At The Harvest Fire

The fire crackled and snapped as the dry wood burned. The scent of smoke filled the air, different tones of Ash, Cedar, and Pine burning as the witches began to hum. It was a deep sound, a melody of power that started within the soul. It would awaken the cauldron born within them all. Magic seemed to fill the air and mix with the voices they offered in calling on the night of All Hallows Eve. This was the only part of the ritual that was the same, no matter what coven you belonged to, or if it was a children's gathering or an adult. 

Adalyn could feel the magic she knew so well, the old magic that she loved pour up through the earth, down from the air, soaking into her skin from the heat of the fire and the moisture of the dampened wood that steamed as it burned. All the elements sange in unison as her voice raised with her sisters. Despite her not belonging to this coven, ever one of their souls were of one parentage in the moment The Song of power was sung. The Old Magic purred to life with Adalyn and she could feel the thin veil and the creatures of the elements who seemed to be overjoyed by their offerings. Her eyes fluttered closed as a familiar warmth settled in her chest, her arms raised high above her head as her body moved with the chant. 

As if on cue, she moved closer to the fire and reached for, and grabbed the hands of the two girls next to her and began the dance around the fire. Soon the ring was formed and each witch danced and spun around the cackling flame. The magic intensified and pooled in the camp fire, whose once simple fire color had brightened and was now tipped with the fairest hints of crimson. The ritual had just begun. 

The girls returned to their places as the song ended, breathing hard except for Adalyn who was used to dancing and cardio exercise on a daily basis. She remembered her first time at a ritual where they asked her to dance. She had nearly disgraced her family by running out of stamina before the ritual was through. Since then, she knew the importance of her health.

"We shall begin by asking the blessing of Winter, for his cold touch is soon upon us." Suzan spoke clearly as she swept her hands into the air, the fire playing off her dress now, showing the deep inradecent strands. It was as though the magic was playing across her entire form, but the trained eye could tell it was just the firelight. Adalyn raised a brow as the girls nodded sagely. This was not the proper order, nor was it the proper reason. The old gods were to be worshiped most revered to least: The Hunter, The Harvest, The Winter  This pattern allowed for the magic to build up and be offered to the first God the least and most to the last. However, this was not a true ceremony and the Gods would not hear their songs. Adalyn was sure of that because though the Old Magic had come to her, she could feel no one else humming with that gentle, familiar tingle that came from being near other sisters who know the Old World Magic. Most of them had the sparkling sheen of children kissed by the New World though, but that would not appeal to the Old Gods therefore they would not come here without candles to open the gate. 

Suzan stepped forward, as the witch whose job was to entice the Winter Warrior. Her voice was clean and clear as she offered it to his glory in the battle against The Frost Queen who nearly devoured the world in ice, killing every living thing. It was a song as old as time, but there was little more to it than that. Adalyn had expected so much more from Suzan than this picture perfect rendition of the song, no emotion, no feeling just the perfect notes and choreographed movements that she had no doubt practiced for weeks. The fire barely acknowledged she was there. The other girls who sat with her at the winter seats moved in smaller motions of the same vein, each one perfect and practiced. Adalyn had to give them that their efforts were beautiful, if missguided. 

"Now for the Hunter." Adalyn was shocked to hear her dear friend say these words. Pricilla was the exact opposite of someone who should be dancing for the Hunter. She was bubbly and sweet, but could not melt into the woods if her life depended on it. Her loud personality could easily offend such a quite, hot headed God. Thankfully… this was not real. He would not show up, at least she desperately hoped not. Adalyn watched as Pricilla and her group stood up and began to bounce to the beat of the drum provided by the third girl in her group. 

