Chapter Text
You really should have listened. As your breath brings pain to your body from how long you've been running. To the blood in your ears roaring to the blood in your spit from screaming and your limbs threatening to give. Every muscle taunts and is ready to snap. Trees scratching your face as you bulldoze through the dark forest that blocks the sun above and casts shadows as tall as the trees themself. But none of it matters amongst other things with the heretics chasing.
You should’ve fucking listen.
Everything hurts, you can barely think— no you can't think. The way electricity splits through your body and a burning takes hold. You open your mouth to scream but nothing comes out and a ringing holds, so loud it almost overpowers the pain of everything else.
There is quiet.
Your body is cool and still, much like a corpse. But you are very much alive if the thump thump thumping of your heart is anything to go by. You want to sleep amongst the soft floor and songs of birds. You want to sleep.
(Something within pokes and prods. Bony fingers push at your very soul. Get up, get up, get up.) You groan and your eyes twitch. (An annoyed growl, you almost laugh. Sounds like an angry cat.) Then there's a sharp pain as if scratched and you jolt up. Your eyes are wide as you suck in air. It feels like a century of asphyxiation as you gobble it in and out.
(A pleased chuckle filters the back of your mind. The presence fades.) You whip around in the now dead silent forest. You twitch your ‘hands’, hands being questioned because your entire body feels strange. The land around you, stranger. The last you remember was being on your computer in pitch black, playing cult of the lamb. Trying to beat Anura and get to Heket as you speedran the game when a bright light hits you.
You assess your surroundings. The trees stretch high and light barely breaks through. You are in the shadows and can barely see far in front of you. Iron, wood, dirt, fire all hit your senses hard. The forest is full of these scents. Ones that bring a sense of dread. You dare to open your mouth but close it. You look down and nearly scream, a soft sharp gasp that echoes in the dead silence.
Your hands…aren't hands at all. They are paws with golden brown hue and specks of white strands. A soft curly texture. Your left arm has patches of scales . Much like a lizard or alligator. You are on the verge of tears as your mind spirals. You whip around shakily. Mirror… mirror! Something! The forest is dense and dark but your ears somehow pick up on water, it's dangerously clear but no stream in sight. Your ears shouldn't do that, you're human . But nonetheless a stream. You dash toward it but nearly trip, not use to your legs.
You dare to look down to see hooves . Hooves like a sheep. Hooves that should not be there. You are human, you are human, you are human . (No matter how many times you repeat it and stare at your legs, nothing changes, eventually you are forced to blink and tears fall down your face.)
You can barely control your breathing as your vision swims. All the while trying to find water. You must be dreaming, you must! Black dots fill your vision and you trip. Hitting the cold freezing water. A yelp leaves you and the shock brings you out the would be panic attack as you sputter and cough. You look at the water and freeze. Tears well in your eyes once again and make ripples in the water's reflection.
Your face is that of a lion but the right eye is that of a goat with a curling horn. The fur below your neck is attempting to curl like wool. But it's loose curls, as if the lion in you won't allow it. You jump, seeing some flicker and turn to see your lion-esque tail. But the end is wool. You sob quietly, no longer able to hold it. This is a nightmare, it had to be. You knew what you were. You feel around your body and flinch when you figure out there's also wings attached to you. Feeling them felt like touching your arm but far more sensitive. It's too real, too connected to you. You aren't supposed to have this many limbs!
You wrack your brain for memories but the harder you try, the more pain surfaces. All you get is a warbler voice in your head. Your head hurts and you whine like a dog. “I heard something over here!” You snap to a stand at that, just as the bushes part to hooded figures. Ten in total, eyes gleaming with years of bloodlust.
You dreadfully recognize them. Heretics, yes you remember them. Cutsie enemies that aren't so cute anymore. Their clothes of dark color and golden design are far more detailed, too real . They seem to freeze and they turn to each other in shock. “A divine beast? They are only foretold in books and through word!”
They seem to praise you and for a moment you think you can work with this. Gain their trust, somehow gain albeit temporary protection from a god. Maybe the setting is scary but the premise will not be. They whisper amongst themselves for a brief moment and the hope dies in you when one wears a smile that screams death.
