The Silverwood Legacy

Chapter Twenty-One: A Day of Preparations

The day before Rowan's seventeenth birthday dawned clear and bright. The air was filled with a sense of anticipation and the promise of change. Rowan's thoughts were still preoccupied with the mysteries surrounding her and the Silverwood Legacy, but today was dedicated to celebrating her birthday—a milestone she had been both looking forward to and dreading.

After breakfast, Rowan found her father in the kitchen, organizing some papers and looking unusually focused. His furrowed brow and intense concentration seemed to suggest he was dealing with something important.

"Morning, Dad," Rowan said, walking over to him. "Got a minute?"

Her father looked up and offered a tired but warm smile. "Of course, Rowan. What's up?"

Rowan took a seat across from him. "I was thinking about my birthday tomorrow. I know we haven't really discussed it much, and I wanted to see if we could start planning. Maybe keep it simple but special?"

Her father's expression softened with relief. "That sounds like a great idea. I've been meaning to talk to you about it. Let's sit down and figure out what you'd like."

Rowan nodded enthusiastically. "Well, I was thinking of something that reflects both who I am and our family. Maybe a small gathering with close friends and family. Nothing too big or extravagant."

Her father's eyes twinkled with a mix of nostalgia and pride. "That sounds perfect. We can definitely do that. I was thinking of setting up something in the backyard. We can decorate it with some lights and set up a few tables. We could have some of your favorite foods and maybe even a little music."

Rowan smiled, imagining the scene. "I love that idea. How about adding a bonfire? We could have s'mores and tell stories around it. And if we could find a way to include some of my friends from Silverwood High, that would be great."

Her father nodded thoughtfully. "I can definitely arrange that. I'll reach out to your friends and make sure they can make it. And for the bonfire, I can set up a fire pit and make sure everything's ready for it."

Rowan's excitement grew. "This is going to be so much fun. And maybe we could add some of your famous barbecue? I've missed it."

Her father chuckled. "You know I'd be happy to. I'll make sure we have all your favorites. It's been a while since we had one of these get-togethers, hasn't it?"

Rowan nodded, her mind racing with ideas. "What about decorations? Should we get some balloons and streamers?"

Her father raised an eyebrow, considering. "We could do that, or we could go for something a bit more personalized. Maybe some handcrafted decorations that reflect your interests and the things we've been talking about recently?"

Rowan thought for a moment. "I like that idea. We could use some natural elements and maybe some of the old family artifacts. It would make the setting more meaningful."

Her father's face lit up with approval. "That's a wonderful idea. We can use some of the family's old decorations and mix them with nature-themed elements. I'll get started on that."

As the afternoon drew to a close, Rowan and her father wrapped up their plans and preparations. They had managed to organize everything they wanted for the celebration. Rowan was about to head to her room when her father gently called her back.

"Rowan, there's something important we need to talk about," he said, his voice serious but gentle.

Rowan looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "What is it, Dad?"

Her father gestured for her to sit down again. "I know we've been focused on planning your birthday, but there's something you need to understand about tomorrow. It's a significant milestone, not just because it's your birthday, but because it's the day when we'll know for certain if you're... if you're going to shift."