AN: I'm sorry it's taken so long to update this story but here it is, another chapter :) I hope you enjoy it

Chapter 4

I held my arrow as steady as I could in the bow as I targeted the tree in front of me. I was now 15 years old, which, in my village and any other village I've been in, was being an adult. The harder I thought about what day it was and how nervous I felt, I felt sweat dropping from my face and started having a harder time holding onto the bow and arrow. "Chiori?" I heard my aunt as if in a distance, but when I came to my senses, I realized she was still only a short distance from me. For the last couple of years Kaede helped me with becoming a priestess, in fact, for the most part she was the only one.

I pulled back the arrow, still having a hard time focusing with all the thoughts rushing to me until finally the arrow released from the bow in the wrong direction and cut my hand. I winced immidiately as the blood started to gently flow in a thin line down my palm. I noticed Kaede taking out a small shell of medicine and walk over to the tree. As I stood, clenching my wounded hand, Kaede took a leaf from the lowest branch and came toward me.

She opened my hand so she could get to the wound and began wiping the blood away with the herb concoction that was spread on the leaf. I looked down, feeling foolish and couldn't help thinking of my mother not being there. Kaede finished cleaning my wound then gave me a small smile, "My sister would be here if she could, she has been so busy with the village since the wise elder.." There was no need for her to finish the sentence, I knew my mother was now taking the role of lead priestess in the village since the wise elder was no longer with us.

Though..that wasn't the only thing on my mind, "The ceremony, I'm not ready." Kaede blinked her eyes, "Of course you are ready, you just need to focus on your tasks more, but if you are able to do that then ye are ready," she gave me another smile before telling me I should try again.

Later that day, the ceremony went better than I thought it would. Priests and Priestesses from the neighboring villages were present to witness my skill as a priestess in all the ways possible for one. I had practiced hard on remembering my herbs and medicines, I was even able to cure people alongside my mother and aunt. The real challenge that came for me was when I had to show them the spiritual arrow, but that as well seemed to come natural to me after all the practice I managed.

The priests and priestess were encouraging and I gave them a lot of respect as I was taught I should. I bowed to each of them as they gave me insperational words of religion, honor and responsibility. My family was proud when I was accepted as an official priestess and then I didn't have to worry so much anymore, at least that's what I thought at the time. There was still something important I had to remember, protecting the sacred jewel.

Later that day when my father and brother were out collecting fish and my aunt was caring for the other villagers, I sat in our hut with my mother tending to my hair as she had done for many years, it was like our bond as mother and daughter. I was quiet with my thoughts as the comb was moved through the strands of my long hair. "Is something bothering you Chiori?" asked my mother. I wasn't sure how to reply to that, there was actually several things bothering me, 'should I have stuck to being a normal girl and being involved with a boy as most of the girls were my age' 'how sure can I be as a priestess?' and 'what will happen to the sacred jewel now that it's my responsibility?'

Though these thoughts ran through my mind I asked only one question to my mother, "You told me before that the jewel can be destroyed but I thought the only way was to allow it to give you your greatest desire, even then it's not a complete guarentee, is it?," I looked back at her with curiousity. My mother took a deep breath and placed the comb down beside her before responding, "There is a way that the jewel can be destroyed but it requires a journey to the northern mountains, but it's too dangerous for you, I knew this day would come and.."

My eyes widened as I realized what she was trying to explain, "You and father plan to take that journey alone." My mother stood and walked over to finish the vegetables she was cooking for dinner, "We were waiting for the right moment, there were things we had to teach you and your brother in case.." she took another deep breath and was unable to finish that sentence, "You and Kaede must take care of the villagers and your brother will help to protect our people, we must take this jewel away from the village and get rid of it for good."

I stood, a surprising courage coming over me, "Mother, you can't do that, it's my responsibility, I should be the one to go out and do this mission." My mother turned and gave me a soft smile, "It's our responsibility to protect our children, we have raised you so you could protect the jewel so when the time came your father and I would set out to do this mission, it was always our burden to bare and I am sorry I made you believe it was your burden, your destiny is to take care of our villagers, they need someone like you and your brother."

I shook my head and spoke almost faster than I could think, "They need you, you are the wise priestess now, they look up to you, they respect you, I'm new and there hasn't been time to respect me as much yet, mother please." But there was nothing I could say to persuade her as she silently went back to cooking and before the conversation could continue, my father and brother walked in with fish. "Look what I caught," Koto grinned with his chest out proudly as he held up a huge fish in one hand.

My mother smiled at him, "That's wonderful Koto." My father seemed a little dissapointed that he didn't catch any fish as big as Koto's, but he smiled proudly with a hand on Koto's head, "He's becoming a real man." I sighed, "I'm not hungry," I left the hut with the thought of possibly losing my parents in the near future. As soon as I was out of the hut I could hear Koto say, in a pouting tone, "All that work for nothing."

He was definiely my father's son.

Next Chapter- something will happen that will change plans and Chiori will have a chance to show her courage :)