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markofthewolfwritten · 1 year ago

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{Prologue}

There is a clan of Wolves, 34 in total. One fell ill, she's a black wolf named Kuronae, she's the wife of a white wolf named Shiro, and the mother of two twin pups, Sora and Aros who were only 7. She passed away from the illness, it was incurable to the other wolves knowledge. Before she passed away she gave her two sons an item, a dagger to Sora, and a pendant to Aros. Soon after she died Shiro was devastated by this, he tried his best to be a single dad for the pups but her death broke him… Soon after the clan was losing food to eat

Clan Leader: "Fellow wolves, it would seem that our food source is running low. Eventually we'll have to find food in bigger teams, spread out in a wider range."

Shiro: "This isn't good… The hell am I gonna do?"

He looks at the twins, they were practicing a secret handshake

(I don't care what happens to me, but my boys… I need to feed them more than myself. I can take care of myself.)

Weeks later, the food continues to dwindle as the days go by. Another meeting was held

Clan Leader: "As you all surely realized… We hardly have any food left. This famine has to be halted… As much as I hate the decision, but we'll have to eat… Other people… People who aren't in the clan…"

Shiro: (Cannibalism!? That's what were commiting now!?)

Sora: "Dad? Is isn't that bad?"

Aros: "Dad?"

Shiro: Looks at them worried

"I'm so sorry boys…"

He kneels down hugging them.

(What do I do? I don't want them to become cannibals…)

Shiro's only idea he had was to go further out to find what smaller creatures to feed his boys. He managed to keep this up for a few years, though throughout those years him and the twins were ridiculed for being "weak" and not eating another person to survive

"Ha! What's wrong? Don't have the guts?"

"Pathetic weaklings…" More years have passed, either Shiro finds food or he doesn't, that's what the boys learned, he taught them killing others for the sake of one's need to satiate their hunger is wrong. They had to watch so many innocent people be cannibalized by the clan. Until one night, once the boys were 17, Aros woke up to be met with the entire village covered in blood and corpses.

Aros: "Wh-What happened!? What's going on!? Did a feral beast attack!? Maybe I should…"

Touches one of the corpses and closes his left eye, he sees that this person was sleeping while a bipedal figure kill them in their sleep!

Aros: "It's nothing feral, but they killed them while they were asleep!? Whoever they were knew what they were doing, it was in a vital spot."

Aros walks around cautiously, watching every corner. He then hears a sound, its coming from the shelter beside him. He peek in to see Sora repeatedly stabbing another wolf

Aros: "Sora!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"

Sora: Turns around to look at Aros

"Huh!? Aros!?"

His right side was shown to Aros, he was covered in blood, his right eye's pupil was shaped in an "X".

Aros: "Have you lost your mind!? Why do this!?"

Sora: Stands up and faces him

"They were killing innocent people! Someone had to do something!"

Aros: "But why did it have to be YOU!?"

Sora: "Huh?"

Aros: "Dad and I were gonna do this as a last resort! First we were gonna get some mercenaries to deal with them! If they didn't work then we would've…"

Sora: "Oh…"

Aros: Pinches the area between his eyes

"Oh god Sora… Why did you have to do this?"

Shiro: Walks in looking alerted

"What happened!? I heard yel- Sora no…"

Sora: "Dad? Wait hold on!"

Shiro: "Don't worry Sora, I'm not mad, it just what you just did was very stupid…"

Sora: "What's gonna happen to me?"

Aros: "They'll put a bounty on your head, its not safe here you killed too many people at once."

Shiro: "Whoever witnessed this will probably tell the authorities. You need to run." Sora: "But… Where do I go?"

Shiro: "I don't know son… But you have to run, very far away."

Aros: "We're sorry we can't go with you…"

Sora: "No… Its fine, this is what I get for being stupid…"

Shiro: "You were only trying to do what you believe is right son. Don't forget this feeling okay?"

Sora: Nods with a guilty expression

"Okay dad."

Sora walked out of the shelter until Aros grabbed his arm

Sora: looks back at Aros

"Huh?"

Aros: "You did what you did because you didn't want any more innocent lives to be taken, you have a good heart Sora, don't lose sight of it."

Sora: Nods

"Don't worry, I won't."

Aros: Let's go off his arm. He starts tearing up

"Now go, I love you lil bro…"

Shiro: "I love you son."

Sora: Tears up

"Yeah, l-love you too…"

Sora runs far far away wiping his tears. He no longer has a home, he has no one to help him, he was completely…Alone, he has after hours of constant resting and running he begins to slow down… His body was starting to wear out, he collapsed on the ground beginning to pass out, he sees two smaller figures approach him before blacking out

Sora: (Crap…they…found me…)

Sora slowly wakes up, he groans feeling groggy

???: "Aym look! He's waking up!"

