Her body glittered with dew from her bath as she stepped out of her cottage under the light of the moon. She drew forth her basket of supplies from the step, within it her athame, candles, and gardening knife. She stepped down the steps and barefoot, walked down the path, stopping here and there, collecting the herbs and flowers needed this night. Slowly would she bend down, whispering the words of collection, while snapping them from their stems with the knife. The wind was low and light on her body, drying the moisture from her skin. Swiping her hand across her brow to move her hair behind her ear, she looked up into the sky, accessing the position of the stars to tell her how much time she had left to prepare for the ceremony.
The moon was starting to lift above the trees, telling her by its movement, she was on time in her chores. Basket full of what she needed, she lay the knife upon the path, knowing it had no place where she was to go.
Following the path, she reached the river, and crossed over the logs. Once across, she jumped down, and started upon an unseen trail leading deep into the woods, where lay a meadow with standing stones. She soon reached woods end, and stepping out, put foot on the path leading to the stones shining in the center of the meadow. As she approached, she saw above that the moon had risen and was nearing its point for the ritual she was to be a part of. Moving more quickly, she reached the stones, started placing the candles at their points. One for each direction, one for each element, and one for each participant. Eleven candles in a large circle.
Looking up at the night sky she saw it was time. Setting the basket down, she pulled out the athame, holding it up to the clearly lit night sky. Chanting in low tones she called to her Goddess, called to the points of the earth. Walking in a slow circle, she held the athame in one hand while holding the other raised over each candle, lighting them with the light within, creating her circle. Calling upon the elements at each point. Fire, earth, water, fire...
As she called upon the final element of air, the circle was cast. Returning to the circles center, she lowered the athame, and returned it to the basket. Lifting the herbs and flowers she had gathered, she placed them upon the alter in the center of the stones. Kneeling before them, she raised her hands, her voice rising with the wind, increasing in volume. Closing her eyes, hands raised fully to the sky, she finished her chant as a bolt of lightning streaked down from the sky across from her, hitting the ground near the edge of meadow meeting woods. A unnatural light glowed on the ground, incandescent in its fire. Rising from the grass behind it rose a figure, its skin shimmering in the witch light.
She senses the new presence, and opening her eyes, sees what has been sent to her.
He stood proud in the light, his muscles flexing from the cool wind that he did not feel, for the fire burning in his belly. His eyes speared through the night and met hers across the alter. His gaze burned into hers, spearing lust through her body, matching the fire in his. Returning his gaze, she stood up, showing off her skin shining in the light of the moon, and opened her arms.
Slowly he approached her, as a wolf might stalk a deer, moving toward her with sure movements, stealthy and light, his feet left no mark on the ground.
"The Hunters Moon has called us," he said to her. "Do you accept and yield on this sacred ground?"