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"Every last stitch"

I wasn’t shy, but still, it was unnerving to take all las Anyone else wouldn’t have bothered hwith the air blowing through the cavern, I fought not to cross my arms "I’m ready"

His eyes never left las stepped forward "Larkspur of the Redwoods, you are called to battle for those you love Will you answer the call?"

"I will"

"You are called to stand as protector of the forest and all it holds Will you stand firm in the face of all that comes with evil in its heart?"

"I will"

"You are laid bare before the oddess, that she will see your heart and know its truths Let her embrace you, and she will show you the path you will face"

The sand slid between h the path of torches,several beats The as not long, and yet long enough for my mind to run ahead to all the possibilities What would happen when I slid into the water? What would I see?

My feet touched the edge of the ater, and a s of a bell sounded and I looked around Ash was gone, and the cave had disappeared I stood on the edge of a long white sandy beach under a full moon The crash of the ocean, the pull of the earth onthe back ofskirt, so long that it trailed in the air behind her at least ten feet Her hair was the color of the soil, dark and rich, shot through with sparkles of silver Every step she took brought her closer until I could see the details in her face The curve of her jaw, the slightly slanted eyes that gave the ie animal trapped under her skin, the full lips and tiny nose Her eyes caught old, and then every color the forest had ever given to a flower

I slowly dropped to my knees "Mother"

She cupped a hand aroundtime for you to come to me Noe have , hard path for you to learn how to use your abilities And you will have more trials to face than any other of my children"

I lifted my eyes to hers "Cassava, she is part of this"

"Yes, my child She is not done yet, and you are not ready to face the destruction she brings But you will be" She stroked a hand overmy hair "You will be"

I stood and she beckonedof a torch, the sandy beach where Ash waited for oddess called to in"

"Yes," I whispered "Let us begin"