In The Land I Am A Lion

In the center of the woods, behind the gates, across the river, black waits for a prayer at dawnBefore sun sets in golden glow, underneath her wings, a sacrifice is dueThe nunvil between the pinesAcross the river meat drinks in a dazzling whiteWhere the river breaks its normal route, a water pure is there to drinkBoiled on top eternal flames, its smoke calls down the goddessIn her yellow eyes, fighting in her grace, there her blessing will fall upon you

The Coming of Age ceremony is sacred to the Marmora. As they meet the holy lions, boys become men. Keith, youngest of his tribe, is the only one who has never been inside the forest. Through the warnings of danger he only finds himself being held back. That is until one night, Keith takes fate into his own hands with a Blade he has never seen before. But inside the forest of Lions, he doesn’t find a godess to bless him. Instead, he finds a guardian who is willing to help him and keep him company. In the darkness of the woods, Keith wonders if it’s just imagination and the shadows that make him see the man’s skin as black as the night sky.