He hears a smaller voice

???: "I'll go get mother!"

He sees the small kitten in white run out to somewhere calling for his mother. The other kitten that's wearing black stays with him

Sora: "Where…am I?"

???: "You're in our caravan, we travel around and sell people stuff."

Sora: Slowly sits up and looks at him

"Caravan? Stuff?"

???: "Mhm. We're 'entrapenures'."

Sora: "You mean 'entrepreneur'."

???: "Yeah that!"

The kitten in white came back with a much larger cat. She had a concerned and friendly smile on her face

???: "Why hello lost one! Welcome to our caravan! My name is Forneus, and these are my beautiful kits, the one in black is Aym and the one in white is Baal."

Aym: smiles at Sora nodding Baal: Walks up to Sora

"What's your name?"

Sora: "I'm Sora…"

Forneus: "It's very nice to meet you Sora."

Sora: "Same to you ma'am."

Forneus: "Oh please just call me Forneus."

She giggles

Aym: Looks at Sora's clothing, its covered in dried up blood

"Your clothes are dirty."

Sora: Looks down at himself

"Oh! Umm…"

Forneus: "Aym! That's a very rude thing to say! Apologize!"

Aym: "But I was-"

Forneus: "Aym…"

She gives him a serious look

Aym: He sighs and turns back to Sora

"I'm sorry Sora…"

Sora: "It's okay, I wasn't offended. Though he is right, these clothes are pretty dirty."

(This is all blood that's been dried up, its a good thing I wore black…)

Forneus: "Hmm… Well I do have a washing rake, and there happens to be a river near here. You can wash your clothes there."

Sora: "Okay, thank you."

Forneus: "The pleasures' all mine Sora."

Baal: "You'll need something wear while your clothes are drying, umm mother do we have anything?"

Forneus: "Well, I do have some clothes, but they might be a bit to big for him."

Sora: "I don't mind, as long as I have something to cover with."

Forneus: "Okay, I'll be right back."

She walks over to the other side of the caravan, she pulls out a brown cloak

"This will keep you covered for when you clean your clothes."

Sora: Walks up and takes the cloak

"Yeah, thank you. I'll go wash these clothes then."

Forneus: "Okay, take your time!"

Aym: "Make sure you're very throw! Mom always tells me that."

Baal: "I think you meant 'thorough'."

Aym: "I-I know what I said!"

Sora chuckled and walked out and went by the river. Once he changed his clothes he started washing his old ones, the water became a mix of dirt and blood, it looked murky. Sora was looking around periodically to make sure no one saw him, he then looked back at the caravan

Sora: (It's best if I don't tell them about what I did.)

After a few minutes, Sora was finished cleaning his clothes, he poured the bucket out

The blood and dirt filled water flows and dissipates into the river. He rinses it down to get rid of any residue of the liquid. He then wrings out the wet clothing to speed up the drying process, he walks back to the caravan

Sora: "I'm done!"

Forneus: "Oh good! You can hang up your clothes here."

She walks over and points to a drying rack, she helps Sora with hanging the damp clothes up on it.

Sora: "Thank you for this, you're very kind."

Forneus: "Aww, I'm only just helping someone who needs it."

She smiles sweetly

Sora: (Helping someone who needs it…)

"I owe you fo-"

Sora's stomach growls, he looks down at himself

"Oh."

Forneus: Giggles

"Well it's seems like its time for lunch, how long has it been since you've last eaten?"

Sora: "Yesterday."

Forneus: "Oh my! We need to put some food in you! Please come with me!"

She takes Sora's hand and takes him into the caravan, she gives him some berries to eat

Forneus: "This will keep you from starving for now, I'll go make the four of us a meal. Just hold on okay?"

Sora: "Okay."

He starts eating the berries, the kits walked in from the bedroom

Aym: "Is it time to make lunch mom?"

Baal: "Can we help?"

Forneus: "Of course my beautiful kits, I just need some ingredients like…"

Forneus and the kits were talking about ingredients for a berry meal. It took around 30 minutes to make it, they all sat down and had equal servings except for Sora

Sora: "Thank you, but I have more than you guys."

Forneus: "You haven't eaten in a whole day! You definitely needed more than the usual serving!"

Aym: "You didn't eat in a whole day!?"

Sora: "Yeah, I haven't…"

Baal: "If you are still hungry after your done, you can have what's left of mine. I don't really eat too much."

Sora: "Nah it's fine, thank you for offering Baal."

