"Mother, do I need to make an offering in the mountains?" Matilda inquired, her gaze fixed on the sky. The sun is about to set, and if her mother insists, she must travel alone in the forest in the middle of the night.
"After six years of doing this, are you still scared?" Matilda's mother raised her eyebrows in response. She handed Matilda the basket full of offerings and added. "If the villagers discover that we did not make the offering, they will undoubtedly hold us responsible for any disasters or calamities that may occur in our town!"
Matilda took a big breath, indicating her resignation. "Mother, calamity is a part of human life, so they can't blame us if it comes to our village!" she reasoned as she struggled to reach the basket of offerings. Matilda's commitment to make offerings to the mountains began when she was thirteen years old. She had no concerns in prior years, and she was also not fearful of walking in the middle of the night, but something is wrong this year. She has a feeling that something is different this year. That's why she's been pleading with her mother for several days not to be the one to make the offering.
"Don't complain because this is the last time you will do that..."
Matilda came to a halt on her way out of the house, looking at her mother with awe in her eyes.
"Well... I wanted to tell you about my surprise for your eighteenth birthday at midnight, but I don't want you to meet it with a grimace..."
Matilda held her breath in eager anticipation... She is intrigued by what her mother means, and she already has a notion of what it is. Matilda had been nagging her mother to let her visit the City because she has never gone. Matilda had been forbidden by her mother to leave since she was a child, and the chances of her reaching the hamlet could be counted on the fingers of one hand.
"I talked with your uncle, and he agreed... He will pick us up tomorrow." Matilda's mother refers to an uncle who lives in the city. "Technically, we are supposed to leave this mountain once we have secured the transfer of obligations." But since your replacement's mother is from the clan, we don't have to."
"Mother! "Are you serious?" Matilda screamed with joy. She raced to her mother in joy and hugged her tightly."Thank you!" she exclaimed, holding back her tears.
"I should be thanking you..." I am sorry that you have been imprisoned by our family's commitment for the past eighteen years..."
Matilda shook her head, breaking loose from her mother's hug. "Don't be sad, Mother... This is not your fault. "I know you were forced, just like others before us," she replied, sighed, and smiled at her mother.
Their clan was appointed to do the offering generation after generation. The New Moon daughter must reside at the bottom of the mountain and conduct the offering when she reaches the appropriate age. The only solace is that their commitment ceases when they reach the age of eighteen. At least, Matilda thought so. Because her mother never explained everything to her.
Matilda left their home with a bright smile on her face because of her mother's wonderful news.
------
The silence in the forest is oppressive; the only sounds are the rustling of the wind on the leaves of trees and plants, and the chirping of crickets hidden in the thickets.
"It's all right... Matilda, you're doing great!" She thought to herself as she walked carefully, the only light on her route coming from the torch she was holding. She then scowled as she looked up at the sky. The moon was obscured by dense clouds. "Huh! It's all right! I don't require your assistance! For all I care, hide! This is the final time I'll be visiting this mountain! I'll be free after this!"
Matilda arrived at the large tree on the cliff's edge after a few minutes of strolling. She smiled when she saw this. "Finally!" Matilda uttered while looking at the tree. While staring at it, she couldn't help but be amazed. This tree, according to her mother's narrative, existed before civilization was created.
"This is the final goodbye..." Matilda spoke and began to take the offering from the basket. She set them in front of the tree and lit candles around it before kneeling and beginning the ritual.
Matilda's mind grew preoccupied with prayer in the next moments, and because this was the last time she would conduct the rite, her prayer turned solemn. Despite her dislike for the idea, Matilda believes that their prayers assist to prevent calamity in their city.
"Crick!" The sound of a shattered branch.
Matilda came to a halt in the middle of her prayer when she heard the noise. He quickly turned in the direction it had come from. However, the darkness brought her nothing, so she ignored it and continued praying.
"Ah-woh!!!"
Matilda couldn't help but tremble as she heard this wailing. "No... It can't be... God, please..." she exclaimed as she hastily scooped up the torch that had been buried in the dirt. Matilda thinks the mountain is safe because there are no wild creatures on it. However, the earlier wailing suggests the contrary.
"Aw-wooh!!" The wailing that echoed up the mountain was lengthy and unbroken.
Matilda couldn't think anymore as she hurried away from the large tree, wrapped in terror. She slid down the mountain, avoiding the jagged branches that wounded her skin.
'What exactly is going on? What is the purpose of the wild creatures in the mountain? Matilda pondered this as she looked behind her to see whether the beast had following her.
Matilda slowed her pace and hid in a tree to collect her breath after certain that no one was following her.
"This is terrible... This animal is most likely a newcomer to the mountain. "The people in town need to know," Matilda said quietly. She took another deep breath and prepared to run quickly.
Before she could even take a step, something gripped her mouth and a powerful force wrapped around her waist.
"Ugh!" Matilda moaned as her head struck the tree before losing consciousness.
