No, she should keep a clear head.

Pan looked down at the bowl as it was offered to her. The color of the bowl darkened its contents, but the signature pink of the paesca was unmistakable. It smelled sour, with a smoky tinge to it. The knot in her stomach persisted. A few sips and it would go away, she was sure.

And yet, she couldn't bring herself to do it.

It felt like a bleating lamb being sent to slaughter; a weak, confused creature offered up to the powers that be. She was going, and she was going willingly, but she would not go meekly. She had questions for this beast, and she wanted the truth. It was all to easy to lie to a ****-up, soft-headed girl who couldn't tell up from down. She wasn't going to give herself that disadvantage.

Pan held up her hand and shook her head. "I don't want it," she said. When Mollina gave her a questioning look she added: "I have to see him for what he really is."

Murmurs among the witches. Disapproval, she guessed. Lorelai's lips curled into a smirk. Tythere brought her hands to her face in embarrassment. Mollina just sighed, and set the bowl aside.

"If that is what you wish, dear one, then so be it," Mollina said. She then took a sprig of Celladryn's own branches and tied it gently into Pan's hair, tucking it behind her ear.

"May Celladryn keep you, and guide you," Mollina said. The other witches repeated her words. Pan looked up at the great tree and wondered if He would, or even could do that sort of thing. She had always known the tree as a passive entity, not an active guardian. But what could she know? She still had a long way to go before she could even begin to scratch the surface of that magical mystery.

Finally, Mollina painted a seal of Binding between Pan's breasts. The symbols were different for each Binding - a representation of the Spirit's name. No other witch but Mollina would know the proper symbol to draw, as it was given to her by Maban the night before each Binding. The seal itself was meant to ward off unaffiliated Spirits, as Unbound witches could be tricked or **** into submitting to the wrong Spirit. This ensured both sides of the contract were fulfilled.

At the end of it all, Mollina brought Pan close and kissed her softly on the lips. Then Illyna, and then the others. All around her, the Bound witches offered her well-wishes, safe travels, and bid her a swift return. A few made lewd jokes and encouraged her to enjoy herself. Lorelai offered a kiss, but no words, lewd or otherwise. Tythere was the last to give her kiss, and pulled Pan into a hug as well.

"Don't worry," she whispered in Pan's ear, "Everything is going to be fine."

Pan swallowed hard as she hugged Tythere back. The knot in her stomach twisted, and her palms were sweaty. But her back was to the wall, and it was time to move forward. She gave Tythere a weak smile, hoping it would suffice for the words she just couldn't muster. Then she turned, and with their smiles and encouragements at her back, Panphrey walked into the woods.