Sora starts eating the meal, it's the first meal he had in a while. His dad was only able to find small meals he had to share with his brother. Aym: "Sora, do you have a brother or sister?"

Sora: "I have a twin brother, his name is Aros, he's older but you couldn't tell if we stood next to each other."

Baal: "Any parents?"

Sora: "My father, my mom died of an illness when we were young."

Forneus: "I'm sorry for your loss Sora."

Sora: "It's okay, I wish I got to know her better though."

Forneus: "Will you be heading back soon?"

Sora: "I can't go back."

Aym: "Why can't you go back?"

Sora: "We all got separated… I don't know where they've been since yesterday. I don't have a place to stay."

Forneus: "You could stay with us if you want."

Sora: "You would let me stay with you guys?"

Aym: "It would be cool to have you around!"

Sora: "But I haven't done anything to warrant being cool."

Baal: "We still want you to stay."

Forneus: "It would be nice for the kits don't you think?"

Sora: (This caravan looks pretty low key, it's even mobile. I could stay here with them, keep a low profile.)

"Alright fine, I'll stay."

Aym and Baal hugged Sora, Forneus smiles

Sora: "Whoa hey!"

Aym: "Thank you for staying Sora!"

Baal: "This is gonna be so much fun!"

Since then, Sora and the kits spent a lot of time together. To the kits, Sora is like a big brother, maybe a son to Forneus. One day, Sora was asked to find some berries to make a meal with. He was putting on his cloak to head out until…

Baal: "Can I come with you?"

Sora: Turns around

"I'll let you but does Forneus know?"

Baal: "I asked her first and she said 'If you will allow it'."

Sora: "Well I'll allow it, come on Baal."

Baal: "Okay!"

Sora and Baal walked through the forest, Baal staying close by. After a few minutes of walking and chatting they find some fresh berry bushes

Sora: "There they are, help me pick some."

Baal: Picks some berries and put them in the basket

"How many do we need?"

Sora: "Probably as much as it would take to fill up the basket."

The basket wasn't deep, but it was a bit wide

Baal: "This might take a bit…" Sora: "Heh, don't start complaining now."

Baal: "I'm not…"

Sora and Baal spent a bit of time collecting berries, Baal was able to find some fun in collecting some by having Sora catch the ones Baal tosses into the air with the basket. After some time they collected a whole lot more berries than they thought

Sora: "Phew It seems we got more than expected, It's almost to much hehehe!"

Baal: Chuckles

"So does that mean we're done?"

Sora: "Yeah, we're done here."

He smiles

Baal: "Let's go back and see mother!"

Sora: "Yeah let's."

They walked down to the path back to Forneus' caravan, Baal sees a man with 4 beautiful women

Baal: "Wow!"

Sora: Looks at Baal

"What is it little buddy?"

Baal: "That guy has a bunch of girlies with him!"

He points to the group of people

Sora: "Oh wow, that he does."

Baal: "How does he get so many girlies?"

Sora: "Maybe it's the way he looks?"

Baal: "The way he looks?"

Baal looked at the man, he was a penguin with an enchanting smile. His hair was a nice sideswipe, his eyes gave a distinct charming gaze

Baal: "If I look like him, will I get girlies too?"

Sora: "Looks aren't everything Baal."

Baal: Turns towards Sora

"Its not?"

Sora: Shakes head

"Nope, it's also about…"

Sora gives Baal a quick lecture and heads back to Forneus' caravan. She was waiting there with Aym

Forneus: "You two have returned! I see you've brought much more than I thought you would!"

Aym: "Aww I wanted to come!"

Baal: "You would've just ate the berries on the way back."

Aym: "And?"

Baal: "And we wouldn't have had no where near as much as we brought now."

Forneus: "Wait, you eat the berries on the way back?"

Aym: Gulp

Baal: "Oops, sorry Aym."

Sora: "Welp, good luck Aym."

Sora and Baal walked in while Forneus scolds Aym, they begin to make today's meal. Weeks later Aym was watching Sora practicing his fighting skills on a makeshift dummy made out of grass

Aym: "You're pretty good at this stuff huh?" (Bearbeitet) Sora: Looks at Aym

"Hmm? Oh uh yeah, I'm alright I guess…"

Aym: "Think you can teach me how to fight?"

Sora: "You want to learn how to fight?"

Aym: "Mhm, it looks fun!"

Sora: "Fun? This isn't a game Aym."

Aym: "I know, but you make it look fun."

Sora: "I guess it does look fun to someone looking in."

Aym: "Can I join you? I know a little magic, I've been practicing look!"

Sora watches as Aym closes his eyes to focus. He conjures up a lot of heat from his surroundings and fires it at the dummy, having it left with burn marks

Aym: Is breathing heavily

"How's that?"

