Mother Susana broke the bread and laid the halves on the plate of grain, saying, “Take this all of you and eat from it. This is the body of the Mother, source and life of us all. From her womb we draw life. From her breast we draw strength. To her womb we shall return and yet be born again. For all that we take, may we plant new life in kind. Do this in remembrance of Her.” She then passed the bread around the circle. As each woman took a piece of the bread, they lifted a grain of wheat from the plate. When they had finished eating, they pressed small holes into the ground before them and planted the grains.

Then Mother Susana lifted the wine and gave similar thanks. “This is the blood of the Mother, source and life of us all.” She passed the jug and allowed each of the Sisters to pour a cup. After drinking their fill, they each poured the remaining liquid on top of their newly planted seeds, thus reuniting the body and blood of the Mother.

Mother Susana pulled a single ripe fig from the folds of her robe. She held the fruit up high and gave thanks to the Mother of All. She then added, “We give our word that the Mother’s gifts, and the miracle of life, will not be taken for granted nor mistreated nor forgotten.” She passed the fruit to Shereen, who dug a deep hole into which she placed it. She covered the fruit with dirt and watered it with wine, saying, “May all that proceeds from my journey be of benefit to all of Creation.”

Sister Joan stood ready at the door. In her hands she carried a staff. On her shoulder hung two skins of water.

Sister Shereen floated into the entranceway, her steps buoyed by the honor of her future, her golden eyes burning within the shadow of her hood. In the folds of her garment, she carried several small pouches containing the Seven Cures as well as other precious herbs and seeds that could be transformed into a variety of remedies.

As the Sisters gathered, Anna kept her gaze lowered. While the faces of the others were lit with joy, hers was stained with tears. Her heart aching inside her chest.

She knew that as an Awakener Shereen could never return to The Narrows. And, since Anna herself would never become an Awakener—those doors not being open to a mere shepherd, much less a woman of dubious gender—she knew that she would never leave The Narrows. That being so, she would never see Shereen again.

Joan placed her hand on the hidden stone to open the entrance door. As she did, a shaft of sunlight flooded the room. When it struck Anna’s eyes, she felt a temptation she had not felt since her arrival. The temptation to leave.

She gazed out the entrance.