Her Sin Was Pride

VIII

"Hail the Crimson Eye of the Black Lamb, Omen of the End and Harbinger of Death's Lord"

Ratau greeted her with excitement upon her returned, even more satisfied to see that she'd brought someone to join the cult along as well, introducing her gleefully to the gray hedgehog named Fina that had apparently been welcomed in. As soon as the little worm was welcomed into the cult, he'd directed the newest follower to kneel beneath the shrine in the center. Eve had been beyond confused to see it - she hadn't been gone for that long she thinks, only a day from what Maon said - but it had clearly been crafted in her own image. It was large and impressive, made from wood with its arms held out possessing intimidating empty sockets that overlooked the Garden.

Where did you get the fleece? Eve signed in confusion, watching as Fina and Maon presented Amdusias a red shirt of his own.

"There were many of these still stored in crates and chests," Ratau said. "Worm eaten and infested, but still many. My hands grow weakened and my fingers tremble but I can still remember how to use a needle."

They observed the red shirts - they weren't anything complicated. A white, upside skull of a horned lamb adorned them in the center and she glanced up, raising a brow.

White-sheep? She signed.

"It was the previous design," Ratau admitted. "You are the first black ewe I have encountered."

Hm...

She waved them on, allowing the worship to commence leaving the elderly rat to instruct them in proper way to honor the One Who Waits Below. A cult of four followers (if she included Ratau) still wasn't something to be prideful about - it fulfilled her end of the agreement yes, but only barely. To do just the bare minimum rarely works out in favor of the servicer and it would hardly net her any good will, any potential chance of favors from the Lord of Death.

Having death's favor in your pocket can only be good - and so, I must expand this cult.

She was distracted by something flickering, dancing in the corner of her eye. Her gaze flickered up, a brilliant white orb flitting back and forth, pulsing as it grew in size above the head of newest follower before it was drawn away. She stared in awe, watching as it began to orbit the head and palms of the statue. Instinctively she reached out, watching as the energy shot towards her hooves and sank into her very skin. A startled bleat left her mouth as the crown's power abruptly increased tenfold, her muscles temporarily locking up from the burn.

Devotion of the Faithful... the whispered voiced, Eve doing her best to decipher what it was attempting to say. A shrine is only the start...

The start? She wondered, as the crown's whispers directed her to turn and turn. And then her eyes fell upon the ruined and moss-covered stone pyramid that beckoned her onward, directly south of the shrine whose eyes stared directly on at.

Ah.

She walked down to the crumbled remains, vaguely aware of the eyes of her three new followers resting upon her. She hoped she wouldn't embarrass herself - presentation was everything in the beginning. If you looked too weak, too foolish, those under you would flee your authority - how would a fool, a weakling, a pansy be capable of protecting them they would wonder. The crown pulsed its agreement as she placed her palms in the unruly pile of stone and placed her trust within the Crimson Eye.