Sora: "That's impressive! That's really good for someone at your age!"

Aym: "Really? Do you'll let me train with you!?"

Sora: "You know what? Yeah sure bud."

Aym: Starts jumping around excitedly

"Yes! Yes! YES! This is gonna be so much fun!"

They begin training together, Forneus found out eventually though Sora and mostly Aym begged for Forneus to let Sora train him. She allowed it only because she doesn't want to hinder her son's growth. This goes on for about a month, Sora was teaching Aym how to fight properly

Aym: "Ow!"

He falls back on his rear

Sora: "Oh crap did I hit you too hard? I'm sorry…"

Aym: Gets back up wiping tears

"N-No… Again…"

Sora: "What?"

Aym: Has a teary eyed determined look

"I-I want to keep going!"

Sora: Scratches the back of his head

"Don't push yourself Aym…"

Aym: "No! I want to get strong and become a great warrior! I can't do that if you keep being nice!"

Sora: "But…"

Aym: "Sora, stop being so soft with me, I want you to TRAIN me."

Sora: "I- …Okay…just tell me if you had enough."

Aym: Smiles

"Thanks, now let's start again…"

They continue training, eventually Aym started to get hungry and began to head back to the caravan. A week has passed since then Sora woke up to hearing Forneus sobbing quietly

Sora: "Forneus what's wrong?"

He looks around

"…Where are the kits?"

Forneus: "It happened just a moment ago…" Sora: There was deep concern in his voice

"What did I miss?"

Forneus: "The kits were taken as an offering for a God. I'll miss them deeply, but how does one say no to a God?"

Sora: (A God took them?)

"What kind of God are we talking about?"

Forneus: "They were a bishop, a bishop of the Old Faith."

Sora: (The Old Faith!? I've only heard of them… But what do they want with Aym and Baal!?)

"How did it come to this?"

Forneus: "If it's their will, then nothing can be done."

She continues to weep

Sora: Hugs her

"I'm so sorry Forneus."

Forneus: Hugs back tightly

"It's okay Sora, I'll be fine…"

Sora: "I hope the kits will be okay…"

Forneus: "That's all we can do Sora…"

Sora continues to hug Forneus as a means to calm her down. What is Sora gonna do? How can he ease Forneus of her pain? Maybe if he…

{1 week later}

Forneus: picks up a letter by the entrance to the caravan, it reads…

"Dear Forneus, I'm sorry for leaving you like this. I've decided to go and look for the kits and bring them back to you. It might take a while, but I swear to you, I'll find them no matter what! So please, don't cry." Sincerely, Sora. Forneus: Tears up

"Oh Sora, how could you do something so foolish? To defy the Gods is heresy…"

(Just please come back safely…)

Forneus holds the letter close to her chest. Meanwhile Sora was traveling alone yet again… He walks along the path in his cloak, his normal clothes underneath. He has only one lead, they are a bishop of the Old Faith. He only knows one realm to get to, the Darkwoods. As he traveled along fighting off Old Faith members and bounty hunters, he began to realize that this was gonna take longer than he thought…

{15 Years Later} Sora is now 32, still looking for the kits. He writes letters to Forneus to tell her he's still searching, giving updates or any bit of information. He found an Old Faith member to interrogate

Sora: "Tell me, where did the Old Faith bishop go!?"

Old Faith Member: "I-I don't know!"

Sora: Puts his mother's dagger to their throat

"Is it in practice for your religion to lie!?"

OFM: "I'm telling you the truth!? I don't know their location!"

Sora: "Have you heard anything!?"

OFM: "There's a big gathering somewhere in that location! My friends talked about going to it, I wasn't invited so I didn't g-"

Sora knocked them out and took their cloak and mask as a disguise.

Sora: Puts the mask on

"For your sake, you better not be lying…"

He adorns the disguise and heads in the direction to where the follower pointed. They weren't lying! There IS a huge gathering! There's so many followers here, it looks like they're headed towards a direction. Sora blends in with the crowd, eventually they all stopped to watch an execution. Sora managed to wiggle his way through to see a Lamb covered in chains, they kneel before four figures. One was a worm covered in green moss and a bloody blindfold on, a red toad with four eyes and a bandage around their neck like a scarf, a cyan squid with bandages on each of their ears, and a purple spider with four eyes and bandages over their scalp. They each had crowns on, the worm has a green crown, the toad has a yellow crown, the squid has a blue crown, the spider has a purple crown. They tower over everything here, could they…?

Sora: (Could they be the bishops of the Old Faith? And what's this feeling in my chest?)

It feels like a familiar warmth, that doesn't matter! Are they going to kill that Lamb!?

