A/N Thank you for your kind comments. Even though I don't reply each and every review I do appreciate all feedback.
"I'm going to have to steal my niece again", Azure said pulled Ram into an embrace.
"It's time?" Ram asked and Azure nodded.
"Where do you think you are you taking her?" Kandi asked with her squinted eyes.
"Nowhere", Trina said in equally menacing manner.
"It's time for me to face the mothers circle again. They are going to decide my fate and whether I should stay or leave here."
"What?"
"Calm down Kandi", Ram stepped to stop her sister from attacking her aunt, "Let me handle this. They are my family and I know what to do. You can come and listen, just listen."
"I don't think that's wise", Azure tried to change Ram's mind.
"It may not be wise but it's absolutely necessary", the young blond said with a tone her city friends hadn't heard her use before. It oozed authority and sense of entitlement, like no-one had the right to tell her they knew better. Azure nodded and left for the cottage. Ram took a step and stopped as the Turks rose to follow her. There was some deep sadness in her gaze as she said:
"Just the Amazons, just my sisters. I've broken too many rules already. No men at the mothers circle."
Katrina and Kandi were shown a place to stand and listen as Ram walked up to her mother. She was surrounded by all the mothers in her tribe waiting for her mother to speak.
"Now that the runes have been consulted, we can continue from where we left off", Aquamarine spoke weighing her every word, "We have to decide the fate of this young seer."
"What are they talking about?" Trina whispered to Kandi.
"I have no idea. Did you knew Ram had the Sight?" Trina shook her head and made another mental note to strangle her room mate just as soon as she would have filled the liquor cabinet.
"Her fate is hers to decide and only hers", Auburn interrupted her grand-daughter.
"But you yourself consulted the runes on the day she was born and you told us Roseata would lead this tribe and save us from a terrible fate", Aquamarine reminded the mothers and waited for them to catch their breath, "Her fate was decided on the day she was born."
"You are correct, that is what the runes told me on that happy day", Auburn admitted, "But the runes didn't tell me how she would fill this destiny of hers." If looks could kill, Aquamarine would have turned into a mass-murderer on that instant.
"Your daughter is the strongest seer I have met since I was an infant", Auburn spoke, "She can decipher her on her own. And she has done that."
"What do the runes say?" someone cried from darkness and others repeated the question. Reluctantly Aquamarine nodded and permitted her daughter to speak.
"There's a storm coming", Ram said suddenly, "Chances unlike anything we've seen before. This tribe does need a new leader. Someone who is just, strong and courageous, but that person isn't me. The gift of sight doesn't make me a leader of this tribe. My place is elsewhere."
"Why are they acting like it's a big deal?" Kandi whispered more to herself than to anyone else, "Of course Ram belongs with us."
"Something in the soil perhaps? All these people are nuts. I can see why she left", Trina replied.
"The runes have told me that traditions need to be mended before the new leader is ready to take over. When the last mother of the true mother's circle dies, the new seer will cast the runes and take this tribe on a long journey to a new home", Ram said without trying to hide the tears falling from her eyes.
"Are you predicting my death, daughter?" Aquamarine squalled.
"Not yours", her daughter said calmly, "You never were a true mother. In your jealousy you drove your only love to his death and poisoned your only child's love for you. No, I'm talking about the unfortunate fate of great-grandmother Auburn."
"You insolent little-"
"Quiet!" The Amazons jumped between Ram and Aquamarine with their guns at hand, "Don't you ever speak to our sister like that!"
"Kandi, Trina, that's enough. Please let me say good bye", Ram laid her hands on her sisters shoulders and stepped to the centre of the circle. She turned to face each mother at the time and spoke:
"My heart belongs here and I wish I can return someday, before it's too late. But right now I'm no longer part of this tribe. I have another tribe to protect and a life to save, if I can."
"Is someone going to die?" Neha cried out suddenly and the room fell silent. Auburn nodded.
"This dark fate has been looming at the edge of my sight for a long time. Only now that Roseata came back, have I been able to see it clearly. This shows how closely that death is tied to her and how she must be the one to stop it from happening. I am almost too old to serve my tribe", Auburn hung her head slightly and Azure rushed to support her grandmother, "All I can do is to train one more seer before I die."
"But there isn't another!" Someone yelled. Ram's and Neha's eyes met and for the first time Ram saw the courage in her cousin, she hadn't know was there.
"There is. My daughter Nella has the gift. She will begin her training as soon as great-grandmother Auburn sees it fit."
"Then it's decided", Azure said clearly overwhelming her sisters objections, "Nella will be the seer and Roseata will guide us from afar."
"May the runes guide you through all safe passages", Azure turned to whisper to Ram, "Go child. Go and be happy." Ram nodded and pulled her Amazon sisters with her out of the cottage.
"Aren't we saying good byes to your family?" Kandi asked as they ran to the Turks waiting by the chopper.
"All my family was there", Ram replied, "When the mothers circle sends you away, there's no going back. We are going to the city. We are going home."