasp.
    “No, what I know is that she has you not thinking clearly!” Fallon said glaring at him with her light green, untrusting eyes.
    “Violet has every right to be there!” He raised his voice to show his confidence in her.
    “No she doesn’t!” Fallon hollered back. “I belong there, not her,” she said angrily.
    “Fallon, I know you want to be part of this mission, but there will be plenty more missions for us and you will ..”
    “Stop! Just stop with your obvious and insulting consoling words. I don’t want or need to hear them from you right now!” she warned him.
    “Fallon, I just wish you would understand that I selected the Guardian I believed would be most helpful for this particular mission,” Gabriel said, trying again to plead his case.
    “Violet is NOT a Guardian and you know it!” Fallon’s face began to turn red with fury.
    “She is a Guardian sworn in and trained just like the rest of us.”  He continued to defend Violet’s honor.
    “No, we were all chosen to be here and she just showed up out of nowhere with all of her misguided fantasies about ‘her destiny’ and blah blah blah !” Fallon was almost mocking her now and that infuriated Gabriel.
    “You know what Fallon?” Gabriel said as he moved closer to her. He was standing inches from her nose and he could feel her hot breath on his face like a fire breathing dragon.
    “What?” Fallon responded, wondering what he was going to say in the quite intense moment they were sharing.
    “There is something about you that I’ve never quite noticed before?” he said tilting his head and