High Priestess of Sanuela

5. Finding the Mystical Caves

A few days before her departure, Ayana was busy packing and saying farewells to friends and the village elders. Her intuition was calling her to find and explore the underground world in the Mystical Caves of Sanuela. As she filled her bag with the items Ignisia had inwardly told her to bring, her nerves buzzed with excitement, a mixture of anticipation and curiosity bubbling inside her.

It took her some time to say goodbye to everyone she loved. Her friend Amun had been travelling for some moons now and wasn't around. She missed him a lot, and that felt almost good. Her love for him was something very special. Perhaps they should get together after all, she thought. How long would she be gone, and would Amun be back in the village when she returned? This left her uneasy and uncertain.

Ayana had heard stories of the Mystical Caves, a sacred place deep within the forest where ancient knowledge and wisdom were said to reside. Several years prior, she had discovered them for herself and experienced a profound opening of the heart. Now, as she set off on her journey to become a priestess of Sanuela, she felt the calling to find this magical place once again.

Kofi was of course always somewhere around. Ayana gave him a long hug, feeling deeply into their connection with each other. With him, everything felt nice and fluid. She always felt grateful when they were together. She liked him a lot, and she knew exactly that he wanted her more than anything. But when his love was so strong, then she wanted to make sure that she could hold and embrace it completely, and that she was able to return it. In one way, she felt drawn to make a choice, but at the same time, she was hesitant.

Ayana had informed her family that she would be gone for at least one moon. At first, everyone was concerned for her safety and wellbeing, but Ayana was determined to go. Despite their worries, her family and closest friends were supportive and gathered around her at the start of her journey; it was Sanuela's tradition to accompany the beginning of a journey when someone was going away for more than a few days. Turning back to wave goodbye, Ayana felt a surge of warmth and gratitude for those who had come with her, those who believed in her.

Ayana felt a tingling inside. She was embarking on a journey to the sacred caves, accompanied by her spiritual guide, Ignisia. The fire fairy butterfly, who had become Ayana's closest companion, flew a large curvy figure-eight before Ayana's eyes. "The Mystical Caves are not a place that can be reached through physical means alone, Ayana," she felt in her mind and heart. "It is foremost a place of the spirit, and can only be visited by following your intuition."

Ayana nodded, understanding what Ignisia was saying telepathically. "So, how do I do that?" she asked in her mind.

"I cannot teach you, Ayana," Ignisia answered. "It's something that you must discover for yourself. But I can tell you this, when you feel called to go in a certain direction, trust that feeling. And when you feel unsure, listen very carefully to the sounds of the forest. All the beings know the way. They know and intuitively feel your task, and they will guide you."

Ayana took Ignisia's telepathic words to heart. She closed her eyes, hearing the chorus of the woods surrounding her. She could hear the rustling of leaves, the chirping of birds, and the whispering of the wind. A sense of peace and knowing washed over her, and she knew that she was on the right path.

As they ventured deeper into the forest, the sounds of birdsong became louder. The gentle trickle of the streams mingled with the cheerful sounds of frisky woodland animals and the whisper of Ignisia's wings fluttering behind her. Ayana felt a strong connection to these beings that shared the forest with her, a bond that brought her comfort and assurance.

A warm, comforting air embraced her, a crisp yet inviting scent of the trees intertwined with the sweet fragrance of wildflowers. Though Ayana had wandered these woods many times, everywhere she looked, she always noticed something new – from the greens to the blues, to the golden rays of sunshine that shone through the trees.