Neophytes of the Stone — C. Lee Tocci

The Stone Voice rises. The Stars rejoice. And the Neophytes prepare for the coming battle. Unfortunately, no one has told the Stone Voice yet. Todd and the other members of the Raven Clan all know the truth: that eleven-year-old Lilibit is the Infant Stone Voice, the child that the people of Kiva have awaited for generations. The child that will, when she grows into the Stone Voice, create an army of stone warriors by bestowing upon them stones of power. On their journey to Kiva, Lilibit had given Todd and the others stones that had given them special abilities, powers that they had needed to elude the grasp of the demon Syxx and his minions when they tried to keep them from reaching the sanctuary of Kiva. But now, as they settle in with the other neophyte pledges, they all agree, not only to keep their powers a secret, but also not to mention their conviction that Lilibit is the Infant Stone Voice. But Lilibit is as unaware of her true calling as the rest of the Neophytes and beyond the fortifications of Kiva, the demon Syxx still plots to destroy the child. If Todd had thought that keeping Lilibit and the others safe on the journey to Kiva was treacherous, keeping them all safe within the valley might well be impossible.