But Tohki did not pass that winter.

When spring came, the snow from the slopes, ran down, forming waterfalls that formed streams, that ran down to the brook that ran the length of the vale to the lake. It was a time of renewal and celebration as the first flowers in the vale began to bloom.

And it was also time to celebrate Galia’s passage.

On the morning before, Priya met Tohki in her hovel. Pulling aside a blanket, Tohki revealed a small bundle of vines that had been cut into small, manageable pieces and a bag of dried leaves. Tohki handed these to Priya and together they walked to the House of Eusou.

“I have never harvested these with you?” Priya observed. “Where in the vale do these grow?”

Tohki smiled. “That is another secret that only the Crones know. These vines and leaves do not come from the vale. When our ancestors came to the vale hundreds of years ago, they brought these medicines with them. We have kept them safe and secret all these years.”

“But won’t we run out?” Priya asked?

“Aye,” Tohki said, nodding. “Our supply is almost gone and when it is gone, the women of this vale will learn to take their passage by another route.”

Tohki lifted the thick bearskin flap that hung over the opening of the sacred space, pulling it open.

Priya stepped inside, setting the bundles of roots and leaves down and began to build the fire. She layered smaller pieces of wood, having some space between them so that air could pass through, and struck Tohki’s flint several times before the sparks caught. Leaning down, she blew on them, coaxing the fire to life, before leaning larger pieces of wood onto it.

Against the sides of the space, Priya retrieved three thin pieces of wood that had been bound at the top. As the fire grew, Priya set the wood over it, letting each piece spread out, forming an angular and stable shape around the fire. Priya wiggled it to make sure it would hold before hanging a large pot from it, letting it sit suspended over the fire.

There was still some snow outside having not melted due to the shade the sacred space provided. Priya scooped the clean snow into a pitcher, bringing it back into the space and letting it fall into the pot, enjoying the satisfactory sound of it sizzling on the already hot iron.

While the water steamed, Priya and Tohki began to work.

Sitting opposite from each other, each had a handful of the roots in front of them, laid out on a tree stump. They began to clean the roots, scraping and brushing until the harder bark was removed. When Priya was done, she waited for Tohki. Then the two women picked up heavy, wooden mallets, holding them high above their heads, and as one brought them down on the vine on the stump. And as they rhythmically struck the vine, breaking it into smaller and smaller pieces, they began to sing.

Eusou Eusou Eusou

Eusou is here to witness you

Eusou sees you at your strongest

Eusou sees you at your weakest

And he loves. He loves He loves He loves

He loves all of what you are

Eusou is the light in your darkest moment

Eusou is your light if only you could see

You and the Father are one

Because you were made in his image

You and the Mother are one

Because she was always there to hold you

Just breathe just breathe just breathe

Just breathe just breathe just breathe

Breathe it out but retain your strength

Hold fast in what you are

Priya could only hit the vine three or four times, before the mallet would feel heavy in her hand and she’d have to stop, rolling her shoulder out. During these breaks, Priya would center herself, taking a deep conscious breath, pausing before raising the mallet over her head, timing it with Tohki and bring it down onto the vines. She began to learn that, as a tool, this mallet was heavy enough to do most of the work itself. Priya didn’t have to use her strength to bring the mallet thundering down, but just let gravity do its work. But sometimes the mallet would land and the vine wouldn’t splinter. Other times the mallet would land, crashing through the vine and sending unpleasant vibrations up Priya’s arm. And sometimes, Priya would find an in-between stage where she wasn’t certain how to bring the mallet down and her arm would tighten, forcing too much effort and causing her to pause again to rub the muscles that wrapped around her shoulder.

It was a balancing act, sensing what the vine needed from Priya and what amount of force was needed in order for the work to be completed and the vine gave what it needed to give. When Priya would pause and center herself, she found herself more easily in the flow. But it was work; mentally and physically taxing.

Gradually, the bundle of vines were broken down and once they were complete, their singing stopped and they set their mallets down. Tohki and Priya gathered the bits and pieces of the vines and added them to the boiling water. The water foamed as it accepted their offering. Tohki, taking a thick branch, stuck it into the pot, pushing the vines down in the water making sure they were fully submerged.

Priya massaged the inside of her hand, stretching her fingers out. The pad of muscle underneath her thumb ached from holding the mallet.

Taking the leaves, Tohki sprinkled them on top of the vines in the pot, giving it a final stir, before settling back in her seat.

There they sat, praying and singing for several hours.

The Mother is the vine

We are the branches

We are one

We are as much part of The Mother

As she is of you

What we do,

What we say,

Must be done and said

In the Spirit of Love,

So there is no decay

We must support our brothers and sisters,

To see and witness their passage and their journey,

So that if they falter, if they stubble,

If they fall, if rot were to spring forth on their branch,

To be there, to help them,

To carry them, to offer respite,

Food if they are hungry,

Drink if they thirst,

Clothes to cover them

Shelter from the tempest within

For if one branch withers,

The withering will spread,

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And the branches shall be cut away

By the Harvester,

Leaving just the vine

To spring anew when the time is right.