Yellow Crowned Bishop: "Before us stands the last of its kind. All others we have hunted down and put to the blade."

Sora: (They did WHAT!?)

Blue Crowned Bishop: "With this final sacrifice the prophecy will be impossible to fulfill."

Sora: ("Prophecy"? What are they talking about?)

Green Crowned Bishop: "The heretic who lies bound below will be condemned to eternal captivity."

Sora: (They have somebody held captive!? How cruel…) (Bearbeitet) Purple Crowned Bishop: "…and the old faith shall be preserved."

Sora: (They're killing innocents to keep their faith alive?)

As Sora watched on, the giant Old Faith Follower walked up to the Lamb and lifts up the axe. The Lamb starts to cry in fear

Lamb: "Please don't do this… I don't wanna die!"

They cry out, such a sound sends a feeling through Sora's heart. On instinct he ran out too the brute and knocks him over! Sora breaks the Lamb free of their chains

GCB: "Huh? What in the…!?"

Lamb: "Wh-What? Who are-"

Sora: Is still in disguise and points to a direction where there's not that many Old Faith members

"GO! GET OUTTA HERE!"

Lamb: Is clearly confused and scared

"H-Huh?"

BCB: "Has another heretic found it's way into our cult!?"

Sora: "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? RUN!"

Lamb: Was too scared to run

"I c-can't…"

An Old Faith member attacks Sora, Sora's right eyes pupil becomes an X, he pulls out his dagger and cuts the member's throat

Sora: "You gotta run! GO NOW!"

Lamb: Tries to stand

"Wh-Why are you helping me?"

Sora: He turns to them, his voice sounds caring

"Because you're somebody who needs it…"

Lamb: "Somebody wh-"

YCB: Points at Sora

"STOP THAT HERETIC!"

The Lamb jumps and clings onto Sora. Sora snapped back to reality, he picks up the Lamb and starts running

GCB: "DON'T LET THEM GET AWAY!"

Sora held the Lamb close to him, he can feel them trembling in his arms. He moves alongside trees to avoid arrows hitting him, especially the Lamb. He finds a bush to hide them in

Lamb: "What are you doing!?"

Sora:

"I'm going to hold them off, so once the time comes, run. Don't look back no matter what you hear. Okay?"

Lamb: "I-I can't leave you!"

Sora: "You'll have to, we'll met again. I promise."

(That was a bitter lie.)

Lamb: Tears up

"Okay, what's your name?"

Sora: Takes his mask off smiling

"My name is Sora, what's yours?"

Lamb: Tries to smile back

"Lamb…" Sora: "It's nice to meet you Lamb, see ya around."

He gets up and puts the mask back on his face

Lamb: Gets up and leans on the tree, tears flowing

"See you…Sora…"

Sora: Nods and steps out of the hiding spot

Old Faith Member: "THERE HE IS! GET HIM!"

Sora: "Run."

He runs forward, his right eye's pupil becoming an X again. He stabs the follower in the chest, he was surrounded! The Lamb sees them all and reluctantly ran away

Lamb: "I'm sorry…"

They got away, Sora using his special eye to stab and cut the followers in their weak points. Eventually, Sora was getting worn out and they keep coming, he was slowly dwindling down and was overpowered. He was put in chains

OFM 1: "What do you think we should do with him?"

OFM 2: "We should just kill him and bring the body. The leaders would like that."

OFM 3: "No, let's have the bishops kill him."

OFM 2: "Aww no fair, I wanna kill him!"

OFM 3: "Silence. Let's take him away."

He was taken to the sacrificial altar, a member takes his mask off and his head is facing downward. The bishops loom over him, the Blue Crowned Bishop leans down to him

BCB: "So here we are, to whom we owe the pleasure of interfering?"

Sora: "…sora…"

BCB: "Hmm? I'm sorry I didn't quite catch that."

Sora: "Sora…"

BCB: Stands up straight

"Well! It's has been a pleasure to meet you Sora! You have a nice name!"

Sora: "…"

The Yellow Crowned Bishop spoke up

YCB: "Do you realize the weight of your actions?"

Sora: Head is still facing down

"I sav-"

YCB: "You just doomed us all!"

Sora: "!"

(What does that mean?)

The Green Crowned Bishop spoke up

GCB: "That Lamb was the last sacrifice we need to preserve the Old Faith. Now you will take. Their. P L A C E…"

Sora: "If that wasn't obvious enough…"

BCB: "Any last words?"

Sora: "…I have one question…"

YCB: "And that would be?"

Sora: Slightly lifts his head

"I was told there was a bishop that has taken two kits as a gift…" The Purple Crown Bishop reacts to Sora's words

PCB: "Hm?"