“Why don't you come with us?” It is not a question. You will come . That scares you the most. They step forward, you see one pull out a glinting dagger. Instincts in you come to life and they take over.
Run.
So, here we are. As luck would have it. Your limbs ache, your body screams and the chase has no end in sight. The heretics are chasing and throwing daggers at your legs. Screaming and hissing at you to behave. A worm, one you faced with anger as it hopped around the screen. Surprise you constantly and ultimately beat you several times, pops from the earth. You shriek, the thought of being nothing more than a splatter stain pushes you into hysterics. Tears are streaking your vision as you tear through the forest. Your vision tips as pain explodes through your foot.
This is it . You are going to die here. You wish you hadn't been so obsessed with the Isekaid genre. Maybe if you had spent less time trying to play games, fill that empty hole built by capitalism. Would it have been better to live by the machine? You run face-first into something soft and hear a baa of confusion and surprise. You barely register your savior as you cry out. “Please! Please help, make them stop! I don't want to die !”
Every cell and pore is loud, everything is loud and you can barely enjoy the feeling of your savior when everything feels awful beneath your paws.
The creature ruffles your head and dislodges itself stepping forward. You look up with watery eyes and are stunned. Could it be? Could that really be the protagonist of this game you've been pulled into? You have no time to think.
It points to a bush and you barely make out through blurry vision as you run to hide. The sounds are agony. Not because your senses are off the chart but because of what you hear next. The sound of sliced fleshed, guttural choking and you assume blood being spit up, screams of rage and pain, and large thuds after thud before it falls silent. You see blood leak under the bush you lay, tainting what seems a burlap tunic with a dark color.
This game wasn't so terrifying when it was on the computer. The violence wasn't this graphic. The sounds alone…
“Hi!” You scream at that and fall to gaze up at your ‘hero’. The lamb with a face far too innocent is covered in blood. Far too cute in their pint-size glory and face that would've caused you cute aggression in any other scenario with those large eyes to be painting the world red. They approach you with open arms. A soft smile. Glinting bloody blade in one hand that you can see your wrecked reflection in.
“Be not afraid!”
Instead, you are very afraid. So afraid that you can't breathe. Each breath is too short and your head spins as you attempt to crawl away. You swear your arms are lagging behind as the sheep flinches in shock. He looks at his weapon then back at you and unsummons it. Getting to their knees and shuffling closer. You try to fend them away but your vision is hazy and they clasped your paws in their ‘hands’ and whisper softly. You whimper and they shush you. Laying you back.
“It's ok, it's ok, take a deep breath and hold it for me,” they whisper. You do as they ask, body trembling. “Ok, Now release— slowly . There we go, it's Ok. You're doing a good job..”
Your vision lessons from the prickly static view as you breathe. The sheep tells you to hold, counts to four them has you release. “Can you tell me three things you can see?” The sheep asks. You part your mouth, not speaking for a moment.
“T…trees,” you wheeze out, voice cracking. “B..birds..yo..you..” the sheep smiles dark red-hued eyes softening.
“good, good, now three things you can smell?” they ask and you blink, squeezing your eyes and turning your head into the earth.
“Wool..ah..uh. Trees..earth,” you reply softly. Breathing much better now, though your chest hurts and your heart is still a bit loud. The sheep hums in acknowledgement. They softly caress your ear and you instinctively lean into it. “I.. can feel that too…”
“two other things you feel?” He asks with a hum. You blink your eyes open.
“Grass,” you start. “and the cold.” The sheep baas encouragingly.
“Good job! Want to sit up now?” they ask. You look at them for a long second then nod. They help you to sit and you watch them a little warily. They merely smile a fish through their bag to reveal berries. Ones you've gathered a hundred times in-game. You hesitate but take one and chew. It surprisingly has a slightly sweet taste to it. Your stomach rumbles loudly. The sheep takes your paws and places the rest in them.
You eat them in silence.