Be steadfast in your faith.

Keep your eye on Eusou, on his Light.

Let the powers of Babylon not hide his Light,

But aid your study and prayers

While they sang, Tohki would occasionally stand, poking the mixture with her stick, lifting some of the fibers out of the liquid to see how saturated they were. She would bend over the pot, wafting the vapors up to her nose, inhaling deeply.

Priya would continue feeding the fire to make sure the mixture bubbled at a steady rate.

It continued to cook down. When Priya would lean forward, looking over the lip of the pot as Tohki stirred, she could see that the mixture was becoming more and more thick.

When it was finally done, Tohki struck the side of the pot with the stick invoking the Sun, Moon and Stars. She offered a prayer to The Mother, then nodded to Priya to remove the pot. Priya stood, straddling the edge of the fire and with gloved hands, grasped the handle of the pot, lifting it off the makeshift tripod and set it down away from the fire to cool.

In the silence that followed both women sighed and stretched. Priya laid down on the ground, twisting to each side as her back gave off a satisfying crack.

“Well done,” murmured Tohki.

“Thank you, Tohki.” Priya paused before asking, “How do you know when it is done?”

“I am centered within the stillness throughout, talking to The Mother and Eusou. They tell me when our work is completed. If you open your ears, they will speak to you, but you have to give your entire self to Eusou and The Mother, so that they can give their entire selves to you. Their consciousness is the life of eternity.”

Priya looked at the pot, sitting silently in the corner. It looked so peaceful, yet vibrated energetically in anticipation of Galia’s passage. “Why is it that only the women drink this medicine?”

“There are powerful forces at play in the medicine, Priya. And men are attracted to power. They would chase these forces, trying to master them. That is why men eat mushrooms for their passage. It only shows them Eusou’s radiant love and they see within that the power of their own love, free from the shackles of power and all that comes with it.”

That night, Priya slept in the House of Eusou, guarding the medicine. Her dreams were peaceful, held closely in the embrace of The Mother.

And she stayed there until Galia arrived for her passage. Her mother, Gal, was there along with Anissa and Asa. Tohki came in last, pulling the bearskin closed behind her.

Priya had already built the fire and the air was warm.

Galia smiled nervously at Priya.

Wrapping her arms around her friend, Priya whispered, “Have faith. Be strong. Be firm in your place and everything will be fine. I’ll be there to catch you should you fall.”

Tohki cleared her throat and Priya released Galia, stepping back to rest at Tohki’s side.

When the ceremony began, Tohki led the opening prayers as she did before, but Priya took over the role of serving the medicine to those that had gathered in the sacred place that night.

Holding the clay serving bowl in one hand, Priya scooped the medicine into a wood cup. Given the ritual the day before, this medicine felt more familiar, but the thought of tasting it again caused a shudder to pass through her body. “Mother, be with me,” she whispered, tipping her head back to drink swiftly.

One by one she serves the other women, until Galia was last. Priya looked into Galia’s eyes, centering herself in the stillness as she did. She felt a deep responsibility for Galia and her wellbeing during her passage. Eusou, watch over her. The stillness rumbled in reply. She felt The Mother guide her hand as she dipped the cup into the bowl, scraping the bottom just as Tohki had done, filling it to the rim.

Galia took it with shaking hands. She offered it to the heavens, then drank it down in a single gulp. She closed her eyes, remaining firm in her place, and she didn’t shudder or make a face at the taste. Not once.

Priya smiled at her fortitude.

Taking their seats, Tohki began to lead them in their hymns. They were more familiar to Priya now, having spent months humming and singing with Tohki as they prepared their collection of medicines.

Song after song they called upon Eusou, blessing him and blessing The Mother, the harvest, their health, the sun and moon, and their home in the vale.

Just as before, Priya felt the air around her become more turbulent as the ceremony went on; a tumultuous current of energy that buffeted her soul. But she stayed in her seat, remembering the lessons from her passage and rested her gaze on the flickering embers of the fire. It was familiar now and felt like she was welcoming back an old friend.

Eusou Eusou Eusou

Send your sword

Let your Light

Be my shield

Mother, O Mother

Send your love

Let your Love

Be my shield

Then Tohki was silent, the hymns completed for a time and the women sat together in silence.

Priya turned inward, centering herself as she focused on her breathing. Gradually, she became aware of The Mother. It surrounded her, completely enveloping Priya with waves of love, both externally and internally. Priya was awash and aglow in The Mother’s love. Like her own mother, Priya felt the soft reassurances and tidings emanate from her. In her mind’s eye, she saw how she had grown and changed over the past year. And she felt The Mother’s pride in her. But there was also this deeper connection where she felt her own sense of pride in all that she had done and a deep love for herself, as well. She saw how she had grown from a little girl into a woman since her passage and it made her heart nearly burst with joy. She felt the peace flow from The Mother’s Love and into her heart. It spread through her being, filling her being, taking away the burden of the past and leaving her with a sense of deep inner strength.