Sora: "Do any one of you know about it?"

PCB: "I do…"

Sora: "A-Are they s-safe?"

PCB: "They are…"

Sora: "Can you send them back to their mother?"

PCB: "I will not."

Sora: "Why not?"

PCB: "That doesn't concern you…"

Sora: "But. It. DOE-"

Sora was about to look up to them but was knocked down by a Old Faith Member

Sora: "GAH!"

OFM: "Watch your tone heretic!"

YCB: "It would seem we are done here. Kill him, we will find the Lamb soon after."

The executioner raises the axe up…

Sora: (So…this is it, I haven't done anything meaningful at all. I couldn't even get the kits back, sorry Forneus, it looks like I couldn't keep my promise…I wonder what Aros and Dad are doing right now? I hope they're okay…not like I'll ever know now…)

Sora closes his eyes, tears flowing from them. The executioner swing the axe down at Sora's neck. Sora was dead… He wakes up in what seems to be the afterlife? He sees nothing but boundless white, he hears chains rattling behind him. He turns around to be met with three figures. Two look a bit familiar but they are overshadowed by the giant one. They were a big three eyed black cat, his eyes are black with red scleras and pupils to match. The bishops had similar eyes but they were black scleras with red pupils except for the green one. The three eyed cat spoke to him as Sora approaches

Sora: (IS THAT THE GRIM REAPER!?)

???: "Come closer. Fear not, for though you are already dead, I still have need of you."

Sora: "You do?"

???: "Those foolish Bishops thought they could punish you with death, but instead they sent you straight to me."

Sora: "What can you do?"

???: "I will give you LIFE again, but at a PRICE! All I ask is for you to start a Cult in my name."

Sora: (A cult? I don't really like the occult let alone BE a cultist.)

???: "Do we have a deal?"

Sora: "Y-Yes, absolutely…" ???: "Wise choice… Take the Red Crown which I once wore."

Sora: Notices the crown on his head

(Is he a bishop too?)

???: "With it you shall command the loyalty of Followers and strike fear into the hearts of our enemies. Return to the land of the living, start a Cult in my name, and begin recruiting Followers."

Sora: "Wait."

???: "What is it?"

Sora: "What is your name?"

???: "My name? I go by many: 'Chained One', 'The One Below', 'Death…''. But 'The One Who Waits' would work just fine."

Sora: "I'm Sora. So I'm starting a cult in your name?"

TOWW: "Yes, once you have done so, you will see me again. Now, GO!"

He lends Sora the red crown, Sora's eyes flashed red and then vanishes completely. The One Who Waits has a nostalgic smile

TOWW: "It's been awhile hasn't it?"

Back at the execution altar, three Old Faith Members were taking care of Sora's head and decapitated body. One of them were holding his mother's dagger

OFM 1: "Look at this shiny thing! Maybe I can sell it from a high price?"

OFM 2: "Shut up and help me with this bo-"

They looked down, Sora's body was gone…

OFM 2: "What the he-?"

OFM 1: "Huh? HOW ARE YO- GLK! AAAH!"

OFM 3: Is still holding Sora's head

"What's wro- OH MY LORD!"

OFM 2: "What's wrong!?"

Old Faith Member 3 points over to 1's location. They were getting stabbed repeatedly by Sora's headless body!

OFM 2: "WHAT THE!? HOW IS HE STILL ALIVE!?"

Sora's body pushes OFM 1's body off him, it turns around and approaches OFM 3 who was still holding Sora's head

OFM 3: "W-What do you want!?"

OFM 2: Steps in front of Sora's body

"You stay away bea-"

They were slashed in the throat immediately, pushed to the side choking on their own blood. Sora's body continues the approach…

OFM 3: Is completely panicked

"D-DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!"

They hold out a sword shaking violently. Sora's body knocks away their sword and takes his head back. He has it face forward and puts it over his neck

It reattaches itself to Sora's neck with small black tentacles and twists itself onto his neck like a bottle cap! A black collar with waning crescent pendant wraps around his neck, a red fleece with a white stripe going across comes out of it. The red crown appears on his head. OFM 3 looks on in horror and falls on their rear

Sora: Cracks his neck and opens his eyes

"Wow, that was a doozy…"

OFM 3: "How? HOW CAN YOU BE THE NEXT VESSEL!?"

Sora: Is looming over them

"'Next'? So there was more than one huh?"

Sora puts his mother's dagger in it's sheath takes the red crown off his head with his right hand and looks at it. He look at the Old Faith Member, the red crown becomes a sword. A clanging sound is made as the tip of the blade hits the ground. The member can see their reflection in it

Sora: Walks up to them and lifts the sword over his left shoulder

OFM 3: Holds their hand out

"NO! PLEA-"

With a swift slash, their head was cut off

Sora: "It's nothing personal, I was only showing you the same mercy you showed me."

