A soft knock echoed through the room, pulling me out of my thoughts. It was Ivy, her voice gentle but firm. “Faye, it’s time.”
I took a deep breath and stood from the bed, pulling on a flowing white nightgown that brushed against my skin like the whisper of the cool night air. My hand lingered over the small jewelry box on my dresser, where my grandmother's ring sat. It was a delicate piece, old and worn from time, but it held memories—memories I was about to offer to the Moon Goddess herself. I slid it into my palm, feeling its weight.
With the ring secure, I opened the door. Ivy was waiting for me, her face soft with understanding but lined with concern. We didn’t need to exchange many words as we stepped into the night air, walking silently through the compound toward the forest. The
