Chapter 979

He nodded. "We count ourselves, our memories, our ties. We catalog and share. We speak. Our story begins with one, then two, then many."

They returned to camp, spirits alight beneath heavy mist. Within moments, the well started bubbling again, more gently, steady, like a promise rather than a request.

They spent the day organizing. They gathered edges of meadow for ribbon-carrying, a large clay jar to collect offerings, a carved glyph-stone to mark the spiral entrance. They split tasks: Lucy and Emma would record counts, tabulate each offering and memory. Susan and Rose would gather petals and tokens daily. Scarlet and Serena would re-watch the boundary. Grace and Layla would attend the well each hour.

Jude walked among them, anchored pride to his chest. The watchers hovered beyond, visible in moments, as if witnesses to ceremony yet to come.