Ritual Casting (10 minutes)

The caster sits on bare earth (or as close to nature as possible) and scatters a handful of specific animal fur or plant matter — whatever species they seek. They place their palms flat on the ground and close their eyes, sending their awareness outward through root and soil, riding the interconnected web of natural life. The world becomes a vast map of living things, each species a different color or vibration in the caster's expanded perception. The target species pulses like a beacon — the caster feels its direction and distance as surely as they feel the warmth of the sun. The experience is different for each caster: druids describe it as hearing the forest whisper directions; rangers feel it as an instinctive pull, like a compass needle swinging north. The ritual leaves the caster with a lingering awareness of the natural world that fades slowly after the spell ends — for a brief time, they feel the heartbeat of every living thing nearby.