“You know,” he starts. “I have never seen anything like you..there’s a lot of legends and tales that get told by mouth but never one of you..” You merely look at him. Of course not, you aren’t supposed to even be here! He continued, red cape swishing as he rocked. Bell gave a soft chime. “Actually, now that I think back, maybe I did… Indescribable animals who had a hand in the creations of gods…. but I don't know. It's been a long time.” They say. They assess you or..maybe just stare and their cute baby doll eyes fall to your legs. Lamb legs.
You instinctively hide your legs and he looks up. “I didn't mean to make you self conscious.”
“I …don’t know how I got here,” you reply quietly, not too focused on the lamb's rambling. The sheep assesses you and then hums. “Do you remember anything?” They ask and you open your mouth because of course, you do ! You know heretics, you know the premise of the game, The one who waits, his vessel the lamb, defeating the bishops… and you..you..
Why can't you remember anything else? What were you doing before playing? You try to think back on your transportation here…you saw a bright light while playing the game. The game is about a vessel sheep doing a God's bidding, this is your favorite…game so you play it a lot. But..how did you get in it .
It dawns on you. Are you dead?
The sheep mutters something, you dart your eyes to them and that smile flits back. You swore you saw something else and your ears pin back. They soften. “Don't hurt yourself, it will come back with time…”
You want to ask how far along the sheep is. A memory comes back. Can the sheep read your mind yet? Their eyes do not betray them though as they stand up, smile ever present.
“You know,” he starts, swaying back and forth cutely. “If you come to stay with me, you'll be safe. The cult is safe, death will never be the end there.” You feel an odd vibe in the way he speaks. Like this is practiced. They take your hand and help you stand.
“I am the bearer of the crown of death, it may seem scary but there's nothing to fear, for death is both beginning and end. And I will be there to walk you through it…” were there lines like this in the game? No, definitely not. He's trying to indoctrinate you. This is no longer the game, everything is far more detailed. “I see a promising future for you, wayward child. A worthy acolyte. But you'll have to learn many things and get there with time.”
The way the sheep looks at you is expectant. A grin showing a slight ulterior reason. After all, finding stray creatures meant a new follower . You were nothing more and it should be easy to recruit you. Why wouldn't it? It's never really a hassle to get followers once you save them. The sheep isn't expecting anything different of you. “Lamb, I…” you start. Their face light up.
“I do not wish to take part in rituals,” There's a shock on their face then dreadful calm. They tilt their head, observing, seeing through you . They aren't cute anymore, nothing about their face screams cute as if they're begging to say something heinous as their smile pulls taunt.
“B-but I can work, I'll do tasks, help out but… but I do not wish to participate in rituals,” you stagger out. Spooked once more. Anxiety ripples up your spine. They scan your face and their smile softens but the devious glint doesn't leave. They chuckle quietly, are they amused? No, nothing about this is promising. It's a slight mock. He'll convince you .
Maybe you're reading too much into him because of the game's background. “As long as you do not plan on dissenting —” does he think you are just another variation of one? “That's good enough.” He grazes his hand by the right side of your face, plucking leaves.
“Cute… ” you swear you hear it but you have no time to see if you heard correctly. As the ground gives way. Your heart enters your throat as you feel like you're falling into pitch black and it takes everything not to piss yourself in fright. This was too realistic of a fall and you curl up in fright.
You expect to drop at the cult grounds but instead, you're met with billowing cloudy grounds and white mist. What— oh… Oh . You're in The one who waits’ domain. The memory comes to you. As well as an embarrassing memory. He was your favorite character . So much so that you bought tons of merchandise. You have no idea why you hyper-fixated on him. But now you're terrified to face him and stay crouched. No followers met him so why were you?
“I know you're there, no need to hide..” oh…his voice is… deep . So much so it rumbles in your rib cage. It’s a distinct drawl , reminiscent of a russian accent really. How strange in a world like this, his accent exists. A part of you is flustered suddenly. Out of everything that happened to you, this feels far too mortifying. Especially how fast your mind cleared that moment. It at least helps that even if you blushed you are in fur, you brace yourself to face him. You stand up and glance down the path. It's bellowing with white and it feels fluffy under your…’feet’. The one who waits is there at the end of the path. He’s huge , looming and intimidating but yet also full of awe. He leans forward, smirking. Head in one hand and amused. Waiting for you . You walk slowly down the path seeing both Aym and Baal, in all their real-life glory who are considerably taller than you. Both holding weapons that make you see your life flash before your eyes.
