There was a buzzing of energy throughout the small village, and not the good kind. It was a ball of nervous energy that demanded that its presence be known. People were coming out of their homes, dinner paused and children in arms, glancing at each other for a glimmer of understanding perhaps. The children felt it too, and the younger ones cried out not knowing what was going on. It was increasing. Soon it would culminate.
The pounding of feet coming near the village center could be felt through the ground. Murmurs ran amongst those gathered outside their homes. Children were told to stay inside and behave as the adults moved together towards the center. If something were to happen, it would be there. A crowd began to gather as people from every part of the village congregated in the center. They all felt it. The tight ball of energy was starting to unravel.
A wailing sound began to be heard by those in the village center. It was an agonizing wail only a mother knew. It grew closer until a group of figures could be seen coming nearer. The chief was in the center of the group along with his family and a few soldiers right behind him. The nervous energy reached an all-time high as he approached. His expression remained stony and cold while his wife and eldest daughter were crying. The villagers whispered amongst themselves. Had something happened to the chief's family? Was something bad happening to the village?
He stopped once he came to the center and was surrounded by the villagers. "My people! We have received a message!"
"A message? What kind of message?" questioned the crowd. Was it a message from another village? Would a war amongst them break out? Or was it a famine or a plague coming?
"Our God is angry with us! We haven't appreciated Him! That is why we are suffering!" the chief proclaims, raising his hands to the sky. "Our forest is suffering because of us. It has to be mended!"
"What can we do?" a villager called out. "How can we fix it?"
"Do not worry dear friends for the message I have comes directly from Him!" He clasps his hands together and looks around the crowd. "We must give a sacrifice."
"But we always give animal sacrifices to him," another villager says.
"Yes, but an animal sacrifice is not what he is asking for. He needs a human sacrifice to continue providing for us and watching over us."
"What are we going to do?"
"Each year, everyone's names will be written down, except for our Elders and small children. One name will be selected randomly, and it will be a great honor! The family will receive food and other generous gifts for offering themselves to our forest God."
Uproar breaks out amongst the gathered villagers. A sacrifice must be made to restore their relationship with Him, but how would the first person be chosen? "My husband passed away this winter, I need my sons to hunt," one said. "We're expecting our first child, I cannot go," said another. Arguments of the like mounted as they talked over one another.
"Silence!" the chief commanded. "Cease your arguments my friends. It has already been decided who it to go this year." He gestures for the two soldiers to walk forward with his eldest daughter. "It has been decided my daughter shall be the first to show Him our great faith in Him." Tears roll down her face as she looks out into the crowd. The chief's wife pleads with him to reconsider but is ignored. "She will enter the forest with nothing but the clothes she is wearing. I do not know His intentions, but we pray whatever comes to her in peaceful and that her sacrifice is not in vain." He places a hand on his daughter's shoulder and begins to lead her towards the forest with the two soldiers following behind them.
His wife begins to wail with renewed strength. She throws herself forward but is stopped by two of their sons. Her screams turn into prayers to the forest god to keep her daughter safe, but they too then turn into sobs. The villagers press forward following the chief chanting prayers for his daughter.
When they reached the forest, everyone took a step back away from the daughter, leaving her alone standing at the edge. She turned around to look at those that had gathered. She kept up a brave façade until she saw her mom. Sobs racked her body, and she hunched over holding herself. The villagers felt for her, but they understood the need of the sacrifice. It was for the betterment of their village. And it was better her than any of them, especially on such short of a notice. They will be better prepared for this next year.
"Can't I say goodbye to Mother?" the daughter asked.
"You already said your goodbyes. Besides, we don't want to anger the forest god anymore now, do we?" the chief told her. "You must enter darling. This is your fate."
The daughter glances again at her mother and mouths the words 'I love you' to her. She turns back to face the forest. She stands up tall and rolls her shoulders back before entering the forest. The procession stayed there until the early hours of the next day. They prayed for her soul and the well-being of the village. A small feast was held in honor of her sacrifice.
This was the first yearthe Offering took place.
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Full story coming February 6, 2024.
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Forest God
Historical FictionI am a hunter. It's what my father had trained me to do from a young age. He wanted me to be someone who followed in his footsteps and provide for our family and village. I knew eventually Mother would have me get married, but why would that chan...
