I admire the moon up in the sky. It is so beautiful. As the heat begins to intensify, it becomes more and more obvious that a change of season is upon us, which means there is something extremely important that I have to do: An augury of whether I should leave this place now or wait for the next season. I've recently learned that during the transitions between seasons the tribe's guardian spirit weakens as it needs to be transferred from one vessel to another. At that point, as I am now, somewhat crude at blood magic still, I am able to kill it and claim my freedom.

Preparing for this augury is no easy task. Even if I am the high priestess' granddaughter, I am but a mere unwed, and thus a second-class member of my tribe. I shouldn't know about any mysteries of the tribe, let alone a forbidden art like blood magic. So, if I get caught preparing it, I doubt that I will be treated with any leniency. Of course, I don't think that me getting caught is likely, because most people in this dump are stupid, but who knows? It's better to be careful. I first go the the edge of the village, where I keep my more... suspicious belongings, a ceremonial bowl and knife.

“I wonder what animals are being prepared for my offering? I hope at least they're somewhat fun to hunt.”

I hear a hum in response to my thoughts said out loud. As a chill spreads through my spine, I turn around to look at my aunt, Tire'lun. Who besides her could have concealed her presence so well that I had no idea she was nearby? I recoil in fear. Her eyes terrify me, her demeanor terrifies me.

“Offering? That's strange I don't remember you ever having received training or permission to make an offering on behalf of the tribe.”

I quickly thought of all the ways I could possibly get out of this alive. Of course, fighting was a possibility. Sure, she was the strongest warrior of the tribe even before she ate her husband, the second most powerful warrior in the tribe, but she was in advanced pregnancy, so even I might have some chance. Although, on the other hand, I know full well that if I do something, anything that harms the baby, I am dead. Therefore, my only option was to try and talk my way out of this.

“Oh, did I say offering? I am sorry, aunt, it must have been a slip of the tongue, I was thinking of hunting for you and the baby, you know. Since people keep comparing you to the Hungering Mother, I started thinking of it as a kind of offering.”

She glared at me. I know that she hates that comparison, but it shouldn't make her explode and attack me. Hopefully the promise of nourishment to her will be enough to let me be.

“I see. Be careful to not make the same mistake again, others are far less lenient and much more aggressive than I am when it comes to dealing with... Abnormal actions.”

She turned away and disappeared. I breathed a sigh of relief. Well, now I guess I will have to give her most of the augury's leftovers, which is a shame, but a cheap price if it's all it takes to keep my true nature unknown from my grandmother and her hag friends.

Of course, the first predator I find for my offering is a Razor Lizard, how poetic. Years ago, one of those brought me to my master, and now another is going to be the first step in the finding of my destiny. Without fear, I set the ceremonial tools on the ground and approach the Razor Lizard. Of course, it hisses at me, attempting to scare me off its territory. Too bad for it that I have come for its life.

As I approach too much, it lunges at me, but I easily dodge it and give it a light tap. It then attacks again to the same result. Poor thing, it really does believe it can get me if it keeps trying. But it cannot and every time I touch it, death is nearer to it. As I inject my mana into its body, the body desperately rejects a life essence that is not its own, and as the quantity increases, so does the intensity of the reaction. Eventually, it collapses dead at my my feet, infused with my magic, making it a perfect tool for blood magic augury.

I remove a bone from each of its fingers as well as its spine. Using the knife I brought with me, I chisel a few simple symbols on them, then roll them on the ceremonial bowl. After drinking some of its blood, I read the bones. I do not yet have an answer for my question, but I know what is the next predator that I must hunt. But first, I take apart the Lizard, to make people don't know the specific bones I took, and carry it to the front of my aunt''s house.

Five times it must be done, so four more times I go to the forest looking for the predators which are my prey, my way. Four more times I flirt with death as I provoke and touch, gently, almost cruelly, things that fully intend to kill me. Again, again, again and again. At the last offering, the bones and the blood tell me something different, with my lust for danger satiated, I can accept the answer that will come.

Patience, is what the bones tell me. Rejoice, the blood tells me. It is not yet time for me to leave, but soon enough it will be and for that I must be prepared. To venture outside I will be helped by people who come from outside.

Satisfied with the answer, I brought my last kill to my aunt's house. Things will get good in the near future. That's good, because I deserve it.