Grace stepped beside him. "We carry translation-slates and glyph-ribbon sets. We speak watchersong and leave offerings. We protect our ring. We return tonight."
They chose six to go, Emma, Lucy, Stella, Serena, Layla, Susan, comforted the children, leaving them with Grace, Rose, Zoe, Natalie, Scarlet, Sophie. Love and purpose anchored both parties. Jude kissed Grace's hand, she held tape of seed-water and blessed him with whispered prayer. They hugged children, promised safe return.
At forest's edge, watchers glimmering faint arrows in morning light, wives carried food packs and scrolls. Each clipped glyph-ribbon to brow, attaching translation-slate and hymn-slate to belt. They entered deeper paths. Birds startled at their passage, vines curved aside. Under canopy, pulses guided them along hidden creek. They traced watcher-light in moss and stone, stopping for inspection.