Pyre | MxB

Prologue

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Clinging to the side of a mountain range, in the heart of Xeric Forest, was a diminutive village of lycanthropes. The community was modest and impoverished, with meagre resources that barely supported their subsistence existence. Their numbers were few and thus the population was a close knit one. They had no choice but to rely heavily on one another... and upon the blessings of the mountain's devine patron.

Though not a single soul had ever laid eyes upon the deity, the villagers held deep admiration and reverence for their supposed god. For he was responsible for blessing their land each passing year with life-sustaining harvests necessary for their survival. In return the villagers had made a habit of leaving humble offerings at the mountain's base. They believed their gifts of flowers and homemade sweets would keep the mountain deity content and ensure continued blessings each Summer Solstice. Strangely, the offerings remained untouched, even by the forces of nature and the forest's animal inhabitants. Over the generations tales were passed down recounting the god's benevolence, shaping folklore that only deepened the villagers' profound loyalty to their deity.

This year, as the longest day of the summer dawned, something immediately felt amiss to the townspeople... A pall of anxiety hung over the village as the Summer Solstice arrived but the expected rain showers and lush harvests never did. The villagers, confused and alarmed, huddled in clusters, their whispered conversations brimming with fear and uncertainty. As days passed and the dry soil remained that way, the whispers escalated into anxious pleas for devine intervention. The once placid village was now in a state of chaos, desperately searching for a solution to their unfolding calamity.

When the drought persisted, the villagers began speculating that their benevolent god was somehow enraged by their actions— or lack thereof. Desperate for a solution, the villagers initially attempted to offer material possessions of high value— treasures and riches that had been meticulously safeguarded through generations. Despite the extravagance of their offerings, neither rain nor the slightest hint of greenery materialized. Some townsfolk began to propose more extreme measures, suggesting that perhaps a sacrifice to the deity might appease him... the consensus soon settled on the idea that the sacrifice must be one that appealed to the god's mysterious nature. An omega emerged as one of those suggested sacrifices.

Omegas, in their community's perspective, were seen as relatively expendable due to their perceived weakness. Their smaller statures resulted in them being deemed incapable of contributing significantly to manual labour or defence. In the eyes of the villagers, the sacrifice of an omega seemed to be a practical one.

As the discussion of who should be sent grew hostile, families defending their young omega members, a soft-spoken boy named Aster spoke up. He was small, even by omega standards, standing at about half the height of his kindred. His shoulders were narrow and his limbs were thin. He was a month shy of his eightieth birthday but diminutive height and fragile frame made that a difficult thing to believe.

With a somber expression and resigned tone he uttered, "I'll go..." The eyes of the villagers widened in surprise. Aster simply stood there at the front of the gathering, his gaze steady and somewhat determined. As the town's alpha processed Aster's selfless offer, whispers began to spread amongst the crowd. The mention of his mother's outcast status fuelled the rumours that Aster had inherited her delusional traits and sacrificial behaviour. Aster's expression faltered as he caught wind of what was being shared about him.

The alpha, who had been carefully observing the unfolding events, stood with a smile that appeared both praising and slightly sinister. He commended Aster for his selfless decision, but there was a glint in his eyes hinting at an underlying satisfaction. It was as if the alpha was secretly overjoyed to be rid of the omega.

Before Aster had a chance to reconsider, the alpha's second in command grabbed his small shoulder in a firm and almost painful grip. Without any regard for Aster's yelp of pain, the beta dragged the omega out of the building. The villagers watched silently, their faces portraying a mixture of guilt and relief.

The little omega was forcefully escorted in the direction of the mountain that loomed in the distance. Little did the villagers know that this would set in motion a series of events that would change the destiny of the mountain and its inhabitants forever...

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