You stand a good distance away before him, mouth agape slightly. The dark veil hid his face but you know he was looking at you . His gaze is overpowering in every way. His robes were tattered some but eggshell white with a very noticeable red streaking down his front. He was expecting something and you almost didn't realize by the way his attention had you captivated. You grabbed the edges and curtsied. Is this correct? You are greeting a god right?
A chuckle seems to reverberate all around you. “Not what I was asking for but appreciated all the same,” you felt so embarrassed, tense, and worse, now that he was in front you? He’s kinda handsome. You are going insane. The lamb was cute if not a little creepy. (You didn't expect anyone to be sane after witnessing their own kind of genocide but you digress) But he causes a whole new set of feelings.
A pointed finger raised your trembling head. “You truly know how to flatter. But I have something else of use for you,” What did he mean by that? We are not speeding past— “ The lamb can crusade and tend to a flock but it'd be easier if there were two. I can not split the crown, though my influence will remain. But you are a divine beast and with time, will generate some strength from being near the crown. Plus a divine beast among the ranks would help dearly with faith.”
“Listen,” you start, voice small. “I’m not who you think—”
“You are exactly who I know you are,” He cuts you off with a wide smile that feels cruel and hungry. “You are the soul prophesied to me all those years ago, you are my saintess .” You blink, what was he talking about? “I'm very much aware you're somewhat of an enigma, my Sibling foretold the return of a divine beast long before they foretold my… betrayal ..” he spit that out like it was blasphemy, insulting. “A divine beast to mold, an ancient kind that would fall into my hands. You were agreed to be a shared being among the old faith…but as you can see, I am no longer willing to share anything anymore.”
You don’t know what to say. Truly. Prophesied? There was an update coming, more lore. Which is the reason you cracked the game back open! But, it hadn’t come out and you have no idea what the hell he’s talking about. Your brain spins. What’s this about a saintess? Is this because of all the Korean manhwa you’ve read? This isn’t even the right genre! “ I had expected a child to be born. But this is far more interesting,” he seems amused by this. He grabs your face with his index and thumb. It takes you out of your thoughts. Your eyes shift to the claws too close to you eye.
He purrs incredibly quietly through his inspection, if you weren’t so close in his grasp you’d never hear it. “Let it be known, you live because I allow it ,” he squeezes some. But the moment you whimper he lessens, satisfied. Your eyes are wet and he just cooes mockingly. He moves your face around in his hand, easily fending off your hands when you instinctively reach out. “I could just consume you, gain more strength for my crown. As your very soul fuels it. If you cannot maintain its influence then you will feed it ,” Fear takes hold of you for a brief moment— “Pledge yourself to the cult, you will regain all the necessary memories over time to free me,” he manhandled you the whole time he spoke. You try to step back but he drags you forward. Forces you to listen, to stay still. Good and obedient.
“This isn't very convincing!” you squeak out.
“I'll send you back wince you came once I'm freed,” that gets you pausing and you look at him.
“Do you..know?” He smiles that threatening toothy grin. But he spills nothing and you struggle to get out of his grip.
“Be good now,” the way he lowers his voice in tone has you instantly stilling. You aren't too convinced if it was mainly fear controlling you and neither is he. He snickers at you. “Desperate much?”
“Fuck you,” Split from your mouth far too quickly. Embarrassment makes you something else. Aym and Baal glare at you and you wonder if you're just going to die now. But he barks out a laugh, a sigil appears on the cloudy ground as he stands full height and flips the view back some to stare at you with three rounded eyes 2 ½ scrunched in what you assume amusement. You're a toy to him, you realize and you are a very exciting one.
“You wish,” he cackles and drops you in the sigil.
You close your eyes in fright and his laugh rings through you. You feel cool air on your sweat covered body and you don't open your eyes until you here a soft baa. You peek to see the lamb with that ever present smile in the height of night. Eyes acting as if they belong with the stars. A knowing look at you, sitting on your elbows and looking at him.