It was beautiful.

The Mother was beautiful.

She was beautiful.

But something changed. Suddenly and swiftly a dark energetic field swooped into Priya’s awareness, shutting off this connection to The Mother.

Priya’s heart cried out at the intrusion. She reached out for The Mother, but the darkness stood in Priya’s path, blocking her. The Mother was gone; seemingly fled from this new presence. Priya reached for Eusou, feeling for him in the energy field over the fire and within her self, but he wasn’t there either. All that existed in this sacred place was this horribly dark energy.

Go away, Priya thought. You are not welcome here.

The energy pushed back and Priya felt her body tremble. She felt weak and felt that her best course of action was to leave the circle and lay down.

Pushing herself up for her seat, Priya stumbled a few steps from the circle and laid down on the cool ground. As she exhaled, her breath shook. Away from the other women, Priya didn’t feel the dark presence anymore, but her body was in a state of shock at the sudden and violent confrontation. Her legs and arms began to shake, rattling her core, and causing her hips and back to buck against the ground. Priya closed her eyes, trying to focus on her body, trying to still herself, but it was to no avail. Whatever the thing that had attacked her was, it had to run its course.

When the shaking finally stopped, Priya lay on the floor, feeling dazed and exhausted, but reassured that during her time away from the circle, the darkness had not returned. Rolling over to her side, she pushed herself back up and walked, a bit more steadier, back to her seat.

The other women, Galia included, were still resting in their seats with their eyes closed.

As Priya sat down, Tohki opened her eyes and offered Priya a reassuring smile and then began to sing once again.

Priya joined in and as the energy of the songs built, the dark energy appeared again. Priya raised her hands defensively. While it wasn’t present physically, Priya felt that this small gesture kept it at bay. But it's pressure on Priya’s walls increased. Priya’s hands shook from the force of it, her knees bouncing against the ground.

She focused on the fire’s embers, but it didn’t help.

She tried to focus on the words of the hymns—letting the words pass through her—but it didn’t help.

On and on it went. Sometimes it would retreat and Priya would catch her breath between songs. But it would always return, hammering at her defenses.

Priya felt weaker and weaker as the night wore on.

When it came time to serve the second cup, Priya stayed in her seat. When Tohki gestured for to pour for the other women, Priya shook her head, mouthing the words, “I’m sorry, I can’t,” hoping and praying that Tohki could see the exhaustion and panic written across her face.

Tohki nodded and began to serve. When she reached Priya, she paused, looking deep into Priya’s eyes. “How are you?”

Priya breathed, offering her a shaky smile. “Not very well.”

“What is happening?”

“There is something here that does not belong.”

Tohki looked at her questioningly. “Is it here now?”

Priya closed her eyes, immediately feeling a humanoid presence made of the darkest night hovering to the side of her. She nods.

“Do you know what it wants?”

Priya shook her head.

“Have you asked?”

Priya shook her head again, but she felt in that moment a clear sense of what the thing wanted. “It wants to hurt me and the others here. It wants to destroy everything we know and love and burn the vale to the ground.”

Tohki nodded her head.

Priya could see that Galia was watching her, worry etched across her face.

Laying a hand on Priya’s knee, Tohki said, “Ask it if it would like to drink the medicine.”

Priya closed her eyes and offered the medicine to the darkness. “No,” she replied. “It says that it is more powerful than the medicine. It would do nothing for it or to it.” Priya paused, listening. “It says it is more powerful that Eusou and The Mother.”

Tohki chuckled, then offered the cup to Priya. “Then this is for you and you alone. This night is a test for you. Remain steadfast in your prayers and songs. And believe and have faith that Eusou and The Mother are more powerful.”

Taking the cup in shaking hands, Priya looked at the contents that swirled inside. “This cup is mine,” she whispered. “This cup is for me and me alone.” Priya drank, draining every last drop before handing it back to Tohki.

Saying a prayer to Eusou and The Mother, Priya settled herself into her seat and waited for Tohki to begin singing again.

With every hymn, Tohki waged war against the darkness, setting up her defenses, forming a barrier in her mind to keep it at bay. When her walls were finally up and established, she could see, in her mind’s eye, the darkness, now furious, wailing on the walls with its fists.

When the ceremony ended, Priya felt weak and tired, but still made her way to Galia, hugging and congratulating her for completing her passage. Going to a corner of the sacred space, Priya laid down, closing her eyes.

She could still hear the women talking as they broke bread, sharing it amongst themself, but she was no longer there.

Behind her closed eyes, Priya hovered above the vale.

She could see everything: Serah and Zachael’s farm, the spring, her home, the village, the forest, the lake, the brook that stretched from one end of the vale to the other.

All of it was burning.

And in the center of the village lay the charred remains of everyone she had held dear.

Something bad was coming.

And try as she might, Priya knew she couldn’t stop what was coming.