UPDATE

Through the centuries, acolytes were brought in from numerous villages that surrounded the dark woods that were nestled between two mountain ranges; by the age of twelve, the females were selected by the heads of each prefect and taken from their families to learn the ways of the Oracle. Not all were selected, very few in fact-the rest deemed unworthy or unfit and destined to live the lives within the confines of the well hidden cloister lead by the Mother’s of the Way.

Only once in every generation is a female chosen for the birth of the next Oracle. At the age of seventeen three are chosen, deemed worthy and fit, to submit themselves to the fortnight of preparing prior to the solemn walk that would lead them through the forest and to a path that wound up and through ragged landscape of the eastern mountains. A path that ended at a secluded, wooded area that held only the holy stones and artifacts that were needed for the ceremony of the birth to take place.

It would be there that the three were left behind to wait their fate: one chosen for life, two chosen for feeding.

The chosen one would be known only by the first signs of her skin changing. Hardening, darkening and slowly the black threads of the Oracle’s power that soon crept over flesh fleshed out into almost root like appearances from her spine. Three days this would go on, each female left without food or water, until the moment came that the seed within grew enough power to rip through flesh and bone and escape out of the acolyte’s chest to breathe in that first taint of fresh air.

It would be that moment that the Mother would appear, calling to her youngling with a tender touch and a low sound of animalistic pleasure. The two remaining would soon find themselves feasted upon by the Oracle, the fresh blood and flesh bringing the final stage of the birth complete. It would be here, too, that others of faith would make a pilgrimage to request words of wisdom and hints of the future given only to those willing to exchange a pound of flesh for their asking.

Blood for blood, flesh for flesh-the way of the Mother is not unjust, if unkind.