"Say the Prayers, work the rites, light the candles for he comes tonight…" Pricillia began and Adalyn felt herself tense a bit. This was the right song. She had shared it with Pricilla long ago because she knew it by heart. It was the one her Great Great Great Grandmother Ellowyn, the first of the Lyn Witches wrote. Her eyes darted to the candles again, ensuring there was not a single flame burning on any of them. She even went as far as to wet the wicks with her magic just in case. It would only take one candle to start a fire they could not put out until it was far too late. Their dancing was more fluid but still a little controlled for Adalyn's  liking, but she couldn't help but sway slightly in her seat to the song she had been sung to sleep by as a child. The stories of Ellowyn and her escape was one she would never forget, nor the revival of the Young Gods, now known as the Old Gods. 

Priscilla and the other girls danced facing the flame, standing just to the north of Adalyn. Their voices rang across the circle and the dancing drew her eyes. Slow languid movements that made one feel as though life could be spent in the easy flow of those hips. Adalyn could feel her own body want to join in and dance with them. Her hips almost ached to be part of the dance, the magic pooled within her wanting desperately to be free. Adalyn contented herself with raising her voice, and humming as a backup to Prcillia's sharp soprano notes. 

Adalyn found herself so absorbed in the dance, she never noticed the motion of every 3rd girl in the group. They turned and touched something behind them, and a word was whispered in the night. The word that changed everything. 

The fire cackled and danced merrily, as the magic began the pool within it, and a form seemed to flicker to life on the other side of the flame, directly facing Prcillia. The younger girl's eyes were closed as she continued singing, but Adalyn however, felt the change in the air. Her heart stopped beating as the world seemed to slow down, Pricillia heard the drums falter and her eyes opened. In that moment she felt as though she had lost her very soul. Cold Green eyes stared at her from across the fire light. A dark mane of black hair fell down to the man's shoulders, his features were schooled and his eyes deep enough to swallow her whole. The wolf ears and peaking canine teeth were visible behind his surprised, and wary look. His clothes were black as the night beyond the fire light, and a bow was slung across his back, an intricate dagger hung from a leather belt. A black bear hide cloak draped over his body to keep him warm, as if a God would need it. The Hunter stood before Pricillia and her rabbit heart stopped in its tracks and she stopped dancing. Her voice caught in her throat and Adalyn's heart sank. His eyes traced the faces of those around him, children. His eyes turned to slits and an angry snarl ripped from his chest as realization dawned.  

She couldn't think; Adalyn just acted. She rose to her feet and pulled the pony tail holder out of her hair and turned to the girl sitting by the drum and the now lit candle. "Do not let that candle go out and no matter what happens DO NOT STOP PLAYING. Give me the beat for the Hunt." Adalyn ordered seeing no way around this. She hurried to the circle just in time to hear his snaral. 

"I was out ah hunting, one evening in the thick of harvest, and  I came upon a hunting camp and a man who scorched my soul. My heart caught in my throat and a grin spread across his lips. From my boots and hunting skirt to the tie of my hunting hair I felt the searing from his gaze." His anger seemed to lessen slightly, but those deep eyes stayed trained on Pricilla. However, his attention was divided as he took In the music. Adalyn continued. 

"A tinge of pure excitement pure as chase. Then His eyes met mine and I knew He had found  found Himself his prey. My heart was beating fast, as I dashed across the wood, my feet flying across the ground, and so begun the chase…" Adalyn sang the words as her body began to move. She slid the cloak from her shoulders and lifted her hands to the sky and began moving her body as her power skipped the fire and fed into the man. "My heart beat fast within my chest…. Because from my boots and hunting skirt to the crest of my hunting hair, he had found his prey." She repeated the chorus meeting his eyes and throwing everything she had into this magical offering. "I was to be his prey." Finally, he turned fully to Adalyn ignoring Pricilla and taking a step closer, rounding the fire toward Adalyn, her magic filling him, making the wolf ears twitch as his power grew.

There was a sense of fear spreading as Pricilla slipped away from the fire. She ran as fast as she could. She had little hope but she knew she had to try. The Goblins of the night had already set their pets to fly. It would be a miracle if she could actually make it… and she suspected she would fail. Then again if she could see the Shadowy figure warding off the goblin kin she would have been much more at ease.