The Prophecy (The Guardians) - By Wendy Owens Page 0,1

to leave the cause, abandon the Guardians, and come stay with him. He didn’t ask Uri though, because he already knew what his answer would be, of that Gabe was sure. Uri is not one who would ever run away from a fight, unlike myself, Gabe thought.

He was certain that everyone he had known in his old life surely now thought of him as a coward. He had told himself the reason he left was because of Sophie and his broken heart. Now though, after all this time, perhaps the others were right. Maybe the reason he now stayed away was fear. Maybe I am a coward, Gabe could not shake the words from his mind.

Several more minutes passed and still no sign of Uri or Rachel. Gabe suddenly felt an uneasiness wash over him. He knew his fortress of solitude was sound, at least he thought it was until Uri had found him. The scenarios began to run through his head. What if Uri and Rachel were followed? The magical alarms were not triggered, they have to be safe. Of course Uri had managed to not trigger the alarms either.

Gabe couldn’t take it anymore; he had to ensure Uri was alright. He stepped out the front door and glanced around, they were nowhere in sight. Another twinge of panic hit him before he turned and rounded the corner of the cabin.

“Uri…. Uri?” Gabe called out, searching for any sign of his friend. He waited a moment for a response, but heard nothing. Gabe continued on the path to the creek, perhaps they had gone to gather more water.

Concentrating, he pushed the thoughts that they were in danger out of his mind. Dodging through the brush, Gabe picked up the pace. The sooner he found them, the sooner his mind could rest at ease.

He came to a clearing. Moving past the tree line he saw a figure near the stream. After a moment’s hesitation, Gabe realized it was, in fact, Uri. He was not yet used to his friend’s new physique and the image of a broad shouldered, muscular man had unsettled him at first.

Gabe approached Uri, a smile beaming across his face. Remembering how they had left things at the cabin, Gabe quickly tried to explain his attitude. “Hey man, about what I said back there… I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Look at her.” Uri said as if he hadn’t heard a word Gabe said.

“Huh?” Gabe asked puzzled.

“She is always so blissfully happy.” Uri added.

Gabe glanced over to where Uri was directing his attention. There, Rachel stood in the stream, the water tickling her ankles. Her bohemian skirt was pulled up and knotted at her knees, one leg was locked straight and the other bent, the light bounced off the water illuminating her silhouette. Gabe’s eyes travelled up her curvy body. The white tank top clung to her torso, and for the first time, without the baggy sweatshirt to cover her, Gabe noticed her exquisite figure.

Rachel’s arms were out stretched, her chin raised to the sky, a colorful butterfly dancing on her fingertips. Gabe had not noticed how beautiful she was until that moment. Her large, almond shaped brown eyes sparkled in the light and her smile lit up her entire face. The sun traced her petite nose and her full lips glowed with a rosy color. Her dark hair crept down her arched back; the strands looked as though they were dancing in the wind.

Uri noticed Gabe’s sudden enchantment with her. Knocking the wind out of him with a blow to the stomach, Uri laughed saying, “Be sure you pick your jaw up off the ground.”

Gabe shook his head as if coming out of a trance. “What? No, I wasn’t… Sounds to me like you’re the one who has a thing for that girl.”

Uri looked back at Rachel and smiled. “She is special, that is for sure, but she and I are not meant to fall in love.”

“Oh yeah, and how do you know that?” Gabe questioned in a sarcastic tone before steeling another glimpse of Rachel.

“Let’s just say, I know.” Uri replied turning and walking back towards the cabin.

“Oh, that’s right. Now I remember, all the mysterious mumbo jumbo crap they would feed us at Rampart is coming back to me. It’s your life, Uri, how about you live it for yourself.” Gabe huffed as he turned to follow.

“You really have no clue what you’re talking about. It has nothing to do with Rampart. There is no