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Getting forcefully slammed up to a tree and getting tied up isn’t fun at all. She was reeling from the pain throbbing on her head, hissing from it almost as the rope was tightened onto her body, the bark of the tree was so squished behind her she felt like she could melt into it. She never really expected to land herself in a situation like this. She only did all she was ever told, and ended up with her group slaughtered and ended up caught. She thought she could avoid all of this, really, but the reality was never sweet. She knew her sacrifice was inevitable. She knew she was doomed and set up for this. She hated to see it happen like this, but at least she kicked and screamed, begged and cried.
So it couldn’t hurt to beg some more.
“Please! Let me go!” She pleaded. “I’ll be faithful! I’ll follow Leshy’s ways like they’re in my blood! I—“
“SILENCE!” A cultist growled at her. Frankly, they were getting tired of her whining and crying. It was no wonder why she managed to go last. She somehow simply couldn’t die without a word. The cultist took a heavy breath and released it, the others circling around the tree and began getting in position. “It’s cute you think that’ll work, but nothing’s landing you out of this situation. The sacrifice to the roots shall be fruitful.” They chirped. It sickened her. It horrified her, even. This was it. She was getting sacrificed to a big living bush with weird tree believers. She desperately tried to free herself, struggling from the small time she had. With them all settled nearby, they raised their weapons, a chant began to be said:
“The worm, it is hungry. It feeds. It partakes of our flesh. But that is the price for safety. For that we gladly give it all we have.”
Before it could go on, a figure stepped into the room. They made their presence known with light but firm steps, and a bell that jingled and slowly swayed from the glint in the dark. She snapped her head to the figure in confusion. Who in the gods name is that?
The figure stood with fluffy fur. She couldn’t tell which animal, but they’re did seem pretty fluffy. They also had what seemed to be a cloak and a crown on their head with one red eye that glowed, staring right at her. The red eye was the only color that seemed to stand out from the shadow that just idled there. If she could sink her head into her shoulders, she would be doing that, but it’s a little hard to when you’re tied up. She could only anxiously stare at them, their body still. The cultists turned their heads, raising their swords as the figure’s crown slowly moved, slithering out of sight. Before she could even think of what was about to happen, the figure rushed to a cultist, whipping out a sword and slicing the cultist into the ground, their body grossly sloshing and dropping into bloody pieces from the impact. She winced, before the rest tried to attack. One by one, they easily managed them all, dodging and slicing without a hassle. No matter the amount, the stranger just seemed to power through it.
She wasn’t paying attention to get a good look. She was desperately trying to free herself, to loosen the rope’s grip. The mysterious figure gave her some time to get herself together and try to free herself before she may be next. She didn’t even bother to look at all the ruthless violence until a swordsman tried to back away. The figure approached closer just so she could finally get a good look.
The figure had white fluffy wool that covered most of their body, ears that drooped to their sides, little legs that looked bent. Her eyes widened in almost shock. For some reason, this was one of the only times she finally managed to see a lamb. In broad daylight (to what she assumed was broad daylight, it’s a little hard to tell by the trees in Darkwood).
The lamb quickly finished off the cultist before she coincidentally fell from the tree, the ropes falling to the floor and her following with it. She looked up at the lamb, her arms trembling. The lamb gave a simple glance, their red eyes pierced at her soul before wandering around the room, trying to reap the resources around before getting to her. She fearfully backed up to the tree before the lamb put up a hand. They raised it slowly as she herself rose, too. Her body drifted upwards, her arms still trembling and her eyes wide open while a portal opened up right under her. In a blink of an eye, she was pulled into it, the portal closing once she was put through it.
She thought she was dead.
She rose up from the ground, soon slamming into cold stone. She slowly lifted herself up to sit up and glanced around. She couldn’t tell where she was, or if this was a good idea to even stay here. She then glanced around. There were people. People that were followers, maybe. They wore red stitched shirts and happily chittered with each other. They gave glances to her every now and then, before giving her a small wave. They seemed happy here— no, they WERE happy. They seemed excited to see her, too. It didn’t really sink in to what this was until she saw everything around her. Candles, followers, a temple, small little beds, a LARGE LAMB SHRINE. She only then realized what this was. A new god in the making. A new following being born at this very moment. That’s when their leader came back. The lamb that put her here came up from another circle on the floor from her guess. They all surrounded the lamb, excitedly waiting to see what they had found.
“My followers.” The lamb sounded cold, mysterious. For a lamb, he was doing a damn good job at being somewhat intimidating. This wouldn’t last long, as soon as they whipped out the heart, they grinned, their eyes glimmering with joy. “I have come from an expedition victorious!”
They all cheered, screaming at the top of their lungs and throwing flowers, confetti, anything colorful. Even food? The lamb happily skipped down the steps, swooned some bear, she assumed was their husband, into a quick kiss and twirled him to the side before making their way to her. The lamb studied her carefully, tilting their head a little as they smiled.
“So sorry about the sudden whisking away!” They tilted their head downward, placing their hand onto their chest. “Today was a rough expedition, but I’m glad to have found another I can guide to the right path!”
She looked shocked. How did a lamb so horrific can be so sweet? She bowed her head, clasping her hands together. “Please, spare me. I will follow your teachings faithfully!”
“And that you will, I’ll make sure of it.” They hum, arching slightly to talk to her more clearly. “What’s your name?”
“Thortreryn.”
The lamb blinked. “Ah…. What?”
The cat stuttered, her ears flicking back anxiously. “But my friends used to call me Ruri for short!” She stuttered awkwardly.
They seemed interested, their drooped ear raising. “Ruri, hm?”
“Well, They did say Rery, but it sounded a little weird.” She shrugs.
“Well, I don’t feel like changing much about you besides… that, so, I dub thy name as Ruri!” They chirp, soon raising her up and changing her rags into soft and warm red clothes. She smiled as her new leader greeted her. “You’re in the enlightenment of the lamb. Please, make yourself comfortable.” They gestured to the tents that were being finished up by a few others members. “They’re pretty new, so today’s our testrun.”
She shimmied over as The Lamb greeted other people. She walked over to a tent and adjusted it, making it open. She then nodded. Yep. This is all she had to do to claim it. Totally.
As the bells of the temple rung, the followers begin to cheerfully rush in. Her and another new follower walk in right after, knowing that today, everything may just be a lot better.