Crimson Tears
(part twenty-six)
Kaleb sat up in the loft of the barn. In the past few days it had become his thinking place. Hearing footsteps, he stood up and peered over the railing.
A small smile worked its way onto his face as White Eagle stopped and looked up.
"Ah, there you are, Little Phoenix," White Eagle said, a broad smile crossing his kind face. "I hear some great burdens have been placed upon you."
Kaleb frowned. White Eagle beckoned him to come down. As he stepped off the final rung of the ladder, White Eagle ushered him over to the hay bales set against the wall.
"Come, Little Phoenix. Sit with White Eagle. Tell him your troubles."
Kaleb sighed heavily before speaking. "Dakota's moving and Mom and Dad are sending me to live with him."
"Is that so bad?"
"Well, no. I like all of them. And I'll still be able to see my parents sometimes." He sighed sadly. "But I wanna stay at home."
"Do you know why your parents want you to live with Dakota?" White Eagle asked.
"To protect me from Master Cyclonis."
"Yes. Do you know why?" Kaleb looked up at him. White Eagle smiled at the forlorn boy. "Listen very carefully, Little Phoenix. You are very special. What you are needed to do, no one else can do. It is your destiny."
"My teacher said you forge your own destiny by the choices you make."
"In some ways that is true," White Eagle said. "But you must remember, no matter what roads you choose to take, good or bad, you will always arrive at the destination the Great Spirit has set for you."
xXx
Kaleb says good-bye in the next chapter. (sniff)
Just a quick note: I made a minor change to chapter 15. I just changed Dakota's eye color from green to brown. There's no need to re-read it.