observed. The sudden tension kept everyone silent so Kaeleigh interjected with her most immediate question. “Hunter,” she asked, breaking his study of Daegan, “what is this prophecy? She didn’t have time to go into more detail than to mention it. She said to ask you about it. I don’t understand how it’s possible I could have anything to do with it.”
Hunter’s expression shut down. She wasn’t sure he was going to answer her, because a few minutes of awkward silence had passed before he took a deep breath. “Forgive me, Kaeleighnna. I am not sure how to express my surprise. I always knew you were special from the moment I saw you for the first time as a baby, but I was not as positive about your association as your mother or your father was.” He paused, beginning to pace again as he seemed to be recalling the prophecy to memory. “It is an ancient prophecy. A foretelling of one to save Alandria in its greatest time of need. If memory serves, it went like this.” He closed his eyes and began to recite:
In the time of the lull and transition after a great battle, when Alandria sheds tears for the fallen crowns, that darkness will cloud the skies, the moons will grow weary, and the time of color and life will begin to gray by the hands of those taking their place by force, that new power will come of age out of the hidden places and the land outcast. An heir from the mountains and the ancient oaks will be born and reborn to bring the color and to unite Alandria, but should the power be squelched by the darkness, hope will fade, the mountains will collapse, and all that is hidden will be lost.
Everyone was stunned into silence or deep in thought. Kaeleigh opened her mouth to say something, but then it snapped shut. She was at a loss for words. Hunter, eyes now open, stared at her, trying to make the connection between her and the prophecy. Actually, when Kaeleigh looked at each of the individuals with her she realized they were all watching her. Waiting, hoping for her to say something. Daegan didn’t seem surprised at the specifics of the prophecy as his eyes bored into hers watching her reaction to it. It did look like he wanted to say something about it, but then chose not to.
“There’s no way that is me!” Kaeleigh stumbled out, not truly feeling the truth in what she said as she said it. Her heart began to speed up. There was no way she could be what their prophecy foretold, who they were hoping for. Panic threatened to explode her heart, the air in the room quickly evaporating, and she clutched at the neck of her shirt, even loose as it was, as if it was suffocating her. Everyone was staring at her. Concern lined their faces. Their faces... beginning to blur. The room... too small. Clumsily rising from her chair, she took quick steps backwards, not watching where she was going, and bumped into a table, sending the unlit candles on it crashing to the floor. Clearly unaware of her surroundings, she tried to pick everything up, but only seemed to become more clumsy as she went. Even in the foggy state of her mind, she could tell that Hunter was trying to talk to her. Daegan stood unmoving, yet focusing sharply with a burning flame rising in his eyes. Chel and Finn were coming toward her saying something, but it sounded muffled to her overcrowded brain and she needed... what? What did she need? Out! She needed space. She needed air. She had to get out of this house.
Backing herself up against the door, she blurted, all the while gasping for breath, “Can’t breathe. Need air... to be alone.” With that she flung the door open and ran from the house, ran from the unlikely possibility this could have anything at all to do with her, ran from the sudden expectations that were dropped upon her, ran for all she was worth toward the woods surrounding the house.
After several minutes of running, Kaeleigh slowed to a walk, trying to catch her breath. She was surprised how fast she had gone and
Hunter’s expression shut down. She wasn’t sure he was going to answer her, because a few minutes of awkward silence had passed before he took a deep breath. “Forgive me, Kaeleighnna. I am not sure how to express my surprise. I always knew you were special from the moment I saw you for the first time as a baby, but I was not as positive about your association as your mother or your father was.” He paused, beginning to pace again as he seemed to be recalling the prophecy to memory. “It is an ancient prophecy. A foretelling of one to save Alandria in its greatest time of need. If memory serves, it went like this.” He closed his eyes and began to recite:
In the time of the lull and transition after a great battle, when Alandria sheds tears for the fallen crowns, that darkness will cloud the skies, the moons will grow weary, and the time of color and life will begin to gray by the hands of those taking their place by force, that new power will come of age out of the hidden places and the land outcast. An heir from the mountains and the ancient oaks will be born and reborn to bring the color and to unite Alandria, but should the power be squelched by the darkness, hope will fade, the mountains will collapse, and all that is hidden will be lost.
Everyone was stunned into silence or deep in thought. Kaeleigh opened her mouth to say something, but then it snapped shut. She was at a loss for words. Hunter, eyes now open, stared at her, trying to make the connection between her and the prophecy. Actually, when Kaeleigh looked at each of the individuals with her she realized they were all watching her. Waiting, hoping for her to say something. Daegan didn’t seem surprised at the specifics of the prophecy as his eyes bored into hers watching her reaction to it. It did look like he wanted to say something about it, but then chose not to.
“There’s no way that is me!” Kaeleigh stumbled out, not truly feeling the truth in what she said as she said it. Her heart began to speed up. There was no way she could be what their prophecy foretold, who they were hoping for. Panic threatened to explode her heart, the air in the room quickly evaporating, and she clutched at the neck of her shirt, even loose as it was, as if it was suffocating her. Everyone was staring at her. Concern lined their faces. Their faces... beginning to blur. The room... too small. Clumsily rising from her chair, she took quick steps backwards, not watching where she was going, and bumped into a table, sending the unlit candles on it crashing to the floor. Clearly unaware of her surroundings, she tried to pick everything up, but only seemed to become more clumsy as she went. Even in the foggy state of her mind, she could tell that Hunter was trying to talk to her. Daegan stood unmoving, yet focusing sharply with a burning flame rising in his eyes. Chel and Finn were coming toward her saying something, but it sounded muffled to her overcrowded brain and she needed... what? What did she need? Out! She needed space. She needed air. She had to get out of this house.
Backing herself up against the door, she blurted, all the while gasping for breath, “Can’t breathe. Need air... to be alone.” With that she flung the door open and ran from the house, ran from the unlikely possibility this could have anything at all to do with her, ran from the sudden expectations that were dropped upon her, ran for all she was worth toward the woods surrounding the house.
After several minutes of running, Kaeleigh slowed to a walk, trying to catch her breath. She was surprised how fast she had gone and
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