“I knew you'd be something special,” his hooded eyes says he knows something more before his bright innocence returns. “How did it go?” You are quiet for a long pregnant pause.
“What?”
“You met him, surely,” they say, humming at the end. You can't take this, any other isekai has a story to follow. Where the hell do you fit in this?
“Can I just die?” You ask. He giggles, leaning over you.
“Was it that bad? You look in relatively good shape. He even gave you a nice mark!” your eyes go wide.
“ What ,” the Lamb's smile drops as he bites his cheek and you stare at him with incredulous eyes to elaborate.
“Need a bucket—” he points and you scramble to see. A red marking with markings you can’t understand sits on your forehead but what's embarrassing is the center is a heart . He's just podcasting you have a crush on him! The lamb saddles up next to you. There's a knowing smile, a teasing smile as he asks. “Hey, what does it mean?” you glare at him.
“You know what it means,” his eyes scrunched at your words. He's fucking with you.
“No need to be embarrassed. They do say he is the most handsome of all the siblings of old faith, surely I wish he had glanced at me too,” he says. You glance at him.
“You wish what? ” you look at him bug-eyed.
“Is it so surprising? Isn't his voice nice? His overpowering demeanor that so deliciously speaks of confidence?” the sheep all but purrs as if he's imagining it. You want to jokingly call him fruity. The sheep laughs at something but he catches himself. He clears his throat.
“Come along, let's find you a house to occupy,” you go to stand but whimper and nearly fall. The sheep catches you quickly. “Ah, I did not realize you were hurt…”
“N..neither did I,” you reply and you lean on his shorter frame as he helps you to a shelter. It reminds you of Teepees funnily enough. You look around as you stagger over. Several houses with candle decorations and a golden walkway that leads to the entrance. Several mini statues, four outhouses in the distance, etc. It seems the lamb has made the place look pretty for the most part and slowly built the place up. Several followers are asleep, you see three empty ones and the lamb opens it. It's just big enough for two people. Probably because the lamb is half the height of one.
(You swear you hear a grumble of displeasement but the lamb looks unphased. The laughter at the back of your head disappears before you can question it.) The lamb assesses a hoof and he tuts. “Gonna need to be off it awhile, let me get some supplies,” he says and steps out. The quiet is brief as you take in the darkness and try not to cry. Everything is hitting you, the chase, the fact you're here, and the encounter. The lamb returns and you turn away to hide your tears. He sighs.
“Why are you crying?” He asks. Peering at your face, pouting. “You're safe now.”
“I don't…belong here… I don’t belong…I'm not,” you try to say. You're human . You say in mind, you wonder if it matters because his face doesn't bare anything.
“Whether you belong here or somewhere else, doesn't matter,” he starts, softly. Eyes full of thought. “We can't change the past.” you don't say anything, he uses a flat stick after washing and applying balm and ties it tight with bandages. You feel pitiful and it isn't till he stands on the tips of his hooves and pats you that you meet his gaze. “Be strong and have faith,” he starts. “After all, the hardest battles are given to the strongest warriors… you will be a strong, lovely warrior won't you?”
You don't feel in the mood for this, so you avert your gaze. “Rest,” he says and steps back. You look at the mossy sleeping roll then him and he smiles softly and turns away. You shift into it, missing your room and bed. No narinder plushie to cuddle and for some reason that's all it takes to break. You sob yourself quietly to sleep.
If you are dreaming, you wish to wake up.
Thousands upon thousands of Chimeras stare at you with white ghostly gazes. Something breathes along your neck and you turn around. This chimera has the head of a sheep as their forehead bleeds, caved in. Red coats their face.
“665 have failed, 666 you'll be ,” it whispers so quickly you can't register it. Their breath is frigid. “665 have failed, 666 you'll be,” it repeats. Suddenly they all begin to chant but now with wounds so visceral, you are sure, these are what killed them.
“665 have failed, 666 you’ll be!” their voices rise and blood pours in, drowning your knees. Their faces distort grotesquely and for a split second they almost look human .
“665 HAVE FAILED, 666 YOU'LL BE!”
You wake up in a cold sweat.