More Old Faith Members came, they see Sora and pulls out their weapons

OFM: "THERE HE IS! GET HIM!"

Sora: Turns around

"More of you guys? Sorry, but I'm busting out of here!"

Sora dashes at them as his right eye's pupil becomes an X. He takes them down one by one with ease, he travels through the forest cutting down any who opposes him. He finds an elderly rat holding a long stick

Sora: "Who are you!?"

???: "Fear not! I am Ratau. I was once a chosen vessel like you, but those days are lost to the winds."

Sora: "I'm Sora, why are you here? Its dangerous."

Ratau: "I'm well aware, but I was sent to guide you. My instructions are to lead you to safety. Continue through the woods. Escape lies ahead. I will be close by."

He burrows into the ground, Sora continues forward and finds a gathering. Ratau resurfaces

Ratau: "We have nearly reached safety, but look ahead! Another poor soul about to be sacrificed!" Sora: "I can't allow that!"

Ratau: "Then what are you waiting for!? Rescue her and she will have no choice but to join your new cult."

He nods and approaches the altar that has a brown stag tied to it with five followers surrounding her. She sees Sora

???: "PLEASE HELP ME!"

The five followers looked to where she was calling out to and pulled out their weapons

Sora: Readies his sword

"Don't worry! I'll save you!"

Sora takes out all the followers and frees the stag from her chains

???: "Thank you…"

Sora: "You okay? They didn't hurt you did they?"

???: Shakes head

"Not too much…"

Sora: "What's your name? I'm Sora."

???: "Aurora."

Sora: "That's a pretty name…"

He smiles at her

Aurora: Smiles slightly blushing

"Why, thank you…"

Sora: "I can take you somewhere safe, do you trust me?"

Aurora: "More than these creeps…"

Sora: "Good enough for me."

Sora's eyes turn red and lifts his hands up, Aurora gets lifted up in the air, a portal opens up beneath her. She looked a little frightened but continued to trust Sora. She was sent into the portal

Sora: "I don't know what I just did, but I hope she's okay."

Sora continues forward, he takes out more members until we finds a marking on the ground. Ratau resurfaces beside him

Ratau: "We have reached safety. You have done well. The Red Crown will allow you to use those markings on the ground to transport yourself great distances."

Sora: "Where will it take me?"

Ratau: "It will take you to a temple that has fallen to ruin. There you will be able to begin your new Cult. I will meet you there."

Sora: "Okay."

Ratau burrows into the ground, Sora stands over the markings and begins to float up in the air turning completely black, his eyes completely red. A portal appears below him, he falls in while traveling he thinks to himself

Sora: (Oh Sora what have you done? Not only do you have a bounty on your head, you have a bounty AND have become an enemy to the old faith!)

"Sigh" Sora makes it through the portal. He walks out to a field with rocks, berry bushes, and trees

Sora: (At least I know I can trust The One Who Waits right? But I'll have to worry about that later, this place is…)

Ratau resurfaces from the ground to Sora's right

Ratau: "This hallowed ground which once was mine, is now yours. This crumbling ruin is to be the site of your new Cult."

Sora: "Okay."

Ratau: "We have much to do. We begin by indoctrinating this poor soul into the warm embrace of your Cult."

He points over to a stone floor with a marking on it, Aurora falls out of it

Sora: "Oh, there you are…"

He sounded relieved, he walks up to her

Aurora: "Are we safe here?"

Sora: "Yeah, we're safe here…"

(Hopefully.)

Aurora: Hugs him

"Thank you for saving me…"

Sora: Blushes but hugs back

"N-No problem…"

He lifts his hand up, her clothes change from whatever rags she had to much more cleaner clothes. Red being the main palette. Ratau chuckles and approaches the two

Ratau: "Followers can gather resources for you. Order her to collect lumber or stone."

Sora: Kindly pulls away from her

"Hey Aurora, could you chop down some wood? I'll get the stone."

Aurora: Nods

"Okay Leader!"

Sora: Looks confused

"Leader?"

Aurora: "Would you rather I call you Sora?"

Sora: "You can call me whatever you feel comfortable with…"

Aurora: "Okay leader!"

She walks off to chop down trees with an axe she got from god knows where. Ratau watches Sora walk off and break rocks to get stone. Time passes, they come back after getting rid some of the trees and rocks

Ratau: "By your hand, our Cult will grow powerful! But your Followers can not live on prayer alone, they must eat. Gather the necessary resources and build a Cooking Fire. It will allow you to prepare meals for your Followers."

