Chapter 1 Ritual

Everything has been such a mess in Tessa's life and she just wanted to feel protected. It has been almost 20 years since she had called upon the goddess. She was so happy to go back to her roots, and so elated that her powers have not left her in all that time. Tessa has been broken by so many but none more than herself for neglecting who she truly was.

She smiled with the wind blowing her long red brown hair and the fire came to her as she called out to the goddess. She was asking for protection, for guidance, for the truth...

The fire crackles, the breeze blows lifting her up gracefully letting her feel the power surrounding her. Drops of rain collected, almost as if the water became her aura, forming a bubble. Within it she could see the warm red-orange glow of the fire dancing passionately. The wind lowers her softly back to her feet. Once standing she began walking with burning white sage in a spiral starting on the outer edge of the scared circle working her way towards the fire in the center. Tessa then summoned all the elements as she went to the four quadrants of her circle, marking North, South, East, and West.

Overhead wind angrily captures nearby trees quilting the debris into a circle of protection. She could feel the strength in the air and a sense of calm came over her. The only sounds to be heard after her chanting died down was the water rushing by in a nearby river. The grass beneath her feet made her feel so connected to the forest she found herself in. There was passion to the movements of the flames as she added the last of her sage and thanked the goddess for her blessings before closing her circle. Tessa weaved her way through the debris finding a nice dry trunk to sit on close enough to the fire. Once she was settled, Tessa nestled into her purple cloak looking up to full moon.

In this moment Tessa felt more at peace and more of herself than she had in a long time. 'I'm not sure why I have not practiced or even done the most basic ritual in so long but I promise I won't let it happen again.' she proclaimed to herself as she stood to head back to her all to normal life.

' I might be just a shell of myself right Now but I Know I am the only one that can save me. Okay first things first, I need a shower, then a good book to lose myself in. I know, I'm a dork but I love that about myself and that is something I will never change. Oh I should get some friends because talking to myself all the time is just weird.' Even as her thoughts drifted it never occured to her that what just happened during her ritual has never happened before. In her mind she thought the elements responded to each other and she was just there to whitness. Though, the reality would change not only her life but the deepest part of her soul.