The next day we found ourselves in the healer's chamber.

“What is this?” I asked, shoving my wrist under his nose.

It was light brown earlier, an intricate design that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, growing darker and more prominent over the past two days. The once faint symbol had darkened, becoming more prominent and mysterious.

Ralph, the shaman and the healer who we called Barron for secrecy, squinted at the mark, his bushy eyebrows knitting ...