A Dissenter's Promise COTL x Reader)

Chapter 3

Meeting the other members of the cult was rather interesting to say the least. Most of them being friendly while welcoming another potential member who was soon to be indoctrinated by the lamb themself. Others being indifferent towards you or shy towards you. All of them indoctrinated by the lamb. It made you shudder at the thought of having to meet them once again, except this time it was face front. Although you were glad that they weren't here right now and were still out and about on whatever crusade they were running through. The members of the cult told you that they would usually do it for scavenging around for food and other supplies the settlement needed. Still, you did not believe them.

There were two particular members of the cult who you did find pleasant to be around. A grey dog with cultural markings painted onto his face that went by the name of Xaru. And a red panda that went by the name of Levaire. The two of them seemed to get along very well with each other, poking fun at each other before throwing random insults at one another only for them to laugh it off. You found it odd, but you never really said anything. They didn't seem to have any malice towards each other anyways, way better than the forced compliments and subtle jabs those in Leshy's cult would give to each other.

Levaire was more of the energetic one out of the two, throwing in a couple of jokes that made you laugh a couple times. He was also rather outgoing out of the two considering the fact he was able to hold a conversation with you the most, Xaru chiming in from time to time. Though he did seem to have a rather unstable side of him with him talking about how his glorious leader would go on these crusades, bringing the cult bones for them to perform rituals. He talked about the last one they had performed. Something about the cult ascending one of the elderly to the afterlife. You were thankful enough for him not to go into full description of what had happened afterwards. But other than that, he was still really fun to be around. Then there was Xaru.

Xaru was rather laid back as you spoke with him, different topics passing by quickly without either of you realizing. He did tend to get loud sometimes, let alone was easily distracted. It was even more amusing when he told you that he would take menticide mushrooms to help him both relax and work. He also admitted that he took it just for the high it gave him. And apparently he wasn't the only one who did as well since Levaire does them as well with him. You thought about it once, though you never had the opportunity to try it back then. In the end, Agatha had to drag you away from them to meet the rest of the members as well as showing you the rest of the settlement.

There wasn't much to the settlement, as you've stated to yourself before. There were a couple of sleeping bags in what looked to be a sleeping area. Or what would attempt to be a sleeping area for those living here. You thought it could've been fixed up just a tad bit. Let alone be organized instead of having the sleeping bags be placed down where-ever. But again, you held your tongue for the better. The farmland also looked to be starting out as well with very little tilled soil with seeds sowed into the dirt. Some of them needing to be watered a little more while the others looked to be watered a little too much. You knew enough about agriculture and what plants needed some sort of care. But nonetheless, the majority of the farmland looked to be growing healthily. Unlike the temple that the two of you had entered into.

The temple was something... that made you feel uneasy. The outside was nothing of the sort that made you feel that way. But the inside was a different story. The room was dark, eerie to the point it brought shivers down your spine. Even the red in the room was a dull color, looking as if it were fading away. And that damn crown that was in the front of it all. That same mural of that same crown that the lamb wore on their head. It felt as if the eye of the crown was watching you, piercing into your body, looking right through and into your heart. It felt as if it knew that not only did you resent the lamb, but it as well. You turned to Agatha and asked if the two of you could step out of the building, your throat feeling as if it were tightening the longer you stayed in there. Agatha smiled at you gently before taking you out of the temple, explaining to you that it could be too much for newcomers that come into the cult.