Sora: "Okay, I'm a pretty okay cook if I do say so myself."

Sora sets out a blueprint for a Cooking Fire, he points to the left of the entrance way out of the cult Sora: "We'll build it there, sound good?"

Aurora: "Okay leader!"

After 15 minutes, Sora and Aurora finished making the cooking fire. Aurora's stomach growls

Sora: "Hehe, just wait right here, I'll get some berries…"

Sora walks off to some berry bushes, collecting berries

Aurora: Sits down by the cooking fire

"Okay leader…"

Ratau: Walks up next to Aurora

"So… How's your day going young lady?"

Aurora: "It started off terrible, I thought I was gonna die, but the leader saved me. And now he's looking after me and providing safety. As best as he can…"

Ratau: "The boy shows promising leadership so far, albeit a bit too optimistic but his hearts in the right place."

(I just hope he stays strong when times get tough…)

Aurora: "Maybe he's putting on a front to keep everyone else from worrying about him?"

Ratau: "Maybe…"

Sora returns with some berries, he puts them in the pot

Sora: "I'm gonna make you a meal that great friend of mine makes, I think you two will love it!"

Ratau: "Two?"

Sora: "I'm making you a bowl too old man!"

Ratau: "You don't have to do that for me boy, I'll be okay."

Sora: Starts mixing the berries around

"But you helped me with all of this, I owe you this much."

Ratau: "I- if you insist…"

Aurora: Giggles

"Gosh leader, you're so kind and generous."

Sora: Blushes and scratches his head

"Heh, well I'm only just trying to repay him…"

Ratau: "And that's awfully kind of you, the younguns' never really care about a bag of bones like me…"

He chuckles

Sora chuckles as well and continues making three berry bowls, after 5 minutes he finishes and serves two bowls to them

Sora: "Here you go you two!"

Ratau: Takes a bowl

"Why thank you son."

Aurora: Takes a bowl as well, she sniffs it

"Mmm…it smells delicious leader…"

Sora grabs his own bowl, the three of them take a bite

Sora: "Yep, just like how she used to make it…"

He nostalgically smiles

Ratau: "Mmm! This is really good son!"

Aurora: "I agree!" Sora: "Hehe, thanks guys."

The three of them converse while eating. Once they finish Ratau spoke up

Ratau: "Now we must build a Shrine - but first we will need more Followers and more gold."

Sora: "Where do I find that?"

Ratau: "They can be found when crusading through the lands of The Old Faith. Our mutual benefiter The One Who Waits has been trapped by the four Bishops of the Old Faith."

Sora: "How could they do that? The One Who Waits is not a bad guy!"

Ratau: "Each of them guards a chain that binds him to the realm beyond. We have conjured openings to their realms. It is your task to track them down and slay them so that he may be freed."

Sora: "I will! I can't let these unjust acts go unpunished!"

Ratau: "Now go! There you shall find gold and willing recruits and for those who are not willing, convert them by FORCE!"

Sora: "Will do!"

(Except for the by force part…)

Ratau smiles and burrows away. Sora turns towards Aurora, who was standing there awaiting further orders

Sora: Looks around

"There's still plenty of trees and rocks here, let's get the resources from those!"

He brandishes a pickaxe

Aurora: Brandishes an axe

"Yes leader!"

After a bit of labor, they acquired the resources to make a shrine! The sun was setting, Sora had a blueprint set for a shrine, he points to the center of the field

Sora: "We'll make it there! Perfect!"

Aurora: "Yes! I agree!"

They begin building the shrine, it had a Wolf head on top, the eyes are hollow, black liquid came out of the sockets. Despite all of those creepy features it had a smile on its mouth, cute. It became night time

Sora: "Hokay! We're finally finished!"

Aurora: "Phew…That took longer than expected…"

Sora: "Are you tired?"

Aurora: Nods

"Mhm."

Sora: "Get some rest okay Aurora?"

Aurora: Yawns

"Okay, thank you leader…"

She walks over to a bit of grass, she falls asleep on it. Sora looks a little guilty that she has nothing to rest on Sora: (I don't have enough resources to make her a sleeping bag, I'll need to head out to the Darkwoods to get some…)

Sora walks out to be met with five gateways. Each of them labeled, Darkwood, Anura, Anchordeep, and Silk-Cradle. They were all connecting chains to the center gateway. Sora walks up to the gateway to Darkwood and it opens

Sora: Takes a deep breath

"Okay, let's do this…"

He walks inside

#cult of the lamb #cult of the lamb mark of the wolf #cult of the lamb au #cotl #cotl motw #cotl au

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